The unexpected death of a WEM seventh grader has the WEM communities shocked and grieving.

Twelve year old Brady Kessler, son of Cierra and Tyler Pumper and David Kessler, had a stroke Saturday, Jan. 10. He subsequently passed away on the evening of January 11 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester due to complications from the stroke.

More than 100 classmates, teammates, family, and friends were able to say their last goodbyes to Brady at the hospital before he passed.

Late last week an emergency meeting was called for Monday, Jan. 12, of the city council for the City of Kilkenny. No large emergency was present other than information that Nicole LeBrun, the current city clerk, had found a new position elsewhere and a replacement would need to be figured out.

Kilkenny Mayor Tammy Holicky seemed happy for LeBrun, saying that she found an “amazing position somewhere else,” which LeBrun wanted to keep private.

Minnesota DNR recognizes nine conservation officers

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division recently recognized nine conservation officers for their lifesaving efforts in the past few months.

Minnesota Outdoors is a non-profit organization that grants trips to children and young adults with life threatening illnesses and to veterans.

Brody Muellerleile, the 13-year-old son of Jason and Sara Muellerleile, had a chance to take part in one of these adventures last fall. He took part in the Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Foundation mule deer hunt in Colorado.

Sara found this organization online and applied for Brody. They sent the family on a trip to Give a Kid’s World back in 2022. Brody was granted this trip right after COVID.

During the Advent/Christmas season of the 60s and 70s as a student at Trinity Lutheran School in North Morristown, young Juanita Krueger looked forward to four things: performing, singing, and doing recitations in the Christmas Eve program and making homemade ornaments in art class for the real Christmas tree that graced her childhood classroom. Some of these ornaments Juanita still has in her collection, today.

At a meeting of the Le Sueur County Officials Association, State Senator Rich Draheim (22, R) and State Rep. Terry Stier (22B, R) were present to share information from the state legislature that affects the area. The meeting was held Dec. 3 at Le Sueur City Hall.

“I don’t want to say it was the most confusing year, but probably the most uncertain year I have seen in my nine years,” Draheim said, noting the size of the state government has tripled in funding since he took office in 2017.

It wasn’t quite as low as the 3.9% increase from last year, but the Le Sueur County budget and levy passed was still among the lowest of the last decade.

On Dec. 2, the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners held its annual Truth in Taxation meeting to hear residents’ concerns. The hearing was followed by the official vote on the next budget.

The final levy was set at $30,337,063, which represents a 4.4% increase over last year.

The only years where the increase was lower were in 2021 (4%) and 2025 (3.9%).

The Waterville City Council approved the 2026 proposed budget and levy during their regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The levy will see an increase of $186,442 which is an increase of 15 percent over the 2025 levy. Last year the city levy increased $118,108, which was an increase of 10.5 percent. The levy covers all city departments and debt service, but does not include the water and sewer departments.

According to City Administrator Teresa Hill, the proposed levy increase of 15 percent is only 12 percent with added taxable value included in the taxpayer statements.

The City of Morristown passed its final budget for next year at its Dec. 1 regular meeting. The passage followed their Truth in Taxation hearing. The hearing was held at the top of the meeting, which, in total, lasted for more than two and a half hours.

The levy was passed at $717,574, a 6% increase over the current year’s levy of $676,957.

A few residents voiced concerns about the increase during the public hearing. Comments ranged from how the tax money was being spent to the difficulty of being able to sell a house with the tax rates too high.

Led by Most Valuable Player Tim Boese, the Morristown fire Department not only won their first game, but their first championship in the 3rd Annual Fire Fighter Floor Hockey Fundraiser.

The event was held Saturday, Dec. 13 at the WEM High School gymnasium.

Through the first two years, the Morristown Dept. was winless in four games.

This year they turned the tables on the other three teams from Elysian, Kilkenny, and Waterville, winning their first championship.

Being a Certified Massage Therapist over the last 28 years, Brandi Zishka-Rossow found herself roughly 10 years ago in her professional journey searching for something more.

Zishka-Rossow, who has been in business in Elysian since 2007 and in her current location since 2012, is the owner of Tranquil Escape Message & Wellness, LLC and Fitness Escape, LLC.

If you are looking for some great shopping possibilities and some holiday cheer, check out the two festive events scheduled for Elysian and Waterville Saturday, Nov. 29.

The day starts with Elysian’s Small Business Saturday, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This event features more than 30 vendors who will be located in 14 different locations throughout the community.

Special discounts and sales, raffles, specialty foods and drink, and bake sales will be featured throughout the morning.

The Lake Region Area is lucky to have three artists who have been recognized not only in Minnesota, the United States, but worldwide.

WEM students had a chance to study various aspects of the art created by Adolf Dehn, Roger Preuss and David Maass, the three local artists who lived in this area.

“I know SNAP has been the highlight of discussion for many, many weeks” Le Sueur County Director of Human Services Jamie Hayes said at the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners regular meeting on Nov. 18.

Hayes was before the board for the payment authorization of an elevator project, but had time left in her segment to talk about the ongoing federal issues with the SNAP program.

WEM kindergarten students shared how they would “Cook a Turkey” if they had the chance.

I cook my turkey with a stove. My turkey cost $100 and I got it from Wal-Mart. I got my turkey home with a car. When I cooked my turkey I put cereal in the pan with my turkey. I cooked it on 400 degrees for one minute. I ate ketchup and ranch, and chicken nuggets and ice cream with my turkey. My family ate the turkey with me. My turkey tastes good. Haddie Guy

A proposed solar farm on the northeast corner of Morristown drew concerns at the city’s monthly meeting on Nov. 3.

The project would see the farmland directly southeast of Dollar General converted into a solar farm capable of 4.99 megawatts. New Leaf Energy is the solar company interested in developing the land. The land is owned by Poplar Grove Farms LLC of Farmington.