ALGONA — Without volunteers, the Algona Emergency Medical Services (EMS) would be in dire straits, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors heard during its weekly meeting.
“We are certainly in crisis mode,” said Algona EMS Director Gary Merrill. “We don’t have a good solution right now.”

ALGONA — Almost 70 bike riders participated in a 40-mile trek in an effort to raise money to buy bicycles for underprivileged youth in the annual BRAK (Bike Ride Around Kossuth) on Saturday, June 3.
The Rotary Club-sponsored event helped with the purchase of 20 bicycles last year. The hope is to have that many again this year.
The trip started at the Algona YMCA parking lot and continued through Oak Lake, Titonka, Wesley and back to Algona.
 

SMITH LAKE — An estimated 125-150 youth lined the shores of Smith Lake on Saturday, June 3, for the annual Algona Morwens Kiwanis Fishing Derby.
“Kiwanis is all about kids,” said Theresa Waechter, one of the coordinators of Saturday’s event. “This brings families together and out to the lake to fish.”
Jason Moser had his family out on the lake fishing. 

Kossuth County has more than 260 bridges, more than 500 miles of pavement and an estimated 1,100 miles of gravel to maintain. 
“The goal is to maintain the system so it benefits the users of it,” said Kossuth County Engineer Doug Miller. “We keep the road system in as good of shape as possible.” 
The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors has designated an estimated $9.9 million for bridge and road work in the next fiscal year, which runs from June 30, 2017 to July 1, 2018. 

Veterans saluted the flags of their comrades who went before them at the flag dedication in Algona. Approximately 100 flags were planted on the courthouse lawn.

The long awaited day has arrived, answering the questions of curious townsfolk regarding what the old O.B. Laing Middle School will look like after undergoing an almost four year renovation process. 
Transformed into an apartment complex, Algona Lofts is holding its grand opening with an Algona Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Friday, June 2. 
Algona Lofts is comprised of 40 apartments, expanding from the middle school across the street to the old annex. 

It is not often that a person will step up, out of the blue and offer someone who they hardly know an organ. Nancy Bleuer, an energetic preschool teacher, formally of West Bend, did just that. 
For Bleuer, this bold offer began 12 years ago after a co-worker inspired her by donating an organ. “I told myself I would do it if I ever had the chance,” recalled Bleuer. “It was a very honorable thing to do.”

50th anniversary

60th Anniversary
Roger and Betty (Abbas) Rongved were married on June 8, 1957 at Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.

60th anniversary
Ralph and Gertrude Bormann were married on June 3, 1957 and will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Their children are encouraging family and friends to shower them with cards in honor of this milestone. Cards and well wishes will reach them at 1107 3rd Avenue SW, Humboldt, IA 50548.

William Riley Benne
Brayson and Katy Benne of Burt are the proud parents of a baby boy, William Riley, born Saturday, May 6 at Kossuth Regional Health Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19 inches long at birth. Maternal grandparents are Greg and Sharon Davis of Manhattan, Kan. Paternal grandparents are Paul and Christine Benne of Manhattan, Kan. Brayson is a civil engineer at ISG.

Dawson Larsen

90th birthday
Charles Joens was born on June 2, 1927 and will be celebrating his 90th birthday this year. His family, including Catherine, Mike, Tim and Luanne, Bruce and Brenda and Marion and Al, are encouraging family and friends to shower him with cards. Cards and well wishes will reach him at P.O. Box 345, Martensdale, IA 50160.

Warm and balmy 80 degree weather quickly took a turn for the worse last week, culminating in a low pressure weather system moving into the area bringing in severe thunderstorms with hail and straight line winds.
On Tuesday night, May 16, around 9 p.m., a severe thunderstorm hit the county impacting the southern region with ferocity.

Pomp and Circumstance filled the gymnasium, ushering in the final moments of high school for 105 Algona High School graduating seniors on a chilly Sunday afternoon on May 21.
Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles filled the bleachers waiting to catch a glimpse of their soon to be graduate.
This event marked a pivotal time in graduates’ lives as they marched forward from their childhood into the adult world.