News

MSHSL approves plan for a return to winter activities

Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors last week approved a flexible plan for the restart of winter activities when clearance is provided by state governmental leaders. Executive Order 20-99 is currently in place, a directive that mandates a four-week pause in activities designed...

Salvation Army sees increase in help requests

It has been a busy year for the Dodge County Salvation Army as requests for assistance have increased as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The need is great, said Salvation Army volunteer Faye Wendland, but county residents have also been stepping up to help. The annual Christmas bell ringing...

2 people die from COVID in Dodge County

After going nearly nine months without recording any deaths, Dodge County experienced two COVID-related deaths within the past week. Public Health Director Amy Caron reported the first death on Dec. 2. She said a person in their 90s had died from the virus. A second death involving a woman in her...

BREAKING NEWS: Dodge County fire destroys hog barn, kills 2,000 pigs

A fire in southern Dodge County has destroyed a hog barn and 2,000 smaller pigs, Blooming Prairie Fire Chief Dean Naatz said. The blaze broke out around 8 a.m. Thursday at the Garness Farm located along Hwy. 30 between Hayfield and Blooming Prairie. It took firefighters from three area departments...

BREAKING NEWS: COVID-19 claims first death in Dodge County

Nearly nine months after the pandemic began, Dodge County has recorded its first COVID-19 death. Public Health Director Amy Caron reported late Wednesday that a person in their 90s has died from the COVID-19 virus. “Our sincere condolences go out to the family during this difficult time,” Caron...

KoMet Pantry serves students in need

Three years ago, the KoMet Pantry opened at Kasson-Mantorville High School and has been serving kids in need ever since. The Pantry provides perishable and non-perishable food as well as personal items such as shampoo and deodorant. Students don’t need to provide any documentation proving they need...

KM KoMets finish their COVID season with a win

Kasson-Mantorville KoMets had their last volleyball game of the season on their home turf against the Jordan Jaguars last week. The first set started out with Jordan taking the lead 2-0 until Maddy Cummings and Shae Sands both received a kill tying the game 2-2. After a long back and forth round,...

Kasson Library Director Pat Schaffer-Gottschalk says she works with the best library staff there is. Staff members include, left to right, Nancy Hackenmiller, Barb Thompson, Pat Shaffer-Gottschalk, Kelly Bell and David Greenfield.

Kasson library director says staff is the best

Patricia Shaffer-Gottschalk grew up in Port Clinton, Ohio, about the size of Kasson, by Lake Erie with two sisters who still live in Ohio. The city has been nicknamed “The Walleye Capital of the World” due to the great fishing areas offshore in Lake Erie (wonder how Minnesota feels about that?)....

The staff at El Patron in Kasson was ready for business when the restaurant opened last week. Hard at work in the kitchen were, back, left to right, Frank, Adolfo Angel, Paco, Carlos Rodriquez; front Victor Lemus.

El Patron open for business Kasson

After delays in opening, El Patron Mexican Grill & Cantina opened Nov. 24 in the old Daniel’s Restaurant location in Kasson. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican food, with dozens of items on the expansive menu. Most popular menu items are the enchiladas supreme, cowboy fajitas and the...

Retired from military, Nelson now serves veterans

Todd Nelson lived in Austin his first 11 years before his family moved three miles north to a rural acreage. That move put his family in the Hayfield School district which was 18 miles away. He was the middle child in a family of seven boys and two girls. He was active in sports playing football...