In August, Molter’s Fresh Market announced that it would be ceasing business in Montgomery and would be out of the building by the end of Sept. 30, making it the second time the town was faced with having no grocery store. It was just a year prior that Mackenthun’s Fine Foods pulled their grocery business out of town.
People were surprised that the doors to Molters were already locked and with carts of free items outside the doors on Thursday, Sept. 26, which was a few days earlier than stated that they would close. Many were left wondering the future of the location.

The Rice & Steele 911 Center, the emergency communications center serving Rice and Steele counties, has implemented Spark, an online reporting tool designed to streamline the process of reporting non-emergency incidents.
This tool enables residents to easily and securely report issues such as thefts, vandalism, parking complaints and other non-urgent matters directly through their website.

A resolution to execute a Quit Claim was approved by the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners during their regular meeting on Aug. 26. The land in question is the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds.
The approval to take action on the parcels was first approved at the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 6.
The resolution transfers ownership of the fairgrounds from Le Sueur County to the Le Sueur County Fair Association.

Less than 12 hours after their season opening football victory over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, members of the WEM football team provided some much needed community service to a Waterville resident in need.
Charlotte Hager has been experiencing a health issue and because of her health, she could no longer live in her apartment alone. She needed to be moved to an assisted living facility.
When this was determined, Hager knew she needed some help moving her belongings from her current apartment in Waterville to Traditions in Waterville, which was only a couple of blocks away.

Extreme heat and humidity will preside over the area today and an excessive heat warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Chanhassen until 8 p.m. this evening. Severe storms are also possible late this afternoon into this evening.
The following locations have been designated by Rice County Emergency Management & Rice County Public Health as community cooling shelters during extreme heat events.
Please contact the facility regarding hours of operation.
• Faribault Community Center
o 15 Division St W, Faribault, MN 55021
o 507-334-2064

Tyler Fellows won the grand prize of 2025 100 Polaris Ranger which was purchased at LaCanne’s Marine during the Kilkenny Fire Department ATV Raffle last week.
There were 136 vehicles registered and 260 people who attended the event.
More than three dozen prizes were included in this raffle. The winners are as follows:
Jake Powers won $500 donated from Ti-Zack Concrete, Inc.
Tom Hermel won $500 donated from the Toy Box Saloon.
Karissa Judd won a $555 Faribault Harley Davison Gift Pack.

The Waterville Area Fisheries Office staff has been recognized with a couple of awards for excellence.
The Minnesota Commissioner’s Awards provide an opportunity to honor and celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of DNR employees across all disciplines and all areas of the state.
Winning the Team Award were the Waterville Area Fisheries Office, State Fish Hatchery, and Waterville Research Unit Staff Brandon Eder, Tyler Fellows, Tanya Hankins, Nicholas Heseltine, Dale Logsdon, Nancy Morris, Peter Muggli, Andrew Scholten, Steve Shroyer, and Sky Wigen.

This year is the 32nd year of Ahlman's Shooter's Round Up, one of the nation's top events for outdoor and gun enthusiasts.
This year's two-day event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25 on the Ahlman's Gun Shop site north of Morristown.
The Round-Up is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. There is an admission fee for this event, which is billed as the Greatest Shooting Show on Earth.
The Round Up started in 1992 as S & W Days then gun manufacturers Colt and Browning joined in and others weren’t far behind.

Beyond the hard work that those exhibiting animals have put in, fair foods and beverages, amusement rides, live music, and other events, the Le Sueur County Free Fair is also host to — drum roll please — the Ag Olympics!
The University of Minnesota Le Sueur County 4-H’ers pack in a fun time on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. in the show arena at the fair hosting the Ag Olympics. Events will include wheelbarrow races, feed sack relays, egg tosses, bobbing for corn, roping, and hog calling.

New Prague resident Phyllis Smith has been selected the Outstanding Senior Citizen in Le Sueur County.
Smith will be recognized at the Le Sueur County Fair during the Senior Citizens/Farm Family of the Year Program on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m.
The individual that nominated Smith said this about the former elementary school secretary:

Waterville has SBA Recovery Center available
The City of Waterville now has a Business Recovery Center courtesy of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).
According to the SBA, low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses and residents in Minnesota following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to severe storms and flooding that occurred June 16 through July 4, 2024.

The annual Kilkenny Fire Department ATV Ride, which will be held Saturday, August 10, will feature a little different course this year.
Due to a change in the Le Sueur County ATV ordinance, the vehicles will not be allowed to ride in the ditches this year and will be traveling on the highways to their three destinations.
This is the eighth year the Kilkenny Fire Department has been in charge of the event. The ATV Run was started by the Kilkenny Park Committee 13 years ago. That first year approximately 200 vehicles were involved.

Eagan resident Myles Knutson was introduced Monday, July 22 as the newest WEM Middle School Principal during the Board’s regular July meeting.
Knutson has more than a decade of experience in the field of education, most recently as the Differentiation Specialist at Prior Lake-Savage School District.

Cassie Eldeen had a busy first day in her new position as City Clerk and Treasurer for the City of Morristown. July 1 was also the same day of the City Council’s monthly meeting. This gave Eldeen a chance to be introduced to the greater community by Mayor Tony Lindahl.
“This is her first day, so don’t beat her up,” Mayor Lindahl joked with the crowd “Be nice to her.”
Eldeen is no stranger to the Morristown offices. Her grandmother, Virginia Schmidtke, held the same position for 34 years.

The office of the Le Sueur County election administrator announces that absentee ballots are now available to the public for the August 13 primary election. Individuals may vote in person at the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at the Le Sueur County Government Center, 88 S Park Ave, Le Center, MN 56057, or fill out an absentee ballot application on-line, or mail in a request for an absentee ballot to Le Sueur County Elections, 88 South Park Ave, Le Center MN 56057, and a ballot will be mailed to them.

As the water recedes and residents take a closer look at the damage caused by last week’s record-breaking flood, Waterville residents know they have a long road ahead of them.
The City of Waterville, Le Sueur County, and President Joe Biden have declared a State of Emergency for the community.
This is the start of the recovery process and these declarations will help residents receive state and federal funding.
Residents are asked to document any damage which will make the process easier when it comes to securing funds.