Minnesota will join Super Tuesday this year — and 13 other states, including Texas and California, in perhaps the most consequential day of the presidential primary season.
It’s new in Minnesota. It’s our first presidential primary since 1992 and only the fourth in state history. Here are some rules.

The WEM boys basketball team finished its 2019-20 regular season with three games last week.
Each one of these games were completely different in nature. The Bucs won two of the three.
The week started Tuesday, Feb. 18 with a 72-70 loss to Class AA No. 7 rated Minnesota Valley Lutheran. There were 12 lead changes, eight ties, and the winning basket was scored with 1.5 seconds remaining. Mason Cox scored the winning basket.

The water was cold. They jumped in because of their warm, generous hearts.
Approximately 80 people-- including 44 new plungers-- participated in Camp Omega's 2020 Plunge event that was held on Saturday, Feb. 22 behind the Morristown Community Center.
The third annual event raised funds to build a new adult and family retreat center at Camp Omega, a Christian camp located on Horseshoe Lake in rural Waterville. The future facility will offer higher comfort with 25 hotel- style rooms, personal bathrooms, and a large group gathering space.

ALLEN LEROY HRDLICKA, age 83 of Mankato died on Monday, February 17, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

The Le Sueur/Rice County Drug Task Force was very busy in 2019.
Le Sueur County Chief Deputy Nick Greenig presented information about the work completed by the drug task force within the county during the Elysian City Council meeting Feb. 11.
Last year there were 64 cases opened, 55 search warrants were issued, and there were 61 arrests made.
A total of $18,020 in cash was seized as were nine firearms.
More than 3.4 million dollars in street value worth of controlled substances were seized.

Waterville’s little Heart Warrior is breathing easier this Valentine’s Day.
Three-year-old Alex Ahlbrecht, son of Craig and Stephanie Ahlbrecht, recently returned from a three-week stay at Standford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California, where he underwent an intricate open-heart surgery to repair his heart and expand 20 small vessels in hopes of increasing the blood flow to his lungs.
Thankfully, the 20-hour surgery was successful.

A Waterville man faces a second-degree felony assault charge for allegedly driving on a sidewalk, nearly striking a pedestrian.
Clint Weston Sellers, 24, was charged in Le Sueur County Court for the alleged assault that occurred near the Corner Bar in Waterville, early Monday morning, Feb. 3.
Police responded to the scene and took a report from a 26-year-old man, the alleged victim, who said he was walking from Bullheads to the Corner Bar when he saw Sellers speeding toward him in a pickup.
The victim said when he...

The Gopher Conference girls basketball title will go down to the final game this season.
WEM, Medford, and Blooming Prairie will be fighting for the title.
Medford defeated the Bucs 57-43 Friday, Feb. 7 to force a three-way tie for the top spot in the conference with a 10-2 record.
WEM played Blooming Prairie Tuesday, Feb. 11 and Blooming Prairie and Medford play Friday, Feb. 14. WEM will face USC Friday.
The Bucs defeated the Tigers earlier this season and also defeated Blooming Prairie.

WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero. * WHERE...Le Sueur County. * WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 9 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

Lois A. Carlson, age 83 of Columbia Heights, died on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at Whispering Creek Care Center in Janesville, Minnesota.

The Department of Natural Resources will host more than 30 candlelight events at Minnesota State Parks and trails this winter, including one at Sakatah Lake State Park this Saturday, Feb. 8. Drop by any time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for hiking as stars twinkle overhead and candles flicker in the snow.
“Few things transform a winter evening like soft light on snow,” said Erika Rivers, director of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “Candles and lanterns help to create a magical experience, especially when coupled with light from the moon and a starry sky.”

Anne Marie Nibbe, 67, of Springfield, passed away peacefully at home on January 21, 2020 after a long and brave battle with ovarian cancer. Anne was born in Waseca, MN on September 19th, 1952. She was the daughter of Roger and Marcella (Sexton) Williams. Anne was a graduate of Waterville-Elysian High School and Mankato State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She started her 39 year teaching career in Springfield in 1975 and married Dirk Nibbe, her husband of 37 years in 1982. They had two daughters Cathryn Anne in 1985 and Julie Marie in 1988.

Earl F Flynn, 95, of Pinewood, MN died Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Northern Pines Good Samaritan Center in Blackduck, MN.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2020 at Eckles Community Center in rural Bemidji, MN with Rev. Bill Goodman officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Phyllis A. Pope, age 83 of Waterville died on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at her home.

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association announced that 16 athletes will remain in consideration for a roster spot on the 2020 U.S. Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team.
Among those selected as finalists are Rose Hollermann of Elysian, Abigail Bauleke of Savage, and Josie Aslakson of Jordan.
This announcement comes at the conclusion of the Toyota Team USA Women’s Selection Camp, a three-day camp at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

For the first time this season, two different WEM boys basketball players scored more than 30 points in a given week.
Senior Grant McBroom dropped in 31 in a 80-47 win over United South Central Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Senior Cole Kokoschke scored a career-high 33 points in an 87-64 win over K e n y o n - Wa n a m i n g o Thursday, Jan. 16.
The two wins improve WEM’s Gopher Conference record to 6-0 and overall record to 13-1.