A Waseca Police Officer was shot in the head and “gravely injured” while responding to a report of a suspicious person with a flashlight in the backyard residence on the 900 block of 4th Avenue SE in Waseca after 8 p.m. on Monday night, Jan. 6. The suspect was shot twice and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

High winds and icy conditions may continue into the morning
MANKATO, Minn. –  (3:30 p.m.) Motorists in south central Minnesota are advised to expect difficult driving conditions to remain into Tuesday (December 31) with forecasted additional snowfall, dropping temps and even higher wind gusts.

Approximately 40 kids attended the first ever Grinchmas Party in Morristown on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Morristown Community Center.
Clad in their pajamas and holiday cheer, the kids enjoyed playing festive games, yummy concessions, and photos with the Grinch (who smiled).
Following all the fun, families sprawled out to enjoy a showing of the The Grinch Movie to round out the evening.
The family event was sponsored by the Morristown Commercial Club and hosted by Miss Morristown royals.

Forget red and green.
It was all about red and blue police lights--and presents, pizza, and fun--at Le Sueur County’s holiday Shop With a Cop event on Wednesday night, Dec. 11 in New Prague.
Twenty kids participated in the sixth annual event that helps foster positive relationships between youth and officers.
“My cop is so cool,” spouted Collin about his partner for the night, Le Sueur Police Officer Aaron Thieke. “I even got to ride in the police car and run the lights and sirens and stuff. Did you hear me sing Jingle Bells over the radio in the squad car?”

A 55-year-old man has died from injuries from a snowmobile crash Saturday evening.
According to the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:40 p.m. to a report of a crash on Lexington Road near 173rd Avenue in Montgomery Township.
Officials say the driver of the snowmobile, Larry Gene Haynes, was traveling northbound on the snowmobile trail at a high rate of speed. Investigators say it appears Haynes was unable to stop before the Lexington Road crossing, ultimately striking the side of a westbound pickup truck.

The 6th annual Mankato Opry Jamboree Christmas Show will be held this weekend, Friday, Nov. 29, Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Nov. 30 at the nostalgic Kato Ballroom in Mankato.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for portions of southwest, south central, and east central Minnesota, and all of west central Wisconsin starting late Tuesday afternoon, and continuing through Wednesday morning. The warning includes areas along the Buffalo Ridge in west central Minnesota, and areas southeast of a line from Redwood Falls, to Hutchinson, Clearwater, Princeton and Rush City in Minnesota. Snowfall totals of 6 or more inches are likely in the warned area, with locally higher amounts possible.

Our hearts are heavy today as we report that our Managing Editor, Chuck Kajer, passed away suddenly last night. We will miss our “teammate” at The Times… his wit, his thoughtfulness and his amazing ability to recall sports trivia! We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We will post further information when available.

Residents who live on the German-Jefferson Lakes and Lake Emily in Le Sueur County voiced their displeasure at a proposed ordinance which would have required sewer inspections every 3-5 years.
The Le Sueur County Board held a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 22 to discuss the ordinance. More than two dozen individuals were in attendance and nearly a dozen commented during the hearing.
It was quite apparent these individuals were not in favor of the ordinance. A similar ordinance passed for the lakes of Francis, Rays, Sakatah, and Tetonka in the Waterville/Elysian area.

The removal of a bog near Schmidtke Dam (also known as Lower Sakatah Lake Dam) is underway.
Pick up a copy of the October 31, 2019, Life or Enterprise to learn more.

Although he was feeling a little under the weather, a smile spread across little Ethan Delaske's face as he walked into his newly renovated bedroom, Sunday morning, October 20.
Of course, the ride-in yellow Lamborghini parked in the corner caught the car-loving three-year-old's attention first.
Then, it was the new bookshelf that looks like a gas pump.
Then, it was the new television on his chrome-covered dresser.
Then, it was the new reading nook stocked with books about cars and trucks.

Project retainage to subscontractors on the Le Sueur County Justice Center Project has been reduced.
The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners received a request by Adolph & Peterson Construction to reduce the retainage for 30 of the 39 subcontractors.
The reduction took the current five percent retainage held and decreased it to one percent.
Adolph & Peterson said they believe these contractors have no risk associated with the project.
The final one percent will be awarded to the subcontractors upon the final signing of the contracts.

The restoration of a little historic church’s steeple will be Le Sueur County Historical Society’s first big project, since the group’s leadership changed in June.
The project, which carries an estimated price tag of $174,000, includes the building of a new, historically accurate steeple, the erection of that steeple, and the installation of a new roof on the 160-year-old Ottawa Stone Church, one of four historic properties owned by LCHS.

Crews are close to completing the construction on Highway 99 from Highway 13 to Highway 21 and from St. Peter to Le Center. Weather permitting, the detour east of Highway 13 could be removed by Friday, October 18.
The $8 million, summer-long project covered an assortment of improvements for the traveling public with many of the tasks centered on improving safety. Work on Highway 99 from the Minnesota River Bridge to Le Sueur County Road 38 included:
- Resurfaced from MN River Bridge to railroad crossing