The Elko New Market City Council’s Thursday, Oct. 24, meeting included a presentation by Lakeville Area Schools Superintendent Michael Baumann. He talked to the council about Lakeville’s upcoming vote on its operating levy and bond referendum.
Elko New Market is a community split between two school districts, Lakeville and New Prague Area Schools.

Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague was jam packed with people attending the Hops for Hope - Cure ALS fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 26. This was the second annual event, which featured multiple articles in the silent auction, plus bands inside the building and in a tent outside. There was also food, beer and special articles. For more see an upcoming print article of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Boy Scout Joey Little, left, and Jesse Stapp, right, watch as Jesse’s son Bennett tries one of the games at the Elko New Market Halloween Party the morning of Saturday, Oct. 26. More than 200 children attended the annual event at Eagle View Elementary School for games, treats and fun. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Gopher State Railway Museum, north of New Prague, held its annual Pumpkin Express event Saturday, Oct. 19. Youngsters from around the area turned up to see and ride the train, enjoy a snack and get a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch set up near the depot/ office. After running out last year, organizers made sure they had enough pumpkins, with more than 300 of them available. They said they had a great turnout, with warm, sunny weather greeting those who visited the museum.

A presentation on information concerning a possible rental dwelling license ordinance became a discussion during the New Prague City Council’s Monday, Oct. 21, meeting.

For a second year a Hops for Hope - Cure ALS fundraiser will be held at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague. The benefit for the Minnesota/North Dakota/ South Dakota Chapter of the ALS Association will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Giesenbrau Bier Co., 1306 First St. NE.

He's still relatively new to Lonsdale, but he's already made a name for himself.
He's the Haunted House Guy.
He is Rory Anderson, and after just one look at his haunted front yard, you'll know he's passionate about Halloween.
"I've always been crazy about Halloween," he stated. "I loved going out with my siblings and friends trick or treating when I was younger. We were always the first ones out and the last ones back home."

Project retainage to subscontractors on the Le Sueur County Justice Center Project has been reduced.
The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners received a request by Adolph & Peterson Construction to reduce the retainage for 30 of the 39 subcontractors.
The reduction took the current five percent retainage held and decreased it to one percent.
Adolph & Peterson said they believe these contractors have no risk associated with the project.
The final one percent will be awarded to the subcontractors upon the final signing of the contracts.

A purrrfect fundraiser on Sunday in Lonsdale raised more than $15,000 for the care of stray and feral felines.
The non-profit 501(c)(3) Wee3beasties: Saving the Strays was the recipient of the funds raised from the sixth annual Pancakes for Paws event at the Lonsdale American Legion.
Proceeds of the event cover medical treatments and care for the cats and kittens at the shelter. The New Prague nonprofit is entirely run by volunteers, and founder Dr. Jean Craig.

The restoration of a little historic church’s steeple will be Le Sueur County Historical Society’s first big project, since the group’s leadership changed in June.
The project, which carries an estimated price tag of $174,000, includes the building of a new, historically accurate steeple, the erection of that steeple, and the installation of a new roof on the 160-year-old Ottawa Stone Church, one of four historic properties owned by LCHS.

Sunday, Oct. 13, was a big day for Calvary Church of New Prague.
The congregation, which started six years ago with six families and now averages around 200 people for its Sunday services, held a dedication service for its newly acquired property south of Raven Stream Elementary School, near the intersection of Highway 19 and 11th Ave NW.
The church, which moved its weekly services to Raven Stream beginning this week, will soon begin a feasibility study on the 13-acre parcel to determine the type of church facilities it can build and when to build them.

The Le Sueur County Board received the 2018 audit report during their Tuesday, Oct. 15 meeting.
Amanda Mboga of BakerTilly provided the report.
Mboga said there were only two minor findings related to EFT policies and collateralization of deposits.
She added the county has exceeded the benchmarks her firm has set for them.
The 2018 financial statement highlights included the outstanding general obligation debt of $31,430,859, which is 28.8 percent of the county’s debt capacity.

The New Prague Post Office will resume normal operations on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Kristy Anderson of the US Postal Service said in a press release late Friday that the building was closed Friday due to safety concern from eroding block walls. Repairs abbe been made and the facility has been "cleared for reoccupancy." Postal operations for New Prague were run through the Belle Plaine Post Office on Friday.
The New Prague Post Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m.

For the second time this year, the New Prague Post Office has been temporarily closed due to safety concerns with the building.
The US Postal Service issued a press release late on Thursday, Oct. 10, stating that all operations would be moved to the Belle Plaine Post Office, located at 233 N. Meridian Street. New Prague Postal customers can retrieve their PO Box mail and notice left items from the Belle Plaine Post Office with photo ID. The Belle Plaine post office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Beginning Oct. 11, all operations at the office will be temporarily located to the Belle Plaine Post Office at 233 N. Meridian St., Belle Plaine. Customers may retrieve their P.O. Box mail and notice left items from the Belle Plaine Post Office with photo ID.

Andrew Charnstrom, left, of the New Prague Fire Department demonstrates how the department would use a tanker and drop tank when on rural calls. The demonstration was part of an Open House the volunteer fire department had on Sunday, Oct. 6, in New Prague. Sun and temperatures in the 60s contributed to a steady flow of area residents who came to the Open House. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)