Every year in Montgomery, a quiet exchange takes place.
You’ve seen it in Aging Services for Communities (ASC), the Happy Hour Bar and a photo in the Montgomery Messenger: two small Christmas trees decorated with cards that contain items wished for by local residents who need a little cheer or help around the holidays.
This year, more than one hundred tags with Christmas wishes decorated the trees.

If you don’t know from my first column, I am an avid weather guy. Not just the casual “I like to know the weather today” guy. I am the guy who is really into weather, severe weather to be exact.
I’m a storm chaser but it goes beyond that. I am the president and had been the newsletter editor for the Twin Cities Meteorological Society. I am also a lead trainer and board member for Metro Skywarn, which teaches SKYWARN severe weather spotters for the National Weather Service here in the Twin Cities.

Samuel Sobieck, a 2013 New Prague High School graduate, is living his dream by affording life solely off of his passions, fishing and making videos.
He’s better known as “Sobi” by friends and followers. He has over 70,000 followers on YouTube and about 40,000 on Instagram. Sobi also has sponsorships from major companies, many started or based in Minnesota, such as Vexilar, Clam Outdoors, Rapala, and Shore Lunch. The sponsorships and the advertising revenue from his social media views are enough for him to enjoy fishing, and making videos of fishing, as a livelihood.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM WEDNESDAY TO 3 AM CST THURSDAY... ...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT... ...WIND CHILL WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches. For the Winter Storm Watch, blizzard conditions possible. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. For the Wind Chill Watch, dangerously cold wind chills possible. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero.

Phyllis Maria Swidorski, age 83, of Montgomery, died on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Mayo Systems Hospital in New Prague. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with funeral service at 11:00 a.m., all held at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery with Pastor Jason Pollington officiating. Interment will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Montgomery at a later date.

Susan J. Gregor, age 74, of Land O’ Lakes, Florida and formerly of Faribault, Minnesota passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022, at her home surrounded by family members after a hard-fought battle against Frontotemporal Dementia.

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.

Love is all that matters in life, according to 82-year-old John Grimm of Montgomery, and it’s this message the local author, musician, veteran, and father of 14 hopes to pass to the readers of his new book, “My Turn in The Urn,” which is now available for purchase. “I hope my readers come to the same conclusion that I did at this point in my life, and that is loving the people around you and getting that love in return in a variety of ways is all that matters in life,” he stated. More on this in the Dec. 8 edition of the 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.

Tri-City United School’s Titan Pride winners for November were recently announced. Students receiving the honor were chosen by school staff members for having shown pride in self, others, and their community. See more about this in the Dec. 15 edition of the Messenger.

House of Insurance Agent Deb Skluzacek will be retiring the end of December 2022 after 30 years in the insurance business. Skluzacek’s career started in May of 1992 for the First National Insurance Agency, which was located in the First National Bank owned by Larry and Adeline Morgan. Jerome Schleis was the Agency Principal at the time. Skluzacek became a licensed property and casualty agent, with her focus always being on customer service. See more on this in the Dec. 8 edition of the Messenger.

Andrew Regenscheid was laid to rest Dec. 10 at Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery. Regenscheid had a long-standing influence on the Montgomery area community. More on this in Dec. 15 issue of the Messenger.

The Tri City United girls basketball team picked up their first two wins of the season last week, evening their season record at 2-2. After a 57-29 loss to Norwood-Young America (NYA) Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Titans got their first win Thursday, Dec. 8 with a 62-27 victory over Medford and their second win with a 56-41 victory over Le Sueur-Henderson Friday, Dec. 9. More information on this in the Dec. 15 edition of the Messenger.

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.

TCU freshman Landen Blaschko competes at the home weightlifting meet against Burnsville on Dec. 10. Jarrod Schoenecker photo.