Droves of people will be making their way to the one-year delayed Dodge County Free Fair that begins Wednesday, July 14 at the fairgrounds. After a year off due to the global pandemic, the excitement is building to get out and do what’s normal in southeast Minnesota.

Wayne L. Aarsvold, rural Kasson, died Tuesday, June 29, in Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, Saint Marys Campus.

Merlin “Mike” Mestad, 89, of rural Stewartville, died Thursday, July 1, 2021, of natural - causes at Shorewood Senior Living in Rochester.
Merlin Elmer Mestad was born on October 22, 1931, in Hayfield, to Elmer and Jeanette (Eastlee), Mestad. He grew up on the family farm, attended country school, and graduated from Hayfield High School. in 1949.

Marilyn Lermon lived on a farm near Stacyville and St. Ansgar, Iowa with one brother and two sisters. Her brother lives in Burnsville, a sister in Faribault and her oldest sister still runs the grocery store in Stacyville and makes brats using an old family recipe.
There was one field between their farm and the Minnesota border so she could see Minnesota from their farm, she said.

Chateau Speedway kicked off the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend with some exciting racing action Friday Night. Six classes of cars set off their own kind of fireworks as 100 cars filled the pits for the nights action.

Kasson Post 333 traveled to Byron last week and came away on the wrong end of an 8-7 defeat. Byron took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before Kasson responded with three of their own in the top of the second highlighted by an RBI double by Nick Larson, RBI single from Jake Hallstrom, and an RBI single by Noah Swarts.

One-hundred-and-two-year-old Marvin Viker grew up on a farm in the Rock Dell area with four brothers and a sister. His sister, age 93, and his brother, age 90, are still living. He was the oldest of his siblings and the only one to learn Norwegian as his folks would speak Norwegian when they didn’t want the kids to know what they were talking about, according to Marvin.

Known as a go-to guy on the Mantorville City Council, Don Hofstad stepped down on June 28, and a new member will be appointed to his seat in coming weeks.
Hofstad had served on the city council for more than six years. He said he is stepping down to spend more time with his family and take a chance to breathe.

After a year’s hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic Minnesota’s oldest county fair is ready to once again welcome visitors. The fair opens on Wednesday, July 14, and continues through Sunday, July 18, with many old favorites returning and a few new ones.
There will be at least three new food vendors this year, said Fair Board President Marilyn Lermon.