Esther Grace Kabes, age 99, of New Prague, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center, just two weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

Tri-City United High School Assistant Principal David Reuhs was surprised when he walked into the school's media center on Monday, Jan. 5, for what he thought was a staff meeting.

Ruehs was met by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) Executive Director Bob Driver, his family,  much of the staff of the school, and media, where he was presented the honor of being the chosen the 2026 Minnesota High School Assistant Principal of the Year award. 

He will be put up against others across the nation in April for the national award. 

Anna Marie Rosival, age 76, of Lonsdale passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, December 29, 2025, at her home.

Visitation will be held from 9 – 11 a.m. on Saturday,  April 18, 2026 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Shieldsville with Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Timothy Sandquist officiating. Interment will be held in the Trebon Cemetery in Shieldsville.

The Tri-City United School District School Board voted on Monday, Dec. 22, to ask voters in the district again to pass the same $39.99 million bond that was proposed at the November 2025 single vote election. In November, the tax base that showed up to vote voted 926 in approval and 1,088 in opposition.

At a meeting of the Le Sueur County Officials Association, State Senator Rich Draheim (22, R) and State Rep. Terry Stier (22B, R) were present to share information from the state legislature that affects the area. The meeting was held Dec. 3 at Le Sueur City Hall.

“I don’t want to say it was the most confusing year, but probably the most uncertain year I have seen in my nine years,” Draheim said, noting the size of the state government has tripled in funding since he took office in 2017.

Eleven members of Tri-City United High School’s FFA chapter spend Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 in St. Cloud competing and learning at the Minnesota FFA Winter Leadership Summit at St. Cloud State University.

The first day of the summit included an lengthy agriculture discussion session and a party. The second day of the summit included preliminary rounds for the seven Leadership Development Event (LDE) categories student competition, employment skills, leadership workshops, final rounds of competition, and an awards ceremony.

Mary Kay Dolejs, age 82, of Nicollet, formerly of Montgomery, died on the afternoon of Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Mala Strana Assisted Living and Rehabilitation Center in New Prague.

The message of the evening was clear from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) Tuesday, Dec. 18, at the Montgomery American Legion, aeration systems are rather ineffective at providing meaningful oxygen to most bodies of water and are a source of danger to the public.

About 100 Wheatland Twin Lakes Sportsmans Club (WTLSC) members and the general public gathered to see, hear, and ask questions about what the MnDNR had to present about Cody Lake and the possibility of reinstating an aeration system there.

History of aeration at Cody Lake

Montgomery’s Sharing Tree Coordinator Eileen Segna wants everyone to know they are more than just offering gifts during the holidays, although it’s a big part of their efforts, and that everything given goes directly back to our community.

“This year I think we had 129 (Sharing Tree) tags and there was 19 left over, so we went last Saturday to buy gifts for those 19 people. So, tomorrow when we deliver, everyone will have gifts that otherwise would have been left out,” said Segna.

Dennis John Kaderlik, age 85, of Burnsville, Minnesota, died peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on December 23, 2025, after a two-year battle with melanoma.

Donald M. "Don" Picka, age 82, of New Prague, died peacefully on Friday, December 26, 2025, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Don was born on April 6, 1943, in Derrynane Township, Le Sueur County, MN, to Edward and Angeline (Brezina) Picka.  He graduated from Montgomery High School, and his first job began his career in the print shop at Suel Printing.

It wasn’t quite as low as the 3.9% increase from last year, but the Le Sueur County budget and levy passed was still among the lowest of the last decade.

On Dec. 2, the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners held its annual Truth in Taxation meeting to hear residents’ concerns. The hearing was followed by the official vote on the next budget.

The final levy was set at $30,337,063, which represents a 4.4% increase over last year.

The only years where the increase was lower were in 2021 (4%) and 2025 (3.9%).

Lonsdale was the centerpoint of Christmas-related activity this past Saturday.
    Triumphant Life Church held an ornament-making activity in the afternoon. Next door, the Lonsdale American Legion hosted kids bingo. Down the street, Something For All held their outdoors Who-Ville event for all to meet The Grinch.

    Saturday’s home weightlifting duo with the Burnsville Blaze yielded three individuals qualifying for state and slug of first place finishes. 
    Morgan Meier qualified for varsity state competition with an automatic qualifying total (AQT) greater than 95 KG of 100 KG in the varsity girls’s 58 KG category. 

Much of Minnesota is feeling the effects of a large winter storm currently with Tri-City United Schools cancelling all afternoon and evening activities, rescheduling the music concert from tonight at the same time tomorrow night, Friday, Dec. 18.