Tri-City United High School students once again introduced Hispanic heritage to younger students at TCU Le Center PreK-8 School on Friday, Oct. 24, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The theme this year revolved around vaqueros (cowboys) with interactive opportunities. TCU Cultural Coordinator Mary Lou Velásquez said, “Kids learned how to line dance to a popular song played at many fiestas, ‘Payaso de Rodeo.’ They also had a chance to learn how to lasso a bull, draw butterflies, learn about popular candies and dance folklore.”

Tri-City United Schools FFA chapter will be out again trick-or-treating to collect non-perishable goods for local food shelves again this Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31. Teams from the chapter will be visiting all three towns in the school district -- Le Center, Lonsdale, and Montgomery. 

Residents are encouraged to gather items from their pantries in preparation for them Halloween late afternoon and early evening. 

Once items are collected, they will be centralized at the high school and divided up accordingly to be distributed in our communities.

Before you know it, the Christmas holiday season will be here. The 2025 Torchlight Parade & Fireworks button contest winner is here to remind us of that.

Soleil Neshek, 9, a student in Brenda Petersen’s 4th grade class at Tri-City United PreK-6 School in Lonsdale, was announced the winner this Monday. She is the fourth student to win the button contest from Petersen’s class of the 13 total contests that have been held.

The button contest was open to all 4th grade students within the TCU School District, including home-schooled individuals.

Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) held a Business and Retention Engagement Conversation at the Montgomery Police Department on Monday.

Business owners and leaders of the community were treated to lunch and participated in open conversation about the climate of business within the city of Montgomery.

Tri-City United Boys Soccer Team is hoping for further advancement Tuesday, Oct. 21, 5:30 p.m., in the Minnesota State High School League's Boys Soccer Class A State Tournament. The quarterfinal game is being held at the Shakopee West Middle School's Vaughan Field, 200 10th Avenue East.

Spectators should park on the east side of the stadium, entering along Spencer Street South, and enter at the main entrance to the field on the north side. Additional parking will be available in the middle school's parking lot directly to the north. 

It was an action-packed, pleasant week for Tri-City United Schools homecoming week.

Festivities were kicked off Monday with coronation and the start of daily themed dress-up days. Wednesday was a flip of the sports with boys playing a volleyball game and the girls playing the powderpuff football game.

Two big wins have propelled the Tri-City United (TCU) boys soccer team into the Section 2A Championship match.

The Titans (14-5-0) will play St. Peter (9-6-3) for the third time this season on Thursday, Oct. 16, at Austin for the right to advance to the Class A State Tournament.

TCU is 2-0 this season against the Saints, winning 3-2 in September and 5-0 in October.

The Titans advanced to the Championship after defeating Butterfield-Odin United, 12-1, Thursday, Oct. 9 and defeated No. 4 seed Albert Lea, 4-2, Saturday, Oct. 11.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport measured two temperature records this past weekend, both on Saturday, Oct. 4. An all-time monthly record for highest low temperature was measured of 72 degrees from an observation history of 152 years.

Later in the day, it reached 91 degrees, which is the fourth time that has ever happened in the month of October. It was also the second hottest temperature recorded, second to Oct. 1, 2023, with a temperature of 92 degrees.

Students from around the greater area flocked to Tri-City United PreK-8 School’s back yard last Friday afternoon for the Montgomery Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization’s Ninja Warrior Family Night fundraiser.

This year featured a new, more ‘ninja-like’ course feature that had hanging rings, climbing wall, ladder hang, platforms, rope climbing, and foot course by Ninja Anywhere. There was also an inflatable course adjacent to it.

It’s been a couple of weeks now since Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) announced it would be closing a number of clinics in southern Minnesota, including here in Montgomery. Come Dec. 10, what will many people do?

I feel the answer to that question is whatever they are FORCED to do, not what is better for them.

When tragedy strikes close to home, it leaves a mark that, hopefully, never fades. The recent shooting at Annunciation Church and School has shaken Minnesotans to our core. Parents, teachers, neighbors, and all of us are asking the same question: how do we make sure something like this never happens again?

  Gov. Walz and many Democrats in the legislature have been quick to use this tragedy to focus on what kinds of guns should be banned and what new gun ownerships restrictions can be put in place. 

Early Sunday morning, a group of around 40 gathered at the Montgomery Sawmill to tour some classic structures.

The group consisted of members of Friends of Minnesota Barns (FMB). The nonprofit organization raises awareness about the loss of historic barns. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, an average of 1,300 historic barns are demolished each year in the state.

“We visit old, historic barns,” said Kathy McCann, FMB co-chair. “Most people in our group grew up on farms, or currently have barns, or just love barns.”

Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School exceeded their expectations again for their annual marathon fundraiser. The kids brought in $32,868.42 and will also receive a $25,000 matching grant from Bob Washa. See the full story in the Oct. 9, 2025, Montgomery Messenger! 

Only six total Tri-City United (TCU) runners competed in the New Prague Cross Country Invitational Thursday, Sept. 25 at Cedar Lake Farm.

The top runner on the day was senior Grant Fitterer who placed 11th in 18:09 in the boys race.

Sophomore Gabriel Coryell placed 32nd in 19:32. Freshman Graysen Moon placed 37th in 20:32. Eighth grader Patrick Duchene placed 41st in 21:03.

New Prague High School 1967 graduate and United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Dave Bruzek is being recognized in the Montgomery American Legion Post 79’s Thank A Living Vet display through Nov. 23.

Bruzek enlisted in the U.S. Air Force months before he graduated on his 18th birthday in March.

Meals on Wheels (MOW) in Montgomery is currently short on delivery drivers. MOW provides seniors and other groups of people with free or affordable and nutritious meals Monday through Friday each week.

Site Coordinator Mary Ross said, “The time commitment is one-and-a-half hours once or twice a month.” Beyond that, it is also a point of social contact for many people who have limited mobility.

If you have ever considered volunteering as a MOW delivery driver, now is the time. Contact Mary Ross at 507-479-1925 to inquire about volunteering.