A New Prague city worker cleans out one of two stopped up storm drains along Main Street, near the intersection with Pershing Avenue NE around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4. A storm that rolled through New Prague and surrounding communities left damage in its wake with trees and branches toppled. The storm was a mixture of heavy rain, golf ball size hail and winds clocked at 85 miles per hour. Plus there was a tornado warning in the Prior Lake area. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)
Highway 93 from Highway 169 to Henderson opened over the weekend (June 1) after closing a fourth time on May 27 due to flooding on the Rush River.
Motorists are advised to continue to drive with caution along Highway 93 as flood waters are near the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 50 mph and vehicles weights are reduced to 7 ton per axle until further notice.
Highway 19 from Henderson to Highway 169 remains closed due to flooding on the Minnesota River.
MnDOT crews will continue to monitor area highways, bridges and bluffs to ensure motorists safety.
Father Kevin Clinton, center, leaves St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague to a 43 bell salute from members of the bell choir and church choir on Sunday, June 2. Father Clinton is retiring and served at his last Mass on Sunday, after 45 years as a priest. A celebration of his retirement was held the evening of Saturday, June 1, with more than 300 people attending. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)
New Prague High School’s senior class of 2019 celebrate at the end of the graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 31, at Trojan Stadium as family and friends look on. The ceremony included music, the student address by Anne Zweber, an address from NPHS social studies teacher Allie Meyer and the awarding of diplomas. Of the 322 members of the senior class, 310 participated in Friday’s ceremonies. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)
Falcon Ridge Elementary School teacher Cindy McNab, left, received the Paul Flick Silver Apple Award from Roseann Flick, widow of former school administrator Paul Flick, during the New Prague Area Schools' Year-End Celebration Friday, May 31. McNab has not only taught in the same building - formerly known as New Prague Elementary - for 34 years, she also attended school in that building starting in second grade, when it first opened, and student-taught there as well.
Elko New Market welcomed its newest police officer, Steve Hotaling, during the Wednesday, May 22, meeting of the Elko New Market City Council. Police Chief Brady Juell provided a biography of Hotaling before pinning a police officer’s badge on Hotaling’s uniform.
On June 2, 1974 Father Kevin Clinton was ordained a priest at St. Paul Seminary, now 45 years later he will be holding his last Mass this Sunday, June 2, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague.
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.