This is the time of year when most of the stores you may go into have that pleasant aroma of cinnamon and pine floating through the air, giving one a warm cozy feeling that can only be experienced at this special time of the year. Christmas music can be heard playing almost everywhere you go and I really do love Christmas music, choirs singing and, to me, the sound of little children singing Christmas carols is always something special. Top it off with a little snowfall on Christmas Eve, which the kid in me longs for, and this is the season called Christmas. We must never forget the real reason that we celebrate it each year.

Looking back at my youth I can remember the excitement of going to town during this joyous season, looking in the various store fronts and having that feeling of excitement that only a kid can get when anticipating Christmas. It really wasn’t Christmas until the Santa in the Skinner Chamberlain Department Store window was up and waving at passersby. The lights of the downtown were strung across the street in an exciting display of colors.

I was a little disappointed the other evening when I happened to drive through the downtown area after dark. With all of the nice improvements that have been made to our downtown, instead of the bright, colorful lights that once adorned Broadway, there are now what seem to be token blue and white lights decorating only part of the downtown. This almost made it seem as if I were in a Batman movie driving through the streets of Gotham City. Maybe I am old-fashioned and not up with the times, but it just doesn’t seem like the season without a little color.

When I was a kid I can remember the excitement of Friday, which used to be the big night for shopping, especially at Christmas time. Somewhere along the way someone decided that Thursday night would also be a good night to stay open late during the holidays. I can remember looking at the corner box on the front page of the Tribune to see when that magical day called Christmas would be upon us. As I got older and had a family of my own the little box on the front page took on a different meaning. All of a sudden my wife and I were responsible for making sure our little ones had a good Christmas. That was quite a change from my youth when all I did was sit back and dream about the toys I hoped to be getting. Looking back at the days of my youth there were a few lean years when Santa couldn’t put much of anything under the tree, but that never made it any less exciting because we had a close-knit family, which more than made up for not having a lot of material things.

My mother would wrap Christmas presents on the old ironing board which she would set up in her beauty shop at home. I would be allowed to help, which I thought was a pretty big deal. I waited patiently for the time when she would tell me to leave the room because that’s when I knew there must be a present that she was wrapping for me! There was a no touch-no shake rule when it came to a present with your name on it. This however didn’t stop a kid from making a quick weight and volume check when nobody was around.

I have always loved the many special smells of Christmas like that of pine from a real Christmas tree, candles scented with cinnamon and even the dreaded lutefisk as it was boiling on the stove. When it came time to eat I really didn’t give the fish too much thought as long as I was one of the kids sitting at a different table. Once I was old enough and brave enough to sample the first bite of my Norwegian heritage, things changed. I was anointed as a true Scandinavian fish eater and welcomed to the main table.

There was this one Christmas early on I remember clearly because we were spending Christmas Eve, like always, at my Grandpa and Grandma Herfindahl’s on Bridge Street. Christmas Eve not only meant presents but all of the wonderful goodies that were there for a kid to graze on. That evening Santa came to pay us a visit and us kids were excited to see him of course ,but for some reason to me he sounded an awful lot like Uncle Benny who was mysteriously absent from the event. We received some presents from Santa and to question it any further, even at a young age, would be looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth.

I’ll soon be trolling through the grocery store aisles in search of the elusive “lute” and most likely its cousins herring and oyster. A true Norwegian just has to have the fish for Christmas and we always top off our family gatherings with a bowl of oyster stew.

My father-in-law, Orville Johnson, would start off the lutefisk season at Thanksgiving and continue it on through the New Year. Although I like the “magic fish” I only have it at Christmas and maybe a couple of times after before shelving it for another year; I just don’t want to get too much of a good thing.

Some naysayers may want to know how you could possibly “spoil” lutefisk, but if you want it flaky there is a trick. Years ago it was shipped in salt brine and had to be soaked for a few days to get rid of the excess salt and lye. I still soak it for about two or three days which seems to make it firm up nicely when cooking. If you don’t cook it just right it can turn to jelly and, although it couldn’t possibly ruin the taste, that quivering jelly-like glob of fish is just not as appealing to eat.

Until next time, I wish you all a very “Merry Christmas” and a joyous New Year.  

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the holiday season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

Anita Genelle Kohl, 80, of Burlington, Iowa, died at 10:22 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2015, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.

Born November 9, 1935, in New Richland, MN, she was the daughter of Peter and Ruby Hage Schjei. On April 5, 1954, she married Shirley Dean Conwell in New Richland, MN. They later divorced. She married Robert Kohl on July 4, 1986 in Burlington. They later divorced.

Anita was the Des Moines County Recorder for 32 years before she retired.

Peggy Ann (Paulson) Radjenovich, age 52, of Somerset, WI, formerly of Clarks Grove, MN, passed away December 15, 2015 in the presence of family.

She was the nurse manager of the PICU at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul.

She is survived by husband Joel, children Charles, Ivan (Iris), and Lizzy Stohl; Nicholas (Alyssa Cordie), Joshua Radjenovich, parents Mildred and Allen Paulson, siblings Peter (Stephanie Kibler) Paulson, Parke (Sharon) Paulson, and many other family and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 23 at Ellendale UMC, 200 6th St. N. Ellendale.

When Golden Gloves ruled, Part II

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

By RODNEY HATLE

Contributing Writer

Raul Donoso had a boxing style unlike others.

He could shift from the standard stance to one in which he continually tapped his gloved fists at the chest-high level. From that position, and with excellent footwork, he surprised opponents with speed and power, especially with his quick left.

Raul proved to be a superb boxer.

In January 1948, weighing fewer than 150 pounds and with added years of maturity, “he easily won” (or so it seemed when it was finished) the welterweight division of District 17. But in truth he had prepared himself physically and mentally. He was very ready. Because of that seeming ease, he may have been considered “untested,” so he was called “an unknown” at the Upper Midwest Tournament in Minneapolis the next month.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Four games into the season, things are looking good for the NRHEG girls’ basketball team.

The Panthers raised their record to 4-0 last week, avenging a nonconference loss to Waseca last year while upending Maple River in Gopher Conference action.

Kayley Camerer carried the Panthers to a 54-38 victory at home Friday over Maple River. The junior totaled 25 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. Marnie Wagner had 12 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals, Maddie Wagner six points, six rebounds, four assists and one block. Also scoring: Hailey Schuller five, Gabi Muri three, Gretchen Ramaker three.

Baker reaches 1,000 career points

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Coach Pat Churchill and the NRHEG boys’ basketball team knew it wouldn’t be easy this season.

The Panthers, facing a formidable schedule, won one of two last week, defeating St. Clair 69-64 on Monday and dropping their Gopher Conference opener 62-41 at Maple River Friday. NRHEG is 3-3 overall.

Oakley Baker provided the highlights against St. Clair, totaling 25 points while reaching the 1,000 career point milestone in the first half. The junior added six rebounds and three three-pointers.

“I would like to congratulate Oakley on getting his 1,000th career point,” said Churchill “He is a tremendous high school basketball player who has earned all the praise he gets.”

We have, to say the least, been experiencing some unseasonably warm weather for December. There have been a few times in past years when we have had similar weather and I can recall one time not too long ago when someone was waterskiing on Fountain Lake in a Santa Claus suit in December. Now, if you are an avid ice fisherman, I am sure you probably do not see the humor in this, but after all it is Minnesota where you can always expect the unexpected when it comes to weather.

I, for one, am not a die-hard ice fisherman, but I’d guess you could say I dabble in it from time to time. For the more enthusiastic hard water fishermen this might be compared to me waiting anxiously for the ice to be off of the lakes and the open water season to be under way. I have witnessed a few die-hard fishermen taking advantage of the open water, but I have not heard how they fared.

There was a time when I was “that guy” taking advantage of open water up until the lakes iced over. There particular time I bought a brand new bait casting reel and (for that time) a state-of-the-art Browning graphite rod at a closeout sale at Bergland’s Sporting Goods and was anxious to try it out. It was mid-November and I was in the process of shingling my garage, but I had to stop and go to my niece’s birthday party. That was when I got this brilliant idea to go to the lake and make a few casts before I left for the party. It was cold and windy so I only fished for a short while, but still managed to catch a small northern. After that I was satisfied I had made a good buy and headed back home to drop off my fishing pole and pick up the family. After getting my tackle box and fishing pole out of the backseat I leaned my pole against the car and while I started to take the box into the house the wind suddenly gusted and my rod started sliding forward while the door on the car blew shut almost all in one motion. The rod broke off just inches above the handle. Needless to say I was pretty devastated by the sad state of affairs I had created for myself. After moping around for a few days I decided that there was no fix to the rod and decided to mail it in to the manufacturer explaining what had happened and asking them if they could possibly fix it, offering to pay for any repairs.

A couple weeks went by before this long tube arrived in the mail; I opened it to see if they had indeed fixed it but they actually did one better. They replaced it with a new one and on the invoice it said: “replacement for factory defect.” I couldn’t have been happier that a company like Browning would do that for a customer. I used that rod for many years before it finally met its demise by being stepped on in the boat by one of the grandsons. I could never get mad about it so I just looked at it as retiring one of my favorite fishing rods and moved on. My grandson (Dylan) being the nice kid that he is insisted on replacing it, although you could say it was payback for me breaking one of his rods. Here is a little tip for the other grandkids: never let Grandpa get a snag out for you; he might end up breaking your fishing pole.

I have always loved fishing our lake and other small lakes in the area around our cabin because it involves a small boat. This is how I grew up fishing and “old time” fishing has always been my favorite way to go. Unfortunately time has taken its toll on my body and arthritis in the joints makes me much less nimble than I once was. Getting in and out of a boat takes some doing these days and whenever I am getting ready to make my exit it takes some serious planning on my part.

The old saying, “the best laid plans” can surely apply to a couple of my no-so-smooth exits from my small fishing boat. The first was a few years ago while fishing with my oldest son Brian on one of our favorite lakes in the fall. It is strictly a northern pike lake where we have always had good luck. After a couple hours we decided to take a little break so we pulled up to shore and began to exit the little craft. Brian was in the front so he got out and held the boat while the “Skipper” attempted to exit. Unfortunately, as I rose from my seat, my knee buckled and I lunged forward, falling out of the boat and landing in the “cold” water. Luckily the only thing that happened was that I got soaked and nothing was hurt but my pride.

The next incident was a year ago with my grandson Dylan. He was rowing the boat and when we decided to call it a day he turned the boat and backed it up to shore so that the transom, or wide end, was on shore. Dylan said this would probably make it easier for me to exit said boat. Unfortunately my body had other plans; as I stood up my heel caught under the seat, I lost my balance and my other leg buckled as I twisted in mid-air and landed on my back, in the water, with my feet still in the boat. I just lay there for a few seconds trying to plan my next move to get up without tipping the boat over. Finally with Dylan’s help I was able to get ashore.

Now I have to feel that in both instances Brian and Dylan did an admiral job of trying to hold in the laughter that was surely much deserved. Yes, this was not an example of boat safety at its best.

Until next time, take advantage of the mild weather we have been experiencing and maybe even grab the fishing pole and make that one last cast to open water.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, especially during the upcoming holiday season. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

If you haven’t been to one of the Mayo Clinics for a time, lucky you. Mayo is an interesting place, but it has really grown over the years, which in some regards is good, and in others, not so good.

Doctors today are very different than they were in back those olden days. They are definitely not like the days of Dr. Ertel in Ellendale or Dr. Olds in New Richland. The caliber of doctors today is really different, as can be expected. They may have more knowledge, assistance and “machinery” to help with the evaluations, but they don’t seem to have that “touch” or practical advice we were once used to.

They are busy, as you would expect, but sometimes I feel they are so busy, I feel like a number instead of a person, and they don’t, or can’t, give their patients the attention that they sometimes need.

That is not to say they aren’t kind and friendly; it just isn’t like it used to be.

Another thought. We have had such a nice fall and I appreciate it, but will we be ready to get accustomed to our Minnesota weather when the tough stuff hits? I know that our recent snowfall required us to quickly deal with adverse road conditions.

Speaking of road, do the people who throw their trash by the roadside have spotless homes? Maybe they do, as they throw their garbage along the roads. People need to start carrying a small trash bag in their cars, vans and trucks to hold their trash until they are able to get to the next garbage can where they can dump it. To me, there is nothing I hate more than to see all the garbage that is thrown out car windows.

I can handle a dripping ice cream cone being tossed if it is going to make a mess in your vehicle, but I can’t handle all the pop and beer cans, sandwich wrappers, etc.

And another thought. It was dark and raining. I am not fond of night driving, and really appreciate the reflection of light that comes off the road signs. They are a welcome sight. Of course if you look beyond the dark and rain there are usually little lights reflecting, like signals for aircraft warning us to beware.

Of course the red lights from the windmills in our area can make you giggle if you think of them as a row of dancers in an old Western.

Is it just me, or does it seem like bad weather seems to tempt drivers to driver faster, like they are in a hurry to get out of the weather? It also seems like bad weather draws folks to town for supplies, or is it maybe because there is nothing better to do so we want to make the best of it?

Much of the older generation learned over the years to "lay up" supplies for bad weather as they experienced the difficulties of not being able to leave their homes for days on end when the weather turned bad. Back then they didn't have the big snowplows that could remove all the snow off the roads like we do now.

On to another thought. I recall when Lynda Jensen, who grew up in Geneva, was in grade school. She would only eat “real” peanut butter. She ground the peanuts herself and didn’t see a need to add extra “lard” or shortening to it. Today, we buy it “natural” with no added ingredients off the grocery store shelf. My mother chooses to eat it that way because she knows it is better for her. But she said something seems to be missing. The salt maybe? Remember two tablespoons of peanut butter is equal to as much in meat in regards to protein. Eating peanut butter for breakfast is a good way to start your day.

Popcorn is a whole grain product. But there still are things we need to watch out for, like too many calories from added ingredients such as salt and butter. Air popped popcorn is best. Most people think microwave popcorn is better for them, but they fail to think about the chemicals used in the construction of the bag that “comes alive” when heated.

Another good thought. If we shouldn’t have it, we shouldn’t buy it. Surprising how short our memory can be if we just walk away. It is less tempting for us if the goodies aren't on hand. Yes, it can be embarrassing if you have unexpected company stop by and there is nothing to serve along with coffee. Think of it as doing them a favor. You can serve fruit, or crackers and cheese.

Develop new habits when the kids get to a certain stage and you spend too much time in the toy departments. Stop and think about whom you are really shopping for. Admit it is a fascinating adventure. There is just about everything a child could imagine and then some, but much of the appeal is for the adults.

It is amazing to hear kids say, “No, I don’t need that,” how they use more common sense than we believe or are they thinking more toys and gadgets means more things they will need to clean up in their rooms. There are so many cute things out there, but how long does the attraction really last. "Out of sight, out of mind," as the saying goes.

It is surprising how much kids look alike, especially when they have their noses in their phones or tablets. I wonder if you walked away and someone else took your place if they would realize it? Is it possible to get calluses or tendentious in one’s finger from operating all those newfangled items of communication. Handy gadgets are fun, but some leave things lacking because of them. Some kids are even finding it difficult to talk one to one!

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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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Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, December 17th: Zachary Tracy, Becky Edwards, Gretta Lageson, Tanya Blouin, Cheryl Cooper, Jack DeRaad, Joel Davis, Alex Edward LaFave, Keith & Leigh Ann Wayne, Lyle & Helen Swearingen, Bruce & Faye Thompson

• Friday, December 18th: Mary Torgerson, Catherine Suzanne Olson, Scott Lang, Chris O'Byrne, Margaret (Mugsy) Swearingen, Gavyn Tlamka

• Saturday, December 19th: LaJune Hagen, Kathy Peterson, Jerry Thompson, Sheryl Tracy, Loren Haroldson, Cheryl Utpadel, James & Barb Bremmer, Chris & Jennifer Paulson, Jerry & Bev White

• Sunday, December 20th: Corlyn Paulsen, Kyle Johnson, Laurie Swift, Deb Whelan, Odean & Andrea Johnson

• Monday, December 21st: Audriene Nelson, Nancy Rich, Liz Wangsness, Darin Rhodes, Brandon Hagen, Dave & Tammy Peterson, Duane & Cheryl Lembke

• Tuesday, December 22nd: Destiny Rita Hill, David Arends, Pam Cook, Gary Dobberstein, Tracy Dulas, Julie Jensen Wichman, Ed Nelson, Nikki Toft Schumaker, Barbara Zamora, Bryce Hanson, Jamie Jensen

• Wednesday, December 23rd: Vicki Richards, Jonika Otto Wing, Jess Dunlap, Paitin DuBois, Julie Cornelius, Keith Severson, Carol Schultz, Sophia Swift, Burt & Carla Scripture

May your find joy and pleasure all around you on your special day!

On a balmy Saturday, December 5, with a temperature of 43 degrees, 43 people boarded a coach bus in Albert Lea with Dale Matson at the helm. The bus, sponsored by Fully Rely on God (F.R.O.G.) of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, headed south of the border on I-35.

Fifteen games of “Deal or No Deal” were played on the bus. Winners were Betty Gulbrandson, Rhonda Jacobson, Carol Bertelson, Dorothy Kirsch, Darlene Tue, Nancy Harris, Donna Stolaas, Jodie Johnson, Sandra Johnson, Cindy Olson, Dominic Olson, Jerry Jensen, Stacy Jacobson, Olivia Harris and Janice Dempewolf.

A Christmas stocking shaped like a litter bag from the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau was given to each person on the bus. In the bag were coupons from Keith at Slumberland, Jamie at Dairy Queen south, Gayla at KFC, Debbie at Arby’s, and Andrew at Pizza Ranch, all in Albert Lea.

We reached our destination of “Christmas by the Lake” and Dale parked the bus in such a way that we could see the lighted Christmas parade and the fireworks shot over the lake from the bus. We even had about an hour to tour Main Street with all the Christmas activities.

After the excellent fireworks display, with very loud fireballs at the end, we boarded the bus and headed back to Albert Lea (destination: Pizza Ranch).

By now most of you have figured out that the bus went south of the border to Clear Lake, Iowa, and back. The Chamber of Commerce staff in Clear Lake is rated “best of the best of the bunch.” Libby helped us with arrangements (she even had an SUV holding the parking stall for our bus) and prizes. (The Chamber Character “Kweenbe” informed us of their rating!)

We stopped at the Pizza Ranch in Albert Lea with our tummy gauges at empty. After the gauge read full, Lowell Elmer led us in singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to the staff.

The next Christmas by the Lake bus is planned for December 3, 2016 (it is always the first Saturday in December).

The next planned F.R.O.G. party is a Valentine’s Day party with pizza and pop, followed by twelve games of fast-moving Norwegian Bingo and ending with an ice cream buffet at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church on Saturday evening, February 6.

Many, many moons ago at this time, Mary and Joseph were really in a bind, as she was about ready to deliver a son and they couldn’t find an inn to stay at. The little feller born in a manger was named Jesus. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. 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. Bob says if you enjoy his column, 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.