Crews will begin work on the Highway 169 Jordan-Shakopee improvement project at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Workers will reduce Highway 169 to one northbound and one southbound lane between Highway 21 in Jordan and Highway 41 in Jackson Township through mid-August. Lane closures will not be allowed weekends beginning Aug. 9.
Also starting May 1, through late-June, drivers will be limited to right-in, right-out access to Highway 69 in the project area, except at these intersections:

The Tri-City United (TCU) baseball team lost three games last week, two to Minnesota River conference opponents.
Le Sueur-Henderson (LSH) scored nine runs in the fifth inning in downing the Titans, 12-0 Monday, April 15.
LSH picked up one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 led before their big inning .
Kellen Jirik took the loss for the Titans. The southpaw went three innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on one hit, striking out three, and walking six.
Nate Blaschko and Noah Rynda each pitched for TCU also.

Submitted by: Sarah Stultz, Managing Editor, Albert Lea Tribune
A significant discussion is taking place at the state Legislature in reaction to the recent announcement that eight community newspapers will close at the end of the month.
Under a proposal in the Senate Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF 3567), school districts would no longer be required to publish their proceedings in newspapers and could instead move them to their own websites.

Taking public notices for schools out of newspapers would hurt public
A significant discussion is taking place at the state legislature in reaction to the recent announcement that eight community newspapers will close at the end of the month.
Under a proposal in the Senate Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF 3567), school districts would no longer be required to publish their proceedings in newspapers and could instead move them to their own websites.

Donald (Don) J. Smisek Sr, age 83, of Lonsdale, MN, passed away peacefully at Lakeville BeeHive Homes on April 17, 2024, with family by his side.  He fought a long and courageous battle with dementia. Don is preceded in death by sons Tommy and Dennis, and parents Joe B. and Helen Smisek. Don was born June 2, 1940, on a family farm in Webster Township. He attended Lonsdale Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from New Prague High School in 1959. He served in the US Marine Corps for 4 years.

TCU High School Principal Alan Fitterer says that 201 out of about 600 Tri-City United High School students received academic letters and were celebrated the school’s Academic Letter Breakfast and Program on Thursday, March 21.
In order to qualify for an academic letter, students must earn at least six credits per semester (five credits for seniors) and no grade must be lower than a B-. Additionally, a students grade point average must be maintained above 3.67 for grade 9, 3.6 for grade 10, 3.5 for grade 11, and 3.3 for grade 12.

Big South Conference team from Fairmont ruined the home opener for the Tri-City United (TCU) girls softball team.
The Cardinals defeated the Titans, 11-4, Friday, April 5 in Lonsdale.
Cristina Cruz led the Titan offense with three singles in three at bats.
Morgan Fredrickson added two singles in three at bats.
Anne Cooper had one hit and knocked in two runs.
Audrey Vosejpka was 1-for-3 with a double and a stolen base.
Lexi Factor was 1-for-4 with a single 
Avery Lerfald was 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI.

Elizabeth “Izzi” Kotek, 11, was crowned as the Montgomery American Legion Auxiliary Unit 79’s 2024 Poppy Princesses at the April 10th monthly American Legion Auxiliary meeting.
Izzi is the daughter of Corey and Bobbi Kotek of Montgomery. Corey is the the Post 79 Commander.
Poppy Princesses are American Legion Auxiliary Junior Members between the ages of 6 to 12. Each contestant is required to research and create a 30 to 50 word essay about the red poppy or the Poppy Princess program.

The internet and social media won't fill the gap in civic awareness. Local government officials will go largely unchecked. 
"If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, judges and governors shall all become wolves.” — President Thomas Jefferson on the dangers of an uninformed electorate.

First boy Junior Ambassador entered into program
Saturday evening was a gathering from around the state at the Montgomery American Legion for the 35th Annual Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant.
Festivities started with an authentic Czech meal, prepared by board member and Head Chef Josh Gare and his volunteer crew. Gare was recognized for his work in the organization, with special attention for the meals, by the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassadors with the Honorary Commodore’s Award.

Carrie Simon, of Montgomery, went to the doctor in early 2022 thinking it would be a typical doctor visit. In February of 2022, she went through surgery. She and her husband, Russ, believed it was just an ovarian cyst. The doctors thought it was about 18 centimeters, and it ended up being 35 centimeters in diameter and had ruptured.
“Russ knew it was cancer already from the doctors while I was under, but they told me when I woke up. It was pretty gut-wrenching,” she said.

Laurie Beek-Korbel, age 59, of New Prague, passed away peacefully, in her sleep at home on Sunday, April 7, 2024.  She had been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure on June 12 of 2022, and entered hospice care on February 28 of this year. Laurie was born on February 10, 1965, in Faribault to Donald & Evelyn (Timmers) Korbel.  She grew up on the family dairy farm in Kilkenny and graduated from Montgomery-Lonsdale High School in 1983.  She had 2 years advanced schooling in sales marketing and management and worked for K-Mart during those years.  Following her education, she worked for

Samuel "Sam" Richard Carlson, age 86, of Lonsdale passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at his home. Private family services will be held.
 Sam was born on June 5, 1937, to Samuel (CJ) and Ruth (Danielson) Carlson in the chicken coop on the family farm in Chengwatana Township east of Pine City. Sam held many jobs in his lifetime, but cutting wood was always his favorite.

Ambassadors looking for candidates
The Lonsdale Ambassadors annual Easter Egg Hunt once again drew hundreds of area families to Lonsdale’s Jaycee Park on Saturday, March 30.
Miss Lonsdale Ambassador royalty facilitating the three age group-separated hunts were Miss Lonsdale Alli Simon, Miss Ambassadors Khloe Flicek and Avery Lerfald, Junior Ambassadors Payton Fischer and Paige Miller, and Little Ambassador Kyrie Smisek.

Next Fools in the Alley event won't happen for 63 years
Those who missed Monday’s Fools in the Alley Parade and Celebration will have a long wait until the next event.
In what was only the fourth time being held in Its 33-year history, the irregular event occurs only when April Fools Day follows the Monday after Easter, which until this year was every 11 years. However, the alignment after this year shifts causing the next occurrence not to take place again until 2086.

While it won’t be open for public use, a new recycling facility will be bringing benefits to Montgomery starting next month.
Cosmic Recycling has plans to open a facility that focuses on recycling solar panels and electronic waste, dubbed e-waste. The waste items will be shipped in from outside sources rather than collected from the community.
The facility will be located at 513 1st St. South in Montgomery in a facility owned by Hruby Rentals.