Features (1071)
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Forty years is a good amount of time for any business to be in operation, and this Sunday, Sept. 13, the public is welcome to join the New Richland Care Center for its 40th Anniversary celebration.
Through the years, the New Richland Care Center has built a reputation as not only one of the best care facilities in the area, but the state, thanks to the high quality of care it offers its residents. The last year has especially brought improvements to the care center, and under the direction of administrator Don Alexander, the NRCC is doing better than ever.
The 40th Anniversary celebration will begin at noon Saturday at the care center (or the NRHEG High School gym, in case of bad weather), featuring performances from The Bankesters, Dunnell Lenort, Just Friends, and the NRHEG Panther Band. A large tent will be set up for the event, along with picnic tables and a platform for the performers and guest speakers.
Food vendors for the day will include the Red Leaf Café, George’s of Geneva, mini donuts, and kettle corn. Beverages will be provided by the care center. The NRHEG Cheerleaders will be doing crazy hair and face painting, as well.
The Annual Fall Fair is happening at Farmamerica on September 12-13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The two-day event combines a variety of unique agricultural demonstrations with a bit of fun for the whole family. All this for $1!
Saturday starts off with a tractor pull featuring classes ranging from antique to pro-stock. Then the wagon train arrives around noon for lunch.
Sunday features the Mankato Baltics taking on the Red Socks in the gentleman’s 1860 baseball tradition, dressed for the part and playing without gloves. The day starts with a church service at 11 a.m.
Both days are loaded with demonstrations. The antique farm equipment will be running, harvesting corn, threshing oats, baling straw, working the ground, pressing apples and combining flax. The latest equipment will also be on hand to show off how technology has helped farming evolve from survival to a market economy. Wool spinners from the Twilight Treadlers and quilters from the Stitchers in Time Quilt Guild will be plying their trade, no pun intended. Vincent the gypsy horse will be on hand.
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
For 15 years Blooming Prairie has been raising funds to fight cancer.
Two big nights, Sept. 11 and 12, have been set for this year’s, which will include several new, fun and exciting features under the big tent at the Blooming Prairie Cue Company.
The 15th annual cancer auction will again begin with a live auction Friday night starting at 7.
Registration for the 3rd Annual Cancer Memorial Walk will begin at 8:30 at the "Field of Flags" on Saturday morning. Pink flags will fly in grand array to promote the week and astonish onlookers for their beauty and availability. It is a sight you're not apt to see many places other than in Blooming Prairie.
To stay in style for the event, $5 haircuts will be offered, and don't be surprised at the crazy hair styles and face paintings that will be displayed. There will also be chair massages, manicures, games and many other fun events.
United Methodist welcomes all for anniversary Sunday
Written by Jim LutgensBy KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
The Ellendale Untied Methodist Church is busy making plans for a special Homecoming service on Sunday, Sept. 13 to celebrate the 113th anniversary of their church.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to join your friends and neighbors and reminisce about the many wonderful things this little church that could, and does, for its community.
No matter your choice of religion, the Ellendale United Methodist Church has been home to everyone who has desired to join it over the years. There is something about the atmosphere of this church that warms your heart. Going through the doors you are instantly aware you are not only welcome, but you can be a part of that special feeling, be it prayer, music, food or the fellowship of folks enjoying communing with the Lord and His people.
You are invited, as always, to be a part of the family of God, not just for this special service, but every day.
Panthers fall at Waterville, 13-7
Perry Peterson of the NRHEG High School football team (22) tackles Tyler Tegmeier during Friday night's game at arch-rival Waterville-Elysian-Morristown. The Panthers gave it a good effort against the No. 5 rated Buccaneers but came up just short, 13-7. The Panthers host winless Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
All boys, new and returning, grades 1-5 are invited to join Cub Scouts Pack 90 on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Ellendale school from 6-8 p.m. Join us on Facebook: Pack 90 Cub Scouts.
Doc Flor’s legacy spans generations
REMINISCING — Albert Flor and his three sisters enjoy dinner together at Albert's cabin on St. Olaf Lake. From left: Phyllis Cooper, Ordelle Schmid, Albert Flor, Arlene F. Ros-Crum. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
For many folks, one of the happiest days of their life was the day they started going to Dr. Albert Flor’s dental office. One of the saddest days was when he retired and they had to find someone new.
For more than 50 years, "Doc" has been an interesting character in New Richland. At 95 years of age he still keeps busy, not doing dentistry work, though he jokingly said he still carries his trusty pliers in his pocket, which he proudly displayed.
Since his retirement in 1991, Flor has been using his garage to build utility trailers and picnic tables. He is not the type of person to just sit. He has to be up doing something and his garage has become like a second home. He said he has already made 15 utility trailers and 13 picnic tables. He has given picnic tables to some of his grandchildren, but he still has a few more to make.
The 44th Annual Crop Field Production Day is Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Keith and Jay Kuiters farm ¼ mile south of Clarks Grove on County Road 45.
Speakers include:
• Dan Kaiser, U of M Nutrient Management Specialist — Fertility Considerations for the Current Climate
• Bob Koch, U of M Extension Soybean Entomoligst — Recent Developments with Soybean Aphid
• Brad Carlson, U of M Extension Educator — Buffer Strips, What Do We Know?
• Ryan Miller, U of M Extension Educator — Theories for Variable Rating Nitrogen
• Lisa Benhken, U of M Extension Ecuator — Strategies for Controlling Resistant Giant Ragweed and Waterhemp
• Joel Larson, AgStar Financial Services — Economic Considerations for 2015-2016
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the program begins at 10. Lunch will follow. There will be door prizes.
Questions? Call Ryan or Mary Jane at (507) 536-6310.
The Agribusiness Committee of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for nominations of individuals who have a strong agriculture leadership background. The committee is asking for help in identifying individuals who deserve to be recognized for their leadership in agriculture.
This Waseca County Distinguished Agricultural Leadership Award recognizes and honors distinguished individuals who have dedicated their life to the advancement of agriculture. These individuals have shown a commitment to outstanding leadership with their significant contributions to the community and the advancement of the agriculture industry in the Waseca County area.
The annual NRHEG Early Childhood Family Education Vehicle Fair is set for Monday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. in the west parking lot of the New Richland School.
The event is free to all preschoolers and their families. Every preschooler attending will be given their own hard cover book.
Registration materials available for the Fall Session.
ECFE fall classes start Monday, Sept. 28 in New Richland and Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Ellendale. All classes begin at 6:15 p.m. and will be held in the pre-school rooms at each site. Cost of the fall session is $10 per family. For more information call (507) 417-2667.
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Bank to match donations 5-to-1 to finish Washburn House project
There has been a great deal of progress on the Old Washburn House building on Main Street in the months since the State Bank of New Richland donated the building to the Area Food Shelf of New Richland.
Many hours of labor have been donated by area residents and student classes from NRHEG throughout the spring to begin this renovation project.
The roof has been repaired and the interior of the building has been cleaned out and is ready for the next phase of the project.
The State Bank of New Richland has announced a matching gift program to raise funds to assist in this next phase.
The 2015 Waseca County Fair has been the highlight of the year for over 200 members in Waseca County 4-H, as they saw their hard work pay off with livestock shows, exhibit judging, and other fun events. Below are the 4-H youth who received recognition for their project work at the 2015 Waseca County Fair.
DOG SHOW RESULTS – Saturday, July 11 & Monday, July 13, 2015
• Champion Novice Showmanship - Hailey Schauer, Palmer Sunbeams
• Reserve Champion Novice Showmanship - Ella Krautkremer, Homegrown Explorers
• Champion Open Showmanship - Camielle Rykhus, Vista Busy Bees
• Reserve Champion Open Showmanship - Ethan Thompson, Vista Busy Bees
Johnson enjoys semester of study in 18th-century estate
TOP OF THE WORLD — Hailey Johnson stands with arms stretched wide atop Arthur’s Seat overlooking Edinburgh during her semester-long stay in Scotland. Johnson lived and studied in an 18th-century castle. (Submittted photo)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
When 2012 NRHEG graduate Hailey Johnson decided to go to college in Wisconsin, she didn’t anticipate attending classes in a Scottish castle while wearing her pajamas.
“You wake up, walk down to class in your pajamas, and learn in a castle,” said Johnson. “It was pretty cool.”
From August to November of 2014, Johnson, who’s attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls while studying Animal Science with a Veterinary Tech emphasis, decided to expand her horizons for a semester abroad. Scotland seemed like another world away, but her decision to pursue her general studies in that country proved to hit closer to home than she could have realized.
“It was a physical journey, but an emotional one, too,” said Johnson. “I thought it would be difficult being away from home at college, but I never anticipated being 4,000 miles away.”
Painting a picture of real life
STILL SMILING — Conner Weckwerth of Blooming Prairie, son of Milo Weckwerth of New Richland, has been responding well since undergoing recent surgery to remove a brain tumor. (Submitted photo)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
Let’s paint a picture.
Start with some bright, vibrant colors. These are the colors of a young man who enjoys the outdoors, so maybe some verdant greens and sunshine yellows. Throw in the reds and oranges of fires in the summer, toasting s’mores.
These are good colors for the beginning of a painting of Connor Weckwerth of Blooming Prairie. He lives with his mom, April, and is the son of Milo Weckwerth of New Richland. Connor just finished kindergarten in Blooming Prairie last spring, but then found some new colors added to his painting this summer, some colors that were unexpected and had a darker hue.