Elko New Market celebrated Fire Rescue Days Thursday, June 25, through Sunday, June 28, plus its annual Saturday, June 27, parade marked its 25th anniversary.

He entered the Special Olympics 2026 USA Games looking to enjoy the experience and do the best he could.

For New Prague’s Seth Dorner, mission accomplished.

A defender on the soccer team, Dorner and his teammates from the Prior Lake-Savage Soccer Club represented their state and themselves well, winning a silver medal. The team fell in the championship, a 2-1 overtime loss.

Eric John Emanuelson, age 50, passed away June 27, 2026, at Abbott Northwest hospital, surrounded by the love and comfort of his family.

Eric was born in Ishpeming, MI, on February 13, 1976, to John and Cathy Emanuelson. He was raised in Ishpeming, MI, and Negaunee, MI, and graduated in 1994 from Negaunee High. He was always active in sports, especially football. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

Lois O. Dandurand (Schefers), age 83, of New Prague, passed away June 24, 2026, surrounded by family in her daughter’s home in Portland, Oregon.

Lois was born June 25, 1942, in Belgrade, Minnesota to Edmund and Johanna (Winter) Schefers.  They lived on a farm outside of Lake Henry. As a young child she walked to District 24 country grade school (almost 2 miles away) with her siblings. She graduated from Paynesville high school.

    Those looking to try a new 4th of July event this year are in luck. The City of Lonsdale announced earlier this year that it would be hosting a Founders Festival on July 3 from 3 p.m. to midnight. 
    A multitude of items will be happening over the course of the day, celebrating both the United States’ 250th anniversary and Lonsdale’s history.

Brenda Jo (Burlison) Tollefsrud, age 78, of Lonsdale, Minnesota, formerly of Burlison, Tennessee, passed away unexpectedly, on Tuesday, 23rd of June.

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.

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.

Former superintendent led effort to build new high school

It’s unlikely the students who’ll walk the hallways and sit in the classrooms at New Prague High School ever heard of Robert A. Stepaniak. But he’s the former school district superintendent who led the effort to build the new high school nearly 30 years ago.

Surrounded by his family, Stepaniak passed away Saturday, June 13, after an extended illness. A memorial service was held Monday, June 22, in Faribault. He was 79.

When they started the season neither one would have likely stated they would make the Minnesota State High School League’s clay target state meet.

Yet when the top shooters in the state line up and take aim at clay targets flying across a field at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Credit River, New Prague’s Ava Chlan and Amber Indykiewicz will be among the trapshooters competing as individuals at the state meet. The team competition begins in the morning with the competition for individuals slated for a 1 p.m. start.

During a recent Friday eventing at a St. Patrick Irish baseball game, Cathy Schmitz, dressed all in green, came riding in to Bonin Field on a Toro standup lawn mower. The mower, plus a Toro leaf blower and grass trimmer, were being donated by Angels Among Us, a Prior Lake based non-profit, as part of its mission to aid youth athletic programs.

“This will definitely help us,” said Mike Sticha of the St. Patrick Athletic Association, which sponsors eight youth baseball teams and three adult baseball teams.

River Valley League action also.

    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. 

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.

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