...It is easy to think that a castle is a castle, but each one we saw was as different as their locations and topography, kings involved in their construction and who designed them. 

... t the empty bins were more prone to storm damage was that they were empty in preparation for the upcoming harvest. Had they been full of grain, the presence of the grain would have provided support and stability to the bin’s walls as they were subjected to the powerful winds. ...
Read about the Rev. Walt Reemtstma's take on the Holy Spirit in the Oct. 1 Kossuth County Advance.

...Next, I took Flat Stanley along with me to Lisa’s Hair Design, where both of us got haircuts. Lisa sat Flat Stanley in her chair, put a cape around him and posed with her scissors next to his head - it made a great picture.
Then we happened to see Misty in the backyard of Pet Kingdom, so she posed with Flat Stanley (who from now on I’m going to refer to as F.S. because I’m tired of typing his name - I’m sure he doesn’t mind). ...
 

The Electoral College is probably going to be a controversial component in the 2020 presidential election, as it was in 2016. Get some data and information on the Electoral College and how it saves individual and minority rights in Brad Hicks' "On the Side" column in the Oct. 1 Kossuth County Advance.

A Kossuth county farmer claims to have raised 65 bushels of wheat to the acre this year. The Upper Des Moines claims that Kossuth is the champion wheat county of the state on this showing.
 
Read about this and other historical happenings in Gene Miller's "Out of the Past" column in the Oct. 1 Kossuth County Advance.

Ieper is walled-in with a moat surrounding much of that community of about 18,000 residents. Entering through the west gate, we found city streets meandering in every direction, some of them cobblestone. Our first thought was, “What a nice looking old community.” And it is, but that is only part of the story. The wide-open Grand Market in the city center is indeed grand, surrounded in every direction by beautiful old architecture.

The school year is off to a great start at West Bend-Mallard! We have had to make many adjustments due to COVID-19, but overall, we are adjusting well. The staff is working diligently to assess where students are at in the beginning of the year and teaching them from there. We are working with parents and students to make sure everyone is healthy when coming to school and while they are at school. We have also been able to celebrate normal events throughout our time here at school. 

As far as the farmer’s market season goes, however, the 2020 year was a memorable one. At the beginning of May I wasn’t even sure if we would be allowed to have a farmers market. Then, I worried that nobody would come to it if we did. But, as you know, it happened. The market not only occurred, we welcomed more new vendors than we have in years. 
 
Read Joanne Roepke-Bode's last Farmers Market column of the season in the Oct. 1 Kossuth County Advance.

...On Wednesday evening, people converged outside our house and finished the railing for us. My family felt exceedingly loved and cared for by this relatively simple act of care and service. Now I’m on my deck with the little two running around happy and safe.
This is what we are supposed to be about as a church....
 
What is the Rev. Brock Youngren writing about in the Families of Faith column? See it in the Sept. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

...It’s President Trump’s job, if he elects to do so, to appoint a nominee to the high court. President Obama did his job – he nominated Garland. It’s the Senate’s job to act on that. It was the Republicans in the Senate that held it up for political reasons. That was wrong, as it is now wrong for Democrats to request the same...
 
What is Brad Hicks writing about this week? Check out his On the Side in the Sept. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

The true test of great plot development is the mystery. Karen Dionne does a masterful job of creating a mystery with plenty of twists and turns in “The Wicked Sister” recently released by Putnam. 
 
Read Michael Tideman's book review in the Sept. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

A first-class petty officer in aviation ordnance in the navy for three years Richard spent two years aboard the aircraft Saratoga in the southwest Pacific.  Last February the Saratoga was attacked by a kamikaze pilot, who dropped a bomb which dropped through three decks and landed in a compartment just ahead of where Richard stood.  
 
Who was this officer and what happened? See Gene Miller's Out of the Past column in the Sept. 24 Kossuth County Advance.

Those pensioners had a good time kidding me about getting a shovel and digging worms that I could sell for 10 pence each to help pay for our holiday. Asking a few more questions, we learned that a live beach contains a variety of creatures, such as isopods, beetles, beach hoppers, sand crabs as well as the blood worms (red worms) all of which survive by scavenging in the sand for food which includes smaller creatures in that environment. 
 

We are headed in to my favorite time of year. It’s different this year because just like everyone else, we are wondering what the last few months of 2020 will bring.

When I began wearing a mask into local stores last April, I saw the stares. I was definitely in the minority, and though unsaid, I knew some were thinking I was one of those freaked out by the pandemic or perhaps even some sort of liberal looney. Last spring, when I opted to severely restrict access to our office and subsequently required a mask to enter it, there were those who assumed we were trying to make some sort of political statement because, well, we’re in the media business.