Lonsdale City Council gave approval to seek bids to construct a flat cement pad to install the skate park equipment purchased from the City of Shakopee for $905.98 last summer. The skate park will reside just east of the pavilion in Sticha Park and is expected to open up by mid-summer.

Junior members of the Montgomery American Legion Auxiliary Unit #79 (ALA), Izzi Kotek and Nevaeh Persing, crafted Valentine’s Day cards for 11 local veterans in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Auxiliary member Colleen Pavek delivered some of the cards to veterans at The Harbor and Golden Years Home. Auxiliary members Mary Jane Grundhoffer and Connie Shriver delivered the rest of the Valentine’s Day cards to veterans at Traditions of Montgomery and Park Manor Apartments.

The Montgomery Historical Society (MHS) continued its mission of collecting, preserving, and disseminating area history at its annual meeting held on January 25 at Hilltop Hall. President Jim Mladek called the meeting to order and reviewed the society’s activity over the past year and what members can expect in 2023.

Most Holy Redeemer School (MHRS) exceeded their $1,500 fundraising goal for the Kids Heart Challenge and had their best year so far. The students raised $1,840.83 for the American Heart Association. The largest amount previously raised was $1,583 in 2017.

Snow week kicked off Feb. 9 with announcing of the Snow Court candidates. Candidates were introduced with their partners and then tested with trivia about each other. Both candidates had to answer the same as their partners.
Monday was coronation in the performing arts center at TCU High School. Marco Reyes was crowned Snow King and Makayla Marek was crowned Snow Queen. The Snow Court also performed a dance for the public and students... Pick up the Feb. 16 edition of the Montgomery Messenger to read further. Subscribe at MontgomeryMNNews.com.

Montgomery Police Department took possession of a new squad car earlier this month. The department has three squads in their fleet. The police facility will have some room for expansion in regard to their fleet, as it is capable of holding four squad cars.
Construction on the building is fairly far along now, with the layout of the inside taking shape. Drywall is installed and mudded. The windows, ceiling, and the heating and cooling systems have not been installed yet. The exterior ground work and building work will happen in the spring.

Montgomery’s 2022 Masopust King Austin Testerman will be passing on his title this Sunday when a new king will be crowned during the 2023 Masopust celebration.
The Tri-City United High School senior is proud to have represented the community for the last year—and he had a lot of fun doing it.
“My year has been fun with a lot of new experiences, coming out of my shell, and being able to represent my community,” stated Testerman. “My favorite memory was definitely Kolackys Days. Throwing freezes was a blast.”

The New Prague Fire Department was called to a fire in pole shed/garage in Heidelberg, southwest of New Prague, at 3:49 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. The structure, belonging to the Crystal and Kevin Zvanovec family, was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. About three vehicles and tools were lost in the fire. A nearby ice fishing house also caught on fire. None of the family was injured. A cause of the fire was unknown.

The Rice County Historical Society Museum will now be open, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., starting on Monday, January 30, 2023. The museum is located at 1814 2nd Ave. NW, Faribault. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are appreciated.
Additional summer Saturday hours will be announced later this spring.
If you have any questions regarding the museum or the Rice County Historical Society, please call the RCHS Museum at 332-2121.

After a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, January 28 at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery, mourners for Officer Gordon Prochaska gathered outside for a law enforcement salute. Attending were personnel from Le Sueur County Sheriff's Department, Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery Ambulance and Fire Departments. Prochaska, 71, passed away at his residence in Florence, Arizona, on Saturday, January 7, from complications of contracting COVID-19. Gordon, affectionately known as “Gordy” by many, was a part-time Montgomery police officer for 33 years.

Montgomery National Golf Club Owner Greg McKush wants his golf course and clubhouse to be more than just about golf. The log cabin and event center, which is under construction, will aim to do that.
“We want to be the place you enjoy spending time with family and friends,” McKush said on Saturday.

She earned the local honor, then the district honor.
Now, Christine Trcka holds the state honor.
Trcka is an educator at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School (MHRS) in Montgomery, has been named the Minnesota VFW’s 2022 Middle School Teacher of the Year for her dedication to promoting civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism in the classroom.

Todd Novak, owner of Todd’s NAPA Auto Part’s in Montgomery, was surprised with the NAPA/ASE Part’s Specialist Award of the Year Award at the end of 2022. It is NAPA’s highest award nationally for parts specialists.
In the week leading up to New Year’s Day, employees around him started cleaning up the store nicely. Novak thought it was because they usually have a little something appreciative for them on New Year’s day. He said he thought, “It’s just a little party. That seems like an awful lot for that.”

Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School 8th grader Maximus Budin, son of Mike and Angie Budin, 8th grader Allison Rynda, daughter of Dan and Michelle Rynda, and 6th grader Arianna Devine, daughter of Bob and Sharon Devine, claimed the top three spots in their school’s spelling bee on Jan. 30. Budin won the competition and will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee. Pictured (left to right): Budin, Rynda, and Devine.

The Friends of the Montgomery Public Library will be hosting Everything Chocolate and More event on Friday, February 10, 2023, at Next Chapter Winery from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The fundraising event will include a sampling of various chocolates and other taste-bud pleasing snacks, plus a silent auction and a raffle.
Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Posy Floral, Herrmann Drug or the Montgomery Public Library. Tickets at the door will be $25 each. Each admission ticket includes two drink tickets. Everyone over 21 is welcome to attend.

Gordon Prochaska, age 71, passed away at his residence in Florence, Arizona, on Saturday, January 7, from complications of contracting COVID-19.
Off-duty Montgomery Police Chief Nathan Hintz, Sergeant Pete Bulger, and Officer Mike Longbehn escorted Officer Gordon Prochaska’s body home to Montgomery from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Jan. 17.