Members of New Prague High School’s Class of 2021 enjoy their senior walk through Falcon Ridge Elementary School while being cheered on by students at the school. The walk allowed the seniors to see teachers they had when they went to the elementary school. The walk through was originally planned to be held outside, but continuous rain required the event to be moved indoors. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

New Prague was ready to come back and get a victory over South Suburban. They lost by one in a very close game the first time they played. Thursday, May 20 the Trojans rebounded and picked up a 20-9 win.
New Prague started out very strong. The first inning the Trojans held South Suburban to no runs with bases loaded and then got up and quickly scored five runs to take the lead 5-0. The second inning, they were able to score 1 run off of a couple errors in our defense.

Father George Grafsky will celebrate his golden jubilee, marking 50 years in the priesthood, this weekend at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery.
Grafsky retired from active ministry in 2015, but continues to help with Masses at area churches when needed. He also serves as chaplain for many of the fire departments and emergency medical services in the area.
Grafsky will celebrate Most Holy Redeemer’s 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday evening, May 29 and the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday morning, May 30.

And then there was one.
One month into the three month DRS Amateur Baseball League schedule, only one team remains undefeated…Faribault.
The Lakers defeated Shakopee, 4-0 Friday, May 21 and downed Montgomery, 6-2, Sunday, May 23 to improve to 5-0.
Right behind the Lakers in the standings are Prior Lake (4-1), New Prague (3-1), and Union Hill (2-1).

The Le Sueur County Board held a very short meeting Tuesday, May 25.
Among the items on the agenda was the recognition of three long-time employees, who are retiring at the end of the month.
Public Health Director Cindy Shaughnessy (40 + years), Chief Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Connie Kopet (39 years), and County Auditor-Treasurer Pam Simonette (36 years) received retirement plaques.
In other business:

Area Memorial Day ceremonies will be a little closer to normal, although there will be some changes. The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard will be visiting area cemeteries starting at 9 a.m. and the parade will be back, but there will be a different route due to the reconstruction of Main Street and the Memorial Day service will be held in the Park Ballroom, 300 Lexington Ave. S. Featured speaker at the service will be Keith Deutsch of New Prague, a member of New Prague American Legion Post 45.

Two events that are important for many people around the area are happening this weekend. This coming Friday, May 28, is New Prague High School’s graduation ceremony and on Monday, May 31, it is Memorial Day when we honor those veterans who gave all for our country.
As I was growing up Memorial Day didn’t seem to be observed as much, or it could have been, but my family didn’t attend the ceremonies. I remember going to one church service in the local cemetery. More often than not it was a weekend when my family gathered.

Downtown Sound at 104 Main St. E was able to reopen on Tuesday, May 18, after being closed for a nearly a month and a half. New Prague City Staff working with structural engineer Mike Hemstad of the city’s engineering firm Short Elliott Henrickson (SEH), Inc. determined the building was safe to reopen.

Marian Katherine Tuma, 93, of Le Center passed away peacefully on Monday, May 24 at the Carriage House in Le Center with her daughter by her side. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 28 from 8 to 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center with Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.
Marian was born in Rice County on November 11, 1927, to James and Mary (Kubes) Simon. She attended grade school at Holy Trinity School in Veseli and graduated from New Prague High School. After high school Marian worked at The Mill in New Prague.

Father Michael J. Miller, son of Mary Jane Miller and the later Carlton E. Miller is marking the 25th anniversary of ordination Father Michael J. Miller, son of Mary Jane Miller and the late Carlton E. Miller is marking the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Tuesday, May 25. He is currently the pastor for St. Patrick Catholic Church of Cedar Lake, and St. Catherine Catholic Church of Spring Lake Township in rural New Prague.

Betty Chlian a/k/a Baseball Betty, age 82 of Northfield formerly of Lonsdale, MN passed away peacefully on May 22, 2021.   Betty was born on March 26, 1939 in Rice County, MN to George and Rose Polak.  She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan who spent the past 12 winters in Florida enjoying sunshine, baseball, and what became her “Florida family”.  She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was looking forward to three more on the way.  Betty was always on the go.  Since 2009 she sang with the New Prague Czech Singers.  Betty loved to fish off the dock catching sunnies and crappie

Marcella Margaret Thorsen, 99 years young, entered her heavenly home on May 22, 2021. She lived her life on her terms including staying in her home for her entire adult life.

Robert Vogt Jr, age 76, of New Prague, died Thursday May 13th, at his home in New Prague.
A celebration of his life will be held at New Day Church in New Prague, June 7th at 11 am with visitation beginning at 9:30. Interment to follow on July 1st at 10:30 at Ft. Snelling Cemetery.

Family, friends and community members line Columbus Avenue near Falcon Ridge Elementary School on Sunday, May 23, as the New Prague High School Class of 2021 had its Graduation Parade. An estimated 100 vehicles of all sorts participated in the second year of the parade. Some vehicles had one senior as larger ones had five or more seniors. The weather stayed sunny and with temperatures at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The parade wound through neighborhoods in the community. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

It was already a busy day for Laker’s New Prague Sanitary around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, during New Prague’s City Wide Clean-up. Held at the parking lot of the New Prague Memorial Park Baseball Stadium, the local business had four garbage trucks for trash, a bin for scrap wood, two for scrap metal and an area for batteries. The clean-up at the stadium is going on until 12 p.m. For information on what items can be dropped off check the City of New Prague’s website. There will also be document shredding at the City Hall’s parking lot from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Lucia Maria Fuechtmann (Da Silva), 70, passed away at her home in Webster, MN on Saturday morning, May 15, 2021.
Lucia was born on June 6, 1950, to Maria Carmelo in Angra Do Heroismo, Terceira, Acores, Portugal.
On December 8,1968, she married Robert Fuechtman of Melrose, MN at the Catholic Church of Angra Do Heroismo, Terceira, Acores, Portugal.
Lucia moved with Robert to the United States in 1971 where she raised five loving daughters and resided in Webster, MN for the next 39 years of her life.