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. 

As you drive around Dodge County you may have noticed the signs along the roadway marking places with names you have never heard of such as Claremont Street, Hobson, Valasity?
Dodge County is home to more than two dozen of these locations. They are places that were once towns with post offices but, for whatever reason, they withered and died and many have nothing left to indicate they once existed.

Soccer is alive and well in the Dodge County as the Cobra Soccer Club started by Triton Community Education has joined the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association as the first step in Triton’s move toward a high school soccer team.
The Community Education competitive soccer program was given the support of the Triton School Board in May and the MYSA has accepted the application for membership.

With high school graduation wrapping up a few weeks ago, it’s now time for my family to focus on getting another teenager off to college in less than two months.
That can be a scary proposition, especially when it comes to church and associated faith moments. 

The sweet aroma of ribs, hamburgers, steaks and barbeque sauce drifted throughout northern Blooming Prairie on Saturday, June 27, as children and adults competed in the annual cook-off.