Bruce James Schwartz, age 70, of Morristown, died at his home in the early morning hours of Friday, April 3, 2026. 

    The Le Sueur County Officials meeting at the American Bar & Grill in Montgomery on Wednesday, March 25, was host to two state nonprofit representatives that assist smaller governments — Cap O’Rourke and Maddie Cash.
    Cap O’Rourke is the executive director for the Minnesota Association of Small Cities (MAOSC), which is a nonprofit that exclusively serves cities of a population of 5,000 or less, and is also the owner of O’Rourke Strategic Consulting.

WEM senior Jacob Androli was named a finalist for the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award.

Androli, the son of Dennis and Rachel Androli, was one of only 15 student/athletes who played football to receive Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention Awards. WEM head football coach Sam Stier nominated Androli for this prestigious award which has been available for nearly 20 years.

We are so blessed to have the bars and restaurants we have in this area.

Whether it be a Legion Club, a bar which serves very little food, or a full fledged restaurant, the Lake Region Area has some of the best places to eat and drink in the state.

What I find interesting is in this area and throughout Minnesota we embrace the title of Dive Bar.

There is a very popular show which highlights such establishments — Diners, DriveIns, and Dives.

So what constitutes being a dive bar?

Eight Grizzly wrestlers competed in the NYWA State Tournaments this past weekend in Rochester and three returned with top five finishes.

Second graders Ryatt Melchert, Rhett Melchert, and Maddox Knish each reached the podium in their respective weight classes.

Knish placed second in the 1st-2nd grade 61-pound weight class. Rhett Melchert placed fourth in the 1st-2nd grade 75-pound weight class. Ryatt Melchert placed fifth in the 1st-2nd grade 80-pound weight class.

NexGen Home Services received Waterville Chamber’s “Good News Megaphone” in February. Not only is the Chamber celebrating their relocation to Waterville but also their industry state award.

With 10 returning letterwinners the WEM softball team will be looking to improve in both the Gopher Conference and Section this spring.

Under 12th year head coach Crystal Lamont (135-98 overall record) the Bucs were 3-7 in a very good Gopher Conference and 7-10 overall.

Last year the conference had three teams which placed in the top three at State.

With All-Gopher Conference senior Robynn Schwichtenberg (catcher) and junior Alix Velzke (pitcher) the Bucs return two of the best players in the league.

Currently from Leesburg, FL, Richard “Dick” Jerome Wandersee died Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Advent Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born October 4, 1937, in Redwood Falls, MN, to Walter and Frances (Unzeitig) Wandersee. He was the sixth of seven children.

A law that was on the books in Minnesota since 1942 was repealed by the Minnesota State Legislature for 2026.

Minnesota Statute 97B.318, which stated “During the regular firearms season in the shotgun use area, only legal shotguns loaded with single-slug shotgun shells, legal muzzle-loading long guns, and legal handguns may be used for taking deer. Legal shotguns include those with rifled barrels,” was effectively repealed as of Jan. 1, 2026.

    A law that was on the books in Minnesota since 1942 was repealed by the Minnesota State Legislature for 2026. 
    Minnesota Statute 97B.318, which stated “During the regular firearms season in the shotgun use area, only legal shotguns loaded with single-slug shotgun shells, legal muzzle-loading long guns, and legal handguns may be used for taking deer. Legal shotguns include those with rifled barrels,” was effectively repealed as of Jan. 1, 2026. 

Condon, Velzke win WEM Girls Basketball MVP Awards

WEM senior Addison Condon and junior Alix Velzke received top honors during the WEM Girls Basketball Recognition Banquet Thursday, March 19.

Condon was named the Offensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight season. She scored 681 points, averaging 26.2 points per game, a school record for points and average.

Velzke received the Defensive Player of the Year Award. She had 108 rebounds, 64 deflections, and 48 steals in 26 games played.

The JWP/WEM boys track and field team placed second Saturday, March 21 in the Gopher Conference Indoor Championship held at MSU-Mankato.

The Bulldogs, who entered into a co-op this spring between JWP and WEM, finished with 77 points to finish behind Triton with 114 points. Following in descending order were NRHEG (70), United South Central/Alden-Conger (68), Kenyon-Wanamingo/Goodhue (54), Hayfield (42), and Medford (30).

Winning the 4 x 800-meter relay in 9:46 were the quartet of Teagan Mulder, Wesley Heinz, Wyatt Jans, and Brennan Welvaert.

The 7th Annual Hoot Lanes Jr. League Scholarship Tournament was held on Sunday, March 21, 2026 and this one was bigger than ever.

This tournament is limited to bowlers that bowl in the Hoot Lanes Jr. League. 34 bowlers participated in the tournament which is the most in the seven-year history.

The event was another enormous success. The tourney awarded $12,000 in scholarships for the tournament which is also the most money ever donated.

There was also a $300 random draw by the Bowl4Life Scholarship Foundation and the winner of this scholarship was Mason Waugh.

Thomas “Tom” Henry Christensen, age 88, of Janesville passed away surrounded by family on Monday, March 23, 2026 at Lakeshore Rehabilitation Center in Waseca.

Eloise Emily (Pierson) Zellmer, 89, of rural Waterville, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Born January 6, 1937, at home in rural Lewisville to Nels and Anne (Sanders) Pierson, Eloise was raised on a farm near Butterfield, where she developed a deep love for family, faith, and hard work. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Butterfield, choosing Philippians 4:13 as her guiding verse. She graduated from Butterfield High School in 1954 and attended Mankato State University.

Six Grizzlies finish their wrestling careers

Six WEM/JWP Grizzly wrestlers finished their careers at the end of February and one of those was named this year’s Most Valuable Wrestler.

Brady Murphy was named the Most Valuable Wrestler after finishing an outstanding career which saw him finish in the top 10 in many Grizzly school records lists.

Murphy, along with Zach Quast, Charles Adams, Devin Cowdin, Spencer Nordstrom, and Kayle Langford were seniors this winter who will be hanging up their wrestling singlets.