A young family is pouring their love—and lifesavings—into an old farm.
Dilapidated outbuildings have been repaired.
Old wire fencing has been removed and replaced.
The big barn standing at the heart of the property has been refurbished and repainted and is once again...
To see more on this story, pick up the February 11, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times and Montgomery Messenger.

Larry Marvin Ceplecha, 59, of New Prague, died February 9, 2021, at his home. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with a prayer service at 7 p.m. with Father George Grafsky officiating. Interment will be at a later date this spring in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.
Larry was born on November 8, 1961, in Faribault to Marvin Edward and Barbara (Malecha) Ceplecha. He attended Montgomery High School and worked as a Processing Technician for Faribault Foods.

All it took was a mouth full of expired, curdled milk.
And, my darling daughter, Ellen, learned another valuable life lesson!
Always check the expiration date.
My little redhead was simultaneously horrified by the sour, chunky experience and astonished to learn that those little, hard-to-read black letters and numbers on food containers actually mean something.
I’m astonished it has taken this long. She is going to be...
To read more on this story, pick up the February 11, 2021 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

The Tri-City United Weightlifting Club held its first meet on Saturday, Feb. 6 in the high school gym.
Unlike previous years, the pandemic has changed how meets are held. According to TCU Coach Andrew Meiser, all schools have...
To see more on this story, pick up the February 11, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Forget distance learning.
Forget hybrid learning.
Remember in-person learning?
That’s exactly what all students and faculty of Tri-City United will do as they return to full, in-classroom education starting February 16.
On Monday, February 8, the TCU school board approved a learning plan that has all students from pre-kindergarten on up to 12th graders returning to their regular schedules as if it were a normal year, and without a late start.

Jane A.

With just a few days between meets, the Tri-City United Dance Team has been working hard perfecting routines and adding a dancer to the mix.
The team competed in Belle Plaine on Friday, Jan. 22. The athletes had the...
To see more on this story, pick up the February 4, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

City begins discussions for new facility
Mayor Tom Eisert is on a mission: to begin work and establish a timeline toward a new police department facility.
The subject was one of the items on the council’s work session on Monday, Feb. 1.
Eisert conveyed his message loud and clear.
“We are all very clear of the needs of the police facility,” he stated. “We’ve been stuck in this exact spot for the last year and a half. It’s time to move forward. I will welcome any ideas on how we..."

Editor Wade Young, Staff Writer Lisa Ingebrand, and Graphic Designer Jennifer Leff, who work for Suel Printing Company, were honored for their work during the 2021 Minnesota Newspaper Association's (MNA) Annual Convention on January 28.
Young, from the Montgomery Messenger, won in the...
To see more on this story, pick up the February 4, 2021 print editions of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger and LifeEnterprise.

Eileen Florinda (Foss) Chapman, 78, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, at the Mayo Hospital in Mankato.
Eileen was born on April 2, 1942, in Reine Township (Skime) of Roseau County, MN, to Olaf and Florinda (Skime) Foss. She was a 1960 high school graduate of International Falls High School.
Eileen met her sweetheart, Harvey Chapman, at a bowling alley in International Falls when she was 20 years old and they were united in marriage on March 14, 1964, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in International Falls.

Three youth from Le Sueur Co. have been chosen to help share the story of 4-H and agriculture as newly appointed Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassadors.
Two are from Tri-City United High School, and one is from Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School. All are members of the...
To read more on this story, pick up the January 28, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger or the LifeEnterprise.

With all the economic uncertainty, one would understand if people were tighter with their money during these times of a worldwide pandemic, and economic crisis. But the opposite is true.
Throughout the pandemic, a new study shows that Americans have been donating to charitable causes in record numbers. According to a survey of 1,000 Americans on December 30 by TOP Data, and Kindest, a fundraising platform, a new wave of COVID has pushed up charitable donations by...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 28, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

The Le Sueur/Rice County Drug Task Force released their work within Le Sueur County last week during the Elysian City Council meeting.
Le Sueur County Chief Deputy Nick Greenig presented the work completed by the drug task force and broke...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 28, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger and LifeEnterprise.

This year, Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School’s families won’t be gathering to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, January 31 through February 6, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be having fun.
The Montgomery private school has pieced together safe ways for students and staff members...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 28, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

In conjunction with Walgreens, Traditions of Montgomery hosted its COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 20. A total of 33 residents and 32 essential caregivers received their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. One of the residents to roll up his sleeve was Arnold “Buck” Zahratka. According to Julie Fessel Resident Services Coordinator, all of the residents but one, was able to receive the vaccine. The second dose of the vaccine will be available in less than 30 days.

Philip Richard Dohmen, age 61 of Montgomery, passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at the Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.  A private service will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.