Thomas Binczik, 81, of Le Center, died on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, of complications of dysphasia at Rochester Methodist Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with Mass of Christian Burial following at 11 a.m. at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Burial will follow at a later date at St. John Lutheran Cemetery west of Montgomery.

The New Prague Fire Department was called in for mutual aid at a building fire along Highway 13 north of New Prague the morning of Friday, March 4.
According to a preliminary report Prior Lake called in New Prague around 4:30 a.m. to aid in a fire at a garage/shed on a property about 10 miles north of New Prague. When vehicles from New Prague Fire Department arrived there were flames coming out of the structure. By 7 a.m. it appeared the flames were under control, although smoke was still rising from the building.

Visitation for Kailey Lynn Mach will be Sunday March 6, 2022 from 4 to 8 pm at the Le Center Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 7, 2022, at 11 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Le Center.
A full obituary will follow in the days ahead.
In honor of Kailey and her passion for children, teaching and learning, we are asking in lieu of flowers, that you a bring a children’s book that will be donated and/or monetary donations that will be used in such a way to honor her life and her love for kids for many generations to come.

Sunday, Feb. 27, was busy for the Scott - Le Sueur Waterfowlers during their 22nd Annual Youth Wood Duck Box Building Day as families came out to build nesting boxes for wood ducks and one youngster built box number 5,000.

Jeanette A. Sticha, age 93, of Lonsdale, died peacefully with her family at her side on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at her home.  Jeanette was born on September 21, 1928 in Lonsdale to John T. and Cecelia (Malecha) Skluzacek.  She grew up in the Lonsdale area, attended country school, and graduated from Lonsdale High School.  She married Bohumil H.

Josephine Marie (Bowatz) Bachinski, of New Prague, passed away peacefully on February 24th, 2022, at the age of 92.
But death is not the conclusion of her saga. Instead, it's a page break in a book that never ends. So let me take you back to the beginning, let me share with you the tale of Jo Bachinski.
On September 3rd, 1929, the near century long story of Josephine began. She was the youngest child of Alois and Mary Bowatz. And it was on the family farm in Kimball, Minnesota, that the legend started to take form, that a star began to rise.

More than 80 area residents attended the New Prague School Board meeting on Monday night, Feb. 28. There were nine people who spoke during the public forum, some addressed the recent allegations of racial taunts at sports events and others spoke on changes that are needed in the schools and the community.
Superintendent Tim Dittberner also addressed the issue presenting three steps toward changing things and developing a plan that is thoughtful and strategic.

A young woman has died in a house explosion, Saturday, Feb. 26, according to Le Sueur Count Sheriff, Brett Mason.
While the woman’s identity has not been officially released, Facebook posts have indicated it was Kailey Mach.

In a statement to New Prague Area Schools staff and families, Superintendent Tim Dittberner addressed recent allegations of racial taunts. Due to the allegations the school districts of St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale announced they would not compete with New Prague.

The Minnesota State High School League and other organizations are launching an initiative in light of recent events. In a statement released today:

Area residents who have concerns, questions or ideas about how to improve Highway 19 the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) wants to hear from you. MnDOT will be having a virtual open house from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2.

St. Louis Park High School announced this week that it will no longer compete this season against New Prague High School after an alleged racial incident at a Tuesday, Feb. 15, boys hockey game.
St. Louis Park Athletic Director Andrew Ewald sent a letter to New Prague AD Brad Skogerboe on Monday, Feb. 21, saying he's made the decision that the school "will not compete directly with New Prague High School as a result of the racist experience our boys hockey program was subject to.”

Linda DeMann, age 69, of Northfield, passed away Thursday, February 17, 2022, in Northfield.
 

Ardelle A. Solheid, age 81, of New Prague, died peacefully with her family at her side on Monday, February 21, 2022 at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital New Prague.  Ardelle was born on December 15, 1940 in New Prague  to John T. and Anna A. (Pianko) Schoenecker.  She grew up in the Union Hill area, attended parochial school there, graduated from New Prague High School, and graduated from Minnesota School of Business in 1959.  Ardelle married Gerald “Oscar” Solheid at St.

The New Prague girls basketball team dropped a pair of Metro West Conference games to St. Louis Park and Waconia last week.
St. Louis Park downed the Trojans, 66-52, Tuesday, Feb. 8. Waconia picked up a 64-40 win Friday, Feb. 11.
In the loss to Park, six different players scored five or more points, something which head coach Eric Specht was happy to see.
“I was really happy and proud of how our bench played,” Specht said. “They were given more minutes than usual and responded well. Those kids went in and competed. It was fun to see their energy.”

A new face will soon be walking the halls of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague. Lauren Petersen joins the Holy Trinity staff on Tuesday, Feb. 22, as Director of Children, Youth & Family (CYF) Ministry.