Mary K. (Bruzek) McDonald, age 87, formerly of Roseville, passed away on May 25, 2026. Mary was born March 14, 1939. 

She was receded in death by husband, Dr. William McDonald; parents, Ben & Katharine (Heinen) Bruzek; and sister, Sally Schmid.

She is survived by daughters, Ann Murray (David Eisenlord), Susie (Ron) Burke, and Katie (Jerry) Clark; grandsons, Joshua, Andrew, McCarthy, and Riley; sister, Peggy (Tom) Baldwin; and brother-in-law, Gene (Ann) Schmid.

Harry J. Handzlik, age 85, of New Prague, passed away on May 27, 2026.

Harry grew up in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy for six years. Following his military service, he moved to Minnesota, where he worked at Motorola and later at Control Data in electronics. While working there, he met his first wife, Marilyn. Together they built their home and began raising their family.

After a tough loss in the opening round of the Section 1AAAA playoffs, New Prague has rallied with a pair of wins and has earned a chance at playing the role of spoiler. The Trojans were slated to take on Lakeville South Tuesday, May 26, in Austin after the newspaper’s press deadline.

When he thought about a contribution to the committee raising funds to build the Praha Outdoor Performance Stage (POPS) in New Prague, Eddie Shimota might have been able to cut a check and be done with the matter. But Shimota, owner of Shimota Project Management, noticed the committee had plenty of generous, dedicated and talented people, but none of them with much experience building anything.

Understanding the cost of freedom was a theme in the speech of New Prague’s Memorial Day speaker, Chief Master Sergeant Jamy Tikalsky, Monday, May 25, during ceremonies at the New Prague Veterans Memorial.

Tikalsky dedicated 31 years to serving the U.S. She served in the U.S. Air Force and the Minnesota Air National Guard. During her career, she supported multiple military operations, including Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Any New Prague High School graduate who was asked Saturday afternoon agreed postponing the ceremony to Saturday afternoon, May 23, 2 p.m. was the right decision. On a sunny afternoon, 343 seniors joined the ranks of graduates ready to begin the next chapter of their lives.

Rain before and up to the commencement ceremony’s scheduled 7 p.m. start time Friday evening prompted the rescheduling of the ceremony to Saturday.

Hundreds of people attended the retirement open house for Pastor Steve Trewartha, Saturday, May 16, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague. Trewartha, more known as “Pastor Steve,” has served as a pastor in New Prague for more than 20 years and is the founding pastor of FaithPoint Lutheran Church of rural New Prague.

The Minnesota Legislature called it a day Sunday, May 18, taking credit in the House for working together for the good of the state and its citizens as mature adults ought to do. People working together for a common good, compromising and acting reasonably in a legislative session will oftentimes occur when the two major parties enjoy equal representation.

And yet, the Minnesota House of Representatives weekly news service makes it sound like such bipartisan cooperation is to be celebrated rather than expected. Sadly, it is.

The New Prague Trojans rallied in their first game, 5-4, of the Section 1AAAA baseball tournament, Monday, May 25. In the bottom of the seventh inning of the game at Memorial Park, the Trojans, seeded third, scored four times to beat Lakeville South, seeded sixth. (Further details of the game were not available as of press time.)

The day begins with the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard visiting area cemeteries where the names of veterans buried at those cemeteries will be read.

The visits begin at St. Patrick Cemetery at 9 a.m. then St. Benedict Cemetery 9:25 a.m., Lanesburgh Cemetery 9:45 a.m., Union Hill Cemetery 10:10 a.m., Czech National Cemetery 10:30 a.m. and St. Wenceslaus Cemetery 10:50 a.m.

St. Thomas Church near Le Sueur will be holding a Memorial Day Mass at 9 a.m. with a blessing of the graves after the Mass.

This spring, area town baseball teams in the Dakota-Rice-Scott League have returned to the diamond for another season ending with New Prague being one of the communities hosting state tournament games.

Area teams were asked about their prospects for the season which started last month. Those which responded are listed below. The New Prague Times will begin covering area teams in greater depth as the high school seasons end.

New Prague

In Memorial Day ceremonies that will be repeated across the United States, New Prague will honor and remember those who served and who gave all, Monday, May 25, with services at area cemeteries and at memorials.

The day will include ceremonies at the New Prague Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park along East Main Street. In case of inclement weather, the program at the veterans memorial will be held in the Park Ballroom, 300 Lexington Ave. S.

Tomorrow evening, Friday, May 22, New Prague High School’s Class of 2026 and seniors from the community, regardless of where they attend high school will join the ranks of high school graduates this community has a right to be proud of and hold in high esteem. Young people are the future of this community, its future leaders, its someday civic leaders, its elected representatives of a community looking up to you.

After a solid regular season, New Prague’s girls’ golf team came up stellar Monday at the Metro West Conference Championship meet at Braemar Golf Course in Edina Monday, May 18.

The Trojans finished second in the championships, a showing strong enough to earn the Trojans the conference championship. New Prague finished second with a 329 team score, three strokes behind Orono. Benilde- St. Margaret’s finished third (332), followed by Chanhassen (348), St. Louis Park (352), Waconia (356), Chaska (363) and Bloomington Jefferson (410).

She could have taken any of a number of easier routes to graduating high school. Friday night, Hayden Tourtillott will receive her high school diploma as a reward to herself for not giving up and thinking of her future.

Hayden Tourtillott, 20, should have graduated with New Prague High School’s Class of 2024. For a variety of reasons, some of which she acknowledges were within her own control, Tourtillott didn’t get the work done, working for an hourly wage to pay rent and meet commitments rather than complete the school work needed to earn passing grades and graduate.

The Elko New Market City Council approved two new liquor licenses at its Thursday, May 14, meeting. By a 4-0 vote the council approved an on-sale intoxicating liquor license and a Sunday sale liquor license for Jaceyn Brockhouse, Patrick Flynn and Wade Brelje who submitted paperwork for the licenses for Mega Properties LLC, which operates Elko Speedway at 26350 France Ave. Elko Speedway is a 92-acre facility featuring a 3/8-mile NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt oval track.

A public hearing was required for the liquor licenses, which was held with no comments.