Seniors say tearful goodbye as NRHEG girls humble Fairmont

HIGH-FLYING CARLIE — NRHEG senior Carlie Wagner (3) leaps to save a ball from going out of bounds during the Panthers’ 77-44 victory over Fairmont in New Richland Monday, Feb. 24. Wagner came out with fire in her eyes, scoring 49 points, and left the court with tears as she and three other NRHEG seniors played their final home game. The undefeated, top-ranked Panthers opened tournament play Thursday with an 87-34 victory over Tri-City United. Next, they'll face Gopher Conference rival WEM Monday at 8 p.m. at MSU-Mankato. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

NEW RICHLAND – New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball coach John Schultz was expecting a tough test for his undefeated Panthers in their regular season finale Feb. 24.

Coming to town was South Central Conference champ Fairmont, sporting a 22-3 record and ranked eighth in the Class AA state rankings.

NRHEG jumped on top at the start and romped to a 77-44 triumph.

The top-ranked Panthers ended their regular season with a perfect 25-0 record. They have won 55 consecutive games the last two seasons. 

NRHEG completed a fourth consecutive season of not losing on its home floor. 

Wrestlers’ season ends at state

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

ST. PAUL – The bad news is none of the three New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva wrestlers that qualified for the Class A State Tournament in St. Paul were able to bring home a medal. 

The good news is that all three of the Panthers will have a chance to do something about it next winter. 

Two of the three NRHEG wrestlers were able to experience a win at state. 

Junior Dillon Kubiatowicz and sophomore Cordell Peterson both won one of three matches at state. 

Kubiatowicz started Friday’s action by edging Wyatt Stevens of Windom 3-2. 

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

No matter when it happens, the end is abrupt for athletic teams. 

The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball season saw a turn-around season ended by Gopher Conference rival Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

The second-seeded Panthers crushed Medford in the opening round.

Plans presented for Trucker’s Inn site

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, February 27. Mayor Swearingen and all council members were present. Clerk LeeAnn Hojberg, Deputy Clerk Kim Zimprich, Josh Otto, Pete Paulson, Eric Hefner, Randy Bradt and Brian DePrez were also in attendance.

DePrez, Store Development Associate with Casey’s General Stores, was called upon by Mayor Swearingen. DePrez introduced himself stating he was in store development for Casey’s in Minnesota, Dakotas and part of Wisconsin. Deprez had copies of a drawing showing where Casey’s would like to erect a new store — the parcel where the former Trucker’s Inn sits just east of Ellendale along Interstate I-35.

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

A benefit is planned for Sunday, March 9 for Shannon Rhoades of Ellendale. 

Recently, Shannon was snowmobiling with a group in the Rushford area when the ski of her snowmobile caught a culvert marker. The snowmobile rapidly changed course and fell into a six-foot ravine. Shannon had to be airlifted to a hospital in LaCrosse where the doctors determined she had a crushed vertebra, as well as two breaks to her pelvis.

Ironically, Shannon lost her father, David Rysavy, as a result of a snowmobile accident in 2010.

Green Eggs and Ham breakfast rescheduled for Monday

NRHEG Elementary will hold its annual Green Eggs and Ham breakfast on Monday, March 10, postponed from Friday, March 7. The breakfast will last from 7 a.m. until 8:15. Please join us in this annual breakfast in support for “Read Across America” that started March 3. 

Pontoppidan to host waffle breakfast

Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in rural Ellendale will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring Dad’s Belgian Waffles Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $7, children 5 and under free. Carry-outs will be available. Pontopppidan is located at 96571 SE 75th St., Ellendale.

With a stack of magazines and great things to read, I don't always have the time or inclination to get them read. It sort of makes me mad that publications will stoop so low that they don't wait for you to subscribe to their bargain rates (I admit, many of them are good), but take it upon themselves to just continue to send a subscription unless you say, "enough yet." I do have some favorites that I have subscribed to for years, but much as I might enjoy others, or like the magazine, enough is enough.

The price of the magazine may be right, and actually often a year’s subscription can be almost as low as one issue on the newsstand, but there are also other uses for one’s money. I will admit, giving a magazine subscription is a good idea for birthdays, Christmas, or whatever because you are giving them something to look forward to every month, plus you don't have to pay the postage to send it.

There are quality magazines that stand behind the products they advertise. And of course, there are some magazines that just seem to advertise. I laugh when I think that the "Woman’s Day" magazine was first published as a "freebie," then went to 2 cents a copy, then 5 cents, and now is sells for whatever. It has a circulation of about 3,800,000 and publishes 17 issues a year.

"Woman’s World" started out as a cheapy too. I do still buy this weekly magazine because, though it doesn't look like a great deal, it really does have a lot of things I enjoy reading. I just growl at the price.

"National Geographic" has been published continuously since its first issue in 1888. When I was in high school we used to wonder why some of the natives in strange countries would do things to their hair and bodies that didn't make sense. Now it seems to be the trend in a supposedly civilized country like America.

Of course who could forget “Sports Illustrated,” if for nothing else their annual "Swimsuit Edition", which this year will mark their 50th anniversary.

Remember the "Grit" magazine, which never carried any negative news? I also remember how much we enjoyed "Ranger Rick" type magazines and the kids still do.

If you go for science, "Discover" magazine advertises it has science for the curious. In particular, the February issue this year has a story about 170,000 mirrors near the California and Nevada border. The mirrors are spread over 3,500 acres of federal land, which generated electricity enough to power 140,000 homes.

I have found some of the free magazines put out by the grocery stores interesting and useful. There are some ideas that I try, but it frustrates me when there are so many things one has to purchase to do the projects but may never use again. For me, simple is best.

It comes to mind that many of the little entertaining tips they suggest for holiday enjoyment could be used for the "cold lunch" prepared for the child who doesn't always want the nutritious "hot lunch" prepared at their school. Making a cold lunch a surprise and exciting with new things that may entice the fussiest becomes hard at times. One caution — often fancy food needs a toothpick to hold it in place, and they can be a hazard.

So what am I talking about that can show the young one that Mom and Dad care and want their children to eat healthy? Sometimes crackers are more fun than bread, but bread can be "cookie cluttered" and made into interesting shapes to meet the occasion. — as can cheese or filling. A nice green lettuce or spinach leaf can be more tasty and adequate to wrap ingredients than bread. Little bites, cut quarter size on a cucumber slice, such as sliced turkey and/or cheese, with a pickle or olive, provides a fancy touch. Skewers on a pick or chop stick can contain all kinds of things including veggies and fruits like grape tomatoes, chucks of pineapple, grapes, strawberries or blueberries. (Once again, one needs to be careful if using a skewer with little ones.)

We also need to be careful with using meats that contain nitrates, but try slices of turkey wrapped around asparagus or super thin carrot, celery or cheese sticks.

Most kids like apples, but a whole one may be a big bite for a little mouth. We are able to find apple slices, that are treated so they don't turn brown, in our grocery stores. A few slices of oranges or kiwi, or the fun of "I can do it myself" peeling of those little "cuties" of oranges that peel so easily, are also good items for the children.

There are washable or throw away containers that can contain that quarter cup of "eatables" like apple sauce, pears, peaches or other fun, healthy things. There are smoothies or yogurt and deviled eggs, too.

Letting the child pack his/her own lunch, with supervision of course, means they get what and how much they think they will eat, which incidentally I found true back when my dad carried a lunch pail and often complained he thought there was too much.

In our desire to not let the kids be hungry, we sometimes forget the actual amount that is truly needed and we should remember what an actual serving size is. That is something we all need to remember; say it often, even if it is just in your mind, portion sizes can and do grow. Eat less, move more.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, March 6th: Valerie Schember, Aaron Reese, Larry Reese, Dawn Dulas, Lynda Maddox Norland, Wade Wacholz, Ryan Schimek, Marlene Peterson, Lillian Weaver, Jami Ann & Travis Marzolf

• Friday, March 7th: Jace John Goslee, his 8th; Marlee Diane Dutton, her 10th; Jake Ortiz, Emily Horan, David Otterson, Chuck Hagen, Lorna Reistad, Kenneth Peterson, Lance Cummins, Peggy Evenson and Rose Myhre

• Saturday, March 8th:  Derek Alan Lee, Janice Olson Paulson, Greg Nelson, Carla Paulsen Haugen, Melissa Trindad, Kathy & Mike Plunkett, Stephanie & Tom Pulley

• Sunday, March 9th: Reese Sharon Glynn, her 7th; Taylor Jensen, Chris Clausen, Peter Dammel, Curtis Langlie, Mark Sawyer, Joel Wacholz, Dean Waltz, Jaclyn Cromwell Olson, Chris Farr, Joleen Thompson

• Monday, March 10th: Julie Stieglbauer Dahl, Sue Misgen, Aaron Callahan, Travis Johnson, Michelle Olson Bedney, Tom Vavra, Heidi Mattson LaFave, Chuck Hanson, Gayle Dummer, Douglas Schmidt, Linda Anderson, DeLynn Johnson Rohrbacher, Hannah Emily Brunsen

• Tuesday, March 11th: Elsie Jacobson, her 2nd; Marian Mast, Carolyn Flesche, Leroy Folie, Kari Thostenson, Jon Carlson, Michelle Meyer, Larry Richards, Tim Simon, Joan Ahlstrom Diderrich, Tanya Swearingen, Tom Arbogast, David Callahan, Dean Lembke, Spener Sebastian Sommers, his 10th; Doug Blouin, Wendell Kuehni, Paul & Shirley Nelson

• Wednesday, March 12th:  David Paulson, Jason Bowman, Terri Engel, Robert Hall, Harla Stanley Malz, Spiering Brody Sundbland, Gary & Barb Paulson, Jack & Virginia Jensen

Wishing you sunny smiles to warm your heart on your special day!

Picture this: a warm evening breeze gently brushes your face as it pushes your bobber along ever so gently atop the ripples in the water. Suddenly, the bobber disappears out of sight while the drag on your reel begins to scream as if begging you to set the hook. Once you set the hook, the fight is on and you know the only thing keeping that fish on the end of your line is the drag on your reel and your ability to keep the rod tip up. Finally, after a long and successful battle, the fish is in the net.

Are you as ready to play out this scenario as I am? Yes, cabin fever has reached epidemic proportions for most of us and it seems as if there is no end in sight. Well, maybe it is time to do something about it. I find that watching any number of fishing shows to pacify you can help, but for me the one thing that seems to ease the pain of the fever is taking inventory of my fishing tackle while all the while visualizing in my mind when and where I will be able to use this certain lure or that jig.

With the weather seemingly mired in the neverending funk of our recent hard winter, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the reality that it is already March and spring, for all practical purposes, is looming on the horizon. The expiration of the 2013 fishing license signifies the official closing of the 2013 fishing season. You can still ice fish for panfish and perch, but you must purchase your 2014 fishing license in order to continue to do so.

As of yet I have not been able to, nor have I, had the desire to take that trip a few miles to the north to replenish my tackle box. That day is, however, fast drawing nearer, but first I must inventory the tackle boxes and sort through the many old chewed on and faded twister tails that I seem reluctant to part with. Each lure in my tackle box can hold a fishing memory but plastic; not so much. The color combinations remind me of times when one certain jig/twister combo has been deadly for a certain species at a certain time, but there really shouldn’t be any sentimental value there Yes, I am kind of a pack rat when it comes to tackle because I really hate to throw anything away; must be my Norwegian upbringing that tells me to waste nothing. I can still hear my mother telling me to “clean your plate, do you know how many starving children there are in China?” I’d guess that there are probably not as many as there was when that phrase was coined. This probably explains why my folks never threw away used nails because, with a little straightening, they could be used again. “Waste not want not” was the motto, so I think I’m on to something there, but unfortunately the old saying about old dogs and new tricks might be applicable in my case. If you want further evidence, I have a small garage cluttered with meaningless junk that is there because I needed one of these 30-years ago and I might need it again someday.

Getting back to cabin fever; I really believe that doing a little daydreaming can do wonders for a person’s mental wellbeing during these cold, windy winter days that we have been mired in. I will often enjoy sitting back in the old easy chair sipping a cup of coffee or hot chocolate with music playing and eyes closed all the while envisioning myself sitting on a lake watching a bobber or casting the shoreline in search of that lunker that is lurking just below the safety of a dead tree branch.

Another good way to get ready for spring is to attend sports shows or a meeting of a sportsmen’s group like the Southern Crossroads 54 Chapter of Muskies Inc. The chapter’s 54 annual nanquet is Wednesday, March 12, at Owatonna Eagles Club. 6 p.m. social hour, 7 p.m. dinner. Fun, door prizes, raffles, silent and live auction, lots of musky talk. Our informative speaker will be Josh Borovsky, a professional guide. He also fishes the PMTT (Professional Musky Tournament Trail). Tickets are $25 per person, kids 12 year and under free, with adult. Tickets in advance (call 507-456-6598) or at the door. Open to all, you need not be a member to attend. Bring a friend; help improve musky fishing in Southern Minnesota.

Until next time, stay warm and do what you can to avoid the dreaded cabin fever.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

I lost my wedding ring.

Oh, no. Do you know where you lost it?

Yes, in the divorce.

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: time disappears while you're trying to find it.

I’ve learned

• A liar’s pants don’t really catch on fire.

• Charlie Brown taught us that grief is good.

• The most effective part of a home remedy is the home.

The news from Hartland

• Watch leeches guard Sushi’s Bait Shop.

• The Bath Ambulance Service reminds everyone, "When seconds count, we’re just minutes away."

• Study finds that real-life violence leads to violence on TV.

Ask Al

• "What can I do to curb greenhouse gases?" Paint your house a different color.

• "How do you decide when to attend a funeral?" I wait until the person is dead.

• "How do crickets make sounds by rubbing their legs together?" They wear corduroy pants.

Up the street, the snow was coming down

Misery loves company. That's why it hangs out with winter.

Victor Hugo wrote, "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."

Bill Thompson of Marietta, Ohio, said that on his visit to Minnesota in February, the snowplows were always headed the wrong direction.

There are more miles than snowplows.

Pete Steiner of Mankato calls this year’s version the "energizer winter." It just keeps going and going and going."

Icealanche

The iced tea was nearly gone. The ice in the glass stuck to it until I tipped it too severely. Then it became an icealanche, creating a small problem on my lap.

We all have problems. I'll bet you’d like to do away with yours, wouldn’t you? It’s easy.

Open a new folder on your computer and name it, "Your problems." Then hit the "delete" key. Your computer will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete 'Your problems' permanently?" Click "Yes" and your problems will be gone.

The five-day forecast

I walked into the biting wind. Tears ran. The wind was against me. On my return walk, the wind was at my back. That was good. It was more fun going home then leaving.

Winter is a Janus season. It has two faces — both frozen. Sunlight leaned through a window. It delighted me, but it did even more. It brought hope. We can take the cold as long as the sun shines, the result of a solar energy spill. I felt good until I listened to the five-day weather forecast. Here it is.

What?

Are you kidding me?

No way!

Why does anyone live here?

Run for your lives!

Off to see the blizzard

I spoke in Hibbing. A woman said she used a gazinta during her childhood. To me, a gazinta is something used by Jethro Bodine on the old TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies" to indicate he was practicing his division. You know, two gazinta six, three times. Gazinta is "goes into." The woman meant something else. To her, a gazinta was a whispering kettle, slop jar, or chamber pot. A portable vessel used in a bedroom as a toilet.

Hibbing was the home of singer Bob Dylan, basketball player Kevin McHale, baseball player Roger Maris, businessman Jeno Palucci, Governor Rudy Perpich, and attorney Vincent Bugliosi.

While driving there, I watched the changing of drivers on an entrance ramp. The couple high-fived as they passed the front of the parked car on their way to new positions.

We celebrate minor victories when winter has been here since fall.

Ground blizzard

I remember when we didn't have ground blizzards. Those were the good old days. A ground blizzard makes for longer drives and caused the postponement of my appearance at the New Richland Public Library on February 26. I’ll be there on April 30 at 7 p.m. I look forward to seeing you.

Customer comments

• Ric McArthur of Morpeth, Ontario, wrote, "I didn't watch the Olympics. I don't support winter."

• John Hurd of North Mankato sent this, "Some people make lemonade when they are given lemons, some people get snow and have snow fun."

Did you know?

• Six percent of users name their cellphones.

• Nimrod, a mighty warrior and hunter, was Noah’s great grandson.

• Research suggests that ascending one step at a time burns more calories than taking multiple stairs at a time.

Nature notes

Bob Hess of Luther, Mich., asked about the color change of goldfinches. Starting in September, for six to eight weeks, American goldfinches molt all their feathers, growing a new set of drab-colored feathers going into winter. In spring, tired of resembling accountants, they grow new body feathers. The male acquires a bright, yellow breeding plumage, but his wing and tail feathers remain from the fall. As these feathers age, their pale buff edges fade, leaving them black.

Meeting adjourned

"Kindness wields a sword of light against the darkness." — Richelle Goodrich

Genie and I usually leave Albert Lea for the Eelpout Festival at Walker, Minn. early a.m. Thursday, the day of opening activities in February.

We were watching TV Wednesday morning when the program was interrupted with flashes of “Blizzard Warning.” The storm was to hit early a.m. Thursday, with no travel, up to a foot of snow, high winds, and be ready to hunker down for Thursday and Friday.

Genie and I looked at each other, and I told her I would call the Palace Hotel in Cass Lake and cancel the room reservation. Genie told me okay to call the Palace Hotel, but see if we could change our arrival to Wednesday. I called and the great VIP, Kortney, at the front desk, said, “You got it.”

We paced in a rush and left Albert Lea at 11 a.m. (The only thing we forgot was Genie’s flute that she likes to play above the lobby at the Palace Hotel as the acoustics are excellent).

The roads were good driving all the way. We couldn’t believe a bad storm was coming. After arriving at dark and checking in, we turned on TV to congratulate ourselves on beating the storm. Everything from Albert Lea to Duluth was cancelling.

We went to the Eelpout Festival Thursday noon. Late afternoon the storm hit Walker with bad driving conditions, so we went back to Cass Lake about 5 p.m. It wasn’t good; we stayed at the hotel all day Friday due to the storm.

Because of the bad weather, attendance at the Eelpout Festival was down. The largest eelpout caught was just under 12 lbs. About 10,000 attended.

I know all of you have heard of “Employee Recognition.” The Palace Hotel now has “Guest Recognition” with Brad at the front desk one of the leaders of the program. We could tell the program is a success, as many of the employees recognized us with a smile and a handshake while welcoming us, and even a hug. We thank them.

Do you know who the best casino host in Minnesota is? Becky at the Palace is, as she managed to get us tickets to the awesome Phil Vassar Show at Northern Lights in Walker.

We attended Sunday church at Trinity Lutheran Church on Highway 2 just west of Cass Lake. In getting there early, we noticed most of the attendees did the Minnesota Stomp (where you stomp your feet at least three times to get rid of the snow when entering a building). Do you suppose NRHEG Wrestling Coach Mr. Larson learned the Stomp at Trinity?

On Cass Lake along Highway 2 is a Lions sponsored car. “Guess When Car Will Sink” is in big letters on a sign beside the car. I bought a ticket and put down Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. So far, I’ve got the latest guess.

In coming home on Monday, February 24, we saw the huge drifts along Interstate 35 between Owatonna and Ellendale. Wow!

———

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.