The first column I wrote in Montgomery was a year ago, around the three-year anniversary of moving to Minnesota.
The fourth year snuck up on me, which I suppose means I’m having a good time.
Indeed, I was unhappy a year ago. While moving to Minnesota was not a joyous occasion, moving to southern Minnesota from the West Central area was much worse. I had established a life in Benson, was putting down roots, and suddenly had to pull them up again.

New Prague’s elected mayor in 2026 will serve for four years after the city council adjusted the mayor’s term from two to four years at its Oct. 21 meeting.

It was a question that needed to be asked but wasn’t expected. The position of the school board on this issue is critical to the financial future of the New Prague Area School District and the relief candidates for seats on the board brought is welcomed.
The question to board candidates at the forum held Tuesday, Oct. 15: Should the New Prague School District remain a member in the Minnesota State High School League? The six candidates all answered in the affirmative.

We find ourselves once again in the fall season when trees change colors and farmers are busy harvesting their crops.
This fall, Minnesota has been spoiled with warmer than average temperatures in August and September. It’s only been over the last few weeks temperatures have begun to plummet into the 50s and 40s. Temperatures have also been cold enough for frost warnings to spring up once or twice during the night.

There is a fee for election-related letters starting Aug. 29
The New Prague Times is charging for the publication of letters to the editor that relate to candidates for office, are a political endorsement, or relate to an upcoming election. These letters will be considered political paid ads and are subject to a $25 charge for local candidates (i.e. mayor, city council, school board).

This past week I saw a literature piece that I assume was sent to almost all households in Lanesburg Township. It was a hit piece about candidate Liz Krocak who is running for a county board seat. The authors of this mailing did not have the courage to sign their names,  which tells me a lot about what I need to know about their character. An unsigned letter isn't worth the paper it is written on.

Dear Editor:
I’d like to start off saying I have been very disappointed with the grocery store Molter’s.

Editor:
 
I just got done reading the Messenger. Guess what? We will have a tobacco shop for tobacco products and some cannabis items! And — our grocery store is closing!
I don’t deny these pleasures to the people that enjoy them. It’s their decision and their health.
But some of us — especially the elderly (I’m 87) — need fresh produce, canned and frozen foods, and need to be able to get them nearby. I wonder how many people that didn’t support the grocery store will visit the tobacco shop.

Two of the things I dreaded most when we moved to Minnesota was the prospect of more snow and the potential for tornadoes.
Snow was no stranger to West Virginia. We received plenty of it in some years. But I am not a fan. Trace amounts are plenty for me. I do enjoy those evenings when the snow is falling and the sound mutes out all other things. It’s just that those evenings are also the ones where you have some place you need to go.
Tornadoes, or the threat of tornadoes, are a new experience altogether.

The content of public words and actions combined with a person’s/organization’s overall words and actions in private matters in the political realm, whose words and actions affect the lives of every person within that country.

As of this month, I have been in New Prague working for The New Prague Times for 25 years.
In the last few months, I’ve had a few people mention they remembered when I started. One person said they remembered how black my hair was then. At the time I started, I was 31. Someone recently asked how old I was now and when I told them, they were surprised.

If you’re a baseball fan, they say the best four words each spring are ‘Pitchers and catchers report’ to spring training. Each spring, when professional baseball players show up for spring training, it’s a sign we’ve survived another winter, that the best of our climate is yet to come and there is hope for better days ahead.

Attributable to American Legion Department of Minnesota’s 10th District Commander Kristy Janigo and Department Service Officer Ray Kane
 
Thieves are working aggressively to steal from veterans, veteran service organizations, veteran nonprofits and government agencies that work with veterans.
It’s a numbers game. If they get one success out of 100 attempts, that’s worth their efforts. Don’t fall prey to their predator tactics.

I can recall a number of naughty things I have done over my earlier childhood years when left to my own devices. Usually, these instances of mischief would come from being with the company of another friend in the same boat. Both of the following stories come from about the same age period of about 12 years old or so — give or take a year or two. It’s been about 30 years since then so forgive me if I don’t remember.
 
Flame broiled

You know the penny dishes originally intended for folks to use a penny or two rather than breaking a dollar bill. You take a few pennies when you need ‘em and leave a few when you have extra.

When I first heard about jumping worms a couple of years ago I was freaked out. I thought I would never buy another plant again — I did not want them in my yard. I thought the worms were fatal to all the hard work I had put in my yard. They are not.
I have learned a lot about the jumping worms since that day. I have seen them in a yard, that had beautiful plantings. It was not hurting them up to that point. So, I will share what I have learned about them.