Philipp Square Senior Apartments in New Prague was looking festive and ready for the Christmas season as a multitude of Santa figurines, Nativities, stockings, snowmen, Christmas trees, a few Disney characters, a setting for Christmas Tea and even a penguin were placed about the halls and common areas. The decorations were placed there by the residents of the senior apartment complex on First Avenue NW. It might be the beginning of a Holiday tradition as this was the first year the residents put up the ornaments themselves.

The New Prague Trojan Dance Team left their audience stunned and impressed during their annual Community Showcase on Friday, Dec. 20. Held at the New Prague High School gym, the team included the New Prague Varsity Kick team (pictured), Youth Clinic Dancers, the Jordan Varsity Dance Team, solos and the New Prague varsity and junior varsity teams. Family and friends attended the Showcase and donated monetary or food items that will go toward the Mayo Clinic Health System Peace Center. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Forty-four seventh and eighth grade students at St. Wenceslaus School helped raise awareness about homelessness, while 38 of them got a small taste of it as they slept in cardboard boxes the night of Thursday, Dec. 12.
The overnight campout in front of St. Wenceslaus School is part of the school’s annual program Cardboard City. Students spent time taping boxes together or decorating them with messages asking for help, donations or prayers for those who don’t....
To see more on this story pick up the December 19, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Forget red and green.
It was all about red and blue police lights--and presents, pizza, and fun--at Le Sueur County’s holiday Shop With a Cop event on Wednesday night, Dec. 11 in New Prague.
Twenty kids participated in the sixth annual event that helps foster positive relationships between youth and officers.
“My cop is so cool,” spouted Collin about his partner for the night, Le Sueur Police Officer Aaron Thieke. “I even got to ride in the police car and run the lights and sirens and stuff. Did you hear me sing Jingle Bells over the radio in the squad car?”

Students at St. Wenceslaus School in New Prague had a day off on Wednesday, Dec. 11, as a power outage led to the cancelling of classes. The power outage hit a portion of New Prague’s downtown around 3:30 a.m.

A 55-year-old man has died from injuries from a snowmobile crash Saturday evening.
According to the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:40 p.m. to a report of a crash on Lexington Road near 173rd Avenue in Montgomery Township.
Officials say the driver of the snowmobile, Larry Gene Haynes, was traveling northbound on the snowmobile trail at a high rate of speed. Investigators say it appears Haynes was unable to stop before the Lexington Road crossing, ultimately striking the side of a westbound pickup truck.

Participants in the third annual Santa Speedo Dash, held by Giesenbrau Bier Co. of New Prague, make their way back to the brewery the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 14. This year’s less than one mile race was considered a true test of being a Minnesotan as temperatures were around 12 degrees Fahrenheit and there was a brisk wind. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, the New Prague Fire Department was called to a residence along First Street SE for a car fire. Firefighters and New Prague Police closed off the street between First Avenue SE and Columbus Avenue SE and directed traffic away while firefighters battled the blaze. According to early reports the car is likely a total loss. The flames also caused damage to the siding of the back of the house. For more see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times.

A power outage that hit a portion of New Prague around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, led to the closing of St. Wenceslaus School for the day.

Rush Wagner, left, directs Hymnus during the New Prague Community Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 8, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. The choir, based in New Prague, was among those to perform at the annual concert. The finale of the concert was “The Hallelujah Chorus” performed by Hymnus and the New Prague Area Community Band. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

This entry from the New Prague Lions Club was among those in the 24th annual Parade of Lights held on Friday, Dec. 6. Temperatures were around 23 degrees Fahrenheit, but that didn’t stop the large crowds that lined New Prague’s Main Street for the Parade of Lights to see area groups and businesses with their floats decorated for the Holiday Season. The parade ended at Memorial Park for visits with Santa, treats, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and fireworks. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Miller Milling announced in a press release on Wednesday, Dec. 4, that it is closing the New Prague Mill at the end of this month. “This decision was very difficult, given the quality and long-serving tenure of New Prague’s employees. However, this step is necessary so Miller Milling can focus its attention and investment on expanding the business of its other mills,” said Takuya Mitani, Miller Milling’s CEO in the press release.

The Elko New Market City Council approved a resolution during its Thursday, Nov. 21, meeting naming Amanda Novak as the newest council member. She was chosen out of four candidates who were all interviewed by the current council members during a special meeting at 5 p.m. that evening. Novak replaces council member Jon Schwichtenberg who resigned on Wednesday, Oct. 30, because he was moving out of the city.

The organization is new, but the time-honored event was very successful.
The newly-formed Scott Le Sueur Waterfowlers continued the tradition of raising funds for education, youth programs, and conservation with a Fundraising Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.

Three Minnesota based painting companies and Titan, distributor of spray painting equipment, came together earlier this year to raise funds for the New Prague Veterans Memorial. Nick Slavik Painting & Restoration, Mr. Moles Painting and Headwaters Painting did a project between New Prague and Prior Lake, where they raised money for the Veterans Memorial project that will be built along the city’s Main Street in 2020.

Montgomery’s Torchlight Parade and Fireworks is celebrating 27 years this holiday season, and plans are underway to make it bigger and better than ever.
The Thursday, December 5 event kicks off with a parade of approximately 50 lighted floats, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the north end of First Street.