The Elko new Market City Council had a brief business meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19, where the council unanimously approved its 2020 budget.
Appearing under the consent agenda, it included the 2019 Property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable in 2020. The council had had the final presentation of that during its Thursday, Dec. 5, meeting, which included it’s Truth in Taxation.
The levy increased...
To see more on this story pick up the December 26, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.

While the end of the year is still about a week away, many are making plans, or already have them in place, about how they will end the year and welcome the new one.
People reading this are likely still on Christmas vacation or just coming back from the time they spent with family and friends. For children, they’re busily playing with the latest toy or video game or perhaps glued to a new phone. For adults they are trying to figure out the instructions of that new electronic device or perhaps a piece of furniture.

Due to the holidays falling on Wednesday for Christmas and New Year's Day, mail and carrier delivery will be on Thursday December 26 and Thursday January 2.

Philipp Square Senior Apartments in New Prague was looking festive and ready for the Christmas season as a multitude of Santa figurines, Nativities, stockings, snowmen, Christmas trees, a few Disney characters, a setting for Christmas Tea and even a penguin were placed about the halls and common areas. The decorations were placed there by the residents of the senior apartment complex on First Avenue NW. It might be the beginning of a Holiday tradition as this was the first year the residents put up the ornaments themselves.

The New Prague boys basketball team received 36 points from senior guard Parker Johnson in a 65-54 loss to Farmington Thursday, Dec. 19 in New Prague.
Johnson’s efforts were not quite enough as the Tigers pulled out a 65-54 win.
Farmington improved to 4-2 overall while the Trojans dropped to 2-4.

The New Prague Area Historical Society honored Lucille Nickolay for her many years with the society and her involvement with the community. The recognition of Nickolay was held Thursday, Dec. 12, at Mala Strana Assisted Living and Rehabilitation Center. There were 35 people on hand, including members of Nickolay’s family, board members of the historical society and residents of Mala Strana.

New Prague girls basketball head coach Luke Swedberg feels playing a tough schedule will only make his team better later in the season.
The Trojans battled a pair of very good teams last week, one of which is rated No. 1 in Class AAAA according to Minnesota-Scores.net.
Farmington won its eighth game in nine contests Thursday, Dec. 19 when they defeated the Trojans, 76-58 in New Prague.
The Tigers featured three of the top 50 players in Class 4A, led by senior Molly Mogenson and juniors Sophie Hart and Paige Klindseth.

Dick Jonckowski, who grew up in New Prague and went on to have a career in sports as an athlete and an announcer, was back in his hometown on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the New Prague Library. While there to present his book, “It’s All about Me: Dick Jonckowski: a Minnesota Treasure,” he also reminisced about growing up in New Prague and his career.
Jonckowski said that people hear the title of his book and laugh. He added one of his children suggested the name.

Jane Nash, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away surrounded by family on December 18th at Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, at the age of 75.

The New Prague Trojan Dance Team left their audience stunned and impressed during their annual Community Showcase on Friday, Dec. 20. Held at the New Prague High School gym, the team included the New Prague Varsity Kick team (pictured), Youth Clinic Dancers, the Jordan Varsity Dance Team, solos and the New Prague varsity and junior varsity teams. Family and friends attended the Showcase and donated monetary or food items that will go toward the Mayo Clinic Health System Peace Center. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Lawrence L. “Larry” Sirek, age 84, of New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, December 20, 2019 at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, MN.  Larry was born on November 6, 1935 in Wheatland Township, Rice County, Minnesota to John J.

Forty-four seventh and eighth grade students at St. Wenceslaus School helped raise awareness about homelessness, while 38 of them got a small taste of it as they slept in cardboard boxes the night of Thursday, Dec. 12.
The overnight campout in front of St. Wenceslaus School is part of the school’s annual program Cardboard City. Students spent time taping boxes together or decorating them with messages asking for help, donations or prayers for those who don’t....
To see more on this story pick up the December 19, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.

The New Prague boys hockey team improved to 2-4-1 after a win and a tie last week.
The Trojans defeated Hopkins (5-2) on Thursday, Dec. 12 in New Prague. They traveled to Duluth Saturday, Dec. 14 and earned a tie against Denfeld, a team which was 5-1 coming into the contest.
No other information was made available.
New Prague will host Bloomington Jefferson Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:15 p.m.

Forget red and green.
It was all about red and blue police lights--and presents, pizza, and fun--at Le Sueur County’s holiday Shop With a Cop event on Wednesday night, Dec. 11 in New Prague.
Twenty kids participated in the sixth annual event that helps foster positive relationships between youth and officers.
“My cop is so cool,” spouted Collin about his partner for the night, Le Sueur Police Officer Aaron Thieke. “I even got to ride in the police car and run the lights and sirens and stuff. Did you hear me sing Jingle Bells over the radio in the squad car?”

A quick start energizes any sports team.
In the case of the New Prague wrestling squad, they have received nothing but perfection from their first four wrestlers in the line-up.
“The start of our line-up continues to get us off to a great start in each dual,” New Prague wrestling coach Dan Wagner said.
“From 106-126 we have not lost an individual match. The first four weights are a combined 28-0.”
Koy Buesgens (106), Colron Bornholdt (112), Colby Dunkel (119), and Joey Novak (126) are all 7-0 and have helped the Trojans to a 7-0 start this season.

Students at St. Wenceslaus School in New Prague had a day off on Wednesday, Dec. 11, as a power outage led to the cancelling of classes. The power outage hit a portion of New Prague’s downtown around 3:30 a.m.