Churches around the nation have been struggling and closing in rather large numbers. The attendance at churches has dropped significantly. A Gallup poll published in 2024 showed that 43 percent of adults said they attended religious services in their 2000-2003 poll to just 30 percent in their 2021-2023 poll, dropping 12 percent.
St. John Lutheran Church in Kilkenny is no exception to this decline in attendance. Husband and wife Daryl and Alice Bosacker, long-time members of the church, have seen the change personally.
The first hat trick, the first overtime, the first shootout, and first-time winners highlighted a fantastic night for a fantastic cause.
More than $2,500 and many toys and gifts were collected Saturday, Dec. 14 during the 2nd Annual Waterville Fire Fighter Floor Hockey Tournament.
The tournament featured firefighters from Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville.
Three WEM High School students were inducted into the Minnesota Honor Society Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:45 a.m. in the Waterville auditorium.
Newly inducted members include junior Kayla Bronk, daughter of William and Lidia Bronk, and sophomores Grace Bartz, daughter of Joe and Heather Bartz and Natalie Elness, daughter of Troy and Aubrey Wetzel and Alec Elness.
A house fire broke out on the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 16, on Kilkenny Road, also known as Le Sueur County 168, in rural Kilkenny Township about one mile south of Kilkenny.
The house is a total loss, leaving at least one man homeless for the holidays. It appeared that other buildings, possessions and/or vehicles outside the home were also impacted.
Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, along with the Mounted Posse and The Sheriff’s Youth Project, have once again come together to launch the project, “Believe in the Magic of Christmas.”
The project “will provide an opportunity for our community to come together and spread a little Christmas Magic for a very deserving family.”
Joe Johnson
Rice County Emergency Management Director
As winter approaches, it's critical to prepare for extreme cold, snow, and icy conditions. These storms can last a few hours or several days and cut off heat, power, and communication.
Winter storms create a higher risk of car crashes, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, residential fires, and heart attacks from overexertion.
To ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared, follows these steps:
Among the buildings along South Plut Avenue at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds in Le Center, Minn., lies a small building nestled between the other structures that keeps a piece of yesteryear alive — District #75 Schoolhouse. The building is a wood, oneroom schoolhouse, which was typical for the area at the time.
Voters in the Lake Region Area have voted and there will be some major changes in many of the four local communities.
Two new mayors and six new city council members have been voted into office following the Tuesday, Nov. 5 General Election.
The cities of Elysian and Morristown will have new mayors. Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville will all have at least one new city council member.
The only elected office which will not see change is on the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Board of Education. All three incumbents were voted back in.
City of Elysian
The Miss Czech-Slovak Minnesota Pageant is now accepting applications for candidacy for junior ambassadors and queens for the 36th Annual Miss Czech-Slovak Minnesota Pageant.
An informational open house will be held at the Montgomery Public Library, 104 Oak Ave, on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 12-1:30 p.m. Potential candidates will have the opportunity to meet with board members, ask questions and learn about the opportunities.
In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Le Sueur, Rice, and Scott Counties announce plans to illuminate county buildings green from Monday, Nov. 4, to Monday, Nov. 11, as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort uniting counties to support military veterans.
Le Sueur County Veterans Service Officer, Mark Roemhildt, stated, “Operation Green Light is an opportunity to show appreciation for those who served our nation in the armed forces. A simple ‘thank you’ or gesture like illuminating a green light shows our support.”
Locations will be open during the stated days/times starting September 20 (Fri).
Locations will also be open 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on November 2 (Sat), and November 3 (Sun).
Locations will also be open until 5:00 p.m. on November 4 (Mon).
Locations will serve all voters in the county unless marked with an asterisk (*).
Those marked with an asterisk (*) will only serve residents of that city/town.
For additional questions, contact the county auditor or municipal clerk.
Le Sueur County
The outstanding pedal pull season for 10-year old Remy Sampson of Waterville has come to a very successful end.
Sampson competed in the National Pedal Pull Saturday, Sept. 28 in the Corn Palace at Mitchell, South Dakota. He placed second in his age group. Last year he placed 15th overall.
In order to advance, pullers need to place 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th at a State Sanctioned Pull and have a State voucher.
Remy had accomplished both of these and he and his parents Will and Alyssa Sampson headed out west for the competition. This was his second National competition.
Give me a B! Give me a U! Give me a C! Give me an S! “What’s that spell?”
If you have ever been to a WEM volleyball game during the past decade-plus, there has been a familiar person who gets the crowd fired up with this chant.
Mitch Tegmeier has been a fan favorite and a very important person within the WEM volleyball program since he graduated from the WEM approximately a decade ago.
Tegmeier, who has Down Syndrome, was recognized Monday, Oct. 21 following the Buccaneer volleyball game against Le Sueur-Henderson.
Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law was passed by the Minnesota legislature in 2023, and it will go fully into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. A multi-chamber of commerce event, including New Prague, Montgomery and Lonsdale, was held on Thursday, Sept. 26, at Next Chapter Winery in Lanesburg Township to discuss the changes coming forward regarding the new law.
Minnesota Director of Paid Leave Greg Norfleet presented to a capacity group of about 40 registered area business owners, sole proprietors, and employees about what that means for them.
Many times assistant coaches in high school go unnoticed.
They may coach the junior varsity and might have minimal contact with the varsity programs.
In the case of WEM Assistant Volleyball Coach Ken Trnka, he is a very important part of a program which has been among the best in Class A for the better part of the past decade.
The Minnesota State Coaches Association has decided that the recognition of these pivotal assistant coaches should be recognized and an award has been created for these special coaches.
WEM Homecoming Coronation 2024 will be held Friday, October 4 at the high school gymnasium in Waterville.
This year the majority of the Homecoming activities will be held on Friday. The coronation is scheduled for 9 a.m. with a parade through the downtown streets set for 10 a.m.
Juniors and seniors will battle at 11 a.m. in volleyball and kickball events. Lunch will be held at 12:05 p.m. and a pepfest will follow at 12:35 p.m.