To the Albert Lea Jaycees.

Brrr. It sure got colder on Friday. Every year about the time the publicity starts up for the Jaycees winter clothing drive, a cold front comes through. Why is that? Because it serves as a reminder to dig out our winter clothes, then donate the garb we aren’t going to wear this year for whatever reasons to the Albert Lea Jaycees. The Jaycees especially desire winter clothes for children from sizes 5 to 12.

You can drop off winter clothes at Hy-Vee, Nelson’s, Coldwell Banker, Home Federal, Wells Federal, Green Mill, Pizza Ranch, Freeborn County Shopper, Albert Lea Tribune, Minnesota Corrugated Box and American Bank.

To the Shell Rock River Watershed District.

For years the staff members of the watershed district and their supporters have been pushing for the state to help fund the cost of dredging Fountain and Albert Lea lakes. In the meantime, they worked on smaller water-quality projects. Finally, they said enough is enough and decided to buy the $340,000 dredge and the $435,000 equipment to get momentum rolling for the big job. Support for the Shell Rock River Watershed District’s decision couldn’t be greater, as it seems people generally are quite excited about having the dredge in town. Even the disbanded Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea has, well, um, banded. Planning now must be done for labor, logistics, licensing and other work. Dredging could start in 2014, at the earliest.

To the Waldorf Warriors’ ice hockey team.

Things got rolling Sept. 28 for the second season for this Forest City team playing their home games at City Arena in Albert Lea with wins two nights in a row over South Dakota State. They battled St. Thomas Friday and Saturday in Albert Lea, and the Warriors won’t be home again until Oct. 26. Be sure to catch their hockey games. A schedule appears today in the Sports pages (print only).