From the archives of the dodge county independent

50 years ago
December 20, 1972
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
K-M Basketball
Brian Herbst goes high to score another 2 points for league leading K-M while defeating Kenyon here last Friday evening.
30 years ago
December 16, 1992
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
You don’t have to be Norwegian to bake lefse for the holidays
Having a pinch or dash of Norwegian blood is not required to make the ever-popular holiday treat of lefse. Just over a week ago at the Kasson United Methodist Church Bazaar there were two “non-Norwegians” making the popular Norwegian delicacy for customers fresh off the lefse grill. Lorraine Spading, who admitted having no Norwegian blood in her, and Janelle Holderness, only a small percentage, were demonstrating and giving samples for the church salad luncheon and Christmas Bazaar. The holiday treat went over big with Norwegians and non-Norwegians alike. The two have been baking lefse for the church bazaar the past 14 years. They have experience. In addition to the several dozen that will be made fresh for the bazaar, Lorraine said she will make another 100 dozen on her own for the holidays. Unlike a successful fisherman who might be reluctant to share a favorite watering hole, these two were more than happy to share their recipe and key to successful, fresh-off-the-grill, mother-watering lefse. The recipe used here calls for potato flakes-water, oleo, sugar, salt, dry milk and flour. Add the proper measurements and many would say you have a treat better than your favorite dessert. The tools of the trade are strictly for making lefse, from the lefse stick to the lefse grill and lefse rolling pin. (A clean sock on the rolling pin prevents sticking and build-up of flour, says Spading.) Keeping the fresh baked lefse under wraps-steamed and under towels holds the maximum flavor if it is to be eaten right away. Both Spading and Holderness say, however, lefse is also very good after being frozen fresh. Whether or not one is a true Norwegian can be told by the ingredients put on a piece of lefse. The “traditionalists” use one or more combinations of butter, white sugar or brown sugar. From that point on the lefse eater can use his or her imagination. Spading said her boys, also truly non-Norwegian, like their lefse with lettuce, mayo and meat. Ruth Hanson, another Methodist working at the bazaar, said she likes to roll lutefisk in the lefse. Spading said she heard of another church member who put barbeque in the lefse. To each his own! Another interesting feature of lefse baking is watching the way people fold the finished product. It would be rather cumbersome to try and eat lefse as though it were a pizza crust-not thick enough! Most put the ingredients on, do a half fold and then roll. The two lefse bakers insist any other method does not necessarily affect taste. There is a technique to handling the lefse veteran lefse bakers use that makes the process look easy-from unraveling the piece off a lefse stick to rolling-as thin as possible, emphasized Spading. Here is the recipe for potato lefse that has worked for two non-Norwegians. Please note that recipes may vary slightly, depending upon nationality (just kidding!). Potato Lefse — 9 cups water (boil), add 3 stick of oleo, 3 Tblsp sugar, 5 tsp salt. Mix 9 cups potato flakes and 3 cups of dry milk. Add liquid to dry ingredients. Let cool, divide in half and add 2-1/2 cups of flour to each half-roll out. Note lefse grill should be at about 450°.
20 years ago
December 18, 2002
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Elementary students collect ‘Toys For Tots’
Little people can do big things. Larissa Eggler’s third grade class at the K-M Elementary School proved that last week. John Vossen’s third grade class, with the leadership of Larissa Eggler, and help from K-M Elementary art instructor Kris Wishy, collected 491 toys for the Toys For Tots Campaign, coordinated annually by the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves. Last year was the first and they collected 300 toys. If the students could have had a couple more days they would have made it to the 500 toy mark. Even short of that, Larissa said that could be the goal for next year. Mr. Vossen referred to his third grade class as the Marine Corp Reserve Reserves with the way they enthusiastically got the word out and collected the toys. The students made signs and used word of mouth as their only public relations efforts. The students had only one week to collect the toys. Larissa commented there would be kids who would not have presents under the tree this year. “We wanted kids to have presents. We always get so many,” said Larissa. Mr. Vossen said he emphasized to the kids they could help make Christmas special for someone else. “They really responded and came to the rescue,” said Vossen.
10 years ago
December 19, 2012
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Hyde, Aaker combine for 32 points to down K-W 67-53
Senior Joey Hyde scored 18 points and junior Chad Aaker added 14 for the KoMet win over Kenyon-Wanamingo Tuesday night at home. Aaker also had a team high 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. The win improved K-M to 2-3. K-M had good balanced scoring in the game. Peter Schwartz and Charlie Oertli scored 6 points each and Brandon Scott, Sam Rappe and Ed ReMine added 5 each. Oertli also had a team high 5 assists. “We have improved defensively, but we have to protect the paint better if we want to be successful,” said coach Chris Otterness. The KoMets did have 20 turnovers compared to only 13 for the Knights. “We have some good athletes,” added Otterness. “Playing team defense is keeping us from getting to where we want to be. The kids realize this and are working hard to improve. The KoMets led at the half 33-26 and increased the margin in the second by outscoring the Knights 34-27. K-M shot 46.45 (26-56) from the field and were 5 of 14 from behind the three point line for 35.7%. Both teams had success at the free throw line. K-M was 10 of 13 (76.9%) and K-W was 13 of 18 for 72.2%. K-M had a big edge in rebounds, 38-25 and scored 50 of their 67 points from inside the paint. The K-M bench also outscored their opponent 21-2. Tuesday K-M hosted Byron and Thursday travel to New Prague in one of the seven 3A schools they play during the regular season.
Photo: Brian Herbst goes high to score another two points for Kasson-Mantorville in its victory over Kenyon.