There are a few things that every small city should have, such as a city hall, a police and fire department, a post office, a gas station, and a grocery store.
Well, soon Byron will be able to check off that last box as Fareway is officially coming to town after a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, Oct. 28.

A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1 east of Owatonna to mark the kickoff of the Hwy. 14 expansion project between Dodge Center and Owatonna.
The event will mark the start of the nearly $108 million construction project. The site will be at the cul de sac at 2300 SE 54th Ave., Claremont, east of Owatonna. The public is invited to attend. State officials have been invited to attend and speak.

Dianne Sue Hanenberger, age 73, of Blooming Prairie, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 15, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Mary’s Campus. Dianne was born Oct. 1, 1946 in Estherville, Iowa, to Robert and Marjorie Mitchell. She grew up in Graettinger, Iowa, until her family moved to Stewartville, just prior to her senior year of high school.

Roger Elmer Erickson, age 90, of Minnetonka and formerly of Blooming Prairie, passed away peacefully on Oct. 13, 2019.
Roger was born In Blooming Prairie to Elmer and Elsie (Popken).
He is preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Elsie, his infant son James, his beloved wife Peggy, and his oldest son Roger Edward.

Dessie Mae Gasner, 88, of Owatonna, died peacefully Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 at her home surrounded by her loving family.
 

Music definitely gets into your bloodstream and that's what happened to our foursome that attended the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre successful production, Mamma Mia.
Judy and I have seen many wonderful productions over the years at Chanhassen, which seems like it is on the other end of the world.
Even though its distance is challenging, it is worth one's while to go see this latest Chanhassen success story.

It became a ritual for me every year during the fall harvest season. I hopped into the bright green John Deere combine with a Dodge County farmer.
When I first started this tradition back in 2014, it basically was to get a personal perspective on the harvest season and what the crops looked like. But once I connected with Lowell Trom, I found out it was so much more. He had a story that I found compelling.

Lowell Irving Trom, age 90 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus, Rochester.
Lowell was born April 10, 1929 on the family farm in Dodge County, to Elmer and Marie (Wilson) Trom. Lowell lived his entire life on the family farm that he loved. He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1946. A lifelong crop farmer, Lowell also raised livestock in the early years. 

Vance Jon Harris, 74, died on Oct. 11, 2019 in South Jordan, Utah from complications related to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He was with his wife, son and daughter and died as he lived his life-with grit and grace. He was born Oct. 25, 1944 in Kasson to Gaylord Floyd and Evelyn Skogen Harris.