Donald George Hope, 85, of Austin passed away on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home after a lingering illness. He was born June 29, 1930, at home in Freeborn County, the son of Theodore and Mary (Hjelman) Hope. Don attended District 1 Country School and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1948. On June 24, 1953, he was united in marriage to his wife of 62 years, Janet Sauke, in Geneva.

Lorene P. Williamson, age 89 of Blooming Prairie, died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, surrounded by her loving family at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna. 
Lorene Pearl Madson was born March 9, 1926, in Westfield Township, Dodge County, to Peter and Laura (Nelson) Madson. She grew up in Westfield Township, where she attended grade school, and then Blooming Prairie High School. 

Theda Louise (Harms) Morton, 87 of Blooming Prairie, died Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus. 
She was born April 6, 1928, to Dick and Louise (Dohrman) Harms in Latimer, Iowa, the oldest of six children: Bertha, Clara, Richard, Walter and Alice. 

Richard “Dick” Clyde Green, 70 of Blooming Prairie, died Saturday afternoon, Oct. 31, 2015, at the Owatonna Hospital. 
He was born March 25, 1945, in Braham, Minnesota, the son of Ron and Lucille (Thomann) Green. He attended school in Ellendale, graduating in 1963. On June 26, 1965, he married Dorothy Plunkett at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie. 

With a home win against Rochester John Marshall under their belts, an Owatonna 3-2 win at Farmington propelled the Owatonna volleyball team to a section semifinal bout against Rochester Mayo. 

Blooming Prairie High School sophomore Alec Ille earned a spot in the state cross-county meet, after finishing 8th individually at the Section 1A meet on the Northern Hills golf course at Rochester on Thursday, Oct. 29. 
The state meet will be held at St. Olaf College Saturday, Nov. 7.

What began with a shared love of painting has now grown into a multi-generational event that’s garnered a loyal following. 
This year, the Creative Crafts show celebrates its 20th anniversary. 

Theresa Coleman officially became the administrator for the City of Kasson last week as the City Council unanimously approved her employment contract.
Under the terms of the contract she officially began her duties on Nov. 2 with a base salary of $95,888.

West Concord residents will get a chance to express their opinions on the future of the West Concord Municipal Liquor Store at a public hearing later this month. The hearing is mandated by state law as the liquor store has finished two of the past three years in the red.