Ominous charcoal gray smoke and blazing orange flames rose from behind the trees bordering the New Prague Compost Site along Columbus Ave. N early Tuesday morning, Nov. 12. The fire was a controlled burn, with city crews burning and clearing the piles that had accumulated from city residents during fall yard cleanup. At times, the smoke could be seen from miles away.

Kenneth M. Skok, age 76, of Kenyon, died unexpectedly on Monday, November 11, 2019, at Allina Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN.  Ken was born on July 22, 1943 in New Prague to Albert J. and Florence M. (Dahlberg) Skok.  He attended New Prague High School and then entered a lifetime of seeing a need and filling it through a lifetime of entrepreneurial endeavors.  He owned and operated many businesses including a truck and trailer rental business in West St.

Andrea Means Lehman, right, talks about honoring and remembering veterans during New Prague High School’s Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11. She is the widow of Marine Lance Corporal Dale Means and talked about his career and how all local veterans need to be honored. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The Winter New Prague Times Sports Season at New Prague High School gets underway Tuesday, Nov. 12, when the Trojan girls hockey team hosts Dodge County in its season opener. Game time is 7:15 p.m. The team began practice on Monday, Oct. 28.
The Trojans are coming off a 14-9-3 season under thirdyear Head Coach Taylor Ries. They lost their top two scorers in Lindsay Bjerke and Kaitlyn Blair and their assist leader in Emily Sabol, all three of whom are playing college hockey this season.

After 52 years, the Minnesota Waterfowl Association (MWA) decided to disband earlier this year. However, the 170 local members of the Scott-Le Sueur Chapter of the organization have elected to continue with their mission of working to maintain habitat for waterfowl hunting in the area.

On a sunny, fall afternoon under a clear, blue sky, Virgil Schoenecker and his son, Pete, are busy harvesting corn from the fields on land that’s been in the family for generations. Pete rents the land from his dad now, carrying on the tradition of farming that started decades ago when his great-great-grandfather, Nicholas Schoenecker, emigrated from Waxweiler, Germany in 1850 and homesteaded the original 134 acres northwest of New Prague in 1856. Farming and harvesting has been a mainstay of the community for generations.

Kristin Wornson, daughter of Dick and Cathy Wornson of New Prague, has been selected to be part of the Sedna Epic Expedition, an allwomen's team of scientists, explorers, educators, filmmakers, photographers, journalists and artists, that will take part in an expedition to the Arctic Circle.

Susan Evelyn Sticha, age 99, of New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday, November 15, 2019 at Mala Strana Care and Rehabilitation Center.  Susan was born on October 30, 1920 in New Market to Frank X. and Elizabeth (Thomas) Koppen.  Raised in the New Market area, she attended St. Nicholas Catholic School.  She married Edward R. Sticha on November 6, 1939 and she joined him on the farm, where they raised their family.  She loved her chickens and ducks, liked to cook, garden, sew, play cards, do crafts, puzzles, and sing. 

The New Prague area woke up to 1-2 inches of snow Wednesday, Nov. 6, the first measurable snowfall of the season. City snowplows were on the road for the first time this season, clearing the roads for motorists.

JoAnn Lorraine (Boer) Olson was born on March 24, 1947 in Chester, SD to parents William and Lorraine Boer.  She attended school on the campus of General Beadle State Teachers College and finished high school at Madison Central.  JoAnn attended one year of college before seeking employment at John Morrell & Co.

Genevieve Terese Lepeska Rockwood died October 12 in Plano, TX. She was born February 22, 1928, in Lonsdale, MN, to Ludmilla (Schoenbauer) and John Lepeska. Genevieve “Gen” and her two brothers were raised by their maternal grandparents (Wenceslaus and Rose Schoenbauer) in New Prague, MN, following the death of their mother in 1934.

Residents who live on the German-Jefferson Lakes and Lake Emily in Le Sueur County voiced their displeasure at a proposed ordinance which would have required sewer inspections every 3-5 years.
The Le Sueur County Board held a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 22 to discuss the ordinance. More than two dozen individuals were in attendance and nearly a dozen commented during the hearing.
It was quite apparent these individuals were not in favor of the ordinance. A similar ordinance passed for the lakes of Francis, Rays, Sakatah, and Tetonka in the Waterville/Elysian area.

The Elko New Market City Council’s Thursday, Oct. 24, meeting included a presentation by Lakeville Area Schools Superintendent Michael Baumann. He talked to the council about Lakeville’s upcoming vote on its operating levy and bond referendum.
Elko New Market is a community split between two school districts, Lakeville and New Prague Area Schools.

Residents of Mala Strana Assisted Living and Rehabilitation Center in New Prague provide the treats during its annual Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 31. Children and their families were stopping by between 3:30-4:30 p.m. to get candy in the Guest Room and other treats. Plus, there were was also a craft area where children could make paper monsters they could take home or get their photo taken. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)