News

Speculation continues about potential sale of Erdmans

More than a week after speculation began that Erdmans County Market in Kasson has been sold to Hy-Vee there has still been no official confirmation from either Erdmans or Hy-Vee. Sources, however, said Tuesday afternoon that the sale would officially be announced Wednesday afternoon. The idea that...

Jim Checkel likes to work on old tractors in his spare time, including this Oliver 77 which he has restored.

Jim Checkel’s stop at Mayo HR led to 40-year career

Jim Checkel is a 1978 Kasson-Mantorville graduate. As a student he wanted to be involved with the FFA program but his dad didn’t think it was a good idea and it was that fact that motivated Jim even more to be a member. When K-M vo-ag instructor Dean Hanson made a farm visit to their place he...

Karen Hendrickson in Cambodia with a S21 Death Camp Survivor in Phnom Penh.

Hendrickson Continues Her Journey In Southeast Asia: Cambodia

I took a bus from my hotel in Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the capital, located in the middle of the country. In the 1920s, this city used to be known as the “Pearl of Asia” due to its beauty. The next day, I went to the Tuol Sleng (S-21) Genocide museum to somberly take an audio tour and...

Dodge Center Lions Citizen Of The Year A ‘Go-To Guy’

Roger Deyo is known for helping people out of jams. Snow day? He’ll drive you to work. Constructing a new playground? He’ll be there. Doctor appointment at Mayo Clinic? He’ll take you. It’s his renown as a ‘go-to guy’ that prompted Dave Hanson, fellow Dodge Center Lion, to nominate Deyo as this...

Gov. Walz Issues Statewide Masking Mandate

Gov. Tim Walz last week signed Executive Order 20-81, which requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings. Researchers have advocated for masking, calling it a simple and effective step to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. To date, 30 states...

Gaylord Gossard Has Spent His Life Helping Others

Gaylord Gossard lived some of his early years in the farm across from the Plowville site west of Kasson on old Highway 14 (now county road #34) until the family moved to a new farm west of Wasioja in 1948. He grew up with two sisters. The year this farm kid was born his father, who suffered from...

Matt Wieman of Owatonna celebrates in Victory Lane as he claims the Kruckeberg Services WISSOTA Hornet Feature title Friday night at the Chateau Speedway in Lansing.

UMSS Sprints Bring Extra Excitement To Chateau

Temperatures were plenty warm Friday Night at Chateau Speedway but not as hot as the racing. The Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series (UMSS) Non Wing Traditional Sprints joined the track’s regular seven classes making for a full night of high-speed action. The night’s program featured the largest field...

Pitcher Kasey Kreckling led the Dodge County Diamondbacks to a 11-7 victory over the Owatonna Aces at Dartts Park in Owatonna.

Diamondbacks Head Into Last Week Of Season With 4-3 Record

As the Dodge County Diamondbacks head into the final week of a shortened regular Minnesota Baseball Association season, they find themselves in third place in the nine-team Twin Rivers League with a 4-3 record. They split the first two games of the season, winning over the Pine Island Pioneers 3-2...

K-M’s Tanner Hall waits for the throw to second as a Raiders’ runner advances.

K-M Loses To Northfield In Extra Innings

Clear skies and fans lined up on the outfield fence to watch a cliff-hanger between Kasson-Mantorville and the Northfield Raiders, Friday evening at K-M’s field. Kasson lost to Northfield 5-4 in extra innings. Lefthanded freshman Noah Swarts took the mound for the KoMets tossing 5 innings giving...

Semcac Food Shelf Seeking Donations

For the past several months the Dodge County Food Shelf has been distributing more food than ever to meet the need for food assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. Increased demand by community members, coupled with difficulties in obtaining food for distribution, has created shortages at the...