The Wells Fargo bank in New Prague is temporarily closed due to COVID related staffing constraints according to Staci Schiller spokesperson for Wells Fargo. The closure affects both the lobby and the drive up for the bank along Main Street. Schiller explained the ATM is still available for use and people can use online banking or a mobile app. If people need to they can also find branches in Prior Lake, Shakopee, Lakeville and Savage. Staff at the New Prague branch of the bank potentially hope to have the business open by next week.

New Prague High School announced their Snoball king and queen candidates on Friday, Jan. 28. Queen candidates are (left to right, front row) Madi Josephson, Addie Hartshorn, Kenna Huber, Libby Olson, Hannah Robasse, Annie Glomski, Sammie Kotek, Brynn Sticha; King candidates are (left to right, back row) Josh Miller, Cam Prochaska, Matt Friedges, Jaxon Short, Joe Maxa, Tom McBroom, Ben Schmitz and Eddie Sirek. A coronation ceremony will be held at the Snoball Pep Fest at 1:50 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, at the high school. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.

The next step toward the 2022 election will take place Tuesday, Feb. 1 at its most grassroots level.
It's caucus time.
Le Sueur and Rice County Republicans and DFLers will meet in separate locations to gear up for the election by passing resolutions, electing delegates to send to the local and state conventions and – most likely – talking about the 2022 race for the governor's office. The delegates sent to those conventions will then endorse candidates for State and National offices.

As the Mayor of the City of New Prague, Duane J. "Dewey" Jirik received a copy of “Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians” authored by Sr. Anita Smisek, OP, with narrative assistance from John Chromy.
That’s when he saw his family on the pages and wanted his sons to have their copies.

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce welcomes Xilonen (C-Lo) Walton as its new Administrative Assistant. Walton began in the part time position on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and will be working 15-20 hours a week, plus additional time as needed.
Chamber Executive Director Brooke Sticha said Walton will be responsible for assisting in all events and tasks associated with Chamber events and programs, bookkeeping tasks, and will provide a supporting role in marketing and advertising.
“Xilonen joins us with years of experience in...

New Prague High School’s one act play won first place at the Metro West Conference Festival on Saturday, Jan. 22. Held at the New Prague High School Auditorium, the festival included four schools total including Bloomington Jefferson, Orono, and Bloomington Kennedy, which were second, third, and fourth respectively.
New Prague’s production was a comedy about a school where the 30 classrooms were built on top of each other and some of the odd things that happen at the school with its students and staff. There were 15 students who participated in the cast and crew.

Around 7:32 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, the New Prague Fire Department responded to a fire at MVE Biological Solutions along Seventh Street NW in New Prague. According to early reports from the fire department the night shift saw smoke coming from the part of the building that has offices, the break room and bathrooms. Workers called 911 and evacuated. When firefighters arrived they saw heavy smoke coming form the building. They had the fire under control by 9:30 p.m. and were working to vent the smoke.

New Prague High School students, from left, Brynn Sticha, Macey Hager, and Sophie Charnstrom, with Superintendent Tim Dittberner, were honored at the Monday, Jan. 24, New Prague School Board meeting. The three students won first place at the MARS (Mastering Academics and Real-World Skills) program’s “Shark Tank” competition at the high school. The competition was patterned after the TV show “Shark Tank” where they had to take a product and present it to judges. For more see this week’s print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

On Wednesday, Jan. 19, at approximately 12:25 pm, Scott County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received a call requesting medical assistance for an unresponsive female at a residence along Livery Lane in New Market Township.
According to a report from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found the 69-year-old female homeowner inside the residence unresponsive with serious injuries.  She was transported by ambulance to M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville and remains in critical condition.  

There was a crash at the roundabout at the intersection of Main Street and First Avenue NE in New Prague the evening of Friday, Jan. 21. Apparently around 7:20 p.m. a driver of a four door vehicle hit the stone benches and the fire hydrant on the north side of Main Street and then abandoned their vehicle in the middle of the roundabout. The New Prague Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene. A skid loader was used to move the stone blocks of the benches out of the street. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Former St. Wenc Choir Director pens “Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians”
A new book, authored by Sr. Anita Smisek, OP, a former choir director a St. Wencesalus Catholic Church, with narrative assistance from John Chromy, tells the story of how Bohemian immigrants brought their love of music to the “Bohemian Triangle” of New Prague, Veseli, Lonsdale, and Montgomery, and how this musical gift has been passed down through generations and is alive and well today.

On Thursday, Dec. 16, Elko New Market Assistant City Administrator Mark Nagel was honored upon his retirement. For Nagel this caps off 15 years with the city that began when he was interim City Administrator for Elko and then helped with the merger of Elko and New Market into one community.
“'This is actually my second retirement,” said Nagel during an open house that was before the Elko New Market City Council’s meeting. “My first was from Normandale Community College.”

New Prague’s Deputy Registrar office moved recently as it transitioned from First Bank & Trust on the east end of town to 118 Main St. E in the downtown. The office closed at First Bank & Trust on Tuesday, Dec. 28, and reopened at its new location under Jared O’Reilly of Savage on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.
The Deputy Registrar office was first established at First Bank & Trust when it was still State Bank of New Prague and located along Central Avenue N.

Due to staffing shortage, the New Prague Post Office is delivering packages and rotating mail routes. This may delay your newspaper delivery. 

Scott County Public Health will administer free COVID-19 tests at the Shakopee Library this month amid all-time high positivity rates. 
Over 23% of county residents seeking COVID-19 testing were positive for the virus on average in the past seven days, according to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 
Testing will be available by appointment from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Jan. 10-13, Jan. 18-20 and Jan. 24-27 at the Shakopee Library at 235 Lewis Street South. 
Click here to register for an appointment or visit scottcountymn.gov. 

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM, Friday, January 7, 2022.
The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.Counties involved are Anoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan and Wright.