In one week’s time New Prague High School will have a Homecoming King and Queen. Candidates for King are (left to right, front row) William Andersen, Nicholas Geis, Aidan King, Ian DeGross, Evan Anderson, Luke Shepard, Matthew Kudrle and Ethan Chromy. Queen candidates are (left to right, back row) Payton Morris, Jessica Sadusky, Avery Hennen, Faith Boyer, Calista Brotemarkle, Aaliyah Hanson, Lindsey Simon and Emma Gullickson. Homecoming week begins this Monday, Sept. 20. For more on the Homecoming activities see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

A house historically connected to St. John’s Catholic Church at Union Hill came down the morning of Friday, Sept. 17. Just part of its history is that it was a home for nuns who taught at the local parochial school at Union Hill, west of New Prague. For some time it was a rental property and for the last few years it sat empty. On March 25 of this year the house was damaged when a vehicle hit it. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The little Irish City of Kilkenny, Minnesota, did it again. The town, which boasts a population of 168, hosted hundreds of visitors for another grand ol’ Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 11. The day’s events included a car show, an Irish-themed parade, live music, food, local vendors, fireworks, and the ever-popular annual Toilet Bowl Races, which features teams of three racing down a street atop a rolling toilet and chugging beer (or root beer).

After a year off due to COVID-19, the Heidelberg Athletic Association’s annual event for its park and pavilion returned Sunday with strong support from area communities.
“It was the best turnout!” said Therese Hlavac, one of the event’s organizers. “Every dollar we earn goes into the Park, because all of the officers and workers are volunteers.”
The event had something for everyone. Inside of the pavilion were brats, burgers and more food for sale. Outside, there were several vendor booths selling a variety of items and equipment for the kids to stay entertained.

All the elements came together for this year’s One Book, One New Prague event at Next Chapter Winery last weekend: good weather, an entertaining author, and an engaged group of about 100 readers. The event was sponsored by the New Prague Community Action Network, Scott County Library, Next Chapter Winery, and Giesenbrau Bier Company.

People lined up to watch the Classic Car Cruise the evening of Friday, Sept. 17. The Car Cruise started at New Prague High School and part of its route for this year went south on 10th Avenue NE (formerly Scott County Road 37). According to an early count more than 280 vintage vehicles participated in the 28th annual cruise of classic cars. The Car Cruise is part of Dozinky, New Prague’s Czech Harvest Festival. Activities continue on Saturday, Sept. 18, along Main Street with a parade at 12 p.m. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

First Bank & Trust of New Prague announced on its Facebook site that the Dozinky Medallion has been found. Amanda Myers, Wendy Anderson, and Anne Stroening discovered the medallion. The bank has an annual hunt for the medallion, which is hidden somewhere in the community, and people depend on weekly clues to try and find the medallion. The fourth clue to the location of the medallion was released yesterday. (Photo courtesy of First Bank & Trust)

Elko New Market observed the 20th anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001 on Saturday, Sept. 11, with a large US flag flying from a fire truck from the Elko New Market Fire Department. The department and the Elko New Market Police Department held a joint open house from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. The event included tours of the new police department building, demonstrations of how to deal with grease fires and the landing of a helicopter from North Memorial Health Air Care. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Proud Irishmen and women--and those who are Irish at heart--are shining up their shamrocks in anticipation for Kilkenny’s Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day celebration this Saturday, September 11.
Dale and Kathleen Hamele, longtime Kilkenny residents and business owners, have been named this year’s grand marshals. The couple has owned and operated West Side Repair in Kilkenny for 30 years.

A large crowd and good weather greeted The Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Show Friday Aug. 27, through Sunday, Aug. 29. The annual show features tractors of all years, sizes and models.
“We had extremely good attendance this year,” said Bill Thelemann of the Pioneer Power Tractor Show. “We dodged the main (predicted) rain storms.”

The Duck Cup Memorial had speaker Joe Beckman address the teachers of New Prague Area Schools on Thursday, Aug. 26, in the high school auditorium. Beckman encouraged the teachers to reclaim the human connection in their schools.

The September 1, 2021, issue of the Belle Plaine Herald, will be the last.
The newspaper’s owners, the Townsend Family, announced the news on its front page this week.
“The Townsend Family is sadly publishing the final edition of the Belle Plaine Herald, after nearly 140 years of covering the news in Belle Plaine and the surrounding area. This is the one article I hoped we would never have to print,” stated publisher and editor E. Daniel Townsend, who’s been employed at the newspaper and print company as long as he can remember.

New Prague High School students in grades 10 through 12 headed back to in person classes the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 31. Freshman were at the school building on Monday, Aug. 30, for orientation. Students started arriving for classes between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. According to the high school there are 1,380 students registered this year. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Members of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce surprised Jerry Minar the morning of Friday, Aug. 27, as he and his wife Bev will be this year’s Grand Marshals of the Parade of Farm Pride during the city’s Dozinky Festival. Jerry said they are honored to be named as the Grand Marshals. From left are Frank Weber, New Prague Chamber of Commerce board member, Jerry Minar and Brooke Sticha, Executive Director of the New Prague Chamber.

With sun shining through the large windows in FaithPoint Lutheran Church’s new sanctuary, Rev. Dr. Steve Trewartha warmly welcomed congregation members, friends, and visitors to the church’s Grand Opening worship service and celebration on Sunday morning, August 22, approximately one year after the church held its groundbreaking ceremony.
The 14-acre campus is located at 1051 270th Street West (one mile north of the car dealerships on Redwing Avenue) in New Prague.
A ribbon-cutting event was held prior to the service to kickstart the event.

The Czech Heritage Club were on the road a few weeks ago.
Club Members George Mikiska and James Simon appeared at the Pope County Fair in Glenwood on August 6. According to the members, Pope County has the next highest population of Czech immigrants in the state after Czech Country (Veseli, Lonsdale, Montgomery, and New Prague).