Nearly eight decades ago Marian Bemis Johnson graduated from Waterville High School.
When she attended school there were no girls sports in any high schools in Minnesota.
Johnson recently wrote a letter to the WEM girls basketball players explaining the some of her findings when it came to girls basketball in Minnesota.
“That was the life of most Minnesota girls and women in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, and why was it that way?” Johnson said in her letter. “Why did anyone think that girls should not be athletes and play on teams and reach their personal goals?”

Phyllis Jean (Bidwell) Arndt, age 78, entered into eternal peace on Monday, March 31, 2025 at the Owatonna Hospital.

Norma M. Byron, age 99, formerly of Faribault, died on Monday, March 31, 2025, at Central Health Care, Le Center.
Funeral services will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Faribault, on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Kira Anderson officiating. Interment will be at Sakatah Cemetery, Waterville.
Visitation will be at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault, on Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. and at church for one hour prior to the service on Monday.

Shannon Marie Cook passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at her home in Hill City at the age of 51. She was born March 19, 1973, in Austin, the daughter of Kenneth and Shirley (Pritzkau) Cook. She grew up in Austin and graduated High School in Waterville. She attended Mankato State University and earned a B.A. Degree.  She moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. where she worked at a bank for many years.  She later moved to Hill City and worked in Grand Rapids. 

The annual Waterville Bowler of the Year Tournament was held Friday, March 21 at Hoot Lanes in Waterville.
Any bowler who rolled a 220 game or a 600 series during the season had the opportunity to compete in this tournament.
Gio Lozane captured the title by defeating Joey Schnoor in the final game, winning 201 to 184.

Up and coming local youth wrestlers continue to excel.
Nearly 20 Grizzly youth wrestlers have advanced to the NYWA State Tournament, which will be held March 27 through March 30 at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
The Grizzly Junior High team will compete in the State Tourney after winning one of three matches at the Regional Tournament last weekend in Worthington.
They lost to St. Peter (32-16), defeated Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (33-16), and lost to Springfield (36-15).

Candidates for the WEM Superintendent position were selected by the WEM Board of Education during their Monday, March 24 regular meeting.
Five candidates were selected from a total of 11 applicants. 12 individuals initially applied, with one rescinding their application. Two others started applications but did not complete them. Two others called with interest but did not submit an application.

For way more than a decade, the Elysian Area Community Foundation (EACF) has been working to provide grants to support programs and projects that improve the quality of life and build stronger communities in the greater Elysian area.
EACF is dedicated to serving the Elysian area by providing opportunities, addressing community needs, and working toward a progressive future.

Everett Allen Brown, age 68, of Faribault, died on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Emeralds in Faribault.

Curtis (Curt) Martin Carlson, 83, passed away peacefully at Colony Court (Foxdale) Memory Care in Waseca, MN, on March 16, 2025.  

Diane Marie Chambers, age 66, of Rochester, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2025, surrounded by her special caregivers, Cris and Dee, while at Mayo Clinic’s St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. 
Diane was born on April 8, 1958, in Mankato to Richard and MaryAnn (Miller) Chambers. She graduated from Waterville High School with the class of 1977. She held numerous jobs with long tenures, including McDonalds, Pace Dairy, Kwik Trip and most recently served as a caregiver for Visiting Angels and Elderly Network. 

Myrna Ann (Daby) Winkelman, age 92, of St. Clair, died Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center in Mankato. 

David Kent Hruska, age 87, of Waterville, passed away surrounded by family on the morning of Monday, March 17, 2025, at Whispering Creek in Janesville.
Born on August 31, 1937, in Faribault, Minnesota, David was the son of James and Ada (Stacke) Hruska. At the age of two, he was raised by his father and Dorothy (Gartemaker) Hruska. David graduated from Waterville High School with the class of 1955 and continued his education at Mankato Technical School, earning his degree in 1957.

Kathleen H. Grose, age 73, of Bigfork, MN, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Grand Village Nursing Home, Grand Rapids, MN, surrounded by family.

Hundreds fo people braved the cold weather Sunday, Feb. 16 and took part in the Silver Lakers 37th Annual Ice Fishing Contest.
This annual event included many different raffles, merchandise prizes, and of course fishing.
Tim Mohrbacher of Shakopee won the top prize of $150 in the fishing contest for his 6.3 pound northern he caught.
There was a second place tie between Mohrbacher and Tanner Ernsting of Cleveland, who each caught .25 pound pumpkinseed and crappie, respectively.

Jaden Lang of Morristown has been dancing as long as she can remember…16 years to be exact.
Now she has become a National Champion after competing last month with the Championship Minnesota State University, Mankato Pom Team in Florida.
The Nationals were held January 17 through 19 in Orlando, Florida at the ESPN Wide World of LifeEnterprise Sports Complex.
The Mavericks were among more than 20 teams competing in the Open Division of the Division 2 and Division 3 schools.