Graduates, supporters, and friends of St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in New Prague gathered Saturday night, Oct. 13, at the parish’s activity center to celebrate the school’s 140th anniversary.
Friends of all ages reminisced about their grade school days while browsing a large memorabilia display, featuring class photos, old lunch trays, and more.

The Elko New Market City Council began a discussion of detachment of previously annexed properties at its Thursday, Oct. 11, meeting. The council’s consensus was to direct city staff to wait until approached by property owners.

Though Lonsdale City Hall is not being expanded this year, it will be getting a facelift just the same.
“Staff is recommending a minor remodel,” said Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson at the Lonsdale City Council meeting on October 10. “Essentially we’re creating offices for staff and the new hire.”
Erickson said he met with the city engineer and others to create a floor plan that will accommodate housing all staff on the main floor and allow council and advisory meetings to continue to take place in council chambers.

A two-vehicle accident sent a New Prague man to a local hospital on Monday, Oct. 15.
 
Kyle Pecholt, 24, was taken by Montgomery Ambulance to Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital after his 2015 Ford Fusion collided with a 2000 Kenworth Tractor Semi around 11:18 a.m. The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 13/21 and County Road 28, north of Montgomery. 
 
The driver of the semi was Bruce Edward Lepage, 64, of Tomah, WI. He  was listed as wearing his seatbelt and not injured. Pecholt was also wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
 

The Elko New Market Chamber of Commerce’s Candidate Forum drew 100 area residents interested in finding out about candidates for Elko New Market City Council and mayor, Minnesota House of Representatives District 20A and Scott County Sheriff. Held Thursday, Oct. 4, in the Elko New Market Library’s Community Room, the candidates provided information about themselves and answered several questions.

New Prague firefighter Andrew Charnstrom, center, provides a hands on demonstration during the New Prague Fire Department’s Open House on Sunday, Oct. 7. While it was a cool fall day, a good sized crowd showed up for the event. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

MnDOT released the following on its Twitter Page today (Saturday, Oct. 6) at about noon

OPEN EARLY! Hwy 19 in New Prague- Railroad crossing repairs completed early. The driving lanes are complete and the final layer of asphalt will be placed on the shoulders next week weather permitting.

MnDOT District 7 added,

Demonstrations on Dutch oven cooking were popular at the Scott County Autumn Fare on Saturday, Oct. 6. Held at the Scott County Fairgrounds the annual event had crowds gathering for warm food and drinks, plus there were many activities for families. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Thursday, Oct. 4, was a busy evening in New Prague as shoppers were proving that “Nothing is S’more Fun than Ladies Night Out.” A crowd stops in Mainstream Boutique, one of the 14 area businesses that participated in the event that was sponsored by the New Prague Chamber of Commerce. While temperatures were in the 60s, it didn’t stop roughly 200 shoppers from checking out an evening of sales, deals, merchandise and treats. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague City Council approved a pair of resolutions during their Monday, Oct. 1 meeting, that will allow the city to bill residents for unpaid bills through property tax assessments.
Ken Ondich, city planner, explained that the first resolution is for unpaid snowplowing and property maintenance bills from the period beginning September 15, 2017, through September 14, 2018. These claims were for properties that the city had ordered to be cleaned up, but hadn’t been. The city then hires a contractor to do the cleanup work and bills the property owners.

Due to the significant amount of property and agricultural damage after the Sept. 20 storm, the Le Sueur County Board has entered into a resolution which will help county residents.
The commissioners declared Le Sueur County in a State of Emergency Sept. 24 for the high wind storm event of Sept. 20.
During the Oct. 2 meeting, the county board signed a resolution which will waive zoning permit fees and grant administrative variances.
The resolution deals with affected properties as documented in the damage assessment from the storm damage.

For the second year in a row Lonsdale’s city tax rate is staying the same.
At the Lonsdale City Council meeting held on September 29, the council approved a resolution setting the 2019 preliminary city budget and property tax levy.
“We’re pretty much at the same levy as we were in 2017,” said Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson.
Despite the property tax rate, which is set at 17.64 percent, the same as in 2018, this does not mean residents will not see a change in their city portion of their tax rate.

Workers began removing the current railroad tracks crossing Main Street in New Prague Wednesday, Oct. 3. Reconstruction of the rail crossing and patching of the highway is expected to take up to a week. The official detour takes drivers north of town on Scott County Road 2, however local traffic is being rerouted along local streets to the crossings at Second Street NW and also at Fifth Street SW.

St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in New Prague held its annual marathon Saturday morning, September 29. Students, parents, school staff members, and other supportors of the local school walked and ran around the school and church property and then enjoyed a meal of hot dogs and chips that was served by the Knights of Columbus. The event is one of the school's main fundraisers. This year, the school has a goal of raising $43,000. As of Monday, Oct. 1, Principal Kim Doyle was confident the goal would be reached.

Playing a state-ranked team for the third time in three weeks, the New Prague Trojans lost to Mankato West 41-14 in their Homecoming football game at Trojan Stadium Friday, Sept. 28. 

Like last week against Northfield, both teams scored on their first possession of the game. The Trojans scored on a 3-yard pass from Parker Johnson to Mitch Callahan. 

Mason DeGross and Aidan McLoone were crowned as Homecoming King and Queen Friday, Sept. 28, during the morning pepfest in the school gym. Members of the Royal Court are (seated, left to right) prince Collin Schuette, King Mason DeGross, Queen Aidan McLoone and Princess Hadley Bailey; (standing) candidates Laure DeGross, Blake Woodson, Bryce Simon, Morgan Pint, Grant Yackly, Callie Peterson, Collin Dorzinski, Katelyn Blair, Andrew Piilola, Molly Giesen, Anna Holden, Hartman Sadusky, Kate Wagner and Travis Frerk.