Paul A. Schmidt, age 72, of Baudette, Minnesota, formerly of Hutchinson and Montgomery, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024, at his brother Roger’s home in Glencoe, Minnesota. Memorial Service was held Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson, Minnesota.
Clergy Officiating: Rev. William Moeller, Jr., Pianist: Paul Otte, Congregational Hymns: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, “Just As I Am”, “How Great Thou Art”

Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, along with the Mounted Posse and The Sheriff’s Youth Project, have once again come together to launch the project, “Believe in the Magic of Christmas.”
The project “will provide an opportunity for our community to come together and spread a little Christmas Magic for a very deserving family.”

This weekend was my first stop in Minneapolis. I had been around the fringes of the cities a few times, but this was my first time smack in the center.
    As far as traffic goes, I would rank it better than Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.

Junior Lupita Lopez and sophomore Kinsley Mach were named the Most Valuable Players on the Tri-City United (TCU) girls soccer team this fall.
Lopez was named the Titan Defensive MVP and Mach was named the Titan Offensive MVP.
Lopez finished the 2024 season with seven goals and six assists. She was also recognized as a Big South All-Conference Honorable Mention selection.
Mach led the team with 10 goals and added two assists. Her efforts also saw her receive the Titan Golden Boot Award which is given to the team’s top scorer.

The first season in the Big South Conference for the Tri-City United (TCU) boys soccer team was very successful.
The Titans placed second in the Black Division with a 3-2-1 record. They ended with a 12-5-2 overall record and were the Section 2A Runners-Up.
Four Titan players received honors from the Big South Conference coaches.
Seniors Damian Torres and Alan Ortiz, junior Nick Mendez, and freshman Angel Ruiz Gomez were named to All-Conference Teams.

TCU’s fall musical goes under the sea with a production of The Little Mermaid.
The musical opens Friday, Nov. 22, at the TCU Performing Arts Center and runs through Sunday. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.
There are 52 students participating in the musical, based on the classic Disney movie. The show is directed by Sarah Mejia.
“It’s going very well,” TCU Senior Josiah Velarde, who plays Prince Eric, said. “After seeing all the costumes and all of the set put together. It’s coming to life. I’m very excited.”

Tri-City United Schools 7-12 Activity Director Chad Johnson was given the South Central Service Cooperative’s SPOTLIGHT Employee Recognition Award.

The 2024 Torchlight Parade and Fireworks has announced their grand marshals for this year’s event, 7-year-old Kylee Balfe from Tri-City United Montgomery PreK-8 School and 8-year-old Chase Barnett of Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School.
Balfe, daughter of Matt and Desiree Reak, is from Montgomery. She participates in dance and cheerleading, loves to sing at home, playing on her swing set, going to the park, riding bicycle, playing games on her Nintendo Wii, building forts and playing outside with her dog Bear.

For those of you who are not a part of social media, you may have had a quieter election season among friends. It’s possible perhaps that you even lost a few within your circle or that they associate differently with you now — whether quietly or known.

Tri-City United Schools 7-12 Activity Director Chad Johnson was given the South Central Service Cooperative’s SPOTLIGHT Employee Recognition Award.

Paul A. Schmidt, age 72, of Baudette, Minnesota, formerly of Hutchinson and Montgomery, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024, at his brother Roger’s home in Glencoe, Minnesota.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be held Friday, November 22, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the service ALL at the funeral chapel.

Rosella "Rosie" (Novotny) Skluzacek, 87, of Northfield, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, November 16, 2024, at Northfield Retirement Community.
She is survived by her two daughters: Mercedes (Robert) Maier of Northfield and Merceday (Bruce) Kaardal of Redwood Falls; five grandchildren, Erin, Kirsten, Alison, Mark, and Joel; four great-grandchildren; other family members; and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

The season for the Minnesota River girls hockey team started Thursday, Nov. 7 with a game at Mankato All Seasons Arena.
The Bulldogs were defeated by Mankato East, 4-1.
The lone goal for Minnesota River was scored by Noelle Simonette at the 9:08 mark in the second period. There were no assists on this goal.
Mankato East scored goals in all three periods and were led by Brielle Newton, who scored three of her team’s four goals.
Annika Magelee stopped 21-of-25 shots for the Bulldogs. Jordan Thomas allowed one goal in facing 14 shots for the Cougars.

Larry Parsons, of Montgomery, stands on his open porch every day at 5 p.m. and plays “Taps.” He has an Amazon Alexa notification to remind him, just in case he forgets what time it is. “A couple of neighborhood children across from his place come out with their hand on their hearts, almost daily,” Parsons said. The children came out the day we visited him, and another neighbor from across the corner shouted, “Thanks for your service Larry!”

Joe Johnson
Rice County Emergency Management Director
As winter approaches, it's critical to prepare for extreme cold, snow, and icy conditions. These storms can last a few hours or several days and cut off heat, power, and communication. 
Winter storms create a higher risk of car crashes, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, residential fires, and heart attacks from overexertion. 
To ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared, follows these steps: 

Tri-City United High School junior Ella Schmiesing returned home today with two medals from the 2024 Minnesota State High School League's Swimming and Diving Championships in Minneapolis.
Schmiesing took second place in the 100 yard freestyle, behind Adalynn Biegler - a junior from Monticello. Schmiesing also took home third place in the 50 yard freestyle, coming in within milleseconds of Biegler, who took first place, and Izzy Westling, who took second place.