Dodge County Minnesota Administration

09/10/2026

If you’re traveling through Mantorville this weekend to enjoy the annual Marigold Days celebration, or heading to Kasson for the Big Iron Truck Classic, you may want to add this special event to your plans.

The Field of Flags is an amazing event that honors the brave men and women who have so proudly chosen to serve and protect others. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

If you’re in the area, please consider stopping by and showing your support.

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09/04/2026

08/26/2026

September declared National Preparedness Month in Dodge County

At their meeting Aug. 25, the Dodge County Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation declaring September as National Preparedness Month in Dodge County.

The proclamation states that the department of Homeland Security has designated September as National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergency events. It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the nation’s emergency planners and responders who put themselves at risk for the safety of their fellow citizens.

In the United States, there have been 438 confirmed weather and climate disasters between 1980 and 2026 that have individually cost at least $1 billion in damages and collectively totaled $3.2 trillion. Disaster events pose an acute risk to human life where they occur, with some communities facing substantially higher risk due to their geography; but no community is immune. Building local capacity for disaster mitigation will reduce the potential for harm to people and property from future hazard occurrences.

Dodge County is at highest risk for blizzards, heavy snow, ice storms, extreme heat and cold, windstorms and tornadoes, and hailstorms for natural disasters. Preparing for disasters also includes human-caused disasters, such as infrastructure failures,
chemical threats, biological threats, civil disorder or terrorism, and cyber-attacks. Resilience to disasters and emergency events is built upon collective understanding and preparedness through community engagement.

Dodge County Public Health is promoting preparing for emergencies all of September throughout the county to create a more resilient community by collaborating with local businesses, media, and community organizations.

The commissioners encourage all citizens and organizations to take action to become prepared for any disaster or emergency.

08/26/2026

Dodge County Life Savers Honored

At the July 28 Dodge County Commissioners meeting, Alex Catevenis, the executive director of Southeastern Minnesota Emergency Management Services recognized Dodge Center Ambulance personnel, members of the Mantorville Fire Department and First Responders, and members of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office with Lifesaver Awards for exemplary efforts to save Bryan Sorenson’s life on March 21.

On that day, Bryan’s wife called 911 because he was experiencing chest pains and the chain of survival began. The call was immediately sent out and those who responded did everything right to get Bryan to the hospital where another medical team took over and continued the efforts to keep Bryan alive and whole.

“Everyone did their job right when they needed to. Thank you for saving my life,” an emotional Bryan Sorenson said to the group.

Photo: (l to r) Bryan Sorenson, Dodge Center Ambulance: RN/EMT Jayne Schulte-Whiting, EMT Paige Olson, Mantorville Fire Department & First Responders: Fire Chief Paul Lushinsky; (attended to support Tony, not directly involved in the response); FF/EMT Troy Stafford; Dodge County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Scott Prins & Sgt. Jeff Brion; and Dodge County Ambulance Paramedic Dakkota Moreno.

08/09/2026

Back to school is right around the corner, learn more about the Counties’ collaborative School-Located Immunization Program below.

Check your kiddos' vaccines off your back to school list by signing them up for a SLIP (School-Located Immunization Program) clinic!

School flu clinics offer a fast, convenient way for students to get vaccinated by nurses from the student’s primary care practice. Vaccinations will be given as an injection or nasal spray, as available.

Registration is open now through Sept. 9.

Students in kindergarten through grade 12 are eligible to participate at Kasson-Mantorville, Hayfield, and Triton public schools!

Learn more about registration at semnic.org/schoolfluclinics.html

07/30/2026

Wasioja Seminary Stabilization Project Completed

On July 28, a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of the stabilization of the Wasioja Seminary ruins. The project reflects years of dedicated effort by many Minnesotans, from local historians to state legislators who supported funding through a grant provided by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society.

Speakers at the event included Dodge County Commissioner Dave Kenworthy; former State Senator Dave Senjem, who now serves as an Olmsted County Commissioner; State Representative Duane Quam; State Senator Carla Nelson; and local historian Jim Checkel.
The speakers emphasized the significance of the Seminary ruins in Minnesota history. The structure is the last remaining remnant of the original buildings from the first three higher education institutions in the state: the University of Minnesota, founded in 1851; Hamline University, founded in 1854; and Wasioja Seminary, founded in 1860.

The speakers also honored the contributions of David Hanson and Dale Morris, two individuals who worked for years to identify ways to stabilize the ruins before funding became available and who worked tirelessly for the dream.

The speakers reflected on how the stabilized structure will help future generations understand the themes of sacrifice and service. They recalled how students from Wasioja Seminary walked from the school to the nearby recruitment office to volunteer as some of the first Minnesotans to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War, following President Lincoln’s call for troops.

Many attendees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were able to sit in the shade on benches constructed as part of an Eagle Scout project. The names of the “Boys of Wasioja”—the students who volunteered to serve in the spring of 1861—are carved into the backs of the benches. With the stabilization complete, the building where their historic walk began will remain standing for future generations to see.

The project was the culmination of efforts by numerous volunteers and by Architect Angela Wolf Scott from MacDonald & Mack Architects; Archeologist Jeremy Nienow, formerly Nienow Cultural Consultants, now Braun Intertec; and Contractor Ray Stenglein, Environmental Associates, Inc.

For a more detailed account of the stabilization process, visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/02c061f1fb3b4081b309bbc693a03d7f.

07/27/2026

Wasioja Ribbon Cutting is Tuesday at 2 p.m.

The public ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Wasioja Ruins Stabilization Project is at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at Seminary Park, 602nd Street, Dodge Center.

Networking and photos will begin at 2 p.m., with the ceremony starting promptly at 2:30 p.m. Self-guided tours of the ruins will be available after the ribbon cutting. Parking is limited, so attendees are encouraged to carpool or arrive early. The event will take place rain or shine.

More information about the seminary is at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/02c061f1fb3b4081b309bbc693a03d7f

07/21/2026

We're exploring the possibility of hosting another Wedding & Event Expo on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The Midway, Dodge County's all-occasion event venue at the Dodge County Fairgrounds.

Before moving forward, we'd like to hear from you! What types of vendors would you be interested in seeing at the expo? Whether you're planning a wedding, graduation, reunion, corporate event, or another special occasion, we'd love your input.

If we move ahead with the expo, we'll be looking for vendors interested in participating. At this stage, we're simply gauging community interest and gathering ideas to help make the event a success.

Share your vendor suggestions and feedback in the comments—we'd love to hear from you!

07/06/2026

Wasioja Ruins Stabilization Project Ribbon Cutting Scheduled

The public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Wasioja Ruins Stabilization Project at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at Seminary Park, 602nd Street, Dodge Center.

Networking and photos will begin at 2 p.m., with the ceremony starting promptly at 2:30 p.m. Self-guided tours of the ruins will be available after the ribbon cutting. Parking is limited, so attendees are encouraged to carpool or arrive early. The event will take place rain or shine.

Planning for the project began decades ago, and funding was awarded in 2023 with support from Senator Carla Nelson, State Representative Duane Quam, and a broad group of local advocates. The project was funded through a general fund appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society for a grant to Dodge County.

Work began in late fall 2024 and focused on stabilizing the ruins left after a devastating fire destroyed most of the building in 1905. Final work was recently completed, and the structure is ready for its official reopening.

MacDonald and Mack Architects led the stabilization team, which included Environmental Associates, Inc., responsible for masonry and structural stabilization, and Nienow Cultural Consultants, LLC, responsible for archaeological investigation and monitoring.

“This is a proud moment for Wasioja and our county,” said David Kenworthy, chair of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners. “The stabilization project will have a lasting impact on preserving Dodge County’s history for decades to come.”

The original structure was built from native limestone, completed in 1860, and opened with enrollment of more than 300 students as the Minnesota Seminary. By 1861, the school had been renamed Northwestern College and offered classes from primary through collegiate levels.

For media inquiries, please contact Dodge County Administration at (507) 635-6239 or [email protected].

06/28/2026

In observance of Independence Day, Dodge County offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd.

While our administrative desks are taking a holiday break, our essential and emergency services remain fully active to keep our community safe. We will welcome you back during regular business hours on Monday, July 6th.

Have a wonderful, safe, and festive 4th of July weekend!