A Czech cultural organization whose ambassadors have appeared in events throughout Minnesota and other states for close to two decades will come to an end next month.
Domaci Inc., and its groups, the Domaci Czech Folk Dancers and the Czech Heritage Junior Royalty, will hold its final performance and royalty ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 2. Directors Arnie and Deb Ziskovsky, the founders of Domaci Inc., have been leading and coordinating the ambassadors for 19 years, and they are ending it with their annual event, Hometown Holidays at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.

For the fourth straight year New Prague High School Alum Ben Dietz is being recognized by the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) as an “All-American.” The ATA All-American selection requirements are rigorous with individuals earning points and ranking throughout the year when they compete at qualifying state, regional and world competitions. Earning All-American points and ranking within the top ten can be quite challenging because the best of the best are often competing against each other for the points at the competitions.

Alexa Barta, a graduate of New Prague High School and the University of Minnesota- Morris, has earned a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award for 2018-19.
A statistics and Spanish graduate of UMM, Barta will spend nine months teaching English in Brazil, beginning February, 2019.
Barta earned an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) award, which will place her in a classroom abroad to provide assistance to local English teachers. She also will represent the United States as a cultural ambassador during her time overseas.

A few changes could be in the works for the Dakota-Rice- Scott League baseball next summer as the Minnesota Baseball Association has changed its criteria for classification of teams.
Currently 12 of the 13 teams in the league are classified as Class C teams and one (Elko) is Class B. The association is implementing a points system to classify teams, based on population of the community, the number of players with collegiate and professional experience on their roster from outside the community, and success in the state tournament over the past five years.

New Prague High School’s Ellen Popple placed second in diving at the Section 2AA Swim and Dive meet Friday, Nov. 9, at Minnetonka.
The second place finish earned her a spot at this week’s State Class AASwim and Dive meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Diving preliminaries were scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14. Those advancing beyond preliminaries will compete in the finals on Friday, Nov. 16.

New Prague High School senior Mia Kraimer, with parents Michael and Christine, signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, during a ceremony in the high school commons Wednesday, Nov. 14. Before attending the Division I school in Vermillion, SD, Kraimer hopes to lead the Trojans to their third state tournament berth in her six-year varsity career during the 2019 season.

A Le Sueur County judge has ordered the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) to turn over all of its financial records and books, hold a fair and democratic election for members, and allow the additional members to join the lawsuit against it, among other things.
This order was filed on November 8.
A lawsuit was filed against LCHS on February 21 by 16 members who allege the existing board of LCHS has mismanaged the society, has murky financial dealings, and followed anti-democratic processes, which, they state are contrary to Minnesota law and LCHS bylaws.

On Monday, November 12, 2018, Deborah Ann Forkins, age 70, passed away peacefully, at her home in Savage, MN, in the presence of her family.
A time of gathering of will be on Friday, November 16, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and one hour prior to the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 17, at 11 am, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. A private family interment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

Robert E. Barta, age 69, of Prior Lake, died suddenly after complications of heart surgery at Fairview Southdale Hospital.  Bob was born on June 11, 1949 in St. Paul.  He grew up in Columbia Heights, graduated from high school there, and went on to attend Mankato State University.

Early Saturday morning of November 10, 2018, Helen “Rose” Hadac, 86, passed away peacefully, at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN.  She was a resident of Prior Lake, MN.
A time to celebrate Rose’s life will be on Thursday, November 15, 2018 from 4 -7 PM, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (4565 Pleasant Street SE) Prior Lake and one hour prior to the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 11 AM, at St. Michael Catholic Church (16311 Duluth Avenue SE) Prior Lake. A private family burial will be held at St. Michael Cemetery.

Girl Scouts from New Prague and their leaders on Saturday, Nov. 10, held a vigil for the three Girl Scouts and their leader who died in a hit and run a week ago in Wisconsin. Before the vigil the Girl Scouts cleaned up the park north of Casey’s in New Prague. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Michael “Mick” Milinkovich, passed away at the age of 76 on October 26, 2018at Mission Nursing Home in Plymouth, MN.
Mick graduated from New Prague High School in 1960. While in school Mick participated in drama and was a multi-sport athlete. Mick enjoyed a good lifetime of sharing laughter, and stories with his high school friends. These friends regularly visited Mick during his days at the nursing life.
A special thanks to the staff at Mission Nursing home, who cared for Mick with compassion for over 12 years until the end of his life.

RoseMary Nash, age 86 of Minneapolis, passed away on November 6, 2018. Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Michael R. “Bob”; brothers-in-law, John, Jim, Woody Enger, Frank Leon, Ken Gerdes, and Ron Aase; and son-in-law, Chris Boemer.

The New Prague Trojan volleyball team came out flat in the first two sets and lost in three sets to Shakopee, 25- 13, 25-14, 27-25 in the Section 2AAA semifinals Tuesday, Oct. 30, in Shakopee.
“Finding ourselves in the semi-final match was a new place for us this season,” said Trojan Coach Angie Andersen. The last time the Trojans had advanced this far in the section tournament was 2001, when they placed second at state.

Due to a decrease in funding from the state, Le Sueur County veterans will see a change in their transportation provided by the county.
Veterans utilizing the Le Sueur County Veterans Van will now be charged $10 per trip to the Minneapolis VA Hospital.
This change was approved during the Tuesday, Nov. 6 Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners meeting in Le Center.
According to Veteran's Service Officer Jim Golgart, the funding his department receives from the state has dwindled to between $1,500 and $2,000.