Dodge County Independent history
10 years ago
February 13, 2013
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Polar Bear Plunge
Several hundred people jumped at Foster Arend Lake Saturday for the Polar Bear Plunge with the proceeds benefitting Special Olympics Minnesota. The Mantorville and Kasson Fire Departments jumped and raised over $3,000 for the event. Mantorville firemen shown jumping here are Scott Kitzerow and his daughter Angie, Brent Graunke and Mike Allen. Not pictured is Dave Worstman. Waiting their turn from the Kasson department are Spencer Klemm, Doug Griffin, Jason LaRock, Jason Campbell and Mike Nockels. Rumor has it that the team raising the least amount of money had to wash a fire truck from the other team and at last count Kasson had a slight edge in fundraising.
20 years ago
February 12, 2003
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Advantage Equipment expected to open in March
Advantage Equipment of Dodge Center is constructing a new 30,000 square foot facility in southeast Kasson, next to Tri-Star Manufacturing. They are just off eighth avenue southeast. Advantage Equipment is currently in an 18,000 square foot facility they have outgrown, said Jason Call, an owner in the family business. He is also in business with his brother Chris and father Daron. Advantage Equipment sells bakery and restaurant equipment and refurbishes bakery equipment. They sell equipment nationwide and internationally. The facility in Kasson is also going to have a showroom where they will sell items to include glassware, silverware and commercial cookware. The 30,000 square foot building is located on six acres with plenty of room for expansion. A.B. Systems of Rochester is the general contractor. They expect to be up and running here in about a month. Jason said there will be a grand opening for the new Advantage Equipment in late March or early April, when they get settled in. He said they are excited to get into the building and added that A.B. Systems has been very good to work with.
30 years ago
February 10, 1993
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
‘Cemetery’ makes Heidi Sogge spelling bee winner
The word ‘cemetery’ was one that K-M eighth grader Heidi Sogge said she had missed before. Not this time though. Heidi showed a little emotion this time when the word cemetery was announced. She did not need to write the word down. C-e-m-e-t-e-r-y, that was it. Heidi Sogge was the winner of the Kasson-Mantorville District Spelling Bee last Tuesday morning. There were 23 participants in grades 5-8 who earned the right to participate by completing a 50-word test. Heidi and classmate Nikki Watson were the final two and both have qualified for the Region 10 contest to be conducted Tuesday, March 2 at Rochester Community College. Eleven contestants made it through the first two rounds and only six were still around through the seventh. The final four were Heidi, Nikki, eighth grader Heidi Groth and Sixth grader Andrea Madsen. The two finalists correctly spelled the words for three consecutive rounds before Nikki hesitated on the spelling of “acquaintance.” Heidi then had the opportunity to spell the word correctly, which she did, and then had to do the next word, which was ‘cemetery.’ The K-M eighth grader had been sick and initially was not intending to participate. Heidi pulled herself together long enough to correctly spell some 15 words and prevail as the winner without a miss. Nugget Fields, the local spelling bee coordinator, assisted by Pat Sandeno, called all of the participants winners just for getting this far. The pressure of spelling the word correctly is compounded by the fact there is a gym filled with peers, faculty and parents when the event takes place. That alone takes a lot of courage, said Mrs. Fields. Ironically, Heidi was the first one to spell in the competition and the last one remaining!
50 years ago
February 14, 1973
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
To Compete in Last Meet
Four KoMet wrestlers will be competing in their last District III wrestling tournament this week in Rockenbach Hall at Rochester State Junior College. Seniors Paul Hoehn (155), Doug Kimble (145), Galen Johnson (119) and Mike Zelinski (126) will wrestle in the first round beginning Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. Quarter finals begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the semi-finals. Wrestlebacks for third place are at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Finals of the consolation are at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, followed by the championship finals. The first four place winners in each weight division will advance to the Region I tournament held at Winona State College, February 23 and 24. Other K-M entrants include Larry Kimble (98), Steve Schmoll (105), Mark Koebele (112), Craig Schmoll (132), Dan Rendler (138), Mark Grunklee (167) and Tony Brossard (180).