Due to inclement weather, New Prague Area Schools will be releasing High School Students at 12:35 p.m. and Middle School Students at 12:45 p.m. today, Monday, March 15, 2021.
There will be no afternoon preschool and no evening activities.
Kids Company and WRAP will be closing early.
Fitness & Aquatic Center will be open, but please check emails and watch Facebook for possible schedule changes and closure updates.

A snowstorm the morning of Monday, March 15, reminded people it’s still winter. A sidewalk sweeper clears away snow in front of New Prague High School near the intersection of 12th Street NE and Columbus Avenue. While the New Prague area has had spring like weather over the last few days with temperatures reaching into the high 50s recently, old man winter provided a blast of sleet and snow on March 15. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Four area Cub Scouts “crossed over” to Boy Scouts during a special Blue and Gold Banquet at the New Prague Park Ballroom, Sunday afternoon, March 7.
The new Boy Scouts are: Cooper Christenson, son of Derek and Krista Christenson, Daniel Vaughn, son of Brian and Angie Vaughn, Honu Fierst, son of Les and Aleka Fierst, and Kason Adamek, son of Terry Adamek and Carla Sticha.
Prior to “crossing,” the senior Webelos Cub Scouts received their...
To see more on this story, pick up the March 11, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Scott County is now take applications for its Fifth annual Fast-Track Business Challenge. The deadline for applications is August 31, 2021. Applications may be submitted through the website www.scottcountyfasttrack.com.

The New Prague Knights of Columbus had a busy night on Friday, March 5, as they served up 385 meals at their annual fish fry.
While all the meals were take out, there was...
To read more on this story, pick up the March 11, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.

The Rice County Sheriff’s Office is asking everyone to be alert to a new scam hitting our area.  This is another form of mail fraud where you receive mail asking you to pay a fine for a traffic violation.  The latest scam states that you were caught on a DOT camera for a traffic violation.  The State of Minnesota does not currently allow photograph traffic enforcement, excluding body cameras or mobile vehicle cameras that are fixed to an officer or a squad car.    

Today, Governor Tim Walz expanded the groups of individuals who are “priority eligible” for the COVID-19 vaccine, which include people with underlying health conditions, those with rare medical conditions, and documented disability; similarly, these priority groups now also include those working in the judicial system, food production, and food retail services. For specific information, please visit https://scottcountymn.gov/336/Public-Health for further definitions and information.

Thursday, March 11th 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Canterbury Park Expo Center
1100 Canterbury Road Shakopee
Appointment required
To register, please go to https://gis.co.scott.mn.us/publichealth/vaccinate.html using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge or call the County’s COVID Hotline at 952-818-3730 or send an email to covid@co.scott.mn.us if you need assistance.
More clinics will be scheduled for other groups as more vaccine doses become available.

The Ptarmigans Kevin Korbel, center #40, tries to push through the Polars’ defense during the 61st annual SnoBowl on Saturday, March 6, at Southside Park in New Prague. The Ptarmigans came out on top with a victory over the Polars in the annual football game played by New Prague High School alumni. The game had been moved from Memorial Park to keep from tearing up grass that had been planted at the park last year. While usually played between Christmas and New Year’s, this year’s game was postponed to March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elko New Market City Council discussed at its electronically held meeting on Thursday, Feb. 25, the possibility of having hybrid meetings, where council members would meet in-person and the audience would attend virtually.
Council member Bryce Schuenke brought up the possibility of having hybrid meetings.

Starting March 10, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Coborn’s, Inc., will begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine).  
  “The entire Coborn’s team is honored to be on the leading edge of providing the COVID vaccine to members of our communities,” said Jason Miller, Pharmacy Clinical Program Manager. “We strongly recommend that EVERYONE receive the COVID-19 vaccine when they are eligible to receive it.”

Minnesota’s 1,781 townships will hold their annual meeting on Tuesday, March 9. Known as Township Day, these annual meetings are held every year on the second Tuesday in March.
Residents of the townships will meet to voice their opinions about local issues with other township residents and also vote directly on their annual tax levy; direct democracy in action. Citizens attending annual meetings also often discuss and vote on other local issues.
In addition, many of the state’s townships will hold their township officer elections on Tuesday’s Township Day.

Rafik Moore, CEO of Caspian Group and a partner in New Prague Mill LLC, the organization that bought the former Miller Milling property said they are in the early stages for their plans for the property, which covers 180,000 square feet.

The Le Sueur County Historical Society has remained busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The society recently finished repairs of the old Cleveland Methodist Church, which currently houses many of the society’s artifacts.
In late fall, the large, overgrown lilac hedge on the building’s west side was removed to give better visibility to the building’s exterior in an attempt to deter people from breaking in. According to LCHS, several breaches have occurred at the church in recent years, but none of the artifacts appear to have been taken or damaged.

UPDATED: Wed., March 3, 2021
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office has released the names involved in the two-vehicle, fatal crash on March 2. 
                According to Steve Collins, Captain of Services and Support for the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Marcia Back, 32, of Morris, the driver of the Hyundai Elantra, died at the scene. Ryan Trcka, 20, of Montgomery, the driver of the 1995 Chevrolet pickup, was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. 
                Calls to the hospital regarding the status of his condition, were not returned.

Allie Schmidt, left, and Aaron Paul were crowned Queen and King at New Prague High School’s coronation ceremony on Friday, Feb. 26, at the high school auditorium. The brief ceremony was live streamed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was music and the introduction of the candidates for King and Queen. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)