New Prague runners endured warm, humid racing conditions posting solid finishes at the Tom Watson Stampede at Mounds View Saturday, Sept. 20.

The Trojans host their lone home meet of the season this afternoon, Thursday, Sept. 25, at Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park. The girls’ race begins at 5:30 and the boys’ race commences at 6 p.m.

NP girls finish third

With five runners finishing in the top 30, the New Prague girls finished third in the eight-team field.

New Prague High School will celebrate homecoming beginning this Friday, Sept. 26, with Class Color Day. There will also be the powderpuff football game Sunday, Sept. 28, Homecoming continues Tuesday, Sept. 30, through Friday, Oct. 3.

The reason for the change is this coming Monday, Sept. 29, is a staff only/professional development day, said Heather Vikla Dobias, homecoming advisor. This Friday with class color day, seniors will wear black, juniors wear purple, sophomores wear green, freshmen wear blue and staff wear gray.

First the city, then the county and school district and even townships. Local units of government are approving their property tax levies. The results are both predictable and frustrating.

New Prague’s girls’ swimming team enjoyed a solid week of competition in its past two meets, with team wins and strong performances against Mankato West and Chaska.

After Tuesday’s meet against TCU in Montgomery, the Trojans will be back in the water tonight, Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., against Chanhassen at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Chaska. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m., NP will host Benilde-St. Margaret’s at the New Prague Aquatic Center.

New Prague 102, Mankato West 83

Despite a cloudburst Friday evening, Sept. 19, people still came out to enjoy Dozinky, New Prague’s Czech harvest festival, Saturday, Sept. 20.

The cloudburst came during the Classic Car Cruise, Friday with people taking shelter under awnings or umbrellas. The passengers of one convertible in the car cruise had several umbrellas with them.

Before the parade of vintage vehicles on Main Street, cars gathered at New Prague High School’s parking lot. The New Prague Rotary Club took care of registration of the vehicles and a rough count had 297 vehicles participating.

Leon J. Hartman, born September 25, 1939, entered eternal life on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Leon J. Hartman, beloved husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa, passed away peacefully surrounded by family.

They walked across a stage in Trojan Stadium, ceremoniously accepted their diplomas and began the next chapter in their lives, not expecting they would one day be back in their hometown as visiting members of a college pep band.

Superintendent aims for district to be ‘better together’

In the wake of a successful performance review, New Prague Superintendent Andy Vollmuth laid out a series of goals and steps to achieve them last week.

The draft of the goals were provided to board members Monday, Sept. 9, at a workshop meeting. They include:

• To support the NPAS School Board to achieve excellence in governance;

• To create systems and structures to enhance excellence in management;

Participants in the Dozinky Zero K at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague Thursday evening, Sept. 18, give a toast. This was the fifth year of the “race” where the starting and finishing line were one and the same. The Zero K and Dozinky Bingo shortly after that are among the many activities that will be held during New Prague’s Czech harvest festival, rain or shine, this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 19, is the Classic Car Cruise beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

A few weeks ago, we reported the results of the latest round of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). Statewide, the results were, at best, uninspiring. Locally, New Prague students who took the tests were slightly above the state average.

Given the highly-charged political environment we live in these days and the huge investment Minnesota dedicates toward E-12 education these days, the resulting blame game was predictable. Social media was awash with people blaming the DFL and Gov. Walz with the mediocre results.

The New Prague High School girls’ volleyball team is 9-5-1 overall for its seasons and is 0-1-1 in the Metro West Conference.

The Trojans were at Wayzata Tuesday, Sept. 16, with game resulted unavailable as of press time. New Prague hosted Chaska Wednesday, Sept. 17. The Trojans are next at Chanhassen for a Thursday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. match.

Over the last week New Prague has won three matches, lost two and tied one. The Trojans’ tied match came during an away game at St. Louis Park, Thursday, Sept. 11, with it ending 2-2.

Members of the Barten family of rural New Prague, from left, Felix, John and Vincent Barten get one of several cornstalks set up Monday evening, Sept. 15, along New Prague’s Main Street. The Barten family cut cornstalks from their field earlier on Monday using their 115 year old machine. The family helps decorate Main Street for Dozinky, New Prague’s Czech harvest festival, that will be held Thursday, Sept. 18, through Sunday, Sept. 21. Also helping Monday evening were Fran Barten and Joe Barten and the Hughes family of Brian, Allison, Maggie and Leah.

Eunice E.

Mary Lou Cloyd died peacefully on April 23, 2025, in Ames, IA, at Israel Family Hospice House.

Benjamin Scot Cervenka, known to friends and family as Ben, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of September 8, 2025, at the age of 35.

Myron McColl, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, at the age of 97 at Valley Ridge Senior living in Burnsville, MN. He was born July 7,1928, in his home in Savage, formerly from Lonsdale.