Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, along with the Mounted Posse and The Sheriff’s Youth Project, have once again come together to launch the project, “Believe in the Magic of Christmas.”
The project “will provide an opportunity for our community to come together and spread a little Christmas Magic for a very deserving family.”

Tri-City United Schools 7-12 Activity Director Chad Johnson was given the South Central Service Cooperative’s SPOTLIGHT Employee Recognition Award.

Tri-City United Schools 7-12 Activity Director Chad Johnson was given the South Central Service Cooperative’s SPOTLIGHT Employee Recognition Award.

TCU’s fall musical goes under the sea with a production of The Little Mermaid.
The musical opens Friday, Nov. 22, at the TCU Performing Arts Center and runs through Sunday. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.
There are 52 students participating in the musical, based on the classic Disney movie. The show is directed by Sarah Mejia.
“It’s going very well,” TCU Senior Josiah Velarde, who plays Prince Eric, said. “After seeing all the costumes and all of the set put together. It’s coming to life. I’m very excited.”

For those of you who are not a part of social media, you may have had a quieter election season among friends. It’s possible perhaps that you even lost a few within your circle or that they associate differently with you now — whether quietly or known.

Junior Lupita Lopez and sophomore Kinsley Mach were named the Most Valuable Players on the Tri-City United (TCU) girls soccer team this fall.
Lopez was named the Titan Defensive MVP and Mach was named the Titan Offensive MVP.
Lopez finished the 2024 season with seven goals and six assists. She was also recognized as a Big South All-Conference Honorable Mention selection.
Mach led the team with 10 goals and added two assists. Her efforts also saw her receive the Titan Golden Boot Award which is given to the team’s top scorer.

The 2024 Torchlight Parade and Fireworks has announced their grand marshals for this year’s event, 7-year-old Kylee Balfe from Tri-City United Montgomery PreK-8 School and 8-year-old Chase Barnett of Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School.
Balfe, daughter of Matt and Desiree Reak, is from Montgomery. She participates in dance and cheerleading, loves to sing at home, playing on her swing set, going to the park, riding bicycle, playing games on her Nintendo Wii, building forts and playing outside with her dog Bear.

Paul A. Schmidt, age 72, of Baudette, Minnesota, formerly of Hutchinson and Montgomery, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024, at his brother Roger’s home in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be held Friday, November 22, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the service ALL at the funeral chapel.

Rosella "Rosie" (Novotny) Skluzacek, 87, of Northfield, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, November 16, 2024, at Northfield Retirement Community.
She is survived by her two daughters: Mercedes (Robert) Maier of Northfield and Merceday (Bruce) Kaardal of Redwood Falls; five grandchildren, Erin, Kirsten, Alison, Mark, and Joel; four great-grandchildren; other family members; and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Larry Parsons, of Montgomery, stands on his open porch every day at 5 p.m. and plays “Taps.” He has an Amazon Alexa notification to remind him, just in case he forgets what time it is. “A couple of neighborhood children across from his place come out with their hand on their hearts, almost daily,” Parsons said. The children came out the day we visited him, and another neighbor from across the corner shouted, “Thanks for your service Larry!”

Joe Johnson
Rice County Emergency Management Director
As winter approaches, it's critical to prepare for extreme cold, snow, and icy conditions. These storms can last a few hours or several days and cut off heat, power, and communication. 
Winter storms create a higher risk of car crashes, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, residential fires, and heart attacks from overexertion. 
To ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared, follows these steps: 

The season for the Minnesota River girls hockey team started Thursday, Nov. 7 with a game at Mankato All Seasons Arena.
The Bulldogs were defeated by Mankato East, 4-1.
The lone goal for Minnesota River was scored by Noelle Simonette at the 9:08 mark in the second period. There were no assists on this goal.
Mankato East scored goals in all three periods and were led by Brielle Newton, who scored three of her team’s four goals.
Annika Magelee stopped 21-of-25 shots for the Bulldogs. Jordan Thomas allowed one goal in facing 14 shots for the Cougars.

Steve A. Simon, age 78, of Montgomery, died unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Steve was born on October 1, 1946, in Sioux City, IA, to Andrew and Clara (James) Simon.  He proudly graduated from Central High School in Sioux City and then went on to accomplish both his Bachelor of Science and MBA from the University of South Dakota.  

Tri-City United High School junior Ella Schmiesing returned home today with two medals from the 2024 Minnesota State High School League's Swimming and Diving Championships in Minneapolis.
Schmiesing took second place in the 100 yard freestyle, behind Adalynn Biegler - a junior from Monticello. Schmiesing also took home third place in the 50 yard freestyle, coming in within milleseconds of Biegler, who took first place, and Izzy Westling, who took second place.

Among the buildings along South Plut Avenue at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds in Le Center, Minn., lies a small building nestled between the other structures that keeps a piece of yesteryear alive — District #75 Schoolhouse. The building is a wood, oneroom schoolhouse, which was typical for the area at the time.

Monty Auto Wash, 626 4th St SW, received a full revamp from its new owners, Grant and Sierra Kaisershot.
The facility originally opened almost 20 years ago to the day as Montgomery Car Wash under the owners of Ron Pexa and Dick Franek with business offices located in the R&R Metalworks building.
The Kaisershots bought the facility earlier this year and shut it down for a period of time to make upgrades to it — some upgrades they did themselves and some through contractors.