Kellie Frey, right, special education teacher at Falcon Ridge Elementary School, prepares to drop off a Chromebook computer the morning of Saturday, March 21. New Prague Area Schools was holding curbside distribution of Chromebooks for students in grades 2-5 at all three elementary schools on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Chromebooks will be used by the students for homework and to connect with teachers while schools are closed due to COVID-19. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)
Starting Monday, March 23 Northfield Hospital + Clinics will temporarily close its Lakeville Clinic/Urgent Care and Lonsdale Clinic. Clinics in Farmington, Northfield and Faribault will remain open for patients who need to be seen for health issues other than COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Patients who need care for chronic conditions or acute situations such as stitches or broken bones will be seen.
Patients are encouraged to CALL FIRST to discuss their symptoms. A triage nurse will help determine the best location if a patient needs to be seen.
Blandin Foundation announced Wednesday, March 11, it selected Le Sueur County for an intensive, twoyear partnership to advance local broadband initiatives.
Le Sueur County joins Chisago Lakes, Otter Tail County, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation in their successful bids to become Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC).
Are you wondering about the safety of our printed newspapers during this COVID-19 crisis?
According to information from the World Health Organization (WHO), a highly credible source of factual information, the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled and exposed to different conditions and temperatures is also low.
By order of Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, effective March 19, 2020 at 7:30 am, access to the Rice County Courthouse will be restricted. The courthouse is not being closed.
Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, our offices in New Prague, Montgomery and Waterville will be closed to walk-in traffic. We will be available during our regular business hours via telephone, email or our websites to continue services for you.
If you need to pick up a printing order, please call ahead and our staff will meet you outside with your delivery.
We are committed to providing you good service as we all face significant changes in our day to day lives, but we feel we need to take these precautions to minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 illness.
In an effort to receive the most competitive bid prices from contractors, the City of New Prague and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) modified the proposed Hwy 19 New Prague Main Street construction schedule. Instead of completing work in one construction season (2020), the project is now proposed to be completed in two construction seasons (2020-21).
Effective Thursday, March 19, Le Sueur County is closing the majority of its government buildings to the public - the exception being the Sheriff’s Office lobby and the Le Sueur County Court Administration in the Justice Center.
Sheriff Brett Mason said his office will continue to provide residents with the services they expect, but they are taking precautions with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System is deferring all elective care that can be deferred for eight or more weeks, according to a press release Tuesday, March 17.
According to the New Prague Police Department a juvenile male was approached by a stranger the morning of Tuesday, March 17.
New Prague Police Chief Jim Gareis said around 10 a.m. a police officer was approached by a parent asking the officer to talk with a juvenile male. The youngster told the officer that an adult male in a newer Chevy Silverado cab pickup stopped the boy while riding on his bike at Heritage Park near Lexington Avenue N. The male offered the boy some cookies and a candy bar. The boy immediately left the area and told his parents.
Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague now offers a drive-through screening process for patients who meet criteria for COVID-19 testing. Transmissions of COVID-19 are increasing statewide and across the nation and other institutions have successfully used the drive-through approach.
According to a press release, as a first step, patients must call their Mayo Clinic Health System primary care clinic. A provider or nurse will determine if patients meet criteria and will schedule a drive-through test.
The following press release was received Mon. March 16:
“COVID19 - March 16, Letter to the Community
New Prague Area Schools Families:
We continue to work through issues around the two-week closure, March 16th through March 27th, to prepare our plan for delivering distance learning, if that is required. We want to keep you informed of new information or changes as they occur.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS OPEN TUESDAY, MARCH 17TH
Gov. Tim Walz announced Sunday that all of Minnesota’s K-12 schools will close for eight school days starting Wednesday to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Walz and state Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker made the announcement Sunday morning in St. Paul.
The Minnesota State High School League put out an announcement Friday regarding cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Effective Immediately:
The Minnesota State High School League is immediately cancelling the Girls Basketball State Tournament.
Additionally, all Boys Section and State Basketball Tournaments have been cancelled.
Section Speech Tournament events for the week of March 15-21 have been postponed indefinitely.
The Adapted Floor Hockey games scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 will NOT be played either.
The Polka Dance Party scheduled for Friday, March 13 at the Central Education Campus in New Prague has been canceled. We are following the Minnesota Department of Health's recommendation to not have large group activities. Please pass this information on to anyone that may have been interested in attending.