Dodge County employees hosted a 25 Days of Giving campaign that resulted in Thanksgiving meals for 26 area families.
Employees collected food and cash and put it all toward “Thanksgiving in a Box,” said Lisa Kramer, finance director for Dodge County and a volunteer with Food for Friends, the entity that received the collections and distributed meals to families.

Ben Czaplewski grew up in Hayfield where his family lived on the second floor of the funeral home until he was five years old. He said when the funeral home visitation area on first floor was not being used for funeral activity, that turned into his play area.
Even at that young age, Ben still has some memories about living above the funeral home.

Marlyn Ann Schroeder (nee Peterson), 86, of Kasson died Nov. 28, 2020, of Alzheimer’s disease. A graveside service was held for immediate family on Friday, Dec. 4 at Holden Lutheran Church, Kenyon, Minnesota, officiated by Pastor Nirmala Reinschmidt of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kasson.

James Duane Olson, 80, passed away peacefully on Dec. 2, 2020 in Hayfield.
James was born on Sept. 9, 1940, the son of Roy and Emma (Ripka) Olson in Owatonna and attended country schools.

Carole Marie Larson, 80, of Kasson, passed away on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Saint Mary’s Campus in Rochester.
Carole was born on Sept. 13, 1940 in Faribault to Carl and Wilehmina (Westphal) Quimby. She married Lawrence Larson on Dec. 18, 1959 in Mantorville. Together they had one son, Scott Larson.  

Thanksgiving is behind us. Yes, millions of U.S. citizens took to airports, highways and visited with family and friends over Thanksgiving. All of us were warned that there would be an extreme spike following the holiday.

Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors last week approved a flexible plan for the restart of winter activities when clearance is provided by state governmental leaders. Executive Order 20-99 is currently in place, a directive that mandates a four-week pause in activities designed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is scheduled to expire on Dec. 18.

It has been a busy year for the Dodge County Salvation Army as requests for assistance have increased as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The need is great, said Salvation Army volunteer Faye Wendland, but county residents have also been stepping up to help. The annual Christmas bell ringing campaign is now under way, she said, and so far it is ahead of last year.

After going nearly nine months without recording any deaths, Dodge County experienced two COVID-related deaths within the past week.
Public Health Director Amy Caron reported the first death on Dec. 2. She said a person in their 90s had died from the virus. A second death involving a woman in her 80s was reported over the weekend, according to Caron, who said the woman was not living in a long-term care facility.