World renown photographer Edward S. Curtis, who captured images of Native Americans in the early 20th century, spent a decade growing up in little Cordova in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
Curtis’ work and his ties to the local area are celebrated in the Arts and Heritage Center of Montgomery’s newest exhibit: Edward S. Curtis Photography Display.
The exhibit, which opened last week and will remain open for public viewing during the center’s regular hours until February 29, features more than 60 of Curtis’ prints of Native American life between 1900 and 1930.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners held their 2020 Reorganizational Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7 in Le Center.
Fifth District Commissioner Steve Rohlfing was named the Board Chairman and Second District Commissioner Danny O’Keefe was named the Board Vice Chairman.
The Le Sueur County Montgomery Messanger News was named the 2020 first legal newspaper. The Montgomery Messenger was named the second legal newspaper.
Mileage reimbursement for Le Sueur County employees will be 57.5 cents per mile, in accordance with the federal IRS mileage rate.

A Waseca Police Officer was shot in the head and “gravely injured” while responding to a report of a suspicious person with a flashlight in the backyard residence on the 900 block of 4th Avenue SE in Waseca after 8 p.m. on Monday night, Jan. 6. The suspect was shot twice and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

High winds and icy conditions may continue into the morning
MANKATO, Minn. –  (3:30 p.m.) Motorists in south central Minnesota are advised to expect difficult driving conditions to remain into Tuesday (December 31) with forecasted additional snowfall, dropping temps and even higher wind gusts.

Friday the 13th was a lucky day for Mayme Jindra.
She celebrated her 105th birthday.
Montgomery’s oldest resident, whose mind and memory are as sharp as a tack, was born on December 13, 1914 in Montgomery. She was the second of five children to Mary and Ed Dejcmar.
According to her niece Penny Joecks, as a young girl, Jindra’s health was not the best, so she did a lot of reading to pass the time, which she did her entire life until eyesight began to fade.

Emergencies don’t take blizzard breaks.
Fortunately, local first responders are resourceful and have friends with big rigs and snowplows.
As the first big snow of the season fell in the area during the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 27, Montgomery’s ambulance crew received a call for help.
A driver had gotten stuck in the ditch near Kilkenny, climbed out of her vehicle, slipped, hit her head, and needed medical attention.

Forget red and green.
It was all about red and blue police lights--and presents, pizza, and fun--at Le Sueur County’s holiday Shop With a Cop event on Wednesday night, Dec. 11 in New Prague.
Twenty kids participated in the sixth annual event that helps foster positive relationships between youth and officers.
“My cop is so cool,” spouted Collin about his partner for the night, Le Sueur Police Officer Aaron Thieke. “I even got to ride in the police car and run the lights and sirens and stuff. Did you hear me sing Jingle Bells over the radio in the squad car?”

A 55-year-old man has died from injuries from a snowmobile crash Saturday evening.
According to the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:40 p.m. to a report of a crash on Lexington Road near 173rd Avenue in Montgomery Township.
Officials say the driver of the snowmobile, Larry Gene Haynes, was traveling northbound on the snowmobile trail at a high rate of speed. Investigators say it appears Haynes was unable to stop before the Lexington Road crossing, ultimately striking the side of a westbound pickup truck.

The Vosejpka family found it!
Joy Vosejpka of Montgomery, and her kids, Ruby, 8, and Jaxson, 9, found the 2019 Christmas Medallion wrapped up in a sock at the pump house in Northside Park. 
It was Clue #2 that led them straight to it. 
"We knew it was in a park because of the first clue. Then, the second clue said it was north, so we knew it was at Northside Park," explained Jaxson. 

This entry from the New Prague Lions Club was among those in the 24th annual Parade of Lights held on Friday, Dec. 6. Temperatures were around 23 degrees Fahrenheit, but that didn’t stop the large crowds that lined New Prague’s Main Street for the Parade of Lights to see area groups and businesses with their floats decorated for the Holiday Season. The parade ended at Memorial Park for visits with Santa, treats, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and fireworks. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Montgomery Torchlight Parade and Fireworks festival signified for the 27th year in a row that the holiday season is well underway.
Bundled for mild, pre-winter temperatures, crowds celebrated the season as they watched close to 50 Christmas-decorated floats roll down First Street.

Staff, visitors and city officials cut the ribbon to the Montgomery Animal Hospital on Thursday, Dec, 5. Pictured are (front, from left) visitors Monty and Nala, (second row) Nikki Kester, Veterinary Technician; Julie Sweers Manager and Technician; (back row) Leah Petricka, City Planner; Brian Heck, City Administrator; Tom Eisert, Mayor; Veterinarian, Benjamin Sweers; Kurt Dvorak, President Montgomery Chamber of Commerce; and Dennis Lambrecht, City Council Member. Read more in the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

Eliminating some debt, a dropping tax rate, and close to $800,000 in undesignated reserves put the city in good financial condition, according to City Administrator Brian Heck.
Montgomery’s annual truth in taxation hearing was held on Monday. The meeting shows how the city is spending your money. It is also when the city council approves its portion of next year’s property tax levy and its budget.
The meeting was billed as a public hearing. However, only one reporter and Representative Todd Lippert, who spoke about legislative issues, were there.

The organization is new, but the time-honored event was very successful.
The newly-formed Scott Le Sueur Waterfowlers continued the tradition of raising funds for education, youth programs, and conservation with a Fundraising Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.

Perfume, chocolate candy, soft granola bars, deodorant, a tin of cookies .… these are some of the gift requests on the Montgomery Sharing Tree this year.
The Christmas tradition where area residents make Christmas special for more than 100 members of the community who are at least 50 years old is up and running in Montgomery.
The program seeks to fill gift requests during the next week and a half for adult residents, many of whom are senior citizens from Montgomery.
The program uses cards on the Christmas tree with requested gifts that total up to $20.

A new job shadowing program at Tri-City United High School has students spending time in area businesses, learning about careers in which they’ve shown interest.
Forty-three students signed up to participate in the program that Corrie Odland, TCU’s Workforce Development Coordinator, is overseeing with help from TCU teachers.