Elmer Harry Kukacka, age 85 of Montgomery passed away at his home on August 4, 2022. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 9 from 4 pm-8 pm at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 10 at 11am with visitation one hour prior at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

Maxine Owen Morgan passed away peacefully on July 22, 2022, at the age of 90. She was born in Springfield, MN on July 6, 1932, to Lee and Irma (Ingram) Owen.
Maxine grew up along the Cottonwood River in Springfield, MN with many fond memories of family life. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1950 where she participated in band and choir. Maxine attended the College of St. Catherine’s in St. Paul, MN, graduating with a major in Occupational Therapy in 1955.

Evelyn E. Novotny, age 90, of Inver Grove Heights, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on July 29, 2022. 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 4, at 11 a.m. at the Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd St., Inver Grove Heights. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the Mass at church. Interment will be held at St. Patrick's Church Cemetery. 
Evelyn was a longtime cook for IDS 199. She loved to dance, garden and travel. 

Sonia H. Funk, age 94, of New Prague, formerly of Minnetonka, died peacefully with her family at her side, on Sunday, July 31, 2022 at Traditions of Montgomery. Sonia was born on February 4, 1928 in Minneapolis to William E. and Signe B. (Peterson) Hovey. She was raised in the Camden area of Minneapolis, graduating from Patrick Henry High School. She married Raymond A. Funk on September 6, 1947 in Minneapolis and in her first years of marriage, she worked for the phone company.

Members of the First and Third Minnesota reenactors participate in the Saturday, July 30, ceremony to honor Civil War veteran Corporal Hercules LaChapelle at the St. Louis French Catholic Cemetery, south of New Prague. As part of the ceremony a headstone was unveiled for Corporal LaChapelle. Attending the ceremony were descendants of Corporal LaChapelle. The ceremony also honored Corporal LaChapelle’s Native American heritage. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Kolacky Days’ 42nd Annual Truck & Tractor Pull on Sunday attracted approximately 750 people including spectators and members of the Pit Crews. According to organizer Ken Rynda, 79 entries made up the roster of competitors, some of whom have long-standing connections with the event. Several of those attending pulled to a first-place finish.

With only one night remaining in the DRS Amateur Baseball League schedule, a handful of teams are still looking to move up in the standings in order to receive a playoff bye.
The teams played Wednesday, July 27 in their final evening of regular season play.
St. Patrick (19-2 record in DRS) has clinched the No. 1 seed in the Region 6C Playoffs, which will feature eight teams from the DRS League. Montgomery (14-7) and Union Hill (13-8) have also clinched byes into the Class 3C Playoffs, which start Friday, August 5 or Saturday, August 6.

Like the variety of flavors of the Bohemian bun, the 88th annual Kolacky Days had a variety of weather Friday to Sunday this year.
The event started out with 91-degree temperatures and partly cloudy skies on Friday afternoon. The Queen’s Pageant crowned new ambassadors, Queen Alexis Hoefs, First Princess and Miss Congeniality Elizabeth Odenthal, and Second Princess Kaia Krocak.

Minnesota is home to 14,000 lakes, 12,000 loons, 135,000 seasonal lake cabins and 3.9 million newspaper readers. Really?
Really. Every month, 86% of Minnesota adults read newspapers’ print and online issues, according to a new Minnesota Market Study conducted by Coda Ventures. The study measures media usage and purchase behavior of Minnesota adults across urban and rural zip codes (see full-page ad in this issue).

Montgomery’s newest topiary plays the concertina while dressed in floral Czech attire. His dancing partner is also made of flowers and plays the tambourine.
The partner to Montgomery’s female topiary was unveiled on Friday and was displayed at the Arts and Heritage Center on Saturday. It was again designed by Discovery Plus “Clipped” winner Meghan Petricka and her husband, Christopher.

Lonsdale will crown its newest Miss Lonsdale and name new ambassadors in the Lonsdale Coronation on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. at TCU Lonsdale Elementary School. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The new Miss Ambassadors who are up for the title of Miss Lonsdale are Hannah Reis and Andra Sherman. Reis is the daughter of Michelle and Dion Reis. Sherman is the daughter of Jason and Jenny Sherman.

Laurie Lynn Rumpza (Tuma), age 60, of Rosemount, MN, passed away on July 17, 2022. 

After being scored on an evening gown, talent, and interview skills, Alexis Hoefs (left), daughter of Jim and Lisa Hoefs, was crowned the 2022 Kolacky Queen on Friday night. Joining her for the next year is double-winner Elizabeth Odenthal, who won the titles of First Princess and Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of Randy and Laura Odenthal. Kaia Krocak, the daughter of Gothan and Lisa Krocak, rounds out the 2022 royalty as Second Princess. See more in the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

The cast of Generations Theatre Company’s production of “Matilda the Musical” take time for a photo before a rehearsal on Sunday, July 17. The show opens a two weekend run tonight (Friday, July 22) and will be performed at the New Prague High School auditorium, 221 12th St. NE. Shows will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the dates of July 22, 23, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m. (previous showtimes for those dates were incorrect) and July 24 and 31 at 2 p.m.

Sidney Vikla, 90, of Lonsdale, died at the Northfield Hospital, on November 9, 2021.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Montgomery American Legion in Montgomery. Sidney is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Vikla of Lonsdale; daughter, Melodi (Larry) Van Roekel of Nerstrand.
Arrangements are with the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. 507-357-6116. Online condolences may be left at www.schoenbauerfuneralhome.com.

The David Domonoske family of Waterville has been named Le Sueur County’s “2022 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.