Feature Stories from the Star Eagle pages.
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Former NRHEG wrestling coach named to hall of fame
A LITTLE OLDER, A LITTLE WISER — Former NRHEG coach Paul Cyr was inducted into the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame April 27. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Like your favorite old retired ballplayer, the memories of Paul Cyr at NRHEG seem to get sweeter with age.
Only with the passage of time can we fully appreciate the daily enthusiasm and genuine joy he brought to the job, not only as head wrestling coach, but as a teacher and principal.
But it’s in wrestling he truly shined. And it’s where he’s been honored at the national level.
Cyr, who retired from NRHEG in 2013 after 27 event-filled years, was inducted into the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame April 27 at the Austin Holiday Inn.
Spencer Yohe, chairman of the NWHOF Minnesota chapter, described Cyr as one of the truly likeable, enthusiastic and successful coaches in Minnesota high school wrestling history.
“It’s an honor,” said Cyr. “It’s great, and I appreciate it.”
But it wasn’t the highlight of his weekend.
“For me, it was so much more fun to see so many people from New Richland there,” said Cyr.
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Caitlin Nelson and Griffin Gonzalez exit the gym after the grand march for NRHEG's 2019 prom Saturday, May 4. The theme of this year's prom was "The Roaring '20s." The Star Eagle is again publishing color photos of all who attended NRHEG’s prom. See them on Pages 2, 11 and 12 of the May 9, 2019 edition. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
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Former Panther helps provide memorable day
MEMORABLE DAY — NRHEG and University of Minnesota graduate Carlie Wagner hugs cancer victim Emersyn Brown during a day Wagner and the For a Day Foundation arranged. (Photo by Jannell Tufte, For a Day Foundation)
By JANNELL TUFTE
For a Day Foundation
The For a Day Foundation is committed to creating emotionally therapeutic experiences for seriously ill children - and providing these kids and their families with a joyful and much needed diversion from the strain of chronic treatment. It serves communities through a national network of local chapters directed by volunteers. It strives to create unforgettable experiences for children in need, specifically children with cancer.
When the foundation got word of an amazing little girl staying at the Rochester Ronald McDonald House, they knew just who to call: our very own Carlie Wagner.
On March 2, 2018, Emersyn Brown of St. Ansgar, Iowa was diagnosed with Philadelphia like B cell ALL at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. After many months of chemotherapy and waiting, Emersyn was admitted on Sept. 1, 2018 and started the conditioning process for a bone marrow transplant, which included total body irradiation and high dose chemotherapy; finally on Sept. 8, 2018, Em was given a bone marrow transplant. This was a very tough road, but she persevered and was discharged from the transplant unit on Nov. 21, 2018, just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving at the Ronald McDonald House, which was her home besides St. Mary's since March of 2018.
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Otto loves working in his hometown
HOMETOWN PROUD — Josh Otto, a 2000 graduate of NRHEG High School, enjoys going to work in his hometown of Ellendale. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
If there’s one area that doesn’t get much attention in any town, unless they’re woefully inadequate at performing the task, it’s the maintenance department.
Josh Otto is changing that.
Otto, Ellendale’s maintenance man since March 2013, has garnered plenty of positive attention lately, from helping people in snow storms to plowing snow and doing his day-to-day job overseeing the town’s wastewater treatment facility.
The scenery is familiar to him. Otto grew up on a dairy farm southwest of Ellendale and his family still lives in the area, parents Larry and Emily Otto and sister Bethany Boswell, her husband Curt and nieces Kyah and Hope. Otto and his wife, Kristin, have four children, Peyton, Kayedence, Kyah and Kenley.
A 2000 graduate of NRHEG High School, Otto earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement with a minor in Resource Management from Minnesota State-Mankato.
So what’s it like to work in your hometown?
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By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
The Roger and Carol Strand family gathered at the home of Carol Strand in rural Ellendale on Saturday, Feb. 16 to help Roger and Carol celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
Roger and Carol Strand had been united in marriage Feb. 22, 1959 at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie.
Family members in attendance for dinner at Carol’s home along with Roger and Carol were Ryan Strand and his daughter, Brooklyn, and Jen Meyers, of Clarks Grove; Kevin and Tammy Strand of Albert Lea; Darcy and Curt Pape, and their daughter, Megan, of Garden City; Lisa and Tanner Drysdale and their daughter, Ryann of North Mankato, as well as their niece, Slone Pierson, of Mankato; Stacy and Scott Njos, Jordan Parker, and Kyle Njos, and his fiancee, Mande, of Austin; and Rachel and Mike Grunklee and their daughter, Mackenzie, of Blooming Prairie.