Helen Von Bank, age 92, of Shakopee, MN, died on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, surrounded by her family, at Friendship Manor Nursing Home in Shakopee.
Helen was born on April 8, 1926, in Marystown, MN, the daughter of Peter and Margaret (Klehr) Theis. She married Eli Von Bank on September 23, 1947, in Jordan, and had worked for the Scott County Sheriff in the food service department. Helen enjoyed playing cards, fishing, cooking, camping, and watching game shows, the MN Twins and the State High School Basketball tournament.

The Dakota-Rice-Scott League held its winter meeting Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Doublewide Bar in Elko New Market.
All 13 teams were represented at the meeting. Shakopee’s Jesse Nystrom and New Prague’s Nick Schoenecker were introduced as new managers for 2019.
All league officers were elected for another year. President is Mike Sticha, vice president Greg Faue, secretary Sean O’Neill and treasurer Chris Hertaus. Sticha was appointed to manage the league’s website and social media and handle player contracts. O’Neill is the Region 3C Commissioner.

Indelible, chivalrous, electrolysis were some of the words that students spelled correctly to win their schools portion of the annual New Prague Area Schools’ Spelling Bee. Held on Saturday, Jan. 12, students from five schools met in the Lecture Hall at New Prague High School to test their skills in front of family and friends. Schools that participated were the elementary schools of Falcon Ridge, Raven Stream and Eagle View, plus New Prague Middle School and St. Wenceslaus School.

The federal government remains shut down, nearly one month after Congress and the President failed to come to an agreement on funding various federal departments.
This isn’t the first time the government has shut down because two sides were unable to come to an agreement, but as of this week, it is the longest shutdown in our nation’s history. Each side is pointing the blame at the other, but to date, that is the only thing the two sides have in common.

Sugar Rose Bakeshop opened at 801 First Street SE, in the East Town Plaza in New Prague, on Thursday, Jan. 3, in the spot that formerly housed Lady A’s Cupcakes. It was the final step in a long process that owner Jody Breathwaite hadn’t anticipated a little more than a year ago.

Area residents spiced up their evening on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Cowboy Chili Feed and Cook Off held in St. Wenceslaus Church’s Parish Activity Center in New Prague. HIS Haven Ranch sponsored the evening that included a chili meal, a contest for best chili recipe, a silent auction, square dancing and a live auction for desserts.
“We did really well,” said Laurie Baer of HIS Haven Ranch, a free local youth mentoring non-profit organization. “The crowd that was there had a good time.”

The New Prague High School boys hockey team was tagged with a pair of Wright County Conference losses last week. The Trojans lost to Orono 3-1 and to Mound Westonka 4-0.
New Prague has lost four in a row and five of its last six to drop to 6-9-1 on the season. The Trojans were scheduled to face Litchfield/ Dassel-Cokato on Tuesday, Jan. 15, and will host Delano on Friday, Jan. 18. They play Holy Family Catholic at home on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Spartans 3, Trojans 1 New Prague and Orono faced off in New Prague on Tuesday, Jan. 8, with the Spartans going home with a 3-1 win.

The New Prague Trojan dance team competed twice last week, as they prepare for the Wright County Conference championships scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19, at Hutchinson.
The Trojans competed in the WCC Jazz tournament in Delano Thursday, Jan. 10. They finished seventh of 11 teams. Mound Westonka was first and Orono second.
The JV team placed sixth of 11, with Mound first and Orono Blue taking second.
New Prague Coach Monika Goettl said her team has had a few issues, including performing at the conference meet with two missing athletes.

Shopko has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, the company announced on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
The company has announced plans to close more than 100 stores as part of its reorganizational plan. The closings affect both Shopko stores and the smaller Shopko Hometown stores, but does not include the Shopko Hometown store in New Prague. Based in Green Bay, WI, the company currently operates 363 stores in 24 states.

Le Sueur County Judge Mark Vandelist sent a strong message to the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) and its membership on January 3 when he rejected the society’s request to split the fees for the retired judge overseeing the case.
Vandelist stated the disputes within the organization are only hurting it, and if the membership and Board of Directors want to deplete the society’s resources by continuing their contentious disputes, there is little doubt their actions may have an adverse financial effect.

Gladys D. Beinhorn, age 81, of New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Tuesday January 15, 2019 at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.  Gladys was born March 13, 1937 in New Prague to Erwin H.

New board members, from left, Leo Giesen, Tammy Pexa and Mark Bartusek take the oath of office at the beginning of the school board's organizational meeting Monday, Jan. 14. The three were elected in November to four-year terms. Also remaining on the board are Kytyn Schoenbauer, board chair, Jeanne Kubes, vice chair, Kim Holden, treasurer and Dennis Havlicek, clerk.

David Mecredy, left, leads off a line of dancers to gather people for square dancing at the Cowboy Chili Feed/Cook Off in New Prague on Saturday, Jan. 12. Held at the St. Wenceslaus Church’s Parish Activity Center, the evening event was sponsored by HIS Haven Ranch and featured a chili contest, silent auction, live dessert auction and other activities. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

David W. Amundson, age 44, of New Prague, died by suicide after a long battle with depression on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Dave was born on July 1, 1974 to Tom H. and Marlys A. (Youngbauer) Amundson in Farmington, MN. He graduated from Lakeville High School and attended Dunwoody College of Technology and received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in auto mechanics. He worked for the last 15 years for Airlake Automotive in Lakeville.

Tom Schmidberger, left, and Mallory Jirik were the final two contestants out of 12 students from New Prague Middle School that competed in the New Prague Area Schools’ Spelling Bee on Saturday, Jan. 12. Schmidberger won by spelling the word electrolysis. There were five schools that had final spelling bees at New Prague High School on January 12. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

UPDATED at 2 p.m. 1-14-19
Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn announced the name of the victim in the death investigation. He identified that it was David Amundson, 44, of New Prague, who was found in a field near his vehicle on January 13, 2019, at 30th Street West and Halstad Avenue in Wheatland Township.
UPDATED at 3:45 pm. 1-13-19