Jim Lutgens
Care center survey goes well
New Richland City Council
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Council members Amy Ihrke and Anthony Martens were absent as Mayor Tom McShane convened the second regular council meeting of April at New Richland City Hall Monday, April 23.
Mayor McShane signed a proclamation designating the month of May as Poppy Month and making Friday, May 11 the official Poppy Day for New Richland.
Maintenance supervisor Ryan Nissen noted there were 21 delinquent water bills in March. Nissen requested the council hire Grant Berg again for the part-time summer employee. It was approved.
NRHEG Honor Roll
NRHEG High School Principal Paul Cyr has announced the names of students selected to the Honor Roll for 3rd Quarter 2011-12:
“A” Honor Roll
Grade 12 — Emily Beenken, Dustin Esplan, Amanda Groskreutz, Michaela Hansen, Ashton Hareid, Hannah Haroldson, Hailey Johnson, Megan Judd, David Lassahn, Brandon LeBlanc, Samuel Lundberg, Lucas Meyer, Cody Mosher, Samuel Nafe, Tori Raimann, Tiara Robran, Eric Sorenson, Jillian Theuer, Amy Thompson, Carter Tollefson, Jade Waltz and Lexi Wayne.
Grade 11 — Brendon Arnold, Noelle Bartness, Kiley Beenken, Paige Bolduan, Elizabeth Eder, Hans Frank, Jarred Hanson, Emilia Hobbs, Erin Larson, Mikayla Lindell, Alicia Merritt, Brooke Olson, Crystal Olson, Stephanie Root, Casey Rosacker, Raelin Schue, Madison Schwierjohann, Tara Simon, Nathaniel Wallin and Chandler Wisler.
Grade 10 — Adam Anderson, Emily Christensen, Kellen Ferber, Carson Field, Presley Johnson, Noah Krell, Hannah Lundberg, Jadyn Nelson-Spies, Laura Ranniger, Douglas Rudau, Morgan Staloch, Carlie Wagner and Alexis Wyatt.
Warren R. Sorenson, 90
Funeral services for Warren Roger Sorenson, age 90, of Geneva will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at Community Lutheran Church. Rev. Carrie McElfresh will officiate. Interment will be at Geneva Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by Freeborn County area veteran’s organizations. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.
Warren passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the Good Samaritan residence in Albert Lea.
Warren lived his entire life in Southern Minnesota. He was born on December 12, 1921 in Ellendale, the third of eight children to Julius and Clara (Narveson) Sorenson. He attended school in Ellendale, Albert Lea, Hayward and Clarks Grove areas. At an early age, Warren began working at Petran Farms in Hayward as a herdsman. On August 9, 1942 Warren married Solveig Christine Skaar at the Central Freeborn Lutheran Church shortly before leaving to serve in the U.S. Army during WWII. After his return in October 1945, Warren again worked for Petran Farms and a year later worked as a milk tester for a dairy association. In 1949, Warren moved his young family to Geneva where he worked as a self-employed painter. By 1952, Warren had established Sorenson’s Appliance and T.V. where his three sons later joined him. An avid outdoorsman, Warren enjoyed fishing and hunting and was able to take many trips throughout the northern states and Canada, often with family and his special group of friends. Always a storyteller, Warren spent his free time enjoying the company of his family and telling tales of his adventures. His greatest joy was attending his children and grandchildren’s school sporting events. In addition to being a member of Community Lutheran Church in Geneva, Warren served on the Ellendale School Board, was a proud member of the local chapter of ARC and was very active in his community.
Survivors include his wife, Solveig; his daughter Gail (Butch) Ottesen of Delavan, his sons Mark (Sharon) Sorenson and Tim (Jolene) Sorenson of Geneva and Scott (Jan) Sorenson of Troy, MT. He is also survived by his brother Gordon (Marlene) Sorenson of Albert Lea; sister Clarice Pence of Owatonna and his grandchildren, Jill and Cameron Kehne (Madalyn) of Brooklyn Center, Laura and Jonathan Ortiz (Jake and Graciela) of Mexico City, Brooke and Tim Krohn (Lainee) of Geneva, Dak and Lydia Sorenson (Jett) of Geneva, Paige Sorenson and Tyler Sorenson of Geneva and numerous nieces and nephews.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Elaine; brothers Norris, Henry and Stanley; and sisters Jeanette and Lila.
Gloria A. Schuler, 71
Gloria A. Schuler of Medford died April 26, 2012 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN following a lengthy illness. Services are set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2012 at St. John Lutheran Church with the Rev. David Klawiter presiding. Interment will follow at Owatonna Memorial Gardens. Friends may greet the family on Sunday from 6 to p.m. at Brick – Meger Funeral Home (1603 – Austin Road, Owatonna) and at the church one hour before the time of service on Monday.
Gloria was born on August 30, 1940 the daughter of Henry and Laura (Kruesel) Stoltz in Owatonna. She attended school in Owatonna and was a member of the graduating class of 1958 at OHS. Gloria was united in marriage to Ken Schuler on June 20, 1959 at St. John Lutheran Church in Owatonna. Together the couple raised eight children, and later divorced. She worked most of her life for several manufacturing companies in the Owatonna and Faribault areas. She retired in 2009 from Truth Hardware in Owatonna. Her life interests included golfing, visiting the area casinos, traveling and many of the activities that involved her grandchildren. Gloria served as past president of the Owatonna Eagles Auxiliary. She will be remembered for her compassionate smile and kindness shown to others throughout her life.
Gloria is survived by her eight children; Don Schuler of Ellendale, Denise Schuler of Medford, Steve Schuler of Hope, James Schuler of Owatonna, Cathy (Craig) Brown of Middlebury, IN. Chuck (Sue) Schuler of Owatonna, Joanne Schuler of Medford, Sara (Jon) Spatenka of Owatonna. Nine Grandchildren Tony Schuler, Heather Brown, Beth and Justin Schuler, Teri Schuler, Tim, Trevor, and Taelor Spatenka, Kenneth Schuler. Her brothers Paul (Barb) Stoltz, Art Stoltz, Glen Stoltz; sisters Wilma Haberman, Jean (Bob) Weber. She is preceded in death by Ken Schuler in 2008, her parents, a brother Eldon, brother-in-law Eugene Haberman. On-line condolences may be expressed at www.brick-megerfuneralhome.com.
A long walk it’s been
Francis Misgen was once featured in the Minneapolis Tribune for never, ever missing a day of country school. It’s a trait that has followed him since.
Francis Misgen (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
For eight years, Francis Misgen followed his brothers and sisters to school in heat and rain and snow.
Some years, the winter snow drifts covered the telephone lines.
Francis never missed a day, or came in tardy one time, when he attended school at the Berlin Country School north of Beaver Lake. So outstanding was his feat that he was featured in the Minneapolis Tribune.
It’s a trait that followed him for 84 years: Pride in what he was expected to do and doing his best.
Francis Misgen was born and raised on a farm northeast of Beaver Lake. The trek to school was a good two miles, a trip he took with his siblings and other area relatives.
Francis could tell you endless stories about the neighbors then who liked each other and weren't afraid to lend a helping hand to whoever needed it. At one time, they moved a house from the Issac Muri farm to their farm with men and horses.
In 1942, Francis was a medic in the U.S. Army and, because of his earlier trucking experience, was the only one in his outfit who could legally drive the heavy machinery and ambulance. One of his stopping places was Camp Grant, Illinois, but most memorable was Jackson, Mississippi because of all the rattlesnakes and copper heads in the area. Francis still finds it hard to believe the men swam in the river there with all those dangerous reptiles.
EAHS hopes to save a landmark
‘Gus’ Station’ may be moved to fairgrounds
‘Gus’ Station’ as it sits today
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
For many years, the highlight of the day for a kid at the Ellendale School was a quick run across the street for candy at Gus’ Service Station.
Those days are long gone.
The kids are probably grandparents now and the little building on the corner of School Street and 8th Avenue has been closed since 1981. But look inside and you can still see the image in your mind of the good times it provided. It looks just as it did when LuAnn ran the candy counter.
Now, the building’s future is in doubt. But there’s a movement afoot to preserve the building and the memories.
The owner of the building has agreed to donate it to the Ellendale Area Historical Society with the stipulation that the building be moved and the lot cleaned up.
The Steele County Historical Society found a place suitable for Gus' Station at their Village Of Yesteryear at the Steele County Fairgrounds.
Baseball team blanks JWP, improves to 5-1
The NRHEG baseball team continued its success with a 10-0, six-inning Gopher Conference victory over JWP at New Richland’s Legion Field last Thursday.
The win improved coach Jeff Reese’s crew to 3-0 in the conference and 5-1 overall.
David Lassahn and Lucas Meyer swung the big bats for the Panthers. Lassahn went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored, Meyer 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Matt Dahle added a hit while Tyler Sorenson laid down a successful suicide squeeze bunt.
Junior Nic Mangskau was the winning pitcher, going the distance while allowing three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
“Mangskau pitched very well again in his second start,” said Coach Reese. “His control has been excellent, with only one walk in 13 innings. Offensively, we only had six hits but had several ‘at ‘em’ balls and only two strikeouts.”
The Panthers backed Mangskau with a defense that committed only one error.
The Panthers host Blooming Prairie Monday, April 23.
Softball Panthers win three in a row
They say success is contagious and, if that’s the case, it looks like the NRHEG softball team has caught it.
The Panthers went 3-0 during the past week, running their record to 5-1 for the season and 2-1 in the Gopher Conference.
“We have some young gals really stepping up,” said coach Wendy Schultz. “Our upperclassmen are doing well, too.”
On Saturday at Legion Field, it was a youngster who delivered the key hit in a 6-5 nonconference victory over Albert Lea.
Alyssa Esplan, normally a B-squader, was called on to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. She smacked a first-pitch single to the right side of the field to score two runs.
Anna Stork had a clutch two-out, two-run single in the third.
NRHEG track girls win Panther Relays
The NRHEG girls’ track and field team won the Panther Relays at New Richland last Tuesday.
The Panthers topped the eight-team field with 114 points, followed by WEM with 95, JWP 67.5, St. Clair 66, Blooming Prairie 45.5, Maple River 43, MSAD 27 and Bethlehem Academy 22.
“It was a very nice meet by the Panther girls tonight,” said coach Duey Ferber. “It was a total team effort. The kids like the relay meet because everybody contributes and is one big team.”
The girls captured first place in seven events: 3x1600 (Crystal Olson, Shantaya Olson, Katharine Lewer); sprint medley (Abby Crabtree, Aubrey Schlinger, Carlie Wagner, Danielle Krueger); 4x100 (Crabtree, Hailey Schuller, Gretchen Ramaker, Raelin Schue); pole vault (Emmy Hobbs, Crabtree, Lewer); long jump (Schuller, Ramaker, Katie Cole); short sprint medley (Schue, Schlinger, Wagner, Krueger); high jump (Wagner, Paige Bolduan, Abby Wacholz).
Panther golfers split in triangular
The NRHEG Panther golf teams traveled to Freeborn for a match with host USC and St. Clair. Both boys and girls teams lost to USC, but were victorious over St. Clair.
USC 165, NRHEG Boys 201, St. Clair 216
The Panther boys’ golfers continue to struggle through their season as they fell to United South Central at the Oakview Golf Course by 36 strokes. The Rebels Ryan Pederson shot a two over par 38 to claim medalist honors.
Sam Grothem was 10 strokes back with a 48. Spencer Hanna, Jake Langlie and Sam Nafe all came in with 51s. Kelson Titus had a 59 in his first varsity match.
Dylan Prange had a 47 for St. Clair.
USC 211, NRHEG Girls 229, St. Clair
Ali Wood led the way for USC with a 48 and was medalist for the gals. Maddy Reed was low for the Panthers with a 51. Michaela Hansen fired a 58. Lexi Wayne, Maddy Schwierjohann and Brenna Hagen had 60s. Brina Bergland carded a 61.
The St. Clair girls squad did not post scores.
BP Girls 208, NRHEG Girls 232
The Panther girls’ varsity continues to have difficulty in scoring as they were defeated on their home course by 24 strokes last Thursday. The Blossoms Anna Noble was medalist of the match with a 47. Maddy Reed and Michaela Hansen led NRHEG with a 54 and 55 respectively. Jayden Nelson-Spies (61,) Brina Bergland (62,) Brenna Hagen (67) and Lexi Wayne (69) comprised the rest of the scoring.
BP Boys 190, NRHEG Boys 196
Sam Grothem and Macoy Schwierjohann both came within one stroke of the Blossoms’ Victor Peterson (44) in their match but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers lost by a mere six strokes.
Spencer Hanna (51,) Sam Nafe (55,) Kelson Titus (57) and Colton Ryg (68) also participated in the match.