Leadership changes are about to take place on the Lonsdale Fire Department.
Effective January 1, 2019, the city will have a new fire chief and assistant fire chief.
Lonsdale’s current fire chief, Mike Yetzer, has served three terms as fire chief, which is the maximum allowed per the department’s policy. Though he will no longer be fire chief, Yetzer will continue to serve on the department.
“We have a top shelf chief,” said Mayor Tim Rud of Yetzer.

The New Prague Area School Board heard reports on a therapy dog pilot project and the Worlds Best Workforce during their meeting Monday, Nov. 26. They also discussed the annual superintendent performance review and approved the superintendent’s contract for the next three years.
Amy Hennen, social worker at Falcon Ridge Elementary, received permission this year to use her licensed therapy dog, AJ, in a school setting this year. Hennen told board members that the dog comes to school several times a month and interacts with students individually and in a classroom setting.

Carmen Brandel, age 62, of Hayward, WI passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 at her home.

Julia J. Schoenbauer Krautkremer, age 95, of New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by family on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center.  Julie was born on December 12, 1922 in Mahnomen, MN to James J. and Mary (Stolka) Jirik.  She attended Mahnomen Country School and married Alfred S. Schoenbauer on November 21, 1944 in Mahnomen.  The couple lived in St. Paul for the first years of their marriage and moved to New Prague in 1963.  After Alfred’s death in 1974, Julia married Omer A. Krautkremer on April 14, 1978 at St.

Le Sueur County has a furry, four-legged crime fighter.
The county’s newest K-9, “Jett”, started work on November 20.
The county secured Jett, a purebred German Shepherd, last autumn when he was around nine-weeks-old. Jett was bred locally from Kozie Shepherds in southern Minnesota and attended his K9 academy with Le Sueur County Deputy Joe Kern at Performance Kennels in Buffalo. Nationally Certified K9 Trainer, Steve Pearson, was responsible for training Jett.

Dennis Jasperson, standing, talks with Zach Thompson, Tara Thompson and Audre Johnson during the Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague Thursday, Nov. 22. Johnson helped start the annual event, which is now in its 10th year. While she turned the event over to Donna Galvin and others last year, she still helps volunteer for the dinner, greeting people at the door but staying out of the kitchen. Galvin said they had one of their largest turnouts this year. See more in an upcoming print edition of The Times.

Senior Kaitlyn Blair had a career game to lead the New Prague Trojans to a 9-2 win over Red Wing in their season opening girls hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Blair, a six-year varsity player, scored three goals and added four assists, accounting for seven points. Two other Trojans, Ellie Skaja and Lindsey Bjerke, added two goals apiece and Abby Pirkl and Hanah Robasse each had a goal.
Pirkl, MacKenzie O’Brien, Lexi Kocina and Bjerke each added assists.
Goaltender Mariah Marek stopped 20 of 22 shots to take the win in net.

Julie Yackley was born in Inchheon, South Korea, and was adopted in May, 1986, by Don and Janice Yackley of New Prague. Even before the adoption her mother was diagnosed with cancer, a disease that claimed her life in 1993, when Julie was just 7 years old. A year ago, she lost her father to ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

The owners of Farmhouse Market, a tech-savvy local and organic foods market that was recently featured in the New York Times, have partnered with four New Prague High School students to launch a new business extension they hope will increase tourism and business for downtown New Prague.

This week, as Americans gather for their Thanksgiving feast, they will have plenty to be thankful for.
We can be thankful for our family, who love and support us in our daily lives, who are there for us when we need help, and who, in turn, receive love and support from us when they need it.
We can be thankful for the farmers who spend long hours to grow crops and raise livestock, who make the food that we feast on at Thanksgiving and every other day of the week.

Leonard A. Shimota, Age 91 of Hugo passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 18th.
Len was an accomplished artist and musician. After serving our country in the Korean War, he came back to work as a designer at Dayton’s for almost 40 years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Anna and his brother, Wilbert. Len is survived by his wife, Rita; children Lindsay (Don) Sovil, Jenny (Brad Bohlmann), Jon, Patrick; and granddaughter, Casey Sovil.
Private family services have been held. MuellerMemorial.com 651-774-9797

The last few months have seemed to go by in a blur at the newspaper. It seems like it was just a short time ago when we were preparing for the school year and fall sports to begin and elections to take place, and now they’re all over, we’ve already jumped into the winter sports season and are preparing for the holiday season.

Vickie L. Vycital, age 71 of Elko, died Sunday, November 18, 2018 at her home with her family by her side.  Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27 at St. John Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine, with Pastor Mark Johnson officiating.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, November 26 at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine, and will continue one hour prior to service time at the church on Tuesday.  Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Father Kevin Clinton, center, offers a blessing on several tractors the morning of Sunday, Nov. 18, at St. John the Evangelist Church of Union Hill. The brief ceremony was also to celebrate this time of blessings and thankfulness at the end of the harvest. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Helen G. Hoheisel, age 89, of New Prague died with family at her side on Sunday November 18, 2018, at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague, MN.  Helen was born August 3, 1929 in Buckman, Minnesota to John A. and Loretta M. (Brashofsky) Theis.  She was raised and attended Catholic school in Buckman. She married Willard C. Hoheisel on November 30, 1950 at St.