So much of becoming great at any sport is what you do outside of practice and now, thanks to the creation of the Southern Minnesota Bears U16 and U18 teams, there’ll be another way for local boy hockey players to develop their game.
Mike Cooper and Craig Patrick, owners of the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) and the North American 3 Hockey League’s Grizzlies, announced the creation of these new teams on Wednesday, June 10.

Typically, the Kasson-Mantorville community supports the school district, but during COVID-19 it’s been the other way around as the district’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club stepped up by helping the community over the last few months of the school year.

Nathan “Nate” Sylvester Magnuson, age 88 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie.
Nathan was born Feb. 4, 1932 on the family farm in Newry Township, Freeborn County. He was the son of Selmer and Gertrude (Paulson) Magnuson. Nathan attended country school at the Magnuson School and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1950.

Ernest D. Betlach, age 96 of Blooming Prairie, passed away peacefully Friday evening, May 29, 2020, at Owatonna Hospi- tal in Owatonna.
Ernie was born Jan. 12, 1924 in Blooming Prairie to Edward J. and Anna (Nymon) Betlach. He grew up in Blooming Prairie and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1942. 

For the past several weeks, well okay maybe months already, I have felt like a shaggy dog. There have been days where I have felt like hiding and not showing my face any where. It seems my hair is growing out of control and there is no one around to take care of my problem. For those who know me, I typically sport a fairly short hair style. But ever since the coronavirus hit, all bets were of for keeping a trim look.

A sure sign of life beginning to normalize in Kasson is the number of cars parked on Main Street. During the months of COVID-19 shutdown, the number of cars parked on the street was quite bleak. There were a few employees using the wide-open spots, but virtually no shoppers were going into salons, restaurants or the license bureau. The laundromat, grocery store and the liquor store were some exceptions along with the newspaper office.)

James N. Sands, 87, of Kasson died at his home on Saturday, June 6.  Dibble Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Kasson is in charge of arrangements.

Patrick Quint of Kasson passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 6, 2020 in Benson.
In his 43 years, Patrick survived a childhood kidney transplant, a rattlesnake bite, car accident, electrocution, collapsed lung, falling off a cliff, falling through the ice, being hit in the head with a rock, another kidney transplant, skin cancer, lyme disease, asthma and getting lost in Idaho.

Keith “Poke” Alan Schandorff, 53, West Concord, died Saturday, May 30, 2020 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.