It was a busy morning at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague as people were lined up to enjoy the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24. There were 40 people having meals at the church along Main Street, plus 22 meals were to go. The dinner started at 11 a.m. and goes until 1 p.m. Organizers were glad to have an in person meal after having a drive thru event for two years where people could pick up ingredients to make a Thanksgiving meal at home. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Nearly three dozen New Prague falls sports athletes and a couple of Trojan teams have received post-season honors in their respective sports.
Two athletes were named one of the best in their sports athletically and academically.

On any holiday when she was home visiting, Larissa Schmitz might sit down and watch a movie with her family and this year would be no different. But this year, the New Prague High School graduate will be in the movie.
Schmitz and her husband, Jake Klehr, will be watching “A Holiday Spectacular” on the Hallmark Channel Sunday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m.
Set in 1958, the film is the story of Maggie, an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true.

They say the world is becoming more modern all the time and technology will make things more convenient. Oh really?
Wednesday, a trip to the University of Minnesota for a state swimming meet. While driving to the ‘U’ is no big deal, a byproduct of growing up in St. Paul, there is always some trepidation over parking. It’s never easy, especially on a campus with 40-plus thousand people on it and major sporting venues.

Colleen Flynn is very thankful this year. She went through drugs and alcohol treatment and is now seven years clean and sober. She now has a better relationship with her family, is engaged and is now helping others.
“I now have a whole new way of learning to live,” said Flynn, 41, who grew up in Belle Plaine and now lives in Montgomery. On a Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 16, she detailed her life in the office of Tim Price, of Faith, Recovery & Music at New Day Church in New Prague. Flynn has been working with Price’s ministry helping people who deal with addiction.

George Patrick Luskey, age 74, of Shakopee, MN, died on Friday, November 18, 2022 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 218 W. 2nd Street, Chaska. The visitation will be held the evening prior at the Bertas Funeral Home, 200 West Third Street, Chaska. The burial will be at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery in Le Sueur, MN. 
For dates and time please visit: www.bertasfh.com
A full notice will appear in next week's paper.

Evelyn M. Novak, age 93, of Veseli, died peacefully on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center, New Prague, MN.  Born in Wheatland Township, Rice County on April 5, 1929, she was the daughter of Adolph and Rose (Machacek) Voracek.  She was raised on the family farm outside of Veseli, attended Holy Trinity School in Veseli, and graduated from New Prague High School.

New Prague's Payten Schieffer placed 5th in the Class A State 100-yard butterfly competition. She also finished 8th in the 200-yard freestyle consolation finals.
New Prague's Nellie Dalsin placed 3rd in the4 Class A State Diving Competition Friday, Nov. 18 at the University of Minnesota. Ava Bruegger placed 14th overall in the same event.

Theodore “Ted” Simon, age 90, of New Prague, died peacefully, with his family at his side on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at St. Francis Medical Center in Shakopee.  Ted was born on March 13, 1932 in Wheatland Township, Rice County, Minnesota to James J. and Mary A. (Kubes) Simon.  He grew up on the family farm near Veseli and graduated from New Prague High School. After serving in the US Army, he married his best friend and the love of his life, Lorraine A.

Two vehicles collided Thursday morning shortly before 8 a.m. on icy roads between New Prague and Montgomery.
The accident occurred just south of Minnesota 13 and 300th Street South. According to the Minnesota State Patrol report, a 2009 Ford Explorer driven by Robert Shippman of New Prague and a 2002 Oldmobile Bravada driven by Katie Young of Buffalo ended up in the west ditch. Young was taken by ambulance to Mayo Clinic Health Systems in New Prague with non-life threatening injuries. Shippman sustained no injuries. Both parties were wearing their seat belts.

Russel “Roscoe” Robert Vohnoutka, age 54, of Lonsdale, died unexpectedly at home on Sunday, November 13, 2022.  Russ was born in New Prague on August 25, 1968 to Joseph and Eraina (Stopski) Vohnoutka.  He graduated from New Prague High School and was currently working as a utility line surveyor for Vannguard Utility Partners.

Jane Busch, age 92, of New Prague, formerly of St. Benedict, died peacefully on Friday, November 11, 2022 at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Born in Belle Plaine Township on November 26, 1929, she was the daughter of Peter and Anna (Bartusek) Neisen.  She was raised on the family farm near Union Hill, MN, attended a country schoolhouse, and graduated from New Prague High School.

The New Prague High School girls' swimming and diving team advanced a dozen swimmers and divers in six events to the state meet next week at the University of Minnesota while claiming its first-ever section team championship tonight in Rochester.

Major Rev. Eugene Theisen (US Air Force, retired), center, talks to students at St. Wenceslaus School during Veterans Day Friday, Nov. 11. Behind him are members of the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard. Rev. Theisen spoke about his experiences as a chaplain in the Air Force and answered questions from the students and their parents that attended the Veterans Day service.
The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard attended ceremonies at area schools and local nursing homes on both Thursday, Nov. 10, and Nov. 11.

After weeks of campaigning, door-knocking, meeting voters, handing out literature, presenting information and answering questions, voters finally had their say Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Polls closed several hours after The New Prague Times went to press. Results in local contested races between candidates are listed below. Details of precinct-level results will be available in the Nov. 17 print edition of The Times.
Results from contested races include:
New Prague Area School Board

Heather Nichole Nelson (Traver), 43, of New Prague, died Monday, October 17, 2022. Born in Fussa,Tokyo, Japan. She was a GSR at Coborns and loved being outdoors, fishing and being with her family.