There have been numerous questions on the status of Molter’s Fresh Market grocery store in town and whether or not the store is closing. Over the past month or so, shelves have slowly been getting emptier and emptier and the deli inside was closed for business last week permanently.
The store never brandished any permanent sign on the building, leaving the previous grocery store’s name, Mackenthun’s, on it for about six months before it was painted over and small temporary banners were placed below it.
Union Pacific, which owns and operates the railroad running from Montgomery through New Prague, has been working on a tie replacement project along the line to Jordan.
“We do that periodically to ensure safe transport of the items we ship,” said Mike Jaixen, senior manager of communications for Union Pacific. “Along with replacing the ties, the crews do ballast work. The ties will be set to the side of the track, and we have a different crew that will come by later and pick up the old ties.”
A shed fire on 270th Street East, east of Creeks Bend Golf Course, in rural Cedar Lake Township on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 17, is a total loss. The shed was used to house equipment only. More information will be available in the print issue of the New Prague Times.
Beyond the hard work that those exhibiting animals have put in, fair foods and beverages, amusement rides, live music, and other events, the Le Sueur County Free Fair is also host to — drum roll please — the Ag Olympics!
The University of Minnesota Le Sueur County 4-H’ers pack in a fun time on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. in the show arena at the fair hosting the Ag Olympics. Events will include wheelbarrow races, feed sack relays, egg tosses, bobbing for corn, roping, and hog calling.
New Prague resident Phyllis Smith has been selected the Outstanding Senior Citizen in Le Sueur County.
Smith will be recognized at the Le Sueur County Fair during the Senior Citizens/Farm Family of the Year Program on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m.
The individual that nominated Smith said this about the former elementary school secretary:
The 2023-2024 Miss Czech-Slovak Minnesota Queen, Ellaina Novak, enjoyed her experience at the 2024 Miss Czech-Slovak US Pageant in Wilber, Neb., over the weekend. “It was great. I had a lot of fun with all the other candidates. Instead of competing against each other, we were competing with each other. It was a lot easier to go on stage knowing the other girls supported you,” Novak said.
Neysa Anderson was crowned the 2024 Kolocky Queen for the Kolacky Days 90th festival this Friday evening, July 26. The remainder of Kolacky Days royalty were also crowned as 1st Princess Olivia Skluzacek, and 2nd Princess and Miss Congeniality Tayla Kline. They have taken their place and will be seen over the next two days of Kolacky Days festivities, including the Grand Parade on Sunday at noon along 1st Street in Montgomery!
Scott Pelava, owner of Lonsdale Auto Works, was chosen as the 2024 grand marshal for Lonsdale Community Days, happening on Saturday, August 10.
Pelava opened Lonsdale Auto Works in 2005, providing service to the Lonsdale area for 19 years so far. He has been an active member of the Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce (LACC), serving two terms on the board of directors for them. Chamber Executive Director Shanna Gutzke-Kopp says that he has been “constructively working with staff, committee members & business leaders.”
The Kolacky Days medallion has been found by the reigning royalty themselves. It was located at the Montgomery City Hall. The Kolacky Queen and her princesses spent time each day since the first clue given on Monday to locate it. Full information will be published in the print issue of The Messenger on August 1.
Look for The Messenger on newsstands starting Wednesday afternoon with a special 12-page section dedicated to Kolacky Days and all of its happenings!
The armed man who prompted sheriff’s deputies and police to shut down Interstate Highway 35 near Faribault Sunday, July 21, for nearly five hours allegedly had drugs in his vehicle, paraphernalia and equipment for packaging drugs.
The incident began at 2:52 p.m. and ended shortly after 7 p.m.
Bruce Davis, a jovial man, decided a few weeks ago to resign as head baseball coach for Tri-City United High School after 37 years in the position.
“I really don’t have any reasons to retire. I still love coaching. Last spring was as much fun coaching as any season,” said Davis.
Davis also hung up his hat as a teacher for TCU, starting in the fall of 1987 of the then Montgomery-Lonsdale Schools. He started teaching in Montgomery as a fourth grade teacher, spent one year as a third grade teacher, and the rest of his career as a sixth grade teacher.
With anticipation of Kolacky Days, a lot of work has gone into refurbishing the first fire bell for the city of Montgomery. Local Historian Dale Ruhland and a host of others have spent hours researching the origin, as well as coordinating funds and work to be done, on the fire bell that used to sit on a concrete pad alone in Memorial Park near the Settler’s Cabin.
The bell was first installed in the early 1880’s, either when the first fire hall was approved in 1880 for the city or shortly thereafter.
Two Montgomery Township residents were killed in a house fire early Sunday morning.
Roman Jindra, 76, and Betty Jindra, 73, were found in the kitchen area of a house on Jindra Lane in Montgomery Township around 1 a.m. Sunday, July 14. Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office dispatchers received a report of a structure fire at the house at 12:54 a.m. Betty Jindra called 911 and reported the house was on fire and she and Roman were trapped inside the residence, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.
Remember to check for road closures and detours due to recent area flooding.
July 4 • Lakeville — Fireworks in King Park at 10 p.m. • Mankato — Red, Hot & Boom! at Riverfront Park with festivities start at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
• Montgomery - Music in the Park in Memorial Park at 6 p.m. with Loose Gravel — rock, country and folk music. No fireworks.
Crews will begin work on Highway 282 projects on July 8 that will result in narrow lanes and two separate road closures, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
At 7 a.m. Monday, July 8, crews begin replacing a retaining wall with an earthen slope along Highway 282 in downtown Jordan. Crews working on the project, between Highway 21 and East Street, require a temporary narrowing of Highway 282 lanes. Workers plan to continue the project from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until July 30.
The office of the Le Sueur County election administrator announces that absentee ballots are now available to the public for the August 13 primary election. Individuals may vote in person at the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at the Le Sueur County Government Center, 88 S Park Ave, Le Center, MN 56057, or fill out an absentee ballot application on-line, or mail in a request for an absentee ballot to Le Sueur County Elections, 88 South Park Ave, Le Center MN 56057, and a ballot will be mailed to them.