By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Because of the big trip to D.C., the NRHEG boys’ track and field team was a little low on numbers for its outdoor season opener.

The Panthers performed well but a lack of performers led to a fifth-place finish among six squads at Waseca last Thursday. The host team won with 191.5 points, followed by LCWM with 108, New Ulm 95, JWP 65, NRHEG 33 and WEM 26.5.

Keith Maxon was the Panthers’ top finisher, taking second in the discus with a throw of 129-8. He was sixth in the shot put at 38-10.

STAYING BUSY — Longtime New Richland resident Hilda Dobberstein was busy embroidering when Star Eagle Staff Writer Kathy Paulsen came to visit. Hilda recently celebrated her 95th birthday. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

Whenever visiting a care facility, a person often comes away with a rewarding feeling. You wonder why you don't make time to go more often.

Such was the feeling after visiting with longtime New Richland resident Hilda Dobberstein, a beautiful, intelligent lady who quietly celebrated her 95th birthday.

Hilda Billing was born to William and Ella (Schlaak) Billing on the family farm on the 25th of March, 1918, the fourth member of the family. First born was Wallace, who only lived 4 months, then came Hazel, Hilda, Luella and Malinda. Hazel Brandt and Luella Herbst are no longer with us.

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Editorial Assistant

NRHEG Schools are proud to present the upcoming presentation of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

The production will take place on Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the high school gymnasium in New Richland.

The play’s directors include Mrs. Fredrickson and Mrs. Inoyue; musical direction will be led by Mr. Siewert. The cast consists of 30 members.

Several departments in the high school have contributed to what is sure to be a successful debut, including art with the set, woods with building and electric, and computer skills.

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Editorial Assistant

The New Richland City Council commenced its first meeting of April on Monday night, the 8th, at 6:30 p.m. All members were present, along with an abnormally large crowd for a regularly scheduled meeting.

The agenda was viewed and approved, along with the consent agenda. First up was Scott Eads presenting the New Richland Police Department Report. For the month of March, 84 calls were received along with 54 additional contacts. No serious of felonious crimes were reported. The purchase of two new tires, along with the removal of snow tires, was requested at the amount of $386.62. The Council approved the purchase along with the report.

Area residents invited to April 21 event

In celebration of the rebuilding of the pipe organ at LeSueur River Lutheran Church, rural New Richland, there will be an organ recital at the church on Sunday, April 21, at 1 p.m., presented by distinguished musician, Marilyn Schempp of Sioux Falls, S.D. Area residents are invited to attend! The pipe organ was rebuilt in 2012 by the Rutz Organ Co. of Morristown, Minn.

Schedule for the day:

• 10:30 am: Worship service

• 12 noon: The public is invited to enjoy a fundraising roast beef dinner at the church.

• 1 pm: Organ recital which will include organ solos, organ duets, and organ and brass arrangements, featuring Eric and Christopher Knutson on trumpets and Daniel Knutson on the euphonium.

After the beautiful early spring we experienced last year, we often cast an anxious eye when we still see snow on the ground that was so dried out previously. We wonder how much moisture is or isn't there. 

We have often said how farming goes, so goes the way of living. How could anyone not consider that so much depends on those who grow the foods and grains we need?

Farming has encountered so many changes that I am sure young people don't have a vague idea of what these pioneer farmers experienced.

If we were to be thrown into a full-blown recession that in any way resembled the Great Depression of the early 30s, how do you think we would fare?

My mother was born during the Depression and her parents were just one of the many farmers who knew of the tragedies and gloom of a serious situation. Because they had the farm and were frugal, perhaps they didn't suffer the way many people in the big cities did, or maybe they just didn't expect as much.

There are probably few who remember the Great Depression, but those who remember when their parents talked about it. Many of the same problems we are facing today were prevalent then, but times have changed. 

There was small, diverse farming, so if there wasn't a market for cattle and product, there was food available to put on the table. The bills still had to be paid, and the recession, the lack of rain, and the abundance of wind made life tragic.

There were few programs to feed the poor and homeless during these years. Many families did have a cow and other than the lack of rain, families raised large gardens and potato patches. Lack of refrigeration was a problem and only a cool basement or well pit kept foods cold.

At least they had chickens who ate almost anything; their eggs weren't worth but pennies on the market. However, they could always be used as a basic for a meal. Cleaning coops wasn't too bad, and  these faithful hens could be sacrificed in the end for meat on the table.

Chickens were like presents from heaven, as they provided a slight income at about nine cents a dozen, which did help buy a bit of sugar and flour for bread baking. Many meals were made from eggs. 

Chickens were left to pick "free range" and often existed on little more than slim pickings from the ground like bugs and grasshoppers. When the chickens got too old to lay eggs, they provided meat for the table in many forms including casseroles, soup or chicken and dumplings.

If the farmer had pigs, you could count on them to give you their children (piglets), which helped pay the taxes. They, too, were easy to raise, and though they brought little on the market, they could be butchered and their meat used in various ways by canning, freezing, smoking, or eaten fresh. The fat rendered was used for baking, frying and yes, even as butter for bread.

Cows were a different story. They had to be fed by cutting, hauling and stacking hay. They had to be fed and their quarters kept clean by hauling manure to the fields and that was just in preparation for the milking. 

Cows were milked twice a day and after they were milked, the farmers had to separate the cream from the milk. Farmers might get a check for 25 or 40 dollars for a month’s work, milking and caring for 10 cows. Butterfat was about 11 cents a pound; that cream check had to pay for whatever was needed for the house, vehicle and family for the next 30 days.

If one had a cow, there was milk to drink, soup, pudding and cheese, and although considered for its cash value, cream was used to make butter.

From sunrise to sunset and for less than pennies an hour, it was the only security they had to hang on to. At least they had work. 

Along with the depression came a drought, just as today when pastures and crops burn up from lack of rain and moisture. Farmers actually cut their trees for the leaves or herded their cattle where the drought was less severe. 

Lakes, river beds or "wet land" provided something green for the cows to graze on. In many cases, the farmers dried up some of the herd to save the animals, keeping one or so for milk by making sure the cows had enough feed.

People picked berries, shot and ate rabbits and squirrels and caught fish. Water was recycled from human consumption — cream cooling to drinking cups or stock tanks. Corn stalks were cut for cattle feeding and anything not eaten was used as bedding. Anything left was swept into the manure gutter for an absorbent.

Charcoal salvaged from ashes (from the stove) was fed to the pigs to aid digestion. Ashes were scattered around berry bushes for healthy growth. Seed was saved from year to year from the choicest plants and often shared. 

Seed corn was tricky. Hand-selected ears from the most productive yield were hung to dry so mice couldn't get at them. In the spring, the corn was taken down and hand shelled using only the middle kernels of the cob. 

Mechanical "shelling" damaged the germination areas. The seeds on the end of the cobs weren't usually uniform and the farmers wouldn't work to plant that lower quality. The remainder of the cobs and cob ends were left for the horses, who considered them a special treat, eating cob and all.

To test for germination, my grandmother would count out about 25 seeds and place them in a damp towel and keep them warm for about 10 days, when the towel was unwrapped and the kernels showed growth. This gave the farmer a germination percentage and they planted accordingly.

The corn was "clicked in" with a wire cable for straight rows, cultivated twice by a two-row cultivator, once with a sulky cultivator and another time with a walking cultivator. By keeping a "mask" on their noses, the horses couldn't sway from the path and nibble the green leaves.

It was the custom to rely on the land and one’s abilities to provide foods that were healthy for the family.

Never underestimate the creativity of the housewife who stretched and produced food into interesting, healthy meals without the cash or availability of things found on store shelves today.

Lamb quarters (the plant) and mushrooms were abudant in the spring. When rhubarb made its appearance and strawberries were ready to be picked before the vegetable garden produced some early vegetables, they provided some great eating. People lived healthier lifestyles with asparagus, spinach, beet tops, chard and dandelion greens.

Lamb quarters were cleaned and sauteed in a little water until tender, drained and put in a frying pan with a little butter, lard or oil. When the liquid was simmered away eggs, salt and pepper were scrambled and cooked until the eggs were well done.

Mushrooms were made the same way, but caraway and onion was added and scrambled raw eggs added in the amount needed.

The blessing of the day: NO GMOs, pesticides, preservatives, and sprays. People during this time period consumed earth-friendly foods without concern about additives. Family recipes were planned around gardens or what was available, and soup was always simmering on the back of the stove, a pre-runner of the crock pot era.

Everything went in the soup pot from water from cooking vegetables, bones, left over meat, gravy, veggies, macaroni or rice. Pepper was used generously, as well as whole cloves and garlic, making it a tasty, nutritiously frugal dish. It helped satisfy the appetite and made meals go futher.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, April 11th: Barb Marcus, Ruth Benson, Lori Dobberstein, Jacob Alan Reynolds, Dan Nelson, Darrin Thostenson, Theresa Bartsch, James Thompson.

• Friday, April 12th: Tiegen Kay Richards, her 6th; Rory Ann Bickler, Guy Cromwell, Charise Oland, Cheryl Thompson, Deb Wilking, Allen & Betty Brandt, Roger & Reta Draayer.

• Saturday, April 13th: Victor Mrotz, Jamie Johnson, Andrea Casteron Malo, Ava Raye Chapman, her 4th; David Clausen, Margie Nesdahl, Pat O'Conner, Jason Sullivan, Roxie Ritz Simmons, Megan Benson, Charlotte Miller, Curtis Klecker, Shannon & Jason Peterson, their 9th.

• Sunday, April 14th: Dakota Clark, Anna Elizabeth Bailey, Tina Hagen, Jason Vogt, Rachel Oswald, Marcia Hemingway Jensen, David Jensen, Ron Huber, Butch & Gail Ottesen.

• Monday, April 15th: Mason Robert Klemmensen, his 5th; Terry Jensen, Barry Troe, James Benson, Sarah Christine George, Cayla Conroy.

• Tuesday, April 16th: Linda Christensen, Eddie & Arlene Miller, their 61st; Terry & Cindy Vaith their 29th.

• Wednesday, April 17th: Mike Nesdahl, Suzanne Marcus Cory, Matthew Olson, Diane Van Riper, Kathy Paulsen, Bethany & Terry Mikesell, their 8th, Jerry & Mary Peterson.

Wishing you every joy as you celebrate your special day!

I’d have to say that spring officially arrived when I spotted my first robin on April Fools’ Day.  Since then, I’ve seen many more; I’ll take that as a good sign. 

When I was a kid my mother would always try to fool my sister and I with an April Fools’ joke of some sort. One year, she called me to the kitchen window to see the first robin of the spring. But, of course, there was no robin in sight and the joke was on me. 

After falling for it a couple of times, I’d become wary. But because I knew how much she enjoyed it, I would play along. I don’t think that I ever told her any different. It didn’t take much to amuse us back then, but I guess  those were just simpler, less complicated times.

Although we have been having sunny days and the snow is slowly disappearing, the temperature doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to take it to the next level. The good news is that there is water running over the dam on Bridge Street and if the temperatures continue to escalate, we may actually embrace some normal spring-like temperatures.

Trevor, my oldest grandson, said that upper Twin Lake is loaded with waterfowl. Last weekend, Trevor did manage to bag a couple of snow geese on an early morning hunt. There also seem to be more and more eagle sightings in our area; more than I can ever remember. This is a good thing for anyone that enjoys wildlife and the outdoors.

Albert Lea Lake has been host to waterfowl of many different kinds over that past years. This year is no exception. I spoke to a person that, while walking his dog by the old disposal plant last week, spotted hundreds of ducks and geese on the open water by the aerators. 

Sitting on the ice nearby were four young eagles checking out the situation and watching from afar was an adult eagle. I know it wasn’t a social event for those eagles, and I assume they probably had lunch on their minds.

It’s amazing how much wildlife you can see within just a few miles of home. If you were to take a drive out past the Jugland Dam, there’s a chance that you could be treated to a wildlife sighting of some sort. If you are a little more adventuresome and aren’t afraid to get your car dirty, a drive past the Twin Lakes might be rewarding.

A couple of weeks ago while my wife and I were driving home from Bricelyn after visiting our new granddaughter Ava, her brother Dylan and her sister Emma were treated to some deer sightings. By the time we had reached the Kiester turnoff, we estimated seeing over 50 deer in about four different locations along the way. 

This is why I like to travel “old 16” or as it is officially called, County Road 46. Spotting deer alive in the wild is much better than seeing them lying on the shoulder of an Interstate Highway.

I have written many times about the need to make sure that future generations are introduced to their outdoors heritage in one form or another. The State of Minnesota also has recognized that there has been a declining interest in outdoors recreation. In 2010, they started a program within many State Parks designed to introduce families to the Minnesota outdoors and all that it has to offer.

Minnesota state parks and trails offer a new season of outdoor ‘I Can!’ programs for families. Families will learn how to pitch a tent, hook a fish, paddle a kayak or canoe, scale a cliff and shoot a bow at nearly 200 “I Can!” programs offered this summer at Minnesota state parks and on state water trails. The newly expanded “I Can!” series of outdoor programs are designed to introduce kids to camping, fishing, paddling, climbing and archery.

“We created the ‘I Can!’ series in response to research that showed declining participation in outdoor recreation by young families,” said Courtland Nelson, DNR Parks and Trails Division director. “These popular programs are designed to introduce the next generation to the outdoors.”

Since the series launched in 2010, thousands of people have been introduced to outdoor recreation and Minnesota state parks and trails. Participation in “I Can Camp!” totaled 877 in 2012, up 51 percent from the 582 who participated the first year.

“I had to drag my kids there, and now they won’t stop exploring,” reported one father who participated in an “I Can Camp!” program. “We consider ourselves on our way to becoming veteran campers,” said a mother who attended the hands-on, learn-to-camp workshop.

All equipment is provided for the programs, along with mentoring from experienced instructors. Some programs require advance registration and a fee; others are free and allow visitors to drop-in anytime. A vehicle permit ($5/one-day or $25/year-round) is required to enter Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. A one-day permit is included with registration for an “I Can Camp!” program.

For more information about any of the programs in the “I Can!” series, including program dates, times, locations and other information, visit www.mndnr.gov/ican or call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Until next time, let’s get out and enjoy the spring like weather and explore the beauty of the 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.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

"If I had Warren Buffet’s money, I’d be richer than he is."

"How do you figure that?"

"Well, I’d have both his money and mine."

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: where I live, we have air that hasn’t even been breathed yet.

I grew up along the shores of Mule Lake

You might be from Mule Lake if you floss by eating sweet corn.

I watched Barney Fife as he and Matt Dillon helped Perry Mason find Lassie. We didn’t get very good TV reception.

As I did my farm chores, I didn’t dream of becoming Barney Fife, although that would have been a worthy goal. I dreamed of becoming a licensed driver who owned a car.

When that dream became a reality, I was the proud owner of a car that had its value doubled whenever I filled it with gas. It had no horsepower. It had possumpower.

I put oversized tires on the rear of the car. They were much bigger than those on the front. I didn’t do that because it looked cool. I did it because it fooled the motor into thinking it was going downhill.

Shopping takes a wrong turn

I drove by a business that had closed recently. Sad thing. It was someone’s dream.

I recently walked into a store that I frequent. I’m somewhere else more than I’m in the store, but I do shop there for business supplies. I came though the front doors. That’s a good place to start. These doors that lead to other doors are the kind that open automatically when they sense the presence of a customer. I stepped through those doors and turned right. That was wrong. Turning right led to the exit doors. I backtracked and entered the store through the doors made for entering. I turn right, the wrong way, almost every time I enter that store. I blame it on Credence Clearwater Revival. I enjoy listening to CCR. In their song, "Bad Moon Rising," there is the line, "There's a bad moon on the rise." That’s the line, but it sounds as if they are singing, "There’s a bathroom on the right."

A lot of stress can be eliminated by never passing a restroom. Therefore, I turn right.

There was a story there

I stopped to get gas at Fleet Farm in Owatonna. As I filled the tank, a man drove past me driving an old Murray lawn tractor. He didn’t roar past me or zoom by me. It was more of a mosey. I paid for my gas forged from gold and continued my journey northward. As I turned off Bridge Street onto the I-35 entrance ramp, there he was motoring down it. I’d have loved to talk to that fellow.

Peter and the Wolf

In grammar school, one of my best days was when we listened to “Peter and the Wolf” on a record played on, what else, a record player. It was a composition by Sergei Prokofiev written in 1936; a children’s story spoken by a narrator accompanied by an orchestra. A flute played the bird’s theme, an oboe played the duck’s, and a clarinet played the cat’s theme. Watching birds is a symphony.

Did you know?

They advertised X-ray specs in the funny books. They were supposed to allow you to see through things. Feathers were sandwiched between two sheets of cardboard from which the glasses were cut. When you looked through the two 1/4-inch holes, you looked through the feathers, which diffracted light and created the impression of an x-ray.

Gazelle, a trade-in site for consumer electronics, said that Tallahassee led its "Top Ten Klutziest Cities" list. New Orleans was second. The ratings were based on the percentage of cellphones exchanged that were cracked, dented, or water-damaged.

Nature notes

I saw an opossum run over on the road. A car had hit it. Why did the chicken cross the road? To show the opossum it could be done. Opossums don’t understand cars. They stop in the middle of a road to look at a speeding automobile. As Pogo Possum, in Walt Kelly’s famed comic strip, said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

The Virginia opossum, with 50 teeth, eats nearly anything. It has two litters of six to 20 each year. They have many babies so that some might avoid being hit by a Buick.

Meeting adjourned

A kind word makes the old feel young and the poor feel rich.

Another week of slow progress toward spring. At least it was largely dry. Will April showers dampen our spirits? Starting Wednesday, cloudy with a good chance of sleet turning into accumulating snow. Highs 35 - 40 and lows near 25. Mostly cloudy becoming partly cloudy on Thursday with a chance of light snow. Highs in the mid-30s and lows of 20 – 25. Partly cloudy on Friday and slightly warmer with highs around 40 and lows of 25 – 30. Partly cloudy for Saturday becoming mostly cloudy with a chance of a rain/snow mix. Highs 45 – 50 and lows near 35. Cloudy on Sunday with a good chance of rain. Highs 45 – 50 and lows dropping to the upper 30s. Continued cloudy for Monday with a moderate chance of rain. Highs of 45 - 50 and lows in the mid-20s. Little chance for sunshine on Tuesday along with another chance of light rain. Highs near 45 and lows around 35. The normal high for April 15th is 57 and the normal low is 35. Some are wondering how the government might tax the cold April weather. The scurs have faith in their creativity and know they’ll figure it out.

Spring is still dragging its feet. Nothing to get alarmed about as once the weather breaks it shouldn’t take long given the present dry subsoils for fieldwork to commence. There’s the issue of frost of course although there are places the frost appears to be out. Where it is measured at the SROC, the frost was officially out on April 8th. There are places where it is definitely not and the ice is still not off area lakes as of this writing. St. Olaf Lake had a ring of water around it about 15’ – 20’ wide as one looked from the road on the west. There are also some remaining snow banks in the fencelines, around groves and in particular on the north sides of building sites. It is obvious in some of those areas the frost is not out yet either as one can attempt to walk in the field there and sink to your ankles on the first step. A warm rain would help take the remaining frost out although there are few indications a warm rain will happen anytime soon. 

It isn’t late yet and while some are getting antsy, the calendar says it’s still early April. Some are also getting nervous about rainfall amounts. While some rain would be nice, it is not necessary to have a full profile going into spring to produce a decent crop. We received about .54” from Friday through Tuesday a.m. at the ranch. Since it stays cloudy much of the time and doesn’t warm up, one has to believe we are making some progress on restoring soil moisture. And, we need to be careful what we wish for. The weather can turn on a dime as we’ve seen in the past, turning what appeared to be a dry spring into muddy mess. I can guarantee that if I decide to plant potatoes in a dry area that has a tendency to be wet it will soon return to its former condition, thwarting my attempt to outguess the weather. 

Spring continues to arrive in the form of new birds and activity around the ranch. The rooster pheasant has set up shop less than 100’ from the house and he crows every morning starting before sunrise. On Sunday before the Lion’s Club pancake feed, a pair of wood ducks was scoping out the soft maple trees in search of cavities for a nest. There were none however and it made me wonder if the two houses by the pond were occupied already. The water level in the pond is high enough so water is running into the overflow intake and one of the houses is in the water, requiring waders to inspect it. It is tempting to install another wood duck house in the yard just to see if they’d use it. My guess is the answer would be yes.

Fortunately for the ground nesting birds, the “SkunkWar” at the ranch has reached a cease fire by both sides. The out-of-code pickled herring in the live trap worked to perfection and there were fewer skunks as of Tuesday last. The Norwegians and Swedes were catch and release. It’s much more relaxing to go outside at 10 p.m., not worrying about running across a black and white member of the weasel family with a built-in cache of chemical weapons. It’s even better not to have a dog being sprayed and dealing with the aftermath from that. Mr. Cheviot 3, Skunks 0. 

Speaking of going outside after dark, Vista’s noted Swedish astronomer paid a visit last week and requested that I not use his name in my column. I would never dream of doing such a thing! There are several features to make note of in the evening sky in April. The most prominent is Jupiter, about halfway up in the western sky presently. Look for it to be to the right of the crescent moon on the 14th.  Saturn will begin rising in the east about a half hour before sunset. It won’t be as bright and is more yellow than Jupiter. Saturn should be to the left of the Full Moon on the 25th and to the right of the still nearly Full Moon on the 26th. As we approach the end of the month Venus also reappears low in the western sky. Maybe by that time the ripped up road through Vista will once again be paved with gold.   

It’s official: The gawker slowdown has officially started at the ranch. The snow and ice finally released their icy grip on the fence, allowing me to charge it. The lambs wasted no time in discovering their newly found track and were off to the races the first night. This caused passersby to tap their brakes as they slowed down to watch the young ovines do their little stiff legged hop. Along about 7:45 the ewes put a stop to their fun and games. Plus they’re about tuckered out. Makes me tired just watching them.

See you next week…real good then.