Feature Stories (124)
Feature Stories from the Star Eagle pages.
Carlie’s still blossoming basketball career chronicled at U of M
WAGNERVILLE — Gopher mailboxes have become a popular item in the area thanks to Carlie Wagner, recently featured in this article in the University of Minnesota’s Ski-U-Mah magazine. (Submitted photo)
By JUSTINE BUERKLE
University of Minnesota
“Last person out turns the lights off. There’s nobody left in town when the tournament comes around.”
That line, reminiscent of the Hickory Huskers’ following in “Hoosiers,” is how Carlie Wagner’s father described the mass exodus from the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva area as people traveled to support his daughter’s Panthers team in the Minnesota state basketball tournament, including back-to-back championship wins.
(Editor's note: Looking Back is a weekly feature on the pages of the Star Eagle)
100 Years Back – 1915
• One of the happiest little girls whereabouts on Christmas was Leone, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Heckes of Byron. She was awarded the huge doll given away by popular vote by Peterson Bros’ Variety Store. The little lady was offered eight dollars for her prize by the store proprietors, but wouldn’t listen to the offer.
• Hog cholera is reported at the farm of Wm. Patschke a few miles southwest of this place, Mr. Patschke having lost 13 head of swine. He informed The Star over the telephone that the disease came from the herds of his Russian neighbors, who perhaps were ignorant of the disease and took no precautions. When their hogs died they were left on the field unburied. Mr. Patschke is doing what he can to confine the disease.
MOTHERLY LOVE — Arianna Hansen, right, and her mother, Amy. (Star Eagle photo by Jessica Lutgens)
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
Courage can often be found in those one might least expect.
Such is the case with Arianna Hansen, an 11-year-old fifth-grade student at NRHEG. In 2009, when Arianna was in kindergarten, a MRI revealed a brain tumor on her optic nerve.
“Her left eye had started to spasm,” Arianna’s mother, Amy, explained. “We took her in for an eye exam, and then we went to Rochester for the MRI.”
This type of brain tumor is called optic nerve glioma, and while rare, they almost always occur in children before age 20. In Arianna’s situation, if the tumor were not removed eventually, it would cause her to lose her vision.
At the time, because it is statistically slow-growing, it was thought the tumor likely wouldn’t grow – and if it did, only minimally.
100 Years Back – 1915
• Our school record for attendance and tardiness has been very bad. During the first two months of school the number of days lost was 289; number of days tardiness 115. In other words during the first two months, the entire school was absent one and one-sixth days, at a cost of $70 to the district. The superintendent will make this appeal to parents: Do not keep pupils out of school for work; also do not make them run errands just before nine o’clock. We are trying to teach pupils punctuality, yet oftentimes parents, by giving children duties to perform which cause them to become tardy, are creating just the opposite habit. Please help the school to establish a better record by insisting that your child makes a perfect attendance record.
Friends, family pay tribute to one of Geneva’s favorite citizens
SOMETHING’S MISSING — A glass of Guinness, a shot of whiskey and other items were placed at Digger’s usual spot at Geneva Bar and Grill during a recent bar bingo. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
This is a difficult story to write.
Difficult because in no way can it do justice to a special man who so warmed our hearts and left us with a vast amount of touching memories.
Leprechauns are special people who roam the world with their spirit full of tricks and laughter. They always smile and make you feel good.
It has been said if you find a leprechaun you will find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That certainly holds true for the people in our area. The pot of gold was in the heart of Thomas Desmond Donnelly IV, and the rainbow of happiness always seemed to shine after the rain.
Tom was proud of his Irish heritage and could often be seen wearing green. Following his death, people passing by his home on Central Avenue in Geneva could see a lit green shamrock in one of the front windows.
STATERS — NRHEG cheerleaders trying out for the All State team were, from left: Nicole Edon, Jessica Nafe, Taylar Tieskotter, Abby Christopherson, Abby Wacholz, Bayli Possin and Lizzy Hagen. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
If you live around here and you’re paying attention, you already know the NRHEG High School cheerleaders are among the best in the state of Minnesota.
They proved it again Saturday, Oct. 10.
Seven NRHEG seniors tried out for Minnesota All State at Park Center High School. Five made the cut.
“All the girls did an amazing job and we’re very proud of each of them,” said NRHEG cheerleading advisor Kari Buendorf. “They will be learning a new routine with the members of the All State team this winter and then performing at the Minnesota State Cheerleading competition in late January.”
Jacob’s Run raises funds, helps people remember
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
We all look at facts and figures.
Anything can contribute to the fact that there are those who choose to no longer live, but only God knows why.
Though suicide causes incredible sorrow, perhaps guilt and an unsolved mystery, it is not to be taken lightly, nor something of shame.
It just is.
There are those whose family has been affected by it and choose to do what they can to correct whatever it is that possesses the mind in these mysterious ways. Instead of wallowing in sorrow, they do what they can so others won't have to suffer the same fate.
Speaker leaves students spellbound
SPELLBOUND STUDENTS — Tasha Schuh, a quadriplegic from Ellsworth, Wis., held the interest of NRHEG students on the first day of school. (Submitted photo)
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
Sixteen feet is a long way to fall. Falling that far and landing on your head on a concrete floor is often a tragic fall; survival odds are long.
Yet, that’s just what Tasha Schuh of Ellsworth, Wis., did in 1997. While working on a production of The Wizard of Oz at her high school in Red Wing, Minn., Schuh fell through a trapdoor, breaking her neck, fracturing her skull, and crushing her spinal cord. She was in a coma for eight days and wasn’t given much chance to live.
Yet there she was in front of the NRHEG student body on the first day of school, speaking about her life experiences and how to deal with adversity. “Yes I can,” was a phrase she taught students to say in sign language, a phrase she has used as a mantra often during her recovery and subsequent embarkation on a career as an inspirational speaker.
Clara White to celebrate Sunday
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Former Ellendale resident Clara White, mother of Ed Jensen of Beaver Lake; Dennis Jensen of Albert Lea; and Joanne Neuhart of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, will celebrate her 105th birthday Sunday, July 26.
Clara felt bad when she had to leave Southern Minnesota area back in 2004 and misses seeing so many of her dear friends and family, but getting mail from the people back home is greatly appreciated.
Clara was first married to Gordon Jensen and they were the proud parents of five children: Marshall, Edwin, Wyman, Dennis, and Joanne. Marshall and Wyman are no longer with us but are remembered, especially when the family gathers for special events.
Museum grand opening July 11
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Dreams do come true if you are patient and willing to put some equity into them. It helps to believe and say a few prayers.
The Clarks Grove Area Heritage Society began about 20 years ago with just a few people thinking ahead and interested in preserving the artifacts, pictures and stories that made Clarks Grove the great town it is.
From that humble beginning, loyal citizens kept meeting and discussing how nice it would be if there was a place in town that could be established to preserve the pictures and memorabilia that people might want to donate. Phyllis Hanson and Kathy Jensen talked often about a museum and the topic of finding a place was brought up at nearly every heritage society meeting. Several members of the society started checking out possible sites that might be available.
The old creamery was thought ideal, being the first cooperative creamery in Minnesota, but there were too many drawbacks. The condition and layout of the building made it inadequate and too difficult to accommodate the elderly and handicapped.
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NRHEG High School Principal David Bunn has announced the names of students selected to the Honor Roll for 4th Quarter 2014-15
“A” Honor Roll
Grade 12 — Dylan Arnold, Brady Beenken, Brittany Blaschko, Lydia Culver, Alyssa Esplan, Karina Gaona, Colton Hagen, Ryann Hagen, Kaylee Hanson, Jade Hill, Kevin Kalis, Logan Knutson, Bianca Kohnert, Jake Langlie, Melissa Malakowsky, Anita Maloney, Sandra Quezada, Sarah Riecke, Cassidy Sletten, Anna Stork, Aurora Strom, Spencer Tollefson, Trevor Tracy, Jet Wayne
Grade 11 — Anna Bailey, Abby Christopherson, Nicole Edon, Jorey Fischer, Lizzy Hagen, Cole Ignaszewski, Katharine Lewer, Anna Lundberg, Whittney McCamish, Marissa Mortenson, Jessica Nafe, Clayton Nelson, Luke Overgaard, Corrie Powell, Tyler Schlaak, Hailey Schuller, Torrie Stencel
Grade 10 — Chad Agrimson, Oakley Baker, Rachel Collins, Grace Johns, Maurya Johnson, Jennifer McKay, Lacey Nelson, Samuel Prigge, Nora Retallick, Jack Schultz, Maci Surat, Marnie Wagner
The NRHEG High School Band marches in a recent parade in Mapleton. Carrying the letters for NRHEG are, from left, Mia Williams, Ethan Thompson, Jayna Domeier, Maddie Bartelt and Grace Kofstad. Area folks will get a chance to see director Sam Boerboom’s Marching Panthers Saturday, June 27 for Ellendale Days and Saturday, July 11 for New Richland’s Farm and City Days. (Star Eagle photo by Nikki Erickson)
TRACTOR CARAVAN — Participants in the 2015 KOWZ/KRUE/KKOR 92.1 Country Minnesota Tractor Ride take a break during one of several stops along the route. (Photo by Darrell Hansen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
The 2015 KOWZ/KRUE/KKOR 92.1 Country Minnesota Tractor Ride was held Saturday, June 13 in our area. Brad Kubat, KOWZ radio, was in charge of organizing the event and reports he received a great deal of assistance from "Dude" Spatenka and Gene Linse.
A $20 entry fee was assessed, which included participation in the event, an event T-Shirt, and a meal was served at the Corn Palace ag center in New Richland.
Thanks to all the great sponsors: Keck’s Repair in rural Owatonna, Broskoff Structures in Geneva and SunOpta in Hope.
Upwards of 100 tractors and their drivers gathered at Ag Power in Owatonna at 8 Saturday morning for the annual tractor run. Following the National Anthem, 123 tractors of all makes, sizes, styles and years, including a few old Massey Harris, along with Allis Chalmers, International Harvester, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, McCormick, and New Holland, headed out of Owatonna.
Dinneen, Schumacher depart NRHEG schools — for different reasons
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing Writer
School districts undergo change on a yearly basis. However, it’s rare that a school will have to replace an entire department. NRHEG faces that task this year as Georgia Dinneen and Sandy Schumacher have both left, though for different reasons, and administration now has to find new members for the business department.
After seven years at NRHEG, Schumacher has accepted a job in Waseca teaching the same types of classes: computer skills, personal finance, etc. This decision was “based strictly on geography,” commented Schumacher, since she lives in Waseca, where her children attend school.
Dinneen, on the other hand, has entered the world of retirement. After working in the business world for a number of years, she subbed for a time before teaching at NRHEG for the past 19 years. She said it was a difficult decision because she still enjoys her job, and the students often make her day. “They are the reason educators go to work every day,” said Dinneen. “We have such a good group of students at NRHEG, and that’s because of the good community we live in.”