Morristown City Council’s monthly meeting on Sept. 2 was only 22 minutes long, but the groundwork was set for future meetings.

As required by law in the month of September, the preliminary levy was set for next year’s budget. The total for Morristown is $717,434.

The amount represents a 6% increase from the previous year. The amount of the increase is not official until the final budget is voted on in December.

Before that, a Truth in Taxation hearing will be held. The council set the public hearing for Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at 402 Division St. S. in Morristown.

Sheriff Brett V.P. Mason of Le Sueur County announced last week the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2025.

Sheriff Mason announced that the MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to 18 - $2,000 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 elected Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota.

It was a warm start to the Halfway to St. Paddy's Day celebration in Kilkenny on Saturday, Sept. 13 -- the first of the two-day event. 

Vendors were present all day with food, beverages, and merchandise, as well as there being live music and entertainment throughout the day. The parade was a favorite for kids, young and old. The day will finish off with the "World Famous Toilet Bowl Races," Power Wheels Kids Drag Races, and a fireworks at dusk.

The unveiling of “Jon Bakken Field" in Waterville took place Friday, Sept. 5 before the WEM football game against Lewiston-Altura.

`Family, friends, and fans of football were in attendance to see the naming of the Waterville football field after long-time Buccaneer football coach and educator Jon Bakken.

It will be a fun-filled weekend in Kilkenny Sept. 13 and 14.

The annual Half-Way to St. Paddy’s Day Celebration is in its 13th year and third as a two-day event.

The events start Saturday, Sept. 13 with a Shamwalk 5K Fun Run/Walk at 9 a.m. There will be prizes for the first place finisher 13 and younger and 14 and older. There will also be a prize for the male and female with the most Irish spirit.

Also starting at 9 a.m. are the flea market and food vendors.

Despite the threat of storms over the weekend, the rain mostly held back until after-hours of the Le Sueur County Free Fair.

The 168th annual event took place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 14-17.

The forecast called for storms each day, but the worst of the rain came in the early hours of Saturday and well after the fair closed Sunday night. Both times, Le Center saw up to an inch of rainfall.

A half-inch of rain fell in the afternoon Friday, but had cleared as the events for the day moved into gear.

After replacing a superintendent, the WEM Board of Education will now have to find a replacement for a school principal.

After seven years at WEM, K-4 and 9-12 Principal Dr. Jennifer Wilson submitted her resignation from the school district in a letter dated August 11, 2025. Her last day will be August 22.

The following is the letter presented to Superintendent Mark Winter and School Board Chairman Gary Michael:

Kilkenny’s annual Fireman’s Relief Association ATV Ride and Raffle on Saturday, Aug. 9, brought in a total of 200 riders on 94 allterrain and utility vehicles.

This year’s route took them from Lakefront Bar & Grill in Lexington on Clear Lake, The Bait Bucket in Cleveland, the city of Elysian, and ended at the Toy Box Saloon in Kilkenny, where the raffle drawing was conducted at 6 p.m.

The 2025 Le Sueur County Fair begins Thursday, August 14 at the fairgrounds in Le Center and runs through Sunday, August 18.

Events are scheduled through the weekend at one of the state’s oldest county fairs.

After along battle with cancer, Elysian Mayor Thomas McBroom passed away Friday, August 8 at his home.

After being diagnosed, McBroom continued to work for the residents of Elysian as their mayor. He was tirelessly trying to improve the city he has lived in for the past two decades.

Following the July regular Elysian City Council meeting, McBroom drew up a letter which he was to present to the general public, announcing his resignation as mayor. Unfortunately he was unable to present the letter, but his family wanted to make sure it was read. Here it is:

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved renewing telecommuting and remote agreements with county employees at the board’s Aug. 5 meeting.

However, the agreements were only renewed through the end of the year.

“Unlike previous annual approvals, I’m requesting approval through the end of 2025,” Human Resource Director Theresa Kubes told the commissioners. “We’re working to make updates to our policy with a January 2026 effective date.”

As the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the group looks to the future of preserving local history.

Part of the preservation is in the Elysian School project, which is moving on to its second phase this year.

“We’re right on schedule,” reported Dr. Ruth Collins, LCHS board member.

The school building has been part of the LCHS for much of the group’s history. It was obtained in 1967 and converted into a museum. In 1969, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This is why we started these discussions six months early – so we could have more discussions,” Morristown City Administrator Ellen Judd said as further debate began about cutting hours of law enforcement patrols in the city.

The topic was on the agenda at the city council’s July 7 regular meeting. It was first discussed at their May meeting, then again in June.

The sheriff’s office is currently contracted to patrol Morristown for 40 hours per week. Mayor Tim Flaten had expressed displeasure with the quality of patrols in Morristown compared to how it was in years past.

Le Sueur County’s 32nd Annual Relay for Life filled the buildings of the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds Friday, July 11.

The four-hour event brought in $58,000 in funds for the American Cancer Society (ASC). The nonprofit is the largest funder of cancer research grants in the United States, other than the federal government.

The amount raised was the total as of Monday morning. According to Co-Chair person Amy Sellner, more money is still coming in from the event.

“We raised more than $20,000 over our goal,” Sellner said.

Outstanding weather, great events, huge crowds highlight weekend festival
Thousands of bullheads (13,000+) were served, the rain and clouds stayed away, the temperatures were perfect, queens were crowned, the carnival returned, and fun was had by all.
The 2025 Waterville Bullhead Days Celebration held June 6 through June 8, was considered by many as one of the best in the 60-year history of the festival.
One of the highlight events of the weekend was the Friday night crowning of Miss Waterville and Junior Miss Waterville.

2024 was once again a rough year for the City of Waterville due to the record-breaking flooding with ravaged the community.
But thanks to the efforts of many people, the community was kept safe and the city continued to operate.
Among those who had their hands in the stabilization of the city were Waterville city employees, city council, firefighters, police officers, and many, many volunteers.