Father Kevin Clinton, center, leaves St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague to a 43 bell salute from members of the bell choir and church choir on Sunday, June 2. Father Clinton is retiring and served at his last Mass on Sunday, after 45 years as a priest. A celebration of his retirement was held the evening of Saturday, June 1, with more than 300 people attending. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague Trojan baseball team advanced to the Section 1AAAA championship game with a 4-1 win over Lakeville North Saturday, June 1, in Dundas.
New Prague will play at 5 p.m. against whatever team comes out of the loser’s bracket - Farmington, Rochester John Marshall, or Lakeville North - at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, in Dundas. If the Trojans win that game, they will advance to the state tournament. If they lose, the two teams would play a second game to determine the section champion.

New Prague High School’s senior class of 2019 celebrate at the end of the graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 31, at Trojan Stadium as family and friends look on. The ceremony included music, the student address by Anne Zweber, an address from NPHS social studies teacher Allie Meyer and the awarding of diplomas. Of the 322 members of the senior class, 310 participated in Friday’s ceremonies. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague Trojan adapted softball team lost its opening round game in the State CI Adapted Softball Tournament Friday, May 31, at Chanhassen High School. The Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville Blazing Cats defeated them 9-4.
New Prague plays St. Cloud in the consolation round at 9 a.m. Saturday at Chanhassen. If they win that game they play in the consolation championship at
1:45 p.m.

Aidan McLoone and Samantha Kubes qualified for the State Class AA Girls Track and Field meet, which will be held Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8 at Hamline University.
At the Section 2AA meet in St. Peter, Kubes won the shot put with a toss of 36 feet, 9 inches. McLoone placed second in the long jump on Wednesday, with a leap of 16-11.75, and in the triple jump on Friday, with a leap of 35-7.25.
The girls finished fifth as a team. Waseca won the section championship.

Falcon Ridge Elementary School teacher Cindy McNab, left, received the Paul Flick Silver Apple Award from Roseann Flick, widow of former school administrator Paul Flick, during the New Prague Area Schools' Year-End Celebration Friday, May 31. McNab has not only taught in the same building - formerly known as New Prague Elementary - for 34 years, she also attended school in that building starting in second grade, when it first opened, and student-taught there as well.

Shirley A. Sticha, age 61, of Webster, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Shirley was born on September 25, 1957 in New Prague to William and Bernadine (Kubes) Svoboda. She attended St. Nicholas Parochial School and graduated from New Prague High School. Shirley married the love of her life, Charles A. “Charlie” Sticha on September 19, 1978 at St. Nicholas Church in New Market. The couple made their home in Webster where they raised their three children.

Principal Pat Pribyl, seated, gets high fives from Raven Stream Elementary School students who won prizes in a drawing during the last day of classes on Thursday, May 30. Superintendent Tim Dittberner, right, drew names. He and other school leaders showed up on Thursday to wish Pribyl a happy retirement after more than 38 years in education. The students honored Pribyl with chants, songs and a video. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Minnesota Legislature finished its business for 2019 last week, with a special session that wrapped up Saturday morning, with all of the necessary budget bills passed and expected to be signed by Gov. Tim Walz.
As noted on this page last week, while a special session was needed to complete the work, it was still done in a timely manner, without much of the vitriol and grandstanding that we had become used to over the last six years.

Elko New Market welcomed its newest police officer, Steve Hotaling, during the Wednesday, May 22, meeting of the Elko New Market City Council. Police Chief Brady Juell provided a biography of Hotaling before pinning a police officer’s badge on Hotaling’s uniform.

The New Prague Trojans had plenty of chances to score, but couldn't get the key hit they needed and lost to Farmington 5-0 in the Section 1AAAA softball championship game Thursday, May 30, in Austin.
The Tigers scored one in the fourth and four in the fifth. This was the third time in four years the two teams met for the Section championship, New Prague won in 2016 and Farmington in 2017.
Read more in the print edition.

Lawrence Gregory Vavra, 78, originally from Lonsdale MN, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children on Friday, May 10, 2019 in Kennewick WA.
Lawrence “Larry” was born on May 9, 1941 on the family farm called “The Brown Place,“ located on County Rd. 61 (also called Circle Lake Trail) outside of Lonsdale, near Millersburg.

The New Prague Trojan boys lacrosse team finished its season last week with three wins, defeating Southwest Christian, Mankato and Lakeville South in JV action.
The team ended its inaugural season with an 8-5-1 record, playing mostly against junior varsity teams. Activities Director Brad Skogerboe said he expects the team will play a varsity schedule next year.

Clarence J. Malecha, age 87 of Faribault, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 28, 2019.  Preceded in death by his infant son, Andrew J. Malecha and siblings, Elaine Graff and Alvin Malecha. Survived by his best friend and wife of 63 years, Virginia; children, Linda (Paul) Meyer, Sandra (Tom) Saunders, Pauline (Dennis) Malecha, Greg (Renee) Malecha, Karen (Todd) Dalebroux, and Laura (Jay) Storlie; 15 grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; sister-in-law, Cathy Malecha and all other loving relatives and friends.

UPDATE - Driver Pronounced Dead

After a one-day postponement, the New Prague Trojan girls track and field team hosted its Last Chance invitational Wednesday, May 22. The meet served as a last chance for JV athletes to compete and for varsity athletes to get in one more competition before the Section 2AA Tournament. That tournament was scheduled to begin Wednesday, May 29, at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, with finals set for Friday, May 31.
New Prague won the Last Chance meet with 180.67 points. Waseca was second at 120.83, followed by Kasson- Mantorville (32.5) and Waconia (30).