Of adventures with my life-alert button

Dear Kossuth County Advance Readers,

The small town of Ringsted Iowa has always been known for its friendly atmosphere, wonderful Danish heritage, great civic groups, and a hard working supportive community. That has never been more evident than this past year as the community plans for its Quasquicentennial Celebration on August 9, 10, and 11th 2024! Think about planning the largest birthday party of your life and then think about doing it for your whole community!

Sometimes a special project calls for special need. This year the Algona Public Library came to the rescue. Every year The Kossuth Area Garden Club presents a Flower Show during the week of the Kossuth County Fair. This year's Fair begins on July 30th through August 4th.

KRHC created $69.5 million impact on local economy in 2023

By Collette McConnell, KRHC

In all, Iowa’s hospitals provided 137,841 jobs statewide

A study by the Iowa Hospital Association found that in 2023, Kossuth Regional Health Center provided more than $1.1 million in total community benefits and served more than 41,700 people through community service programs.

Not my problem

“Leave this world a little better than you found it.”

That quote — or some variation of it — can be attributed to many people. Leader of the Scout Movement Robert Baden-Powell. Novelist and poet Paul Aster. The Science Guy Bill Nye. Fantasy author Sarah J. Maas. Even mixed martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey.

To simply say those words is one thing, though. To do them is quite another.

Do not desecrate the Sabbath

150 Years Ago

DISGRACEFUL. -- We learn that a party of boys visited the house of one of our citizens on Sunday evening last and proceeded to a charivari of occupants. Such a performance at any time is disgraceful and mean, but when the Sabbath is desecrated by such proceedings there would seem to be a call for something stronger than language to teach the performers a lesson in good breeding.

125 Years Ago

For Granted, Psalm 103

By Rev. Peter Talbot, Pastor at Grace Church in Algona

By Dana Clapsaddle Perry

Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for--drum roll please--the winners of the 1954 Kossuth County Centennial beard growing contest.

This photo (photo above) was taken by photographer Al Missal. It is from the Centennial photo collection at the Kossuth County Historical Society.  This photo was in the 15 July 1954 Kossuth County Advance. The caption read:

From the Editor:

We’re all in this together and we’re only as strong as our weakest link.

In this fast paced world full of challenges and surprises it’s easy to get lost, confused, stressed, anxious and depressed.

This ongoing column was designed to get back to the basics and re-learn some skills to help people cope with what life throws at them.

Iowa Racing Hall of Fame in Algona

By Don Heupel, Kossuth County Agricultural and Motorsports Museum

The Kossuth County Agricultural and Motorsports Museum is now open for visitors every Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment.  The admission is $5 per person, and provides access to all the exhibits as well as the Benschoter Train Depot.

Druggists Mutual now operating in nine states

150 Years Ago

City kid tries FFA

By Shane Goodman

The year was 1984, and I was choosing some of my elective courses while in high school. Several of my buddies were born and raised on farms, and they were all involved in FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America), which involved classwork. They convinced me, a town kid, to take the class, too. So I did.

Independence Day

By Rev. John Koopman, Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in West Bend

By Dana Clapsaddle Perry

Last week we learned that women did not have to grow a beard to get a free 4”X5” photo from Brown’s Studio during the 1954 Kossuth County Centennial. Instead, Brown’s took beautiful photographs of women dressed in period costumes.  These photographs were put in the newspaper for promotional purposes leading up to the Centennial.  They were also displayed in the window of Brown’s Studio for advertising purposes for them.

We watched the sun go down on Galway Bay, Part III

By Molly MacDonald

As the memories of our magical trip to Ireland start to fade a little (we went the last week in May), I’m trying to keep all the details fresh. Which, of course, is impossible since remembering anything about anything is a challenge for those of us who are no longer 25 years old.