To some, he’s the director of the internationally-recognized Institute of Newspaper Technology. To others, he’s a syndicated columnist whose columns are carried by more than 60 industry-related journals throughout the world. His fictional syndicated column, The Good Folks of Lennox Valley, is enjoyed by two-million readers in newspapers across America each week.

The stories are in many ways different. A five month old in a car seat barely old enough to smile, a teenager out with friends, a parent running a few last errands of the day or a grandparent shopping for gifts for their children and grandchildren.
That is where the differences end, however, as each of these people were killed by a drunk driver.

A pair of Kasson-Mantorville middle school students has hit the national championship with their technovation project, allowing them the opportunity to show it off to the president of the U.S. this week.

Coming into the season, two of the important cogs of the Kasson-Mantorville softball team were the arm of senior pitcher Chante Thome and the bat of senior second baseman McKenzie Hemann. During their game with Pine Island on April 7, both were on display as the KoMets came from behind to earn a 4-2 victory over Pine Island.

The Kasson-Mantorville baseball team opened its season with a victory on Monday evening as they went on the road and defeated Zumbrota-Mazeppa by a score of 4-2. While the KoMets were only able to record six hits in the game, they were very opportunistic thanks to their speed and athleticism on the basepaths.

Triton football coach Don Henderson sat in his office during a blustery day last week. Since he also serves as the school’s athletic director, he was in the middle of rescheduling several contests that were derailed due to rain and snow in the area.
“If this were earlier in my career, I’d kick you out of here,” Henderson laughed. “It’s a lot easier now that I have a system in place.”

Triton High School FFA members were recognized at the Region VIII banquet at Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School last week including Brianna Fitzgerald as Region VIII Star Farmer and a finalist for state Star Farmer and Jack Crowson as Region Star in Agribusiness.

Claremont City Council and EDA members got a look at the expansion plans for the Al-Corn plant. This as they consider a tax abatement or alternatively tax incremental financing to help with the expansion that includes the widening of 5th Street.
The council also agreed to work with the engineering firm of Bolton Menk to determine the costs involved in widening 5th Street.

I spent the weekend in Iowa City enjoying the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials. It was a blast! I enjoy being part of the media pool for such events and this was no exception.  Being right there on top of the mats and watching the best wrestlers in America battle it out for spots on the USA Olympic team was and is nothing short of epic.  I met old friends and made some new ones.