Ralph Edward Gregor, age 76, of rural Waterville, died on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at his home.

Bulldog track and field teams earn All-Gopher honors

Seventeen JWP/WEM track and field athletes earned All-Gopher Conference honors following the 2026 spring season.

The girls team had 11 athletes named and the boys had six athletes named.

In order to make the First Team, athletes needed to win an event in the Gopher Conference Meet which was held in early May. Honorable Mention selections were picked based on their performances in the meet.

The Bulldogs boys and girls teams each won their respective conference championships.

Eagle Lake, a Class B amateur baseball team, came to Waterville Wednesday, June 24 and defeated the Waterville Indians, 12-2 in eight innings in a non-league game.

The Expos, who were previously in the 13-60 League with the Indians, scored five runs in the fourth inning and added four more in the eighth inning to pick up their ninth win in 12 games.

Dalton Grose started for Waterville and pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out two.

As we approach America’s 250th birthday, it’s a great time to remember our country’s heritage and teach kids the importance behind this momentous occasion! From the Founding Fathers who were relentless in their quest for freedom, to the ordinary Americans across the country who made Independence Day the celebration that it is today.

The 133rd Annual North Morristown 4th of July Celebration will be held Saturday, July 4th. This is the oldest 4th of July celebration in the state.

The stands and games will begin at 9 a.m. This popular 4th of July Celebration will open with the Flag Raising at 9:45 a.m. by the American Legion.

The Theme Baskets/Silent Auction also begins at 9 a.m. with a wide variety of items to bid on. This will run until 1 p.m.

Dorothy Esther Zellmer, age 97, of Waseca, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026, at Colony Court in Waseca.

Three WEM baseball players were honored last week by Gopher Conference baseball coaches.

Seniors Jacob Androli, Andrew Krenik, and Noah Lanham received post-season awards. Lanham received the Sportsmanship Award. Androli was named to the All-Gopher First Team. Krenik was named to the Honorable Mention All-Gopher Team. Androli was named for the second straight season.

The top 25 players were named to the All-Conference Team. Each team has one player named to the Honorable Mention Team. Each team had one player selected to receive the Sportsmanship Award.

The Sakatah Cemetery Association is continuing to work on upgrading and improving veteran gravestones which have deteriorated over the years.

Many of these veterans no longer have family members who can attend to repairs of these stones. Stars have been purchased by the Cemetery Board to ensure that every veteran has one on his/ her grave year around and not just for Memorial Day weekend. The veterans’ service was year round, and the Board felt this honor should be maintained year round.

The candidates for Miss Elysian, Junior Miss Elysian, and Princess of the Lakes have been getting ready for their respective competitions which are scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Elysian Fire Hall.

For the fifth time, a Junior Miss will be selected. This portion of the pageant is for local girls who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.

Two young women are looking for the title of Miss Elysian 2026. They are Isabella Cage, daughter of Elliott and Lisa Cage and Liviana Lee, daughter of Jacob and Leslie Lee.

Halfway through their league season, the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team remains on top of the 13-60 League with a 5-1 record after a 2-0 shutout of Janesville Sunday, June 21. 

The Indians are tied for first with Minnesota Lake, a team they defeated two weeks ago.

The win Sunday included another impressive pitching performance by Dallas McBroom.

McBroom pitched eight scoreless innings and among the 24 outs he recorded, 17 of them were by strikeouts.

Sam Stier shut the door in the ninth inning, picking up his first save of the season.

Life is a Gift. That Gift is comprised of a body endowed with an immortal soul made to the image and likeness of God’s Spirit of Love. That Spirit must eventually return to its source. Pat’s spirit has been called to return June 21, 2026. While her spirit has entered a new life, its share of God’s Love remains as a legacy to dwell among her family, friends, colleagues, and all other beneficiaries to use as synergy for their own respective share of God’s Love. 

After a pair of early season losses, the Waterville Indians have started to dominate opponents, improving to 4-1 in the 13-60 League after a 2-1 week.

The Indians won their 4th straight game after a 6-3 win over Minnesota Lake Wednesday, June 10 and a 9-4 win over the Lake Crystal Nine Friday, June 12 in the Waterville Chamber of Commerce game.

Unfortunately the win streak ended Sunday, June 14 at Waseca, with the Braves handing Waterville their first league loss, 9-6.

In the win over Minnesota Lake, Dallas McBroom pitched a gem,

WEM junior Alix Velzke has been named the Most Valuable Player on the 2026 WEM Softball Team.

Those were not the only honors the outstanding player received this spring. She was also named WEM’s Best Offensive Player, was an All-Gopher Conference First team selection, and made the All-Section 1A Team.

Eight-year-old Mariella Masso is already one of the top wrestlers in the nation.

Now she has become one of the top weight lifters after winning a number of titles last weekend in Chicago at the USA Power Lifting (USAPL) Nationals.

As a 6-year-old, Masso was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the girls 6U, 60 pound weight division by the World of Wrestling. She also was named to the 1st Team Girls World All Star Team.

Two years later the daughter of Mark and Shey Masso of Waterville is a record-setting lifter.

A handful of individuals attended the Cannon River Fish Project update during a meeting in May at the Waterville Event Center.

The meeting discussed the scope of the plan dealing with the Gorman Lake Dam and Schmidtke's Dam in Morristown.

There was a timeline set out and discussion was also held on the possible impacts of the project, which is scheduled to be completed sometime during the 2026 calendar year - most likely in the winter months.

Here is some information about the project and updates:

Joan “Jody” Marie Gregor, age 94, of Waterville, died on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield.