Those who have been reading this column often over the years know that I sometimes dip into a mixture of humor and seriousness about what is being observed each month. On the whimsical side, November is Banana Pudding Lovers Month and National Fun with Fondue Month. More seriously it’s Diabetic Eye Disease Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month and National Diabetes Month.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Scott County Sheriff Luke Hennen announced that Connie Lou Herbst (62) and Austin James Herbst (26), both of New Prague, were arrested in regards of the death of 63-year-old Gary Albert Herbst of Elko New Market. Gary Herbst, who was the husband and father respectively of the two, was reported as a missing person to the Elko New Market Police Department in 2014.  His remains were later found in Maple Grove Township in Barron County, WI in late 2017.

Coborn’s, Inc. announced this week another new measure the company is taking to disinfect its shopping carts after guest use. The company’s supermarkets are now utilizing electrostatic cleaning sprayers to disinfect carts in an effort to minimize surface spread of the COVID-19 virus. Once shopping carts have been returned to cart areas, staff uses the Victory Cordless Sprayer to lightly mist disinfectant on the carts.

The New Prague volleyball team split two matches with Waconia last week to remain in second place in the Wright County Conference East Division.
The Trojans defeated Waconia 25-18, 25-20, and 25-21 Tuesday, Nov. 10 which was Parent’s Night.
Two nights later the Wildcats turned the tables and defeated New Prague 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, and 25-22.

Be sure to shop local with all of the new restrictions starting Friday, Nov. 20th.

A three vehicle crash happened at the intersection of Highways 19 and 13 sometime before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, east of New Prague. All involved had minor injuries. According to an early report with the Minnesota State Patrol a GMC pickup truck failed to yield at the intersection, hitting a Jeep Wrangler that was headed west on Highway 19 and then hit a Mercury Milan that was at the south facing stop sign on Highway 13. Also responding was North Memorial Ambulance and the New Prague Police Department. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The increase in COVID-19 cases has had an affect on the area. Businesses have been affected as several have had to close for a few days and others for nearly two weeks. Due to the increase of cases New Prague Area Schools recently made the decision to have the high school go to distance learning on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and kindergarten through eighth grade will begin distance learning on Monday, Nov. 23. New Prague Area Schools are scheduled to remain in distance learning until December 23.  

A medical helicopter from North Memorial Health transports at least one person from the scene of a two vehicle crash that happened at the intersection of Highways 19 and 13, east of New Prague, before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17. According to early reports a Ford Ranger XLT collided with a Honda Odyssey. At least one person was transported by North Memorial Health ambulance. Also on the scene was the State Patrol, New Prague Police Department, New Prague Fire Department and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. For more see a future issue of The New Prague Times, plus this website.

Thursday, November 19th 10 am - 2 pm Jordan Fire Station: 501 N Varner St. Jordan, MN 55352

Marcella A. Blaeser, 94, of Montgomery passed away Monday, Nov. 9 at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee. Public services are postponed until a later date. Private interment will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
Marcella was born April 16, 1926, in Kimball, South Dakota to Joseph and Anna (McAvinney) Smith. She married Willard “Bill” Blaeser in January of 1952 and raised a family. She was known for her excellent tailoring. She loved horses, sewing, flowers, gardening and puzzles.

Bernice (Doyle) Schmidt, age 90 of Belle Plaine, MN passed away peacefully at her home of natural causes and a broken heart. Private Family Mass of Christian Burial (due to Covid-19) will be held on Wednesday, November 18th at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church with Burial at the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Bernice attended school in Henderson, MN until 8th Grade and transferred to the University of Minnesota - School of Agriculture from Freshman to Senior Year where she graduated in 1947.

Late night delivery
The intersection of Main Street and 10th Avenue NE in New Prague was closed temporarily on Wednesday, Nov. 11, as a tank from Chart Industries went around the corner shortly before midnight. After turning onto Main Street the tank headed east out of town. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Montgomery and New Prague’s Catholic schools were among the top three schools in the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence’s Ofrenda Contest. Most Holy Redeemer in Montgomery won first place and St. Wenceslaus in New Prague was third.
In honor of the Latino holiday Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE) wanted to embrace the culture of Latino students and build community between the schools by organizing an Ofrenda Contest.
To see more on this story, pick up the November 12, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times.

Overcast skies and fits of rain was the order of things on Monday, Nov. 9, as Scott County Public Health staff held a free COVID-19 clinic at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 411 Fourth Ave. SW in New Prague. At the clinics people can get tested for the virus. Held from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. it was the first of several free clinics that will be held on Mondays at that site and time until the end of the year. Scott County Public Health and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are the sponsors of the clinics.

Have you ever been hurt in such a way that it needs a long time to heal? I’m not talking about the type where, as a kid, you wiped out on your bike on the street and you ended up getting this big gash that eventually scabbed over and healed by itself until the scab came off. I’m talking about where something was broken deep inside or there was a sickness of the body, where both those injuries required help from others. There are also those injuries of the spirit or the soul, where a family member or a close friend dies and you just feel sad or numb afterwards.

Alaina Bishop, 10-year-old daughter of Daniel and Dara Bishop of New Prague, has wrapped up a fundraiser for Water for South Sudan, an organization that builds wells for clean water in South Sudan. She recently surpassed her goal of $5,000, which she started in June of this year. She went beyond her goal raising $6,155.
Her inspiration was the book A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.