Montgomery was well represented at Le Center’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 13.
Kolacky Days royalty (left to right) Miss Congeniality Rachel Way, Second Princess Nikaija Young, First Princess Marissa Gare, and Kolacky Queen Rachel Rynda.

James Myles Filipek passed away on March 16, 2021, at the age of 80, in his home.  His battle with cancer in recent years showed his courage in facing life challenges with a smile. Despite the pain, Jim came out a hero and stayed strong until the end.

Four-year-old Rosa Eileen Ruiz (above) opened a lemonade stand in Le Center on Saturday, March 13, during the community’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The little entrepreneur sold glasses of pink lemonade from her colorful stand for 50 cents each. Of course, all orders came with a big, adorable smile.

Evelyn Trcka, age 102 of Shieldsville passed away peacefully on Thursday March 4, 2021 at Pleasant Manor in Faribault. Visitation will be held Monday, March 22, 2021 from 3 – 7 pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Shieldsville and will continue Tuesday morning 9:30 – 11 am. Mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 11 am with Fr. Thomas Niehaus officiating. Interment will be held in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Shieldsville.

On Saturday, March 6, TCU held its second and last weightlifting meet of the year at TCU High School with ten athletes competing.
Coach Andrew Meier said ...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 11, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Fred Lawrence Washa, age 86, of Fort Worth, Texas passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2021. He was born on January 26, 1935 to Fred H. Washa and Bessie C. (Rynda) Washa. Fred graduated from Montgomery High School. After high school, Fred served in the United States Air Force and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

The 2021 Kolacky Days button design has been announced!
A regal design submitted by Sarah Dolejs of Apple Valley claimed the most votes and will be featured on this year’s Kolacky Days button.
The Montgomery Area Community Club (MACC) made the announcement during a drive-by Annual Membership Drive at Franke’s Bakery on Saturday, March 6.
A total of 10...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 11, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

The Public Works Advisory Board is planning to recondition the city’s water tower next year in a process that will take approximately five months.
The board heard the details during its monthly meeting on Thursday, March 4. Shane Oksanen, Public Utilities Supervisor, and Chris Cavett of SEH, said work on the 500,000-gallon tank is expected to begin...
To see more on this story, pick up the March 11, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Daylight saving time has returned, prompting many to celebrate with an eye toward warmer temps and the change of seasons. As if on cue, this is a great time as well to celebrate newspapers and the sunshine they deliver to all of our lives and communities.
Reminding citizens and public officials about the public’s right of access to government information is the focus of “Sunshine Week: It’s Your Right to Know,” March 14-20. At its foundation, Sunshine Week underscores preserving the free flow of information for an open, effective and accountable government.

The Rice County Sheriff’s Office is asking everyone to be alert to a new scam hitting our area.  This is another form of mail fraud where you receive mail asking you to pay a fine for a traffic violation.  The latest scam states that you were caught on a DOT camera for a traffic violation.  The State of Minnesota does not currently allow photograph traffic enforcement, excluding body cameras or mobile vehicle cameras that are fixed to an officer or a squad car.    

Beverly Theresa Rutt passed away at Mayo Hospital in Arizona on February 27, 22021.
She was born in New Prague, MN to Frank and Mary Rutt on April 5, 1939.  Beverly graduated from Montgomery, MN High School in 1957, attended the School of Business in Minneapolis, MN and moved to Hawaii for three years. Beverly has resided in Scottsdale, AZ since 1968 working for the US Airforce and US Post Office in Arizona until retirement.

The end of the rainbow will be found in Le Center on March 12 and 13 when the community hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.
According to posts on its social media page, the celebration will be held - with adjustments from the global pandemic and requirements put in place by the state.
The celebration’s Queen Candidate Talent Show will be held on Saturday, March 6 at the Le Center American Legion Post 108 by invitation only. It will begin at 3 p.m.

Rich spices, authentic tortillas, tempting treats, unique beverages, and fresh Latino foods are available at Montgomery’s newest business, Colima Market.
The market, which is located at 208B 1st Street North, is owned by Gaylord residents Saul Cardenas and his son, Eric. Their family members are currently helping them run the store, which opened December 20, 2020.

The Le Sueur County Historical Society has remained busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The society recently finished repairs of the old Cleveland Methodist Church, which currently houses many of the society’s artifacts.
In late fall, the large, overgrown lilac hedge on the building’s west side was removed to give better visibility to the building’s exterior in an attempt to deter people from breaking in. According to LCHS, several breaches have occurred at the church in recent years, but none of the artifacts appear to have been taken or damaged.

Starting March 10, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Coborn’s, Inc., will begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine).  
  “The entire Coborn’s team is honored to be on the leading edge of providing the COVID vaccine to members of our communities,” said Jason Miller, Pharmacy Clinical Program Manager. “We strongly recommend that EVERYONE receive the COVID-19 vaccine when they are eligible to receive it.”

After more than two months in the hospital, a redtailed hawk has a new lease on life at its home at Eggert Lake in rural Montgomery.
The bird, labelled 20-882, returned to familiar skies and hunting grounds on Tuesday, Feb. 23 after being cared for at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. Its recovery and rehabilitation was thanks to local resident, Bob Krocak, who found the bird sitting on a fencepost on December 2, 2020.