Catherine "Kate" Mary (Seys) Hansen, age 99, of Waterville, passed away on June 15, 2025, at Whispering Creek Nursing Home in Janesville.

Outstanding weather, great events, huge crowds highlight weekend festival
Thousands of bullheads (13,000+) were served, the rain and clouds stayed away, the temperatures were perfect, queens were crowned, the carnival returned, and fun was had by all.
The 2025 Waterville Bullhead Days Celebration held June 6 through June 8, was considered by many as one of the best in the 60-year history of the festival.
One of the highlight events of the weekend was the Friday night crowning of Miss Waterville and Junior Miss Waterville.

Myron Dennis Hohnstadt waltzed his way into heaven Friday, May 30, 2025.
Myron enjoyed old-time German music, dancing, traveling, reading and a good joke. In his younger days he frequented the ballrooms of southern Minnesota, where he met Laurie. He also met his second wife, Shirley, at a dance.
Myron was born July 13, 1931, to William “Bill” and Esther (Kuehn) Hohnstadt in New Ulm, Minnesota. The family moved to Elysian, Minnesota, in 1937, where he grew up. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1950.

2024 was once again a rough year for the City of Waterville due to the record-breaking flooding with ravaged the community.
But thanks to the efforts of many people, the community was kept safe and the city continued to operate.
Among those who had their hands in the stabilization of the city were Waterville city employees, city council, firefighters, police officers, and many, many volunteers.

The Waterville Indians and Morristown Morries combined for 29 runs and 32 hits in an 18-11 win by the Indians Sunday, June 1 in amateur baseball.
There were a ton of hitting stars for both teams. Waterville had seven players with multi-hit games, led by Josh Cook with five hits. Nolan Wetzel reached base six times, and Nolan Grose hit three doubles.
Doug Harmon had two hits and three RBI while Kolin Rients and Ben Lamont each had two hits and two RBI for the Morries. Brent Vollbrecht walked three times.

Seven WEM track and field standouts will be representing the school district at the 2025 Class A State Meet Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Three of these Buccaneers will be making their third appearance at State. One is making his second trip. Three are making their first trip. All athletes advanced after placing either first or second at the Section 2A Meet held Saturday, May 31 at Mankato West.

The 60th Annual Waterville Bullhead Days Celebration will begin with the coronation of Miss Waterville 2025 on Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m at the Waterville Baptist Church. Admission is five dollars for this 68th Miss Waterville and Junior Miss Pageant.
Miss Waterville 2024 Claire Elness and her attendant Ryley Henning will preside over their last pageant.
The candidate who is crowned Miss Waterville, along with the 1st Princess, will represent the community of Waterville by participating in area parades and celebrations, attending area pageants throughout the next 12 months.

Myron Dennis Hohnstadt, 93, died May 30, 2025, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Howard Lake, MN. Visitation begins at 1 p.m. with a funeral to follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 5460 63rd Street NW in Maple Lake, MN.

Robert “Bobby” Judd, age 54, of Owatonna, MN, passed away May 27, 2025, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, following an illness.

Two WEM boys track and field athletes won Section 2A, North Sub-Section Championships Thursday, May 22 at Central Public Schools in Norwood.
Sophomore Griffin Atherton won the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash, and junior Grady Grohman won the shot put.
These two along with junior Talen Taylor and sophomore Wyatt Jans will represent the Buccaneers at the Section 2A Track and Field Championships Saturday, May 31 at Mankato West.

Senior Ashlyn Pelant won two titles and junior Addison Condon won one at the Section 2A North Sub-Section Track and Field Meet held Thursday, May 22 at Central Public School in Norwood.
These three along with seniors Loryn Caldwell, McKenna Schuster, and Tatum Richards, and seventh grader Rachel Mielke will represent the Buccaneers at the Section 2A Meet Saturday, May 31 at Mankato West High School.
Pelant picked up wins in the shot put with a distance of 38-feet, 1-inch, one of her top efforts of the year and the discus, with a distance of 112-feet, 1-inch.

Rod Reifsteck and Duane Anderson were first time honorees receiving the Quilt of Valor at the 3rd District Convention held in Forest Lake two weekends ago.
American Legion Veterans are given this honor as deserved. It was pretty rare to have two members of the same Post receive this award. (From Elysian 311) at the District level.
Quilt of Valor have reached 245,000 service members and veterans, showing our gratitude and valuing their contribution to our freedoms.”
The Quilted Stars from both quilts were sewn by the Elysian Unit 311 members...

It is a milestone celebration for the City of Morristown this weekend, with the 40th annual Morristown Dam Days celebration starting Thursday, May 29 and running through June 1.
The first event of the weekend will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with a Bean Bag Tournament at the Morristown American Legion Pavilion.
The activities continue Friday, May 30 with a Euchre Tournament at the Morristown Community Center at 1:30 p.m. Local food stands open at 5 p.m. as does the carnival - Midwest Rides.

Eileen Leona Wabner, age 88, most recently of Mankato, MN, was called to her heavenly home on May 11, 2025, on Mother’s Day. Eileen was born on March 1, 1937, to parents Edwin and Hattie (Kelling) Schultz, of Waldorf, MN. She was baptized on March 28, 1937, and confirmed on May 13, 1951; her confirmation verse was Acts 4:12 which states “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Eileen grew up on the family farm helping her parents with various tasks and chores - such as helping feed the livestock.

Susie Ann (Krocak) Smisek, age 75, of Le Center, passed away at her home on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
 Born on October 29, 1949, in New Prague, Susie was the beloved daughter of Louis and Adaline (Vlasak) Krocak. She attended Holy Redeemer Catholic Grade School and graduated from Montgomery High School. On October 12, 1968, she was united in marriage to John Smisek at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. After living in Mankato for a few years, the couple settled in Le Center, where they raised their family and built a loving home.

The WEM baseball team is heading into the Section Playoffs with some positive performances the last two weeks.
The Bucs have won three of their last four games, including a 7-0 forfeit victory against NRHEG and a 10-3 win over Waseca Saturday, May 17. They are now 2-8 in the Gopher Conference and 4-12 overall.
In the game against NRHEG, following the loss, officials realized the Panther pitched had already pitched during the week and exceeded the number of innings pitched allowed.