To the community’s support and outreach in the wake of local tragedy.

Last Saturday, 8-year-old Sophie Stultz died after being hit by a car while riding her bike. It has been a long week following this heartbreaking loss, but the surrounding community has come together in droves to support Sophie’s family. For those of you who sent cards, notes, flowers and other donations; who generously donated to the GoFundMe page setup for the family; who said prayers or kept those affected in their thoughts; who blew up balloons and helped use them to line the funeral procession route on Friday; and those who provided additional support in a multitude of ways — thank you. Thank you for being a community we can all be proud of, and thank you for being behind the Stultz family.

 

To some reportedly disappointing behavior at the Third of July Parade.

The Tribune has received several complaints about some bad behavior at last Sunday’s Third of July Parade. There reports of some people — both children and adults — running too far out into the street for candy, to look at cars or running across the roads at inappropriate times. Please set a better, safer example for others, especially for children looking to adults for guidance.

 

To Albert Lea resident Lilah Aas bicycling 500 miles to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Local resident Lilah Aas will start a 500-mile journey today with about 130 other bicyclists. The goal of the bike ride is to raise money and awareness for the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity is setup to provide low-income citizens with 0 percent loans with which to purchase homes. Aas, a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, explained the organization well.

“Habitat for Humanity helps people who couldn’t afford it purchase a decent and affordable home,” she said.

We applaud her tremendous efforts to benefit a much-needed organization.