Features (1071)
NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
At a brief special meeting held Monday evening, NRHEG Superintendent Dr. Dennis Goodwin announced he was recommending making Wednesday, March 19 a non-school day if the NRHEG girls’ basketball team is victorious on Friday and are seeded first for the upcoming state tournament.
Until now, pairings for the Class AA state tournament have been set on a predetermined rotation. But this year seeding has been approved for Class AA, and on Sunday, March 16, participating coaches will decide on seeding from strongest to weakest.
The first game of the Class AA tournament, featuring the top-seeded team, will be held at Mariucci Arena, University of Minnesota, Wednesday, March 19 at 2 p.m.
Fundraising supper March 18
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Think local history isn't interesting?
Think again.
The Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society is making plans to build a museum for their community. The site has been selected, the floor plan is drawn, and now they need help to raise funds for the project.
The society is inviting everyone to Clarks Grove on Tuesday night, March 18, for a pancake supper.
LeRoy Sommers will be flipping pancakes, served with sausage, coffee and milk, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Boy Scout Troop #219 has volunteered their help.
NR City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Contributing Writer
The New Richland City Council held its first meeting of the month on Monday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. All members were present. The agenda was reviewed and approved, and slight changes to the consent agenda – errors in the minutes from both meetings in February, and an additional invoice in the fire department’s pay requests – were made before approval.
The first order of business, parking/snow ordinances concerns of a citizen, was skipped due to said citizen’s absence.
Plans presented for Trucker’s Inn site
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, February 27. Mayor Swearingen and all council members were present. Clerk LeeAnn Hojberg, Deputy Clerk Kim Zimprich, Josh Otto, Pete Paulson, Eric Hefner, Randy Bradt and Brian DePrez were also in attendance.
DePrez, Store Development Associate with Casey’s General Stores, was called upon by Mayor Swearingen. DePrez introduced himself stating he was in store development for Casey’s in Minnesota, Dakotas and part of Wisconsin. Deprez had copies of a drawing showing where Casey’s would like to erect a new store — the parcel where the former Trucker’s Inn sits just east of Ellendale along Interstate I-35.
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
A benefit is planned for Sunday, March 9 for Shannon Rhoades of Ellendale.
Recently, Shannon was snowmobiling with a group in the Rushford area when the ski of her snowmobile caught a culvert marker. The snowmobile rapidly changed course and fell into a six-foot ravine. Shannon had to be airlifted to a hospital in LaCrosse where the doctors determined she had a crushed vertebra, as well as two breaks to her pelvis.
Ironically, Shannon lost her father, David Rysavy, as a result of a snowmobile accident in 2010.
Green Eggs and Ham breakfast rescheduled for Monday
NRHEG Elementary will hold its annual Green Eggs and Ham breakfast on Monday, March 10, postponed from Friday, March 7. The breakfast will last from 7 a.m. until 8:15. Please join us in this annual breakfast in support for “Read Across America” that started March 3.
Pontoppidan to host waffle breakfast
Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in rural Ellendale will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring Dad’s Belgian Waffles Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $7, children 5 and under free. Carry-outs will be available. Pontopppidan is located at 96571 SE 75th St., Ellendale.
Making a Difference:
NR’s lucky to have Norm, Sharon Eckart
SMALL TOWN PROUD — Sharon and Norm Eckart with their dog, Corky, who they of course obtained from a neighbor, are proud to call New Richland home, evidenced by the many volunteer activities they’re involved in. (Star Eagle photo by Jessica Lutgens)
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Contributing Writer
To some, they’re parents. To others, they’re grandparents. And to our community, they are pillars, giving an abundance of time, effort, and care, never asking for a thing in return.
Norm and Sharon Eckart are natives of New Richland; both grew up here and graduated from New Richland-Hartland High School. They married young, and Norm, a Vietnam veteran, was drafted into the military, where he served three years shortly after their marriage. But nothing could hinder their relationship.
“We were high school sweethearts,” Sharon commented humorously, although the endearing look exchanged between the two said it all.
“We’ve had arguments, just like anyone,” Norm said, “but we always sit and discuss it.”
School closed consecutive days as storm hammers area
WINTER BLAST — Larry Goehring of New Richland, above, uses his snow blower to clear downtown sidewalks last Friday. Roads were closed, school was cancelled and events postponed as a two-day blizzard hit the region. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS and KATHY PAULSEN
Of the Star Eagle Staff
Feeling a little edgy lately? Notice anybody else acting a little cranky? Blame it on the weather. Welcome to the winter that will not end.
The winter of 2013-2014, already the ninth coldest on record with more sub-zero temperatures in the forecast, added a new twist in the region last week — a good old-fashion blizzard that dumped some 7 inches of heavy, wet snow, causing road closures, school closings last Thursday and Friday and dozens upon dozens of automobile and truck mishaps.
NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
Facing pressure from disappointing test scores and new state laws mandating performance evaluation, the NRHEG School Board heard arguments at Monday’s meeting for adding two new positions.
In a report to the board, instructor and Education Minnesota representative Deb Bently detailed the requirements of the new Minnesota law.
New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Contributing Writer
The New Richland City Council held its second meeting of the month Monday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. All were present except councilperson Tony Martens. The agenda was approved, followed by the consent agenda. Resolution 14-05, which certifies delinquent property charges to be collected with 2015 taxes, was approved with no further discussion.
The first report presented was by the Maintenance Department. It was stated a wastewater license needs to be renewed at the cost of $23, with a request that the city pay the cost. It was approved.
More...
Groove 4 Food Sunday at Trinity Lutheran
The New Richland Area Food Shelf is kicking off March FoodShare with "Groove 4 Food" Sunday, March 2, 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Talent includes Lillie Nielsen, T.J. Schiltz, Melissa Williams, Dalton Kraay, Two Guys and a Preacher (Pr. Pamela Jensen), Donna and Greg Moe and Just Friends! Al Batt is the emcee. There will be a mystery auctioneer! Live auction items include NRHEG Panther boys’ and girls’ basketball team boards by Brenda Kampen, a pool party for 12 at Crossings by Grand Stay in Waseca, pinatas by Virginia Gaona, gift certificates to First Impressions and KJs Styles, turkeys (frozen) from Wagner Foods, quilt from St. Peter’s NR and Otisco quilters, a coffee-theme basket from Trinity quilters, a baby gift set by Gail Batt, 31 totes and an additional Kampen board!
Portion of proceeds from posters to go to Team Eppen
QUEENS OF THE COURT — NRHEG girls’ basketball seniors and Rhonda Hareid of Looks Unlimited pose for a photo with their newest creation, “Queens of the Court” posters to be sold at the Panthers’ final home games. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit former NRHEG and current Burnsville teacher and coach Matt Eppen, who was diagosed with cancer. From left: Carlie Wagner, Jade Schultz, Rhonda Hareid, Hannah Lundberg and Paige Overgaard.
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Rhonda Hareid, owner of Looks Unlimited of rural Ellendale, felt the NRHEG girls’ basketball team was not only talented, but included some beautiful young ladies. She also felt the team should be photographed for a lasting memento, honoring their 23-plus wins this season, as well as their 50-plus continuous wins and Minnesota state championship in 2013. So she did something about it.
Hareid had earlier helped organize and produce two calendars, the first, "Rugged Men of Looks Unlimited" in 2012, and the "Hot Looks For A Cure" calendar this year, so she has had experience in presenting people at their finest.
Hareid recently arranged a special photo shoot of the 2013-2014 girls’ basketball team for a poster titled, "Queens of the Court." Hareid helped the girls to be dressed and styled to their best and Cole Johnson of Haute LLC Tanning of Owatonna gave them free spray tans, as well as did the photo shoot.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, February 13 with Mayor Swearingen and all councilmen present. Also attending were city employees Lee Ann Hojberg, Clerk; Josh Otto, Maintenance; and Pete Paulson, Municipal Liquor Store. Visitors included Senator Vicki Jensen, Jeff Howe, Chris Peterson, City Engineer Erik Hefner and Patty Carlson.
During the Municipal Liquor Store report, Paulson suggested dates for the 2014 city celebration. He felt that to be consistent with last year, the dates should be June 26- 29. This would be the last weekend in June and run Thursday through Sunday. The council felt the dates were appropriate and asked Paulson to move forward with plans for the celebration. He also reported the office construction is nearly done. Paulson passed out his monthly numbers report and informed the council that for the first six of the fiscal year, the MLS is ahead of last year.
For ‘soul mates’ Ron and Jolee, every day is Valentine’s Day
TWO HEARTS ARE BETTER THAN ONE — Jolee and Ron Johnson hold two pillows autographed by doctors and nurses that Ron received while hospitalized following two heart surgeries. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Sometimes, people are destined or made for each other. They are called soul mates.
Such is true of the romance and marriage of Ron Johnson and Jolee Butler, who met in school. He was a senior and she was a junior. He thought Jolee was cute and frequently asked to borrow her pencil. Eventually he asked her to a movie, but the date she remembers most was Valentine’s Day.
Ron brought her a dozen red roses and took her out to dinner. Jolee had never been given flowers by a boy, and she didn't think to put them in water. Her mother told her when she got home she thought it was rude of Jolee not to take better care of the beautiful gift.