Staff, visitors and city officials cut the ribbon to the Montgomery Animal Hospital on Thursday, Dec, 5. Pictured are (front, from left) visitors Monty and Nala, (second row) Nikki Kester, Veterinary Technician; Julie Sweers Manager and Technician; (back row) Leah Petricka, City Planner; Brian Heck, City Administrator; Tom Eisert, Mayor; Veterinarian, Benjamin Sweers; Kurt Dvorak, President Montgomery Chamber of Commerce; and Dennis Lambrecht, City Council Member. Read more in the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

This entry from the New Prague Lions Club was among those in the 24th annual Parade of Lights held on Friday, Dec. 6. Temperatures were around 23 degrees Fahrenheit, but that didn’t stop the large crowds that lined New Prague’s Main Street for the Parade of Lights to see area groups and businesses with their floats decorated for the Holiday Season. The parade ended at Memorial Park for visits with Santa, treats, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and fireworks. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Eliminating some debt, a dropping tax rate, and close to $800,000 in undesignated reserves put the city in good financial condition, according to City Administrator Brian Heck.
Montgomery’s annual truth in taxation hearing was held on Monday. The meeting shows how the city is spending your money. It is also when the city council approves its portion of next year’s property tax levy and its budget.
The meeting was billed as a public hearing. However, only one reporter and Representative Todd Lippert, who spoke about legislative issues, were there.

Perfume, chocolate candy, soft granola bars, deodorant, a tin of cookies .… these are some of the gift requests on the Montgomery Sharing Tree this year.
The Christmas tradition where area residents make Christmas special for more than 100 members of the community who are at least 50 years old is up and running in Montgomery.
The program seeks to fill gift requests during the next week and a half for adult residents, many of whom are senior citizens from Montgomery.
The program uses cards on the Christmas tree with requested gifts that total up to $20.

A new job shadowing program at Tri-City United High School has students spending time in area businesses, learning about careers in which they’ve shown interest.
Forty-three students signed up to participate in the program that Corrie Odland, TCU’s Workforce Development Coordinator, is overseeing with help from TCU teachers.

Montgomery’s Torchlight Parade and Fireworks is celebrating 27 years this holiday season, and plans are underway to make it bigger and better than ever.
The Thursday, December 5 event kicks off with a parade of approximately 50 lighted floats, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the north end of First Street.

The organization is new, but the time-honored event was very successful.
The newly-formed Scott Le Sueur Waterfowlers continued the tradition of raising funds for education, youth programs, and conservation with a Fundraising Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.

O’ Christmas tree, O’ Christmas tree! How lovely are thy branches!
Residents can decorate their homes with real Christmas trees, thanks to the Boy Scout Troop 322 that opened its annual tree lot last weekend at R & R Metal Works on Highway 13 north.
Scoutmaster Paul Turgeon explained the Troop purchased their trees again from Rum River Tree Farm in Oak Grove. The Troop placed the order in October, and after scouting their fields, the Montgomery trees were cut a week and a half ago.

A pre-Thanksgiving holiday storm hit the area with several inches of heavy, wet snow by Wednesday morning, Nov. 27.
The arrival of the white stuff came from a system that brought snow falling hard and fast across southern Minnesota. According to weather.gov, snow totals in the Twin Cities metro area early Wednesday morning included 8.7 inches in Prior Lake, 11 inches in spots of New Prague, and 7 inches in Montgomery.
On Tuesday, area schools cancelled classes in anticipation of the snow’s arrival.

Tri-City United Schools and Most Holy Redeemer School will be closed, Wednesday, Nov. 27 due to impending levels of snow and wind.
However, Superintendent Teri Preisler noted that KidZone and WRAP services, which are the before- and after-school care programs serving students in kindergarten through grade 6, will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Preisler added the first snow day of the 2019-2020 school year will NOT be a Blended Learning Day.

The Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service in Shieldsville on Tuesday, Nov. 26 has been cancelled due to the impending snow storm.

John B. Hiscox, 65, died on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 at 4 p.m. at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at Northfield Moravian Church (Main Street), 317 Division Street South, Northfield. The service will start at 1 p.m. and be officiated by Pastor Barry Lehman.
Interment will be held at Elkhorn Cemetery, Milledgeville, IL at a later date.

Mary Jane Vosejpka (Novak) age 83 of Lonsdale, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on November 25, 2019. 
Mary Jane Novak was born on October 24, 1936 in Veseli, MN to “Laddy” and Anna Novak. She attended Most Holy Trinity School in Veseli.
Mary Jane married Francis “Fritz” Vosejpka on May 12, 1956 in Veseli. After their marriage they moved to the Vosejpka family farm where they farmed for 25 years. While farming they started Vosejpka Meats and ran their business for 22 years until their retirement in 2001.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for portions of southwest, south central, and east central Minnesota, and all of west central Wisconsin starting late Tuesday afternoon, and continuing through Wednesday morning. The warning includes areas along the Buffalo Ridge in west central Minnesota, and areas southeast of a line from Redwood Falls, to Hutchinson, Clearwater, Princeton and Rush City in Minnesota. Snowfall totals of 6 or more inches are likely in the warned area, with locally higher amounts possible.

It will be their first time in a parade!
Tri-City United second graders Vanesa Ayala Sanchez and Cameron DeJoy have been named as the Junior Grand Marshals of Montgomery's 27th Annual Torchlight Parade that will roll down First Street, Montgomery, on Thursday, Dec. 5, starting at 6:30 p.m. 
Vanesa is the daughter of Michael and Magaly Sanchez of Montgomery. 
"I'm excited. It will be my first parade," Vanesa stated. 
"Mine, too!" spouted Cameron, who is the grandson of Darren and Andrea DeJoy of Montgomery. 

A number of area teams have advanced to the 2019 Adapted Soccer State Tournament, which will start Friday, Nov. 22, and conclude the following day. Matches will be played at Stillwater Area High School.
In the CI Division, White Bear Lake (10-0) will play Chaska/Chanhassen/Prior Lake/Shakopee (6-3-1) at 5 p.m. Friday.
Following that game will be Burnsville/Farmington/ Lakeville (7-1-2) versus St. Cloud Area (7-2-1) at 6:30p.m.