Superintendent presenting levy information to groups
New Prague Area Schools Superintendent Andy Vollmuth is looking for sizable groups of people who want to know more about the school district’s request for additional funding he admits “is a big ask.”

Connie Lou Pfeil, age 71, of Sioux City, Iowa, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.  Her husband, John Stewart Pfeil, age 81, died just 2 months previously in Iowa on August 15, 2023. 
 Connie was born on February 11, 1952, in Sioux City, IA to Joe Pilcher and Frances Olson. John was born on May 12, 1942, in Burbank, CA to George & Ruth (McKay) Pfeil.  

The New Prague Area School District’s board of directors have asked district taxpayers to support an additional $450 per student levy amounting to about $2 million in annual funding adjusted for inflation over the next 10 years.
It’s an important question, a big ask of taxpayers. We won’t suggest you should vote for it or against it. That’s a decision you get to make. We’ll only ask you make your decision based on facts and the answers to every good, tough and fair question you can think of.
That is your responsibility as one with the privilege of voting.

Friday afternoon Sept. 29, June Cox walked out of Casey’s in New Prague holding hands with her seven grandchildren. It was to mark her retirement after 39 years of working for the local gas station and convenience store, with 35 years as the manager of the business.
“I’m so excited,” said Cox, who is planning to spend time with her grandchildren who are between the ages of 3 to 12. Her grandchildren also know this as each wore a T-shirt that read, “Grandma’s time now belongs to me.”

Swimmers are by design aiming to be logging their best times at the end of the season. New Prague’s swimmers pulled off a pair of big wins in the past week, topping Waconia in a dual meet and winning an invitational at Simley.
After yesterday’s dual meet at Chanhassen, Oct. 11, the Trojans will be at the True Team section meet Saturday at Rochester Century High School. Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., New Prague will be at home for its final meet of the season against Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

The New Prague High School boys’ soccer team made a lone goal in the first half stand up against top-seeded Rochester Mayo Thursday, Oct. 12, to win a spot in the section championship game Tuesday at Trojan Stadium.
The Trojans will host Lakeville North Oct. 17 in the Section 1AAA championship title tilt. The match is tentatively slated for an 8 p.m. start. State competition is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Oct. 24.
Kyan Hopke scored New Prague’s goal in the first half. Satchel Johnson assisted on the goal.

Olga Elaine Heffern, age 90, of Heidelberg, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Ridgeview Hospital in Le Sueur. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., service at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Jason Pollington officiating, all at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Olga was born on March 4, 1933 to Ole and Helen (Rassmusen) Skogstad. She was baptized and confirmed at Bear Creek Lutheran Church in Grand Meadow, MN. She was united in marriage to John Robert Heffern on July 3, 1953 in Osage, IA.

James “Jim” Matthew Skluzacek, age 84, of Montgomery passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, peacefully at home. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 8 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 9, at 10:30 a.m. with visitation one and half hour prior at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Burial will be held at a later date. Military Honors will be provided by the Montgomery Area Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

According to a press release from the Montgomery Police Department, a worker at Seneca Foods plant in Montgomery died early Thursday morning.
The release said that a call came in at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5 for “a report of an employee that had been trapped by falling items located in a warehouse.” The release said the employee died from the injuries sustained in the incident.
Montgomery Police, Le Sueur County Sheriff, Montgomery Area EMS, and Montgomery Fire Department were all dispatched to the scene.

Brian Lee Efta, 64, of Jordan, passed away surrounded by family on September 25, 2023 after dealing with years of failing health. 
Brian was born on December 21, 1958 in Shakopee, MN to Jerry and Joan Efta. He grew up in St. Patrick and attended New Prague Area Schools. 
Brian worked doing masonry and asphalt. He eventually obtained a CDL license and drove different types of trucks. 
Throughout his life, Brian enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brothers as well as spending time at the family cabin.

Joan Monica (Simon) Zuk, age 90, of Fridley, MN, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2023 at home with family. Joan was born December 31, 1932. Joan grew up in New Prague, MN, went to nursing school at St. Mary's Hospital and graduated in 1953. She married Carl Zuk in 1958 (65 years!) She was a devout Catholic and a member of the Church of St. William in Fridley for 60 years. She was a woman of immense love, compassion and faith leaving behind a legacy that will be forever cherished by all of us who knew her. Our lives have been shaped by her wisdom and love.

Exciting and stressful were two words used to describe the work on New Prague’s ninth Habitat for Humanity house. Habitat for Humanity South Central Minnesota out of Mankato and the New Prague branch of the organization held a home dedication ceremony for Brittney LaVigne and her family Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Ground was broken nearly a year ago in October on the house along NW Second Avenue. In that time, volunteers have helped build the three-bedroom house for LaVigne and her two children, Aubrie, 6, and Robbie, nearly 4.

They started in leased space in Lonsdale, two brothers working hard to build a company they could be proud to carry the family name.

The occasional meeting of the Get The Heck Off My Lawn Society will now come to order.
Today’s agenda includes a rant on how a business uses technology to serve more people efficiently, while at the same time telling those not ready to embrace a certain level of technology, sorry, this is the way things are: Get on board or get out of the way and go someplace else.

Glen J. Schoenbauer, age 86, of New Prague, died peacefully with his family at his side on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at his home.  Glen was born on April 25, 1937, on the family farm in Helena Township to Joseph B. and Rose L. (Tuma) Schoenbauer.  He graduated from St. Wenceslaus Parochial School and New Prague High School and entered the US Army, where he served for 2 years.  Glen met Margaret M. Kes at a Halloween dance and the two were married on August 19, 1961 at St.

New Prague High School’s cross-country runners are continuing to hone their skills in preparation for the big meets late in the season.
After hosting its lone home meet of the season Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, the Trojans will be at Owatonna Thursday, Oct. 5, 4 p.m., and Jordan High School Tuesday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m.
Girls take fifth The NPHS girls finished fifth in the 11-team race Saturday, Sept. 23, at Chippewa Middle School in Mounds in Mounds View.