This is has been a difficult year, there is no argument there. It has been a year that has tested people’s resolve, their good humor, and for some their faith. Even with everything that has happened this year there are still things to be thankful for.

Effective Monday, November 30th, 2020, the Rice County Courthouse is closed due to recent surge of new cases of COVID-19 and increasing concerns for public health. 
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea issued an Order Governing the Continuing Operations of the Minnesota Judicial Branch on November 20, 2020.  This order suspends all in-person court hearings until further notice.  Therefore, the courthouse will be closed to the public until in-person hearings resume. 

Ruth Spartz, age 82 of Montgomery, formerly of Northfield, passed away unexpectedly at the New Prague Hospital on Tuesday evening, November 24, 2020
Services will be 2:00PM, Thursday, December 3, 2020, at the Bierman Funeral Home.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Masks are required and the funeral home will assist with social distancing.
Arrangements are with the Bierman Funeral Home.  www.biermanfuneralhome.com

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague continued its tradition of providing Thanksgiving meals for families and individuals on Sunday, Nov. 22, but there were some changes. Due to the pandemic the church had people drive through the church’s parking lot where volunteers put the ready to make free meals in vehicles’ trunks.
“We wanted to do something this year since we couldn’t do the usual,” said Donna Galvin, Hospitality Coordinator at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

The shortened season ended for the New Prague football team Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The Trojans were defeated by Waconia, 27-7, in the Section 2AAAAA Quarterfinals.
Waconia entered the game as the No. 4 seed in the Section with a 4-3 record. New Prague was the No. 5 seed with a 2-2 record.
Matt Friedges scored the lone touchdown for the Trojans in the first half, a half in which head coach Jacob Norby said his team played very well in.

Santa chats with Teagan, center, and her brother Reed, at Cedar Brook Garden Center on Saturday, Nov. 21. The business north of New Prague had Santa visit with children on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22. Santa asked children what they wanted for Christmas, if they had been good and how Mrs. Claus was back at the North Pole making sure the elves would have the presents ready. Children kept their distance and several wore masks during their visit, which were spaced out. There were also...
To see more on this story pick up the November 26, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020, from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the New Market Town Hall, 8950 230th St. E. Lakevillle, MN 55024
See flyer attached to make an appointment.

Shirley Scheffert, 82, of Montgomery, passed away at her home on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.
Shirley was born on June 19, 1938, in New Prague to William and Helen (Kajer) Svobodny. She was a graduate of New Prague High School and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato where she received her LPN nursing degree.
Shirley was united in marriage to Karl J. Scheffert on May 14, 1960, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague. Together, they raised five children: Mark, Scott, Mary Kaye, Donna and Susan.

Kathleen (Kay) Hartmann, age 81, of Jordan, MN, died peacefully in the presence of her family on November 19, 2020. Her influence as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, sibling and friend will be cherished. Nothing lit up Kay’s life more than when her children and grandchildren were around. They truly were her heartbeat and her legacy will live on through them.

Coborn’s, Inc. announced this week another new measure the company is taking to disinfect its shopping carts after guest use. The company’s supermarkets are now utilizing electrostatic cleaning sprayers to disinfect carts in an effort to minimize surface spread of the COVID-19 virus. Once shopping carts have been returned to cart areas, staff uses the Victory Cordless Sprayer to lightly mist disinfectant on the carts.

New Prague’s Dennis Dvorak was recently named to the Minnesota Historical Society’s Honorary Council, which recognizes individuals for distinguished work in service of Minnesota history and advancement of the mission of the state historical society, which is “Using the power of history to transform lives” by preserving, sharing and connecting. Dvorak was being honored for his work with the New Prague Area Historical Society. The recognition came during the Minnesota Historical Society’s 171st annual meeting, which was held as a Zoom meeting due to the pandemic.

The New Prague volleyball team split two matches with Waconia last week to remain in second place in the Wright County Conference East Division.
The Trojans defeated Waconia 25-18, 25-20, and 25-21 Tuesday, Nov. 10 which was Parent’s Night.
Two nights later the Wildcats turned the tables and defeated New Prague 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, and 25-22.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Scott County Sheriff Luke Hennen announced that Connie Lou Herbst (62) and Austin James Herbst (26), both of New Prague, were arrested in regards of the death of 63-year-old Gary Albert Herbst of Elko New Market. Gary Herbst, who was the husband and father respectively of the two, was reported as a missing person to the Elko New Market Police Department in 2014.  His remains were later found in Maple Grove Township in Barron County, WI in late 2017.