It wasn’t the perfect year, but 2022 was a pretty good one at that. We’re hoping 2023 is even better.
In this week’s edition, you’ll see a review of the stories we told you about in 2022. In as much as we’d rather not remind you of all the news you read about earlier this past year, it sure seems like there was plenty to feel good about on a local level in 2022. The community continued to grow and prosper. Challenges were identified and taken on. And through it all, New Prague is still a place plenty of people want to call home.

Robert ‘Bob’ Hanzel of New Prague, died with his children at his side on December 26th at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague. Born on October 4th, 1928, he was the only child of John C. and Mayme Hanzel. Bob attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School, speaking only Czech upon entering.  Czech heritage remained important to him throughout his life.  He proudly recited Czech poems and sayings, sang Czech songs, and spoke in Czech to his family at every opportunity. 

The Scott County Sheriff's s Office has identified the deceased man found near the Interstate Highway 35 ramp and County Road 2 in New Market Township the morning of Dec. 23.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Officer has formally identified the body found in New Market Township Friday, Dec. 23, as 34-year old Alexander Stenberg of Bloomington. Stenberg’s body was located near this area by a passerby at approximately 8:47 a.m.

Delores Krenik, 95, of Montgomery passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at Villages of Lonsdale. Visitation will be held at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Burial will be held in the spring at Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery.

Robert J. “Bob” Hanzel, age 94, of New Prague died unexpectedly on Monday, December 26, 2022 at MCHS Hospital in New Prague.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Eugene Theisen officiating.  Visitation will take place that morning from 9-10:30 a.m. at Bruzek Funeral Home.  Burial will follow Mass at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.  
bruzekfuneralhome.com
Full obituary to follow.

Thomas L. Fahey, age 50 of rural New Prague, died at Methodist Hospital in Rochester on Friday, December 23, 2022 after a very short illness.  Memorial Mass will be on Thursday, December 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Union Hill.  Visitation will be at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. ~ 7:00 p.m. and will continue the morning of the Mass at the Funeral Home from 8:30 a.m. ~ 10:30 a.m.  We will then leave Belle Plaine in procession for the 11:00 a.m.

Because of severe weather and delivery complications, delivery of the Dec. 25 edition of The Extra for the Kilkenny and Le Center areas could be delayed until Tuesday, Dec. 27.
The Extra will be available at newsstands in Montgomery and New Prague.
Our apologies for any inconvenience.

She likes to draw and appreciates the unique appearance of downtown New Prague.
Graecyn Helmer combined those two interests into an impressive display of art and ability.
The daughter of Michelle and Anthony Helmer, Graecyn, a fifth-grader at Falcon Ridge Elementary, submitted a unique pencil drawing of a downtown New Prague streetscape for The New Prague Times’ annual Christmas edition. The Times has been publishing the drawings in the Christmas edition for many years and Graecyn’s drawing caught the attention of the newspaper’s staff.

They all knew the day would come when Ryan Wetschka would not be home with his family for Christmas. And while his family has accepted the reality of a son, a brother, a grandson and nephew serving his country in the United States Army, it doesn’t make the missing him any easier.

New Prague High School’s boys basketball team split two games last week as the Trojans defeated St. Peter, 69-53, Tuesday, Dec. 13, and lost a close, 59- 52, game to Worthington, Saturday, Dec. 17.
New Prague will host New Ulm tonight (Dec. 22) with a 7 p.m. game. The Trojans will then be at the Lakeville North Holiday Classic, facing Lakeville North at 7:45 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 29, then Austin at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. New Prague starts the new year at home against Kasson-Mantorville at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3.

A weary New Prague High School gymnasts had to get through its Tuesday, Dec. 13, meet against Waconia. The Trojans tamed the Wildcats, 140.925 to 125.175 for a win.
“These girls pushed through the meet being very tired and worn down with this being their third meet in seven days,” said New Prague head coach Darrell Christenson. “We are looking forward to one full week of down time before we go again next Thursday (Dec. 22) hosting Minnetonka.”
Tonight’s (Dec. 22) home meet for the Trojans will be at 6 p.m. at the New Prague Gymnastics Center.

A man walked through the new-fallen snow Christmas Eve 2004. The cemetery was quiet and the moonlight reflected brightly off the thick blanket of snow. There’s something different, perhaps contradictory about visiting the cemetery, the final resting place of loved ones, Christmas Eve.
We brought luminaries, a symbol of lighting the way for Jesus’s birth. Christmas was a big deal, a time for family being together. Mom really liked them and made a point to have them on the steps from the front door to the sidewalk at the house when we were growing up.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case of a deceased man found this morning, Friday, Dec. 23, around 8:45 a.m., near the northbound exit ramp from County Road 2 (260th Street East/Deuce Road) onto Interstate Highway 35 in New Market Township.
“Our investigators will be working with the medical examiner’s office to make an identification and determine the circumstances surrounding this death,” said Sheriff Luke Hennen. “The investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.”

Elizabeth D. “Betty” Tupy, age 66, of New Prague, died peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at her home at Praha Village.   True to Betty’s nature, she timed her death to occur in the window of an impending storm, between the falling snow and the high winds that would create blizzard conditions! She was always considerate of others and would not have wanted them to drive in unsafe conditions.

The Elko New Market City Council held a Tuesday, Dec. 20, meeting that was a continuation of its Thursday, Dec. 15, pubic hearing about Niagara Bottling’s proposed water bottling plant. While the council heard comments any decisions on the plant will not be made until mid-January as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering whether the project warrants an Environmental Assessment Worksheet.
For about two and-a-half hours the council heard comments from more than 30 people attending the meeting at city hall or online.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - Early Release
Due to inclement weather, New Prague Area Schools will be releasing High School Students at 12:50pm, Middle School Students at 12:55pm, and Elementary and all day Preschool Students at 2:30pm today, Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
There will be no afternoon preschool and no afternoon or evening activities.
Full day preschool students enrolled in WRAP will be sent to WRAP for pick up ASAP. Kids Company will be closed. WRAP will be closing early (a second email will be sent to current users).