It will be a fun-filled weekend in Kilkenny Sept. 13 and 14.

The annual Half-Way to St. Paddy’s Day Celebration is in its 13th year and third as a two-day event.

The events start Saturday, Sept. 13 with a Shamwalk 5K Fun Run/Walk at 9 a.m. There will be prizes for the first place finisher 13 and younger and 14 and older. There will also be a prize for the male and female with the most Irish spirit.

Also starting at 9 a.m. are the flea market and food vendors.

Richard LeRoy Prahl, age 91, of Faribault, formerly of Waterville, died September 2, 2025, at the Owatonna Hospital in Owatonna, Minnesota.

William "Bill" Howard Mack, age 85, passed away in his home in St. George, Utah, on September 2, 2025. Bill grew up in Waterville, Minnesota, went to Mankato State then joined the Navy for four years. He then went to Milwaukee School of Engineering to get his bachelors in electrical engineering. He worked for Giddings & Lewis Machine Tool in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Bill retired after 25 years and developed his own consulting business.

Nona Ose of Waterville entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 25, 2025 surrounded by the love of her family.

Nona was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was preceded in death by her husband Harlan, her son Steven, her three brothers Dean, David and Hal, and her parents. She is lovingly survived by her daughter Susan and son-in-law Bruce Knish, her sisters Garnet (Ron) Swift and Jeanne Hill, as well as her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought her endless joy. 

With six letterwinners, two of whom were All-Gopher Conference First Team selections, returning, the WEM volleyball team is ready to contend for a Gopher Conference Championship this fall.

The Buccaneers are looking to improve on their 2024 season in which they finished 7-3 in the conference (3rd overall) and 18-13 overall.

Seniors Liza Baker, Addison Condon, Alenka Jans, and Robynn Schwichtenberg along with juniors Bryella Pope and Alix Velzke return to the varsity.

Despite the threat of storms over the weekend, the rain mostly held back until after-hours of the Le Sueur County Free Fair.

The 168th annual event took place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 14-17.

The forecast called for storms each day, but the worst of the rain came in the early hours of Saturday and well after the fair closed Sunday night. Both times, Le Center saw up to an inch of rainfall.

A half-inch of rain fell in the afternoon Friday, but had cleared as the events for the day moved into gear.

After replacing a superintendent, the WEM Board of Education will now have to find a replacement for a school principal.

After seven years at WEM, K-4 and 9-12 Principal Dr. Jennifer Wilson submitted her resignation from the school district in a letter dated August 11, 2025. Her last day will be August 22.

The following is the letter presented to Superintendent Mark Winter and School Board Chairman Gary Michael:

Kilkenny’s annual Fireman’s Relief Association ATV Ride and Raffle on Saturday, Aug. 9, brought in a total of 200 riders on 94 allterrain and utility vehicles.

This year’s route took them from Lakefront Bar & Grill in Lexington on Clear Lake, The Bait Bucket in Cleveland, the city of Elysian, and ended at the Toy Box Saloon in Kilkenny, where the raffle drawing was conducted at 6 p.m.

Pitching and mistakes are huge in post season play.

Just ask the Waterville Indians and the Litchfield Blues, who faced off Sunday, August 17 in the opening round of the Class C State Tournament at Hutchinson.

The Indians allowed only one earned run and took advantage of some timely hitting to edge the Blue, 2-1, in 11 innings.

Dallas McBroom pitched eight outstanding innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits. He struck out seven and walked just one.

The 2025 Le Sueur County Fair begins Thursday, August 14 at the fairgrounds in Le Center and runs through Sunday, August 18.

Events are scheduled through the weekend at one of the state’s oldest county fairs.

Friday night’s Waterville Indians game had a number of very special moments which will be remembered for years.

Before the game there was a tribute to long-time Waterville Indians Board of Director Tom McBroom, who passed away earlier that morning.

There was the presentation of the second annual Shane Sellner Memorial 13-60 League Player of the Year, which went to Indians shortstop Ben Boran. Rick and Luke Sellner presented the award to Boran.

The WEM girls flag football team opened up some eyes this past summer with their performance during their first season.

Their efforts have given them a chance to do something players would only dream of.

They get to play during halftime of the Saturday, August 16 Minnesota Vikings preseason game which starts at noon.

“The girls are ecstatic,” Jon Bakken, who coaches the team, said. “It is going to blow us away to be at the Bank.”

After along battle with cancer, Elysian Mayor Thomas McBroom passed away Friday, August 8 at his home.

After being diagnosed, McBroom continued to work for the residents of Elysian as their mayor. He was tirelessly trying to improve the city he has lived in for the past two decades.

Following the July regular Elysian City Council meeting, McBroom drew up a letter which he was to present to the general public, announcing his resignation as mayor. Unfortunately he was unable to present the letter, but his family wanted to make sure it was read. Here it is:

Last year it was an even dozen for the Waterville Indians Amateur Baseball Team. After last weekend they increased that total to a baker’s dozen.

The Indians will be making their 13th Class C State Tournament appearance after winning two straight games in the Region 5C Tournament played Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 in Cannon Falls.

Waterville defeated Veseli, 7-5, Saturday afternoon and downed Waseca, 9-4, Sunday afternoon to advance to the Region 5C Championship.

13th State Tournament appearance - 4th straight

The 4th straight Class C State Tournament for the Waterville Indians amateur baseball team was much different than the last few times they have advanced.

This year the Indians, rated No. 5 in Class C, will be heading to State as the No. 1 seed out of Region 5C, after defeating Pine Island, 12-2, in seven innings Friday, August 8 in Waterville.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved renewing telecommuting and remote agreements with county employees at the board’s Aug. 5 meeting.

However, the agreements were only renewed through the end of the year.

“Unlike previous annual approvals, I’m requesting approval through the end of 2025,” Human Resource Director Theresa Kubes told the commissioners. “We’re working to make updates to our policy with a January 2026 effective date.”