The WEM football team ended its season Saturday, Oct. 26 with a 46-44 loss to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop. The Bucs scored a season-high in the loss and had two 100-yard rushers. Senior Jayden taylor rushed for 184 yards and two scores and senior Brant Melchert gained 153 yards and scored three times. GFW will face United South Central Friday, Nov. 1 at New Prague for the Section 2A Championship. The Bucs end their season with a 6-4 overall record.

The WEM volleyball team swept Martin Count West, 25-8, 25-9, 25-7 in the South Sub-Section Quarterfinals Thursday, Oct. 24 in Waterville. The win moves the Bucs into the South Sub-Section semifinal Tuesday, Oct. 29 when they will play St. Clair at 6 p.m. in St. Peter. The winner will advance to the South Sub-Section Championship Thursday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. at Mankato East. The Section 2A Championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2 at Mankato East, starting at 6 p.m.

Bernice A. Maxa, age 89, of Shakopee, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully on Friday, October 25, 2019 at St. Francis Regional Hospital in Shakopee.  Bernice was born on June 30, 1930 in Kilkenny, MN to Peter and Anna (Frodl) Healey.  She attended Montgomery High School and married George J.

Bernice A. Maxa, age 89, of Shakopee, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully on Friday, October 25, 2019 at St. Francis Regional Hospital in Shakopee.  Bernice was born on June 30, 1930 in Kilkenny, MN to Peter and Anna (Frodl) Healey.  She attended Montgomery High School and married George J.

Although he was feeling a little under the weather, a smile spread across little Ethan Delaske's face as he walked into his newly renovated bedroom, Sunday morning, October 20.
Of course, the ride-in yellow Lamborghini parked in the corner caught the car-loving three-year-old's attention first.
Then, it was the new bookshelf that looks like a gas pump.
Then, it was the new television on his chrome-covered dresser.
Then, it was the new reading nook stocked with books about cars and trucks.

The WEM volleyball team will enter Section 2A Post Season Play Thursday, Oct. 24 after finishing the regular season with a 28-2 overall record and a 7-0 record in the Gopher Conference. The Bucs won the conference title for the second straight year with a sweep of Faribault BA Tuesday, Oct. 15. WEM (28-2) will face Martin County West (8-16) Thursday, Oct. 24 in Waterville at 7 p.m. in the South Sub-Section, Section 2A Quarterfinals. A win and they would play Tuesday, Oct. 29 at St. Peter at 6 p.m. against the winner of Springfield (14-14) and St. Clair (12-18).

The WEM/JWP Grizzly girls' cross country team won their second straight Gopher Conference Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Hayfield. The Grizzlies scored a perfect 15 points, with the top five finishers in the race all from WEM/JWP. Freshman Addison Peed was a repeat Conference Runner of the Year, winning the race. She was followed across the finish line by Lauren Dimler, Madison Zimbrich, Ashlin Keyes, and Emma Johnson. Landon Dimler led the boys' team with a fourth place finish. The Grizzly boys placed third with 58 points. Both teams will compete Thursday, Oct.

The WEM football team improved to 6-3 overall after a 34-8 win over Minnesota Valley Lutheran Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Section 2A Quarterfinals in Waterville. Nolan Wetzel, Jaden Taylor, and Brant Melchert each scored rushing touchdowns. Matthew Van Houdt scored a touchdown on an interception return. GFW is 7-2 overall, with losses this season to Martin County West (31-20) and Maple River (32-20). The seven teams they defeated have a combined 11-52 record. WEM has lost three times. The losses are to undefeated USC, undefeated Lewiston-Altura, and one-loss Mayer Lutheran.

Vicki Jo Gross, age 75 of Elysian, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter after a short battle with lung cancer.

Project retainage to subscontractors on the Le Sueur County Justice Center Project has been reduced.
The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners received a request by Adolph & Peterson Construction to reduce the retainage for 30 of the 39 subcontractors.
The reduction took the current five percent retainage held and decreased it to one percent.
Adolph & Peterson said they believe these contractors have no risk associated with the project.
The final one percent will be awarded to the subcontractors upon the final signing of the contracts.

Lucille “Lu” Agnes Thomas, age 81, died at Traditions of Waterville on Monday, October 21, 2019.

The restoration of a little historic church’s steeple will be Le Sueur County Historical Society’s first big project, since the group’s leadership changed in June.
The project, which carries an estimated price tag of $174,000, includes the building of a new, historically accurate steeple, the erection of that steeple, and the installation of a new roof on the 160-year-old Ottawa Stone Church, one of four historic properties owned by LCHS.

Crews are close to completing the construction on Highway 99 from Highway 13 to Highway 21 and from St. Peter to Le Center. Weather permitting, the detour east of Highway 13 could be removed by Friday, October 18.
The $8 million, summer-long project covered an assortment of improvements for the traveling public with many of the tasks centered on improving safety. Work on Highway 99 from the Minnesota River Bridge to Le Sueur County Road 38 included:
- Resurfaced from MN River Bridge to railroad crossing

Elysian’s newest business, The Rusty Flamingo, opened Saturday, October 12.
The business, which is owned by Kris Henry of Smiths Mill, is located at 205 5th Street SW (just south of Highway 60), Elysian.
Henry describes her store as an eclectic collection of new, used, repurposed, and handmade items, ranging from decor and gifts to furniture. Many of the items she—or members of her family—make or repurpose.
“I’ve always wanted to have a store like this, a place to sell unique items. So, really, this is a dream come true,” Henry stated.

The Le Sueur County Board received the 2018 audit report during their Tuesday, Oct. 15 meeting.
Amanda Mboga of BakerTilly provided the report.
Mboga said there were only two minor findings related to EFT policies and collateralization of deposits.
She added the county has exceeded the benchmarks her firm has set for them.
The 2018 financial statement highlights included the outstanding general obligation debt of $31,430,859, which is 28.8 percent of the county’s debt capacity.

With one Gopher Conference match to play, the WEM volleyball team has already clinched at least a tie for the title.
WEM was the 2018 conference champions. After a sweep of United South Central Thursday, Oct. 10, the Bucs improved to 6-0 in league play and earned at least a share of the 2019 championship.
Medford is 5-1 and their lone loss is to WEM. Faribault BA, WEM’s final regular season opponent Tuesday, Oct. 15, has two conference losses.
WEM has now won 11 straight matches and has not lost a set since Sept. 21.