Features (1071)
The Nortonna Lodge 1-638 of the Sons of Norway will hold its annual Syttende Mai dinner on Monday, May 18, at 6 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 South Lincoln Ave, Owatonna.
Dinner will feature Norwegian smoked herring, torsk, meatballs, potatoes, vegetables, lefse, and Norwegian cookies and rice pudding. We will hold a silent auction of various Norwegian items before and during the dinner. During the dinner we will enjoy music performed by the OHS Dinner Ensemble. These talented musicians will play a selection of traditional and popular pieces for an evening of listening pleasure.
Tickets for this Syttende Mai dinner and program are available by contacting Phyllis Hegle at 429-7325 by May 12, 2014.
If you would like more information on the Nortonna Lodge of the Sons of Norway contact Jim Otteson at 507-456-0674 or Nina Zak at 507-451-5841.
Hometown favorite Wagner finishes freshman year at U of M
TRANSITION GAME — 2014 NRHEG High School graduate Carlie Wagner learned much during her freshman season at the University of Minnesota. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
The Golden Girl. The Dagger. The best athlete to emerge from NRHEG. These are all attributed to Carlie Wagner, and now that she’s been off the basketball court in New Richland for a year and nearly a full year out of high school, she had time to reflect on the hurricane of activity that’s encompassed her since moving on to become a Minnesota Golden Gopher.
What’s the biggest difference between playing schools like Braham and Kenyon-Wanamingo for state championships and moving to Division I college hoops against Maryland and Ohio State?
“At the collegiate level, the game moves at an incredible speed, and at first I felt like I was in a whirlwind on the court,” explained Wagner. “Eventually things started slowing down for me, and I started seeing openings and opportunities I struggled to see before.”
The Albert Lea Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group will meet Tuesday April 28 at 11 a.m. at the Albert Lea American Legion. The main topic of discussion will be Freedom Festival 2015. This event is scheduled for Friday July 3 at Fountain Lake Park.
For more information contact John Severtson at 507-438-8225
Check us out on line at www.facebook.com/pages/Beyond-the-Yellow-Ribbon-of-Albert-Lea.
NRHEG students travel to Costa Rica
ONE OF MANY — NRHEG student Samantha Pettey in front of one of many waterfalls to be found in Costa Rica. (Submitted photo)
Memories of a lifetime were made for NRHEG students who traveled to Costa Rica. There were six adults and 42 students who traveled to the beautiful country located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. It is home to many different plants and animals and is known for its variety of ecosystems.
The group spent nine days touring various parts of the country. Each day was packed with activities that provided adventure, education and personal growth. During every moment of the trip students were surrounded by the energy and cultural richness of Costa Rica.
Sometimes, you have to wonder when Robin Eder gets the time to breathe
WHEN DOES SHE SIT DOWN? — NRHEG Schools Student Success Coordinator Robin Eder doesn’t sit much in school, helping with a wide variety of tasks. (Star Eagle photo by Nicole Billing)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
Teachers matter. Good teachers make a difference. Exceptional teachers impact lives for years after graduation.
NRHEG has been fortunate to have one of those exceptional teachers for over two decades in Robin Eder. Eder has taught middle school and high school special education, and this past year she shifted to the newly-created Student Success Coordinator position in the secondary school.
Initially thinking that she wanted to be a math teacher when she started at St. Cloud State University, Eder soon shifted to special education. She hearkened back to some experiences helping on the playground in elementary school with special needs students. That had stuck with her over the years and helped her make the decision that she wanted to work with those students all the time.
Comments invited on LeSueur River water restoration
Written by Jim LutgensMankato, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) invites comments on two reports outlining strategies to restore the LeSueur River and other waters in its drainage area, also called a watershed. The reports are open for comment through April 29.
This watershed is one of the most polluted watersheds in Minnesota, according to data collected statewide. Impairments — waters that fail to meet standards — are common throughout the watershed.
The Le Sueur watershed covers 711,000 acres in South Central Minnesota. It drains parts of Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Steele and Waseca counties. This river meets the Blue Earth River near Mankato, where drinking water wells extract water from below the Blue Earth River.
Performances set for Friday, Saturday
Cast members Lizzy Hagen, Bailey Burg, Justin Mortensen, Solveig Stafford, and Katherine Lewer with some of the props and set pieces from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, set to be performed Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 at NRHEG High School. (Submitted photo)
“Flying is going to be a bit difficult,” admits Will Rudau, who plays Grandpa Joe in the upcoming NRHEG performance of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “But I think the audience is really going to enjoy it,” adds Nicole Wallin, who has been cast in the role of Charlie.
The cast and crew of the play have been as busy as Oompa-Loompas, especially over the last couple weeks as the three performances have been coming nearer. The play will be presented Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m., and at 2:30 and 7:30 on Saturday. With 20 different sets and even more musical numbers, the production promises to be an extravaganza of color, sound, and—to the absolute delight of everyone involved—surprises.
“There’s something here for children and adults,” says cast member Nicole Edon. Jessica Nafe agrees: “This is very much a family show,” she says. “There’s more humor in it than I realized, and while some of it is aimed at children, some of it is definitely more for adults.”
Holocaust survivor to speak April 26 in Ellendale
Written by Jim LutgensAn ecumenical group is sponsoring a holocaust survivor, Anita Dittman, who has written a book entitled, “Trapped in Hitler’s Hell.”
Anita was born in 1927 in Breslau, Germany to a German father and a Jewish mother. In the 1930’s, when Hitler’s control of Germany became stronger, their family was more and more threatened. The father left the family; her sister who was 4 years older, was able to escape to England, leaving only Anita and her mother who ended up in different concentration camps. Her story of how faith got her through is remarkable.
She now lives in Ham Lake, MN and will speak Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. This will be an amazing opportunity to hear her story first hand.
Join in the fight against cancer.
We need you to help us raise $70,000 for cancer research and patient programs.
A kickoff open house for the 2015 Waseca County Relay for life is Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Faith United Church in Waseca.
Special guest speaker is Joel Born. Learn where your money goes, learn how 68% of cancers are preventable.
On average 100 people in Waseca County are diagnosed with cancer each year. We need you to help us finish the fight against cancer.
Questions call 507-225-1006.
Bridges and kindergarten orientation meetings have been scheduled by NRHEG Schools.
Bridges (Pre-Kindergarten) orientation is Monday, April 20 at 4:45 p.m. in the Music Room at NRHEG Elementary in Ellendale. This is intended as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for 5-year-olds.
Kindgarten orientation is Monday, April 27 at 4:45 p.m. in the Music Room at NRHEG Elementary in Ellendale.
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DO I HEAR 20? — Auctioneer Tracy Holland, left, seeks bids as Corey Johnson displays a wooden rocking horse at the Benefit for Dana March 22 at NRHEG Elementary School in Ellendale. More 1,100 people attended. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Sometimes, like Woodstock, an event takes on a life of its own.
The benefit for Dana on Sunday, March 22 turned out to be such an event.
It started out as a few members of the Zion Lutheran Church wanting to raise funds to help Dana Standke and her family, Shelly Standke and Dan Enzenauer. But it became a huge rally attended by over 1,100 people.
It was inspiring to see the number of people who turned out to support Dana. It was also great to see the large number of items donated for the bake sale, silent auction, live auction, and meat raffle. The Easter Bunny came too, and many of the children had their pictures taken with the bunny.
NRHEG students excel at regional competition
REGIONAL CHAMPIONS — Pre-Calculus students from NRHEG High School captured the championship trophy at the regional TrigStar competition March 13. Front from left: Alyssa Esplan, Abby Christopherson, Eli Lutgens, Torrie Stencel, Corrie Powell, Sophia Fischer. Row two: Kayann Wibben, Anna Lundberg, Jamie Beckstrand, Nicole Edon, Jessica Nafe, Sandra Quezada, Katharine Lewer, Jenny Stoesz. Back: Whittney McCamish, Jorey Fischer, Colton Hagen, Tyler Schlaak, Emily Eder, Andy Schutrop, Cole Ignazewski, Dustin Sonnek. (Submitted photo)
On Friday, March 13, 21 Pre-Calculus students from NRHEG High School competed at the regional TrigStar competition at South Central College in North Mankato. TrigStar is a national trigonometry competition and scholarship program for high school students. It is sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and designed to encourage students to pursue a career in surveying. The regional competition was sponsored by Chapter One of the Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS) out of Mankato.
The competition consists of an hour-long exam that is scored both on accuracy and speed. There are four questions, ranging from basic trigonometry questions to a very complex surveying question. The students from NRHEG have been studying trigonometry in Pre-Calculus second semester, and were well prepared by practicing previous years’ exams that are made available for students.
Make-A-Wish Foundation sending Isaiah Schutrop to Disney World
TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM — Isaiah Schutrop of New Richland has been awarded a trip to Disney World by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. A celebration, complete with cake, was held Friday, March 20 at NR City Hall. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
The first day of spring typically signals new hope and promises of warmth for those in Minnesota. This year, that day brought some extra hope and warmth to New Richland.
Friends and family members gathered at New Richland City Hall on Friday, March 20, as the Make-A-Wish Foundation held an informal ceremony to help make 5-year-old Isaiah Schutrop’s dream come true. A carefully-crafted cake of the castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom sat center stage, leaving no doubt what would soon lie in store for Isaiah.
The day sprouted a smile that never seemed to leave Isaiah’s face as he played with his siblings and relatives while waiting to taste the magical cake and thinking of the trip that was soon to come.
“He’s beyond excited,” said his mother, Monica Schutrop. “The next day he woke up still smiling and said, ‘Mom, that was a fun celebration’.”
We will be having a preschool open house to register for the 2015-2016 school year on Monday, April 6 in New Richland or Thursday, April 9 in Ellendale. You can register for either site on these dates. The open house will start at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. The registration fee will only be $20 if you attend the open house. Otherwise it will be $25 if you are registered by April 15 and do not attend the open house. After April 15 the registration fee will be $35. Registration information will be available for next year’s preschool program. Registrations are due by April 15 to avoid the late fee. Your child will be registered on a first-come first-serve basis once we receive your registration form and fee. Classes fill up, so the sooner you get the information to us, the better your chance of getting the session you prefer. Questions, call 507-417-2667.