Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. This September, the American Red Cross is teaming up with Sports Clips Haircuts in hopes to make a difference. 

Joseph “Joey” Patrick Ptacek, age 78, of rural Owatonna, passed away Sept. 6, 2015, at the Homestead Hospice House.

Donald Charles Kasper, age 83 of rural Owatonna, passed away Sept. 3, 2015, at Homestead Hospice House. Don was born June 3, 1932, in Owatonna, to parents Charles and Marie Kasper. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school. He graduated from Owatonna High School in 1950. After high school he went to work on the family farm. In 1953 he joined the Army where he served for two years being honorably discharged in 1955.

Harland P. Peterson, age 88 of rural Blooming Prairie, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, at his home. He was born Nov. 10, 1926, in Austin, to Osen and Ida (Thompson) Peterson. After he attended country school, Harland graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1944. On Nov. 9, 1954, he was united in marriage to Laura Morrissey in Faribault. Laura passed away in 1972. Harland served his country in the U.S.

To understand their story, one almost has to be there.  The third annual Lighting of the Path on West Hills Campus, the old Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children, is occurring on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The Steele County Free Fair is a place where area youth can earn recognition for their work with farm animals and agriculture. But, the youth aren’t the only ones who receive a little recognition during the fair. 

Alex Emanuelson only threw for 97 yards against Faribault Friday night, but with 410 rushing yards by his running backs, there was very little need to pass. The 507 total offensive yards, combined with the measly 156 allowed paved the way for a shutout 55-0 victory in Owatonna. 

A lock-down defense in the second half enabled the Awesome Blossom football team to escape with a 24-3 victory over visiting St. Clair Friday, Sept. 4.  After a very lackadaisical and inept first half, the local offense came alive enough to score four times in the second half, three of them in the final quarter.

He was known as the pint-sized hero who saved Winona from all manner of troubles including football losses, fires and bad guys.
He also was the five-year old grandson of West Concord residents Roger and Judy Quimby.
Gavin Nicholas Quimby, 5, of Winona lost his fight with metachromatic leukodystrophy Tuesday morning, his grandmother said, from complications following a stem cell transplant.