Features (1071)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The Harrington family’s stolen Honda Pilot has been found.
The question is, do they want it back?
The car, stolen from a New Richland residence Oct. 1, was located last week near Madison in West Central Minnesota.
The problem? The guy who stole it was living in it the whole time.
Join University of Minnesota Extension, Querna Farm, and Albert Lea Seed for an informational cover crop field day on Friday, November 1, 2013 from 1 to 3 p.m. just outside of New Richland.
Cover crops are a multifunctional best management practice for Minnesota farmers. Adding them to any farm operation can result in numerous benefits to the soil and even the pocket book. Easiest after early harvested cash crops, but still possible in the corn/soybean system, cover crops have gotten additional notice in 2013 due to the wet spring that prevented some farmers from planting their cash crops.
New Richland City Council
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The New Richland City Council had a special guest at Monday evening's regular meeting at City Hall — Dr. Dennis Goodwin, Superintendent of Schools for NRHEG.
He was not bearing good news.
The street, curbs and sidewalks adjacent to the school are very much in need of repair. The price tag: an estimated $653,634.38.
It was one of many items discussed by the council, which had a full complement of members accompanying Mayor Christine Gislason and City Clerk Wayne Billing. Guests included Goodwin, Larry and Pam Goehring and Kim Schlaak.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, October 10, with Mayor Swearingen and all councilmen present. Also at the meeting were Assistant City Clerk LeAnn Hojberg, Maintenance Supervisor Josh Otto, Municipal Liquor Store Manager Pete Paulson and Frank Thompson of Thompson Sanitation.
Thompson said the current contract is about to expire. He informed the council there would be a slight increase for the next three-year contract. The increase will be 25 cents per week per household. Thompson explained the service would remain on the same day and about the same pick-up times. Thompson was asked about the container sizes for households and replied there are three different sizes. They have 95, 65 and 35-gallon containers available. Thompson added that if any customer would like to change container size to give them a call at 507-256-4370. The council thanked Thompson for the good service he has been providing the city and moved to approve another three-year contract.
Carlie crowned Homecoming Queen
NRHEG High School senior Carlie Wagner is overwhelmed after being crowned 2013 Homecoming Queen by 2012 Queen Maddy Schwierjohann Monday night in the high school gym. Carson Field was crowned Homecoming King. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
Hartland Soup and Dessert Supper Monday
There will be a Soup and Dessert Supper Monday, October 28 from 4-7 p.m. at Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church. They will be serving chili, chicken noddle vegetable beef, potato ham soup, home baked bread, pies, and desserts. Adults (age 13 and up) will be $7, Children (ages 5-12) will be $3, and Children (ages 4 and under) will be free. The bake sale will be from 4-7: p.m. The Auction–Bazaar will start at 7 p.m.
NRCC luncheon, silent auction Nov. 2
The New Richland Care Center will hold a Luncheon and Silent Auction on Saturday, November 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Care Center Activity/Chapel area. They will be serving Sloppy Joes, Potato Salad, Bars, and beverages/coffee. The cost will be $6. Bidding on the Silent Auction Baskets will begin in October and will end at 1 p.m. November 2. Proceeds will go to the New Richland Care Center Resident Council.
2013 NRHEG High School candidates
NRHEG homecoming candidates, front from left: Haley Deml, daughter of Jeremy and Jacquie Deml-Mauseth and the late Lawrence Deml; Jade Schultz, daughter of John and Wendy Schultz; Carlie Wagner, daughter of Darren and Jane Wagner; Stormi Hagen, daughter of Randy and Laura Hagen; Paige Overgaard, daughter of Julie Overgaard and Brian Espe, and Scott Overgaard; Hannah Light, daugher of Randy and Carol Light. Back: Jarek Schendel, son of Jerry Schendel and Deb Malecha; Noah Krell, son of John and Lynne Krell; Dillon Parpart, son of Jeremy Parpart and Tara Larson; Preston Peterson, son of Tom and Tammy Peterson; Alec Holland, son of Tracy and Lori Holland; and Carson Field, son of Brad and Connie Field. Coronation is Monday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 in the high school gym. The parade is Friday, Oct. 11 at 2:15. The Panthers face Mankato Loyola at 7:30 Friday, Oct. 11. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
NR native has a passion for dance, and not afraid to admit it
NEW PASSION — Mark Querna of rural New Richland with two of his trophies and pictures of he and Kirsten McCloskey dancing. Querna underwent weight reduction surgery in 2011 and started ballroom dancing as a way to keep the weight off and keep him busy during the winter. Dancing has since displaced baseball as Querna’s biggest passion. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
We have all heard the phase, "I Hope You’ll Dance."
Mark Querna does.
Most people in the area know Mark, son of the late Pat (Doyle) and Paul Querna. The youngest of seven, Mark has three brothers and three sisters. Most of his siblings left the area after they graduated from high school and now live in the Twin Cities area and near LaCrosse, Wis. Mark’s brother Paul lives in Spokane, Wash. and his brother Rick lives in New Richland again. Mark's aunt, Marie Querna, has lived in New Richland all her life, and according to Mark, "She is the best aunt ever."
Querna graduated from New Richland-Hartland High School in 1983, and received Bachelor of Science degrees in Agronomy and Agricultural Economics from the University of Minnesota before returning to the family farm in 1988.
The farm, which has been certified "organic" since 2004, consists of 360 acres. The farm has been in the Querna family since 1872, and Mark is the fourth generation of Quernas to live there. He shares the farm with his Weimeraner dog, Buford T. Dufus.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, September 26, with Mayor Swearingen and all Council members present. Also at the meeting were LeeAnn Hojberg, assistant city clerk; Pete Paulson, Municipal Liquor Store Manager; and Dan Nelson, Mid-Continent Cable.
During the assistant clerk’s report, Hojberg proposed to Council members the new office hours for the city. These hours would be temporary for now. Starting October 2, 2013, office hours would be Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9-10:30 a.m. Residents may also call and leave a message at (507) 684-2681. Also posted on the office door are some emergency numbers. The office hours will be temporary until the city clerk position is filled.
For the second day in a row, NRHEG High School was in a hard lockdown Wednesday. The measures were taken in response to a threatening message written on the wall of a girls’ bathroom. The lockdown began at approximately 11:15 a.m. and was still in effect as of 1:30.
At approximately 1:45, the school went into a soft lockdown, which was lifted before school dismissed at the usual time. Buses were to run as scheduled.
NRHEG Superintendent Dr. Dennis Goodwin issued the following statement on the school’s Web site Wednesday afternoon: “The NRHEG Secondary Building is responding to a comment that was written on a bathroom wall. Law enforcement is at the school interviewing individuals. The students are currently safe and secured in classrooms.”
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New Richland Police Chief Scott Eads issued the following press release Tuesday afternoon:
On this date at approximately 1:30 p.m. a patrolman with the New Richland Police Department stopped a vehicle approximately 1/2 mile south of New Richland on State Highway 13. Immediately after the stop the party fled on foot into a cornfield to the west of the stop location. It was learned afterwards that the party had a felony warrant for failure to appear for sentencing for possession of burglary tools. Members of the New Richland Police Department were assisted by deputies from the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol setting up a perimeter of thearea. The Minnesota State Patrol also provided a helicopter to assist with the search.
NR Council turns down offer for old library
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
After opting to close the meeting and discuss the issue among themselves, the New Richland City Council came back with a unanimous decision on what to do with the old NR Library building.
They're going to wait.
Near the end of Monday's regular meeting at NR City Hall, a full council and Mayor Christine Gislason met for approximately 10 minutes in closed session to consider an offer made to purchase the building, which many community members hoped would be donated to the NR Area Food Shelf.
"At this time, we're going to wait for further offers," said Gislason as the meeting was reconvened and then adjourned.
It was the final item of the evening in what turned out to be a rather lively agenda.
Band has fun with brand new routine
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES — Members of the NRHEG High School Marching Band hold their second-place trophy aloft at the Waseca Marching Classic Saturday, Sept. 21. From left: T.J. Schiltz, Grace Logan, Aurora Strom, Hudson Mrotz, Torrie Stencel, Haley Deml, Hannah Light and, at right, director Tim Siewert. Below, shuffling down the street are, from left, Sam Morgan, Katharine Lewer, T.J. Schiltz, Adam Anderson, Kevin Kalis, Dylan Arnold, Nicole Wallin, Grace Logan and Courtney Deml. See more photos on Page 12 of this week's Star Eagle. (Star Eagle photos by Nikki Erickson)
By NIKKI ERICKSON and JIM LUTGENS
Of the Star Eagle Staff
Apparently, fun was the right choice for the NRHEG High School Marching Band.
The Panthers, who didn’t expect to win at this year’s Waseca Marching Classic, had a lot of fun with a new routine and captured second place in the competition Saturday, Sept. 21.
“This year we’re not looking to win, that’s not our goal,” Director Tim Siewert said last week. “If it happens, that’s great, but we are there to entertain the crowd and have fun.”
NR Lions to meet Thursday
The New Richland Lions will meet Thursday, Oct. 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at The Willows. Guest speaker is Orville Trettin, Lions representative for Eye Glasses to Honduras. All members are encouraged to bring your wives and any used glasses.