Joel Olson, age 82, of Webster, passed away on July 21, 2026, at the Mpls. Veterans Hospital after battling Agent Orange complications.  

Joel was born in Hutchinson, MN, on October 21,1943, to LeRoy and Irene Olson.  He graduated high school and then went to Brown Institute. Following that he joined the Marine Corp and served four years.

Gary Leonard Nytes, age 77, of New Prague, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Mayo Hospital in New Prague, surrounded by his loving wife and family, following a courageous battle with Myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at approximately 2:23 p.m., Scott County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received a report of a motorcycle crash near Drexel Avenue (County Road 15) and 235th Street in Helena Township.

Deputies responded to the scene and found that a 1998 Harley-Davidson motorcycle had been traveling northbound on Drexel Avenue and was entering a curve when it left the roadway and struck an embankment and driveway approach.

Maxine C. Holden, age 86, passed away peacefully following a heartbreaking battle with dementia. Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Le Sueur at 10:30 a.m., with a visitation one hour prior at the church.  Interment will be in St. Thomas Cemetery in St. Thomas, MN. www.koldenfuneralhome.com

    The Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant is looking for queen and junior ambassador candidates for its 37th annual event.
    If you are of Czech or Slovak decent and live within Minnesota, and are between the ages of 12-15 for junior ambassadors or between ages 16-23 for queen by Aug.1, you can apply through their website at missczechslovakminnesotapageant.com.
    The applications are due by Aug. 1 and a contestant meeting will be held on Aug. 9. The pageant will be held at the Park Ballroom in New Prague after the Dožínky Days on Sept. 19.

Roger L. Hartmann, age 85, of New Prague, passed away on July 27, 2026, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ: BKR) recently announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Chart Industries, Inc. (NYSE: GTLS) (“Chart”) in New Prague.

Our beautiful mother, Geraldine “Gerri” “GiGi” Aylor, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday July 18th, 2026. 

Gerri was born to Carl S. Johnson and Martha E. Soldowski on November 24, 1936, in Bowlegs, Oklahoma. She married the love of her life, Bobby (Bob) Jack Aylor, on May 18, 1957, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Together they built a beautiful life and lovingly raised four children: Robin, Melody, Crystal, and Jon. 

New Prague’s town baseball team is in an enviable position, having earned the top seed in its region for post-season play in hopes of winning a berth to play in the state tournament at home.

The Orioles won two of four games in the past week. Securing the favorable seed for the playoffs afford the O’s the opportunity to rest pitchers and give other players a break as needed in the final week of the season.

Elko 9, New Prague 0

Details of the Express’s win Monday, July 20, were not available when the newspaper went to press.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Noreen H. Seurer, at the age of 83, of New Prague, Minnesota, who joined our Lord on July 19, 2026, surrounded by her family. 

            Julia “Julie” Mary Washa died peacefully under the care of the staff at the Mankato Mayo Hospital on July 16, 2026.

Gerald "Jerry" A. Ademmer, age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Jerry was born on June 16, 1936, in Heidelberg, Minnesota, to Frank and Ella (Prochaska) Ademmer. He grew up on the family farm in Heidelberg, where he learned the values of hard work, dedication, and the importance of family. He attended school in Montgomery, Minnesota.

After a tough loss to Le Sueur back on June 28, the Union Hill Bulldogs are on a roll, winners of their last five games.

The Bulldogs have rolled off big wins in the past two weeks. Union Hill defeated Lonsdale, 8-3, June 28. They topped Jordan, 6-5, Tuesday, July 7, and thumped Norwood, 10-0, in an exhibition game, Wednesday, July 8. Union Hill pounded Shakopee, 19-6, Friday, July 10, and thumped New Prague, 13-3, Sunday, June 12, at Don Giesen Field.

Union Hill 13, New Prague 3

A haze of smoke from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota drifted into the southern part of the state  Thursday morning, July 16, and could be seen in the distance looking west along New Prague’s Main Street. The smell of smoke was also in the air for a few hours. The haze had cleared for most of the area by early Thursday afternoon. According to several weather outlets the smoke was causing air quality alerts across most of Minnesota and surrounding states. (Patrick Fisher photo)

Donald Arthur Matson, age 81, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026, following a lengthy illness with congestive heart failure and diabetes, surrounded by his family.

Crews working on the new POPS (Praha Outdoor Performance Stage) facility north of West Main Street were busy Wednesday, July 1, installing a nearly two-ton glulam (glued laminated) timber beam in the front of the facility.

“Progress has been good,” said Den Gardner chairperson of the non-profit, Forward New Prague Foundation, which is overseeing the building of the POPS facility. “We had minimal activity for a couple of weeks as we worked out a few structural engineering issues.”

Gardner said it is expected there will be almost daily work in the ensuing weeks.