This New Year was spent with family watching Ohio State thump NCAA’s No. 2 Clemson in a 49-28 semi-final and Alabama’s Crimson Tide took care of Notre Dame in lop-sided matchup by a score of 31-14.
It was great to watch the New Year’s Day college football games of 2021 without a thought of 2020.

Catharine Bliss enjoys sleeping with her eight-month-old Aussie, Phoebe, and says she loves the warm snuggles the dog offers.
“But she will sometimes wake up and bark at deer or turkeys,” Bliss said. “She also sleeps hard and won’t move so I can’t move.”
Phoebe typically divides her time between sleeping at Bliss’s feet in bed and sleeping on the bedroom floor.

Area high school athletes are hitting the court and mats to shoot hoops and wrestle, as winter sports get off to a late start because of Covid-19.

Like scores of others, Shanna McCann has set some goals for 2021 as the owner of goat milk soap business Simple Soaps for Simple Folks in Byron.
“My goals for 2021 are to be more mindful of the things that cause me stress, and to address the root causes of the stress,” McCann said.
Lots of people form New Year’s resolutions as McCann has done, but fewer follow through and find success with achieving them.

In cases of deaths, conflicts and dealing with stresses of law enforcement, the chaplains of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office are there to offer help and comfort.
A group of 10 specially trained pastors are on call in Dodge County to help residents deal with traumatic situations and to help law enforcement and first responders to deal with the stresses of their jobs.

Kasson-Mantorville School Board members elected to take a massive pay cut for 2021, reducing their salaries to $1 per month and $1 per special meeting. In 2020, the board chairperson made $1,300 annually and the other school board members pocketed $1,000 each annually.

Smiling Moose Gifts is planning to open this April at 408 Main Street in Kasson, which is the former Hy-Vee Pharmacy location. Owners Kim and Steve White plan to offer a general gift store and a drive-through coffee shop.