In an exceptionally short wrestling match at Blooming Prairie, the Panthers defeated the Blossoms 44-6, stealing the Gopher Conference title from Maple River. 
In a match filled with forfeits and double forfeits, the Panthers were still able to show off their talent, securing four pins, a 16-0 win and a 5-3 decision. The Panthers only loss came in the first bout, as Blooming Prairie’s Ethan Arett pinned Brett Kubiatowicz. 

Blooming Prairie’s John Rumpza will be leaving for Winona State this fall, and he will leave quite the legacy behind. 
Rumpza participated in football, basketball, baseball, band and school musicals at Blooming Prairie, all the while excelling academically. 

In the newspaper world, it doesn’t do us any good if readers can’t get our paper. 
Such was the case last week—at least for some of our readers. For almost three days, our newspapers mysteriously went missing in action. 

News spread quickly early last week about restructuring Catholic parishes across southern Minnesota in the Diocese of Winona.
Reaction varied from shock to an understanding that a plan was necessary to address changing demographics and the issue of a smaller number of priests available to serve parishes in the diocese.

A leadership change has taken place at one of the county’s largest non-profit organizations, but it’s someone who is no stranger to the agency. 
Kim Schaufenbuel has moved up from assistant director to executive director of the United Way of Steele County. She replaces Evelina Giobbe, who retired at the end of 2014 after 11 years as the organization’s director.

Dorothy Bauder, 74, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, died on Sunday, January 25, 2015, in the Cottage at Ecumen, Detroit Lakes.
Dorothy was born on November 22, 1940, near Brookings, South Dakota, to Frank and Esther (Johnson) Roth. She grew up in South Dakota, graduating from Egan, South Dakota, High School in 1958. She graduated from South Dakota State University with a B.S. in Home Economics Education in 1962.

Veronica L. (Underwood) Zoller, age 88 of Rochester passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester. Veronica Lucille Kvasnicka was born on December 13, 1926, in Owatonna to Joseph and Stella Kvasnicka. She grew up on a farm in Pratt and graduated from Owatonna High School. Veronica worked in Washington, D.C., as a secretary for the Department of Defense during World War II. She later worked for the U.S.

Mildred Wilma Wilson, 92, of West Concord, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, at Pine Haven Care Center.

With five minutes left in the game, Blooming Prairie was up by 20 and sending in the substitutes for some varsity playing time. The Medford Tigers, on the other hand, were still trying to win. With a full-court press, and their best shooting in the night, the Tigers managed to pull the game within eight points with over a minute left. Blooming Prairie was forced to send their varsity back in to stop the improbable comeback.