Montgomery and area merchants are offering prizes to the first Montgomery baby born in 2019. To qualify as the New Year’s Baby, the baby must be born after 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2019, to parents who have a Montgomery mailing address in the 56069 zip code.
Due to privacy laws, hospitals are unable to share personal information about a baby’s birth. If you feel your baby is the New Year’s Baby, contact the Montgomery Messenger within 24 hours of the baby’s birth.

The mind of a brilliant teenager with autism is the focus of this year’s TCU One Act, “The Other Room.”
The play revolves around Austin, (Andrick Wagner) a brilliant teenage astronomer who happens to have autism. Lily (Carolyn Mikel) is his popular classmate who happens to have an interest in astronomy. When a chance encounter after school leads to a growing connection between them, Austin's imagination, intelligence, and constant struggles to connect with the world are revealed in the form of four characters representing his inner life.

Le Sueur County Judge Mark Vandelist sent a strong message to the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) and its membership on January 3 when he rejected the society’s request to split the fees for the retired judge overseeing the case.
Vandelist stated the disputes within the organization are only hurting it, and if the membership and Board of Directors want to deplete the society’s resources by continuing their contentious disputes, there is little doubt their actions may have an adverse financial effect.

On Sunday Jan. 13 at approximately 9:30 p.m. the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office received information that a threat directed at the Cleveland Public School had been posted on a social media group chat site.
According to Sheriff Brett Mason, Le Sueur County Deputies investigated the matter immediately obtaining a copy of the group chat where references to shooting and stabbing up the school were made.

UPDATED at 2 p.m. 1-14-19
Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn announced the name of the victim in the death investigation. He identified that it was David Amundson, 44, of New Prague, who was found in a field near his vehicle on January 13, 2019, at 30th Street West and Halstad Avenue in Wheatland Township.
UPDATED at 3:45 pm. 1-13-19

Third District Le Sueur County Commissioner John King of Le Sueur was named the chairman of the Le Sueur County Board Tuesday, Jan. 8.
First District Commissioner David Gliszinski of New Prague, was named the vice chair during the board's first meeting of 2019.
The Le Sueur County Montgomery Messanger News was named the county's legal newspaper.
The Lake Region Life was named the county's 2nd legal newspaper.
Newly elected officials were also sworn in by Judge Mark Vandelist.

Bright stars, colorful glow sticks, and a few flashlights illuminated the paths for snowshoers in Richter Woods County Park Saturday night, January 5. There was just enough snow in the rural Montgomery park to make the first-time event possible.
More than forty people participated in the free Moonlight Snowshoeing event, which was sponsored by Le Sueur County Parks, Ney Nature Center, and TCU Community Education.

The 2019 fee schedule in Lonsdale has been set and it does not include an increase to the water and sewer fees.
Every year the city council makes adjustments to the fee schedule and sets the schedule at its first meeting of the new year. On Thursday, the council did just that, making 15 adjustments.
Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson said that the reason for making these adjustments is to recoup costs incurred by the city, not to make a profit on the items.
In particular, the cost for fingerprints for non-residents is doubling in price.

An early morning accident on Highway 13, just south of Highway 99, sent two people to the hospital Tuesday, January 8.
An unidentified 16-year-old male was driving a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country minivan southbound on Highway 13 and made a left turn into a driveway and collided with a northbound 2015 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jeffrey Frodl, 45, of Waterville. The crash occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m.
Montgomery Fire and Le Sueur Sheriff’s Offices responded to the scene.

An investigation into Frontier Communications has shown that the company has failed to provide adequate or reliable service, according to Minnesota Commerce Department.
The investigative report was filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Friday, January 4, 2019.

The Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant is looking for young women of Czech, Slovak or Moravian heritage to compete for the state title. The 30th annual Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant will be held on April 13, 2019, at the American Legion Club in Montgomery, Minnesota. 

When it comes to successfully balancing school activities, athletics, and academics, seniors Keeley Oak and Sam Barnack are pros.
Tri-City United recognized the two students by nominating them for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) AAA Award that recognizes and honors high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the fine arts.

A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of County Roads 3 and 28 sent one of the vehicles in the ditch and people to hospitals on December 31.
According to Fire Chief Ken Pavek, the Montgomery Fire and Ambulance Departments were paged to the scene at approximately 7:10 a.m. The accident included two vehicles, one that landed on its side in the ditch north of County Road 28, while the other remained on the road.
Pavek said North Memorial Air was called to the scene.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved the final pay 2019 levy in the amount of $20,716,550, a 6.9 percent increase over the 2018 levy. This levy was approved during an early evening meeting Tuesday, Dec. 18. For more information on the levy check out the Dec. 27 edition of the Life/Enterprise.

Merry Christmas to the Sembauers!
Jack Sembauer, 14, and his mom, Wendy Sembauer of Montgomery, found the 2018 Torchlight Parade and Fireworks medallion on the north side of the fire hall on a piece of wood under a downspout. 
"I think it was the third clue that led us there. It said something about being between Fifth Street and the highway," Jack said of their Saturday, December 15 search. "We were only there looking for five or ten minutes before I found it." 

The Lonsdale City Council approved to slightly reduce the city’s tax rate in 2019 on Thursday night.
“The focus was to keep the tax levy the same,” said Mayor Tim Rud at the Lonsdale City Council meeting.
As such, the tax levy portion of next year’s budget was approved for $2,070,000. It will increase the city’s tax revenue by $206,600.