New Prague area residents can get a look at the work of 20 New Prague High School students with a free performance this Friday, Jan. 24, of the One Act Play “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium, 221 12th St. NE.
“The show is shaping up well. The kids are improving each and every day. The costumes are wonderful, and we’re really looking forward to performing this Friday,” said director Ben Thietje.

Andrew Polley of New Prague works against the snow and wind in cleaning out his driveway on Saturday, Jan. 18. The snowstorm that began on Friday, Jan. 17, dropped about five inches of snow on New Prague. Weather forecasts had that the area would likely have northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts of up to 40 to 45 mph in the afternoon. For more on the storm see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit #45 will meet Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.  A light lunch will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. The dessert committee for January is Donna Dols, Ruth Dols and Shayelynn Christianson.

MANKATO, Minn. – (3:45 p.m.) With significant snow and strong winds forecast for Friday and Saturday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists to plan for difficult driving conditions or make alternate plans.
Heavy snowfall combined with moderate winds can dramatically reduce visibility during the storm and continued wind gusts after the storm may prolong MnDOT snowplow drivers’ ability to recover the roads.

Secretary of State Steve Simon is reminding Minnesotans about the beginning of absentee voting for the March 3, 2020, Presidential Nomination Primary. The primary will help determine both the Democratic and Republican party candidates for the November general election.
“The presidential nomination primary opens up the selection process and allows more Minnesotans to participate,” said Simon. “Caucuses are limited to a few hours on one evening; this primary will give more people more ways to participate, and over a longer period of time.”
How to request an absentee ballot

On Tuesday, Jan, 14, Bevcomm, the Blue Earth based telecommunication company, announced it has reached a definitive agreement with Lonsdale Telephone Company to acquire ownership of that Lonsdale based business. Transfer of ownership is pending regulatory approval, which is expected in the first half of this year.
According to a press release from Bevcomm, “Existing employees of Lonsdale Telephone Company will become employees of Bevcomm, and will continue to manage the day-to-day office functions.”
For more on this story see upcoming print issue.

Activity: Dance Team - Var. NEW!!
Reschehduled to DATE: 01/20/2020 - ( previously 01/18/2020 )
Event type: Conference Tournament
Home/Host: New London-Spicer
Opponent: Glencoe-Silver Lake, Delano , Waconia, Litchfield, Mound Westonka, Orono, Rockford Area, Hutchinson, Holy Family Catholic High School, New Prague
START TIME: 5:00PM CST - ( previously 2:00PM CST )
END TIME: 11:00PM CST - ( previously 8:00PM CST )
Location: New London-Spicer High School, 101 Fourth Ave SW, New London, MN
Location Detail: Main Gym North
POSTPONED: YES

New Prague Area Schools (PreK-12) will be closed on Friday, January 17th due to inclement weather. This will be a Blended Learning day. http://np.isd721.org/BLD 
WRAP & Kids Company will be closed.
All afternoon and evening activities are canceled.
Fitness & Aquatic Center will be open, but please check emails and watch Facebook for possible schedule changes and closure updates.

Leonard Joseph Wondra, 95, of Montgomery, died on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 at Traditions in Montgomery. Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 8:00 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will take place at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in spring. Full obit in next weeks paper.

Ronald J. Callahan, age 73, of Shakopee, entered eternal life on Saturday, January 11, 2020.
Ronald is survived by his son, Todd (Pam); grandchildren, Dominic, Vincent and Carmella; siblings, Greg (Mary) Laban, and Cindy (Bob) Johnson. He was preceded in death his parents, Edward and Marguerite Laban; brother, Kevin Laban.
All services will be held at the Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne (Church of St. Mark), 350 S. Atwood St., Shakopee: Visitation Wednesday, January 22, from 9-11 AM, followed by Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday at 11 AM.

Dorothy Ann Sladek, age 88 of Dundas and formerly of New Trier and Bloomington, died peacefully following a brief illness on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System - St. Mary's Campus, Rochester.
She married Allen Sladek of Montgomery on June 21, 1980.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 9-11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Trier. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Church or to donor's choice.

Marion L. Skluzacek, age 84, of Lonsdale, MN passed away peacefully on January 10, 2020 surrounded by family after a year long journey with cancer.  Marion was a woman of strong faith and lived her life to the fullest.

Francis T. Mikolasek, age 85, of New Prague, died peacefully on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee.  Francis was born on November 10, 1934 to Frank J. and Eleanor A. (Simota) Mikolasek.  He attended district country school and St.

Pete Menke, age 82, of Jordan, MN, entered eternal peace on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee, MN. The family was present at his bedside. 

On Sunday, January 5, 2020, Elizabeth Rose Sammons, loving wife, daughter, and friend, passed away at the age of 35.
Elizabeth was born on March 21, 1984, to Sandy (Odenthal) & Ken Uhlir. On August 14, 2004, she married her best friend, Dustin Sammons. Together they lived a life full of laughter and adventure, focused on loving and serving those around them, and spent time getting into mischief with their two dogs, Stitch and Gabby.

When I was growing up I would see this framed article in my grandparents’ house. It was a simple typed message with two pictures included. One was of President John F. Kennedy and the other was of my Uncle Cyril Fisher. I never was able to get to know my uncle. He had died in a car crash in his teens.