In my inaugural column for this newspaper, I teased the time I snuck into a presidential event as “a story for another time.” As it was an Independence Day event, the time to tell that story has arrived.
It was 2005. I was married in May, and moved to Morgantown, W.Va., so my wife, Traci, could finish her degree at West Virginia University (WVU).
I didn’t have trouble finding work. I was already four years into my newspaper career, and I got my job in the city simply going in and asking if they needed help.

Remember to check for road closures and detours due to recent area flooding.
July 4 • Lakeville — Fireworks in King Park at 10 p.m. • Mankato — Red, Hot & Boom! at Riverfront Park with festivities start at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
• Montgomery - Music in the Park in Memorial Park at 6 p.m. with Loose Gravel — rock, country and folk music. No fireworks.

Crews will begin work on Highway 282 projects on July 8 that will result in narrow lanes and two separate road closures, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
At 7 a.m. Monday, July 8, crews begin replacing a retaining wall with an earthen slope along Highway 282 in downtown Jordan. Crews working on the project, between Highway 21 and East Street, require a temporary narrowing of Highway 282 lanes. Workers plan to continue the project from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until July 30.

Marion J. Tuma, age 93, died on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Villages of Lonsdale.  Marion Julia (Koldin) Tuma was born April 7, 1931, on the family farm in Rice County, Minnesota to Joseph J. and Mary Ann (Pesta) Koldin.  She was baptized, and received her first Communion and Confirmation at Immaculate Conception Church in Lonsdale.  She attended District 46 Country School, and Parochial School in Lonsdale.  On May 17, 1949, she married Francis A.

The office of the Le Sueur County election administrator announces that absentee ballots are now available to the public for the August 13 primary election. Individuals may vote in person at the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at the Le Sueur County Government Center, 88 S Park Ave, Le Center, MN 56057, or fill out an absentee ballot application on-line, or mail in a request for an absentee ballot to Le Sueur County Elections, 88 South Park Ave, Le Center MN 56057, and a ballot will be mailed to them.

A seventh-inning home run broke a 3-3 tie and allowed Elko to top its crosstown rival, the New Market Muskies, 7-3, Friday evening, June 21, at Fredrickson Field.
The Express jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning only to have the Muskies tie the game in the third.
Elko retook the lead in the third, 3-2, in the home half of the third frame. New Market rallied with a run in the sixth inning to even the score at 3-apiece.

New Prague and other area communities will observe the July 4th holiday in many ways, celebrations including fireworks, parades, music and boat parades.
New Prague The evening of Wednesday, July 3, will be the New Prague Fireworks Show. Events will be held east of the New Prague Middle School, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be Kona Ice, Dawgs on the Run, face painting and free massages. The national anthem will be sung by Linda Fahrenkamp with the fireworks beginning 10:10 p.m.

A Level 3 Sex Offender has moved to Montgomery, and, as required by Minnesota Statute 244.052, the Montgomery Police Department is releasing information regarding the individual, a Level 3 registrant subject to public notification. He is living in the vicinity of Elm Avenue Southwest and 4th Street Southwest as of June 21. This individual has served the sentence imposed on him by the court, and is transitioning within the community. A Community Notification meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, July 1, at the TCU High School Gymnasium, 700 4th St NW.

The Tri-City United High School Trapshooting state tournament team, after securing second place at the 7A section finals in Alexandria, faired a little less than favorable at Friday’s Minnesota State High School State Trapshooting Tournament in Credit River.

The Tri-City United High School Trapshooting state tournament team, after securing second place at the 7A section finals in Alexandria, faired a little less than favorable at Friday’s Minnesota State High School State Trapshooting Tournament in Credit River.

Kenneth “Ken/Kenny” Kimmet, age 74, of Le Center, died on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at the Estates of Roseville in Roseville. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 2 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 3 at 11 a.m. at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Heidelberg with visitation one hour prior at the Church. Interment will be held in St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Heidelberg. Military honors will be provided by the Montgomery Area Veteran Honor Guard.

Le Sueur County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday, June 25, declaring the county in a state of emergency for conditions resulting from the flooding events beginning on June 17.

Harriett Helen Soukup, age 96, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2024, at Mala Strana Care Facility in New Prague. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 27 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. with prayer service at 11 a.m. all held at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Interment will be held in Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery.

Memorial Park was once again host to this year’s Kolacky Days Meet and Greet. It was a chance to meet the candidates, some of the volunteers that put on the annual celebration in July, and find out and meet the 2024 grand marshals.
On a steamy but rain-free evening of Monday, July 24, members of the Montgomery Area Community Club handed out free kolackys, cookies and water, while Scott Smisek played his concertina. Shortly thereafter, the reigning Kolacky royalty spoke, followed by each of the seven candidates for this year — who were presented with their Little Sisters.

Richard “Rich” George Vargo, age 77, of Montgomery, died on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee.  Visitation was held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 9:00 to 11:00 with funeral at 11:00 with Pastor Jason Pollington officiating, all at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery. Interment was in at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Montgomery.