Jim Lutgens
Spikers fall in tourney opener
The NRHEG volleyball team lost in the opening round of postseason play, falling 3-0 to Tri-City United last Thursday.
The home team won 25-20, 25-16, 25-13.
Panther statistics: Maddie Wagner 8 kills, 11 digs; Marnie Wagner 9 kills, 11 digs; Ryann. Hagen 6 kills, 3 digs, 3 ace blocks; Alyssa Esplan 12 digs; Anna Lundberg 20 assists, 4 digs; Rachel Collins 14 assists, 5 digs.
The Panthers end the season with a record of 9-16. They will graduate seniors Hagen, Esplan, Anna Stork, Sam Pettey, Cassidy Sletten and Remi Wayne.
CC teams end season at section
The NRHEG cross country team finished the 2014 season at the Section 2A meet at Blue Earth Thursday, Oct. 23.
The boys finished in a tie for 19th place with Medford, totaling 509 points. Martin County West won with 40 and Waseca was second at 51.
Things went about as expected for the boys, led by Tyler Schlaak in 66th place in 19:03.7. Following for NRHEG: Zach Mely, 92nd, 19:42.4; Josh Fleming, 109th, 20:16.1; Brenden McMann, 120th, 20:38.1; Ben Lewer, 122nd, 20:47.2; Aaron Seath, 137th, 23:42.
Candidates express viewpoints
NRHEG School Board; Ellendale Council, Mayor
With the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 4, candidates for NRHEG School Board, New Richland City Council, Ellendale City Council and Ellendale Mayor were given questionnaires by the NRHEG Star Eagle. NR City Council candidates were included in the Oct. 16 Star Eagle. School board candidates were in the Oct. 23 Star Eagle, though Karen Flatness’s responses were inadvertently omitted. Following are Flatness’s answers and those running for Ellendale public office:
NRHEG School Board
Name: Karen Flatness
Age: 35
Family: Husband Brandon, children Cale Zander, Nora Tucker and stepson Gage
How long have you lived in the area? All my life
Meet the Waseca SWCD Board candidates
This year, the Waseca Soil & Water Conservation District has three Supervisor positions up for election. SWCD candidates appear on the ballot for the general election which will take place November 4, 2014. Candidates are elected county wide, but must reside in one of the nomination districts up for election. The nominating districts and candidates running for election this year include:
• District 3 - Jessie Shaffer, representing Byron, New Richland and Otisco townships
• District 4 - Scott Hildebrandt, representing St. Mary and Woodville townships
• District 2 - Open, representing Freedom, Vivian and Wilton townships.
Todd Stencel is an approved write in candidate for the District 2 position.
Luella E. Fischer, 90
Luella E. Fischer, 90, of Owatonna, died Monday, October 27, 2014 at the Owatonna Hospital.
She was born March 1, 1924 in Lemond Township, Minnesota the daughter of William and Wanda (Willert) Krenke. Luella was united in marriage to Reuben Fischer on October 4, 1944 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Meriden.
Karen R. Widboom, 62
Funeral Services for Karen R. Widboom, of New Richland, will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. The Reverend Paul Andree will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, and one hour before services at the church. Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland is assisting the family with arrangements.
Karen Ruth Schmuck was born to her parents, Kenneth and Alice Schmuck on September 10, 1952 in Luverne, Minnesota. She grew up on their family farm just north of Luverne. Church and school activities with friends filled her life. She attended and graduated from the Luverne Public School system.
News Briefs/Notices
Veteran photos sought
In observance of Veterans Day November 11, 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, November 7. For questions or more information, please 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..
School board candidate forum October 30
The public is invited to a meet-the-candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 30 in the NRHEG High School Media Center. Candidates for the NRHEG School Board will be there.
NRHEG voted state’s top cheer squad
NRHEG High School cheerleaders. Front from left: Corrie Powell, Nicole Wallin. Row two: Anna Bailey, Taytum Ihrke, Maurya Johnson, Jessica Nafe, Brianna Podratz-Waters. Row three: Lizzy Hagen, Mikayla Besser, Grace Olson, Nicole Edon, Abby Christopherson. Back: Bailey Possin, Tali Wayne, Abby Wacholz, Cece Torp, Taylor Tieskotter, Bailey Burg, Torrie Stencel. (Star Eagle photo by Tracie Rosacker)
The NRHEG High School cheer team was named best in the state by WCCO TV last week.
Acccording to the WCCO report:
“The football field at NRHEG High School in New Richland, surrounded by a sea of corn, is home to the best cheer team in Minnesota.
The NRHEG Cheer Team’s 20 members practice up to five days a week, sometimes twice per day.
Clay target team still atop conference
The team from Hermantown posted five of the top 10 scores in the conference for week four, but still could not make any ground on the NRHEG High School clay target squad.
Led by top conference shooter Frank Altrichter, NRHEG was able to put a little more distance between these two teams and put themselves in a solid lead going into the last week of competition.
NRHEG spikers drop 2 to end regular season
Panthers open section tourney at TCU
It hasn’t been an easy fall season for coach Onika Peterson and the NRHEG volleyball team, and the struggle continued last week.
The Panthers hosted a pair of matches to finish the regular season and lost 3-0 to Kenyon-Wanamingo on Monday and 3-1 to United South Central on Tuesday.
The Panthers fell to 1-7 in the Gopher Conference, 9-16 overall.
“We have been competing the last couple games,” said Peterson. “We just haven’t been able to pull out the win.”