Tomorrow, Friday, July 4, we’ll celebrate the nation’s 249th birthday. It’s quite a feat, celebrating so many birthdays until you think about how young a country we are compared to some of the other great democracies around the world.

New Prague city staff has received complaints this month about the dog park at 701 12th St. NE, specifically about the tall grass, estimated by some residents to be three-feet high, in the large dog area. City staff is considering how best to deal with the situation.

Franciscan nun worked at St. Wenceslaus for nine years
Her close friends describe Virginia Heldorfer as someone who with compassion and will unconditionally accept people wherever they are on life’s expedition. She enjoys funny stories and good conversations over a cup of coffee.

For Jacob Bongers and his family, Home Town Bats’ ninth annual benefit home run derby was a grand slam of an evening.
A crowd estimated at 600 attended the Saturday, June 28, event at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill. Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted the crowd who came out to raise funds for the Bongers family and watch local town ball players hit 193 home runs during the evening.
“It’s surreal, with all these people, many who we don’t even know, coming out to help our kid,” said Paul Bongers, Jacob’s dad. “It’s a position in life we never knew we would be in.”

Gary James Rutt, age 80, of St. Thomas, passed away suddenly at All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee, on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.  Gary was born on June 17, 1945, in New Prague, to Frank and Mary (Velishek) Rutt. He attended Holy Redeemer Catholic School and Montgomery High School.  He met the love of his life, Shirley E. Keough, at her “sweet 16th” birthday party and they married on October 2, 1965, at St.

Shirley Ann Budin, age 81, of Montgomery, died peacefully at her home on June 30, 2025, after spending two weeks under hospice care.
She was born at home on the farm in Union Hill, MN, to Norbert and Viola Weiers on May 31, 1944. She was the oldest of 12 children. She graduated from New Prague High School in 1962. She went to beauty school in Minneapolis and got a job at Southdale Mall at Doll House Beauty. 

Marilyn M. May, age 91, of New Prague, died tragically as the result of a car accident, on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
 Marilyn Mae Prokes was the only child born to Martin W. and Adeline (Shankey) Prokes on November 23, 1933.  Her childhood was spent living above the grocery store her parents operated and playing with the neighborhood children on Main Street.  She attended St. Wenceslaus and New Prague High School.  After graduation in 1951, Marilyn and friends headed to Minneapolis to live and work.

Roberta (Bert) Jane (Leatherman) McGuiggan, age 98, passed away June 18, 2025, at Christian Community Home in Osceola, WI. Roberta was born July 22, 1926, to parents Charles and Anna (Becker) Leatherman.
 She was married to John (Jack) E. McGuiggan Jr. on December 26, 1944, and to this marriage had 10 children – 7 girls and 3 boys.

With events scheduled today through Sunday, Elko New Market is hosting its summer festival, Fire Rescue Days.
The event includes a classic car roll-in today, Thursday, June 26, 5-9 p.m., at the Doublewide on St. Joseph Street. Friday, June 27, professional wrestling at the Doublewide is slated to begin at 8 p.m.
A parade is set for 11 am. Saturday, June 28. Sunday, June 29, ENM Boy Scout Troop 325 is hosting a pancake breakfast from 8-noon at Wagner Park on Todd Street.

The United States Post Office announced Monday, June 16, it has identified the former Pizza Ranch site on First Street NE as its choice for the home of New Prague’s new post office.
The post office announced its “final decision” in identifying the site of the new facility – 1102 First Street NE – in New Prague. “If this location is not adequate or an agreement cannot be reached with its owner, the postal service will consider other sites,” according to a press statement from the USPS’s Minneapolis office.

A son, Laurence James Lambrecht, was born to Joseph VII and Sarah (Lucassen) Lambrecht of New Prague on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee. Laurence weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20-1/2 inches long. Laurence is welcomed home by siblings Arthur, age 5, Marielle, age 4, and Joseph VIII, age 2.
Grandparents are Joseph VI and Carol Lambrecht of New Prague and Christopher and Janine Lucassen of Ormeau, Queensland, Australia.

It’s been said one of the few constants in life is change. We see it in our personal lives, we’re seeing it in our own towns and we see it in our country and the world.

On a good day, he is energetic, funny, playing with Legos and full of life. It’s the tough days, the ones following a cancer treatment, where he is weary and lethargic.
Supporters of Jacob Bongers are looking for more of the good days. A benefit home run derby set for Saturday, June 28, 6 p.m., at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill is intended to help Jacob and his family enjoy more of the good days. Home Town Bats is hosting its ninth annual benefit home run derby. This year, Jacob and the Bongers family will benefit from the fundraiser.

A son, Alexander Ren Iwamoto, was born to Shoryu and Megan (Lambrecht) Iwamoto of Handa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Toyota Memorial Hospital. Alexander weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
Grandparents are Joseph and Carol Lambrecht of New Prague, Hideo Iwamoto of Handa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan and Hisae Hatanaka of Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Ralph Eugene Church passed away on June 19, 2025. He was preceeded in death by his parents. His father was Ralph E. Church, his mother was Clarice Marie Cameron. Ralph sadly never met his biological father. He was serving in the Army and passed away 3 months before Ralph was born. At age 5 his mother remarried. His stepfather was Raymond H. Bergquist. Ralph called him dad, and he loved him very much.

Generations Theatre Company opens Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.” this weekend at New Prague High School’s auditorium, 221 12th St. NE.
Performances are Friday through Sunday, June 27, 28, and 29. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are available by emailing generationtickets@ gmail.com or at the door.