The New Prague City Council dealt with technology at its Monday, March 7, meeting. The council unanimously approved TrueNorth Consulting Group to do an IT Risk Assessment, plus the council discussed the possibility of council members having city issued phones or laptops to deal with city business.

As journalists, we rely on open government and freedom of information principles to keep the public informed about its government. Sometimes, we are met with roadblocks.
Sunshine Week, which is spearheaded by the New Prague Times News Leaders Association, champions open and transparent government at all levels. That means from the local school board or city council meetings, to the emails a state representative sent that supports a bill, all the way up to the President at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C.

New Prague High School senior Hunter Pomije bowled his best score so far as he hit an 838, including two 300 games in a row. He came up with the high score during a high school league match the last regular match for the season, on Thursday, Feb. 24, at Strike Force Bowl in New Prague.
“My best high series before that was an 825,” said Pomije, son of Darin and Julie Pomije of New Prague, who also own the local bowling alley. He noted his average is 234. During the match, Pomije had a 238 in his first game and then scored a 300 in his second game.

In their first Class A State Swimming Meet appearance, freshmen Brendan Panka and Jacob Bisek both showed they belonged with the state’s best.
Both swimmers advanced from Friday’s preliminary round into Saturday, March 5 consolation/championship round.
Panka advanced to the consolation final in the 200- yard freestyle, placing 10th overall in a lifetime best time of 1:46.88. His time was less than a second behind the fifth place finisher.
Bisek also competed in the 200-yard freestyle and he finished in 17th place in a time of 1:50.61.

The 45th annual Norm Sladek Memorial Euchre Tourney on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague had 47 teams turnout. Organizers of the popular tournament said that was nine more teams than the last time the tourney was held and included 15 new teams, plus six of those teams were walk ups the day of the tourney. Sign up was held between 11 a.m. to noon with the tourney starting at 12 p.m.

The New Prague High School cheerleaders energize the crowd at the Tuesday, March 8, pep fest for the boys hockey team before heading out to the Class A State Hockey Tournament. The Trojans claimed the Section 1A Championship on Wednesday, March 2. This is New Prague’s first state appearance since 2015. The Trojans are unseeded and their first game in the Class A State Hockey Tournament is against No. 1 seed Hermantown at the Xcel Energy Center at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9. For more on New Prague’s Section 1A victory see the Thursday, March 10, issue of The New Prague Times.

Thomas Binczik, 81, of Le Center, died on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, of complications of dysphasia at Rochester Methodist Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with Mass of Christian Burial following at 11 a.m. at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Burial will follow at a later date at St. John Lutheran Cemetery west of Montgomery.

The New Prague Fire Department was called in for mutual aid at a building fire along Highway 13 north of New Prague the morning of Friday, March 4.
According to a preliminary report Prior Lake called in New Prague around 4:30 a.m. to aid in a fire at a garage/shed on a property about 10 miles north of New Prague. When vehicles from New Prague Fire Department arrived there were flames coming out of the structure. By 7 a.m. it appeared the flames were under control, although smoke was still rising from the building.

Visitation for Kailey Lynn Mach will be Sunday March 6, 2022 from 4 to 8 pm at the Le Center Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 7, 2022, at 11 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Le Center.
A full obituary will follow in the days ahead.
In honor of Kailey and her passion for children, teaching and learning, we are asking in lieu of flowers, that you a bring a children’s book that will be donated and/or monetary donations that will be used in such a way to honor her life and her love for kids for many generations to come.

Sunday, Feb. 27, was busy for the Scott - Le Sueur Waterfowlers during their 22nd Annual Youth Wood Duck Box Building Day as families came out to build nesting boxes for wood ducks and one youngster built box number 5,000.

Jeanette A. Sticha, age 93, of Lonsdale, died peacefully with her family at her side on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at her home.  Jeanette was born on September 21, 1928 in Lonsdale to John T. and Cecelia (Malecha) Skluzacek.  She grew up in the Lonsdale area, attended country school, and graduated from Lonsdale High School.  She married Bohumil H.

Josephine Marie (Bowatz) Bachinski, of New Prague, passed away peacefully on February 24th, 2022, at the age of 92.
But death is not the conclusion of her saga. Instead, it's a page break in a book that never ends. So let me take you back to the beginning, let me share with you the tale of Jo Bachinski.
On September 3rd, 1929, the near century long story of Josephine began. She was the youngest child of Alois and Mary Bowatz. And it was on the family farm in Kimball, Minnesota, that the legend started to take form, that a star began to rise.

More than 80 area residents attended the New Prague School Board meeting on Monday night, Feb. 28. There were nine people who spoke during the public forum, some addressed the recent allegations of racial taunts at sports events and others spoke on changes that are needed in the schools and the community.
Superintendent Tim Dittberner also addressed the issue presenting three steps toward changing things and developing a plan that is thoughtful and strategic.

A young woman has died in a house explosion, Saturday, Feb. 26, according to Le Sueur Count Sheriff, Brett Mason.
While the woman’s identity has not been officially released, Facebook posts have indicated it was Kailey Mach.

In a statement to New Prague Area Schools staff and families, Superintendent Tim Dittberner addressed recent allegations of racial taunts. Due to the allegations the school districts of St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale announced they would not compete with New Prague.

The Minnesota State High School League and other organizations are launching an initiative in light of recent events. In a statement released today: