Members of the Montgomery Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Committee will be judging holiday light displays at area residences and businesses tonight, Thursday, Dec. 15. Please keep your holiday lights on from “dark-thirty” until at least 10 p.m. to allow judges time to canvas the area. There is no need to register for this contest. Everyone who has decorated their Montgomery home and/or business with lights will be entered into the contest. Prizes include: $250 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. Winners of the business division will receive cash.

One night, a couple weeks ago, I had a nightmare. Dreams or remembrance of dreams I may have had is a rare occurrence for me. In my nightmare, I stood in a hazy old air hanger, gymnasium, or some similar building. Somehow I knew that the Nazis were coming to look for me and take me away, as if I was in Germany. I had at least a little time to prepare. Different indistinguishable people came by and offered me suggestions of how to hide, where to go, and what to do. Finally, it was time, and I remember starting to crawl up warehouse racking and onto roof trussing of this building.

Minnesota River girls hockey goalie Annika Magelee recorded a shutout Saturday, Dec. 10, leading her Bulldogs to a 7-0 win over Worthington. Magelee stopped all eight shots and five different players scored goals to help the Bulldogs improve to 3-2 in the Big South Conference and 5-4 overall. More on this in the Dec. 15 edition of the Messenger.

Le Center Librarian Lynn Selly has received the 2022 Above and Beyond Award from the Minnesota Library Association in recognition of her contributions to the Minnesota library community. More on this in Thursday's Messenger.

I remember being scared to go down into my family’s unfinished basement by myself when I was young.
My family’s rule was that you could only have one can of pop a day, and I wanted my quota, but the pop was stored down in the basement. Getting one required me racing down the steps, averting my eyes from a spooky backroom area, dashing to the stash of pop, grabbing one, and then racing back up the stairs.
To this day, I have no idea why the basement bothered me.

Brynn Fitterer (left) and Chloe Maddox, of the TCU junior varsity jazz dance team, during the team’s second place performance. See the Dec. 15 edition of the Messenger for an additional photo from the meet.

Makayla Erickson and Aven Prigge have been named Tri-City United High School’s 2023 Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award winners. The honor, which is commonly known as the Triple “A” Award, honors high school seniors who have 3.0 or higher-grade point averages and participate in Minnesota State High School League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities. More on this in Thursday's Messenger edition.

Ty Schatz got a phone call or two that his sheep might be out grazing in town the afternoon of Friday, December 9. He said, "The Christmas sheep went to town." Schatz is a fifth of seven generations in Montgomery. More on this story in the next issue of the Messenger.

Andrew John Regenscheid was born on August 3, 1938 to Joseph F. and Esther L. (Harty) Regenscheid in Cleveland, MN.  Andy passed away on December 7, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Hospital in New Prague, Minnesota. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 11:00 am at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with visitation from 9-10:45 am. Military honors will be provided by the Montgomery area Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

Nearly 40 people participated in the Fifth annual Santa Speedo Dash Saturday, Dec. 3, starting at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague. It was 7 degrees Fahrenheit making for a very brisk 1K run that was open to all ages with several people dressed in Christmas themed clothing. The run was to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

Benjamin Thomas Franek, age 75 of Lonsdale, died peacefully on Monday, November 28, 2022 at Mayo Hospital in New Prague, surrounded by his loving family. Ben was born on September 10, 1947 at the Northfield hospital to Benjamin F. and Rose (Simota) Franek. He grew up on the family farm near Veseli and graduated from New Prague High School.  He then served in the National Guard for 6 years.

Community members, from left to right, Dale Ruhland, Larry Trnka, and Rick Krenik, install the new sign at the Settler's Cabin in Memorial Park. Read more about this story in this week's Messenger.

Donna Mae Friedges, age 83, of Shakopee, MN, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in her sleep at her home on Wednesday, November 23rd. 
Donna was born on January 15, 1939, the daughter of James and Ella (Pelant) Vlasak. She married Raymond Friedges on August 6, 1960, in Montgomery, MN.

Camilla Jean Hartmann, age 74, of New Prague, died of cancer on Saturday, November 26, 2022.  
Camilla was born on February 19, 1948 to Harry and Bertha (Dobesh) Pieper in New Prague, MN. She graduated from Jordan High School in 1966. Camilla graduated from nursing school at Saint Mary’s. She was married to the love of her life, Donald Hartmann, for 54 years. Camilla ran the bookkeeping of the service division of Hartmann Well for 30 plus years. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Volunteers coordinated by the Salvation Army social services coordinator and Montgomery Food Shelf manager Sarah Neisen prepare 100 Thanksgiving meals for Le Sueur County families at the Le Center Ambulance facility. See more on this in the next issue of the Messenger.

Elisabeth Ann “Betsy” Meistrell, age 80 of North Mankato, formerly of Montgomery passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Celebration of life will be held in spring.