Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths (TZD) is the state’s cornerstone traffic safety program, employing an interdisciplinary approach to reducing traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths on Minnesota roads.
The Le Sueur County group was working with the WEM School District and oth-er school districts in the county before prom. Last week they were in Cleveland and at WEM.
There were four demonstrations which the students went through. The stations included distracted driving, a seat belt convincer, impaired driving, and drunk goggle judgement.

Harriet D. Guentzel, 97, of Rockford, Illinois, formerly of DeKalb and Sycamore, passed away April 10, 2022 in Rockford. She was born in 1924 on the family farm in Waseca County, Minnesota, the daughter of Fred and Esther. She married Otto “Jack” Guentzel in 1947, in Mankato, Minnesota. Harriet and Jack were pen pals during WWII when Jack was a B-17 crew member in the Army Air Corps, stationed in England. They didn’t meet until after the war ended.

Mary Jane (Clemons) Hrdlicka Braziel of Sun City, AZ passed away on April 4, 2022 after a 5-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mary is survived by her daughter Heidi (Eric) Friese of Peoria, AZ and her son Scott Hrdlicka of Rome, NY; grandchildren Meagan Friese, Matthew Friese (Haley) with one great-grandchild on the way; and Alex Hrdlicka. She is survived by her brother, Gary Clemons (Karen) of Cleveland, MN and her step-niece & nephew Heidi Jo Wells and Eddie Engelby. Her husband, Tony, step-niece Carrie Youngerberg and her nephew Joshua Clemons pre-deceased her.

Alvin Martin Coon, age 77, of Elysian passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on April 9, 2022.
Born on August 31, 1944, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The son of Thomas and Ellen (Nikl) Coon. He attended Waseca and Waterville public schools. Al furthered his education at Mankato VoTec, graduating in 1969 with a machinist and tool and die degree. On June 15, 1968, he was united in marriage to Doris Cummins at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Elysian. Born to them were four sons: Jason, Jeffrey, Nathan, and Joseph.

WEM Little Bucs Preschool, formerly called Kindergarten Connection, is expanding its services this year.
Last year, and many years prior, the preschool classes operated with three classes which were two and one half hours for a half day. Two of the classes were three days each for half a day. The other class was a two-day class designed for younger students.
Because the school district had limited space for the 3, 4 and 5-yearolds, there was only room for a certain amount of students and class days/ times.

Jacob Hill averaged 207 pins in four games to claim the Waterville Bowler of the Hill Tournament title last weekend in Waterville.
Hill, who averages 188, rolled games of 190, 208 and 246 in the opening round. He faced Bob Waugh in the step-ladder championship and defeated Waugh, 194-169, which includes handicap added to their scores.
Finishing third was Dustin Schumann who rolled games of 222, 175, 157 in his opening round and was edged by Waugh, 202-192, in the third place match.
Placing fourth was...

Six members of the Waterville-Elysian- Morristown High School Speech Team will advance to the Sections Speech Tournament after earning high placements at the March 29 Sub-Section competition.
The team placed 5th out of nine teams at Sub-Sections.

After finishing the 2021 season with seventh place finish in the Gopher Conference Meet, the WEM boys track and field team will return a number of athletes who should help them improve their placing in the conference.
The Bucs scored 49 points in last year’s conference meet, but finished only eight points out of fifth place. First-year head coach Jon McDonough feels his team has a good chance to improve on that mark.

Stephen (Steve) Jon Preston, born February 19th, 1939 to Wilbur Arthur and Sarah Hazel (Buchanan) Preston in Marshall County, Iowa, died peacefully with his family by his side on March 30th, 2022 at Colony Court Assisted Living in Waseca, MN from his 2nd fight with lung cancer.

MARTHA “JANE” THOMAS, age 70 of Waterville, passed away at Traditions of Waterville on the morning of Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

Nancy Joan Lee, age 82, of Duluth formerly of Waterville, died on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth.

Our Beautiful and Charismatic Tony, age 37 of Waterville and formerly of Hampton, Minnesota, blessed us with his presence on August 3, 1984, and went to be with our Lord on March 26, 2022.  It was with heavy hearts to see brain cancer take him too soon, but we rejoice knowing he is home in heaven.

The Waterville Fire Department was called to a fire at The Funky Munkey restaurant in Waterville early Saturday morning, March 26. According to a firefighter at the scene, the call was made at approximately 3 a.m.
People in the nearby apartments were evacuated.
Elysian Fire, Madison Lake Fire, Morristown Fire, Waseca Fire, Janesville Fire, Faribault Fire, Le Center Fire, Kilkenny Fire, and New Richland Fire were called to assist and helped extinguish the fire.
There have been no reports of injury.

Terrie Lee King, age 74, of Waterville, died on Monday, March 21, 2022 at All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee.

The 3rd Annual Hoot Lanes Youth Scholarship Tournament was held Sunday, March 20, with 16 local youth bowlers competing for scholarships and a tournament title.
Every bowler who participated received at least a $25 scholarship. Scholarship dollars locally totaled $1,650. Another $1,000 was donated by Chuck Gardner’s Bowl- 4life Scholarship Foundation.

Raymond D. Becker, age 83, of Minnesota Lake, MN died Thursday March 17, 2022 at MCHS in Mankato, MN. A public visitation will be held Thursday March 24, 2022 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells, MN (789 Business Park Drive Wells, MN). Funeral Services will be held Friday, March 25, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Peace United Church of Christ in Minnesota Lake, MN. Please join the family for a visitation and fellowship (meal) starting at 12:30 p.m. at church. Burial will be in Peace Cemetery in Minnesota Lake, MN with Rev. Brian Fragodt officiating.