Foreign exchange student Riccardo Foglio Para receives a certificate of attendance at the TCU Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29. Foglio Para was one of 129 members of the Class of 2020 to have a “Graduation Experience” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Foglio Para was hosted by Brian and Lisa Berdan of Montgomery. His future plans are to continue school at Liceo C. Cattaneo, Turin, Italy. He is pictured with TCU Superintendent Dr. Teri Preisler and High School Principal Alan Fitterer, who congratulated each graduate during the 11-hour program.

After more than two months of its government buildings being closed to the public, Le Sueur County is reopening most of its offices and specific services on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 8 a.m. with the exception of Court Administration, which will be open to the public on June 8, 2020.
According to a press release Friday, the county is taking a cautious, phased approach to reopening and implementing new processes and procedures to protect the health and safety of employees and the community.

Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation and its impact on the community, the fair board has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Scott County Fair.   With the current restrictions and unknown future in regard to large group gatherings and required policies and requirements, our hearts are heavy knowing that we cannot come together for our annual celebration of agriculture, education and entertainment.

Minnesota Army National Guardsmen Andrew Harmon and Tyler Schroer, father and son, were honored with a deployment parade Thursday night. The men will leave June 1 for a year-long deployment to Africa.
Read more in the June 4 print edition.

Rosalyn C. Sembauer, 98, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Pleasant Manor in Faribault.
Family Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 1 at the Church of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Shieldsville at 10:30 a.m.  with visitation from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be held in St. John Catholic Cemetery in Montgomery.

As one city celebration after another has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 86th annual Kolacky Days will continue as mostly a virtual event.
In a press release sent to members of the Montgomery Area Community Club, board member Tom Washa said the board decided to hold the event in some fashion that keeps everyone safe and adheres to the Minnesota Department of Health and CDC guidelines.

Highway 41 traffic will be head-to-head on the same side of the road east of the river between the railroad tracks and Highway 169 to allow crews to rebuild the southbound Highway 41 travel lanes
 See project webpage for additional information. https://www.scottcountymn.gov

Also in accordance with a proclamation issued by the President, Governor Tim Walz today directed all flags at state and federal buildings in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff, effective immediately, until sunset on Sunday, May 24, 2020 to remember, mourn, and honor lives lost due to COVID-19.
 Individuals, businesses, and other organizations also are encouraged to join in lowering their flags to honor Minnesotans who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and their families.

The Great Minnesota Get-Together will not be held in 2020. This was announced today following a meeting of the board of managers of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, which governs the Minnesota State Fair. The event was scheduled for Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7. 

Times are crazy now. The economy is scary. People are protesting over businesses staying closed.
Masks are the recommended new facial accessory.
We aren’t supposed to hug when we see people anymore.
Six feet - that’s as close as we can get when talking to someone.
Kids are frustrated they’re not “in” school, playing sports with their friends.

Memorial Day, a day usually marked with solemn commemoration, honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military, will look vastly different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Memorial Day will be different than the years past, but it is important that the American Legion Post 79, Montgomery VFW Post 5340, and Montgomery Area Honor Guard pay respect to its fallen brethren.

The evening of Tuesday, May 19, was warm and sunny, as the Trouba Troubadours performed an outdoor concert at Brewsters Bar & Grill in Veseli. While billed as drive by concert, people actually stopped to enjoy the music from their vehicles or yard chairs. The well attended concert was to help support the local business. Brewsters provided take out meals for the families and friends that attended. The Trouba Troubadours provided a mixture of music from country to pop to rock. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Minnesotans will once again be able to access the majority of driver and vehicle services starting May 19, but office visits will look different with changes made to protect the health and safety of customers and staff in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Neil R. Bohnsack, age 73, of New Prague, died suddenly on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at Three Links Care Center in Northfield.  Neil was born on March 16, 1947 in New Prague to Reuben W. and Selma R. (Jahn) Bohnsack.  He graduated from New Prague High School and Dunwoody Vo-Tech Institute in electrical science.  He served four years in the US Air Force as an electrician and was stationed in Panama during the Vietnam War.  He married the love of his life, Susan J.

Governor Tim Walz has directed all flags at state and federal buildings in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15, 2020, in honor of peace officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.
 “On May 15 we honor the Peace Officers who gave their lives to protect ours, and thank the 11,000 Law Enforcement Officers who serve our state for their dedication to protecting Minnesota communities,” said Governor Walz.

Two planes make their way over Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague around 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Aircraft from the 148th Fighter Wing, 133rd Airlift Wing and 934th Airlift Wing were flying over locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan to honor frontline workers in the COVID-19 response. While staff from Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague gathered on the roof, more than 70 area residents were in the parking lot and the general vicinity to watch the fly over greeting the two planes with cheers and applause.