John Rumpza signed a letter of intent at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday morning, to attend Winona State University in the fall of 2015. While the 6-foot-7 Rumpza could have received a basketball scholarship at several colleges, he chose a partial football scholarship at Winona. In attendence were family members, teammates, friends and Blooming Prairie high school staff.

Kinley Mervin Peterson, age 93 of Blooming Prairie, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, 2015, at Prairie Manor Care Center. He was born Sept. 27, 1921, in Austin to Osen and Ida (Thompson) Peterson. Kinley lived his entire life on his grandparents’ homestead in Udolpho Township, Mower County. He attended rural school and Blooming Prairie High School. He was a lifelong farmer with his brother and nephew, Dean. On Nov.

Anna L. Nelson, age 89 of Blooming Prairie, died Monday afternoon, Jan. 19, 2015, at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie. Anna Lucille Heatherton was born Nov. 22, 1925, in West Des Moines, Iowa, to William R. and Margaret (Daniels) Heatherton. Anna’s mother died when Anna was very young, so she was raised by Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly Sr. On Jan.

What started out as a normal work day last Tuesday ended up being quite terrifying and chaotic for several of our staff members at the Times office. 

The sports week

A man convicted of torching his own house on fire in Ellendale more than three years ago will spend almost five years in prison.
Steele County Judge Joseph Bueltel handed down a 58-month sentence last Wednesday for Mark Allan Misgen, 43. The sentence comes after Misgen was convicted last fall of first-degree arson and insurance fraud. 

Up until two years ago, Luke Swenson had never been involved with the Blooming Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce. But that quickly changed as he entrenched himself by taking on leadership roles and just this month he became the group’s president.

Stan Groff, Steele County interim public health director, has added another interim position to his duties.
The joint Dodge and Steele County Board for the Community Health program last week appointed Groff to the interim director position following the retirement of Dodge County Public Health Director Peggy Espey who was also CHS director.

Ann M. Klemmensen, 85, of Ellendale, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Koda Living Community.
Ann was born Aug. 23, 1929, on the family farm in Berlin Township, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Clara (Anderson) Thompson. She was baptized on Sept. 22, 1929, and confirmed her faith on June 18, 1944.