Write-in votes will settle who takes at least two open seats on Rice County’s townships boards.
No affidavits for candidacy were filed in the 2025 race for Northfield Township treasurer, or to fill the term of the remaining year of the term for the Morristown Township clerk.
The treasurer’s seat, a two-year term, is up in all every township except Forest Township where the treasurer is appointed, rather than elected.

After a vehicle was driven into open water on Lake Washington this weekend, the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office is warning visitors to the lake in Le Sueur County to use caution, advising a large area of open water has developed in the area referred to as the Narrows. Sunday, Feb. 9, Capt. Bruce Collins confirmed the people in the vehicle escaped without injury.
The vehicle is now submerged in about 6 feet of water. The open water starts at the north shoreline and goes almost all the way across, to the south shore.

An award ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 2 honoring Waterville resident Dalton Grose.
Grose will be presented with the Carnegie Medal for Heroism at 1 p.m. at the Waterville Event Center.
There will be a short program, featuring the events which led him to saving the life of a man in September of 2023 and thus being selected to receive this highest of honors.

The City of Waterville and Waterville Police Civil Service Commission has received three complaints January 9 against a pair of city employees.
The complaints were directed at Waterville Chief of Police John Manning and Public Works employee Jordan Edwards. Manning received two complaints against him and Edwards one.

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