For the fourth time, in as many school years, Kasson-Mantorville will have a new superintendent, after Superintendent Ted Ihns announced his resignation from the school district effective the end of school year.
The announcement came during the district’s organizational meeting on Monday night.

On a 4-3 vote Mark Torkelson defeated Kate Ryan as the new Kasson-Mantorville School Board chair, during the board’s organizational meeting.
Torkelson will be replacing Kent Harfmann, who decided against running for re-election this November.
“I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to serving the community in my new role as board chair,” Torkelson wrote in a prepared statement through a spokesperson.

A West Concord woman was killed in a bizarre crash involving foggy conditions in Dodge County Dec. 30.
Sheriff Scott Rose identified the victim as Scarlett Tanner, 32, of West Concord. She was driving a 2019 Toyota Highlander and died at the scene of the crash on Dodge County Road 24 east of 120th Avenue around 7:46 a.m.

 
Two months after the November election residents of Claremont still do not know who the mayor will be. But they do know how the next mayor will be chosen.
Claremont’s City Council met Tuesday night, named Councilmember Ryan Hedberg as the acting mayor and voted to accept applications for the mayoral position immediately. Applications must be submitted at City Hall by 3 p.m. on Jan. 27.

Semcac has announce a donation of $50,000 from Olmsted Medical Center (OMC). This significant contribution will directly support Semcac’s mission to empower and advocate for individuals and families, enhancing self-sufficiency by maximizing community resources.

By now, all the presents have been unwrapped, undesired gifts returned, and lots of Christmas trees taken down. Another Christmas has come and gone. We spent weeks if not months preparing and it came and went before we knew it. Now all we have is memories. But memories may be the best part because they last long after the lights are turned off and the Christmas cookies are all eaten.

We are right around the halfway mark of the new school year, and there have been a number of controversies taking place within the walls of Kasson-Mantorville schools.
As we previously reported, a longtime school board member quit the board in October, citing personal reasons. A few short weeks later, voters re-elected her.

As this week’s edition of the Dodge County Independent comes in your mailbox, Americans are taking time to remember President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, age 100, at his home in Plains, Ga.
His state funeral is being held today at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Every year since 2017, during the holidays, I have flown either from Minnesota to the east coast for the holidays to visit my family, or vice versa to visit my in-laws.
I’ve run into some hiccups, during those years, with the worst situation to date, being a few hours late, while my wife was stuck at her parents — sick, during Covid as I traveled back to Rhode Island for work.