The WEM girls basketball team took one step forward and one step back in the Gopher Conference standings last week.
The Bucs defeated Maple River, 61-52, Tuesday, Jan. 17, avenging an earlier loss to the second place Eagles. With that win WEM moved into a tie with Maple River in the West Division. Three nights later, Kenyon-Wanamingo (K-W) used some outstanding outside shooting to knock off the Bucs, 55-49. The Knights made 6-of-13 three-pointers while the Bucs made only four in 31 attempts.

A Morristown woman is spearheading a new non-profit, Together On Memories (TOM), that will help children who are experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one.
“The goal is to help in two ways: provide free grief group support at the high school level and also provide assistance finding and paying for licensed grief therapy in the area,” explained Erin Rossow of Morristown, who knows the pain of losing a parent to suicide.
Her 51-year-old father, Thomas Randall, died by suicide on December 22, 2010.

Paula Mae Lattimore, age 63, of Elysian passed away Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Mayo Clinic – St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester. 
Paula was born to Jerold and Janet (Bosch) Gunnink on May 26, 1959 in Slayton, MN. She graduated from Lakeville High School with the class of 1977. She worked as a supervisor at Menasha for 23 years before working at Sterling in Owatonna. In the summer of 1979, she was united in marriage to Joseph Lattimore at their home and celebrated with a barn dance. Together, they had their daughter, Sandie, who Paula loved more than anything in the world.

Karen Ann (Meyer) Ring, age 70, of Elysian, MN, passed away on January 8, 2023, in Lehigh Acres, FL.  
Karen was born in Albert Lea, on November 20, 1952. Karen is survived by her husband of 46 years, Daryl; children Amy, James (Katherine) and Molly; and grandchildren Natalie, Paige, Morrigan, Alexandra and Mary. 

Karen Ann (Meyer) Ring, age 70, of Elysian, MN, passed away on January 8, 2023, in Lehigh Acres, FL.  
Karen was born in Albert Lea, on November 20, 1952. Karen is survived by her husband of 46 years, Daryl; children Amy, James (Katherine) and Molly; and grandchildren Natalie, Paige, Morrigan, Alexandra and Mary. 

Nancy Downhour, age 84 of Northfield, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, January 17, 2023, at Homestead Hospice in Owatonna.

Linda Lou Miller, age 76, of Kilkenny passed away Friday, January 13, 2023 at Traditions of Waterville surrounded by her family.

Leona Francis Pittmann, age 103, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2023 at Whispering Creek in Janesville after residing there for three weeks.

Second half scoring woes were the key to a pair of losses for the WEM boys basketball team Thursday, and Friday last week in the Tri City United Holiday Tournament.
The Bucs trailed TCU 29-28 at halftime Thursday, Dec. 29 but managed only 21 second half points in a 68-49 loss. Kenyon-Wanamingo (KW) limited the Bucs to 12 points in the second half of their 67-34 win.

One medical issue turned into a second medical issue which might have saved the life of an Elysian teenager.
WEM junior Luke Michael, who is now two weeks shy of his 17th birthday, was experiencing some back pain during the early days of October 2022. He didn’t think much of it, figuring it was pain from playing football.
He attended football practice the afternoon of Oct. 5 and told the coach he wasn’t feeling great but he would still give his best effort. Luke was hit on the side of his body during the practice and the pain was so bad that he went to the ground in agony.

The WEM boys basketball team suffered a pair of close Gopher Conference losses last week.
Two players combined for 54 points for Medford in a 68-62 win Monday, Dec. 19. Two players combined for 35 points for USC in a 45-42 Rebels win.
In the loss to Medford, the two teams were tied at 62-all with less than one minute to play. The Tigers made four straight free throws and a basket in that final minute to pull out the victory. The Bucs had their best scoring half of the season, putting up 41 points in the second half.

Working deep within the rocky ground of Israel’s hill country, 2020 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown graduate Kelsey Kuball, daughter of Nathan and Shannon Kuball of Waterville, assisted biblical archeologists excavate numerous artifacts last summer.
“It’s super cool,” stated the University of Northwestern junior. “I’m a Biblical and Theological Studies major and a big history nerd, so it’s really fun for me to be there—to be part of this dig—and see how it all takes shape… I can’t wait to go back.”

Sandra Joanne Springmeyer, 81 of Elysian, MN passed away Monday, December 19th at Allina hospital, Faribault, MN. Sandy was born on June 27, 1941 in Northfield, MN to Donald and Hedwig Klinefelter. Following graduation from Northfield High School in 1959, Sandy graduated from Hamline University in 1963. On September 1, 1962 she married Thomas Springmeyer of Owatonna and they were married 51 years.

Kathy R. Wolf, age 74, of Morristown, formerly of Northfield, passed away Sunday, December 25, 2022, at her son’s home under the care of hospice.
She is survived by her son Kurt Wolf (Kristin Scouton) of Morristown; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Frances O’Rourke of Morristown. Kathy was preceded in death by her daughter Kristina; siblings Joyce, Rodney, her twin brother Kenneth; her parents, Frank and Melba (Herrley) Brooks; and former husband Kenneth.

The WEM/JWP Grizzly wrestling team had a very busy week competing in five dual matches.
Despite only winning one of those five matches, the team won four or more individual bouts in four of the five matches.
The Grizzlies were edged 40-35 by Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial and lost 51-30 to Blue Earth Area Tuesday, Dec. 13. The team then traveled to Glencoe-Silver Lake/Lester Prairie for three matches. They dropped a 70-9 decision to Class AA No. 12 rated Watertown-Mayer, lost 57-23 to Glencoe-Silver Lake, and defeated Blaine, 42-38.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A Weight Watchers gift certificate.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A new camera bag.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me… Some dye to turn my grey beard back to brown.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A Friday night without a sporting event.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A remote car starter for those cold winter mornings and evenings.