As a student growing up, she never enjoyed art classes. “The art teacher always told us what we should do and how we should do it,” Beth Vander Heiden said.

Today, the New Prague photographer is her own artist. She uses the earth and night sky as her pallets, creating images using a blend of a keen eye for light, shape and color and unshakable patience.

Despite the threat of storms over the weekend, the rain mostly held back until after-hours of the Le Sueur County Free Fair.

The 168th annual event took place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 14-17.

The forecast called for storms each day, but the worst of the rain came in the early hours of Saturday and well after the fair closed Sunday night. Both times, Le Center saw up to an inch of rainfall.

A half-inch of rain fell in the afternoon Friday, but had cleared as the events for the day moved into gear.

Three years ago, members of the New Prague Lions Club began volunteering their time to support Dollars for Deb, a fundraiser designed to raise money to serve cancer patients and remember Deb Bertrang-Piotter.

The Elko New Market City Council continued work on Highlands at Eagle View, a proposed neighborhood development covering about 52 acres, at the council’s Thursday, July 24, meeting. The council approved two resolutions, one wetland replacement plan and one preliminary plat, plus an ordinance for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) and a grading authorization agreement.

The 2025 Le Sueur County Fair begins Thursday, August 14 at the fairgrounds in Le Center and runs through Sunday, August 18.

Events are scheduled through the weekend at one of the state’s oldest county fairs.

Tuesday, Aug. 5, was Night to Unite in New Prague with at least five parties held around town. The national event allows neighbors to get out and meet each other, plus representatives from the New Prague police and fire departments. Jess and Lisa Realander’s house at 500 Central Ave. S was the central point for one party.

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce held its ninth annual Czech Out New Prague Thursday evening, Aug. 7, at Memorial Park and while it was a humid night with temperatures in the 80s, people showed up.

“It was a steamy night and amazing turnout,” said Brooke Sticha, executive director of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce.

There were 60 groups, including vendors, churches, businesses, athletic organizations, non-profits and agencies from the New Prague city government that were represented, said Sticha.

New Prague girls relive their 2000 state hoops title

It’s been 25 years since New Prague High School’s girls’ basketball team made history with a Class AAA state championship described as a total team effort by a group that bought into playing together for their school and the community.

Sunday, Aug. 3, members of the team reunited for the first time in years to share more than just hoops memories and the experience and lessons they learned along the way.

Lauren Kitner, a New Prague native, is interested in one day caring for people as a physician. She’s also a strong advocate of military service. Combining those two interests made sense.

Kitner is a Minnesota National Guard specialist participating in a new, one-of-a-kind program at the University of Minnesota Medical School providing medics like Kitner an opportunity designed to take their military experience and catapult it into a career as a physician. For medics like her, the program is a way to potentially jumpstart a career that may not have been otherwise accessible.

Thursday, July 31, not only closed out the month, it was also the last day Darrell Meyer walked his route for the final time and delivered his last letter as a postal carrier in New Prague. Meyer of New Prague closed out a 38-year career as a postal worker in the area.

Meyer started working for the post office shortly after high school.

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce is presenting its annual showcase of community organizations Thursday evening, Thursday, Aug. 7, 5-8:30 p.m., at Memorial Park.

Dozens of private and public organizations will have presentations available for visitors. There will also be presentations by Bob Pexa Concertina, activities for children, local group performances and more. Sean Benz & the Misfits will also perform.

Le Sueur County’s 32nd Annual Relay for Life filled the buildings of the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds Friday, July 11.

The four-hour event brought in $58,000 in funds for the American Cancer Society (ASC). The nonprofit is the largest funder of cancer research grants in the United States, other than the federal government.

The amount raised was the total as of Monday morning. According to Co-Chair person Amy Sellner, more money is still coming in from the event.

“We raised more than $20,000 over our goal,” Sellner said.

Generations Theatre Company will be performing its second show this summer with this weekend’s performance of “The All Night Strut - American Songbook Standards,” Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, at New Prague High School, 221 12th St. NE. Times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday.

Elko New Market honored Jim Marsh, who helped found the city’s volunteer fire department and was one of its assistant fire chiefs, as Marsh was named grand marshal of Fire Rescue Days’ Community Parade, Saturday, June 28.
“That was one heck of a surprise,” said Marsh, who now lives with his wife in Savage. “I never expected that in any way, shape or form.”

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parish, based in New Prague, welcomed Rev. Timothy Norris to its staff beginning Tuesday, July 1.
Norris has been a priest for 31 years, most recently at Church of Saint Stephen-Holy Rosary in Minneapolis.
“I’ve known of him for a number of years,” said Rev. Eugene Theisen, pastor of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parish. “He’s a good, holy, but quiet priest.”
“So far, it has been a lot of moving in,” Rev. Norris said. “I’ve received a warm welcome.”

‘I’m lucky. I’m alive. I get to be here’
She recalls being told it was not common for women her age to develop cancer. Twenty-two years later, Shauna Swanepoel wants to do whatever she can to help any person, regardless of their age, receive that diagnosis.