Most Holy Redeemer fourth grader Max Budin, son of Mike and Angie Budin, won Montgomery's 2018 Torchlight Parade Button Design Contest. Torchlight committee members Neaner Kriha and Lynn Heinzig made the announcement Thursday morning, Oct. 4. Budin's winning design features a North Pole sign and snow. According to Kriha, this design will be used as the theme of this year's parade float. Budin won a pizza party for his class and will be invited to ride on the Torchlight Parade float.
Learn more in the Oct. 11 print edition.

Wear, tear and years of water leaks from the bell tower and deteriorating mortar in parts of St. John Lutheran Church have forced its congregation to take action.
On September 12, the church’s congregation unanimously approved a proposal for the Building Restoration Corporation out of Roseville to visually inspect the tower’s exterior to determine the exact causes for the church’s leaks.

For the second year in a row Lonsdale’s city tax rate is staying the same.
At the Lonsdale City Council meeting held on September 29, the council approved a resolution setting the 2019 preliminary city budget and property tax levy.
“We’re pretty much at the same levy as we were in 2017,” said Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson.
Despite the property tax rate, which is set at 17.64 percent, the same as in 2018, this does not mean residents will not see a change in their city portion of their tax rate.

Tri-City United High School kicked off Homecoming Week festivities Monday with the coronation of its Homecoming King and Queen. Ben Krohn, son of Scott and Kelle Krohn, was crowned King. Olivia Schoenbauer, daughter of Greg and Sheila Schoenbauer, was crowned Queen. For more, see the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

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People lined up all day for the annual Holy Redeemer Fall Festival chicken and ham dinner. The family event was held on Sunday, Sept. 30 in the school and church. In addition to the dinner, the crowd was entertained by live music, bingo, a silent auction, raffle, kids games and more. For more, see the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists that Highway 19 from Henderson to Highway 169 has a high probability of closing on Tuesday, September 25 with the current river forecast.
It is unknown at this time whether Highway 93 from Henderson to Highway 169 will need to be closed. MnDOT crews will do what they can to keep traffic safe and moving.
Highway 93 closed on Friday due to flooding from the Rush River, but crews were able to open the roadway on Sunday.

A lasting honor for the memory of a man who dedicated his life to teaching and coaching is now permanent at the football field in Le Center.
 
A bench in the honor of the late Fred Schmiesing was dedicated on Monday at the west end of the Le Center Middle School football field. Schmiesing spent his life teaching and coaching youth, with the past several years on the field with his son, John, and the TCU seventh and eighth grade Titans.
 
The bench was installed a day after the five-month anniversary of Fred’s passing.
 
Read more in the print edition.

A detour will be going into effect at the intersection of New Prague’s Main Street (Highway 19) and Union Pacific Railroad’s crossings beginning next week. While the sign says it will be Monday, Oct. 1, a press release from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) says the detour begins Wednesday, Oct. 3, as crews will be working to replace two railroad crossings for the Union Pacific Railroad located between Highway 21 and Third Avenue Northwest.

At a Pep Fest on Friday, Sept. 21, Tri-City United High School announced this year’s candidates for Homecoming Week.

As officials continue to assess the damages throughout Rice County, they are encountering a significant amount traffic congestion due to high volumes of on lookers in the damaged areas. In a press release to area news outlets, they would like people to stay away from the areas.
 

The case against Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) will get a green light or a red light in October after a Le Sueur County judge clarified matters on Monday, Sept. 17.
 
In court were Ray Konz, attorney for LCHS, and Kevin Wetherille, attorney for the 16 plaintiffs. The attorneys discussed the proceedings thus far and made several requests of Judge Mark Vandelist.
 

Don’t let her looks or her gender fool you. Dressed in football pads with a fierce determination, Anastasia “Ana” Stasney is out to win on the gridiron. 
 
According to veteran coaches, Stasney is the first female to play football for Tri-City United School and the previous Montgomery-Lonsdale School District.
 
Ana’s introduction to football started when her brothers Tadd, 23, and Jayden, 20 played the sport. Even then, she thought it was rather boring - until she started to play it. 
 

The students and staff of Tri-City United Elementary and Middle School remembered the horrific events of September 11, 2001 at the event's 17th anniversary on Tuesday. The students and staff held a memorial ceremony by gathering around the school’s flag pole outside where Principal Deb Dwyer read a short poem written by a seventh grade student after the event. Everyone finished by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Photo provided by TCU Schools)

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A Le Center woman reached an incredible milestone on Saturday.
 
Surrounded by family, friends, and local well-wishers, Crystal Krenik celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, Sept. 8.
 
The lifelong Le Center native was born a hundred years ago in a little house west of Le Center to Ben and Amelia Sautter. At a young age, her family moved to a farm east of Le Center where her family lived with her grandfather. Today, part of the farm site is now the Traxler Hunting Preserve. 
 

The popularity of a car show, craft booths, good food and weather with a good cause led to another successful Community Day at Heidelberg on Sunday.
 

Whether it was the luck of the Irish or event coordinator Janice Sneller's prayers for good weather, Mother Nature smiles on the Irish in Kilkenny on Saturday, September 8 during the city's Halfway to St. Patty's Celebration. A large crowd flocked to the community to enjoy a day full of music, good food, a parade, a car show, and shamrock-filled fun.
Pick up a copy of the September 13, 2018, print edition for more information and photos.