Breaking News!

ENM police back on patrol

A crowd of more than 130 people cheered as the Elko New Market City Council unanimously reinstated the city's police department effective Friday, April 24. The council's decision on Thursday, April 23, reverses its earlier action of Thursday, April 9, when, by a 3-2 vote, it terminated the department. Three other actions at the April 23 meeting concerned the police. The council voted to hire an independent consultant to study whether it would be better for the city to have a police department or contract with the Scott County Sheriff's Office for police services, approved two closed meetings, one for Chief Rick Jensen and the other for Sgt. Steve Malecka, for purposes of performance evaluation and also voted to put Malecka on administrative leave until further review.

Blaze fought for 7 hours

Two firefighters were taken to Queen of Peace Hospital Thursday, April 23, due to smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion as the New Prague Fire Department battled a grass fire that started at a farm on 201st Ave. SW, about two miles south of Union Hill. New Prague Fire Chief Jim Becker said the fire burned about 40 acres of grass and woodland before firefighters controlled the blaze. New Prague, Jordan and Belle Plaine firefighters spent about seven hours fighting the blaze. The two firefighters taken to Queen of Peace were treated and released.

For more on both these stories see the April 30 print edition of The New Prague Times.