Overnight Closure Alert: Highway 169 South of Jordan Dec. 5, 6
Highway 169 in one direction closes overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) from Park Blvd to Highway 282 / Scott County Road 9 on Dec. 5 and 6. Northbound Highway 169 will be closed 12/5; Southbound Highway 169 will be closed 12/6. See Detour Map for temporary alternate routes.

Ronald M. Ruhland, age 87, of Bloomington, formerly of the Union Hill area, died on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at his home in Bloomington.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Union Hill, MN.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at church.  Burial to follow in church cemetery with veterans honors.  Lunch will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague after the burial.  

Francis J. Nickolay, age 98, of New Prague, died peacefully on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Francis was born at home in New Prague on August 10, 1926, to John F. and Bessie (Bazil) Nickolay.  He attended eight years at St. Wenceslaus Parochial School and graduated from New Prague High School, though his education was interrupted for two years when he enlisted in the US Navy, serving during WWII, traveling through Pearl Harbor four months after the bombing by Japan.  After returning home, he met Lorraine L.

Kathy (Toner) McBroom, age 79, of New Prague, died peacefully from glioblastoma at Our Lady of Peace Hospice House in St. Paul on Nov. 26. She was preceded in death by her parents, William & Kathryn Toner, and siblings, Mary (infant), Jim, Bern, Pat, and Julie. 

Adeline “Addie” Martha Bradford passed away peacefully on November 25, 2024, surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. There will be a visitation at 10:00 a.m., and a luncheon will follow at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Burial at Baxter City Cemetery will follow lunch.

The beginning of December brings a change as Paul Busch will be stepping down from the New Prague American Legion’s board of directors. He estimated he has served on the board for 12 years.
A Vietnam veteran who served from 1968- 1969, he was a specialist four in the Army and was in an artillery unit. Busch said he served at three bases; Phu Bai, Camp Evans, an Air Force air strip, and Dong Ha.

Just when you’re starting to fret not having a reasonable idea for a column for this week’s paper, along come the good folks from Oklahoma willing to try to skirt the U.S. Constitution for their religious beliefs.

New Prague Realtor Pat Sullivan and insurance agent Molly McGillen and their staffs gave away 200 pumpkin pies to people who stopped by Memorial Park Sunday, Nov. 24. Traffic backed up onto E Main Street well before the advertised 11 a.m. start time, prompting an early start to the giveaway. By 11:33 a.m., all 200 12-inch pies had been handed out. McGillen and Sullivan said the giveaway was to thank the community for its support over the past year. Sullivan and McGillen started discussing the plan earlier this fall.

With only three proven starters back from a year ago, New Prague High School’s girls’ hoops team faced a question when it started the season last week against Northfield. How would this year’s team come out of the gate compared to the previous year’s squad?

Lawrence J. Schoenbauer, age 94, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at his home, on Friday, November 22, 2024.  Lawrence was born on September 9, 1930, on the family farm in Helena Township, Scott County, MN, to Joseph B. and Rose L. (Tuma) Schoenbauer.  He met the woman that he would spend his life with at the country school they attended.  He and Mae Ann Kubes were married on September 24, 1955, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  

Larry Paul Lehman, age 68, of Le Sueur, died suddenly on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Ridgeview Medical Center in Le Sueur. Memorial services will be on Monday, December 2, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Le Sueur. Visitation will be at the church that morning, one hour prior. Burial will be at a later time at the Tyrone-Salem Cemetery. Lunch will follow immediately after the service. 

Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, along with the Mounted Posse and The Sheriff’s Youth Project, have once again come together to launch the project, “Believe in the Magic of Christmas.”
The project “will provide an opportunity for our community to come together and spread a little Christmas Magic for a very deserving family.”

Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at approximately 10:21 p.m., the Scott County 911 Dispatch Center received a report of an armed robbery at the Red Fox Tavern, located on the 22815 block of Pillsbury Ave. in New Market Township.
The suspect entered the establishment, demanded cash, and left the scene on foot after obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Two employees were present during the incident and no injuries were reported.

Joe Johnson
Rice County Emergency Management Director
As winter approaches, it's critical to prepare for extreme cold, snow, and icy conditions. These storms can last a few hours or several days and cut off heat, power, and communication. 
Winter storms create a higher risk of car crashes, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, residential fires, and heart attacks from overexertion. 
To ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared, follows these steps: 

Steve A. Simon, age 78, of Montgomery, died unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Steve was born on October 1, 1946, in Sioux City, IA, to Andrew and Clara (James) Simon.  He proudly graduated from Central High School in Sioux City and then went on to accomplish both his Bachelor of Science and MBA from the University of South Dakota.