Features (1071)
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
In a special meeting of the NRHEG school board on Thursday, July 2, board chair Rick Schultz named Dr. Dale Carlson as the committee’s recommendation for interim superintendent to replace Dr. Dennis Goodwin, who resigned as of June 30.
The committee was appointed at the June 15 board meeting and immediately advertised for a replacement.
“We received seven applications in response to our advertisement. We reviewed all the applications and interviewed who we felt were the top two candidates.”
Carlson comes with 30 years of education experience (the last 20 in administration), most recently seven years as superintendent of schools at Holmen, WI, where he also served on the board of the Holmen Area Foundation.
Above, Diana Foster and Duffy Moberg attend the Steve’s Meat Market food stand during Ellendale Days last weekend. Below, children scramble for candy during the Ellendale Days parade. For more photos of Ellendale Days, see Pages 13 and 14 of this week's Star Eagle. (Star Eagle photos by Jim Lutgens)
Farm & City Days Parade Grand Marshals
• 2014 — WWII veterans Richard Crumb, Eugene Warke, Bud Shurson, Donnie Bartness, Tony Arnfelt, Dr. Albert Flor, Gordon Peterson, Harold Thompson, Winston Evenson, Kenneth Eaton, Donald Smith, Audrinne Smith, Marie Querna
• 2013 — 2012-13 NRHEG Girls’ Basketball Team: Hannah Lundberg, Maddie Wagner, Marnie Wagner, Carlie Wagner, Abby Crabtree, Paige Overgaard, Anna Stork, Jade Schultz, Katie Cole, Kelli Harrington, Raelin Schue, Ryann Hagen
• 2012 — Gail Schmidt
• 2011 — Pastor Paul Andree
• 2010 — Pam and Larry Goehring
• 2009 — Myron Schumacher
• 2008 — Gene and Sylvia Dodge
• 2007 — Mary Ann Schlaak
Schlaak strikes balance between school, volleyball
Written by Jim Lutgens
CELEBRATE — Anna Schlaak, second from left in the back, celebrates yet another national championship for the Concordia College volleyball team. Schlaak is a 2012 graduate of NRHEG High School. (Submitted photo)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
Volleyball used to be a sport confined to the late summer and fall time period. However, as it has grown in the last couple of decades, so too has the time commitment it takes to play at a high level. Anna Schlaak of New Richland discovered this at an early age, and it has led her to a college experience unlike what most kids know.
Anna, the daughter of Neil and Jill Schlaak, recently finished her third year at Concordia College in St. Paul as a member of the volleyball team. According to her mom, Anna started playing club volleyball at the age of 13 in Mankato. She continued to progress at a rapid rate and moved up to more competitive squads, including the Northern Lights team out of Burnsville.
Anna was a great athlete while at NRHEG, but always placed volleyball at the top of her love of sports. At first she thought she wanted to play college volleyball out of state at a large school. However, she realized that would take her farther away from her family, and she knew she’d miss too many activities that were important to her.
Plans are being finalized for New Richland's 2015 Farm & City Days set for July 9-12.
With that in mind, the Farm & City Days committee is still seeking volunteers for:
• Pancake breakfast - setting up, working at and cleaning up
• Bouncers (actually workers) to monitor the inflatables for the kids
• Street Dance - (the biggest need) help setting up for the dance, workers for the gates - 3 gates - 2 per gate - 8 p.m.-midnight, can work one hour or all four, whatever
Children are needed to enter the Little Miss/Little Mr. New Richland Pagaent, teams are sought for the Family Fued event and participants are sought for the Hillbilly Fun Run/Walk.
If interested in helping or entering, contact Pam Goehring at 507-461-9253, Kelly Martens at 380-2414 or Tina Schmidt at 383-2070.
The search for the 2015 Farm & City Days medallions did not last long.
Ashton Raimann found the first one taped underneath a picnic table at City Park. The 11-year-old is the son of Jackie Moen and Daryl Raimann.
The second medallion was found by Malcolm and Emily Meyers, children of John and Melissa Meyers. They found it underneath the plaque in front of the memorial by the post office.
They’ll both $50 in New Richland Bucks.
NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
The final item added to Monday’s NRHEG school board meeting agenda was “Approve the Formation of an Acting Superintendent Search Committee.”
Earlier, the board had approved the resignations of Secondary Administrative Assistant Michelle Mulder, paraprofessional Nikki Schiell, Speech Pathologist Amanda Scharfe, Sandy Schumacher, and Dr. Dennis Goodwin, all with gratitude.
Goodwin had tendered his resignation Friday evening.
“I contacted the Minnesota School Board Association this morning,” Chairman Rick Schultz told the board, “and they suggested the option of hiring an interim superintendent for a term of one year, and then conducting the search for a permanent replacement around Dec. 2015-Jan. 2016.
NRHEG grad off on six-month mission
HOPING TO HELP — 2014 NRHEG graduate Hannah Lundberg will depart July 1 on a six-month mission to Australia and, hopefully, Nepal. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
Hannah Lundberg has always known what she’s wanted to do in life. Even as a young child, her mother says she was destined for a life of service. But it wasn’t until a few short months ago that she became aware of how she was going to do it, and that she would soon be doing it on the other side of the globe.
The 2014 NRHEG graduate has never traveled beyond the relative confines of the Midwest — her lengthiest excursion being a few inner-city missions in Chicago — but come July 1, the 19-year-old will embark on a six-month journey that will see her spend time in Australia and (hopefully) Nepal to combat the seedy underbelly of human trafficking.
“I’m nervous,” says Lundberg. “I’ve never been out the of Midwest, never flown, and now my first flight will last about 36 hours. It’s going to be a big change. I feel blessed and humbled. Not many people get the opportunity to do something like this.”
Public invited to Sunday recital at Vista Covenant
Written by Jim LutgensAn evening of primarily piano but also accordion and guitar music, plus some singing, will be presented by the students of Shirley Groskreutz, from Waldorf, on June 28, 6:30 p.m. at Vista Covenant Church, rural New Richland.
Students from the Waldorf area are Sophia, Aubrey and Raquel Fische, Ben and Anna Groskreutz, Jack and Sam Olsen, Shanna Stenzel, George Roesler, Courtney Terhark, and Juliette and Elijah Arenas. From Mapleton are Taylor and Jordan Thompson.
New Richland area students are Grace, Elizabeth, Eli and Isaac Nelson, Benjamin and Betsy Schoenrock, Chris Stenzel, and Autumn Thompson.
Waseca area students are Jordane and Kala Koaba. From Janesville is Kelly Koplen. Alumni students Tyler and Ryan Priebe will also perform. The public is welcome to attend.
Community Lutheran in Geneva will offer "Campfire Worship" services this summer, starting Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m.
These unique worship services will provide you an opportunity to worship our Lord, especially if you will be unable to attend the regular morning worship services on Sunday.
Bring your lawn chairs to the back parking lot of the church and sit back and enjoy the outdoor worship service, which will include some great camp songs.
And we can't forget the marshmallows. Pastor Kristin will have a campfire ready for roasting marshmallows at the parsonage.
One and all are invited.
More...
Community invited to again pitch in at Washburn Hotel
Written by Jim LutgensIt worked so well the first time, they’re doing it again.
There will be another volunteer day at the historic hotel building — future home of the Area Food Shelf of New Richland and the New Richland Area Historical Society — Saturday, June 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Plans are to move lumber, drywall, insulation, some cabinets and do some scraping around windows.
Needed are saws, all battery operated if possible, gloves and a lot of energy.
NRHEG Schools Superintendent Dr. Dennis Goodwin has announced his resignation, asking to be released as of June 30. Action will be approved at tonight’s (June 15) board meeting.
Dr. Goodwin had little comment about his action or its relation to the failure of the recent bond referendum.
“I’ve enjoyed the last two years here a great deal,” he told the Star Eagle. “I’m moving in order to be closer to my children and grandchildren.”
Goodwin has accepted a position in Arizona.
NRHEG school board chairman Rick Schultz told the Star Eagle, “We will probably be contacting the Minnesota School Board Association for assistance in acquiring a (temporary) replacement.”
A work session will be called in which the board will decide what action to take. The actual search for a permanent replacement will be discussed at that time.
“Of course we’re interested in finding someone who wants to stay here,” Schultz said.
Look for more details to be revealed at tonight’s board meeting and published in this week’s Star Eagle.
On the last day of school, the students in Jenny Stoesz’s Precalculus class finally got word that they are the 2014-2015 Minnesota State TrigStar Champions.
Sixteen schools from around the state participated in the trigonometry contest that awards scholarships and prizes at the local, state, and national level. The NRHEG team won the local contest in Mankato on March 13 with the highest overall local team average score on the one hour, one hundred point exam. The state title is awarded to the school with the highest cumulative point total of the top 10 team members. NRHEG will receive the engraved state traveling trophy to display in school next year.
Individually, there were 250 students who participated in the TrigStar competition statewide.
NRHEG students Eli Lutgens and Torrie Stencel, finished second and third in the state rankings, respectively. For his second-place finish, Eli will receive $250 and a silver medal. Torrie will receive $200 and a bronze medal. The first-place winner from each state moves onto the national competition. Congratulations to all of the TrigStar team members on their state title!
Area couple celebrates extraordinary anniversary
PLATINUM — Russel and Delores Rosenau of Waldorf celebrated their 70th — or platinum — wedding anniversary June 9. The couple will be honored with an open house Saturday, June 20 from 1-5 p.m. at the Waldorf Community Center. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
They say time flies when you’re having fun. That’s certainly been the case for Russel and Delores Rosenau, who hit their milestone 70th wedding anniversary on June 9.
“It’s been a long time,” said Delores of her 70-year marriage, “but when you stop to think about it, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.”
The couple was married in 1945, in a double-wedding ceremony along with Delores’ sister Jane and Victor Kluenoer.
“It was unheard of at the time,” said their daughter, Ramona.
“When our father found out both daughters were getting married, he said ‘we’ll do one pig, one wedding, and that’s it,” said Delores.