New Prague residents have been busy over the last two weeks to gather signatures for a petition to have a vote on the proposed $10,415,000 general obligation Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) bonds to pay for the building of New Prague’s proposed new police station.
Leading the petition drive is Brian Paulson, who held a drive in Memorial Park, Sunday, June 8, from 3-7 p.m. The event in the park was to allow people to come down and sign the petition or for volunteers to drop off sheets with signatures.

Former mayor willing to serve remainder of term
He remembers the day back in 2020 when some friends were commenting on items they didn’t like how the city of New Prague was handling. Chuck Nickolay decided then it was time to do something rather than just complain.
Last Monday, Nickolay was appointed to serve the remainder of former Mayor Duane Jirik’s term after the city council declared Jirik’s term vacated following his sudden resignation May 16. Nickolay is expected to be sworn in at the next New Prague City Council meeting June 16.

A pair of wins during the past week has lifted the New Prague Orioles above the .500 mark and into seventh place in the Dakota-Rice-Scott League.
Sunday, June 8, with the wind blowing out at Shakopee’s Joe Schleper Stadium, the Orioles and Coyotes scored a plethora of runs. The Orioles scored two runs in the first with four hits from Eric Wagner, Tom McBroom, James Fuerniss and Beau Plaisance.
The Coyotes answered in the third inning with a two-run homer by Aidan Rau.

St. Patrick kicked off the 2025 season Sunday, May 18, with a 14-3 win in seven innings over Union Hill.
 
With the wind blowing out to left at Bonin Field, the Irish offense took advantage in the bottom of the first inning with four home runs from sluggers Jack Friedges, Ryan Friedges, Robbie Meidl and starting pitcher Ian Segna.
In the third inning, the Irish tacked on four more runs, highlighted by a Tate Marland three-run HR. The Irish tacked on three more runs in the fifth frame and two more in the sixth.
 

Dr. Helen Therese Berg Fish
With heavy hearts but countless memories, our mother, sister, published author, educator, and friend, Dr. Helen Therese Berg Fish (81), passed away peacefully in Savannah, Georgia, surrounded by love on May 27, 2025.

Madalen "Mutz" Louise Friedges, age 89, of New Market, died unexpectedly with her family at her side on Friday, June 6, 2025, at M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital.  Madalen was born on October 13, 1935, in Belle Plaine Township, to Michael M. and Mary J. (Pint) Solheid.  She graduated from New Prague High School and went on to beauty school in Faribault.  She married her high school sweetheart, David N. Friedges, on May 11, 1957, at St.

Mildred Adeline Flicek, age 95, of rural Lonsdale, MN, passed away peacefully with family at her side, on June 5, 2025. Mildred was born on April 3, 1930, in New Prague, MN, to Albert and Anna (Sticha) Sempaur. Mildred married Ralph Flicek on January 12, 1949, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lonsdale. She worked for many years for Franchise Mailing, but what she loved the most was being a mom and a homemaker.

A New Prague man, Jeffrey William Boysen, was sentenced to 72 years in prison after being found guilty of 15 counts of criminal sexual assault of a girl and boy Wednesday, June 4, in Scott County District Court.

Despite their best efforts on a course most of them have played before, the NP girls’ and boys’ golf teams saw their season conclude last week at Ridges of Sand Creek outside Jordan in the section tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, May 27-28.
NP girls The Trojans made the second day of competition, finishing third overall behind section champion Minnetonka (591) and Orono (653).

New Prague High School is sending five members of its track team to the state meet this coming week at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Advancing from the section meet last weekend at Lakeville South High School, New Prague’s Bjorn Olson earned a state berth in the 300-meter hurdles and Adam Proshek made the state field in the high jump, both with personal record performances.
The state meet is slated for June 10-12 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.

Tim Simon of Elko New Market has hunted bear, but he was surprised to see one wander onto his property at 320 Williams St., three blocks south of the city’s downtown, Saturday evening, May 31.
“My daughter said, ‘Dad, you’re not going to believe this, but there’s a bear in the backyard,’” said Simon.
Simon was skeptical at first then he saw the bear. He said he was like, “Wow!”
His daughter, Rachel Keppers, took some photos. Simon said Rachel had been at a wedding and then came home to check on her child, which Simon and his wife were babysitting.

After nearly 36 years Doug and Patty Lau are retiring
Saturday, May 31, was closed out with the announcement Doug and Patty Lau of Lau’s Bakery on New Prague’s Main Street, had sold their business and were retiring.
The couple, who have owned the business for nearly 36 years have sold the business to Alfredo Armenta Cruz, left, and his wife, Marialid.
“We’ve given him the recipes and he’s doing the job. He’s been doing the baking for the last three weeks,” said Doug about Alfredo. Doug added Alfredo will be keeping the recipes the same.

Nearly 30 people attended the New Prague City Council’s Monday, June 2, meeting, the majority there for the public hearing on the general obligation bonds to pay for the construction of the city’s new police station. Of the nine people who spoke during the public hearing, the majority voiced opposition to the proposed $10,415,000 general obligation Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) bonds.

Donna Mae Ginter, age 90, of New Prague, died peacefully at her home at Praha Village on Saturday, May 31, 2025.  Donna was born on April 4, 1935, in New Prague, to Frank and Mary (Velishek) Rutt.  She graduated from Montgomery High School and met an enticing young man at a dance named Clarence Ginter.  The two were married in Montgomery on February 7, 1953.  Donna was a dynamo, never letting the grass grow beneath her feet.  In addition to raising her four children, she worked at a variety of places, most notably Munsingwear for 23 years and Dispatch Industries in Lakeville.  Her favorite

Anne Marie Zimanske, age 68, of Lonsdale, MN, died peacefully with her family at her side after a 3-year valiant battle with ovarian cancer on Friday, May 30, 2025.  Anne was born on March 11, 1957, in New Prague, to LeRoy and Martha (Havlicek) Svoboda.  She attended St.

Jerry Allen Sandmann, 79, of Golden Valley, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2025, surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jerry is survived by his partner of 38 years, Richard Kelley and his sister, Betty Nelson, of Webster; nephews and nieces, James, Timothy, Kimberly and Kristine; great- and great-great-nephews and -nieces, Jason, Sarah, Carrie, Nicholas, Kayla, Ashton, Avery, Lily; sister-in-law, Roxanna. He is also survived by Richard’s siblings Donna, Nancy and John. Jerry leaves behind many other loving family members and friends.