In conjunction with Walgreens, Traditions of Montgomery hosted its COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 20. A total of 33 residents and 32 essential caregivers received their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. One of the residents to roll up his sleeve was Arnold “Buck” Zahratka. According to Julie Fessel Resident Services Coordinator, all of the residents but one, was able to receive the vaccine. The second dose of the vaccine will be available in less than 30 days.

Jenni Wickman of Generation Building Center, left, was named Business of the Year by the Lonsdale Chamber of Commerce on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 26. Shanna Gutzke-Kupp, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, right, presents Wickman with a plaque. Wickman operates the business with her husband Tom. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Lonsdale Chamber of Commerce held a Dinner Drive-Thru on January 26. For more see the Thursday, Feb. 4, print issues of The New Prague Times and Montgomery Messenger. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

A man faces murder and arson charges after a fire on Sunday morning.
According to Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, on Sunday Jan. 24, 2021, at approximately 7:15 a.m. the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a structure fire at 37722 Hunting Preserve Lane in Le Center.
Investigation into the incident revealed the deceased body of an adult male believed to be Bruce Alan Traxler, 64, who lived at the address.
Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Hardy Robert Wills-Traxler, 25, of Le Center.

Third grade teachers are super heroes.
Kids come into their classrooms with maybe a slight grasp on basic addition and subtraction and they somehow elevate that knowledge to the world of multiplication tables, division (short and long), fractions, measuring, and figuring out things like area and perimeter.
And don’t forget the word problems!
My Ellen—the redhead—is in third grade. This means my husband and I spend time almost every night tackling third grade homework. Sounds easy, right?
Oh. My. Goodness! It is not easy.

The Minnesota River Bulldog Hockey Team (Co-op of Le Sueur-Henderson, St. Peter, TCU, Cleveland, and Belle Plaine High Schools) opened their season with a 7-4 win over the Redwood Valley Cardinals.
Bulldog Coach Shea Roehrkasse said it was ...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 21, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Renovation uncovers 100-year-old mural
During the interior renovation of Revival on Main to an event space, a piece of Montgomery’s history was uncovered in late November.
After decades and layers of paint were removed, a mural for the store...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 21, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

The New Prague Snow Drifters, the local snowmobile club that maintains area snowmobile trails, took time this fall and early winter to convert an old grain bin into a warming shelter for snowmobilers.
Club member Brian Jindra said they began discussions this summer. The club’s Trail Coordinators, the Groomer Committee and board members continued talks about a...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 21, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times and Montgomery Messenger.

Arthur T. Daleiden, 89, of Faribault, died on Monday, January 18, 2021, at home.
Funeral services will be held at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 10 a.m. with Sr. Kathleen Hayes officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Montgomery.
Visitation will be at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.
Arthur Thomas was born on September 2, 1931, in Montgomery to Thomas and Mary (Wondra) Daleiden. He was raised on a farm, graduated from Montgomery High School in 1949, and attended the College of St. Thomas.

Does your family set a goal each year?
In 2021, my family will be focusing on basic life skills.
Throughout the past year, we, like many families, have hunkered down and spent more time at home together. And, over the course of this pandemic, my husband and I have come to realize...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 14, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

New Prague American Legion Post 45 will host a Blood Drive for Memorial Blood Centers from 12-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The Blood Drive will be held inside the Club Room at the American Legion, 300 Lexington Ave. S in New Prague. To sign up, go to www.mbc.org/searchdrives and enter sponsor code 4900 or call 1-888-448-3253 or contact Alicia at 612-283-7150. To save time, people can complete a health history questionnaire online on the day of their donation at mbc.org/donate.

NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online peer support groups for adults and young adults living with a mental illness, their families, friends, spouses/partners, as well as parents of children and teens. Led by trained peer facilitators, the support groups help individuals and families learn coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences.

Mary Johnson, who resides at Traditions of Waterville, has been busy helping others throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using her own “stock piles” of fabric, she uses her sewing machine to...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 14, 20221 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

The WINTER STORM WATCH has now been elevated to a WINTER STORM WARNING which will go into effect TODAY (Thursday) at NOON through FRIDAY evening at 6 p.m.
Key Points:
- Snow is expected today, with total snow accumulations of 6 to 9 inches possible.
- Winds may gust as high as 35 miles per hour.
- Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
- If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Lynden James is New Year’s Baby
 
Montgomery’s New Year’s Baby arrived just seven days into 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague. Little Lynden James, a girl, claimed the honor. She is the daughter of Peter Clark and Madisen Ziebell of Montgomery.
 
Lynden is the couple’s second child. Her big sister,...
 
To see more on this story, pick up the January 14, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Tri-City United elementary schools were full of students on Monday, Jan. 11.
Not since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March, 2020, have the schools had full classrooms.
Following guidance from Governor Tim Walz’s Safe Learning Plan, TCU schools laid out its...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 14, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Residents unharmed, but pet perishes
Two residents in Montgomery escaped an early-morning fire on Wednesday, Jan. 6, but sadly, a pet dog did not. The fire broke out at the two-story, single-family home at 201 Boulevard Ave. NE. The Montgomery Fire Department responded to the scene just before 1 a.m. When Fire Chief Kenny Pavek arrived, he found the house fully...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 14, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.