The Montgomery Area Community Club announces this year’s candidates for the Kolacky Days Queen Pageant on Sunday, April 28.
The candidates are Josephine Hatlevig, daughter of Travis and Nadine Hatlevig; Alyson Hennen, daughter of Allen and Laura Hennen; Sophie Franek, daughter of Dave and Marsha Franek; Brooke Holicky, daughter of Krystal Hamele and Nick Holicky; and Victoria Soukup, daughter of Denise Wondra and David Soukup.

TCU High School Titans took a trip around the world for their annual Prom on Saturday, April 27. Dressed in their finest, 110 couples participated in the Grand March in the high school gym. Pictured are (from left) Rachel Holicky, Nick Kadlec, Ellie Singleton, and Adam Fredrickson.
After Grand March, the students had their dinner and dance at the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul. After the dance, students will be bused to the Dakotah Montgomery Messanger Sports and Fitness Center for the traditional lock-in.
See more in the print edition.

In celebration of Arbor Day, Rice County Master Gardeners gave away free tree seedlings from the Minnesota DNR at the Lonsdale Feed Mill on Friday, April 26 from 3:30 p.m. until gone.

Tri-City United prom-goers will take a “Trip Around the World” on Saturday, April 27.
According to advisor Carolyn Harmeyer, that theme will be represented as the couples walk in the Grand March that starts at 4 p.m. in the TCU High School Gymnasium. There is a $2 entrance fee for the public for that event.
After Grand March, the students will have their dinner and dance at the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul. Harmeyer said this was changed from the previous location that is having flooding problems.

A man from Lexington Township has died in a single tractor rollover on Wednesday, April 24.
Joseph William Schatz, 70, was pronounced dead at the scene after Le Sueur County deputies found him trapped under a tractor. Sheriff Brett Mason said the sheriff’s office received the report at approximately 9:40 a.m. The deputies, along with Le Center Fire Department, Le Center Ambulance Service and North Air Care responded to the scene in Lexington Township.
Mason said Schatz was extricated and life-saving efforts were performed, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man, who walked away from a rural Montgomery Group Home on Saturday, April 20, was found deceased on Wednesday, April 24.
According to Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, deputies responded to a home in rural Montgomery at 8:07 a.m.for a report of an elderly male found unresponsive outside of a residence.
Upon arrival, deputies began life-saving efforts, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. They identified the man as an individual who was reported on April 20 as a walk-away from a rural Montgomery Group Home where he voluntarily lived.

When it comes to volunteering, Bob and Colleen Pavek don’t let something like Colleen almost dying hold them back.
Five years ago Colleen should have died.
But, she didn’t, and the Paveks continue to volunteer in the community.
In recognition for their commitment, the Pavek family will be honored at the annual Arts & Heritage (A&H) Center’s Heritage Breakfast. It will be held on Sunday, April 28 at Hilltop Hall. A&H Center members are serving from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

When it comes to timeliness, Le Sueur County Human Services is among the best in the state.
Minnesota Department of Human Services records list Le Sueur County as one of five counties in the state when it comes to 2018 child protection assessment visits. .
The county did not miss one of its scheduled 146 visits last year. Only Le Sueur, Marshall, Stevens, Red Lake, and Lake of the Woods counties had a 100 percent rating in overall timeliness.
The state average rating is 88.4 percent.

UPDATE: Belle Plaine Police reported that Andrew Cunat was found safe on Wednesday evening and was reunited with his family.

Road repairs and improvements on Highway 21 between Highway 19 in New Prague and Highway 169 in Jordan are underway. Work began Monday, April 15, with shoulder and culvert work just north of New Prague. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, beginning Wednesday, April 17, work will begin on the road surface. The project includes construction of turn lanes, improved drainage, and concrete and pavement repairs. Construction activities will take place Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Montgomery’s new police chief will be a familiar face to residents. That’s because he already works for the department.
With a unanimous vote on Monday, the city council approved a conditional offer to officer Nathan Hintz to fill the role of Police Chief. Hintz began at Le Center in 1999 and was part-time with Montgomery in 2015. He started as a full-time officer in Montgomery in 2018.

Autumn Gare, daughter of Joshua and Linda Gare, was crowned the new Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota at the 30th Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant, April 13 in Montgomery. Meghan Domonoske, daughter of David and Amy Domonoske, was crowned Princess.
Gare claimed the Heritage Award, Talent Award, Oratory Award and the Stella Vlasak Spirit Award.
Domonoske earned the Kroj Award.

Due to a few unforeseen circumstances as a result of the weather, the Spring play, “The Fearsome Pirate Frank” scheduled for this weekend is moved from a Friday and Saturday performance to two Saturday performances. 
Performances will take place at 2 and 7 p.m. at Montgomery Middle School Auditorium on Saturday, April 13.
According to Activities Director, Chad Johnson, rescheduling this event is a must and is the best option for the students that are performing.

A University of Minnesota Crookston junior from Lonsdale, along with a classmate from Winnipeg, Canada, recently launched a Montgomery Messanger Montgomery Messanger Sports podcast available on YouTube and Spotify.
Greg Johnson, the son of Wayne and Diane, played baseball for Tri-City United High School and graduated in 2016. Now double-majoring in marketing along with Montgomery Messanger Montgomery Messanger Sports and recreation management and minoring in finance, Johnson hopes to land a career related to Montgomery Messanger Montgomery Messanger Sports.

Albert Milgrom grew up in Pine City, a community about an hour north of the Twin Cities that included a large Czech population. While he wasn’t Czech himself, he said as a boy, he could speak a little Czech and when he was at friends’ homes, Czech food was often on the table.
In the 1970s, the film maker heard about a polka band playing at the Veseli Ho- Down. The band leader had the same last name as one of his childhood friends, so he decided to find out if there was any relation.