Kathy Kramer has lived south of Lonsdale for more than 40 years, and she’s never eaten a Czech dumpling.
“Nope, never had one. I’m Swedish and German, and I’ve never had those dumplings either,” she said with a laugh.
Along with more than 30 other people from around the area, Kramer’s hands were deep in dumpling dough when the Czech Heritage Club hosted a free potato dumpling-making demonstration on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at Revival on Main in Montgomery.

Central Health Care of Le Center celebrated “Together” for National Skilled Nursing Care Week May 9 to 15, 2021.
The theme “Together” was just how the facility celebrated. That began with the staff and residents choosing Bill Rohlfing and Lori Jones as their King and Queen.
Tammy Plonsky, Activities Director, said the week was full of events like a “Relay for Life” fundraiser that involved as many people as possible.

I don’t know when it was, but somewhere between a day old and 33 years old, I learned to appreciate my dad for who he is; not for who I thought he should be. He was a great man, I always knew that. He was a hard-worker, volunteer, and faithful, and devoted husband to my mother.
But the truth is, God knew long before we showed up on this earth that we’d be a family. He knew my dad’s strengths and struggles would one day coalesce to create the man he became until he left the earth at 58-years-old in 1997. It was too short a journey, but one I reflect on every day.

From left, New Prague Mayor Duane Jirik, Czech Heritage Club members Vi Chromy, George Mikiska, Jan Kubista, Deputy Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Marit Lee Kucera, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, Czech Heritage Club members Jim Simon and Fred Simon stand in front of the Brana on New Prague’s east side the morning of Thursday, June 17. Kubista was visiting New Prague and Montgomery with stops at historic sites. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Before the seniors of TCU Class of 2021 entered the real world after graduation, they received some interview training at an event that brought in business professionals from around the area.
The TCU High School Real World Communications Class conducted Mock Interviews on May 11 in the high school gym. Danielle Duffey, Workforce Development Coordinator, said the event was one of first in-person, yet still social-distanced workforce development events this spring due to COVID.

TCU had a couple of champions in the Subsection 7 Track and Field Championship held at Le Sueur-Henderson High School on June 3.
Among the first place finishers were Marco Reyes in the 400-meter dash, and Jordan Meyer in the 110-meter hurdles.
The runners-up were the girls and boys 4x800 relay teams, which both placed second. Charlotte Houn finished second in the 100M hurdles, and Jordan Meyer crossed the finish line in second place in the 300M hurdles. Yasmin Ruiz also finished second in the 800M run, and Reyes took second in the 200M dash.

Montgomery Music in the Park tonight has been MOVED to the Montgomery American Legion Post at 7 p.m. due to the heat advisory!
Tonight's music will be by the Mary Guentzel Quintet. This group performs the great standards from the 30s and 40s, along with select favorites from more recent decades.
Organizers hope everyone can join them inside for some great music!

A Montgomery man faces felony charges after he and a female victim were found naked in Sand Creek in Jordan following a car crash into the creek on Wednesday, June 2.
According to a summary of the incident provided by the Jordan Police Department, Jared Scott Herman, 38, of Montgomery was arrested at the scene and is in Scott County Jail facing two felony charges—second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and felony terroristic threats.

Union Hill and St. Patrick are riding impressive win streaks as they start to make their way to the top of the DRS Amateur Baseball standings.
Union Hill has won six straight games and it 1/2 game behind Faribault with a 6-1 record. St. Patrick has won three straight games and improves to 6-3 overall, 1 1/2 games back of the Lakers.
Both Union Hill and St. Patrick were helped out when St. Benedict upset Faribault, 4-3 Friday, June 4.
Prior Lake holds down the third spot in the league with a 7-2 record.

The Montgomery Area Community Club, the organization responsible for organizing Kolacky Days, announced this year’s candidates for the Kolacky Days Queen Pageant.
The candidates are Ronni Smith, daughter of Jill and Clint Smith; Aubrey Filter, daughter of Jessie and Andy Filter; Grace Barnett, daughter of Kevin and Keri Barnett, and Abby and Chris Degrood; Ellaina Novak, daughter of Tami and Gary Novak; Haley Goettl, daughter of Andrew and Catherine Goettl, and Jamie Nelson, daughter of Amber Plonsky and Adam Nelson.

Irene N. Jakes, 85, of Faribault, MN, passed away Thursday, June 3, 2021, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
Irene Nelette was born on November 12, 1935, in Smiths Mill, MN to Basiel and Ethel (Merritt) Spoor. She attended Montgomery High School. She was married to Marvin Jakes; they had five children, and were later divorced. They had farmed for about 30 years in Erin Township, Rice County.

The 36th Annual Morristown Dam Days started Wednesday, June 2 with the crowning of Miss Morristown.
Grand Marshals of this year’s Dam Days Parade are Morristown Morries baseball teams.
Friday, June 4 The rest of the festivities begin on Friday with Family Fun Shows of Mankato at 5 p.m. and the numerous food stands and beer garden also at 5 p.m.
There will be a Euchre Tournament at 1:30 p.m. in the Morristown Community Center. Don’t forget the Twilight Parade at 7 p.m.
At 8:30 p.m. music by Old Country Boys will be under the Big Top Tent.

This issue of The New Prague Times is the last one Dennis Lambrecht will have a hand in producing.
After more than half a century in the newspaper and printing business, Lambrecht, of Montgomery, is retiring. His last day with Suel Printing Co. is June 4.

The Czech Heritage Club held its annual meeting on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague. Twelve members were present, including Marit Lee Kucera, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota. Following a brief recap of 2019 and 2020 programs and events, election of officers for the ensuing year took place. Elected by unanimous ballot were President Jean Keogh, Vice-President Gary Pikal, Treasurer George Mikiska, Secretary James Simon, and Directors Doris Coghill, Fred Simon, and Vi Chromy. All terms of office are one year.

Sibley East 9
TCU 0
Sibley East 3-1-3-2-0-0-x
TCU 0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The Tri-City United Baseball Team’s season came to an end in the Section Playoffs to Sibley East on Saturday, May 29 by a score of 9-0.
The loss put the team’s season at 2-14.
TCU had only one hit by Collin Barnett, who also pitched the first 3.2 innings giving up all nine runs to SE. Only three of the runs were earned.
Max Krautkremer pitched very well in relief, pitching 2.1 innings while striking out three.
Five TCU errors helped SE pick up nine runs in the game.

Friday was a big day for the TCU seniors and their families.
They transitioned from high school students to Tri-City United alumni.
The youth might not realize it, but that’s a big transition. It marks the end of one part of their life and the beginning of another.
I’m sure their journey to graduation was a bumpy one. Being a senior during a global pandemic that brought hybrid learning, to distance learning, to hybrid learning then all-in learning made it unforgettable.