To the All-Area girls’ basketball team.

Southern Minnesota and nothern Iowa produced some high-quality girls’ basketball players this season, led by New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva sophomore Carlie Wagner. Wagner averaged 29.9 points per game and scored the third-most points in state history this season. She is joined on the First Team by fellow Panther Anna Schlaak, who is the career leader in rebounds at NRHEG. United South Central has two players on the First Team, including sharp shooter Katie Ovrebo and one of the state’s top shot blockers, Amanda Allis. Bryn Woodside also made the top group after averaging 15 points per game for Albert Lea.

 

To the House bonding bill.

It is sad that House representatives feel ballparks and civic centers have a higher priority in this great state than the cleaning of water — and not just any body of water, a lake in the center of a vibrant regional center, a major facet of life in Albert Lea. Dredging Fountain Lake is a big step toward cleaning area waters. The Shell Rock River Watershed District has cleaned the bodies of water above the lake. The 2005 sales-tax election showed there is overwhelming support for cleaning local waters. It is perplexing that members of the House aren’t on board. We gave a thumbs down to Gov. Mark Dayton when he didn’t include the project in his version of the bonding bill, either. Perhaps the proposal will fare better in the Senate version.

 

To Albert Lea Community Theatre.

It’s good that this local group is willing to step up to the plate and take over the management of the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center (formerly the Albert Lea Civic Theater). The agreement still has to be approved by the Albert Lea City Council, which is addressing it Monday, but at this stage it likely will go through. Having ACT manage it will make using this community asset easier to use and will help all interested parties keep track of things (such as putting items back where they belong). The city did the best it could with the resources it has, but the people who are in the building the most no doubt can manage the place more conveniently. It’s a sensible plan.