Approximately 40 kids attended the first ever Grinchmas Party in Morristown on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Morristown Community Center.
Clad in their pajamas and holiday cheer, the kids enjoyed playing festive games, yummy concessions, and photos with the Grinch (who smiled).
Following all the fun, families sprawled out to enjoy a showing of the The Grinch Movie to round out the evening.
The family event was sponsored by the Morristown Commercial Club and hosted by Miss Morristown royals.

The ending of the match-up between two of the top 10 teams in Class A was one of the most interesting in recent history for the WEM boys basketball team.
WEM, rated 8th and Hayfield, rated 7th, battled to the final second and then some Friday, Dec. 13 in Waterville.
The two teams were tied at 66-all after regulation and four minutes later the Bucs pulled out a 72-71 victory.
There were 17 lead changes and 10 times the score was tied. Neither team led by more than seven points.
The Bucs trailed for much of the game after leading 6-0 the first four minutes.

Dover-Eyota won all three duals to win the Dave Scharberg Byron Memorial Wrestling Invitational Saturday, Dec. 14.
WEM/JWP dropped all three of its duals. The Grizzlies were defeated by Westfield (42-31), Byron (64-18), and Dover-Eyota (50-24).
Dover-Eyota also defeated Byron (49-31) and Westfield (51- 23). In the other match, Byron defeated Westfield (51-23).
Two Grizzly wrestlers finished the day with three wins. They were Tucker Rients and Ethan Rider.

Forget red and green.
It was all about red and blue police lights--and presents, pizza, and fun--at Le Sueur County’s holiday Shop With a Cop event on Wednesday night, Dec. 11 in New Prague.
Twenty kids participated in the sixth annual event that helps foster positive relationships between youth and officers.
“My cop is so cool,” spouted Collin about his partner for the night, Le Sueur Police Officer Aaron Thieke. “I even got to ride in the police car and run the lights and sirens and stuff. Did you hear me sing Jingle Bells over the radio in the squad car?”

David (Dave) Lee Uherka died surrounded by loved ones at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN on December 12, 2019 at age 43 after a courageous battle with Type 1 Diabetes.

A 55-year-old man has died from injuries from a snowmobile crash Saturday evening.
According to the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:40 p.m. to a report of a crash on Lexington Road near 173rd Avenue in Montgomery Township.
Officials say the driver of the snowmobile, Larry Gene Haynes, was traveling northbound on the snowmobile trail at a high rate of speed. Investigators say it appears Haynes was unable to stop before the Lexington Road crossing, ultimately striking the side of a westbound pickup truck.

Ralph “Ray” Raymond Sotebeer, age 77 of Buffalo, passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2019. He was born December 21, 1941 in Waseca, Minnesota, the son of Ralph and Clara (Morsching) Sotebeer.
Ray was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Peter Bell Lutheran Church in Waterville, Minnesota.
Ray graduated from Waterville High School in 1959 and proudly served in the US Army.
On November 2, 1968, Ralph Sotebeer and Marilyn Rau were united in marriage at Grace Lutheran Church in Correll, Minnesota.

John Joseph Pelant, Jr.; age 78 of Waterville, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at Lakeshore Inn in Waseca.

Eugene Francis Bartelt, age 81 of Waterville died on Saturday, December 7, 2019 peacefully at home.
Born on November 20, 1938 in Waterville, Minnesota, he was the son of Arthur and Mary (Gregor) Bartelt. He attended Waterville-Elysian High School and later married Nancy Radloff on September 3, 1960 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church-German Lake.

Herbert “Herb” E. Sorgatz, age 96, of Morristown, died Friday, December 6, 2019 at the Emeralds at Faribault.
Funeral services will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morristown on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Travis J. Loeslie, officiating. Interment will be at Concordia Cemetery, North Morristown with military rites by American Legion, Post 149, Morristown.
Visitation will be at the church for one hour prior to the service on Thursday.

Marlin Victor John Berg, age 82 of Waterville, died on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center in Mankato.

MARGARET “MARGE” ELAINE PRIBYL, age 90 of Elysian, died on Friday, November 29, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Waseca.

The 6th annual Mankato Opry Jamboree Christmas Show will be held this weekend, Friday, Nov. 29, Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Nov. 30 at the nostalgic Kato Ballroom in Mankato.

John Harris Deiling, age 83 of rural Waseca, passed away at his home on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

A number of WEM graduates have continued their sporting careers this fall in a number of different college sports.
The top performance from a Buccaneer graduate has been that of Gustavus Adolphus senior Tierney Winter.
Winter has been running for the Gusties for four years and this season has been by far her best season.
Winter not only finished second in the MIAC Championships, she also placed sixth in the NCAA C e n t r a l R e g i o n Championship, which advanced her to the Division III NCAA Championships.

Gordon Schwartz, age 93 died on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at Our Circle of Friends in Faribault.