Second-grader Graham Velishek likes assembling puzzles. Once he put together a three-dimensional version of the Eiffel Tower.
“It was up to my neck, at least!” Velishek stated.
The son of Laura and Andy Velishek used his puzzling skills with partner fourth grader Hayden Akerlund to win the Most Holy Redeemer School (MHRS) Buddy Puzzle Competition on Thursday, Feb. 3. The duo completed their 500-piece puzzle of an adult giraffe kissing a baby giraffe’s head in 13 minutes and 18 seconds.
“I like doing puzzles. They’re fun and easy to do,” Graham said.

Informational meeting to be February 13
The Miss Czech Slovak MN Program is seeking participants for its pageant in April and younger girls for its Junior Ambassador Program. An informational meeting for both groups will be held on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Montgomery Oil Company and David's Diner, 200 Fourth Street NW.
Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant

If gratitude can seep into your blood, my February blood donations are brimming with it.
My daughter Anna required multiple blood transfusions during her open heart surgery, a a procedure she underwent when she was just seven months old.
So, if my blood donation day happens to fall in February (the month her surgery took place), I dedicate my donation to my now 12-year-old daughter, her skilled surgeon, and those amazing anonymous people who donated the blood that saved her life.
I became a regular blood donor last year.

The annual Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce dinner returned to its in-person format on Tuesday, Jan. 25 after last year’s drive-in style due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The year’s dinner took place at Ettlin’s Ranchero Supper Club in Webster where several dozen chamber members gathered together to enjoy a meal, share many laughs, and hear about the successes in 2021 and what is in store for the Chamber in 2022.

The TCU Wrestling Team hosted a Quad Meet on Friday with visiting schools Sibley East, St. Peter and Marshall. The TCU team faced off and beat Sibley East and St. Peter, but fell to Marshall in a close match.
TCU 51 - Sibley East 19
TCU 39 - St Peter 33
TCU 32 - Marshall 34
St. Peter 56 - Sibley East 17
Marshall 58 - Sibley East 18
TCU 39 - St Peter 33

After closing a 10-point gap, the TCU Titan girls lost a close game to the Medford Tigers in the final minutes by a score of 45-47 on Thursday, Feb. 3.
Despite the loss, Titan Coach Don Marcussen said his team is playing ball better than it has the previous games.
"I felt if we didn't do too much damage to ourselves, we could compete with the Tigers,” he said. “We had a slight lead at halftime. Medford actually took the lead by as much as 10 points in the second half but the Titans made a nice run at it in the closing two minutes of the game.”

Michael S. Borgmeyer, 71 of Montgomery passed away on Monday, February 7, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., all at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Burial will be held at a later date.
Mike was born on March 3, 1950, to Wilbert and Blanche (Carr) Borgmeyer in Mexico, Missouri. He graduated from Montgomery High School. Mike was united in marriage to Theresa Bastyr on November 1, 1969 in Lonsdale.

Press release from the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office.
Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason reports that on Tuesday, February 8th, Agents, with the Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force, assisted by the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit and the Waterville Police Department arrested Nathan William Quast, age 37 and Emily Ann Wagner, age 33 of Waterville after an investigation in their involvement in control substance and possessing stolen property.

Fredrick Albert Roushar, age 68, passed away February 2, 2022. Fred was born in Minneapolis, MN, on July 19, 1953 to Albert & Sylvia Roushar. He grew up in Chanhassen, MN and later moved to Lonsdale, MN where he spent the remainder of his life.

Lois Carolyn Holetz, age 90, of Montgomery passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and special caregivers on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at Traditions Assisted Living in Montgomery.

Paul John Vollmar Sr. of Montgomery, Minnesota passed away on February 3, 2022 from congestive heart failure at the age of 88. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with funeral service at 11:00 a.m. all at St. John Lutheran in Montgomery with pastor Jason Pollington officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Montgomery area Veterans Honor Guard. Masks will be available.

The New Prague Hy-Vee and its gas station are among six Minnesota properties that have been sold in leaseback deals that total more than $88 million. The combined grocery store and liquor store and gas station, all along 10th Avenue SE in New Prague, will still be operated by Hy-Vee Inc.

Tri-City United and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown school boards faced off for the trophy that is a new superintendent when both districts chose the same candidate to lead their districts on Monday.
Both boards selected Kevin Babcock, a high school principal from Medford, as their top pick after a second round of interviews on Monday.

The Wells Fargo bank in New Prague is temporarily closed due to COVID related staffing constraints according to Staci Schiller spokesperson for Wells Fargo. The closure affects both the lobby and the drive up for the bank along Main Street. Schiller explained the ATM is still available for use and people can use online banking or a mobile app. If people need to they can also find branches in Prior Lake, Shakopee, Lakeville and Savage. Staff at the New Prague branch of the bank potentially hope to have the business open by next week.

Mary Speiker, age 85 of Shakopee, entered eternal life on Friday, January 28, 2022. 
A visitation will be held Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 4-7 PM and Friday, February 4, 2022 from 9:30-10:30 AM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 833 S. Marschall Rd., Shakopee. Mass of Christian Burial following 11 AM at the Church of St. Mary (The Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne), 535 Lewis St. S., Shakopee. Per the family’s request, masks are required. 
Mary will be laid to rest at Shakopee Catholic Cemetery with Father Michael Becker presiding. 

Robert Gordon Loftus joined God on Tuesday, January 25th, 2022, after 91 years of loving service in this world. Bob wore a plethora of titles and hats (literally and figuratively) throughout his life.
Partner. Patriarch. Parent. Priest. Published poet. Playing cards. Pitcher. Pugilist. Pub patron. Pet-owner. Pretzel eater. Public speaker. Passionate person.