I recently came across a story talking about the demise of the holiday letter and that many families are giving up on the ritual of writing a letter. Bah, humbug! Say it isn’t true, please.

For several years, the Dodge County boys hockey team has done its part in the battle to help support the fight against cancer. On Dec. 8, the Wildcats gathered the community during their game with Becker-Big Lake for the team’s annual Stick It To Cancer event, which raises funds for the Eagles Cancer Telethon.

Last year, Kasson-Mantorville fourth graders, Diamond Pollard and Sydney Swanson, saw that a group of people were helping to pick up trash and thought it would be great to do a community service project to help the community. From there they brainstormed and thought that it would be a good idea to have a toy drive.

The newspaper community was saddened to hear about the closing of two local newspapers the Byron Review and Star Herald.
 
15 years ago Melanie and Larry Dobson along with their daughter Emily make a commitment to the community by buying the papers, and since then became apart of the community.
 
They exemplified what it means to be apart of a community newspaper.
 

John Verne Kristoffersen, 94, of Owatonna, passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at Koda Living Community.
He was born Johannes Verner Kristoffersen on May 1, 1924 in Eden, Wasioja Township, Dodge County, the son of Mads and Caroline Marie (Salomonsen) Kristoffersen. 

Bunny Wesely, a lifelong resident of Owatonna, died peacefully Dec. 3, 2018 at Koda Living Community of Owatonna.
Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Sacred Heart Church in Owatonna. A parish Rosary took place at the church.

Funeral services for Marleen E. Steen of Freeborn, were held  Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 at The Church of All Saints in New Richland. Father Mike Cronin officiated. Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery in New Richland.
Marlene died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. She was 81 years of age.

Margaret “Ione” Betlach, age 96 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Friday evening, Dec. 7, 2018 at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie.  
Margaret Ione Lynard was born on Oct. 22, 1922 in Owatonna, the daughter of Christopher and Mary (Carroll) Lynard. On June 10, 1946, she was united in marriage to Frank A. Betlach at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Litomysl. Frank died on Dec. 20, 2004.

Eric James Marquardt (32) of Dodge Center, was charged on Monday with one felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.