To Albert Lea High School graduates.

Friday was a big day for Albert Lea High School graduates and their families.

After years of hard work, graduates walked across the stage at Albert Lea High School and accepted their diplomas. 

Congratulations for all your hard work, and we wish you nothing but good things in the future. Continue to reach for your dreams, and know that anything is possible.

 

To participants in the Adult Learning Center’s programs.

Congratulations to all who participated in one of the programs through the Adult Learning Center, whether it was to obtain a GED, learn English, earn citizenship or another class.

The students represented 23 countries and 14 different languages. Eleven students were under 17 and 18, and 11 were over 60.

We thought it was particularly notable that 50 percent of the students taking part in the programs came to school while still working and caring for families.

We commend these students for all of their hard work, and we look forward to hearing how these students continue to grow in the future.

 

To residents who donated to the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Thanks to all of the Albert Lea area residents who contributed to the annual letter carriers food drive by donating almost 16,500 food items.

This was the second or third highest total the letter carriers had ever received and will go to serve residents who utilize the Ecumenical Food Pantry at First Presbyterian Church or the food shelf at the Salvation Army.

Albert Lea letter carriers were a little over 100 pounds short of the total collected in Austin — making the total collected for both towns over 33,000 pounds of food. The food drive has been a friendly competition between Austin and Albert Lea in recent years.

Great job to all of the area letter carriers who helped collect this impressive total.

 

To the opening of the Albert Lea Farmers Market.

We were pleased to see the Albert Lea Farmers Market open for the season on Wednesday in the North Broadway parking lot.

Though the gardening season — and thus the farmers market season — is off to a slower start this year because of weather, many goods were expected to be at the market this week, including rhubarb, asparagus, jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, farm-fresh eggs, maple syrup, bedding plants and crafts.

We look forward to seeing more as the season goes on and appreciate the opportunity to purchase locally grown produce.

 

To reports of another school shooting in Texas.

We were saddened to hear news of an active shooter Friday morning at Santa Fe High School in Texas.

Early reports indicated there were 10 fatalities and injuries and authorities had arrested the the shooter and a second person believed to be involved.