Inez Kubes of Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center and Assisted Living celebrated her 105th birthday with family, friends and other residents in New Prague Monday, July 22.

Two Montgomery Township residents were killed in a house fire early Sunday morning.
Roman Jindra, 76, and Betty Jindra, 73, were found in the kitchen area of a house on Jindra Lane in Montgomery Township around 1 a.m. Sunday, July 14. Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office dispatchers received a report of a structure fire at the house at 12:54 a.m. Betty Jindra called 911 and reported the house was on fire and she and Roman were trapped inside the residence, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

The Elko New Market City Council at its Thursday, June 27, meeting approved the Interstate 35 Industrial Park by a 4-1 vote. Casting the only no vote was Councilor Gina Styles who felt the industrial park was not the right fit for the city.

A group of New Prague youngsters is hoping to help honor veterans while enjoying time outdoors during the summer months. It’s a project they planned and are implementing with the help of their moms, one glass at a time.

Crews will begin work on Highway 282 projects on July 8 that will result in narrow lanes and two separate road closures, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
At 7 a.m. Monday, July 8, crews begin replacing a retaining wall with an earthen slope along Highway 282 in downtown Jordan. Crews working on the project, between Highway 21 and East Street, require a temporary narrowing of Highway 282 lanes. Workers plan to continue the project from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, until July 30.

The office of the Le Sueur County election administrator announces that absentee ballots are now available to the public for the August 13 primary election. Individuals may vote in person at the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at the Le Sueur County Government Center, 88 S Park Ave, Le Center, MN 56057, or fill out an absentee ballot application on-line, or mail in a request for an absentee ballot to Le Sueur County Elections, 88 South Park Ave, Le Center MN 56057, and a ballot will be mailed to them.

New Prague and other area communities will observe the July 4th holiday in many ways, celebrations including fireworks, parades, music and boat parades.
New Prague The evening of Wednesday, July 3, will be the New Prague Fireworks Show. Events will be held east of the New Prague Middle School, beginning at 6 p.m. There will be Kona Ice, Dawgs on the Run, face painting and free massages. The national anthem will be sung by Linda Fahrenkamp with the fireworks beginning 10:10 p.m.

City hopes residents will take over festival
Elko New Market’s annual festival, Fire Rescue Days, is this evening, Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, June 30.
Elko New Market City Councilor Josh Berg said this year’s festival is the first year in a process to expand the festival. Berg was part of a group of residents working on the festival. He said they are trying to spin Fire Rescue Days off into its own group with residents organizing it. He noted over the last few years, the city has been mostly in charge of organizing the festival.

Supporters change plans to help Schmitz family and Chandler
They tried pumps, hoses, shovels, most every tool available to a grounds crew trying to make a ball field playable. In the end, the rainfall at Don Giesen Field the past week just wouldn’t allow the annual home run derby to be held.

Two updates have been made to the schedule for Fire Rescue Days, Elko New Market’s annual community festival. This Sunday, June 30, the pancake breakfast held by Scout Troop 325 has been moved to Wagner Park, 120 Park St. and will be held 8 a.m. to noon. The annual breakfast is sponsored by the NEW Lions Club. Also at Wagner Park, at 10 a.m. Tapestry Vineyard Church and Crossroad Church will hold an outdoor Sunday service.

FOX9’s Town Ball Tour will be stopping at the Elko Express’ Fredrickson Field along France Avenue in Elko New Market, Wednesday, July 3, as the Express take on the Prior Lake Jays.
FOX 9 will broadcast live from the Express’ ballpark starting at 5 p.m. The Minneapolis-based TV station’s Town Ball Tour usually visits with local residents about the history of the ballpark or the team. A part of the Elko Express’ history is it has made 15 state appearances.
The Express and the Prior Lake Jays will begin their game at 7 p.m.

Le Sueur County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday, June 25, declaring the county in a state of emergency for conditions resulting from the flooding events beginning on June 17.

The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office has issued no-wake restrictions for all lakes south of state Highway 99 to include lakes Washington, Gorman, Sakatah, Tetonka, West Jefferson, Emily, Middle Jefferson, East Jefferson, German, Francis, Rays and Volney.
The restriction has been issued because of the abnormally high-water levels, which has created shoreline erosion concerns, submerged docks and excess debris in the lakes creating potential hazards.

For the third time in the last 10 years, the city of Waterville and surrounding areas have been deluged with excessive rainfall, causing the most prolific flood in the town’s history.
In 2014 the city received high waters which was considered the worst flood since 1965 when flood waters covered many of the downtown streets. In 2016 the city endured yet another massive rainfall which was nearly as bad as 2014. There was also some flooding in 2019.

Scott County Highway 9/Carver County Highway 11/Jordan River Crossing (Jordan/Sand Creek Township): The Jordan River Crossing will close Thursday, June 20, at 2 PM due to flooding.