To Halverson Elementary School’s language club.

A group of about 40 students at Halverson Elementary School is meeting two days a week after school to learn American Sign Language and Spanish.

Kudos to the teachers who are teaching the students and for the time and energy they are dedicating.

The club is not only teaching the students academically, it is also teaching them life skills such as communication between all — no matter their backgrounds or skin colors.

Sounds like a great combination.

To the two businesses that failed this year’s tobacco compliance checks.

The Albert Lea Police Department conducted tobacco compliance checks on Tuesday at 27 local businesses and found that two businesses illegally sold tobacco to underage decoys.

The checks, which are required annually by the state, encourage employees at businesses to look at a person’s driver’s license or instruction permit before selling tobacco. If a person is younger than 18 and younger than 21, it is clearly listed.

We encourage Korner Mart on West Front Street and MarketPlace Foods, who conducted the illegal sales, to learn from the mistake and move forward.

To the success of Alden-Conger School’s supermileage team.

Congratulations to Alden-Conger School’s supermileage team for another successful year.

Students returned last week from four days in Italy after finishing third place in September at the Shell Eco-marathon world competition in London. In a timed trial in Italy, the team came in second of three teams.

We are immensely impressed with these students and wish them the best — not only in their remaining high school time but in their careers afterward, as well. These students have the capability of doing great things.

To the Freeborn County Fair board.

Thanks to the Freeborn County Fair board, who announced this week that three rock bands will perform during the Friday night at the fair in 2018.

Dokken, Warrant and Winger will be the Grandstand entertainers Aug. 3.

We think this was a good move by the board to reach out to a rock ’n’ roll audience with this performance, and we hope it will be a success.

We look forward to hearing the announcement of the remaining entertainers.