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.

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.

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:

    Le Sueur County took a step to pump the brakes on data centers being built in the county. At the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 26, the county unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction.
    The moratorium covers unincorporated areas of Le Sueur County. Cities within the county can still make their own decisions.
    “If a city wants to have a data center, we don’t have any control over that at all,” Commissioner David Preisler said. “If they want to, they’re not affected by this ordinance. They’ve got their own planning and zoning.”

Outstanding weather, great events, huge crowds highlight weekend festival

Thousands of bullheads (12,000+) were served, the rain and clouds stayed away for most of the weekend, the temperatures were warm but not bad, queens were crowned, the food stands were outstanding, and fun was had by all.

The 2026 Waterville Bullhead Days Celebration held June 5 through June 7, which is in its 61st-year.

One of the highlight events of the weekend was the Friday night crowning of Miss Waterville and Junior Miss Waterville.

WEM Partners in Education (PIE) took on an exciting new project this year - a Fun Run for the elementary students and a Color Run for the middle school students! Due to weather, both events were held on the last day of school, Wednesday, May 27.

WEM PIE members, Lisa Cofield, Katy Montgomery, Patty Salmon and Rhiannon Swanson along with...

To see more on this story pick up the June 11, 2026 print edition of the LifeEnterprise. 

Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason has released fraud statistics for the 2025 calendar year.

Sheriff Mason said there were 105 referrals for 2025 and 75 cases with discrepancies. They had eight types of fraud reported, with household composition leading the list with 35 in custody (closure of cases), 28 cases of household composition, 22 cases of unreported income, and 13 residence cases.

The 61st Annual Waterville Bullhead Days Celebration will begin with the coronation of Miss Waterville 2026 on Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. in the Waterville Fire Hall. Admission is five dollars for this 69th Miss Waterville and Junior Miss Pageant.

Miss Waterville 2025 Kayla Bronk and her attendants Abby Crosby, Alenka Jans, and Jaelyn Wilmes will preside over their last pageant.

For more than six decades, the second full weekend in June is dedicated to the annual Waterville Bullhead Days celebration. This year is the earliest the event can be held, with dates set for Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7.

There are two new events being featured on Saturday. They include the Barney 5K Fun Walk/Run and Paradise City Wrestling.

For years there had been a fun run and bike race. This is being brought back this year as only a 5K run/walk.

For decades, the Waterville Lions Club has been a huge sponsor and supporter of not only Bullhead Days but many clubs, organizations, and individuals through hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

In appreciation for their work and dedication to the community and to the annual yearly celebration, the Waterville Lions were bestowed the honor of 2026 Bullhead Days Grand Marshals.

The Waterville Bullhead Days Committee listed a number of reasons why the Lions Club were selected as grand marshals.

The City of Morristown will be holding the 41st annual Morristown Dam Days celebration starting Wednesday, May 27 and running through Sunday, May 31.

The first event of the weekend was the Miss Morristown and Little Miss Pageant, which was held Wednesday, May 27.

When Dennis and Iny Schmidtke received the call they were selected as the 2026 Morristown Dam Days Grand Marshals they were shocked and honored.

“We are thrilled to death to be honored,” Dennis said. “We are overwhelmed and were not expecting this. Both of us find it easier to give things than to receive them.”

Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville have scheduled Memorial Day Ceremonies for Monday, May 25, 2026.

Elysian Ceremony The Elysian American Legion Post 311 Honor Guard will start with stops at Greenland Cemetery (7 a.m.), German Lake Cemetery (7:20 a.m.), St. Peter (Bell) cemetery (7:55 a.m.), Cannonville Cemetery (8:20 a.m.), and the Waterville Veterans Memorial (8:45 a.m.). The Elysian Ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Elysian Veterans Memorial at Sunset Park.