Music students from Tri-City United High School participated in the Section 2AA Solo and Ensemble Contest last Wednesday, March 4. 
    The school’s jazz band and the Encore choir both received the highest rating, a superior, at the contest.

Saturday, March 14, 5 p.m. Update

The National Weather Services (NWS) in Chanhassen, Minn., has issued a Blizzard Warning for our greater area from 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, through 4 a.m. on Monday, March 16. They are calling this a "historic March winter storm on track to bring extreme snow accumulations and strong winds." 

The warning calls for a broad swath of 12 to 18 inches of snow over the region, with some area approaching two feet, with winds between 35 and 45 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, even after the snow starts to taper off.

    It was another success for the Titans at the Minnesota State High School Weightlifting Championships in Cannon Falls this last Saturday.
    Head Coach Andrew Meier said, “It was a great finish to an overall very successful season. Seven lifters at state: four of them made the podium and two state champions.”

    Business members and residents of the Lonsdale area were treated last Tuesday, Feb. 24, to the Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Community. This year it was held at the new Lonsdale City Hall, moving from the Lonsdale Public Library.
    About 50 invested people were present to hear Tri-City United Schools Superintendent Kevin Babcock, New Prague Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrew Vollmuth, and Lonsdale Mayor Tom Berg give updates in their respective areas.

    Outside of pageantry or large community event duties, it’s not every day that you get two Princess Kay of the Milky Way in the same room. 
    Last Thursday, Feb. 26, Tri-City United High School was paid a planned visit of the current and 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way Malorie Thorson from Wright County. Thorson was invited by 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Emma Kuball of Waterville.
    Both princesses come from long-standing farming families and ones that have supported the dairy industry for some time. 

    For the second time Tri-City-United (TCU) junior Tucker Skluzacek had a chance to stand on the podium at a Class AA State Wrestling Tournament.
    Skluzacek, wrestling at Class AA 145 pounds, won three of his five matches to place fifth overall this past weekend at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. He finished his outstanding junior season with a 43-8 record.
    Skluzacek opened with a 15-4 major decision over Foley sophomore Jacob Demarais. 

Heading into the state tournament, New Prague High School’s cooperative floor hockey team seems ready to begin a strong defense of its state championship from a year ago.

The opening round is the big question mark. New Prague will face Shakopee-Prior Lake-Chaska-Chanhassen tomorrow evening, Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., at Bloomington Jefferson High School’s activities center. See the team congratulations page in the print edition for the bracket information.

    Tri-City United (TCU) junior Tucker Skluzacek will be making his second Class AA State Wrestling Tournament appearance after winning the 145 pound weight class in the Section 2aA Tournament Feb. 21 in Delano.
    Skluzacek advanced to State in 2024 and placed 5th as a freshman.
    He was the top finisher among the 10 Titan wrestlers who competed at Sections.

    It was a week of redemption for the Minnesota River girls hockey team in the Section 2A Tournament.
    The Bulldogs avenged losses from a year ago on their way to their first Section Championship appearance ever.
    Minnesota River opened the Section 2A Playoffs with a 3-1 win over Willmar Thursday, Feb. 5 at Le Sueur. Willmar ended their season in the Section Quarterfinals last year with a 2-0 win. Minnesota River was 18-6-2 last season.

    Saturday evening concluded the Snow Week fun at Tri-City United High School with a dance at Next Chapter Winery. 
    Thursday afternoon about a dozen students showcased their various talents during a talent show, and each day of the week students showed their school spirit with various dress up days. 

    Tri-City United High School’s one act thespians’ season didn’t pan out quite what they wanted to, but it was a great show none-the-less by the students.
    Students competed at the 2A sub-section one act competition on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the school’s performing arts center. This coming after their Thursday, Jan. 22, public performance was postponed until Thursday, Jan. 29, due to cold temperatures. Temperatures that evening and the following day dipped to around 20 degrees below zero. 

    Eleven bowlers from Tri-City United Schools competed in Mankato for the Minnesota Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament Nov. 22-23, 2025. It was one of eight sites containing a total of 792 volunteers and 4,106 athletes. 
    The TCU competitors had been playing and practicing since the end of September as a part of the TCU Titan Special Olympics Program that practiced at Pla Mor Lanes in Montgomery.

A small number of Tri-City United (TCU) wrestlers competed at The takedown on 22 Wrestling Tournament Saturday, Jan. 31. Those who wrestled did quite well.
    Five different Titans claimed top five finishes, led by Trista Gessler who won a championship.
    Gessler placed first in the girls 112-pound weight division. Gage Factor placed second in the 139-pound weight class. Tucker Skluzacek placed 2nd in the 145-pound weight class. Griffin Lemieux placed 3rd in the 127-pound weight class. Owen Delander placed 5th in the 121-pound weight class.

    With the increased spotlight on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) presence in Minnesota, it seemed pertinent to see how our local community is responding to it and what presence of the taxpayer activities has been locally. 
    
TCU Schools

Republicans and Democrats in Le Sueur, and Rice counties interested in participating in the early stages of the process of selecting their respective party’s candidates and platforms at upcoming precinct caucuses can do so on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. at various locations.

Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School (MHRCS) middle school teacher Jennifer Floyd of Lonsdale was awarded the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year for grades 6-8 for Minnesota.

Floyd is the fourth winner sponsored by the Montgomery VFW Post 5340. Prior winners included Heide Veazie, Christine Trcka, and Michael Bass-Smith.

She teaches language arts for 7th-8th grade, Spanish for grades 3rd-8th, and art for all of the middle school at MHRCS where this is her second year there and 35th year as a teacher.