Participants in the Dozinky Zero K at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague Thursday evening, Sept. 18, give a toast. This was the fifth year of the “race” where the starting and finishing line were one and the same. The Zero K and Dozinky Bingo shortly after that are among the many activities that will be held during New Prague’s Czech harvest festival, rain or shine, this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 19, is the Classic Car Cruise beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

Members of the Barten family of rural New Prague, from left, Felix, John and Vincent Barten get one of several cornstalks set up Monday evening, Sept. 15, along New Prague’s Main Street. The Barten family cut cornstalks from their field earlier on Monday using their 115 year old machine. The family helps decorate Main Street for Dozinky, New Prague’s Czech harvest festival, that will be held Thursday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 21. Also helping Monday evening were Fran Barten and Joe Barten and the Hughes family of Brian, Allison, Maggie and Leah.

They walked across a stage in Trojan Stadium, ceremoniously accepted their diplomas and began the next chapter in their lives, not expecting they would one day be back in their hometown as visiting members of a college pep band.

Superintendent aims for district to be ‘better together’

In the wake of a successful performance review, New Prague Superintendent Andy Vollmuth laid out a series of goals and steps to achieve them last week.

The draft of the goals were provided to board members Monday, Sept. 9, at a workshop meeting. They include:

• To support the NPAS School Board to achieve excellence in governance;

• To create systems and structures to enhance excellence in management;

A few weeks ago, we reported the results of the latest round of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). Statewide, the results were, at best, uninspiring. Locally, New Prague students who took the tests were slightly above the state average.

Given the highly-charged political environment we live in these days and the huge investment Minnesota dedicates toward E-12 education these days, the resulting blame game was predictable. Social media was awash with people blaming the DFL and Gov. Walz with the mediocre results.

Eunice E.

Mary Lou Cloyd died peacefully on April 23, 2025, in Ames, IA, at Israel Family Hospice House.

Benjamin Scot Cervenka, known to friends and family as Ben, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of September 8, 2025, at the age of 35.

Patricia "Patty" Susan Doran, age 65, of Montgomery, died on the afternoon of Monday, September 8, 2025, in New Prague.

John J. "Jack" Holomek, age 87, of Montgomery, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, September 12, 2025, surrounded by the love and presence of his family.

Myron McColl, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, at the age of 97 at Valley Ridge Senior living in Burnsville, MN. He was born July 7,1928, in his home in Savage, formerly from Lonsdale.

Thomas Joseph O’Callaghan, age 94, of Farmington, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully with his family at his side, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at his home.  Tom was born on October 9, 1930, in Chicago, IL, to James and Edna (Bunt) O’Callaghan.  He was a U.S.

A serious crash on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, left two vehicles, one towing a trailer with a vehicle on it, in disarray with at least one fatality, according to a press release by the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident happened at the intersection of Le Sueur County Roads 28 (320th Street) and 32 (211th Avenue) in rural Derrynane Township, about three miles north of Clear Lake (Lexington) at about 7:12 a.m. 

The New Prague Fire Department was flying a United States flag in front of its department the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, in memory of the events that happened Sept. 11, 2001. This is the 24th anniversary of the terroristic attacks on American soil on Sept. 11, 2001, when two airplanes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, a third was flown into the Pentagon and a fourth airplane crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field, during a passenger revolt.

The New Prague Police Department reported Tuesday, Sept. 9, on its Facebook page, that at 10:50 a.m. law enforcement located a body suspected to be a young man reported missing since Sunday, Sept. 7. The body was located in a field within New Prague with the assistance of a law enforcement drone.

Information regarding the identity of the deceased and the cause of death will be released at a later date by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, said New Prague Police Chief Tim Applen in the press release. The incident remains under investigation said Applen.

Helen M. Tikalsky, age 84, of New Prague, died peacefully at home with her family at her side on Sunday, September 7, 2025.  Helen was born on April 19, 1941, in New Prague to Frank E. and Regina (Zaun) Bartyzal.  She graduated from New Prague High School and married her high school sweetheart, Daniel J. Tikalsky on January 3, 1959, in New Prague.