Rep. Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn. of Blue Earth, died Thursday night at age 59 of kidney cancer, his wife said in a Facebook post.
Hagedorn represented the Minnesota’s First Congressional District, that includes 21 counties from South Dakota to Wisconsin, along the Iowa border. The district covers much of the southern third of the state and includes Rochester, Austin and Mankato.

The New Prague adapted floor hockey team defeated Burnsville/Lakeville/Farmington, 8-2, Monday, Feb. 7 to remain undefeated.
Ray Parker led the Trojan offense with four goals. Aaron Adamson and Dylan Raaen each scored two goals.

The New Prague girls basketball team dropped a pair of Metro West Conference games to St. Louis Park and Waconia last week.
St. Louis Park downed the Trojans, 66-52, Tuesday, Feb. 8. Waconia picked up a 64-40 win Friday, Feb. 11.
In the loss to Park, six different players scored five or more points, something which head coach Eric Specht was happy to see.
“I was really happy and proud of how our bench played,” Specht said. “They were given more minutes than usual and responded well. Those kids went in and competed. It was fun to see their energy.”

A new face will soon be walking the halls of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague. Lauren Petersen joins the Holy Trinity staff on Tuesday, Feb. 22, as Director of Children, Youth & Family (CYF) Ministry.

As we’re in the second decade of the 21st Century I think many of us have thought that the future would be different.

She was an active toddler, a wall climber.
Now, she’s a ninja.
Ten-year-old Soumya Dohm, the daughter of Jeremy and Jessica Dohm of New Prague, is a member of Obstacle Academy’s Youth Ninja Team.
The ninja gym, which is located in Eden Prairie, is co-owned by two ninjas—Sarah Schoback of Hastings, who is known as one of the top females to ever compete on American Ninja Warrior, an NBC show featuring top athletes racing through challenging obstacle courses, and Hunter Guerard, who is better known as “The Lizard” on American Ninja Warrior.

Father William Joseph Paron, age 78, of Waconia passed away Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Community (41 East 1st St. in Waconia. Archbishop Bernard Hebda presiding.  Concelebrants of the Mass are Father Stan Mader, Father Martin Shallbetter and Deacon Joseph Paron. Visitation held from 9:30 A.M. until time of Mass at the church.  Interment Catholic Cemetery in Shakopee.  No lunch will be served.

Claims of racist taunts that were allegedly made during a girls basketball game in New Prague are being investigated. New Prague had a home game on Tuesday, Feb. 15, hosting Robbinsdale Cooper, with many players that are students of color. According to accounts it was a close game and as it neared its end students and adults in the New Prague section started making monkey noises. Some of the Robbinsdale Cooper coaches asked people in the crowd to stop.

Former St. Wenceslaus Pastor (1982 – 1998), Father William Joseph Paron, age 78, of Waconia passed away Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Community (41 East 1st St) in Waconia.  Visitation held from 9:30 A.M. until time of Mass at the church.  Interment in Catholic Cemetery in Shakopee.

Thomas F. Simon, age 75 of Lonsdale, passed away Friday, February 11th, 2022 at Reflections of Three Links Care Center in Northfield. Tom was born on November 8th, 1946 in Northfield, Minnesota to Raymond & Ann Skluzacek Simon.

Wayne E. Whipps, age 74 of Jordan, passed away quietly at his home on February 9, 2022.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 1-3 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake. 

He was born August 10, 1959, at the hospital in New Prague, MN and passed away in the early morning hours on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at his home after an 18 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Gregg Busch was the eldest son of Roger & Mamie (Stehlik) Busch. He had three younger brothers, Tom, Pete, and Brad.  

Larry Schoenecker, left, demonstrates how to clean a fish at the Youth Fishing Seminar on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Raven Stream Elementary School in New Prague. There were 135 youth from ages 5 to 14 at the annual seminar hosted by the New Prague Sportsman’s Club. There was a casting contest, rod making demonstration, presentation about safety and regulations for fishing and prizes. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague Adapted Floor Hockey team has started its 2022 season with great success, winning their first four games.
The Trojans opened with the South Suburban Jets and defeated them, 13-1.
“We came out with a really strong start, got up 5-0 after the 1st period and were in control from there,” Coach Jeremy Kalal said. “Our defense was solid, allowing only 13 shots on net throughout the entire game. We felt great about starting our season with a solid all around game.”

St. Wenceslaus School proudly presents Elf Jr.! Buddy the Elf is an “orphan” who accidentally climbed into Santa’s bag and took up residence at the North Pole. His enormous size and poor toy-making skills lead him to the realization that he is not a real elf. So begins Buddy’s quest to find his birth father in New York City. Join Buddy on his adventure as he tries to get his dad off the naughty list, discovers his true identity, and brings the Christmas spirit to all of New York.

John (Jake) “Pops” Keohen, age 83, of Montgomery, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather left this earth to join his heavenly Father on February 8th, 2022.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kay; his sons, John “Jake”, Pete, Matt, Tim’s widow, Diana; stepchildren, Scott (Diane), Craig (Carolyn), Pam (Larry), Faith (Randy) and sister, Kathryn (Tatty); 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Jerry; sisters, Mary Hennes and Patricia Rynda; brother, Jerry and son, Tim “Wally”.