New Prague Trojans vs Rochester Spartans game moved to TONIGHT, 9/17
Due to weather forcasted for tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 18, the Trojan football game has moved from Friday night to TONIGHT, Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Rochester.
Apartment death in Lonsdale suspected suicide
A 911 call on Friday, Sept. 2, at MGM Apartments in Lonsdale, 321 Southeast 1st Avenue, is a suspected suicide.
Ferris wheel part of Yahrzeit celebration in memory of cancer victim
Many around the area noticed the out-of-place Ferris wheel on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Next Chapter Winery between New Prague and Montgomery, especially after the lights came on at night.
Le Sueur County looks to set low budget increase for 2027
At first, it appeared as if Le Sueur County would need to set a considerable increase in levy rates going into next year.
NP swimmers, divers aiming to be at their best when it matters most
When New Prague’s girls’ swimming and diving team takes to the pool Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., at the New Prague Aquatic Center against St.
He left us way too young doing exactly what he loved
His best days were spent on a dirt bike, on some other form of motorized machine or in the garage building or improving anything with a motor he could make run better.
Farmers can learn about strip tillage Sept. 9
Are you or farmers you work with looking for ways to reduce input costs while maintaining yield and improving resilience?
Union Hill thumps Princeton in Class B state tournament opener
Union Hill opened its state tournament run with the nearperfect blend of pitching, defense and offense in a 10-2 win over Princeton. It’s exactly what the Bulldogs wanted.
Beckett Thomas Kes, son of Rebecca and Blake Kes of New Prague, is the first baby of 2026 and the winner of The New Prague Times’ New Year’s Baby Contest. Beckett was born Sunday, Jan. 4, at 1:05 p.m. and was 20 1/2 inches long and 7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth.
Older sister Paxton, age 3, welcomed her new brother. “She is excited to be a helper,” said Blake. “She’s ready for him to be playing, but he’s not ready yet.”
For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.
New Prague’s gymnasts view the season as a process, a journey where they aim to be at their best at the end of the season when the meets are the most important. Saturday (Jan. 3), NP took second at the Matt Shetka Invitational.
The second-place finish represents steady improvement by a young team working to be better each time out, said coach Darrell Christenson.
New Prague High School’s boys’ basketball team had two wins and a loss in the last week. At the Lakeville North Holiday Tournament, the Trojans lost to Lakeville North, 89-68, Monday, Dec. 29. The next day at the tourney, Tuesday, Dec. 30, New Prague defeated Rochester John Marshall, 65-54. The Trojans then won, 75-54, at Mankato West Friday, Jan. 2.
New Prague was at the Academy of Holy Angels, Tuesday, Jan. 6. Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. the Trojans host Rochester Century. New Prague will be at Chaska Tuesday, Jan. 13, for a 7 p.m. game.
New Prague High School’s wrestling team did well at the Rumble on the Red wrestling tournament at Fargo, N.D. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2 and 3.
Overall the Trojans wrestled well as they placed 10th in the varsity section, said New Prague head coach Dan Wagner, adding there were a total of 133 teams between varsity, junior varsity and girls teams. Plus the tournament had 1,923 total wrestlers, Wagner said. New Prague also had four place winners, two in the boys varsity division and two in the girls division, said Wagner.
New Prague High School’s theatre department is busy with rehearsals for its one-act play, “The Perfect Ending,” by B. Dwayne Craft. The actors began with its first readthrough Dec. 2.
The start of the new year also brought a change in ownership at Cedar Press Coffee on New Prague’s Main Street. Rachel Cannon and her husband, Stephan, sold the business to Patty and David Peterson of Montgomery.
Monday, Jan. 5, the coffee shop reopened under the ownership of the Petersons. The Cannons had bought the business three years ago and renovated it. They had bought the coffee shop from the previous owner, who was also named Patty Peterson, but has no relation to the new owners.
Bruce Johnson passed away at the age of 68 on December 31, 2025. He was born on April 27, 1957. He was born to Eldon and Edna Johnson. He married Joan Ginter on June 2, 1984. They had one daughter Elizabeth in 1989. He graduated from Minnehaha Academy.
His grandkids were his pride and joy. He enjoyed watching TV and playing games on his tablet. He was on dialysis and had many other health issues for a long time before his passing.
Esther Grace Kabes, age 99, of New Prague, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center, just two weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
Virginia A. “Ginny” Mahowald, 98, of New Prague, died peacefully on December 31, 2025, at Praha Village. Ginny was born on June 8, 1927, in New Prague, Minnesota, to George and Rose (Holec) Layne. She attended St. Wenceslaus Grade School, New Prague High School, and the College of St. Catherine, graduating with a degree in nutrition and dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota and later married her childhood sweetheart, Allen Mahowald. Together they made their home in New Prague, spending summers at Cedar Lake.
Robert “Bob” Kubes, 83, of Webster, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at home on December 29, 2025.
FaithPoint Lutheran Church and its members will be welcoming a new leader this week as Pastor Wes Asheim arrives Monday, Jan. 5.
After weeks of discussion and adjustments, Elko New Market city councilors approved a budget and property tax levy for 2026.
The council OK’d the city’s 2026 property tax levy at its Dec. 18 meeting. The general fund budget will increase from $3,297,590 to $3,849,687 – an increase of $447,903 or 15.72%. The city’s total levy will increase by $490,823 to $4,238,383 – an increase of 13.1%.
During the halftime at the 66th annual Sno-Bowl game, members of the Ptarmigans reminded each other their namesake are birds of a feather that fly together. The message energized the team as the Ptarmigans rallied to a hard-fought 12-6 victory in the latest edition of the storied rivalry with the Polars.
At a meeting of the Le Sueur County Officials Association, State Senator Rich Draheim (22, R) and State Rep. Terry Stier (22B, R) were present to share information from the state legislature that affects the area. The meeting was held Dec. 3 at Le Sueur City Hall.
“I don’t want to say it was the most confusing year, but probably the most uncertain year I have seen in my nine years,” Draheim said, noting the size of the state government has tripled in funding since he took office in 2017.
With three upcoming non-conference games, the NP boys ice hockey team is looking to round into form in time for the MetroWest schedule starting next week.
The Trojans will face longtime rival Northfield tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 2, 7:15 p.m., in Northfield. Monday, Jan. 5, 7:15 p.m., New Prague will host Hutchinson followed by a trip to face Kasson-Mantorville Tuesday, Jan. Jan. 6, 7 p.m., at the Dodge County Ice Arena.
With six games remaining on its regular-season schedule, the New Prague High School floor hockey team is ready to get back to work on its drive for a return trip to the state tournament and a possible defense of its state championship.
At 4-0, New Prague will host Mankato Wednesday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m., at the Community Eucation Center. The game is the first of a three-game run at home. The Trojans will face Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka Monday, Jan. 12, 4:30 p.m., followed by a showdown game against an old rival, Dakota United Wednesday, Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m., in NP.
