City hopes residents will take over festival
Elko New Market’s annual festival, Fire Rescue Days, is this evening, Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, June 30.
Elko New Market City Councilor Josh Berg said this year’s festival is the first year in a process to expand the festival. Berg was part of a group of residents working on the festival. He said they are trying to spin Fire Rescue Days off into its own group with residents organizing it. He noted over the last few years, the city has been mostly in charge of organizing the festival.

Supporters change plans to help Schmitz family and Chandler
They tried pumps, hoses, shovels, most every tool available to a grounds crew trying to make a ball field playable. In the end, the rainfall at Don Giesen Field the past week just wouldn’t allow the annual home run derby to be held.

Two updates have been made to the schedule for Fire Rescue Days, Elko New Market’s annual community festival. This Sunday, June 30, the pancake breakfast held by Scout Troop 325 has been moved to Wagner Park, 120 Park St. and will be held 8 a.m. to noon. The annual breakfast is sponsored by the NEW Lions Club. Also at Wagner Park, at 10 a.m. Tapestry Vineyard Church and Crossroad Church will hold an outdoor Sunday service.

FOX9’s Town Ball Tour will be stopping at the Elko Express’ Fredrickson Field along France Avenue in Elko New Market, Wednesday, July 3, as the Express take on the Prior Lake Jays.
FOX 9 will broadcast live from the Express’ ballpark starting at 5 p.m. The Minneapolis-based TV station’s Town Ball Tour usually visits with local residents about the history of the ballpark or the team. A part of the Elko Express’ history is it has made 15 state appearances.
The Express and the Prior Lake Jays will begin their game at 7 p.m.

Le Sueur County commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday, June 25, declaring the county in a state of emergency for conditions resulting from the flooding events beginning on June 17.

The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office has issued no-wake restrictions for all lakes south of state Highway 99 to include lakes Washington, Gorman, Sakatah, Tetonka, West Jefferson, Emily, Middle Jefferson, East Jefferson, German, Francis, Rays and Volney.
The restriction has been issued because of the abnormally high-water levels, which has created shoreline erosion concerns, submerged docks and excess debris in the lakes creating potential hazards.

For the third time in the last 10 years, the city of Waterville and surrounding areas have been deluged with excessive rainfall, causing the most prolific flood in the town’s history.
In 2014 the city received high waters which was considered the worst flood since 1965 when flood waters covered many of the downtown streets. In 2016 the city endured yet another massive rainfall which was nearly as bad as 2014. There was also some flooding in 2019.

Scott County Highway 9/Carver County Highway 11/Jordan River Crossing (Jordan/Sand Creek Township): The Jordan River Crossing will close Thursday, June 20, at 2 PM due to flooding.

From the Minnesota Department of Transportation
Highway 19 east of Henderson to Highway 169 closed at 12 p.m. today, June 19, due to flooding from the Minnesota River.
Traffic is detoured to Highway 19 west of Henderson, Sibley County Road 17 (391st Avenue), Sibley County Road 8 (336th Street), and Highway 169.
Motorists should monitor www.511mn.org for current road and detour information.
Other crossings closed

A house along Juniper Avenue at Cedar Lake was damaged by a fire. New Prague Fire Chief Steve Rynda said the fire department was called to a structure fire at 11:07 p.m. Monday, June 17. New Prague had mutual aid from the Jordan and Elko New Market fire departments, Rynda said. The fire was under control by 1 a.m. Tuesday. Rynda said the cause of the fire is under investigation with the fire marshal scheduled to inspect the site Tuesday morning. The house is considered uninhabitable according to Rynda. One firefighter suffered a minor cut to a hand. (Patrick Fisher photo)

Thanks to New Prague American Legion Post 45 Ballroom, fireworks will be part of the Independence Day holiday again this year.
Wednesday, July 3, just after sunset on the middle school grounds, a pyrotechnics display will be presented.
There will be the chance for people to socialize, enjoy food from vendors, check out vehicles on display, and enjoy a massage from a local chiropractor while listening to patriotic music. The national anthem will be presented at 10 p.m., just before the start of the fireworks display.

St. Wenceslaus School principal Kim Doyle is retiring July 1 after 16 years as principal at the New Prague school and 36 years as an educator and administrator.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Scott County, will install stop signs at the County Road 2/southbound Interstate 35 on and off ramps in Elko New Market Wednesday morning, June 5.
Following installation of the signs, westbound and eastbound County Road 2 motorists, including traffic turning southbound onto the I-35 ramp, will stop at the intersection.
Traffic traveling south from the I-35 off ramp to westbound County Road 2 will continue to have a free right.

New Prague’s Karder Schmoll, 14, is called safe at home as he scored the winning run in the Saturday, June 1, semifinal game for the Section 1AAAA baseball tournament. The Trojans, seeded second, won, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth inning. New Prague had been trailing fourth seeded Rochester Mayo for most of the game. The Trojans will now face number one seeded Farmington Tuesday, June 4, 5 p.m. for the section championship at Dundas Memorial Field.

Those driving through Elko New Market Monday morning, May 20, likely saw crews from the public works department setting up 41 banners along Main Street. The banners honor local veterans and service members as part of the Hometown Heroes program.
The Elko New Market Fire Department’s fire relief association is overseeing the program.
“We’re really excited, this is a great thing for the community,” said Jodi Muelken, president of the fire relief association. She said the banners will be up through Labor Day.