The little Irish City of Kilkenny, Minnesota, did it again. The town, which boasts a population of 168, hosted hundreds of visitors for another grand ol’ Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 11. The day’s events included a car show, an Irish-themed parade, live music, food, local vendors, fireworks, and the ever-popular annual Toilet Bowl Races, which features teams of three racing down a street atop a rolling toilet and chugging beer (or root beer).
After a year off due to COVID-19, the Heidelberg Athletic Association’s annual event for its park and pavilion returned Sunday with strong support from area communities.
“It was the best turnout!” said Therese Hlavac, one of the event’s organizers. “Every dollar we earn goes into the Park, because all of the officers and workers are volunteers.”
The event had something for everyone. Inside of the pavilion were brats, burgers and more food for sale. Outside, there were several vendor booths selling a variety of items and equipment for the kids to stay entertained.
Proud Irishmen and women--and those who are Irish at heart--are shining up their shamrocks in anticipation for Kilkenny’s Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day celebration this Saturday, September 11.
Dale and Kathleen Hamele, longtime Kilkenny residents and business owners, have been named this year’s grand marshals. The couple has owned and operated West Side Repair in Kilkenny for 30 years.
A colorful display of Czech beads and jewelry on Saturday continued the “Kaleidoscope of Czech Heritage” display at the Arts & Heritage Center.
Doris “Dee” Coghill, a member of the Czech Heritage Group, the organization responsible for the display, brought her display, which represents the area’s Czech heritage, history, and culture.
Coghill explained the northern region of the Czech Republic, which is two hours north and slightly west of Prague, is the area for the country’s glass production.
According to an independent facility planning company, buildings in the Tri-City United District need improving, despite the recent multi-million-dollar bond referendum projects the district is finishing.
Pawns, rooks, knights, bishops … area youth are making their moves by learning and honing their skills in the game of chess.
Special Education Teacher Collin Scott (TCU Montgomery) started offering chess tournaments three years ago as a way for kids to get involved in an activity. The events usually average between 15 and 20 youth.
“The chess tournament was started to give those students in the surrounding area who didn’t play on an organized sports team or who loved to play competitive chess but had no outlet,” he said.
Scott is no stranger to the game.
The September 1, 2021, issue of the Belle Plaine Herald, will be the last.
The newspaper’s owners, the Townsend Family, announced the news on its front page this week.
“The Townsend Family is sadly publishing the final edition of the Belle Plaine Herald, after nearly 140 years of covering the news in Belle Plaine and the surrounding area. This is the one article I hoped we would never have to print,” stated publisher and editor E. Daniel Townsend, who’s been employed at the newspaper and print company as long as he can remember.
A large crowd and good weather greeted The Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Show Friday Aug. 27, through Sunday, Aug. 29. The annual show features tractors of all years, sizes and models.
“We had extremely good attendance this year,” said Bill Thelemann of the Pioneer Power Tractor Show. “We dodged the main (predicted) rain storms.”
Today's Music in the Park concert has been postponed and will be rescheduled.
The band Back Up and Push was formed out of band members overlapping love of Kenny Baker fiddle tunes, Jim and Jesse vocal harmonies, Stanley and Scruggs banjo licks, and a healthy skepticism of guitar breaks, Back Up & Push takes traditional bluegrass seriously so you don't have to.
Music in the Park is sponsored by the City of Montgomery, Montgomery Park and Recreation Advisory Board, and Montgomery American Legion Post #79.
The Czech Heritage Club were on the road a few weeks ago.
Club Members George Mikiska and James Simon appeared at the Pope County Fair in Glenwood on August 6. According to the members, Pope County has the next highest population of Czech immigrants in the state after Czech Country (Veseli, Lonsdale, Montgomery, and New Prague).
The annual Kilkenny Fire Department ATV Ride, which was held Saturday, August 14, had the biggest turnout in the history of the event.
This is the fifth year the Kilkenny Fire Department has been in charge of the event. The ATV Run was started by the Kilkenny Park Committee a decade ago.
A total of 449 machines and 781 people participated this year, eclipsing the previous high numbers of 329 machines and 525 people in 2019, the last time the event was held. COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the ATV Run in 2020.
An inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has highlighted the need for a new police department building.
During the regular council meeting on Monday, City Administrator Brian Heck reported on an OSHA inspection done in late July. While, he hasn’t received the final report yet, Heck said the city will get dinged on a couple of items like training, respirators, and other things that total upwards of $12,000 in fines.
Generations Theatre Company took its cast from its summer production “Blame it on the Movies” on the road on Thursday, Aug. 12. The tour consisted of stops at Tradtions of Montgomery, Mala Strana Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Center and Praha Village, the senior apartment facility, both in New Prague. The group sang songs from “Blame it on the Movies,” which consisted of songs from various time periods of the silver screen.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
will be held every Thursday at Rice County Public Health, 320 NW 3rd Street, Faribault 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. throughout August and September
Rice County Public Health continues to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics every Thursday from 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. These clinics are open to those 12 years and older, with all three vaccines available.
The Czech Heritage Club will hold its August program on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at the Lonsdale Public Library, 1006 Birch St NE, Lonsdale, at 7 p.m.
All Czech Heritage Club members and the public are invited to attend this free event. The program will be a “History of Lonsdale” presented by Steve Vosejpka.
Due to a breakdown at the printing press in Princeton, MN, the August 12th issues of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger and the LifeEnterprise, which are mailed, will be a day late.
Area newsstand papers will be available on Wednesday as usual.
We are sorry for the inconvenience.