Stephanie Kasper named National Jersey Queen Chalk up another dairy honor for Steele County. This past weekend, Stephanie Kasper, daughter of Pete and Karen Kasper was crowned the National Jersey Queen at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

Plans in the works for Owatonna Marching Band festival in 2010 Everyone loves a marching band. The Owatonna summer Marching Band program, under the direction of Pete Guenther, is recognized as one of the finest in the state of Minnesota. The program was begun by former band director Jim Thulien, and Guenther has carried the marching program to an even greater height. During the month of June, the Owatonna band travels to several festivals around the state and competes for and receives high marks in all of them. In the years that I drove one of the band buses to these band festivals, Guenther and I often talked about the day when Owatonna would host a major summer band festival. Todd Hale

Owatonna’s newest activity center working toward opening by Thanksgiving Somewhat hidden by the rolling hills of Steele County farmland, work is continuing and finishing touches are being given to Owatonna’s newest activity center. The new Daybreak Community Church located at 2515 Harvest Lane N.W., just a block west of the Owatonna Hospital, is in the final stages of completion and the new church will officially open its doors to the community by Thanksgiving.

2009 OHS Christmas Carolers selected, preparing for holidays If you are walking in the halls of Owatonna High School and hear the strains of familiar Christmas carols at this early date, no one is rushing the season. Todd Hale

Past OHS golfers join former Coach Bangs on the links This past August, a group of Owatonna High School alumni golfers gathered at the Owatonna Country Club to share old times with their Coach Keith Bangs and to play a round of golf.