Mala Strana Assisted Living and Rehabilitation Center in New Prague has reported there are 14 residents and four staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 The residents are quarantined on campus and the employees are currently quarantined at home. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

There’s still time to enter the 86th Annual Kolacky Days’ coloring contest!
Visit www.MontgomeryMN.org/coloring-contest or stop at Franke’s Bakery to pick up a coloring form.
Completed entries forms need to be returned to Franke’s Bakery or an image of the entry emailed to KolackyDays@gmail.com by noon Tuesday, July 21. Make sure to include your name and age.
Members of this year’s Kolacky Days’ royalty will judge the entries.

Puzzle lovers, rejoice!
This year’s virtual Kolacky Days will include a Jigsaw Puzzle Competition featuring a limited-edition, 513-piece Kolacky Days Button Collection Puzzle.
Everyone is invited to participate in this social-distancing friendly competition.
The 16” x 20” puzzle is available for purchase at Herrmann Thrifty White Pharmacy and Franke’s Bakery in Montgomery. It can also be purchased online at www.montgomerymn.org/store.

There is a log jam at the top of the DRS Amateur Baseball Standings after the second full week of play.
Seven teams have one loss, led by Prior Lake with a 4-1 record and Lonsdale with a 3-1 record.
St. Patrick, Faribault, and Montgomery have 2-1 records. Union Hill and St. Benedict are 1-1 overall.
The week began with three games Wednesday, July 8.
Faribault shut out winless Shakopee, 6-0.
St. Benedict defeated Montgomery 8-1. Nick Holland and Matthias Duevel combined to allow only a first inning Mallard run.

On Wednesday, July 8, the management of Frandsen Bank & Trust closed the Lonsdale location after learning someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19 had been on the premises.
The bank was closed until Monday after which only the drive-thru reopened. According to Dan Hardel, the president for Montgomery and Lonsdale branches, the lobby will remain closed until further notice.
On its Facebook page, the bank said it closed the office so a thorough cleaning and disinfecting could be completed.

James Walter Krenik, 62, Lonsdale, died on Friday, July 10, 2020, at his home. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 15 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with Fr. Tom Niehaus and Fr. Tom Krenik officiating. Interment will be in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in New Prague.
  James was born on February 1, 1958, in New Prague to Donald and Pauline (Busch) Krenik. He was a graduate of Montgomery High School and worked as a heavy equipment operator and turned to farming.

The 86th annual Kolacky Days may be “virtual” this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Montgomery Area Community Club (MACC) is making sure a well-deserving couple is named as its Grand Marshals.
Arnold “Buck” and Gladys Zahratka were chosen by the MACC as this year’s Grand Marshals because they have played a significant role in the development and success of the Montgomery area. 
Buck, who will be 95 years young in August, and Gladys, 88, have a long history of working and volunteering in Montgomery.
They owned local businesses.

In staying on track with their desired timeline, the Lonsdale City Council approved a firm to provide architectural and planning services for the new police facility to be operational in 2021.
After interviews with a handful of firms and further discussion, the council unanimously voted to move forward with Wold Architects and Engineers at their meeting on June 25.

Only three games were played in the DRS Amateur Baseball League last week.
COVID-19 has been detected in players on four teams which limited the amount of games played.
Here is a look at the games which were played.

Robert (Bob) Michael Turek, age 76, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully on his family farm surrounded by his wife and family following a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, July 4, 2020. A Celebration of life is pending with the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.
Bob was born on March 21, 1944 in Montgomery to John and Evelyn (Pinc) Turek. Bob attended country school and Montgomery High School. Bob farmed and also worked at Seneca, Heat & Glow, United Steel and Master Motive in Savage.

Donna J. Coughlin, 78, of Montgomery, died on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in New Prague, MN.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, in Montgomery. Visitation will be at the church from 9 to 11 a.m. that morning. 
Burial will take place following Mass at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery near Montgomery. Fr. Tom Niehaus will officiate the services.

Sheriff Brett Mason led members of Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) Board on a tour of the county’s now-vacant, 108-yearold jail and sheriff’s residence and the recently vacated 1978 jail on Tuesday morning, June 23.
According to County Administrator Darrell Pettis, the county is looking for ways to preserve and use the iconic brick building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Eric Steinhoff may have hit 31 homers to win the Home Run Derby, but little Analise Tveitbakk ruled the ballpark on Saturday.
The two-year-old happily ran the bases, took pictures with the batters, and picked out sweets at the concession stand during Home Town Bats' Home Run Derby at the Union Hill Ballpark on June 27. The fourth annual fundraising event benefited Analise and her family.

Shakopee Coyotes Manager: Tanner Graff Last year’s record and accomplishments: Our last year’s record was 5-18. Our accomplishments of last year was knowing we need to work on the fundamentals also try not to overthink situations and just play the sport we love. Players who have left the team since last year: Lance Buchtel - not returning, Sam Fischer - not returning, Jordan Cardey - moved, Nicholas Warren - not returning, and Jesse Nystrom - taking a year off. New players on the team this year: Alec Aument - outfield/infield, pitcher. Shakopee, Jac Campbell - 1st base, outfield.

In preparation for the 86th annual Kolacky Days Queen Pageant, the 2020 queen candidates practiced their interview skills Thursday, June 25, at the Next Chapter Winery. They are wearing special face masks made by Maureen Franek and adhering to social distance guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured are (from left) Nicole Sorenson, Nikaija Young, Rachel Rynda, Rachel Way, Marissa Gare, and Chloe Triden. The Queen Pageant will be held in a modified format with live judges on Friday, July 24, in the TCU Performing Arts Center.

The detour for the Highway 19 construction project in downtown New Prague is set to start Monday, July 6.  The recent permitting and scheduling issues have been resolved.
Motorists are reminded that the first stage detour for motorists traveling westbound through New Prague consists of 10th Avenue NE, 7th Street NE/NW, and Highway 21.  Eastbound traffic will be detoured south on Highway 13, Le Sueur County Road 29, and 10th Avenue SE.  Motorists desiring to go to downtown businesses will need to watch for special signing.