With six letterwinners, two of whom were All-Gopher Conference First Team selections, returning, the WEM volleyball team is ready to contend for a Gopher Conference Championship this fall.

The Buccaneers are looking to improve on their 2024 season in which they finished 7-3 in the conference (3rd overall) and 18-13 overall.

Seniors Liza Baker, Addison Condon, Alenka Jans, and Robynn Schwichtenberg along with juniors Bryella Pope and Alix Velzke return to the varsity.

Despite the threat of storms over the weekend, the rain mostly held back until after-hours of the Le Sueur County Free Fair.

The 168th annual event took place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 14-17.

The forecast called for storms each day, but the worst of the rain came in the early hours of Saturday and well after the fair closed Sunday night. Both times, Le Center saw up to an inch of rainfall.

A half-inch of rain fell in the afternoon Friday, but had cleared as the events for the day moved into gear.

Pitching and mistakes are huge in post season play.

Just ask the Waterville Indians and the Litchfield Blues, who faced off Sunday, August 17 in the opening round of the Class C State Tournament at Hutchinson.

The Indians allowed only one earned run and took advantage of some timely hitting to edge the Blue, 2-1, in 11 innings.

Dallas McBroom pitched eight outstanding innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits. He struck out seven and walked just one.

After replacing a superintendent, the WEM Board of Education will now have to find a replacement for a school principal.

After seven years at WEM, K-4 and 9-12 Principal Dr. Jennifer Wilson submitted her resignation from the school district in a letter dated August 11, 2025. Her last day will be August 22.

The following is the letter presented to Superintendent Mark Winter and School Board Chairman Gary Michael:

Kilkenny’s annual Fireman’s Relief Association ATV Ride and Raffle on Saturday, Aug. 9, brought in a total of 200 riders on 94 allterrain and utility vehicles.

This year’s route took them from Lakefront Bar & Grill in Lexington on Clear Lake, The Bait Bucket in Cleveland, the city of Elysian, and ended at the Toy Box Saloon in Kilkenny, where the raffle drawing was conducted at 6 p.m.

Friday night’s Waterville Indians game had a number of very special moments which will be remembered for years.

Before the game there was a tribute to long-time Waterville Indians Board of Director Tom McBroom, who passed away earlier that morning.

There was the presentation of the second annual Shane Sellner Memorial 13-60 League Player of the Year, which went to Indians shortstop Ben Boran. Rick and Luke Sellner presented the award to Boran.

The 2025 Le Sueur County Fair begins Thursday, August 14 at the fairgrounds in Le Center and runs through Sunday, August 18.

Events are scheduled through the weekend at one of the state’s oldest county fairs.

The WEM girls flag football team opened up some eyes this past summer with their performance during their first season.

Their efforts have given them a chance to do something players would only dream of.

They get to play during halftime of the Saturday, August 16 Minnesota Vikings preseason game which starts at noon.

“The girls are ecstatic,” Jon Bakken, who coaches the team, said. “It is going to blow us away to be at the Bank.”

After along battle with cancer, Elysian Mayor Thomas McBroom passed away Friday, August 8 at his home.

After being diagnosed, McBroom continued to work for the residents of Elysian as their mayor. He was tirelessly trying to improve the city he has lived in for the past two decades.

Following the July regular Elysian City Council meeting, McBroom drew up a letter which he was to present to the general public, announcing his resignation as mayor. Unfortunately he was unable to present the letter, but his family wanted to make sure it was read. Here it is:

Last year it was an even dozen for the Waterville Indians Amateur Baseball Team. After last weekend they increased that total to a baker’s dozen.

The Indians will be making their 13th Class C State Tournament appearance after winning two straight games in the Region 5C Tournament played Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 in Cannon Falls.

Waterville defeated Veseli, 7-5, Saturday afternoon and downed Waseca, 9-4, Sunday afternoon to advance to the Region 5C Championship.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved renewing telecommuting and remote agreements with county employees at the board’s Aug. 5 meeting.

However, the agreements were only renewed through the end of the year.

“Unlike previous annual approvals, I’m requesting approval through the end of 2025,” Human Resource Director Theresa Kubes told the commissioners. “We’re working to make updates to our policy with a January 2026 effective date.”

13th State Tournament appearance - 4th straight

The 4th straight Class C State Tournament for the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team was much different than the last few times they have advanced.

This year the Indians, rated No. 5 in Class C, will be heading to State as the No. 1 seed out of Region 5C, after defeating Pine Island, 12-2, in seven innings Friday, August 8 in Waterville.

Thomas “Tom” Edward McBroom, age 66, of Elysian, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Larry Michael Theis, age 71, passed away July 27, 2025.

To know Larry is to know that he lived life full throttle! However, on Sunday, July 27 after a perfect day in the Black Hills of riding side-by-sides, a good meal and playing some dice with Solveig and friends, of which he took everyone’s money, Larry died peacefully in his sleep.

As the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the group looks to the future of preserving local history.

Part of the preservation is in the Elysian School project, which is moving on to its second phase this year.

“We’re right on schedule,” reported Dr. Ruth Collins, LCHS board member.

The school building has been part of the LCHS for much of the group’s history. It was obtained in 1967 and converted into a museum. In 1969, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

With three games to play in the regular season, the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team clinched the 13-60 League title and a bye in the Region Tournament, which starts the last weekend in July.

The Indians won two of three games last week, with the two wins both against 13- 60 League opponents. They defeated Minnesota Lake, 6-2, Wednesday, July 9 and routed Waseca, 14-3, in seven innings Sunday, July 13. Eagle Lake edged the Indians, 6-5, Friday, July 11 in a non-league game.