A heavy haze and a smoky smell blanketed Dodge and Steele counties last week as most of Minnesota found air quality unhealthy as the result of wildfires burning in several provinces of Canada.

Four people are in custody after a stabbing incident in the early morning hours in Meriden Township of Steele County.
According to the Steele County Sheriff’s Office, one person was seriously injured after deputies responded to a residence after 3 a.m. on July 10.

Betty Darlene (Hansen) Fierro, age 61 of Las Vegas, Nevada, died Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Valley Regional Hospital where she had been since March 1, 2015. She had bravely fought pancreatic cancer for 6 ½ years. Betty was born in Blooming Prairie, the daughter of Carlo and Esther Ann (Ingvalson) Hansen. After graduating from Blooming Prairie High School in 1971, Betty went on to attend Rochester Vocational School. She was employed at St.

Glenn William Naatz, 77 of rural Waltham died Sunday morning, June 28, 2015, at his farm home. 
He was born July 12, 1937, on the family farm in Waltham Township, Mower County, the son of Edmund August and Magdalena Emma (Faber) Naatz. Glenn attended Trinity Lutheran Parochial School of Waltham through the eighth grade and graduated from Austin High School in 1955. 

As I enjoyed the Fourth of July in Blooming Prairie, I couldn’t help but notice all the fun and excitement the different events brought to the faces of young and old alike. Even before the fireworks filled the night sky, people definitely were getting a bang out of the festivities.

Each year, the Blooming Prairie community welcomes guests from near and far to enjoy the Fourth of July Celebration, and this year was no exception. 

Doves were cut in half, a rabbit disappeared and pieces of cloth were turned into an American flag. 
Such were the illusions of magician Mike Prestby during the Blooming Prairie Fourth of July weekend festivities.  

If you were anywhere near Blooming Prairie City Park on July 3 around 5 p.m., chances are you heard crowds cheering on kids, age 3-12, as they pedaled tractors with weighted skids. You may have noticed the announcer of the event, a tall man in a green muscle shirt (with a pedal pulling logo) and bright orange shoes. 

Water aerobic classes are often thought of as being a super intense workout with a very high difficulty level. However, the water aerobics class at the Medford Pool is far from that.