This Sunday, March 20, the 14th annual Roman Barten Memorial Breakfast will benefit Emma Burns, age 3, daughter of David and Carissa Burns of rural Henderson. The breakfast of pancakes, sausages and cinnamon rolls will be held from 8 am. to 1 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 411 Fourth Ave. SW in New Prague and it is a free will donation.

Youth at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church performed the Living Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 4. Participants ranged from fifth grade students to New Prague High School juniors. They portrayed a very moving mediation of the Stations of the Cross with more than 100 people in attendance. Brittney LaVigne led the youth in the performance, which was preceded by a soup supper.

The New Prague boys hockey team knew they would have to face some of the top teams in the state in their Class A State Tournament appearance last week.
Even knowing the strength of their competition, the Trojans battled and represented New Prague with the utmost integrity.
The Trojans were unseeded and faced No. 1 ranked Hermantown in their State Quarterfinals Wednesday, March 9. Hermantown defeated New Prague, 5-1, and went on to claim the 2022 Class A State Championship with a 3-2 win over No. 2 seeded Warroad.

The New Prague School Board at its Monday, March 14, work session was updated about its three-step action plan that is in response to allegations of racial taunts at sporting events. Director of Educational Services Tony Buthe and District Equity Coordinator Termaine Fulton presented the information.

Robert F. “Bob” Vohnoutka, age 88, of Prior Lake, formerly of New Prague, died suddenly on March 14, 2022 at M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital. Bob was born on September 17, 1933 at home at Cedar Lake to Frank and Bessie (Pavlicek) Vohnoutka. He attended country school at St. Patrick and then New Prague Elementary School. Bob entered the US Air Force and served during the Korean Conflict from 1953-57. Shortly after discharge, he met the beautiful young woman who would become his wife. Delilah “Dee” Korbel and Bob were married at St.

Leonard M. Mader, age 68, of New Prague, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 14, 2022, after a very brief time at Mayo Service Health System Hospital Rochester, St. Mary Campus.  Leonard was born on November 30, 1953 in St. Peter, MN to Leonard J. and Rosemary (Speikers) Mader.  He graduated from Le Center High School and then worked as a welder for 36 years.  He was gifted and unique in his trade in that he could weld anything whether metal or plastic. 

Nathan Kartak, age 30, of Montgomery, died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at his home.  Nathan was born on June 10, 1991 to Christopher Kartak and Katherine Sloan at Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, MN.  He grew up and attended school in Moose Lake, MN and entered the US Army at age 18 and served a tour in Iraq.  Most recently Nathan worked at Seneca in Montgomery but intended to get back into carpentry, which was his chosen occupation.

An independent investigation into allegations of racial taunts at a February 15 New Prague High School girls basketball game has been completed. The firm Rupp, Anderson, Squires, Waldspurger, Mace P.A. did the investigation of whether adult and student fans made loud monkey noises at a home game against Robbinsdale Cooper.
New Prague Superintendent Tim Dittberner released an email stating the investigation concluded the following:
• The allegation that New Prague adult and student fans were making loud monkey noises directed at the opposing team could not be substantiated.

Leonard Kalal, age 85 of Northfield, passed away Thursday afternoon, March 10, 2022, at the Care Center of the Northfield Retirement Community.

Friday, March 11, was a busy night at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic School’s All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry. Crowds were lined up down the hall to get into the Parish Activity Center for a meal of fried fish, cheesy potatoes, cole slaw, dinner roll, cookie and a beverage. The dinner was dine-in or curbside to go with cars lined up along Columbus Avenue to get meals. People were saying the meals were delicious. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

As journalists, we rely on open government and freedom of information principles to keep the public informed about its government. Sometimes, we are met with roadblocks.
Sunshine Week, which is spearheaded by the New Prague Times News Leaders Association, champions open and transparent government at all levels. That means from the local school board or city council meetings, to the emails a state representative sent that supports a bill, all the way up to the President at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C.

The New Prague City Council dealt with technology at its Monday, March 7, meeting. The council unanimously approved TrueNorth Consulting Group to do an IT Risk Assessment, plus the council discussed the possibility of council members having city issued phones or laptops to deal with city business.

New Prague High School senior Hunter Pomije bowled his best score so far as he hit an 838, including two 300 games in a row. He came up with the high score during a high school league match the last regular match for the season, on Thursday, Feb. 24, at Strike Force Bowl in New Prague.
“My best high series before that was an 825,” said Pomije, son of Darin and Julie Pomije of New Prague, who also own the local bowling alley. He noted his average is 234. During the match, Pomije had a 238 in his first game and then scored a 300 in his second game.

The 45th annual Norm Sladek Memorial Euchre Tourney on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague had 47 teams turnout. Organizers of the popular tournament said that was nine more teams than the last time the tourney was held and included 15 new teams, plus six of those teams were walk ups the day of the tourney. Sign up was held between 11 a.m. to noon with the tourney starting at 12 p.m.

In their first Class A State Swimming Meet appearance, freshmen Brendan Panka and Jacob Bisek both showed they belonged with the state’s best.
Both swimmers advanced from Friday’s preliminary round into Saturday, March 5 consolation/championship round.
Panka advanced to the consolation final in the 200- yard freestyle, placing 10th overall in a lifetime best time of 1:46.88. His time was less than a second behind the fifth place finisher.
Bisek also competed in the 200-yard freestyle and he finished in 17th place in a time of 1:50.61.

During New Prague High School’s game at the State Hockey Tournament on Wednesday, March 9, two students were filmed on camera flashing an upside down “okay” hand gesture, which in recent years has been seen as a white power symbol. When New Prague Area Schools administration questioned them, the students didn’t know the double meaning of the gesture.