Features (1071)
Refurbished Byron Township Hall is something to behold
SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF — It is hoped the newly refurbished Byron Township Hall in Matawan makes the National Historic Registry. (Submitted photo)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Located in the whereabouts of Matawan, remains a white building that has had its share of alterations.
This historic structure has been a chameleon of sorts, adapting to the natures of both rambunctious elementary students and Byron Township board members. Not all at once of course.
“The town hall had become so run down that it wasn’t useful anymore,” said Geoff Jessen, township supervisor. “At one point, we considered it a teardown, but everyone involved soon found out that is a pretty cool, structurally sound building. That’s when the public got involved and voted to renovate it.”
The drop ceiling eradicated for good, this place of town meetings has returned to its 20th-century roots. No more musty smells either, that’s for sure.
“We have restored it to its original function, a schoolhouse,” Jessen said. “We gutted the whole building and tore out all the old plaster. We rewired, replastered walls, installed better heating and plumbing systems, and replaced windows and all the roof shingles.”
AG AWARDS — The Waseca County Farm Family of the Year and Outstanding Young Farmer were honored at the annual Farm and City Luncheon on Thursday, March 22 in Waseca. Pictured front (l-r): Trevor, Travis and Amy Beckstrand. Middle: Jamie and Marijo Beckstrand. Back: Jason Norton and Paul Beckstrand. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
The spring agricultural season in Waseca County officially kicked off with the Farm and City Luncheon at the Waseca American Legion Thursday, March 22. The annual affair, sponsored by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce, brings together agri-business leaders and recognizes individual accomplishments.
Following the Invocation by Father Marty Schaefer, guests were treated to a heaping platter of beef, pork, baked potato and corn, served up by blue-jacketed FFA members. As was custom, third grade students from Hartley Elementary provided hand-drawn placemats for the head tables.
Attendees were welcomed by Tracy Jevning, chair of the WACC who introduced Master of Ceremonies Hugh Chester-Jones. The keynote speaker was Ron Eustice, Executive Director of the MN Beef Council.
“My roots are very deep in this community,” said Eustice, who was born in Waseca. He was selected for the 4-H International Youth Exchange program where he spent six months in Uruguay in 1967-68.
New Richland City Council
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
The New Richland City Council met for its second meeting of March on Monday, March 26, with all members in attendance. Following the customary Pledge of Allegiance, the evening’s agenda was approved.
Maintenance supervisor Ryan Nissen was first up with his monthly report. Nissen and the council discussed crack filling and chip sealing for the coming season. 6th Street NW has some issues that require fixing. Bids were received from Ulland Brothers with possible options ranging from $5,000 for milling and overlay to $12,400 for removal and replacement. The company will be contacted to see when the job can be scheduled. The council next approved a request for 108 ton of rock at a cost of $1,774 for repair of alleys throughout the city. A request for a portable pump at a cost of $640 was approved less $245 received for recycled metal.
Brad Field of PeopleService reported the Waste Water Treatment Facility had received its five-year permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday March 22 with Mayor Engel, Councilmen Helland, Reiter, Goebel and Groth all in attendance. Also at the meeting were Jeff Johnson, Jeremy Reese, Clerk Louks and Gwen Reiss.
After approving the agenda for the evening, Mayor Engel called on Johnson to give the monthly fire department report. The total pay request for department bills was $1637.93. Chief Reese brought to the council’s attention that the department will be looking to buy different radios in the near future. Reese explained that with Steele County dispatch and law enforcement updating to the new 800 mhz, the department is looking at getting new pagers and mobile radios.
Reese went on to explain that to set the department up in a relatively good fashion, the department will probably spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $22,000. The department will likely look into buying ten pagers, four portables and four units for the trucks. Reese was asked by the council what monetary compensation the city could provide.
Join Autism Speaks in celebrating World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 and “Light It Up Blue” to help shine a light on autism. Whether it's your front porch or your local city hall, an office party or a banquet, the whole world is going blue to increase awareness about autism.
“Light It Up Blue,” in its third year, is a unique global initiative to help raise awareness about the growing public health concern that is autism. Iconic landmarks around the world will “Light It Up Blue” to show their support.
Join us now and help shine a light on autism.
The Autism Society of America and Autism Speaks are two education and advocacy groups working to raise autism awareness during the month of April.
What is Autism? Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults on the autism spectrum typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities.
The Waseca County Dairy Banquet will be on March 3l at the Purple Goose Restaurant in Janesville. Social half hour will begin at 7 p.m. and dinner and banquet will begin at 7:30.
The Waseca County Dairy Association will be crowning two Dairy Princesses for this coming year. Sarah Manthey and Megan Harguth will be crowned during the banquet.
Sarah is the daughter of Chuck and Chris Manthey of Janesville.
Harguth is the daughter of Greg and Sue Harguth. Their family was awarded the Farm Family of the Year in 2009.
The Dairy Princess program is made possible by the local dairy farmer’s dairy promotion checkoff dollars.
During the banquet, the Butter Knife award will also be presented. The Butter Knife award is awarded to any food establishment that serves real butter and other real dairy products.
Tickets for the banquet are $10 and available from Curt Keyes, Waseca County Dairy Board Chair. He can be reached at (507) 271-5757.
Hundreds of faithful follow girls’ basketball team to state
GOOD TIMES — Amy Thompson and Brandon LeBlanc dance during game one of the state tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis last week. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff writer
You could have rolled a bowling ball down Broadway Avenue in New Richland either last Wednesday or Friday evening and probably not struck a soul.
At the same time, if you had ventured to Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, you would have found the reason for the deserted streets of the burg. It was girls’ state basketball time, and the NRHEG Lady Panthers were in the thick of it. A quick glance would show the Panther faithful clearly outnumbered the opposing spectators, as many of them were disguised as empty seats.
On Wednesday evening alone, there were 11 buses of students and adults rolling down the interstate, their voices ready to cheer on the home team. It didn’t matter if you were from Ellendale, Geneva, Hartland or New Richland, this was a chance to see the kids possibly make history, and not many wanted to miss it.
On the bus ride up, everyone was in agreement that it was the way to go. It was even better than flying because a light lunch of ham sandwiches and cookies was served by “flight attendants” Rick Schultz, Doug Christopherson, Terry Hansen and Randy “Moosie” Anderson. Besides, all that fun and they didn’t charge you for an extra bag.
GRAND OLD TIME — A retirement roast for Carl Anderson was held at the 3-in-One in Hollandale March 3. From left are Dale Miller, Anderson, Greg Bartsch and Darrell Hanson. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
On Saturday night, March 3rd, an enterprising brother-in-law, Dale Miller, a fellow fire fighter, Greg Bartsch, and good friend Darrell Hanson of Blooming Prairie organized a "Retirement Roast" for Carl Anderson at the 3-In-One Bar in Hollandale, which is owned and operated by Miller. Firemen, along with their spouses or dates, from many of the local fire departments had been invited to the surprise roast.
Carl and his wife, Nancy, along with Carl's mother, Lettie, and Nancy’s parents, Eddie and Arlene Miller, were invited for supper at the 3-In-One Bar by Miller, Carl's brother-in-law.
NRHEG Elementary to present ‘Cinderella’ March 23-24
Written by Jim LutgensNRHEG Elementary to present ‘Cinderella’ March 23-24
Prairie Fire Theatre and NRHEG Elementary students present “Cinderella” (A rock & roll version set in the 1950s.) Public performances are scheduled for Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 24 at 2 p.m. in Ellendale. Admission is $5.00 adults and $3.00 students. The residency and production is sponsored by the NRHEG PTO. Cast List:
Leads: Cinderella: Lillian Bell; Fairy Godmother: Solveig Stafford; Rona: Michelle Katzung; Zona: Kyra Possin; Dinah: Avery Hill; Click Dark: Caitlin Goette; Mikey: Benjamin Lewer; Queen Cash: Emily Crabtree; Assistant 1: Jazzlyn Johnson; Assistant 2: Sophia Mrotz; Assistant 3: Kylie Lembke; Mistake 1: Lauren Herrmann; Mistake 2: Rebecca Peterson; Mistake 3: Hayleigh Williams; Mistake 4: Karenna Strom; Poppa: Gavin Nachtigall (PFCT Tour Actor and Director); and Wynona: Jo Gimbel (PFCT Tour Actor and Director.)
NRHEG fourth-grade student publishes book
ELEMENTARY AUTHOR — Jayna Domeier, a fourth-grade student at NRHEG Ellendale, is pictured in front of the display window housing her first book “The Teenage Tournament.” (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
The present day educational system in the United States teaches our younger students the ability to read and write. After they learn the basics of reading, students are challenged to put their own thoughts down on paper. It may start out as a sentence, perhaps a paragraph or two, or in some cases, several pages. As students progress through the grades, their writing becomes more focused, with book reports and the dreaded term papers being written.
Imagine a fourth-grade student who likes reading so much she decided to write her own book.
NRHEG Elementary pupil Jayna Domeier is just that student.
Jayna, daughter of Mark and Michelle Domeier of Ellendale, recently published her first book titled, “The Teenage Tournament.”
“The idea just came to me,” said Jayna. “The book is about some eighth-grade students who are preparing to enter a tournament against some 12th-graders. The tournament isn’t sports related; it’s about school subjects, like the Knowledge Bowl. It took me about two weeks to complete working on it every day.”
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New Richland City Council
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
All members were present as Mayor Tom McShane convened the first New Richland City Council meeting of March Monday evening. The night’s agenda was approved as presented. The consent agenda items were also approved, notably:
• Permission to close South Broadway Ave. adjacent to the City Park on Sunday, April 15 for the annual Blessing of the Bikes.
• Approval of a purchase order for material for the softball infield at Legion Field.
• Repair and/or replacement of the backstop fence at the softball field.
Police Chief Scott Eads noted 79 calls for service and 42 additional contacts in February. The most serious offense was a domestic assault/disorderly which occurred on the front steps of city hall.
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday March 8, 2012 with Mayor Engel and councilmen Helland, Reiter, Goebel and Groth present. Clerk Louks, Maintenance Supervisor Swearingen along with visitors Eric Haffner, Dan Petsinger, Jane Busho, Duane Atchison and Duane Nelson were also in attendance.
Engel asked the council to consider amending the agenda as printed. The council, after some juggling, approved the agenda as amended.
Nelson was first to address the council. He had a request for the city to consider hooking his property up to the sanitary sewer. Nelson told the council he was considering putting a different home on his property. He had drawings to show the council, which showed that he would like to connect to the manhole west of his property. The council directed some questions to Eric Haffner, who works for the city’s engineering firm Bolten & Menk. Haffner told the council that from the information he has been given, the connection would be O.K. Engel told Nelson most of the work would be on his property and therefore would be his responsibility. The council made a motion to move forward allowing Nelson to connect.
After 36 years, firefighter hangs up uniform for final time
PROUD TO SERVE — After 36 years, 30 of them as captain for the Freeborn Fire Department, Roger Merritt has hung up his uniform for the final time. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
At age 22, Roger Merritt had no inhibitions about firefighting. The flames didn’t faze him and the heat only dared him to fight harder.
Thirty-six years later, Merritt still feels the same way about sparks out of control.
“It meant a lot to give to the surrounding community,” Merritt said. “Helping save lives by putting out fires, people are really thankful.”
To this day, those kind words remain embedded in the recesses of his heart. And there they will remain, even after announcing his retirement from the Freeborn Fire Department.
“When I first joined, the adrenaline was for sure going,” Merritt said. “But, last year, I had a lot of medical issues. I missed most of the summer because I had a broken wrist. I actually had three surgeries.”
Surprisingly, saying goodbye to such a driving force in his life came easy for him. It was just time to move on.
Hartland native has a definite knack for writing
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Whooshing into a room full of shelves, the literary world suddenly lays at her fingertips. Still out of breath, this introspective youngster's nose darts every which way in the hopes of finding the perfect book.
“As an only child with parents who were both avid readers, my love of books began at a very young age," said former Hartland resident Jeanie Larson. “I could travel anywhere, be anyone I wanted in a book. I read anything from romance to science fiction, to biographies. I loved them all.”
Years later, this Iowa resident has a library she calls her very own. Thus far, Larson has e-published the following titles: “Another Time, Another Place,” “47,” “Be Careful What You Wish For,” “I'll Never Forget You” and “Will You Marry Me.”
“I am almost finished with ‘Do You Remember Me Now,’” Larson said. “’I'll Never Forget You’ is actually the first one I ever wrote. It is about a girl who takes a vacation to California, and meets her favorite TV star.”
These aren’t the only ones in her home collection though. Just ask her husband of 30 years.