New Richland City Council

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Editorial Assistant

The New Richland City Council held its second meeting of February Monday evening. All members were present. The meeting commenced at 6:30, when the agenda and consent agenda were approved.

Brad Field was up first with the People’s Service Report. Fairly short, one concern he shared with the council was a request to adopt a city policy/ordinance of “No dumping allowed” that would apply to septic haulers or any other haulers that would attempt to dump waste from outside sources into our city’s sewer system. The Council approved the report before moving on to the Ambulance report.

NRHEG High School Principal Paul Cyr has announced the names of students selected to the Honor Roll for 2nd Quarter 2012-13:

“A” Honor Roll

Grade 12 —Kiley Beenken, Hans Frank, Jarred Hanson, Emilia Hobbs, Erin Larson, Hannah Lewison, Kristen Olson, Brooke Olson, Crystal Olson, Larissa Peterson, Brittany Reese, Colton Ryg, Tara Simon, Nathaniel Wallin.

Grade 11 — Presley Johnson, Noah Krell, Hannah Lundberg, Jadyn Nelson-Spies, Ryan Patraw, Laura Ranniger, Douglas Rudau, Jade Schultz, Morgan Staloch, Carlie Wagner, Alexis Wyatt.

Grade 10 — Nicholas Bartness, Brady Beenken, Karina Gaona Quezada, Ryann Hagen, Jade Hill, Logan Knutson, Grant Kyllo, Jake Langlie, Melissa Malakowsky, Keith Maxon, Jordan Mueller, Sandra Quezada, Miranda Richards, Anna Stork, Aurora Strom, Spencer Tollefson, Trevor Tracy, Jet Wayne, Renae Wobschall.

Peterson, Kubiatowicz, Fitterer advance; Cyr selected coach of the year

REASON TO CELEBRATE — NRHEG wrestlers found success at the Section 2A Individual Tournament Saturday. Above, Dillon Kubiatowcz celebrates the victory that sent him to state. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

BLUE EARTH – The future of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva wrestling appears to be in pretty good shape. 

Three Panther underclassmen survived section competition to qualify for the state meet, and three more NRHEG wrestlers barely missed out. 

“We had a good section tournament, but were very close to having a spectacular showing,” said NRHEG coach Paul Cyr. “We lost a couple of heartbreaking matches that could have given us two more qualifiers.”

The Section 2AA Tournament at Blue Earth turned into a one-day event when Friday’s competition was cancelled because of the weather. The entire tourney was held Saturday. 

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

MONTGOMERY – Teams like to have momentum on their side when they begin tournament play. The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team will have no trouble with that.

The Panthers take a 23 game winning streak into tournament play as they ended their regular season by crushing Tri-City United in Montgomery Feb. 19, 83-32.

NRHEG improved to 25-1 for the year, including 11-1 on the road.

Any chance of NRHEG taking the Titans lightly disappeared early as the Panthers scored the first 30 points. Before the half ended, NRHEG built a 61-13 advantage. 

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

NEW RICHLAND – The struggling New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball gave Gopher Conference co-champion United South Central its best shot in New Richland Friday. 

Coach Pat Churchill’s Panthers stunned the Rebels by taking a five-point lead to the halftime locker room. But, USC got more physical in the second half and captured a 70-62 victory over the Panthers.

The Rebels, who tied with Waterville-Elysian-Morristown for the conference crown, finished 12-2 in the Gopher and is 17-9 overall. 

USC defeated NRHEG 74-51 in the first meeting this year. 

Isn't it wonderful how different our lives seem when the sun shines through? After days of seemingly gloomy weather and ice that not only kept us more or less captive, a new day arrives.

It’s hard to believe that another month is gone already in this new year. The shortest month is such a busy month, maybe because we have so much to accomplish in fewer days. 

It will be nice to be able to look ahead to things that remind us spring is coming. In the not too distant future, we will be able to dig in the dirt, mow the lawn, pull a few weeds and pick up sticks, which is much more attractive to one than slipping on the ice, pushing snow or donning an extra sweater in this cold winter weather. 

Earlier this month, we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Why do we need to have a special day to tell people that we love and care about them? Maybe because it gives us an excuse to make a special point in saying so to the people we know and love. 

My aunt Helyn has a February birthday. Helyn is a beautiful lady who fits right in with the Valentine mood. The love she gives to others shines in their eyes and thoughts.

I reap rewards as people recognize me as Helyn’s niece and often come up to tell me how much they enjoy her presence at Thorne Crest in Albert Lea. It always gives one a lift to spend some time visiting her — having coffee, though neither she or I drink coffee,. 

Nevertheless, we just enjoy sitting or talking about the good times. Things we weren’t always able to do in the past when we thought we were too busy to take the time to count our blessings.

I've never been disappointed in visiting the elderly. They have so much to offer. They put a smile on your face and a spring in your step, and I guess I can see that "getting older" doesn't seem old anymore. 

One wonders if a younger generation will step up to the plate when they are vacated by the forever young or growing older crowd. Perhaps when one’s self grows older, one recognizes so many who are in attendance at church, showers, benefits and the like are apt to be in the older category. Do they have more time to volunteer and play a part in community events?

On second thought, I am not being fair. Where would some of our senior citizens be if younger people didn't get them where they need to go and look after their welfare? 

Sometimes, we do forget that young lives are busy with dual employment, making sure their children get to practice or games, attend school and benefit events, march in parades and promote the elderly so they not only live longer, but comfortably as well. 

Older people have the advantage of experiences. Young people have the enthusiasm, energy, imagination and muscle needed to keep things advancing. 

It's great to see a lack in the generation gap as young and old work together. Isn't it wonderful that those with silver hair or none at all can blend in so nicely with these youngsters who are learning from their older experiences?

Yes, antiques are worth their weight in gold, or should I say the silver in their hair reminds us that they have lived through times both good and bad?

They are tough! You have to be if you’re old, because from what I hear, it’s not always the picnic people think it is going to be.

My dad described the golden years as tarnished tin. My mother said they are more like rusty barbed wire. They both were kidding of course! My great aunt, Carol Christensen described the golden years as a time you have reached when you have a tendency to cling to a special bond that forms with a different love than that of long ago.

When I was a child, people sat around kitchen tables and told their stories. We don't do that so much anymore. 

Sitting around the table telling stories is not just a way of passing time; it is the way the wisdom gets passed along. Despite the awesome powers of technology, many of us still do not live very well. We may need to listen to each other's stories once again.

The stories we can tell each other have no beginning and ending — they are a front row seat to the real experience. Even though they may have happened in a different time or place, they have a familiar feel. In some way, they are about us, too.

Real stories take time. We stopped telling stories when we started to lose that sort of time, pausing time, reflecting time, wondering time. 

Life rushes us along and few people are strong enough to stop on their own. Most often, something unforeseen stops us and it is only when we have the time to take a seat at life's kitchen table to know your own story and tell it, to listen to other people's stories, and to remember the real world is made of such stories.

Honor your senior citizens. You, too, will be old someday. Think of all the fun things you can talk about regarding those good old days with your younger family members and friends.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, February 28th: Troy Utpadel, Neil Pence, Jackie Miller, Steve Engel, Dan Nesdahl, Bennett Dobberstein, Atom Oquist, Sharese Lehmberg, John Marlin, Gerry Flim, Michelle Nelson, Michael Nelson, Tyler Titus, Tiffany Mischke, Michael Coy, Jim & Diane Butler.

• Friday, March 1st:  Dan Nelson, Arlen Brekke, Chet Alan Hansen, Jordon Cook, Rick Loberg, Sara Ihrke, Duane Reichl, Nicole Farr, Emily Ayers, Paula & Richard Conroy.

• Saturday, March 2nd: Willard Christenson, Wilfred Christenson, Laurie Jensen, Angie Hagen Rasmussen, Joanne Kaiser, Roger Langlie, Casey Lyman, Abner Smith, Alexis Elizabeth Klocek, Ronnie & Marcia Hutchins, Paul & Kathy Underland.

• Sunday, March 3rd: Jeff Lageson, John Crabtree, Valerie Tobiason Quiring, Maurine Larson, Frank Thompson, Bill Draayer, Terri Jensen, Darlene Christensen, Charlie Hanson, Jessica Tufte, Terri Miles, David Underland, Darren & Christine Hanson, Angie & Jeff Rasmussen, Nicole & Nathan Milender.

• Monday, March 4th: Dawn David, Teresa Hove, Larry Spear, Julia Elizabeth Neitzel.

• Tuesday, March 5th: Dayna Schember, Nicole Ella Schultz, Tim Toft, Vickie Haberman, Steve Van Ravenhorst.

• Wednesday, March 6th: Valerie Schember, Aaron Reese, Larry Reese, Dawn Dulas, Lynda Maddox Norland, Wade Wacholz, Ryan Schimek, Marlene Peterson, Lillian Weaver, Jami Ann & Travis Marzolf.

Wishing you quiet moments of beauty on your special day!

February is the time for getting in some last-minute “hard water” fishing and, in my case, fighting off the dreaded “cabin fever” which usually sets in this time of year. Although there isn’t one sure-fire remedy for this type of fever, there are numerous things you may do to relieve the symptoms.

Probably the most inexpensive way to get some relief is to tune in one of the fishing shows that air most Saturdays and Sundays on many local and cable channels. As I walked past the TV in the lobby at the City Arena last Saturday, I noticed a fishing show was being aired. 

While glancing at the scenery surrounding this northern lake, I found myself wishing I could be there. I’ve always felt there is something relaxing about watching folks catching “my kind of fish” on a pristine northern lake. I’m talking northern, walleye, musky, bass and panfish. 

It was a trip that could have taken place in Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin or Canada, where the scenery would be about the same. Ahhh, is it spring yet?

My other two elixirs for curing the dreaded fever are closely related. The first and most inexpensive one involves cleaning out and rearranging my tackle boxes. 

This can take part of an afternoon and, with any luck, I will find I am in need of some sort of tackle to replace what has been lost to fish or snags. This need for tackle gives me an opportunity to head to Cabela’s or Fleet Farm in Owatonna in search of necessities. As my third remedy, I do believe I could spend hours in those stores looking for the few items I have on the list and also looking at a few things that aren’t on the list. The Rapala section alone can occupy me for quite a while.

I look at jigs, plastic tails, sinkers, leaders and snaps to replace my depleted supply as necessary tools, much like food, are required to sustain life. At some point during my visit, I am drawn to the section where the musky lures are caged. To me, there has always been something almost mystical about musky lures, but now I am finding that what actually sets them apart from the rest is the $Price$.

I’ve come a long ways since the days of wrapping some fishing line around a stick and putting a couple of washers or some hooks in an old Buss Fuse box, hopping on the bike and riding to the lake. I can still remember the excitement of riding my bike back to the old “Mink Farm” and buying some horse meat to use as bait. 

I think we would pay a quarter for the meat and Willy, who worked at the farm, would cut it into small hook-sized chunks for us. The reward for spending that whole 25 cents was “monster” yellow-belly bullheads and also some big sunnies and bluegills. Those fish seemed to be fonder of that meat than of “angle worms” or crawlers.

Angle or earth worms were usually what we used because they were easy to find. The dirt around home was pretty fertile, so I’d dig back by the garden and put a few of them in a tin can, which was eventually replaced by a bait box. 

I never bought worm bedding (they didn’t have it back then) but I used moist black dirt, some damp leaves and a few grass clippings. A 2-lb. Hills Bros. coffee can was what I considered a worm farm. 

My uncle Ben taught me the art of picking night crawlers and I passed it on to my boys. I did take the grandsons out in the backyard a couple of times when they were younger, but I don’t know if they even do that anymore. 

It’s much easier to buy them, I guess. Over the years, I have spent many nights in the backyard with a flashlight mastering the art of sneaking up on and plucking crawlers out of their holes, making sure they came out in one piece.

I’d have to say those days are behind me now, but somehow the memory of those simple times can actually be the best cure for that dreaded cabin fever I seem to get at about this time each year.

— — —

A reminder about ice fishing house removal dates:

Inland Waters

Dates of removal are determined by an eastwest line formed by U.S. Hwy. 10, east along Hwy. 34 to Minnesota Hwy. 200, east along Hwy. 200 to U.S. Hwy. 2, and east along Hwy. 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.

• South of line - March 4, 2013

• North of line - March 18, 2013

• If shelters are not removed, owners will be prosecuted, and the structure and contents may be confiscated and removed, or destroyed by a conservation officer.

• After removal dates, shelters may remain on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise only when occupied or attended.

• Storing or leaving shelters on a public access is prohibited.

It is unlawful to improperly dispose of ice fishing shacks anywhere in the state. Please clean up around your shack and check with local refuse providers or landfills for ice shelter disposal information.

Until next time, get outside and take in a little fishing, skating or just take a winter walk in the good old 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.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

"My name is Bob T. Johnson."

"It’s nice to meet you. What is the T for?"

"To keep me awake."

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: the best thing about mental telepathy is, well, you know.

I've learned

The meaning of most dreams is that you are sleeping.

Being willing to work hard is a talent.

If everything were legal, there would be no crime.

The news from Hartland

The same things happen in Hartland as they do elsewhere, just not as often.

Roofer, Lee King, has a weekly special. This week, shingles are on the house.

Bertha DeBlues Music Store sells its soul music for money.

Hold out your hand when entering Grease World. That cafe saves you money by eliminating plates.

Seeing the world through glasses

George Carlin said, "Some see the glass as half-empty, some see the glass as half-full. I see the glass as too big."

My mother saw a glass as half-full. My father saw it as half-empty. He had to. He was a farmer. He believed Dwight Eisenhower who said, "Farming looks easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from a cornfield." As a boy, I looked at my glass of Tang (it’s what the astronauts drank) as it spilled. I looked at an empty glass and thought of it as diet water.

The way my parents looked at a glass carried over to other things. Mom and Dad talked things over at the kitchen table. Dad brought the numbers. Mom operated in the visceral aren — instinct and feelings. Woman’s intuition. They shared the decision-making process. Dad was the "no" part.

At night, back in the day

It was an AM radio, but it worked in the PM, too. Many local stations went off the air or cut power at night, making room for powerful stations from afar. I took my beloved GE transistor radio to bed each night and used an earphone to listen to distant stations. It was magic. I remember hearing a Los Angeles station and wanting to cry out, "LA!" but I didn’t dare. I was supposed to be sleeping. Sometimes I’d listen to basketball games played by people I couldn’t even picture.

I watched a girls’ basketball game recently. I could see all the players. I knew some. It was a good game. The score was close. A young woman seated to my left, looked up from her cellphone long enough to yell, "Travel!"

Then she realized that the one with the ball was a member of the team for which she was cheering. Undaunted, she said, "I meant, 'Dribble!'"

Did you know?

Singer Don McLean (famed for singing "American Pie") was fined $400 for cruising through a 15 mph school zone in Maine at 43 mph. He wasn’t driving his Chevy to the levee. He was driving a Chrysler.

About 60 percent of the material piled on your desk and around 80 percent of your files could be safely tossed, according to "Time Management for Dummies."

In 1967, Dustin Hoffman was in the movie "The Graduate." He played the character of Benjamin Braddock, who had returned home after graduating from college. Uncertain about his future, he was seduced by Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner. She seemed to be a much older woman. Hoffman was 30 years old in real life. Anne Bancroft, who played Mrs. Robinson, was 36.

George Washington's inaugural address was the shortest inaugural address in U.S. history. It was 133 words long.

Customer comments

Ric McArthur of Morpeth, Ontario wrote, "I was talking to a friend who was trying to quit smoking. I asked how he was doing, he replied, 'I only smoke once in a while and never in between.'"

Nature notes

Cottontail rabbits mate from February through August, acting as if they are dancing when the urge hits. Females make a nest by scraping a shallow depression in the ground and lining it with grass and fur. Three to six young are born naked, blind, weighing about an ounce, and measuring four inches after a 28-32 day gestation period. They grow rapidly. At five weeks of age, they are weaned and independent. They are mature at four months. There might be four litters a year. Due to many predators, only about 1 percent of rabbits reach 2 years of age. Rabbits have territories of five acres or less and are capable of running 18 mph.

Meeting adjourned

Be happy. Be kind.

The scurs were in their glory this past week and wouldn’t you know, school was even closed on Friday! Will we see more of the same or do we get a pass this week? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a slight chance of snow. Highs of 30 – 35 and lows of 20 – 25. Partly cloudy for Thursday through Saturday with highs of 25 – 30 and lows of 10 – 15. Partly cloudy on Sunday with highs of 25 - 30 and lows around 15. Mostly cloudy Monday with a slight chance of snow. Highs of 30 and lows near 20. Tuesday, partly cloudy with highs around 30 and lows falling to about 15 above. On February 27th the sun will set at 6 p.m. As of March 1st we have gained about 2 hours and 19 minutes of daylight since the winter solstice. The normal high for March 1st is 33 and the normal low is 16. The scurs have their sights set on getting one last slide down the hill before putting the toboggan away for the season.

Yes, tobogganing was again possible after the last storm dumped about 7” of snow at the ranch. The snow was surprisingly dry for a late February storm however, so melted down it contained the equivalent of only .5” of liquid precipitation. We’re in a little different position than we were a year ago at this time as there was little frost in the ground. Last year we received a generous helping of rain on February 29th, much of which went into the ground. Last check at the SROC they’re still looking at 25” of frozen soil, so this last snow likely won’t benefit crops much. It will however be beneficial for some of the wetlands that have been begging for moisture since last July. It would be wonderful to actually be able to hunt some waterfowl this fall again for a change. Sunday’s hoar frost brought us a reminder of how beautiful the landscape can be when the trees and fences are frost covered. It didn’t take long for Jack Frost’s handiwork to be erased by the sun and warmer temperatures.

Like many others in the neighborhood, this snowfall meant the first time our entire yard needed a major cleaning out. Oh sure, there have been some nuisance drifts that showed up here and there. Those were easily managed by a few passes with the small skid loader. Beats shoveling and it was relatively quick. This time was a different story and the tractor was nearly helpless on the ice without putting the chains on so back to the shed I went after almost getting stuck. There is no clean way to put a rusty set of chains on a tractor unless you want to wear a disposable Tyvek suit I suppose. It had been a while since I put them on so it took some head scratching to remember what was right side out or vice-versa. Eventually they were on correctly and I made short work of the snow. Regardless, same thing, different year and moving snow is still for the birds.

Speaking of the birds, there were some subtle changes at the ranch and surrounds this past week. Mourning doves are back under the feeders again. While they do stay around especially in town or more sheltered locales, this marks the first we’ve seen of them since late last fall. Also along the roadways, after seeing many snow buntings the brutally cold week before,  many of you have probably noticed the numerous small flocks of brown birds that get up and fly off as you drive by. What I’ve been seeing are primarily horned larks. They are ground nesting birds and can begin nesting as early as February. Might be a little tough to incubate eggs as long as their nesting grounds remain snow covered. The redpolls continue to amaze and amuse. When the feeders are refilled or topped off, they totally encase the mesh thistle seed feeders. Some have also become rather used to my presence when filling the feeders. It doesn’t take them long to figure out that seeing me means breakfast and lunch are served.

We got some lambs moved from the lambing barn on Sunday down to their loafing area in the main barn. After church we docked tails, gave shots and put in ear tags so we’ll know who is who. The creep feeder was set up as well so we can get the lambs on solid feed as quickly as possible. The sooner ewes and lambs are weaned the more the chores become consolidated. Nothing slows things down like lots of small pens of animals to deal with. The lambs have generally been doing very well. They are all very active and those we moved really enjoyed their newfound space to run and frolic in the fresh bedding. There are always a few one keeps an eye on when you hear a cough though. That’s just part of trying to provide good animal husbandry. Sure, we keep antibiotics on hand just in case but a little extra bedding goes a long way towards keeping them dry and helping to prevent pneumonia. 

Oh yes, the Border Collies got to help move the ewes and lambs. Fudgie was allowed to participate and even though she’d never moved sheep per se, she was generally where she should’ve been.  Along with Ruby she provided a perimeter that the ewes weren’t supposed to violate. Last week’s snow also provided some better footing for all parties concerned, sticking the ice surface so we remained upright for the duration. The dogs didn’t waste any time playing in the snow after we were finished either. The rooster tails of snow behind them reminded me of the snowmobilers who were busy wearing out the fresh coating of white stuff. One major difference: there is no running out of gas with these two dogs.

See you next week…real good then.

Before every varsity event at NRHEG, I remind fans to, “Show your Panther Pride through good sportsmanship, which is the only sportsmanship in high school athletics.” This idea, however, seems to elude people at every level of athletic competition, and as playoffs approach, good sportsmanship should be insisted upon.

Here’s the basic idea that most people who yell at officials don’t seem to get: your bellowing won’t change what’s happening on the court. You can yell until your voice disappears and you’re blue in the face, but a good official will not be affected by a crowd, no matter how boisterous.

In fact, sometimes your yelling works against your team. Sometimes officials will subconsciously continue to not notice whatever it is you’re harping about.

I admit, I used to be a shouter. In the early years of my coaching career, I got after officials a lot. Shockingly, nothing ever seemed to change. Then I started doing some officiating and umpiring myself.

If you’ve never officiated or umpired a game, don’t ever bother to yell at one of them. Don’t even think about it! You have no idea what it’s like to try and notice everything that needs to be seen, especially in a varsity level event.

I learned how I wanted to be addressed, and coaches in the area are well aware of how to let me know they disagree if they want to be “heard.”

Don’t ever show up an official; it will just make them mad. If a coach lets an official know something that is concerning as the official runs past, it’s likely to get noticed. Baseball coaches know that there are better ways to let me know they thought the pitch was the opposite of what I called rather than screaming about it.

I was coaching my daughter’s basketball team during a championship game in a tournament. The officials were consistent in what they called and didn’t call; after all, this was 5th-grade basketball. The fans from the other team were irate every time the officials didn’t make a call they thought should be made or when a borderline call went against their team.

I was proud of our fans. The girl from the other team probably shuffled her feet right before the game-winning shot, but I didn’t hear an outcry when we lost the game after the non-call. The simple matter is that if you are in a position where one call or missed call can cost your team a game, it’s your own fault for being in that position. How many opportunities did you miss out on earlier that would have made that last call a moot point?

As our local teams make a playoff push, please remember these things when the referee misses what you thought was an obvious traveling or foul call. Standing up and screaming will not do the Panthers any good. 

It’s important to be excited and into the game. We all hope we can head to Minneapolis to watch some basketball again this year.

If things don’t go our way though, please don’t blame the officials. Remember to show your good sportsmanship and understand that officials are human…and so are our players. They might make mistakes as well, but I hope nobody feels inclined to yell at them either. Go, Panthers!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is didactic, which means intended for instruction or to teach a moral lesson, as in, “The columnist’s tone seemed to become didactic, and some wondered if they were on the receiving end of a sermon.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!