Jim Lutgens
Otto E. Neumann, 80
Memorial services for Otto E. Neumann of New Richland, MN, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2013 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in New Richland. Visitation will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church Thursday evening from 4-7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Otto E. Neumann, 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at the Mayo Health System, Albert Lea.
Otto was born July 17, 1932 in Waseca County, Minnesota to Otto W. and Rosamunda H. (Krause) Neumann. He graduated from New Richland High School and from Mankato Teacher's College with a Bachelor of Science in Math and Chemistry. Otto married Delores Darlene Sorenson on April 6, 1956 in Brookings, South Dakota.
Daniel H. Willert, 47
Daniel H. Willert 47, of Ellendale, died Saturday, March 16, 2013 his home after a lengthy battle with cancer.
He was born October 24, 1965 in Owatonna, Minnesota, the son of Duane and Eleanor (Anderson) Willert.
Daniel was raised on the family farm and attended Ellendale School. He graduated from Ellendale in May of 1984. He joined the Army that fall and was given a medical discharge shortly after. He worked at Brown Printing in Waseca for 27 years. He enjoyed collecting farm toys, books, Army books, and models, and was an avid military history buff.
Anna Alice Schwartz, 102
Anna Alice Schwartz, 102, of Owatonna, died Friday, March 15, 2013 at Homestead Hospice House.
Anna was born June 12, 1910 in Steele County, Minnesota the daughter of Jay and Mary (Pavek) Spinler. She attended Saco 2135 country school through the 8th grade. She stayed on the farm helping her parents. Anna was united in marriage to Philip Schwartz on May 16, 1928 in Owatonna. The couple briefly lived in Owatonna and later farmed in Somerset Township for many years raising chickens and selling eggs, pigs, corn and oats. She enjoyed the farm and spending time outdoors tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She enjoyed baking for her family especially cookies, cakes, pies, kolache and donuts. Preparing home cooked meals also was important to Anna. Anna liked to crochet, doing embroidery and making flour sack dish towels. She also made pillows from goose down feathers. Philip died January 7, 2000. Anna and Philip were both members of ZCBJ.
We are the champions
NRHEG girls capture Class AA state crown
Above, NRHEG girls' basketball players mob Carlie Wagner after the Panthers defeated Braham 60-59 for the Class AA Minnesota state championship Saturday at Target Center in Minneapolis. Below, Wagner goes in for a lay-up after stealing the ball late in the game. Wagner set five state tournament records and tied another as the Panthers finished 32-1 with a 30-game winning streak. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)
On to Target Center
NRHEG girls defeat Pelican Rapids 62-49 in state quarterfinals
INTENSITY — NRHEG's Jade Schultz wrestles for the ball against Pelican Rapids' Mackenzie Korf during Wednesday night's Class AA quarterfinal game of the Minnesota State Girls' Basketball Tournament at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Panthers won 62-49, advancing to the semifinals Friday at 8 p.m. against Minneapolis Washburn at Target Center. Also in the photo: Marnie Wagner, Sommer Haugrud, Paige Overgaard and Carlie Wagner, who led all scorers with 31 points. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)
GAME FACES — NRHEG girls' basketball players watch the early quarterfinal game at Williams Arena Wednesday awaiting their 8 p.m. matchup with Pelican Rapids. Front from left: Hannah Lundberg, Carlie Wagner, Marnie Wagner. Back: Katie Cole, Jade Schultz. The Panthers Friday face Minneapolis Washburn (23-7), which edged last year's state runner-up Sauk Rapids 64-58 in the game the Panthers watched.
Wagner leads Panthers back to state
NRHEG basketball girls repeat as Section 2AA champions
WE’RE GOING BACK! — NRHEG girls’ basketball players celebrate after winning Section 2AA championship at Minnesota State-Mankato Friday night, earning a second straight trip to the state tournament. Among the players pictured are Paige Overgaard, Maddie Wagner, Katie Cole, Marnie Wagner, Abby Crabtree and Jade Schultz. The Panthers open the state tournament Wednesday at 8 p.m. against Pelican Rapids at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
What’s better than going to the state tournament?
How about going two years in a row?
That’s what the NRHEG girls’ basketball team is doing after Carlie Wagner and company — behind a large and loud fan following — dismantled St. Peter 96-61 for the Section 2AA championship at Minnesota State-Mankato Friday night.
The Panthers, third in last year’s state tournament behind a record-setting performance by Wagner, will face Section 8AA champion Pelican Rapids at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Rated No. 2 in the state in Class AA, the Panthers take a 29-1 record and 27-game winning streak to state.
The Panthers and coach John Schultz weren’t thinking about that on Friday, though. They, along with much of the NRHEG community, simply celebrated the moment and soaked it all in.
Panthers roll to state
Wagner scores 49 as NRHEG girls top St. Peter for section crown
TO THE PROMISED LAND — Carlie Wagner drives to the basket against St. Peter’s Kierstin Karlsrud during the Section 2AA championship game at Mankato last Friday. Wagner finished with 49 points as the Panthers won 96-61 to return to the state tournament. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
It is often harder to repeat a championship than it is to win the first one.
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team ruined that theory with four double-digit wins on its way to a second straight Section 2AA championship.
The Panthers had their toughest game of the tournament with a 10-point win over Hayfield for the sub-section title.
NRHEG overwhelmed St. Peter to earn another trip to state in the section final. The Panthers also defeated SP for a trip to state a year ago.
NRHEG will take a 27-game winning streak and a 29-1 overall record to state.
Hayfield
MANKATO – NRHEG overcame a horrible shooting night to break a tie with four minutes remaining to post a 58-48 win over Hayfield in the sub-section championship game March 6.
News briefs/Notices
Ellendale Food Shelf fundraiser Saturday
On Saturday, March 16, the Ellendale Area Food Shelf will host a dinner, raffle and bingo night. The event will start at 5 p.m. at the Ellendale Community Building. Bingo will start at 5:30 p.m. We will be raffling pork bundles that will include chops, roasts, sausage and half hams. Raffle tickets are $5/ticket and may be purchased in advance or the night of the event. Bingo prizes will include half hams, gift certificates to area businesses and much more! Please come and support the Ellendale Area Food Shelf. Questions? Call 507-684-2731 or Bethany Mikesell, 507-688-0518.
Girl Scout Alumnae Party Sunday
A Girl Scout Alumnae Party will be held Sunday, March 17 at the Geneva Community Center from to 4 p.m. All past and present Girl Scout members are invited to this event. There will be Girl Scout trivia, a skit and door prizes. Girl Scout Cookies will be available to purchase. Please call Melissa Karl with any questions you have at 507-202-6184.
Benefit March 22 for Christian Reichl
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Nobody should have to undergo brain surgery. Especially not a young child.
Christian Reichl, son of Derek and Lisa Reichl of Albert Lea and grandson of Kathy Crabtree of Geneva, Duane and Janice Reichl of Faribault, and Elaine O'Brein of Austin, underwent brain surgery in 2010, when he was only 4 years old.
In 2012, after having a routine MRI, they found the tumor was back. He underwent his second brain surgery at Children's Hospital and, just one month later, doctors ordered Christian to undergo six weeks of specialized Proton Radiation treatments in Chicago, which is the closest proton radiation center to Minnesota.
Southland ends season for NRHEG boys
By DALE KUGATH
Sportswriter
ADAMS – The Southland Rebels went on a 23-5 scoring run the final seven minutes of the game to ruin the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team’s upset hopes in the South Sub-Section 2AA opener March 4.
The second-seeded Rebels pulled away to post a 57-33 triumph over the seventh-seeded Panthers.
Coach Pat Churchill’s Panthers lost 11 of their final 13 games to finish the year with a 6-19 record, three wins fewer than last year’s 9-18 mark.
Southland moved into the sub-section semifinals with a 20-7 record.
“It is always tough when you are done for the year,” said Churchill. “I thought for 28 minutes our kids played a heck of a ball game.”