Braith Auto Repair and city officials held a ground breaking ceremony the morning of Thursday, May 23, in New Prague’s Industrial Park, just off of Highway 21. The ceremony was the latest step for the business, located outside of New Prague, to relocate into the community.
Howard Braith, owner of the business, and his family plan to build a 4,992 square foot mechanical repair shop on the 2.59 acres lot.

Principal Pat Pribyl, seated, gets high fives from Raven Stream Elementary School students who won prizes in a drawing during the last day of classes on Thursday, May 30. Superintendent Tim Dittberner, right, drew names. He and other school leaders showed up on Thursday to wish Pribyl a happy retirement after more than 38 years in education. The students honored Pribyl with chants, songs and a video. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Highway 93 from Highway 169 to Henderson closed at 8 p.m. on Monday, May 27, due to flooding of the Rush River, and Highway 19 between Henderson and Highway 169 closed today, Tuesday, May 28, due to flooding of the Minnesota River. 
This is the fourth time that Highway 93 closed this spring from flooding and the second time Highway 19 east of Henderson closed due to flooding.
MnDOT crews will continue to monitor area highways, bridges and bluffs to ensure motorists safety.

Due to the weather, New Prague's Memorial Day Parade has been cancelled and the program with speaker Captain Lesley Fierst has been moved indoors to the Park Ballroom, 300 Lexington Ave. S in New Prague.
"Mother Nature made the call for us," said Paul Busch of the New Prague American Legion. "The program will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Ballroom."
He said the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard is planning to make all of the cemetery visits as scheduled, but there will be no parade.

Capt. Lesley Fierst, USN, gave the main address during New Prague”s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Park Ballroom in New Prague. Monday's ceremonies were moved indoors due to the weather, however the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard visited area cemeteries to pay respect to veterans who were buried there. Read more in the print edition.

It was the last day of school for the seniors at New Prague High School, and keeping with tradition, a group of seniors drove tractors to school on the final day. This included Tyler Lund, who drove a late 1950s John Deere that he said was purchased new by his great-grandfather.

US Navy Captain Lesley Fierst will be the speaker at New Prague’s annual Memorial Day observance, to be held Monday, May 27, at Memorial Park.
The observance includes cemetery visits, a parade from City Hall to Memorial Park, and a program at Memorial Park.
The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard will gather at the Park Ballroom at 8:15 a.m. and depart at 8:45 for area cemeteries.
The schedule includes: 9 a.m. - St. Patrick 9:35 a.m. - St. Benedict 9:55 a.m. - Lanesburgh 10:15 a.m. - Union Hill 10:30 a.m. - Czech National 10:45 a.m. - St. Wenceslaus

The first of two solar energy projects in Elko New Market was dedicated the evening of Thursday, April 25. The city has been working with Ideal Energies LLC of Minneapolis on the projects. The first to be completed was the installation of 86 solar panels on the roof of the city’s Public Works building. Taking part in the ceremony were Elko New Market Council member Kate Timmerman, Mayor Joe Julius, Assistant City Administrator Mark Nagel and Braden Solum of Ideal Energies LLC.

Students at Eagle View Elementary School in Elko New Market welcomed resident African drumming artist Christian Adeti. Christian was born and raised in Accra, Ghana of West Africa. He has been performing drumming, singing, and dancing internationally for the past 16 years.

A special city council meeting to discuss the 2020 budget in Lonsdale Monday became more than that when the mayor read the recommendation by its attorney on a cease and desist letter during public comments, that lead to council member Steve Cherney walking out in response.

Any New Prague residents who recently saw Mixed Blood Theatre’s production “Autonomy” may have recognized one of the 40 vintage and unique cars in the show. If a 1957 Chevrolet Cameo Model 2434 seemed familiar, it’s because it was on loan from New Prague’s Palmer Welcome.
According to a press release from Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis the Chevrolet Cameo is “made like a gentleman's pickup” or a “going-to-town” pickup. It is a limited edition vehicle as only about 6,000 were made between 1955 and mid-1958.

Olivia Quast tries out a tight rope as Katelyn Heimer watches during a garage sale along Bohemia Street in New Prague on Saturday, May 11. New Prague was having its annual City Wide Garage Sales with residents around the community selling a vast array of articles from furniture to clothing to toys to antiques and many more. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

A sold out audience attended the fifth official screening of the documentary “Singin’ in the Grain” at the New Prague High School auditorium on Sunday, May 5. More than 600 people gathered for the movie, which is about Czech heritage and music that covers more than 40 years of the Eddie Shimota Band.

After public comments and an about-face by a council member, the Lonsdale City Council is reweighing how and when to proceed with a new police department and City Hall project.
"There's really no point at having further discussions tonight. We discussed and that's where it's at," said Mayor Tim Rud to close out the city council special meeting that included public comments by community members on May 1.

After years of alleged closed door practices with its members, murky financial dealings, and anti-democratic processes, which, is the basis of a lawsuit against the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS), the Receiver appointed by a Le Sueur County judge is shedding light on many of the details of LCHS.

Jeremy Engebretson has accepted an offer to become the new principal for Raven Stream Elementary School. The New Prague Area School board is scheduled to approve the hiring at its May 13 meeting.
He will take over for Pat Pribyl, longtime principal and teacher in the New Prague district. Pribyl announced his retirement last month.