St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parish, based in New Prague, welcomed Rev. Timothy Norris to its staff beginning Tuesday, July 1.
Norris has been a priest for 31 years, most recently at Church of Saint Stephen-Holy Rosary in Minneapolis.
“I’ve known of him for a number of years,” said Rev. Eugene Theisen, pastor of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parish. “He’s a good, holy, but quiet priest.”
“So far, it has been a lot of moving in,” Rev. Norris said. “I’ve received a warm welcome.”

‘I’m lucky. I’m alive. I get to be here’
She recalls being told it was not common for women her age to develop cancer. Twenty-two years later, Shauna Swanepoel wants to do whatever she can to help any person, regardless of their age, receive that diagnosis.

New Prague city staff has received complaints this month about the dog park at 701 12th St. NE, specifically about the tall grass, estimated by some residents to be three-feet high, in the large dog area. City staff is considering how best to deal with the situation.

Franciscan nun worked at St. Wenceslaus for nine years
Her close friends describe Virginia Heldorfer as someone who with compassion and will unconditionally accept people wherever they are on life’s expedition. She enjoys funny stories and good conversations over a cup of coffee.

For Jacob Bongers and his family, Home Town Bats’ ninth annual benefit home run derby was a grand slam of an evening.
A crowd estimated at 600 attended the Saturday, June 28, event at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill. Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted the crowd who came out to raise funds for the Bongers family and watch local town ball players hit 193 home runs during the evening.
“It’s surreal, with all these people, many who we don’t even know, coming out to help our kid,” said Paul Bongers, Jacob’s dad. “It’s a position in life we never knew we would be in.”

The United States Post Office announced Monday, June 16, it has identified the former Pizza Ranch site on First Street NE as its choice for the home of New Prague’s new post office.
The post office announced its “final decision” in identifying the site of the new facility – 1102 First Street NE – in New Prague. “If this location is not adequate or an agreement cannot be reached with its owner, the postal service will consider other sites,” according to a press statement from the USPS’s Minneapolis office.

On a good day, he is energetic, funny, playing with Legos and full of life. It’s the tough days, the ones following a cancer treatment, where he is weary and lethargic.
Supporters of Jacob Bongers are looking for more of the good days. A benefit home run derby set for Saturday, June 28, 6 p.m., at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill is intended to help Jacob and his family enjoy more of the good days. Home Town Bats is hosting its ninth annual benefit home run derby. This year, Jacob and the Bongers family will benefit from the fundraiser.

Generations Theatre Company opens Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.” this weekend at New Prague High School’s auditorium, 221 12th St. NE.
Performances are Friday through Sunday, June 27, 28, and 29. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are available by emailing generationtickets@ gmail.com or at the door.

The KSTP Channel 5 program, Twin Cities Live In Your Town will be in New Prague and Elko New Market next week. The show will highlight some of the unique spots, restaurants, shopping and people of New Prague and Elko New Market. The program has already made some visits to area businesses in the last few days. Twin Cities Live In Your Town will wrap up Friday, June 27, with a live broadcast at 1319 Woodfire Tavern, 125 Main St. E, 3-4:30 p.m.
Elizabeth Ries and Ben Leber, hosts of Twin Cities Live, will be in New Prague and Elko New Market during the week.

With events scheduled today through Sunday, Elko New Market is hosting its summer festival, Fire Rescue Days.
The event includes a classic car roll-in today, Thursday, June 26, 5-9 p.m., at the Doublewide on St. Joseph Street. Friday, June 27, professional wrestling at the Doublewide is slated to begin at 8 p.m.
A parade is set for 11 am. Saturday, June 28. Sunday, June 29, ENM Boy Scout Troop 325 is hosting a pancake breakfast from 8-noon at Wagner Park on Todd Street.

A 62-year-old motorcyclist from Epping, N.D., was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Scott County Road 7 near 235th Street in western Belle Plaine Township Tuesday evening, June 24, just after 8:45 p.m.
According to a press release from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the preliminary investigation indicates a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by a man from Epping, N.D., was traveling southbound when it crossed into the northbound lane, colliding with a northbound 2012 Chevrolet Impala, driven by a 20-year-old from Cologne.

Ten area town baseball sluggers will try to bash as many home runs as possible at the annual fundraiser to help an area child and family dealing with a medical challenge slated for Saturday, June 28, 6 p.m., at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill.
Twelve-year-old Jacob Bongers of Lonsdale is suffering from medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer. The ninth annual home run derby is being planned to welcome Jacob and the previous eight recipients and their families.

Last week, as the staff and leaders at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church were putting the finishing touches on plans to host the annual RibFest, the prediction of more rain for New Prague and the area gave them reason for concern.
More rain is the last thing the church needed as plans for the church’s largest annual fundraiser were being finalized. Concerned more rain would diminish attendance, the group looked for a back-up plan.

The Elko New Market City Council discussed updates to the city’s social media policy. The council also provided direction on those updates at its Thursday, June 12, meeting.

The New Prague City Council discussed stopping work on the new police station during its Monday, June 16, meeting.

Statement from Rep. Pursell office. "In the wake of the assassination and shooting this weekend of Rep. Hortman, her husband, Sen. Hoffman, and his wife, Rep. Pursell is not available for the Town Hall planned on Mon, Jun. 23rd at the Eagles in Northfield and has been cancelled."
Watch for more details later in the summer.