Council moves forward with ambulance contract
The New Prague City Council moved forward with its ambulance service contract with North Memorial Ambulance.
Boys’ volleyball starts season with hearty action
The New Prague High School boys’ volleyball team saw a lot of action with two matches and then its first tournament.
NP’s indoor softball team opens with two wins
New Prague’s indoor softball team is off to a fast start with a pair of important wins and two big games this week.
A changing of the whistle
Saturday evening, April 11, at the 138th annual New Prague Firemen’s Dance & Drill, drillmaster Drew Koloc (left) handed over the whistle to new drillmaster Sam Peterson.
NPHS teacher brings experience on Navy aircraft carrier back to classroom
Some of her students and colleagues spent their spring break at the beach while others traveled with their families to various other vacation destinations.
Le Sueur County dispatchers accidently sound sirens a week early for SWAW
Le Sueur County Emergency Management Director Tammy Stewig said that dispatchers accidentally sounded off the county's sirens today, Thursday, April 9, at 1:45 p.m.
County and city officials hear about legislation updates
The Le Sueur County Officials meeting at the American Bar & Grill in Montgomery on Wednesday, March 25, was host to two state nonprofit representatives that assist smaller governments — Cap O’Rourke and Maddie
On the court, NP boys’ tennis looking to improve
New Prague High School’s boys’ tennis team wants to win more matches this spring. The team has been working hard this spring to make that goal a reality in a strong Metro West Conference.
In the spring of 1979, a someday-newspaper reporter received the title, “Most Pessimistic” member of his graduating class by a margin bigger than Richard Nixon topped South Dakota George McGovern seven years earlier.
They got it wrong, he argues to this day. Not pessimistic, just cynical. Maybe the two are too close to be anything but a distinction without a difference.
New Prague’s gymnasts view the season as a process, a journey where they aim to be at their best at the end of the season when the meets are the most important. Saturday (Jan. 3), NP took second at the Matt Shetka Invitational.
The second-place finish represents steady improvement by a young team working to be better each time out, said coach Darrell Christenson.
The start of the new year also brought a change in ownership at Cedar Press Coffee on New Prague’s Main Street. Rachel Cannon and her husband, Stephan, sold the business to Patty and David Peterson of Montgomery.
Monday, Jan. 5, the coffee shop reopened under the ownership of the Petersons. The Cannons had bought the business three years ago and renovated it. They had bought the coffee shop from the previous owner, who was also named Patty Peterson, but has no relation to the new owners.
New Prague High School’s boys’ basketball team had two wins and a loss in the last week. At the Lakeville North Holiday Tournament, the Trojans lost to Lakeville North, 89-68, Monday, Dec. 29. The next day at the tourney, Tuesday, Dec. 30, New Prague defeated Rochester John Marshall, 65-54. The Trojans then won, 75-54, at Mankato West Friday, Jan. 2.
New Prague was at the Academy of Holy Angels, Tuesday, Jan. 6. Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. the Trojans host Rochester Century. New Prague will be at Chaska Tuesday, Jan. 13, for a 7 p.m. game.
New Prague High School’s wrestling team did well at the Rumble on the Red wrestling tournament at Fargo, N.D. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2 and 3.
Overall the Trojans wrestled well as they placed 10th in the varsity section, said New Prague head coach Dan Wagner, adding there were a total of 133 teams between varsity, junior varsity and girls teams. Plus the tournament had 1,923 total wrestlers, Wagner said. New Prague also had four place winners, two in the boys varsity division and two in the girls division, said Wagner.
New Prague High School’s theatre department is busy with rehearsals for its one-act play, “The Perfect Ending,” by B. Dwayne Craft. The actors began with its first readthrough Dec. 2.
Bruce Johnson passed away at the age of 68 on December 31, 2025. He was born on April 27, 1957. He was born to Eldon and Edna Johnson. He married Joan Ginter on June 2, 1984. They had one daughter Elizabeth in 1989. He graduated from Minnehaha Academy.
His grandkids were his pride and joy. He enjoyed watching TV and playing games on his tablet. He was on dialysis and had many other health issues for a long time before his passing.
Esther Grace Kabes, age 99, of New Prague, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center, just two weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
Virginia A. “Ginny” Mahowald, 98, of New Prague, died peacefully on December 31, 2025, at Praha Village. Ginny was born on June 8, 1927, in New Prague, Minnesota, to George and Rose (Holec) Layne. She attended St. Wenceslaus Grade School, New Prague High School, and the College of St. Catherine, graduating with a degree in nutrition and dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota and later married her childhood sweetheart, Allen Mahowald. Together they made their home in New Prague, spending summers at Cedar Lake.
Robert “Bob” Kubes, 83, of Webster, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at home on December 29, 2025.
John Millea has been writing about sports and people, youngsters and communities sharing their passion for life and competition for many years. He is a renowned storyteller, a person with a deep caring for humanity.
After weeks of discussion and adjustments, Elko New Market city councilors approved a budget and property tax levy for 2026.
The council OK’d the city’s 2026 property tax levy at its Dec. 18 meeting. The general fund budget will increase from $3,297,590 to $3,849,687 – an increase of $447,903 or 15.72%. The city’s total levy will increase by $490,823 to $4,238,383 – an increase of 13.1%.
With three upcoming non-conference games, the NP boys ice hockey team is looking to round into form in time for the MetroWest schedule starting next week.
The Trojans will face longtime rival Northfield tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 2, 7:15 p.m., in Northfield. Monday, Jan. 5, 7:15 p.m., New Prague will host Hutchinson followed by a trip to face Kasson-Mantorville Tuesday, Jan. Jan. 6, 7 p.m., at the Dodge County Ice Arena.
At a meeting of the Le Sueur County Officials Association, State Senator Rich Draheim (22, R) and State Rep. Terry Stier (22B, R) were present to share information from the state legislature that affects the area. The meeting was held Dec. 3 at Le Sueur City Hall.
“I don’t want to say it was the most confusing year, but probably the most uncertain year I have seen in my nine years,” Draheim said, noting the size of the state government has tripled in funding since he took office in 2017.
With six games remaining on its regular-season schedule, the New Prague High School floor hockey team is ready to get back to work on its drive for a return trip to the state tournament and a possible defense of its state championship.
At 4-0, New Prague will host Mankato Wednesday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m., at the Community Eucation Center. The game is the first of a three-game run at home. The Trojans will face Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka Monday, Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m., followed by a showdown game against an old rival, Dakota United Wednesday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m., in NP.
When the New Prague School Board reconvenes for the first time since Dec. 8, Director Denny Havlicek wants to maintain his position as the board’s chairperson.
Havlicek stated his interest to the other directors at the last meeting of 2025. He said he has spoken with board members and heard no opposition to him staying on as the board’s chairperson.
