Richard (Rick) Ray Rogers, age 77, of New Prague, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on January 31, 2023. Rick was born February 16, 1945 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Delmar and Eleanor (Brown) Rogers. He was the second oldest out of three. He grew up in Bloomington helping raise and train collies along with his sister and her pet raccoon. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1964. After high school he worked various jobs before getting into the family business at United Steel Products Company, Inc. He married Betty Steinhouse on December 12, 1970 in Bloomington.

The Friends of the Montgomery Public Library will be hosting Everything Chocolate and More event on Friday, February 10, 2023, at Next Chapter Winery from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The fundraising event will include a sampling of various chocolates and other taste-bud pleasing snacks, plus a silent auction and a raffle.
Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Posy Floral, Herrmann Drug or the Montgomery Public Library. Tickets at the door will be $25 each. Each admission ticket includes two drink tickets. Everyone over 21 is welcome to attend.

Lorna Docken passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on February 3, 2023 at the Northfield Retirement Community.

Mary Lucille Jirak, age 93, of New Prague, died peacefully surrounded by family on January 29, 2023, at MCHS Hospital, Mankato.  Mary was born on May 20, 1929 at St. Thomas in Derrynane Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota to Richard J. and Nora E. (Sullivan) Shaughnessy.  She graduated from Le Sueur High School in 1946.  Mary received Teacher Training in Mankato and taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Le Sueur County. She married her husband of almost 70 years, Clarence, on May 23, 1953 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in St. Thomas.  She was very proud of her Irish heritage.

Daniel H. “Danny” Tietz, age 85, of New Prague, Minnesota died peacefully on Saturday, January 28, 2023, surrounded by family at Mayo Clinic Hospital in New Prague.  Danny was born February 21, 1937 in New Prague, Minnesota to Adolph A. and Ethel (Scharf) Tietz.

Susan K. Kriha, age 57, of New Prague, passed away suddenly at her home Sunday, January 29, 2023.  Sue was born February 24, 1965 in New Prague to Leonard F. and Mary Lou (Blasnitz) Kriha.  Growing up in New Prague, Sue graduated from New Prague High School, and Mankato State College.  She worked for over twenty years as a paraprofessional in the New Prague School District.
When not working Sue thoroughly enjoyed time with her three nephews, grandnephew and grandniece.  Around town she was a regular at local Bingo gatherings.

If being a defending state champion isn’t enough, the New Prague floor hockey team is showing early it has the skills to handle competition aiming to knock off the champ.
In their first two games, the Trojans have won two games by a cumulative score of 23-2.
In both games, New Prague has had seven players contribute to the scoring sheet in a total team effort.
The Trojans’ defense has only allowed two goals on 27 shots.

New Prague High School seniors chose their king and queen candidates Tuesday, Jan. 24. Queen candidates are (left to right, back row) Madison Tupy, Lizzie Wieskus, Peyton Plaisance, Kenzie O’Brien, Claire Baribeau, Evie Zack, Lohla Yarolimek, Abi Bartusek; (front row) king candidates are John Schmidt, Derek Schaap, Spencer LaRue, Koy Buesgens, and Ryan King. Missing are Jack Eckstein, Dominic Berry and Jackson Braith. New Prague High School will celebrate Snoball the week of Monday, Jan. 30, through Saturday, Feb. 4. There will be dress-up days and a pep fest Friday, Feb.

The Elko New Market City Council unanimously approved a request from the Minnesota DNR (Department of Natural Resources) for a 30-day extension on its decision of whether an EAW (Environmental Assessment Worksheet) is needed for a water bottling plant proposed by Niagara Bottling LLC. The decision came during a special meeting the evening of Thursday, Jan. 19.
City staff presented the request to the council which extends the deadline from Thursday, Jan. 26, to Saturday, Feb. 25.

New Prague High School’s dance team won its own invitational Saturday, Jan. 21, as both the varsity jazz and varsity high kick groups placed first in their events.
New Prague will next be at the Mounds View High School competition Saturday, Jan. 28.
“It was exciting, well deserved. The girls worked hard for it. It was a great feeling,” said New Prague head coach Tiffany Sandhurst about the Jan. 21 invite. “So many people came out to support them that it was just a special feeling for the teams.”

For the second straight year, New Prague High School won first place at the Metro West Conference One-Act Play Festival. There were five schools participating in the festival Saturday, Jan. 21, in New Prague High School’s auditorium.
New Prague’s production was “Eurydice,” by Sarah Ruhl. The play is a modern adaptation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, except it is told from Eurydice’s point of view.
Ben Thietje, director of NPHS’ one act, said the students beat out Chanhassen by one point.

When two similarly matched teams put their best swimmers against one another, the results can often be quite close. Thus was the case when New Prague and St. Louis Park met in a dual meet Thursday, Jan. 19, with the Orioles winning 97-86.
“They have a couple of big dogs and we have a couple of big dogs,” said NPHS coach Kristen Munden. “NP would have won with a first place relay finish.”

We’ve all seen the insurance company commercials, the ongoing series featuring counselor Dr. Rick trying to keep people from adopting the behavior of their parents. It’s an amusing concept with lasting power, because, well, there’s a certain amount of truth to it.

Gordon Prochaska, age 71, passed away at his residence in Florence, Arizona, on Saturday, January 7, from complications of contracting COVID-19.
Off-duty Montgomery Police Chief Nathan Hintz, Sergeant Pete Bulger, and Officer Mike Longbehn escorted Officer Gordon Prochaska’s body home to Montgomery from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Jan. 17.

Laurie Ann Goettl, age 56, of New Prague, died peacefully in her sleep with her husband at her side on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at her home.  Laurie was born on April 8, 1966 in Minneapolis to Gordon Wells “Gordie” and Gerd Synove (Ekeberg) Olson.  She graduated from Jefferson High School and then her natural adventurous spirit took her to San Diego State University to complete her degree in Graphic Art Design.  After college, she returned to her roots in Minnesota, was playing on a softball team one day, when a teammate’s boyfriend brought a handsome friend along with him to the game.  Fa

Gregory Dias, age 62, of New Prague, Minnesota, passed away Monday, January 16, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minnesota. Memorial Service will be Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 1:00 P.M. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop.