The New Prague volleyball team advanced to the Class AAA State Volleyball Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Trojans placed second to Eagan 20 years ago. The 2021 New Prague team opened State Tournament action Wednesday, Nov. 10 and defeated Chisago Lakes (20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-11). This win moves the Trojans (21-10 overall) into the State Semifinals Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. against No. 2 rated Kasson-Mantorville, a straight set winner over Sauk Rapids/Rice. No. 1 rated Marshall and Grand Rapids will play in the other semifinal match Friday.

Crews work on the New Prague Veterans Memorial on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Upon completion of the new memorial in Memorial Park, New Prague’s Main Street will officially be opened to traffic. The opening of Main Street was delayed due to the size of the crane needed to move the large stone monuments into place. If the work is completed on November 10 Main Street will open on Thursday, Nov. 11, otherwise the street will open by Friday, Nov. 12. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague Post Office reopened the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 9, after being closed for roughly two and-a-half months. The post office on Main Street is now fully open. It closed on Saturday, Aug. 21, and was originally scheduled to be closed for 26 days so work could be done to the floors. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague (20-10 overall record) volleyball team has advanced to the 2021 Class AAA State Tournament after winning the Section 6AAA Championship Thursday, Nov. 4. The Trojans defeated Holy Angels 25-16, 19-25, 25-21, and 26-25 in Waconia. This will be the second time a New Prague volleyball team has advanced to State. The last time was in 2001. The Trojans will play Wednesday, Nov. 10 at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in the Class AAA State Quarterfinals. Seeding for the tournament will take place Sunday morning.

The date for the reopening of the New Prague Post Office was tentatively set for Monday, Nov. 1. Tentative proved to be the operative word as a message in the door of the Post Office on Main Street had the November 1 date scratched out and “TBD” (To Be Decided) written in.

In honor of Veterans Day on Thursday, Nov. 11, the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard has been invited to present the colors at several area events that will be observing the holiday. There will also be a program on Sunday, Nov. 14, and Tuesday, Nov. 16.
On Thursday, Nov. 11, New Prague School District 721 will have programs at its schools. New Prague High School is the only school that is allowing visitors to attend its program due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reconstruction of New Prague’s Main Street is scheduled to be completed by Wednesday, Nov. 10, with the street to be open for traffic by that date. It is expected that all the lighting, signs, and seeding work will be completed by November 10 allowing the removal of the detour and the opening of Main Street.

In honor of Veterans Day, West Point Glee Club of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, is traveling to Minnesota for two public concerts, with one in New Prague. Plus, Maggie O’Neill, daughter of Sean and Jamee O’Neill of New Prague and a 2018 graduate of New Prague High School, is a member of the West Point Glee Club.

New Prague Mayor Duane Jirik, center, addresses the crowd during the State of the City and School on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at The Depot. He and Superintendent of Schools Tim Dittberner updated people on the population of the town, the number of total students in the school district, housing and students’ test scores during the luncheon held by the New Prague Chamber of Commerce. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Families have fun at Malaween at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center and Assisted Living in New Prague the evening of Sunday, Oct. 31. There were an assortment of games and treats for children and families from 3-6:30 p.m. The New Prague area had many ways for families to celebrate Halloween beginning on Friday, Oct. 29, and going through Sunday with Trunk and Treat events, a drive through Trick and Treat, and parties. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Families will be able to choose from several spots around the New Prague area for Halloween fun beginning on Friday, Oct. 29, and most activities on Saturday, Oct. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 31.

Thomas Hoppert takes Halloween to the next level.
For years, he has dressed up in elaborate homemade costumes for what he calls his favorite holiday. His previous creations include the Yip Yip Martians from Sesame Street, Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth, and Captain Obvious!
However, this year’s costumes are his most elaborate, and time-consuming.

Families depending on buses to get their children to and from New Prague schools can breathe a little easier.
The bus-driver shortage that threatened to cause a disruption in the district’s regular in-class education—and major headaches—has been averted, for now.
Superintendent Tim Dittberner informed the School Board, Monday night, Oct. 25, that new bus drivers have been hired and a few current school employees are in the process of getting their commercial drivers license (CDL).

Funeral arrangements have been set for Father Denny Dempsey, 73, a former pastor of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, who passed away unexpectedly Monday evening, Oct. 25, according to an announcement made by Dempsey’s current parish, Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville.
The church posted the following on its Facebook page on Tuesday: “It is with heavy hearts that we need to share some very sad news. We learned Monday evening that Father Denny Dempsey had been riding his bike in Rosemount, as he so loved to do. He was struck by a motor vehicle and did not survive the impact.”

Former New Prague mayor Chuck Nickolay, center left, and Mayor Duane Jirik, center right, share the duties of cutting a ribbon along Main Street in downtown New Prague on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The ceremony marked the two years of work that has gone into rebuilding the city’s Main Street. Also present were representatives of the City of New Prague, the city’s engineering firm Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., contractor SM Hentges & Sons, MnDOT, the New Prague Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and residents. For more on the ceremony see this week’s print issue of The New Prague Times.

New changes are coming to how people make phone calls as mandatory 10-digit dialing starts on Sunday, Oct. 24. The Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) July 2020 Order required all telecommunications carriers, to make any network changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) by July 16, 2022.