George L. Novak, age 94, of Veseli, died on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital, Mankato.  George was born in Wheatland Township, Rice County, Minnesota on March 1, 1927 to Ladislav J. "Laddy" and Anna A. (Pavek) Novak.  He grew up on the family farm in Veseli and attended Most Holy Trinity Catholic School.
He served in the US Army during WWII.

The New Prague boys tennis team captured a Wright County Conference win Friday, April 30 with a 4-3 win over Holy Family.
The conference win was the second in five matches for the Trojans.
“This was a huge conference win for the Trojans. It was a total team effort,” head coach Jill Bailey said. “All four singles players played with consistency and confidence and were rock steady.”
The victory was earned after all four singles matches were won by the Trojans.

This weekend New Prague High School students will be performing “Camp Rock, the Musical” for its spring production. The musical, based on the Disney Channel production, will be shown on Trojan Theatre YouTube at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 9. The link to the YouTube channel is: http://bitly.com/trojan-theatre.

New Prague Police Chief Jim Gareis laid out a strategic transition plan for the city’s Police Department, which includes his eventual retirement in 2022, during the New Prague City Council’s electronically held meeting on Monday, May 3.

Thirteen teams will be vying for the top spot in the DRS Amateur Baseball league this spring and summer.
Last year the league was as good as ever, with St. Patrick’s advancing all the way to the Class C State Championship.
Coaches/team managers were asked to fill out a short questionnaire about their teams and what they are looking forward to this season. Here are their responses:

She’s a Topiary Designer/Botanical Mosaic Artist, originally from Montgomery. She was the 2001 Kolacky Queen, and next week she will show the world her artistic skills on the new discovery+ show, “Clipped.”
Meghan Petricka, a 2002 Montgomery- Lonsdale High School graduate, joins six other artists in the competition series set in the topiary world. According to a press release, they create, “breathtaking sculptures out of meticulously trimmed shrubbery, plants and flowers - designing colorful, largerthan- life, living works of art.”

Ronnie M. Wieland, age 58, of Le Center, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, from complications of cancer.  Ronnie was born on June 12, 1962 in New Prague to Martin F. and Adeline C. (Unger) Wieland.  He graduated from New Prague High School and went on to Foley Bel-Saw in Kansas to attain his small engine repair degree.  Ronnie worked for Ace Hardware for 15 years in New Prague as their best lawn mower repairman and was the owner/operator of Tay Tay Transport, LLC.  He married his soul mate, Wendy R.

Raven Stream Elementary School students participate in a hopping exercise on Wednesday, May 5, as part of ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously). The New Prague school was taking part in the annual event where children exercise at the same time. The 558 students at the school had several exercises to do at various stations around the school. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

An extensive search for a new Le Sueur County Administrator is coming to a close.
After final interviews with four candidates Monday, May 3, the Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners extended the job offer to Joseph Martin during the Tuesday, May 4 board meeting.
Martin, lives in rural Waterville with his wife, Staci (Bohlen), and their two children. He is the son-in-law of Curtis and Joyce Bohlen of rural Kilkenny.

Marian Edna Sindelar, age 87, of Prior Lake, MN passed away peacefully on Friday, April 23, 2021, at Emerald Crest Memory Care, in Shakopee, MN. 
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, May 14 at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 5634 Luther Road SE, Prior Lake. Pastor Greg DeMuth will preside. Pall bearers will be Matthew Sindelar, Micah Sindelar, David Oldenburg, and Mark Oldenburg.  Marian will be laid to rest at a private family ceremony at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Mpls, MN. 

The New Prague Junior Varsity girls lacrosse team defeated Rochester Mayo 8-2 and the varsity followed with a 14-4 win Thursday, April 22.
The JV played really well on both ends of the field. Addison Fischer scored four goals to lead the Trojans with Audrey Johnson, Emily Johnson, Rachel Brandt and Lilly Weiland all contributing goals. The defense played well and goalie Maddie Danner had a great evening keeping them to two.

In a battle of two of the top four teams in the Wright County Conference softball standings, Delano pulled out 14-9 win over New Prague Friday, April 23.
The Tigers trailed 7-6 heading into the fifth inning when they scored eight unearned runs to build a 14-7 lead. New Prague added two runs in the sixth inning and outhit the Tigers (16 to 13), but were handed their first WCC loss in three games. Delano leads the league with a 4-1 record.

Motorists on Highway 21 in Rice County at Shieldsville are encountering lane closures that began April 19 as crews start resurfacing, making intersection improvements and repairing culverts, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Work includes resurfacing approximately eight miles of Hwy. 21 from about one mile west of Interstate 35 to Highway 99. New turn lanes/bypass lanes will be installed at Shields Court, Mazaska Lake Trail, Lake Mazaska Boat Launch and French Lake Trail.

A week ago on Wednesday, April 21, I went to Le Center to get my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. It went well and the only side effect I had was that my shoulder was a bit sore for a day where I received the inoculation.

Beginning on Saturday, May 1, and lasting an entire week to Saturday, May 8, people can participate in the Virtual Run New Prague. This is the second year the Half Marathon, 10K and 5K runs and the Kids Fun Run are being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also the second year people can run the Half Marathon as a relay.
The New Prague Chamber of Commerce organizes Run New Prague. It posted on its website that...
To read more on this article, pick up the April 29, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Bradley University senior Taylor Ledwein was voted the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Year after capturing the fifth All-MVC honor of her career as she helped Bradley women’s golf tie for sixth in the final team standings at the 20-2021- MVC Championship April 20.
Ledwein earned her fourth top-10 finish of the year, tying for eighth individually to pace the Brave at 21-over 234 after firing a team-best 82 in the final round during a cold and snowy final day.