The New Prague Firemen’s Dance & Drill was back on Saturday, April 2, and the New Prague Fire Department Drill Team delighted the crowd with their precision marching.
“The dance went very well. We had a nice crowd and the drill went great,” said New Prague Fire Chief Steve Rynda.
The Charlie Sticha Band provided music for the 133rd annual dance and the 113th performance of the drill team. Drill master was Drew Koloc who provided instruction with signals on a whistle. At each sound from the whistle the drill team proceeded to do its next step in their performance, whether for the four lines to break down the middle or to make a V pattern. The drill team performed for area residents and members of seven visiting fire departments from the cities of Carver, Woodbury, Elko New Market, Le Center, Savage, Jordan and Montgomery.
Mayor Duane Jirik began the evening welcoming everyone and noting how “New Prague is built on traditions.” He added the dance and drill are part of those traditions. Mayor Jirik said the event was also a time to honor those who have retired from the fire department. While usually firefighters from the past year are honored, at the 2022 dance there were six retirees from three years. Retiring members members honored that night for their service were Jeremy Tikalsky - 24 years, Phil Werner - 22 years, Keith Rynda - 20 years, Andy Tupy - 16 years, Steve Kartak - 13 years, and Nick Smith - 11 years.
Each member walked past his fellow firefighters and a brief bio of his time with the department was read. Tikalsky was a member of every...
To see more on this story pick up the April 7, 2022 print edition of The New Prague Times.
Firemen’s Drill Team back in precision
