In the fight against cancer, hundreds of Le Sueur County residents and their families and friends are raising awareness and funds for research, step by step. The Relay for Life of Le Sueur County is an active team fundraiser where people from all over the county, take turns walking around a track at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds.
 

The past week saw some outstanding individual performances in the Dakota- Rice-Scott League. Veseli’s Mike Bartusek went 5-for-6 in a loss to Lonsdale, Mike Flicek and Eric Iverson both had four hits for Montgomery in a win over Shakopee, Derek Masberg threw a three-hit shutout as Union Hill defeated Prior Lake, while Prior Lake’s Cole Bjorge had four hits, including two doubles, and four RBIs in a win over Webster. Riley Ahern threw a one-hit shutout in New Market’s 3-0 win over New Prague, negating a three-hit, 12-strikeout performance by the Orioles’ Nathan Sprouls.

A growing number of Minnesota school districts are looking to the sun to stabilize their energy costs.
 
Tri-City United is the latest Minnesota school district to consider using solar power to save money. School board members are debating whether to join a nearby solar garden that could save the district $187,928 on electricity over the next 25 years.
 

Mary Bridget Krenik, 91, of Le Center, died Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at Central Health Care Center in Le Center.  Visitation was held at the Le Center Funeral Home on Friday, July 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the Mass at church on Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at 10 a.m. with Fr. Chris Shofner presiding.  Burial was held at Calvary Cemetery in Le Center.

The Dakota Rice Scott Baseball League has announced its All-Star Game Roster. 
The DRS team will face off against the River Valley League All-Stars at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14. at Fairfax. 
The two leagues have met annually since 2007 for an All-Star game. The RVL has a 7-3 advantage, with one rain out (2008). The RVL won last year’s contest, 7-6. 
DRS Team members chosen by league managers are:
Elko Express - TJ Evanson, Grant Gunderson, Dylan Thomas
Faribault Lakers - Egan Bonde and player TBA
Lonsdale Aces - Thomas Hoppert

When is a child old enough to stay home alone?
It’s a question all parents eventually face.
Unfortunately, there’s no magical age for parents to use as to when it is safe—and legal—to leave children home alone because all children mature at different rates, but there are guidelines.
According to information provided by Le Sueur County’s Lead Child Protection Investigator Cari Krenik, children ages seven years and under should never be left alone for any period of time and children ages eight through 17 should only be left alone for certain periods of time.

I found my first arrowhead last summer.
Last week, I found my second.
And now, I have the bug— the desire—to know more about the fascinating old points that washed up on the shoreline of the lake my family has lived on for more than 60 years.
I came across both arrowheads by chance.
I enjoy taking walks along our beach in the evening, and one night last summer, I came across a perfectly formed arrowhead on top of the other rocks and sand, at the lake’s edge.
It took me by surprise. I remember thinking, “No… It can’t be…"

It was a sweet tour down memory lane for the latest show and tell for the Montgomery Historical Society.
The journey started and ended at the famous Franke Bakery on Thursday, June 28 for the society’s bimonthly Show and Tell meeting. With more than 25 people along for the ride, Jean Franke, the granddaughter of bakery founder Emil Franke, narrated the story of the pastry shop’s humble beginnings.

New Market became the first Dakota-Rice-Scott League team to clinch a firstround playoff bye with a pair of wins, and the rest of the league battled to keep pace as the regular season winds down.
There are three weekends remaining in the season, which concludes July 22. Four league teams will get byes into the Region 3C tournament, while the eight remaining teams will play for the final four spots.

During the annual Fourth of July DRS League baseball game between Veseli and Lonsdale, umpires Jay McGivern, left, and Pat Schumer talk between innings as Lonsdale Aces manager Darrell Vosejpka fires up his team. The Veseli Warriors hosted the Aces as part of the community’s annual Fourth of July Celebration. Veseli had a parade, games and capped off the night with fireworks. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Donald and Kathi Janovsky farm in rural Montgomery has been recognized as a Rice County 2018 Century Farm. 
 
“I’m sure my Grandpa John, who purchased the first acreage here, would be pretty proud, he probably never anticipated this when he bought the place 100 years ago,” stated Donald, who represents the third generation to farm the land. 
 
Donald’s grandfather, John Janovsky, purchased the first 80 acres of the farm from Thomas Carroll in the fall of 1918 for $138.75 per acre. 
 

LuAnn Dvorak, 66, of Montgomery, died on Monday, July 2, 2018, at her home in Montgomery. Visitation will be on Monday, July 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with visitation one hour prior at the church. Father Victor Valencia will officiate. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.
 
LuAnn was born on April 26, 1952, in New Prague to Louis and Lillian (Hughes) Filipek.
 

“America, America God shed his grace on thee.”
These words were sung with fervor by the large crowd gathered at the annual Freedom Celebration held Sunday in Lonsdale.
Held the Sunday before Independence Day, Freedom Celebration happens to honor every veteran and volunteer who serves our nation, said Pastor Ben Fenderson.
Fenderson, the senior pastor at Triumphant Life Church in Lonsdale, said that he began holding this service as a promise to his now 99 year old grandfather to carry on the mission. 

A teenager drowned in Lake Elysian during the afteroon of June 29. 
According to the Waseca County Sheriff's report, the victim was a 17-year-old male who reportedly jumped in the lake and never resurfaced around 4 p.m. Elysian Fire Chief Jason James said the incident occurred just south of Kaupon's Point.