Spectators at Activities, Athletics, Clubs, Youth LifeEnterprise Sports and School Events
Sporting events are high risk for COVID-19 transmission, and are further high risk for activities that promote airborne particles of COVID-19. The following applies to all indoor sports, concerts, plays, competitions, performances and any other similar events that have spectators. This guidance is specific to the events that will take place in a school building or facility where instruction takes place and include the following parameters:
Capacity Requirements

Funeral service for Dr. Clark Francis Seha was held July 27, 2020 at the Stiftskirche, in Bielefeld Germany. Dr. Seha died on July 11, in Bielefeld where he served as Pastor of the Bodelschwingh congregation and the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer community.

In an announcement Tuesday on the Montgomery Torchlight Parade and Firework's social media page, organizers stated the Holidazzle-like event will be canceled in 2020. They said it is due to "the pandemic restrictions by our state government."
"We would like to thank everyone for your support of this event. Unfortunately after careful consideration due to the pandemic restrictions by our state government we have no choice but to cancel the parade and fireworks for 2020" the post stated.

Gregory Allen Umlauf, age 65 died peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, October 4, 2020 in Elysian.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School has been notified of a positive COVID-19 case within the student body. The administration has worked closely with Le Sueur County Public Health along with the Regional COVID-19 Support Team to make adjustments and changes. Those directly affected have been notified and provided guidance.

The “Fall Colors Cruise” rolls out of Henderson the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 3. Approximately 200 classic vehicles were participating in the 70 mile cruise that traveled through St. Thomas, Le Center, around Le Sueur County lakes to the Ottawa Road into Le Sueur and back to Henderson. The Henderson Classic Car Roll-In Committee hosted the cruise. Donations were also taken for the local food shelf that collected an estimated couple hundred pounds of food. For more seen upcoming issues of The New Prague Times, the Montgomery Messenger. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The remainder of the Minnesota State High School League’s (MSHSL) activities calendar came into view Thursday, Oct. 1 during the Board of Directors meeting.
  After a presentation by the League’s Return to Participation Task Force, the Board of Directors approved a maximized winter activities season that trims 30 percent of the contest dates. By keeping the length of seasons generally intact, member schools will have the flexibility for rescheduling if contests are postponed because of COVID-19 related outbreaks or other interruptions.

For the first time in nearly a month, the WEM/JWP cross country teams were a full squad. Due to distance learning at JWP, WEM runners had been competing by themselves.
The full team competed Monday, Sept. 28 at Prairie Ridge Golf Course against NRHEG and RACE, a private school in Rochester.
The girls’ team finished second to RACE, scoring 40 points to 27 for the Jaguars. NRHEG did not field a complete team of five runners. Lauren Dimler placed third (22:38), Emma Johnson fourth (22:43), and Kwynn Krause sixth (23:25).

Some of Sakatah Cemetery’s oldest grave makers have been repaired, thanks to generous donors
Twenty-two dilapidated grave markers in Waterville’s Sakatah Cemetery were repaired over the summer months.
A few of the refurbished monuments date back to the 1800s. Almost all of them are located in the cemetery’s oldest, southern section.

The Office of the Le Sueur County Election Administrator announced on Friday that absentee ballots are now available to the public for the General Election (November 3, 2020).
Voters are strongly encouraged to apply online for an absentee ballot.
Online absentee ballot applications are currently available on the Minnesota Secretary of State website or Le Sueur County website.

Mary Elizabeth Smith, age 80 of Waseca, passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at Lakeshore Inn in Waseca.

Teacher. Talker. Tinkerer. Veteran. Reader. Dancer. Fermenter. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Uncle.
Kenneth Lee Schmitt, 87, of Mankato, Minn., died peacefully the morning of Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Mankato. After his daughters, who spent the night by his side, stepped out for a bite to eat, he slipped away in the presence of caregivers. He always liked an audience.

Delores “Dee” Balfe, 82, of Waterville, died on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Canice Catholic Church in Kilkenny. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Kilkenny.

Delores “Dee” Balfe, 82, of Waterville, died on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Canice Catholic Church in Kilkenny. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Kilkenny.

Berneda “Neda” (Thompson) Becker, age 91, of Elysian, formerly Minnesota Lake, MN, died Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at the Mapleton Community Home. Funeral Services will be private with family. Public visitation will be Wednesday, September 23, 2020 from 4-7 PM at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, MN. Interment will be in Danville Township Cemetery, rural Blue Earth Co., MN. Face masks must be worn and social distancing will be observed at the funeral home. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.brussheitner.com

On Monday, the Minnesota State High School League board of directors voted to reinstate both the fall football and volleyball seasons this fall.
The decisions came after the league surveyed nearly 400 member schools, most of which wanted to have the seasons played out in the fall rather than a spring “flex season.”
Last month, the league postponed the football and volleyball seasons to spring due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The league reconsidered the decision after hearing from athletes and families.