The scurs forecasts are becoming repetitive, aren’t they? Rain, clouds, cool, and not much else. Will we ever see summer or are we stuck on early May? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60s and lows near 50. Mostly cloudy Thursday with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 50s. Partly cloudy on Friday with a slight chance of an evening shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the low 50s. Saturday, partly cloudy with a modest chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Mostly cloudy on Sunday with a good chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs near 70 and lows in the upper 50s. Monday, partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Mostly sunny Tuesday with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s. The normal high for June 7th is 77 and the normal low is 55. We will experience 15 hours and 22 minutes of daylight on the 7th, gaining only 6 more minutes by the summer solstice. The scurs are saving lots on suntan lotion so far this summer.

It continues to be a spring that defies the odds. First, it breaks rainfall records for the area for the three-month period of March. April and May, then decides to remain cold and cloudy so that fields are having a difficult time drying out. This has translated into large holes in some corn fields where corn simply never germinated and hence did not emerge. Most of this occurrence can be traced to drainage. Yes but we have lots of tile, remember? Yes, but tile systems are only designed to handle so much and over 18” of precipitation in the last three months has overwhelmed them. If you don’t think so, there are plenty of people who were stuck and would likely argue with you. Corn planting, except for some attempting to fill in some of the aforementioned holes, has largely come to a halt.  Soybean planting finally began in earnest although fields remain in marginal condition in terms of fitness.

The ewes and lambs were finally weaned off this past week and lots of bellering was in store overnight. This primarily because the ewes going to the kindly neighbor’s were on the trailer waiting until morning. Oddly enough, the ewes settled down pretty fast this time around, apparently realizing that the lush pasture grass was a lot better cuisine than what they’d been getting in dry lot. The lambs enjoyed having extra bunk space and not having to compete with their own mothers for feed. The fencer at the kindly neighbor’s wanted to be a little persnickety after working initially a few weeks back when the fence had been redone. Mowing under it and redoing the grounds didn’t seem to help as the light would only flash intermittently even though the spark was evident when doing the screwdriver test. Eventually I gave up as the time to mow the lawn was diminishing. The next day when I came back to check on the fence and ewes, the fencer was working normally again. Go figure.

The bugs were equally responsible for my early departure. Between the mosquitoes and blackflies, they had annoyed me long enough. The worst part is the mosquitoes will likely be with us for a while. All the ponded water and continual wet conditions has played right into their hands, er, beaks. Another way that droughts have an advantage over wet seasons. 

The June bugs have also been banging off the window screens and around the garage lights. Coming from white grubs, the adult insects are merely a nuisance while the larvae damage root systems on lawns providing an open invitation for moles to come looking for them.

The bird migration is largely complete although a couple catbirds arrived just the other day. They’ve made themselves right at home, using the jelly feeder whenever the orioles aren’t. A group of cedar waxwings has been hanging around too, appearing to eat the petals off the apple trees. Hadn’t seen that one before. It appears the indigo buntings may have taken up residence here. There could be a nest in one of the arborvitae near the garden area. I say area as there still is no garden planted due to the wet conditions. That’s O.K. If the buntings don’t mind it may stay that way for a while yet. They’ve been helping themselves to the oriole nectar feeder anyway, pecking at the openings for long periods of time.

The berry bushes planted for the birds have burst into bloom. Nannyberries, American cranberry, chokeberries and red osier dogwood are all lending their fragrance to the fresh morning air. If the floral outburst is any indication, there should be plenty of food for weary autumn travelers or overwintering guests of the feathered variety.  Of course when mowing the lawn, it’s something to look forward to.

On my last trip home I made a visit to the attic to see if I could locate some of the treasures reputedly hidden there. I did finally locate some boxes that were clearly labeled with my name on them so it was like opening King Tut’s tomb or at least taking a journey through the past. I found old 4-H records complete with pictures of lambs as well as some of the field of corn shocks we’d made one fall. There were souvenirs from both trips to Venezuela and college applications. Probably the most interesting thing I ran across in my brief search was a 1959 Motor Trend magazine that came from my cousin Phil once upon a time. In it they detailed several of the new cars for that model year including the 1959 Studebaker Lark. It claimed the six cylinder would cruise right along at 70 mph. Funny, I don’t remember pedaling the 1960 Lark VI that fast. That and it steered hard. Sometimes it even took two of us to drive it.

See you next week…real good then.

The first time I met Paul T. Cyr was not at my job interview. The job opening was initially just for high school, so it was only Mr. Lorenz and Mr. Obermiller, superintendent and principal at the time, respectively. However, when I was hired, I was given teaching assignments in both the high school and the middle school.

I came over to Ellendale one day after I had received my contract in order to pick up some textbooks and begin planning my curriculum. Mr. Cyr met me there and was a whirlwind of activity. I hardly knew what to think of this man that would go on to be my boss for the next 17 years.

Of course, Mr. Cyr has been in the NRHEG school district much longer than I have, and the footprint he is leaving behind as he retires is much larger than his stature might indicate.

Here is one of the best tributes I can give to Mr. Cyr: You always know where you stand with him. There is no chicanery or subterfuge in how he deals with people. If he’s upset with you, it will be apparent quickly. If you’ve done something that pleases him, he will recognize it. Many people have been on both ends of this spectrum, especially his wrestlers.

I’ve often heard what a great math teacher Mr. Cyr was before getting his administrative degree. I know he missed the classroom, because when he had the chance to teach a class again a number of years back, he was like a kid in a candy store. Even without that class, you could often find him in a study hall helping kids with their math work.

Mr. Cyr could be a polarizing figure, of course. There are plenty of people who do not like his bluntness, perhaps because the truth hurts, or perhaps because they were not prepared for a principal who would tell it the way he saw it. Any number of “puffed-up toads,” “savages,” and “bawl-face liars” have trod the corridors of our school in my time here.

How did Mr. Cyr help me most as a teacher? By staying out of my way. I don’t always do things in a traditional teaching style, but he has rarely stepped in and said that I couldn’t do something, even if he fit that said traditional style. Early in my career, he would give advice on a few things, and then just got out of my way. This really helped me flourish in the classroom, not having to worry about someone always looking over my shoulder.

Maybe we need more Mr. Cyrs in this world. Maybe we need more people to tell it the way they see it and to avoid the kumbaya attitude that seems to encompass our society. We don’t need to hold hands, sway, and sing together so we all feel good about ourselves; sometimes we just need a rude awakening.

When we were just the middle school in Ellendale, Mr. Cyr always knew what was happening in each class. You would see him in the halls between most classes, and he knew every kid by name and probably knew something about each one. Since we’ve merged to a 6-12 building in New Richland, that has become more difficult, and I know the monumental tasks have worn on him as he nears the home stretch of his career.

What will Mr. Cyr do in retirement? I’m not sure even he knows. He’ll probably spend more time in Oklee with his parents. I know he’ll get more hunting done. But I’d be surprised to see him completely disappear from life in our school district. He’s become such a part of the fabric here that to lose him in every way would be difficult. Best of luck with your retirement, Mr. Cyr; may it bring you all the happiness you desire!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is Mr. Cyr’s favorite word, plethora, which means a great amount, as in, “After a plethora of years in education, Paul Cyr was able to retire.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

Luverne W. Radke, age 92 of Elysian, died on Monday, June 3, 2013 at the Waterville Good Samaritan Center.

Born on July 12, 1920 in Waseca County, Minnesota he was the son of Otto and Carrie (Stiernagle) Radke. He attended school in rural Waseca County. Luverne married Ruth Kluender on June 30, 1943. Together they lived and farmed in Vivian Township, Waseca County before retiring in 1985. He enjoyed farming with his horses and fishing, especially ice fishing. In his retirement, he took great pride in mowing his and others yards. Luverne took great pleasure in spending time with his family.

Schiltz cruises to state; Wagner wonders if she’ll compete

CAREER DAY — The Panthers’ T.J. Schiltz is right on the heels of Waseca’s Shane Streich in the 1600 during Saturday’s Section 2A track and field meet at Mankato West High School. Schiltz advanced to state for the first time in the 1600 and the second time in the 3200. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

It’s a contrast of stories for NRHEG’s 2013 state track and field qualifiers.

One has high hopes of a first state medal.

The other, a defending state champion, has questions of whether she can even compete.

Juniors T.J. Schiltz and Carlie Wagner advanced from last Saturday’s Section 2A meet at Mankato West, though both have differing aspirations for the state meet Friday and Saturday, June 7-8, at Hamline University in St. Paul.

Schiltz advanced in two events, winning the section title in the 3200 meters with a school-record time of 9:55.45. He was right on the heels of Waseca’s Shane Streich in the 1600, finishing second with an excellent time of 4:26.25.’

NRHEG graduates five seniors

LONE RUN — Dillon Parpart scores the lone run of the game for the NRHEG baseball team in an opening-round 7-1 sub-section tournament loss at St. Peter. The Panthers finished with a record of 6-10. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The highlights for the NRHEG baseball team came in the second inning.

It wasn’t enough to extend their season.

The Panthers managed only one run on four hits off St. Peter’s Tom Steidler as they ended their 2013 season with a 7-1 opening-round sub-section loss at St. Peter May 25.

A key, according to Panthers coach Jeff Reese, was three Panther errors that basically gave St. Peter three runs.

Even so, the bats were not hot enough. The Panthers struck out eight times and did not draw a walk.

Remembering Helen Dulas……

Funeral Services for Veronica “Helen” Dulas of New Richland, MN will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2013 at Church of All Saints in New Richland.  Father Donald Schmitz will officiate. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Richland.  Visitation will be from noon until the time of the service at the church. A short prayer service will be offered by the family at 1 p.m. Friedrich Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Helen died  peacefully at Golden Living West in Rochester, MN on May 27, 2013. She was 86.

She was born August 17, 1926, at the Waseca Memorial Hospital in Waseca. She graduated from Freeborn High School. She married Ambrose Dulas on June 24, 1957, in New Richland.

NRHEG School Board

By REED WALLER

Staff Writer

Budget

The NRHEG School Board approved the revised budget for 2012-13 at their May meeting on Monday, May 20, noting that it came to within $10,000 of the proposed budget approved last summer.

2012-2013    Revenues Expend.

General $8,504,929 $8,590,708

Food Service 428,500 398,113

Comm. Ed. 166,772 148,645

Construction 1,194,836 73,000

Debt Service 608,348 666,735

Scholarship 4,000 4,000

Student Act. 95,000 95,000

Totals $11,082,385 $9,976,201

Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday May 23, with Mayor Swearingen and all council members present. Also attending the meeting were Steve Louks, City Clerk; Pete Paulson, Liquor Store Manager; and Matt Arthur. 

The amended agenda was approved for the evening and Paulson was first on the agenda. He gave the council an update on activities that will be taking place at the MLS during Ellendale Days, slated for June 27-30 this year.

Paulson told the council Luverne’s Concertina will be playing on June 27 from 6-9 p.m. on stage along with food specials. On June 28, the band Hobo Nephews will be on stage and on Saturday Black Water Alley will be featured. Paulson also noted that tables, tents and portable toilets have been arranged.

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

The "Hot Looks for the Cure" Cancer Calendar "Kick Off Night" will be held at the Geneva Bar & Grill on Friday, May 31, starting at 7 p.m.

Come to Geneva for some fun and meet some of the "Hot Looks" models who will be on hand to autograph the calendars, as you support this good cause.

All of the models featured in the calendar will be honoring someone they know who is struggling with cancer, or has been lost due to this dreaded disease.