Rosemary "Rosie" Franek, age 88, of New Prague, sadly passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Mala Strana Healthcare Center.  Rosemary was born on February 13, 1936, in Wheatland Township, Rice County, to William F. and Mary Tupy, the youngest of four with three older brothers.  She attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School.  She went on to work at Queen of Peace Hospital for many years.  Rosie married Leonard Franek on September 18, 1956.  The couple was blessed with and raised three daughters on their beautiful family farm.

A group of New Prague youngsters is hoping to help honor veterans while enjoying time outdoors during the summer months. It’s a project they planned and are implementing with the help of their moms, one glass at a time.

There used to be a baseball stadium along the Minnesota River in Shakopee, at the north end of the old Holmes Street bridge.
It’s the same bridge where, local legend has it, a man flew a small airplane under the bridge to win the affections of a local young lady. Such a feat today would be considered insanity since the level of the river is much higher than it reportedly was back in those days.

This week marks 248 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when the American colonies declared themselves free from the United Kingdom. Many people will be celebrating it by spending time with family, friends and with fireworks capping the day.

St. Patrick built an early lead and then held off Hampton Sunday afternoon, June 30, at Bonin Field.
The Irish took a 5-0 lead with two runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth frame. Hampton rallied with a three tallies in the sixth inning before St. Patrick upped its lead to 6-2 with a solo run in the home half of the eighth inning, a run that provided to be the game-winner for the home team.

Crews will begin work on Highway 282 projects on July 8 that will result in narrow lanes and two separate road closures, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
At 7 a.m. Monday, July 8, crews begin replacing a retaining wall with an earthen slope along Highway 282 in downtown Jordan. Crews working on the project, between Highway 21 and East Street, require a temporary narrowing of Highway 282 lanes. Workers plan to continue the project from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until July 30.

The office of the Le Sueur County election administrator announces that absentee ballots are now available to the public for the August 13 primary election. Individuals may vote in person at the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at the Le Sueur County Government Center, 88 S Park Ave, Le Center, MN 56057, or fill out an absentee ballot application on-line, or mail in a request for an absentee ballot to Le Sueur County Elections, 88 South Park Ave, Le Center MN 56057, and a ballot will be mailed to them.

The Elko New Market City Council at its Thursday, June 27, meeting approved the Interstate 35 Industrial Park by a 4-1 vote. Casting the only no vote was Councilor Gina Styles who felt the industrial park was not the right fit for the city.

Marion J. Tuma, age 93, died on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the Villages of Lonsdale.  Marion Julia (Koldin) Tuma was born April 7, 1931, on the family farm in Rice County, Minnesota to Joseph J. and Mary Ann (Pesta) Koldin.  She was baptized, and received her first Communion and Confirmation at Immaculate Conception Church in Lonsdale.  She attended District 46 Country School, and Parochial School in Lonsdale.  On May 17, 1949, she married Francis A.

Douglas Brian Simon, age 58, of Veseli, died peacefully at home with his family at his side on Saturday, June 29, 2024.  Doug was born on August 7, 1965, in New Prague to Milton C. and Janet M. (Turek) Simon.  He attended LNMV Catholic School, graduated from New Prague High School, and went on to attend the Hennepin Tech Journeyman Program.  He worked in painting and wall covering for Wasche Commercial Finishes, Inc.

City hopes residents will take over festival
Elko New Market’s annual festival, Fire Rescue Days, is this evening, Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, June 30.
Elko New Market City Councilor Josh Berg said this year’s festival is the first year in a process to expand the festival. Berg was part of a group of residents working on the festival. He said they are trying to spin Fire Rescue Days off into its own group with residents organizing it. He noted over the last few years, the city has been mostly in charge of organizing the festival.

The time has come for school districts to put their feet down. It’s time to consider banning cell phones in schools, especially the high school. No, this isn’t about what books, videos or information is made available to students. The time to ban cell phones in schools, New Prague Schools, in this case, has arrived.

Supporters change plans to help Schmitz family and Chandler
They tried pumps, hoses, shovels, most every tool available to a grounds crew trying to make a ball field playable. In the end, the rainfall at Don Giesen Field the past week just wouldn’t allow the annual home run derby to be held.

A seventh-inning home run broke a 3-3 tie and allowed Elko to top its crosstown rival, the New Market Muskies, 7-3, Friday evening, June 21, at Fredrickson Field.
The Express jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning only to have the Muskies tie the game in the third.
Elko retook the lead in the third, 3-2, in the home half of the third frame. New Market rallied with a run in the sixth inning to even the score at 3-apiece.

Virgil M. “Cutter” Brueggemeier, age 68, of New Prague, died unexpectedly after a short battle with cancer, on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital Rochester.  Virgil was born on September 28, 1955, in Gaylord, MN, to Martin and Violet (Brockoff) Brueggemeier.  He graduated from Arlington Green Isle High School in 1973 and two years later, married Katherine K. Winter on November 21, 1975, at St.