The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved the final pay 2019 levy in the amount of $20,716,550, a 6.9 percent increase over the 2018 levy. This levy was approved during an early evening meeting Tuesday, Dec. 18. For more information on the levy check out the Dec. 27 edition of the Life/Enterprise.

The Waterville Economic Development Authority (EDA) purchased the nuisance property located on S. 3rd Street in Waterville. They will attempt to sell the two story building. For more on the purchase, check out the Dec. 27 life/Enterprise.

About 20 children and 20 area law enforcement officers gather at HillSpring Church on Wednesday, Dec. 12, after participating in the third annual Shop With a Cop at Shopko in New Prague. The Salvation Army, Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, local schools and KCHK Radio assist with the program where children can buy winter clothing for themselves and presents for their family members. The group gathered at HillSpring Church afterwards to wrap presents, for food and other activities. For more see an upcoming print issue of the paper. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

A truck and fishhouse fell through the ice on Lake Francis in Elysian Saturday, Dec. 8. According to Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, A cave Brand Fishhouse and Chevrolet Silverado truck, belonging to Jeremy Ziemke of Janesville, fell through the ice at approximately 2 p.m. For more on the accident check out the Dec. 13 edition of the LIFE/Enterprise.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved an amended Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention Plan during the regular Tuesday, Dec. 11 meeting.
Environmental Resources Specialist Holly Kalbus presented the updated AIS Plan, which included a few minor changes.
Kalbus said there are 128 lakes, many creeks, streams, and rivers within the county.
In 2014, the Minnesota Legislature enacted a program aid grant for AIS prevention.

Hundreds of children and their families attended the free Santa's Workshop event in Waterville on Saturday, Dec. 8.
Dozens of volunteers elves helped the children shop for gifts for their family members and received free books, hats, mittens, ornaments, and treats.
Of course, Santa Claus was there and was ready to smile for photos with those brave enough to crawl up on his lap.
Pick up a copy of the Dec. 13, 2018 Life or Enterprise for more on the event.

Thirty-nine young people participated in the Sakatah Trail Sno-Cruisers' snowmobile training program in Waterville on Saturday, Dec. 8.
The number of people who took the class snowballed from last year's six participants.
Pick up a copy of the Dec 13 Life or Enterprise to learn more.

National Newspaper Association President Andrew Johnson alerted NNA members on Monday that there will be no mail delivery on Wednesday, Dec. 5 because the United States Postal Service will be observing a national day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush.
As a result, post office retail and services will be closed. Suel Printing Co. newspapers (Montgomery Messenger, Lake Region LIFE, Elysian Enterprise and The New Prague Times), which are mailed on Wednesday afternoon, may be delayed.
The closure will not affect newspapers delivered by local newspaper carriers.

A recount for the second Elysian City Council position was held Monday, Nov. 26 at Elysian City Hall. The numbers remained the same as they had during the Nov. 6 general election. Bryan Suemnick has been voted into the council with 163 votes, one more than Bobby Houlihan. Suemnick will join newly elected Mayor Tom McBroom, re-elected council member Dennis Schnoor and Mary Opsahl on the city council. The fourth council position will be determined by the current council at a later meeting. For more on the Elysian Council check out the Nov. 29 edition of the LIFE/Enterprise.

Stage-four cancer doesn't stop him.
Jeff Dahle of Morristown is an Ironman.
The 56-year-old, who tipped the scale at 425 pounds just six years ago, completed his sixth Ironman in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, November 24.
“I’m not your normal triathlete,” laughed Dahle. “I used to be the one who would drive by a runner in and yell out the window, ‘Don’t you have something better to do?’”
But that all changed in 2012
Read more of Dahle's story in the November 29, 2018, edition of the Life or Enterprise.

Le Sueur County will be honored Monday, Dec. 3 during the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) Annual Meeting in Bloomington.
MCIT announced last week that Le Sueur County has been selected as the 2018 County of the Year.
"The county has distinguished itself in the areas of loss control, risk management, claims administration, and responsiveness to MCIT," MCIT Executive Director Robyn M. Sykes said. "MCIT commends the county's commitment to managing exposures that jeopardize employees and citizens of the county to loss."

Le Sueur County has a furry, four-legged crime fighter.
The county’s newest K-9, “Jett”, started work on November 20.
The county secured Jett, a purebred German Shepherd, last autumn when he was around nine-weeks-old. Jett was bred locally from Kozie Shepherds in southern Minnesota and attended his K9 academy with Le Sueur County Deputy Joe Kern at Performance Kennels in Buffalo. Nationally Certified K9 Trainer, Steve Pearson, was responsible for training Jett.

A new meal option is available in Waterville for those ages 60 and older who would benefit from others cooking healthy meals for them.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) opened a new Senior Dining location at The Village in Waterville on Monday, November 12. The kitchen and dining site will provide hot, nutritious meals that will be available not only at the community center at noon, but also by delivery right to the doors of area residents, a service known locally as Meals on Wheels.

A Le Sueur County judge has ordered the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) to turn over all of its financial records and books, hold a fair and democratic election for members, and allow the additional members to join the lawsuit against it, among other things.
This order was filed on November 8.
A lawsuit was filed against LCHS on February 21 by 16 members who allege the existing board of LCHS has mismanaged the society, has murky financial dealings, and followed anti-democratic processes, which, they state are contrary to Minnesota law and LCHS bylaws.

Her son was just two years old when she boarded a military plane bound for Afghanistan.
Leaving was hard. Really hard.
But, the young mother knew that her military service was important and embraced her one-year deployment.
Sara (Southard) Warner of Waterville enlisted in the Army Reserve shortly after earning her General Education Diploma (GED) in 2004. She was 18.

Due to a decrease in funding from the state, Le Sueur County veterans will see a change in their transportation provided by the county.
Veterans utilizing the Le Sueur County Veterans Van will now be charged $10 per trip to the Minneapolis VA Hospital.
This change was approved during the Tuesday, Nov. 6 Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners meeting in Le Center.
According to Veteran's Service Officer Jim Golgart, the funding his department receives from the state has dwindled to between $1,500 and $2,000.