The 2020-2021 WEM Teachers of the Year were announced last week after a vote of their colleagues.
Winners are Sandy Mielke (Elementary), Ashley Landru (Middle School), and Janet Jones (High School).
Also nominated were...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 25, 2021 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

I wanted a unicycle.
I was 10 years old and wanted nothing else—just a unicycle.
I begged for one for my birthday. Begged.
I cut a picture of one out of a magazine and dreamed of riding the darn thing around my driveway.
I would have been so cool.
But, instead, I got a pogo stick.
My parents were “concerned” I’d severely injure myself learning how to ride a unicycle, but for some reason… a pogo stick was “just fine” in their minds.
I was not pleased when I unwrapped the pogo stick.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will conduct aerial mapping of several locations in south central Minnesota this spring.
The mapping will create a record of existing infrastructure and landscape along, and adjacent to, MnDOT right of way for transportation planning and operations. This work must be conducted after the snow has melted and before the trees leaf out.
Work will begin in late March, weather permitting, in the following locations:
- Highway 21, from Highway 13 south of Montgomery to the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 99

The WEM girls basketball team defeated Martin County West, 61-26, Tuesday, March 23 in the Section 2A South Sub-Section Championship. This was the second straight Sub-Section title for WEM. They will play Class A No. 3 rated Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m. in Arlington for the Section 2A Championship. SESM defeated WEM, 62-58, March 5. The Lady Bucs defeated SESM, 79-68, in the Section 2A Championship game last year. Check out the April 1 edition of the LifeEnterprise for more on the Section 2A Tourney.

Stuart James Preston, age 79 of Faribault died on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

There will be fireworks, everything else is tentative
Elysian will celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks this year. Beyond that, things are tentative.
“There’s not much to report. It’s just too early to know how to proceed—what the CDC guidelines will be in July,” explained Elysian Chamber of Commerce member Pat Nusbaum.
The Elysian City Council held a special meeting March 3 to discuss the Chamber’s plans for the Fourth of July and the city’s new event, Elysian Days.

The WEM boys basketball team finished its regular season with three straight wins, including Gopher Conference victories over Faribault BA and NRHEG last week.
The Bucs moved into...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 18, 2021 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

This program is for children living in the Waterville-Elysian area who are 1-18 years of age.
Program is sponsored on the third Saturday of each month between the hour of 10 and 11:30 a.m. Next distribution is Saturday, March 20.
Pickup occurs in front of the food shelf, volunteers will be there to ask how many children in the family, bags of kid friendly food will be given to each car.
There is no income eligibility for anyone. All families with children will be accommodated, until supplies for that day are exhausted.

The WEM girls basketball team won the schools’ fourth Gopher Conference Championship Friday with a resounding 86-43 win over NRHEG.
This was the final game of the regular season. The Bucs finished with a 15-3 overall record and a 13-1 conference mark. Last year they...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 18, 2021 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

Rodney James Wehr, the son of Merle and Arlene (Drinken) Wehr, was born on December 29, 1974 in Waseca, Minnesota. He died Saturday, March 6, 2021 at his home in Swea City at the age of 46 years.
A Celebration of Rod’s Life will be held on March 20, 2021 at the Swea City Fire Hall from 3-6pm.
Rod worked for Brand FX in Swea City for 9 years, and recently for Aluma Trailers in Bancroft as a welder.

Young mother’s death leaves father, kids piecing together new life
 
It has been six months since Troy Brekke lost his wife, Audrey, to a pulmonary anuerism.
The shock of her death and the thought of being a single parent of three children was overwhelming at times for Troy and his family.
According to the autopsy report the 41-year-old was in good health when the...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 18, 2021 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

While northern Minnesota experienced snow and high winds, the local area experienced rain, large hail, and tornado warnings, Wednesday, March 10.
The early season storm came just a day after local temperatures topped 60ºF, placing Waterville, Elysian, Morristown, Kilkenny, Janesville, and Warsaw under a tornado warning in the late afternoon.
A tornado watch was issued for southeastern Le Sueur County and Rice, Waseca, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona Counties.

So now that the snow is gone for now, how many of you have started cleaning up your yard? Obviously this column was written before Monday…UGH
This time of year it is always interesting to see what you were not able to get to before that first snow fall.
As I was walking around our home the other day I realized either I was very lazy earlier in the year or the snow came too fast to pick items up.

Martin Jeffery Baker, age 57, of Elysian died in a farming accident at his home on March 14, 2021.
Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 22, 2021 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Marysburg (27528 Patrick St. Madison Lake, MN). Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m., Sunday, March 21, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, MN, and will continue one hour before service at church on Monday. Masks and social distancing will be followed at both venues. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Steven Lee Roemhildt, age 54 of Mankato died on Sunday, March 14, 2021 in Le Sueur County.
Born on January 23, 1967 in Mankato, Minnesota, he was the son of Aaron and Dorothy (Wendt) Roemhildt. Steven graduated from Waterville-Elysian High School in 1985. He was employed with Gear & Broach in Waterville and later Kato Engineering in Mankato. He was currently employed with Winegars Inc. in Waseca. He loved playing darts, hunting and fishing, and gardening. Steven was a member of the Silver Lakers Sportsmans Club.

They don’t work silently.
There’s lots of chatter and laughter.
But, their hands remain busy—tying quilts, stuffing pillows, and sewing “comfort kits.”
Each kit includes a soft quilt, a small pillow, and a stuffed animal and will be given to members of law enforcement who will give the kits to kids experiencing a time of crisis.
Since fall, the ladies have made around...
To see more on this story, pick up the March 11, 2021 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.