For Bennett Berge and Patrick Kennedy winning first place at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament was only the beginning as they both followed that up with first place finishes at the Cheesehead Invitational this past weekend.
            Berge said winning Cheesehead for the first time was a rewarding experience.

From August 2018 to October 2019, Braxton Raymond battled for his life after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
Despite the grim prognosis, Kelly Raymond, Braxton’s father, said, “He never stopped fighting, worked out daily and continued to love life, food, friends, family and basketball.”

The excitement was building at Triton Elementary School on the last day before the Christmas break.
The kindergarten youngsters performed a concert of holiday songs in the Performing Arts Center and afterwards adjourned to the school cafeteria where they made gingerbread houses.

Second graders at Triton Elementary School spent much of December collecting food items for the Food Shelf in Kasson as part of a Giving Tree unit in their social studies classes.
The students were studying economics and giving as part of the revamped social studies curriculum, said teacher Sarah Stradtmann. During the unit, she said, they learned that giving can include many things such as clothes and food.

Again in 2019 the Dodge County Relay for Life organization ranked among the leaders in the amount of money raised for the American Cancer Society. This is the fourth year the local group has been in the top 10 nationwide.

Funeral Services were held for Gary “Gar” Petersen, 75, of Albert Lea,  at his beloved St. Theodore’s Church on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 2p.m.  Visitation will be at the church starting at 12:30 p.m. that day.  Gar passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 30 at St. John’s Retirement Community.

A Monday afternoon fire has destroyed a house in Dodge Center.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the homeowner reporting her house was on fire at 17830 635th Street in Dodge Center around 4:20 p.m. Monday. By the time deputies arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. 
Sheriff Scott Rose said everyone was able to get out of the home safely without injuries. 

Having lived in the south for several years, my wife and I developed a taste for southern food. You know, barbeque. Pulled pork, baby back ribs, baked beans with chunks of pulled pork and potato salad.
Last week, I visited Kasson’s Misplaced Magnolia. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I walked into the rib joint. My skepticism turned to eye-popping optimism as I viewed the items on the menu.

With the new year, and a new decade as well, upon us this week, we have decided to kick things off in a big way with the newspaper. We’re creating an opportunity for readers as well as potential new readers to kick off the new decade by winning some cold hard cash.