Patricia Ann (Rotter) Wells of New Brighton, passed away unexpectedly on February 20 at the age of 76.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Feb. 28 starting at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1900 7th Street, NW, New Brighton. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church.
Pat was born in Montgomery. She graduated from Montgomery High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in medical terminology. After she graduated, she went to Europe for three months, which fueled her love of travel.

Tri-City United is sending four wrestlers to the state tournament after the Section 2AA competition last weekend.
Caleb Whipps (138 pounds), Brody Rud (170 pounds), Riley O'Malley (182 pounds), and Jose Reyes (195 pounds) will begin the competition in the first round of individuals for Class AA at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. 
See more in the print edition.

From Epiphany until Ash Wednesday, the people in the Czech Republic celebrate a season of merrymaking and masquerading called Masopust, which literally means "good-bye to meat.”
Montgomery’s version was celebrated on Sunday to a full house at the American Legion Post #79.
This pre-Lenten Carnival includes dancing, celebrating and eating. It also includes the naming of a new ambassador. That title went to Preston Anderson, son of Kris and Dawn Anderson of Montgomery.
Read more in the print edition.

Evelyn L. Vlasak, 92, of Montgomery, died on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague. Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Feb. 28 at ­­­11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with Father Tom Niehaus officiating with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

The Le Sueur/Rice County Drug Task Force was very busy in 2019.
Le Sueur County Chief Deputy Nick Greenig presented information about the work completed by the drug task force within the county during the Elysian City Council meeting Feb. 11.
Last year there were 64 cases opened, 55 search warrants were issued, and there were 61 arrests made.
A total of $18,020 in cash was seized as were nine firearms.
More than 3.4 million dollars in street value worth of controlled substances were seized.

(Editor’s note: Bill Marek has lived in Montgomery for close to 46 years. As an attorney, he and his brother, Scott, own Marek Law Office & Tax Services. In the mid-2000s, Bill was instrumental in the idea of changing the former elementary school on Highway 13/2 to a high school and creating an elementary and middle school campus on Second Street.)

A youth from Lonsdale, and junior at TCU High School, died in a single-vehicle accident due to icy roads on February 18.
According to TCU Superintendent Teri Preisler through a school-notification, Blake Asher died at the scene of a one-vehicle accident on Le Sueur County Road 28, east of County Road 3.
In a press release, Sheriff Brett Mason said Asher’s vehicle, a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, was traveling eastbound on County Road 28 when he lost control due to ice/snow packed on the road. Le Sueur County Deputies responded at approximately 4:46 p.m.

Blake Ryan Asher, age 17, of Lonsdale, died tragically in a car accident on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.  Blake was born on November 7, 2002 in Northfield to Ryan P. Asher and Jennifer Kassa Jones.  He was raised in the Farmington/Lonsdale area and was currently a junior at Tri-City United (TCU) School, where he was a member of the speech club.  Blake was loved by everyone with his bubbly, funny, goofy personality.

The No. 3 seeded Tri-City United boys wrestling team (18-5) earned their first victory Thursday on what they hope is the road to the state tournament.
Their Coach, Shaun Timmerman has high hopes, and the athletes have a strong work ethic to make it.
"We have a great shot. We just need to focus on our 'clean' technique and wrestle smart. We also have a lot of individuals who are looking at some great success at the end of the year,” he stated.
The team continues on their path after a decisive 54-17 victory over Waseca (11-2) in Montgomery.

Alvia Ann Koubele, 96, of Montgomery, died peacefully on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 at home.
Visitation will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be in St. John Catholic Cemetery in Montgomery.
Alvia was born on September 20, 1923, to Edward and Sophia (Springer) Zellmer. She was united in marriage to Frank G. Koubele in Montgomery on March 4, 1946.

The first time the Titans faced off against the Le Suer- Henderson Giants on December 20, the TCU team beat LSH by 15 points. On February 7, the margin was only six points, with TCU besting LSH 69-63.
Titan Coach Eric Specht is proud how his girls finished the basketball game.
“I thought we executed well and made some clutch free throws down the stretch. Offensively, we did a nice job limiting our turnovers, giving ourselves a chance to put up points,” he said.

The Montgomery Fire Department raised more than $1,400 for the American Lung Association (ALA) over the weekend.
Eight members from the department participated in the ALA’s Fight for Air Climb in Minneapolis. Participating were Fire Chief Kenny Pavek, Sean Benz, Joe Anderson, Rick Sembauer, Bryan Ehlers, Isaac Schugel, Dave Gaul, and Travis Rose.
Pavek said the money raised came mainly from donations from friends and family and people out in the community.
“We are very thankful for all the donations!” he stated.

WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero. * WHERE...Le Sueur County. * WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

The Montgomery Historical Society’s information session has been changed to February 20.
It is being held to explain a state grant that could establish a historic district designation for a large part of First Street. The public meeting for First Street property owners and the community will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at City Hall.
The event was changed due to the weather and distance the consultant needed to travel.

Tri-City United Schools will dismiss early, Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Superintendent Teri Preisler said the action is being taken to stay ahead of the predicted wind gusts and possible impacts to the district’s second-tier buses for TCU-Lonsdale.
Dismissal times:
- TCU High School - 1:30 p.m.
- TCU Le Center and Montgomery - 1:45 p.m.
- TCU Lonsdale - 2:30 p.m.
There will be no afternoon or evening activities or meetings.

Emil Edward Knish, age 57, of Montgomery died on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, at his home. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Febr. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with a Masonic Lodge service. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery with Pastor Jason Pollington officiating and visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will take place at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Le Center.