MISSING PERSON ALERT: The Prior Lake Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing teen. Keira Dupey, age 13, is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 100 pounds and has black/brown hair and brown eyes. Dupey was last seen on May 25 leaving a facility in Prior Lake with Kari Steele, who is also a missing person. Dupey may have traveled to St. Paul or the surrounding suburbs.
For more than half a century, the second full weekend in June is dedicated to the annual Waterville Bullhead Days celebration.
There are a number of new events this year and some of the regular events have been super-sized for the June 9 thru 11 festival.
One of the newer events is the Borderline Pulling Series Tractor Pull. This will be held Saturday, June 10 at noon directly south of the city/county shop. There will be five different classes and possibly some local pullers involved. They put on a great show last year in their first appearance at Bullhead Days.
For years, almost 20, Richard and Wanda Morsching have spent the second weekend in June running the Waterville Bullhead Days Bullhead Stand.
Approximately 20 years before they took over this beloved portion of the Waterville celebration, they first met at Bullhead Days when Richard was serving beverages in the beer garden.
“I met my soulmate at Bullhead Days,” Wanda said. “Richard was bartending at the beer garden when I saw him. Jeff Stangler was going to wait on me but I said I wanted him (Richard).”
The teaching contracts of 12 non-tenured teachers and two tenured teachers were approved by the WEM Board of Education during their Monday, May 22 meeting.
Tenured teachers receiving contracts were Carrie Brown and Samuel Gavin.
Non tenured teachers receiving contracts for 2023- 2024 included Max Haakonson, Bridget Reuvers-Slinger, Haley Schaaf, Britta Robran, Alyssa Schmidtke, Amber Karels, Madysson Dufault, Kelci Halvorson, Andi O’Neil, Mary Ann Eich, Tyson Cooley, and Skyler Petry.
In other WEM Board of Education business:
Over the last week, the contractor has been able to complete the water main installation on the first phase of the project, and by the time this information reaches you the storm sewer will also be completely installed for the first phase.
Once construction resumes this week, they will focus on connecting a handful of water services. The only remaining work will be to construct the new road base before concrete curb and bituminous paving.
Rice County officials are continuing to respond to a fire at the county’s landfill solid waste facility at East 145th Street in rural Dundas. The fire began in the landfill portion of the solid waste facility shortly after it closed for the evening on Monday, May 22.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but with assistance from state and local agencies, work is ongoing to mitigate any and all issues within the county’s control.
Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville have scheduled Memorial Day Ceremonies for Monday, May 29.
Elysian Ceremony
The Elysian Ceremony will start with stops at Greenland Cemetery (7 a.m.), German Lake Cemetery (7:20 a.m.), St. Peter (Bell) Cemetery (7:55 a.m.). Cannonville Cemetery (8:20 a.m.), and the Waterville Veterans Memorial (8:45 a.m.). Due to road construction, the Memorial Day Program in Elysian will be held at Sunset Park starting at 9:30 a.m.
Waterville Ceremony
Elysian, Kilkenny, Morristown, and Waterville have scheduled Memorial Day Ceremonies for Monday, May 29.
The Elysian Ceremony will start with stops at Greenland Cemetery (7 a.m.), German Lake Cemetery (7:20 a.m.), St. Peter (Bell) Cemetery (7:55 a.m.). Cannonville Cemetery (8:20 a.m.), and the Waterville Veterans Memorial (8:45 a.m.). Due to road construction, the Memorial Day Program in Elysian will be held at Sunset Park starting at 9:30 a.m.
#1 – LIBRARY BOOK SALE – sponsored by Waterville Friends of the Library with Proceeds in Support of Waterville Library. Wide Assortment of Fiction, Non-Fiction and Children’s Books (All in Excellent Condition); New for 2023 – Puzzles, Puzzles, Puzzles. Saturday, May 20 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., 503 Marian St., Waterville (Langerud’s Garage). Freewill donation for all items.
*** UPDATE 4/26/23 *** The Carver County Sheriff's Office confirms that contact has occurred with Casey. No further assistance from the public is needed in looking for him. The Carver County Sheriff's Office thanks everyone for their assistance in assisting in looking for Casey. Out of privacy for Casey and his family no further information will be provided.***
The search for a new Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Superintendent will begin after Ryan Jensen submitted his resignation, effective the end of June. Jensen was hired in 2022 to a three-year contract. He informed the WEM Board of Education of his decision last week.
Jensen, who lives in Princeton, has spent the past six years away from his family during the weeks while holding the position of Principal at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley for a number of years and the position of Superintendent this school year.
Approximately one month shy of her 102nd birthday, long-time Lake Region Life and Elysian Enterprise newspaper icon Bernadine Hildebrant passed away Thursday, April 13.
For more than 50 years Hildebrant worked for the local newspapers and was affectionately known as “Gramma Bernie” by many of those she wrote about or photographed during her career.
Yesterday, Thursday, March 13, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has closed Highway 93 from Henderson to Highway 169 due to flooding.
Traffic is detoured to Highway 19 until the water recedes.
The roadway will reopen when water has receded, and crews are able to make any necessary repairs.
When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.
The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office reports a team of searchers looking for signs of Shawn Michael Mooring found a body presumed to be Mooring this morning, Friday, April, 14, in the cattails and trees along the southeastern shoreline of the Silver Lake in Cleveland Township.
Two days following the regular April city council meeting, Waterville Mayor Daryl Bauer submitted his resignation. The newly elected mayor’s resignation was effective Thursday, April 6.
The Morristown Commercial Club will be hosting their annual Easter Egg Scramble Saturday, April 8.
The event will start at 11 a.m. at the Morristown Community Center. Students in pre-school through 4th grade are invited to attend. The Easter Bunny is scheduled to make a visit.