Lawrence J. Schoenbauer, age 94, of New Prague, died unexpectedly at his home, on Friday, November 22, 2024.  Lawrence was born on September 9, 1930, on the family farm in Helena Township, Scott County, MN, to Joseph B. and Rose L. (Tuma) Schoenbauer.  He met the woman that he would spend his life with at the country school they attended.  He and Mae Ann Kubes were married on September 24, 1955, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  

Larry Paul Lehman, age 68, of Le Sueur, died suddenly on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Ridgeview Medical Center in Le Sueur. Memorial services will be on Monday, December 2, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Le Sueur. Visitation will be at the church that morning, one hour prior. Burial will be at a later time at the Tyrone-Salem Cemetery. Lunch will follow immediately after the service. 

Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, along with the Mounted Posse and The Sheriff’s Youth Project, have once again come together to launch the project, “Believe in the Magic of Christmas.”
The project “will provide an opportunity for our community to come together and spread a little Christmas Magic for a very deserving family.”

Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at approximately 10:21 p.m., the Scott County 911 Dispatch Center received a report of an armed robbery at the Red Fox Tavern, located on the 22815 block of Pillsbury Ave. in New Market Township.
The suspect entered the establishment, demanded cash, and left the scene on foot after obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Two employees were present during the incident and no injuries were reported.

Joe Johnson
Rice County Emergency Management Director
As winter approaches, it's critical to prepare for extreme cold, snow, and icy conditions. These storms can last a few hours or several days and cut off heat, power, and communication. 
Winter storms create a higher risk of car crashes, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, residential fires, and heart attacks from overexertion. 
To ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared, follows these steps: 

Steve A. Simon, age 78, of Montgomery, died unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Steve was born on October 1, 1946, in Sioux City, IA, to Andrew and Clara (James) Simon.  He proudly graduated from Central High School in Sioux City and then went on to accomplish both his Bachelor of Science and MBA from the University of South Dakota.  

New Prague and the area will be represented by a DFLer who successfully navigated her first re-election bid and a police chief making his initial bid for state elected office.

Ronald Joseph Larson, age 84, of New Prague, died peacefully with his family at his side on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at St. Gertrude’s Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Ron was born on the family farm near Brooten on July 9, 1940, to Walter and Bette (McDermond) Larson.  Born at 1 ½ pounds, he was given a slim chance at survival, but he defied the odds and that determination would chart the rest of his life!  

Brian Zaun, age 60, of Shakopee, Minnesota, entered eternal life on Monday, November 11, 2024, in Shakopee.
Brian was born in Shakopee on November 4, 1964, the son of Alfred and Ann (Sirek) Zaun. He was very happy at his home in Eden Prairie, MN, at Lotus View, and made many friends there. In his younger years, Brian worked at the Chaps Thrift Store in Burnsville, MN, and then worked as a custodian at St. Patrick's Tavern in rural New Prague, MN.

New Prague High School’s girls volleyball team went up against a challenging Lakeville North team in the Section 1AAAA semifinals Wednesday, Oct. 30. The Trojans fought hard, but their season ended in a 3-1 setback.
“Our match against Lakeville North was a great challenge, and it was great to see each player rise to the occasion,” said New Prague head coach Greg Sayuk.
The Panthers won the first set, 25-11.

Christopher Lee Shimota, age 42, died unexpectedly on November 8, 2024. He will be deeply missed by all who loved him. Chris was born on January 7, 1982, in Northfield, to Allen and Joyce (Odette) Shimota. He was raised in rural Prior Lake and graduated from Jordan High School in 2000. He worked on the family farm, where he learned skills, including sandblasting and heavy equipment painting, which became his occupation along with welding.

He remembers members of the honor guard at a veterans’ funeral several years ago. Their presence meant a lot to the family of the former soldier. It told the family their loved one’s service was not forgotten. John Giesen took that memory and uses it to fuel an unyielding commitment to remember, to honor, the community’s veterans.
“There was an opening so I did not have to wait,” Giesen said. “The families of the veterans, they all really enjoy it.”

New Prague’s elected mayor in 2026 will serve for four years after the city council adjusted the mayor’s term from two to four years at its Oct. 21 meeting.

In observance of Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 11, New Prague Area School District 721, St. Wenceslaus School, Praha Village, and Mala Strana Rehabilitation and Care Center, have scheduled programs over two days. The events are being held Friday, Nov. 8, and Tuesday, Nov. 12, as schools will be closed Nov. 11.
The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard will participate in, and present our nation’s colors at all scheduled observances listed. All New Prague area veterans are welcome and encouraged to attend any or all of the observances scheduled.

A single-ballot distribution error on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Public Works facility and a subsequent ballot scanning
machine malfunction will have Scott County re-scanning the proper ballots for approximately 13,000 ballots beginning at 4 p.m. today (Friday, Nov. 8).
All potentially affected candidates have been updated on the situation, which may or may not still result in a recount.

The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard and St. Wenceslaus School students observe Veterans Day Friday morning, Nov. 8, at the New Prague Veterans Memorial. The ceremony honored those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Friday was one of two days for Veterans Day observances. The second day will be Tuesday, Nov. 12, with ceremonies at New Prague’s three elementary schools, plus Praha Village senior apartments and Mala Strana Rehabilitation and Care Center. For more on Veterans Day observances see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher photo)