Mick McGuire could not contain his disappointment as he opened the second annual Montgomery State of the Community event.
“We don’t have a single person from the community here,” McGuire began. “Everyone here is here because they are presenting. Over 3,000 people had an opportunity to come and there isn’t a single one.”
Still, the presenters shared their information with one another at the event, which was held Saturday morning, Feb. 22. The event was put on by the Montgomery Community Foundation.
Tri-City United Schools robotics program continues to perform well with three teams making it to the state robotics tournament at St. Cloud Community and Technical College’s River’s Edge Event Center on Feb. 27 and 28.
TCU Robotics Head Coach Jeffery Ballman said, “Please congratulate all of these teams as they work hard to represent our TCU middle schools and TCU High School at the state level of competition! We are very proud to have three of our five teams moving on to the state level.
High School
Coronation is set for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 12:33 p.m.
The queen candidates are Julia Odenthal, daughter of Randy and Laura Odenthal of New Prague; Eva Tikalsky, daughter of Christopher Tikalsky of Montgomery; Jayden Disbrow, daughter of Jim and Angie Disbrow of Montgomery; Addison Houn, daughter of Trevor and Kristi Houn of Montgomery; and Kaylee Harkins, daughter of Clint and Vicki Harkins of Le Center.
Four Tri-City United Le Center PreK-8 School elementary students from recently participated in the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) second annual Elementary AllStar Choir, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 15. This special event brought together 180 students, in grades 4-6, from across Minnesota for a day of rehearsals and an inspiring performance as part of the MMEA Midwinter Convention.
Local musician and Montgomery Fire Department firefighter Sean Benz and his band The Misfits were approached with a special opportunity last July. “I was asked to play the Richie Valens Luncheon after my band and I were done playing at the Iowa Rock n’Roll Music Association’s ‘Rock the Roof’ event, something we’ve done for many years now,” said Sean Benz. “Connie Valens approached me and said, ‘Hey, I’d love to have you play the Richie Valens Luncheon,’ and she invited us as their special guest for the Winter Dance Party (as well).”
TCU Schools closed Tuesday, Feb. 18, because of extreme cold.
The National Weather Service issued a weather warning beginning Monday, Feb. 17, 9 p.m.
Tuesday will be an e-learning day. KidZone closed. After-school activities on, but the girls' basketball game is canceled.
Le Sueur County is updating its comprehensive land use and zoning code, titled “Vision 2050,” and held a public meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Le Center American Legion. According to a survey provided to a large crowd the update is to better serve and guide the county’s growth. The work over this year is to “create a plan that balances its rich historical past and resources,” said the beginning of the survey. The new comprehensive plan is to grow the county’s tax base and guide the county over the next 25 years.
Write-in votes will settle who takes at least two open seats on Rice County’s townships boards.
No affidavits for candidacy were filed in the 2025 race for Northfield Township treasurer, or to fill the term of the remaining year of the term for the Morristown Township clerk.
The treasurer’s seat, a two-year term, is up in all every township except Forest Township where the treasurer is appointed, rather than elected.
After a vehicle was driven into open water on Lake Washington this weekend, the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office is warning visitors to the lake in Le Sueur County to use caution, advising a large area of open water has developed in the area referred to as the Narrows. Sunday, Feb. 9, Capt. Bruce Collins confirmed the people in the vehicle escaped without injury.
The vehicle is now submerged in about 6 feet of water. The open water starts at the north shoreline and goes almost all the way across, to the south shore.
Multiple fire departments responded to the scene of an industrial fire at Fiberglas Fabricators, 315 W Industrial Street, in Le Center, on Monday, Jan. 13, shortly before midnight.
A Le Sueur County Sheriff’s deputy contacted his patrol sergeant at approximately 11:47 p.m. saying that he had observed smoke coming from the roof soffit air vents of the building, observed smoke inside the building, and that the air smelled of smoke, according to the incident report from Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Department.
A group of quilters from St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery has spent a great deal of volunteer time making 56 quilts that were sent off earlier this week, via Lutheran World Relief, to help aid those affected by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area of California.
The victims will also be receiving personal care kits that include things like a towel, soap, toothbrush, and nail clippers.
A total of $500 was raised in the collection baskets this Sunday at the church to help with the shipping of items, something that is direly needed according to Gari Teig.
Mom goes to appointment, drives herself to hospital for first baby of 2025
The winner of this year’s contest for the first baby of the year in Montgomery are parents Ashley Gregor and Jason Barnett, both natives of Montgomery. Gregor gave birth to 6 pound, 1 ounce, Adalyn Annette Barnett at 12:50 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at Northfield Hospital.
“I drove myself there,” said Gregor. “I went to my daughter’s appointment and then went to the hospital.”
Churches around the nation have been struggling and closing in rather large numbers. The attendance at churches has dropped significantly. A Gallup poll published in 2024 showed that 43 percent of adults said they attended religious services in their 2000-2003 poll to just 30 percent in their 2021-2023 poll, dropping 12 percent.
St. John Lutheran Church in Kilkenny is no exception to this decline in attendance. Husband and wife Daryl and Alice Bosacker, long-time members of the church, have seen the change personally.
The first fire bell ever used in Montgomery when it was chartered as a city in the state of Minnesota was erected in 1884. That bell, now 141 years old, has new life instilled in it thanks to the efforts of local citizens and a collaboration of businesses.
Are you having a baby at any moment? Could your baby be the first baby born in the year 2025 for Montgomery?
Don't hesitate! Be the first to report the good news of your new baby to the Montgomery Messenger at editor@montgomerymnnews.com to win a variety of prizes from local merchants!