National Newspaper Association President Andrew Johnson alerted NNA members on Monday that there will be no mail delivery on Wednesday, Dec. 5 because the United States Postal Service will be observing a national day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush.
As a result, post office retail and services will be closed. Suel Printing Co. newspapers (Montgomery Messenger, Lake Region LIFE, Elysian Enterprise and The New Prague Times), which are mailed on Wednesday afternoon, may be delayed.
The closure will not affect newspapers delivered by local newspaper carriers.

Members of the Domaci Czech Folk Dancers made one last performance on Sunday, Dec. 2, at Hometown Holidays at the Park Ballroom in New Prague. The group, directed by Arnie and Deb Ziskovsky, spent 19 years promoting traditional folk dancing. Approximately 30 vendors had an assortment of handcrafted items for sale at the annual event. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Mrs. Claus was ready for a photo, but Paige Hirdler, second from left, and sister McKenna were already talking with Santa about what they wanted for Christmas during the Santa visit at Kubes Realty on Saturday, Dec. 1, in New Prague. The daughters of Chris and Amanda Hirdler, the two girls were among the many children and families stopping by the annual event that ran until 1 p.m. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

New Day Church of New Prague recreates the first Christmas for the Parade of Lights on Friday, Nov. 30. There were many entries and a large crowd lining New Prague’s Main Street for the annual parade. Following the parade families gathered for the Holiday Celebration in the Park for the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree, visits with Santa, fireworks and other activities. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague Area School Board heard reports on a therapy dog pilot project and the Worlds Best Workforce during their meeting Monday, Nov. 26. They also discussed the annual superintendent performance review and approved the superintendent’s contract for the next three years.
Amy Hennen, social worker at Falcon Ridge Elementary, received permission this year to use her licensed therapy dog, AJ, in a school setting this year. Hennen told board members that the dog comes to school several times a month and interacts with students individually and in a classroom setting.

Workers for New Prague Utilities put lights on the Community Christmas Tree in Memorial Park Thursday morning, Nov. 29. A ceremonial tree lighting will take place Friday, Nov. 30, following the city's annual Parade of Lights. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. going east from First Avenue NE toward Memorial Park, and the tree lighting will take place at approximately 7:15 p.m., followed by a fireworks display.

Mindy Wescott of New Prague became a new homeowner through Habitat for Humanity South Central Minnesota. A dedication ceremony for Wescott’s new home along Wencel Avenue NE was held on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and was attended by 17 people representing the New Prague chapter of Habitat for Humanity South Central Minnesota, its Mankato office and volunteers who helped build the house.
“It’s thrilling that we’ve gotten to this point,” said Pam O’Brien, co-chair of the New Prague chapter of Habitat for Humanity with Mary Bender. She added it was an appropriate time as it was Thanksgiving.

Le Sueur County will be honored Monday, Dec. 3 during the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT) Annual Meeting in Bloomington.
MCIT announced last week that Le Sueur County has been selected as the 2018 County of the Year.
"The county has distinguished itself in the areas of loss control, risk management, claims administration, and responsiveness to MCIT," MCIT Executive Director Robyn M. Sykes said. "MCIT commends the county's commitment to managing exposures that jeopardize employees and citizens of the county to loss."

Leadership changes are about to take place on the Lonsdale Fire Department.
Effective January 1, 2019, the city will have a new fire chief and assistant fire chief.
Lonsdale’s current fire chief, Mike Yetzer, has served three terms as fire chief, which is the maximum allowed per the department’s policy. Though he will no longer be fire chief, Yetzer will continue to serve on the department.
“We have a top shelf chief,” said Mayor Tim Rud of Yetzer.

Le Sueur County has a furry, four-legged crime fighter.
The county’s newest K-9, “Jett”, started work on November 20.
The county secured Jett, a purebred German Shepherd, last autumn when he was around nine-weeks-old. Jett was bred locally from Kozie Shepherds in southern Minnesota and attended his K9 academy with Le Sueur County Deputy Joe Kern at Performance Kennels in Buffalo. Nationally Certified K9 Trainer, Steve Pearson, was responsible for training Jett.

Dennis Jasperson, standing, talks with Zach Thompson, Tara Thompson and Audre Johnson during the Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague Thursday, Nov. 22. Johnson helped start the annual event, which is now in its 10th year. While she turned the event over to Donna Galvin and others last year, she still helps volunteer for the dinner, greeting people at the door but staying out of the kitchen. Galvin said they had one of their largest turnouts this year. See more in an upcoming print edition of The Times.

The owners of Farmhouse Market, a tech-savvy local and organic foods market that was recently featured in the New York Times, have partnered with four New Prague High School students to launch a new business extension they hope will increase tourism and business for downtown New Prague.

Julie Yackley was born in Inchheon, South Korea, and was adopted in May, 1986, by Don and Janice Yackley of New Prague. Even before the adoption her mother was diagnosed with cancer, a disease that claimed her life in 1993, when Julie was just 7 years old. A year ago, she lost her father to ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Father Kevin Clinton, center, offers a blessing on several tractors the morning of Sunday, Nov. 18, at St. John the Evangelist Church of Union Hill. The brief ceremony was also to celebrate this time of blessings and thankfulness at the end of the harvest. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Elko New Market Police Chief Steve Mortenson, left, receives a plaque from New Prague Police Chief Jim Gareis during the Thursday, Nov. 15, open house for Chief Mortenson’s retirement. Held at Elko New Market City Hall, Mortenson was honored by fellow law enforcement officers and residents of Elko New Market. Mortenson is retiring after eight years as the city’s police chief and 29 years in law enforcement. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)