Severson Auto Service Opens in Kasson

Cassandra and Derik and their furry friends

Severson Auto Repair opened shop in Kasson last week at 19 North Mantorville Avenue. They have owned and operated an auto repair business in Rochester at 1601 3rd Avenue for the last two years. Owner …

ReUse Center Expands its Hours

The Dodge County ReUse Facility, 406 16th St NW, Kasson is expanding its hours. The facility will now be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Drop off days will be on Monday and …

Grace Lutheran Church Supports Global Missions

Grace Lutheran Church in Dodge Center is committed to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A month-long effort to raise support for church missions beyond the local congregation began on the first …

Space Race Disc Golf Friday November 6

There is a fundraiser competition MVP Space Race disc golf on Friday November 6th at the new 18 basket course at Lion’s Park in Kasson. Registration ends at 6pm Friday. The addition of 9 new …

Pine Island Data Center Settlement

(ABC 6 News) — A settlement has been reached in the Pine Island data center lawsuit case, according to a joint release from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Google, and Ryan …

Get your tickets for "Little Women"!

Our December show is "Little Women" adapted by Marisha Chamberlain, directed by Kami Sim. The show runs December 4-20: Shows will start at 7 pm on Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, & 18. Shows will start at 2 …

Triton's Holiday Market is Back!

Well, "tis the season," so they say! And time again for the community to come together and celebrate the season of good will toward men! On Saturday, December 12th, Triton's Community Education joins …

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A Minnesotan:

Growing up in rural Minnesota fall always brought around many a man’s favorite time of the year. Hunting season. November usually brought around my lest favorite time of the year as a child. …

Why our forefathers were much healthier

For most of human history, people didn't have to think much about staying healthy. Good health was simply a byproduct of how they lived. Our ancestors ate nutrient-dense whole foods, moved their …

Farm Girl Chatter

The month of gratitude, the beauty of the changing seasons, and the reminder to appreciate the little things in life. The time when slowing down doesn’t mean just sitting back and relaxing but …

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Obituaries

Gene Alan Gullickson

Gene Alan Gullickson, 66, of West Concord, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at home with his wife, Brenda, by his side. Gene was born to Eugene and Barbara Gullickson (Schaefer) on …

Raymond (Ray) John Malsom

Raymond (Ray) John Malsom passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, October 25, 2026. He was 87 years old. Ray was born in Aberdeen, SD to Anton and Rose Malsom, where he attended …

Helen Marjorie Spaid (Rosie) Leqve

Helen Marjorie Spaid (Rosie) Leqve, 104, of Kasson, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by her family of Monday, October 26, 2026. Helen was born on December 25, 1921, in Ogden, Utah. When Helen …

Loraine Ina Ripka

Loraine Ina Ripka, 69, of Owatonna, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Owatonna Hospital due to complications following a recent cancer diagnosis. Loraine grew up on the …

David “Dave” Duane Folkert

David “Dave” Duane Folkert, 60, of Kasson, Minnesota passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, September 28, 2026. David was born on July 24, 1966, in St. Peter, MN and was later adopted …

The Messenger October 2026 Issue 5

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Community

West Concord Area Foundation Pie Bake-Off

Saturday October 24th the West Concord Area Foundation held their first annual Gala with a Pie Bake-Off contest and fundraiser at the Bell Tower Center. Ten varieties of pies were brought by local …

Information wanted on family farms

Dodge County was settled by farm families beginning in 1854, and the contributions of those families were significant in making our county what it is today. Every year the number of family farms …

Salt and Light in Election Season

Imagine a single candle lit in a dark room. Its flame does not instantly flood the entire house with brilliance, yet it pushes back the shadows nearest to it. As more candles are kindled nearby, the …

Community

Coffee and treats Thursdays are returning to the West Concord Historical Society

Coffee and treats Thursdays are returning to the West Concord Historical Society building beginning Nov. 5 and will continue throughout the winter months. Each day will begin at 9 a.m. The Flame …

Things to do in the Fall garden

Are you ready to call it quits for the year in your garden? Well there are a few more things to do, before the tools and hoses get put away for the year. I was out planting some perennials in my …

Farmers keep watch for UFO's while combining

Last week a farmer in Stevens County, MInnesota reported a UFO in his cornfield. The sheriff department received a call late on Wednesday afternoon about foreign debris discovered while harvesting …

Washington Is Starting to Name the Middle-Income Renter, Without Yet Funding the Fix

A new federal housing effort has directed the Government Accountability Office to study a formal income definition for the middle class, roughly 80 to 120 percent of area median income, and to …

In South Denver, Colorado, Temporary Rate Buydowns Are Expiring – and the Safety Net Isn’t There

The 2-1 buydown was supposed to be a bridge. Buyers who locked in mortgages two to three years ago at rates near 7% used the program to ease into ownership, paying two percentage points less in year …

In Palm Beach County, Single-Family Homes and Condos Are Now Separate Markets

The question heard most often in Palm Beach County this year is whether the housing market is crashing. The numbers point somewhere else: two markets operating in the same zip codes, moving at …

In Austin, Texas, Tech Layoffs Are Reshaping Who Buys and What Sells

Austin’s residential real estate market has long been associated with tech-driven demand. But in 2026, the buyer pool powering the city’s housing activity looks different than it did even two …

Two Careers and Two Commutes Shape Where Buyers Live in Washington, D.C.

Deciding where to live in Washington, D.C. usually comes down to three things: where each adult in the household works, how they will commute, and what kind of life they want outside work. Because …