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A night after the Trojans just missed winning a state team championship, two of its members finished atop the medal stand in the all-around competition at the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AA gymnastics competition for individuals at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul.
Saturday, Feb. 22, New Prague senior Ava Bruegger won a state championship in the all-around competition with cumulative score of 37.6500 – a score including what coach Darrell Christianson said was a .70 deduction for fall during Bruegger’s balance beam routine.

Susan R. Roe, age 71, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at her home on Saturday, February 22, 2025.  Sue was born on July 10, 1953, in New Prague, to Joseph G. and Mary A. (Tupa) Novotny.  She graduated from New Prague High School and went on to Faribault Vocational Technical College (now South Central College).  She worked as an executive assistant for many years for Fahey Real Estate.  She married Richard Dean Roe, her high school sweetheart, on January 8, 1972, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  

Karen Vanasek passed away peacefully on Feb.16, 2025. Karen was born in Los Angeles and always liked to refer to herself as a “California Girl”. She was born 7 months after her father died unexpectedly. Her mother remarried and they moved to her second father’s hometown of New Market where she attended St. Nicholas School and then New Prague High School where she was elected Homecoming Queen. She and her husband Alan began dating in high school over 66 years ago and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past August.

Lorraine M. Link, age 99, of Shakopee, MN, entered eternal life on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Friendship Manor Nursing Home in Shakopee.
Lorraine was born March 26, 1925, in New Prague, MN, to Joseph and Julia (Uhlir) Javurek.

A Prior Lake woman died from injuries suffered in a head-on crash on County Road 21 near Deer River Court in Credit River just after 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17.
According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the preliminary investigation indicates a white Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by a 64-year-old Prior Lake man, was traveling westbound when it crossed the median, colliding head-on with a red Kia, driven by a 54-year-old Prior Lake woman, which was traveling eastbound in the eastbound lane of County Road 21. The crash was reported at 8:07 p.m.

Douglas Clark Kick, age 70, of Shakopee, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, at his home.
We will celebrate Doug’s life on Friday, February 21, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at New Day Church, 1201 1st St NE, New Prague. Visitation will begin Friday, 9:30 a.m., also at the church.

Karen Vanasek, age 82, wife of Alan, passed away on February 16, 2025. A visitation will be held Wednesday, February 26, from 3-7 p.m. at O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home, 575 Snelling Ave S, West St. Paul, MN 55116. The funeral Mass will be Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 11 a.m. with a visitation 1 hour before at Church of St. Joseph, 1154 Seminole Ave, St. Paul, MN 55118.
O'Halloran and Murphy (651) 698-0796

Citing potentially dangerous weather conditions and out of concern for safety of students and staff, the New Prague School District will be closed Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The National Weather Service announced a Extreme Cold Warning beginning Monday, Feb. 17, 9 p.m.
Tuesday will be a blended learning day for students in sixth through 12th grades. Activities director Brad Skogerboe said a decision on activities will be made at noon Tuesday.

Jerry George Herrmann left this world peacefully on February 15, 2025, at the age of 86, surrounded by his family. Jerry was born on June 25, 1938, in New Prague, MN, to Jerry and Mary (Tikalsky) Herrmann of Lonsdale. He grew up in Lonsdale, graduated from New Prague High School in 1956 and the University of MN School of Pharmacy in 1962.

New Prague High School's gymnastics team won the section championship this evening, Friday, Feb. 14, at Minnetonka High School, defeating Prior Lake by almost two points.
The Trojans will advance to state meet Feb. 21-22 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul.
New Prague finished with 147.235 - topping Prior Lake. The Lakers finished with 145.325. The rest of the field finished well behind New Prague and Prior Lake. This is the third time the Trojans have defeated PL this season.

Curt Jasmer, of Belle Plaine, went Home to Heaven on February 10, 2025, at the age of 62. 

Edward Alvin Koktavy, age 74, of Lonsdale, MN, passed away unexpectedly on February 9, 2025. Ed was born on September 8, 1950, in Northfield, MN, to Joseph F. and Agnes (Kotek) Koktavy. He was a 1968 graduate of Northfield High School, a member of the Army National Guard for 7 years, and farmed with his brothers most of his life. He married Arlene Sirek on September 11, 1971, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Veseli.

New Prague’s boys’ basketball team continues to have a tough time. The Trojans lost a home game Tuesday, Feb. 4, to Waconia, 71-56, and fell short in a close, 61-56, Friday, Feb. 7, game at Chaska. New Prague has three home games this week. The first was Tuesday, Feb. 11, with a 93-64 loss to Orono. Next, the Trojans host St. Louis Park Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., then faces Kasson-Mantorville Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m. in the Trojans’ gym. New Prague will be on the road Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Benilde-St. Margaret’s for a 7 p.m. game.

NPHS girls’ basketball team enters the end of the regular season looking to build momentum. They faced Orono, one of the state’s top Class AAA teams Tuesday with it ending in a close 74-69 loss. NP heads to St. Louis Park Thursday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m., to take on the Orioles. Saturday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m., NP travels to Owatonna for an important section game against the Huskies.
NP coach Eric Specht said a win over the Huskies is important to possibly receiving a seed worthy of a home game in the section playoffs.

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