A train derailed on the Union Pacific line in far northwestern Tyrone Township, Le Sueur County, on the east side of the Minnesota River between Henderson and Ney Nature Center. A total of eight rail cars left the tracks just north of the Highway 19 bridge over the tracks.
    Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a call from Union Pacific Railroad at approximately 2:39 a.m. on May 2 and were notified of the derailment, according to the press release from the sheriff’s office. The report said that the cars were carrying liquid methane, propane, and grain.

    Le Sueur County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Mark Roemhildt delivered his final department report to the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting on April 21.
    “I am just across six years in this position,” Roemhildt said. “My last day will be Friday, May 1. My last day in the office, however, will be this coming Friday (April 24), and then Joe will have the keys to the castle.”
    Succeeding Roemhildt is Joe Fisher, who was hired to the position on April 6. He had been training for the three weeks before the meeting.

American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley of Kansas visited New Prague American Legion Post 45, Thursday, April 23, for a dinner and presentation.

His visit to New Prague is part of a national tour where over 340 days he and others would be stopping in all 50 states. While in Minnesota he stopped at the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley and participated in the Veterans Day on the Hill at the state capitol in St. Paul. He stopped at a total of 12 posts all over the state.

When he was working a shift for the old New Prague Ambulance Service, there was never a need to ask Harry Von Bank how to get to wherever the ambulance was headed. He just knew the way.

From its inception in 1969 through 2010, Harold ‘Harry’ Von Bank gave 41 years of his life to the community’s ambulance service. Von Bank passed away earlier this month, April 10. He was the last surviving member of the people who formed the old New Prague Ambulance Service. A native of the area, he knew the community, its residents and its streets.

Bevcomm is proud to announce the launch of Bevcomm Mobile, a new cellular service designed to keep customers connected wherever they go—backed by the same trusted, local support they rely on at home.

Available exclusively to Bevcomm internet customers, Bevcomm Mobile extends the company’s commitment to delivering reliable connections, according to a press release from Bevcomm. With nationwide coverage powered by America’s largest networks and straightforward, highly competitive pricing, customers can enjoy a seamless experience both at home and on the go, said the press release.

    Minnesota legislators passed a new school bus safety law by a 133-0 vote in the house and 67-0 in the senate in March to close some safety loopholes. It was the first bill of this legislative session to pass. 
    Stopping for school busses allowed for some gray area in the wording that drivers shall stop when busses are “… displaying extended stop signal arm and flashing red lights.” This left the door open for people faced with a fine to argue that the arm was not extended or not fully yet when they passed.

    Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), which serves much of our readership area, held its annual meeting at Jordan High School on Tuesday, April 7, where over 200 members gathered.
    A total of 20 $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors were given out or a total of $30,000. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have a parent or legal guardian who are MVEC members, be enrolled to attend an accredited post-secondary institution as a full-time student, and have at minimum GPA of 2.0. 

Some of her students and colleagues spent their spring break at the beach while others traveled with their families to various other vacation destinations. New Prague High School instructor Allison Olson spent a portion of her time away from the classroom learning how thousands of sailors work together aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier at sea.

Saturday evening, April 11, at the 138th annual New Prague Firemen’s Dance & Drill, drillmaster Drew Koloc (left) handed over the whistle to new drillmaster Sam Peterson. Koloc is retiring with 14 years on the fire department, 11 as the drill team’s drillmaster. Peterson is a three-year member of the fire department and the department’s lone military veteran. Tradition calls for the drillmaster to be a military veteran. Peterson served in the U.S. Navy Seabees from 2009-2012. The 16-member drill team went through its paces before the dance at Park Ballroom.

The New Prague City Council moved forward with its ambulance service contract with North Memorial Ambulance. City Administrator Josh Tetzlaff said he would make the changes discussed at the Monday, April 6, meeting and then present the new contract to North Memorial.

Le Sueur County Emergency Management Director Tammy Stewig said that dispatchers accidentally sounded off the county's sirens today, Thursday, April 9, at 1:45 p.m. thinking it was Severe Weather Awareness Week (SWAW), which is actually April 13-17, 2026.

On Thursday, April 16, of SWAW, almost every corner of the state will have two rounds of sirens sounding, one at 1:45 p.m. and one at 6:45 p.m., for businesses and residents to practice tornado safety procedures.

Montgomery Streets
    Most of the streets in the area between the railroad tracks and Le Sueur County 3/5th Street, and north of Le Sueur County 56/Oak Avenue and south of Boulevard Avenue will receive partial surface milling and a full overlay of pavement this summer. 

    The Le Sueur County Officials meeting at the American Bar & Grill in Montgomery on Wednesday, March 25, was host to two state nonprofit representatives that assist smaller governments — Cap O’Rourke and Maddie Cash.
    Cap O’Rourke is the executive director for the Minnesota Association of Small Cities (MAOSC), which is a nonprofit that exclusively serves cities of a population of 5,000 or less, and is also the owner of O’Rourke Strategic Consulting.

Elko New Market held its annual Egg Hunt Saturday, March 28, at the Eagle View Elementary School. It was estimated that approximately 300 children participated in the Egg Hunt. Children, from toddlers up to fifth-grade could hunt for plastic eggs on the school’s playground and then turn them in for a bag of candy and small prizes. There were also golden eggs each child could take and turn in for a toy or book. There were also treats such as cookies and popcorn.

A law that was on the books in Minnesota since 1942 was repealed by the Minnesota State Legislature for 2026.

Minnesota Statute 97B.318, which stated “During the regular firearms season in the shotgun use area, only legal shotguns loaded with single-slug shotgun shells, legal muzzle-loading long guns, and legal handguns may be used for taking deer. Legal shotguns include those with rifled barrels,” was effectively repealed as of Jan. 1, 2026.

    A law that was on the books in Minnesota since 1942 was repealed by the Minnesota State Legislature for 2026. 
    Minnesota Statute 97B.318, which stated “During the regular firearms season in the shotgun use area, only legal shotguns loaded with single-slug shotgun shells, legal muzzle-loading long guns, and legal handguns may be used for taking deer. Legal shotguns include those with rifled barrels,” was effectively repealed as of Jan. 1, 2026.