Scott County commissioners recently decided the 96-acre industrial park in northeastern New Market Township will not need additional environmental review before it is developed.

Joey Friendshuh and other members of the NPHS football team helped load pumpkins from a field at Barten’s Pumpkins into a larger wooden container to be transported from the pumpkin field to a display area for sale at Barten Pumpkins just west of New Prague along Highway 19. Saturday, Oct. 5, seniors on NPHS’s football team helped Barten Pumpkins with some field work in exchange for a donation to the football program.

New Prague High School held its first Career & Tech Day Friday, Oct. 11, bringing together 35 area businesses and 625 students, 300 eighth-graders and 325 10th-graders, to interact and allow students to find out more about community employers.
“We want to expose the students to as many occupation possibilities at an early age to help them make good decisions when they register for classes,” said director of Educational Services Tony Buthe. When students find out what classes they need for an occupation, they can take as many classes as possible, said...

It took some of the young children a little while to warn up to the notion of boarding a loud train from yesteryear and riding on a set of rails to pick out a pumpkin in time for Halloween.
But shortly after reaching the pumpkin patch at Gopher State Railway Museum Saturday, any apprehension quickly disappeared. Charlotte Theis, age 3, took her time selecting a pumpkin and then couldn’t wait for the train ride back to the museum. She visited the museum with a younger sibling, Grace, and her parents, Jess and Sam of Cologne.

Minnesota’s Paid Leave Law was passed by the Minnesota legislature in 2023, and it will go fully into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. A multi-chamber of commerce event, including New Prague, Montgomery and Lonsdale, was held on Thursday, Sept. 26, at Next Chapter Winery in Lanesburg Township to discuss the changes coming forward regarding the new law.
Minnesota Director of Paid Leave Greg Norfleet presented to a capacity group of about 40 registered area business owners, sole proprietors, and employees about what that means for them.

Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague broke ground on their $9 million Cancer Center and Infusion Therapy expansion on Oct. 2.
"This expansion of the Cancer Center is a reflection of our commitment to providing cutting-edge care, individualized support and a healing environment for every patient who walks through our doors," says James Hebl, M.D., regional vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Minnesota.

During Ladies Night Out along New Prague’s Main Street, from left, Lora Novotny, Katie Theilmann, Shiela Brokl, Gina Myers and Chris Jabs were all bringing the bling for the evening of sales that had the theme Denim and Diamonds. There were 17 businesses that participated in the fall festival where shoppers could get deals and prizes. For more see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce and the city of New Prague held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Friday morning, Sept. 13, to reopen the disc golf course at Southside Park.
The disc golf course had originally opened in 2001, said City Planning and Community Development Director Ken Ondich.
“We went from having a nine-hole disc golf course to a 12-hole disc golf course,” said City Planner Kyra Chapman.

Greg Tikalsky was the moderator for the New Prague Area Historical Society’s Trolley Tours of New Prague Sunday, Sept. 22. Tours that were popular as all three tours sold out and insightful, he said.
“I learned a lot from the passengers who grew up in New Prague,” said Tikalsky. “I’ll be able to add what I learned to the next tours.”

In August, Molter’s Fresh Market announced that it would be ceasing business in Montgomery and would be out of the building by the end of Sept. 30, making it the second time the town was faced with having no grocery store. It was just a year prior that Mackenthun’s Fine Foods pulled their grocery business out of town.
People were surprised that the doors to Molters were already locked and with carts of free items outside the doors on Thursday, Sept. 26, which was a few days earlier than stated that they would close. Many were left wondering the future of the location.

The City of Lonsdale’s current city hall, located at 415 Central Street SW, has long been outdated for the city’s needs. In 2018, the city looked into expanding that location, according to Lonsdale City Administrator Joel Erickson.
Erickson said that the current location was just not feasible with the building’s layout and small and awkward lot. Remodeling the current building didn’t feasibly provide for enough parking and space, and the city council, at that time, voted it down.

Most Holy Redeemer Church, originally known as Holy Redeemer in honor of the Holy Redeemer, can trace its roots back to the early settlers of the region.
By the year 1866, numerous Czech Catholic settlers had arrived in the region of Montgomery and Lexington Townships and had erected a Catholic mission church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, known as Budejovice or Budweis. It served people until July 1877.

New Prague High School’s pep fest Friday, Sept. 27, had the coronation of homecoming royalty, crowned king was senior Evan Weichert and queen was Audrey Olson. The pep fest had music, dancing and cheers. The high school had its annual parade down Main Street. Friday evening, New Prague will face Rochester John Marshall at 7 p.m. at the Trojan Stadium, followed by the homecoming dance. For more see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

New Prague High School’s homecoming candidates are (from left, back row) queen candidates Katie Boulanger, Audree Connelly, Audrey Olson, Emerson Dillon, Brooklyn Carter, Ella Blackford, Mckenzie Johnson; (front row, from left) Luke Jacobson, Joey Friendshuh, Will Schmidt, Evan Weichert, Reven Tietz, Wyatt Giesen, Bryce Deutsch and Kyle Allen. Missing is queen candidate Ava Bruegger. The high school’s homecoming activities begin Sunday, Sept. 22, at 4 p.m. with the Powder Puff game at Trojan Stadium. Homecoming events continue through next week with the pepfest Friday, Sept.

Minnesota 4-H youth exhibited 2,612 animals and 1900 general exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair this year.
A total of 35 youth from Le Sueur County participated in the livestock exhibiting and 21 youth in the general 4-H exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair.
Here are selected top results from the Minnesota State Fair from Le Sueur County 4-H clubs who exhibited there. To view the full results, visit: z.umn.edu/4h-state-fair-results.
 
General - Purple Ribbon
Elizabeth Holicky of Le Center for Fashion Revue Constructed Clothing - Grades 6-8.