The bright orange cones along Interstate 35 in Owatonna signify one thing: the start of the summer road construction season in Minnesota and around the country.
And it is going to be a busy road construction season in Steele County. Medford will be completing its work, while Blooming Prairie will be starting a massive main street project after its annual Fourth of July celebration.

Changes in demand from countries such as China are causing milk prices to dip in Minnesota and across the United States.
“In southern Minnesota, as well as the rest of Minnesota and the upper Midwest, producers are facing lower prices,” said University of Minnesota Extension Educator Betty Berning. “The cost of inputs for producers has not decreased, so this makes margins (profits) smaller.”

Morgan O’Brien, daughter of Patrick and Emma O’Brien of Kasson, was crowned the 2015 Dodge County dairy princess last Friday night at the annual Dairy Princess banquet at the Milton Township Hall.
She was crowned by the 2014 dairy princesses, Taylor Reber and McCayla Thoe.

Entering the baseball season in his first year at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, Coach Drew Paukert is excited with the talent on his team, singling out three individuals as players to watch this season - Dakota Thiele, Matt Jensen and Trevor Tracy. 

The history of high school lacrosse in Minnesota is not very long. Its history in Owatonna is even shorter. 
Yet, what ten years ago was largely an unknown sport has turned into one of the fastest growing sports in Minnesota. In 2004, there were only about 500 high school lacrosse players in the state. Today, there are over 5000.
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A body was found last Monday afternoon near interstates 35 and 90 just northwest of Albert Lea, and authorities say foul play might be involved.

Work on Blooming Prairie’s Main Street this summer is estimated to cost the city $1,068,254 and Steele County $2,736,980, but business owners and residents might end up paying a different kind of price.

With a deep love for his work, it didn’t come as any big surprise that one of the hardest days of Richard Wandrey’s life would be when he was forced to quit for medical reasons.

Beth E.  Dohrmann, 89, of Claremont, died Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at her home.
She was born July 30, 1925 in, Dodge County the daughter of Lloyd and Marjorie (Sackett) Pierce. Beth graduated from West Concord High School with the class of 1943 and married Edward Dohrmann on Feb. 21, 1945.