Algona will host its 20th Founders' Day celebration this summer.
Stinson Prairie Arts Council is planning its second Fine Art in the Park event on Saturday, July 13, on the lawn of the Carnegie Centre for the Arts in downtown Algona. More booths have been added this year to accommodate skilled artisans from across the Midwest, some traveling as far as Oklahoma to display and sell their original works.
Read more about the event in the May 2 Kossuth County Advance.

On Holy Monday just before Easter, one of the most beautiful and beloved church buildings on earth, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, caught fire and was severely damaged. Spires, woodwork, masonry and priceless artwork of the nearly 900-year-old cathedral are now a pile of ash.

A team of Bishop Garrigan students competed in the state level of the Envirothon on April 8.
The Envirothon is an annual competition that challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge of ecology as it relates to current economic and environmental conditions. It is open to all high schools and FFA chapters.
Read more about it in the May 2 Kossuth County Advance.

Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation work that has been placed on the Iowa landscape and bring attention to the ongoing work by farmers, landowners and urban residents to protect the state's soil and water resources.
This year, it is in coordination with national Stewardship Week, which is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. The theme of Stewardship Week is, Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper.

People gathered at the Algona Public Library to prepare Easter baskets for five local nusing homes and Exceptional Opportunities.
This Easter, Pay it Forward provided a variety of items for Algona Manor Care Center, the Good Samaritan Society, Accura, HealthCare of Bancroft, Titonka Care Center, Kanawha Community Nursing Home and Exceptional Opportunities.
See more Easter activities in the April 25 Advance.

It could take most of the summer and thousands of dollars to fix potholed streets in Kossuth County communities.
"We see these issues normally in the springtime, and they're smaller and less frequent but nothing like this," said Ron Covert, Algona public works director.
Read more about street repair in the April 25 Advance.

Howard Omdahl said he will be a bit nervous when being inducted into the Iowa Insurance Industry Hall of Fame.
"I feel very special, very honored, very humbled," Omdahl, 75, said the week before he received the award on April 24. Omdahl works at PMC Advantage Insurance Services.
Read the whole story in the April 25 Advance.

Kossuth County is one of at least four counties intent on forming a new region for mental health disability services.
"We've lost complete and total control of who, why and how our money is spent," said Winnebago County Supervisor Bill Jensvold.
Read more in the April 25 Kossuth County Advance.

There was a packed house at the VFW April 12 for the Kossuth County Cancer Support Foundation's Designer Purse Bingo.
The event raised over $12,000 to help those diagnosed with cancer in Kossuth County.
Read more about the event in the April 25 Advance.

A few weeks ago, I announced that I'll be making a change in my role at Kossuth Regional Health Center. On May 1, I will leave my position as hospital administrator and will begin a new role as vice president of Network Development with MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City. When I reflect on the past 20 years that I've been with this organization and in this community, I feel grateful and privileged to have been a part of it all.

Lately, life has been incredible. Holy Week and Easter services were meaningful and filled with the presence of God. Warmer weather is offering signs of spring. The month of May will bring confirmation services, graduation ceremonies and celebrations, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and the glimpse of the beginning of summer.

The Corwith Public Library hosted Monica Schmidt for a special presentation on March 31.

A display in the Algona Public Library shows black leggings, a pink sweatshirt and long socks. The display also explains what the person was doing and where the person was.
It is just one of six What Were They Wearing? displays throughout Algona in April to recognize Sexual Awareness month.
Read more about the displays in the April 25 Kossuth County Advance.

Fratco, a company specializing in drainage solutions, announced a new location will open in Algona in mid to late summer of this year.
A press realease from the company said "this location serves as a more central position for Fratco to better cater to customers in the region. The new plant will allow for improved functionality and easier access to key markets, while providing opportunity for members of the community."
Get more details in the April 25 Advance.

Algona Community School District announced it has offered an administrative contract to Jill Schutjer to serve as principal at Lucia Wallace Elementary School in Algona.
The Algona School Board will take action on her contract at the next meeting on May 13.
Read more about it in the April 25 Kossuth County Advance.