With one weekend of play remaining, New Market clinched first place in the Dakota-Rice-Scott standings and St. Patrick has clinched a first-round bye for the playoffs in games played through Sunday, July 14.

A tank from Chart Industries made its way through the second roundabout on New Prague’s Main Street the evening of Thursday, July 18. The tank was heading from Chart Industries on the west side of town and going east. It was the second one to go through the city this week as the first one went through on Tuesday, July 16. While not as tall as the first one, the second tank was longer and had to make turns slowly. For more on both tanks see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

When the new board of the Le Sueur County Historical Society took control on June 3, it inherited remarkable problems, among them old buildings with no heating/ cooling/ventilation and some with mold growing in the basement.

A tank from Chart Industries in New Prague made its way down Main Street at 10:19 p.m. the night of Tuesday, July 16. The tank was so tall that crews were out between 9-10 p.m. to move a stop light arm out of the way on the south east side of the intersection of Main Street and First Avenue SE. After the tank moved through at 10:23 p.m. crews put the stop light back in place. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Severe weather struck the area Monday evening, July 15. Heavy rain started in several waves around 6 p.m., and a tornado warning was issued for southern Scott County shortly after 7 p.m., when radar indicated a funnel cloud south of Belle Plaine. A farm near Belle Plaine lost several of its outbuildings due to the storm. Despite some ominous looking clouds, there was no tornado in the New Prague area, however heavy rain continued to fall for nearly an hour, and a flash flood warning was issued as some observers reported more than two inches of rain in a short time period.

Sylvia Turbett, age 80, of Gaylord passed away July 15, 2019, at The Lutheran Home of Belle Plaine in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. Memorial Service was held on Friday, July 19, 2019, 2:00 P.M. at the United Church of Christ in Gaylord with interment in Ferguson Cemetery, rural Norwood Young America, Minnesota, at a later date.
Clergy Officiating: Reverend Dr. Dennis McGee, Organist: Sandy Wentzloff, Soloist: Shannon Hruska, “Jealous Of The Angels”, “I Can Only Imagine”, Congregational Hymns: “Here I Am, Lord”, “Borning Cry”, “On Eagle’s Wings”, Urn Bearers: Grandchildren.

Violet Mae Patterson, age 85, of rural New Prague, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday, July 12, 2019, at her home. Vi was born on March 12, 1934 in Freeborn County, MN to Harry and Rose (Rebelien) Fink. She graduated from Albert Lea High School and shortly after graduation, married John Patterson at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They lived for a short time in Albert Lea and moved frequently before settling at their beloved farm in Derrynane Township in 1969.

Cancer survivors made the first lap at the 26th Annual Le Sueur County Relay for Life on Friday night, July 12, at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds in Le Center. The event, which celebrates the fight against cancer, remembers those who lost their battle with cancer, and raises money for the American Cancer Society, will be held until midnight. The closing ceremony will be at 12:45 a.m.
Pick up a copy of this week's paper to read more about local teams and their fight against cancer.

Carding a round of even par 71 at Woodhill Country Club Monday, New Prague’s Taylor Ledwein earned a share of medalist honors as well as a spot in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship next month.
A field of 50 golfers competed for five qualifying spots to this year’s national championship, which will be played August 5-11 at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss.

It takes more than just lighting off a few fireworks to make a memorable community wide fireworks display for Independence Day. In fact, the planning and executing for this year’s 4th of July celebrations in Lonsdale and Veseli began in January, according to the organizers of the Lonsdale Freedom Fireworks committee.

DRS season enters final two weekends With just two weekends remaining in the Dakota-Rice- Scott League regular season, the surging New Prague Orioles have won seven games in a row and have moved into the top four of the league standings. New Market continues to lead the league with an 18-1 record, while St. Patrick has solidified its hold on a playoff bye.

Next week, Tuesday, July 16, marks the beginning of County Fair season in the area. The Rice County Fair begins its six-day run in Faribault. The Scott County Fair will be held a week later, starting Wednesday, July 24, for five days in Jordan, and the Le Sueur County Fair will be held three weeks after that, starting Thursday, Aug. 15, for four days in Le Center.
Some elements of the fairs have changed over the years, but for many, it’s a place to gather with neighbors and people from throughout the area, celebrate the rural way of life and find out what’s new.

On Monday, July 1, Father Eugene Theisen became the Parochial Administrator for the New Prague Area Catholic Community. He takes over for Father Kevin Clinton who recently retired. He explained that it is policy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that when a priest is assigned to their first parish they are named a Parochial Administrator and after their first year they are named Pastor.

Next Tuesday, July 16, there will be several celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins’ launch from the Kennedy Space Center and their successful journey to the moon, landing on it and traveling back to Earth.

The Minnesota Valley Bowling Association held a Hall of Fame induction recently at the New Prague Knights of Columbus Hall.

Ludmilla (Ludy) Korbel, 88, of Montgomery passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 12 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be in St. Wencelsaus Cemetery in New Prague.
Ludmilla was born in New Prague on December 6, 1930, to Edward and Elizabeth (Minar) Korbel. She attended country school in rural New Prague and later graduated from New Prague High School.