Spring Load Restrictions on Rice, Le Sueur and Scott County State Aid Highways and County roadways will go in to effect at 12:01 a.m., Friday, March 6, 2020.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has issued a notice that Spring Load Restrictions on the state highway system in the south, southeast and metro frost zones go in to effect on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Ending dates for spring load restrictions are variable and based on how weather is affecting roadway strength.
The Spring Load Restriction map is posted on the MNDOT website at mndot.gov/loadlimits.

Merle Warner is retiring after working over 38 years with the US Postal Service as a Rural Carrier.
Warner delivered Route 1 which includes addresses south and west of Waterville as well as all rural Elysian addresses.

Minnesota will join Super Tuesday this year — and 13 other states, including Texas and California, in perhaps the most consequential day of the presidential primary season.
It’s new in Minnesota. It’s our first presidential primary since 1992 and only the fourth in state history. Here are some rules.

The water was cold. They jumped in because of their warm, generous hearts.
Approximately 80 people-- including 44 new plungers-- participated in Camp Omega's 2020 Plunge event that was held on Saturday, Feb. 22 behind the Morristown Community Center.
The third annual event raised funds to build a new adult and family retreat center at Camp Omega, a Christian camp located on Horseshoe Lake in rural Waterville. The future facility will offer higher comfort with 25 hotel- style rooms, personal bathrooms, and a large group gathering space.

The Le Sueur/Rice County Drug Task Force was very busy in 2019.
Le Sueur County Chief Deputy Nick Greenig presented information about the work completed by the drug task force within the county during the Elysian City Council meeting Feb. 11.
Last year there were 64 cases opened, 55 search warrants were issued, and there were 61 arrests made.
A total of $18,020 in cash was seized as were nine firearms.
More than 3.4 million dollars in street value worth of controlled substances were seized.

Waterville’s little Heart Warrior is breathing easier this Valentine’s Day.
Three-year-old Alex Ahlbrecht, son of Craig and Stephanie Ahlbrecht, recently returned from a three-week stay at Standford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California, where he underwent an intricate open-heart surgery to repair his heart and expand 20 small vessels in hopes of increasing the blood flow to his lungs.
Thankfully, the 20-hour surgery was successful.

A Waterville man faces a second-degree felony assault charge for allegedly driving on a sidewalk, nearly striking a pedestrian.
Clint Weston Sellers, 24, was charged in Le Sueur County Court for the alleged assault that occurred near the Corner Bar in Waterville, early Monday morning, Feb. 3.
Police responded to the scene and took a report from a 26-year-old man, the alleged victim, who said he was walking from Bullheads to the Corner Bar when he saw Sellers speeding toward him in a pickup.
The victim said when he...

WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero. * WHERE...Le Sueur County. * WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

The Department of Natural Resources will host more than 30 candlelight events at Minnesota State Parks and trails this winter, including one at Sakatah Lake State Park this Saturday, Feb. 8. Drop by any time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for hiking as stars twinkle overhead and candles flicker in the snow.
“Few things transform a winter evening like soft light on snow,” said Erika Rivers, director of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “Candles and lanterns help to create a magical experience, especially when coupled with light from the moon and a starry sky.”

Joan Markytan of Elysian was the guest speaker at the Lake Area Historians meeting, Monday night, January 20. Markytan shared her experience of living with her husband, Ken, at Raspberry Island (near Kodiak) in Alaska in the mid-1960s.

Le Sueur County and the City of Kilkenny have reached an agreement pertaining to law enforcement services.
During the Jan. 21 Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Brett Mason presented a contract that has the county providing law enforcement to the City of Kilkenny.
City officials in Kilkenny have already endorsed the contract. The commissioners approved the contract unanimously Tuesday.
Sheriff Mason said the county had been patrolling Kilkenny without a contract for years.

A crash has stopped traffic on Highway 60 between Waterville and Elysian. At 11:24 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21, tow trucks were arriving on scene. Traffic is backed up in both directions. Take a different route.
Information regarding the crash will be posted when it becomes available.

MANKATO, Minn. – (3:45 p.m.) With significant snow and strong winds forecast for Friday and Saturday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists to plan for difficult driving conditions or make alternate plans.
Heavy snowfall combined with moderate winds can dramatically reduce visibility during the storm and continued wind gusts after the storm may prolong MnDOT snowplow drivers’ ability to recover the roads.

Secretary of State Steve Simon is reminding Minnesotans about the beginning of absentee voting for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Nomination Primary. The primary will help determine both the Democratic and Republican party candidates for the November general election.
“The presidential nomination primary opens up the selection process and allows more Minnesotans to participate,” said Simon. “Caucuses are limited to a few hours on one evening; this primary will give more people more ways to participate, and over a longer period of time.”
How to request an absentee ballot

On Tuesday, Jan, 14, Bevcomm, the Blue Earth based telecommunication company, announced it has reached a definitive agreement with Lonsdale Telephone Company to acquire ownership of that Lonsdale based business. Transfer of ownership is pending regulatory approval, which is expected in the first half of this year.
According to a press release from Bevcomm, “Existing employees of Lonsdale Telephone Company will become employees of Bevcomm, and will continue to manage the day-to-day office functions.”
For more on this story see upcoming print issue.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners held their 2020 Reorganizational Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7 in Le Center.
Fifth District Commissioner Steve Rohlfing was named the Board Chairman and Second District Commissioner Danny O’Keefe was named the Board Vice Chairman.
The Le Sueur County LifeEnterprise News was named the 2020 first legal newspaper. The Montgomery Messenger was named the second legal newspaper.
Mileage reimbursement for Le Sueur County employees will be 57.5 cents per mile, in accordance with the federal IRS mileage rate.