To the closing of Albert Lea’s Holiday Lanes.

We were sad to hear the announcement that Albert Lea’s bowling alley, Holiday Lanes, will close at the end of the month after more than 25 years of operation under the current owners.

The facility will be open from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and then from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday and 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and Aug. 18.

General Manager Dustin Barr said there has been a decline in bowlers within the last five years, and the bowling alley was recently sold to Twin Cities company KK&G Properties LLC. The company does not plan to continue to use the facility as a bowling alley.

This is a perfect example of the need to support local businesses.

If we want to have opportunities for our children and ourselves we have to put our money where our mouths are. It’s that simple.

Thanks to Barr and the others involved with the bowling alley over the years. We will miss it.

 

To a backpack program organized by area churches.

Thank you to eight churches in Albert Lea and Hayward that have teamed up to help supply food for students in need over the weekends during the school year.

The backpack program started as a one-on-one partnership between Grace Lutheran Church — specifically, through the Living Every Day as Disciples program — and Hawthorne Elementary School through conversations with a Hawthorne school social worker. The church was already working with Hawthorne and provided boots and coats during the winter.

Now, as the partnership brings seven more churches and four more schools on board, the size of the program is estimated to grow by approximately six times its original size.

We recognize the need exists in Albert Lea, as half of students enrolled in Albert Lea Area Schools are free or reduced-price lunch recipients.

We anticipate the program will make a huge impact on our area children, and we thank all those who are taking part in making it successful.

 

To two reported attempted abductions within 24 hours last weekend in Albert Lea.

News of an attempted abduction of a 12-year-old girl Saturday at the Freeborn County Fair and of a 22-year-old man Sunday evening near the basketball courts sent waves across the community and the region this week.

We encourage parents to be more vigilant than ever of watching your children and teaching them how to respond in case they ever find themselves in a similar situation.

We hope anyone with information about these two incidents will contact the Albert Lea Police Department or Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

 

To Thursdays on Fountain.

It’s clear to see Thursdays on Fountain has been a huge success this year as hundreds of people flock to Fountain Lake Park each Thursday of the summer for an evening of music and fun.

This past Thursday was one of the largest of the year with Casi Joy, a former contestant on “The Voice,” who has family from the area. Joy also performed at the Freeborn County Fair last week, opening for Easton Corbin.

We thank all those who organize this event and for all those who take advantage of attending it.

The event is free and runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the remaining Thursdays in August.