He remembers the fear sweeping through his being in 2003 when he heard his wife had cancer. Two years later, Chris Smith heard a doctor direct those same words at him.
WEM senior-to-be Katrina Brekke was selected by the Elysian American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) to attend this year’s Girls State event, which was held June 11 through June 17 at Bethel College.
Brekke said she was very happy to get a chance to go and she received the coveted Spirit Award, which goes to the most cheerful person among the 230 attendees.
She said they interacted with FBI, SWAT members, court judges, and many different government officials, during her week stay.
Governor Tim Walz and Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen visited the Heldberg Dairy Farm, owned and operated by Karl Heldberg, south of Le Sueur the afternoon of July 6 to talk dairy and agriculture. The governor and commissioner spent a great length of time speaking with Heldberg and exchanging thoughts about farmers, their struggles and the state of the dairy industry in Minnesota.
Individuals looking for some historical facts about the city of Waterville, its businesses, and some of its residents, can now read about them outside the Waterville City Hall.
The Waterville Artists and Historic Waterville Businesses exhibit is starting to take shape, with six beautiful displays currently erected.
According to Jeff Jarvis, a partnership was formed with the Le Sueur County Historical Society Board.
New Prague and other communities in the area will be celebrating the July 4th holiday with everything from parades to music to boat parades to fireworks.
New Prague The evening of Monday, July 3, will be the New Prague Fireworks Show. Events are east of the New Prague Middle School, beginning at 6 p.m. there will be Kona Ice, Dawgs on the Run, face painting and free massages. The national anthem will be sung by Linda Fahrenkamp with the fireworks at 10:10 p.m.
Elko July 1st at Dusk, Elko Speedway
Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in southern, east central, and northeast Minn., which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Air quality alert issued due to ozone for Tuesday, June 20, through Thursday, June 22, for central and southern Minn.
Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category in central and southern Minn., which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for central and southern Minn., effective from noon on Tuesday, June 20, through 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. The affected area includes central and southern Minn., and the tribal nations of Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Upper Sioux, and Prairie Island.
Thousands of bullheads (12,500) were served, rain drops were few, and queens were crowned.
These were just some of the many things associated with the 2023 Waterville Bullhead Days celebration, which was held June 9 through June 11.
One of the highlight events of the weekend was the Friday night crowning of Miss Waterville and Junior Miss Waterville.
Izabela Slechta, daughter of David and Heather Slechta, was crowned Miss Waterville 2023. Shelby Briggs, daughter of Sara Tiedimann and Levi Radloff, was crowed Attendant.
MISSING PERSON ALERT: The Prior Lake Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing teen. Keira Dupey, age 13, is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 100 pounds and has black/brown hair and brown eyes. Dupey was last seen on May 25 leaving a facility in Prior Lake with Kari Steele, who is also a missing person. Dupey may have traveled to St. Paul or the surrounding suburbs.
For more than half a century, the second full weekend in June is dedicated to the annual Waterville Bullhead Days celebration.
There are a number of new events this year and some of the regular events have been super-sized for the June 9 thru 11 festival.
One of the newer events is the Borderline Pulling Series Tractor Pull. This will be held Saturday, June 10 at noon directly south of the city/county shop. There will be five different classes and possibly some local pullers involved. They put on a great show last year in their first appearance at Bullhead Days.
For years, almost 20, Richard and Wanda Morsching have spent the second weekend in June running the Waterville Bullhead Days Bullhead Stand.
Approximately 20 years before they took over this beloved portion of the Waterville celebration, they first met at Bullhead Days when Richard was serving beverages in the beer garden.
“I met my soulmate at Bullhead Days,” Wanda said. “Richard was bartending at the beer garden when I saw him. Jeff Stangler was going to wait on me but I said I wanted him (Richard).”
The teaching contracts of 12 non-tenured teachers and two tenured teachers were approved by the WEM Board of Education during their Monday, May 22 meeting.
Tenured teachers receiving contracts were Carrie Brown and Samuel Gavin.
Non tenured teachers receiving contracts for 2023- 2024 included Max Haakonson, Bridget Reuvers-Slinger, Haley Schaaf, Britta Robran, Alyssa Schmidtke, Amber Karels, Madysson Dufault, Kelci Halvorson, Andi O’Neil, Mary Ann Eich, Tyson Cooley, and Skyler Petry.
In other WEM Board of Education business:
Over the last week, the contractor has been able to complete the water main installation on the first phase of the project, and by the time this information reaches you the storm sewer will also be completely installed for the first phase.
Once construction resumes this week, they will focus on connecting a handful of water services. The only remaining work will be to construct the new road base before concrete curb and bituminous paving.
Rice County officials are continuing to respond to a fire at the county’s landfill solid waste facility at East 145th Street in rural Dundas. The fire began in the landfill portion of the solid waste facility shortly after it closed for the evening on Monday, May 22.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but with assistance from state and local agencies, work is ongoing to mitigate any and all issues within the county’s control.
Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville have scheduled Memorial Day Ceremonies for Monday, May 29.
Elysian Ceremony
The Elysian Ceremony will start with stops at Greenland Cemetery (7 a.m.), German Lake Cemetery (7:20 a.m.), St. Peter (Bell) Cemetery (7:55 a.m.). Cannonville Cemetery (8:20 a.m.), and the Waterville Veterans Memorial (8:45 a.m.). Due to road construction, the Memorial Day Program in Elysian will be held at Sunset Park starting at 9:30 a.m.
Waterville Ceremony
Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville have scheduled Memorial Day Ceremonies for Monday, May 29.
The Elysian Ceremony will start with stops at Greenland Cemetery (7 a.m.), German Lake Cemetery (7:20 a.m.), St. Peter (Bell) Cemetery (7:55 a.m.). Cannonville Cemetery (8:20 a.m.), and the Waterville Veterans Memorial (8:45 a.m.). Due to road construction, the Memorial Day Program in Elysian will be held at Sunset Park starting at 9:30 a.m.