Recently, more than two dozen volunteers with Crossroads Church of Elko New Market picked apples at Nelson’s Apple Farm of Webster. The apples were sent to area food shelves to help families in need.

“It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon to get out and pick apples,” said Pastor Gordon Deuel of Crossroads Church. He noted their group got to see and help how apples are washed and packed at the apple farm owned and operated by Ross and Karen Nelson. Plus, those who helped were able to have an apple dandy, a deep-fried doughnut, afterwards.

In case you missed it, the calendar turned from October to November a couple weeks back. The change of season brings in a new reason for folks to kvetch about something they must address annually.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, a two-vehicle crash happened around 11:58 a.m. on the east side of New Prague.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol a flatbed towestbound on Highway 19 approaching 141st Street in the left lane. The tow truck was hauling recreational items and pulling a pontoon.

The tow truck rear ended a stopped Ford vehicle at the intersection. After the impact the tow truck and pontoon jackknifed blocking the westbound lanes.

The driver of the Ford vehicle was air lifted by North Memorial, with non-life threatening injuries.

Gerald W. Williams, age 97, of New Prague, died peacefully on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Benedictine Living Community in Shakopee.  He was born on July 27, 1928, on the family farm in Chanhassen Township to Joseph P.

JoAnn Marie Petricka, age 81.

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, JoAnn Marie Petricka, on Saturday, October 18, 2025. She leaves us with a life of love, charity, selflessness and world famous recipes.

Born on February 24, 1944, to Mary Ann and John Clarence Pomije in New Prague, MN, JoAnn was the second youngest of four sisters, Marion, Dorothy, Janet and Grace.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is opening its ninth annual greeting card design contest.

New Prague swimmers Taylor Bassett and Aspen Schieffer will join diver Maddyn Anderson in the Minnesota Class AA Swimming & Diving meet Nov. 13-15 at the University of Minnesota.

John “Jack” Frank Vlasak, age 85, of Montogomery, MN, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025, at Mala Strana Assisted Living – Rehabilitation Center in New Prague, with his loving family by his side.

Ralph M. Wagner, age 91, of New Market, passed away November 5, 2025, at his home peacefully surrounded by family.

New Prague sophomore Maddyn Anderson overcame a big deficit heading into the Section 1AA diving competition's final round and earned a fourth-place finish and a berth in next week’s state diving competition at the University of Minnesota.

The New Prague Fire Department aided a farmer whose arm became caught in a corn picker Tuesday evening, Nov. 4, along the 23000 block of Helena Boulevard.

New Prague Fire Chief Steve Rynda said the call came in at 8:25 p.m. The farmer, a male in his early 60s, was working on the machine out in a field when his hand and arm became stuck in the machine, said Rynda, adding the farmer was the one who called the fire department.

After arriving on the scene, firefighters were able to free the farmer’s arm and hand.

Mary E. Thera, age 87, of New Prague, formerly of Inver Grove Heights and West St. Paul, died peacefully on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Mary was born on Aprill 16, 1938, in St. Paul, to Henry and Helen (Smith) Thera.  She graduated from Our Lady of Peace High School in St. Paul and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo College.  She worked as a medical technologist and Supervisor of Hematology at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul.

Voters in the New Prague Area School District approved the school district’s request for additional local revenue by a wide margin.

Sharon Ann (Hillesheim) Malecha, age 84, of Lonsdale, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 31, 2025, at United Hospital in St. Paul, surrounded by her children.

Sharon was born on May 10, 1941, in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, to Nicholas B. and Veronica T. (Marz) Hillesheim. She graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1959. After high school, she attended secretarial school in Minneapolis and worked at Maico and Bell Telephone Security Systems.

Geraldine “Gerry” Mary Pany, age 90, of New Prague, died in the early morning hours of Friday, October 31, 2025, at Praha Village Senior Living in New Prague.

Irene Rose Scheffler, age 100, of Benson, passed away Monday, October 27, 2025, in Benson, Minnesota.

Irene was born October 9, 1925, on the family farm in Rice County near Veseli, Minnesota, to Bohumil and Ludmilla (Kalina) Simon. She was the fifth of nine children.