Features (1071)
ROSEVILLE — Kimberly Johnson of New Richland won $50,000 by playing Powerball®. Johnson claimed the prize on Jan. 12, 2016. New Richland One Stop, Highways 13 & 30 in New Richland, sold the winning ticket.
More Minnesota winners:
NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
Valentines in January?
When NRHEG School Board members filed into the Ellendale Media Center last Monday for their regular meeting, they each found a Valentine’s Day box at their place at the table.
“About 70 Valentine’s Day boxes will be delivered to the New Richland Care Center and Whispering Oaks,” said Deb Bently. “They were made by students at an activity day prior to Christmas. But since they weren’t finished on that day, volunteers have been putting in time to be sure they’re completed.”
Survey is due
The much-discussed NRHEG District Survey is out, and it can be mailed in or filled out online at www.survey2000.com. Check your mailbox for details.
The deadline for responses is February 2.
Fourth clue released for Sleigh & Cutter medallion
Written by Jim LutgensThe Waseca Sleigh and Cutter medallion is hidden outdoors, on public property within the Waseca city limits.
A $1,750 prize of Chamber Dollars and store certificates will be awarded to the person who finds the medallion.
Bring the medallion to Charlie’s Hardware. Clues will be published in the Star Eagle. Clues will also be broadcast on KRUE and KOWZ Radio and will be available at Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Identify Frosty and win some cash!
Prize money totaling $1,750 is waiting to be won. Frosty is a Waseca County resident chosen to be an ambassador for the Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival. Follow the clues and guess Frosty’s name.
Grand prize is $350. If you are at the official unmasking at 9:30 p.m., on Friday, February 12, 2016, you will win an additional $50. Unmasking is at the annual Sleigh & Cutter dinner and dance at the VFW Club, 113 West Elm Avenue, Waseca, MN. First correct guess from Janesville, New Richland and Waseca win $150; and if you are at the unmasking you will win an additional $50. Four names will be drawn for $100 – must be present. Four names win $50 – attendance is not necessary.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met for the first time in 2016 Thursday, Jan. 14. Mayor Skroch and all council members were in attendance. Also in attendance was Liquor Store Manager Kiersten Knudson, Maintenance Supervisor Josh Otto, Clerk LeeAnn Hojberg and an area newspaper reporter.
After approving the agenda, Mayor Skroch went right into the appointments for 2016. The appointments for the most part remain the same as in 2015. First National Bank Waseca-Ellendale Branch will be the official depository. The NRHEG Star Eagle will be the official newspaper. The new City Attorney will be Mark Rahrick from Owatonna, and the Council agreed to ask Mrs. Rick Aaseth to be Health Officer. The remainder of the appointments stayed the same.
Knudson passed out her numbers report for 2015. The report showed a nice profit for the previous year. Knudson has been having trouble with the receiving door to the MLS. Otto told the council he will look at the door and try to repair it or make a recommendation to the council.
The annual NRHEG spelling bee will be held in the New Richland varsity gym on Thursday, Jan. 28, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Representatives from grades 5-8 will compete for a chance to represent NRHEG at the Regional Spelling Bee in Mankato in February. The winner of the regional bee will move on to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. Everyone is welcome to attend! The spellers from each grade include:
• 5th: Grace Wilkensen, Anton Domeier, Sean Beauvais, Bree Ihrke, Conner Nelson, Raquel Fischer
• 6th: Sophie Stork, Cora Harpel, Aaliyah Weston, Jordan Horejsi, Jazlyn Acevedo, Brock Routh
• 7th: Ashton Cords, Danielle Nappin, Matthew Becker, Riley Schultz, T'Shayla Hinderscheit, Jonah Stafford
• 8th: Jayna Domeier, Tiara Malakowsky, Robert Luoma, Mason Ferber, Lexi Combs, Karter Koziolek
Donoso’s prize winds up in museum, others at Star Eagle
(Editor’s note: Part seven of a seven-part series about local, area, and state amateur and professional boxing.)
By RODNEY HATLE
Contributing Writer
Raul Donoso’s Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion trophy was found a few years ago as part of several dozen NRHS overflow awards stored in boxes at NRHEG High School and passed on to the historical society by Dennis Prescher.
It’s now on display at the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum in Owatonna. Harvey Ronglien was informed of the discovery and, being in touch with Rev. Raul J. Donoso in Washington state, he spread the news.
Ronglien participates in the well-being of the museum, especially located in a building which is one of many that houses Owatonna city government and other activities at West Hills Circle. Contents of the displays tell the story of a place where his and Donoso’s formative years were spent.
“Originally housed on 160 acres, the grounds grew to 329 acres by 1937 with 42 acres for campus and 287 for cultivation to feed all the livestock, and fruits/vegetables for its inhabitants.” (www.orphanagemuseum.com)
Third clue announced for Sleigh & Cutter medallion
Written by Jim LutgensThe Waseca Sleigh and Cutter medallion is hidden outdoors, on public property within the Waseca city limits.
A $1,750 prize of Chamber Dollars and store certificates will be awarded to the person who finds the medallion.
Bring the medallion to Charlie’s Hardware. Clues will be published in the Star Eagle. Clues will also be broadcast on KRUE and KOWZ Radio and will be available at Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Identify Frosty and win some cash!
Prize money totaling $1,750 is waiting to be won. Frosty is a Waseca County resident chosen to be an ambassador for the Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival. Follow the clues and guess FROSTY’S name.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS — Owners of NB Auto are, from left, Josh Bauleke, Cole Neitzel, Mike Gridland and Dustin Schlaak. (Star Eagle photo by Jessica Lutgens)
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
There’s a new business in town.
You might have noticed it passing through on Highway 30, or you might be one of the many who have already stopped in to have work done at NB Auto, which opened for business last month.
Occupying the building that previously housed Repairs Unlimited, among others, NB Auto provides local residents with another option for their car repair needs. Operated by Cole Neitzel and Dustin Schlaak of New Richland, Josh Bauleke of LeCenter, and Mike Gridland, Lonsdale, the shop offers almost all regular repair services as well as detailing and free check engine light testing.
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Cancer auction completes another year of fund-raising
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER AUCTION — Whitey Hagen stands next to roses given in honor of Karen Hammersmith’s 23rd year of being a breast cancer survivor during the second and final weekend of the 2016 Geneva Cancer Auction. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Once again Whitey Hagen did his testing, “One-two-three, can you hear me?” as the second weekend of the 2016 Geneva Cancer Auction got underway Friday, Jan. 15.
“It is great to see all of you here, ‘cause after all we are from Minnesota,” said Hagen, referring to how bitterly cold it was outside.
“We had a hell of an auction last week,” said Hagen, pausing before adding, “This is a cancer auction, not a hen party,” trying to remind people to tone down the visiting and pay attention to what was going on.
The first item up for bid was a blanket donated by Geri Sorenson. He explained that Geri donated an afghan to the auction for the past 41 years.
“She gave me her 42nd afghan for the cancer auction before she died this past year,” said Hagen. “This one is special.”
When boxing hit its heyday in the sports world
(Editor’s note: Part six of a seven-part series about local, area, and state amateur and professional boxing.)
By RODNEY HATLE
Contributing Writer
Area sports pages in the winter of 1947-48 headlined Golden Gloves district tournaments that would culminate in Minneapolis for the Upper Midwest championships.
Reports were also about wrestling, basketball, hockey and others, along with enough baseball to keep the fans informed of the coming seasons: local and area as well as minor and major leagues.
Locally, it was the New Richland Red Sox of the Maple Valley League before joining others such as the Four County. Previous to World War II, the “Sox” had made the Southern Minnesota League playoffs twice. That league was now semi-pro and thus “expensive” with a membership which included the likes of Owatonna, Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Rochester, and Mankato.
Readers nowadays may be surprised to know that the University of Minnesota boxing team was then traveling to Nebraska with “three lettermen veterans of the 1947 team which ushered in boxing as an intercollegiate sport.”
Superintendent's Corner
By DALE CARLSON
NRHEG Superintendent of Schools
2016 is here and the NRHEG School District is busier than ever as we near the half-way mark of the school year. I hope you will have an opportunity to attend and enjoy a number of the school events and activities taking place during the winter months. You will find more information about our activity schedule on our school district website.
My December article highlighted the School Board’s plan to engage our communities in the process of developing a strategic plan of continuous improvement that will provide us with a roadmap designed to lead us to achieving our vision as a school district. Along with this vision, the plan will clearly identify and confirm our purpose or mission, and affirm what core beliefs and values we believe in, live by, and expect from all of us.
New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
The New Richland City Council’s first meeting of the year was held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 11, with councilperson Amy Ihrke absent.
Scott Eads presented the police report; the department responded to 77 calls for service and had 68 additional contacts/activities in December. Two felonies were reported, both still under investigation pending reports from outside entities.
For the year 2015, the NRPD responded to 1082 calls for service, which is down slightly from 2014, according to Eads.