Corner Bar at 100 Main St. W in New Prague has on its main door, “Sorry we are closed due to roof repairs.”
According to New Prague city staff the bar’s liquor license expired March 31. Planning/Community Development Director Ken Ondich said the local bar had submitted an application for a liquor license with other liquor establishments before the March 31 deadline, but the business did not have an approved lease for its location. The license could not be renewed because there was not a valid lease, said Ondich.

Trying to soften the runway for anticipated future budget reductions, the New Prague Area School Board approved offering veteran teachers in the upper quadrant of the salary schedule an early-retirement package they can use for expenses including healthcare plans.

Rose Marie Tuma, age 85, of Kilkenny, MN, formerly of Lonsdale, MN, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2024, in Faribault, MN.
Rose Marie was born January 26, 1939, in New Prague, MN, to Max and Emma (Cecka) Kalina. She is preceded in death by her husband, George J. Tuma; infant daughter, Charlotte; parents; siblings, Robert "Bob”, John.

OK, we’ve just enjoyed the wimpiest winter in recent memory. It came after a brutal winter the previous year, a winter reminiscent of the early-1980s. It chased us from the country into town.
We had two, maybe three snowfalls worth noting this winter. We didn’t even have to endure the mid-January cold snaps folks always seem to be surprised by even though they are the stuff calendars can be set by. The point is, this is a bonus spring. Sure, it’s been a bit damp of late, but that’ll help our friends on the farm and help the lawns green up.

Agnes "Aggie" Pass, age 86, of Jordan, MN, passed away at her home surrounded by family on April 20, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. with visitation time from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (313 2nd St. E) in Jordan, MN. Father Neil Bakker will preside. Aggie will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Dorthea “Shirley” Lambrecht passed away peacefully on April 15, 2024, while surrounded by her children. Shirley was born on May 15, 1935, in Shakopee, MN, to Herman & Helen Ramaker. She married Tony Lambrecht in September of 1954 and together they raised 6 children. They owned & operated a bar in St. Benedict, before moving to New Prague and running Tony’s Bar. A short time later came Heidelberg Liquors.  Tony went into the rehab business called Choices.

Submitted by: Sarah Stultz, Managing Editor, Albert Lea Tribune
A significant discussion is taking place at the state Legislature in reaction to the recent announcement that eight community newspapers will close at the end of the month.
Under a proposal in the Senate Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF 3567), school districts would no longer be required to publish their proceedings in newspapers and could instead move them to their own websites.

Taking public notices for schools out of newspapers would hurt public
A significant discussion is taking place at the state legislature in reaction to the recent announcement that eight community newspapers will close at the end of the month.
Under a proposal in the Senate Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF 3567), school districts would no longer be required to publish their proceedings in newspapers and could instead move them to their own websites.

Donald (Don) J. Smisek Sr, age 83, of Lonsdale, MN, passed away peacefully at Lakeville BeeHive Homes on April 17, 2024, with family by his side.  He fought a long and courageous battle with dementia. Don is preceded in death by sons Tommy and Dennis, and parents Joe B. and Helen Smisek. Don was born June 2, 1940, on a family farm in Webster Township. He attended Lonsdale Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from New Prague High School in 1959. He served in the US Marine Corps for 4 years.

The New Prague Fire Department and North Memorial Ambulance responded to a two vehicle crash east of New Prague on highways 19/13 around 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18. According to a preliminary report from the State Highway Patrol one person was transported by ambulance from the scene.
Both vehicles, a Chevy truck and a minivan, were in the north side ditch. Also responding were the New Prague Police Department and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. For more information see an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times.

First boy Junior Ambassador entered into program
Saturday evening was a gathering from around the state at the Montgomery American Legion for the 35th Annual Miss Czech Slovak Minnesota Pageant.
Festivities started with an authentic Czech meal, prepared by board member and Head Chef Josh Gare and his volunteer crew. Gare was recognized for his work in the organization, with special attention for the meals, by the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassadors with the Honorary Commodore’s Award.

Two weeks after board members struggled to approve cutting $3.5 million from the general fund, the New Prague School District is once again looking at a plan to reduce the cost of one of its biggest expenses – veteran teachers.

Carrie Simon, of Montgomery, went to the doctor in early 2022 thinking it would be a typical doctor visit. In February of 2022, she went through surgery. She and her husband, Russ, believed it was just an ovarian cyst. The doctors thought it was about 18 centimeters, and it ended up being 35 centimeters in diameter and had ruptured.
“Russ knew it was cancer already from the doctors while I was under, but they told me when I woke up. It was pretty gut-wrenching,” she said.

We received bad news last week, a gut punch to our industry, actually, from up the road.
The owner of community newspapers in Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Chanhassen, Chaska and Jordan announced the final editions of these publications would be published later this month. Six well-established, once-profitable newspapers will be gone. In an era where revenue matters, the size of the return-on-investment matters more than ever.

New Prague High School’s baseball team’s expectations for this season is to be competitive in all aspects on the field.
The Trojans began their season at Rochester Mayo, Friday, April 5, with a close 2-1 loss. (See separate story.) New Prague’s home game against Rochester Century Monday, April 8, was postponed due to the weather. The Trojans are home tonight hosting Chaska at 4:30 p.m. then Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. New Prague is at Lakeville North and back home Tuesday, April 16, 6 p.m. against Waconia.

The Koko and Sam Tarr family of New Prague told New Prague City Council they had concerns their son was racially profiled and was being harassed by a member of the New Prague Police Department. The family said they are originally from Liberia and have been living in New Prague for four years. The family delivered its claim at the council’s March 18, meeting.