New Prague Area Schools (NPAS) is working on plans for bringing students back to school, keeping them safe and engaging them in high levels of learning. In a letter, sent out to families on Monday, Aug. 3, Superintendent Tim Dittberner stated that it is likely the school district will be starting with hybrid learning for grades 6-12 and elementary students may either be attending daily in-person or following a hybrid learning schedule. A final decision will be made by Monday, Aug. 17.

From left, Isabelle Adamek, nanny Brenda Bohnsack holding Duke and Gabby Adamek were selling lemonade on Wednesday, Aug. 5, along Lady Slipper Avenue NE in New Prague. Sisters Isabelle and Gabby wanted to do something that the community could use and benefit it also, as all their proceeds are going to the New Prague Veterans Memorial. They were selling cookies as well as lemonade and hoped to raise $100. They started on Tuesday, Aug. 4, would be selling until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and planned to be out on Thursday, Aug. 6, between 12-4 p.m.

US Rep. Angie Craig (D, MN Second District) visited local New Prague businesses on Saturday, July 25, with Mayor Chuck Nickolay, New Prague Chamber of Commerce Board President Dan Jacobson and City Administrator Mike Johnson. During the brief tour Rep. Craig saw the reconstruction work that is being done on Main Street, visited with Doug and Patty Lau at Lau’s Czech Bakery, Janeil Dropik of New Prague Floral and Ben Thietje of DalekoArts, the city’s non-profit theatre company.

No one was injured in an early morning fire in Montgomery that damaged two buildings on Wednesday, July 29.
The Montgomery Fire Department was called to a fire at 104 First Street at 3:45 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they observed flames engulfing the second floor of a vacant building.
City Administrator Brian Heck said the fire was under control in about 5½ hours. Montgomery firefighters continue to remain on the scene.

Due to the heavy rains on July 25th and 26th, the following lakes have now reached water levels that have ascended past the threshold concerning a "No Wake". The three lakes listed below have a "No Wake" restriction effective immediately:
Lake Tetonka, Lake Sakatah, Lake Washington
See PDF of complete press release regarding the "No Wake" restrictions.

The City of New Prague will be changing its election site for 2020 from St. Wenceslaus Church’s Parish Activity Center (PAC), 215 Main St. E, to the New Prague Fitness and Aquatic Center (FAC), 410 Central Ave. N.

Tracy Gliori of New Prague is among four women business owners from around the region who are being recognized by the Minnesota Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO- MN). Gliori is president, TMI Coatings, Inc., St. Paul, which she purchased in 2001 from her family and has expanded over the years.

The Le Sueur County Board recently approved a pair of independent contractors to a number of projects.
But the decision to approve these individuals came with questions about their rate of pay, which will come from the CARES Act dollars which was recently approved by the federal government.
Barbara Droher Kline was approved to work with townships, cities, and Le Sueur County on COVID related planning. Her rate of pay is $75/hour.

New Prague’s Coborn’s Marketplace began asking its customers to wear masks as of Monday, July 20. According to a press release from Coborn’s Inc., the chain of stores began phasing in the policy for its Minnesota and Wisconsin locations on July 20. This is for those shopping in their Coborn’s, Cash Wise, and Marketplace Foods supermarket and liquor stores. The press release states this in consideration of CDC guidance and increasing local and state government mandates. In the event a guest arrives without a mask, a mask may be provided at the store, while supplies last.

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)

In what was described as a “patiently planned” date, FaithPoint Lutheran Church of New Prague broke ground for a new church on Sunday, July 12. A combined service and groundbreaking ceremony were held at 9 a.m. on 14 acres north of New Prague near the intersection of Redwing Avenue and 270th Street.
“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said Rev. Dr. Steve Trewartha, senior pastor of Faith- Point, to the approximately 100 people gathered. “It is wonderful to be able to gather again.”

Summer youth programming amidst a pandemic looks quite different from summer youth programming in a pandemic-free world. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague came up with a different Vacation Bible School for this summer.

The parking lot at Bruzek Funeral Home in New Prague was part of a program across the Twin Cities Metro Area and surrounding communities the evening of Tuesday, July 7, featuring an outdoor screening of “A Breath for George.” Local theater, DalekoArts joined with other Twin Cities Metro Area theatre companies to present the free screening.

The New Prague Fire Department was called to the scene of a barn fire around 7:36 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14. First Assistant Fire Chief Steve Rynda said the barn was fully engulfed when the fire department arrived. A car and van were also damaged. Firefighters kept the blaze from spreading. The homeowners Brian and Andrea Grabau said no animals were in the barn. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Pastor Steve Trewartha, center, senior pastor of FaithPoint Lutheran Church of New Prague is among those breaking ground for a new church on Sunday, July 12. The combination outdoor service and groundbreaking ceremony included music and remarks from church leaders for the new church that will be located on 14 acres near the intersection of Redwing Avenue and 270 Street, in rural New Prague. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Crews from Independent Testing Technologies of Waite Park prepare to take soil borings in Memorial Park in New Prague on Friday, July 10. The borings are to check the ground where the future New Prague Veterans Memorial is to be built. Jim Connelly of Appro Development of Lakeville, the general contractor for the project, said the company was boring down 20 feet to check the area and make sure the soil is of a good bearing capacity. The memorial is to be built east of the New Prague Library and construction is scheduled to begin later this year.