The Cannon River Watershed Partnership (CRWP) staff gathered stories from watershed residents about how their community and lakes are doing.
This project of the CRWP dealt with “Lake Stories” from the Waterville Creek Watershed.
The CRWP staff interviewed eight community members about the following:
* Concerns for the future and their local lakes;
* Ideas for how partners can work together to strengthen communities;
* Recommendations for improving water in our lakes, rivers, and wells.
Among the community concerns were:

The 8th rated Lake Crystal- Wellcome Memorial volleyball team provided an early challenge to the No. 1 rated WEM Buccaneers Thursday, Oct. 25 in Waterville in the South Sub- Section quarterfinals.
But in the end, the better team had little trouble advancing.
WEM opened the Sub-Section Playoffs with a 25-13, 25-8, and 25-10 win over the Knights.
LCWM was competitive in the early portions of the three sets, but were unable to compete with the 29-2 Buccaneers, the No. 2 rated team in Class A.

A Waterville woman sustained non-life threatening injuries after a one-vehicle crash Monday morning, October 29, in Elysian Township.
Christina Kepner, 50, of Waterville was driving a 2008 Mazda 6 westbound on Highway 60 in Le Sueur County when the vehicle drifted off the roadway to the left and continued down the south ditch. The vehicle vaulted and rolled, landing on its side.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol incident report, the accident occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m.

The Lake Area Historians hosted local speaker Chester "Chet" Hrdlicka of Elysian during the organization's October 15 meeting that was held at the Elysian American Legion. Hrdlicka shared "Part 2" of his historic tales of Elysian.
Hrdlicka's grandfather, an immigrant from the Czech Republic, settled in the Elysian area when there was no electricity and Park Street was the Main Street of the British/English community that was called Logan at the time.

Le Sueur County and the State of Minnesota have entered into a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) pertaining to Sanborn Lake.
This JPA was approved during the Tuesday. Oct. 23 Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners meeting in Le Center. Tim Koppelman, an assistant manager with the Minnesota DNR in Nicollet County, presented the agreement which makes the county the drainage authority for County Ditch 54 which is located near this lake which is 1.5 miles northeast of Montgomery.

Local history was alive and well, Saturday morning, October 20, at the Waterville Public Library. Four Waterville "historians" shared facts, stories, and a few giggle-worthy tales about when they were growing up in Waterville during a Local History Panel event that was sponsored by the Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System.
Will Wesley shared memories of his formative years growing up in Waterville. He began his story with when the lights first came on in town, in the late 1930s.

The WEM football team, the No. 4 rated team in Class AA, scored eight touchdowns in their 54-20 win over Blue Earth Area in the Section 2AA Quarterfinals played Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Waterville. The Bucs will host St. Clair/Mankato Loyola Saturday, oct. 27 at 2 p.m. in the Section 2AA Semifinals. The Spartans defeated Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 28-7 Tuesday. They are 8-1 this year, with their lone loss to undefeated United South Central. NRHEG and Le Sueur-Henderson will play in the other semifinal game Saturday. The winners will play Friday, Nov.

Carol Jane Seifert, age 68, of Elysian, died on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester, St. Marys Campus.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Elysian. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23rd at the church. Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Elysian.

Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Playoffs for the WEM fall sports teams start next week for the football, volleyball, and cross country teams. The football team defeated Sibley East 61-6 Wednesday, Oct. 17 to claim the No. 1 seed in the Section 2AA Playoffs. WEM will face Blue Earth Area Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in Waterville. The WEM volleyball team won the Gopher Conference Championship after defeating hayfield, NRHEG, and United South Central last week. The Bucs, 28-2 overall, are the No. 1 seed in the Section 2A South Sub-Section. They will host the winner of the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial vs. Madelia match.

Ralph Albert Meyers, age 78 of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Waterville, died on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Gerald “Jerry” Carl Mogenson, age 82 of Waterville, died on Friday, October 12, 2018 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Rex Jackson Bull, age 66 of Kilkenny died on Monday, October 15, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

The WEM volleyball team is in the middle of a record-setting season. They are currently 25-2 after a nonconference win over Waseca Tuesday, Oct. 9. The Bucs are ranked No. 2 behind Minneota in the Class A State Coaches Poll. WEM will travel to Hayfield Thursday, Oct. 11, host NRHEG Monday, Oct. 15, and travel to USC Tuesday, Oct. 16 to end their regular season. With wins in these three matches, the Bucs will end Faribault BA's reign on top of the Gopher Conference. It has been a 19 year conference championship run for the  Cardinals, who have losses to WEM and Medford this season.

The WEM football team, winners of five straight games, has entered the Class AA Associated Press State Football Rankings. The Bucs are ranked No. 10 in the poll, which was released Thursday, Oct. 11.The top six teams: Caledonia, Minneapolis North, Barnesville, Redwood Walley, St. Charles, and Royalton, are all 6-0. Redwood Valley knocked off the Bucs, 22-18, in the season opener. WEM will face 12th rated Maple River, in a battle of two 5-1 teams Friday, Oct. 12. The Bucs rushed for more than 300 yards in a 21-7 win over Le Sueur-Henderson Oct. 5. For more on the LSH game check out the Oct.

Duane Hill, age 85, of Ivanhoe and formerly of Marshall, MN, died on Friday, August 3, 2018, at Divine Providence Health Center in Ivanhoe, MN. Funeral services were August 9, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Marshall, MN. Duane Collins Hill was born April 16, 1933, to Shirley Saul and Helen Fae (Hostitler) Hill in Tracy, MN. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed in his youth in the Methodist faith. Duane attended grade school in Elysian, graduating with the Class of 1951. He furthered his education at Mankato State University before joining the United States Army.

The 2018 Homecoming Coronation was held Monday, Oct. 8 in Waterville. Dawson Bauer and Morgan Nusbaum were named Homecoming King and Queen that evening. The rest of the week there were a handful of events for the students. Friday, Oct. 12 is the annual parade (1:45 p.m.), pepfest (2;15 p.m.), Music Arts Booster Tailgate event (5 p.m.), WEM football game vs. Maple River (7 p.m.), and the Homecoming dance (9:30 p.m.). For more on the Homecoming Court check out the Oct. 11 edition of the LIFE/Enterprise.