Updated:
Three people were injured as the result of a two-car collision on Highway 21 north of New Prague Tuesday afternoon. Feb. 12.

Snow days used to be snow days, but now snow days mean blended learning days for students within the Tri-City United School District. And the change has been met with mostly positive results and feedback.
"Thank goodness we have blended learning," said Teri Preisler of the newly implemented e-learning program that allows students to continue their education from home regardless of when she has to cancel school due to weather.

Heavy snow continued to fall Thursday evening across the southern and central parts of Minnesota. According to the National Weather Service, Lonsdale reported four inches of snow fell Thursday, with 5.5 inches falling in Elko New Market.
The snow and deteriorating road conditions forced TCU to close school, cancel activities and utilize a blended learning day for the students. Thursday marked the third time in two weeks the district utilized the online learning day format created to avoid making up snow days.

Tri-City United schools will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 7. According to Superindent Teri Preisler, the day will be a blended learning day and teachers will have assignments posted by 10 a.m. Preisler closed school due to weather.

Shopko announced Wednesday, Feb. 6, that it was closing 174 additional stores following its recent bankruptcy filing, and that includes the Shopko Hometown store in New Prague.
When all is finished, the company will have just 109 stores, compared to the current total of 360.
A list published Wednesday includes stores closing in six phases, some as early as March 2. This includes stores that were announced to close last month. Fifteen stores in Minnesota are on the list. The New Prague store is in the sixth phase, and its estimated last day of operation is May 12.

The first baby in Montgomery for 2019 is Klaira Marie O’Neill. She was born to Cora O’Neill of Montgomery and Daniel Corral of Le Center. Klaira was born on January 29, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in New Prague.
Because Klaira’s family was the first family to contact the Messenger office with the news, she is the New Year’s Baby. Little Klaira and her parents will receive all of the prizes donated by area businesses, which can be found on page 2 of this week’s printed edition.

Police Chief Lou Sager has submitted his resignation as Police Chief for the City of Montgomery effective February 16, 2019, after serving in the position for just over a year.
The announcement came from City Administrator Brian Heck in an email to the Messenger.
According to Heck, Sager’s resignation and the change in department leadership will not affect the current delivery of service provided by the department.

Tri-City United junior Brandon Balma was named a recipient of the 2019 Minnesota State High School League ExCEL Award.
ExCEL - Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership - is a recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, who show leadership qualities, and who work voluntarily in their community.
Balma is the third Tri-City United recipient of the award. Lizzie Christian won it last year, and Erin Budin won in 2015.

Tri-City United High School crowned its SnoBall King and Queen at its dance on Saturday. Crowned King was Thomas Budin. Crowned Queen was Destiny Dunagan. Due to the extreme temperatures and school closings this week, the high school's SnoWeek activities were moved to next week. (Wade Young photo)

Tri-City United High School’s One Act advanced to Section Competition after placing second in last week’s Subsections in Jordan. Belle Plaine placed first.
Section competition will be held on Saturday in St. Peter High School and will see Belle Plaine again, as well as Maple River, NRHEG, St. Peter, Mankato Loyola, Mountain Lake and Martin County West schools who also placed in their subsections. TCU competes at 2 p.m. It is open to the public.
Only the first place show gets advanced to the state tournament Thursday and Friday, February 8 and 9 at St. Catherine University.

Staff writer and columnist Lisa Ingebrand, who works for the Lake Region Life, Elysian Enterprise, and the Montgomery Messenger, was honored for her writing during the 2019 Minnesota Newspaper Association’s (MNA) Annual Convention on January 24 in Bloomington. Ingebrand earned third place honors for her work as a writer in the Arts and Entertainment category among weeklies with up to 1,500 in circulation. This was her tenth MNA Award in 15 years with the local newspapers.

Tri-City United schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, Jan 31st due to cold weather & bus transportation concerns. Our bus company has been closely monitoring our fleet and reports that the cold weather is causing concerns about reliable bus transportation.
Preschool will be closed.
TCU noted the following: This is a highly unusual situations and so we will provide Kidzone on Thursday, January 31st from 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m. for all registered families.
Varsity/Bsquad Activities will still take place, but no Jr. High.

Current and former Montgomery firefighters and emergency service medical personnel were honored and recognized Saturday, Jan 19 at their annual fire and rescue awards banquet in Montgomery.
"Thank you for everything you have done and everything you still do to this day for the community," said Montgomery Fire Chief Ken Pavek of those who have retired and whose presence is still felt daily by current firefighters on the department. "I am honored to walk in your footsteps."

Due to projected deteriorating weather conditions, the United States Postal Service has suspended delivery for Wednesday, Jan. 30, for Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, Iowa and Western Illinois.
A press release issued Tuesday afternoon said retail operations at local offices will be available, but may be limited.
There will be no collection mail pickup from business or collection boxes. In addition, there will be no residential or commercial package pick-up service.

TCU Schools closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Tri-City United Schools are closed Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 30 due to the predicted National Weather Service Wind Chill Warning.
Both days will be blended learning days, which the district explained will include a variety of activities.
PreK - Grade 6
• complete at least 5 activities from activity choice board

• sign and return activity sheet to their teacher on the next school day

• K-6 Choice Boards  (Links)
On a Blended Learning Day, parents will:

Due to current road conditions and forecasted continued snow and winds, Tri-City United Schools and Most Holy Redeemer School will be closed tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Phone messages are on their way.