National American Legion Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford, center, addresses an audience of 130 people on Wednesday, Feb. 19, during his visit to New Prague American Legion Post 45. A dinner and program was held for Commander Oxford, who was visiting several American Legion Posts in Minnesota. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

It’s not even March yet and there are already those sports gearing up for state tournaments. At least one, the State Dance Team Tournament, has already happened. The state tournament for girls hockey and gymnastics are going on over the next few days. In the next few weeks, there will be the tourneys for wrestling, boys hockey, adaptive floor hockey and girls and boys basketball.

Thomas Eckstein scored a game-high 14 points for the New Prague basketball team in a 55-43 loss to Orono Friday, Feb. 14.
The Trojans were without their leading scorer, Parker Johnson, who sat out the game with a back injury. He is averaging more than 20 points per game this season and is within less 100 points of 1,000 career points.
“We played well throughout the first half on both ends of the floor,” Trojan head coach Dan Peterka said. “We worked our offense and found some good scoring opportunities throughout the first half.”
New Prague trailed by only...

For the majority of the season, New Prague and Shakopee were considered two of the top teams in Class AAA wrestling.
Shakopee is the defending Class AAA State Champions and the Trojans were rated 4th all season.
It was inevitable the two teams would battle for the Section 2AAA championship Friday, Feb. 14 in Shakopee.
After winning their opening two matches, the two elite teams did advance to the finals.
New Prague opened the tourney with a 62-9 win over Apple Valley. This was the first time in program history they have defeated the Eagles.

Tim Neeser has been with Chart Industries for nearly 40 years. He began as an intern in 1980 when the New Prague based company was MVE (Minnesota Valley Engineering). He was hired full time as a product engineer for packaged gases fresh out of college in 1982. He retired on Friday, Feb. 14.
He said when he began with the company it employed 150 people. Now it has 5,000 employees and does $1.5 billion in sales worldwide. His work with the company has also resulted in his filing 25 patents.

New Prague senior Emily Russo was named one of 40 Minnesota seniors as a finalist for the honor of Miss Basketball.
Russo, who has scored close to 1,600 points and has more than 800 rebounds, joins a number of local players as a finalist.
Gus Boyer of Waseca, Sarah Conlon of St. Peter, Annie Guentzel of Lakeville South, Lauren Jensen of Lakeville North, Mackenzie Kramer of St. Michael-Albertville, and Molly Mogensen of Farmington are among the finalists.

The Le Sueur/Rice County Drug Task Force was very busy in 2019.
Le Sueur County Chief Deputy Nick Greenig presented information about the work completed by the drug task force within the county during the Elysian City Council meeting Feb. 11.
Last year there were 64 cases opened, 55 search warrants were issued, and there were 61 arrests made.
A total of $18,020 in cash was seized as were nine firearms.
More than 3.4 million dollars in street value worth of controlled substances were seized.

Blake Ryan Asher, age 17, of Lonsdale, died tragically in a car accident on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.  Blake was born on November 7, 2002 in Northfield to Ryan P. Asher and Jennifer Kassa Jones.  He was raised in the Farmington/Lonsdale area and was currently a junior at Tri-City United (TCU) School, where he was a member of the speech club.  Blake was loved by everyone with his bubbly, funny, goofy personality.

Due to a lack of a quorum, the New Prague City Council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, Feb. 18) has been cancelled. For the council to meet it needs at least three of its five members to be present. The agenda, which included public comment on the renewal of the Ambulance Service Agreement, has been rescheduled for the Monday, March 2, council meeting.

More than 340 people showed up to warm up at the 26th annual Soup Supper at St. Wenceslaus Church on Monday, Feb. 17. The all you can eat supper had three delectable choices for the evening, chili, vegetable beef soup and chicken noodle soup, plus homemade breads, cookies and bars. The proceeds will benefit the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

Edward M. “Eddie” Dvorak, age 64, of Jordan died peacefully at his home on Sunday, February 16, 2020.  Eddie was born on January 25, 1956 in New Prague to Edward and Martha A.

Vicky Jo Martell (King) passed away on Friday, February 14th, 2020 in the comfort of her home.  She was 68 years old.  She is survived by her husband Kurt Martell and their children Allison, Bryce and Callie.

Clauson, Robert O. ,age 95, of New Hope, previously of Worthington and New Prague. Preceded in death by wife, Fern; parents, Ida and Edwin; siblings, Evelyn, Hazel, Mabel, Harold, John, and Paul; grandchildren, Karalyn Capriotti, and Naomi & Nathan Spores. He will be deeply missed by his children, Barbara Clauson (Robert Timm), Deborah Werth (Thomas), Roger (Cathy), Gary (Amy), Mary Spores (Ronald); 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; siblings, Ruth, Ellen, and Lois; many relatives and good friends.

Guests at the annual 4-H Valentine’s Dance enjoy line dancing on Friday, Feb. 14. The dance at Falcon Ridge Elementary School in New Prague is held for adults with developmental disabilities. There were 60 guests from area communities who had a fun time on the dance floor, with games, crafts and other activities. The Valentine’s Dance is organized by the Booster 4-H Club of New Prague and Magnifying Abilities, a social and recreational program for persons with cognitive and physical disabilities. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)

The New Prague boys hockey team scored three goals in a span of 70 seconds in a 4-2 win over Mound Westonka Friday, Feb. 7.
After the two teams battled to a scoreless first period, the Trojans scored goals at the 4:43, 5:03, and 5:53 mark of the second period.
Jake Lee scored his team-leading 15th goal. Xavier Emerson scored his 5th goal. Jack Wilmes scored his 5th goal on assists from Aiden Dorzinski, his 6th, and Spencer Tupy, his 2nd of the season.

On Tuesday, Feb. 4, State Representative Bob Vogel, R-Elko New Market, announced he will not be seeking re-election for a fourth term to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Vogel has represented House District 20A since being first elected in 2014.
“I never dreamed growing up in New Market, then a community of 250 people, that I would have the honor of representing over 38,000 people in the Minnesota House for three terms,” said Rep. Vogel. “Serving in public office has been a great privilege and truly a life-changing experience.”