James J. Kratochvil, age 76, of New Prague, died peacefully in his home with his family by his side on Friday, July 25, 2025. Jim was born on September 25, 1948, in New Prague, to Wenceslaus “Vinny” and Agnes (Machacek) Kratochvil. A lifelong resident of New Prague, Jim attended St. Wenceslaus Parochial School, graduated from New Prague High School and went on to complete his associate degree at Dunwoody Technical College in Masonry.

As one of 10 teams battling for four state tournament spots in Class A, the St. Patrick Irish took another step in the right direction heading into the final portion of the regular season.

The Irish won two games in come-from-behind fashion this past week, defeating Miesville and the Rochester Royals, two teams also in the hunt for four state tournament berths among the 10 teams in Section 1 of Class A.

Generations Theatre Company will be performing its second show this summer with this weekend’s performance of “The All Night Strut - American Songbook Standards,” Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, at New Prague High School, 221 12th St. NE. Times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday.

Heading into the Gopher State tournament in Waconia with momentum, New Prague found the going tough at the weekend competition.

New Prague entered the tournament having won four of its previous five games.

We frequently receive columns and statements from the politicians who represent the area. More often than not, they are complaining about what the ‘other’ side of the political spectrum is up to. This week, an email from Rep. Terry Stier, R-Belle Plaine, reached the in-box.

Le Sueur County’s 32nd Annual Relay for Life filled the buildings of the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds Friday, July 11.

The four-hour event brought in $58,000 in funds for the American Cancer Society (ASC). The nonprofit is the largest funder of cancer research grants in the United States, other than the federal government.

The amount raised was the total as of Monday morning. According to Co-Chair person Amy Sellner, more money is still coming in from the event.

“We raised more than $20,000 over our goal,” Sellner said.

Stephen A. Swenson, age 81, of New Prague, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2025. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Steve lived a life marked by love, service, and quiet determination.

He met the love of his life, Jean, on a blind date at the circus—an unforgettable beginning to a 57-year marriage. They were married on June 15, 1968. After living in the Twin Cities for several years, Steve and Jean followed their dream of country life and moved to a hobby farm in New Prague in 1977, where they raised their family and built a life full of meaningful work and community.

Thomas Duane (Lynch) Wegleitner, age 42, of Lonsdale, died tragically on Saturday, June 21, 2025, as a result of a motor vehicle accident in Nebraska, while returning from his daughter’s pageant.  The actions he took to avoid the oncoming vehicle saved his family’s life.

With the July 4 holiday in the rearview mirror, many area town baseball teams are turning their focus to being in top form for the stretch drive and a spot in the Minnesota Baseball Association postseason tournaments.
In District 3B, Jordan, Union Hill, Webster and New Prague hold the top four spots. Eagle Lake was fifth in the standings last updated June 29. The top five teams receive a first-round bye in the playoffs. The fifththrough 11th-place teams will play a best-of-three series.

Thomas R. Walther, age 89, passed away on July 9, 2025, at Mala Strana in New Prague after a long battle with metastatic prostate cancer.  He is survived by his son, John (Brenda) and daughter, Janice; granddaughters, Arianna, Maya, Renata; sister-in-law, Nancy.
   Tom grew up in Minneapolis and was the youngest of four children.  He attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Minnesota.  After college, he served as a Specialist in the Army.

Elko New Market honored Jim Marsh, who helped found the city’s volunteer fire department and was one of its assistant fire chiefs, as Marsh was named grand marshal of Fire Rescue Days’ Community Parade, Saturday, June 28.
“That was one heck of a surprise,” said Marsh, who now lives with his wife in Savage. “I never expected that in any way, shape or form.”

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.”

Joyce Mary Denzer, age 77, of Blaine, formerly of Montgomery, died following a three-year courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at her home.

‘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.

During the June 23 school board meeting, directors Carrie Cuff and Dan Call cast two votes in opposition to the school board’s plans to ask New Prague School District voters to approve in a single question an increase in the amount of property taxes it can use to fund daily operations. One of the votes was far more interesting than the other.