Clarence L. Salaba, age 85, of Lonsdale, died suddenly at Hennepin County Medical Center as the result of an accident on the family Century Farm on Friday, October 28, 2022.  Clarence was born on March 31, 1937 in Wheatland Township to Frank E. and Rose (Uhlir) Salaba.  He grew up in the Lonsdale/Veseli area and graduated from New Prague High School.  He met the love of his life, Delores M.

Earlier this season Worthington edged New Prague High School (NPHS), 2-0, in boys soccer. The two teams faced off one more time, this time in the Section 2AA Championship match Tuesday, Oct. 18 in New Prague. Worthington once again defeated the Trojans, 2-0, to advance to the Class AA State Tournament.

When a school bus driver opens the door to the bus, allowing children to disembark, the bus driver expects an oncoming vehicle to obey the stop sign extended from the bus. Because the bus driver’s attention is focused on the children. The information needed to punish the offending driver is most oftentimes gone in an instant. But a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety will help hold the offending drivers accountable.

As a high school freshman growing up in St. Paul during the mid- to late-1970s, New Prague was one of those far-away towns in Minnesota, a small city on the map we’d never heard of thanks in part to our provincial view of the world. Back then, a trip anyplace south of Interstate Highway 494 and west of Highway 35 was far enough out there it required thoughtful planning.
Times have, thankfully, changed.

Henry Ezell “EZ” Branham, JR, age 90, transitioned to the final stage of life on August 17, 2022 at Mala Strana care home in New Prague, MN. Born on November 17, 1931 in Ridgeway, SC to Henry Ezell, SR and Lily (Nelson) Branham, he grew up on a cotton farm with his four siblings of which three have preceded him in their home going. Sister Lenora, and brothers Ivey and Donald.

Marilyn Kathryn Green (nee Frolik), age 85, of Elko, MN died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at her home.  Marilyn was born on April 19, 1937 in New Prague to Benjamin R. and Elsie A. (Flicek) Frolik.  She was a 1955 graduate of South High School in Minneapolis and was formerly married to Robert Green. She resided in Minneapolis and Elko New Market most of her adult life and was a beloved long-term executive administrator of the University of Minnesota Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Department. 

Trojan junior Katelyn Sirek, #10, returns a serve during New Prague’s Wednesday, Oct. 26, home game. The Trojans swept Bloomington Kennedy in three games for a win in the Section 6AAA Quarterfinals. New Prague will now play Friday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at the New Prague High School gym.
For more on both games see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Janice Marie (Kidman) Stratton, age 79, of New Prague, Minnesota, passed away peacefully with her husband and children at her side on Monday, October 24, 2022, at her home. She was born on January 8, 1943, to Thomas and Edna (Larson) Kidman in Tyler, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Ellsborough Lutheran Church of rural Balaton. She grew up on the family dairy farm in Ellsborough Township and treasured her childhood there. She attended country school and then graduated from Ruthton High School in 1960.

Chaska scored twice late in the second quarter and opened a big lead in the second half, handing New Prague a season-ending loss in the opening round of the section football playoffs tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Chaska.
Chaska defeated the Trojans, 35-10. The Hawks took control of the game scoring twice in the final 10.6 seconds of the third quarter.
New Prague’s lone touchdown on the night came with 3:01 left in the fourth quarter. New Prague finishes the season with a 5-4 overall record.

Francis J. Weiers, age  92, of Union Hill, passed away peacefully at his birth home on October 22, 2022.  Francis was born December 31, 1929 to Henry and Cecelia (Wolf) Weiers.  On August 25, 1956, Francis married Roselyn Michel at St. John’s Catholic Church in Union Hill and made a life on the family farm.
 

John J. “Jocko” Barten, Jr., age 85, of New Prague, passed away peacefully with his son at his side on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  John was born on November 28, 1936 in New Prague to John J. and Agatha E. (Busch) Barten, Sr. He grew up in New Prague, graduating from New Prague High School and then entered the US Army, serving for several years, much of that time in Alaska.  John was working as a roofer when he met his bride, Dorothy M.

Crews were working to install a new roadside digital sign for New Prague High School the morning of Thursday, Oct. 20. Some of the funds for the sign came from a $200,000 donation made to New Prague Area Schools. For more on the donation see this week’s issue of The New Prague Times. (Mark Slavik Photo)

According to the Minnesota State Patrol there were two fatalities in a three vehicle crash that happened around 6:05 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, along Highway 19/13, east of New Prague. According to a crash report from the State Patrol drivers Heather Nichole Nelson, 43, and Jordan Cole Bailey, 38, both of New Prague, suffered fatal injuries. The report stated that the third driver, Corey Joseph Pumper, 49, of New Prague was transported to Mayo Clinic with non-life threatening injuries.

Clara Mae Tiede, age 98 of Lonsdale passed away peacefully at her home at the Villages of Lonsdale on Saturday, October 8, 2022. A celebration of Clara’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at the Villages of Lonsdale from 6:00PM - 8:00PM.