Of all the different articles and subjects I write about each week, composing a personal column is always the hardest. Telling the world about my everyday experiences in an amusing and relevant way is the worst form of writer’s block.
I’m guessing that in the 22 years I’ve been the editor of the Messenger, I’ve written more than 1,000 of these personal pieces. I’ve told stories about dressing up as the Easter Bunny’s helper, visiting the grade school, and then getting trapped in the boys’ bathroom in said costume while kids tried to talk to me.

A professional artist from southern Minnesota has entered his work in several state and federal wildlife art competitions over the past 23 years and has his work in private collections in 45 states and five countries.

As a little boy, Vern Trcka enjoyed helping his grandma, Otillia Ziskovsky, plant her large zinnia garden every spring.
He’d walk behind her as she tenderly dropped the precious seeds into the shallow furrows, and he would cover them—ever so slightly—with soil.
“Only cover them a 1/4-inch, no more,” Trcka advised. “They’re pretty hardy, but that—the depth you plant the seeds—you’ve got to watch. It’s what Grandma always did.”
And, Grandma Otillia knew what she was doing.

The race is on for seats on the Montgomery City Council and TriCity United School Board after filing periods closed Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Montgomery City Council
The City Council race will have two elections. One will be for two seats with four-year terms each that are being held by Mick McGuire and Brad “Butch” Kubes.
Four people have filed for that election, McGuire, Zack Matson, Daniel Siebsen, and Dennis Smith.

The 49th Annual Pioneer Power Show held its daily parade at 12:30 p.m. of tractors on Friday, Aug. 26, with a wide assortment of tractors, including steam powered ones. The Pioneer Power Show started August 26 and will be held this Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27 and 28. The Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Association holds the annual show which has tractors and farm equipment. This year the show also features vintage and antique snowmobiles from the 1950s through the 1980s. There is also music, food, a tractor pull for the large vehicles and a smaller one for kids on Saturday.

Rachel Rynda, a 19-year-old college student from Montgomery, representing Le Sueur County, was crowned the 69th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony Aug. 24 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
 
Rynda, who was the 2020 Kolacky Queen, was also named Miss Congeniality. She will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 2,100 Minnesota dairy farm families. She is the daughter of Francis and Theresa Rynda and attends University of Wisconsin River Falls.
 

The owners and staff at New Prague’s new McDonald’s at 101 Chalupsky Ave. SE held a ribbon cutting, with some confetti, the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 16. Participating in the ribbon cutting from left are Ariel Choate, Anders Choate, Annika Klugherz, April Choate, Josh Choate, Shannon Boyer, Jon Larson, and Lee Nowitzke. The new restaurant is having a grand opening celebration the week of Monday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 28. The specials can be found in the issues of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger and The Extra. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Lonsdale Chamber of Commerce aimed to bring celebration, community, and connections to the annual Lonsdale Community Days town celebration that happened this year on Saturday, Aug. 13.

The Region 3C Amateur Baseball Tournament came to an end Sunday, August 14 with the championship game.
Once the dust settled, four teams from the Dakota Rice Scott (DRS) league will be representing the Region at the Class A State Tournament.
St. Patrick is the No. 1 seed from the Region after defeating Montgomery 7-1 in the championship Sunday. Union Hill edged Webster 4-3 in the third place game Saturday, Aug. 13.

Violet Chromy of New Prague has been named the 2022 Le Sueur County Outstanding Senior Citizen.
She will be honored at the Le Sueur County Fair in Le Center on Sunday, August 21 at 1 p.m. in the Pavillion.
Chromy has been a homemaker her entire life. The 85-year-old is a mother of nine children, grandmother of 26, and great-grandmother of 34. Taking care of her children is not the only activity Chromy has been involved with according to James Simon, who nominated her for the award.
“Violet has been so active...

The City of Montgomery recognized and honored a late police officer Monday by formally retiring his badge number and presenting the proclamation to his widow.
In a special ceremony during the monthly City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Eisert and Police Chief Nathan Hintz made the presentation to Annalee Tupy, widow of Officer Bryan Tupy, who unexpectedly passed away on July 26, 2021.
Before they presented the framed proclamation, Eisert read the official document.

Leo John Cemensky, 80, of Fifty Lakes, died at his home on August 7, 2022. A private family service is being held.
He was born on March 27, 1942, in Lexington Township, MN to Anton and Emily (Trczinsky) Cemensky. Leo married Vikki Dunham on December 10, 2001, in Fargo, ND. He was a retired member of the Operating Engineers Local 49 Union.
Leo is survived by his wife Vikki; two sons, Lee Cemensky of Las Vegas, NV, and Jeff (RaNae) Cemensky of Fifty Lakes; one daughter, Desiree Dunham of Elida, Ohio; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Joseph James Cesafsky, 89, of Montgomery, died on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Traditions of Montgomery. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 22, from 9 to 11, with Mass of Christian Burial to follow, all held at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.