Free COVID-19 testing will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, Montgomery, 105 Spruce Ave. NW, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.
The testing site will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. It is open to everyone two years and older. The test will be free. No insurance is needed.
You can get tested even if you don't have symptoms of COVID-19. For example, if you think you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 or if you got a call from the health department telling you that you may have been exposed.

Rice County Public Health will be offering a flu vaccination clinic on Tuesday, November 17th from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Lonsdale American Legion, 115 2nd Avenue NW, Lonsdale for anyone 6 months and older.
Please wear face coverings and short-sleeved shirts for ease of vaccine administration. No appointments necessary -- physical distancing will be maintained.   

As hospitals express concern about capacity to treat Minnesotans with COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz today announced new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus in Minnesota. Beginning on Friday, the restrictions will apply to social gatherings, celebrations and receptions, and bars and restaurants, which are three of the most significant sources of COVID-19 outbreaks across the state.
Walz also today announced $10 million in funding to support small businesses affected by the pandemic.
 

The elephant in the room has appeared.
Starting on November 18, students of the Tri-City United School District will begin distance learning.
“The numbers in the county have gone up extremely fast,” said Lonnie Seifert, of the need to move to a different learning model as a result of the increased number of COVID-19 health pandemic cases in the area. “It’s an indication, the way the numbers are going, that things are going up. Two communities in the county that are getting hit hardest right now are Montgomery and Le Center.”

Sunday, Oct. 25 was a special day.
After long and careful instruction, Bonnie’s and my son, Mecca, along with 11 others, were confirmed in St. John Lutheran Church.
The “affirmation of baptism” is a big event. It was supposed to be witnessed by a lot of family at the church and at home. However, due to this crappy coronavirus, family groups in church were limited to little more than a half dozen invitees.
No thanks to the dumb virus, we also pared down our family party to just a few members, instead of the clan of more than 40.

Sunday, Oct. 25 was a special day.
After long and careful instruction, Bonnie’s and my son, Mecca, along with 11 others, were confirmed in St. John Lutheran Church.
The “affirmation of baptism” is a big event. It was supposed to be witnessed by a lot of family at the church and at home. However, due to this crappy coronavirus, family groups in church were limited to little more than a half dozen invitees.
To see more on this story, pick up the November 5, 2020 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce reported having between 70 and 72 memberships, including two businesses, Rise and Shine Nutrition and Roots on Oak, who were recognized as new members at the Chamber’s Oct. 27 meeting. Franke’s Bakery was also recognized as having “rejoined.”

Free food giveaway serves 700 families
There IS such a thing as a free lunch - and breakfast - and dinner, thanks to a free food distribution event that was held for Le Sueur County residents on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The distribution was held at the county fairgrounds for those in need or newly struggling to make ends meet due to the COVID-19 crisis.
A total of 700 families were served, according to Tammy Stewig of Le Sueur County Emergency Management. Her department, and Le Sueur County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), hosted the event.

The Kolacky Days royalty was one of the many floats in the annual Anoka Halloween Parade on October 31.
The parade typically draws more than 60,000 people each year, but this year large group gathering restrictions prevented that from happening. Instead, organizers made the parade drive-by only and separated it into four different areas to spread people out.
To see more on this story, pick up the November 5, 2020 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

In their second match-up against the Sibley East Wolverines on Thursday, the Tri-City United Titan Volleyball Team was close to winning a set, but the team came up short, losing 0 to 3. The first time the Titans took on the Wolverines was at their season opener, when the score was 1 to 3 in the Wolverines’ favor.
To see more on this story, pick up the November 5, 2020 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Challenger Joy N. Svoboda unseated incumbent, city council member, Dennis Lambrecht in the November 3 general election.
Svoboda received 928 votes to Lambrecht’s 562 votes. Incumbent Bob Forcelle retained his seat on the council with 634 votes.
Other challengers included Benjamin Koeppen, 372 votes, and Bob Taraba, 177 votes.
Incumbent Mayor Tom Eisert ran unopposed. He was reelected with 1,467 votes. There were also 53 write-in votes for that position.

Kathleen “Kathy” Gessner, 79, of Waseca, died from cancer on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Waseca.
Born on January 30, 1941, in Richland Township, Rice County, Minnesota, Kathy was the daughter of Joseph and Marion (Slocum) Keilen. She grew up on a farm with her parents and her older brother, Jim, and graduated from Montgomery-Lonsdale High School in 1958. 

A line of voters was already forming Tuesday morning, 15 minutes after polls opened at 7 a.m. At the American Legion Post 79, (102 Elm Ave. SW) the new location for this year’s general election, line of voters stretched outside of the building and down the sidewalk. In addition to the office of President, competitive seats up for grabs are in the U.S. Senate, House, state legislatures, and local municipalities. The 2020 election also comes in a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, a deflating economy and civil rights marches across the country.

Eunice Bernice Washa, 81, of Fort Worth, Texas passed away on Monday, October 26, 2020. She was born in Lydia, Minnesota on November 19, 1938 to Emil Oldenburg and Lillian (Ebel) Oldenburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Association via their website at alz.org. If you prefer, checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011.

Be sure to check where your polling place is.

Leonard E. Beatty, Jr passed away at his home in Montgomery, MN on October 26, 2020, at the age of 82. He was born in St. Paul, MN on December 1, 1937, to Leonard Sr. & Bessie (Fitch) Beatty. 
Leonard was a graduate of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Roseville, MN and of Cretin Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, MN
In February 1957, he married Kathryn Schwarzbauer at Sacred Heart Church in Wahkon, MN, and together they had six children.