New Prague’s Deputy Registrar office moved recently as it transitioned from First Bank & Trust on the east end of town to 118 Main St. E in the downtown. The office closed at First Bank & Trust on Tuesday, Dec. 28, and reopened at its new location under Jared O’Reilly of Savage on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.
The Deputy Registrar office was first established at First Bank & Trust when it was still State Bank of New Prague and located along Central Avenue N.

Due to staffing shortage, the New Prague Post Office is delivering packages and rotating mail routes. This may delay your newspaper delivery. 

Scott County Public Health will administer free COVID-19 tests at the Shakopee Library this month amid all-time high positivity rates. 
Over 23% of county residents seeking COVID-19 testing were positive for the virus on average in the past seven days, according to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 
Testing will be available by appointment from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Jan. 10-13, Jan. 18-20 and Jan. 24-27 at the Shakopee Library at 235 Lewis Street South. 
Click here to register for an appointment or visit scottcountymn.gov. 

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM, Friday, January 7, 2022.
The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.Counties involved are Anoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan and Wright.

The Elko New Market Police Department reported in a press release:
On Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at approximately 8:35 a.m., the Elko New Market Police Department was dispatched to an Elko New Market address for a disturbance call.
Upon arrival, the homeowner was located inside the residence deceased. The reporting party, an Elko New Market man, was also present and taken into custody without incident. He was transported shortly thereafter to Scott County Jail.

The Ptarmigans’ offense was clicking during the 62nd SnoBowl on Saturday, Jan. 1, at Memorial Park in New Prague. The Ptarmigans won 28-0 against the Polars in the long running alumni snow football game. Teams are made up of graduates from New Prague High School. This was one of the coldest games played as temperatures were -5 degrees Fahrenheit. For more on the game see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved the final 2022 levy in the amount of $24,611,528, which is an increase of $1.1 million or 4.8 percent from 2021.
This action was taken during the December 21 meeting.
County departments developed their proposed budgets during the months of April and May. Work sessions are held between the department heads and the county commissioners during June through August. In September the board sets the preliminary levy.

The Lonsdale City Council has approved another no-frills budget and property tax levy for the 2022 fiscal year.
“I know there are no frills in this budget,” said Lonsdale City Council Member Kevin Kodada. “I know we won’t end up in a surplus like the state did.”
Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson echoed Kodada’s statement as he went over the budget and property tax levy proposed for approval at the December 9 council meeting.
“The whole city budget is as basic as it gets,” Erickson said.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new addition to its building on Friday, Dec. 17. Co-pastor Ben Hilding offered a brief history on the new wing of the church and prayers for it.
Among the 26 people present were representatives of the church and those that were involved in its design and construction, including Bruce Caulfield, Marv Deutsch, Mike Solheid and Shannon Allen. Dr. George Winn and his wife Joan were recognized for their generosity and leadership with Dr. Winn cutting the ribbon for the ceremony.

With shy smiles, a few giggles and some nervous energy by the younger participants, more than 30 children presented the Christmas story at St. John’s Catholic Church of Union Hill the morning of Sunday, Dec. 19. The church’s annual Children’s Christmas Pageant was a reminder of what the season is about, a baby born in a simple manger, who was honored by angels, shepherds and kings. Originally planned for Wednesday, Dec. 15, the pageant was postponed due to warnings of high winds. The Sunday pageant had older children holding hands of younger ones to help them in their parts.

The 62nd SnoBowl, the longest running alumni snow football game in the world, will be played on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 at 12 noon in New Prague’s Memorial Park. The game, played between the Ptarmigans and Polars, with teams made up of New Prague High School alumni, will see who can come away with the win this year.

The Elko New Market Police Department reported in a press release that, "On Tuesday, Dec. 21, at approximately 12:20 p.m., New Market Bank in Elko New Market was robbed. No weapon was implied or brandished. Nobody was injured during the incident. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money. There is no reason to believe that there is a threat to the general public. The robbery is currently under investigation." For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.

The New Prague School District responded to two concerning posts that came through social media. One was an anonymous nationwide threat advocating violence against schools on Friday, Dec. 17, that was being shared on TikTok. The other media post was directed at New Prague and used a racial slur that people “Watch yo backs.”

The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, with other area law enforcement, held its Shop with a Cop the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague. There were 23 children that participated in the annual event that allows children to find gifts for family members and something for themselves.

A December rainbow stretched across New Prague’s Main Street the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 15. A light drizzle led to the rainbow, in some places a double rainbow, as the sky began to clear. The weather forecast for the evening and night calls for the possibility of high winds and rain, a change from the colder temperatures and snow that hit the area nearly a week ago. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Le Sueur County received $3.7 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), part of a $2.2 trillion federal economic stimulus bill that was passed in March 2020 in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, how did the county spend those dollars?