To Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Thank you to area residents LeeAnn Hovland and Shelly Bos, who shared their stories of battling breast cancer this week in light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. At this time there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

About one in eight women born in the United States will get breast cancer at some point; however, the good news is most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages people to spread the word about mammograms and encourage others to get involved.

To Wells resident Nick Dallman.

Thank you to Wells resident Nick Dallman, who this week dropped off 37,000 pounds of supplies in Houston, Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Items included sheetrock, pallets of water, cleaning supplies, nonperishable food items and tools.

Thanks to everyone who supported the effort, and we hope the items will be put to good use in the coming weeks.

Dalton said he hopes the people of Texas will know that they were not forgotten and that people around the country are supporting them.

To the city’s Hometown Pride Cleanup Day.

Thank you to city leaders, who today are offering the biannual Hometown Pride Cleanup Day — an opportunity for residents to get rid of trash or appliances at free or reduced rates.

This is a good chance for people to clean up their properties at a cheaper cost, and we encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of the reduced and free costs.

The cleanup runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Brush and yard waste, household garbage and demolition debris are free. An appliance, sofa or mattress is $10, other furniture pieces are $5 and passenger-car tires are $3. Regular rates apply for rims and e-waste.

To support for walk-a-thons at elementary schools within Albert Lea Area Schools.

Lakeview Elementary School was the last elementary school in the district to have its walk-a-thon Friday and raised more than $23,000 to go back toward the school.

Thanks to all of the people and businesses who support our children. Albert Lea is a very giving community.

To a rainy couple of weeks.

There sure has been a lot of rain in the last few weeks, and we look forward to more sun in the forecast for the coming weeks.

Monday through Thursday are all forecasted to be sunny, according to the National Weather Service.

Let’s hope the forecast holds true for our area farmers, who are eager to get into the fields this harvest season.