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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Per the Scott County Sheriff's Office Luke Hennen, on July 1, 2022, at 7:14 pm, Scott County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received a report of an unresponsive bicyclist who had been struck by a vehicle and found near Zachary Avenue and 260th Street East (CR2) in Cedar Lake Township.

Bob and Colleen Pavek have volunteered a lot in Montgomery since they came to town in 1986. They donated their time to Kolacky Days, the Miss Czech Slovak MN Pageant, Pioneer Power, Holy Redeemer, the ambulance, and they ran a business.
One more volunteer opportunity they will have will be at the 88th annual Kolacky Days on July 22, 23, and 24 when they will serve at its Grand Marshals.
The announcement was made by the Montgomery Area Community Club (MACC) at the ninth annual Meet and Greet on Monday, June 27 at Memorial Park.

A new facility by Inspire Services, LLC has opened locally and is ready to help people seeking mental health care, counseling, treatment for substance use, or psychological evaluations.
The facility is located at 32298 State Highway 13 in Montgomery and is referred to as “Lakeside,” a nod to the site’s 25-year occupant.

Area residents looking for ways to celebrate the Fourth of July, there are several options.
New Prague will have fireworks the evening of Sunday, July 3, east of New Prague Middle School. The American Legion Post 45 Park Ballroom and Jeff Belzer’s are sponsoring the fireworks show. Before the fireworks people can get treats from Dawgs on the Run, Kona Ice and Cookie Dough Bliss. Linda Fahrenkamp will sing the National Anthem to begin the show, with fireworks at 10 p.m.

Funding for a new $2.5 million facility for the Montgomery Police Department was approved by the City Council on Monday.
The council passed a resolution after bids were opened on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, for the new building that will be constructed on the property north of the existing facility on Lexington Ave. NW. The low bid of the seven submitted was awarded to Ankney Construction with a base bid of $1.92 million that includes soil corrections, building construction, some interior components, and paving of the parking areas.

Hometown Bats will hold its Sixth annual Home Run Derby, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, at Union Hill Ballpark, west of New Prague on Highway 19. The family-friendly event offers children’s games, food and drinks. It brings batters from DRS (Dakota, Rice, Scott) Baseball together to slam in as many homers and raise funds for an area family. This year’s Home Run Derby benefits Adeline Tiede, daughter of Jeremy Tiede and Jessica Lambrecht OF Le Center. Adeline, age 3, has two older sisters Mayta (12) and Lucy (6).

Sean O’Neill, left, talks with FOX9 Montgomery Messanger News anchors Tim Blotz and Alix Kendall about the history and legacy of baseball at Union Hill the evening of Wednesday, June 22. O’Neill had been a player on the team and is now president of the field’s baseball association. A large crowd came out for the event and to see the Union Hill Bulldogs take on the Mayer Blazers.
The FOX9 Montgomery Messanger News team visited with former players and had a preview of the Home Run Derby fundraiser that will be at Union Hill on Saturday, June 25.