Whether they are competing as athletes or volunteering their time to make another athlete’s or spectator’s experience more enjoyable, a pair of New Prague men have a special connection to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games this week in the Twin Cities.

In the mid- and late-1960s, the United States began drafting its young people into military service in a faraway place called Vietnam. It’s safe to say many of them had never heard of the southeast Asian country nor understood why they were being called to serve.

Jola Greta Amundsen passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Autumn Cottages in Alexandria, MN. She was 88 years old. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Geneva Cemetery in Alexandria at 1:00 p.m. following a luncheon at the church.

In lieu of flowers, checks can be made payable to First Lutheran Church and given to the family.

Jim Ochocki, age 88, of Marshall, Minnesota, died on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Marshall. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Following interment with military honors at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, a luncheon for attendees will be served at the church, in Carlin Hall. Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, also at the church.

    Most people are aware of the area food shelves and Tri-City United School’s summer meal program for kids 1-18. Even with such programs, Caitlin Huiras thinks there is still much need in this area to help food insecurity.
    Huiras is the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce executive director and quit her job, in part, as a public health program specialist in Carver County to start the nonprofit 507 Food Share in Montgomery. She has a formal education background in nutrition and public health, and her former job focused nutrition with Carver County. 

Thomas “T.K.” Robert Kes, 94, of Jordan, passed away on June 16, 2026.

Armed with players from the New Prague High School varsity team, NP’s American Legion Post 45 baseball team is all-in on enjoying a strong season this summer.

This year’s team is working to reschedule games initially lost because of the extended high school season. The 45s will play Rochester Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m., at Memorial Park. Monday, June 22, 7 p.m., NP will be at Prior Lake and Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m., the team heads east to face Rosemount.

Webster’s bats came alive in the past week, pounding out 31 runs in a pair of wins to move the Sox into second place in the Dakota-Rice-Scott League.

Sunday, June 14, the Sox thumped Montgomery, 21-6, in seven innings. On the mound, Jordon Huwe, Alex Beumer, and Peter Tveite paced the Sox to a victory. All doing a solid job.

Growing up, she never looked at education as the career which would define her adult life. Thirty-plus years after she arrived in New Prague to begin teaching elementary school students, Jodi Prchal has used a strong work ethic and lessons on how to earn a living to provide lifelong lessons for students at Falcon Ridge.

The Elko New Market Police Department has been struggling to get candidates for patrol officer positions.

New Prague city councilors met in a special meeting Monday, June 8, to discuss a challenging question – how to handle the city’s budget today and in the future and begin to discuss the long-term plan for how to bridge the gap between that the city and its residents want and what they are willing to pay for.

If all goes well in Alexandria, New Prague High School’s trapshooting team will learn if it will make the state tournament next week.

The Trojans will be competing against like-sized schools Monday, June 22, at The Championships in Alexandria, the gateway tournament to the Minnesota State High School League’s state tournament June 26 at Minneapolis Gun Club in Credit River. NPHS is hoping to qualify its five-best shooters and two alternates for the state tournament. Two members of the team – Ava Chlan and Amber Indykiewicz – have already qualified for state as individuals.

The Elko New Market Fire Department is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, the volunteer fire department had banners of retired firefighters placed along Main Street (Scott County Road 2) at the end of May and are up through Labor Day.

If he could, if his body would allow it, Jacob Kirchner would love to play baseball with his friends. Sadly, the 14-year-old boy from Belle Plaine cheers for his favorite teams – the Tigers and his big brother, Zachary, who plays outfield for the high school and town baseball teams.

The son of Jessica and John Kirchner, Jacob and his family – siblings Michel, Haley and Zachary – will be the guests of honor at the 10th annual Home Run Derby to raise funds for his family. It is scheduled for June 27, 6 p.m., at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill.

Patricia M. Solheid, age 82, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, at Mala Strana Assisted Living in New Prague, with her loving husband by her side.

Pat was born on February 3, 1944, in Canby, Minnesota. She was a graduate of Canby High School and went on to attend Moorhead State University. Her deep love for music led her to a career as an elementary music teacher in New Prague, where she met and married the love of her life, Al, in 1972.

Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Stepaniak, age 79, of Faribault, MN, died on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his family following an extended illness.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault with the Rev. Diane Goulson officiating.

Visitation will be held on Monday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.