On June 13, 2020 at 3:04 a.m., Scott County 911 Dispatch received a call of a residential garage on fire on the 25xxx block of Willow Lane in Helena Township.  
Police and fire were dispatched and upon arrival, witnessed the detached garage of a single-family residence fully engulfed in flames.  The fire had also spread to the home, a small shed, the nearby wooded areas, and several vehicles had caught fire.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire; however, damage to the buildings and vehicles was substantial.

A 59-year-old New Prague man was found dead on Lake Vermilion in St. Louis County on Thursday, June 11.
According to a news release from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, around 11:27 a.m. on June 11 St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies along with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade, and Cook Ambulance responded to a water emergency on Lake Vermilion near the area of Norwegian Bay, which is located approximately 10 miles northeast of the town of Cook.

Main Street CLOSURE and DETOUR has been POSTPONED one more week to Monday, June 22nd, at which time the project detour is expected to go into effect.
While the need for the detour for Highway 19 project in New Prague is delayed again until Monday, June 22, motorists should be advised that some work in the areas of the shoulders and parking lanes will begin.  Officials ask that motorists watch out for workers, equipment and traffic control devices.

Full road closure at CH 2 and CH 91 intersection so crews can construct roundabout. Closure will last for approximately 10 weeks, weather permitting. Detour map shows both north/south and east/west options.
More information can be found here: www.scottcountymn.gov/1943

Emily (Korbel) Teberg entered the U.S. Army in August, 2002. She earned her wings as a Parachute Rigger, and her father, Gary Korbel of Montgomery, pinned them on her. Teberg was attached to the 82nd Airborne Unit and was stationed in Georgia and Virginia.
A traumatic experience made Teberg leave service in May 2003. When she returned to civilian life, troubles didn’t stop, and she turned to drugs.
Her life was spiraling downward until Jim Golgart, Le Sueur County Veterans Service Officer, stepped in to help.

The New Prague City Council unanimously approved the purchase of a zip line for Memorial Park. The action was taken at the council’s Monday, June 1, meeting.
City Planning Director Ken Ondich explained that the city’s Park Board voted unanimously on May 12 to recommend the purchase. The zip line would be 125 feet long by 25 feet wide and only a couple feet off the ground. It would be set up in the area west of the playground in Memorial Park. Lonsdale has a similar one in a park.

Tucked at the end of a dirt road alongside rolling hills and nestled next to Circle Lake in Rice County lays a homestead begun in 1920 by the Trnka family.
For 100 years, five generations of the Josep Trnka family have called it home.
“It’s nice to see the farm sticking in the family,” said Joseph B. Trnka, who goes by Joe. “It’s not so common anymore. With the price of land and the cost of farming, it’s nice to be in my situation. I hope to pass it down to my kids some day.”

We are excited to announce the Fitness & Aquatic Center will reopen on Monday, June 15 at 5am! The cardio, weight and TRX rooms along with lap swim and water walking will be available to members via an online reservation system.
Group fitness classes & open gym will begin on June 22!

Main Street was to be CLOSED and DETOURED this coming Monday, HOWEVER the closure and detour has been POSTPONED to at least Monday, June 15th, at which time the project detour will go into effect (see attached and map on project website).

Crews from Lakers New Prague Sanitary, Inc. were busy the morning of Saturday, June 6, unloading vehicles that brought debris to be disposed of during the City Wide Clean-up. Held from 6:30 a.m. to noon New Prague residents were driving up to 302 Second St. NW with vehicles filled with articles to be dropped off. This was the first year where curbside pick up was not being done, unless cleared with Lakers New Prague Sanitary, Inc. beforehand. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Governor Tim Walz today announced Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan, including a gradual turn of the dial to allow cautious and safe re-opening of indoor dining, gyms, and entertainment venues beginning Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Customers and employees will be either strongly recommended or required to wear masks and will be required to adhere to appropriate social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 

Between 7-9am. Be prepared to stop at the Highway 169/41/78 intersection. The intersection will be in a temporary four-way stop condition while crews complete nearby ramp work.

Joe Moravchik of Lonsdale has been busy as he has been running a campaign for the Minnesota House 20B seat. On the evening of Thursday, May 21, the first time candidate was endorsed by the Republican Party for Minnesota House District 20B, which includes Le Sueur and Rice counties. He received 87 percent on the first ballot, easily surpassing the 60 percent threshold needed for endorsement.

After much deliberation and careful monitoring of the current situation, the Lonsdale Chamber and Lonsdale Community Day Committee members canceled Lonsdale Community Day Festival 2020.
In a press release on June 2, Shanna Gutzke-Kupp, festival chair, said chamber and committee members had hoped it would be possible to bring the festival on August 8 with adjusted events, but too many unknowns from COVID-19 are making it impossible.

6/5/20 UPDATE The Highway 19 New Prague project has been postponed until June 15.
Motorists traveling Highway 19 through New Prague can expect a detour beginning Monday, June 8 as a major reconstruction of Main Street through the downtown begins.  A detour for Highway 19 traffic will remain in place until the end of the construction season and resume again in 2021, but access to the business district will be provided throughout the project.

The New Prague community came together to help the New Prague High School graduates of the Class of 2020 celebrate on Sunday, May 31, with a parade. Graduates wave as the parade makes it way down First Avenue NE. The parade went through several neighborhoods in the community with many people coming out to wave, hold up signs and shout congratulations to the graduates. For more see a print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)