Mary A. Spinler, 87, of Owatonna passed away on Dec. 31, 2012 at the Owatonna Hospital.

Mary was born on Oct. 15, 1925 to Edward and Agnes (Rajnet) Rysavy near Bixby in Blooming Prairie Township. She attended rural school district #64 and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1943. Prior to marriage she did clerical work for Jostens. On July 9, 1947 she married Justin Spinler at Holy Trinity Church, Litomysl. Following marriage, they settled on a dairy farm in Summit Township; Mary enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and raising her own family.

Leon John Koziolek, age 79, of Freeborn/Hartland, MN, died Sunday, December 30, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family.  He had given an anatomical gift to Rochester Mayo. A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, January 4th, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, MN. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 3rd , 2013 from 4-7 p.m.  with a 7 p.m. Rosary Service at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Father Thomas Niehaus will officiate and interment will be in Freeborn Cemetery at a later date. Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, MN is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial services for Leslie A. Hagen of Joplin, MO, formerly of New Richland, MN, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 13, 2013 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Pastor Paul Andree will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St Olaf Cemetery, New Richland.

Leslie died December 22, 2012 in his motor home while traveling from Joplin, MO, where he resided since his retirement.

Leslie was born in New Richland, MN, where he grew up. After serving in the US Army, he wed Gladys Schroeder from Owatonna and resided in Owatonna, MN, where he built a new home and had his own rendering truck. He then moved back to New Richland, MN, and purchased his father’s farm on the west side of New Richland. He farmed for several years and drove semi for Tipton Trucking and Shurson Trucking. He put his own truck on the pea viner, did custom corn picking but was most known for driving school bus which he loved for many years. He and his wife also owned an Old Time band called the “Hagen’s Merrymakers” and at one time owned a bar/supper club in Glenville, MN.

Kathryn A. LeBeau, 75, of Blooming Prairie, died Friday, December 28, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital after a five-year diagnosis with Amyloidosis.  

She was born September 2, 1937 in Buckingham, IA the daughter of Herman and Frances (Wilkinson) Johns. In 1949 the family moved to the farm in Blooming Prairie. Kathryn graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1955. Richard “Dick” Cory and Kathryn were married on July 21, 1955. Kathryn completed cosmetology school and opened a salon in Medford. Kathryn married Robert “Bob” LeBeau on September 26, 1975. Kathryn worked at OTC for several years and then 25 years at NAPA distribution center, from which she retired. 

Thomas A. Ribbe, age 62, formerly of New Richland, died on Friday, December 28, 2012 at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato.

Born on December 4, 1950 in Owatonna, Minnesota he was the son of Orrin and Inez (Jacobson) Ribbe.  He graduated from New Richland High School in 1969 and served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam where he served until his honorable discharge in 1971.  He married Deanna Cooper on June 4, 1977 at St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca and they were later divorced.  He was employed as an over the road truck driver for several companies and later worked for Brown Printing Co. in Waseca for almost 20 years.  He later worked a variety of jobs until his health forced him to retire.  He enjoyed spending time with his family, helping his friend farm in the New Richland area, maps and geography, and WWII history.  He was a member of the American Legion in Waseca and New Richland and the Waseca VFW and the NRA.

NRHEG School Board

By REED WALLER

Staff Writer

Approximately 50 students and parents were present at last Monday’s meeting of the NRHEG school board, but they weren’t there to ask questions about their property taxes, nor to comment on the kitchen/cafeteria renovation project to be approved for bids that evening.

They were there to witness the result of a recommendation to terminate eighth-grade boys’ basketball coach Darian Baker.

Coach termination considered

Baker was present, as was Athletic Director Dan Stork. Both sides were asked to present whatever factual (but non-evidential) data could help the board with their decision to approve or deny the dismissal. They were reminded, however, that any discussion of the case itself in a public meeting was forbidden by law.

Fast start keys 60-49 win over JWP

SPECTATOR SHOW — The Panthers’ Spencer Tollefson (30) goes to the hoop while JWP’s Kyle Fisel (12) and Tyler Cowdin (1) can only watch during NRHEG’s 60-49 victory at New Richland last Friday. It was the Panthers’ first win of the season. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

Coach Pat Churchill and his young New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys’ basketball team saw its hard work rewarded.

The Panthers picked up their first victory of the season after starting the year with four straight losses.

NRHEG was unable to contain the inside play of Luke Monson in a non-conference loss to Blue Earth Dec. 18.

But, the Panthers came out smoking Friday and thumped Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton for a Gopher Conference victory.

Blue Earth

NEW RICHLAND – NRHEG hung around for 10 minutes before the Blue Earth inside game took its toll. 

Panthers continue to light up scoreboard

By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

Despite playing a pair of road games, the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team continued to wear out opponents’ scoreboards. 

Coach John Schultz’s squad racked up 168 points in two victories, stretching its current winning streak to four games. 

The Panthers defeated section foe Southland and Gopher Conference rival Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton to improve their record to 6-1 for the year. The state’s second-ranked AA team has won four of five road games this winter. 

Southland

ADAMS – Southland was able to keep NRHEG from getting easy baskets and successful in shutting nearly everyone down, but the Rebels did not have an answer for Carlie “Dagger” Wagner in Adams Dec. 18.

Wagner poured in a school-record 50 points to carry NRHEG to a 78-71 victory.

Coach Paul Cyr’s NRHEG wrestling team had an unexpected week off going into the Christmas break. 

The Panthers were scheduled to make the long trip to Winona to tangle with Winona, Faribault and St. Charles Dec. 20. That meet was postponed due to the snow and poor driving conditions that evening. 

The Panthers will make up that meet on Jan. 5. 

The next action for NRHEG is a home quadrangular with Blue Earth, St. Clair and Triton on Jan. 4.