She could have taken any of a number of easier routes to graduating high school. Friday night, Hayden Tourtillott will receive her high school diploma as a reward to herself for not giving up and thinking of her future.

Hayden Tourtillott, 20, should have graduated with New Prague High School’s Class of 2024. For a variety of reasons, some of which she acknowledges were within her own control, Tourtillott didn’t get the work done, working for an hourly wage to pay rent and meet commitments rather than complete the school work needed to earn passing grades and graduate.

The Elko New Market City Council approved two new liquor licenses at its Thursday, May 14, meeting. By a 4-0 vote the council approved an on-sale intoxicating liquor license and a Sunday sale liquor license for Jaceyn Brockhouse, Patrick Flynn and Wade Brelje who submitted paperwork for the licenses for Mega Properties LLC, which operates Elko Speedway at 26350 France Ave. Elko Speedway is a 92-acre facility featuring a 3/8-mile NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt oval track.

A public hearing was required for the liquor licenses, which was held with no comments.

This spring, area town baseball teams in the Dakota-Rice-Scott League have returned to the diamond for another season ending with New Prague being one of the communities hosting state tournament games.

Area teams were asked about their prospects for the season which started last month. Those which responded are listed below. The New Prague Times will begin covering area teams in greater depth as the high school seasons end.

New Prague

The day begins with the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard visiting area cemeteries where the names of veterans buried at those cemeteries will be read.

The visits begin at St. Patrick Cemetery at 9 a.m. then St. Benedict Cemetery 9:25 a.m., Lanesburgh Cemetery 9:45 a.m., Union Hill Cemetery 10:10 a.m., Czech National Cemetery 10:30 a.m. and St. Wenceslaus Cemetery 10:50 a.m.

St. Thomas Church near Le Sueur will be holding a Memorial Day Mass at 9 a.m. with a blessing of the graves after the Mass.

After a solid regular season, New Prague’s girls’ golf team came up stellar Monday at the Metro West Conference Championship meet at Braemar Golf Course in Edina Monday, May 18.

The Trojans finished second in the championships, a showing strong enough to earn the Trojans the conference championship. New Prague finished second with a 329 team score, three strokes behind Orono. Benilde- St. Margaret’s finished third (332), followed by Chanhassen (348), St. Louis Park (352), Waconia (356), Chaska (363) and Bloomington Jefferson (410).

Carol Margaret Kratochvil Carlson, 76, passed away on January 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas, leaving behind a legacy of independence, strength, and simple joys. Born in New Prague, Minnesota, to Agnes and Wenceslaus Kratochvil, Carol cherished her small-town upbringing alongside her five siblings and a large, close-knit circle of cousins and friends.

Donald J. Novotny, age 83, of New Prague, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026.

Donald was born on January 11, 1943, to Joseph and Mary (Tupa) Novotny. He was raised on the family farm alongside his ten siblings and was the second oldest of the family. Don attended New Prague High School and, after graduation, worked for a short time before being drafted into the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam era.

Richard “Dick” Bresser, age 75, passed away at his home on May 16, 2026. Dick was born on March 7, 1951, to Robert and Marjorie (Bobo) Bresser in Canby, Minnesota. He grew up with older, twin siblings, Roger and Sheila. In high school, he developed his strong work ethic through his part time jobs and being on the wrestling team, qualifying for the individual state tournament twice. Dick started dating his soul mate, Linda, his junior year of high school.

Jennifer A. Kajer, age 64, of New Prague, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, May 15, 2026.

New Prague Trojans cooperative indoor softball team takes second place at the CI Indoor Adapted Softball Tournament in Wayzata, falling 0-10 to Dakota United. 

Three members were listed to the All Star Team from New Prague. 

Look for the full story in the May 21, 2026, New Prague Times and Montgomery Messenger. 

New Prague High School students drove more than a dozen tractors of various sizes, models and years to school Friday, May 15. It is a tradition that goes back more than 20 years that students drive a tractor to school near the end of the school. (Patrick Fisher photo)

Rev. Michael Miller is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his ordination Sunday, May 17, at St. Patrick Catholic Church’s social hall after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Fr. Miller's actual 30th anniversary is May 25.

Miller went through the churches he served at with first being St. Joseph of West St. Paul for five years, then in Delano for seven years, Stillwater for six and-a-half years and now St. Patrick, north of New Prague, and St. Catherine, south of Prior Lake for 11 years come July 1.

The city of Belle Plaine has reportedly received a request from citizens to not fly the Minnesota state flag. New Prague has not received such a request. Over a dozen Minnesota cities and many townships have decided to reject the new state flag. The decision is understandable. Lacking creativity, it looks like a design an elementary student could have created using clip art. To its credit, the new flag addresses Gov. Tim Walz’s “One Minnesota” theme by eliminating the symbolism some folks find offensive.

New Prague’s boys’ volleyball had a light week as the Trojans clipped the Westonka White Hawks in four games in a Metro West Conference Match, Tuesday, May 5. New Prague won with scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-18 and Westonka won one 25-20.

The Elko New Market Safety Camp had 62 children, from kindergarten through eighth grade attend. During the Saturday, May 2, camp at Eagle View Elementary School in Elko New Market, children could explore vehicles from the Elko New Market Fire Department, the Northfield ambulance service, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and at six stations could learn about various safety rules from Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), boating rules from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and safety rules for bikes, skateboards and scooters from the Elko New Market Police Department.

    Although the regular season didn’t progress as seamlessly as planned, New Prague’s cooperative indoor softball team won a berth in the state tournament Wednesday, May 6, with a big win over Anoka in the league playoffs.