Tri-City United Schools will dismiss early, Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Superintendent Teri Preisler said the action is being taken to stay ahead of the predicted wind gusts and possible impacts to the district’s second-tier buses for TCU-Lonsdale.
Dismissal times:
- TCU High School - 1:30 p.m.
- TCU Le Center and Montgomery - 1:45 p.m.
- TCU Lonsdale - 2:30 p.m.
There will be no afternoon or evening activities or meetings.

Minnesota native Hanna Cesario will perform a free concert of love songs on her ukulele at the Montgomery Public Library on Tuesday, Feb. 11, starting at 7 p.m. The event, which will feature popular songs from Ella Fitzgerald to The Beatles, is sponsored by the Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System.
Cesario brings what some call a "refreshing approach" to a timeless instrument and genre by diving deep into every song, giving purpose to each phrase, each note, each word, and everything in-between.

After years of hard work, six senior athletes from Tri-City United High School participated in National Signing Day to commit to playing sports at the collegiate level. On Wednesday, Feb.

José Reyes of Lonsdale and Audrey Wasilowski of Le Center were crowned Tri-City United’s SnoWeek king and queen at TCU High School Friday, Jan. 31 during school hours. Candyland-themed SnoWeek continued Friday afternoon and ended that night after a three-hour lock-in. (Photo courtesy of Devin Reyes)

A Le Center woman faces four felony charges, including wrongfully obtaining assistance and three counts of perjury. Her significant other, with whom she resides, is also charged with a felony for his role in the alleged crime.
According to Le Sueur County Court records, Shannon Jean Foline, 39, of Le Center, has been charged with receiving public assistance benefits (greater than $1,000 and less than $5,000) based upon fraudulent representation and concealment, which constitutes a felony.

In a special meeting Monday, the TCU School Board approved five personnel items. Among them was the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Teri Preisler.
In an electronic communication to district residents, Preisler said it is an honor to serve the Tri-City United School District, students, staff, families, and community members and that she will retire at the end of the school year on June 30.  

A 34-year-old man died in a two-vehicle car crash Monday evening, Jan. 27, in Lonsdale.
Anthony Joseph Mancino, of Glencoe, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident that happened at the intersection of Highway 19 and County Road 2. It occurred at 5:24 p.m.
Mancino was not wearing a seatbelt.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Mancino was traveling westbound on Hwy. 19 in his 2010 Kia Rio. David Ludwig Wolf, 72, of Northfield was driving his 2012 Audi Q5 eastbound on CR 2 when the vehicles collided at the intersection.

Ten Tri-City United High School seniors were named to the Titans' 2020 Royal Sno-Ball Court, Monday afternoon.
The five young ladies include:
• Audrey Wasiloski, daughter of Brooks and Kimberly Wasiloski of Le Center
• Carolyn Mikel, daughter of Brian and Cathy Mikel of Lonsdale
• Giselle Sanchez, daughter of Juan and Luz Maria Sanchez of Montgomery
• Kali Ryks, daugther of Kirstin Lawson of Montgomery
• Mikayla Malecha, daughter of Allen and Shauna Malecha of Northfield
The five young men include:

The Tri-City High School Titans are gearing up for its annual Sno-Ball week January 27 to 31, and students are taking the reins on a new activity.
Teacher and Sno-Ball advisor Carey Lang said this year’s Sno-Ball theme is “Candyland,” and that high school staff is collecting nominees for royalty and actively planning for all aspects of the winter week.
Candidates will be announced on Monday, Jan. 27 during Titan Time from 12:33 to 1:03.

Le Sueur County and the City of Kilkenny have reached an agreement pertaining to law enforcement services.
During the Jan. 21 Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Brett Mason presented a contract that has the county providing law enforcement to the City of Kilkenny.
City officials in Kilkenny have already endorsed the contract. The commissioners approved the contract unanimously Tuesday.
Sheriff Mason said the county had been patrolling Kilkenny without a contract for years.

On Tuesday, Jan, 14, Bevcomm, the Blue Earth based telecommunication company, announced it has reached a definitive agreement with Lonsdale Telephone Company to acquire ownership of that Lonsdale based business. Transfer of ownership is pending regulatory approval, which is expected in the first half of this year.
According to a press release from Bevcomm, “Existing employees of Lonsdale Telephone Company will become employees of Bevcomm, and will continue to manage the day-to-day office functions.”
For more on this story see upcoming print issue.

In advance of the forecasted heavy snow and winds, the TCU School District cancelled school on Friday, Jan. 17.
Through the district's phone-alert system, Superintendent Teri Preisler said the day will be considered a "Blended Learning Day" so students should check for the online work posted by teachers in the morning.
Because Friday is the last day of the semester, Preisler said any student who still has final exams to take will take them when school resumes on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

MANKATO, Minn. – (3:45 p.m.) With significant snow and strong winds forecast for Friday and Saturday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists to plan for difficult driving conditions or make alternate plans.
Heavy snowfall combined with moderate winds can dramatically reduce visibility during the storm and continued wind gusts after the storm may prolong MnDOT snowplow drivers’ ability to recover the roads.

Secretary of State Steve Simon is reminding Minnesotans about the beginning of absentee voting for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Nomination Primary. The primary will help determine both the Democratic and Republican party candidates for the November general election.
“The presidential nomination primary opens up the selection process and allows more Minnesotans to participate,” said Simon. “Caucuses are limited to a few hours on one evening; this primary will give more people more ways to participate, and over a longer period of time.”
How to request an absentee ballot

It's a girl!
The Montgomery Messenger is happy to announce the arrival of Montgomery's New Year's baby, Blakely Bernice Reak, daughter of Tim and Kim (Myhro) Reak of Montgomery.
Little Blakely was born at 12:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Health System New Prague Hospital, weighing in at 8 pounds 7 ounces and measuring 19 inches long.
She is the Reaks' first child.
Watch for more about the Reak family in the print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

On Monday, the Montgomery City Council got things in order for the new year approving depositories and appointments to committees, boards and commissions, and the council calendar.
The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which contained the majority of the housekeeping items, one of which was designating the Montgomery Messenger as the city’s official newspaper. This means the Messenger will again be the publication for the city’s public or legal notices for the year.