Hope. That one word in the form of a tattoo led The O’Neill Foundation of Hope to help Kyle Schultz, who has ALS, receive a new motorized wheelchair.
“I was watching the news and I saw he had his van and wheelchair stolen,” said Ryan O’Neill who grew up in New Prague and founded the foundation, a private 501c3, with his brother, Tim, in 2022.
Schultz, 26, lives in St. Paul and has been dealing with ALS for two years. ALS is an incurable disease that weakens muscles over time and attacks the nervous system, eventually making walking and talking difficult.

James “Jim” H. Grassmann, age 75, peacefully entered eternal life on June 29, 2023. A Time of Gathering to honor Jim will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. with Closing Words & Prayers at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 104 First St W, Jordan, MN 55352. Interment Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan. 

Police, firefighters and medics responded to a motorcycle-vehicle crash along Highway 19 near its intersection with Lincoln Avenue Monday, July 17, just after 3 p.m. Details of the crash are not available.
A request for information has been placed with the New Prague Police Department.

LaVella Berger, 87, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Cura of Le Sueur Nursing Home in Le Sueur, Minnesota.
LaVella Arlene Berger was born on November 25, 1935, in Henning, Minnesota, the daughter of August and Belle (Halvorson) Loser.  She was baptized and confirmed in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning, attended Country School District #93 in Inman Township, and graduated from Henning High School in 1953.  After her graduation, she moved to Minneapolis and was employed with Northwestern National Bank for three years.

Kenneth M. “Pizza” Piazza, age 77, of New Prague, died suddenly while riding his bike close to his home at Cedar Lake on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.  Ken was born on February 16, 1946 in Joliet, IL to Mario and Anne (Belom) Piazza.  He graduated from Joliet High School and went on to attain his Bachelor’s degree from Central College in Pella, IA.  While in college he wrestled and played football competing in several bowl games and was named to the All Iowa Conference Football Team.  It was while he was in grad school at Mankato State College, that he met Jean H.

Hadley Dorick, left, Emmett Ryks and Malachi Watson enjoy treats from Dairy Queen in New Prague Friday, July 14. The three were the winners in the New Prague Police Department’s coloring contest of posters that celebrated the Fourth of July. For more see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)

He remembers the fear sweeping through his being in 2003 when he heard his wife had cancer. Two years later, Chris Smith heard a doctor direct those same words at him.

When he was 4 years old, Jay Williams introduced his son, Zack, to motocross racing. By the time he was 18, he won an amateur national championship. A year later, he turned professional and began racing for prize money.
He was initially attracted by the speed, the grit and determination of motocross racing. Later, Williams grew to appreciate the individual nature of the sport.
“You put the helmet on and it’s just you and the bike,” he said.

Demolition of the house at 208 Central Ave. N by Deutsch Construction began around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 28. By that evening, the roughly 100 year-old-house was gone and crews were spreading dirt around the site. Plans by the City of New Prague call for the spot to be seeded with grass.
The house had been rented by Irene Ellman and her late husband, Kenneth. The couple raised their three daughters in the house.

She never imagined an unexpected knock on the door in 1974 would start a friendship that would one day save her life.
Forty-eight years later, the two women remain close friends. They know the importance of sharing a gift and hope others will consider doing the same, be it for someone they care about or someone they’ve never met.
“Never did I think this girl would save my life,” Pat (Pumper) Christensen said. “She means everything to me. I was running out of options. I was running out of people.”

It’s almost like they had New Prague in mind. In addition to the biennial funding increase the Minnesota Legislature sent to school districts this spring, public schools were allowed to renew an expiring levy without voter approval. For some, it was a godsend.
In New Prague, the legislation allowed the school board to approve the $246.70 per levy one time for six years without voter approval. This is as close to free money as it gets.

Governor Tim Walz and Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen visited the Heldberg Dairy Farm, owned and operated by Karl Heldberg, south of Le Sueur the afternoon of July 6 to talk dairy and agriculture. The governor and commissioner spent a great length of time speaking with Heldberg and exchanging thoughts about farmers, their struggles and the state of the dairy industry in Minnesota.

James “Jim” Deutsch, age 80, formerly of Wells, MN, of Woodbury, MN died Thursday, June 22, 2023 at Prelude Assisted Living in Woodbury, MN. A Funeral Service with Military Honors will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Nasinec Funeral Home (789 Business Park Dr. Wells, MN 56097) with Father Greg Havel officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home (10:00 to 11:00 a.m.). Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Wells, MN. Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells is entrusted with arrangements.

Galen G. “Gater” George, age 71, of New Prague, Minnesota died unexpectedly at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital New Prague on Monday, March 27, 2023.  Gater was born on April 2, 1951 in Winfield, Kansas to Harold Gene and Molly (Larsson) George.  He grew up in the the Wichita area, served in the US Army and returned to Wichita before finally settling in New Prague about 10 years ago.  

St. Patrick’s Trevor Divinski and Ryan Friedges combined for a shutout win over the Orioles Wednesday, June 28, in New Prague.
The Irish jumped to a 2-0 lead in the opening frame and held New Prague scoreless. St. Patrick added another three runs in the seventh inning. Ben Taxdahl led the Irish offense with a two-run home run while Joe Weiers drove in two RBIs.

LeArnold “Lee” Klingberg, age 79, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away on July 1, 2023. A visitation will be on Thursday, July 6, 2023, from 4-7 p.m., at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake and on Friday, July 7, 2023, from 9:30-10:45 a.m., followed by a celebration of life, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Prior Lake. Interment at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.