Although the season was short, the Kasson-Mantorville football players and coaches were well recognized for their efforts.  
The KoMets took the field six times this season and brought home the Section 1AAAA title. Due to COVID-19, there was no state advancement this year.  

Hayfield’s FFA Chapter had the Christmas spirit recently as they took part in the community Share Christmas program.
Chapter officers hit the stores one weekend to purchase clothing, canned goods and gifts for the anonymous children and families on their lists, said FFA Advisor Jack Crowson.

Dodge County employees hosted a 25 Days of Giving campaign that resulted in Thanksgiving meals for 26 area families.
Employees collected food and cash and put it all toward “Thanksgiving in a Box,” said Lisa Kramer, finance director for Dodge County and a volunteer with Food for Friends, the entity that received the collections and distributed meals to families.

Ben Czaplewski grew up in Hayfield where his family lived on the second floor of the funeral home until he was five years old. He said when the funeral home visitation area on first floor was not being used for funeral activity, that turned into his play area.
Even at that young age, Ben still has some memories about living above the funeral home.

Marlyn Ann Schroeder (nee Peterson), 86, of Kasson died Nov. 28, 2020, of Alzheimer’s disease. A graveside service was held for immediate family on Friday, Dec. 4 at Holden Lutheran Church, Kenyon, Minnesota, officiated by Pastor Nirmala Reinschmidt of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kasson.

James Duane Olson, 80, passed away peacefully on Dec. 2, 2020 in Hayfield.
James was born on Sept. 9, 1940, the son of Roy and Emma (Ripka) Olson in Owatonna and attended country schools.

Carole Marie Larson, 80, of Kasson, passed away on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Saint Mary’s Campus in Rochester.
Carole was born on Sept. 13, 1940 in Faribault to Carl and Wilehmina (Westphal) Quimby. She married Lawrence Larson on Dec. 18, 1959 in Mantorville. Together they had one son, Scott Larson.  

Thanksgiving is behind us. Yes, millions of U.S. citizens took to airports, highways and visited with family and friends over Thanksgiving. All of us were warned that there would be an extreme spike following the holiday.

Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors last week approved a flexible plan for the restart of winter activities when clearance is provided by state governmental leaders. Executive Order 20-99 is currently in place, a directive that mandates a four-week pause in activities designed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is scheduled to expire on Dec. 18.