Algona Mayor Lynn Kueck announced he will retire from his position at the end of his current term which is Dec. 31 of this year. Kueck made the announcement during the opening of the Algona City Council meeting Monday, July 15.
"It's been my privilege for the last 21 years to sit in this chair," Kueck began. "I have been honored; I've been humbled to serve the citizen's of Algona."
Read more in the July 18 Advance.

Virginia Buchanan accepted this year's Heritage Award, an award presented each year during Algona's Founders' Days.
Her children, Kathy, Scott, Susan and Todd, wrote a nomination letter that described what she has done in the community.
See more from Founders' Day in the July 18 Advance.

The Carnegie Centre for the Arts was opened up for the weekly Algona Area Chamber of Commerce's coffee.
"One of the things we wanted to do is bring people in," Brian Buscher said. "So that you could see what's happening to this building as opposed to when its all done." The project is transforming the old library into the new art space.
Read the complete story in the July 18 Advance.

Algona Public Library Director Mara Strickler will be leaving Algona for a position as the director of the Pella Public Library.
During the library board of trustees meeting, Strickler informed the board that she would be exiting her position. The board members began discussing how to begin the search for a new library director, how that search would work, what to pay for the interim director and who that interim director will be.

Algona Municipal Utilities showed a $184,187 loss in May from a $133,729 gain during the same time the previous year.
John Bilsten, general manager at AMU, believes this is due to the previous cold winter in Algona. AMU made revenue in May from water at $35,553, and communications, $15,275.
Get the complete story in the July 18 Advance.

Following years of planning and construction, ITC Midwest announced July 16 that it has completed a major new, high-voltage electric transmission line.
"MVP 4 is one of 17 Multi-Value Projects approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator to provide access to low-cost electricity generation, improve reliability and efficiency, and expand access to renewable energy throughout the Midwest," a company press realease said.

My grandfather always called these hot and humid days the "dog days of summer." He reserved such a title for those July days when the simple act of stepping outside into the shade brought beads of sweat to your brow. Folks, it sounds like we are in for some dog-day type weather.

Algona Family YMCA hosts a luau Saturday, July 20, beginning at 3 p.m. at the Thul Shed at the Algona Country Club.
Inflatables, cotton candy and face painting run from 3 to 8 p.m. Dinner is 5 to 7 p.m. with a barbecue buffet.
Read more in the July 18 Kossuth County Advance.

The Algona Community School Foundation hosts its 15th annual golf outing and silent auction on Monday, July 22 at the Algona Country Club. The outing raises funds to aid the school district's educational needs.
No changes in the schedule are planned, but if you are attending the Algona girls state tournament game Monday, organizers said they can alter tee times.
Read more in the July 18 Kossuth County Advance.

Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first men to walk on the moon. You likely know this unless you've been, well, on the moon.

The last two weeks have been packed with family things. It is not too often that my wife Linnea and I can connect with as many of our extended clan as we did over 12 recent days.
Being with family has been hard for the Holmers and others in the extended family going back more than a century. When my paternal grandparents headed for India and their first assignment as missionaries in 1912, they said goodbye and, "We'll see you in 10 years."

Local assistance is available for parents who have questions about car seat safety. Three certified child passenger safety technicians are available at Kossuth Regional Health Center to assess and evaluate child car seats and coach parents and caregivers on how to properly install the seats in vehicles.

UPDATE: This is a press release from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, issued at 5 p.m. Monday, July 15:

Wesley held events Wednesday evening, July 3, including its Glow Run. Some of the participants really got into the spirt. The community then held its annual celebration on July 4.
See more Fourth of July photos in the July 11 Kossuth County Advance.

Charlotte Reynolds of Bode pedals with all her might under the watchful eyes of her family and others who attended the pedal pull at the West Bend July 4 celebration Saturday, July 6.
See more photos from Fourth of July celebrations in the July 11 Advance.