Travis Ryan Van Houdt, age 18 of Waterville, passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Hennepin County Medical Center following an automobile accident.

Le Sueur County businesses will have the opportunity to receive money from the state and county.
The Minnesota legislature has approved more than $556,000 for grants to small businesses and non-profits to be administered by Le Sueur County for its citizens.
The county is continuing its contract with Next Stage, the firm that processed the CARES Act funds last fall. Le Sueur County has begun...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 24, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger or LifeEnterprise.

Ruth Ann Kramer, age 86 of Waterville died on Monday, December 21, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato.
Born on June 28, 1934, she was the daughter of Henry and Helen (Ferch) Watzek. She attended school in Waterville prior to her marriage to Arthur Sorgatz in 1952. Together they had two daughters before they divorced. Ruth was united in marriage to Delmar Kramer in March of 1969 and they later divorced.

In alignment with Executive Order 20-103 announced today by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota State High School League will begin in-person practice for winter sports and activities on Mon., Jan. 4, 2021.
Thirteen days ago, the League's Board of Directors approved a flexible scheduling model, presented by the Return to Participation Task Force, which will adapt to the new Executive Order. The new mandate modifies and is an extension of Executive Order 20-99 that went into effect on...

Pending approval by the WEM Board of Education Monday, Dec. 21, elementary students will be returning to in-person learning as soon as January 11.
Governor Tim Walz announced Wednesday, Dec. 16 updating the Safe Learning Plan so that starting on January...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 24, 2020 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

New Market Town Hall - 8950 230th St. E, Lakeville
9 am - 11 am
Wed. December 23, 2020
To sign up for an appointment for either locations go to:
https://www.primarybio.com/r/scottcounty

MANKATO, Minn. – (3:30 p.m.) The Minnesota Department of Transportation has closed highways in southwestern Minnesota due to numerous crashes and zero visibility including Interstate 90 from the South Dakota Border to Blue Earth. The closures are now in effect and include the following counties:

Blue Earth (Hwy 60 west of Hwy 60/169 junction only)
Brown (western portion)
Cottonwood
Jackson
Martin
Nobles
Rock
Watonwan
I-90 from South Dakota to Blue Earth

Mary Elizabeth St. John, age 87 of Waterville died on Monday, December 21, 2020 at Traditions of Waterville.
Born on June 17, 1933 in Hudson, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Carson and Alice (Rupert) Chapman. Mary married Edward St. John on August 5, 1955 in Norwood, Iowa. She worked as a babysitter for many area families. Mary loved spending time with her nieces and nephews and extended family. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, baking, embroidering, coloring and word finds. Mary was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Elysian.

Two Le Sueur County officials submitted resignations during the Tuesday, Dec. 22 commissioners meeting. Darrell Pettis, full-time County Administrator will resign effective January 22, 2021. Joshua Mankowski, full-time
Environmental, Planning and Zoning Administrator in Planning and Zoning, will resign effective December 31, 2020. More on these resignations in the December 31 print edition of the newspapers.

Travis Van Houdt, 18, of Waterville has been identified as the victim of the fatal crash that occurred Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 5:56 a.m. near the intersection of 230th Street West and Iona Avenue in Morristown Township.
Van Houdt is the son of Henry and Julie Van Houdt of Waterville and was a senior at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School.
According to a press release prepared by Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, Rice County deputies, Morristown Fire/Rescue, and North Ambulance were dispatched the personal injury crash.

The Waterville-Elysian-Morristown K-6th grade students will return to in-person learning starting Monday, Jan. 11.
The WEM Board of Education approved this plan during their regular Monday, Dec. 21 meeting. Due to the board holding a Monday meeting, they were able to move the start date forward a week from the date which Governor Tim Walz announced Dec. 16.

Sister Charlotte Dusbabek, 90, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, died at Assisi Heights, December 16, 2020.    
Charlotte Rosemary Dusbabek was born July 9, 1930, in Waseca, Minnesota, to Henry and Esther (Knish) Dusbabek. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1953 and made perpetual vows in 1959.  Professional studies included a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 1960, and a Master’s Degree in Nursing Service from Catholic University, Washington, DC, in 1962. 

Ann Marie (Morgan) Kniefel, age 89, of Waterville passed away peacefully, surrounded by family love, at Traditions Memory Care on Wednesday, December 16.
Born on August 25, 1931 to Art and Marie (Frodl) Morgan in Iosco Township. She attended Waterville High School, then continued her education at the College of St Catherine in St Paul, graduating as a registered nurse. She loved her work as a nurse at Faribault and Mankato Hospitals and with Dr. Buesgens in Waterville, as well as working at the Coast-to-Coast Store in Waterville that Ben and she owned for 25 years.

For the first time, a local celebration in Elysian will be held which is not affiliated with the 4th of July.
The Elysian City Council approved the request by Twin Cities Summer Jam CEO Jerry Braam to bring an entertainment event to the city this summer.
Braam, who lives just outside of Elysian, said the two-day event would be held...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 17, 2020 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

Santa here. Santa there. Jolly ol’ Santas everywhere!
Waterville resident Ron Marsh has one collection, and at this time of year, it’s displayed in full glory.
Marsh has amassed a collection of close to 100 Santas.
All of the jolly old elf decorations adorn the Marsh home on Lake Tetonka.
“I’m really not sure how many there are... I’d say between...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 17, 2020 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

A total of six WEM volleyball players have been honored by Gopher Conference coaches after their championship season.
WEM seniors Allison Rients, Toryn Richards, Kylie Pittmann, Ellie Ready, and Autumn Taylor and junior Alex Heuss each received recognition this fall.
Richards was named the Conference Player of the Year and was named to the First Team for the fourth straight season.