NRHEG School Board

By REED WALLER

Staff Writer

Honeywell requests money

At last Monday’s regular school board meeting, NRHEG Superintendent Kevin Wellen reported a communication from the Honeywell/ESG Project Supervisor at Honeywell, Inc., citing numerous change-orders as the reason for requesting the district to pay Honeywell an additional sum of approximately $16,000.

Only last month, the board had finally okayed the $4,400 completion payment to Honeywell for the project, which had been withheld by the district pending resolution of a dispute over a major error in the specifications. An air exchanger included in the project plans was omitted from the specs, and much subsequent work was needed, which took nearly two additional years to be both finished and written off.

Wellen, summarizing the letter for the amused board members, expressed some surprise that there even was a supervisor for ESG at Honeywell responsible for the project, which was acquired by Honeywell in its purchase of Energy Services Group several years ago.

No action was taken.

Last year the board declined an offer from Honeywell of an $18,000 annual service agreement on the contract work, believing it to be superfluous.

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

All members were present as Mayor Tom McShane called the New Richland City Council to order Monday evening May 23. After approving the evening’s agenda, the council approved the consent agenda which included a temporary liquor license for the Farm and City Days Committee and payment of the first half installment for the County Senior Citizens Transportation program.

City resident James Butler was present to discuss water and sewer delinquent charges on his rental properties. City clerk Wayne Billing explained that water and sewer bills are the responsibility of the property owner unlike other utility bills such as electricity or cable. The council took no action on the matter.

The council next adopted Resolution 11-14 certifying delinquent charges on eight various properties throughout the city for a total of $1,506.89, and Resolution 11-15 accepting a $2,500 donation from the New Richland Fire Relief Association to be used for new playground equipment.

Memorial services for Eugene M. Rudolph will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in New Richland. Reverend Scott Williams will officiate. Eugene passed away on February 20, 2011 at his home in Wasilla, Alaska after a short illness. Interment services will be held the same day at 11 a.m. at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca. Military rites will be conducted by the New Richland American Legion honor guard.

"Those we hold most dear never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they showed, the comfort they shared, and the love they brought into our lives." - Norton

I know of no other holiday that deserves total ritual of remembrance and recognition than Memorial Day. This year, that day falls on May 30th.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution asks all Americans "to voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps.”

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to gaining back the holiday’s true intention. No matter how crazy our lives get, we need to set aside one day out of the year to fully remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, commemorates U.S. soldiers who have died while in the military service.  First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor American service men and women who have died in all wars. 

There is some dispute over where the first decoration was held, though it was first officially observed on May 30th, 1868. In fact, mothers and other loved ones decorated the graves of the dead of the "North" and "South" before the Civil war was over. 

Moina Michael inspired by the poem, "In Flanders Field" wrote "We cherish too, the poppy red that grows in fields where valor led. It seems to signal to the skies that blood of heroes never dies."

This idea of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who died took hold, and the VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars, started selling poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948, the United States Post Office honored her by issuing a red, three cent postage stamp with her likeness.

As we honor our fallen heroes it comes to mind one simple question. Why do we have wars? 

Are there answers?  Are they valid? What starts these conflicts that send our very best into the field to fight their fellow men? 

There have always been conflict and wars, but why? Why? What starts the conflict that puts so many lives on the line?

I can't find an answer to that. We use swords and guns and paraphernalia to do what? Is it really worth the sacrifice?

I feel cheated by those who destroyed the lives and limbs of good people trying. I feel even more cheated because who knew what their lives might have been.

On this Memorial Day observance I will see the flag. I will listen to the music and the message, and be grateful for those who have served our country. But I will cry inside and continue to wonder, why?

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the "local happenings" and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, 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, so we can then pass along "the news" to you.  If you have "news" to share, please contact me.

Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, 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.

• Thursday, May 26th: Jeff Wayne, Roger Wangsness, Natalie Hanson, Jim Cummins, Jennifer Beaber, Jeremy Beaber, Melissa Redmon, Karey (Kalakian) & Chris Shearman

• Friday, May 27th: Eileen Bergland, Lisa Hanson, Steve Jepson, Shane Callahan, Stacy Wobschall, Rev. Beaber, Theresa Kasper, Rick Loven, Carolee Broitzman George,  Tracy Marcus, Lisa Hanson, Steve Jepson, Michael Butler, Steve & Karen Quam, Megan & Joel Cooper

• Saturday, May 28th: Sra Beth Carlson, her 1st; Lily Lee Olson, her 1st; Madalyn Kehne, Madison Catherine Knudson, Susan Schmidt, Jim Christensen, Marie Fowler, Rick & Jenny Loberg, Gerritt & Kathy Molenaar

• Sunday, May 29th: Brent Peterson, Deb Farr, Odean Otterson, Gene Pederson, Mark Butler, Ross Lein, Colin Quimby, Rod & Sandi Serdahl, John & Susan Oolman, Lily & Jerry Neitzel, Helen & Chuck Schmidt

• Monday, May 30th: Payton Allen Misgen, Daniel Larson, Molly Hanson, Phyllis Aronson, Chuck Crabtree, Shirley Nelson, Julie & Toby Oquist

• Tuesday, May 31st: Nathan Jensen, Jerry White, Pat Draayer, Ryan Sletten, Jim Hamor, Robert DuBois, Cierra Hanson, Julie & Toby Oquist

• Wednesday, June 1st: Carter Anthony Martens, Randy Hagen, Brandi Hagen, John Hanson, Bert Wiersma, Phyllis Benson, Joe Wallace, Julie Dulas, Kenny Toft, Maria Misgen, Tony Sommers, Bob Flim, Glenn Gerdes, Lindsey Lembke, Denise Evenson Wilson, Jeff & Sharon Lageson, Orville & Mavis Langlie, Norval & Helen Nelson

• Thursday, June 2nd: Maia Kathleen Peterson, Brent Dobberstein, Angie Goodnature Kath, Taylor Draayer, Sue Jensen Kuckenbecker, Steve Kasper, Cindy Olson, Barry Esplan, Krystle Lonning,      Donald Haberman, Ahston Haried, Trent Hanson, Brandon McLaughlin, Tammy & Garth Gonnering, Greg & Nicole Shultz, Eric & Snow Lee, their 3rd

• Friday, June 3rd: Isabella Grace Kohn, her 1st; Devin Matthew Haddy, his 4th; Justin Stieglbauer, David Hall, Troy Vavra, Donald Peterson, Jason Jenkins, Michael Bartness, Angie Kasper Christenson, George Kasper, Chrisopher Conley, Max Miller, Esther Van Ravenhorst, Misty (Ebnet) & Jeremy Krueger, Eric & Christine Nelson

May your special day blossom with many reasons to smile.

It used to be a standard line in a politician’s speech that he or she would "point with pride" and "view with alarm." Sportswriters, like politicians, also point with pride and view with alarm. It’s fun to be a sportswriter, so you can point with pride to what your team has accomplished.

This column has been written for 14 years and, for almost all those years, I could point with pride at the Minnesota Twins. A fourth of the Twins’ schedule is over and I may have to start viewing with alarm.

Our Minnesota Twins are not playing well and each day a flaw pops up and is exposed. One day it’s the starting pitching. It seems that all the starters have pitched at least one game well, but have been woefully inconsistent. They are taught to "pitch to contact." That’s all fine and good if the Twins have a good defense. They don’t right now. All have "pitched to contact," to their detriment with the possible exception of Francisco Liriano. Another concern is that Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey don’t seem to have much interest in extending themselves. I know that modern day professional athletes don’t have the same motivation as those of another era. It’s also true that Baker and Slowey are probably set up for life if they have the right financial advisor. It sometimes appears their play reflects that. Both don’t seem very anxious to pitch.

Delmon Young plays left field like it’s a shooting gallery and he’s the target. His bad fielding is accepted, but his disinterest is not. The other day Delmon didn’t catch a fly ball, which is understandable, but his standing and pointing at the ball is beyond the pale. And you know, his poor play will not affect his eventual money earned. Oh, it may mean a million or so less, but that is hardly a drop in the bucket in the millions he will earn.

I don’t blame the Twins for underachieving. We all have bad days or months. I don’t see how some of the players could try any harder than they are. Justin Morneau has a bad shoulder and neck and is recovering from a concussion, but he’s out there every day. Many other Twins are trying their utmost. But if I was Bill Smith, general manager, there are a few players who would be on the trading block. The sooner the better.

Smith has come under a lot of criticism lately. But bad luck has dogged some of his moves. Who knew that Nishioka would break his leg, destroying Smith’s plans for the middle infield? He and others felt the Twins had enough talent to make up for the middle reliever losses, that the starting pitching would be poor to fair rather than average to good, that Danny Valencia would hit 100 points below last year‚s average, that Jim Thome would be out close to a month. And perhaps the most damaging of all, batting champ and MVP Joe Mauer would miss half a season.

While not excusing Smith for his lack of forethought in some instances, he and the Twins have had extremely bad luck.

Looking back at my article, I don’t know when I’ve been this critical of the Twins’ organization. But I tried to be fair and only cast blame, not because they are not playing well, but rather because of their attitudes. There is still admiration from me and many fans for the never-give-up spirit displayed by most of the Twins.

I also applaud the Twins attending Harmon Killebrew’s funeral. That was a fine gesture and through their losses on the field, and their loss of Killebrew, they have shown class. They are still my team.

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club meeting

“What are you doing with that snow shovel?”

“I’m going to shovel the driveway.”

“It’s June!”

“I know, but I want to get an early start.”

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: age speeds up the slowing down process.

Things I’ve learned

1. Closed minds often come with open mouths.

2. Envy is counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.

3. That I’d better concentrate when I eat a jelly doughnut. 

You’re getting older

1. If the bank gives you a free calendar one month at a time.

2. If you talk to yourself and then have to ask what you just said because you weren’t listening.

3. If you finally get it all together, but you can’t remember where you put it.

Scenes from a marriage

We were enjoying a glass of wine in our home.

“I love you,” said my wife.

“I love you, too,” I said in response, “but is that you or the wine talking?”

My wife turned to me and said, “It’s me talking to the wine.”

Killer

I met Harmon Killebrew when I was a whippersnapper. I was a Luther Leaguer at Met Stadium. Harmon shook the hand of everyone in my group. I called him Killer as he shook my hand. It was my failed attempt to be cool. Harmon was our guy. We liked the Minnesota Twins even though we thought the name “Twins” was dumb. The Twins could be trailing 19-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Harmon would be the fifth batter, and we’d stay in the outfield stands just in case Harmon batted again. Harmon not only hit towering home runs, he hit majestic pop flies to the second baseman. He was our hero. When Harmon hit the ball, it made a unique sound. I was fortunate enough to encounter Harmon later in life. He was a nice man.

Only in a small town

The phone rang. I answered it with a, “Good morning,” not giving my name or phone number.

“Oh, hi, Al,” said the voice on the other end of the line — if we still have lines. “I’m sorry, I dialed the wrong number.”

Change isn’t easy but it is constant

My hometown has no large shopping malls or towering office buildings. Growing up, I considered my hometown a place where nothing ever changed. I didn’t expect the unexpected. There was no point. At least that’s what I thought. Now as I see my hometown with experienced eyes, I’m amazed at how much it has changed and how it continues to adjust. I have experienced nothing but change in my life. That is true of everyone.

Life is a picnic

I love eating outdoors. I enjoy picnics. When you eat food in the midst of bugs and birds, you get your food with everything. I don’t even mind being bitten by mosquitoes so big that they beep when they back up. When the skeeters bite me as I pass the chicken and ham, it puts me on both ends of the food chain.

Odd behavior

I was looking for a house. It was a night that was darker than the inside of a pants pocket. The house numbers were difficult to see. I drove slowly, peering into the darkness. Having no success, I turned the car radio down. I hoped the quiet would improve my vision.

Nature notes

On spring nights, primitive aircraft crash against our window screens. These are May beetles or June bugs. Brown, about an inch long, these scarab beetles make a sound like a bumblebee when flying. The beetles have strong front legs that they use to burrow underground until emerging at night. They are attracted to the windows by lights. June bug larvae are common in lawns and gardens. The grub eats plants underground and takes three years to become an adult.

Each female cottontail rabbit is capable of producing 35 young in a year. The mother seems like an inattentive parent as she is seldom near her babies. That is because she doesn’t want to draw attention to the bunnies. They are nursed at dusk and again before dawn. Young rabbits grow extremely fast and by the end of the second week, they begin to leave the nest and feed on green plants. Research has shown that less than 40 percent of the young rabbits live beyond a month.

Meeting adjourned

Be kind. People will remember that about you.

You’re an older resident of the NRHEG area if:

• As a male, the suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of your forehead.

• You have worn shorts and a parka at the same time.

• Vacation means going “Up Nort” for the weekend.

• You measure distance in hours.

• Going “Down South” means going to Iowa.

• Your children had a Halloween costume which fit over their snow suit.

• You think 10 degrees is “a little chilly.”

• A deer has run into your car while you’re driving the car.

• You switch from a/c to heat in June, and back again.

• You switch from a/c to heat in August, and back again.

• You wear orange deer hunting clothes to all fall social activities.

• You have security lights in your house and garage, yet to save electricity they’re not on.

• The key to your house in under the Welcome mat. (Just in case the front door is locked because you’re too lazy to walk around to the unlocked side door.

• Both spouses know how to use the jumper cables in the trunk.

• Your car battery is not under the hood, it has been stolen.

• The best Noon meal is meat, mashed potatoes with gravy, high test coffee and green or red jello.

• The conversation ends after discussing the weather.

• Every time you seee moonlight on Beaver or St. Olaf Lake, you think of a dancing bear and you begin to sing, “From the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm’s the beer refreshing.”

• You know there is a piece of frozen metal with bits of your tongue out there somewhere.

• You think that “Uff Da” is a well-known English phrase.

• You are treated for frostbite and sunburn from the same day being outside.

• The wedding dance band no longer has to play a polka.

• You know the difference between a gopher and a chipmunk.

• You were excused from school to help with the fall harvest.

• You know at least 10 Ole and Lena jokes.

• The area Dairy Queen was closed from November 1st to April 1st.

• The only new residents were due to marraige or new borns.

• You went to Minneapolis-St. Paul once or twice a year.

• You watched a movie while in your car.

• Roller skating rinks were very common.

• Many of the country roads were a big frost boil in the spring.

• Trains came thru daily with an engine on one end and a caboose on the other end.

• Most of your open water fishing was done from a small boat using a cane pole.

• A spare tire with an innertube was a necessity in each car.

• You know how to correctly pronounce Otisco, Waseca, Matawan and Owatonna.

• You read road signs such as “Around the curve — lickety split — beautiful car — wasn’t it? Burma Shave.

I trust the preceding were very interesting to all ages. For the younger reader not understanding something, ask an older adult — maybe grandparents. For the older adult not understanding something, ask a native of the NRHEG area that is about your age.

All the mentioned “ifs” pertain to a person about 65 years or older. The “ifs” are all “fact or fiction,” you decide.

 — — —

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 36th 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 scurs’ woes continue with the farther out forecasting while making good on the nearby once again. What kind of weather are they mustering up for the last week in May? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a good chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs around 60 and lows of 45. Partly cloudy Thursday and slightly warmer. Highs of 65 and lows near 45. Friday, partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Highs reaching 60 and lows of 45 - 50. Mostly cloudy on Saturday with a chance of s shower or thunderstorm. Highs of 70 and lows near 50. Sunday, partly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs of 70 and lows around 50.  Memorial Day and Tuesday, mostly sunny with highs near 75 and lows around 55. The normal high for May 30th is 76 and the normal low is 51. The scurs are on the record, predicting no snowmen such as we saw in 1992 for this year’s Memorial Day.

As predicted, progress was made in the fields both in the corn that was already planted and in the soybean fields that hadn’t been. Four days without precipitation from the 16th through the 19th allowed many who had soybeans left to plant to get the job done. Corn emerged rapidly last week and one could row many fields from the road last Friday. Herbicide applications were made possible during this same timeframe and the ensuing rainfall should be beneficial to the efficacy of those herbicides. Rainfall at the ranch pushed close to 2 inches from Friday through Sunday and fortunately it came in about four different rainfall events, so washing was minimized. We are behind on GDUs, however, so it’s going to take a warmer trend to get us close to average in that department. Some are comparing this year to 2009 and while it may just be, seldom are any two years exactly alike. 

Gardening has been slow as well. More than one farmer has indicated that while the crop is in the ground, on farms where drainage is limited or snow sat for lengthy periods of time this spring, it still didn’t work up perfect. Ditto in the garden at the ranch. The garden here is situated in an area that catches a lot of snow. Drainage on most of the plot is decent in the area that is Clarion soil. The Webster soil lobe that extends along one side is a different animal and it’s been difficult to get it to dry out, let alone make a decent seedbed. Fortunately, many of the transplants will be headed into that area and once they spread out, the ground will get its tilth back. Amazing how vine crops will do that. In spite of all the wet weather, we did manage to get some Indian corn planted along with some later sweet corn. Trouble looming on the horizon, however, judging by the numerous little flies detected, otherwise known as seed corn maggots. The seed is treated with one of the neonicotinoid insecticides, but it will have a challenge. Tilling a lot of green material into the soil, in this case annual bluegrass, is a magnet for insects such as these. Will it work? We shall see.

Lawn mowing has taken center stage around the rain showers. It’s been a catch as catch can affair and one can work from 7 until 11 to get it done.  It takes a couple hours to dry off sufficiently and when it does the roar of mowers can be heard across the landscape. At the ranch, one has to consider where on that landscape it is safe to mow. After Saturday forenoon’s downpour, I decide it had dried enough to attempt mowing the high ground. Looking down into the road cut, there was water running across the bottom of the ditch. Rather than risking winding up in St. Olaf Lake, I opted to avoid the rushing torrent for the time being. If matters got out of hand down there I figured one could always get out the boat and weedeater.

The birds slowed down a lot from last week and that’s a good thing. There was simply no way to keep up indefinitely with an oriole invasion such as we had. As it is, there appears to be at least one pair of Baltimore orioles in nest-building mode. It’s also encouraging to see there is a pair of orchard orioles that have both been faithfully enjoying grape jelly and nectar from the feeders. In years past there has been no positive ID of the female. One newcomer to the feeders this week was a lone pine siskin. Not sure exactly why he or she was here, but the familiar little striped body was hard to mistake after the irruption of two winters ago. One other new arrival that stays in is the common yellowthroat. They take up residence in the plum and sumac thicket and their song compliments that of the house wren this time of year splendidly.

See you next week…real good then.