Claretta M. Schmitz, age 89, of Montgomery, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, August 16, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital New Prague. Claretta was born on July 2, 1930 in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska to Anton and Christina (Niebur) Dohmen. The family moved to New Prague when Claretta was in 9th grade and she graduated from New Prague High School. She married Richard M. Schmitz on April 25, 1950 at St. Wenceslaus Church and the couple made their home on a farm near St. Benedict where they raised their six children.

Tom Goetzinger, longtime station manager at KCHK Radio, has been named grand marshall for the 2019 Dozinky Parade of Farm Pride.
The New Prague Chamber of Commerce made the announcement Friday, Aug. 16, after the Chamber board of directors made the selection.
Goetzinger has been active in promoting Polka Music at the station, which is celebrating its 50th year on the air this year.
He is pictured with Chamber Executive Director Brooke Sticha when they surprised Goetzinger at the Radio Station with the announcement.
Read more in the print edition.

New Market earned the Region 3C Championship and a first-round bye at the State Class C Baseball tournament with a 3-1 win over Prior Lake Friday, Aug. 9. The tournament begins Friday, Aug. 16, at Delano, Maple Lake and Dassel.
The Muskies earned the bye for the second straight season. They will begin their quest for a state championship Sunday, Aug. 25, at 4:30 p.m. at Maple Lake, playing either Carver or Luverne.

Le Sueur County Historical Society has shed its vacant Waterville property and is focusing on the future.
The announcement of the sale was made during the society’s August 7 regular meeting in Montgomery.
“I have no idea what they (previous LCHS board members) were going to do with it, and it’s no use to us. It’s a drag financially as it’s taxable as a regular dwelling, so no reduced taxes, and we can’t afford to keep it,” stated LCHS Chairman Bill Stangler.

George Marvin Korbel Jr., age 80, of Kilkenny, died on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 18 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with Holy Redeemer Knights of Columbus service at 6:30 at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehause officiating with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

This week’s issue of The New Prague Times features our Back to School Section.
The section includes messages from principals and administrators from area schools, talking about all the new and exciting things going on.

The New Prague Times Patrick Goggins of New Prague was sworn in as a Judge of the First Judicial District during an investiture ceremony Thursday, Aug. 8, at Next Chapter Winery in rural New Prague.
Judge Christopher Neisen, a former law partner of Goggins and a Judge in the Third Judicial District, had the honor of administering the oath.
The program began with a procession of approximately 30 judges and justices from the State of Minnesota. Among them was Judge Goggins’ sister, Colleen Goggins King, who is also a Judge in the First Judicial District.

New Prague had some visitors from the Czech Republic on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Four university students who are spending the summer working at Valleyfair were in town, hoping to find signs of the community’s Czech heritage and perhaps some Czech food. They stopped by The New Prague Times office, hoping for guidance.
Two of the students - Richard Sramek and Zaneta Paskerova, are from Ostara in the Czech Republic. The other two, Oleksandr Borofskyi and Valeriia Podolian, are from Ukraine, but are attending school in Prague.

Clarence Thomas Bruzek, 81, died Wednesday, 7 August 2019 at home. He was born in New Prague, Minnesota 18 August 1937, son of the late Jacob J. and Emma (Chlan) Bruzek.

George R. Novotny, age 85, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center.  George was born on July 29, 1934 in Helena Township, Scott County, MN to Wencel F.

Harold A. Pass, age 85 of Shakopee, MN, entered eternal life on Monday, August 12, 2019 at his home. 
Harold was born July 10, 1934 in Shakopee, the son of Theodore "Ted" and Catherine (Gelhaye) Pass. He is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves, and was proud to be a member of the Father Lucian Galtier Assembly of the Shakopee Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus #1685. 

Heaven has gained an amazing person.  Alfred James (Jim) Snackenberg, age 71, of New Prague, passed away peacefully with his wife by his side early Sunday morning, August 11, 2019.  He was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2012 and had resided at Oak Terrace Jordan Memory Care since July 2017.

Brackets were released Sunday evening for the State Class C Baseball Baseball Tournament, which begins Friday, Aug. 16, at Maple Lake and Delano.
Three of the four Dakota-Rice-Scott/Region 3C qualifiers, St. Patrick, St. Benedict and Prior Lake, will be in action this weekend with the fourth, New Market, getting a bye into the second round.
St. Patrick will open the tournament in Delano on Friday. The No. 2 seed from Region 3C will face Cold Spring, the fourth seed from Region 11C, at 7:30 p.m.

Katherine Ann Sevcik, age 67, of Shorewood, MN, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at NC Little Hospice Home in Edina, MN.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, 11:00 AM at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN.  The family will receive friends starting at 9:30 AM. Inturnment will be at 4:30 PM that aftternoon at Calvary Cemetery in Lonsdale, MN.

Joseph R Dvorak, Jr., age 85, of Jordan, MN, died peacefully on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Mala Strana in New Prague, MN, due to his battle with Multiple Myeloma cancer.
    Joe was born April 30, 1934 in New Prague to Joseph Sr. & Anna (Lunak) Dvorak. He grew up on their farm in Jordan, MN along with 4 siblings. Joe attended District 22 Elementary School in Scott Co. & Jordan Public Schools. He married his first wife in 1954 and had his only child, Donald in 1956.  He married his wife LaVene (Harrell) in 1974 and helped raise her four children.

Lorraine Catherine Wermerskirchen, age 95 died peacefully on August 7, 2019 at Friendship Manor Health Care Center in Shakopee.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, August 16th  at 11am with visitation from 9:30-11am all at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan. Lorraine will be laid to rest next to her husband Frances at Calvary Cemetery in Jordan.
Lorraine was born on April 8, 1924 to parents, Math and Catherine (Mais) Huss. She grew up on the family farm in Union Hill. She was a graduate of New Prague high school.