Norma Jean Dooley, 95, of Willmar, MN, died peacefully on Thursday, September 25, 2025, with family by her side at the Bethesda Grand Care Center in Willmar, Minnesota, after a short illness. Visitation will be held on October 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock, Minnesota, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.

Meals on Wheels (MOW) in Montgomery is currently short on delivery drivers. MOW provides seniors and other groups of people with free or affordable and nutritious meals Monday through Friday each week.

Site Coordinator Mary Ross said, “The time commitment is one-and-a-half hours once or twice a month.” Beyond that, it is also a point of social contact for many people who have limited mobility.

If you have ever considered volunteering as a MOW delivery driver, now is the time. Contact Mary Ross at 507-479-1925 to inquire about volunteering.

I originally moved to Minnesota with the intent of retiring from newspapers and focusing on writing novels. That lasted about six months.

When I moved to Minnesota in November of 2020, I had already published three novels with a small publishing group. My fourth was in progress with the same company, but I was developing a fifth book that I had intended to be my breakout success.

New Prague High School 1967 graduate and United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Dave Bruzek is being recognized in the Montgomery American Legion Post 79’s Thank A Living Vet display through Nov. 23.

Bruzek enlisted in the U.S. Air Force months before he graduated on his 18th birthday in March.

Three weeks ago the Tri-City United (TCU) girls soccer team suffered a 10-4 loss to St. Peter.

The Saints are an outstanding team and the Titans knew they would get another shot at their opponent to the west.

TUC faced St. Peter Thursday, Sept. 18 and played much better in a 4-1 loss.

Community Asset Development Group (CADG), out of the Twin Cities, has expressed a serious interest in creating a 43 unit apartment building to fall within affordable housing rules on the east side of Montgomery.

A parcel where it would reside currently owned by the city off the roundabout on 7th Street SE, just north of Elm Avenue SE, has been sitting vacant for some time and not earning any taxes.

“The site plan is pretty conceptual,” said Dave Pokorney, one of the two CADG partners. “We are just doing the financial modeling of approximately 43 units.”

Zuhrah Shriners, of Minnetonka, Minn., just wrapped up their fifth year of the 0.05K Camel Crawl, on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Montgomery.

Montgomery was the chosen town for the event where there are many that it could have been, giving the local economy and children a boost.

Tri-City United School District has created a website to better showcase the items they are asking for in their $39.9 million dollar bond to be voted on Nov. 4 this year. People can visit sites.google.com/tcu2905.us/ref25/home or go to the district’s regular website, tcu2905.us, and click on the link on the rolling front page banner.

Patricia "Patty" Susan Doran, age 65, of Montgomery, died on the afternoon of Monday, September 8, 2025, in New Prague.

John J. "Jack" Holomek, age 87, of Montgomery, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, September 12, 2025, surrounded by the love and presence of his family.

It was a warm start to the Halfway to St. Paddy's Day celebration in Kilkenny on Saturday, Sept. 13 -- the first of the two-day event. 

Vendors were present all day with food, beverages, and merchandise, as well as there being live music and entertainment throughout the day. The parade was a favorite for kids, young and old. The day will finish off with the "World Famous Toilet Bowl Races," Power Wheels Kids Drag Races, and a fireworks at dusk.

Many moons ago the 74-year-old, soon to be 75, Ronald Prchal was given the nickname “Chubby” or “Chubs” by his father. “Between sixth and seventh grade I grew nine inches and 60 pounds,” said Chubby. “I got the nickname from my dad.”

Even his friends Wendy Vargo and Bob Krocak agree, no one knows him by his given name. “If you said Ron Prchal, people would ask you if he was related to Chubby,” laughed Krocak. Chubby’s younger brother, Ralph Prchal, said, “He used to be chubby, and now he’s not. He’s the skinniest of anyone (from his friends and family).”

A serious crash on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, left two vehicles, one towing a trailer with a vehicle on it, in disarray with at least one fatality, according to a press release by the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident happened at the intersection of Le Sueur County Roads 28 (320th Street) and 32 (211th Avenue) in rural Derrynane Township, about three miles north of Clear Lake (Lexington) at about 7:12 a.m. 

James “Jim” C. Lombardi, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Mayo Clinic Health Systems (MCHS) shared a press release that announced that it will close several clinics by Dec. 10 of this year, transitioning care to nearby clinics.

Among the list of clinics being closed are Belle Plaine, Caledonia, Northridge (North Mankato), St. Peter, Wells, and Montgomery.

Helen M. Tikalsky, age 84, of New Prague, died peacefully at home with her family at her side on Sunday, September 7, 2025.  Helen was born on April 19, 1941, in New Prague to Frank E. and Regina (Zaun) Bartyzal.  She graduated from New Prague High School and married her high school sweetheart, Daniel J. Tikalsky on January 3, 1959, in New Prague.