Highway 93 between Highway 169 and Henderson just closed due to flooding from the Rush River and as a result motorists using the Highway 111/22 Nicollet to Gaylord east detour will be rerouted within 24 hours.
For the second time this construction season, official route for traffic using the east detour changes to  included Highway 169 at St. Peter, Sibley County Roads 8 and 17, and Highway 19 until further notice.  The west detour between Nicollet and north of Nicollet CR 1 remains Highway 14, Highway 15 and Highway 19.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reported a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases in South Central Minnesota among young adults in their 20s who reported visiting bars and restaurants June 12 and 13, the first weekend they reopened.

If you mailed in your registration renewal and have not received your tabs due to processing delays, please contact use using this form: https://dps.mn.gov/…/Pages/dvsforms-registration-tabs-plate…
You will receive a verification letter via email to use as proof of registration renewal until your tabs arrive.
We also notified law enforcement that some Minnesotans will not receive their registration tabs before they are required to display the tabs on their license plates.

During these trying times, families may be experiencing trouble making ends meet.
Whether it be paying a bill or putting adequate food on the table, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many. Hundreds of families from throughout Le Sueur County were the recipients of some goodwill from Second Harvest Heartland and a group of more than three dozen volunteers Friday, June 19.
The Le Sueur County Fairgrounds in Le Center was the site of free food distribution.
Second Harvest contacted the food shelf’s in the county and said they had extra food to distribute.

Area residents will still have a chance to celebrate the Fourth of July in 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in parades and other activities being cancelled, people will still be able to enjoy a few festivities and see the night sky lit up with a multitude of colors.

Youth sports games and scrimmages can resume June 24 or later for outdoor sports, and July 1 or later for indoor sports.
The guidance seeks to balance the goals of minimizing disease transmission and allowing young people to engage in sports activities that have important physical, emotional, and social benefits. It also provides additional clarifications and recommendations for adult sports competitions this summer.
View the new sports guidance and answers to frequently asked questions at Community Settings: COVID-19.

On June 15, 2020, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Scott County Dispatch received a report of a possible missing boater on Prior Lake.
The missing individual was reported to have not returned home last night from fishing and boating.  Law enforcement responded to the Knotty Oar Marina and located the missing individual’s unoccupied pontoon and cell phone on their boat slip, along with some personal belongings floating nearby in the water. 

After more than six years, long-time, local newspaper man Jack Webster, 86, lost his battle with cancer on Monday, June 1.
Webster has worked for or owned newspapers in Waterville, Elysian, and Morristown for more than 60 years.
He moved from Kansas to Waterville in 1957 to work at the Waterville Advance, which was later re-named the Lake Region Life in 1970.
He and his wife, Edna, purchased the Lake Region Life, Elysian Enterprise, and Morristown Life in 1984. Morristown ceased publication in 1987.

Emily (Korbel) Teberg entered the U.S. Army in August, 2002. She earned her wings as a Parachute Rigger, and her father, Gary Korbel of Montgomery, pinned them on her. Teberg was attached to the 82nd Airborne Unit and was stationed in Georgia and Virginia.
A traumatic experience made Teberg leave service in May 2003. When she returned to civilian life, troubles didn’t stop, and she turned to drugs.
Her life was spiraling downward until Jim Golgart, Le Sueur County Veterans Service Officer, stepped in to help.

A 22-year-old Waterville man was found dead in his residence on Sunday, June 7.
The Waterville Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive male at a residence in the 100 block of West Main Street, Waterville, at approximately 6:14 p.m. on Sunday, June 7.
According to a press release issued by the police department, the responding officer arrived at the residence and found the male party deceased in his bedroom. The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Noah Goodwin of Waterville.

Governor Tim Walz today announced Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan, including a gradual turn of the dial to allow cautious and safe re-opening of indoor dining, gyms, and entertainment venues beginning Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Customers and employees will be either strongly recommended or required to wear masks and will be required to adhere to appropriate social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 

After more than two months of its government buildings being closed to the public, Le Sueur County is reopening most of its offices and specific services on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 8 a.m. with the exception of Court Administration, which will be open to the public on June 8, 2020.
According to a press release Friday, the county is taking a cautious, phased approach to reopening and implementing new processes and procedures to protect the health and safety of employees and the community.

This includes The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger and LifeEnterprise offices.
We look forward to seeing you!

Minnesota Army National Guardsmen Andrew Harmon and Tyler Schroer, father and son, were honored with a deployment parade Thursday night. The men will leave June 1 for a year-long deployment to Africa.
Read more in the June 4 print edition.

As one city celebration after another has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 86th annual Kolacky Days will continue as mostly a virtual event.
In a press release sent to members of the Montgomery Area Community Club, board member Tom Washa said the board decided to hold the event in some fashion that keeps everyone safe and adheres to the Minnesota Department of Health and CDC guidelines.

Also in accordance with a proclamation issued by the President, Governor Tim Walz today directed all flags at state and federal buildings in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff, effective immediately, until sunset on Sunday, May 24, 2020 to remember, mourn, and honor lives lost due to COVID-19.
 Individuals, businesses, and other organizations also are encouraged to join in lowering their flags to honor Minnesotans who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and their families.