She could have taken any of a number of easier routes to graduating high school. Friday night, Hayden Tourtillott will receive her high school diploma as a reward to herself for not giving up and thinking of her future.

Hayden Tourtillott, 20, should have graduated with New Prague High School’s Class of 2024. For a variety of reasons, some of which she acknowledges were within her own control, Tourtillott didn’t get the work done, working for an hourly wage to pay rent and meet commitments rather than complete the school work needed to earn passing grades and graduate.

The Elko New Market City Council approved two new liquor licenses at its Thursday, May 14, meeting. By a 4-0 vote the council approved an on-sale intoxicating liquor license and a Sunday sale liquor license for Jaceyn Brockhouse, Patrick Flynn and Wade Brelje who submitted paperwork for the licenses for Mega Properties LLC, which operates Elko Speedway at 26350 France Ave. Elko Speedway is a 92-acre facility featuring a 3/8-mile NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt oval track.

A public hearing was required for the liquor licenses, which was held with no comments.

The day begins with the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard visiting area cemeteries where the names of veterans buried at those cemeteries will be read.

The visits begin at St. Patrick Cemetery at 9 a.m. then St. Benedict Cemetery 9:25 a.m., Lanesburgh Cemetery 9:45 a.m., Union Hill Cemetery 10:10 a.m., Czech National Cemetery 10:30 a.m. and St. Wenceslaus Cemetery 10:50 a.m.

St. Thomas Church near Le Sueur will be holding a Memorial Day Mass at 9 a.m. with a blessing of the graves after the Mass.

The Elko New Market Safety Camp had 62 children, from kindergarten through eighth grade attend. During the Saturday, May 2, camp at Eagle View Elementary School in Elko New Market, children could explore vehicles from the Elko New Market Fire Department, the Northfield ambulance service, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and at six stations could learn about various safety rules from Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), boating rules from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and safety rules for bikes, skateboards and scooters from the Elko New Market Police Department.

Rev. Michael Miller is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his ordination Sunday, May 17, at St. Patrick Catholic Church’s social hall after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Fr. Miller's actual 30th anniversary is May 25.

Miller went through the churches he served at with first being St. Joseph of West St. Paul for five years, then in Delano for seven years, Stillwater for six and-a-half years and now St. Patrick, north of New Prague, and St. Catherine, south of Prior Lake for 11 years come July 1.

New Prague Area Schools has named Michael Schmidt as the next activities director of New Prague Area Schools, pending school board approval. Schmidt will succeed Brad Skogerboe, who is resigning from his position after 18 years of service to the NPAS.

    A train derailed on the Union Pacific line in far northwestern Tyrone Township, Le Sueur County, on the east side of the Minnesota River between Henderson and Ney Nature Center. A total of eight rail cars left the tracks just north of the Highway 19 bridge over the tracks.
    Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a call from Union Pacific Railroad at approximately 2:39 a.m. on May 2 and were notified of the derailment, according to the press release from the sheriff’s office. The report said that the cars were carrying liquid methane, propane, and grain.

    Le Sueur County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Mark Roemhildt delivered his final department report to the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting on April 21.
    “I am just across six years in this position,” Roemhildt said. “My last day will be Friday, May 1. My last day in the office, however, will be this coming Friday (April 24), and then Joe will have the keys to the castle.”
    Succeeding Roemhildt is Joe Fisher, who was hired to the position on April 6. He had been training for the three weeks before the meeting.

American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley of Kansas visited New Prague American Legion Post 45, Thursday, April 23, for a dinner and presentation.

His visit to New Prague is part of a national tour where over 340 days he and others would be stopping in all 50 states. While in Minnesota he stopped at the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley and participated in the Veterans Day on the Hill at the state capitol in St. Paul. He stopped at a total of 12 posts all over the state.

When he was working a shift for the old New Prague Ambulance Service, there was never a need to ask Harry Von Bank how to get to wherever the ambulance was headed. He just knew the way.

From its inception in 1969 through 2010, Harold ‘Harry’ Von Bank gave 41 years of his life to the community’s ambulance service. Von Bank passed away earlier this month, April 10. He was the last surviving member of the people who formed the old New Prague Ambulance Service. A native of the area, he knew the community, its residents and its streets.

Bevcomm is proud to announce the launch of Bevcomm Mobile, a new cellular service designed to keep customers connected wherever they go—backed by the same trusted, local support they rely on at home.

Available exclusively to Bevcomm internet customers, Bevcomm Mobile extends the company’s commitment to delivering reliable connections, according to a press release from Bevcomm. With nationwide coverage powered by America’s largest networks and straightforward, highly competitive pricing, customers can enjoy a seamless experience both at home and on the go, said the press release.

    Minnesota legislators passed a new school bus safety law by a 133-0 vote in the house and 67-0 in the senate in March to close some safety loopholes. It was the first bill of this legislative session to pass. 
    Stopping for school busses allowed for some gray area in the wording that drivers shall stop when busses are “… displaying extended stop signal arm and flashing red lights.” This left the door open for people faced with a fine to argue that the arm was not extended or not fully yet when they passed.

    Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), which serves much of our readership area, held its annual meeting at Jordan High School on Tuesday, April 7, where over 200 members gathered.
    A total of 20 $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors were given out or a total of $30,000. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have a parent or legal guardian who are MVEC members, be enrolled to attend an accredited post-secondary institution as a full-time student, and have at minimum GPA of 2.0. 

Some of her students and colleagues spent their spring break at the beach while others traveled with their families to various other vacation destinations. New Prague High School instructor Allison Olson spent a portion of her time away from the classroom learning how thousands of sailors work together aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier at sea.

Saturday evening, April 11, at the 138th annual New Prague Firemen’s Dance & Drill, drillmaster Drew Koloc (left) handed over the whistle to new drillmaster Sam Peterson. Koloc is retiring with 14 years on the fire department, 11 as the drill team’s drillmaster. Peterson is a three-year member of the fire department and the department’s lone military veteran. Tradition calls for the drillmaster to be a military veteran. Peterson served in the U.S. Navy Seabees from 2009-2012. The 16-member drill team went through its paces before the dance at Park Ballroom.

The New Prague City Council moved forward with its ambulance service contract with North Memorial Ambulance. City Administrator Josh Tetzlaff said he would make the changes discussed at the Monday, April 6, meeting and then present the new contract to North Memorial.