Emily Ardolf was having an early celebration of her 104th birthday, which is on Saturday, Sept. 8. A resident of Mala Strana Assisted Living and Rehabilitation Center in New Prague, she and her late husband Joseph raised five children on their farm before moving into town. She has 21 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Elko New Market City Council began looking toward street work for 2019 at its Thursday, Aug. 23, meeting as it directed city staff to begin preparations for a Streets Expo.

Grounds crew volunteers used bags of diamond dust, large sponges, squeegies, rakes and industrial strength leaf blowers, among other means, to dry and repair the infield at the conclusion of a 90-minute rain delay midway through the Class C State Championship baseball game at New Prague’s Memorial Park Monday, Sept. 3. As many as 30 people helped get the field back into playable condition following the rain. Plato scored eight runs in the first inning of the game and held on for an 8-5 win over Sobieski to claim the crown.

Each year, the Minnesota State Fair features the state’s biggest boar, and this year, the prized pig has ties to Le Sueur County.
“Johnny,” a pig raised at Widmer Pork in the Heidelberg- New Prague area, topped the scales at 1,040 pounds and was featured first at the Le Sueur County Fair in Le Center before making the trek to the state fairgrounds last week. He is on display, where he is seen by thousands of people each day.

The New Prague Area School Board got an update on the high school roofing project and approved a plan to have a licensed therapy dog available at Falcon Ridge Elementary School during its meeting Monday, Aug. 27.
Roofing project Superintendent Tim Dittberner went over a report from Building and Grounds Director Craig Most regarding the roofing project.
“The project has not gone as smoothly as we would have liked,” Dittberner said. “Inside the building, most everything is complete, but they are finishing a few minor punch list items.”

Raven Stream Elementary School principal Pat Pribyl, center, gets hugs from his students on their first day back to school the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 29. Parents were taking photos of their children heading back to school and providing some last minute advice as teachers greeted the students. New Prague Area Schools’ three elementary schools began their year two days behind the high school and middle school. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

An overturned semi truck closed both the north and southbound lanes of State Highway 13/21 on Tuesday morning.
 
The single-vehicle accident happened around 9 a.m. at the intersection of 320th Street and Highway 13/21, north of the Lakeside Supper Club and south of Le Sueur County Road 28. Montgomery Police and the New Prague Fire Department are on the scene. Injuries are unknown at this time. 
 
Please choose alternate routes when traveling this road.
 
More information will be updated as it is received.
 

High winds and heavy rain blew through New Prague shorlty before 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27. Tree branches were down in several areas of the community, including this one on First Ave SW. Other areas had worse, with a tornado warning issued in northeastern Rice County and heavy damage in the Kasota area of southwestern Le Sueur County. New Prague remains in a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m.

New Prague High School principal Nicole Adams, right, talks with students, left to right, Chloe Jones, Maggie Nielsen, Abbey Colling and Alice Schmid during a lunch period Monday, Aug. 27. Monday was the first day of classes at the high school, and the new principal spent the lunch hour visiting with students and getting to know them. New Prague Middle School and St. Wenceslaus School also had their first day of classes.

Tractors, new and antique functioning motors of all shapes and sizes aren't the only things happening at Pioneer Power. The show is also hosting historical construction equipment, antique trucks and food. The 45th annual show is also featuring music throughout the weekend, including that of the James Busta Band. There is also a Parade of Equipment, tractor pull, and an ecumenical church service. The parade of equipment is Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. each day. See more in the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

People were checking out the street vendors and shops participating in the second annual Flea Market Plus in New Prague despite overcast skies on Friday, Aug. 24. The sales and deals continue on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The forecast calls for a beautiful day for sidewalk sales and savings at the stores with partial sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s to the low 80s. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The for sale sign still stands outside the Le Sueur City Museum, but according to legal records, the historic property has been sold.
Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) sold the property in January.
The land and buildings at 709 2nd Street North in Le Sueur, which is the location of the Le Sueur City Museum, are now owned by dairy cooperative Agropur Inc., according to an online property search.
A warranty deed filed with Le Sueur County in January 2018, indicates that the sale of the property occurred on January 17.

The New Prague City Council approved at its Monday, Aug. 20, meeting a 3.2 percent off-sale malt liquor license for the new Kwik Trip in New Prague.
The city received an application from the Kwik Trip at 100 Fourth Ave. NW, which is currently under construction. It is proposed that operation of the liquor license at the business will begin on or after Monday, Sept. 10, with the license period to run from that date and expire on March 31, 2019.