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Last Friday evening the Montevideo Girls Basketball team defeated New London Spicer to become the 3AA North Sub-Section Champions. The girls take to the court on Friday, March 11th at Southern Minnesota State University against Fairmont for a spot in the state tournament. Game time starts at 8 p.m. (Back Row) Manager Brynn Stanley, Coach DeDe Epema, Hailey Dirksen, Tenley Epema, Kassey Pauling, Keely Foley, Kiera Foley, Coach Bob Foley, Head Coach Anthony Jackson. (Middle Row) Manager Adelyn Raymo, Manager Raegan Stanley, Annie Marquardt, Taya Weber, Tyra Sandven, Manager Kaydence Stenson, Taylor Viessman, Volunteer Coach Jan Dorn. (Front Row) Teagan Epema and Avery Koenen. Photo by Scott Marquardt

As its namesake month begins, Mars glimmers below brilliant Venus in the predawn sky. To the right (south) of the planets sits the Teapot of Sagittarius, while the curved Teaspoon of stars hangs above and between the Teapot and the planets. Moving south again, look for the sinuous form of Scorpius and its red heart, Antares. Mars inches upward all month long, and Saturn climbs over the horizon in midmonth. The ringed planet passes below Venus between the 27th and 28th, and ends March below and between its two fellow planets. A waning moon visits Antares on the 23rd, then sails toward the planets. On the 28th, a scrawny old crescent moon rises below the three planets. But to see all four objects, you’ll have to look soon after moonrise, or the sun will have washed out at least some of the planets. In the evening sky, the large knot of bright winter constellations makes its last stand in March. If you haven’t seen them, look to the south to southwest at nightfall. Enjoy Sirius, in Canis Major, the big dog, at the bottom of the group, then look up to brilliant Capella, at the top in Auriga, the charioteer. The starry assemblage is so tall, you’ll have to lean your head back to see Capella. March’s full moon shines the night of the 17th-18th from below the tail of Leo, the lion. As the night goes on, the moon and the lion seem to drive the winter constellations westward.

I do believe that spring is coming. We’ve had a couple nice days amongst the nastier ones. I think we dodged a bullet after the weatherman predicted freezing rain and prodigious quantities of snow for out area Saturday. I think I only got a light dusting of snow, less than an inch. But now if some brave soul could find the switch for the wind machine and turn it off, I would be ever so grateful.

Taylor Patton Holien has always enjoyed baking, having spent time with her grandmother baking as a child, and baking more extravagant cakes and such for birthdays for family members as she got older. “It was always something that I liked to do and then I just kind of grew from there,” she says. “I would have people reach out to me and I’ve done cakes for birthdays and things like that.”

United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) announces that CEO, Sarah Kicmal, is leaving her role at the beginning of April to accept a position with December Day Creative. The UWSWMN Board of Directors will open a search for a new CEO in the near future. “We cannot thank Sarah enough for the dedication, passion, enthusiasm and motivation she has given United Way of Southwest Minnesota and our communities over the past several years” said Terry Kriz, UWSWMN board chair. “She will be greatly missed by the staff, Board, donors, volunteers and community partners. We look forward to following the success of her career and are hopeful and excited for the next chapter of United Way of Southwest Minnesota as we continue to unite people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities in southwest Minnesota. Our Board of Directors holds great confidence that UWSWMN is served by dedicated staff and supported by generous donors, strong partners, and able volunteers both now and into the future.” Kriz and Rachel Nuese, UWSWMN board vice chair, will lead the Transition and Search Committee for Kicmal’s successor.

The State Climatology Office is looking for volunteer rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4 inch diameter rain gauge and submit reports online.