Jim Lutgens
Veteran photos to be published in May
In observance of Memorial Day May 30, the NRHEG Star Eagle will publish a section dedicated to our defenders of freedom.
Area veterans or family members are encouraged to bring in photos of veterans in uniform from all branches of service for inclusion and the recognition they so justly deserve.
The deadline for photo submission is noon, May 19. For questions or more information, call the Star Eagle office at (507) 463-8112 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you’ve turned in a veteran photo to the Star Eagle in the past, you need not do so again.
NRHEG Pops Concert Monday
The annual NRHEG High School Pops Concert is set for Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium in New Richland.
Plant, book sale Saturday in Waldorf
The 16th Annual Petal Pushers plant sale will be held at the Waldorf Community Center on Saturday, May 7 from 8-10 a.m. Sale of the plants are used to purchase plants for the Waldorf Community planters and gardens. Donations from the sale are also used to purchase items for the Community Center.
Friends of the Library are also sponsoring a Book and Bake Sale at the Waldorf Library. Proceeds will benefit the library.
Carol Ruth Battenfeld, 72
Memorial services for Carol R. Battenfeld, age 72, of Hartland, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Rev. Paul Andree will officiate. Interment will be at Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.
Carol died Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
Back to D.C.
Dinneen makes one final trip to nation’s capital
D.C. CREW — Front from left: Whittney McCamish, Natalie Aaseth, Emily Crabtree, Michelle Katzung, Aubrey Schlinger, Tali Wayne, Jennifer McKay, Gabby Muri, Gretchen Ramaker, Grace Johns, Rachel Collins, Maci Surat, Emily Prigge, Chris Stenzel. Row two: Nicole Frechette, Kylie Lembke, Wyatt Fitterer, Tyler Mithun, Justin Mortensen, Karter Sletten, Natalia Galindo, Lillian Bell, Lillie Nielsen, Braden Routh, Ben Lewer, Mercedes Dickerson, Madison Martin. Back: Payton Misgen, Randal Anhalt, Caleb Harpel, Kyra Possin, Pat Churchill, Georgia Dinneen, Taytum Ihrke, Sam Prigge. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Officially, Georgia Dinneen is retired from her job as an instructor at NRHEG High School.
But early this month, she was coaxed out of retirement for a few days.
As she has done 10 times since 2004, Dinneen accompanied NRHEG students and other chaperones on what has become the school’s annual trip to Washington, D.C.
“Our intention in the beginning was to go every other year,” said Dinneen. “This trip was our fourth year in a row.”
After retiring last spring, Dinneen was asked by NRHEG Administration to go on one last trip to D.C.
“That’s why I did it,” she said. “It was an especially enjoyable trip to me just because I got to spend time again with teenagers. They are what I miss most about retirement.”
Softball squad extends streak
NRHEG girls improve record to 5-1
The NRHEG softball team won three games rather handily last week, but they didn’t always make it easy on themselves.
On Tuesday at Legion Field, the Panthers had to rally from a 6-0 deficit after the top of the first inning before eventually 10-running Medford 16-6. They won 9-4 at St. Clair on Monday and beat Blue Earth Area 12-2 in five innings at home on Friday, improving to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Gopher Conference. The Panthers have not lost since falling in extra innings in the season opener.
NRHEG 9, St. Clair 4
The Panthers broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the third, taking a 9-0 lead before St. Clair finally scored three in the fifth.
Maddie, Hailey lead track girls
The NRHEG girls’ track and field team hosted a triangular at New Richland last Thursday.
It was the Maddie Wagner-Hailey Schuller show.
The Panther duo combined to win five individual events and ran on a first-place relay as NRHEG won with 94 points to 73 for Maple River and JWP with 18.
Wagner’s wins: 100 meters, 13.6 seconds; high jump, 4-10; long jump, 15-11.5. Schuller’s: 100 hurdles, 17.2, 300 hurdles, 53.1. They teamed with Caitlin Goette and Marnie Wagner to win the 4x200 in 1:56.8. Marnie won the 200 in 28.6. Also winning were Emily Eder, discus, 88-1; Sophia Fischer, shot put, 35-2; and Emily Prigge, 3200, 14:12.8.
Baseball Panthers notch first wins
Tucker, Schultz toss complete games
Last week was an up-and-down one for the NRHEG baseball team.
It started and ended on a down note, but in between the Panthers picked up their first wins of the season behind strong pitching from Dempsey Tucker and Jack Schultz.
The Panthers ran their record to 2-6 overall and 1-5 in the Gopher Conference under second-year head coach Drew Paukert.
Medford 5, NRHEG 2
The Panthers hosted Medford and struggled to produce runs at Legion Field Monday, April 18.
Freshman Sawyer VanMaldeghem doubled in his first varsity at-bat, while Cole Staloch, Dempsey Tucker and Palmer Peterson singled. NRHEG stranded six baserunners in the first three innings.
Erickson, relays shine for Panthers
Boys' track and field
Last Thursday was a good one for the distance guys and Zeke Erickson.
The Panthers swept the distance relays and Erickson won the throws as the NRHEG boys’ track and field team took second in a triangular at New Richland. Maple River won with 89 points, the Panthers had 64.5, JWP 32.5.
“It was a good meet for the boys,” said coach Duey Ferber. “We saw some PRs. Zeke had a great night.”
Erickson, a senior, notched his first wins of the season, taking the shot put at 32-11.75 and the discus with a toss of 114-10.
Tyler Schlaak, Nate Krause, John Cole and Josh Fleming won the 4x400 relay in 3:46.1 and the 4x800 in 8:51.3.
The Panthers’ other firsts were by Cole, 1600, 4:54.4; and Agro Gushwa, triple jump, 37-6.
NRHEG golf girls edged by USC
Stenzel, Oquist log nice rounds for NRHEG boys
The NRHEG girls’ golf team had a strong outing Thursday, April 21 in a Gopher Conference quadrangular at Oak View.
Host USC edged the Panthers for first, 227-233 for nine holes. Maple River had 286 and Blooming Prairie failed to field a full squad.
Bayli Possin shot a 53 to lead NRHEG. Other scores that counted: Jessica Nafe, 58; Tali Wayne, 60; Grace Logan, 62. Ryley Koziolek and Maci Surat also played for the Panthers.
The medalist was Blooming Prairie’s Taylor Christianson with a 41, nine strokes better than the next score.
On Tuesday, April 19, the NRHEG boys competed in a five-team conference meet at Oak View. Team scores: Blooming Prairie 166, USC 174, Maple River 175, Bethlehem Academy, 194, NRHEG 198.