Memorial Day through Labor Day is usually the cause for great celebration, as it is summertime in Minnesota. But it is also a dreaded time, at least on Minnesota roadways.

"What are your plans for the future?"
 
It’s a question that’s been asked and answered in hundreds of different ways. It’s a question that I despise but I find now follows me as I trek my way through high school. My answer is a continuous “I don’t know,” but as of recently I’ve taken to jokingly telling people I plan on being a garbage woman.
 

The Dodge County Fair features plenty of crops, but the cream of the crop is a Dodge County 4-H participant who is now a leader of leaders. Val Sauder, a Pine Island senior and member of 4-H for the past 10 years, recently earned a spot on the leadership team for the 4-H state ambassadors.

Marie Lindblom hit the ground running in her new job as Claremont’s city administrator.

Among her early goals: to be part of a team that works to improve the Dodge County city of about 540 people.

A good crowd of competitors participated Saturday, July 8 in a 4-H dog show, part of the Dodge County Fair in Kasson.

A man has been charged with burning down his own house in Owatonna.
The Steele County Attorney’s Office has charged Richard Hernandez, 30, with first-degree arson in connection with the fire Friday around 4:15 p.m. in the Colonial Manor Park on 25th Avenue NW. If convicted of the crime, he faces 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

MEDFORD – It wasn’t pretty, but at the end of the day, the Medford Legion baseball team was able to get the job done.
In the bottom of the eighth with runners on first and second, Medford’s Ben Sutcliffe provided the extra-inning fireworks.

Another superhero swung into theaters this weekend, and he is a welcome addition. Spiderman: Homecoming is exactly the superhero movie the summer needed.

On Saturday, June 24, the Owatonna Parks and Recreation held a BMX and skateboard freestyle competition. It was previously set for June 10, but Mother Nature had other plans. The rain made Owatonna Park and Recreation intern, John Thompson, reschedule the day of the event in hopes of landing a perfect day to hit the half-pipes and ramps.