LEDYARD — For the past three years, the Rev. Sam Belz has been known as the “Teenage Pastor” in Ledyard and the surrounding communities.  On Sept. 16, Belz will take over as an assistant pastor in a church in Atlanta, Ga.
“I am excited to be back in the southeast,” Belz said. “I love small town Iowa. I’ve learned so much here. I’m still young. I still have some learning to do. I sense this next move is going to be a good place for me to do that.”

ALGONA — 100+ Women have shown their continued commitment to the Kossuth County region during their Aug. 20 meeting. The group has met for a fourth time this year and has raised $46,400 through their sustained efforts in their meetings.
100+ Women Who Care-Kossuth County is a group that has over 100 women participate, each woman or group of women donating $100 within the hour of the meeting, which in part raises funds exceeding $10,000 in just one short hour event.

Bishop Garrigon started off their homecoming festivities by announcing this year’s Homecoming King and Queen. Crowned queen was Emma Thul, of Whittemore, and crowned king was John Capesius, of Algona. The emcees, Bryce Garmen and Emma Lichter, announced each of the candidates as they walked through the gym in front of a packed gym full of the student body, family members and community.

ALGONA — The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down southwest of Hobarton on Tuesday, Sept. 4, around 3:45 p.m.
The tornado tore one-half of a hog barns roof. In addition, power poles were down and electrical lines were lying across the road. The storm also produced as much as four inches of rain that deluged the city of Algona.

Josie Jean Gruhn
Catherine and Dan Gruhn, Kasson, Minn., are the proud parents of a daughter, Josie Jean, born July 6, 2018, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19.75 inches long. Grandparents are Carol Feye, Algona, and Sanford and Joyce Gruhn, Humboldt. Harold Feye, Whittemore, is a great-grandfather.
 

Jerry and Eleanor Payne, Algona, will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. They were married Sept. 18, 1953, in Alameda, Calif., by a local justice of the peace. Their children are Dennis Payne, Omaha, Neb.; Kathleen Berg, Oakdale, Neb.; Mark Payne, Fort Collins, Colo.; and Jeffrey Payne, Algona. 
Cards and well wishes may reach the couple at 1105 S. McCoy St., Algona.

The new Tietz Entrepreneurial Center had its ribbon cutting Friday morning, Aug. 31. The building’s stunning glass, light fixtures and structure framed the picture for the cutting. In attendance were ILCC administration, Algona’s Chamber of Commerce and the Don Tietz Foundation.
 

A new development is in place. Algona will be seeing a new face around, but not someone completely unfamiliar with the area. Jacob Tjaden is Algona’s new Community Development Director. Growing up in Titonka, Tjaden is happy to be back in the area.
 

BOONE, IOWA — Berhow & Dornbier Drainage provided its expertise in drainage and tiling during a demonstration at the Farm Progress Show on Thursday, Aug. 30.
The Wesley business was one of only six drainage and tiling companies across the state that was asked to participate in the tiling demonstration.

A Livermore man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a death in Lu Verne Tuesday, Aug. 28.
According to the Kossuth County Sheriff office, 60-year-old Jeffrey Lynn Winters, of Livermore, has been charged with first degree murder, a Class A Felony.
The deceased was reported as 54-year-old Randy Merle Page of Lu Verne.
According to the report, Winters is being held in the Kossuth County Jail on a $2 million cash-only bond.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 3:45 p.m. A line of strong storms moved through Kossuth County triggering activation of a tornado warning. A trained storm spotter in the Hobarton area reported seeing a tornado touch down southwest of Hobarton. The National Weather Service verified the touchdown on Thursday.

Leilani Lyn Kirkegaard
Shawn and Karly Kirkegaard, Algona, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Leilani Lyn, born Aug. 5, 2018, at Kossuth Regional Health Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 7.4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Ryan and Lori Miller, Algona. Victoria Grey, Pocahontas, is the paternal grandmother. Great-grandparents are Barb and Steve Carley, Burt, and Kristine Stoddard, Titonka.

Susanna Joan Kohlhaas

Kaius Reign Contino
Nichole Origer, West Bend, is the proud mother of a son, Kaius Reign, born Aug. 20, 2018, at Kossuth Regional Health Center. He weighed 6 pounds, 6.6 ounces and was 19 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Jack and Anna Origer, West Bend. Great-grandparents are Katherine Lucas, Algona, and Darlene Origer. Nichole is a hairstylist at Studio Hairsay in West Bend. Kaius was welcomed home by a brother and sister, Romeo and Violet.

Everett Dennis Vern Thompson
Zac and Alicia Thompson, Wesley, are the proud parents of a baby boy, Everett Dennis Vern, born Aug. 24, 2018, at Kossuth Regional Health Center. He weighed 6 pounds, 7.3 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Rick Remy and Tina Remy, Algona. Paternal grandparents are Denny and Tracy Thompson, Ledyard. Tracy Remy, Algona, is a great-grandfather. Zac is an assistant county engineer, and Alicia is employed by Algona Publishing Co.