From the archives of the dodge county independent
DCI History
September 8, 2022
10 years ago
September 12, 2012
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Straight line winds early Wednesday morning were responsible for the Kasson city crew being called out at 1 a.m. Some 30 trees were down and branches from hundreds of other trees made a mess of Tree City USA. A large tree was completely uprooted and covered the back yard of the home of Korey and Connie Greene, 201 7th Avenue N.E. Kasson. The roof of the house was spared by a large pine tree. A large chunk of the fallen tree lodged in the pine tree. “I didn’t hear a thing,” said Connie about the tree falling and the estimated 75 mile per hour straight line winds. A neighbor called Connie that morning and asked if she was all right.
Connie said she didn’t know what she was talking about and was told she better look out the back window. Connie’s husband works nights so he was not home when the storm hit. Saturday the Greene’s were expected to have people in to help with the back yard cleanup. “That’s why you have kids, isn’t it?” grinned Connie. Connie does day care so the fenced in back yard will be off limits for a while. There were a couple of downed trees in Mantorville, but nothing like the tree damage done in Kasson. City utilities department head Burt Fjerstad said it would probably take the rest of the week to finish the cleanup. Wednesday the city crew worked 14 straight hours for roads to be cleared and power restored.
A fire at 606 3rd Avenue N.W. in Kasson created quite a scare Saturday at around 10:30 a.m. A large shed/garage in the back yard of Mitch and Amy Fischer caught fire while one of their sons was working in the garage. There were no injuries reported and the shed was a total loss. Black smoke could be seen several miles away. The Kasson Fire Department was able to get the blaze under control before it spread to the Fischer home or other properties close by.
20 years ago
September 11, 2002
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
National September 11th Commemoration – “The impossible happened. Since then I have never seen patriotism come about like it has. It’s too bad it took a tragedy like September 11 to make it happen.” – Joe Simons-Kasson American Legion commander. “September 11th reminded us of our vulnerability, proved our nation’s resiliency and strengthened our American pride!” – Duane Burton-Kasson Mayor. “I think many of our youth are now a little more serious about following national issues. There is also a realization we need to appreciate the great freedoms we have.” – Mike Smith-K-M Superintendent. “It’s hard to believe this really happened. It showed how vulnerable we really are and made us realize we should appreciate what we have.” – Diane Wilke-Mantorville City Councilwoman. “I was almost sick, and angry, when I first saw what was happening. I think now America is stronger. We were tested, have dealt with adversity and a terrible tragedy and are even stronger as a nation today.” – Milt Kuball-Kasson Chamber President.
When asked if he has been a chef for very long, Larry King pauses, grins and said, “It’s been 50 years”. Larry is the newly hired chef at the Dodge Country Club. The country club did a complete remodel of the kitchen over the winter, according to club manager Ryan Kuster. He said they wanted to maximize the use of the kitchen so they decided to hire a full time chef with the idea of being open for breakfast, lunch and dinner year round. Larry King was washing dishes at age 12 and became a cook at 15. For 30 years he cooked out west for a hotel chain. He currently lives in Owatonna and answered an ad placed by the country club. What he likes about this job is that it’s like starting a new business. “With the new kitchen there is a lot of room for growth,” said King who feels strongly that he can help create growth with his cooking skills. So far, so good. Labor Day Sunday the country club served breakfast with an apple crepe special. “There was just the two of us, and we were going in every direction,” said Kuster. “We served 50 breakfasts.” The country club/restaurant will have, breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. A couple of recent specials were pork chop with scalloped potatoes and veggie or pepper steak with mashed potato, gravy and vegetable, each for $6.25. A popular breakfast item is the apple pecan crepe with sausage for $4.95 or bacon egg wrap topped with bacon cheese sauce for $3.95. Larry said he enjoyed making his own menu. He promises that variety is important to attract new customers and keep the regulars coming back. Soups, sauces and gravy have been a Larry King specialty (such as the bacon cheese sauce in one of the breakfast specials). In the next few years the Dodge Country Club plans to build a new clubhouse. If they can grow the restaurant business that will go a long way toward helping them build a new club house debt free. Ryan wants to make sure people know the Dodge Country Club is a public course and the restaurant is open to the public. Of course golf and breakfast, lunch or dinner is also a good option.
30 years ago
September 9, 1992
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
“With an early freeze, I’m out.” “What do you mean, ‘out?’ “ “I’m out of farming, finished. Without a decent crop this year I can’t stay in farming, economically.” My conversation with a young farmer near Jordan, Minnesota the morning of August 28 sums up clearly the economic threat facing corn and soybean growers. The uniquely cool growing season has put crops throughout the Upper Midwest a strong two weeks behind. To harvest the bumper 8.7 billion bushel corn crop and 2.08 billion bushels of soybeans that the USDA has predicted, farmers as far south as central Iowa need an extra late frost. Compounding the economic stress is the collapse of corn and soybean prices since mid-June that was cost growers millions of dollars. December corn futures declined 40 cents/bu.; November soybeans 70 cents. Cash prices at local elevators and terminals for harvest delivery are even worse. As you read this, a week to 10 days after it was written, you know part of the frost outcome. If a killing freeze has already happened, the income loss to farmers has been staggering. If it hasn’t, there’s still a ways to go. Said LeSueur-area farmer Tim Traxler by telephone on August 27, “We need warm weather at least until October 1 here. I don’t really expect to harvest a full crop.” Renville County Extension Director Dean Pedersen realized the same thing: “Frost a week early here could bring a 10% corn yield reduction or greater; more on soybeans.” “A farmer can’t make money on $2 corn and $5.50 beans, especially if an early freeze lowers the quality and raises corn drying expenses,” he said. According to Stan Stevens, U of M grain economist, it isn’t likely that an early hard frost would boost prices enough to fully offset northern farmers’ loss of sales volume due to reduced yield. “A freeze during the first half of September might kick corn up 20 cents (to $2.35),” he said. “Soybeans might climb 40-50 cents.” Iowa State University Economist Bob Wisner agrees. The potential for farm income reduction is greatest across the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota, northern Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, he said. A 20% yield reduction in that northern region would reduce the national corn crop by only 400 million bushels. As a result, corn prices would climb about 15 cents/bu. as a season-long average, Wisner calculates. A 40% yield reduction would cut corn output 800 million bushels, raising price 30 cents, he added. On soybeans, a price rise of 40 cents/bu. would occur with a 20% reduction in output; 80 cents with a 40% northern reduction. If you’re used to hedging with futures, buying (prior to a freeze) low-cost corn and soybean call options would place you in position to take advantage of any major price rise. The premium paid should be no greater than 3-4 cents/bu., on corn. And sell the calls soon after any rise due to early freeze, suggests Wisner. Leading Wheaton farmer Steve Raguse was busy combining wheat I called: “If it’s 14% protein, it may bring $3/bu.,” he said. He verified the frost threat to spring-planted row crops and noted that any profit from $5.50 soybeans requires that a farmer have no debt. Irvin Baer, Jr., of Utica in southeast Minnesota said, “At $2 corn, you need a high yield to break even. Cash corn at the river (Winona) now is $2.20, but it cost a dime to haul it there.” His son Gary operates the family dairy, so can feed some Baer corn for perhaps a slightly better return. A point needs to be made about the economics of farming today. It involves extreme risk, the kind that can put you out of business very quickly. This year’s sweat-popper, the strong possibility of a devastating early freeze, is this year’s. Next year’s may be something else. The farmers I know accept heavy risk pretty well. But there should be a thick economic cushion behind that risk, such as prior-year profits from good prices, to absorb excessive losses when they come. There isn’t.
Negotiations between the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department and the city of Dodge Center for police protection hit another snag when county officials declined to sign the contract offered by the city and work out the problem areas later. Dispute over the contract came when the city of Dodge Center disagreed with the way the sheriff’s department charged for their services. Until the contract has been settled Sheriff Bill Weber has held off the hiring of two additional deputies. Chairman Buck who was also present at the Dodge Center City Council meeting commented to commissioners that what really bothered him was that the city clerk, Vangie Keesling, expected the county to sign the contracts regardless of the areas in dispute. “It is not the place of the city clerk to direct and dictate policy,” said Chairman Buck.
50 years ago
September 13, 1972
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
Both the main office in Mantorville and quarry office of Stussy Construction was burglarized sometime on the evening of September 5 or morning of September 6 according to a spokesman for the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. The quarry office is located in Mantorville Township. Entrance was gained by breaking a lock and tools valued at approximately $200 were taken from the quarry office. Thieves made off with an air conditioner valued at $135 from the Mantorville office. The burglary was investigated by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department and the investigation continues at this time.