Armed with players from the New Prague High School varsity team, NP’s American Legion Post 45 baseball team is all-in on enjoying a strong season this summer.

This year’s team is working to reschedule games initially lost because of the extended high school season. The 45s will play Rochester Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m., at Memorial Park. Monday, June 22, 7 p.m., NP will be at Prior Lake and Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m., the team heads east to face Rosemount.

The Elko New Market Police Department has been struggling to get candidates for patrol officer positions.

The Elko New Market Fire Department is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, the volunteer fire department had banners of retired firefighters placed along Main Street (Scott County Road 2) at the end of May and are up through Labor Day.

If he could, if his body would allow it, Jacob Kirchner would love to play baseball with his friends. Sadly, the 14-year-old boy from Belle Plaine cheers for his favorite teams – the Tigers and his big brother, Zachary, who plays outfield for the high school and town baseball teams.

The son of Jessica and John Kirchner, Jacob and his family – siblings Michel, Haley and Zachary – will be the guests of honor at the 10th annual Home Run Derby to raise funds for his family. It is scheduled for June 27, 6 p.m., at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill.

Patricia M. Solheid, age 82, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, at Mala Strana Assisted Living in New Prague, with her loving husband by her side.

Pat was born on February 3, 1944, in Canby, Minnesota. She was a graduate of Canby High School and went on to attend Moorhead State University. Her deep love for music led her to a career as an elementary music teacher in New Prague, where she met and married the love of her life, Al, in 1972.

Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Stepaniak, age 79, of Faribault, MN, died on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his family following an extended illness.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault with the Rev. Diane Goulson officiating.

Visitation will be held on Monday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Myron A. Tietz, age 74, of New Prague, passed away on June 11, 2026, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Myron was born on June 16, 1951, in New Prague to Clemens and Lenora (Bohnsack) Tietz. He was raised in New Prague and graduated from New Prague High School. Following graduation, he pursued his passion for carpentry by attending Faribault Vocational Technical School.

    Le Sueur County took a step to pump the brakes on data centers being built in the county. At the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 26, the county unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction.
    The moratorium covers unincorporated areas of Le Sueur County. Cities within the county can still make their own decisions.
    “If a city wants to have a data center, we don’t have any control over that at all,” Commissioner David Preisler said. “If they want to, they’re not affected by this ordinance. They’ve got their own planning and zoning.”

Carol M. Hennen, age 83, passed away on June 8, 2026. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (833 S. Marschall Rd) in Shakopee, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. with additional visitation from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, all at Sts. Joachim & Anne Parish, St. Mark Catholic Church (350 Atwood St S) in Shakopee, MN. Father Peter Williams will preside.

Harold K. “Mac” McMahon, age 98, of New Prague, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 9, 2026.

Music at Memorial, the free summer music concert series in New Prague starts its fifth year of performances Wednesday, June 17, 6-8 p.m. Produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation, there are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

“We are excited to produce the concert series again this summer,” said Den Gardner, chair of the foundation. “This is our last year at Memorial Park and we thank the city for the space. Next year the series will be at the new Praha Outdoor Performance Stage (POPS) facility on the west end of town.”

The New Prague School District loves to credit itself for its attention to treating everyone equally. And there’s no reason to believe the district is sincere with its claim equity matters.

But in a recent case, its attention to the notion of treating everyone equally missed the mark. Badly.

Three wins, one a slugfest, gave Union Hill the top spot in the Dakota-Rice-Scott League heading into this week.

The Bulldogs will host Webster tomorrow, Friday, June 12, 7:30 p.m., at Don Giesen Field. Sunday, June 14, 2 p.m., the Bulldogs will face New Prague at Memorial Park.

Orioles face schedule changes

New Prague had two games rescheduled this past week. July 8, 7:30 p.m., NP will make up a game at Prior Lake. The Orioles will make up a game against Waldorf at Bonin Field in St. Patrick, June 25, later this summer.

David "Dave" Edward Johnston, age 59, of Montgomery, Minnesota, was called home on June 7, 2026, following a tragic accident while doing something he loved—riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

New Prague’s athletes made a strong showing last week at the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AAA track and field championships at St. Michael-Albertville High School, setting new school records and advancing several athletes to the medals stand.

In the pole vault, John Walters cleared 14 feet to finish eighth and earn all-state.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Union Hill, west of New Prague, held a free-will lunch and fellowship after its Feast of Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 7. Rev. Eugene Theisen agreed to get into a dunk tank to help raise funds. The dunk tank was $5 for children and $10 for adults. It was a popular event with children with many lining up to try and dunk Theisen.

Theisen agreed to...

To see more on this story pick up the June 11, 2026 print edition of The New Prague Times.