Whatever Comes To Mind (268)
Homecoming is about more than just football
Written by Jim LutgensThere is something about the word itself. Times change. Things change. We change. But, there is something warm, friendly and forever to know that we can come home. If you are tired or excited or it is just the end of a long day, there is always that good feeling of home. Home is where everything starts, where things happen. Homecoming is a part of us.
Traditionally, homecoming at your school is where you come to meet other alumni of your school days. You may be past the time when the names on the game roster are familiar, but your children, your children’s children or the offspring of the guys you played sports with in high school may be on that list. Your love of school, the sports and memories bring you home for the anticipated big game.
Homecoming at our local school has changed a great deal over the years, and no longer just centers around the big football game. Typically, the first day of school in the fall includes a time for the senior class to gather for their first meeting of the year. Many things were discussed, including graduation, but the main focus of the meeting was selecting the homecoming candidates.
The first homecoming coronations were not the grand dress up events they are now. The homecoming attire was less formal; the candidates wore dress clothes. In later years, those selected as homecoming candidates wore more formal attire and most generally wore the dresses they had worn for prom. Back when real fur was acceptable, the queen candidates in Ellendale wore fur jackets that had been borrowed from a fur shop in Albert Lea. Later, it was decided that all of the candidates should be dressed alike and the king candidates should also be dressed appropriately, and wear tuxedos.
When the first homecoming coronations took place, in Ellendale and New Richland, only a queen was crowned. At one time, members of the football team served as escorts and the football captain was the one honored to escort the queen; a king wasn't chosen. Later, king candidates were selected to be part of the royal court in Ellendale while in in New Richland there were no king candidates. The football coach felt that the players were more apt to concentrate on the big game when they were less involved with the frivility.
Ellendale for many years had crown bearers, first-grade students who carried the crowns into the gymnasium for the new king and queen. The queen in Ellendale also wore a long elegant, deep red robe. For a number of years in Ellendale the queen candidates carried red velvet muffs with their names on them; that tradition has continued, but there is no longer red every year.
Changes have also taken place too, in regards to the homecoming game.
At one time, football was the honored sport for homecoming. While it still remains a big moment, other fall sports are also considered an important part of the festivities. Volleyball usually begins the week of athletic events, and the running of the football from Ellendale to New Richland by the cross country team has become a fascinating and honored attraction as well.
Some won't be there for homecoming. They're too far away. But there is still a significant impetus to remember homecoming. Home is or should be the most cozy word in the dictionary, because that is where it all began. It brings back memories, perhaps of that first day your little body entered the doors of education. It was a new experience in learning to be a part of something more than your home experiences. It was meeting new people, some who would travel with you through the years and others just for a little while. Nonetheless, part of a homecoming experience.
If you are older or maybe not even all that old, the school you attended may not look the same. Even so, you will always remember how it looked. In the past, bonfires were probably one of the big things for homecoming. The excitement of gathering materials for the pep fest rally is just a memory and has been replaced by more ornate but nonethe ess exciting activities as they crown a new king and queen. There will be smiles, tears, hugs and pictures to commemorate this big occasion.
It is always exciting to watch the school homecoming parades. The enthusiasm of the elementary students can overshadow the excitement of the older students.
In the fun and excitement of so-called roasting the royal candidates, it is hoped that students are adult enough to realize some tricks of the trade can be damaging to the candidates’ parents and property. Papering may be considered a visible and relatively harmless event, while the use of other material may not always be.
Homecoming is also perhaps the time when the high school yearbook makes its appearance, which reminds many of the activities the year before. It arrives just in time to get some autographs from alumni who come home for the big occasion.
The yearbook, probably more expensive than most best sellers, is a golden reminder of what that year had been. It's a history book, an encyclopedia and a source of much information. You think not? You're talking to the wrong person.
It hurts to lay out that amount of money sometimes, but to me it is worth it. I may not have a lot of things, but I have a closet full of yearbooks collected through the years of those students who attended our high schools, then and now. They are many times a resource book for me. I use them to remember a names and faces, and find out what year someone graduated. I also look back to see who the homecoming candidates and king and queen were in a particular year.
I miss the lower grades pictured in the school annual. It is nice to know how kids grow up, and of course I only have a few annuals from New Richland before the consolidations of our schools.
Though they may not always seem like happy days, these are some of the very best days of one’s life.
Homecoming is a time to renew old friendships and look forward to the years ahead.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, September 22nd: Noah Rasmussen, Lee Nelson, Gary Jenkins, Kaleb Christensen, Diane Stollard, Kathy Underland, Doris DeNeui, Mark & Rachel Lee.
• Friday, September 23rd: Aiden James Manges, Allison Groth Muilenburg, Melissa Lonning, Sara Corenlius Routh, Kristin Hamburg, Lance Jepson, Theresa Langlie, Debra Harding, James Robertson, Galen Montanye, Elizabeth Lageson, Mark Kasper, Robin Christensen, Judy & Tad Lunning.
• Saturday, September 24th: Gilmore Nelson, Nancy Pence, Jayna Domier, Jazmyne Tayton Martinez, Brandon Wayne, Cherysh Christina Hill Marcks, Brody Carlson, Michael Bedney, Trevor David Barber, Jill Vanden Heuvel, Kathie Lein, Susan Mickelson, Sophie Miller, Iris & Stanley Jensen.
• Sunday, September 25th: Maykayla Jayme Haberman, Trevor David Barber, Geraldine Vangen, Tom Lageson, Pat Conklin, Suzanne Enzenauer Skaar, Cameron & Dayna Schember, Kellen & Alison Utpadel, Dwight & Loretta Schewe, Harmony & Ryan Anderson, Amy & Rick Storlie, Wendy & Marty Schultz, Larry & Elaine Paulsen.
• Monday, September 26th: Becky Tindal, Tammy Beenken, Lori Klemmensen Suchanek, Marc Horan, Verdel Humberg, Virginia Miller, James Henry Neidermeier, Connie Calderon, Lee Johnson, Glenn Beckman, Marty & Lee Nelson.
• Tuesday, September 27th: Layla Grace Schultz, Judy Christensen, Naomi Wangsness, Mary Wayne, Gail Farr Christenson, Sara Holmes Wencl, Steve Lageson, Kristin Paulsen Zinke, Jacob Tasker, Chris Ritz, Katie Cameron, Eleanor Rodriguez, Carl Shadden, Daniel Van Kampen, Donna Mae McCamish, Kristin Severson, Lud Borchert, Jocelyn & Jason Heyer.
• Wednesday, September 28th: Madeline Schei, Kylie Lembke, Denise Hagen Olson, Mary Therneau, Mitch Vangen, Taff Worrell, Haley Mattson DuBois, Bunny Jepson, Miranda & Isiah Payton, Jerry & Ginger Thompson, Bill & Sharon Vavra, Jill & Todd Kubicek.
May your special day hold the promise of many bright tomorrows!
It’s hard to believe summer is already finished
Written by Jim LutgensDid you go to “country school?”
Remember your first grade teacher?
How about your fifth grade teacher?
How many teachers who you had during your grade and high school years do you remember?
Why do you suppose you remember some and not others? Was it the class they taught? How they taught it or something that brings it to mind?
Remember your first day of school?
Did you go to kindergarten? What was your favorite class?
When did you learn to tie your shoes? Zip or button your own coat? Put your boots on the right feet?
Who was your first very best friend in school?
What did you carry in your school lunch box? What was your favorite “hot lunch” at school?
What time did school start and what time was it over?
Did you walk to school, ride or take the bus? Who was your bus driver?
What games did you play during recess and phy-ed time?
What was your favorite thing about school?
How many were in your class? How many were in your graduating class?
It is hard to believe that summer is over and that is was time for school to start again. Were your children and grandchildren ready for school to start again? Were you ready for school to start again?
The days seem to tick away faster and faster all the time. Before we know it, fall will be here. In fact, the first day of Fall is the 23rd of September.
Fall....
The apples fall. Leaves fall. Nuts fall. Branches fall. People fall. Temperatures are falling and before we know it, snow will fall.
We’re seeing the gathering of the turkeys and geese.
Things are changing. The color of the tree leaves, soybeans, and corn ears are changing. We will soon be seeing harvesting in the fields — be it sweet corn, soybeans, field corn.
The sporting season has changed too. Then there’s the adventure of games —school competition and the “big boys” speculating, trading and thinking ahead for victories. The Vikings and football teams are already playing and the Twins will soon be done with another season.
The length of daylight seems to have changed a great deal, almost overnight, so to speak.
Cheerleaders — kids seem to congregate and you see kids out riding bikes and doing things knowing their days will be getting shorter.
I watched the butterflies this morning hanging in clumps in the maple trees like beautiful bouquets of flowers. Evidently, they are starting to prepare for their long trip south for the winter. I watched the butterflies flying from tree to tree and wondered how long before I would no longer see them.
Before long, we will also see folks in their motor homes as they start their journey south in hopes of missing the winter weather and enjoy the sunshine and warmth in the southern states.
Fall is such a beautiful time of year. Flowers are never prettier or brighter. It is as if they are making a last stand performance. The gardens are producing too, as if it were their last days.
The squirrels are scurrying here and there, collecting acorns for the long winter days ahead.
The store clerks are scurring too, as they are also beginning their preparations for fall. The stores are showing effects of summer supply and equipment sales and instead displaying those items needed for winter. School stock has been out for ages, but Halloween goodies and fall decorations are beginning to fill up the empty shelves where school supplies had once been displayed. The clerks are unpacking the containers of sweats and sweaters and displaying them next to the summer clothes which are now on sale.
As the world turns, seasons change. We must adapt with it. Cherish the moment...such is life.
Love every leaf, every ray of light. Loving all, you will perceive the mystery of God in all.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family or school reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and birth or wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass it along to you. If you have news, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, September 15th: Korbin Wayne, Aiden McClasky, Daniel Hemingway, Ryan Johnson, Nancy Nelson, Tyrel Peterson, Wendy Schultz, Eric Nelson, Jarred Hanson, Dorothy Reichl.
• Friday, September 16th: Evon Damon Lucas, David L. Christenson, Carmen Fetterly, Emily Laudon, Howard & Carrie Peterson, Shane & Kelly Christensen.
• Saturday, September 17th: Duane Edwardson, Karen Hemingway Core, Al Routh, Kara Ladlie, Allen Brandt, Sue Tasker, Brock David Routh, Terry & Marlys Van Kampen.
• Sunday, September 18th: Torsten Wayne, Laura Groth, Carla Scripture, Kevin Christenson, Ron Farr, Chris Larson, Becky Axmann, Laura Davis, Julia Spande, Randy & Cindy Horan, Andrea & Nick Miller, Todd & Mary Wayne, David & Malinda Hanson, Jill & Brian Wolff, Nicholas & Katie Wayne.
• Monday, September 19th: Vicki Hill Kress, Carol Anderson, David Deml, Ben Cerney, Dan Underland, Kristine Sorenson, Bill Hatch, Jennifer Johnson, Gerald Trandem, Cindy Morris Erickson, Scott & Tracy Tracy, Kelly & David Wacek, Jill & Dustin Johannsen.
• Tuesday, September 20th: Trinity Starr Wocelka, her first; Jade Hill, Tricia Wayne, Jade Hill, Tammy Beenken, Alice Simonson, Sarah Mills, Cheryl Lonning, Bruce Born, Mardelyn Thompson, Jennifer Thorn, Jason & Michelle Gordon, Irvin & Kathy Jensen.
• Wednesday, September 21st: Addie Haugen, Tiffany Shelton, Tim Sorenson, Dan Richards, Ann Hamilton, Margaret Deml, Thomas O'Conner, Pastor Richard Spande, Richard Axmann, Sherri & Chad Fritz, Jodi & Brandon Wayne, Marty & Karen Johnson.
• Thursday, September 22nd: Noah Rasmussen, Lee Nelson, Gary Jenkins, Kaleb Christensen, Diane Stollard, Kathy Underland, Doris DeNeui, Mark & Rachel Lee.
• Friday, September 23rd: Aiden James Manges, Allison Groth Muilenburg, Melissa Lonning, Sara Corenlius Routh, Kristin Hamburg, Lance Jepson, Theresa Langlie, Debra Harding, James Robertson, Doreen Jensen, Galen Montanye, Elizabeth Lageson, Mark Kasper, Robin Christensen, Leo Simonson, Judy & Tad Lunning, Dan & Lori Bell.
May your special day be filled with sunshine and smiles.
An advocate of home schooling speaks her mind
Written by Jim LutgensI am an advocate of home schooling. Whoa, let me finish. Let me explain.
School days come so soon and make us smart. Hopefully you have already had your "home schooling."
I am not talking about reading, writing and arithmetic. I am talking "home school," all those things that good parents teach their children from the day they were born.
The things children learn those first five or six years of their life may well be the most important things they will ever learn. Parents need to teach their children to be happy, clean, respectful, polite, enthusiastic, self-disciplining, and teach them how to learn and make good use of that information. A basic tool is learning when to say yes or no. Sadly, it is something some of us may never really achieve, and by all means, learn to share.
Children should be exposed to a variety of activities. That may seem simple, but this is necessary for their self-confidence. Going to the library, a county fair, a sporting activity, ordering at a restaurant, learning the cost of things, selecting or making choices regarding their own clothing, even if it is a this or that type choice, is something children must learn.
Learning left and right, good or bad, expressing themselves to others, telling someone about their day and sharing what they have done, whether it is coloring, drawing, skipping, swimming, fishing, singing etc., are all important.
Children need to learn how to wash their face, comb their hair, brush their teeth, tie their shoes and make their bed. They also need to learn the proper way to do things, such as crossing the street, riding their bike and to not play with matches. They should not talk to strangers, and use scissors the proper way. Then after all that, they should practice what they learned.
Learning about shapes: is an object round, square, rectangular, or triangular? It helps them in their learning processes. It is also important for them to learn about money on sight, be it a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter. Even better to learn is what it is worth, and how much money it will take to purchase things.
Along those lines, learning about measuring things is key. We measure with measuring cups and spoons, which helps gives meaning to 1/2 full or a 1/4 full, etc. We also measure with a ruler or tape measure which helps in the learning process as well.
Children can have fun with magnifying glasses, flashlights and scotch tape (wrapping packages). They also learn a great deal telling stories about things that have happened in their lives. They also learn by being exposed and participating in different events, going on trips, and seeing different parts of the country.
Parents with healthy habits model healthy habits for their children, practicing good manners and saying please and thank you, and I guess I can say the list goes on and on. Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be.
Home schooling is a continuous education as the times change people and how things are done. Circumstances change. Children must learn to deal with adverse conditions as the world is full of them.
Children also need to learn to appreciate people, both good and bad. They need to learn the value of trust, kindness, friendship, thankfulness, the advantage of good programs applied and where to go when they need help. They also need to learn, logic, patience, life science, how to solve, to think and understand, to practice good sportsmanship and be able to have double vision, which lets them see the other person’s side of view.
Learning to make choices can be difficult. Understanding rules is necessary. It also helps prevent them from hurting others.
There will be disappointments which must be dealt with, but children will learn from those experiences as well. There will be sad times. Those too will pass.
Children should understand forgiveness, especially forgiveness of themselves. Resourcefulness should be natural with no fault for failure; it is better to try and fail then to sit back and wish you had given it a shot.
Is it "home schooling" or life science? It is a subject well worth the effort to achieve a passing grade.
Helen Keller said that there are four things to learn in life: to think clearly without hurry or confusion; to love everybody sincerely; to act in everything with the highest motive, and to trust God unhesitatingly.
When all is said and done, when someone says, “How are you,” you can truthfully answer, "I am super good but I will get better." We all need to practice new answers to that question, such as I am terrific, or happy, or super! It helps you convince yourself it is true.
Education is really the answer to life's questions, big or small, today, tomorrow or whenever. There is so much to learn and so many changes that absorbing it all seems overwhelming.
Earl Nightingale once said, "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use."
Let your children know that although they are small, they are also unique and irreplaceable.
Simply said, try to do what seems best each day and as each day comes. Home schooling is there for a lifetime.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, September 8th: Pastor Joel Xavier, Natalie Aaseth, Cindy Loberg Smolinski, Anna Lois Erickson, Brittani Hagen, Karen Briggs, Kelly Hagen, Amy Johnson Svoboda, Jennifer Johnson Popiel, Jimmie Olson Jr., Jamie Thompson, Bob & Karen Vaith, Brian & Jody Wayne, Jessica & Jay Eidem.
• Friday, September 9th: Eva Lauren Wayne, Charlie Pence, Paul Aronson, Bruce Cerney, Corey Haddy, Steve Hanson, Roger Herbst, Jim & Mary Brocker, Randy & Deb Parks, Spencer & Suzanne Wayne.
• Saturday, September 10th: Arnold Lund, Taya RaeAnn Lembke, Emily Crabtree, Caden Jensen, Curtis Blouin, Craig Blouin, Pauline Fetterly, Steve Granowski, Kathy Knudson, Sally Utpadel Waknitz, Connie Krusemark, Charlie & Diane Marlin.
• Sunday, September 11th: Geoffrey Stieglbauer, Andy Arends, Dawn Misgen Meier, Craig Torgerson, Matthew Mueller, Kathy Nelson, Galen Christensen, Mark Calverly, Paul & Jo Otto, Steve & Mary Bailey, Leanna & Jared Peterson, Tim & Angie Butler, Brian & Jody Wayne, Rick & Linda Weckwerth.
• Monday, September 12th: Stacy Kubiatowicz, Joane Vanden Heuvel, Chloe Sue Walterman, David Wacek, Robert Kasper, Courtney Thostenson, Nikolas Zimprich, Eric Hunnicutt, Jennifer Wallerich, David Jepson, Tuyen Vu, Kris Klocek, Ken & Marian Hoffman.
• Tuesday, September 13th: Tali Wayne, Jaxon Richards, Russell Goette, Jason Ingvaldson, James Plunkett, Clifford Tufte, Sherre Utpadel, Lisa Zamora, Andrew Zinke, Korey Peterson, Amber Stohr, Lisa Ritz, Ruby Troxel, Ann & Rodney Hamilton, Rhonda & Derike Shelton.
• Wednesday, September 14th: Rick Wangsness, Reece Breidenbach, Issac Wacek, Chris Hanson, Linda Pederson, Jill Peterson, Jack Jensen, Caleb Lunning, Ethan Lunning, Gerald & Becky Edwards, Rick & Charlotte Miller.
• Thursday, September 15th: Korbin Wayne, Aiden McClasky, Daniel Hemingway, Ryan Johnson, Nancy Nelson, Tyrel Peterson, Wendy Schultz, Eric Nelson, Jarred Hanson, Dorothy Reichl, Roger & Patty Langlie.
• Friday, September 16th: Evon Damon Lucas, David L. Christenson, Carmen Fetterly, Emily Laudon, Howard & Carrie Peterson.
May your special day be filled with sunshine and smiles.
More memories of Beaver Lake’s storied history
Written by Jim LutgensMore Beaver Lake memories...
The times change. Adventures change. Boats get bigger and faster.
My mother distinctly remembers the beauty of that land as a youngster. Districts #133 and #96 (County Line School) had taken a field trip for a nature field day with her favorite country school teacher. The students carried their lunches for a picnic.
Taking field trips was a big deal in those days. She believes there was once a road running north from the lake, just west of where Rick Johnson now has his home. Because the road was in such poor condition due to some water conditions, it was eventually closed.
Picnics were popular at Beaver Lake. It was the family’s summer entertainment. The ladies always tried to bring their best food items. There was always home fried chicken and potato salad made with lots of eggs and cooked dressing.
Yes, cooked dressing; dressing didn’t come with a label on it from the store back then. It was cooked on the stove and made with cream, eggs and oil. Mom says it was delicious.
The picnics also included cabbage salad, home baked beans, cakes, cookies and they always had pie - even cream pie. Group picnics sometimes had homemade ice cream, which had been packed with dry ice in silver cylinders and covered with a very thick padding.
My mother doesn’t remember anyone ever dying of food poisoning, though the days were often long. Leftovers were often eaten later in the day before everyone went back home again.
Many remember the white building that used to be at the lake, where you could buy treats. There was a wooden walkway in front of it, with doors over the counter top that could be turned up for access to the public. There was penny candy, candy straws, licorice sticks and NeHi pop, which came in glass bottles.
But, mostly it was lemonade, made from real lemons. It sure quenched the thirst. The ice probably came from ice blocks stored in the ice house, which were harvested from the lake the previous winter, then packed in sawdust so it wouldn’t melt.
Many people enjoyed listening to speakers, concerts, playing games and socializing with friends and neighbors at the lake. Though the cattle were probably moved from the area for large picnics, it was obvious this was their feeding area. You see, there was no grass cut by a rotary mower in those days.
The many picnic table benches were actually boards extending from cut off tree stumps. Others just chose to sit on spread blankets on the grass. Ladies wore dresses. So did the little girls.
Men wore straw hats. A few guys sported Y pants that were tight at the knee, which required long, dark stockings to cover their legs. Mom insists she remembers there being a rather dilapidated gazebo or screened band stand at one time.
Some also remember the dances and the roller rink at the lake. Roller skates could be rented and put on by using a silver skate key to attach them to the soles of the shoes.
Games were also played in the park. Most likely, you’d find people of all ages having fun with three-legged races, sack races, plain races, all categorized by ages and gender. My mother has a distinct memory of the casting rod events for the men.
Dr. Algie, the local dentist, was almost certain to win because he could put that “plug” right where he wanted it. Also, not to forget were the ball games.
I remember snowmobiling across the lake often on our way to St. Olaf Lake. One year, we observed slushy spots of rather red looking ice. We never knew why, but it was about the same time that oak trees were threatened by an oak blight.
Beaver Lake has held many large ice fishing events for sport and contest over the years. In the ball playing days, Hank Thompson packed many fishing contests in with prizes, including automobiles, trips, butchered livestock, groceries and cash. All this helped the fast pitch softball players earn money to support their team for league and tournament play the following summers.
The polio epidemic was responsible for shutting down the beach area one year. One family was hard hit by polio, but their love for the lake had them building a ramp type access to the lake for a paralyzed child. Then, he could get down to the lake on the steepest part of the lake’s shore terrain.
There were tales about a large inlet/outlet on the south east corner of the lake. As I recall, there was some hassle over it because the water depth could be changed to different individuals’ liking, by removing or adding wooden planking.
When the park was developed, a walking underpass from the parking lot to the beach area was put in for safety concerns. The wooden bathhouse on the west side of the road had been replaced by a modern concrete building on the east side of the road. The new bathhouse had his and hers changing areas, cold water showers and concession stand.
A picnic pavilion was built, and play ground equipment installed for the children. The fishing dock put in by the DNR has been a welcome and well-used addition to the lake.
When my mom worked at Lerberg’s in Ellendale, right out of high school, (which is 65 years ago now), I remember an enterprising gentlemen. He managed the lumber yard in Ellendale, and bought a couple of cabins from “gasoline alley” in Albert Lea that had to be moved because of road work.
He moved them to the north side of Beaver Lake. My mother said to him, “Good move. Just keep on going.” Though he looked at her rather strange at the time, he took her advice and did just that. He went on to develop the west end of Beaver Lake.
During the Beaver Lake Tour held earlier this summer, I visited with people who now own the cabin formerly owned by Geraldine Rasmussen, of the Austin Daily Herald. My mother and dad had worked on that cabin many years ago, and a good share of others around the lake.
Who were the first lakeside year round residents at Beaver Lake? Was it Nels Jensen or Clarence Peterson? Or was it whoever lived in the houses on the Kast shoreline? The Wistercils have had two non-typical cabins on the north side for a long time. Who lived there?
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, September 1st: Jim Motz, Payton Thomspon, Daryl Nelson, Jody Farr, Catherine Carlson, Gregory Ray, Dianna & Matthew Beckman, Adam & Lalya Lang, Jim & Marian Motz.
• Friday, September 2nd: Krista Paulsen, Brent Broulik, Barb Grunwald, Dean Richards, Logan Callahan, Peyton Moore Ayers, Randy & Barb Horan, Christine & Tom Krause, Amy & Jeff Conley.
• Saturday, September 3rd: Marie Carroll, Lori Ingvaldson, Merton & Trudy Nelson, Joanne & Mitch Wayne, Dick & Paulette Nelson, Tatum Wilson.
• Sunday, September 4th: Cody Blouin, Marc Vanden Heuvel, Melissa Wayne, Tea Boerner, Erin Dobberstein, Daniel Pitcock, Holly Wangsness Dau, Rachel Arends, Melody & Tim Gassnman.
• Monday, September 5th: Beckett Dane Rasmussen, Sydney Marie Schmidt, Jennifer Broskoff Dutton, Bruce Langlie, Beth Ann Suelter, Darren Hanson, Stacy Evenson, Grace Lorraine Kofstad, Rande Nelson, Dennis & Mary Jensen, Chuck and L‚ymra Hoogland, Brian & Angie Dobberstein.
• Tuesday, September 6th: LeAnn Hjoberg, Cindy Sloan Scheevel, Jackson Kilian, Tina Thostenson, Luke Trumble, Brian & Nancy Erickson.
• Wednesday, September 7th: Tanner Ryan Green, Caleb Wacek, Bert Van Hal, Janice Nelson, Charles Phagan, Allen Wacek, Jenny & Jed Popiel, Summer & Wayne Schultz, Erik & Gina Cooper, Al & Becky Larson, Brant & Rhiannon Boerner.
• Thursday, September 8th: Pastor Joel Xavier, Natalie Aaseth, Cindy Loberg Smolinski, Anna Lois Erickson, Brittani Hagen, Karen Briggs, Kelly Hagen, Amy Johnson Svoboda, Jennifer Johnson Popiel, Jimmie Olson Jr., Jamie Thompson, Bob & Karen Vaith, Brian & Jody Wayne, Jessica & Jay Eidem.
• Friday, September 9th: Eva Lauren Wayne, Charlie Pence, Paul Aronson, Bruce Cerney, Corey Haddy, Steve Hanson, Roger Herbst, Jim & Mary Brocker, Randy & Deb Parks, Spencer & Suzanne Wayne.
Wherever this year takes you, may you find happiness along the way.
Additional thoughts and memories of Beaver Lake
Written by Jim LutgensAs we were growing up living at the lake, we saw the beach at Beaver Lake as a full blown picture of color. There was always an abundance of people and beach towels.
The many, many beach towels were laid out on the hillside. Everyone enjoyed the panorama of summer, swimming and sunning at Beaver Lake. People used to say that you could not get one more body on the hillside on the east end of the lake. It was so full of people. The swimming area was full to the max with bobbing heads and bodies in the water.
Though I have seen some of those same scenes come back, and a large number of people enjoying Beaver Lake, I doubt it will ever be as populated as it was back in the middle 1960s, when it was definitely the place to be.
My thoughts go back to Minnie again, and how she would make Tom Collins for the guys so they could relax a bit when they came from work before supper. We kids got the same thing as an afternoon relaxer, but without the liquor. In other words, we drank lemonade. The drink was special because of all of the slices of oranges and lemons, and the cherry on top, which Minnie used to "pretty up" the glass.
It was also our delight as well, because the men didn't often eat the fruit - we did! It took awhile until my mother thought about the whole situation. How stupid - the liquor would most surely go straight to the fruit. No wonder we liked them.
The biggest surprise came the day Minnie was out of gin and it wasn't included in the drinks. The comment was made that it was the best one she had ever made. We all shared looks but not one ever told, until now.
It has been years, but to this day, I stilI don't like a regular Tom Collins. I only like the special way that Minnie made them for the kids, delicious, decorated lemonade.
I also remember early mornings when we would hear the chomping of cattle, or so we thought, until we realized it was the carp. These early morning fish were feeding on the green vegetation in the lake. It was so loud; I can still mentally hear it yet.
The Beaver Lake Sportsman’s Club sat on the north east side of the lake, rather dated, and seldom used. Minnie acquired use of it, much to everyone’s delight. Surprising what some paint, posters and a juke box will do, not to mention the best cook in the country. That too became the place to be, just like the beach.
We learned to clean shrimp so large they looked like chicken legs, which were also featured on the menu. My mouth waters thinking about them. But, shucking shrimp is not without its casualties. Many times we bore the marks of sharp scales. More than one patron was ready to send back her order "because she didn't order chicken but shrimp,” because the size of the shrimp fooled her.
Because he could have fished 24 hours a day, nonstop, Mark Christensen, Minnie’s nephew, often brought us little fish that we dutifully filleted. Yes, we filleted them though they were so little. Minnie dubbed them "Beaver Lake Shrimp.” They were often served free of charge to those who came to the "Sportsman’s Club" and marveled at their goodness.
Minnie had a way of battering items for deep frying. She worked on it for years trying to get just the right touch. The egg mixture was not over handled and let to sit or rest. The breading was finely crushed cracker crumbs. She added some corn meal, and I don't recall the rest. The fish were dipped in the egg mixture - not too much. And then, it was dipped into the dry mix, but not too much.
The food to be fried was room temperature. Minnie dried it carefully before she put them in the egg mixture, never oversoaking them. After that, they were placed in the dry mixture - not too thick. Minnie felt that was best, as she said the lighter amount would stay on. If the mixture got too thick, it had a tendency to come off in the frying.
The people, who populated "the joint" as Minnie called it, were the best. You can learn so much from people. I remember the cute little couple who lived on the north side of the hill. The cabin almost hung on by its teeth, so to speak. It was probably the oldest cabin and has since been renovated by the Kast family.
"Fun" was the name of the game. People laughed and talked and forgot their problems, always coming back for more and more. One old gentleman showed up wearing shorts one night. Realize this was before shorts were "the thing," like they are now. He allowed us to decorate not only his knees with happy faces, but his stomach, his naval and his face with lipstick and all.
The juke box was also a factor in the funnery. Of course songs that were popular then were such sensible songs. The favorite was "Mack the Knife" and other such oldies but goodies. The place wasn't that big but there was always room for dancing. There were those who just sat and watched and didn't say much. But, the grin on their faces showed that these shy people were enjoying everything.
Then there was the morning Mark came up from the lake with a fist full of money he had found floating along the shore. It was a mystery, only until we remembered one of the avid fishermen, who might have been at "the joint" the previous day, had sort of rolled down the hill, no doubt depositing his hard earned money in the lake. The sober individual was ever so thankful when his money was returned to him.
I hope that many of you have enjoyed the "lake stories.” I also hope that they have helped you enjoy some really great stories and memories of your own.
If you have some experiences or memories that you would like to share, please contact me, so that others can enjoy them as well.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang.
• Friday, August 26th: William Michael Rodney Tuttle, Christopher Cook, Clarice Pence, Catherine Haugen, Mike Riley, Elijah Lee Ackland, Catherine Mae Haugen, Tim Falksen, George Stieglbauer, Michael Rodney Tuttle, Sharon Peterson, Travis & Kelly Johnson, Angie & Michael Den Herder.
• Saturday, August 27th: Martin Johnson, Kory Kress, Alice Randall, Sandra Thostenson, Dee Ann Jensen, Jim Collins, Mary Lageson, Sharon Ramaker, Terry Pelzl, Angela DeGeus, Jessica Marie Nygaard Paulson, Corlyn & Janice Paulsen.
• Sunday, August 28th: Mitch Helmers, Larry Motl, Bev Newgard. Waynetta Peterson, Rosy Fisher, Lorraine Christensen, Justine Randall, Marlys Van Kampen, Tammy Johnson, Gerritt Molenaar Sr., Jacquelyn Jensen, Linda Kelly, Marvin Thomspon, Jim & Fran Ladlie.
• Monday August 29th: Mark Lee, Eunice Smith, Barbara Klinger, Cheryl & Brian Boettcher.
• Tuesday, August 30th: Brett Richards, Joel Born, Danielle Cook, Katie Cleven Richards, Staci Hohansee, Donna Demmer, Everett Jensen, Grace Paulson, Craig Schwartz, Eva Elayna Thomas.
• Wednesday, August 31st: Carole Schember, Terry Walterman, Kari Hohansee, Jerry Flugum, Tony Holmes, Connie Misgen Evenson, John Tasker, Heather Reese, Nancy Bottelson, Garrett Avery, Ron & Karen Huber, Melissa & Tyler Moe.
• Thursday, September 1st: Jim Motz, Payton Thomspon, Daryl Nelson, Jody Farr, Catherine Carlson, Gregory Ray, Dianna & Matthew Beckman, Adam & Lalya Lang, Jim & Marian Motz.
May your day be filled with everything you enjoy most.
‘Old Boat House’ rekindles memories of Beaver Lake
Written by Jim LutgensOnce a year, Ed and Norrine Jensen invite the Ellendale Historical Society to a special meeting at “The Old Boat House” at Beaver Lake. This event was held recently, and got my mind and my mother’s racing with memories of those “good old days” at Beaver Lake.
I may have shared some stories previously about my early experiences at Beaver Lake But, I need to tell them again for those who didn’t read them “back then,” before I go on to tell some of my other memories and new stories.
The things that I and my parents remember about Beaver Lake seem so trivial compared to the history of this very historic landmark. Some of my first experiences I owe to Solvieg Sorenson, who took her children there for swimming lessons. She was kind enough to include my sister Kaye and I; who were too young for lessons. We played on the sandy beach where the boat landing area is now. Sometimes it was just a special treat because the day was hot and work had been accomplished for the day.
My dad, who was a compulsive worker, didn’t like to take time off, So, my great-uncle Viggo Christensen, had dad do some work for him and as a special reward, wanted our family to come to the lake for a steak fry at Minnie and Buzzy Lerums' cabin on the south shore. Dad hesitated in accepting the invitation, but we went and we were hooked forever.
Dad so enjoyed that Saturday afternoon that he asked if he could come back the next day. We did. Following our second visit to the lake, he told Minnie he wanted to ask his brother in South St. Paul, who had connections with a “retired” bus company, if he could get an old bus. Dad thought that he could convert the bus into a motorhome and park it by her cabin so we could spend the summers at the lake, near her and Buzzy.
Minnie said “Yes” to the idea, never believing it would happen, but buy he did and the next weekend we were “Beaver Lakers” in a motor home stripped of its seats with built in bunks and a cook top, that was really a coffee pot warmer from who knows where.
Viggo had a five gallon pail of paint and volunteered to paint our new motorhome blue.
It was to be the beginning of one of our greatest adventures and probably the only “family vacation” persay, we had. Minnie was my Aunt Nancy's sister. She and Viggo had one “freckled face, almost red headed” son a few years older than I, and of course our hero. There were times he tolerated my sister and I, and times when we were just girls. One of our favorite times at the lake were Sunday mornings when Minnie and Nancy made breakfast on the cook stove Lerums' had out under their big oak tree. Fired up, it produced great pancakes, french toast, sausages and eggs — the whole works.
I say this was one of my favorite things growing up, because this happened to be a hot, hot summer. We literally lived in the lake. Because we were so little, it was compulsary to wear life jackets — clumsy Kapok life jackets. Mine was red and my sister’s blue. Our swim suits were navy blue - one piece. My sister was more adventurous. I and my aunt, suffered panic attacks, because of my sister’s water bravery.
Often, our days started at sun up and we were still swimming at night when it was dark and the stars were like diamonds in the sky We thought that we lived at a gold mine. Though we had been taught “no rough housing” in the lake, something later disproved that, when Mark acquainted us with a very athletic young man whose last name was Neste I think. He was the lifeguard at the beach, who when swimming lessons were over - took time to play with us. He taught us to rough house because his theory was that it was important to learn what to do in a tramatic situation. We would get scared of what was happening to us in the water, but would be capable of meeting the challenge.
Before the summer was over, our swimsuits were no longer navy blue, but faded beyond color. My sister’s skin color was the color of sweet chocolate. When we were taking swimming lessons, others were able to stay on the beach or had to be out farther in the water, away from the swimming area. My mother soon learned that she not only could float with ease, but fall asleep on the water. She also realized she had nothing to fear of water, and learned that by just putting her mind to it - she could float.
Once our beach ball floated out of the swimming area and my mother swam out after it. Later, not realizing she was way beyond her depth, she immediately went down. She did not panic, and told herself, “I will float,” and she popped back up and retrieved the ball. She also learned that what is in your head affects you more than skill sometimes.
She also knew that if her kids were going to swim, she wasn't going to sit on shore and play in the sand. With help from my sister and I, she also learned to swim.
There are so many things I remember about living at the lake and want to share. I remember the day I met the largest snapping turtle I have ever seen. Snapping turtles are vicious critters. We wanted to save him “for the guys to see,” so we put a washtub and a huge tree stump on top of him. That turtle just walked away — his burden on his back until it fell off.
We even learned that little snappers can be vicious too. As one of our relatives, Mark, was to find out. Mark had a special friend, Noel Thompson. Mark could catch frogs and keep them in the resevoir of Minnie’s outdoor breakfast stove. One morning Mark was furious with Kaye and I. He thought that we had let his precious frogs out of the resevoir.
We were innocent. After some fussing and fumming and later some investigation, we discovered that Mark had put a baby snapper in with the frogs. The hungry little beast had stripped them clean. All we found was a white vertebrae from the frogs. Lesson learned - do not mix snappers with frogs and never underestimate the power of a little pair of jaws.
Funny, just the other day I read in the paper about a lady who had been bitten by a snapper. It was the first case like it that had ever come into that hospital. We were always told if snappers bit, they hang on — even to a stick — like they there were locked on ‘til sundown. Fact or fiction?
Next week, I will continue to share more stories about my memories of Beaver Lake.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family or school reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and birth or wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass it along to you. If you have news, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, August 18th: Donny Bartsch, Ron Johnson, Rick Johnson, John Ross Vermedahl, David Klocek, Michael Ingvaldson, Kelly Schmidt Janning, Connie Robertson, David Rietsema, Gary & Kathy Anderson, Ryan & Jill Hanson, Tamara & David Jepson, Simon & Arlean Lee.
• Friday, August 19th: Daxter Carter Lee, Jason Langlie, Michelle Peterson, Jennifer Popiel, Cheri Krejci, Ruth Enzenauer, Cynthia Grubish, Lois Johnson Aitchison, Jodi Wayne, David Cooper, Alyssa Kay Jensen, Larry & Karen Carlson, Jackie & Travis Olson, Andy & Julie Arnold, Larry & Mary Ellen Walton, Kayla & Patrick Krause.
• Saturday, August 20th: Dale Nelson, John Scrabeck, Tammy Bergland Techau, Andy Christensen, Diane Cleven, Delbert Karsjens, Jozie Annamarie Johnson, Kim Jensen, Jamie Nelson, Larry Pierce, Tianna & Joshua Kubicek.
• Sunday, August 21st: Aveery Hullopeter, Abriana Harris, Scott Tracy, Larry Klocek, Viola Klocek, Dawn Dobberstein, Mary Richards, Cindy Anderson, Roger Johnson, Sara Degan Misgen, Jodie Lee, Jaden Jensen, Cody Lembke, Michael Olson, Jasmine Obermoller Evans, David & Cindy Callahan.
• Monday, August 22nd: Thayne & Becky Nordland, Julie Johnson, Kyle Wallerich, La Donna Cummins Fallen, John Butler, John Glynn, Diane Butler, Dale Kelly, Aaron Ladlie, Dale Kelly, Nancy TaBelle
• Tuesday, August 23rd: Jared Dawson Lee, Logan Dale Marzolf, Terry Holland, Ann Klemmensen, Matthew Knudson, Steve Wilker, Scott Wright, Quinn Vu, Vernon & Jeanne Simonson, Galen & Linda Christensen, Amy & Marshall Svoboda.
• Wednesday, August 24th: Rick Storlie, Michelle Gowlland, Nicholas Chrisensen, Sam Worrell, Tanya Hughes, Natalie Deml, Elizah Lee Ackland, Crystal Johnson, Terry Vaith, Jeff Kycek, LaNell Leak Sunde, Corey Peterson, Mary Edon, Ralph & Cheryl Dobberstein, John & Cindy Christensen.
• Thursday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Wally & Janet Dunn, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang.
Wishing you warm friendship and simple joys. Have a wonderful day!
Everything you ever wanted to know about Crayolas
Written by Jim LutgensThey say you can talk or write about everything and anything...how true! It is only a matter of what comes to mind in that split second which could go away as fast in favor of some other thoughts. What a wonderful thing a mind is. That is where all the thoughts or memories are stored. Isn't it aggravating sometime to have an event or a name, on the tip of your tongue, and you know it you could almost spit it out but can't — until maybe 12 hours later when you're trying to sleep? It can be embarrasing to say to someone, “I know you but right now I forget your name.” It shouldn't embarrass us because we all, some more than others, seemingly suffer from momentary loss of memory.
I envy those who when they've made an ordinary human mistake are able to put it out of mind. I’m working on it. I tend to hang on to some of those things, blaming myself and not letting go. It's like having a tooth ache or pimple, that surfaces and hurts. After all the mind only has so much room, it’s better to let trivial things go.
No, I am not in the habit of watching cartoons, but after a glimpse of Mickey and Minnie Mouse the other day at my mothers' while her great granddaughter, Ava, was there for the day, she mentioned that her mind went back to the "Free Show" days when Mickey Mouse and friends were only skinny little black and white mice with extra skinny tails.
What a success story. In the first place, an insignificant little rodent who gained fame and fortune and is loved by Kids and parents the world over with a designer wardrobe and an inspiration to everyone. Sure, Disney gets the credit because where does everyone want to go? — Disneyland! And for those who don't go there, if we choose we can enjoy his antics, (between commercials that is) almost any day on television (and without murder and mayhem.)
There are many characters available now but somehow Mickey and Minnie are still faithful after all these years.
Another childhood memory is Crayola Crayons. The first box of Crayola Crayons was made and sold for 5 cents in 1903. It contained 8 colors, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and black and were created by Edwin Benny and C. Harold Smith. These two began manufacturing carbon black printing inks and slate pencils back in 1885.
In 1958, the company introduced the largest Crayola crayon box in history. The 64 box of crayons even featured a built in sharpener but more was yet to come. In 1990, for the first time in crayon history, eight colors were actually “retired.” Colors included green blue, raw umber, orange yello, violet blue, maize, lemon yellow, blue grey and orange red.
Since then Crayola has come up with any number of types of crayons, washable, erasable, and luminating among other things.
We live in a colorful world, and we have all gotten to enjoy making pictures using our Crayola crayons. Though there are still some photographs which are outstanding because they are printed in black and white - they take on a whole different dimension.
Color brings out so much too. Flowers — you can almost smell them. The color in a perfect pair of blue eyes, or brown or green are special. Color tells us what our house was then and what a difference color makes. Everything of how the appearance of a house changes just by being painted a different shade. The type of house and structure often dictates the color making some colors so right and others so wrong. Or is it because after getting use to seeing it in one color the change is more than we anticipate.
The late Glen Hanson, who lived in Geneva, once commented about how he always use to give friends a hard time when they were complaining about something their kid had done that their parents didn't like. He would tell them, “That is what you get for having kids” - and then went on to say, “and then my wife died and I'd have given anything to have had a family I could talk to, or to help me though those rough times and realized I wasn't the smart one after all.”
There is a “kid” I know — and no he is not a kid but he's somebodys “kid.” A few years ago he attained the 3 and 1 Bar in Hollandale. It is not just a bar or eating place, it a place for celebrations. He has helped his family celebrate and in the grandest way for anniversaries and birthdays and what have you. What a kid and what a joy he must be to his parents and what great parents he must have to want to do this. A close knit family - who can ask for more?
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family or school reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and birth or wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, August 11th: Nicole & Dallas Loken, Brian Broulik, Vicki Humburg, Jeremy Kaiser, Mike Plunkett, Kris Simon Freitas, Sharon Sorenson, Kim Anderson Schneider, Brian Thostenson, Irvin Jensen Jr., Kevin Avery, Luke Clark Wangsness, Pagie Sophia Kromminga
• Friday, August 12th: Linda & LaVerne Stieglbauer, Shawna Robertson, Tessa Christensen, Kristine Schroeder, Cindy Oswald, Cindy Nelson, Cynthia Crabtree, Thomas Smith, Ross Swearingen, Genie Hanson, Amy Tasker
Saturday, August 13th: Dennis Deml, Tim Enzenauer, David Haddy, Bob Brandt, Lisa Dummer, Megan Dummer, Janet Hope, Kellie Petranek, Sylvia Jepson, Saxton Chad Ritz
• Sunday, August 14th: David & Carrie Paulson, Mark Sorenson, Lucille Nechanicky, Gretchen Oswald Thompson, Peter Kasper, Leah Berg, Wes Neidermeier, Alison & Chad Muilenburg
• Monday, August 15th: Roger Wayne, Obert Osmundson, Kaye Dee Hanson, Nancy Nelson, Stephanie Peterson, Rhonda Shelton, Cade Shelton, Brian Warnke, Dorrie Horan, Michael Suelter, Larry & Kathleen Jensen, Kellie Benning, Brian Warnke, Maverick Harold Knutson
• Tuesday, August 16th: Kaven Dean VanHal, Haley Deml, Alexander James Dufresne, Mary Lerberg, Shayla Ann Marie Pachoel, Julie Arnold, Wayne & Marie Dobberstein, Harold & Janice Jensen, Mark & Diana Sundwall, Jeff & Julie Schlei, Donny & Gail Turvold
• Wednesday, August 17th: Cole Brody Thompson, Katie Klemmensen, Julie Osmundson, Luke Wiersma, Carol Nelson, Dillon Matthew Kubiatowicz, Abbey Beaber, Jackie DeVrient, Sonya Peterson, Cheryl Spurr, Steve Ladlie, Daniel Whelan, Rod & Cheryl Thompson, Tira & James Smith, Tina & Todd Wangen
• Thursday, August 18th: Donny Bartsch, Ron Johnson, Rick Johnson, John Ross Vermedahl, David Klocek, Michael Ingvaldson, Kelly Schmidt Janning, Connie Robertson, David Rietsema, Gary & Kathy Anderson, Ryan & Jill Hanson, Tamara & David Jepson, Simon & Arlean Lee
Wishing you much happiness on your special day!
Everything you ever wanted to know about Crayolas
Written by Jim LutgensThey say you can talk or write about everything and anything...how true! It is only a matter of what comes to mind in that split second which could go away as fast in favor of some other thoughts. What a wonderful thing a mind is. That is where all the thoughts or memories are stored. Isn't it aggravating sometime to have an event or a name, on the tip of your tongue, and you know it you could almost spit it out but can't — until maybe 12 hours later when you're trying to sleep? It can be embarrasing to say to someone, “I know you but right now I forget your name.” It shouldn't embarrass us because we all, some more than others, seemingly suffer from momentary loss of memory.
I envy those who when they've made an ordinary human mistake are able to put it out of mind. I’m working on it. I tend to hang on to some of those things, blaming myself and not letting go. It's like having a tooth ache or pimple, that surfaces and hurts. After all the mind only has so much room, it’s better to let trivial things go.
No, I am not in the habit of watching cartoons, but after a glimpse of Mickey and Minnie Mouse the other day at my mothers' while her great granddaughter, Ava, was there for the day, she mentioned that her mind went back to the "Free Show" days when Mickey Mouse and friends were only skinny little black and white mice with extra skinny tails.
What a success story. In the first place, an insignificant little rodent who gained fame and fortune and is loved by Kids and parents the world over with a designer wardrobe and an inspiration to everyone. Sure, Disney gets the credit because where does everyone want to go? — Disneyland! And for those who don't go there, if we choose we can enjoy his antics, (between commercials that is) almost any day on television (and without murder and mayhem.)
There are many characters available now but somehow Mickey and Minnie are still faithful after all these years.
Another childhood memory is Crayola Crayons. The first box of Crayola Crayons was made and sold for 5 cents in 1903. It contained 8 colors, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and black and were created by Edwin Benny and C. Harold Smith. These two began manufacturing carbon black printing inks and slate pencils back in 1885.
In 1958, the company introduced the largest Crayola crayon box in history. The 64 box of crayons even featured a built in sharpener but more was yet to come. In 1990, for the first time in crayon history, eight colors were actually “retired.” Colors included green blue, raw umber, orange yello, violet blue, maize, lemon yellow, blue grey and orange red.
Since then Crayola has come up with any number of types of crayons, washable, erasable, and luminating among other things.
We live in a colorful world, and we have all gotten to enjoy making pictures using our Crayola crayons. Though there are still some photographs which are outstanding because they are printed in black and white - they take on a whole different dimension.
Color brings out so much too. Flowers — you can almost smell them. The color in a perfect pair of blue eyes, or brown or green are special. Color tells us what our house was then and what a difference color makes. Everything of how the appearance of a house changes just by being painted a different shade. The type of house and structure often dictates the color making some colors so right and others so wrong. Or is it because after getting use to seeing it in one color the change is more than we anticipate.
The late Glen Hanson, who lived in Geneva, once commented about how he always use to give friends a hard time when they were complaining about something their kid had done that their parents didn't like. He would tell them, “That is what you get for having kids” - and then went on to say, “and then my wife died and I'd have given anything to have had a family I could talk to, or to help me though those rough times and realized I wasn't the smart one after all.”
There is a “kid” I know — and no he is not a kid but he's somebodys “kid.” A few years ago he attained the 3 and 1 Bar in Hollandale. It is not just a bar or eating place, it a place for celebrations. He has helped his family celebrate and in the grandest way for anniversaries and birthdays and what have you. What a kid and what a joy he must be to his parents and what great parents he must have to want to do this. A close knit family - who can ask for more?
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family or school reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and birth or wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, August 11th: Nicole & Dallas Loken, Brian Broulik, Vicki Humburg, Jeremy Kaiser, Mike Plunkett, Kris Simon Freitas, Sharon Sorenson, Kim Anderson Schneider, Brian Thostenson, Irvin Jensen Jr., Kevin Avery, Luke Clark Wangsness, Pagie Sophia Kromminga
• Friday, August 12th: Linda & LaVerne Stieglbauer, Shawna Robertson, Tessa Christensen, Kristine Schroeder, Cindy Oswald, Cindy Nelson, Cynthia Crabtree, Thomas Smith, Ross Swearingen, Genie Hanson, Amy Tasker
Saturday, August 13th: Dennis Deml, Tim Enzenauer, David Haddy, Bob Brandt, Lisa Dummer, Megan Dummer, Janet Hope, Kellie Petranek, Sylvia Jepson, Saxton Chad Ritz
• Sunday, August 14th: David & Carrie Paulson, Mark Sorenson, Lucille Nechanicky, Gretchen Oswald Thompson, Peter Kasper, Leah Berg, Wes Neidermeier, Alison & Chad Muilenburg
• Monday, August 15th: Roger Wayne, Obert Osmundson, Kaye Dee Hanson, Nancy Nelson, Stephanie Peterson, Rhonda Shelton, Cade Shelton, Brian Warnke, Dorrie Horan, Michael Suelter, Larry & Kathleen Jensen, Kellie Benning, Brian Warnke, Maverick Harold Knutson
• Tuesday, August 16th: Kaven Dean VanHal, Haley Deml, Alexander James Dufresne, Mary Lerberg, Shayla Ann Marie Pachoel, Julie Arnold, Wayne & Marie Dobberstein, Harold & Janice Jensen, Mark & Diana Sundwall, Jeff & Julie Schlei, Donny & Gail Turvold
• Wednesday, August 17th: Cole Brody Thompson, Katie Klemmensen, Julie Osmundson, Luke Wiersma, Carol Nelson, Dillon Matthew Kubiatowicz, Abbey Beaber, Jackie DeVrient, Sonya Peterson, Cheryl Spurr, Steve Ladlie, Daniel Whelan, Rod & Cheryl Thompson, Tira & James Smith, Tina & Todd Wangen
• Thursday, August 18th: Donny Bartsch, Ron Johnson, Rick Johnson, John Ross Vermedahl, David Klocek, Michael Ingvaldson, Kelly Schmidt Janning, Connie Robertson, David Rietsema, Gary & Kathy Anderson, Ryan & Jill Hanson, Tamara & David Jepson, Simon & Arlean Lee
Wishing you much happiness on your special day!
Take good care of your heart; you only have one
Written by Jim LutgensSo many thoughts come to mind and all are dear to my heart. Maybe that is why I keep thinking HEART - that little pump that keeps us going. If it stops, so do we.
It is important to realize that more people leave this world because of their heart stopping, rather than the combination of catastrophic diseases like the many cancers and diabetes.
Your heart is the heart of everything. Nothing in your body works harder or more continuous. So why do we do things that make its job harder when it does so much for us? Maybe because we think it will just keep ticking - doing its job even if we don’t.
I won’t go into should or shouldn’ts. We’ve seen them all, but sometimes we slide over them “just because” we think we’ve seen them all, or believe that it won’t happen to us.
Troubles to the heart show up in strange ways. In my father’s case, the bum leg and implant was the key that opened the door of discovery. If not for this, he might have been an expected statistic long before.
A bump on the leg and cellulitis was the trigger that set off the alarm for Judy Sibilrud; she sent my mother for an appointment thinking that she needed a pace maker, which she did. Mom says it saved her life because she “thought” the symptoms were from Dystonia.
We are all given hints from time to time. Some are lucky. Some are not. But, maybe those little hints are telling you: you need that physical from time to time. In the mean time, all that good stuff we enjoy may not be good stuff. Work hard but don’t forget to take time off to live a good life when you can. It is always better to prepare and take care than try to correct and cure.
We’re only human. For some unknown reason we often put off something we’d like to do, want to do, ought to do, robbing ourselves and others of precious time. In other words, we procrastinate.
We don’t mean to. We always mean to do it, but time rolls by and seemingly faster every day. We get so busy we don’t take time for ourselves and others.
Quit smoking. You know you should. “Some day.” No. Do it now.
Eat right. Get a physical. “Some day. No. Do it now.
Exercise. “Kind of busy. Some day.” No. Do it now.
Visit friends. “Some day.” - No. Do it now.
Do something special, even if just a phone call. Surprise them. -Say “it’s me calling - for no special reason, just because, I was thinking of you.”
You’re having a birthday. The older we get, the more we need to celebrate. Invite a friend. Have a party.
Write a letter. Take a vacation. Say Hello! Tell someone you love them, that you really care. Tell them how much you value the little things they’ve done for you.
Spur of the moment - that’s the best kind. Something says - “Do It Now.” Do it!
Someone sent me a newspaper clipping they had saved for 60 years. Do you know how much I cared? Someone cared enough and it made me feel so good.
I stopped by with a birthday cake for an elderly lady I didn’t really know. My extended family does though, and it made her day.
Count the minutes in a lifetime and realize how valuable everyone is. Don’t waste time. We’ve always associated love with the heart.
Love your heart. Be like a heart. A heart pumps good things to every cell in your body. We can all be hearts and spread good every second of each day.
Little things to you may mean big things to others. Love people. Love life. Take care of your heart. Take care of all it stands for. Take care of your world. A kind heart is a terrible thing to waste.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, August 4th: Madysen Grace Waage, Karen Edwardson Loge, Harold Jensen, Bryce Ingvaldson, Terry Vaith, Ryan Wangsness, Michael Hanson, Tom Lang, Bethany Cooper, Rachel Reichl, Gary & Kathy Reichl, Warren & Ilsbeth Wayne.
• Friday, August 5th: Wayne Schimek, Corey Wangsness, Gabriella Lynn Olson, Gladys Johnson, John Ramlo, Annette Thostenson, Jennifer Broskoff Dutton, Andrea & Kane Malo, Christopher & Kristen Hanson.
• Saturday, August 6th: Lynn Nechanicky, Rick Cook, Matthew Miller, Andy & Mary Lerberg, Wendell & Connie Kuehni.
• Sunday, August 7th: August 7th: Shelly Mangskau, Zachery Vangen, Lori Titus, Dylan Waltz, Jack Jensen, Dakota Wayne Heideman, Kaityn Quimby, Cheyenne Bergerson, David Arbogast, Darren Casper, Allen Wacek, Tom & Katie Marlin.
• Monday, August 8th: Ian Matthew Wayne, Luke Wangsness, John Vander Stoep, Jamie Walworth, Kathy Born, Scott Crabtree, Jessica Marcus, Sharon Miller Jensen, Barb O’Conner, Gary Peterson, Emily Jensen, Marc Collins, Matthew Swift, Don Gould, Mya Glienke.
• Tuesday, August 9th: Warren & Solveig Sorenson, Aaron & Mickki Heimer, Linda Wayne, Mavis Knudtson, Steven LeRoy Christensen, Cherie Halla, Karen Holmes, Amber Nordland, Angie Reichl, Dustin Jepson, Sierra Ellen Misgen, Josiah Jeffrey Schei, Christopher Quentin Haberman.
• Wednesday, August 10th: Lynn Arends, Linda Weckwerth, Teresa Wright, Jeff Olson, Vernon Cornelius, Michelle Brandt, Richelle Butler Chapman, Melisssa Cornelius Large, Dustin Dobberstein, Thayne Nordland, Cheyenne Bergerson, Ross & Kathie Lein, Steve & Kathy Nelson, Darrin & Linda Stadheim.
• Thursday, August 11th: Nicole & Dallas Loken, Brian Broulik, Vicki Humburg, Jeremy Kaiser, Mike Plunkett, Kris Simon Freitas, Sharon Sorenson, Kim Anderson Schneider, Brian Thostenson, Irvin Jensen Jr., Kevin Avery, Luke Clark Wangsness, Pagie Sophia Kromminga.
Sending you “heartfelt” wishes for a lovely day!
Sometimes, progress leaves important things behind
Written by Jim LutgensProgress is progress, and is necessary in a growing earth. Yet, sometimes progress leaves things behind.
Lately, I seem to see more clothes hanging to dry on outdoor clothes lines. Sure the dryer is handier, but it costs more. Plus, look at all the exercise that would be lost if you didn't hang the clothes outside to dry.
To compensate for tasks such as those we no longer do, we need to stretch our arms upward. Then we must pinch our fingers together like we used to do when we used the clothes pins. Maybe we should even go through the motions of folding clothes.
How many other things that we "used to do" are of the same caliber? For example, take a moment to remember mopping the floor. Swinging that old rag mop took muscle, and if we wiped up the floor by hand, a different sort of muscle was used.
Farmers have developed alternative exercise routines, by pulling cows teats, cranking a separator, pitching hay and manure, among many other things. Is it any wonder that our dads and grand dads didn't have any problems with obesity that we do today?
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize how so many of our health problems today have developed because of progress. Progress?
Yes, I know people live longer now because they don't have to work so hard. There is more medical care available, but we are seeing a trend of losing young people to health problems too.
Hurrah for the people who plant organic gardens, who exercise all parts of their body caring for, planting, weeding and harvesting.
For those who no longer do those things, need to realize we have to compensate for exercise in other ways. That's why we have fitness places, gyms, and machinery that make us move.
It is important that we do even little things to move our muscles. Also remember that it pays to think like that of a child. I've watched their antics in marching, stretching, walking like a penguin and playing sports. Their antics may be different, but they definitely keep their bodies limber and flexible.
New again on the scene is the old-fashioned bean bag toss. It uses lots of muscles to throw those bean bags, and exercises the eyes and brain. Rollerblading and skateboards come and go, but it takes quite a bit of practice and skill to make them go. It’ a good way to build up your muscles too.
My grandma used to sweep with a corn broom, hoe, garden, rake, and mow lawn by walking behind a lawnmower. She had an old butcher knife she would take with her to take out dandelions, "pig weeks" or "lie weeds" by the hundreds. She didn't believe in chemical sprays. Hurrah for her!
When asked how to get rid of obnoxious weeds or aggravating ones like those, she said "just cut out 100 of them a day and eventually they will be gone.” All too true. When any of the "kids" stayed with her, she made games out of picking up sticks or pulling weeds, etc.
Going to the mailbox was worth picking up those pesky oak bits that were just large enough to make mowing the lawn hazardous. Picking strawberries, hoeing garden rows, and shocking grain were all long and tedious tasks, but she did them all. The leaves on the lawn never lingered either, because she would rake them up almost as fast as they fell.
Grandma lived to be 99-plus. She was "supposed to have had heart problems" many years before, though doctors later said there was nothing wrong with her heart.
Natural healing or never? It was hard to say.
Surprisingly, she refused air conditioning, a microwave and even a fan for cooling in hot weather, protesting against her family. It was embarrassing to have neighbors call to inform us that they had seen her outside hoeing the beans or corn rows.
It was something she often did earlier in life, and refused to quit, as she was strong willed. Exercise and healthy simple food habits kept her going.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday July 28th: Mike Luhring, Kari Wayne, De Wayne Jensen, Dennis Jensen, Penny Jensen, Eric Lee, Christian Burnes, Donnie Turvold, Jim & Maryalice Hanson, George & Sue Stieglbauer, Gary & Emily Ayers, Melissa & Scott Michie, Ellie & Chad Schutrop.
• Friday, July 29th: Doug Flugum, Candie Underland, Jennifer Huber, Dory Hunt, Jim Misgen, Brent Jepson, Lorrell Beaber, Todd Wangen.
• Saturday, July 30th: Tregg Hagen, Sarah Underwood, Levi Horvei, Trevin Andrew Stollard, Scott Briggs, Amy Hohansee VanderSyde, Gary Sloan, Cindy Vaith, Larry Jensen, Kay Cassen, Shane Christensen, Cindy Esplan, Dani Layland, Kurt & Kelly Krumwiede, Nathan & Lindsey Schlaak, Jerry & Tanya Blouin.
• Sunday, July 31st: Zane Andrew Miller, Michelle Eaker Stevens, Coni Misgen Evenson, Lorie Paulson, Joan Mast, Adena Berg, Brian & Pam Muri.
• Monday, August 1st: Wendy Schultz, Dale Mrotz, Karen Vaith, Stanley Jensen, Rodger Knudson, Lonny Thostenson, Tad Cornelius, Karen Brockman, Rick Christensen, Larry & Carol Spear, Warren & Sharon Jensen.
• Tuesday, August 2nd: Kolten Aaron Michael Hanson, Tara Cromwell Lembke, Cole Lehmberg, Vivian Dulas, Cora Lynn Harpel, Ryan Nelson, Scott Sommers, George Wangsness Jr., Carol Lein, Melissa Marlin.
• Wednesday, August 3rd: Arianna Elizabeth Pence/Ortiz, Jo Lerberg, Kristine Dummer, Cynthia Nelson, Kent Swearingen, Jean Molenaar, Matthew Wayne, Nicholas Wayne, Gerald Flugum.
• Thursday, August 4th: Wally Dunn, Madysen Grace Waage, Karen Edwardson Loge, Harold Jensen, Bryce Ingvaldson, Terry Vaith, Ryan Wangsness, Michael Hanson, Tom Lang, Bethany Cooper, Rachel Reichl, Gary & Kathy Reichl, Warren & Ilsbeth Wayne.
Hope you have a day filled with things that make you smile!
More...
As Grandma Hanson used to say, life is the berries
Written by Jim LutgensLife is the berries, as my Grandma Hanson use to say, which makes me think of the many fruits and berries I consume every day. Eating organic helps, but they still require a thorough washing before they are used and consumed.
Blueberries are an exceptional fruit loaded with goodness. Wild berries are far superior to field planted varieties. The chemicals cause the berries to lose their value.
This could be true of many other things too. We think of most chemicals as being a negative oxidant, making the products of less nutritional value.
Most people know the value of Aloe Vera as a topical aid for burns or abrasions. It has a healing effect, with skin conditioner as well. But, it isn't just good for the outside of the body; it is good for the inside too.
If you are lucky enough to have an Aloe Vera plant, use it. Aloe Vera is also available in many health food stores.
Sitting in my vehicle recently, I saw adults coming down the street with little children by the hand. It’s amazing how those little ones have to take so many more steps, at a much faster rate, so they can keep up with the adult’s stride.
They have their little arm extended up over their head, in efforts to hang on to their parent's hand. Try it sometime and see how quickly it becomes uncomfortable.
My mother, my sister Kaye, and her two boys used to stay at the campgrounds at the Minnesota State Fair. My dad would then extend the handle on the big red wagon which, with a little bit of padding, gave my nephews, Kade and Cameron, a nice soft ride when they were at the fair.
When the boys did walk along, they had a large dog collar or belt around their waist, connected to a dog leash. The sight brought some weird stares, and I am sure, interesting thoughts. The boys never minded though because they were safe, and had the advantage of not getting an arm cramp from raising their arm up high. It also gave them a little leeway and freedom to walk and skip their own way.
Pets, especially little ones, have to do a two or three step catch up too, but they have the satisfaction of freedom with the leash. Often times, it seems like they are pulling their caregiver along, enjoying the attention and exercise.
Alzheimer's disease is an escalating health epidemic. An estimated 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer's in America, and as many as 16 million will be living with the problem by 2050. The efforts of the Alzheimer's Association - Walk to End Alzheimer's - are more important than ever before.
Is there something that we can do to end Alzheimer's? Yes, we can walk together in a movement to reclaim the future. Every dollar that people are able to raise through "Walk," benefits the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.
Many people have been affected by this dreaded disease. As one daughter explained, "I'm here today for my father. He can't talk, but I can, He can't walk, but I can. He can't thank you, but I can."
This is something that we should all think about. Many people struggle with diseases, handicaps, and a myriad of other problems.
It is never too early to teach a child to know their full name and the name of their mother and father, just in case they get separated in a crowd or even in a large store, where visibility is often obstructed by displays.
Some youngsters like to play hide and seek by getting their little bodies into a rack of clothes etc. As a result, they become invisible to a parent or caregiver. Please help them, so that they can be helped, if needed.
It is hard to believe that it is fair time already. The Waseca County Fair took place this week, and the Freeborn and Steele County Fairs will also be taking place in the not too distant future. Once the fairs are over, it is time for school to start again and summer is over.
It is amazing what elasticity there seems to be in the bodies of dancers competing on some of the talent shows on television recently. They have to love what they do and then some. It seems like their bodies are made of rubber, and maybe even double jointed.
I think most of us could do tai chi, a slow and simple exercise regimen considered to be the best exercise that there is. Still, many of us won’t be able to dance like these competitors.
The talent displayed by many very young children able to sing, play an instrument or dance, at such an early age, may come from a talented home life. The gifts they have been given, needs to be encouraged.
I am already a little sick of the political campaigning for the President of the United States, and other political offices. It seems like more time and effort is spent getting into office than is used once they achieve political position. I've always thought there should be a timeline on campaigning.
It doesn't seem fair that our politicians can collect their wages when they aren't there, at the office so to speak, because they are out campaigning.
So who runs the office when they're gone? Should we give them credit for being so capable or should we look with a judicious eye at what they're doing, including being in two places at once? Election Day is still four months away.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, July 21: Riley Marzloff, Julie Langlie, Violet Elise Aronson, Lindsay Smith, Marilyn Sullivan, Trudy Abel Holm, Marcia DeVriendt, Randy Anderson, Michele Granowski Domeier, Mike Collins, Nicholas Miller, Micki Heimer, Ed & Nancy Ver Hey, Katie & Paul Troe, Mike & Amy Glienke.
• Friday, July 22: Warren Torgerson, Colleen Brekke, Jodie Hohansee Waalkens, Shari Crabtree, Jeff Olson, Joanie Ayers, Jesse Collins, Avis DeRaad, Tyler Joshua Lair, Carl Anderson, Vicki & Kory Kress, Tara & Scott Peterson, Tara & Chad Cliff, Michael & David Haugh.
• Saturday, July 23: Barb Kubat, Jackie Layland, Diane Broskoff, Jim Brown, Ron Kraiser, Kelly Pitcock, Carl Glienke Sr., Nathan & Michelle Jacobson, Brooke & Isaiah Lundberg, LuAnn & Keith Miller.
• Sunday, July 24: Marilyn Goslee, Robert Carter Edwards, Katie May, Joy Peterson, Pat Schulz, Jeff Thompson, Phillip Briggs, Denise & Richard Olson, Trisha & Casey Johnson, Greg & Shari Lassahn.
• Monday, July 25: Sue Hill, Kari Janka Hareid, Stan Mork, Ivy Oland, Ann Falksen, Rick Hagen, Cole Pospesel, Kristine & Jesse Routh.
• Tuesday, July 26: Clara White, her 101th birthday, Jordyn Marie Wobschall, Kristine Broskoff Routh, Mark Bartness, Jane Osmundson, Amy Radke, Jean Smith, Scott & Cheryl Christensen.
• Wednesday, July 27: Ben Groth, Lori Dirksen, Nita Dooley, Mark Helmers, Nicki Spurr, Rick Spurr, Rhiannon Farr, Alison Underland, Dave Schulz, Kory Klecker, Lillian Rose Olson, Steve & Jinny Nielsen, Travis & Ashley Broskoff, Marguerite & Milton Nelson.
• Thursday July 28: Mike Luhring, Kari Wayne, DeWayne Jensen, Dennis Jensen, Penny Jensen, Eric Lee, Christian Burnes, Donnie Turvold, Jim & Maryalice Hanson, George & Sue Stieglbauer, Gary & Emily Ayers, Melissa & Scott Michie, Ellie & Chad Schutrop.
Enjoy every joy your special day will bring.
The fate of those who signed the Declaration of Independence
Written by Jim LutgensHave you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army.
Another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants.
Nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means and well educated.
But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death, if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. Braxton sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
McKeam served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed Lewis’ wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside and as she was dying; their 13 children fled for their lives.
Hart’s fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.
For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.
It’s not too much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: Freedom is never free!
Yes, we have freedom, but often we allow ourselves to do things that take away that freedom. We know these things are morally wrong, which then causes scars of guilt, stress and discontent to our mental thoughts.
I encourage you to start believing that you don’t need to keep up with the Jones, so to speak. Just be true to yourself.
It is also time we get the word out that patriotism is not a sin. We need to start thinking about the true meaning of the Fourth of July. The 4th of July is more than parades, picnics, beer and baseball games.
Freedom doesn’t mean you encroach on others freedom. The person who does something they shouldn’t, suffers mental freedom because he knows it.
Freedom of contentment means living our own lives in a way so that we don’t take away from others freedom.
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, July 14th: Kallen Reed Rasmussen, Gavin Cole Halverson, Sharon Richards Lucas, Annette Hove, Madison Larkin, Dana Simonson, Jeff Kitzer, Jerry Langlie, Lee Cummins, Shane Davis, Peter Kasper, Roger Swearingen, Bethany & Ashley Ashton.
• Friday, July 15th: Nathan Daniel Wayne, Nathan Joseph Bauers, Levi Peterson, McCoy LaVerne Schwierjohann, Bob Long, Thad Aaseth, Judd Aaseth, Stacy Seath Tempel, Lacinda Jensen, Vicki Utpadel Knudson, David & Kim Killian.
• Saturday, July 16th: Sue Stieglbauer, Hudson Mrotz, Kyle Ladlie, Marjorie Bartness, Jeff Helmers, Nancy Wilder, Kenny & Sarah Price, Dave & Deb Oeltjenbruns.
• Sunday, July 17th: Kaylee Christine Hanson, Rudy Janka, Merton Nelson, Ralph Diaz, Sandi Vangen, Victor Christenson, Larry Molenaar, Leslie Schwartz, Lisa & Bob Wayne, Kristine (Simon) & David Freitas.
• Monday, July 18th: Anika Christine McDonald, Nancy Anderson, Matthew DeShane, Katie Dobberstein, Michael Graif, Luke Rye, Roger & Betty Davies, Markj & Mandy Boehme.
• Tuesday, July 19th: Charlie Glenn Fuller, Cheryl Dunlap, Natasha Marie Peterson, Nicholas Pete Johnson, Carolyn Plunkett, Alyssa Mumm, Travis Jensen, Michael Beckman, Ryan Schmidt, Warren Farr, David Cooper, Angie & Michael Kath.
• Wednesday, July 20th: Pam Muri, Paul Marcus, Wayne Sommers, Brad Eder, Richard Nelson, Cody McCartney, Howard Gallentine, Elvern & Jeanne Holland, Cory & Colette Bauers, Mark & Teri Ravenhorst.
• Thursday, July 21st: Julie Langlie, Violet Elise Aronson, Lindsay Smith, Marilyn Sullivan, Trudy Abel Holm, Marcia DeVriendt, Randy Anderson, Michele Granowski Domeier, Mike Collins, Nicholas Miller, Micki Heimer, Ed & Nancy Ver Hey, Katie & Paul Troe, Mike & Amy Glienke.
Wishing that each day is happier than the one before!
A few things you may or may not want to know about
Written by Jim LutgensBelieve it or not. You be the judge.
A common ingredient in commercial bread is derived from human hair. More specifically, they are derived from Chinese hair salons, where the hairs are soaked in an acid to become a non essential amino acid called L-cysteine.
Some L-cysteine is synthesized in laboratories, but the majority of the time, it’s extracted from cheap and abundant natural protein sources of human hair, often from Chinese hair salons, chicken feathers, duck feathers, cow horns and petroleum byproducts.
This non-essential amino acid is isolated through a chemical process, then packed and shipped off to commercial bread producers. The producers then add it to many baked goods as a dough conditioner in order to speed industrial processing. It is usually not added directly to flour intended for home use, but you'll find it throughout commercial breads such as pizza dough, bread, rolls and pastries. Maybe we should go back to baking our own breads.
While the thought of eating dissolved hair might make some westerners uneasy, most consumers ultimately have no principle objections to doing so. For Jews and Muslims, however, hair-derived L-cysteine poses some significant problems. Muslims are forbidden from eating anything derived from a human body, and many rabbis forbid hair consumption for similar reasons.
Even rabbis who permit the consumption of hair would forbid it if it came from corpses. And since much L-cysteine comes from China, where sourcing and manufacturing practices are notoriously questionable, this is a real concern. In one case, a rabbi forbade the consumption of L-cysteine because the hair had been harvested during a ritual at a temple in India.
On to another topic, U. S. law has granted the Coca Cola company a unique exemption to import coca leaves, while prohibiting anyone else from importing what might otherwise become a popular super food.
There are chicken nuggets and then there are chicken nuggets. Some are breaded chicken pieces. Some are pieces molded from purée chicken parts and then breaded. But many of us enjoy the tender tidbits, often feeding them to our children and grandchildren, thinking that they are a healthy treat.
Have you ever noticed that while there are plenty of varieties of nearly all common fruits, (apples, oranges, peaches etc.) each banana seems identical to another? When someone says banana you think of a large fruit with yellow skin and a soft pale middle.
That is because only bananas of the "cavendish" variety are sold in stores, as fruit corporations long ago decided that it would best serve their profits to train customers to expect all bananas to be identical. Unbeknownst to many, there are indeed many varieties of bananas out there including the "Musa" species, which are drastically different from the bananas in taste and texture.
In order to preserve their distinctive properties, "cavendish" bananas are never allowed to reproduce sexually. That means they all have the same exact code as the first cavendish tree selected by U.S. fruit corporation in the 1950's to replace the Gros Michael banana.
The Gros Michael banana, another genetically identical cultivar, was so devastated by disease that it could no longer be supplied in the global market in any quantity. Now that same disease is targeting the cavendish variety, exposing yet again the folly, and non sustainability of mono culture. (widipedia org/wiki/banana).
Don't throw away the skin of the banana. It is rumored to take away the itch when the skin is rubbed on mosquito bites.
Many disposable coffee and carry out containers are filled with cancer causing agents, in particular formeldehyde preservatives in styrene. The department of Health and Human Services has been pressured by the chemical industry for years to delay forwarding this information on to the public.
Nevertheless formeldehyde, caplafel cobalt tungsten carbide and certain glass fibers have been dubbed reasonably anticipated to be human carcinazins. The United States government is now reacting to these discoveries.
Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That is exactly how the biotechnology industry and government agencies are trying to handle the escalating "superweed.” Biotech's quick fix for superweeds could lead to "super superweeds.”
More farmers are going organic to improve their soil, save energy and produce better food. Conventional farming methods may gradually be going the way of the buffalo, at least for many smaller scale farmers who are discovering the practical and financial benefits of switching to organic techniques. (TMC)
There is so much to know and learn. Education is a lifetime adventure.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.
In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
• Thursday, July 7th: Collin Christensen, Ed Possin, Elizabeth Eder, Cheryl Boverhuis, Casey Johnson, Chad Quam, Scott Reese, Jon Spatenka, Anna Jacobson, David Anderson, DeAnn Skroch.
• Friday, July 8th: Zaine Augustine Briedenbach, Parker John & Payton Lorraine Bunn, Barb Hagen, Al Lee, Adam Arends, Jacob Terry Phillips, Deacon Thomas Lang, Summer Paulson, Deb Jacobs, Marlene Jensen.
• Saturday, July 9th: Larry Otto, Corey Pence, Mavis Knudtson, Joni Calderon, Lisa Worke, Dale Peterson, Deb & Dean Hunt, Jennifer & David Lageson.
• Sunday, July 10th: Kalene Larson, Ethan Green, Brett Dunlap, Sally Hanson Sadden, Suzanne Skroch Larkin, Carley Ray Talamantes, Holly Swearingen, Anna Uetcsh, Todd Borchert, Kym Cameron, Paulette Nelson, Ryan & Amy Crabtree their 6th, Dustin & Jenna Quimby.
• Monday, July 11th: Zoie Marie Jensen, Shirley Wallace Tennant, Nicholas Lee Shultz, Helen Scripture Schubert, Kelly Sauke, Nataniel Lizarazo, Michele Degan Reistad, Rochelle Thompson, Lisa Goodnature Noble, Christopher Olson, Jessica Mangskau, Elaine Peterson, Naomi Hemingway, Randy Borchert, Scott Knutson, Celina & Richard Drecher, David & Bonnie Jensen, Carrie (Thompson) & Danny Wichmann.
• Tuesday, July 12th: Daniel Christensen, Kimberly Peterson, Rick Pelzl, Daryl Waltz.
• Wedmesday, July 13th: Megan Elizabeth Nowariak, Audrey Lillian Peterson, Marayah Mae Mortenson, Kolette Lageson Stevenson, Brenda Misgen, Sandra Cerney Collins, Joseph Adrian Parks, Ed Nelson, Cynthia Fuerniss, Dick Larson, Amber Anderson, Jean Johnson, Corey & Danielle Wangsness, Jason & Shannon Peterson.
• Thursday, July 14th: Kallen Reed Rasmussen, Gavin Cole Halverson, Sharon Richards Lucas, Annette Hove, Madison Larkin, Dana Simonson, Jeff Kitzer, Jerry Langlie, Lee Cummins, Shane Davis, Peter Kasper, Roger Swearingen, Bethany & Ashley Ashton.
• Friday, July 15th: Nathan Daniel Wayne, Nathan Joseph Bauers, Levi Peterson, McCoy LaVerne Schwierjohann, Bob Long, Thad Aaseth, Judd Aaseth, Stacy Seath Tempel, Lacinda Jensen, Vicki Utpadel Knudson, David & Kim Killian.
Hope your day is bright and filled with delights.
Think about why we’re celebrating the fourth of July
Written by Jim LutgensIt will soon be the fourth of July. It is time to stand up for America. Bake a cake and celebrate this important birthday.
This year, I encourage you to think about why we're celebrating this holiday. It is America’s birthday after all. It is the anniversary of the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress back in 1776.
The Declaration was read, bells were rung, bands played, and the people rejoiced. Independence Day has been celebrated throughout the country ever since then.
John Adams said, "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfire, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore."
This is the 4th of July - Let's celebrate our country.
Let others know how much we love our country. Be proud that we're Americans. The population (including our politicians) should set an example of good will and kindness. It is time to set standards, high morals and educate our children in the fact that this is the best country ever.
Enjoy family and community events with programs and pageants, games, plays, athletic contests and picnics.
If you haven't a flag, get one and fly it proudly for everyone to see. It is Independence Day! It is time to think of what we've had, what we have lost and what we are now still blessed to have.
The flag is more than just a brightly-colored piece of cloth. It is a symbol, or sign, that stands for an idea, a cause and a purpose. A flag stands for this country's land, its people, its government, and its ideals.
Our country's flag can stir people to joy and sadness, to courage, and sacrifice, according to when and how it is used. Many, many men and women have died to protect our national flag from dishonor or disgrace. Knowing how to honor his country's flag is an important duty of every citizen.
A flag floating in the breeze is a beautiful and stirring sight. For hundreds of years, flags have been used to fly high in battle, giving soldiers a symbol to follow and defend. The colors and designs used in the flag tell the ideals, hopes, goals and history for which the different flags stand.
Resolve to follow the golden rule and the ten commandments. Fill our churches with prayer for our service men and women, for our country. Say thank you for what we've been given. Change that negativity into something positive.
Ask for American made. Let corporations know we care enough to support our labor force here, not in foreign countries. It is important to recognize the value of other countries, but we must never forget the value of our own country.
The founders of the new nation considered Independence Day an important occasion for rejoicing. So, rejoice.
The people who built America came from different countries. They brought different skills, ideas and ideals. They blended their abilities and beliefs under a government designed to protect the liberty of the individual.
They wrote into their Constitution the safeguards of personal freedoms - freedom of religion, freedom of speech and political belief, and freedom to share in the bounty of the land.
I like the 4th of July fireworks. It’s pretty to see the sky light up - to hear the popping sounds and screeching sirens. But, I wonder about those who have been through the real thing - bombs bursting in mid air, guns cracking and explosions. I think of all that could be done with the money spent to light up the sky for those few moments.
Everyone seems to love fireworks, (except dogs and small children) but could it be done more modestly to remember what we stand for.
We've seen what some of our leaders have done to the reputation of our great country. Let the buck stop there. It is time to get our country’s reputation back by being the best citizen of this country that we can be.
I recall an elderly man who was a resident at a care center. When anyone asked what nationality he was he said, "I am an American!”
In other words, we can be descendents from other countries, but he was correct in saying what he did, especially if this is the land of our birth or our citizenship.
The people who built America came from many different countries. So doing, they recognized and made the United States their homeland.
America, The Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee.
And crown they good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.
Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, June 30th: Tamara and Jeff Busho, Susan (Schmidt) & Jon Anderson, Ann and Brent Wiersma, Nate and Kristine Her Hey, Julie Vanden Heuvel Horihan, Robin Eder, Nathan Robertson, Donna Reichl, Steve Jensen, Barb Wright, Lorrie Kelly and Roger Shaunce.
• Friday, July 1st: Keralyn Paulsen Powers, Eugene Hagen, Mary Edwardson, Linda O'Neil, Joanna Ruth Vermedahl, Maureen Wayne, Jill Hanson, Chris Ihrke, Jason Churchill, Marjorie Otterson, Deb Schimek, Rachel (Eaker) Lee, Gary Carlson, Tristan Bangert, Robert Christensen, Roger and Joyce Wayne, Heather (Krause) & Dion Quiram, and Frank and Marilyn Cuden.
• Saturday, July 2nd: John and Wendy Schultz, Delbert and Judy Karsjens, Leslie (Gatton) and David Hecker, David Sidney Skroch, Christopher Matthew Wacek, Mary Ann Ewing, Stacy Shaunce, David Beck, Chad Ritz, Wilma Arbogast, Melissa Quaintance and Tony H. Seykora.
• Sunday, July 3rd: Danika Marie Jensen, Lorry Pelzl, Amy Storlie, Amy Walterman, Cynthia Nelson, Sara and Chris Ihrke, Rachel and Michael Schmidt, Phillip and Karen Briggs.
• Monday, July 4th: Happy 4th of July! Bethany Miller, Pam Nelson, Trina Churchill, Ellie Rose Meiners, Brent Meiners, Brian Meiners, Denise and Scott McGowan.
• Tuesday, July 5th: Emma Harold, Abby Harold, Jessica Wayne, Brad Tufte, Burt Scripture, Chad Sommer, Russell Thostenson, Rhonda Grunwald, Issac Paulson and Danny Burns.
• Wednesday, July 6th: Kylie Titus, Brenlee Knudsen, Austin Nord, Linda Aronson, Scott Briggs, Gary Grosland, Wendy Kronberg Kammer, Travis Hanson, Paul Richards, Darrin Stadheim, James Van Riper, Kyle and Bethany Miller.
• Thursday, July 7th: Collin Christensen, Ed Possin, Elizabeth Eder, Cheryl Boverhuis, Casey Johnson, Chad Quam, Scott Reese, Jon Spatenka, Anna Jacobson, Anna Anderson and DeAnn Skroch.
• Friday, July 8th: Zaine Augustine Briedenbach, Parker John and Payton Lorraine Bunn, Barb Hagen, Al Lee, Adam Arends, Jacob Phillips, Summer Paulson, Deb Jacobs and Marlene Jensen.
Hope you have a day filled with things that make you smile!
With each passing year, grow stronger, grow wiser, and grow richer in spirit. May the year ahead be filled with new discoveries. God Bless America!