NRHEG School Board

By REED WALLER

Staff Writer

Nathan Jensen and Michelle Mulder brought a website software presentation to the NRHEG school board at its regular meeting Monday, October 21.

They propose switching website portal software to Blackboard from rSchoolToday, the vendor the district is currently using to publish its website.

With the district’s communications and even its educational methods going more to net-based learning, SMART Boards, portable devices such as iPads, and online testing and curriculum management, the district’s technology experts have been looking at the NRHEG website with a critical eye.

Is the current website adequate? The consensus seems to be “no.”

NRCC luncheon, silent auction Saturday

The New Richland Care Center will hold a Luncheon and Silent Auction on Saturday, November 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Care Center Activity/Chapel area. They will be serving Sloppy Joes, Potato Salad, Bars, and beverages/coffee. The cost will be $6. Bidding on the Silent Auction Baskets will begin in October and will end at 1 p.m. November 2. Proceeds will go to the New Richland Care Center Resident Council. 

EAHS to meet Saturday

The last meeting of the year for the Ellendale Area Heritage Society will be held November 2nd (no meeting in Dec.) at 9 a.m. in the Ellendale Community building. We’d be happy to have you come and learn more about what we do and why.  All interested people are welcome.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The Harrington family’s stolen Honda Pilot has been found.

The question is, do they want it back?

The car, stolen from a New Richland residence Oct. 1, was located last week near Madison in West Central Minnesota.

The problem? The guy who stole it was living in it the whole time.

Join University of Minnesota Extension, Querna Farm, and Albert Lea Seed for an informational cover crop field day on Friday, November 1, 2013 from 1 to 3 p.m. just outside of New Richland.

Cover crops are a multifunctional best management practice for Minnesota farmers. Adding them to any farm operation can result in numerous benefits to the soil and even the pocket book. Easiest after early harvested cash crops, but still possible in the corn/soybean system, cover crops have gotten additional notice in 2013 due to the wet spring that prevented some farmers from planting their cash crops.

SECOND STRAIGHT TITLE — NRHEG senior T.J. Schiltz, top left, left competitors in his rear view mirror for the second year in a row at the Gopher/Valley Conference Cross Country Meet at Mankato last week. Below, Schiltz’s little brother, sophomore C.J., gives it his all near the finish line. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva senior T. J. Schiltz captured his second straight Gopher/Valley Conference championship to highlight the Panthers’ performance at the conference meet at Mankato Oct. 15. 

Coach Mike Weber’s Panther boys placed sixth among nine teams, leaving them with an overall mark of 30-59.

The NRHEG girls were ninth among nine teams. The Panthers are 7-44 for the year. 

Boys

Martin County West was an easy winner in the boys’ race. The Mavericks won with 37 points, while host Mankato Loyola was a distant second with 76 points. 

NRHEG rolls in regular-season finale

NON-PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE — The Panthers’ Keith Maxon strips the football from a GFW ball carrier and recovers it during NRHEG’s regular-season finale at Winthrop last Wednesday. The ball carrier was ruled down by the officials, but the Panthers played plenty of tough defense in a 40-0 triumph. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

WINTHROP – Coach Dan Stork’s New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva football team closed its regular season schedule on a high note, crushing Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop in Winthrop last Wednesday, 40-0. 

The victory gave the Panthers second place in the Gopher/Valley AA Conference with a 4-1 record, right behind conference champ Maple River. 

The Panthers, who have won three of their last four games, improved to 5-3 overall. NRHEG has won three of four road games this fall. 

GFW ended up in the conference cellar with a 0-5 mark. The Thunderbirds are winless in eight games this season. 

“I was happy with our effort tonight,” said Stork. “We took care of business against a team we should have beaten.”

WAIT UNTIL BASKETBALL — The Panthers’ Carlie Wagner (3) blocks a spike during NRHEG’s volleyball regular-season finale, a 3-0 loss to USC. The Panthers open playoffs tonight. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

WELLS – Teams like to have some positive momentum heading into tournament time. The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team will have to do it the hard way. 

Coach Onika Peterson’s Panthers ended their regular season with six consecutive losses, dropping the final to United South Central in Wells Oct., 15th, 3-0. 

NRHEG was outscored 75 to 57 in the three-game sweep, losing 25-21, 25-18 and 25-18.

There is something about being involved with a local newspaper. You get to cover a lot of territory. Some things you see or participate in can make you very happy, and some things so sad. 

When things occur that make you and others sad or disappointed, you wish there was something you could do to change it, or at least make it a little better.

I was fortunate enough recently to share in the celebrations of some very happy birthdays, and also shed some tears with families who were grieving. Through the years, I have interviewed a great number of people, and through it all I kept thinking, “What's really important here?” My answer is always, “Family!”

How important is one’s family? Very. The close relationship with one’s family is a blessing more valued than anything one can possess.

So often we take for granted the value we have in being a family. We forget how important family is in our good times and in our not-so-good times. Family is the glue that holds everything and everyone together. We hope and pray that the warm feeling of family is there when we need it most. The sharing of thoughts, words and deeds make those experiences precious to our lives.

In this fast-paced world where activities often overlap or speed along much too fast, we often forfeit our need for "family time." Time spent at the table together, where we not only share our meal but also the communication that goes with it, is so important.

It is exciting to see generations of families together at special events like birthday and anniversary parties. Attending school, church and community events together is important. Events like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Baptisms, Confirmation, and school events like Homecoming, plays, and musical programs, are so much more important when they are spent together with one’s family. The pride and joy of not only parents but siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and community family members is like endorsing a personal check for that child, young adult or older adult’s value. It is a time of “remember when” and realizing the changes made in one’s lifetime.

It is also very important for families to spend time together when they have lost a loved one. Remembering times spent together will help get them through some of the difficult days ahead. 

It was interesting to me that the Arnold Lund family recently took Dad, at age 95, to a Minnesota Twins game. I wonder if he had ever been to one before? What a day they had! What memories they all will have of that special day they allspent together. Arnold loved it and said, "I will never forget this day that I was able to spend with my family."

It is not always easy when parents are independent and think they can take care of themselves. We may have to slip in from time to time, and do things for them which will allow them to live their life to the fullest. It is good to know that God is there to look over them as well. 

 Today, there are more combined families – “yours, mine and ours.” It works to our advantage if one understands. It just means more family to love and there are ways to make it happen in a favorable way.

We should not overlook the fact that “families” are not necessarily biological. Church families come first to mind, people who gather together not only to worship together but to share other activities and acts of kindness. There are people who pass on their convictions through the generations and they are easy to pick out.

The recent First Baptist Church in Clarks Groves' 150th Anniversary celebration brought out the evidence of ancestors who were strong-willed and early investors in the church. It is not so difficult to trace family lines across generations, through marriages and activities in the church.

The older one gets, the more one remembers and cherishes friends from school, neighborhoods, work, play, and events like class reunions and athletic events with these "new families."

 There are “work families” who become close through their jobs. “Sports families” who participate or root for a common cause or team. "Neighborhood families” or “block-party families” - not always as strong as they once were because of the nomadic life we sometimes have to lead, but they are willing to be there in times of need, as well as in times of joy.

 Then there are the families who grow out of the needs of others. I think of all those involved with our cancer and food shelf benefit fund-raisers, as well as events that are held to help others through difficult times. Families that start events,  work events and sometimes benefit from these same types of events, and have drawn closer to each other through the common cause.

 There is an old saying - "We scold the most, those we love the most," and it's true. We sometimes hurt others in our family in ways that we would never hurt a stranger. But beneath it all there is still love, even if we don't always think so.

 Sometimes we don't really appreciate what we already have because we are so focused on what we want, or don't think that we have.

I've learned a lot this past week writing for our local newspaper. I've learned things don't always turn out the way you plan, or the way you think they should have, because people don't always think alike or may mistake your true meaning.

 I've learned there are things that go wrong and don't always get fixed the way we would like, or return as they once were. 

 I've learned that some broken things may always stay broken, but one can get through bad times by continuing to look for better ones.

I've learned that we are all part of God’s family, and with His help to guide us, we will be able to realize the full value of being a part of not only our immediate family but of many other families as well.

 Remember: though other things may change us and the world around us, the fact that remains is: it all begins and ends with FAMILY!

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. 

 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.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Friday, Oct. 25: Mavis Bartsch, Jady Beenken, Dean Van Hal, Charlotte Haberman, Heidi Crabtree Owen, Mikaela Krikava, Spencer & Barb Kubat, Dean & Sandy Jensen, Breanna & Timothy Breidenbach, Heidi & Jason Owen.

• Saturday, Oct. 26: Nadine Strenge, Jannell Tufte, Jeanne Holland, Heather Hove, Reece Gabriel Routh, Jake Andrew Wiersma, Kevin Hamor, Conner Dean Phode.

• Sunday, Oct. 27: Jason Born, David Anderson, Bruce Yanke, James Bremer Jr., Mitchell & Amy Edwards, Donly & Joanne Cromwell.

• Monday, Oct. 28: David Thompson, Jan Sorenson, Lisa Morin, Rick Horan, Randy Horan, Todd Brotizman, Rich Weckwerth, Sue Westrum, Tanner Jorge Wilson, Lyle & Darlyne Paulson, Jane & Jeff Allen, Amanda & Paul Rovnak.

• Tuesday, Oct. 29: Ann Anderson, Scott Klocek, Mark Motl, Bob Haried, Kayli Rose Johnson, Bailey Ann Davis, Warren & Mary Torgerson, Craig & Jennifer Torgerson.

• Wednesday, Oct. 30: Lilly Jane Wacek, Gordon Goette, Angie Broskoff Klemmensen, Allen & Barb Dobberstein.

• Thursday, Oct. 31: Happy Halloween! Kyra Barbara Kotsmith, Brooke Hanson Berg, Heather Wayne, Emily Smith, Bill Klemmensen, Carrie Thompson, Roseann Kasper, Jerry Neitzel, Lorraine Lent, Kaye & Mike Cady, Vonda & Andrew Komba.

• Friday, November 1: Dakota Wangsness, Garrett Wangsness, Troy Hagen, Mike Reistad, Jamie & Sergio Hernandez.

• Saturday, November 2: Gary Dummer, Karen Osmundson, Tracy Farr Simon, Janis Klinger, Troy Sommers, Dan Nord, Sylvia Janet Baker.

Hoping that your special day puts a song in your heart to last the whole year long!

I have often wondered just how much influence man has had on the growing population of some of the wildlife in our area. With the reduction of habitat and hunting land available to hunters, it seems like some critters have adapted pretty well to co-existing with man. Before I went into the service in the mid-60s, I drove milk truck for Conger Creamery and spent most of my time driving country roads, loading and unloading milk cans and talking to farmers. The talk back then was about the packs of wild dogs running amuck in the countryside. Today there is a growing population of coyotes and with more and more land being owned by fewer folks, the availability of hunting land has lessened. It seems like the coyotes have become brave enough to be seen in folks’ yards and even on the edge of small towns.

Last week we were at my wife Jean’s home place in Twin Lakes and she had promised to take our granddaughter Emma to the park just across the creek from the house. They were at the park with sunset approaching when she heard the howling of coyotes close by, so she grabbed Emma and headed for the house. You can usually hear those critters howling on a regular basis around or shortly after sunset. I don’t really believe that they would be a threat to humans, but when critters start to get comfortable being around man they can be pretty brave and, after all, they are still wild animals. I guess I’d hate to hear the “dingo ate my baby” phrase modified to fit the coyote.

My son Brian lives just east of Lunder Church and there are many nights when he can hear coyotes howling not far from his house. On one occasion, the dogs were in their kennels and barking loudly, causing the boys to look out the window where they observed the silhouette of some coyotes on the crest of the hill in their yard not far from the dog kennel. This could be one reason for the decline in the pheasant population and it could also explain why Brian’s cats have all disappeared. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time that I’ve seen a jackrabbit in this area.

In the Bricelyn area a man came out of his house early in the morning to go to work and spotted a cougar sitting in a tree in his yard. He did get a picture of it, which a person would probably need to substantiate a story like that. This is not the first sighting of cougars in that area and it probably won’t be the last. The cat that some of us grew up calling a mountain lion seems to be getting more and more comfortable in our environment.

I have mentioned from time to time the amount of wildlife I have in my backyard. There are the various small birds, the noisy and sometimes annoying crows and of course there are also squirrels, rabbits and an occasional woodchuck has been seen wandering through the yard from time to time. I kind of enjoy watching the squirrels when they are not seen going in or out of my garage and shed or hanging out on the roof of my house.

On my early morning walks I usually end up walking by the access on the channel at Frank Hall Park. Over the years I have spotted a variety of wildlife while on my morning walk. This year alone I have seen the usual pelicans, ducks and geese, but there is also an eagle stopping by from time to time and I have also seen swans and cranes. It doesn’t seem like the turkey vultures have been following me as much as of late so that is a comforting thought in itself. On one of my walks there was a woodchuck with a couple of its young, and that critter just didn’t seem to be all that friendly so I made sure I gave it plenty of space. I know I have quite a few pounds on the critter, but the thought of a crabby rodent gnawing on my ankle didn’t seem too appealing. Last fall as I was walking along Newton Street just a little ways from the old Ramsey School, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye walking in the road parallel to me. At first I thought it was a dog, but I soon realized it was a red fox and it was prancing along as if it were on a mission. It soon crossed the road just ahead of me and disappeared into some heavy brush behind the Front Street apartments. I have to believe this ranks right up there with the time two deer ran in front of me just down the hill from the Community Child Care Center.

For a lover of nature like myself, I find the stories of wildlife inside the city limits and the surrounding area fascinating and almost comforting in a way.

Until next time, with pheasant and duck hunting now open be sure to hunt safe and enjoy the time spent in our great Minnesota outdoors.

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