Rosemary Lillian Miller, 83, of Dodge Center, MN, passed away surrounded by her family on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna, MN. 

Sandra M. Flitter, born to Margaret B. and Merrill Carson on September 8, 1945, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2025, at her home in Elysian MN. It was just shy of her 80th birthday. Sandra grew up in Minnesota and graduated with Waseca High School class of 1963.  

It was a warm start to the Halfway to St. Paddy's Day celebration in Kilkenny on Saturday, Sept. 13 -- the first of the two-day event. 

Vendors were present all day with food, beverages, and merchandise, as well as there being live music and entertainment throughout the day. The parade was a favorite for kids, young and old. The day will finish off with the "World Famous Toilet Bowl Races," Power Wheels Kids Drag Races, and a fireworks at dusk.

The unveiling of “Jon Bakken Field" in Waterville took place Friday, Sept. 5 before the WEM football game against Lewiston-Altura.

`Family, friends, and fans of football were in attendance to see the naming of the Waterville football field after long-time Buccaneer football coach and educator Jon Bakken.

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.”