Kay Barriball Keohen, age 89, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Kay was born on April 3, 1936, in St. Anne, Illinois, to Orland and Vada (Coon) Beaupre. She fell in love with the first love of her life, Richard (Dick) Barriball and got married on May 10, 1956. They were blessed with four children, Scott, Craig, Pam and Faith.

Joseph Theodore Peerboom, age 97, of Le Sueur, MN, passed away peacefully at home on January 9, 2026. He was a cherished husband, father, Papa, and friend whose quiet strength and kind spirit will be deeply missed.

Beckett Thomas Kes, son of Rebecca and Blake Kes of New Prague, is the first baby of 2026 and the winner of The New Prague Times’ New Year’s Baby Contest. Beckett was born Sunday, Jan. 4, at 1:05 p.m. and was 20 1/2 inches long and 7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth.

Older sister Paxton, age 3, welcomed her new brother. “She is excited to be a helper,” said Blake. “She’s ready for him to be playing, but he’s not ready yet.”

For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.

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.