Jerry Wallace Will, age 60, of Sierra Vista, AZ, formerly of Prior Lake, passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, December 25, 2018.
Jerry was the fourth child born to Wallace and Claudia (Busch) Will on July 23, 1958.
At the age of 18, he joined the military and proudly served his country for 42 years. He had a 20 year Army career and a 22 year civilian Army career as a UAS Maintenance Instructor for Unmanned Aircraft for General Dynamics.

A snowstorm forced the New Prague Trojan wrestling team to rethink their post- Christmas plans as the team chose not to head north for the Rumble on the Red Tournament and instead head south to the Bi-State Classic in LaCrosse, WI last weekend.

As 2018 drew to a close, Praha Village, New Prague’s new senior apartment complex at 1100 First St. SE, was in the finishing stages of preparing to open to residents. Within the first month of 2019 they expect to be open to independent living residents on Tuesday, Jan. 15, although people can move in before that date. Assisted living and memory care residents will be in by February 1.

The New Prague Trojan Dance team has had mixed results so far this season, finishing anywhere from first to last in its four meets. The team, coached by Monika Goettl, continues to hone its skills as it prepares for the section competition coming next month.
The season’s first meet was held Saturday, Dec. 1, at Cannon Falls. The Trojan Kick team placed first of six teams in the large-school division, while the Jazz finished second of six, behind Owatonna.
The Trojan JV Jazz and Kick squads both placed second of five teams.

New Prague’s Seth Fischer will be competing for the third time in the X Games in Aspen, CO, January 25-28.
Fischer, 20, is a 2016 New Prague High School graduate and qualified for his first X Games two years ago in the sport of Snow BikeCross. Racers compete on machines that are a cross between a snowmobile and a motorcycle. The machines have one ski on the front and a track system on the back, and compete on a course similar to motocross.

Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague has announced the birth of the 2019 New Prague New Year's Baby.
A boy, Cale Matthew Graf, was born at 8:02 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, to parents Matt and Jeana Graf of New Prague. Cale weighed in at 11 pounds, 8.9 ounces and was 24 inches long at birth. He has two older sisters, Sophia and Sierra ages, 5 and 4.

Dorothy M. Shimota, age 82, of Montgomery, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Sunday, December 30, 2018 at Traditions of Montgomery. Dorothy was born July 16, 1936 at Cedar Lake Township, Scott County, MN to John C and Mary (Simota) Pomije. She graduated from New Prague High School and married Edward J. Shimota on April 10, 1956 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague. She lived her entire life in the Veseli/New Prague area, where she and her husband raised their six children.

Albert Peter Braith, age 77 of New Prague, MN passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at his home after battling prostate cancer for over 19 years. Albert was born February 4, 1941 in Sebeka, MN to Henry & Mary (Friedl) Braith. On October 6, 1962, he married Carol Kruger in Wheaton, MN. Last October they were married 56 years, and a very huge and fun 50th anniversary party was held in 2012.

The Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant is looking for young women of Czech, Slovak or Moravian heritage to compete for the state title. The 30th annual Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant will be held on April 13, 2019, at the American Legion Club in Montgomery, Minnesota. 

David Charles Baker
It is with great sadness that the family of David Baker of New Prague announces his sudden passing, on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at the age of 52 years.  David will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 17 years, Colleen, and his children, Joshua (Linh) and Jessica.  David will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Isaac, Nevaeh, Gabriel, Bella, and Ariah, by his mother, Pat, and sisters, Leah (William), Ann (Joe), their daughters, Charlotte and Sara, and extended family and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Baker.

Roger Schoenbauer passed away peacefully on December 23, 2018 at the age of 69. A gathering of family & friends is Tuesday, January 1, 2019 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (104 First Street West) in Jordan. Funeral Liturgy is Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 12:00 Noon with visitation one-hour prior at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (313 East 2nd Street) in Jordan. Father Neil Bakker will preside. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Roger’s honor by his family.

Ann Marie Pint, age 79, of New Prague died at Methodist Hospital in Rochester on Friday December 28, 2018 with her husband at her side. Ann was born on October 26, 1939 in Lonsdale, MN to Frank J. and Hedwig (Pekar) Skluzacek. She attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Lonsdale and graduated from Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN. After high school she worked at the State Bank of New Prague before attending Beauty School in Minneapolis, and opening her own beauty shop, Ann Marie's Beauty Shop. She married Robert E.

The Ptarmigans had a hard fought game, but came up with an 8-0 win in the 59th Annual Sno-Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 29, in Memorial Park. It was a cold day for the game as temperatures only reached the teens, with very little snow cover as rain earlier in the week melted most of it away leaving a hard frost. The Ptarmigans increased their record to 17 wins. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

2018 certainly has been an interesting year both not only in New Prague, but across the world.
Locally, New Prague has been blessed with many signs of growth and progress - new businesses opening, a new senior apartment complex nearing completion and a school system that is thriving. The city, school and Mayo Clinic Health System worked together to move the Fitness Center to the Central Education Campus building, where, partnered with the Aquatic Center, provides a complete center for both recreation and fitness that will benefit the community in an economical way.

The New Prague Trojan girls basketball team concluded a stretch of six games in 11 days last week, defeating Bloomington Jefferson and then losing to Section 1AAAA foes Lakeville South and Farmington.
The Trojans (3-7) travel to Moorhead this week for a holiday tournament. They play Osseo on Friday, Dec. 28, then will take on either Moorhead or Red Lake on Saturday, Dec. 29. They return to action Thursday, Jan. 3, with their Wright County Conference opener at Hutchinson.

This year I reached 24 years being a combination reporter and photographer. Reaching that milestone reminded me of some time back when someone asked me how long I had been a reporter. At the time it was about 20 years and she was a little surprised as she thought people today don’t seem to stay in one field that long. I could understand as it seems people have moved on to a second career in another field before they reach 50 these days. It also seems that a few people have a third career before they retire.