John Verne Kristoffersen, 94, of Owatonna, passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at Koda Living Community.
He was born Johannes Verner Kristoffersen on May 1, 1924 in Eden, Wasioja Township, Dodge County, the son of Mads and Caroline Marie (Salomonsen) Kristoffersen. 

Bunny Wesely, a lifelong resident of Owatonna, died peacefully Dec. 3, 2018 at Koda Living Community of Owatonna.
Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Sacred Heart Church in Owatonna. A parish Rosary took place at the church.

Funeral services for Marleen E. Steen of Freeborn, were held  Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 at The Church of All Saints in New Richland. Father Mike Cronin officiated. Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery in New Richland.
Marlene died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. She was 81 years of age.

Margaret “Ione” Betlach, age 96 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Friday evening, Dec. 7, 2018 at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie.  
Margaret Ione Lynard was born on Oct. 22, 1922 in Owatonna, the daughter of Christopher and Mary (Carroll) Lynard. On June 10, 1946, she was united in marriage to Frank A. Betlach at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Litomysl. Frank died on Dec. 20, 2004.

Eric James Marquardt (32) of Dodge Center, was charged on Monday with one felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.

A pair of area newspapers will cease publication effective this week, the owner announced in this week’s editions.
Community News Corp., which publishes the Byron Review and Star Herald of Dodge Center, made the announcement on the front pages of the newspapers this week. Larry and Melanie Dobson of Dodge Center have owned the newspapers for the past 15 years.

On Friday morning Dodge County Sheriff, Scott Rose, presented Samantha Pettey with one of nineteen scholarships given out this year by the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association.
 
Each year individuals who are planning on becoming a Peace Officer in the state of Minnesota are able to apply for the scholarships through their local Sheriff's Office.
 

A few years ago, a memorial golf tournament was started in honor of the late Loring Guenther, who was a Captain for the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.
 
The goal of the tournament was to raise money for Toys for Tots, a charity that has been near and dear to the hearts of Guenther and his wife Deb.
 

 
For many years the Triton Chapter of the MN Honor Society have helped those in need by hosting an annual blood drive.
 
While at first they started off by having one per year in the last five years that has expanded to one drive per semester.