Faced with a deteriorating infrastructure, the City of Kilkenny is looking to rehabilitate and modernize its water systems.

The city met with Kyle Renneke of the engineering firm ISG Monday to go over details of the project. Particular focus is given to the well house. The 90-year old structure is in critical disrepair.

“It has a concrete roof that could collapse at any time,” said Kilkenny Mayor Tammy Holicky said.

Republicans and Democrats in Le Sueur, and Rice counties interested in participating in the early stages of the process of selecting their respective party’s candidates and platforms at upcoming precinct caucuses can do so on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. at various locations.

Randall “Randy” Lee Ellman, aged 64, of Charles City, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at his home.

Born on April 11, 1961, in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Randy was the son of Vincent and Delores (Johnson) Ellman. Randy enjoyed many activities, including spending time with his loved ones, camping, fishing, gambling and eating ice cream with dots every evening.

Evelyn Elizabeth Barabash, age 79, of Montgomery, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at St. Mary Hospital in Rochester.

Evelyn was born on March 5, 1946, in Minneapolis, to David and Louise (Corbine) Belille. She was raised in New Prague, where she attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School. Among her siblings and cousins, she was lovingly known by the nickname “Paper Doll”.

Matthew Eugene Robert Kadrlik, age 50, a lifelong resident of Montgomery, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, January 23, 2026, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer—one he faced with remarkable strength, quiet determination, and without complaint.

“Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. They’re allowed to take only a knapsack and a little cash with them, and even then, they’re robbed of these possessions on the way. Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Women return from shopping to find their houses sealed, their families gone. The Christians in Holland are also living in fear because their sons are being sent to Germany.

Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School (MHRCS) middle school teacher Jennifer Floyd of Lonsdale was awarded the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year for grades 6-8 for Minnesota.

Floyd is the fourth winner sponsored by the Montgomery VFW Post 5340. Prior winners included Heide Veazie, Christine Trcka, and Michael Bass-Smith.

She teaches language arts for 7th-8th grade, Spanish for grades 3rd-8th, and art for all of the middle school at MHRCS where this is her second year there and 35th year as a teacher.

Tri-City United High School one act play director Elise Lundeen announced that due to the extreme cold weather, The Last Fire Fly public performance scheduled for tonight, Thursday, Jan. 22, will be postponed until sometime next week with details to be announced later.

Students will still be participating in Section 2A Subsection One Act Play competition this Saturday though at TCU High School in the performing arts center.

With four games to go, two against its primary opponent for an automatic berth in the state tournament, the New Prague floor hockey team is preparing for a possible showdown game early next month.

At 6-0, the undefeated NP team faced Mankato yesterday, Jan. 21, at Franklin Elementary School. Mankato is likely New Prague’s top competition for an automatic state tournament berth. The top team in the southern division wins the automatic berth. The alternative route to state requires winning a berth via the playoffs.

Bob Allen passed away on January 16, 2026, at the age of 89. Bob was a devoted spouse to Dorothy, and father to Tom, Jennifer and Joan. 

Bob taught at Montgomery-Lonsdale High School for 28 years.

A celebration of life will be held at noon on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at O’Halloran & Murphy of Woodbury. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. – Noon.

O'Halloran & Murphy - Woodbury 651-702-0301

Tri-City United High School thespians are almost ready to show you their latest one act masterpiece, “The Last Firefly” by Naomi Iizuka.

It’s the story of “Boom,” who is the son of “Thunder,” and goes out to search for his father that left him and his mother “Kuroko.” It’s a mythical story that uses Japanese music and a style of puppetry.

The story was first commissioned and produced by Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis in 2016. TCU students are now putting their own spin on the tale.

Former Tri-City United and Montgomery-Lonsdale Schools FFA advisor Barry Schmidt was inducted into the Minnesota FFA’s 2026 Hall of Fame. He joins seven others inducted for 2026.

Wanda Jean Roethler, age 68, of Le Center, MN, passed away on January 14, 2026, at the Central Health Care Center in Le Center after a courageous battle with cancer.

Late last week an emergency meeting was called for Monday, Jan. 12, of the city council for the City of Kilkenny. No large emergency was present other than information that Nicole LeBrun, the current city clerk, had found a new position elsewhere and a replacement would need to be figured out.

Kilkenny Mayor Tammy Holicky seemed happy for LeBrun, saying that she found an “amazing position somewhere else,” which LeBrun wanted to keep private.

Tri-City United High School was host to the Big South Conference Championship last Thursday, Jan. 8. Six other teams from the conference convened at Montgomery competing in both jazz and kick.

TCU dancers ended up in the middle of the pack for both jazz and kick, and for junior varsity jazz as well.

Head Coach Katey Weiss said, “All three of our dances were our best performances and scores to date. We work every week to improve our routines. I'm very happy with how we finished.”

Oscar Gene May, age 94, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Mala Strana Healthcare Facility in New Prague.