NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online peer support groups for adults and young adults living with a mental illness, their families, friends, spouses/partners, as well as parents of children and teens. Led by trained peer facilitators, the support groups help individuals and families learn coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences.

To close the digital gap for K-12 students in Scott County, Mediacom Communication’s Connect2Compete (C2C) program recently helped 31 student families gain low-cost, high-speed internet service. More student families can still be connected...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 7, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.

While it’s still preliminary, the New Prague City Council had a proposed promotion at its Tuesday, Jan. 5, electronically held meeting. City Administrator Mike Johnson was scheduled to present Public Works Supervisor Matt Rynda of the City Streets Department for the position of Public Works Director.
Rynda will replace current Public Works Director Glen Sticha, who...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 7, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.

For New Year’s Eve I spent part of the evening in a virtual get together where the focus was on stories. These could be stories from the last year or from past years. Some of the stories had to do with cooking, some were accomplishments, others were about a pie missing an ingredient or the unfortunate switching of salt for sugar. Other stories were about trips taken. The friend who was hosting the virtual party told about how she and a group of friends spent one year gathered in New York City at Times Square to welcome in the New Year.

New Mayor Duane Jirik took the oath of office the morning of Monday, Jan. 4, at New Prague City Hall. Jirik’s family has a history of serving the city on the New Prague City Council.
He explained that his grandfather, William Jirik, Sr., served as mayor from 1951 to 1957. Duane’s father, William Jirik, Jr., served for nine years on the...
To see more on this story, pick up the January 7, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Snowfall on Tuesday, Dec. 29, provided some fresh powder at Sliding Hill Skate Park in New Prague. An estimated one to two inches of snow, at the least, fell on the New Prague area. The snowfall on the hill brought out several people to enjoy some winter fun.

Aaron and Cassandra Landin’s daughter, Leah Lorraine Landin, is the First Baby of 2021 in New Prague. Leah was born at 6:33 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces and is 19 and-a-half inches long. The family, from left, is older brother Koa, Leah being held by Cassandra and Aaron. For the winners of The New Prague Times’ First Baby of 2021 Contest see the Thursday, Jan. 14, print issue of The Times. (Submitted Photo)

A fire in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Jan. 6, destroyed a home in Montgomery.
The fire happened at 201 Boulevard Ave NE. According to public records, it was owned by Mitchell Dappen. It had been the home of the late Stanley Busta.
The Montgomery Fire Department was called to the scene around 2 a.m. to find the house engulfed in flames. The New Prague Fire Department was also called for assistance.
No other information is available at this time.
The story is developing.

The New Prague City Council reorganized for 2021 at its electronically held meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 5. For the new year the council appointed its City Attorney, which council members will serve on the city’s boards and commissions and heads of city departments. The council also approved resolutions appointing the city’s official depositories (banks and financial institutions), designated the official newspaper, appointed the city engineer, city financial advisor, city bond counsel and the New Prague Fire Department Chief and officers for the volunteer unit.

Recognizing Minnesotans’ sacrifice and commitment to their communities over the holiday season that helped change the COVID-19 pandemic’s trajectory and save lives, Governor Walz announced measures on Wednesday that loosen restrictions on important parts of daily life while urging Minnesotans to protect the progress we’ve made.

New Prague City Administrator Mike Johnson, left, administers the oath of office to Duane Jirik, the city’s new mayor, the morning of Monday, Jan. 4, at New Prague City Hall. Under the city’s bylaws the earliest a new mayor can be sworn in is the first Monday of the new year. Jirik has had several family members serve on the council. His grandfather, William Jirik, Sr., also served as mayor from 1951-’57. A ceremonial swearing in for Jirik and council members Bruce Wolf and Shawn Ryan will be held during the New Prague City Council’s electronically held meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Minnesota State Patrol reported that one person, William Earl Boysen of Webster, was transported to Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville with non-life threatening injuries after a two-vehicle crash in New Prague, around 5:34 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Long-time Le Sueur County employee Darrell Pettis will be ending his more than 20+ year career with the county.
Pettis submitted his resignation Tuesday, Dec. 22 during the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners Meeting. The board approved the resignation, which will take affect Jan. 22, 2021.
Pettis has been with the county for 21 years, starting as the county engineer from 1999 to 2009. From 2009 through 2017 he served as both the county engineer and administrator. From 2017 through the present he has been the county administrator.

Moe named Trojan MVP
Following a conference championship season, the New Prague volleyball team announced conference and team awards.
The Trojans finished with a 10-3 overall record and a 10-2 record in the Wright County Conference East Division, winning the...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 31, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times.

The New Prague City Council unanimously approved a lease agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc., for video cameras that will go into the New Prague Police Department’s squad cars. Police Chief Jim Gareis presented the...
To see more on this story, pick up the December 31, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times.

This last weekend I was able to meet up with some family in St. Paul, it was a central location for the five of us, for at least a walk and a chance to catch up on what had been happening over the past few days and what everybody did for Christmas. We all hoped that in 2021 that we could do more. I provided what could sum up the feeling of many for 2020 “It is what it is.”