A Catholic church building that has been a cornerstone in Mallard is now Harris Funeral Home.
"I think this is a great way to keep the building open, said Jenny Girres, funeral director. "It is sentimental in a way."
Reas the full story in the Jan. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

Almost $2 million is being spent to improve an open ditch and existing tile to alleviate drainage issues in more than 3,400 acres 3 miles north and 2 miles south of Highway 18 near Sexton in Drainage District No. 84.
Read the full story in the Jan. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

Algona is a special place for Tonic Sol-fa, an a cappella group. Their lead singer Shaun Johnson has roots which run deep here. When they performed last December, they hoped it would be a special show.
Johnson, an Algona native, said his hometown is his favorite stop. the group was in the first third of a 30-city holiday tour when they came back to Algona.
Read the full story in the Jan. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

Every picture brings back a memory. Those are the words Don Nettleton thinks every time he takes out his Canon SX60 to take photos of wildlife or nature.
"Taking photos is just fun," Nettleton said. He has been taking photographs for as long as he can remember. "I like to be able to show people what they're not seeing. God made all of this stuff. It is so beautiful.
 
Read the full story in the Arts section of the Jan. 25 Kossuth County Advance.

With a big smile on his face, Don Vonnahme said 15 years in the livestock auction business is a great feeling.
"It feels like it was yesterday," he said last week. On Jan. 4, Vonnahme and his family celebrated owning Algona Livestock Auction north of Algona on Hwy. 169.
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

Kossuth Regional Health Center's affiliation partner, Mercy Health Network on Monday announced it will soon become MercyOne.
Get the details in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

Algona Public Library is in the final push of its fundraising campaign. Algona Public Library Director Mara Strickler said the library has raised approximately $1.5 million in funds from community members and civic organizations, and $2.2 million total has been committed to the project.
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

Stress relief for farmers could be summed up in two words: Farm Bill.
"With the Farm Bill it's always a relief getting rid of the uncertainty that comes with the lapsing of the previous Farm Bill," said Trae Hestness, regional manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau.
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

Abby Bollig switched her last name and the name of her business, Thistle Do, both for the better. Following her summer marriage, she is now doing business as Cultivate Boutique in the new year.
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

There isn't a moment that goes by at the Burt Public Library when the group of women coloring pictures or placing puzzle pieces together doesn't break into a giggle or outright laughter.
This group of women, and even sometimes men, meets three days a week at the library to color, crochet, put puzzles together, make coffee, eat goodies, share recipes, read, do crafts or just plain talk.
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

Low literacy scores prompted the Lu Verne Community School District to incorporate literacy modules for kindergarten through fifth grade students in September.
Four months into the process teachers have seen growth in literacy....
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

A lease agreement with FTC Tower Co. to allow a tower to be built in Wesley will be discussed during a public hearing at the Wesley Community Center Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Get all the details in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

Retired District Court Judge Joe Straub of Algona is now affiliated with the Algona law firm of McMahon, Stowater, Lynch and Laddusaw. According to a press release, Straub will serve "of counsel" to the law firm.
Read the full story in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.

The National Audobon Society's Christmas Bird Count has a long history. It was actually established in 1900 as a way for like-minded folks to come together at a natural time of gathering to inventory birds in an area.
Groups of people gather all over the country for their annual Christmas Bird Counts, and it has become more tradition than anything else for a lot of folks.
Read about the count in Kossuth County in the Jan. 17 Advance.

The newest member of the Kossuth County Sheriff's Office is looking forward to the problem-solving aspects of being a deputy sheriff.
"I'm excited about just being presented with all these different kinds of things and trying to navigate and doing the best I can to fix it," said Will Summers.
Meet the new deputy sheriff in the Jan. 17 Kossuth County Advance.