Leo Pomerenke, Special to The New Prague TImes
The New Prague High School boys hockey team had two tough losses in the last week, as the Trojans lost 6-1 to the Chaska Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and were shut out by the Chanhassen Storm 5-0 on Saturday, Dec. 18.
Five different Hawks scored for Chaska, scoring two goals in every period. Chaska’s Tanner Bruender was the only one who scored multiple times for the Hawks, who scored off of the five hole and a rebound.

Sister Marilyn Skluzacek, OP, was the 7th child born to Celia (Malecha) and John T. Skluzacek on July 17, 1940. Pased away on Dec. 10, 2021 at Dominican Villa in Sinsinawa, WI. Marilyn attended I.C School in Lonsdale, MN, then went to high school at Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN, and graduated in 1958. In the summer after graduation Marilyn applied to the Sinsinawa Dominicans for entrance to their order.

With shy smiles, a few giggles and some nervous energy by the younger participants, more than 30 children presented the Christmas story at St. John’s Catholic Church of Union Hill the morning of Sunday, Dec. 19. The church’s annual Children’s Christmas Pageant was a reminder of what the season is about, a baby born in a simple manger, who was honored by angels, shepherds and kings. Originally planned for Wednesday, Dec. 15, the pageant was postponed due to warnings of high winds. The Sunday pageant had older children holding hands of younger ones to help them in their parts.

The 62nd SnoBowl, the longest running alumni snow football game in the world, will be played on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 at 12 noon in New Prague’s Memorial Park. The game, played between the Ptarmigans and Polars, with teams made up of New Prague High School alumni, will see who can come away with the win this year.

Marvin Dale Way born 5/28/1929 in Scott County, Elko New Market, MN and passed away peacefully on 12/20/21 at the age of 92 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague, MN.  Dad enjoyed playing horseshoes, playing bingo, pull tabs, listening to the older country western music and movies, and he also enjoyed watching/listening to the Twins and Vikings games. One could always see him with his cowboy hat on and most likely with a beer in his hand.

The Elko New Market Police Department reported in a press release that, "On Tuesday, Dec. 21, at approximately 12:20 p.m., New Market Bank in Elko New Market was robbed. No weapon was implied or brandished. Nobody was injured during the incident. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money. There is no reason to believe that there is a threat to the general public. The robbery is currently under investigation." For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.

Virgil Anthony Gast, age 81, of Jordan, was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He was called home by our LORD on December 18, 2021. The family will greet guests on Tuesday, December 28 from 5pm-7pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation in Jordan. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
Virgil was born on February 23, 1940, in St. Bonifacius, MN to Celestine “Sam” Gast and Anna (Laumann) Gast.  He is the second oldest of seven boys. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1959. 

Our eldest daughter, Eve Marie Musil, passed away on December 13, 2021 in Gilbert, AZ.  She put up a good two-and-a-half-year fight against cancer!   She fought the battles but, in the end, she lost the war.

The New Prague School District responded to two concerning posts that came through social media. One was an anonymous nationwide threat advocating violence against schools on Friday, Dec. 17, that was being shared on TikTok. The other media post was directed at New Prague and used a racial slur that people “Watch yo backs.”

The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, with other area law enforcement, held its Shop with a Cop the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in New Prague. There were 23 children that participated in the annual event that allows children to find gifts for family members and something for themselves.

Kimberly Anne Dvoracek-Anderson, 41, of Elko New Market, Minn., was welcomed into her Heavenly home on Dec 14, 2021.
Kim was born to Gary and Janice (Kenne) Dvoracek of Holmen, Wisc., on Dec. 2, 1980, at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, Wisc., and was the middle of three closely-knit daughters.

Edward F. “Eddie” Wieskus, age 92, of New Prague, formerly of Fulda, died peacefully with his family at his side, on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at his home at Praha Village.  Edward was born on November 26, 1929 in Jackson, MN to Frank and Julia (Macek) Wieskus.  He graduated from Jackson High School in 1947 and entered the Army National Guard until 1951 and was a proud member of the American Legion.  He met the woman who would become his cherished partner at a dance and married Jeanette Odenbrett on June 7,  1958 at St.

Lawrence “Chappy” Plonsky, 88, of Heidelberg, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Fairmont. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 20, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Heidelberg. Interment will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

A December rainbow stretched across New Prague’s Main Street the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 15. A light drizzle led to the rainbow, in some places a double rainbow, as the sky began to clear. The weather forecast for the evening and night calls for the possibility of high winds and rain, a change from the colder temperatures and snow that hit the area nearly a week ago. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

James A. “Jim” Pumper, age 62, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at his home on Monday, December 13, 2021.  Jim was born on August 11, 1959 to Myles and Dorothy (Moll) Pumper.  He grew up in Le Center and attended Le Center High School.  Jim was a self-taught mechanic, learning many of his skills through watching and with the help of his father.  Many knew Jim personally from the various automotive repair shops in the area.  Even in retirement, he spent his time doing various automotive tasks for family and friends.  He married Laurie J.

Ronald R. Vesely, age 72 of Webster, MN passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, December 12, 2021.
Ronnie was born on November 30, 1949 in New Prague, the son of Ray and Hattie Vesely. He married the love of his life, Marilyn Kubes, on May 5, 1973. They were blessed with five children and four grandchildren.
Ronnie served in the US Army Reserves and worked as a Tool and Die Maker for Thermo King for 37 years before retiring in 2006. He also farmed approximately 80 acres every year planting mostly beans, corn and wheat.