Bernita Helena (Roemhildt) Knutson, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 13, 2025, while surrounded by family at Mayo Hospital in Eau Claire, WI, at the age of 74.

A beautiful late Sunday afternoon gave the WEM girls flag football team a chance to showcase their talents in front of a large crowd of spectators in Waterville.
The Buccaneers held on to their place on top of the Sub-District Standings with a split of two games.
WEM dropped a 40-14 contest to Lakeville South and defeated Lakeville North for the second time this season, 21-6.
The Bucs are tied with Lakeville South with a 3-1 record. Fairmont is 2-2 overall and Lakeville North in 0-4 overall.

Cody Vernon Kolstad, 35, was sentenced Friday, May 2 to 300 months in prison for the intentional murder of Brian Daniel Stoeckel, 41, in Morristown on May 31, 2022.
On March 28, 2025, Kolstad pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree intentional murder. In exchange for pleading guilty, prosecutors dismissed a first-degree intentional murder charge.

Earnest William Fortner, age 68, of Waterville, died on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Waseca. 

Janet Arlene Lillian (Krueger) Schmidtke, age 94, formerly of Waterville, died on the evening of Sunday, May 4, 2025, at The Willows of Arbor Lakes Memory Care in Maple Grove.

Bernita Roemhildt Knutson, of Sauk Rapids, MN, passed away Sunday, April 13. She is the daughter of Elmer and Irene Roemhildt of Elysian. 
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter “Bell” Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held two hours before the service.

Dresses, tuxedos, and corsages will be on full display Saturday, May 3 at the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Junior-Senior Prom in Waterville.
More than 125 students have signed up to participate in the Coastal Prom Night, starting with the Grand March in the WEM Gymnasium at 4 p.m. There will be a $1 charge for individuals to attend the event.
Following Grand March, the students will be transported to The Mill in Waseca between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. They will eat dinner there at 6:30 p.m. and the dance will follow.

Five championships and two runner-up finishes were turned in by the WEM girls track and field team Tuesday, April 22 at Blooming Prairie.
The Bucs won four individual events and one relay in placing sixth in the eightteam Blossom Invitational. WEM scored 79 points. JWP was the team champion with 149 points. They were followed by St. Clair (110), Mankato Loyola/Cleveland (107). Blooming Prairie (92.5), NRHEG (82.5), WEM, United South Central/ Alden-Conger (46), and Medford (19).

Part of being a veteran is fighting to protect the country and all who live in it. Meaning to this day our ability to spend a day without worry is in part thanks to the efforts of veterans. We, the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 311 of Elysian hold solemn pride in the heroism of those who served in all wars with American involvement and of those who died. America’s veterans represent the epitome of patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Two WEM shot putters competed in the Hamline Elite Track and Field Meet Friday, April 25 with some of the best throwers in the state.
Senior Ashlyn Pelant and junior Grady Grohman each had among their best throws of their careers while placing in this meet.
Pelant actually did have her best throw of her standout career, tossing the four kilogram ball 38-feet, 11-inches, a new personal best which saw her place third overall.
Jayda Kolstoe, a junior from Minnewaska Area won the event with a toss of...

WEM seniors Claire Elness and Maddie Heuss are no strangers to the Class A State Speech Tournament.
Both students have advanced three times and they have also returned home with finalist medals. and both have been named All-State twice.
This year Elness placed seventh in the Great Speeches competition and Heuss performed well but did not make the finals in the Extemporaneous Speaking competition.
“The girls presented an impressive showing on Friday at the State Speech Tournament,” co-head coach Eric Gerst said.

Clarence “Harry” Bernard Harriman, age 81, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems - St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, MN. A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, with a funeral service immediately following at 4 p.m. at Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells, MN. Please see nasinecfh.com to leave online condolences. 

Le Sueur County is in the process of updating its land use and zoning code plan and will hold an open panel discussion on Le Sueur County’s VISION 2050 Comprehensive Land Use Plan will be held tonight, Thursday, May 1, 6:30 p.m., at the Le Center American Legion, 97 S. Park Ave.
 

A house fire near Hunt Lake in rural Rice County, south of Vintage Escapes Winery & Vineyard, is ongoing but under control. Multiple fire agencies are attending to the fire. Initial reports are that the house is a total loss, but not verified. More details will be in May 1 Montgomery Messenger.

The WEM baseball team was involved in two shutouts last week, one ending in their favor.
The Buccaneers earned their first victory of the season Monday, April 14 with a 10-0, five inning win over Blue Earth Area (BEA). Kenyon-Wanamingo (K-W) came to Waterville Monday, April 21 for a night game and handed the Bucs an 8-0 loss for their first win of the season.
Senior Ivan Pratt was nearly perfect on the mound in the win against BEA. He faced 16 batters, struck out eight, allowed one hit, and tossed 48 strikes in 60 pitches.

WEM students have produced some outstanding artwork during the course of the 2024-2025 school year.
Two of those students have been judged to be among the best in the State of Minnesota.
Seniors Halle Fessel and Clara Nuetzman were selected to have their artwork displayed at the State Visual Arts Festival held at the Perpich Center for the Performing Arts in Golden Valley on May 10.