Students at Tri-City United Schools are going to be getting an education hands-on with solar energy due to a new 40kWh solar array installed at both the Le Center K-8 school and high school in Montgomery. The project has been a few years in the making with a long-term vision from Carl Menk, who has off-and-on served as the districts facilities director in addition to being the districts regular full-time technology director.

Tri-City United Schools introduced a new assistant principal for Montgomery PreK-8 School, Shannon Sheehan.

Sheehan has been a teacher for the last 27 years, specializing in music education, primarily for elementary ages. She has taught middle and high school aged students as well over the years. Most recently, she taught in Hermantown, MN, and she started her teaching career in Mountain Lake, MN.

He remembers the fear sweeping through his being in 2003 when he heard his wife had cancer. Two years later, Chris Smith heard a doctor direct those same words at him.

Anya Menk, a 2018 graduate of Tri-City United High School and 2022 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, recently completed her first jazz studio album.

Late in the month of April, many students from Tri-City United Schools Future Farmers of America (FFA) team headed to the State FFA Convention, April 23-25. Some of those students placed very well among their competitors around the state, including two taking home first place awards.

Samantha Tiede, Class of 2023, took home first place for an original song she wrote and performed in the talent category. She was able to play and sing the song she wrote in front of the entire group at Williams Arena, which was also broadcast on the arenas large led billboard.

A 446-acre park in Le Sueur County will benefit from a fundraiser held in Montgomery on Sunday.
The Ney Nature Center (NNC) was the focus of the 13th annual Fall Fling, the nature preserve’s largest fundraiser of the year. It attracted people from around the county who are dedicated to the NNC’s mission of preservation of the natural state of its surroundings, restoring and preserving the buildings of historical significance, and engaging the greater community in connecting with the natural world.

The annual Kilkenny Fire Department ATV Ride, which was held Saturday, August 14, had the biggest turnout in the history of the event.
This is the fifth year the Kilkenny Fire Department has been in charge of the event. The ATV Run was started by the Kilkenny Park Committee a decade ago.
A total of 449 machines and 781 people participated this year, eclipsing the previous high numbers of 329 machines and 525 people in 2019, the last time the event was held. COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the ATV Run in 2020.

The Le Sueur County Board received a report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) June 15 explaining the 10- year district work plan.
There are many road projects scheduled in the next 10 years which will affect residents in most of the communities within the county.

A 26-year-old woman from Kilkenny was flown to Mayo Clinic in Rochester after her vehicle rolled over in Shieldsville, Friday morning, April 23.
According to Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, Phoenix Plaskett, 26, of Kilkenny was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester by Mayo helicopter with serious injuries. Dunn said Plaskett was driving a 2004 Mazda Tribute eastbound on Dodd Road by Le Sueur Avenue when the accident occurred at 7:29 a.m.

It is that time of year when scammers come out in full force. Unfortunately for a couple of Le Sueur County residents, they were duped into sending money to someone they didn’t know.
Le Sueur County Assistant Attorney Jason...
To read more on this story, pick up the February 11, 2021 print editions of the LifeEnterprise and Montgomery Messenger.

The Le Sueur/Rice County Drug Task Force released their work within Le Sueur County last week during the Elysian City Council meeting.
Le Sueur County Chief Deputy Nick Greenig presented the work completed by the drug task force and broke...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 28, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger and LifeEnterprise.

Three youth from Le Sueur Co. have been chosen to help share the story of 4-H and agriculture as newly appointed Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassadors.
Two are from Tri-City United High School, and one is from Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School. All are members of the...
To read more on this story, pick up the January 28, 2021 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger or the LifeEnterprise.

Free help available for teens struggling with drugs, alcohol
Jeremy Gerres gets right to the point.
He’s a recovering addict.
Drugs and alcohol governed his life for many years. He knows the struggle, the pain, and the consequences.
Gerres opened Spirits at Rest, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Montgomery, earlier this year, but quickly identified a need for a program for adolescents.

Free food giveaway serves 700 families
There IS such a thing as a free lunch - and breakfast - and dinner, thanks to a free food distribution event that was held for Le Sueur County residents on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The distribution was held at the county fairgrounds for those in need or newly struggling to make ends meet due to the COVID-19 crisis.
A total of 700 families were served, according to Tammy Stewig of Le Sueur County Emergency Management. Her department, and Le Sueur County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), hosted the event.

A new, colorful exhibit at Montgomery’s Arts and Heritage Center
The colorful and historic pieces all came together.
A collection of aprons created by apron enthusiast, historian, and renowned storyteller Yvonne Cory of Easton is now on display at the Arts and Heritage Center of Montgomery. The free exhibit will be available for viewing during the center’s regular hours until October 10.

A Faribault man was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday, September 1, along Dodd Boulevard, southwest of Sheildsville, and a Kilkenny man has been hospitalized.
According to a news release issued by Sheriff Troy Dunn, the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, Kilkenny Fire and Rescue and North Ambulance were dispatched to a personal injury vehicle crash in the 8000 Block of Dodd Boulevard at about 1 p.m.