We often hear about history of the early settlers of this area, the Big Woods region, referring to our European ancestors that moved into the area in the 1800’s to start farmsteads and businesses in what was thought to be open wilderness.
    Those early settlers infiltrated Native American lands though, changing the landscape and dialog about history forever — often omitting or minimizing that we had occupied and taken lands where these natives resided.

    Last Thursday’s Montgomery Farmer’s Market in Memorial Park was a special combination of elements.
    The market featured four tractors from the Krocak family brought in by four teenagers — Nathan Akerlund, Hunter Tuma, Logan Krocak and Noah Fields. Liz Krocak said, “Some kids have never even seen a tractor or been out to a farm. This is a fun way for them to see a little bit about what it is about.”

    Summer blood donations far lower than needed as hospitals work to protect patient care, according to the American Red Cross. 
    The American Red Cross is declaring an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. Blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O-positive and B-negative blood.

    Tri-City United High School will be losing a few excellent clay target shooters going into next season after competing at the USA Clay Target League’s 2026 National Championship in Mason, Mich., July 8-12. A total of 1,800 shooters between individual and teams participated at the event.
    The TCU squad — consisting of Levi Hohrman, Martin Bongers, Jacob Jones, Dylan Carston, and Branko Schoenbauer —  ended up placing 26th out of the 234 teams at nationals.

    Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) has completed its case in the Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, early morning death of 58-year-old Jose Luis Alvarado at Seneca Foods Corporation in Montgomery.

    Only a select individuals can say they competed for their state team representing Minnesota in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games held in Minneapolis from June 19-26, and Montgomery’s Phillip Weber is one of them.
    Weber, 2009 Tri-City United High School graduate, was made aware that he was chosen to be a part of Minnesota’s 16-person swimming team during an announcement on YouTube by Special Olympics Minnesota about a year ago. He is one of 245 athletes chosen across the state to represent Minnesota.

    Tri-City United Schools teamed up with Let’s Smile, Inc. again this past school year to provide $14,002.00 in no-cost dental work for kids enrolled in the school district, according to TCU Community Education Director Layne Wilbright. It’s a partnership that started in the spring of 2024, and there is no cost to the school as well as families.

    In the wake of the USA Clay Target League’s Minnesota State High School Clay Target League state tournament in Alexandria, the Tri-City United High School’s trap team and three individuals qualified for the Minnesota State High School League’s (MSHSL) Clay Target State Championship on Friday, June 24.

    Montgomery Historical Society teamed up with St. John Lutheran Church for a unique night of history on Wednesday, June 24. A little over 50 people showed up for the occasion. 

    The Montgomery Area Community Club (MACC) held its annual Kolacky Days Meet and Greet in Memorial Park Monday evening.
    Scott Smisek entertained attendees before the formal ceremony where people could grab a free kolacky and cookie or spend a few dollars on the new merchandise for the 92nd Annual Kolacky Days which will happen July 24-26.
    This year’s six candidates were introduced with their Little Sisters. The part of the event that everyone really waited for was the announcement of this year’s grand marshals. 

    Student athletes from Tri-City United High School’s trapshooting team competed this past weekend in Alexandria for a spot in the Minnesota State High School League’s (MSHSL) Clay Target State Tournament happening on Friday, June 26.
    USA Clay Target League’s Minnesota State High School Clay Target League’s Trap Shooting Tournament, June 15-23, at Alexandria Community and Technical College’s site, is the qualifier for the MSHSL state event. Only the top 40 teams, and top 100 in both boys and girls, move on to the MSHSL state event.

    Most people are aware of the area food shelves and Tri-City United School’s summer meal program for kids 1-18. Even with such programs, Caitlin Huiras thinks there is still much need in this area to help food insecurity.
    Huiras is the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce executive director and quit her job, in part, as a public health program specialist in Carver County to start the nonprofit 507 Food Share in Montgomery. She has a formal education background in nutrition and public health, and her former job focused nutrition with Carver County. 

    The Minnesota chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS 150 bike ride on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, brought over 2,000 bicycle riders raising money for charity to Le Sueur County and Montgomery.
    After doing the first 75 miles of their ride in a loop in the southwest portion of the county on Saturday and spending a night at camp in St. Peter, riders made their way through Montgomery on their way to Buck Hill in Burnsville on the second 75-mile track. 

    Two serious crashes this past week left one 59-year-old man dead, and two others with life-threatening injuries. The first crash occurred Sunday morning, June 7, near the Montgomery Trap Range on Highway 21. The second crash occurred the morning of Wednesday, June 10, on Highway 13/21 in front of Tri-City United High School.

    Montgomery Fire Department celebrates its 150th anniversary this Friday and Saturday. 
    Friday already has a full roster for the golf tournament at Montgomery National Golf Course. A shotgun start will ensue at noon, and persons are welcome to come an be spectators for the golfers.
    Saturday the department has planned way more than extra of what their typical dance and beer garden festivities have every year.
    It starts off with a car roll-in from 9-11:30 a.m., where firefighter Sean Benz will perform a set on 1st Street from 10-11:30 a.m.

    A nine-year-old state track record has been shattered by a Tri-City United (TCU) quartet of runners.
    The 4 x 200-meter relay team of junior Kaitlyn Hartwig, sophomores Carly Hartwig and Jillian Houn, and eighth grader Cami Hartwig are now the proud owners of the fastest time in Minnesota State history, winning the Class AA State Championship with a time of 1:37.90 at the Class AA State Meet held Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.