On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A Weight Watchers gift certificate.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A new camera bag.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me… Some dye to turn my grey beard back to brown.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A Friday night without a sporting event.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me… A remote car starter for those cold winter mornings and evenings.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM WEDNESDAY TO 3 AM CST THURSDAY... ...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT... ...WIND CHILL WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches. For the Winter Storm Watch, blizzard conditions possible. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. For the Wind Chill Watch, dangerously cold wind chills possible. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero.

Mary Susan (Splett) Opsahl, age 59, of Elysian, passed away at her home on Saturday, December 17, 2022.

Le Center Librarian Lynn Selly has received the 2022 Above and Beyond Award from the Minnesota Library Association in recognition of her contributions to the Minnesota library community. More on this in Thursday's Messenger.

Bruce Oliver Long, age 91, of Waterville, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at his home.

Gerald H. Schwichtenberg, age 88 of Morristown, died Friday, December 2, 2022 at Faribault Senior Living.
            Funeral services were held at Trinity Lutheran Church, North Morristown, on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Juan Palm officiating. Interment was at Concordia Cemetery, North Morristown.
            Visitation will be at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault on Monday, December 5, 2022 from 4 to 7 p.m. and also at church for one hour prior to the services on Tuesday.

Donald Merlyn Wagner, age 81 of Waterville, formerly of Apple Valley, died on the morning of Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Bridgewater in Janesville.
Born in Mitchell, South Dakota on December 4, 1940. Donald was the son of Nick and Garnett (Sperlich) Wagner.
Donald is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Connie of Waterville; two sons, Kevin Wagner of Apple Valley and Kurt (Carrie) Wagner of Atlanta, GA; as well as two special granddaughters, Anna and Marla.  He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son.

WEM senior Gabe Androli has been named the Buccaneer Football Most Valuable Player following his 2022 season.
In addition to this honor, Androli was also named to the All-District First Team and the Academic All-District Team.
Androli led the Bucs in solo tackles (41) and 21 receptions. He also added 12 assisted tackles, averaged more than 10 yards per catch, and scored a pair of twopoint conversions.

Christmas wishes really do come true.
The Heidi Erntse family of Kilkenny makes sure of it.
For more than a decade, the Ernstes have spearheaded a nomination-based, wishgranting program called Earnest Effort Christmas Wish to provide extra cheer to local individuals and families in need with the help of many generous and anonymous donors.
Last year, Earnest Effort Christmas Wish granted more than 30 wishes. This year, it will likely be more.

Excellence on the court and in the classroom have WEM senior Jordan Green recognized by the Minnesota State High School Volleyball Coaches Association.
Green, a senior and daughter of Kyle and Kristina Green of Morristown, has been named to the Academic AllState Team. She currently has a 3.897 grade point average.
Academic All-State awards are for seniors on the Section playoff roster that have a 3.8 cumulative grade point average or higher over the course of their high school career.

Scott Kenneth Neumann, age 52, of Waterville, MN, passed away Friday, November 11, 2022 at his home with his mom by his side. 
Scott was born September 14th, 1970 in Owatonna, MN, the son of Margaret “Margie” (Lambrecht) Neumann Jacobson, of Waterville, MN, and the late Kenneth R. Neumann. He attended school in Owatonna and graduated from Owatonna High School in 1989. 

Lucille “Celie” Harriet Grose, also lovingly known as “Grandma Lucy” of Waterville passed away on the morning of Friday, November 11, 2022, at Traditions of Waterville.  She was 94 years old.

Earl Thomas “Tom” Tarter, age 83 of Waterville passed away unexpectedly on the evening of Friday, November 11, 2022, in Waterville.
He was born in Kentucky on April 13, 1939. The family relocated to Arizona in 1950. Tom was the oldest son of Roe and Emma (Lindsey) Tarter. After school, Tom went into the Navy where he served his country for five years before entering the Army for an additional 20 years.

Dennis P. Tousignant, age 88, of Faribault, MN passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at Mill City Senior Living.

There will be some changes in the government officials in a number of communities in the Lake Region Area following the State General Election held Tuesday, Nov. 8.