WEM/JWP freshman Norah Welvaert placed 9th among a very talented group of 49 runners Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Grizzly Pie Run held at Prairie Ridge Golf Course in Janesville.

Welvaert ran the 5,000-meter course in 21:28.2 in leading the Grizzlies to a 4th place team finish.

The team champions were from Mankato Loyola/Cleveland/St. Clair. The Loyola squad, rated No. 2 in Class A, finished with 25 team points. They were followed by Blooming Prairie (49), Maple River (65), WEM/JWP (98), and Randolph (135).

The WEM Board of Education approved the preliminary 2027 levy amount during their Sept. 28 regular meeting.

The numbers are as positive as they have been in years, with a decrease in the levy at 15.14 percent or $747,545.22 on the $4,161,053.21 total.

The funds are listed at approximately $1.8 million in the general fund, $74,000 in community service, and $2.2 million in general debt service.

One week after becoming the school record holder in rushing touchdowns, WEM senior Gavin Atherton etched his name on top of another statistical category.

Atherton gained 169 yards on a career-high 39 carries in a 42-40 double overtime Homecoming win over Maple River Friday, Oct. 2.

His career rushing totals through four years are now the best in Waterville-Elysian-Morristown School History. Atherton has gained 3,304 career yards on 477 career carries, an average of more than 7 yards every time he rushes the ball.

WEM/JWP senior Wyatt Jans claimed his first individual cross country championship of the fall, winning the Grizzly Pie Run title Thursday, Oct. 1 at Prairie Ridge Golf Course in Janesville.

Jans, who has led the Grizzlies in all their races this season, ran second behind Mankato Loyola/Cleveland/ St. Clair eighth grader Griffin Rutz for a portion of the first mile of the 3+ mile race. But once he passed Rutz, Jans had little trouble claiming the race, finishing in a time of 17:25.4. Rutz placed second in a time of 17:44.3. NRHEG sophomore Kasey Jewison placed third in 17:51.7.

To the editor,
    I am writing because I believe Mary Nesgoda is the kind of person we need representing us in the Minnesota House for District 22B.
    What I appreciate most about Mary is simple: She listens, and she cares about people. She takes the time to hear what people are saying and to understand the challenges they face.

Jannelle (Jobe) Morsching, chosen by God before she was born, was taken to her heavenly home to be with Christ according to His perfect plan on October 4, 2026. 

Gladys Elaine Goede Marzahn passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2026, at 93 years old.

Delores Beatrice Schneider, age 86, of Waseca, passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, October 5, 2026, at her home.

Delores was born in Faribault on August 16, 1940, to Alfred and Teresa (Stone) Ress. She attended Faribault High School before being united in marriage to Leslie Donald Schneider on October 17, 1957, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Together they shared a loving marriage spanning nearly seven decades.

Margaret J. Gare, age 89, of Faribault, died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at home.

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, Faribault, on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Faribault.

Visitation will be held at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. and for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. 

Stephen Arthur Schwichtenberg (Steven or Steve) was born on March 9, 1952, in Faribault, MN, the seventh of eight children of Harold and Mabel (Fratzke) Schwichtenberg. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville, and later confirmed his faith at the same church in 1965.

Sonja Marie Thomson, age 75, of Waterville passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at her home.

Sonja was born on February 8, 1951, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Ernest and Helen (Jacobson) Dahl. She attended Waterville-Elysian Schools and later graduated from Normandale College with a degree in dental hygiene.

The Elysian City Council adopted their 2027 proposed budget and payable 2026 tax levy during their Monday, Sept. 18 meeting.

Based on preliminary numbers, the levy will increase by $81,574, or an 8.4 percent increase from a year ago. The previous year the levy increased 4.6 percent or approximately $59,000.

The total preliminary level amount payable for 2027 is $1,049,286. Last year the preliminary levy was $967,712.

There are only eight teams remaining in Class AA who are undefeated after three weeks.

One of those teams are the WEM Buccaneers, who scored a season-high 64 points in a 64-6 whooping of Medford Thursday, Sept. 17.

The Bucs, who average the 3rd most points in Class AA scoring 42 per game, scored 44 at halftime against the Tigers, who were limited to less than 100 total yards.

Much like the win over Lewiston-Altura last week, the Buccaneers scored early and often and the reserves played well in the second half, while the starters watched from the sideline.

The WEM varsity bowling team won two of their three matches last week while bowling a the WOW Zone in Mankato Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Buccaneers swept Fairmont (195-142, 153-117, 145- 119, 181-154, and 177-124), defeated Janesville (171-170, 211-132, 186-158, 132-139, and 196-200), and lost to Faribault (157-110, 203-135, 136-167, 148-103, and 197-173).

In the win over Fairmont, Owen Boese, Trevor Johnson, and Kolton Green led the team with four strikes. Green also had five spares.

The annual Homecoming Celebration at WEM Schools starts Monday, September 28 with the crowning of the 2026 king and queen.

Four candidates for queen and king were selected by their classmates.

Queen candidates

Nevaeh Geyer, daughter of Jeff and Janet Geyer.

Meghan Krystosek, daughter of Simon and Kathy Krystosek.

Kyeria Morris, daughter of Nick and Kristalyn Morris 

Alix Velzke, daughter of Bruce and Kristin Velzke.

King candidates

Reed Sammon, son of Nick and Amanda Sammon.

The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognized 68 Minnesota farms as 2026 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more.

Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Tim Walz.

Since the program began in 1976, more than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.