Sitting around a u-shaped table set-up at Montgomery City Hall on an average Wednesday, Oct. 25, were a group of humble, happy, kind and welcoming people meeting as members of the Degree of Honor. The celebration this month — acknowledging the members that have made it to 50 years with the organization.
Members Mark Richter, Mary (Ruhland) Tupy and Stacey (Pan) Brown all received a special pin from Degree of Honor from the Montgomery chapter president, JoAnn Petricka, in commemoration of their milestone.

My name is Mike Mallow, and I have joined the staff of the Montgomery Messenger and the LifeEnterprise as a part-time reporter.
I am a West Virginia native and a 22-year veteran of the newspaper industry. My career began in 2001 at my hometown newspaper, The Pendleton Times, in Franklin, W.Va. Even though the digital age was well underway, the newspaper was still assembled by pasting the elements to a large sheet with hot wax until 2005.

Tri-City United (TCU) sophomore Grant Fitterer had the top finish for the Titans at the Section 2AA Cross County Championships held at Benson Park in North Mankato.
Fitterer, who has led the team in every race he has run this season, placed 40th overall in a time of 18:19. The winner of the race was Mankato East senior Isaiah Anderson in a time of 15:58.
The Titans placed 11th overall with a score of 298 points. Mankato East, one of the top three teams in Class AA, won the meet with 28 points. They were followed by Marshall with 61 and Belle Plaine with 66.

Chester Floyd McDonald, age 97, of Montgomery passed away at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Visitation Friday, November 3, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. with Military Honors provided by the Montgomery area Veterans Honor Guard at 11 a.m. all at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Interment will be held at Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery.

Larry Myers, a 79-year-old Vietnam veteran, died after receiving a severe beating from a road rage incident with Leslie Shawn Sanders in June 2022. Myers suffered facial fractures and a significant brain injury in the ordeal, was placed on life support and passed away nine days after the incident.

For the first time in school history the Tri-City United (TCU) girls swimming and diving team competed against St. Paul Highland Park.
The two teams battled Tuesday, Oct. 17 in Montgomery in what was a day where parents and seniors were celebrated.
Senior Mallorie Plut, Lyllian Coponi, Amanda Prigge, and Kaylee Berger were acknowledged for their time on the team, with all four being seniors. All the girls, except Caponi, have been on the team since seventh grade.
The Titans were edged by Highland Park, 96-79, despite five event victories for TCU.

Four Tri-City United girls cross country runners placed in the top 20 at the Minnesota River Conference Meet held Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Montgomery Golf Club.
Led by junior Yasmin Ruiz, the Titans placed third among the six teams in the conference race, with 80 points. Ruiz finished 5th overall in a time of 20:33 on the 5,000-meter course.
Belle Plaine won the meet with 33 points. Sibley East placed second with 56 points. TCU (80), Lester Prairie (104), Le Sueur-Henderson (120), and Norwood-Young America (138) rounded out the field.

“Since the legalization of marijuana passed the legislature there has been a scramble to enact laws and ordinances pertaining to its use, growing, transportation and possession. Most municipalities in the area have chosen to enact a conservative approach to the aforementioned. State laws will be maintained, but the state legislation has given each municipality options into how they want to govern themselves. Through the multiple meetings leading up to August 1, 2023, everyone is expecting changes to the original language in the bills.

Lillian Cecelia Malecha-Novotny, age 94 of Montgomery, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Mala Strana Health Care in New Prague. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:30 a.m. all at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

It was a week of firsts for the Tri-City United boys soccer team.
The Section 2A 3rd-seeded Titans earned their first-ever playoff victory with a 6-0 drubbing of 6th-seeded Albert Lea in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs Thursday, Oct. 12.
They then avenged a loss and a tie to 2nd-seeded Southwest Minnesota Christian (SWMC) Saturday, Oct. 14, downing the Eagles 5-4 on a shootout of a 3-3 regular tied game.

Youth musicians filled the Tri-City United Performing Arts Center (PAC) Monday for the annual Fall Band & Choir Concert.
The Choir, under John Sosa's direction, started the show by performing three pieces with Robyn Menk on piano accompaniment. They included “Spark of Light,” “Pulse” and “Another Day of Sun.”
Sosa commented on the group’s growth in the two years he has been at TCU, saying their dedication has made the program stronger.

Channeling your inner creativity
The Montgomery Area Community Club (MACC) is excited to announce that they are seeking designs for the 90th Annual Kolacky Days button.

George Emil Duban, age 86, of Lonsdale, passed away October 16, 2023. Visitation will be held Friday, October 27, from 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 28 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Fr. Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Lonsdale. Military Honors will be provided by the Montgomery and Lonsdale Veteran Honor Guard.

Lyle George Nagel, 80, of New Prague passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023, of cancer at his home in New Prague.
Lyle was born on December 14, 1942, to Henry and Lorraine Nagel. He was born on the family farm in Belle Plaine, MN. After graduation from Belle Plaine Senior High, Lyle served in the Army Reserves. In 1966, he married Mary Alice Bruzek, and moved to New Prague. They had two children, Amy and Chad. Lyle was employed at the flour mill in New Prague and remained with them throughout several ownership changes. He retired from Conagra in 2007.

Connie Lou Pfeil, age 71, of Sioux City, Iowa, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.  Her husband, John Stewart Pfeil, age 81, died just 2 months previously in Iowa on August 15, 2023. 
 Connie was born on February 11, 1952, in Sioux City, IA to Joe Pilcher and Frances Olson. John was born on May 12, 1942, in Burbank, CA to George & Ruth (McKay) Pfeil.  

Molter's Fresh Market, taking over the former home of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods at 105 Boulevard NW in Montgomery, is set to open on October 16.
The hours for the new grocery store will be Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contractors were already on site early this week preparing the location for opening.