To the people who donated to the annual letter carriers food drive.

Thanks to all of the area residents who left food out for the annual Albert Lea letter carriers food drive on Saturday. The food goes to support families in need in our own community.

The Albert Lea letter carriers have taken part in the national food drive for 22 years. We look forward  to hearing the results from this year’s drive.

 

To Mike Haskins and Del Schroader.

A dream of many young children in the community — and maybe adults, too — may now become reality thanks to area residents Mike Haskins and Del Schroader.

The two men brainstormed the idea to start a dog waste removal service called Code Brown. The service includes stopping by a dog owner’s home once or twice a week and picking up the dog waste. From there, Haskins takes the waste to Schroader’s property to start composting it. The waste is mixed with leaves and then covered with sawdust. After several months, it eventually becomes fertilizer.

Haskins and Schroader are on a mission to get more pet owners to dispose of their pet waste responsbily.

Kudos to these men for being willing to do the dirty work.

 

To Shell Rock River Watershed District officials.

Kudos to Shell Rock River Watershed District officials who are seeking many ways to educate the public about the projects taking place through the district — namely, the dredging.

Education is key to helping people understand what our dollars go for and to prevent untrue statements from floating around the community.

District officials this week said they plan to employ multiple methods to educate the public, including online, through public workshops and other means.

We hope the community takes the watershed leaders up on the opporunity to be educated.

 

To the Minnesota fishing opener. 

We know summer is approaching each year with the arrival of the Minnesota fishing opener. This year was expected to be a little colder than some, but that doesn’t stop the dedicated people out there who love to fish.

As we get into the season, please remember that if you have any big catches, feel free to submit a photo to the Tribune for our Catch of the Week. Please include your name, the size and weight of the fish, what bait you used and where you caught it, and then send it to our new Sports Editor Jarrod Peterson at jarrod.peterson@albertleatribune.com.