Next week, Tuesday, July 16, marks the beginning of County Fair season in the area. The Rice County Fair begins its six-day run in Faribault. The Scott County Fair will be held a week later, starting Wednesday, July 24, for five days in Jordan, and the Le Sueur County Fair will be held three weeks after that, starting Thursday, Aug. 15, for four days in Le Center.
Some elements of the fairs have changed over the years, but for many, it’s a place to gather with neighbors and people from throughout the area, celebrate the rural way of life and find out what’s new.

Next Tuesday, July 16, there will be several celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins’ launch from the Kennedy Space Center and their successful journey to the moon, landing on it and traveling back to Earth.

On Monday, July 1, Father Eugene Theisen became the Parochial Administrator for the New Prague Area Catholic Community. He takes over for Father Kevin Clinton who recently retired. He explained that it is policy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that when a priest is assigned to their first parish they are named a Parochial Administrator and after their first year they are named Pastor.

The Minnesota Valley Bowling Association held a Hall of Fame induction recently at the New Prague Knights of Columbus Hall.

It takes more than just lighting off a few fireworks to make a memorable community wide fireworks display for Independence Day. In fact, the planning and executing for this year’s 4th of July celebrations in Lonsdale and Veseli began in January, according to the organizers of the Lonsdale Freedom Fireworks committee.

Ludmilla (Ludy) Korbel, 88, of Montgomery passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 12 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be in St. Wencelsaus Cemetery in New Prague.
Ludmilla was born in New Prague on December 6, 1930, to Edward and Elizabeth (Minar) Korbel. She attended country school in rural New Prague and later graduated from New Prague High School.

Gary Bachinski, of Jordan, passed away peacefully on July 2nd, 2019, at the age of 68.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 11 am, with a time of gathering starting at 9:30 am, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 104 First Street W, Jordan. Rev. Eugene Theisen will preside. Interment at St John. Calvary Cemetery.

Walter (Walt) J. Stier Jr, of Belle Plaine passed away on June 30, 2019 at Emerald Crest in Shakopee, MN.
Visitation will be Tuesday July 9 from 4-8 at Kolden Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11am on Wednesday July 10 at St. John Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, MN. Officiating at the service will be Pastor Diane Goulson of Redeemer Lutheran Church of Henderson, MN and Chaplain Arlen Solem of Emerald Crest of Shakopee, MN. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Belle Plaine.

New Prague's annual Fireworks Display was held Wednesday evening, July 3, near the New Prague Middle School. Many people showed up for an evening of fun, highlighted by an approximately 20-minute fireworks show presented by RES Pyrotechnic. Showered earlier in the day worried the event's sponsors, but the rain cleared, and many people showed up for the fun.

A herd of hundreds (of people) visited the Pieper family farm in rural New Prague on Saturday, June 29, as part of Rice County American Dairy Association's free Day On the Farm event.
Visitors were treated to a free lunch, milk shakes, kids' games, and tours of the approximately 890-head dairy farm that proudly produces an average of 34,000 pounds of milk a day.
The farm is owned and operated by Ray and Bridget Pieper with help from five of their 10 children, Tim, Brian, Nick, Dan, and Emily.

About 650 people attended “Under the Big Top 3,” a pro wrestling card held outside the Doublewide in Elko New Market. The event, promoted by Mitch Paradise (New Prague’s Dan Michel) featured six matches. Besides Paradise, other wrestlers of note included Mr. Anderson, a former WWE wrestler who now operates a wrestling school in Minneapolis, Aaron Corbin, and Johnny Love, who won the first-ever "Doublewide Wrestling Championship."

The New Prague Area Historical Society currently has two exhibits at the New Prague Library, 400 Main St. E. One is about 4-H Clubs, the other touches on the Korean War with memorabilia such as banners, books and prizes concerning 4-H and, for the Korean War, photos and articles collected by the late LeRoy Henry Kline, who served in the Navy during that conflict.

Maria J. “Mary” Vesters, age 92, of Kenyon, died on July 1, 2019 at 3 Links Care Center in Northfield.

New Prague defeated New Market 2-1 Sunday, June 30, handing the Muskies their first league loss of the season. New Market is ranked No. 1 among Class C teams in the state. The win was the fifth straight for the Orioles, and evened their league record at 8-8. Both New Prague and St. Patrick picked up three wins in the past week and Montgomery had two wins.

Joseph William Connolly, 74, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2019, at his home in Le Center surrounded by his loving family.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center. Funeral service will be held Saturday, July 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center with Father James Stiles officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Le Center Area Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be at St. Henry Cemetery.

Kathleen E. Bruzelius, age 77, of New Prague, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, July 1, 2019, surrounded by her husband and family, some near and some far—but all dear. Kathleen was born on April 22, 1942 in San Rafael, CA to Edward and Helen (Truelson) Mullin.  She graduated from Talent High School (Talent, OR) in 1960 after marrying her husband, Kenneth Bruzelius, on May 9, 1959 at the Assembly of God Church in Medford, Oregon. The couple celebrated their 60th Anniversary this spring.