In the early portion of the season, the win-loss record for the Kasson-Mantorville boys basketball team isn’t what they expected. With three losses dropping the KoMets to 1-6 on the season, it would be easy to say that things aren’t going the way they should.
However, K-M is showing improvement with each game and it believes that their work will pay off as the season goes along.

One of the concepts that is engrained into society is that once a student graduates high school, they must go to a four-year college and obtain a bachelor’s degree to find success. While a higher level of learning is beneficial to some graduate’s potential career choice, other jobs simply require a higher level of experience which can open their own doors to bigger and better things.
 

You’ve likely heard the phrase it takes a village (the work of many) to raise a child. The other night I felt like it takes a village to keep a Christmas tree standing.
As people were leaving a family Grinch holiday party that I hosted at my house, we looked over at the Christmas tree and nearly all sang in unison, “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, You’re about to tip over.”

As I write my final column for 2018 I begin to reflect on the past year.
 
What a ride it’s been.
 
2018 is the first full year that I have lived in Minnesota and I have really settled in as a Minnesotan.
 
While I still will always be a city boy from Rhode Island at heart I now accept my role as a small town Minnesota guy as well.
 

One of the biggest supporters of local Students Against Destructive Decisions groups around the country is the local law enforcement personnel.
That’s why last week the K-M SADD group gave back to the Dodge County law enforcement through a meal at the Sheriff's Office.
After doing it for the first time last year their advisor, Cori Ronnenberg, explained that they were looking forward to doing it again this year.

Three years ago Jesse Reding, the Kasson Police Department Investigator was approached by Tracy Fogeleon about starting a local Shop With a Cop event.
Ever since then they have done just that.
After starting the annual event they were able to get the Local Business Leaders group on board right away to help support the program.

Carol Ann Elizabeth Colee, age 76 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie. 
Carol was born on March 20, 1942 in San Francisco, Calif., to Edgar and Doris (LaPointe) Stromberg. She graduated in 1960 from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, Calif. On March 7, 1964, Carol married Keith Colee in Reno, Nev., and was blessed with a son, Eddie. 

This week staff members of the Dodge County Independent present their first ever Christmas gift to readers. It’s the gift of good news.

This week staff members of the Dodge County Independent present their first ever Christmas gift to readers. It’s the gift of good news.