After a fierce six-week landscape design showdown set in the whimsical world of topiary, Minnesota-based botanical mosaic artist Meghan Petricka was crowned the "Clipped" champion of the freshest competition series on discovery+.
Judges crowned Petricka as the last topiarist standing, winner of $50,000 cash and bragging rights as the first-ever "Clipped" champion.
Petricka is a 2002 Montgomery-Lonsdale High School graduate, the daughter of Donald and JoAnn Petricka, and the 2001 Kolacky Queen. For more, pick up the print edition.

Spider-Man, left, was a surprise guest for Christian Stage at Home Town Bats’ Home Run Derby the evening of Friday, June 18, at Union Hill Ballpark, west of New Prague. Christian, the son of Nick and Joan Stage of Lonsdale, is a big fan of superheroes. His family are the beneficiaries of the annual fundraiser that features fun, food, games and members of the Dakota-Rice-Scott League slamming for the fences to get as many home runs as possible. For more see upcoming print issues of The New Prague Times and Montgomery Messenger. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Home Town Bats will be holding its fifth annual Home Run Derby at 6 p.m. this Friday, June 18, at Union Hill Ballpark, west of New Prague. The beneficiary of this year’s family friendly fundraiser is Christian Stage, the five year old son of Nick and Joan Stage of Lonsdale. He has three siblings, Preston, Anna and Brielle. Ted Nytes of Home Town Bats organizes Home Run Derby, which features batters from the Dakota- Rice-Scott League hitting for the fences to see who can slam the most home runs.

Due to high temperatures, extremely dry conditions and increased winds, the DNR and Rice County Sheriff’s Office instituted no open burning in Rice County on Thursday, June 17, 2021, starting at 5 p.m. until further notice.
The ban comes from Troy Dunn, Rice County Sheriff, and Jim Edgar, MN DNR Fire Program Forester.
The MN DNR has also put a burning ban on for Le Sueur County effective immediately. According to Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason, burning can resume tomorrow, Saturday, June 19.

A judge in Le Sueur County heard arguments Monday on a building the city has declared hazardous and wants torn down.
The building is located at 100 First Street South (corner of Vine Avenue and First Street).
Robert Whipps of the law firm Christian, Keogh, Moran & King represented the City of Montgomery. Montgomery resident, Francis Meger represented Bob Taraba, the property owner. Meger, who has the power of attorney for Taraba, stated he is in a nursing home and was unable to attend the proceedings.

Kathy Kramer has lived south of Lonsdale for more than 40 years, and she’s never eaten a Czech dumpling.
“Nope, never had one. I’m Swedish and German, and I’ve never had those dumplings either,” she said with a laugh.
Along with more than 30 other people from around the area, Kramer’s hands were deep in dumpling dough when the Czech Heritage Club hosted a free potato dumpling-making demonstration on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at Revival on Main in Montgomery.

After an absence of several years, bats are cracking for Legion ball.
The Tri-Cities Legion ball team kicked off its season Monday, June 7 in Le Center against Waterville-Elysian- Morristown. The team started its season with an 11-1 win over Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. The Titans scored two runs in the second inning, three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth.

I don’t know when it was, but somewhere between a day old and 33 years old, I learned to appreciate my dad for who he is; not for who I thought he should be. He was a great man, I always knew that. He was a hard-worker, volunteer, and faithful, and devoted husband to my mother.
But the truth is, God knew long before we showed up on this earth that we’d be a family. He knew my dad’s strengths and struggles would one day coalesce to create the man he became until he left the earth at 58-years-old in 1997. It was too short a journey, but one I reflect on every day.

Central Health Care of Le Center celebrated “Together” for National Skilled Nursing Care Week May 9 to 15, 2021.
The theme “Together” was just how the facility celebrated. That began with the staff and residents choosing Bill Rohlfing and Lori Jones as their King and Queen.
Tammy Plonsky, Activities Director, said the week was full of events like a “Relay for Life” fundraiser that involved as many people as possible.

St. Patrick won its 6th straight game Sunday, June 13, knocking off league-leading Union Hill, 4-1.
The Irish moved within one game of the Bulldogs with the victory. St. Patrick is 9-3, tied with Prior Lake for the second spot in the DRS Amateur Baseball League. Union Hill, winners of four of their last five, sits on top of the league with an 8-2 record.
Luke Tupy picked up the win for the Irish, pitching seven innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. He struck out 11 and walked one. Zach Seurer pitched the final two innings, striking out four.

From left, New Prague Mayor Duane Jirik, Czech Heritage Club members Vi Chromy, George Mikiska, Jan Kubista, Deputy Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Marit Lee Kucera, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, Czech Heritage Club members Jim Simon and Fred Simon stand in front of the Brana on New Prague’s east side the morning of Thursday, June 17. Kubista was visiting New Prague and Montgomery with stops at historic sites. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Before the seniors of TCU Class of 2021 entered the real world after graduation, they received some interview training at an event that brought in business professionals from around the area.
The TCU High School Real World Communications Class conducted Mock Interviews on May 11 in the high school gym. Danielle Duffey, Workforce Development Coordinator, said the event was one of first in-person, yet still social-distanced workforce development events this spring due to COVID.

Union Hill and St. Patrick are riding impressive win streaks as they start to make their way to the top of the DRS Amateur Baseball standings.
Union Hill has won six straight games and it 1/2 game behind Faribault with a 6-1 record. St. Patrick has won three straight games and improves to 6-3 overall, 1 1/2 games back of the Lakers.
Both Union Hill and St. Patrick were helped out when St. Benedict upset Faribault, 4-3 Friday, June 4.
Prior Lake holds down the third spot in the league with a 7-2 record.

TCU had a couple of champions in the Subsection 7 Track and Field Championship held at Le Sueur-Henderson High School on June 3.
Among the first place finishers were Marco Reyes in the 400-meter dash, and Jordan Meyer in the 110-meter hurdles.
The runners-up were the girls and boys 4x800 relay teams, which both placed second. Charlotte Houn finished second in the 100M hurdles, and Jordan Meyer crossed the finish line in second place in the 300M hurdles. Yasmin Ruiz also finished second in the 800M run, and Reyes took second in the 200M dash.

Montgomery Music in the Park tonight has been MOVED to the Montgomery American Legion Post at 7 p.m. due to the heat advisory!
Tonight's music will be by the Mary Guentzel Quintet. This group performs the great standards from the 30s and 40s, along with select favorites from more recent decades.
Organizers hope everyone can join them inside for some great music!

A Montgomery man faces felony charges after he and a female victim were found naked in Sand Creek in Jordan following a car crash into the creek on Wednesday, June 2.
According to a summary of the incident provided by the Jordan Police Department, Jared Scott Herman, 38, of Montgomery was arrested at the scene and is in Scott County Jail facing two felony charges—second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and felony terroristic threats.