Kasson-Mantorville Middle School’s drama department students presented Patrick Derksen’s detective comedy, “A Lighter Shade of Noir,” Feb. 23-25 at the Minnesota WiFi Performing Arts Center at Kasson-Mantorville High School. 
This is the school’s first comedy, and the students did an excellent job learning their lines and the accents needed for their parts. 

Mark Matuska was attending a training event in Nashville when he learned about America’s latest school shooting.
A young man named Nikolas Cruz is charged with killing 17 students and injuring 14 more on Feb. 14 at his former high school in Parkland, Fla.

As a journalist covering news stories of all sorts, I know first-hand how quickly things can change in life.
Just when you think things are moving forward in a positive direction, life gets in the way and changes everything very quickly. Such has been the case at the Steele County Free Fair over the past several months. 

One week ago, the Kasson-Mantorville wrestling team captured the Section 1AA Championship with a victory over Simley. That alone should have convinced observers that this team still ran the section even with the addition of the second-ranked Spartans at the beginning of the year.

Michele A. Lawson was named postmaster of the Blooming Prairie Post Office on Feb. 17.
“I wear lots of different hats,” she said. “For example, I was postmaster, supervisor, mail carrier, clerk, landscaper and maintenance person, all in one day.”

At its regular meeting Monday night, Mantorville city council members made several decisions that illustrated some of the myriad ways tax dollars are spent to keep the city running on an even keel. 

Kasson-Mantorville High School teacher Amory Olson applied a while back for KIMT TV’s “Giving Your Best” award, which promotes community awareness of non-profit programs and works on projects with award-winners.
She was surprised when a KIMT representative visited her classroom recently to present a check for $300.
“I never win anything, so this is so exciting for me,” she said. 

Two men believed to be involved in a machete attack in Hayfield are facing felony assault charges.
The Dodge County Attorney’s Office has charged Roderick Mickele Washington, 46, and Tommy Lee Robinson, 45, both of Hayfield, with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon causing substantial bodily harm.

Kasson-Mantorville High School students went above and beyond in their quest to raise money for the annual KoMets vs. Cancer campaign, which benefits the Dodge County Relay for Life.
The goal was to raise $15,000. More than $19,000 About $18,600 had been raised by late last week during events ranging from silent auctions to taco feeds.