Merley Ruth Phiefer, 88, of Owatonna, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at the Owatonna Hospital in Owatonna, Minnesota.  
Merley was born Dec. 21, 1927, in Merrill, Wisconsin, the daughter of Arthur and Edna (Latzig) Priebe. She moved with her family to Owatonna in 1932, and graduated from Owatonna High School in 1946. Merley married Melford Phiefer on June 23, 1947. They later divorced in 1967.  

Thomas L. O’Connor, age 84, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, died Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, at Mt. Vista Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona.  

Besides the vibrant downtown, the championship sports teams, the award-winning schools, the state-of the art aquatic center, and the charming old neighborhoods, what makes Kasson one of the happiest places to live in Minnesota? 
According to the website, Only in Your State, none of those things were considered in their rankings.

The Kasson-Mantorville wrestling team went to the state wrestling tournament with two goals on Thursday. The first was the desire to earn the second Minnesota Class AA wrestling championship in school history.
The second goal was to dominate in the process.

The Kasson-Mantorville powerlifting team competed in the Whitehall High School State Qualifying Meet on February 27. The meet was a large one as 18 different schools participated with a total of 180 lifters. Even though all lifters competed at the varsity level, K-M was able to hold its own.

By the end of this summer, Dodge County residents may not only have more places to go to find a good book to read, but may also be able to meet some more of their neighbors.
The Dodge Center Library, the Mantorville Art Guild and a Triton shop class hope to team up to create 10 Little Lending Libraries that will be placed throughout the county. 

Dodge Center officials are beginning the search for a new ambulance director following the resignation of Dan Stensrud from the position.
Stensrud’s resignation was officially accepted by the council last week and his last day on the job was Feb. 19.
During the search for a new director the council appointed Emergency Medical Technician Lindsey Derby as the acting director.

It was a good week for Kenyon-Wanamingo High School wrestlers as they won the Class A state title Thursday night for the first time ever with a 26-24 win over Frazee.
Then, on Saturday, they finished the week off with freshman Jeron Matson winning the state championship at 106 pounds and four other Knights earning medals.

It’s not often that a community is able to soak up the limelight of a sports state championship. But this week Kasson and Mantorville are celebrating the capturing of a state wrestling title. 
While many schools may only get such an opportunity once, this is actually the second time in four years that the Minnesota Class 2A Title is coming home to K-M. Such a feat is nothing short of miraculous and extraordinary.