For his entire life, Berne native Dave Derby has always been in the construction business. 
For the last 18 years he has owned his own business, Derby Builders out of Rochester. 
Earlier this year Derby, won perhaps the most prestigious honor of his career thus far, when a house that his company built was named the 2019 Best Home Energy Rating Score in the Nation for a Custom Built Home. 

Remodeling is nearing an end and West Concord officials are confident that the West Concord Public Library will be re-opening to patrons on July 8 in its old location at City Hall. To prepare for the move from the temporary quarters in the old hardware store the library is now closed to the public.

Mower County farmers not able to plant their crops this season due to flooded or wet fields can sign up through mid-July for a federal program that will help them plant cover crops on those acres.

It’s been difficult because of the weather, but Lions Park in West Concord is starting to get its new look.
“It’s been coming along good,” West Concord Maintenance Director Keith Clammer said last week, at least until the rains came. “We’ve gotten a lot done when it’s dry.”

A farm accident in Dodge Center last Friday lead to injuries.
According to Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose, around 9:30 a.m. Dodge County Dispatch received a report of a male caught in a grain bin at a farm south of US Hwy 14 on 165 Ave. 
Deputies on scene found the man in the bottom of a grain bin with his leg trapped under the auger with his clothing caught in the auger.

Harriet Jean Lehman, age 86, formerly of Blooming Prairie, passed away on May 27, 2019 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg.
Harriet was born in Blooming Prairie on a rural farm. She attended grade school during the Depression in a one-room schoolhouse. She joined an airline to see the world and got as far as Ohio before getting married.

Robert (Bob) Leon Goff, age 90 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at the Owatonna Hospital.

Berne Wood-Fired Pizza will be hosting a family-friendly special event called “Celebrate America” on Wednesday, July 3rd from 5-8 p.m. In addition to weekly wood-fired pizza and outdoor concerts, this event will pay tribute to America’s veterans and service men and women. As part of the evening, the Minnesota Army National Guard will provide a rock climbing wall free of charge to all in attendance.

For decades hundreds of people have participated in the Kasson Public Library Summer Reading Program. 
That tradition has continued once again this year with 628 participants so far this year. That number is continuing to grow, Pat  Shaffer-Gottschalk, the summer reading program coordinator said.