Memorial Services for Inez A. Ribbe, of New Richland, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. The Reverend Paul Andree will officiate. Interment will be in St. Olaf Cemetery. Friends may visit with family one hour before the service at the church.

Inez died on Monday, October 19, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. She was 85.

She was born on November 8, 1929, in Steele County, MN, the daughter of Otto H. and Ella M. (Hagen) Jacobson. Inez graduated from New Richland High School in 1947.

On May 27, 1950, Inez was united in marriage to Orrin Ribbe at the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church. That same year they moved to New Richland. Inez had worked as a purchasing clerk at E.F. Johnson in Waseca. Later Inez and Orrin owned and operated the NAPA Store in New Richland from 1980-1995.

In observance of Veterans Day November 11, the NRHEG Star Eagle will again publish a section dedicated to our defenders of freedom.

Area veterans or family members are encouraged to bring in photos of veterans in uniform from all branches of service for inclusion and the recognition they so justly deserve.

The deadline for photo submission is noon Friday, Oct. 30.

For questions or more information, please call the Star Eagle office at (507) 463-8112 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jacob’s Run raises funds, helps people remember

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

We all look at facts and figures.

Anything can contribute to the fact that there are those who choose to no longer live, but only God knows why.

Though suicide causes incredible sorrow, perhaps guilt and an unsolved mystery, it is not to be taken lightly, nor something of shame.

It just is.

There are those whose family has been affected by it and choose to do what they can to correct whatever it is that possesses the mind in these mysterious ways. Instead of wallowing in sorrow, they do what they can so others won't have to suffer the same fate.

Panther football season ends with 48-22 loss to BEA

LOCKED AND LOADED — NRHEG senior captain Wyatt Fitterer (71) sets his sights on Blue Earth Area’s Brandon Olson (22) during Section 2A action at New Richland Wednesday, Oct. 14. The Panthers’ season ended with a 48-22 loss. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers did not just beat the NRHEG Panthers.

They beat them up.

The Bucs knocked a number of Panthers out of the game and sent one off in an ambulance while dominating a Section 2AA football playoff game 48-22 at New Richland Wednesday, Oct. 14.

“Blue Earth Area is a very good football team; their team speed is incredible,” said NRHEG coach Dan Stork, whose squad finished with a more-than-respectable 6-3 record after their only lop-sided defeat of the year.

TAKING AIM — Aaron Olson, right, lines up a shot while Evan Dobberstein, Chancellor Olson and Dalton Kraay look on. (Submitted photo)

Week two of the Clay Target season was almost identical to week one for the NRHEG shooters.

Just like week one, three shooters turned in a perfect round of 25 out of 25. In week one, the team scored 2695 points. In week two, they scored 2691. It was the kind of performance the team was looking for as they increased their conference lead over second-place Anoka. One of the encouraging signs was that of those three perfect rounds, it involved three different shooters.

"When we have more than a handful of go-to kids, we have a good shot of holding our lead until the end of the season," said head coach Dan Sorum.

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Yes, the NRHEG Panthers and Bethlehem Academy Cardinals played some volleyball and the team that was supposed to win did win, but that wasn’t what it was all about in New Richland Friday, Oct. 9.

It was Dig Pink Night, in honor of those affected by breast cancer, and a fund-raising event to help battle cancer. A total of $700 was raised. The Panthers honored members of the community who have been battling breast cancer, with each team member playing in honor of them.

“It was a great night,” said Panthers coach Onika Peterson. “I am very proud of all their hard work.”

The NRHEG cross country teams competed in the Waseca Invitational Thursday, Oct. 8 at Lakeside Golf Club. The boys were eighth out of nine teams, the girls eighth of eight.

Boys’ places and times: Josh Fleming, 27th, 18:53; Tyler Schlaak, 32nd, 19:03; Zach Mely, 43rd, 20:00; Braden Routh, 51st, 21:13; Jorey Fischer, 52nd, 21:28; Aaron Fleming, 55th, 23:08; Aaron Seath, 58th, 24:54.

Waseca won with 43 points. The Panthers had 205, defeating Medford.

Why is it when everything seems to be going on at once, the things you don't need to happen do? This past week was not one of my better ones.  It didn't help that I was still a bit upset with my husband, Daryl, who very generously and thoughtfully volunteered us to serve the Sunday School and confirmation kids and others a light supper on Wednesday nights at our church. I didn't know how I would squeeze it into our already busy schedule, but figured God willing we would get it done. Luckily, we have some great people at church who volunteered to step in and help and we got everyone fed.

My new computer has been giving me nothing but problems. My fault or the computer’s? Maybe a little of both. I had to get a new computer after my old one died and the new one doesn't seem to be anything like my old one. It doesn't help that I still suffer with memory issues since my bout with encephalitis in 1992. Sometimes my memory is less or more of a handicap than other times. Of course getting upset and confused doesn't make it better.

I had a tight schedule on Friday and probably should have thought, “stop and take a little time,” but I didn't. In the process I lost, or misplaced, the key to my van. Luckily, I did have a backup key in my bag along with me, instead of it being locked in my van. The key, which is one of those newfangled types, needs to be specially made. The thought of replacing the key, which I believe can run about $200, a crack, had me demolishing the area of the Albert Lea Clinic inside and out for several hours Friday afternoon, but to no avail; still no key.

I have three granddaughters, and two of them are currently playing in fall sports programs. Sometimes there is a conflict when they have games going on at the time time. This past weekend was one of those times. Morgan’s soccer game Saturday morning was in Burnsville and Mallory’s volleyball tournament was in Austin — obviously too far apart to take them both in. So how do you choose? I know, not a big deal, parents go through this all the time, but it bothered me. I felt I should be there for Mallory and all the games she would be playing, but I probably have been able to go to more of her games than Morgan’s. I wound up going with my daughters, Kim and Krista, to the Cities, all the while wondering about Mallory being alone in her sports endeavor. I know what you think. Kids are very capable, but I am a typical grandma and I worry about them when they are alone. 

I came home late Saturday afternoon and Krista came  too, as she was once again going to try and help me with my cantankerous computer.  She has tried to help me many times, and I love her for it, but once she turned on the computer, she got upset because she wondered how I could foul things up again so bad.

There have been so many funerals of favorite people of late, but it hit me hard when our little local Irish leprechaun, "Digger," fooled us all and died unexpectedly, leaving Ireland and Geneva behind for heaven. Why are some people so special that it hurts so bad to part with them? I spent the day Sunday with his family and friends, and it was truly a special day I will long remember.

Many times my mother will at least ride with me when I go to cover stories for the paper. It is far better than going alone, but for no particular reason her "tryg" started giving her problems Sunday morning and she didn't dare leave home without familiar ways to deal with it on hand. 

Yes, I know things will all get better as time passes. I am sure you've all been through these types of days and weeks and then some. Sometimes it just helps to talk about it and my advice to you is if everything seems to be going awry, reach out to someone. It doesn't hurt to have a shoulder to lean on now and then and offer their help until things come back to "normal" again.

Like roses, life is beautiful, but sometimes those thorns help us realize how fragrant life really is and that we need to be thankful for each day we are given. 

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Birthdays and anniversaries:

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

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

• Sunday, October 18th: Gordon Jensen, Carrie Nolan Allen, Andreas Quinn Vu, Stan & Cindy Nelson, Randy & Cindy Horan, Tait & Jennifer Ingvaldson, Carol & Larry Cox

• Monday, October 19th: Robert William Pulley, Jody Johnson, Katie Ann Carlson, Jan Klocek Louks, Roger Larson, Jeanene Reese, Kristi Nelson, Everett Thompson, Barbara Olson, Esther Rodi, Jim & Laureen Hohansee

• Tuesday, October 20th: Kimberly Wangsness, Matthew Beckman, Shannon Smith, Diana Beckmann, Jenny Herbst, Erick Widlund, Casey Kunkel, Nicole Larson, Doris Scripture Steele, Rick Kelly, Adam Lang, Scott & Joni Groth, Laurie & DeWayne Jensen, Jim & Nancy Bottelson, Brad & Nicole Edwards

• Wednesday, October 21st: Todd Utpadel, Brian Riley, Deb Mucha, Peter Benson, Natalie Kuehni, Steven F. Christenson, Diane & Dan Gallentine

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