Due to weather forcasted for tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 18, the Trojan football game has moved from Friday night to TONIGHT, Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Rochester. 

Along East Main Street, crews have been busy installing a new gas main pipes.

The project is being done by CenterPoint Energy through NPL Construction of Lakeville, said New Prague’s Public Works Director Matt Rynda.

Orrin Bernard Retka, age 90, of Montgomery, formerly of St. Thomas, passed away on Monday, September 14, 2026, at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.

Tina Zackova (left), Marwan Qasim and (right) Youssef Shahin stopped in New Prague recently to visit the community after hearing about its Czech history. Zackova is full-blooded Czech and Qasim is serving a research fellowship for Mayo Health Systems in Rochester. The trio noted the mural along East Main Street – Bohemian Brass Band – artist Greg Preslicka, a New Prague native now living in Savage, completed updating the mural Sunday, Sept. 13.

John Mueller photo

Irene (Krause) Bednar, age 98, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.  

Irene Margaret Krause was born in Le Sueur, Minnesota, on January 14,1928, to Ernest and Mary (Morganthalar) Krause.  She attended grade school at St. Anne’s Catholic School and graduated from Le Sueur High School in 1945. 

Karolina "Lina" Janovsky, age 93, of Montgomery, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Cura Care Center in Le Sueur.

Mamie Helen (Stehlik) Busch, of Jordan, MN, passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the age of 87.

    A 911 call on Friday, Sept. 2, at MGM Apartments in Lonsdale, 321 Southeast 1st Avenue,  is a suspected suicide. 
    Lonsdale Police Chief Jason Schmitz said that a call came in at 12:09 p.m. for a welfare check by the person’s employer after they had not showed up to work the last three days.

Virginia Clara (Zaun) Beuch, age 101, of New Prague, formerly of Lydia, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026. Virginia was born on May 17, 1925, in Cedar Lake Township and grew up on the family farm. She was the eldest of 3 girls born to George Jr. and Clara (Scheffler) Zaun.

After months preparing, Le Sueur County 4-H members showcased their accomplishments at the county Fair. 4-H youth prepare for the fair, taking care of their animals before and during the fair, working on projects, and learning new things.

Audre Mae Johnson, age 82, of Lonsdale, died unexpectedly at her home on Monday, August 10, 2026.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, September 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague. Visitation will take place Thursday, the 10, from 4-7 p.m. at Bruzek Funeral Home and Friday morning at church 1 hour prior to service, starting at 10:00. Burial will take place at Czech National Cemetery with immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, memorials are prefered to Duck Cup Memorial.

    At first, it appeared as if Le Sueur County would need to set a considerable increase in levy rates going into next year. However, after months of work sessions, the county board of commissioners is now in good position to approve one of its lowest annual increases.
    The county had anticipated a large increase in property taxes because of changes to how the human services department is funded. The Federal government shifted the financial burden of funding the department to the state, as the state shifted much of the burden to the county level.

Carole Jean Hotchkiss, 85, of New Prague, MN, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at New Perspective Assisted Living in Prior Lake, MN. She was born January 3, 1941, in Kasson, the son of Herman and Letha (Brown) Eggert. Carole attended school in Dodge Center. She married Lyle Timm on June 14, 1957, and lived in the Wasioja area until his death in 1968.

    Many around the area noticed the out-of-place Ferris wheel on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Next Chapter Winery between New Prague and Montgomery, especially after the lights came on at night.
    The Ferris wheel was rented by husband Jeff Nelson of the late Shonna Nelson, who passed away on Sept. 3, 2025 after a battle with cancer. It was part of “Shonna’s Yahrzeit.” A Yahrzeit, sometimes spelled jahrzeit, is a Yiddish word meaning “year time” and is a Jewish tradition that celebrates the anniversary of a loved one’s death, specifically a parent or near relative.

To the editor,

I’m supporting Marisa Ulmen for Minnesota State Senate District 22 because she understands what it takes to build and sustain a strong rural community.

Marisa knows rural Minnesota because she has lived it. She is a fifth-generation farmer from Madelia, and she understands both the challenges and opportunities facing our farm families and rural communities.

Her campaign is focused on four priorities: affordable, accessible healthcare; support for rural families and communities; a strong future for our farm families; and stronger rural towns.

Leo V. Wagner, Jr., age 89, of Elko, Minnesota, passed away on September 4, 2026, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He lived a full and hardworking life rooted in service, craftsmanship, faith and, above all, his love for family and friends.

Leo was born October 21, 1936, in New Prague, to Leo Sr. and Helen (Ceplecha) Wagner. From an early age, Leo learned that hard work came first, followed by fun. He worked on the family farm while attending school, building the work ethic that would stay with him throughout his life.