Free help available for teens struggling with drugs, alcohol
Jeremy Gerres gets right to the point.
He’s a recovering addict.
Drugs and alcohol governed his life for many years. He knows the struggle, the pain, and the consequences.
Gerres opened Spirits at Rest, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Montgomery, earlier this year, but quickly identified a need for a program for adolescents.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking applications from Minnesota residents interested in serving on the statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22.
Aquatic invasive species are one of the state's most pressing natural resource issues. Preventing the spread of zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, invasive carp, starry stonewort and other invasive plants and animals is of critical environmental, recreational and economic importance.

In alignment with Executive Order 20-103 announced December 16 by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota State High School League will begin in-person practice for winter sports and activities on Mon., Jan. 4, 2021.

Per Governor Walz, thanks to the hard work of Minnesotans over the last few weeks to keep each other safe, we are starting to turn a corner on COVID-19. But we’re not out of the woods yet. Today we announced a way forward that will bridge the gap to vaccination.
This plan will protect hospital capacity while prioritizing getting our kids back in the classroom and supporting Minnesotans’ quality of life.
Starting January 18, every elementary school in Minnesota may choose to operate in person with additional safety measures.

New Prague KC Hall - 411 4th Ave. SW, New Prague
Mon. December 14. 2020
12:30 - 5:30 pm
New Market Town Hall - 8950 230th St. E, Lakeville
9 am - 2 pm
Wed. December 16, 2020
Jordan Fire Station - 501 N. Varner St, Jordan
Thurs. December 17, 2020
10 am - 2 pm
To sign up for an appointment for either locations go to:
https://www.primarybio.com/r/scottcounty

Santa's Workshop adapts to pandemic, continues to spread cheer
Santa's Workshop was busy.
Families with young children picked up more than 2,260 wrapped gifts from the free, fifth annual gift-giving event that was held at The Village in Waterville last weekend.
Due to the on-going pandemic, the event, which usually provides an in-person...
 
To see more on this story, pick up the December 10, 2020 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

A total of three WEM football players have been named to the 2020 All-Mid Southeast Red Sub-District Football Team.
The Bucs placed eighth in the Red Sub-District, which included mostly Class A teams.
First Team selections included seniors Griffin Atherton, Kurtis Crosby, and junior Domanik Paulson.
Atherton had his season...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 10, 2020 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.

Helping others becomes local man's lifeline
Instead of focusing on his own hardships, a Morristown man is choosing joy by helping others this holiday season.
2020 has not been kind to Manny Lara. The 2006 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown graduate suffered a work-related injury at the end of February. He spent the spring and summer focusing on his recovery and being a dad to his three kids, 12-year-old sons, Jacob and Gunner, and his little princess, three-year-old Estella Rose.
Then, he lost his job. “They decided to let...
 

The Minnesota State High School League’s (MSHSL) Board of Directors on Thursday, Dec. 3, approved a flexible plan for the restart of winter activities when clearance is provided by state governmental leaders. Executive Order 20-99 is currently in place, a directive that mandates a four-week pause in activities designed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is scheduled to expire on...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 10, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger or the LifeEnterprise papers.

Sheriff’s department donates decorated tree to family in need
The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Department is making magic.
On Friday, Dec. 4, Sheriff Brett Mason and his staff delivered a fully decorated Christmas tree to a Le Sueur County family in need. “Project: Believe in the Magic of Christmas” was organized by Mason, The Mounted Posse, and The Sheriff’s Youth Project.

"Mom, I really like our Christmas tree. It's not like other people's trees... Ours doesn't match." ~ Ellen, age 8
 
Oh, the joys of Christmas!
My little redhead is correct. Our tree does not "match."
It will never be featured in a magazine. It's not much to look at, until you look closely.
Every ornament is different, the star is made of cardboard and aluminum foil, and we still wrap our tree in multi-color lights (it's not a "fancy" pre-lit one).

Audrey Marie Kopischke, age 82, of rural Mankato, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 5, 2020.

Due to the ongoing surge of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, Mayo Clinic Health System has temporarily suspended operations at the Belle Plaine clinic and will be temporarily suspending operations at the Mankato-Northridge, Le Sueur, Janesville and Waterville clinics as of Monday, Dec. 7.
The suspensions are necessary to reallocate staffing resources to other critical care needs in response to the COVID-19 surge. The closures are expected to last six weeks. COVID-19 testing is still taking place at the Belle Plaine Clinic.

There are definitely struggles for everyone when it comes to dealing with COVID-19.
With all-school Distance Learning just starting at WEM, there are concerns from parents, students, and staff at how things will
work.
I know that the administration and staff have put in many, many hours trying to put together a learning model which will not only coincide with state guidelines, but also will be the best for students.
WEM high school student Grace Peach created and distributed a google form to all high school students and staff regarding their

Due to the ongoing surge of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, Mayo Clinic Health System has temporarily suspended operations at the Belle Plaine clinic and will be temporarily suspending operations at the Mankato-Northridge, Le Sueur, Janesville and Waterville clinics as of Monday, Dec. 7.
The suspensions are necessary to reallocate staffing resources to other critical care needs in response to the COVID-19 surge. The closures are expected to last six weeks. COVID-19 testing is still taking place at the Belle Plaine Clinic.

She’s been in food service for 36 years.
She good at what she does, but like most jobs, the pandemic has thrown her--and her hardworking kitchen crew--for a loop... No, make that multiple loops.
Nancy Culhane is Waterville-Elysian-Morristown School’s food service director. It’s a position she’s held for 20 years.