The scurs went out on a limb last week predicting snow and the snow broke the limb off. Will we see any more encore performances from Old Man Winter or was that the last of his escapades for awhile? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a good chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60’s and lows near 50. Thursday, mostly cloudy with moderate chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 60’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Mostly cloudy becoming partly cloudy for Friday with a modest chance of an overnight shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 60’s and lows in the mid 40’s. Partly cloudy on Saturday with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 50’s and lows in the upper 30’s. Mostly sunny becoming partly cloudy for Sunday with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs near 60 and lows near 40. Mostly  sunny Monday with highs in the upper 60’s and lows around 50. Partly cloudy Tuesday with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the low 70’s and lows in the low 50’s.  The normal high for May 12th is 68 and the normal low is 47. The scurs will be scouting around for the mother of all gifts for Mother’s Day gift in the meantime.

What a bizarre week for weather! You know you’re in trouble when the May snowfall total is more than double that of April and are surpassed only by the March totals for the winter. All told there was 15” of snow at the ranch. The only trouble was due to emergency circumstances, the snow board could not be used to properly gauge the liquid equivalent precipitation. We still measured 1.23” the gauge. At the SROC where snowfall was about 9.4”, they tallied 1.48” of liquid equivalent precipitation so we’re probably way shy on our measurement at the ranch if the snow/water ratio is the same. All one can say is there was a lot of water in it judging by the tree limbs down and shed roofs collapsed by the weight. This has also makes some kind of a record for driving on bad roads. Seems like about the 5th month straight where snow and ice have been the order of the day.  

What does this portend for corn that’s in the ground? Time will tell but no horror stories yet. Luckily not much was planted as an overall percentage of the acres. Alfalfa survival remains a bigger concern on the few acres it still occupies. Much of it appears in poor condition which should come as no surprise. Some of the stands were aging and there have been two dry falls to make matters worse. Couple that with some encouragement by people who should know better to take late fall cuttings and it’s a wonder alfalfa survives at all. However, it is easy to overlook the fact it still hasn’t warmed up much. Some of these fields were snow covered yet this past weekend. So far at the SROC there were only 15.5 GDU’s accumulated as of May 5th. It would be a good idea to assess these fields thoroughly before making any knee-jerk reactions. 

On the bird front, the white-crowned sparrows are mixed in among the white-throated sparrows. The two species are similar in appearance although when one remembers the white throat is an easy field mark to distinguish between the two. A rose-breasted grosbeak was a recent addition Tuesday. On the pond, there have still been plenty of ring-necked ducks, blue-winged teal, mallards and northern shovelers to keep one occupied. Keeping an eye on the wood duck house to see if it’s occupied. With all the recent precipitation, it’s well out in the water so it’ll take a trip out there with the waders on to see. The other wood duck house has shown signs of activity although we’re not quite sure what. The last several years it has been home to kestrels so will be interesting to see if they’re back. The rooster pheasant was parading around the lawn with his most recent conquest, a flashy, sleek little hen who followed him everywhere.

It’s been tempting to shed the winter plumage and finally shave for the summer. It’s also been tempting to remove the tree wrap from all the small trees in the yard. Seems each time those thoughts cross my mind, it snows again. One of these days though it will be done snowing. Luckily the grass has grown to the point that the bunnies should be able to turn their attention to that rather than the trees. Some new razor blades are probably in order for my face.  On the topic of blades, the lawnmowers need attention before too long. Parts of the lawn will need mowing soon, after the snow piles melt that is.

Vista’s noted Swedish astronomer paid me a visit last week but alas I was not in. He did the next best thing though and left me some Cliff’s Notes on what to look for in the night sky in May. Lots of planetary goings on including Saturn rising in the southeastern sky about sunset. Later in the month we should see a tight grouping at dusk the last week in the month including Venus, Mercury and Jupiter. Jupiter is lower in the sky each night and Venus is a little higher each night. Venus should be in the northwest sky. Venus and Jupiter are both very bright, not unlike the noted Swedish astronomer.

Mother’s Day is upon us and it looks like we’ll be spending it with Mom as we always have. It was gratifying this Sunday to see some house finches coming to the “Edna’s Special” window feeder at the care center where my mom is staying. It took a while for them to find it but they came through. It was almost surreal as brother Roger played guitar for her as she watched the birds, smiled and kept time to the music. After spending many hours at the care center the past 4 months, it has been eye opening to see the residents light up at the smallest acknowledgement. It’s also been disheartening to see that some of them seldom if ever have visitors. Pretty sad commentary on us as a society and perhaps indicative we’ve become “too busy” keeping up with people on social media and lord knows what else. Granted, care centers are generally not fun places to hang out, but they are a lot more fun when someone comes to visit. You might be surprised if you take the time.

See you next week…real good then. 

Michelle and I celebrated our 14th house-iversary on May 1. Naturally, we shared this occasion by eating chili and corn bread while watching the May Day snowfall.

When we made that life-altering decision to buy a house in Ellendale all those years ago, it meant a lot of things. First and foremost was the fact that we wanted to stay here. 

I was finishing my third year of teaching at NRHEG. We had gotten married the previous year, and we had no idea how we’d afford a house. However, we figured we’d make it work.

And we’ve done that, adding two children, a goldfish, and a cat along the way. But what made us decide that living here was the ultimate goal?

Every week, I enjoy reading the “Meet Your Neighbor” section across from my column. One of the questions always deals with the best part of living in a small town. Answers vary, but I’d like to add some. Understand that these might be Ellendale focused since it’s become my home!

Many people talk about how people are there to help when you need them. This is so true. When we first moved in, one of my neighbors offered me the use of his lawn mower since I hadn’t purchased one yet. A simple thing like that sets a good tone in the neighborhood.

When our basement flooded the first time, I had the use of another neighbor’s shop vac, something I never thought I’d need. Another time we flooded, I was trying to figure out what to do with all that wet carpet in the front yard. Andy Lerberg stopped by and helped me. He put it in his truck to haul it to a dumpster set up for everyone who was facing the same problem.

Even during this last snow-mageddon, my neighbor Jerry used his snow blower to take care of the end of my driveway after the plow went by. I had been dreading dealing with the accumulated muck at the end until he came along. After he was done with my driveway, he went to help others.

I know that if I have a problem with a vehicle, Mark and Al Lee will tell me the straight truth about what’s wrong. They’ll never try to get a little extra out of me with other “problems” like some places will in bigger communities. And I know that if they can’t fix it, I can truck over to New Richland and have Ike Kofstad look at it and treat me the same way.

I can go into Steve’s Meat Market or Lerberg’s and find Donovan or Ross right there to help me and always with a smile. How nice it is to be able to run and find the things I need at a moment’s notice when I realize I’m out of ground beef or am missing an ingredient for a recipe.

It’s always nice to see NRHEG grads set up shop in town and want to live in the community in which they were raised. Alex and Angela Bell have made Sequoia Landscaping the place to go to make the outside of my house look marvelous. They also treat you with that honest smile and will bend over backward to meet your every need.

If I want something to eat, there are so many great options: 5th Avenue Pizza or Judy’s Café in Ellendale, George’s in Geneva, the Willows in New Richland, and the Hartland Café, the first place I ever ate out when I moved to this district.

What’s nice about living here? If my vehicle isn’t working, I have any number of people I would feel comfortable calling for a ride to work, and I know they would not shy away from asking me the same thing. And with every one of them, I know it would be an enjoyable ride to New Richland and back.

I work with amazing people. I live in a great neighborhood. I love my town, and I enjoy visiting places in New Richland, Hartland, and Geneva, despite my tongue-in-cheek claims that I live in the best town in the district. We may be four separate towns, but we know that everyone will come together in good times and bad to make our area a place to be proud of.

There it is – our ultimate goal was to settle somewhere we would be happy and would find it best to raise a family. Mission accomplished.

Word of the Week: This week’s word is cachinnate, which means to laugh very loudly, as in, “Listening to the lady cachinnate every time something moderately funny was said led to a splitting headache.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

David Brandt of Owatonna died May 6, 2013 at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Funeral service is set for Friday, May 10, 2013 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Owatonna with the Rev. John Weisenburger presiding. A private family interment will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna. Friends may greet the family on Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Brick – Meger Funeral Home (1603 – Austin Road, Owatonna) and one hour before the time of service at the church.

Orie A. Jensen, 84, of Owatonna, died Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the Koda Living Community in Owatonna.

He was born July 12, 1928 in Aurora Township, Minnesota the son of Lawrence and Nora (Anderson) Jensen.  He attended country school District 71. Orie worked all his life at home on the farm in Aurora Township and also helped the area farmers. He married Janet Sorenson Loken on December 14, 1974 at Aurora Lutheran Church. After two years of marriage, Janet passed away on December 27, 1976. Orie continued farming along with his brother, Roger, until retiring in 1997.  

TECHNOLOGY GRANT — The New Richland Area Foundation Fund presented a grant for $7,196 to NRHEG Schools April 19. From left: Matt Harrington, Kermit Schoenrock, Karen Buum, Gail Schmidt, Angie Aaseth and Rick Schultz. (Submitted photo)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The first round of 2013 grant presentations is in the books for the New Richland Area Foundation Fund.

On a snowy morning Friday, April 19, members of the NRAFF Grants Committee traveled to NRHEG Elementary School in Ellendale to present a check for $7,196 to NRHEG Schools for the purchase of four SMART Boards to be used in first-grade classrooms.

There for the ceremony were NRAFF Grants Committee members Kermit Schoenrock, Matt Harrington and Gail Schmidt, Executive Director of the Waseca Area Foundation Karen Buum, NRHEG School Board Chairman Rick Schultz, NRHEG Technology Coordinator Angie Aaseth, first-grade teachers Erin Holland, Jill Boran, Deb Gaines and Megan Steuck, and first-graders Tayler Schmidt, George Roesler, Brenna Sommer and Hope Nielsen.

NO IDEA — Members of the 2013 state champion NRHEG girls’ basketball team were surprised and honored to be chosen Grand Marshals for this year’s Farm and City Days parade. Front from left: Maddie Wagner, Hannah lundberg, Marnie Wagner, Kelli Harrington, manager Anna Lundberg and manager Hailey Schuller. Back: coach John Schultz, Jade Schultz, Abby Crabtree, Raelin Schue, Katie Cole, Paige Overgaard and Anna Stork. Not pictured: Carlie Wagner and Ryann Hagen. (Star Eagle photo by Nicole Billing)

By NICOLE BILLING

Editorial Assistant

When the NRHEG girls’ basketball team was asked to help serve at the Hot Beef Commercial at City Hall on Sunday, April 28, they were in for a surprise. 

At noon, the Farm and City Days Committee gathered everyone together and announced the NRHEG girls’ basketball team had been chosen as 2013 Grand Marshal for the Farm and City Days parade. 

Along with the hot beef, there was also a bake sale with cookies, bars, and cupcakes. People were also able to buy basketball T-shirts.

The only girls missing from the team were Carlie Wagner and Ryann Hagen.

Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday April 25 with Mayor Swearingen, councilmen Lassahn, Goebel and Groth present. Also attending the meeting was Eric Haefner-City Engineer, Josh Otto-Maintenance, Steve Louks-Clerk and Don Anderson. 

Eric Haefner, engineer with Bolten & Menk, was present to review options for street repair. Haefner said he had taken a tour of town with Mayor Swearingen and Josh Otto, City Maintenance. After the tour, Haefner said, he went back to his office and put together a proposal. Haefner noted there were three streets worse off than many others.

They were, in no certain order, 5th St., 4th St. and 2nd St. Mayor Swearingen told the council that 5th St. should be considered since the church there would also like to resurface and the projects could coordinate together. Haefner had some preliminary numbers for the council on the three areas.

Schiltz breaks record in 1600 as boys place third

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The NRHEG girls’ track and field came home with the championship trophy from the Blue Earth Area Invitational last Friday.

The Panthers won with 98.5 points, followed by Osakis with 93, GHEC/MT/ML 86.5, St. Peter 82.5, MCW 61, BEA 56.5 and LCWM 48.

“What an absolutely perfect night for a meet,” said coach Duey Ferber. “The weather was spot on! Our girls competed well. It’s amazing what 75 degrees can do to a track team; everyone was having fun and competing hard!”

Carlie Wagner led the Panthers with a pair of firsts, clearing 5-2 in the high jump and clocking 26.96 seconds in the 200. Wagner was second in the 100. Freshman Katharine Lewer won the 1600 in 5:57.57 and was third in the 3200 in 13:24.03.

Team improves to 4-1 overall, 3-1 in conference

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

There will come a time this spring when the NRHEG softball team will dearly miss Jade Schultz.

But Monday was not that day.

With their star sidelined after knee surgery, the Panthers continued their mostly strong play this spring by sweeping Faribault Academies in a doubleheader at Legion Field.

The Panthers won the first game, a conference contest, 6-5, rallying from a 3-1 deficit with five runs in the top of the fifth inning.

“We finally started getting some hits strung together in the fifth,” said coach Wendy Schultz. “We had five solid hits into the outfield, hitting some gaps.”

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

There were definite signs of hope for the NRHEG baseball team.

So far, though, no victories for the young Panthers.

NRHEG lost a pair of games this past week, falling 4-3 in eight innings at USC and dropping an 11-2 decision to Faribault Academies at Legion Field on Monday.

Both games were close, at least most of the way.

The Panthers played conference favorite Faribault Academies even up, with the score tied 2-2 entering the fourth inning.