“You look just like our mommy again,” her two youngest boys told her when Jenny Steffes put on a wig after she had lost most of her long, thick hair to cancer treatments.
Steffes said, with tears in her voice, “I didn’t realize that it was so important to them to see that I was still the same person. I need my children to know that as their mom, I can still provide the love and support that they need from me.”  

By all accounts the debut of the Little Farmer’s Barn was a big success at this year’s Dodge County Free Fair.
The barn had an official grand opening Wednesday afternoon and little Austin Pearson of Mantorville had the honor of being the very first visitor.

For the past 13 years, Kasson Mantorville graduate McKenzie Evans has been involved with 4-H and or FFA. 
Since then she has been a household name in Dodge County, recently earning 12 Blue Ribbons out of her 15 possible chances, during the Dodge County Fair. She also received overall Grand Champion for her Veterinary Science Project this year. 

12 years ago Hayfield Math Teacher and Activities Director Chris Pack’s son was born with Down Syndrome. 
Ever since then, his family and him have looked for ways to help raise money that support special needs programs. 
For a couple of years they did the Buddy Walk in St. Paul to help support the State Down Syndrome Association, but they ultimately knew they wanted to do more locally. 

Three young women from West Concord will be vying for the title of “Miss West Concord” this Friday night as part of the Survival Days celebration.

Elizabeth Margaret Chicos, 96, formerly of West Concord, passed away in Rochester on Tuesday, July 25, 2017.  Upon death, Elizabeth’s body was donated to Mayo Clinic for research. A belated funeral mass will be held at 10  a.m. Friday, Aug. 2,, at St. John Baptiste de la Salle Church in Dodge Center Minn. There will be visitation time for family and friends an hour prior beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will be at 2 p.m.

Raised on a farm in Cherry Grove Township, Marlene attended a one-room country school through 8th grade. She graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1956 as salutatorian.  Her classmates voted her homecoming royalty twice and student council representative. She was the school newspaper editor and sang in the glee club and chorus.

John Farrar Jensen, 90, of Kasson died July 12, 2019 at Edenbrook Skilled Nursing Home, Rochester.  He was born to Torkild and Margaret (Farrar) Jensen on June 23, 1929. John married Joan Larson on June 14, 1950.
He worked for Marigold, Coca Cola and the K&M Telephone Company.  John enjoyed camping, fishing and going to coffee with the guys.

Burton A. Kittelson, age 97 of Austin, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at home with his wife by his side.
Burton was born July 1, 1922 in Austin, to Edward F. and Berthena O. (Stemson) Kittelson. He graduated from Austin High School in 1940. On Sept. 7, 1947, he married Dorthey E. Helleck at Red Oak Grove Church in Austin.