Lonsdale Community Days Grand Marshals Charlotte, left, and Joe Kodada, life-long residents of the town wave to the crowd at the beginning of the Grand Parade on Saturday, Aug. 10. The rain quit just in time for the parade, which had 55 units registered. The Grand Parade made its way down Main Street featuring an array of groups from Lonsdale and surrounding communities. Rain didn't keep people away from the annual festival, which continues through the day with a Car Cruise, Steele Domain Wrestling and an evening performance by Chris Hawkey.
After a ceremony flag raising, Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason welcomes people to the new Le Sueur County Justice Center in Le Center. A large crowd showed up for tours of the new facility, which will house the Sheriff's Office, county jail, courtrooms and court administration and Emergency Operations. Read more in an upcoming edition.
The American Legion, both nationally and in Montgomery, was chartered in 1919.
The organization started out as a group “of war weary veterans,” according to the Legion’s online history page, www.legion.org/history, so it makes sense that many of the group’s first items of business was to line up dances—happy occasions for themselves and the community.
This Saturday, the Montgomery American Legion will be celebrating its 100 years in the same manner—a party, complete with a dance. And, everyone is invited.
The annual Kilkenny Fire Department ATV Ride will be held Saturday, August 10.
This is the fourth year the Kilkenny Fire Department has been in charge of the event. The ATV Run was started by the Kilkenny Park Committee approximately eight years ago.
Last year more than 320 machines and more than 500 people participated.
Registration begins at 10 a.m. at Little Irishman Park, which is located behind St. Canice Catholic Church.
The ride starts at 12:30 p.m. and the route features a 30-mile scenic ditch ride.
Long-time Le Sueur County Veteran Service Director Jim Golgart informed the Le Sueur County Board his plans to retire.
Golgart, who started with the county in 2000, plans to retire as of June 5, 2020.
“After careful thought and consideration I have decided to retire from my position of the Director of Veteran Services for Le Sueur County,” Golgart said to the board from a written statement.
The float with the Lonsdale ambassadors will have some new faces when it rolls through the Lonsdale Community Days Grand Parade on Sunday, Aug. 10. A new Miss Lonsdale and court were crowned at the Ambassadors ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Hot Diggity Dog!
The Knights of Columbus debuted a new, larger hot dog stand last week.
Instead of the familiar seven-foot-by-seven-foot metal stand, residents ordered their brat or hot dog from a new larger building. According to “manager” Ernie Kotek, the solid eight-foot-by-ten-foot space gives volunteers more comfortable room to work.
National Night Out holds events that help communities and police come together, get to know each other and improve trust to make cities across the nation safer and more comfortable. Montgomery participated on Tuesday, Aug. 6 with a large, festive and fun event at Memorial Park. Police Chief Nathan Hintz, just a few months on the job as chief, spent the time mingling and talking with more than 250 people who attended.
A curb stop in front of the Monty Bar sprung a leak on Saturday, July 27. Because it was Kolacky Days and fixing the curb stop requires turning off water to the business, it was decided to monitor the leak until Monday morning, July 29, when a crew was able to more easily access the area, explained Montgomery City Administrator Brian Heck. A portion of First Street was closed Monday morning while the repairs were being made. (Lisa Ingebrand Photo)
Josephine Hatlevig, daughter of Travis and Nadine Hatlevig was crowned the 2019 Kolacky Days Queen at the Queen's Pageant. Joining her are First Princess Victoria Soukup, daughter of David Soukup and Denise Wondra. Also crowned was Sophia Franek, daughter of Dave and Marsha Franek. Sophia received two titles, Second Princess and Miss Congenialtiy. For more, see the August 1 edition of the Messenger. (Wade Young photo)
For years, Joe and Charlotte Kodada have worked behind the scenes of Lonsdale Community Days, however this year will be different because the life-long Lonsdale residents are this year’s parade grand marshals.
Earlier this month, the Kodadas received news from Lonsdale Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanna Gutzke-Kupp. In her letter, the director said the couple was chosen because they have been an integral part of the community for years.
When the new board of the Le Sueur County Historical Society took control on June 3, it inherited remarkable problems, among them old buildings with no heating/ cooling/ventilation and some with mold growing in the basement.
It began with the desire to babysit.
Christine Skluzacek wanted to baysit her granddaughter, Marie Joy, but Marie’s parents - Makayla and husband James - encouraged Skluzacek and her family to take infant CPR. As luck would have it, the Montgomery Ambulance Service offered a free, noncertification refresher class last week. Skluzacek was excited and signed up with two of her boys, Luke and Connor.
Cancer survivors made the first lap at the 26th Annual Le Sueur County Relay for Life on Friday night, July 12, at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds in Le Center. The event, which celebrates the fight against cancer, remembers those who lost their battle with cancer, and raises money for the American Cancer Society, will be held until midnight. The closing ceremony will be at 12:45 a.m.
Pick up a copy of this week's paper to read more about local teams and their fight against cancer.
The Minnesota Valley Bowling Association held a Hall of Fame induction recently at the New Prague Knights of Columbus Hall.