Patrick John Holtz, age 67 of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away March 30, 2020 at Woodland Hill Memory Care in Hudson, WI. Pat was born August 22, 1952 in New Prague, MN, to parents John and Genevieve (Petricka) Holtz. He graduated from Montgomery High School in 1970 and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Pat was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1972 and was honorably discharged in 1978. He was united in marriage to Kay Liebhard on May 6, 1972 in Le Center, MN. The couple was blessed with three children and made their home in Fort Atkinson, WI.

The Tri-City United School Board has selected three finalists to return for a second interview for the school district’s superintendent position. The semi-finalists are:
■ Carmen Daniels-Strahan, Principal, Mankato Public Schools, Mankato, MN
■ Lisa Edwards, Dir. of Continuous Improvement, Farmington Area Schools, Farmington, MN
■ Lonnie Seifert, Superintendent, GFW Schools, Gibbon, MN
The semi-finalists were selected from a pool of twenty-three applicants based on criteria established by the school board. Six applicants were interviewed last week.

As the United States faces the worst public health crisis in a generation, we want you to know we are here for you—and with you.
Whatever happens, whenever it happens, your newspaper will be there for you.
We’ll be there to let you know how our community is managing through this crisis—from business to government to the health care system and schools to the impact on individuals and families.

The search for the next Tri-City United superintendent went from 23 applicants down to six finalists Monday night.
They were selected based on criteria established by the school board.
At the TCU school board meeting, held via video conference due to the health pandemic and shelter-in-place order, school board members met with Barb Dorn of the Minnesota School Board Association to narrow the list of candidates for first-round interviews.

The Tri-City United School Board selected a new elementary school principal following the retirement announcement earlier this year by Montgomery principal Deb Dwyer.
At the March 30 school board meeting, the seven board members unanimously voted to approve Lisa Manders as the newest addition to the school district, as the principal of the pre-K to eighth grade principal in Montgomery.
Manders was one of more than 25 candidates vying for the position, according to TCU Superintendent Teri Preisler.

UPDATE - 4/2/20 
Highway 93 between Highway 169 and Henderson opens after 5 p.m today Thursday,, April 2, 2020.
 
Crews monitoring Highway 19 closely.
Motorists are advised that Highway 93 from Highway 169 to Henderson remains closed due to flooding on the Minnesota River.  The Minnesota Department of Transportation closed Highway 93 early Sunday morning. 
MnDOT and area law enforcement are closely monitoring Highway 19 between Highway 169 and Henderson as current river forecasts indicate the potential closure later this week.

The first Le Sueur County COVID-19 case was identified on March 22. Since that time, over the 
course of the last week, Le Sueur County Public Health has been notified by the Minnesota 
Department of Health (MDH) of an additional 10 cases of lab confirmed COVID-19. MDH does 
not release specific case information to protect the identity and privacy of the individuals. 
Aggregate data regarding the Le Sueur County cases that can be shared at this time include:
none of the cases were hospitalized, all are recovering at home and following isolation guidance 

Effective immediately, we have been directed by our DNR Regional office to implement Burning Permit Restrictions in our counties.  Restrictions mean that (in an electronic burning permit county) the only burning permits that can be activated and legally burned are variance permits. A variance is a burning permit issued for over 1 acre of grass and special permits issued for large piles such as for a road construction activity or similar projects. Variances are issued by a forester and not fire wardens or purchased online.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division (DPS-DVS) is closing all exam stations statewide beginning Friday at the close of business to follow Governor Tim Walz’s executive order for Minnesotans to stay home and slow the spread of COVID-19. Offices will stay closed through April 10, when the executive order is set to expire. 

Rice County Public Health was notified today, Tuesday, March 24 by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) of a second lab confirmed case of COVID-19 in Rice County.
Limited information indicates the confirmed case is in their 30’s with transmission linked to travel within the United States. This person was not hospitalized and is in isolation at home.
Rice County Public Health continues to work with MDH and local health care partners to address the needs of those who are ill in our community.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) notified Le Sueur County Public Health that Le Sueur County has an additional four cases of lab confirmed COVID-19, in addition to the case reported on March 22. MDH reports that the additional cases had contact with a known positive case and are recovering at home.

Barbara Ellen Miller, age 81 of rural Belle Plaine died peacefully at home on March 21, 2020 surrounded by her loving, devoted husband Val and family after a courageous battle with cancer.  Barbara was born September 20, 1938 to Lester and Helen (Dryer) Scholl in Salem, South Dakota and grew up near St. Peter, MN. She married the love her life, Val Miller on September 20, 1953 and for 66 wonderful years they were an inseparable team.  It was rare to see one without the other.

The Tri-City United Softball team will have new leadership this spring with a new head coach and assistant coach, who come to the program with champion experience.
Varsity Head Coach Mady Bunnell and Assistant Coach Allie Arneson began leading the Titans when the season started with captain’s practice on February 24.
Bunnell (also known as Coach Bunnz) grew up in Lakeville and graduated from Lakeville North High School. She went on to play college ball at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as a three-year letter winning catcher.

Frank Bily, 82, of Montgomery, died on Friday, March 20, 2020, at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague.
In cooperation with the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health during the current health crisis, services are pending.
Frank was born on July 11, 1937, in Kilkenny to Frank Joseph and Margaret Louise (Staddler) Bily, Sr. Frank was united in marriage to Fern Bjork on October 5, 1958 in Lansing, MN. He was a farmer who also worked at Hruby Implement, auto dealerships, Winco, and as a maintenance foreman at United Steel.

Freda Joyce Wacker, age 78, of New Prague, died on Monday, February 24, 2020 Mayo Systems in Rochester.
Private family services will be held in West Virginia at a later date.
Freda was born on June 7, 1941 in Hollygrove, West Virginia to Frank and Viola (Hill) Swartz. Freda was united in marriage to Ronald Wacker January 11, 1964.
Freda enjoyed gardening, flowers, babysitting, cooking/ baking, traveling, and dog sitting.

Alvin Tuma, 89, of Montgomery, died on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato.
In cooperation with the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health during the current health crisis, there will be a private family Interment on Saturday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery. Memorials are preferred to St. John Lutheran Church Bell Tower Renovation/Repair Fund.