After being scored on an evening gown, talent, and interview skills, Alexis Hoefs (left), daughter of Jim and Lisa Hoefs, was crowned the 2022 Kolacky Queen on Friday night. Joining her for the next year is double-winner Elizabeth Odenthal, who won the titles of First Princess and Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of Randy and Laura Odenthal. Kaia Krocak, the daughter of Gothan and Lisa Krocak, rounds out the 2022 royalty as Second Princess. See more in the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

The cast of Generations Theatre Company’s production of “Matilda the Musical” take time for a photo before a rehearsal on Sunday, July 17. The show opens a two weekend run tonight (Friday, July 22) and will be performed at the New Prague High School auditorium, 221 12th St. NE. Shows will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the dates of July 22, 23, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m. (previous showtimes for those dates were incorrect) and July 24 and 31 at 2 p.m.

Sidney Vikla, 90, of Lonsdale, died at the Northfield Hospital, on November 9, 2021.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Montgomery American Legion in Montgomery. Sidney is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Vikla of Lonsdale; daughter, Melodi (Larry) Van Roekel of Nerstrand.
Arrangements are with the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. 507-357-6116. Online condolences may be left at www.schoenbauerfuneralhome.com.

The David Domonoske family of Waterville has been named Le Sueur County’s “2022 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.

Hedi Ilse Pelowski, age 69, of Montgomery, died on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at her home.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, from 10:00 am-11:00 am at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Mass of Christian burial to follow at 11:00 am. Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lexington.
Hedi was born on February 7, 1953, to Milo and Hedi (Gartner) Chlan in Germany. She graduated from Montgomery High School in 1971.

Lloyd Thomas Viskocil, age 79, of Montgomery passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at his home. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 14 from 4 pm-8 pm at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 15 at 11 am with Fr. Tom Niehaus officiating, with visitation one hour prior at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery.
Interment will be held at St. John Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Montgomery Area Veterans Honor Guard.

The American Cancer Society hosted its annual Le Sueur County Relay for Life event, which is a celebration for cancer survivors as well as those who died from the disease. Honorary Survivor Julie Harmon and her family made the Survivor's and Caregivers Lap at the start of the Relay in Le Center.

Phyllis Marie Pelowski, age 90, of Lexington passed away on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Mala Strana Health Care in New Prague.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 12 from 4:00 -7:00 pm at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, July 13 at 10:30 am at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus & Father Mike Krenik officiating.
Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

Watch for the second annual Color the Kroj Contest entry form/coloring page in The Montgomery Messenger’s July 21st Kolacky Days Special Section. Artists of all ages are encouraged to enter!
Completed full-page entries must be turned in to the Montgomery Messenger office or the Montgomery Public Library by August 6, 2022, to be eligible for prizes. Entries will be divided into three age categories: six and under, seven to 17, and adult. One winner from each age category will be selected and will receive a prize.

The Saemrow family has been named Rice County’s 2022 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota.
Charles Saemrow first settled the Saemrow farm in the early 1890s. Charles’ son, Herman took over the operation in the 1930s. He was followed by his son Herb in the 1950s. Then, in the 1980s, Herb’s sons Ron, Gordon, Keith, and Wayne assumed ownership. The four brothers and their families own and run the operation.

A multi-million-dollar facilities improvement project has been approved by the Tri-City United School Board to fix items deemed in need of dire repair by a company hired to complete an independently conducted comprehensive facilities assessment.
The project, which will cover problem areas in all district schools except Lonsdale, was approved with a budget not to exceed $5,285,300.00.

Tennis and pickleball players now have a rehabilitated outdoor court at North Side Park to play on.
Workers from C & H Montgomery Messanger Sports Surfaces Inc., which specializes in tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts, and running tracks, worked on Montgomery’s court for over a week and a half. According to owner Tim Carlson, his team started on Tuesday, June 21 filling the cracks and lower areas using an acrylic crack filler and leveler. They followed that with two color coats before the tennis and pickleball lines were applied on Wednesday, June 29.

This year’s Honorary Survivor of the Le Sueur County Relay for Life knows both sides of cancer.
For close to 43 years, Julie Harmon of New Prague has worked as a nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System (formerly Queen of Peace), New Prague Hospital.
She lives the role of a caregiver.
In July 2018, the role was reversed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a first for her family.

Only a handful of games in the DRS Amateur Baseball League were played over the past week. Veseli played three games, including a pair against Lonsdale.
The Aces defeated the Warriors, 8-6 Sunday, July 3 and 13-0 in eight innings Monday, July 4. Veseli also was defeated Wednesday, June 29, 8-5 by Montgomery.

Michael Francis Smisek, 56, of Lonsdale, passed away Friday, September 3, 2021, at his home.
Funeral services were held on May 27, 2022, for Mike at Montgomery American Legion and interment in Calvary Cemetery.
Michael Francis Smisek was born August 20, 1965, at Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague to Adeline and Marvin Smisek. He attended Montgomery Lonsdale School. He was active in Montgomery FFA, hockey, and working at Montgomery Auto.

Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason reports that at approx. 0640 hours on July 1, 2022, deputies responded to a residence located on the southwest shore of Lake Washington, in Washington Township for a Missing Person Report.