In an eerie foreshadowing statement, the Montgomery Fire Department put out the message Sunday on Facebook saying, “Despite the super nice weather this weekend, please consider NOT burning anything this afternoon. With the elevated fire conditions this afternoon, it would be highly unsafe to burn anything.”
Temperatures soared into all-time record territory for March 3, with temperatures being broken across the state for the day. In the Twin Cities, it reached 74 degrees, which broke the old record of 65 that was set in 1905.
Voters in New Prague and the area not surprisingly picked their respective political parties' favored candidates for president in Tuesday’s primary election.
In New Prague, Democrats on both the Le Sueur and Scott county sides of Main Street liked President Joe Biden over Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, 282-24. There were 25 votes for “uncommitted.” On the GOP side, voters in New Prague overwhelmingly liked Donald Trump over Nikki Haley, 469-131.
A rural New Prague man was killed in a crash involving the three-wheeled ATV he was riding during the early-morning hours of Sunday, March 3.
The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office reports at 2:05 a.m., Matthew James Soller, 33, of rural New Prague was found partially under a three-wheeled ATV on Le Sueur County Road 121, approximately a quarter-mile south of Highway 19 in Derrynane Township. Soller was removed from under the three-wheeler and life-saving efforts were performed. Soller was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
As the New Prague School District works to whittle $3.5 million off its 2024-2025 operating budget, an early look at some of the proposed cuts will be dramatic and widespread.
Monday, Feb. 26, the district listed a few of the items under consideration in advance of a March 11 workshop where a broader list of proposed cuts will be presented for consideration in advance of a decision at the March 25, 6 p.m., business meeting. Superintendent Andy Vollmuth noted the presentation was to offer “a high-level overview of the structural budget adjustments we are considering.”
New Prague High School’s wrestlers Lawson Eller, at 121 pounds, and Brady Westall, at 172 pounds, are still competing for state titles in Class AAA at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul today (Saturday). The two made it through to the semifinals on Friday, March 1. Also competing Saturday is Destiney Lofton in the girls division at 118 pounds. For updates check out The New Prague Times website, plus for a complete story see an upcoming story in the March 7 print edition of The Times.
The New Prague Fire Department dealt with a fire along Main Street that was more smoke. In a preliminary report around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, firefighters responded to a report of a fire at an apartment at 112 Main Street E.
Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) selects elementary (grades K-5), middle (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9–12) teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program.
Founded in 1899, the VFW supports the education of America’s youth. The VFW identifies and recognizes teachers who instill a sense of national pride in students, promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism in their classrooms.
After years of calling for improvements, plans for a new post office in New Prague were announced Thursday, Feb. 15.
According to the United States Postal Service (USPS), the new facility would either be relocated to an existing building in New Prague or the postal service will purchase land for a new facility.
In a small village in South Sudan, a plaque on a well is evidence of a New Prague girl’s willingness to help people she’s never met with the most basic of life’s necessities. Closer to home, Alaina Bishop has helped people with another of life’s most elementary needs.
John Mueller
news@newpraguetimes.com
A former school board member from another community and a previous candidate for the New Prague School Board who came up short in 2022 and two others are seeking the appointment to an open school board seat share a common belief and commitment to students and their education.
New Prague High School’s Peter Arita, left, was crowned Snoball king and Destiney Lofton was crowned queen during a Friday, Feb. 2, pep fest in the high school gym. The coronation was a highlight for the annual celebration at the high school. A dance will be held Saturday evening, Feb. 3, in the high school gym. For more see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)
Nicole Thietje, New Prague High School’s choral director, was recently named the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s High School Music Educator of the Year. Thietje will receive the award during the opening day, Thursday, Feb. 15, of the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s convention. She was also chosen by the Minnesota Music Educators Association to conduct the SopranoAlto Choir for this year's all-state program.
Judge hears testimony on plan; PUC will decide route this spring
Great River Energy’s proposed reroute of an electric power line has residents along Baseline Avenue and Highway 19 angry and frustrated the company selected a route they claim will negatively impact their homes and businesses.
New Prague High School’s one-act play troupe won the subsection championship for the fifth straight year Saturday, Jan. 27, during competition in the high school’s auditorium. New Prague won with the comedy “Middle School Dating Game” by Jennifer McVetty.
Director Allie Meyer said New Prague moves on to compete at the Section 2AA finals at Minnetonka Saturday, Feb. 3. If the New Prague troupe wins Feb. 3, it advances to the state competition Thursday and Friday, Feb. 8 and 9, at O’Shoughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University in St. Paul.
Shelby (Giesen) Hartman was disappointed when she heard Mayo Health System New Prague had decided to stop providing labor and delivery services for the community. To her, it’s sad the community hospital will no longer be a place where local moms and dads can go to deliver their newborns.
A two-vehicle crash called into Le Sueur County Sheriff’s dispatch at 5:59 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, at the intersection of Le Sueur County Roads 3 and 28 ends in minor injuries.
According to the incident report from the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, a white 2014 Chevy Silverado traveling westbound on County 28, driven by 20-year-old Addison Hartshorn of New Prague, was struck on the passenger side by a red 2017 Ford Escape, driven by 20-year-old Maxim Lee of New Prague.