The NRHEG High School cross country teams ran at the Waseca Invitational Thursday, Oct. 2.

The boys finished eighth among nine squads while the girls were last out of six schools.

Tyler Schlaak continued to lead the boys, taking 37th in 19:21, but Josh Fleming was right on his heels in 39th with a time of 19:29. Following for NRHEG: Zach Mely, 43rd, 19:43; Brenden McMann, 51st, 20:39; Ben Lewer, 54th, 20:50.

Faribault won the boys’ meet with 36 points, followed by Waseca with 45 and Jordan 47. The Panthers had 224 points, defeating Medford.

It was Homecoming week at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, and that was bad news for the NRHEG volleyball team, which lost 3-0 to their fired-up arch-rivals at Waterville Thursday, Oct. 2. The Panthers hung in there in the first game, falling 25-21, but were blown out in games two and three, 25-9 and 25-6.

For the Panthers: Anna Stork 4 kills; Marnie Wagner 3 kills, 7 digs; Maddie Wagner 2 kills, 9 digs; Anna Lundberg 7 assists, 2; Hailey Schuller 4 assists, 4 digs; Alyssa Esplan 12 digs.

Coach Onika Peterson’s Panthers, winners of six of their last eight matches, played Blooming Prairie Tuesday. They travel to Faribault to face state powerhouse Bethlehem Academy Thursday, Oct. 9.

By JESSICA NAFE

NRHEG FFA Reporter

There is a new crop in the area this year.

Some members of the NRHEG FFA have been growing pink colored pumpkins this season.

The idea came about from an article in the FFA New Horizons magazine titled “Pumpkins for a Cure.”  America’s pumpkin growers created The Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation in 2012 to be able to award grants to aid breast cancer research. The article was written about a member of the Holcomb, Kansas FFA chapter who set up a plan for groups like FFA and 4-H to obtain seeds and plant the pumpkins. The groups would then sell the pumpkins and donate 50 percent of the proceeds back to the foundation. There are now about 40 states that have FFA and 4-H chapters involved.

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Staff Writer

Phone scams have been around for a long time, and most people these days know that if someone calls offering something that sounds too good to be true, it is. Infamous lines like, “You’ve been specially selected (for this offer),” or offers to lower your debt, mortgage, etc., should be an instant red flag. But with the leaps and bounds technology has taken over the last decade, scammers have gotten more creative, causing more people to fall for these tricks.

One new scam that has affected seniors in our community involves caller ID spoofing technology, which allows scammers to impersonate the phone numbers of local business, neighbors, or even your own phone number.

On September 30, 2014, a criminal complaint was filed in Waseca County District Court charging Bobby Ray Roth Jr., 32, with one count each of 2nd Degree Assault, Terroristic Threats, and two counts of Domestic Assault from an incident alleged to have occurred on the evening of September 28 at an address on N. Broadway Ave.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

An often overlooked entity in New Richland — the Economic and Development Authority — is reaching out to the public for help.

The EDA is trying to obtain funding for an additional eight-unit town house project and needs $128,000 in pledges by Oct. 31. Of that amount, $83,000 has aready been pledged, $30,000 by the State Bank of New Richland.

The plan, according to NR City Clerk Wayne Billing, is to apply for a Small Cities Development grant from the State of Minnesota, and the pledges should greatly enhance the city’s chances of receiving a grant.

Designed to honor the families of active and veteran members of the military, the Minnesota Military Family Tribute (MFT) will be the first of its kind in the nation. Poised on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol Mall, the Tribute will thank those that have made, and continue to make, sacrifices here at home.

Framing the south end of the Minnesota State Capitol Mall, the Tribute will consist of three main components: the Gold Star Table, the Thank You Military and Veteran Family Walkway and Story Stones.  You can visit the MFT website at www.militaryfamilytribute.org for complete details and artist’s renderings.

It’s nice to get feedback, so I was thrilled to have a reader write back to tell me what I didn't know about sandlot baseball. Here’s what I learned:

Like the Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, the rules were made up as you went along. 

There was usually no catcher - the batter retrieved the ball and threw it back to the pitcher. To eliminate squabbling, there were no called strikes - just “swing and a miss.” With only two on a side, if one batter hit a single, the other batter didn't drive him home, they simply switched runners on the bases so the first hitter could hit again. On defense, the pitcher played the infield, and there was only one outfielder. Home runs were adjudicated by artificial boundaries - sometimes set by stones, a jacket, or a lunch sack. The “10-run rule" applied: if one team got ahead by 10 runs, that was the end of the game. If time allowed, a doubleheader was played – but the star of the winning team had to switch sides to even out the obvious imbalance of talent.

Choosing sides or "first up" was done by the time-honored practice of throwing a bat up in the air, and the other side catching it. The non-catcher side then took a grip directly above the first - then the other side took a grip - alternating until they came to the end. Invariably, only a short section if bat was left, called "chicken claws,” the player that claimed control of the bat usually had to grasp the knob end from above - hence the name. Did he have control of the bat? The opposing team had one chance to kick the bat out of his hands - if they succeeded, they had the next pick, or "first up.”

A lot can be learned from sandlot baseball: organization of your own activity (as against having it provided for you), division of authority and labor, rules that fit the situation instead of theory, "dispute settlement," and a chance for everyone to be a star. To be sure, it isn't like today, when there are no winners, or losers, nobody even keeps score, and everyone gets the trophy.

Have you ever wondered, "Where have all the kids gone?" It used to be that small towns were crawling with kids - playing sports, “just palling around” – doing something. Usually activities of their own creation, not something invented for them by adults. There was no Little League - no coaches - not even parents to impress or disappoint - just kids having fun with each other and setting their own rules. They didn't know the term at the time, but they were learning good life lessons (and often making friends for life). They were "interacting.” 

Compare those hot and sweaty kids to those of today, who only experience life vicariously – through pre-arranged sports, non-active games, or "friends" through the Internet - "friends" they may never have met. 

Look around. Even though our small towns have increased in population, you don't see kids on the streets.

In the fall, it was football. Like baseball, there could be as few as two guys on a "team." Since you had to play both offense and defense, there was a minimum of a quarterback/linebacker, and a lineman/wide receiver on each side. The ball was snapped to the quarterback, who either ran with it or passed it to the other guy. On defense, one or both defensemen would rush - or one would rush the passer while the other one covered the receiver.

Fall is also a time for hunting. Kids hunted together, or by themselves, but a special treat was to be allowed to go hunting with Dad and his friends.

In the winter, sledding was the sport. Very few people skied. (Maybe it had something to do with the leather bindings and the home-made skis.) Kids trudged together out to the sliding hill, the little kids terrified of the long, steep drop. There were no goose-down or fiberfill jackets in those days; just a stocking cap, mittens, a wool jacket, and four-buckle overshoes. Blue jeans got wet - frozen stiff, and they were cold - but the "long-Johns" saved the day. If the snow was thin, or packed, the Flexible Flyer was the sled of choice. If the snow was loose, the wooden toboggan was best. Plastic sleds and "saucers?" They didn't come along until years later.

It was a long slog out to the hill, then to climb to the top but the exhilarating 20-second ride down the hill was worth it! Not to mention the bragging rights for having the daring to do so! 

Once in a while, adults (anyone over 20) could go sledding, but it was almost always just a kid thing. There was no worry about collisions, hitting the barbed wire fence at the end, falling off the sled at breakneck speed, or broken tailbones from sitting on the half inch of toboggan between you and the ground. How often do you see kids sledding on their own today? 

Springtime meant kids and water: Digging a ditch to drain puddles – or damming up a puddle to make it ever bigger to splash in. Fishing in a "stream" that nobody has ever seen a fish in. Throwing sticks ("boats") in the pond. Seeing who could make the biggest splash the furthest from shore with a stone. Getting the bikes out (though they were often ridden all winter through the snow).

You may have seen government Public Service announcements about “getting kids to move - to play.” We don’t need government initiatives. We just need to let kids be kids. 

Take away the electronic games and tell them to go outside and play. Yes, they’ll get bumps, bruises, and scrapes, but they’ll also learn to interact with people, to organize activities on their own, to interact with people face-to-face instead of electronically, to develop friendships - and yes, to know the consequences of acting imprudently. It’s part of child development, and years later, they’ll have stories to tell - and friends to relate those stories to – “Remember that time we...” It is far better than the sad recollection “I was playing a video game, and I got to level two!” Get kids outside!

Kids see life differently than adults. Small kids often play with boxes instead of the gift. Cardboard boxes can be transformed into all kinds of vehicles. Blankets on clotheslines become tents and forts. Any game can have the rules changed to fit the situation. Only kids could see the fun of throwing a ball over the house, being "it,” or racing each other to exhaustion - no adult supervision required. All you need is a "best friend" to do it with - and if you could come up with the one for a bottle of pop to share, it was even better. Ever get the idea that kids might be overly "sanitized" and protected? Adults might not like both kids drinking out of the same bottle, but as every kid knows, "Friends don't have cooties!” 

Sometimes, I think we do too much for our kids - for most of us, our mothers would say, "Go play outside - come home when it gets dark. I’ll turn the porch light on." We always found something to amuse ourselves.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me.

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, October 9: Matt Kubiatowicz, Joshua Kasper, Cheryl Paulsen Wilson, Randy Mucha, Nancy Jo Anderson, Ashley Hove, Keith Neidermeier, Dennis Blouin

• Friday, October 10: Pat Goodnature, Trevin Stollard, Aarin Gray Pirsig, his 2nd; Eric Anderson, Nicole Anderson Loken, Luverne Hamor, Haley Hanson, LeRoy Ingvaldson, Nicole Lonning, Betty DeRaad, Elena Grace Spande

• Saturday, October 11: Alisha Moody, Reed Michael Kath, Mitchell Edwards, Ebonie Mullenmaster, Earl Klinger, Mayro Leak Kubista, Melissa Otto, Jenna Swearingen, Mike Trumble, Cory McGrath, Shawna Besco, John Cyr, Alisha Moody, Lee and Jody Loverink

• Sunday, October 12: Katilyn Olivia Crabtree, Les Shawback Jr., Christopher Wallace, Beth Spande, Marilyn Dobberstein, Terrie Mullenmaster, Maurice Mullenmaster, Vikki Pence, Roxann Ditlevson, Lewis Kelly, Denise Jensen Bronner, Charlie and Becky Phagan, Larry and Terry Jensen, Vera and Todd Fitterer

• Monday, October 13: Hunter Stephen Knutson, his 9th; Journey Lynn Utpadel, Courtney Ann Deml, Otto Nels Oquist, Mitchell Wallace, Jackie Flor, Rita Thompson, Suzanne Peterson, Becky Wallace, Mikkel and Jennifer Iverson

• Tuesday, October 14: Jim Lutgens, Reece Alexander, Chris Ritz, Janet Goette, Dan Hanson, Breanna and Tim Briedenbach, Delana and Daniel Routh

• Wednesday, October 15: Barb Kuckebecker, Madison Lynn Homuth, Corbin Brocker, Colin Matthew Felt Farr, Tony Anderson, Sandy Jensen, Ed Ver Hey, Leroy and Garnet Folie, Heidi and Tim Schaefer

May every day in the year ahead bring you something to enjoy!

From the reports that I have been hearing from duck hunters in our area of the state, hunting has been very good. Judging by the number of vehicles at the access on Pickerel Lake this past Saturday morning there were a lot of hunters on the lake. My grandson Trevor and his party did quite well on Saturday and both he and his brother Taylor hunted on Sunday with good success.

We are fortunate to live in an area that has many lakes and wetlands that provide plenty of habitat for waterfowl. There are also many Wildlife Management Areas in the county that give sportsmen access to hunting land not only for waterfowl, but for deer, pheasant and small game hunters alike.

In our quest to hunt ducks and pheasants we shouldn’t overlook the value of small game such as squirrels and rabbits, especially when it comes to our youth. Looking back to my youth I can remember many times when I’d head out into the slough north of town armed only with my trusty Red Ryder BB gun and a vivid imagination. I knew that I wasn’t about to take down any critters larger than a sparrow, but it sure was fun to pretend.

As I grew older I was asked if I’d like to tag along with my two uncles, Harvey and Orville, along with cousins Tom and Bob to do a little pheasant hunting. Uncle Orv said he had an old .410 double barrel shotgun that he could let me use. This one particular instance was in November and we walked the corn field that stood next to where the disc golf course in Bancroft Bay Park is today. I believe my cousin Tom and his dad, Harvey, got a couple of pheasants that day and although I didn’t get a shot off I can still remember how much fun I’d had and how proud I was that they had asked me along. There were other times when we hunted for squirrel and rabbit in that same woods where the disc golf course is now.

These were fun times that not only had a great influence on a young aspiring outdoorsman, but  left many lasting memories that still bring a smile to my face whenever I think about it.

With the continuing loss of CPR land due to land owners choosing not to renew contracts and/or choosing to tile wetlands and plow under grasslands, the following news release from the DNR is a welcome breath of fresh air.

DNR acquires new forest lands for wildlife habitat and public use

Hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildlife populations now have 304 more acres of state forest land available in the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, in three southeastern Minnesota counties. 

Acquiring these lands is a part of a plan by the DNR’s Forestry Division to consolidate the fragmented hardwood forest in southeastern Minnesota. The long-term goal is to acquire 4,700 acres in the area to protect rare forests. A newly acquired 64-acre addition to the Richard J. Dorer Hardwood State Forest near Winona is a great example.

George and Margaret Sainsbury homesteaded the property in 1876 and raised 14 children on the site. Their descendants sold the family homestead along with a public access to the DNR this June.  “This property has many outstanding natural features,” said DNR Forester Jim Edgar. “It includes mature hardwood forest, old field tree plantings, and a grand view of the Mississippi River from its hilltop bluff.  Also located here are an old stone retaining wall and a long-unused bluff top quarry. The quarry was used many years ago to provide materials for the construction of nearby roads and river improvements.”

The purchase of the 304 acres over the past two years was made possible with funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, one of four funds created by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, which was approved by voters in 2008.  The total cost was $1.2 million.

State forests: All state forests are open to public hunting and trapping, as well as other uses such as hiking, wildlife watching, and cross country skiing. State forests not only provide wood resources for Minnesota, they are also critical to providing food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife species. Of the 3.1 million acres of state forest land in the state, only 49,000 acres are in southeastern Minnesota.

State forest locations: Those looking to find existing public hunting, fishing, and trail access can use the DNR Recreation Compass feature online.

Recreation Compass maps of the newly purchased state forest lands will be available after managers complete posting and developing the lands over the next several months.

The leaves in the northern part of the state are at full peak or past but you can still take a drive down a local country road and enjoy the view as the colors are definitely beautiful in our area of the state.

Please take a little time to remember those who served, those who are serving now and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today. 

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

Everything I eat tastes like potato chips. 

What have you been eating? 

Potato chips.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: we are geting older when we remind ourselves of old people we used to know.

The news from Hartland 

Global warming leaves some cold. 

Barry the Undertaker says his mortuary business is going under. 

Rita Book's new book, "Life is Simple," is 1344 pages of small print.

A toast to the toaster

I watched the burned toast rise like a phoenix from the ashes. My wife likes her toast to be more deeply tanned than I like mine. The settings are changed by both of us. I recalled an Illinois couple that I’d talked to. They each had their own toaster, their method of preserving preferred settings.

We like things the way we like things. A local bank had acquired new ownership. A friend seemed concerned about that. I asked him why. He told me that he was worried that they might change the kind of candy that was given to customers.

This written on a napkin from Vivian’s Cafe, a place that exists only in memories

We raised peacocks. One of the beautiful males flew up into a tall tree. I tried to call it down so that I could put it into the henhouse. It refused to fly down. It never did. I figured it had fallen prey to a great horned owl.

My car broke down again. I pushed it. I repeated this as often as necessary. I was Sisyphus taking a drive. I didn’t know that I was rehearsing for the future. I hitchhiked to town. The car that picked me up was in worse shape than mine. It was so bad, I put my hand out the window with my thumb up, hoping to catch a better ride. The driver told me that we’d share expenses. He’d pay for the gas and I’d pay for the oil. I’m glad he was joking as I couldn’t have paid for that much oil.

I went to Einar’s Hardware to buy some cookware for a gift. They were temporarily out of that sort of thing. I guess I’d caught them with their pans down.

I moved a few lima beans around on my plate. The neighbor was an excellent cook. She pickled cucumbers, beets etc. She liked everything pickled except her husband. She liked lima beans. So did my father. He called them butter beans. No matter what they called them, they tasted like lima beans to me.

Customer comments

Betty Gertner of Altoona, Wisconsin recounted the time her father built an outhouse behind their cabin when Betty was a little girl. Her mother bought a 5-pound ham and that was used as the template for the outhouse holes.

Ferd Stadtlander of Rockford and Tom Benson of Hartland both told me of the characters who once resided in their towns. They lamented the absence of those people by asking, "Where are the characters of today?" It was here that they each paused before adding in realization,"I guess I’m one of those characters of today."

Hope Ann Mckinzie of Waseca said that her daughter had put a sofa near the curb with a "Free" sign on it near her home in Roseville. The couch went nowhere. She replaced the free sign with one reading, "For sale. $10." The sofa was quickly stolen.

Talking with the Holstein

The Holstein is a retired dairy cow, so she has the time to talk. I asked her why most diets fail. 

The Holstein chewed her cud thoughtfully before saying, "Eating is easier than exercising."

Nature notes

"Something killed several of my chickens, but ate only the heads. What was it?" A likely culprit would be the great horned owl. It often eats only the head and neck. Feathers found on a fencepost near the chickens provide a clue. Dead chickens show signs of attack on the sides of the head if a mink or weasel had been the perpetrator. These predators often kill several birds and pile them. The back of the head and neck are frequently the only parts consumed. A mink or weasel frequently leaves a musky, skunk-like odor. If a predator eats the head and the breast meat of the dead birds, a raccoon is probably responsible. A skunk prefers to eat the soft insides, sometimes removing the head to drink blood. The opossum generally attacks one bird per visit. Usually, it eats the chicken’s abdomen.

Meeting adjourned

Be kinder.