Halloween Hootenanny in West Concord

Saturday, October 25th was the Halloween Hootenanny in West Concord. Trunk or treating, food trunks, street vendors, petting zoo, face painting, marshmallows over a fire, bounce house, carousel …

Wandermore Features Our three towns in their documentary

Dodge Center, MN Population: 2,844 Named for its centralized location within the county, which D. C. Fairbank named for Henry Dodge, the 1st and 4th Governor of Wisconsin Territory, Dodge …

Persistence Pays Off

In life, nobody escapes experiences they'd rather not have. What seems small to some are viewed as huge by others, and vice versa. I could name several situations here, but I'm sure you all know what …

2026 Auditions are coming up - Mark your calendars!

Auditions for the Spring show (The Outsider) will be on Friday, Jan. 30th from 6 - 9 pm & Saturday, Jan. 31st from 1 - 4 pm. Auditions are held at the Mantorville Opera House: 5 5th Street West, …

Halloween at West Concord City Hall

At City Hall, for Halloween, the staff decided to dress as Keith Clammer, Maintenance Supervisor.

City of West Concord Receives $10,000 from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s Small Town Grant Program

West Concord, Minnesota – October 24, 2025 – The City of West Concord has been awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) to support a new …

Gabriella Perrotti scoring archery, her last 4H event as she aged out.

Youth from Goodhue, Dodge, and Olmsted Counties Take Aim with 4-H Shooting Sports

Youth from Goodhue, Dodge, and Olmsted Counties are developing skills, confidence, and leadership through the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Guided by certified volunteer instructors, participants …

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Farm Girl Chatter

Hello, my name is McKell Lemmerman and I am from Mazeppa. I have turned my lifelong passion for cattle into a thriving local business. In addition to owning my own beef herd, I offer hands-on cattle …

Sleep

Sleep is an essential part of maintaining a healthy life. Though we may resist it sometimes due to workload or social events, we quickly experience the consequences of those missing minutes of sleep. …

Eggs Do Not Cause High Cholesterol? Colon Cancer Prevention and More!

Colon cancer often develops silently, so prevention through daily habits matters. Diet is a powerful lever you control. It shapes the gut environment, supports detoxification, and can help prevent …

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Obituaries

Helen Marie (Gillard) Arndt

Helen Marie (Gillard) Arndt, 72, of Pine Island, died Monday, October 27, 2025 at Cottage Wood Assisted Living in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born August 18, 1953 in Owatonna, Minn. to William …

Ruth Ann Shadow

Ruth Ann Shadow, 91, of Dodge Center, MN passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at her home. Ruth was born on August 4, 1934, in Plainview, MN to Henry and Ruth (Haack) Balzum. She attended …

Shirley Ann (Stebbins) Stoeckel

Shirley Ann (Stebbins) Stoeckel October 26, 1937 - October 15, 2025 Shirley Ann Stoeckel, age 87, of Dodge Center, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025. Born on October 26, …

Bernice Lucille Holtan Crouch

Bernice Lucille Holtan Crouch, age 98, joyfully joined Jesus in heaven on October 13, 2025. Bernice was born on July 23, 1927 to parents Alfred Holtan and Minnie Lee Holtan, and raised in a family of …

Glenda Lee Sauer

Glenda Lee Sauer February 20, 1962 - September 5, 2025 Glenda, a beloved resident of West Concord for many of her recent years, peacefully passed away on September 5, 2025 due to a heart attack, …

The Messenger November 2025 Issue 1

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Community

A Minnesotan:

Once again the days are growing short, the nights are growing long, the air is now cold and November has truely rolled around. Which means once again that it’s time for Thanksgiving. The …

Douglas Alvin Payne

Committed Christian, devoted husband, and caring father, grandfather, and uncle, Douglas “Doug” Alvin Payne, 75, of Dodge Center, MN passed away peacefully on October 18, 2025, at Timberdale …

Join us for Book Group at the West Concord Library Wednesday, November 12 from 4-5pm

Join us for Book Group at the West Concord Library Wednesday, November 12 from 4-5pm Saving Emma by Allen Eskens When Boady Sanden first receives the case of Elijah Matthews, he's …

Community

Triton Spotlight

Patience Buenvenida is a senior at Triton this year. Her mother is Emily Johnson. She has three brothers; Tristan, Talon and Titan and one sister Jaedyn. After school she works as a CNA at …

Triton Spotlight

Isiah Holterman is a senior at Triton this year. His parents are Rob and Jenni Holterman. He has one brother, Riley. He is on the hockey team. Outside of school he likes to work. In …

Dodge Center Fire Department Breakfast

Is AI powering the next wave of financial scams?

Finder.com reports AI is increasingly used in financial scams, including deepfakes. Protect yourself by verifying identities and avoiding suspicious requests.

Meet the U.S. Army Soldier-athletes on a mission to compete for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics

(BPT) - The United States' top athletes are aiming to secure their spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. This group includes 15 Soldier-athletes and coaches from the U.S. Army's World Class …

Beyond the diagnosis: What people with diabetes wish you knew

(BPT) - Diabetes is one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide.1 Daily management is tough, but one of the biggest challenges for those living with diabetes is confronting stigma, …

Are STIs truly declining, or is our data just not very good? What the 2024 CDC STI report really shows

Healthbeat reports a 9% decline in STIs in 2024, but data limitations suggest caution in interpreting this trend. Congenital syphilis cases rise.

10 most common full names in America and their effect on online persona

Anywho reports on the top 10 most common full names in the U.S. and how sharing a popular moniker can affect searchability, privacy, and lead to mistaken identity in the digital world.