The next step toward the 2022 election will take place Tuesday, Feb. 1 at its most grassroots level.
It's caucus time.
Le Sueur and Rice County Republicans and DFLers will meet in separate locations to gear up for the election by passing resolutions, electing delegates to send to the local and state conventions and – most likely – talking about the 2022 race for the governor's office. The delegates sent to those conventions will then endorse candidates for State and National offices.

The WEM/JWP wrestling team picked up their most falls in a dual meet this year, pinning four Kenyon-Wanamingo wrestlers in a 48-32 loss to the Knights Thursday, Jan. 20.
Brady Murphy (106) opened the night with a fall in 3:04 over Ryan LaCanne.
Lucas Morsching (145) recorded a fall in 3:46 over Austin Avery.
Sam Carlson (220) pinned Charles Konkur in 1:39.
Heavyweight Keegan Kuball pinned Amari Stokes in 1:36.
Carson Petry (113) picked up a 15-0 technical fall over Masyn Hanson in 4:35.
Gavin Krause (138) earned a 9-3 decision over Landon Trump.

As the Mayor of the City of New Prague, Duane J. "Dewey" Jirik received a copy of “Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians” authored by Sr. Anita Smisek, OP, with narrative assistance from John Chromy.
That’s when he saw his family on the pages and wanted his sons to have their copies.

I was venturing back through some of my first columns and came across this Schneid Remarks from 1990 when I worked at the Waseca County LifeEnterprise News. I actually thought it was quite funny.
I wrote this column about the art of refereeing basketball, something which I have always had a frustration with. Since playing high school and college basketball, and now reporting on the sport, I have grown to appreciate what referees have to go through.

Lorraine Louise Lyons, age 80, of Waterville died on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Whispering Creek in Janesville.
Born on November 4, 1941, in Waseca to Herman and Esther (Gehrke) Berndt. She attended Waterville High School, graduating with the class of 1960. On November 24, 1962, Lorraine was united in marriage to John Lyons at St. Peter “Bell” Lutheran Church in Elysian and together they made their home in Waterville while raising their two children. Lorraine and John shared 32 years of marriage before John passed away on January 2, 1995.

Pearl E. Smith, age 93 of Burnsville (formerly of Waterville, MN) entered her heavenly home on January 23, 2022. Pearl was born and raised on a farm in Merrill Township in northwestern Iowa. She was the 7th out of 7 children born to Walter and Anna Zimmerman. Pearl attended a one room country school through 8th grade and then graduated from LeMars High School. She attended Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, MN when Billy Graham was president of the school.

Dennis "Hank" Roemhildt, 87, of Owatonna, died Friday, January 14, 2022 at the Owatonna Hospital.
He was born May 16, 1934 in Le Center, Minnesota, the son of Theodore and Clara (Conrath) Roemhildt.  He grew up in the Elysian area and was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church (The Bell Church).  He attended country school through the eighth grade. 
On August 12, 1955, he married Violet Bremer.  The couple lived in St. Peter and Waseca before moving to Owatonna where they have resided for the past 61 years. 

Donald Randall Carnahan, age 74, of Elysian, died on Tuesday, January 4, 2021 at his home.
Memorial visitation was 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022 at the Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM, Friday, January 7, 2022.
The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.Counties involved are Anoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan and Wright.

Freshman Keegan Kuball was a bright spot for the WEM/ JWP wrestling team during their quadrangular tournament in Chatfield Thursday, Dec. 23.
Kuball picked up three wins for the Grizzlies, including two by fall during the event.
Kuball received a forfeit against Ellsworth, WI. He pinned Caden Nolte of Chatfield in 2:54. He pinned Preston Horihan of Aquinas, WI in 4:23.
The Grizzlies lost all three duals and picked up only six individual wins.

The WEM Board of Education approved a slight increase to the school district’s levy for the 2022 pay year.
The board adopted a proposed levy in September based on the limits set by the Minnesota Legislature. The increase in levy is due to an increase in debt service.
But according to Business Manager Margaret Jewison, county assessors determine estimated market values for each parcel of property in the WEM School District.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved the final 2022 levy in the amount of $24,611,528, which is an increase of $1.1 million or 4.8 percent from 2021.
This action was taken during the December 21 meeting.
County departments developed their proposed budgets during the months of April and May. Work sessions are held between the department heads and the county commissioners during June through August. In September the board sets the preliminary levy.

Gerald “Jerry” Arthur Gehrke, 75. Husband, Father, and Grandfather, Gerald “Jerry” Arthur Gehrke, passed away at his home in North Mankato Tuesday morning (December 21, 2021).

Janet Rae Quiram, age 88, of Waterville, died on Friday, December 24, 2021, at Traditions of Waterville.

Senior Michael Taylor took a pass from senior Brady Nutter with less than a second to play and layed the ball in, giving the WEM boys basketball team a 40-38 non-conference win over Tri City United Thursday, Dec. 16.
The winning play ended a run which the Bucs trailed by seven points late in the second half. TCU held a 21-17 lead at halftime in a game which neither team shot very well. Both teams hit only one three-pointer. It was Jonathan Remme’s three-pointer which pulled the Bucs to within two points late in the second half.

Barbara "Bobbie" Frances O'Brien, age 71, of Crystal, died on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.