On February 28th, 2019 at approximately 12:30 a.m., Le Sueur County dispatch received a call regarding a home break-in on the 400 block of Main Street East in the City of Waterville. A Waterville Police Officer arrived at the residence shortly after. The officer was advised by the owner that they were woken up by a loud banging noise and the sound of breaking glass. The owner then went to the stairs and witnessed a male wearing a white hoody and dark jacket in their home. The owner yelled at them and they fled the scene.

The WEM girls basketball team overcame a nine point second half deficit and defeated Fairmont 40-37 Tuesday, Feb. 26 in the South Sub-Section Quarterfinals played at Waterville. Sophomore Toryn Richards hit four straight free throws the final 14 seconds of the game to give the Bucs their first lead. Senior Paige Pittman scored 12 points and sophomore Richards and Brielle Bartelt each added 10 points. WEM, the No. 2 seed, will play the No. 6 seed, Maple River Friday, march 1 at 7:15 p.m. at Mankato East High School in the South Sub-Section semifinals.

Marna Lee Bauer, age 83 of Waterville, died on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Birchwood Cottages in Owatonna.
Born in Erin Township, Rice County, Minnesota on February 14, 1936, Marna was the daughter of Alva and Evaline (Roemhildt) Jackson. She was baptized
into the faith on April 5, 1936 in Kilkenny and was later confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville on May 28, 1950. She graduated from
Waterville High School in 1954 and later married Donald F. Bauer at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville on June 12, 1955. Throughout her

Despite orders from a Le Sueur County judge and a retired, court-ordered judge, the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS), has not turned over all its records.
A motion was filed on February 8, 2019, to have Le Sueur County Judge Mark Vandelist address the many missing documents and hear reasons why they haven’t been produced.

Post-season action for the WEM boys and girls basketball teams will start soon for both teams. The girls are the No. 2 seed in the Section 2AA South Sub-Section with a 19-5 record. They will host No. 7 seed Fairmont (8-15 overall) Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. The No. 1 seed is undefeated Medford, who defeated the Bucs Thursday, Feb. 21 for the second time this season. If WEM wins their opener, they will play either No. 3 seed Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (21-2) or No. 6 seed Maple River (16-10) Friday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Mankato East. WEM defeated LCWM earlier this season.

Francis "Frank" Charles Janda, age 88 of Minnetonka, formerly of Waterville, died on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at Lake Minnetonka Shores in Spring Lake Park.

MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation is preparing motorists for forecasted heavy snowfall rates overnight through Wednesday. Weather conditions will limit visibility and make travel difficult in south central Minnesota.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of southern Minnesota, and advises motorists to plan for extra travel time, especially for the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.
MnDOT snowplow operators will do their part to make highways safe and motorists should remember to:

The Holy Land has always called to Pastor David Mumme of Waterville, but the timing never seemed quite right--the kids were little, things at the church were busy, etc. 
"He has always wanted to go," his wife, Glenda, said of her husband. "He's read Biblical Archaeology Review for more than 20 years." 
Finally, they decided the trip need to happen, and they were going to invite others to join them. They would lead a tour of the Holy Land. 

Richard Wallace “Sparrow” Scholljegerdes, age 91 of Waseca died on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at Birchwood Cottages in Owatonna.

LeRoy J. Janda, Fargo, formerly of Waterville, MN, was crowned with eternal life, by the grace of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ on February 16, 2019.  He died at Bethany Retirement Living on University in Fargo, ND.
LeRoy James Janda was born to Emil and Christine (Schwartz) Janda on January 21, 1936 at home in Waterville, MN. He was baptized at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Waterville.

Janice Kulla, age 86, of Waseca, died on Saturday, February 17, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20, at Church of the Sacred Heart with Fr. Gregory Leif as Celebrant. Visitation will be for two hour prior to the Mass at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in St. Casimir Cemetery at Wells.
Arrangements are with Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Service ~ McRaith Chapel of Waseca. www.wasecafuneral.com

The WEM girls basketball team jumped out to a quick lead Friday, Feb. 8 against Blooming Prairie and defeated the Blossoms 47-37.
Blooming Prairie had defeated the Bucs earlier this season, but an 18-6 first half lead got the Bucs off to a great start and they never looked back.
WEM knocked down eight three pointers while the Blossoms made only three.
The Bucs also held a 35- 26 rebounding advantage. Trista Hering grabbed seven rebounds. Shelby Hermel added six and Paige Pittmann and Toryn Richards each grabbed five.

Who do you call when you need to get to work and your car won't start on a blustery below-zero morning? The local towing company.
Gene Mach, owner of Bud's Service in Kilkenny, reported receiving more than 100 calls during the four-day frigid winter vortex that closed schools, stopped the mail, and sent Minnesota into the minus 30 degree fahrenheit range, Monday, January 28 through Thursday, January 31.
About eighty percent of the calls were for cars that wouldn't start. Mach and his crew also responded to stalls, flat tires, and requests for tows.

For the first time this year, the WEM boys basketball team is rated in the Class A Minnesota Basketball LifeEnterprise News polls. The Bucs, 18-1 overall and winners of 15 straight games, are rated 10th overall. Section 2A, which WEM will compete in in the playoffs, has four teams rated. BOLD is rated No. 2, Minnesota Valley Lutheran is rated No. 3, and Springfield is rated No. 4. WEM won their 15th straight game Thursday, Feb. 14, downing Faribault BA, 87-53. They will host USC Friday, Feb. 15 and travel to Maple River Tuesday, Feb. 19. Thursday, Feb. 21 will be a make-up game at Medford.

Classic cars from all over the nation are rolling into the little town of Kilkenny, Minnesota.
Their destination? Knish Kustomz, a small, two-person shop on the edge of town.
The custom upholstering business is owned and operated by 2005 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown graduate Dan Knish, whose intricate work has been featured at car shows, in magazines, and on television.
“I’ve always been a car guy, and enjoy doing what I do,” Knish stated. “It’s both challenging and rewarding.”

Morristown resident Eli Lange has been charged with five felonies after an incident in Waterville early Sunday, Feb. 3. Lange, 37, was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault by strangulation, and interfering with emergency communications in Le Sueur County District Court. For more on the charges check out the Feb. 14 edition of the Life/Enterprise.