The mind of a brilliant teenager with autism is the focus of this year’s TCU One Act, “The Other Room.”
The play revolves around Austin, (Andrick Wagner) a brilliant teenage astronomer who happens to have autism. Lily (Carolyn Mikel) is his popular classmate who happens to have an interest in astronomy. When a chance encounter after school leads to a growing connection between them, Austin's imagination, intelligence, and constant struggles to connect with the world are revealed in the form of four characters representing his inner life.

Le Sueur County Judge Mark Vandelist sent a strong message to the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) and its membership on January 3 when he rejected the society’s request to split the fees for the retired judge overseeing the case.
Vandelist stated the disputes within the organization are only hurting it, and if the membership and Board of Directors want to deplete the society’s resources by continuing their contentious disputes, there is little doubt their actions may have an adverse financial effect.

Gladys D. Beinhorn, age 81, of New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Tuesday January 15, 2019 at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.  Gladys was born March 13, 1937 in New Prague to Erwin H.

On Sunday Jan. 13 at approximately 9:30 p.m. the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office received information that a threat directed at the Cleveland Public School had been posted on a social media group chat site.
According to Sheriff Brett Mason, Le Sueur County Deputies investigated the matter immediately obtaining a copy of the group chat where references to shooting and stabbing up the school were made.

UPDATED at 2 p.m. 1-14-19
Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn announced the name of the victim in the death investigation. He identified that it was David Amundson, 44, of New Prague, who was found in a field near his vehicle on January 13, 2019, at 30th Street West and Halstad Avenue in Wheatland Township.
UPDATED at 3:45 pm. 1-13-19

Lucille Heyda, 90, of Shakopee, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019.
Lucille was born on June 11, 1928, in Montgomery, MN, the daughter of Rudolph and Christina (Holey) Shetka. Her husband was William Heyda, Sr.
The things Lucille enjoyed most were gardening and canning the fruits and vegetables that she nurtured through the summer months. She loved cooking and collecting recipes.

Bright stars, colorful glow sticks, and a few flashlights illuminated the paths for snowshoers in Richter Woods County Park Saturday night, January 5. There was just enough snow in the rural Montgomery park to make the first-time event possible.
More than forty people participated in the free Moonlight Snowshoeing event, which was sponsored by Le Sueur County Parks, Ney Nature Center, and TCU Community Education.

The 2019 fee schedule in Lonsdale has been set and it does not include an increase to the water and sewer fees.
Every year the city council makes adjustments to the fee schedule and sets the schedule at its first meeting of the new year. On Thursday, the council did just that, making 15 adjustments.
Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson said that the reason for making these adjustments is to recoup costs incurred by the city, not to make a profit on the items.
In particular, the cost for fingerprints for non-residents is doubling in price.

Third District Le Sueur County Commissioner John King of Le Sueur was named the chairman of the Le Sueur County Board Tuesday, Jan. 8.
First District Commissioner David Gliszinski of New Prague, was named the vice chair during the board's first meeting of 2019.
The Le Sueur County Montgomery Messanger News was named the county's legal newspaper.
The Lake Region Life was named the county's 2nd legal newspaper.
Newly elected officials were also sworn in by Judge Mark Vandelist.

An early morning accident on Highway 13, just south of Highway 99, sent two people to the hospital Tuesday, January 8.
An unidentified 16-year-old male was driving a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country minivan southbound on Highway 13 and made a left turn into a driveway and collided with a northbound 2015 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jeffrey Frodl, 45, of Waterville. The crash occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m.
Montgomery Fire and Le Sueur Sheriff’s Offices responded to the scene.

Rose Adeline (Dietz) Washa, 104, of Le Center, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, at her home in Le Center. Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with funeral service following at 11 a.m. also with Father Chris Shofner officiating. Interment will be held at a later date.
Rose was born on December 18, 1914, in Montgomery to August and Rose (Kriha) Dietz. She was a Montgomery High School graduate. Rose was united in marriage to Nathan Henry Washa on November, 12, 1934 in Montgomery.

Rita Marie Sticha, 82, of Faribault, formerly of Montgomery passed away on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Pleasant Manor in Faribault. Visitation will be Wednesday, January, 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with funeral service following at 11 also at the funeral home with Father Victor Valencia officiating. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

An investigation into Frontier Communications has shown that the company has failed to provide adequate or reliable service, according to Minnesota Commerce Department.
The investigative report was filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Friday, January 4, 2019.

After a tough 38-39 loss against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown that opened their holiday tournament on Thursday, Dec. 27, the Tri-City United Girls’ Basketball Team returned Friday to beat Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 62-45.
Coach Eric Specht said the girls started the tourney a little timid, and struggled to put the ball in the basket.

Several wrestlers scored victories at the Redwood River Riot on December 21 and 22. Nick Johnson at 120 pounds, Sam Miller at 195 pounds and Jose Reyes did well at the tournament.
Johnson defeated Kelvin Andrade-Ponce of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in his first bout with a 9-2 decision. He continued with a win against Erik Artiga of Worthington in a 6-4 decision, and Wyatt Taylor of Sibley East with a pin in 2:53. He defeated Ryan Borris with a 11-3 major decision before he was defeated by Jaxson Rohman of Fairmont-Martin County West in the final round. He was pinned in 2:03.

After a crushing 21-85 loss against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown to open the Tri-City United Basketball Tournament, the Titans rebounded with their first win against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP), 58-51.
The boys opened the holiday tournament on Thursday, Dec. 27 with a winless record. They faced the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers who entered the contest with a 7-1 record, and as records predicted, the Buccaneers dominated the Titans in TCU territory.