By DALE KUGATH

Sportswriter

FREEBORN – Some blustery conditions and a hilly course made it a tough day for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva cross country teams at Oakview Golf course in Freeborn Oct. 9. 

The Panther boys finished fourth among five teams and the NRHEG girls came in fifth in the five-team field. Both squads finished last in 2011. 

The NRHEG boys have an overall record of 6-56 after eight meets, while the girls are 10-50.

Boys

The NRHEG boys managed to beat conference foe Waterville-Elysian-Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton but no one else at the USC Invitational.

The funeral service for E. Jane Perry of New Richland will be held on Saturday, October 13 at 2 p.m. at the Congregational Church in New Richland. Pastor Pamela Jensen will officiate. Interment will be in St. Peters Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church.

Jane Perry passed away on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at St. Luke’s Care Center in Blue Earth. She was 86 years old.

Jane was born on July 31, 1926 in Blue Earth. The daughter of Frank and Wava (Fletcher) Dray, she attended school in Blue Earth, and after graduation, went on to complete her teacher training. On November 1, 1946, she married Donald Perry in Blue Earth. Together they settled down in New Richland in 1953 where they raised three children. 

It was a beautiful day. There was a stack of things that could/should be done.  

Slightly handicapped by a recent fall, there were things I couldn't do. Strictly impromptu, I played "hooky" and just took a drive of familiar but not always looked at things close to home. 

Things change rapidly sometimes. The countryside was beautiful. 

The trees, of course, displayed a palette of color, some shedding their burden of leaves, and others still green. Leaves fell like quiet little rain drops forming a bed of carpet.

I also paid a visit to the Crystal Springs RV park, south of the Gopher Stop III, by Ellendale, a truly beautiful, restful looking place. It was obvious that a lot of time and labor had gone into planning this area.

It boasted the feeling of both a modern little city while retaining the sanctuary of a wild and beautiful area. Wild geese graced the 10 acres of water reflecting nature at its best.

Also along my journey were wooden barn quilts that decorated outdated buildings, lending their color to the environment and thoughts of how much more colorful and brightening they would be when winter sheds its blanket of snow.

We also went to a funeral. I'll admit that there was a time I felt a funeral was a sad situation and admittedly would often attend a visitation rather than a funeral, I am ashamed to say. 

Blame it on the fact that when we are younger you look at things in a different perspective.

There was a lady who, upon returning from funerals, would comment, "I probably should not say this but I had a wonderful time.” We thought it was a strange comment for someone to say following the attendance of a funeral, but the more I think about it, I tend to agree.  

Morbid? No, I don't think so. 

I use to think it was wrong to say we celebrate the life of (so and so). I guess in someways "celebrate" doesn't seem right, but it is correct. 

We think of all the things that person contributed in his/her lifetime, being a part of our lives, and collecting memories. We cry and it is sad, but aren't we crying for ourselves and what we will miss and what might have been?

No one is unfortunate who dies surrounded by love. Don't grieve for them, grieve for all who have died and will die, feeling alone, abandoned, and unloved. 

Weep for them. Only love is real — all the rest doesn't matter.

Where but at a funeral do you find the mutual friends and family that you haven't seen or taken the time to visit for a while? So, indeed, a funeral is not something to shun. Going, giving your respect to the deceased, renewing memories, and being with mutual friends can make for a good day.

A penny for your thoughts. There is more value than that in your opinion and that's not counting inflation.

This saying, "A penny for your thoughts," dates back to 16th century England at a time when that penny was a hard earned salary. So, it really did value what you were thinking.

How important is a penny?  Some people wouldn't bend over to pick one up off the street. 

Call me wierd, but I rejoice when I find a penny. To me it is a message from God that indeed we should trust in God.

Pennies are why we have “piggy banks.” Saving those pennies like that puts weight in your pocket or purse, and it is surprising how fast they accumulate.

Kids like counting them as they put them in their piggy banks, and they are more than likely counted many, many more times before they are spent. I remember when my kids were sitting in the back of the station wagon throwing out pennies. 

When admoished about it they said, "Why not? They aren't worth anything." (They were told if you saved enough of them then they were.)

Their reply was, "But think of how many people will be so happy when they find one." I guess there are two ways of thinking on that one.

Carrying a penny in your pocket, is a reminder that "In God We Trust.” 

Interesting, when my parents’ house burned down they had a pail of pennies in their closet. That's right, a pail. 

What do you think happened to them? Off hand one would think that they would melt into a lump, which is not true. Strange, though, some of the pennies actually became paper thin.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding annoucements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us.  If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

• Thursday, October 11th: Alisha Moody, Reed Michael Kath, Mitchell Edwards, Ebonie Mullenmaster, Earl Klinger, Mayro Leak Kubista, Melissa Otto, Jenna Swearingen, Mike Trumble, Cory McGrath, Shawna Besco, John Cyr, Lee & Jody Loverink.

• Friday, October 12th: Katilyn Olivia Crabtree, Les Shawback Jr., Christopher Wallace, Beth Spande, Marilyn Dobberstein, Terrie Mullenmaster, Maurice Mullenmaster, Vikki Pence, Roxann Ditlevson, Lewis Kelly, Denise Jensen Bronner, Charlie & Becky Phagan, Larry & Terry Jensen.

• Saturday, October 13th: Hunter Stephen Knutson, his 9th; Journey Lynn Utpadel, Hunter Stephen Knutson, Courtney Ann Deml, Otto Nels Oquist, Mitchell Wallace, Jackie Flor, Rita Thompson, Suzanne Peterson, Becky Wallace, Mikkel & Jennifer Iverson.

• Sunday, October 14th: Chris Schlaak, Jim Lutgens, Reece Alexander, Chris Ritz, Janet Goette, Dan Hanson, Breanna & Tim Briedenbach, Delana & Daniel Routh.

• Monday, October 15th: Madison Lynn Homuth, Corbin Brocker, Colin Matthew Felt Farr, Tony Anderson, Sandy Jensen, Ed Ver Hey, Leroy & Garnet Folie, Heidi & Tim Schaefer.

• Tuesday, October 16th:  Kade Schember, Jenny Shaunce, Sabrina Marie Bauers, Allie Larson, Donna & Gordon Hanson, Daniel & Regina Van Kampen, Jamie & Amber Jensen, Travis & Stacy Ingnaszewski.

• Wednesday, October 17th: Lucas Bailey, Pat Wayne, Dale Strenge, David Killian, Sherrie Dahl, Dustin Wayne, Pam & Rick Cook, Sidney & David Kasper, Andy & Mary Ditlevson.

May every day in the year ahead bring you something to enjoy!

The first half of this past week we probably experienced some of the nicest fall weather I can remember. Like good things it eventually had to come to an end.. 

The pelicans were still in the channel in full force along with quite a few white herons (egrets). This was quite a sight to see.

Speaking of sights to behold, while I was on my morning walk down Newton Street, I spotted a critter walking parallel to me trotting down the middle of the street. 

After I did double take, I saw the white tip on its tail and realized it was a fox! I watched as the fox crossed in front of me and, seemingly in no particular hurry, disappeared into some trees and heavy brush between two houses. 

On some of my walks in past years, I’ve seen not only the usual squirrels and rabbits, but also woodchucks and skunks. I’ve even had deer run across the road directly in front of me. 

After all that, I’d have to say this is the first time I’ve encountered a fox, and it really took me by surprise.

The other morning, as I was driving out South Broadway, I spotted a red-tail hawk sitting in a cornfield just off of the road. It was a large and colorful adult. 

Before I could finish savoring the moment, three wild turkeys ran across the road in front of me, close enough that I had to step on the brakes to avoid them. It’s pretty good when you can see so many of nature’s critters and not have to venture far from home.

The colors in most of the state are at their peak right now. It won’t be long before we will be  bagging those colors we are now admiring. The days of burning leaves in the city are long gone.

Statewide you are allowed to burn with permit only or no burning at all in some counties. As dry as it has been in our area, we have been pretty lucky to have only a handful of fires. Be mindful of how dry it is because it wouldn’t take much to start another fire.

There are a few folks I know who look forward to fall each year with their sights set on “jumbo” perch (which seem to be pretty active right up to ice-over and shortly thereafter). For years, my Uncle Ben and a few friends would head to Winnie in search of those big perch. 

For many years, I couldn’t figure out why you’d drive way up north to fish perch. In my younger days, I had a fixation with walleye and northern fishing and I always said, “I don’t sit around all winter dreaming about catching perch.” 

That still hasn’t changed much, but after spending one October fall day catching some of those “jumbos,” I realized what it was all about.

After rowing our small boat out to the far edge of some cabbage weeds on our little lake, I commenced to fish and it wasn’t long before I had a very nice perch in the boat. I mean to tell you, it was a dandy! I had never caught one that big. 

It was longer than my boot, and I’m sure it was at least a pound and a quarter if not more. I then commenced to boat about 28 of them in that range, keeping only eight to bring home for a fish fry and releasing the rest. 

That’s when I realized what the fuss over fall perch fishing was all about. It had taken me way too many years, but I did finally figure it out.

Fishing in the fall can sometimes be feast or famine, but just spending time on the lake this time of year makes me feel like my stringer is always full. Another nice thing about fall fishing is that there are times when you are not sharing the lake with anyone; it is almost like you have your own private lake. 

In October, you may share a more popular lake with some late season musky fishermen or the sound of gunshots may ring out as a flock of ducks or geese pass overhead. This time of year can be one of the most rewarding experiences of the open water season.

Although we never really look forward to winter, it is inevitable and, like it or not, it will be here before we know it. There are however, many opportunities for outdoors enjoyment to be had. 

Topping the list for most sportsmen would probably be the “hard water” fishing season. It will be interesting to see what will happen this year with the water levels being what they are. 

Although I’m not planning on building an ark any time soon, I hope that something (moisture) will happen to bring the water levels back up on our area lakes and streams.

The pheasant hunting season will open on October 13 and run through January 1. With the mild winter we experienced, I’d expect the outlook to be pretty good. 

A mild winter followed by a warm spring contributed to a significant increase in Minnesota’s pheasant count, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The pheasant population index increased 68 percent from 2011. Pheasant hunters are expected to harvest about 290,000 roosters this fall. That’s up from last year’s estimated harvest of 204,000, but roughly half the number taken during the 2005-2008 seasons when hunting was exceptionally good.

“While the 2012 increase reflects movement in a positive direction, the counts still remain 51 percent below the 10-year average,” said Kurt Haroldson, the DNR biologist who compiled the survey.

Until next time, take a little time to enjoy the outdoors experience and the world of nature that surrounds us.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms we have today.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

"What did the cow say to the dentist?"

"I don't know."

"Medicare."

"I don't get it."

"That's because you're not 65."

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: I’ve often wondered who "they" are. In most cases, they are not them. They are us.

I’ve learned

1. Anytime is a good time to start something, but next to yesterday you can’t beat today.

2. TV news is just the thing to watch when you’ve run low on things to worry about.

3. Age is nothing more than a state of body.

Farm stories

I don't often eat too much, but I frequently eat too fast. I blame my haste on growing up on a farm. I ate lunches on hayracks and tractors. I had to eat quickly before the food got dirty.

A cousin from the city stayed overnight at our farm. We were youngsters. We spent much of the first day of his visit exploring the mysteries of the farm. He thought I was lucky. I had a tire swing. He knew kids who lived in the city who had no tires.

The next morning, we were up at 5 to do chores before breakfast.

As we staggered toward the barn, my cousin said, "It sure doesn't take long to stay all night at your place."

In the neighborhood

My neighbor Bob the Olson was in the Eat Around it Cafe, when he reached down and picked something up from the floor. Everyone assumed it was a gnawed bone until Bob looked around the eatery and asked, "Did anyone lose $20?"

Four men immediately claimed they had.

Bob smiled and flipped the dime he’d found in their direction while saying, "Well, I found part of it. Divide it among you."

Traveling is a course in everything

I was headed out of Red Deer, Alberta when I spotted a sign advertising a campground named “RV There Yet.” Later, I visited the world’s largest cream can in Markerville, Alberta. I thought it was large. People likely think that a lot.

Red Deer was just like home, only different. Kilometers replaced miles and the temperature was in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. Tony Blake of Red Deer told me that all I needed to know about the temperature in Celsius was that 40 above was damn hot and 40 below was damn cold.

Francis the Pig

A hog was taken to a slaughterhouse in Red Deer in 1990. When unloaded from the truck, he made a run for it. The 240-pound hog jumped a fence and made his way into the Red Deer River valley. He was frequently seen living in the wild over the next six months. Antje Espinaco-Virseda of Edmonton, whose love of pigs had caused her to become a vegetarian, gave the pig the name Francis, after Saint Francis of Assisi. She believed the pig's daring and bravery had earned him his freedom.

A man, worried that Francis would not survive the winter, shot him with three tranquilizer darts. Unfortunately, one of the darts meant to save him punctured an internal organ and that, combined with injuries from a car collision, brought death.

A member of the Alberta legislature said, “I think it's fair to say he's been an example for all of us of our own province's motto: strong and free.”

In 1997, Francis was immortalized in a life-sized bronze sculpture in downtown Red Deer.

Café chronicles

A visitor stopped at the Village Inn in Hartland. Hartland has a population of 315 with four last names. The man was from the big city. I can't say exactly why that was evident, but you could tell. He was a friendly fellow who said to one of the patrons of the cafe, "It must be nice living in the country."

"I wouldn't know," came the reply. "I've lived here in Hartland all my life."

Nature notes

Woody the Woodpecker is based upon an acorn woodpecker.

Passerines (songbirds) are perching birds that have involuntary leg muscles that make it possible for them to grip a branch and not fall while sleeping.

A Bat Conservation International study found that temporarily shutting down wind turbines during low-wind periods at night could reduce bat fatalities at wind-energy facilities by up to 93 percent. 

Of the nearly 2 million species of living things described by science, less than 5% are bigger than a breadbox.

Meeting adjourned

"If you can learn from hard knocks, you can also learn from soft touches."--Carolyn Kenmore. Be kind.

Summer is gone. As of September 22, fall arrived. Orange you glad?

The sumac turns red first, then the tree leaves turn. The leaves are such a pretty yellow and orange. 

They are so enjoyable until they decide to rest on the ground (hand-held rakes are then the tool of attack weaponry).

In looking back at our lake calendar, this enjoyable (and then unenjoyable) time of the year is about October 2 through 16 (later if you’re a slow raker).

Please don’t rake or blow your leaves into Beaver Lake. Be nice to the lake; it is nice to you.

September is the month when many of the docks are taken in. October is the month when most of the rest of the docks are taken in. November is the month when the last few “narrative” docks are taken in.

For the first time in 37 summers, we were the first to have our dock out of the lake (probably because we never put the dock in, due to the lake being low).

Beaver Lake water level is about three feet below normal spring water level. All docks are on dry land for the first one fourth to one half of their length. On a more positive note, you’re getting more beach for your money when you pay your real estate taxes.

The low lake level is both good and bad for the fishermen. Good because there is less water in which the fish can hide; bad because all of the boat ramp is on dry land, thus making it harder to get your boat in and out of the water.

Wanted: A person with a small game hunting license. Stop by cabin 67 on Beaver Lake. You furnish the license; I’ll furnish the gun, ammo and gray squirrels. You may keep the limit of seven.

On four consecutive mornings, we saw about 4,000 pelicans, 1,000 geese, and 500 ducks fly over our cabin headed for Lonergan Lake (just west of Beaver Lake). We think they came from Lake Geneva.

Duck hunting season began on Saturday, Sept. 2, which was also the first day of fall. If you found water, you found ducks. 

The flight of pelicans, geese, and ducks over our cabin ended with the opening of duck hunting season. Where did they go? 

By the way, pelicans are protected. (Did you know they taste a lot like bald eagles?)

If you like to walk, follow the trail at the end of Beaver Lake Park. This is the time of the year when it is most beautiful, with no bugs. Your chance of seeing deer or turkeys is very good. Contrary to popular rumor, there are no bears! (Pheasant sighting is a rarity.)

Are you an ex-Twins fan who is now a Detroit Tigers fan? I am. Maybe I should just say “Anybody but the Yankees.”

Are the Vikings for real or just a flash in the pan?

Genie and I are now Forty-Niners! To celebrate, we went to the Old Mill in Austin for lunch. Food was good; service from Ellie was excellent. While in Austin, going to the Spam Museum gift shop for Christmas presents was a must!

In honor of now being a Forty-Niner, Mark Sorenson gave me a ride in his ultra-light. We flew over Beaver Lake (it was most enjoyable). Genie’s turn was next, as there is only room for one passenger at a time.

Genie and I became Forty-Niners on September 28, 2012. When you have been married 49 years, you are a Forty-Niner for one year.

— — —

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God. 

The fact that I will turn 40 in less than one calendar year doesn’t bother me. Really, it doesn’t! 

I’m only as old as I feel, and most days I feel like I’m closer to 30. However, the fact that I just helped celebrate my 20-year class reunion does make me feel old.

Twenty years out of high school? Wow, that’s longer than I was in school. 

I graduated from Cathedral High School in New Ulm in 1992 with only 31 kids in my class. We were a pretty good group of kids when it came to cliques and avoiding too much pettiness.

Don’t get me wrong, we certainly had groups of people, but it wasn’t as if I couldn’t interact with the more popular group. When we all got together the other weekend, people quickly filtered back to their comfort levels. 

This is probably normal; my dad tells me people do that at his class reunions yet, and he’s been out a tad bit longer than I have.

We were able to come together though and show solidarity in remembering the first classmate we lost. Jessica was a real leader in our class and very bright; it was a shame when she died of cancer last year, a real shock to our systems. 

I hope we don’t have to worry about that again anytime soon, but a couple of my classmates put together a nice tribute to Jessica’s memory.

I was very excited leading up to this reunion; it had been 10 years since I’d seen many of my classmates. We even had someone fly in from Oregon for this one! 

We toured our old school and realized how much had NOT changed! The desks, chairs, tables, and lockers were pretty much the same, which brought a level of comfort back to us. 

Working in education, I’m used to seeing schools, but I’ve always thought of my high school as being a comfortable place, and the unchanging aspects we saw helped solidify some of my memories.

I encourage high school students to savor the memories you make. Try to get along with your classmates; you never know what fond memories someone might bring up 20 years from now! 

I didn’t have to be close compadres with everyone, but I could count many people as friends, and that made interacting with so many people even more fun for my reunion. If you’re a senior this year, try to talk with some of your classmates you don’t know very well. You might find something in common that can last beyond high school!

I enjoyed high school a great deal. It was the best four years of my life…until college. 

Those were the best years of my life…until moving to New Richland. Every step builds on the previous one, so laying down a solid foundation in high school only makes what happens after that much better. 

And with that, I want to wish a happy anniversary to my wife Michelle. The fact that I grow happier every year 14 years into this journey is a testament to what a wonderful, loving spouse she is!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is wale, which is a ridge on cloth, such as, “The wales on his corduroy pants helped him feel like he was the height of fashion.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs had another week of telling it like it is. While the lows came in a little lower than forecast, the rain showed exactly as scripted. What’s this week’s script? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with highs of 55 – 60 and lows of 40. Clear on Thursday and Friday becoming cloudy Friday afternoon with a good chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs of 55 on Thursday with lows of 25.  High Friday of 55 and not as cool overnight with lows of 45. Showers and thunderstorms likely on Saturday under cloudy skies. Highs near 60 and lows around 45. Sunday, partly cloudy and pleasant with highs around 60 and lows near 45. Partly cloudy Monday with a slight chance of a shower. Highs of 65 and lows of 45. Partly sunny on Tuesday with highs of 65 and lows near 45. The normal high for October 15th is 61 and the normal low is 37. We will experience 11 hours of daylight on the 15th the same as we normally see on February 26th.  The scurs will have their purple Vikings umbrella and refreshments at the ready just in case rain really materializes over the weekend.

Rains would be welcome around most of greater Bugtussle and environs. Crops are generally harvested and it comes as no surprise. With the kind of weather we had in September and so far in October, one would’ve been procrastinating pretty severely to forego the opportunity we had. Tillage has been coming along too although the wear on points and lays keeps the parts men smiling at local implement dealerships. Rain would definitely help cut down on some of that wear and tear as well as giving the soil a little more moisture with which to bind fall anhydrous ammonia. It is still too early for that however, so best keep at the honeydew projects a few more weeks yet. 

A few snow pellets hit the ground last Saturday morning and seemed to bring with it a whole host of juncos in the yard at the ranch. The recent cold snap has seen more activity at the birdfeeders once again. Lots of downies, hairies and one immature red-bellied woodpecker. The nuthatches and house finches keep things hopping too along with the reappearance of the leghorn-sized blue jays. The goldfinches are still around but not using the feeders much, tending to feast in the CRP yet as well as checking out the maturity of the sunflowers in the garden.

Speaking of the garden, we finally gave up on covering the tomatoes. The 24-degree Saturday night/Sunday morning low was just a little more than our ragtag assortment of blankets and tarps would handle. It’s still amazing how many appear to be in good enough condition to eat yet. This after we brought in four 5-gallon buckets before the freeze. The vegetables planted back in late July also withstood the freezing temperatures well. The winter radish crop shows little sign it was that cold and ditto with the snap peas and leaf lettuce. The experiment shows every sign of being a success. There are plenty of winter radishes to share, although they really pack a wallop. The leaf lettuce is very crisp and sweet as are the snap peas. It’s time to dig the carrots soon though. Something else has been digging around them and after sharing the rest of the garden with several varmints over the course of the season, I’m not feeling very generous anymore.

It’s been cold. How cold has it been? Cold enough so that after a several-year hiatus, I’ve dug into my outdoor wardrobe and let my face grow long in an attempt to stay warm. This has not been without its drawbacks however. Last week when it cooled down I bundled up well before heading into work. I stopped at the post office and while outside visiting with another gentleman, spied our new pastor coming in. I greeted him warmly and while he acknowledged me with a smile and polite conversation, it wasn’t quite the response I expected.  Later that day I was soil sampling in a customer’s field when I spied him and his wife removing some velvetleaf out of the fenceline. It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to fade somewhat. I got off the 4-wheeler to talk to him and the conversation was very short and really not as friendly as I’d anticipated. Had I done something to tick him off? I mean, I showered that morning, brushed my teeth, used deodorant and everything. I got back on the 4-wheeler and finished sampling the field. I was still somewhat bewildered as I loaded the machine onto the trailer and headed back in for the day. 

On Saturday I went into the office to get motivated to brave the elements once again. I was having coffee and chit chatting when suddenly the customer showed up. He wanted to talk to me about something so, after bidding the fellow adieu I’d been talking to, I wondered what was up. When he told me that he hadn’t seen me for s while and when he saw me all bundled up with a face full of whiskers, he simply hadn’t recognized me! I was relieved and actually got a great laugh out of it. On Sunday at church, after ushering, I ventured downstairs and had a chance to quickly chat with our pastor before he left to preach to the Swedes. He confided that while he should’ve remembered the smile, he hadn’t recognized me at first either! Understandable. He’s still a relative newcomer and has probably only seen me when I’m cleaned up. Here I am all bundled up, hat on and a little grubby looking. Of course it probably wouldn’t hurt if I attended church services a little more regularly. All of this has given me a great idea though. If I decide to go out trick or treating this year, I’m just going to dress up as myself. No one will ever know who I am!

See you next week…real good then!

New Richland City Council

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Editorial Assistant

The New Richland City Council held its first meeting of October on Monday, the 8th. The two-hour meeting consisted of a lot of discussion about cutting spending for the budget levy and the current insurance policy, as well as reports. All members were present.

The first order of business was the ambulance report, which requested the approval of six new members. The new members will either take classes or join the first response team. The request and ambulance report were approved.

The New Richland Police Department reported 74 calls and 56 other contacts/activities for the month of September. The previously mentioned juvenile nuisance complaints have improved since school has been in session, as expected. The department is also looking into the purchase of a new camera and snow tires for the new squad car, and their request to purchase ammunition for the department was approved, costing $579. The police report was approved.