NRHEG Community Education is sponsoring a bus trip to the Old Log Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 27 to see “The Wedding Singer.” This play is based on the 1998 film of the same name. Bus will leave Ellendale (Gopher Stop) at 10:10 am. Cost is $70 if registered by Jan. 11. Lunch is included and your choices are: beef short rib, tilapia, vegetarian pasta or boneless chicken breast.

More information is available on the NRHEG Web site or by calling 507-417-2667.

When Raul Donoso faced old friend Harvey Ronglein in the 1948 district finals, it was a tall order

STILL FRIENDS — Raul Donoso, center, in 2013 visited the former State School in Owatonna with his daughter Melody and Harvey Ronglien. The men were boxing teammates during part of their 10 years as “State Schoolers.” They faced each other in the District 17 final bout as welterweights and have remained good friends throughout the years.

(Editor’s note: Part three of a seven-part series about local, area, and state amateur and professional boxing.)

By RODNEY HATLE

Contributing Writer

After about a dozen District 17 elimination bouts each night on the 21st and 24th, a Wednesday and a Saturday, the finals came on Wednesday the 28th. It was January 1948 at the old Armory in Owatonna.

The deciding welterweight bout pairing Raul Donoso with Harvey Ronglien was for entry into the Upper Midwest Tournament. This matched former boxing mates at the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children.

Ronglien says he was impressed right away by Raul’s growth and development since he had been at the institution.

Nevertheless, Ronglien said he expected to win. After all, on the first night he had “scored a technical knockout [TKO] in the second round” when the referee stopped the bout against his Northfield opponent.

SIX-POINT SHUFFLE — NRHEG senior Wyatt Fitterer reacts after pinning an opponent during last weekend’s Redwood Riot. Fitterer scored three straight falls before coming up short against a ranked opponent in the finals at 285 pounds. (Star Eagle photo by Nikki Erickson)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The NRHEG wrestling team wrapped up its pre-Christmas schedule with a Gopher Conference dual meet against United South Central at Wells last Thursday and an appearance in Friday and Saturday’s Redwood Riot at Redwood Falls.

The Panthers suffered a tough 36-33 loss at USC.

The Rebels led from start to finish, taking falls over Andrew Reich at 106 pounds and Andrew Bailey at 113. Brent Kubiatowicz got three points back with a 6-4 decision at 120, but Ross Lenort fell 14-9 at 126 before USC forfeited to Cordell Peterson at 132. Tyler Jacobson was pinned in 3:06 at 138. Cole Staloch scored a 6-2 decision at 145 and Bryce Okland won by fall at 152, but the Rebels wrapped it up in the next three bouts as Lucas Hermann was pinned in 1:08, Chad Erickson lost by fall in 47 seconds and Karter Sletten was outpointed 5-3. Trey Hoppe won 7-1, Zeke Erickson got a pin and Wyatt Fitterer won by forfeit, but it was too little too late for the Panthers.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Another week, another win.

And so it went for the NRHEG girls’ basketball team, which remained undefeated after five games with a 58-51 triumph over visiting Medford Friday night.

According to Panthers coach Onika Peterson, the final outcome was probably closer than it should have been.

“We were able to make big runs throughout the game and at one point had a lead of 19,” said Peterson. “However, at times we got lackadaisical in our defense and they were able to hit some big shots and kept working their way back in. We need to make sure that we play to our full potential throughout the whole game and not just when the game is close.”

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

After dropping the first two games, the NRHEG boys’ basketball team is on a bit of a roll.

The Panthers won their fifth game in six starts Friday, traveling to Medford for a 66-38 victory. The Panthers are 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the Gopher Conference.

Medford kept things close in the first half, trailing just 14-9 with eight minutes remaining and 27-18 at halftime.

“I thought Medford was playing with more aggression than we did the first 18 minutes,” said NRHEG coach Pat Churchill. “In the second half I thought we came out a little more aggressive.”

Teachers sometimes receive gifts from students before Christmas arrives. We might get some candy or a gift card, something that shows appreciation and thanks. They’re certainly not expected, but we are grateful for these tokens from our stars.

 Last week, I received a gift from a former student, and it was more priceless than the other items I may get before we leave for break. This former student moved to Owatonna a couple years ago, but was part of my class in 7th grade. She struggled to find the motivation to complete her work or to put much effort in when she did.

We have any number of students at different times who show this apathy. Hormones, lack of maturity, and other issues sometimes cloud the minds of these kids. The biggest heartbreak is when a teacher sees some hint of potential that is being ignored. That was the case with this student. She spoke well and had some good examples of writing among the few assignments I had received.

I called her mom one day and expressed my concern. We had a good discussion in trying to figure out a solution. I finally suggested a meeting with both her and her daughter present. Not only did the mother come, but the grandmother as well. I started to see an uptick in effort from this girl, though there were ups and downs.

She sent me a letter last week. In it she expressed her appreciation for that meeting. She said that although she still had her struggles, she continued to think back to the meeting and how the three adults there all showed such caring and concern that she was motivated to move forward and become a better student. She wrote that she now completes all her work on time and is doing well in high school.

One question she put in the letter was asking why I would care so much about my students. She couldn’t figure that out, but found it inspirational. I responded to her query in a letter of my own. People become teachers because they care about kids, I told her. Even when I’m losing my temper, it still shows a level of caring. As I tell my students, if you’re not doing your work and I’m not keeping after you, it means I’ve given up on you, and I don’t like to give up.

One of the reasons this former star has found success, I suspect, is that her mother and grandmother never gave up on her either and continue to impact her life. Following that meeting, the mom and I kept in contact, both when the student was showing continued success and when she might slip up. This continued caring from the parent had a much stronger impact than that initial meeting did, I’m sure. I’ve had many other meetings with parents over the years, but too often the parent makes that appearance, and I never hear from him or her again, despite efforts on my part.

And here’s the gift we can continue to give our children, the one that can’t be wrapped up and put under a tree, the gift of caring and being involved in their lives. We get so busy that we too often leave our kids to fend for themselves. We’re tired when we get home from work and don’t even want to think about looking at their schoolwork or checking their grades.

I’m no hero for calling up or e-mailing parents in an effort to make some progress with students. That’s my job. I can’t find true success, however, without the help of the parents to show that caring and concern. In reality, education is like a triangle with parents, students, and teachers working together equally to bring the child to a level of success, whatever that might be for each individual. If we’re missing one side of a triangle, it quite literally falls flat.

What do I want for Christmas? I want more e-mails replied to, more phone calls returned, and more follow through once we can get a foothold with that triangle idea. Letters like the one I received are worth so much more to a teacher than anything else; they provide the fulfillment that helps keep the engine going in a stressful occupation.

When I was sitting in the lounge reading that letter, I felt a tear come to my eye. Teachers do care, and that letter helped remind me that I need to continue to care for each of my students and strive for the relationships that help form that triangle of success.

I hope all my readers have a Merry Christmas and treasure the time you have with your families! Please remember the reason for the season, and look for those gifts that might not have a ribbon attached, those that are not tangible. Enjoy every moment!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is rechauffe, which means warm, leftover food, as in, “There was plenty of rechauffe for days after the family gathered for a Christmas feast.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs were relieved to see that the sun does actually exist after having their doubts. Will the scurs see snowflakes come out of the Weather Eye or will they see white bees wings left over from corn drying season? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a good chance for rain changing to snow by evening. Highs in the upper 30’s with lows in the upper 20’s. Christmas Eve Day, mostly sunny becoming cloudy with highs in the mid-30’s with lows in the mid-20’s. Mostly cloudy Christmas Day with a moderate chance of snow by evening. Highs in mid-30’s with lows in the mid-20’s. Saturday, mostly cloudy with a moderate chance of snow.  Highs in the low 30’s with lows in the low teens. Mostly cloudy on Sunday with highs in the upper 20’s and lows in the mid-teens. Monday, mostly cloudy with highs in the low 30’s and lows in the mid-teens. Partly cloudy skies for Tuesday with highs in the mid-20’s and lows in the low double digits. Yes, that’s still above zero folks. The normal high for Christmas Day is 24 and the normal low is 6. After tossing another log on the fire on the 21st the scurs will be considering retrieving the aluminum Festivus pole from the crawlspace. A Christmas tree simply doesn’t measure up to the very high strength-to-weight ratio.

There will be a Full Moon on Christmas Day, although from the sounds of things we probably won’t see it. You’ll just have to take my word for it. It goes by several names including Full Cold Moon and the Long Nights Moon, both aptly named as we frequently see our coldest days from this full moon to the next, not to mention our longest nights. The Ojibwe called this the Small Spirits Moon and the Sioux had a couple names, The Moon of Popping Trees or The Moon When Deer Shed Their Horns (antlers). At the ranch we have come to know it as the Moon When it Feels Good to be Done with Chores and Back in the House. So far however this one has been relatively easy so as winters go. Given that memories of the other kind are still fresh enough to remember, we’ll take it.

There have been some questions as to what kind of things can be impacted by a warmer, open winter such as we’re experiencing presently. Some things such as insect survival can be enhanced, although there is still a lot of winter left. Insects such as western corn rootworm eggs don’t survive well once soil temperatures reach 14 degrees and so far we’ve been nowhere close to that. Northern corn rootworm eggs are tougher and can withstand much lower temperatures, part of the reason they are the more predominant species in these northern latitudes. As far as breaking up compaction, other than surface compaction, winter freezing and thawing does little to alleviate deeper soil compaction, typical of high-traffic areas and headlands. 

The question has arisen about rivers and streams being so full this time of year. Even though we had a dry harvest season, in particular a dry October, we have recorded above normal precip the entire growing season. November was significantly wetter than normal, saturating the soil profile in the upper 5’. December precip has also been slightly above normal. Another tidbit to bear in mind is that the vast majority of our precip in December has fallen as rain. Normally it would be sitting on top of the ground in the form of snow rather than soaking in or running off.

As we approach the winter holidays, the house is once again decorated from top to bottom. Inside anyway. We gave up long ago trying to keep up with the neighbors outside, although Mrs. Cheviot did put some lights on the railings in order to make an effort. It looks nice especially since I didn’t have to do it. I try to do my part however and provide moral support. I cut some white pine boughs and red twig dogwood for decorating on Saturday. Hauled out all the garbage on Sunday after church and changed the light on the garage that exploded inside the fixture in the heavy rain. I also made the fresh cut on the real Christmas tree and brought it into the house so it could become acclimated before decorating. The smell of a fresh fir tree is still something to behold when it warms up inside, especially if it was kept away from tomcats outside. Been there done that.

The sheep and the dogs have been good lately so most likely they won’t get a lump of coal in their stocking. Actually the sheep already got a little bit of their present. Rummaging around the old lean-to I’d forgotten one squash that the sheep had partially gnawed on through the fence. Tucked underneath of a board was another squash that was hidden from view. Yet another one was discovered as I moved closer to the granary. Unfortunately all the squash had been frozen, rendering them unfit for human consumption. The sheep didn’t mind. They tore into them and within a matter of a half hour they’d devoured them. Luckily there are some apples going soft so they’ll get those soon. The ranch isn’t a bad place to be a sheep at Christmas time. The dogs are in line to get some of the leftovers out of the fridge so they too are more fortunate than some canines. And they try to be good. Fudgie has been coming when she’s called at night rather than chasing bunnies and Ruby didn’t even growl at Julie Andrews during The Sound of Music. There may be hope for those two yet.  

As has been the custom in the past, I go shopping for the Star Eagle staff as only the scurs and I can do. It’s become a little tougher though as I’m never sure just who is working there anymore. Oh well, here goes: A donation has been made in all your names to the Human Fund: Money for People. That ought to cover it. Those warm thoughts can be treasured while performing feats of strength and during the airing of grievances. Another Festivus miracle! Happy Festivus!

See you next week…real good then.

Echoes From the Loafers' Club Meeting

Do you know what the best thing about Christmas is?

No, it’s impossible to pick out one thing.

That’s the best thing about Christmas.

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: When you reach a certain age, you don’t fall. You have a fall. Life is like a box of Jelly Belly candy. Sometimes you get one of the nasty flavors like earwax, stinky socks, barf or skunk spray.

The cafe chronicles

I stopped to eat. I was too late for lunch and too early for dinner. I was hungry, so I ordered dunch or linner. I joined in the recycled conversations. I reminded another that he shouldn't hold the bottomless cup of coffee over his lap. Those seated around the table were good men, but not the kind to readily admit good fortune. Yet, we were all more than willing to admit our good luck at being where we were, with who we were with and being able to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Hope is a fine southern Minnesota town

She flew from one lane to another and passed us as if we were backing up. A State Farm sticker was proudly displayed in the rear window of her minivan. I'll bet State Farm wouldn't have approved of her driving.

I was riding in a swell bus en route to watch the Minnesota Gophers women's basketball team play. There were two buses headed northward in our mini-convoy. I was enjoying the experience of kicking the back of someone’s seat until part of our bus fell off. The sound almost woke the driver. I might have expected it. We were just beyond Hope.

My thanks to Rick Schultz for organizing the wonderful trip.

Thoughts while ringing

Winter hadn’t officially started yet as I rang the bells for the Salvation Army, but December had been so nice it was as if winter’s back had been broken before it even got here. A friend said that winter must have been over as the ice was out on all the local lakes. No matter, we can’t tell the weather what to do. Supermarkets can be challenging for men. We’re good at entering a store needing to get just one thing and leaving with a couple of big bags filled with items. We come back later because we’d forgotten to get the one thing that we were supposed to get. Most every self-checkout lane involves a cashier. I remember not many years ago, if someone had brought his own shopping bag to a grocery store, he’d have been declared a nut.

Christmases past run like newsreels in my mind

I remember helping Mother make sugar cookies. The way I helped was by eating the dough.

I’d written "Merry Xmas" in frosting on a large cookie. My mother saw it and was a wee bit miffed. Perhaps she felt that writing Xmas was disrespectful. I don't know if she thought the X presented a resemblance to the cross or if it was taking Christ out of Christmas. I assured her that Xmas wasn’t disrespectful. It was ancient. Chi is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ and is represented by a symbol similar to an X.

I used that as an argument.

My mother reminded me that I wasn't Greek.

I should have told her that I was trying to save on frosting.

Before the cookies had all been baked, it began to snow. The wind blew. It bordered on blizzard conditions. I went to bed, wondering why blizzards couldn’t concentrate their efforts on school days and leave Christmas alone.

The storm wore on. The wind woke me in the middle of the night. I saw my mother sitting in the dark, looking out the window. She was watching the weather, hoping the storm would cease and my older siblings and their families would be able to make it home for Christmas.

The snowplow went by in the wee hours. Father cleared the snow from the drive. Family made it home. The sugar cookies were eaten.

This was all possible because the storm had stopped.

I don’t think it would have quit if it hadn’t been for Mom.

Nature notes

Jan Prescher of Ellendale said that birds stand on one leg because if they didn't, they’d fall over.

Meeting adjourned

Bite your tongue until you can say something kind. Don't forget to neatly fold the used wrapping paper and to save the bows. Merry Christmas.

Are the stockings hung, gifts bought and wrapped, cards all written, stamped and mailed, concerts and programs attended and menus planned?

It is really a busy time with some confusion thrown in besides.

Ready or not, it is here. There are times one can feel so overwhelmed by the problems that surround us that it is hard to deal with it all. This time leading up to Christmas, when we wait and watch with anticipation for the birth of Jesus, is so very important to our lives.

We’ve heard the story before, but we need to hear it again and again: the hope, the promise of God being born into our midst. I hope that you will take time during this Christmas holiday to worship together with your family and friends.

Did you leave time to meditate on the birth of the Christ Child, the greatest gift of all? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have this holy child, knowing there would be a day when he would be sacrificed for us?

As we wait and watch and ponder the miracle of God being born into human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, let us keep our eyes open for the tiny, yet miraculous ways God continues to be born in our midst.

We need to thank our Lord for all his blessings, His love and for a fine family, a roof over our heads, that we have a good place to sleep, that there is food on our table, clothes on our backs and shoes on or feet.

We also need to thank our Lord for giving us the best gift we could ever receive.

We are reminded that Christmas can last more than one day, that the spirit and magic of the season can thrive all the time. Peace, joy, and goodwill are not seasonal; they are life-sustaining, life-enhancing, hopeful words that should be spoken, sung, and practiced all the months of the year.

As you go about these final days leading up to Christmas, may you be surprised and delighted by the ways in which Jesus – God’s love made fresh – shows up in your midst every single day. It may be in the people you meet, it may be through your words of encouragement and random acts of kindness for another.

Thank you Lord for giving us the best gift we could ever receive.

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Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements.  In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us.

Also, if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me.

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like to include, or news to share, 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.

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This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thurday, December 24th: Christmas Eve!  Barbara Mrotz, Brooke Reese, Craig Paulsen, Anna Louise Fuerniss, Susan Oolman

• Friday, December 25th: Merry Christmas!  Mitchel Gale Evans, Krista Lee Hardyman, Tom Reitveld, Makenzie Butler

• Saturday December 26th: Nadine Strenge, Tom Hanson, Joshua Kasper, Jill Peterson Otterbein, Nicklas Hanson 

• Sunday, December 27th: Sue Bailey Billbray, Colette Hemingway Moudy, Mikkel Iverson, Jamie Hagen, Scott Christensen, Carly Titus, Stacy Osmundson Titus, Ron Peterson, Shannon Peterson Pederson, Brad Bothum

• Monday, December 28th: Hope Mikesell, Chad Toft, Tyler Titus, Charlie Marlin, Merrill Bunn, Laura & John Ortiz, Neil & Ellen Pence

• Tuesday, December 29th: Maxx Greyson Richards, Maya Grace Richards, Gary Hunnicutt, Seth David Petranek, Brent Born, Craig Haberman, Darlene Underland, Benjamin Paulson, Whitey & LaJune Hagen, Amy & Joe Louks

• Wednesday, December 30th: Anita Casterton, Matt Christensen, Ryan Schrodt, Jane Simon, Jim Dobberstein, Gladys Peterson, Mark & Gail Skroch, David & Arianna Arends, Kyile & Rachel Aase

• Thursday, December 31st:  New Years Eve!  Bailey Joy Ihrke, Bree Olivia Ihrke, Larry Paulsen, Dean Pospesel, Lynne Flor, Brent Wiersma, Brent Worrell, Isabelle Wayne, Dorothy & Adrian Kilian, Greg & Cindy Oswald, Larry & Elaine Howell

• Friday, January 1st: Happy New Year!  Ross Aronson, Jerry Seath, Larry Schwartz, Amanda Beach, Lois & Duane Aitchison 

• Saturday, January 2nd: Grace Jolie Wangen, Brian Bedney, Jay Crabtree, Mark Dobberstein, David Lageson, Brenda Wayne, Aaron Nelson, John & Lorraine Lent, Kelsey (Wayne) & Matt Duncomb  

With each passing yer, grow stronger, grow wisher and grow richer in spirit. May the year ahead be filled with new discoveries!