Monica S. Straiton, age 96, of Waconia, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society in Waconia. She was born a twin, the younger of the two, on June 28, 1926 in Mendota to Martin and Susan (Hart) Stevens. She grew up in Westbrook, MN, where she graduated from Westbrook High School. She and her sister enjoyed sports throughout their lives and were active as majorettes in high school, one of the few sporting activities available to girls. They were both on the softball team for Norwest Bank, Monica as the pitcher.

Area residents looking for ways to celebrate the Fourth of July, there are several options.
New Prague will have fireworks the evening of Sunday, July 3, east of New Prague Middle School. The American Legion Post 45 Park Ballroom and Jeff Belzer’s are sponsoring the fireworks show. Before the fireworks people can get treats from Dawgs on the Run, Kona Ice and Cookie Dough Bliss. Linda Fahrenkamp will sing the National Anthem to begin the show, with fireworks at 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 25, was a beautiful evening in more than one way at Union Hill during the Home Town Bats’ Sixth annual Home Run Derby. Sun and warm temperatures in the 80s, plus a good cause, brought a large crowd together to help the Tiede family of Le Center.

This coming Monday is the Fourth of July. A time for gatherings, parades, picnics and fireworks. It is a celebration of when the United States declared its independence from the United Kingdom.
The Declaration of Independence was a document that basically said a people of a nation had a right to choose their leaders. Before that, most nations had been ruled by a king, queen or emperor. The idea put forth by a group of men in Philadelphia that the common people would get to choose their representatives and their president had not really been seen.

A parade of more than 60 tractors rolled through Union Hill Saturday morning as part of the annual Henderson Tractor Ride, which is part of Henderson’s Sauerkraut Days celebration. The caravan of red, blue, and green tractors began at the Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Showgrounds, traveled through St. Thomas, enjoyed a pitstop at Union Hill, and wound through Belle Plaine and Jessenland before proudly rolling into Henderson.

A new facility by Inspire Services, LLC has opened locally and is ready to help people seeking mental health care, counseling, treatment for substance use, or psychological evaluations.
The facility is located at 32298 State Highway 13 in Montgomery and is referred to as “Lakeside,” a nod to the site’s 25-year occupant.

Two upsets by the New Prague Adapted CI Division Softball Team led to a runner-up finish for the Trojans in the MSHSL State Tournament the first weekend in June.
New Prague, the No. 4 South Seed in the 2022 Adapted CI Division State Tournament recorded an upset with a 22-14 victory over No. 1 North seed North Suburban in the quarterfinals Friday, June 3.

Montgomery Mallard Ryan Iverson blasted four home runs and knocked in 10 runs in the Mallard’s 22- 18 DRS Baseball League win over Veseli Sunday, June 26.
The game featured nine total home runs. Matt Friedges had three hits, including two home runs, scored four runs, and knocked in seven for Veseli. Also hitting a home run for the Warriors was Matt Perkinson. Luke Shepard and Riley Schaeffer each added three hits.
Tom Flicek and Tyler Bednar hit long balls for the Mallards. Derek Christenson pitched the final five innings in relief for the win.

Josie Ploetz, age 80 of Belle Plaine, passed away June 23, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Eden Prairie. Fr. Roger Hessian will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine and continue one hour prior to Mass at church on Friday morning. Memorials are preferred to Belle Plaine Dollars for Scholars in lieu of flowers.

Kim (Palmquist) McGovern, age 51, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
Memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at the St. Peter Funeral Home, 906 N. Washington Ave, St. Peter. Private service will be held for the family.

LaVonne K. Erickson, age 74, of Faribault, MN, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022, at Faribault Senior Living with her family at her side.

Elko New Market’s Fire Rescue Days Community Parade on Saturday, June 25, had a large turnout as people lined up to see the many entries in the annual parade down Main Street. Vehicles from the Elko New Market Fire Department closed the parade. Fire Rescue Days continues this evening with the ARCA Menards Series Race at Elko Speedway and a street dance at the Doublewide parking lot. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Brian Edel, a 1999 graduate of New Prague High School, has been selected as the new principal of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis and will begin his tenure on Friday, July 1. Edel, son of Bruce and Jean Edel of New Prague, has been a teacher, coach and moderator at schools in Minnesota and Connecticut. Edel is coming to DeLaSalle after serving as an administrator for the past 11 years at St. Thomas Academy.

Thomas E. Hanzel, age 78, of New Prague died peacefully with his family at his side on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital New Prague.  Tom was born on July 16, 1943 in Mankato to Louis and Joella (Berg) Hanzel.  The family moved frequently with Louis’s job with the mill, finally settling in New Prague, where Tom completed his high school education, graduating from NPHS as the only NP athlete to letter in four sports in one school year.  He went on to Mankato State University, completing his bachelor’s degree.  He married his high school sweetheart, Deborah A.

Hometown Bats will hold its Sixth annual Home Run Derby, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, at Union Hill Ballpark, west of New Prague on Highway 19. The family-friendly event offers children’s games, food and drinks. It brings batters from DRS (Dakota, Rice, Scott) Baseball together to slam in as many homers and raise funds for an area family. This year’s Home Run Derby benefits Adeline Tiede, daughter of Jeremy Tiede and Jessica Lambrecht OF Le Center. Adeline, age 3, has two older sisters Mayta (12) and Lucy (6).