New Prague Area Schools (PreK-12) will be closed on Friday, January 17th due to inclement weather. This will be a Blended Learning day. http://np.isd721.org/BLD 
WRAP & Kids Company will be closed.
All afternoon and evening activities are canceled.
Fitness & Aquatic Center will be open, but please check emails and watch Facebook for possible schedule changes and closure updates.

MANKATO, Minn. – (3:45 p.m.) With significant snow and strong winds forecast for Friday and Saturday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists to plan for difficult driving conditions or make alternate plans.
Heavy snowfall combined with moderate winds can dramatically reduce visibility during the storm and continued wind gusts after the storm may prolong MnDOT snowplow drivers’ ability to recover the roads.

Secretary of State Steve Simon is reminding Minnesotans about the beginning of absentee voting for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Nomination Primary. The primary will help determine both the Democratic and Republican party candidates for the November general election.
“The presidential nomination primary opens up the selection process and allows more Minnesotans to participate,” said Simon. “Caucuses are limited to a few hours on one evening; this primary will give more people more ways to participate, and over a longer period of time.”
How to request an absentee ballot

On Tuesday, Jan, 14, Bevcomm, the Blue Earth based telecommunication company, announced it has reached a definitive agreement with Lonsdale Telephone Company to acquire ownership of that Lonsdale based business. Transfer of ownership is pending regulatory approval, which is expected in the first half of this year.
According to a press release from Bevcomm, “Existing employees of Lonsdale Telephone Company will become employees of Bevcomm, and will continue to manage the day-to-day office functions.”
For more on this story see upcoming print issue.

The New Prague Times Those driving on Scott County Road 2 through Elko New Market have likely noticed construction as they get into town. An 11,290-squarefoot addition is already being built onto the Elko New Market Commerce Center located north of County Road 2. The center was built in 2017 and businesses opened in 2018.

Nearly 30 children and their parents welcomed TLC Music, the first of four weekly music classes, on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the New Prague Library.
Music therapist Alicia Newton led the class, titled Happy New Year! She had children dancing and others wanting to get a closer look at the little drums, maracas, rhythm sticks and other instruments she had. The children could play the instruments, or some just played with them. Newton said music classes are very good for children in their brain development and motor skills. The fun and upbeat classes...

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners held their 2020 Reorganizational Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7 in Le Center.
Fifth District Commissioner Steve Rohlfing was named the Board Chairman and Second District Commissioner Danny O’Keefe was named the Board Vice Chairman.
The Le Sueur County New Prague Times News was named the 2020 first legal newspaper. The Montgomery Messenger was named the second legal newspaper.
Mileage reimbursement for Le Sueur County employees will be 57.5 cents per mile, in accordance with the federal IRS mileage rate.

Join us (New Prague Area Historical Society) Tuesday, Jan. 14th at the New Prague library at 7 pm.
Our featured speaker will be local historian Vic Ruhland who will be doing a presentation on the history of Union Hill.
Come early and enjoy some cider and a treat!

A Waseca Police Officer was shot in the head and “gravely injured” while responding to a report of a suspicious person with a flashlight in the backyard residence on the 900 block of 4th Avenue SE in Waseca after 8 p.m. on Monday night, Jan. 6. The suspect was shot twice and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Ronan Mark Dvorak, son of Matthew and Cassandra Dvorak of Belle Plaine, arrived at 11:18 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague. He is the New Year’s Baby for 2020. The family gathered for a photo from left are, big brother Finnegan, dad Matthew, sister Eden, holding Ronan, mom Cassandra and brother Killian. For more on the New Year’s Baby see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

High winds and icy conditions may continue into the morning
MANKATO, Minn. –  (3:30 p.m.) Motorists in south central Minnesota are advised to expect difficult driving conditions to remain into Tuesday (December 31) with forecasted additional snowfall, dropping temps and even higher wind gusts.

The Polars and the Ptarmigans laid everything out on the football field for the 60th New Prague Sno-Bowl held at Memorial Park Saturday afternoon.
Neither icy roads or a consistent rain drizzle during the game kept these New Prague High School alumni football players from lacing up their cleats and enjoying the day together in a game of tackle football.
Despite several turnovers and chances of completing passes for touchdowns, neither team could come up with points. The final score ended in a 0-0 tie.

The New Prague Area Historical Society honored Lucille Nickolay for her many years with the society and her involvement with the community. The recognition of Nickolay was held Thursday, Dec. 12, at Mala Strana Assisted Living and Rehabilitation Center. There were 35 people on hand, including members of Nickolay’s family, board members of the historical society and residents of Mala Strana.

Dick Jonckowski, who grew up in New Prague and went on to have a career in sports as an athlete and an announcer, was back in his hometown on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the New Prague Library. While there to present his book, “It’s All about Me: Dick Jonckowski: a Minnesota Treasure,” he also reminisced about growing up in New Prague and his career.
Jonckowski said that people hear the title of his book and laugh. He added one of his children suggested the name.

The Elko new Market City Council had a brief business meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19, where the council unanimously approved its 2020 budget.
Appearing under the consent agenda, it included the 2019 Property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable in 2020. The council had had the final presentation of that during its Thursday, Dec. 5, meeting, which included it’s Truth in Taxation.
The levy increased...
To see more on this story pick up the December 26, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Due to the holidays falling on Wednesday for Christmas and New Year's Day, mail and carrier delivery will be on Thursday December 26 and Thursday January 2.