Moenning Meats of Dodge Center will be making their first appearance at the Steele County Free Fair next week, showing off their latest product line, “Sweet Swine, Bacon that’s pig-licious.”
As you might have guessed, that’s chocolate-covered bacon.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement released late last month details the potential impacts of a wind farm that touches Steele, Dodge and Olmsted Counties.

The Byron community was in shock last week when they heard the news that the beloved Bob’s Smoke Stack Ribs would be closing its doors permanently.
The news came on Facebook, when the company announced that they would be closing the business effective Sunday.
The post explained that the decision wasn’t a easy one but due to ongoing health issues for the owner Bob Lewis it was one that needed to be made. 

JoJo Wright had been working in the assembly area at McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing when he decided to give a new program that would train him as a welder a try.
He started the program early this year and after four weeks he was OSHA safety certified and had a certificate in welding. Today, he has advanced further and is now working as a supervisor on the line.

Blooming Prairie High School student Madelaine Stoen talked briefly to those attending last Friday’s Dodge County Relay for Life activities about her experiences as a cancer survivor.

Patrick C. Gorman, 65, of Ardmore, Okla., and formerly of Tempe, Ariz. and Owatonna, passed away on July 24, 2019 after experiencing a major stroke on July 16.
Patrick’s wish was to donate his body for research and tissue donation and has been fulfilled.

Ronald “Ron” Henry Fisher, age 68 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Methodist Campus.
Ron was born July 13, 1951 in Owatonna, to Paul and Marion (Wangen) Fisher. On July 21, 1979, he married Judy Lester at Geneva Lutheran Church. Together they had four daughters.

Brady Holmberg took one for the team at Vandal's Family Market.
Holmberg is a co-owner of Vandal's with his wife Brandi and brother-in-law Waco.
Holmberg was perched atop a dunk tank, a way for him to stay cool on Vandal's special anniversary day. The anniversary day carried the theme of "5th Anniversary Sale and Fiesta."

For the almost 50 years that Mona and Roger Draheim have lived in Kasson, they have been involved in the community in some way. 
Thats why its so fitting that they were selected by the Kasson Festival in the Park Committee as this year’s Grand Marshalls. 
For the Draheims they were shocked that they were picked. 
“I gave the phone to my husband because I was in tears,” Mona said.