Every year in Montgomery, community members spread Christmas cheer and the joy of the holiday season with the Sharing Tree. The project brings together businesses, volunteers, and generous residents to ensure the holiday wishes of those in need are fulfilled.
Aging Services for Communities (ASC), the Happy Hour Bar, and CornerStone State Bank hosted Christmas trees decorated with cards that contain items wished for by residents who need a little cheer or help around the holidays.

Le Sueur County passed a levy and budget for 2024 at the County Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 12.
After breezing through monthly business, the levy and budget section of the meeting was convened after an hour recess.
County Administrator Joe Martin first gave a presentation breaking down user fees, highlighting the increases for the next year. No commentary was given by the public once the floor was opened. On a motion by David Preisler, second by David Gliszinski the user fee changes were unanimously approved.

Kyle Daniel Clark, age 39, of Montgomery, died unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, December 17, 2023.  Kyle was born on January 10, 1984, in Minneapolis to Kevin D. and Gail J. (Schneider) Clark.  He grew up in Lonsdale and graduated from Montgomery High School.  He continued his education in the electrical curriculum at Minnesota West Community & Technical College in Jackson to get his Associate Arts Degree.  He  went to Denver, Colorado, to further his education towards his journeyman license.  

Week 4 Clue
“While Eileen hoped someone depicted Pine Tree, Vermont, from White Christmas.”
Week 3 Clue - “Max advised he was more interested in seeing Buddy from Elf growing up.”
Week 2 Clue - “As they were checking out the window displays, Mikayla stated her favorite Christmas movie was Home Alone 2. She hopes someone depicted the scene when the pigeon lady throws bird seed on the Sticky Bandits.”

Caroline Bessie Trcka, age 92, of Montgomery, died on Monday, December 18, 2023, at Mala Strana in New Prague. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 27, from 9:30-11 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. all at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Fr. George Grafsky officiating. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

Dorothy L. Dohmen, age 89, of Montgomery, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully with her family at her side on Friday, December 15, 2023.  Dorothy was born on May 6, 1934, in Primghar, IA, to Roy and Doris (Orchard) Hardin.  Dorothy met a young man, Raymond Francis Dohmen, while she was working for the Daughters of the American Revolution National Office in Washington DC.  They married on July 1, 1954, in Ft. Belvoir, VA.  

The Minnesota River boys hockey team put 92 shots on goal and scored 15 times in a pair of wins last week.
The Bulldogs earned a 4-1 win over Hutchinson Tuesday, Dec. 5, peppering the Tigers goal with 35 shots.
The shots kept coming Saturday, Dec. 9 when the Bulldogs sent 57 shots at goal in an 11-4 win over Worthington. Both contests were played at the Le Sueur Community Center.
In the win over Hutchinson, Drew Simonette scored a pair of goals. Riley Kamm and Logan Fahey also added goals.

TCU Lonsdale fifth grade and sixth grade band, and TCU Le Center’s fifth grade and sixth grade band, and middle school band held an evening of holiday-themed music on Monday, Dec. 11.
Lonsdale’s fifth grade band opened the evening by performing individual music numbers tailored to each type of instrument. Percussion, trumpets, trombone and baritone, clarinet, flute and saxophone each performed individual numbers. Afterward, the band combined to perform a full rendition of “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.”

In what will be a series of music performances, TCU Le Center and Montgomery Middle School christened the holiday season with choir performances in the TCU Performing Art Center in Montgomery on Monday, Dec. 4.
TCU Le Center kicked off the evening with its Winter Sing program. Directed by Rose Schroeder, three songs each were performed by the Le Center sixth grade choir followed by the Middle School Singers consisting of seventh and eighth graders.
To see more on this story pick up the December 14, 2023 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

As Christmas approaches, there are a lot of different holiday things to do. Families from Most Holy Redeemer School (MHRS) are no exception. Monday evening kids young and old slowly filtered into the school cafeteria for an Old Fashioned Christmas.
Neaner Kriha coordinated the event and staff and parents from the school helped put on the event. Various others donated from the community besides the listed to make this a 100% free event for families to enjoy over the dinner hours.

When you tell someone that you’ve never flown before, their first assumption is that you’re scared of flying. That has at least been my experience when I revealed this in my late 20s and persisted through my 30s.
Now, in my early 40s, I finally crossed that maiden flight off my bucket list.
Three years of living in Minnesota has kept us from visiting our families in West Virginia, but we had an opportunity to go for Thanksgiving and we decided to take it. Making the drive is a two-day excursion one way, making flying the only viable option in the short week.

State-rated Scott West won 10 of their 13 matches with TriCity United (TCU) Friday, Dec. 8 in defeating the Titans, 53- 12.
Scott West, rated No. 6 in Class AA, has a team which features six state-rated wrestlers.
In one of the best matches of the night, Tucker Skluzacek edged Ethan Strack, 4-3, at 114 pound. Strack came into the match ranked 7th at 107 pounds.
TCU picked up another 4-3 decision when Gavin Sherman defeated...
To see more on this story pick up the December 14, 2023 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.

Nancy Dorshak, age 85, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully with her loving family at her side on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at her home.  Nancy was born on October 3, 1938, in New Prague, to Ronald A. and Angeline (Meskal) Novotny.  She attended Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School, graduated as the salutatorian from Montgomery High School, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the College of St.

Sheryl “Sheri” Skluzacek of Lonsdale passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on December 12. Sheri was born on March 5, 1966, in New Prague to Donald and Grace (Sevcik) Sticha. Sheri was married 37 years to Vernon Skluzacek and together they shared a life with 3 children and 7 grandchildren with another one on the way. Sheri was a Rural Carrier in Lonsdale for 15+ years and enjoyed many activities.

Wally Edward Edel, age 89, of Montgomery, died on Friday, December 8, 2023, in Bloomington. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 15, from 10-11:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. all at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery. Military honors will be provided by the Montgomery area Veterans Honor Guard. 

Larry Douglas Coon, 67, of Webster, MN, passed away peacefully at home December 3, 2023.
Larry was born September 11, 1956, to Patricia and Louis Coon in Creston, IA.
After Larry graduated from Mankato West High School in 1974, he went on to study Horticulture and Landscape design at Brainerd Vocational Technical Institute.
While at school he met Janyce (Jan) Swanson. They were married at Spring Garden Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls, MN, May 3, 1980.