The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) notified Le Sueur County Public Health of a lab confirmed case of COVID-19 in Le Sueur County. The individual is in their 40s and is recovering at home.
According to MDH, the individual was not hospitalized and no work exposures were identified.

Effective Thursday, March 20, 2020 City Hall plus all other City Buildings (Library, Public Works Building Police Station and Fire Hall) will be closed to the public until further notice. City Staff will continue to work during business hours of 8: a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for residents to contact via phone or email. If business cannot be conducted by phone or email please call 507-362-8300 to set up an appointment.
Utility Bills

Blandin Foundation announced Wednesday, March 11, it selected Le Sueur County for an intensive, twoyear partnership to advance local broadband initiatives.
Le Sueur County joins Chisago Lakes, Otter Tail County, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation in their successful bids to become Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC).

Are you wondering about the safety of our printed newspapers during this COVID-19 crisis?
According to information from the World Health Organization (WHO), a highly credible source of factual information, the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled and exposed to different conditions and temperatures is also low.

Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, our offices in New Prague, Montgomery and Waterville will be closed to walk-in traffic. We will be available during our regular business hours via telephone, email or our websites to continue services for you. 
If you need to pick up a printing order, please call ahead and our staff will meet you outside with your delivery.
We are committed to providing you good service as we all face significant changes in our day to day lives, but we feel we need to take these precautions to minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 illness.

Effective Thursday, March 19, Le Sueur County is closing the majority of its government buildings to the public - the exception being the Sheriff’s Office lobby and the Le Sueur County Court Administration in the Justice Center.
Sheriff Brett Mason said his office will continue to provide residents with the services they expect, but they are taking precautions with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System is deferring all elective care that can be deferred for eight or more weeks, according to a press release Tuesday, March 17.

Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague now offers a drive-through screening process for patients who meet criteria for COVID-19 testing. Transmissions of COVID-19 are increasing statewide and across the nation and other institutions have successfully used the drive-through approach.
According to a press release, as a first step, patients must call their Mayo Clinic Health System primary care clinic. A provider or nurse will determine if patients meet criteria and will schedule a drive-through test.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Sunday that all of Minnesota’s K-12 schools will close for eight school days starting Wednesday to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Walz and state Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker made the announcement Sunday morning in St. Paul.

The Minnesota State High School League put out an announcement Friday regarding cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Effective Immediately:
The Minnesota State High School League is immediately cancelling the Girls Basketball State Tournament.
Additionally, all Boys Section and State Basketball Tournaments have been cancelled.
Section Speech Tournament events for the week of March 15-21 have been postponed indefinitely.
The Adapted Floor Hockey games scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 will NOT be played either.

The WEM Girls' Basketball team won the state tournament quarterfinal game against Heritage Christian Academy, 58-46!
The Bucs will play Minneota High School tomorrow, Friday, March 13 at noon at Williams Arena.

UPDATED March 13, 2020- The Adapted Floor Hockey games scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 will NOT be played.

Thursday, March 12, 2020 UPDATE
MANKATO, Minn. – (3 p.m.) Highway 93 from Highway 169 to Henderson is expected to reopen by 6 p.m. this evening, Thursday, March 12, after being closed since March 8 due to flooding on the Rush River.  Crews have been working to clear debris off the road and make repairs to shoulders and culverts.
 The shoulders of southbound Highway 93 are extremely soft due to exposure to the floodwaters. MnDOT is advising no travel on the shoulders until they dry out and repairs can be made.

The WEM girls' basketball team defeated Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's, 79-68, to win the Section 2A Championship Friday, March 6 at MSU-Mankato. The Lady Bucs will now play in the Class A State Tournament, starting Thursday, March 12 at the University of Minnesota. The Bucs will play Heritage Christian Academy at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at Maturi Pavillion at the University of Minnesota.

A Las Vegas homicide suspect is in police custody after being located in Rice County.
Mark Doocy, 60, of Blooming Prairie, was arrested on March 4 at the Flying J Truck Stop at I-35 and Highway 19. According to Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, Doocy was arrested and forced to leave his vehicle after he refused to cooperate with officials.

The Le Sueur County Board cruised through a very light agenda Tuesday, March 3.
The regular meeting lasted approximately 40 minutes, but was followed by a special road and bridge work session.
A number of items which were dealt with during the regular meeting involved the highway department.
A couple of final payments were approved for work done this past year.
Crane Creek Asphalt received final payments of $148,200.72 for the CSAH 15 project from CSAH 22 to CSAH 26, and a payment of $69,056.47 for the CSAH project near Heidelberg.