New Prague High School students in grades 10 through 12 headed back to in person classes the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 31. Freshman were at the school building on Monday, Aug. 30, for orientation. Students started arriving for classes between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. According to the high school there are 1,380 students registered this year. (Patrick Fisher Photo)
Members of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce surprised Jerry Minar the morning of Friday, Aug. 27, as he and his wife Bev will be this year’s Grand Marshals of the Parade of Farm Pride during the city’s Dozinky Festival. Jerry said they are honored to be named as the Grand Marshals. From left are Frank Weber, New Prague Chamber of Commerce board member, Jerry Minar and Brooke Sticha, Executive Director of the New Prague Chamber.
With sun shining through the large windows in FaithPoint Lutheran Church’s new sanctuary, Rev. Dr. Steve Trewartha warmly welcomed congregation members, friends, and visitors to the church’s Grand Opening worship service and celebration on Sunday morning, August 22, approximately one year after the church held its groundbreaking ceremony.
The 14-acre campus is located at 1051 270th Street West (one mile north of the car dealerships on Redwing Avenue) in New Prague.
A ribbon-cutting event was held prior to the service to kickstart the event.
The Czech Heritage Club were on the road a few weeks ago.
Club Members George Mikiska and James Simon appeared at the Pope County Fair in Glenwood on August 6. According to the members, Pope County has the next highest population of Czech immigrants in the state after Czech Country (Veseli, Lonsdale, Montgomery, and New Prague).
Crews place temporary cluster boxes outside of the New Prague Post Office on Thursday, Aug. 19. The New Prague Post Office will temporarily close beginning Saturday, Aug. 21, to undergo floor repair. The post office will tentatively be closed for 26 days with the lobby also closed. Customers who have PO Boxes in the New Prague Post Office will be able to use the cluster boxes for their mail. A key for the cluster box will be in their PO Box on Friday, Aug. 20. Mail can still be dropped off at the blue mail boxes and will still be picked up.
Minnwest Bank and Roundbank announced on Thursday, Aug. 12, the signing of an agreement to merge. Completion of the transaction, which is currently expected to occur by the end of 2021, is contingent upon regulatory approval.
Generations Theatre Company took its cast from its summer production “Blame it on the Movies” on the road on Thursday, Aug. 12. The tour consisted of stops at Tradtions of Montgomery, Mala Strana Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Center and Praha Village, the senior apartment facility, both in New Prague. The group sang songs from “Blame it on the Movies,” which consisted of songs from various time periods of the silver screen.
The New Prague City Council honored City Administrator Mike Johnson during its Monday, Aug. 16, meeting. Johnson who has been the city administrator for 13 years is retiring on Friday, Aug. 20. The council unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Johnson for his work and presented him with a plaque and a key to the city.
The resolution stated that Johnson’s efforts and dedication helped New Prague grow and with the overall well-being of the city.
By Den Gardner
(NPGC Board Member)
One-hundred years ago New Prague residents dreamed of a four-hole golf course in a new park planned for the city, along with tennis courts, a football field, playground and other amenities. That vision never materialized, but a seed had been planted.
Ninety years ago that vision did become a reality and on Aug. 21 New Prague Golf Club will celebrate 90 years as part of the club championship. A brief program will begin at 4 p.m. and the public is invited to commemorate the pioneers of that dream 90 years ago.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
will be held every Thursday at Rice County Public Health, 320 NW 3rd Street, Faribault 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. throughout August and September
Rice County Public Health continues to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics every Thursday from 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. These clinics are open to those 12 years and older, with all three vaccines available.
The Czech Heritage Club will hold its August program on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at the Lonsdale Public Library, 1006 Birch St NE, Lonsdale, at 7 p.m.
All Czech Heritage Club members and the public are invited to attend this free event. The program will be a “History of Lonsdale” presented by Steve Vosejpka.
Due to a breakdown at the printing press in Princeton, MN, the August 12th issues of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger and the LifeEnterprise, which are mailed, will be a day late.
Area newsstand papers will be available on Wednesday as usual.
We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Effective Monday, August 9, 2021, all Rice County employees and visitors are required to wear a face covering in Rice County government buildings. This requirement is going into effect to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Rice County is currently classified as “high” community transmission of COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s COVID-19 Data Tracker. The CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health recommend face coverings be worn in indoor, public settings by all individuals -- vaccinated or not -- when in a community with high transmission.
Mental Health Awareness Day at the Minnesota State Fair will be held on Monday, Aug. 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Dan Patch Park located next to the Grandstand. This event, which features about 60 mental health organizations from across the state, is an opportunity for all Minnesotans to raise awareness about mental health, which is more important now than ever before as everyone continues to recover from the negative impacts of the global pandemic.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office honored Deputy Duane “Dewey” Jirik on Friday, July 30, as he retired after serving with the department for 24 and-a-half years.
“Deputy Jirik has served the residents of Scott County for over 24 years, working numerous assignments including Volunteer Reserve Deputy, Patrol Deputy, and as a Sergeant overseeing Court Security, Civil Process, Transports, and Campus Security,” said Scott County Sheriff Luke Hennen in a press release.