The Czech Heritage Club held its annual meeting on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague. Twelve members were present, including Marit Lee Kucera, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic for Minnesota. Following a brief recap of 2019 and 2020 programs and events, election of officers for the ensuing year took place. Elected by unanimous ballot were President Jean Keogh, Vice-President Gary Pikal, Treasurer George Mikiska, Secretary James Simon, and Directors Doris Coghill, Fred Simon, and Vi Chromy. All terms of office are one year.

Charli Kossow, age 9, of Waterville won the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s 2021 Distracted Driving Poster Contest. She is the daughter of Amber Atherton and Richard Kossow. Her winning poster reads “Don’t drive distracted. Save lives!” and features a person focusing on their cellphone while driving and an innocent little animal dangerously close to the front of the vehicle. The Faribault Lutheran School third grader received a pizza party for her family, including pizza, cheesy breadsticks, and orange pop, and a $75 Visa gift card for her work—all delivered by Sheriff Brett Mason.

The 36th Annual Morristown Dam Days started Wednesday, June 2 with the crowning of Miss Morristown.
Grand Marshals of this year’s Dam Days Parade are Morristown Morries baseball teams.
Friday, June 4 The rest of the festivities begin on Friday with Family Fun Shows of Mankato at 5 p.m. and the numerous food stands and beer garden also at 5 p.m.
There will be a Euchre Tournament at 1:30 p.m. in the Morristown Community Center. Don’t forget the Twilight Parade at 7 p.m.
At 8:30 p.m. music by Old Country Boys will be under the Big Top Tent.

The New Prague Fire Department answered a call for an electrical fire around 5:46 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, at the HyVee Fast & Fresh Express and McDonald’s along 10th Avenue SE. According to early reports the firefighters found smoke coming from the building upon their arrival. Both the HyVee Fast & Fresh Express and McDonald’s were evacuated. Members of New Prague Utilities were called in to cut power to the building. Firefighters waited until smoke cleared so they could check on damage and find a cause for the fire. There will be an update when more information is available.

New Prague American Legion Post 45 Chaplain George Tupy, center left, and VFW Commander Nick Slavik read the 400 names of veterans buried at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery during Memorial Day services on Monday, May 31, with the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard at attention. Memorial Day services were observed around area cemeteries and ended with a program at the Park Ballroom. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

New Prague High School had more than 300 students participate in graduation ceremonies the evening of Friday, May 28, at Trojan Stadium. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor ceremony with sun, no wind and temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The seniors received their diplomas as family and friends watched. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

On the morning of Friday, May 28, Jen Schoenecker, Director of Health Services for New Prague Area Schools received the Paul Flick Silver Apple Award, for her endless hours of work and being a resource for the school district during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is named after the late Paul Flick, a respected and beloved principal. From left are the Schoenecker family, husband Jeff with daughters Lilly and Mazie, Roseanne Flick, widow of Paul Flick, Jen Schoenecker and New Prague superintendent Tim Dittberner. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.

Downtown Sound at 104 Main St. E was able to reopen on Tuesday, May 18, after being closed for a nearly a month and a half. New Prague City Staff working with structural engineer Mike Hemstad of the city’s engineering firm Short Elliott Henrickson (SEH), Inc. determined the building was safe to reopen.

Family members of students at Raven Stream Elementary School in New Prague decided to send the students off with an extra smile for the summer in a fun and creative way. The group had various posters thanking Raven Stream staff and bus drivers for their work in dealing with an unusual year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Members of New Prague High School’s Class of 2021 enjoy their senior walk through Falcon Ridge Elementary School while being cheered on by students at the school. The walk allowed the seniors to see teachers they had when they went to the elementary school. The walk through was originally planned to be held outside, but continuous rain required the event to be moved indoors. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Father George Grafsky will celebrate his golden jubilee, marking 50 years in the priesthood, this weekend at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery.
Grafsky retired from active ministry in 2015, but continues to help with Masses at area churches when needed. He also serves as chaplain for many of the fire departments and emergency medical services in the area.
Grafsky will celebrate Most Holy Redeemer’s 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday evening, May 29 and the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday morning, May 30.

The Le Sueur County Board held a very short meeting Tuesday, May 25.
Among the items on the agenda was the recognition of three long-time employees, who are retiring at the end of the month.
Public Health Director Cindy Shaughnessy (40 + years), Chief Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Connie Kopet (39 years), and County Auditor-Treasurer Pam Simonette (36 years) received retirement plaques.
In other business:

Area Memorial Day ceremonies will be a little closer to normal, although there will be some changes. The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard will be visiting area cemeteries starting at 9 a.m. and the parade will be back, but there will be a different route due to the reconstruction of Main Street and the Memorial Day service will be held in the Park Ballroom, 300 Lexington Ave. S. Featured speaker at the service will be Keith Deutsch of New Prague, a member of New Prague American Legion Post 45.

Father Michael J. Miller, son of Mary Jane Miller and the later Carlton E. Miller is marking the 25th anniversary of ordination Father Michael J. Miller, son of Mary Jane Miller and the late Carlton E. Miller is marking the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Tuesday, May 25. He is currently the pastor for St. Patrick Catholic Church of Cedar Lake, and St. Catherine Catholic Church of Spring Lake Township in rural New Prague.

Family, friends and community members line Columbus Avenue near Falcon Ridge Elementary School on Sunday, May 23, as the New Prague High School Class of 2021 had its Graduation Parade. An estimated 100 vehicles of all sorts participated in the second year of the parade. Some vehicles had one senior as larger ones had five or more seniors. The weather stayed sunny and with temperatures at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The parade wound through neighborhoods in the community. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

It was already a busy day for Laker’s New Prague Sanitary around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, during New Prague’s City Wide Clean-up. Held at the parking lot of the New Prague Memorial Park Baseball Stadium, the local business had four garbage trucks for trash, a bin for scrap wood, two for scrap metal and an area for batteries. The clean-up at the stadium is going on until 12 p.m. For information on what items can be dropped off check the City of New Prague’s website. There will also be document shredding at the City Hall’s parking lot from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.