To Jaeda Koziolek.

While Albert Lea swimmer Jaeda Koziolek will not advance to Saturday’s state finals in the swim and dive meet, her season has still been one to be proud of. Qualifying in two events at the Section 1A meet, Koziolek swam in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly in the state meet Friday. We applaud Koziolek for her determination, and we bet she will be back next fall to reach her sixth state swim meet.

 

To area volunteers.

This time of year and year-round, we are thankful for the volunteers who give their time and resources to help those in need. Volunteers, such as those with the Ecumenical Food Pantry and the Salvation Army, as well as all people and organizations who donate to a great service for our community. Without volunteers and donations, helping over 160 families each month wouldn’t be possible. Thank you.

 

To local honor roll students.

Congratulations, Albert Lea High School honor roll students for their first quarter efforts. We are pleased to see a long list of names. Many of these honor roll students are also names we see in sports and other organizations. To keep grades up like this with other activities is hard work, especially if you are a student who also has a job. Juggling is hard and your future is looking bright, keep it up!

 

To the Albert Lea trap team.

Congratulations to Albert Lea’s trap team on an impressive inaugural fall season. Before the start of the season, the team set three goals: to be safe, to learn about their firearms and to have fun. However, three weeks into the season, the Tigers found themselves in first place and cruised to a conference championship. Congratulations, Tigers, on your success and in offering something new for students.

 

To an appeal in an Iowa animal neglect case.

Barbara Kavars of Manly, Iowa, who was found guilty of 14 counts of animal neglect in October, has filed an appeal.

Kavars was sentenced to two years of supervised probation with 420 days in jail, 30 days for each of the 14 counts, suspended.

At the sentencing, District Court Judge Lawrence Jahn said despite her testimony, the situation was getting worse and worse and he didn’t see that Kavars did a whole lot to alleviate the situation.

North Iowa Humane Society took on more than 300 Samoyeds from the property at the time; some of whom didn’t survive. The Humane Society said it was unhappy with the news of the appeal.

“Just when you think you can close the chapter on what has been a long and emotional story for over 300 rescued Samoyeds … the book is flung back open by the breeder who refuses to take any responsibility,” the organization wrote in a Facebook post sharing the news of the appeal.

We’re sorry to hear the situation appears to not be resolved, as it keeps all those involved from being able to heal and move on from the situation.