Colonel Jacob C. Helgestad passed away on May 17, 2024, in Mankato, Minnesota, after a strong fight against cancer.  While his friends and family are shocked at the abrupt passing, they are grateful for every moment of his life. 

Richard F. Tikalsky, age 80, of New Prague, died peacefully at home with his family at his side on Friday, May 17, 2024.  Richard was born on March 3, 1944, in New Prague, to James and Bessie (Pikal) Tikalsky and attended New Prague Public Schools.  He married Jeanne A. Pumper on July 31, 1968, in Cleveland, Minnesota. He spent his career working as a roofer.  His favorite job, however, was probably driving bus for the Montgomery School District for the many special education students who graced his life.

“This is our first year doing a garage sale,” said Eric Novotny, Saturday morning, May 11. He was among several people participating in New Prague’s Citywide Garage Sales. In his yard and driveway along NE First Street, he had many articles for sale.
“We’ve got clothes, electronics, cookware, you name it,” he said.
He and his wife had seen other garage sales and they decided to take part this year. Novotny noted another reason is they’re expecting a child. “We’re making room in the house,” Novotny said.
The sale also had furniture and several knickknacks.

Shirlee Ann Muetzel, age 91, of Lonsdale, passed away peacefully May 14, 2024.
Shirlee was born August 12, 1932, to Harry Harvey Jahnke and Luella Adeline Lueck Jahnke, south of Olivia, MN. She attended school in Renville and Danube and graduated in 1950. Shirlee and her husband Maurice Milo Muetzel were married 61 years, Ruby and Lori were born to this union. Maurice passed November 3, 2014.

Even here in New Prague, we’ve started to see a few of the new state flags flying, some of them so new you can still see the crease marks from where they were folded for packaging.

The New Prague High School boys’ golf team enjoyed its best showing of the year Monday, finishing second at White Bear Yacht Club.
The Trojans finished a 12-team tournament in second place with a 312, just five shots off the top spot. Hill Murray won the event at 307, followed by the Trojans. Wayzata, finished third at 316, followed by Champlin Park (318), Totino-Grace (319), Buffalo (320), Simley (328), St. Michael-Albertville (329), Orono (332) and Hastings (334).

Seneca Foods Corporation in Montgomery has been issued a citation by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (MNDLI) and issued a penalty of $156,259 in regards to the incident which happened in the early morning hours of October 5, 2023, where 58-year-old worker Jose Luis Alvarado had items in a warehouse fall on top of him and he died from his injuries.

With a big win over Chaska last week, the New Prague High School softball team avenged a walk-off loss and moved to the top of the Metro West standings. The Trojans also won two of three games at a tournament in Mankato over the weekend, setting up a solid stretch run to the section playoffs.
New Prague opened the week at 13-3 overall, 9-2 in the always-grueling Metro West. Chaska is also 9-2 and 13-4 overall.

Aiming at what it deems fair and equitable compensation for employee groups, the New Prague School Board approved a series of master agreements with employee groups, contracts including increases in wages and benefits.

Beating Mahtomedi-Stillwater in its section contest last week, the New Prague High School indoor softball team advanced to a return trip to the state tournament where the Trojans open play tomorrow, Friday, May 17.
New Prague opens state tournament at 8 p.m. tomorrow night against St. Cloud at Chanhassen High School. If New Prague tops the sluggers, they’ll face the winner of the Dakota United vs. Chaska-Chanhassen-Shakopee-Prior Lake Saturday, May 18, noon, at Chanhassen High School in the tournament’s semifinals round.

By a 3-1 vote, the New Prague City Council decided at its May 6 meeting to take the next step with the city’s police station. Voting in favor were councilors Maggie Bass, Bruce Wolf and Rik Seiler with Councilor Shawn Ryan casting the single no vote. Mayor Duane Jirik was absent from the meeting.
City staff and Wold Architects and Engineers also came up with four scenarios concerning the police station and equipment for the fire and police departments. Tetzlaff noted as they move through the budgeting process the financial numbers will change. The four scenarios were:

Friday night into Saturday morning was a spectacle of the skies, even those within the city limits and outside of direct light, as the aurora borealis or northern lights put on a show for all to see.
People as far south as the Bahamas and southern California were able to see them outside of light polluted areas. Even within the Twin Cities metropolitan area the aurora was visible to the naked eye.

Jackie Zimmerman, age 93, of Le Center, MN, passed away on April 28, 2024, at Central Health Care Nursing Home in Le Center. A family gathering will be held to honor Jackie’s life. 
Jackie was born January 31, 1931, to Jacob and Jessie (Running) Lucksinger in Johnson, MN. Through her many years, she loved gardening and loved her family. She is now reunited in heaven with her loving husband, Kenny. She will be greatly missed.

Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in southern Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended the air quality alert for southern Minnesota. The alert now remains in effect until 11 p.m. on Monday, May 13. The affected area includes the Twin Cities metro, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Winona, Mankato, and the tribal nation of Prairie Island.

A Shoreview man, a passenger in a 2011 Hyundai, was killed Thursday afternoon, May 9, in a crash on Le Sueur County Road 3, just north of its intersection with County Road 29 in Lanesburgh Township.

We acquired a .22-caliber handgun for dispatching unwanted animals from the barn. Fortunately, we gave it away before ever needing to use it. We were always taught every gun is always loaded unless you personally see it is not loaded. The point of such counsel was to prevent the unthinkable. The advice came from an older brother, who owned many handguns all properly stored in a secured gun locker separate from ammunition.