Gordon Prochaska, age 71, passed away at his residence in Florence, Arizona, on Saturday, January 7, from complications of contracting COVID-19.
Off-duty Montgomery Police Chief Nathan Hintz, Sergeant Pete Bulger, and Officer Mike Longbehn escorted Officer Gordon Prochaska’s body home to Montgomery from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Jan. 17.

The Trojans’ varsity jazz team competes at New Prague High School’s invitational Saturday, Jan. 21. The Trojans’ varsity jazz team and varsity high kick team both won the invite. For more see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

The Elko New Market City Council honored former police officer Steve Hotaling and welcomed new officer Derrick Irwin to the police department during the council’s Thursday, Jan. 12, meeting.
More than 30 people attended, with several family members and friends of Hotaling and Irwin, plus members of the Elko New Market Police Department.
Steve Hotaling
Elko New Market Police Chief Brady Juell and Acting Mayor Amanda Novak honored former officer Hotaling, who served with the department from May of 2019, until November of 2022, when he left for another department.

New Prague High School seniors Savannah Smith and Sophia Metzdorff are the winners of the MARS (Mastering Academics and Real-World Skills) Business version of Shark Tank. The two had some tough competition, but perhaps the duo’s two toughest opponents was the weather and schedules, as the two-day event stretched out more than two weeks.

The Elko New Market City Council will hold a special meeting tonight (Thursday) at 5 p.m.
The council will consider a request from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) for a 30-day extension on the possible need for an EAW (Environmental Assessment Worksheet) regarding the proposal from Niagara Bottling for a water bottling plant in the city’s industrial park.
For more see the Jan. 26 print edition of The New Prague Times.

As they begin their search to replace retiring Superintendent Tim Dittberner, New Prague School Board members want to know what qualities people believe the district’s next district leader ought to possess. The district has published an online survey it hopes residents and community members will complete by Wednesday, Jan. 25. The results of the survey will help create a profile the district’s consultant, South Central Services Cooperative, can use when reviewing applicants for the job. The superintendent profile will be presented at a special school board meeting Jan. 30.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig has written to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy asking him to improve mail service in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, which includes New Prague.

With a few snips of a scissor and the buzz of an electric razor Saturday, Dec. 31, Roman Dorzinkski gave his last haircut at Dorzinski Barbers, a New Prague shop where three members of the Dorzinkski family have been operating for 91 years.
Getting the last haircut while he sat in the 1956 model barber’s chair was Max Kalina of Montgomery.
“He’s been cutting my hair for about 25 years,” said Kalina.
Asked how he chose Dorzinski, Kalina grinned and said, “He’s my grandpa.” When asked when he had his fist haircut, Dorzinski cuts in that Kalina was age 2.

It started as a quiet evening in Michelle and Alirio Vanyo’s home on James Parkway in Elko New Market, a Christmas Eve filled with peace as decorations were placed on a tree and the family enjoyed time together. The night ended with their home and most of their possessions destroyed or damaged by a fire.
It all changed around 7:25 p.m. A fire started in the garage. Alirio said the fire inspectors told him the fire most likely started in a battery charger. A neighbor told Alirio he saw sparks, probably from the charger, from across the street, just before the fire started.

New Prague High School’s wrestling team won the team title at the Rumble on the Red held Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 28-30, in Fargo. ND. The Trojans won first with 193.5 points of the top five out of 58 teams. Second through fifth were Stillwater, Jackson County Center, Waconia and Bemidji.

Because of severe weather and delivery complications, delivery of the Jan. 5 edition of The New Prague Times and Montgomery Messenger for various areas could be delayed by a day or two. 
These papers will be available at newsstands in Montgomery and New Prague if you wish to pick one up.
Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Due to inclement weather, there will be no school Tuesday, January 3. This will be a blended learning day. Lessons for blended learning will be available on this link after 9:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/3WXpOh9
There will be No Kids' Company or WRAP.
All afternoon and evening activities for Tuesday, January 3, are canceled.
Fitness & Aquatic Center will be open, but please check emails and watch Facebook for possible schedule changes and closure updates.

Crossroads Church in Elko New Market held an early New Year’s party Saturday, Dec. 31, at Eagle View Elementary School. The family friendly party had games, snacks and a dropping of beach balls at noon. More than 100 people attended the first time event that allowed the community to celebrate together. For more see the Thursday, Jan. 5, print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

The Elko New Market City Council continued its public hearing about the proposed Niagara Bottling water bottling plant on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The public hearing had begun on Thursday, Dec. 15. For most of the two-and-ahalf-hour Dec. 20 meeting, the council heard from more than 30 people at city hall and those attending online.

New Prague Police Chief Jim Gareis will be retiring after a 37-year career in law enforcement at the end of the year. His last day as police chief was Thursday, Dec. 22. Chief Gareis said he’s ready for it.
Gareis thought about how this will be a change for him. “I thought, ‘This is my career I’m giving up,’ but I think I’m ready for that.”

The Scott County Sheriff's s Office has identified the deceased man found near the Interstate Highway 35 ramp and County Road 2 in New Market Township the morning of Dec. 23.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Officer has formally identified the body found in New Market Township Friday, Dec. 23, as 34-year old Alexander Stenberg of Bloomington. Stenberg’s body was located near this area by a passerby at approximately 8:47 a.m.