News

Kasson’s Ella Babcock was an ace in the pitchers circle in the KoMets opener.

KoMets softball team sparkles in opener

Kasson-Mantorville’s softball girls looked sharp in their season opener on Thursday, March 31. KoMets hurler Ella Babcock was supreme on the hill, as she fired a six-inning no- hit gem; and amassed 11 strikeouts in the extraordinary effort. Pitching: K-M: Ella Babcock, 6 IP, no hits, no runs, 1 BB...

Keeping active in Mantorville activities is important to John and Jane Olive.

Mantorville important to John, Jane Olive

John Olive grew up west of Mantorville on a family farm and still lives on part of the land his great grandparent farm was on. He attended the Mantorville Grade School and then moved to the KM Junior and Senior High in 1957. He participated in football and track threw the discus and shot put. He...

Hop into spring with area Easter egg hunts

Easter egg hunts are scheduled for several communities in our area. If you’re concerned about your little ones getting trampled at competitive Easter egg hunts, check out the one in Mantorville on April 16 at Riverside Park. Held at 9:30 a.m., the Mantorville Chamber of Commerce is hosting the...

Rezoning hearing set to build 34-unit complex in NE Kasson

Kasson’s Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Monday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the city council’s chamber to consider rezoning property from low density residential to multi-family housing development. The area under consideration is in the Thompson Addition in the general location...

A buffalo is spotted a little too close to the campground.

‘Traveling teacher’ offers tips for western travel

(Editor’s Note: Karen Hendrickson is a Kasson-Mantorville High School graduate now teaching in the Rochester Public Schools. An avid traveler, this is Part One of her series on places to visit in the western United States.) The traveling teacher is back to give you more ideas of where to go in...

State confirms bird flu in Dodge County

Avian influenza has been confirmed in Dodge County, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The case involves a commercial turkey farm in the county and was detected on April 3 and 20,000 birds were quarantined. The Board of Animal Health website on Tuesday confirmed there was Avian...

Hayfield players celebrate their Class A championship Saturday afternoon after defeating Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 51-49 at Williams Arena.

Hayfield boys successfully defend Class A state title

Hayfield’s trek to pay dirt commenced with the boys knocking-off unseeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 66-49, in the Class A state quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 23, at Williams Arena. The Vikings next took on Cherry in semifinal action on Friday, March 25, and Hayfield emerged victorious, 72-61. The...

Lilli Johnson travels around the Dodge County Business Expo in style in her balloon-equipped stroller.

Return of Dodge County Expo a success

After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dodge County Business Expo returned to Triton High School last Saturday with organizers saying the event was a success. “Committee members were pleased with the turnout,” said Expo Committee Chair Dan Rabe. The number of vendors was down...

Bigelow, Marti eye developing three sites in Kasson

Bigelow Land Development received approval of its request to annex a 40-acre parcel off of the Dump Road for low-density residential homes. “Tonight is just annexation,” Tony Bigelow informed the Kasson City Council at its March 23 meeting. “Straight forward, it’s about access to the parcel.”...

Clarissa Schrooten works as a naturalist at Oxbow Park and the Zollman Zoo in Byron.

Love of outdoors led Clarissa Schrooten to Oxbow, Zollman Zoo

Clarissa Schrooten grew up on a hog farm near Gibbon, Minn. with two siblings. Her grandparents started the operation with her two uncles and her parents live on the farm site. Since her cousins lived so close they were almost like immediate family members. She attended Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop...