Sophomore pitcher Trista Hering pitched a perfect game Friday, May 4, defeating Mankato Loyola/St. Clair, 10-0 in five innings. Haring faced only 14 batters and struck out 13 in the victory. WEM is 6-2 overall after falling 11-3 to NRHEG and Faribault BA, 6-5. The Bucs did defeat Blooming Prairie, 11-1 in six innings, Monday, May 7. For more on the four-game week check out the May 10 edition of the LIFE/Enterprise.

A two-vehicle accident in Eagle Lake Saturday evening, May 5, injured three.

A 2012 Ford Fusion driven by 32-year-old Amber Atherton of Waterville, and a 2010 Ford F-150 driven by Matthew Anderson, 42, of Clear Lake, IA, were involved in the crash at approximately 7:45 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 14 and 598th Ave near Casey's General Store.

More than three dozen couples attended the 2018 WEM Junior/Senior Prom in Waterville Saturday, May 5. The Grand march was held in Waterville followed by dinner and dancing at the Owatonna Country Club. More than 70 students also attended the Post Prom Party at The Village in Waterville.

Elizabeth Alice (Currer) Wolf, age 100 of Faribault, MN passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at her home at Milestone Senior Living.

John Norbert Wilcox, age 73, of Centerville, Massachusetts, passed away on May 2, 2018.  John was born on February 7, 1945 to Irene and Norbert “Bud” Wilcox in Faribault, Minnesota. He grew up in Elysian, Minnesota and worked with his dad and brother Allan Wilcox in the family newspapers in Elysian and Waterville. After graduating from Mankato State University, John continued his newspaper career working for the Mankato Free Press.

The WEM baseball team is currently 6-0 after a pair of doubleheader sweeps this week. Tuesday the Bucs defeated NRHEG 17-1 in five innings and 12-3 in three innings in New Richland. The Bucs downed Faribault BA Thursday in Faribault by scores of 11-4 and 9-8 in five innings. Tyson Miska hit a walk-off bases loaded double in the bottom of the fifth of the second game with the Cardinals to give the Bucs the winning runs. WEM will host Blooming Prairie Monday in a doubleheader and play at Le Sueur-Henderson Tuesday.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School’s Fine Arts Department presented another crowd-wowing performance last weekend, April 27 thru 29, with the third annual WEM STOCK. The theme for this year’s student-led production was “Shock Me All Night Long” and kept audience members entertained by spotlighting students’ vocal and instrumental talents. Choreographed dancing, artistic backdrops, and technical lighting added a nice polish to the show.
Pick up a copy of the May 3, 2018, Life or Enterprise for more photos.

Parenthood conundrum
I’m hesitant to write this.
Parents are judged at every turn—every decision.
And, I’m a parent. I’m mom to two young ladies, Anna (8.5) and Ellen (6), who enjoy playing outside with the kids in our neighborhood and exploring.
They climb trees, fish, build forts in old woodpiles, campout in the backyard, and try to catch little critters.
They get dirty, sometimes injured, have touched poison ivy, and have wiped out on their bicycles.

O'Leary's Service Station, which stood at the corner at First Street North and Sakatah Boulevard in Waterville for more than 90 years, was demolished Monday, April 30. The station has not been operated since late December 2018 / early January 2018 when John "Johnny" O'Leary retired, and the iconic building was considered dilapidated. The property owners plan to use the land to create two pads for campers.

Jon E. Broadbent, age 73 of Stapleton, passed away Friday, April 27, 2018 at Great Plains Health in North Platte. He was born May 13, 1944 in Waseca, MN to Earl George and Luella May (Schnoor) Broadbent. He graduated from High School in Minnesota and later served in the United States Navy and served as a Naval Chief. Jon also served in school administration at Red Cloud, Loup City, Venango, Wauneta, Maxwell, and most recently in Stapleton.

Ardis D. Kabes, age 87, of Waterville, died on Monday, April 23, 2018 at Janesville Nursing Home.  Graveside services will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Morristown on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 10 a.m. with the Reverend David Mumme officiating. Arrangements are being completed by the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault.
 

Arlene Beverly Houlihan of Decorah, Iowa, died peacefully at the Aase Haugen Senior Services on March 30, 2018. She was 86 years old. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2018 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Phil Gibbs officiating. Burial was in St. Benedict Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation begian at 9 a.m.

Delbert M. Velzke, age 85, of Owatonna, passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 surrounded by his family at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis. Funeral services will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morristown on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Travis J. Loeslie officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Morristown with military rites provided by the American Legion Post #149, Morristown. Visitation will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morristown on Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The WEM softball team has started their 2018 season with three straight wins over Gopher Conference opponents. Friday, April 20 they defeated Blooming Prairie, 7-1, in seven innings and NRHEG, 3-1, in five innings at the Austin Westcott LifeEnterprise Sports Complex Dome. Tuesday, April 24 the Bucs downed United South Central, 15-5 in five in Waterville. WEM trailed 5-4 heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning when they exploded for 11 runs to end the game by the 10-run rule.

The small service station at the corner of First Street North and Sakatah Boulevard in Waterville is slated for demolition.
Locals refer to it simply as O'Leary's.
The place is as iconic as its manager, 98-year-old John "Johnny" O'Leary, who operated the station for almost 80 years, up until winter 2018 when his body no longer allowed him to work at the station.

Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School junior Sarah Best, daughter of Dave and Cherie Best, earned first place in the Original Oratory division at the Class A Speech Tournament in Apple Valley on Saturday, April 21.
Senior Buccaneer Elijah Bass, son of Angela Sweetland, also competed in the State tourney and finished 12th in Extemporaneous Reading.
Pick up a copy of the April 26, 2018, Life or Enterprise to learn more.