Of the month of May and childhood misadventures

Change the world

Dear Graduates:

I am here to apologize to you.

Under the oversight of my generation, you have been raised in an era that emphasizes the importance of your feelings and your right or even responsibility to protest when you don’t get your way. It’s unfortunate, if not shameful, perhaps disastrous, really, what your forbearers have wrought in our society.

K/PACEDC prepares for Summer Intern Program

By Tod Faris, K/PACEDC

Wettest April in twenty years

150 Years Ago

BUILDING GREATER. --- The increasing demand for more room has compelled our friend Bongey to build an addition to his hotel south of the Public Square on Thorington Street. He will put up an addition 22x36 feet, with 18 feet posts. He thinks this will satisfy the present demand.

125 Years Ago

Save that brown paper grocery bag

In the days before plastic bags were the go-to choice to have groceries “sacked” in, we relied on brown paper bags. We appreciated how neatly they folded. We didn’t appreciate how easily they ripped — and the pickle jars crashing to the ground. Those little paper handles were certainly not reliable.

Because Jesus is Risen

By Dan Jordan, Pastor at Evangelical Free Church, Algona

Finish this sentence, “Because Jesus is risen, …”

Your response may be lengthy or just a few words. Jesus died on the cross and three days later resurrected to life are historical events, but why do they matter?

From the Aug. 16, 1938 Algona Upper Des Moines newspaper archives.

The St. Cecelia Academy parochial school building was constructed during the years 1920-27 and opened September 6, 1927.

Its initial enrollment was 120 pupils and has since grown until 300 students were registered during the school years 1937-38. At present there are twelve members on its faculty.

High Hawk combines mystery and romance

High Hawk

Amy Frykholm

University of Iowa Press

ISBN 978-1-60938-973-4

$19.00

To the Editor:

A billionaire budget boondoggle

When lawmakers return to Washington, D.C. from their April recess, I don’t have a good feeling about what’ll come next. They’ll begin the process of budget reconciliation, and it doesn’t bode well for rural America. Just look at the budget resolutions they passed before leaving town.

For the birds

Bird-watching. Yes, bird-watching. I never thought the day would come. But, it has, and I am enjoying it. And with National Go Birding Day just around the corner (April 26), the timing to come out of the cage seemed right.

Last Algona saloon closes

150 Years Ago

What is the Easter celebration?

Story from Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.

Many religious holidays like Easter are known as “movable feasts,” which means they are not fixed dates on the calendar, but are celebrated in accordance with the lunisolar calendar. Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first full moon of spring, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Easter occurs shortly after the vernal equinox.

JL WILKINSON was born in Algona, Iowa on May 14, 1878. His father, John J. “JJ” Wilkinson was the superintendent of schools in Algona at that time. J Leslie Wilkinson learned to play and love baseball in his early years here in Algona. When his father moved the family first to Omaha, Nebraska, and then to Des Moines, the young Wilkinson had become well known in high school and college as a pitcher. 

Well I’m sitting here at my computer wondering what in the world to write about. I remember Dorothy Muckey, who wrote a column for the paper for years and years, telling me once, “Sometimes I can’t think of what to write about so I just look heavenward and tell God He has to help me.” She said it always worked. So I tried that, but God must be busy elsewhere, because I still don’t have a topic. Maybe Dorothy’s Methodist prayers were more appealing than my Catholic ones. Whatever.

Letter to the Editor

Dear sir or madam,

This is to inform you that I greatly enjoy reading Molly MacDonald’s Inkspots. They are my favorite part of the Advance and the first thing I read every time! Each Thursday, I forget if the previous week had an Inkspots and hurriedly search to see if there is a new one. They make me smile, laugh, and, overall, just happy.

Sincerely,

Felicity Huemiller