Features (1071)
Geneva City Council
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
At 7 p.m. sharp, Mayor Steve Bailey called the Geneva City Council meeting to order Tuesday, Nov. 8. The only councilman not present was Jim Beenken.
All that gathered round skimmed the minutes, bills payable and financial report, with Taff Worrell soon making a motion to approve the documents. Richard Weckwerth seconded the motion, and it carried.
Bailey then warmly welcomed Alliant Energy representative Bob Danner to the table for contract renewal discussion. The new electrical agreement will be a 20-year one, with a 10-year window. The same figures will be applied for the gas portion, as this contract will soon expire within a couple of years.
Danner informed the council that the proposed 22-percent increase has been rejected by the state of Minnesota. And due to the state shutdown, Alliant Energy still hasn’t received the final percentage increase mandate. In any case, he expects both parties to reach a halfway point compromise in the early months of 2012.
Veteran’s Day special: Olson brothers all answered the call of their country
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Serving in the United States Armed Forces is an honor and what many consider a duty. It’s a way to give back for the privilege of living in perhaps the greatest country in the world. In many families, generation after generation of family members have served in the military, either in a time of war or peace. This was the case in the New Richland area during the 1950s and 60s.
Arvil and Inga Olson had nine children. The six sons of Arvil and Inga all answered the call of their country at one time or another. In observance of this year’s Veteran’s Day, the Olson boys, who all grew up in rural New Richland, were gracious enough to share some of their military experiences.
POP TABS FOR RONALD — Cole Schutrop hands over pop tabs to Ali Branch of the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester. (Submitted photo)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
McDonald’s is known world wide for its golden arches, fast food, and spokesman Ronald McDonald. Ronald has several houses around the country, which serve a wonderful purpose. They house families of children who are experiencing medical issues or treatments. At no cost, families are given a “home away from home” where they can relate with others the difficulties of dealing with different illnesses, and be close to their family members.
Recently, a young man from New Richland had the pleasure of giving back to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester for the time he and his parents spent there five short years ago.
Cole Schutrop was born September 26, 2006 in Albert Lea to proud parents Chad and Monica Schutrop. What started out as a normal birth turned into a nightmare for his family.
“The umbilical cord was wrapped twice around Cole’s neck,” said his mother Monica. “He was all blue and the decision was made to have him airlifted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s in Rochester.”
Standke a ray of shining light for Country Neighbors
Written by Jim Lutgens
THE HERE AND NOW — Country Neighbor resident Evelyn Standke has made it a point to take joy in the simple things. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
New Richland’s Country Neighbor resident Evelyn Standke always said she wanted to live to be 108 years old.
“That may have been a bit too hasty,” Standke said. “But, on December 12, I‘ll turn 86 years old.”
Almost 22 years short of her goal, she doesn’t feel one bit old — at least not until she attends a local reunion.
“Afterwards, I’ll say to myself, ‘I can’t believe that I was there with those old people,’” Standke said. “I guess I never think about how old I really am.”
Frankly, she would much rather live at her own house. But as she so eloquently puts it, “You have to do what you have to do.”
“If my family thought I couldn’t take care of myself, they must have been right,” Standke said. “I came here because it was the best assisted living place that I looked at.”
As one of 15 residents, her routine hasn't changed much. She basically does as she pleases.
THANKS AGSTAR — Bruce Holland (left) and Mark Scharf from AgStar present a $2,000 check to New Richland Fire Department Chief Jeremy Parpart as Cody Dobberstein looks on. The money will be used to purchase a rescue tube used in grain bin rescues. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
AgStar representatives Mark Scharf and Bruce Holland visited the New Richland Fire Hall on Thursday evening, November 3. They brought along a check for $2,000 which will be used for a grain bin rescue tube. The rescue tube consists of ten aluminum panels which are placed around a victim so they won’t be engulfed in the grain. The tube works similar to a cofferdam. Grain can be shoveled out from around the victim prior to the victim being lifted to safety.
The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, recently announced $99,919 in grants through their Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program.
Ole Anderson Andrew Anderson
Book details men from Norway who fought in America’s Civil War
By RODNEY HATLE
NRAHS
Not all soldiers who fought in the 1861-1865 American Civil War spoke English so very well. Ole spoke Norwegian better, but served with an Irish unit.
This is not a joke. It was life and death, and Ole in fact died of his wounds on his 18th birthday.
By that time, Ole Anderson had been in war two and a half years. He had walked from Waseca County to Madison, Wis., "To enlist in the all-Norwegian 15th Infantry," where he apparently assumed he would feel comfortable speaking with other Scandinavian-Americans.
However, "This unit had already left ... so he joined the 17th, an all-Irish regiment."
The first day of his three-year enlistment was March 5, 1862. He was "Wounded in the Battle for Atlanta, Georgia, on Aug. 2,1864 and died of his wounds eight days later [and lies] buried in the National Cemetery at Atlanta."
PERFECT TIMING — The hiring of Richard Sliper as interim pastor at Ellendale’s First Lutheran was perfect timing for both parties. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
Sliper thankful for the path that led him to Ellendale’s First Lutheran
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Hoping to confirm eight ninth-graders by the end of October, Ellendale’s First Lutheran Church needed an interim pastor and soon.
Their potential candidate: Pastor Richard Sliper.
“After a short visit with the council, deacons and education committee, they asked, ‘How soon can you come?’ I said, ‘As soon as possible,’” Sliper said.
The timing couldn’t have worked out better for both parties. And so far, the congregation has affirmed his ministry here.
“That’s comforting to hear,” Sliper said.
Their reassurance means much more in this particular case. Because, if Sliper turns out to be a great fit, the congregation will then extend the call for full-time status after the allotted six-month period.
LOVING LIFE — Assistant City Clerk Corrine Schuller enjoys her job and her life in her home town of New Richland. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
Assistant city clerk enjoys job, life in her home town
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
New Richland’s City Clerk Wayne Billing simply cannot complete his duties all by his lonesome.
Fortunately, someone always swoops in and saves the day, every day. This talented force is none other than Assistant City Clerk Corrine Schuller.
“There are days when it can be really crazy,“ Schuller said. “Other days it's relatively quiet. Wayne and I both tend to just go with the flow.”
Employed by the City of New Richland for over 13 years now, Schuller molds to whatever role needs filling.
“Wayne handles more of the financial end of things, as well as special projects and working with the policies and ordinances, where my duties are more clerical,” Schuller said.
Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met on Thursday, October 27 with Mayor Engel, Councilmen Helland, Reiter, Goebel and Groth present. Also in attendance were Nic Zimprich, Cindy Goebel, Maintenance Supervisor Roger Swearingen, Clerk Louks, City Attorney Phil Kohl, and Wes Brown from Bolton Menk.
The public hearing on the proposed assessments was called to order at 7 p.m. by Mayor Engel. Engel introduced Brown, from Bolton & Menk. Brown went through the handouts he had prepared for the evening. Brown noted the project did come in slightly under the estimated cost. Brown continued by telling everyone the hearing is a chance for the property owner to comment on the fairness of the assessment and/or notify the council of any possible errors.
Brown showed everyone the average assessment was right around $3685. Brown said property owners can pay in full with no interest within 30 days of the assessment hearing, or the amount can be added to the property taxes for 15 years with an interest rate of 5.5%. Engel then asked for questions or comments from the council. Being none, Engel asked if the audience had comments. Zimprich wanted to make sure about the payment in full with no interest if paid within the 30 days. The public hearing was then closed.
Unpeeling the onion of America’s moral decay
Written by Jim Lutgens
JONAH PROPHECY — Bart Armstrong, Executive Director of the Jonah Prophesy organization, delivered an educational lecture in Ellendale Oct. 23. (Star Eagle photo by Carol Jolly)
By CAROL JOLLY
Staff Writer
"Unpeeling the onion" is what Bart Armstrong, Executive Director of the Jonah Prophecy organization, was hoping to achieve by providing a compilation of historical truths laid out by our founding fathers at an educational lecture in Ellendale at the Refuge Sunday evening, October 23.
"The battle to restore our nation back to the principles of faith upon which we were founded is imperative," Armstrong declared. "Our nation cannot continue to neglect the word of God, and survive."
Armstrong proceeded to direct attendees’ attention to his interpretation of evidence. In 1844, our nation's leaders defined the direction they believed to be in the best interest of Americans’ morality.
"Why not the Bible, and especially the New Testament, be read as a divine revelation in the school, its general precedents expounded?” said Armstrong. “And, its glorious principles of morality uncalculated? Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly, or so perfectly as from The New Testament? The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the school should teach the Bible. The purest principles of morality are to be taught. Where are they found? Whoever searches for them must go to the source from which a Christian man derives his faith, the Bible."
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MDHA again collecting deer hides for habitat
Written by Jim LutgensThe Minnesota Deer Hunters Association is again asking for your help to improve conditions for future hunters and hunting in general by donating your harvested deer, moose, elk or mule deer hides.
The Southern Gateway Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association has “Hides for Habitat” boxes at the following locations: Tom’s Taxidermy – Clarks Grove, Nick’s Meats – Hayward, The Short Stop Station – Glenville, Conger Meats – Conger, Jeff Miller – West of Mansfield, Craig’s Taxidermy – Freeborn, Nielsen’s Conoco – Harland, Morgan’s Locker – New Richland, Steve’s Meats – Ellendale, Geneva Automotive – Geneva, and the Bend in the Road Bar – Manchester. In Albert Lea we have boxes at the former Norby’s Gas Station, entrance of the Freeborn County Fairgrounds, Karl’s Car Quest Auto Parts, and Hart Brothers Weaponry. There are other hide collection boxes around our area, but the benefit only goes to the owner of the box.
We urge you to put your hides in the boxes marked “Hides for Habitat.” Our Southern Gateway Chapter sent 12 young future hunters to ‘Forkhorn Camp’ this past year, your hides help fund this project. Again, we have no use for heads, legs or plastic bags, so please don’t put them in our boxes. We wish you a successful hunt and thank you in advance for your support and your hides. We also would like to thank the businesses for their assistance in allowing us to put our boxes on their property.
NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
A big check from First National Bank, a stack of iPads, and a good prospect from State Bank of New Richland all brought an air of guarded excitement to the October meeting of the NRHEG school board last Monday, Oct. 17.
First National Bank President Bernie Gaytko and marketing representative Megan Lynch were on hand to present a check for $7,500, representing the latest return to NRHEG from the Panther Debit Card. This is the third year for the Panther card, from which First National Bank donates a percentage of the interchange fee to NRHEG schools and programs.
iPads
Junior High Science teacher Anne Feist brought a stack of iPads for a demonstration of their capabilities, and what use they have been put to in NRHEG science classes.
There are currently 30 iPads and an iPad cart for each building. Response from their use so far from teachers, students and administrators has been enthusiastic.
SURVIVOR — When Laina Rajala turned 40, she followed the recommended steps and made an appointment for a mammogram. Thus began a battle with breast cancer that continues today. (Star Eagle photo by Carol Jolly)
Rajala tells of her fight with breast cancer
By CAROL JOLLY
Staff Writer
Lordy, lordy, Laina Rajala turned 40.
Along with the grace of becoming another year older, Rajala heeded the recommended extra steps in women's health. She called Albert Lea Medical Center and made an appointment for her first mammogram.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed, after skin cancer. It is also today's second-leading cause of cancer in women; lung cancer is the first. One out of eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer, daily.
In January 2011, Rajala didn't anticipate any problems with her mammogram. There wasn't any family history of breast cancer, so she was confident she would be unscathed.
"I never even had a sick day," she said.
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
At one point in his life, Dan Richards of Geneva planned to be a history teacher.
The plan changed when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969.
Following basic training, Richards was trained as a medic and later sent to Vietnam. While serving his country, Richards received specialty training as a combat medic and learned battlefield surgery under some of the most difficult circumstances.
Richards could probably tell you a lot about his tour of duty in Vietnam. But we won’t.
As his tour of duty in Vietnam was coming to a close in 1971, Richards was encouraged to continue to work in the medical field by Dr. Blumer from Albert Lea. Blumer, a learned and family practice doctor, learned about Richards and his military medical experiences from Geneva resident Harold Wayne. Blumer felt Richards was just the kind of fellow he needed at Naeve. Richards was once again "recruited."