The Gopher State Railway Museum, north of New Prague, held its annual Pumpkin Express event Saturday, Oct. 19. Youngsters from around the area turned up to see and ride the train, enjoy a snack and get a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch set up near the depot/ office. After running out last year, organizers made sure they had enough pumpkins, with more than 300 of them available. They said they had a great turnout, with warm, sunny weather greeting those who visited the museum.

A presentation on information concerning a possible rental dwelling license ordinance became a discussion during the New Prague City Council’s Monday, Oct. 21, meeting.

For a second year a Hops for Hope - Cure ALS fundraiser will be held at Giesenbrau Bier Co. in New Prague. The benefit for the Minnesota/North Dakota/ South Dakota Chapter of the ALS Association will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Giesenbrau Bier Co., 1306 First St. NE.

If you spend any time driving rural roads this time of year, you know it’s harvest time.

"If a team is going to beat you, you need to make them beat you at your best."
That is a message Matt Anderson has told his New Prague High School girls soccer team many times during the season, and on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the Section 1AA championship game, that’s just what happened as the Lakeville South Cougars defeated the Trojans 4-0.

He's still relatively new to Lonsdale, but he's already made a name for himself.
He's the Haunted House Guy.
He is Rory Anderson, and after just one look at his haunted front yard, you'll know he's passionate about Halloween.
"I've always been crazy about Halloween," he stated. "I loved going out with my siblings and friends trick or treating when I was younger. We were always the first ones out and the last ones back home."

Halloween is “creeping around the corner,” according to a press release that came across my email this week.
The holiday brings back a mixed variety of memories. My earliest Halloween memories are the costumes we had for trick-or-treating when I was young.

The New Prague Trojan girls cross country team traveled to Baker National Golf Course in Medina for the Wright County Conference East Championships Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Project retainage to subscontractors on the Le Sueur County Justice Center Project has been reduced.
The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners received a request by Adolph & Peterson Construction to reduce the retainage for 30 of the 39 subcontractors.
The reduction took the current five percent retainage held and decreased it to one percent.
Adolph & Peterson said they believe these contractors have no risk associated with the project.
The final one percent will be awarded to the subcontractors upon the final signing of the contracts.

The New Prague Mountain Bike Team raced in Detroit Mountain Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6.
It rained all day Saturday for the middle school races and left a muddy mess for Sunday’s high school races, but that didn’t stop the New Prague racers from shining.
Middle Schooler Aidan Rosemeier took third place. His middle school teammates didn’t let him down with some strong finishes. Chasing each other were sixth grade riders Joe Frensko in sixth and Vlad Lexa in seventh right behind him. Seventh grader Jacob Clough finished eighth.

Ray Moran, age 98, died peacefully with his son at his side, on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center.  Ray was born on November 1, 1920 in New Prague to Amab F.

The New Prague Trojans did not have an answer for the running game of Waconia in their Section 2AAAAA playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Wildcats gained 370 yards on the ground and more than a 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession as they ran over the Trojans 35-14 in New Prague. New Prague scored its first touchdown in the second quarter on a 9-yard pass play from Parker Johnson to Jay Skogerboe to tie the game at 7-7. But Waconia drove downfield, completing both of its passes on the game on the next drive to score with 34 seconds remaining in the half to go up 14-7.

Shea, Daniel G. age 79, formerly of Apple Valley, passed away Oct 4, 2019 in Clearwater, FL.
He graduated from New Prague High School with the class of 1959. He is survived by daughters Maureen (Todd) Wade and Kelley Brunton; 5 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.
A Celebration of Life will be held 11/2 at 11:00 am with visitation 1 hour prior at the Knights of Columbus Event Center, 1764 4th Ave E, Shakopee, MN.

Mark “Cid” Choudek, 63, of Montgomery, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, at his home. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Holy Redeemer School or Montgomery Community Foundation.

Kathy A. Kahler, age 47 of Lonsdale, formerly of Apple Valley was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on October 20, 2019.

Rita M. Jelinek, age 87, died peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2019 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation and Care Center.  Rita was born on August 26, 1932 in Montgomery, MN to Adolph T. and Mary (Bednar) Kucera.  She graduated from Montgomery High School and married Richard F.