Mary Malherek has seen seismic shifts in technology, educational trends and Blooming Prairie itself since moving here in 1976. 
The one constant was the English teacher and librarian’s classroom career, which began in 1971. That will change May 29, the last day of the school year for Blooming Prairie students and the last year ever for Malherek, who is retiring.

Her love of handling dairy cattle has earned Blooming Prairie High School junior Kalyn Naatz a second place finish in the state for her Dairy Handling CDE at the FFA State Convention.
“This meant a lot,” Naatz said. “The whole day I was nervous.”

Senior hurdler Hector Bugarin out-hurdled the sub-section 2 field at Grand Meadow on Thursday evening to win both hurdle events and advance to the Section 1A meet at Triton on Tuesday. Bugarin ran a 17.02 to easily beat Connor Ford of Stewartville’s time of 17.46 in the high hurdle event. He, again, topped Ford in the 300-meter intermediate hurdle race with his 42.63 clocking to Ford’s 43.55 time.

Triton High School last week honored students for fine arts and academic achievements at the annual awards ceremony.
Recipients of the Triple A Award, principal leadership award, academic letters, honors awards and National Honor Society cords were recognized along with a variety of scholarships, student leadership awards, John Philip Sousa Band Award, Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, National School Choral Award and theater awards.

Firefighters in Blooming Prairie responded to an apparent electrical fire on the 74000 block of 124th Ave around 8:30 p.m. Sunday evening. Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the Blooming Prairie and Hayfield Fire Department was called in for assistance.
There was no structural damage to the home but there was heavy smoke damage as well as interior damage to the main level.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Sheriff identifies grain bin survivor
 
Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag has identified the survivor of the grain bin rescue as Christopher Johnson, 65, of Owatonna. Mayo One flew him to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester around noon Wednesday. His condition is unknown, but the sheriff said Johnson was conscious and alert at the scene. He is expected to make a full recovery. 

Cry foul if you must, but there will be no fowl at summer events in Minnesota.
The Minnesota State Fair last week cancelled its poultry show for the 2015 fair and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health took it one step further by canceling all bird exhibitions at county fairs, the state fair and other events.

The magician looked held out his hand to the fourth grader. He shouted for her to grab the dessert. She opened an imaginary refrigerator and grabbed the invisible dessert. He asked for another ingredient, and she walked to the imaginary cupboard, grabbed the invisible ingredient and began mixing it in a bowl only she could see. 
“Now step away,” said the magician.

You may hear Jason Iacovino’s voice on the radio broadcasting Blooming Prairie football games. 
Now you will see him working with Attorney Frank Henefield at Henefield Law Office on Main Street.
“I love the community and always have,” Iacovino said. “You’re close to anything you need and yet it is very safe, very accommodating, people are nice and it is a lot of fun. It does feel like home.”