Features (1071)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
There is going to be a motorized Geneva Cancer Run, not to be confused with the Matt Felt and Dillon Gordon run to be held July 14.
This first-ever Geneva Cancer Run will be held in conjunction with a celebration of Whitey, "Mr. Cancer Auctioneer" Hagen's 80th birthday.
Geneva Cancer Run riders are asked to gather at Geneva Bar & Grill on Saturday June 9. The riders, be they on motorcycle, in cars, trucks or vans, will leave Geneva at 11 a.m. and head north and west to Janesville, to Manchester, Hollandale, Austin, Blooming Prairie and back to Geneva, arriving at about 5 p.m. in time for supper, a silent auction, and door prizes, all under the big tent Geneva Bar & Grill’s parking lot.
The Geneva Cancer Ride will cover approximately 130 miles.
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Contributing Writer
Despite rumors to the contrary, New Richland Drug will not be closing any time in the near future. However, there will be some changes due to increased pressure by Medicare D and other insurance plans to fill prescriptions by mail order and the decreased reimbursement to local pharmacies. Telepharmacy allows pharmacies to operate without a pharmacist in the store, and will be used at New Richland Drug in order for the pharmacy to remain in business. New and emergency prescriptions will continue to be filled in New Richland by Certified Pharmacy Technician Andrew, and a pharmacist will be physically present in the store once a week — usually on a Monday. On the days a pharmacist is not physically present in the store, customers will be given the opportunity to video conference with a real pharmacist where they can express any questions or concerns regarding their prescriptions.
NRAFS announces summer hours
Summer hours for the New Richland Area Food Shelf will be the second and fourth Tuesday of June, July and August.
The hours are 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. If you can't make it during the hours, please call 463-3421 or 465-3635 for an appointment.
Farm and City Days committee to meet Wednesdays
The New Richland Farm and City Days committee will meet each Wednesday at 6 p.m. at The Willows. Meetings will be held weekly until the annual Farm and City Days event, this year set for July 6-8.
SEMCAC no longer giving rides in Steele County
Beginning this week, Steele County residents who are eligible for a volunteer driver through Semcac’s Volunteer Driver Program of Steele County will need to call Amber at SEMCAC’s Volunteer Driver Program of Dodge County.
Amber can be reached at 800-528-7622. The SEMCAC office in Steele County will no longer be dispatching rides for Steele County residents.
Ellendale Community Cookout June 22
The annual Ellendale Lions Club’s Community Cookout is set for Friday, June 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ellendale Community Building. The menu includes sloppy joes, hot dogs, chips, baked beans, bars, juice and coffee. Cost is free-will donation with all proceeds going to community service projects.
Facebook page set up for community group
People showed up, hot dogs were served and ideas were thrown out during a meeting at New Richland’s City Park to discuss the revival of the commercial club or the formation of a community club on Wednesday, May 9.
A Facebook page has been set up, called “New Richland Community Group.” The Web address is www.facebook.com/groups/378450678857549. Interested parties are invited to join in sharing ideas to improve the community.
Fun run/walk set for July 7
The NRHEG cross country team will be sponsoring its annual Farm and City Days Panther Fun Run/Walk this year on Saturday, July 7 in New Richland. Runners can choose to run a two-mile or 5K course.
Check-in begins at 7 a.m. in the city park and the race starts at 8 a.m. rain or shine.
The pre-registration deadline is May 31. Entry fee is $15 which includes a t-shirt. Late registration, or day of entry: $20 and t-shirts will require picking up later. No refunds. Entry forms are available at Wagner Foods, NR Drug, Gambles and the Star Eagle office.
Make checks payable to Mike Weber and mail to: Panther Fun Run c/o Mike Weber NRHEG, 306 Ash Ave S., New Richland MN 56072.
The proceeds will go to the NRHEG Panther cross country team.
NRHEG Salutatorian picks nursing
FIRM PLAN — From an early age, Amy Thompson knew she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nurse. Thompson was NRHEG’s Salutatorian for 2012. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Just in case you missed the 411, there’s a recent NRHEG High School graduate who craves the sweet days of scrub fashion.
That alumnus is Amy Thompson, the 2012 Salutatorian.
“When Mr. Stoesz shook my hand in the principal’s office, I was very surprised,” Thompson said. “The last I knew, I was ranked 11th in the class. Then ever since the tenth grade, I had straight A’s.”
Bound for Riverland Community College, Thompson sheds light on why she so badly wants to become a nurse.
“As a little girl, a lady came up to me and told me how my mom saved her baby’s life,” Thompson said. “This made me want to do what she does.”
NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
Capital Projects
At their Monday, May 21 meeting the NRHEG School Board discussed the weighty Capital Projects Budget, a hefty commitment which was the result of months of careful discussion.
Included in the budget plan for the coming year are:
Carpet (Two classrooms in NRHS), $4,000
Carpet (Two classrooms in ELL), $4,000
Replace Riding Scrubber NR, $12,800
Elem/HS Textbooks, $10,000
Library Books, $6,000
Band Equipment, $4,000
Athletic (Varsity, B Squad, Junior High), $10,000
Veteran relates Vietnam experiences
PROUD TO HAVE SERVED — Harlan Kohnert of New Richland is proud to have served his country in Vietnam in the 1960s. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Harlan Kohnert of New Richland served his country in the United States Army. Enlisting right out of high school in 1957, his career spanned nine years, with his discharge in 1966.
“I signed up to be in ordinance, but they threw me in the medics,” said Kohnert.
Kohnert was sent to Ft. Sam Houston for school and later to Ft. Hood. His other duty stations were at Scofield Barracks, which is near Honolulu, Hawaii, and to Nuremburg, Germany. In 1960, he was sent to Ft. Benning, GA. The Army had other plans for him.
“I was with the 11th Air Assault, attached to the 101st Airborne,” said Kohnert.
U.S. Army Air Assault units use helicopters with light infantry troops to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces. U.S. Army CH-21 helicopter transports arrived in Vietnam on December 11, 1961. Twelve days later, air assault operations using South Vietnamese troops began.
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Money and memories have been coming in from former Ellendale-Geneva High School graduates. It’s not sufficient to make the move as of yet, but some of the fascinating memories makes this restoration more important all the time.
The Ellendale Area Historical Society had asked one person from each of the Ellendale-Geneva graduating classes to notify their classmates with information about the "Save Gus' Station" project. Barbara Mrotz has received a number of letters, along with donations since the letters went out. Many commented on the quality of education they received from Gus' Station.
Gary Hansen, class of 1955, son of Rube and Shirley, died in a snowmobile accident in March of 2001. During Ellendale’s Centenial Celebration in 2000, Gary gave a speech of his growing up years in the Ellendale, which highlighted stories about Gus' Station. He also recalled the story, "Gus Jacobson's Station,” during his last class reunion as well.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday May 24 with Mayor Engel and all councilmen present. Also attending the meeting were Clerk Louks, Roger Swearingen, maintenance, and Pete Paulson, interim manager at the Municipal Liquor Store.
Clerk Louks passed out the fire department’s monthly report. The department submitted $2,414.26 in bill requests. The council approved the report and requests.
Paulson was next with a report for the Municipal Liquor Store. Paulson said he was still trying to get the feel for the everyday happenings at the MLS. Paulson also said he is currently working with the staff to adjust some hours that will in the long run save the MLS some money. Paulson also told the council he was reviewing the food prices and making adjustments up or down. The council will be meeting with Paulson next Thursday evening to go over things at the MLS.
Benefit for Lindsay Lembke June 3 at Geneva Community Center
Lindsay Lembke
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
You're beautiful, with those long dark eyelashes and big brown eyes. You're sweet 16, the time in your life when everything should be perfect. You should be attending school, enjoying time with friends, having fun and making plans for prom and parties.
And then — bam — you get hit in the stomach, hard. That’s what it feels like. But it’s so much more.
Lindsay Lembke, daughter of Lisa Cromwell Lembke of Geneva and Steve Lembke of Albert Lea, has spent time after time in the hospital since November of last year.
There were times Lindsay complained of her stomach hurting, but they figured it was just an upset stomach. But then, she woke up one morning in November very sick and throwing up. After eight trips to the ER and 12 admittances to the hospital, she had been diagnosed with any number of things and given many different kinds of medication, which were later discovered were not needed for her particular illness. She even suffered a seizure due to the medication and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors just could not determine what was wrong.
Tollefson and Johnson gracefully accept diplomas
FEATHER IN THEIR CAPS — As NRHEG co-valedictorians Carter Tollefson and Hailey Johnson rejoice in their newly claimed appellation, the dignified honor fails to inflate their academic egos. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
BY RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
On occasion, Hailey Johnson and Carter Tollefson received the revered classification of walking dictionaries or encyclopedias. Sure, these two definitely are whizzes in the high school classroom, but they don’t claim Webster or Brittanica status.
Now crowned with the title of co-valedictorian for the NRHEG High School class of 2012, Johnson and Tollefson humbly accept in utter glee.
“It’s an honor,” Johnson said. “Yes, smarts come natural to me, but I also have to turn in all my assignments. I don’t think I’ve had a late assignment through high school. It’s great to be rewarded for that.”
Tollefson couldn’t agree more.
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Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday May 10, with Mayor Engel and all council members present. Also attending the meeting and on the agenda were Bunny Johnson, Al Knudson, Donovan Eaker, Clerk Louks, Gwen Reiss, and Roger Swearingen, maintenance.
The agenda was amended due to the absence of Wes Brown, Bolten & Menk, and passed as amended.
Johnson was recognized first by the council. She was concerned about the water line connection next to her home. Johnson would like to finish her landscaping this year and does not want to have something dug up because of a water leak. Steve Louks said that he felt the line would be done this summer. Johnson was O.K. with that answer.
The council reviewed a citation from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry-OSHA. The citation was given to workers for an excavation project not protected from a cave-in situation. The situation was made right while the officers were present. The city was cited a fine of $1050. The city was offered a lesser fine if it did not contest the penalty. Motion was made to pay the reduced fine of $735 and not contest the issue. It passed. The council talked about setting up some OSHA safety programs.
Geneva City Council
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
On May 8, Mayor Steve Bailey called Geneva's monthly city council meeting to order promptly at 7 p.m.
Next, Andy Bernau, a representative from Hill, Larson, Walth and Benda, P.A., walked the council through Geneva’s audit report step by step. Bernau noted the city doesn’t have any collateral for their investments in cash and CDs, beyond the $250,000 mark. He advised them to look into the matter.
Next, the council was made aware of a new state statute involving contracts budgeted over the $25,000 mark. In the future, he encouraged all members to consider the state-purchasing venture. Or in other words, they must always obtain a project bid from the state before contacting local businesses.
7th Annual Hope Tractor Pull June 3
The 7th Annual Hope Tractor Pull is set for Sunday, June 3 north of the elevator. It’s sponsored by First Lutheran Church of Hope.
Scheduled weight classes:
3500# farm stock, stock open; 4500# farm stock, stock open; 5500# farm stock, stock open; 6500# farm stock, stock open; 7500# farm stock, stock open; 8500# farm stock, stock open; 9500# farm stock, stock open; 10500#, stock open; 11500# stock open; 12500# stock open; 14000# stock; 16500# stock.
Pulling starts at 10 am. Food and drink available by First Lutheran Church. Contact Mike Hartle for information at 451-0812 or 456-8521; fax: 455-0486.
Ellendale Area VBS June 4-8
Ellendale area churches will be hosting Vacation Bible School starting Monday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration is open to students kindergarten through 6th grade.
Registration forms are available at area churches. Supper will be served each evening at Vibrant Life Assembly of God Church.
Child care is available to those working at VBS.
Bloodmobile to be at Waldorf June 5
The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the Waldorf Community Center Tuesday, June 5, from 1-7 p.m. For an appointment call 239-2461.
Crafty ladies come from near and far to roll up their sleeves
FINAL BRUSH STROKES — Chris Donovan, Paula Hansen and Sue Cory all dipped paintbrushes on May 9, so as to complete their very first barn quilt at Holmes’ farm. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Word on the street folks, is that barn quilting has become quite the dandy around the Ellendale area lately.
Hard evidence of such wooden creations numbers 10 to be exact, simply due to a joint effort of NRHEG and USC Community Education Director Marilyn Dobberstein and Special Education Paraprofessional Renee Holmes leading their Second Annual Barn Quilting Community Education class.
“Some people think I have hung fabric quilts on my barns,” said Holmes. “But, they are actually pieces of wood painted to look like quilts.”
This year’s students created things a little differently. Instead of a red, white and blue theme, they designed and painted a two-by-two dimensioned board with free reign in colors. It’s a task Holmes says is much more difficult than meets the already artistic eye.