Interim call for the long haul
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After 22 months, Meierding bids farewell to NR area churches
TOUGH TO SAY GOOD BYE — After 22 months, LeSueur River and Vista Lutheran interim pastor Paul Meierding delivered his final sermon there last Sunday. The Meierding family, from left, Paul, Erika, Karl and Jorun. (Submitted photo)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
For the last 22 months, the two-point perish of the LeSueur River Church and Vista Lutheran has experienced an interim phase.
All the while, they waited patiently for a full-time candidate to come along, and finally, their prayers have been answered. But, before Brian Gegel takes the lead, the congregation must say a bittersweet goodbye to Paul Meierding.
“As an interim pastor, people often tell you they want you to stay,” Meierding said. “It’s an honor to hear that. It’s also fun to hear people appreciating my ministry.”
Meierding can’t get over how great this interim time has been. Sundays won’t be the same, he says.
Everybody loves a parade!
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Scenes from the 2012 Farm and City Days parade held Sunday, July 8. See Pages 2, 13 and 14 of this week's Star Eagle for more color Farm and City Days photos. (Star Eagle photos by Jim Lutgens)
Only time will tell
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Crops looking good at this point
TASSEL TIME — Local agronomist Mark Bernard has high hopes for the 2012 harvest. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Like humans, crops of all kinds need their “beauty sleep.”
And, now that we are in the heart of summer, local agronomist Mark Bernard has chosen to divulge a few of the imperative conditions the local fields need to survive and even thrive.
“When overnight temperatures fail to drop into the 60s and dew points remain high, the plants expend more energy to maintain themselves,” Bernard said. “If it continues to happen for extended periods of time, weeks in a row especially with corn, the yield can be compromised as a result of the energy diverted from grain fill.”
Bernard also says that beastly hot temperatures may also cause weaker, more disease-prone corn stalks.
Honored, humbled
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Schmidt named parade grand marshal
Gail Schmidt waves to the crowd during the 2012 New Richland Farm and City Days parade Sunday, July 8. Schmidt was selected grand marshal. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Pastor Charles Espe always does a great job of announcing the grand marshal for the New Richland Farm and City Days parade, so Gail Schmidt was an eager listener at the Fire Hall Saturday morning.
The clues went right over her head.
Even as Jim Kozan played “Six Days on the Road,” Schmidt, with her husband truck driver Joe sitting next to her, looked around the room for truck drivers.
Then, as Espe was reading the nomination letters, Schmidt was thinking, “Wow, those are really nice words to say about someone,” never once thinking he was talking about her.
But he was.
‘Time to grade the teacher’s paper’
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Nordlie to hold book signing at Farm & City Days car show
UP NORTH AUTHOR – Former NRHEG High English teacher Gary Nordlie will be at the Farm and City Days Car Show on Saturday, July 7 to sign his new book “The Boy Who Talked to Loons.”
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
After a person’s working career is over comes another stage in life: retirement. Many so-called retired people take up a new hobby, spend more time traveling or tending their flower gardens. Others are just content to have more time to spend with their grandchildren.
Former NRHEG High School English instructor Gary Nordlie decided to spend his retired years doing something he has always loved, fishing. Nordlie started teaching here in the 1967-68 school year and retired in 1998.
“I’ve been fishing for over 60 years,” said Nordlie. “I grew up fishing with my grandfather on the Mississippi.”
Nordlie participated in tournament fishing and also did quite a bit of writing about the outdoors. For the last 27 years, he has spent his summers on beautiful Lake Vermillion serving as a fishing guide. The lake is the fifth-largest within Minnesota borders and boasts 313 miles of shoreline. His love for the outdoors and his many experiences led him to write a book called “The Boy Who Talked to Loons.”