Davis “Zach” Zachary, age 74, of New Prague, MN entered heaven peacefully at his home, with his loving wife and family by his side on Thursday, November 18, 2021. He was born on January 7, 1947, in New Castle, IN to Raymond T. and Bernita I. (Davis) Zachary. Zach was raised in Middletown, IN, the oldest of six children. After graduating from Middletown High School, Zach married Gretchen L.

Thomas P. Straiton, age 95, of Waconia, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully with his wife at his side on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Good Samaritan Society Waconia.  Tom was born on January 30, 1926 in Minneapolis to Raymond and Myrtle (Taklo) Straiton.  Tom graduated from Minneapolis Central High School and was drafted into the US Army Air Corps, where he served in post-war Germany and attended the Nuremberg Trials.  After service, Tom began his future career in education with a degree from Augsburg College.  He met and married the love of his life, Monica S.

Kathleen Miles Schumacher, age 67, passed away peacefully at CT Hospice on November 15, 2021 with her husband and sister by her side.
Born June 5, 1954 in Rochester, NY to the late Laverne and Jean (Kostelnik) Miles. In addition to her parents, her sister, Marilyn, preceded Kathleen in death.
Kathleen is survived by her loving husband of 35 years, John Schumacher, stepson Carlton Schumacher (Casey) and their two children Payton and Jack of NH, stepdaughter Brandi Schumacher of MA, sister Bonnie Miles Perez (Mark), niece Elizabeth Perez of GA and best friend Karen Francis.

Randy Allen Kuiken, age 62 of Elko, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 21, 2021 from 4-7 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 100 6th St W, Jordan, MN 55352. A funeral service will be Monday, November 22, 2021 at 11 AM with a visitation beginning at 9:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Randy will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery with Pastor Jeremy Glowicki presiding.

On Saturday, Nov. 13, Don Dvorak, age 74, of New Prague was named to the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held during a banquet at at the Omni Hotel in Eagan.

The fall season is winding down and we recently had a taste of winter. Most of the trees have lost their leaves and for a brief time last week the temperatures dropped enough for us to have snow on the ground. For some people this is the time to start the annual grumble against winter. I’m usually not one of those as I realize that it is November and our climate tends to snow and cold temperatures.

Five members of the New Prague Swimming and Diving Team will be competing in the Class A State Tournament after their performances at the Section 1A meet held Nov. 10 - 12.
Sophomores Nellie Dalsin, Ella Lund, and Payten Schieffer, eighth grader Taylor Bassett, and seventh grader Carolyn DeLuca will represent the Trojans Nov. 18, 19, and 20 in the State Tournament at the University of Minnesota.
Schieffer will be competing in three events, the 100 Butterfly, the 200 Individual Medley, and will team up with Lund, Bassett, and DeLuca in the 200 Medley Relay.

New Prague High School’s fall musical is “The Wedding Singer” and begins its five show run this weekend. Based on the hit Adam Sandler comedy of the same name, “The Wedding Singer”, has a sparkling score that does for the 1980s what the musical “Hairspray” did for the 1960s.

John Dale Haase, Jr., age 53, of Belle Plaine,  died  after an extended battle with Covid on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, with his wife and sister at his side at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester.  John was born on March 12, 1968 in Blue Earth, MN to John D. and Kathryn A. (Gerberding) Haase, Sr.  He was a 1986 graduate of Blue Earth High School and attended Mankato State University.  John met and married the love of his life, Laura J.

David Graff, age 62 of Lonsdale, passed away unexpectedly on Monday evening, November 15, 2021, at the Northfield Hospital.

Ronald Max Bartusek, age 75, of Veseli, died peacefully on November 15, 2021 at Mayo Hospital in Rochester.  He was born February 23, 1946 in Webster to Max and Josephine (Sticha) Bartusek.  He graduated from New Prague High School in 1964 and joined the US Navy in 1965.  He was stationed on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War and was discharged in 1967.  He then met his wife, Linda Kraska, and later married her on September 5, 1970 in Prior Lake.  They had two sons, Marty and Ronnie who gave them five grandchildren, Shelby, Reed, Avery, Logan, and Owen.  His wife, sons, and grandchi

Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason reported that law enforcement has located and spoken with Pamela Jewison, who was reported missing on Saturday, November 13th, 2021, by her family.
Sheriff Mason advised that this afternoon, at approx. 2:20 p.m., State Troopers in Idaho located Jewison traveling in her vehicle, traveling east on Interstate 90.

The family of a New Prague woman is looking for help locating her after she left home and never returned.
Jeffrey Jewison of rural New Prague contacted Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason’s office on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at approx. 5:23 p.m., to report his wife, Pamela Jewison, 50, was missing.
Jeffrey told the sheriff’s office his wife had not reported to work and her whereabouts were unknown. After the family and deputies were unable to contact Pamela, she was signed/entered as a Missing Person.

New Prague High School is having an early dismissal the morning of Monday, Nov. 15, due to issues with its power system.
In a message sent to all High School and CLC families:

Sara Ann White, age 42, of Elko New Market, died Friday November 12, 2021 at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Sara was born on September 24, 1979 in Waconia to Donald A. and Charlene A. (Reisgraf) Skluzacek. Sara graduated from New Prague High School and attended Hennepin Technical College, where she obtained her photography degree, and Minnesota School of Business where she earned her BS degree in Human Services. Married February 4, 2001 to Kristian W. White, she was currently employed as a loan officer with Veteran Affairs.