Some people make golf, painting, photography, porcelain figurines or traveling to exotic places as a favorite hobby. Paul Bongers enjoys growing pumpkins in the backyard of his house in Lonsdale.

And for Bongers, bigger is unquestionably better.

He grows Dills Giant Atlantic pumpkins in his backyard. He started growing them in 2020. This year’s crop of three pumpkins ranged from 1,200 pounds when it split, a condition leading to rot, to 1,219 pounds and the largest of the three tipping the scale at 1,819 pounds.

James (Jim) Francis Kalina, age 90, of Lonsdale, MN, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on October 21, 2025. Jim was born in Wheatland Township, MN, on January 6, 1935, to Max and Emma (Cecka) Kalina. After high school, he served his country in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea.

An impressive comeback effort fell just short of victory as the New Prague girls’ volleyball team lost a decisive fifth game and the match to Farmington in the opening round of Section 1AAAA playoffs tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 22, at NPHS.

Ervin J.

Outscoring Rochester John Marshall 13-8 in the final two quarters, New Prague High School’s football team topped the Rockets 39-30 Tuesday, Oct. 21, to earn a trip to the Section 1AAAA semifinals Saturday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m., at Rochester Mayo.

Paul Adolf Swidorski, age 87, of Montgomery, died on the morning of Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Belle Plaine Lutheran Home.

This past week, news outlets covering the capitol reported on progress, or the lack of it, on the desire some folks have to address the accessibility of guns to people who ought not have them. So far, about six weeks after a gunman took the lives of two innocent children and injured 30, no news is not good news.

Elko New Market firefighter Jodi Muelken was honored Monday, Oct. 6, with the 2025 Minnesota Crime Prevention Association Volunteer of the Year award.

The award is given to a person who has demonstrated by their actions, a furthering of crime prevention efforts in a given community or specific area. The MCPA has been presenting the award since 1973.

Jay Simon, fire chief of Elko New Market’s volunteer fire department, nominated Muelken.

New Prague High School hosted its second annual Career & Tech Day, Thursday morning, Oct. 2, in the high school’s auditorium, gymnasium and back parking lot. There were 55 area businesses that participated.

The event showcased community employers and provided sophomores and juniors a high-impact, effective, and efficient day to explore various career areas, said principal Brian Thorstad.

Many students were able to talk with business representatives in the gymnasium, while others were able to get a bit of hands on experience with demonstrations in the parking lot.

With the regular season complete, New Prague swimmers and divers are turning their focus and training schedule to prepare themselves for the section meet, a competition where they can earn entry in the state meet.

The family of James Rosendahl wish to announce his passing on October 8, 2025, in Cuero, TX, at Whispering Oaks. 
 

Rose Mary (Rosie) Gill passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, October 14. She was born on July 30, 1932, to Joseph and Eva (Dorzinski) Gill and grew up on the family farm in rural Union Hill. She graduated from New Prague High School and went on to dedicate her life to a long and successful career in the banking industry, retiring in 2004.

Gopher Stat Railway Museum, north of New Prague along Highway 21, had 300 people come out for its annual Pumpkin Express, Saturday, Oct. 11. Many families rode in one of two cabooses pulled by its train engine to a pumpkin patch where they could pick out a pumpkin.

“This is our first time,” said Tom Murphy of Dundas, who was with his children Edward and Georgina. He looked up the schedule for the Pumpkin Express on the museum’s website. “We decided to take advantage of it. It’s a fantastic family event, it’s the right size and it was close by.”

For three-plus quarters, New Prague gave Chaska all it could handle until Section 2AAA’s No. 2-seeded team’s superior size and speed took its toll in a 26-15 win over NP Wednesday night, Oct. 15, in Trojan Stadium.

Raymond E. Preslicka, age 86, of Lakeville, died peacefully on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the BeeHive Residence in Lakeville.  Raymond was born on September 5, 1939, in New Prague, to Joseph F. and Mary (Novotny) Preslicka.  Growing up in New Prague, he graduated from New Prague High School, and after service in the US Army, he worked at Thermo King in Bloomington.  He married Jean M. Bruzek at the Basilica of St.

The New Prague High School girls' soccer team suffered a season-ending loss Tuesday evening, Oct. 7, at Farmington in the opening round of the section playoffs.

After a scoreless first half, the game-winning goal was scored when Farmington was awarded a penalty shot in the 66th minute - with just over 14 minutes left in the second half.

The New Prague High School boys' team also suffered a 1-0  season-ending setback Tuesday night at Rochester John Marshall.

See details of the games in an upcoming print edition of The New Prague Times.