A public hearing has been scheduled to finalize the closing of the WEM Middle School School building in Morristown.

This hearing, which will be held Tuesday, October 14 in the WEM Auditorium in Waterville at 6:30 p.m., needs to be held according to State Statute Section 123B.51, subdivision 5.

Alenka Jans and Kaden James were crowned WEM Homecoming Queen and King Friday afternoon during the WEM pepfest held in the WEM High School Gymnasium in Waterville on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. 

Halfway through the eight game regular high school football season, the WEM Buccaneers are among only eight teams still undefeated in Class AA.

The Buccaneers rolled to a 51-14 win over Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Friday, Sept. 19 behind more than 500 yards rushing.

The Associated Press rated the Buccaneers the 10th best Class A team last week on Wednesday, Sept. 17. WEM should move up at least two places following week four games. The two teams just above the Bucs in the rankings, redwood Valley and Osakis, both lost Friday night.

Although conditions were dry for Kilkenny’s Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day celebration Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14, it was a hot one out there. Temperatures both days were in the mid-80’s and dew points in the upper 60’s to low 70’s made it a little uncomfortable for physical activity, such as their self-proclaimed “World Famous Toilet Bowl Race” on Saturday afternoon.

The much anticipated 2025 WEM Homecoming Week begins Monday, September 29 and will run through October 4.

Four queen and four king candidates have been chosen and they will be crowned Friday, Oct. 3 during the afternoon coronation in Waterville.

Queen candidates include Addison Condon, daughter of Scott and Pam Condon, Morgan Flohaug, daughter of Trevor Flohaug, Alenka Jans, daughter of Andy and Anne Jans, and Clare Landrum, daughter of Ryan and Katie Landrum.

Seven individuals applied, six individuals were interviewed, and one individual was named to the Elysian City Council during the regular September 8 meeting.

A vacancy on the council was declared August 11, 2025. following the death of Mayor Thomas McBroom, Sr. Council member Dennis Schnoor was appointed mayor, which left a council spot open.

Steve Hoppe was chosen among the six interviewed to fill in the fourth city council position.

In his post on Facebook, Sean McCaslin simply started by saying,” Feeling grateful” with an emoji following a fire which destroyed property at Lakeview Resort at approximately 9:54 p.m.Tuesday, Sept. 9.

McCaslin said he was in one of his two bedrooms at his residence at the campground when he heard an explosion. An individual at the campground saw the initial fire and called 911 and within minutes the Waterville Fire Department was at the scene.

Morristown City Council’s monthly meeting on Sept. 2 was only 22 minutes long, but the groundwork was set for future meetings.

As required by law in the month of September, the preliminary levy was set for next year’s budget. The total for Morristown is $717,434.

The amount represents a 6% increase from the previous year. The amount of the increase is not official until the final budget is voted on in December.

Before that, a Truth in Taxation hearing will be held. The council set the public hearing for Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at 402 Division St. S. in Morristown.

Sheriff Brett V.P. Mason of Le Sueur County announced last week the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2025.

Sheriff Mason announced that the MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to 18 - $2,000 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 elected Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota.

It was a warm start to the Halfway to St. Paddy's Day celebration in Kilkenny on Saturday, Sept. 13 -- the first of the two-day event. 

Vendors were present all day with food, beverages, and merchandise, as well as there being live music and entertainment throughout the day. The parade was a favorite for kids, young and old. The day will finish off with the "World Famous Toilet Bowl Races," Power Wheels Kids Drag Races, and a fireworks at dusk.

The unveiling of “Jon Bakken Field" in Waterville took place Friday, Sept. 5 before the WEM football game against Lewiston-Altura.

`Family, friends, and fans of football were in attendance to see the naming of the Waterville football field after long-time Buccaneer football coach and educator Jon Bakken.

It will be a fun-filled weekend in Kilkenny Sept. 13 and 14.

The annual Half-Way to St. Paddy’s Day Celebration is in its 13th year and third as a two-day event.

The events start Saturday, Sept. 13 with a Shamwalk 5K Fun Run/Walk at 9 a.m. There will be prizes for the first place finisher 13 and younger and 14 and older. There will also be a prize for the male and female with the most Irish spirit.

Also starting at 9 a.m. are the flea market and food vendors.

Despite the threat of storms over the weekend, the rain mostly held back until after-hours of the Le Sueur County Free Fair.

The 168th annual event took place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 14-17.

The forecast called for storms each day, but the worst of the rain came in the early hours of Saturday and well after the fair closed Sunday night. Both times, Le Center saw up to an inch of rainfall.

A half-inch of rain fell in the afternoon Friday, but had cleared as the events for the day moved into gear.

After replacing a superintendent, the WEM Board of Education will now have to find a replacement for a school principal.

After seven years at WEM, K-4 and 9-12 Principal Dr. Jennifer Wilson submitted her resignation from the school district in a letter dated August 11, 2025. Her last day will be August 22.

The following is the letter presented to Superintendent Mark Winter and School Board Chairman Gary Michael:

Kilkenny’s annual Fireman’s Relief Association ATV Ride and Raffle on Saturday, Aug. 9, brought in a total of 200 riders on 94 allterrain and utility vehicles.

This year’s route took them from Lakefront Bar & Grill in Lexington on Clear Lake, The Bait Bucket in Cleveland, the city of Elysian, and ended at the Toy Box Saloon in Kilkenny, where the raffle drawing was conducted at 6 p.m.