To Forrest Willey.

We were glad to read that former Albert Lea High School Principal Forrest Willey was honored by the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kan. He deserves it. He will be remembered with 112 other fallen educators at a new memorial at Emporia State University. Willey was the ALHS principal in the 1940s and went to Wayzata in 1953 and soon after to Grand Rapids. There, a 15-year-old boy had apparently had been teased and bullied brought a .22 caliber pistol to school and shot a 14-year-old classmate. Willey approached the shooter seeking to take the gun away and was shot in the shoulder and abdomen. He died eight days later. The boy who was shot survived. His name is Kevin Roth, and last October he spoke to students at Grand Rapids about prevention of bullying.

 

To too many festivals on one weekend.

It happens several times each summer. Cities will have their town festivals on the same weekend, while other weekends are left open. Glenville Days is on the same weekend as Eddie Cochran Weekend in Albert Lea. Kiester Days is the same weekend as Morin Lake Days in Alden. Borderfest in Emmons is on the same weekend as Ellendale Days. Farm & City Days in New Richland, July Jubilee in Lake Mills and Hayward Days all three share the same weekend. Meanwhile, other weekends are free, with little to nothing going on. Perhaps it’s unavoidable, but wouldn’t it be nice they lined up neatly? Perhaps it would increase attendance. Wells, however, does it right. Kernels Days in August share the weekend with no other town festivals in the Albert Lea area.

 

To new hours at the city pool.

Having evening hours at the city pool is a good idea that will seem like a great idea when the heat of July and August arrive. This should allow more parents to bring their kids to swim after work. The pool opened Tuesday, and the new hours are 1 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Adults can show up for lap swims from 9 to 10 a.m. weekdays.