Write-in votes will settle who takes at least two open seats on Rice County’s townships boards.
No affidavits for candidacy were filed in the 2025 race for Northfield Township treasurer, or to fill the term of the remaining year of the term for the Morristown Township clerk.
The treasurer’s seat, a two-year term, is up in all every township except Forest Township where the treasurer is appointed, rather than elected.

Barbara Lee “Barb” Mader, age 75, of New Prague, died peacefully at her home with her family at her side on Sunday, February 9, 2025.  Barb was born on August 21, 1949, in Minneapolis, to Harold and Alice (Sinclair) Magnuson.  She attended Minnetonka Public Schools and graduated from Richfield High School.  On a New Year’s Eve blind date, she met LeRoy Mader, the man who would capture her heart.  They married on April 19, 1971, in St.

Russell James Hunstad, age 79, of New Prague, MN, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 6, 2025, while his family surrounded his bedside at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. 
A celebration of life for Russ will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 11 a.m., with a gathering from 9-10:45 a.m., at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 North Berens Road NW, Prior Lake, MN. Pastor Jonathan Rundman will preside. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Russ’ memory by the family. 

After a vehicle was driven into open water on Lake Washington this weekend, the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office is warning visitors to the lake in Le Sueur County to use caution, advising a large area of open water has developed in the area referred to as the Narrows. Sunday, Feb. 9, Capt. Bruce Collins confirmed the people in the vehicle escaped without injury.
The vehicle is now submerged in about 6 feet of water. The open water starts at the north shoreline and goes almost all the way across, to the south shore.

Charles W. "Chuck" Blaha, age 88 of New Prague, died peacefully with his family at his side, on Friday, February 7, 2025, at St. Gertrude's Care Center in Shakopee.  Chuck was born on December 4, 1936, in Cedar Lake Township, Scott County, Minnesota, to Frank J. and Albina (Krejci) Blaha.  He graduated from New Prague High School and then was drafted into the US Army, serving in Germany, where he did Morse coding.  Before going into the service, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice Lambrecht, on August 17, 1957, at St.

Martin J. Shuster passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024.  He was 56 years old.  In his last days, Marty was surrounded by loving family members and friends. Marty was born in New Prague, Minnesota, on March 20, 1968, to Ernest and Ellen Shuster.  When Marty was 11 years old his father unexpectedly passed away.  Marty missed him terribly his entire life.  Marty was surrounded by men who shaped his future and helped him develop his interests in manufacturing, aviation, racing, cars, and motorcycles.

Della Ann Davis, 87, of Minnetonka, formerly of Delano, New Prague, and Mounds View, MN, passed away at Minnesota Masonic Home on Friday, January 31, 2025, just a few days shy of her 88th birthday.

An audible sigh of relief from the New Prague boys’ ice hockey team was just what the doctor ordered as the Trojans won a big game against a section opponent last week.
But New Prague, 7-9-2 overall, endured a hard return to reality two days later with a tough loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s, the Trojans’ second loss to the private school powerhouses this year.

We received an unexpected surprise Sunday evening – a letter to the editor from a person expressing on an opinion she feels is important.
These days, letters to the editor, especially the ones you don’t expect, are worth their weight in gold. It’s on the right side of the page, below the political cartoon. At a time where anybody can post anything they want, fact or fiction disguised as fact, an honest-to-goodness letter to the editor is delightful.

At New Prague High School’s coronation ceremony for the Snoball king and queen, Maria Schoenbauer, left, was crowned queen and Peter Dias was crowned king. The ceremony was the highlight of the Friday, Jan. 31, pepfest in the high school gym. New Prague High School will wrap up its annual week of Snoball activities Saturday evening Feb. 1, with a dance in the gym. (Patrick Fisher photo)

The New Prague Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner and awards Monday eventing, Jan. 27.
Becca Najera, director of Early Childhood Academy, received the Employee of the Year award. “She goes above and beyond as a professional and role model, all while getting out to connect with the community,” said a press release from the chamber of commerce.

Recognizing it will face more challenging opponents in the weeks to come, the New Prague floor hockey team has enjoyed victory in its first two games this season.

The New Prague Planning Commission and the business, New Prague Mill, LLC, which owns the former flour mill, discussed the use of the mill at the commission’s Wednesday, Jan. 22, meeting.
Also under discussion was whether to allow a business, Cypress Rail, at the mill. Cypress Rail, which does repair and maintenance to railroad cars, is looking to sign a lease with New Prague Mill, LLC. Cypress Rail would be located in a back area of the mill.

A pair of wins in the past week take some of the sting out of a tough loss as the New Prague High School girls’ basketball team prepares for a big game tonight, Thursday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m., at Chanhassen.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m., New Prague will be at Becker High School for a tournament game against Andover, a Class 4AAAA team a year removed from state tournament play. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m., NP will be at Waconia.

She remembers the sinking feeling watching Pudge take off knowing she couldn’t keep up with him. Cindy Kuhl and Pudge’s owners, Linda and Mark Rahn, are just as thankful the little dog is back home, safe and sound, in New Prague, after a harrowing ordeal amidst temperatures and windchill well-below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

New Prague School Board Director Mark Bartusek has resigned his position on the board.
Monday, the board accepted Bartusek's resignation. The board will discuss how to fill the seat at its workshop meeting Monday, Feb. 10. Bartusek served on the school board for six years.
See details in an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times.