Homecoming is in full swing at New Prague High School. Events for homecoming celebration began Friday, Sept. 15, continued Sunday, Sept. 17, with the powderpuff football game and has included dress-up days from Monday, Sept. 18, through Friday, Sept. 22.
Friday there will also be the homecoming football game as New Prague takes on Rochester Century, 7 p.m., at Trojan Stadium. Following the game will be the homecoming dance in the high school’s gym.

In the six-plus years they have called New Prague their home, Chris and Nichole Davis have developed a deep connection to the community and appreciation for all it offers residents. Now, they want to bring one of its most historic and under-utilized amenities back to life for the benefit of the entire community.

The Parade of Farm Pride in New Prague Saturday, Sept. 16, was a fun event as there were several farm vehicles. The parade was part of Dozinky, New Prague’s annual Czech harvest festival. There was food, dancing, music and vendors, many rooted in Czech heritage. The festival will wrap up with the Dozinky Variety Show at the local high school Saturday evening. For more on the parade and other events see the Thursday, Sept. 21 print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

A variety of vehicles participate in the 30th Annual Cruise Night in New Prague Friday evening, Sept. 15. Main Street was packed with spectators as vintage vehicles of all types and ages traveled a route that went out of town and back to New Prague’s Main Street. Cruise Night is part of New Prague’s harvest festival, Dozinky. The annual celebration continues Saturday, Sept. 16, with music, vendors, the Parade of Farm Pride and people celebrating their Czech heritage. For more on the weekend’s festivities check out the Thursday, Sept. 21, print edition of The New Prague Times.

New Prague High School recently announced its king and queen candidates for this year’s homecoming festivities. They are (left to right, top row) Kadyn Anderson, Grace Carlson, Hannah Langeberg, Emma Wilkins, Maryn Anderson, Avery Klein, Molly King, Katie Kotek; (bottom row) Will Seymour, Paddy O’Rourke, Sean Christenson, Satchel Johnson, Jack Hennen, Charlie Ambroz, Henry Novak and Jack Berger. Coronation of the homecoming king and queen will take place Friday, Sept. 22, at the high school’s pepfest. For more on homecoming see the Thursday, Sept. 21, edition of The New Prague Times.

The DFL Rural Caucus is hosting a legislative meeting Thursday, Sept. 21, 5 -7 p.m., at the New Prague Public Library, 400 Main St E, New Prague. Featured speakers are Rep. Kristi Pursell (D - Northfield) and Rep. Luke Frederick (D-Mankato).

If you run a school bus stop sign, local police, the state patrol or sheriff’s deputies will likely see it in living color.
A year ago, the New Prague School District’s new bus camera equipment recorded 84 vehicles running stop arms from school buses during the 2022-23 school year. All 84 were forwarded to law enforcement agencies. About half of them resulted in citations issued, said Tim Dvorak, the New Prague School District’s lead mechanic. He’s been tasked with tracking the number of violations caught on camera.

The Sixth Annual Hops for Hope at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague Saturday, Sept. 9, brought in $81,000, which will go into research for the neurodegenerative diseases ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and FTD (frontotemporal degeneration).
“This was the highest net profit we’ve had,” said JeNean Erickson, who helps organize Hops for Hope, about this year’s amount. She said the funds will be divided evenly between The ALS Association and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

Members of the New Prague Fire Department displayed an oversized American flag from a ladder truck overlooking Highway 21 Monday, Sept. 11, to honor the people killed in a terrorist attack 22 years ago.

Two New Prague men are facing felony weapons charges after police exercised a search warrant Tuesday, Sept. 5, at a house on the 200 block of Second Street SW in New Prague.
Sir Kristopher Rayvo’nne Adams and Justin Nielsen face alleged felony counts involving allegations of alleged removal or alteration of a serial number and ineligibility to possess firearms or ammunition.

Construction of the roundabout on Highway 13/Le Sueur County Road 28 is nearly complete and expected to partially open to traffic Friday evening, September 1, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The south segment of the roundabout will remain closed to traffic as Highway 13 south of County Road 28 remains under construction.
Paving on Highway 13 from Lexington Avenue to Tri-City United High School is expected to be complete Saturday evening, September 2. Lexington Avenue is open to motorists for crossing.

He has seen ups and downs since leaving military service in 2015. The helping hand William Bloedow received during Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair is a sign his service wasn’t given in vain or forgotten.

A dedication ceremony for the art piece, “Towering to Our Future,” will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in front of New Prague Memorial Library. The public is welcome to attend the dedication program “Restored, Rebuilt, Relocated,” for the tower. Following the program will be artistic activities and a reception with refreshments.
The restoration and relocation of the art tower was aided by a grant. New Prague city planner Kyra Chapman said the city received a $7,000 grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council (PLRAC), which approved the project Feb. 23 of this year.

There were several potential stops on Joseph Gifford’s career path to his most recent stop at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague. He pondered several paths along the way – nursing and singing opera are just a few of the options he considered.
As the new associate pastor assigned to St. Wenceslaus earlier this month, the Rev. Joseph Gifford will minister to parishioners at St. John the Evangelist in Union Hill, St. Scholastica in Heidelberg as well as St. Wenceslaus. He’ll also teach in the elementary school.

On Friday, Sept. 1, there will be two events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of New Prague High School’s 1973- ’74 football team and its winning the Minnesota State High School League Class B state championship.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously August 15 to discontinue the county’s Home Health Care, citing a number of issues. The program will be phased out and is scheduled to end by November 1.
Home Care Supervisor Laura Guddal said, “Our commissioners decided that it’s time to close. There are six counties offering home care practitioners in the state now and there were nine at the beginning of the year.”