Byron’s school board held its annual organizational meeting last week, electing every officer except the vice chair.
David Wernimont was elected board chair, Carrie Delaney the clerk and Jeremy Aagard the treasurer for 2026. The vote for vice chair ended in a 3-3 tie between Lisa Jessen and Kelli Crary, with Wernimont not in attendance. The board will vote again at their Jan. 20 meeting.

Triton school board members took action Monday night to address the district’s financial situation with a plan to take its fund balance from negative to positive numbers.

Dodge County Commissioners voted 4-1 on Tuesday to move forward with having a full-time County Attorney beginning in 2027.
Commissioner John Allen voted against the resolution.
County Attorney Paul Kiltinen, who has suggested the move in the past, brought it forward again at the December Committee of the Whole meeting, prior to the full board session.

Students in Byron and Kasson-Mantorville walked out of classes Tuesday to protest the activities of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Minnesota and throughout the nation.
The Byron protest was organized by Jay, a senior at the high school who did not want their last name revealed.
“I heard about what happened to Renee Good,” Jay said, “and was frustrated by what ICE is doing.”

On the same day Gov. Tim Walz dropped out of the governor’s race, state Rep. Peggy Bennett, a Republican from Albert Lea, formally announced her campaign at Albert Lea High School.
Bennett, a six-term state representative, first elected in 2015, said during her campaign rally that she would also be retiring from her seat.