By REED WALLER

Staff Writer

Seven renowned “Heroes of the Faith” will speak in Ellendale every Sunday beginning Sept. 20, thanks to Vibrant Life Assembly of God Church, and a little help from Dr. Who.

These great figures from Christian history will return, one each week, and step to the lectern to talk about what they know best.

How is this going to happen?

“We’re going to send the Tardis back and pick these guys up,” says Vibrant Life Pastor Patrick Stitt.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, will speak on Revivalism; author C. S. Lewis will discuss Theology; Pentecostal movement founder Charles Parham will appear to talk about Pentacostalism; John Wycliffe will come back from the beyond to talk about the Reformation; Justin the Martyr will speak on Persecution; and Billy Graham will be retrieved by the Tardis from the 1950s to discuss –what else? – Evangelism.

The NRHEG volleyball team will be host Dig Pink night in honor of breast cancer awareness at the Friday, Oct. 9 home volleyball game. If you would like to order a Dig Pink T-shirt, stop into the high school office by Friday, Sept 18. Cost is $10.

Trinity Lutheran Church of New Richland will hold its annual Meatball Dinner Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Menu includes homemade meatballs, real mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, corn, fresh melon, dinner roll, pie, and beverage. The cost for adults is $10 and $6 for children 5-9 years. Children 4 years and younger eat free. Carry-outs are available by calling (507)465-3635. We are fully handicap accessible. This is sponsored by the Trinity Women of the ELCA and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Rosalie Gehring, age 77, died at her rural Waseca home on Sept. 2, 2015 after having been diagnosed with cancer last January. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Wilton. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 at the Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waseca, and one hour before services at the church. Burial will be Saturday at St. Peter Cemetery, New Richland.

Rosalie was born Nov. 27, 1937, to Alfred and Anna (Suemnick) Schroeder of rural New Richland. She attended country schools and went on to graduate from New Richland High School in 1955. She married Orville Gehring of Rural Waseca on Dec. 11, 1955 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Wilton. Since her husband was in the military, the two of them began their family while living in various areas of the country, returning to live in Otisco in the early 1970s.  In addition to being a stay-at-home mother for a time, Rosalie also worked at the former E.F. Johnson Company, and at the New Richland Care Center for over 20 years as a nursing assistant. She was known for her gentleness and patience, and was appreciated for being a willing, consistent worker. 

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

ST. PAUL — NRHEG High School’s athletic legacy not only lives on at the University of Minnesota, it’s alive and well on the Corcordia campus.

Anna Schlaak, a 2012 graduate of NRHEG, had a dominant performance last Saturday as the No. 2 ranked Golden Bears captured a four-set win over Winona State in the Holiday Inn and Suites Lake Elmo Volleyball Clash.

Schlaak, a 5-foot-9 junior who red-shirted her freshman year, was the story of the match as she equaled the school record for most kills in a match with 34 as she hit an impressive .518. Her mark of 34 matched Emily Palkert's record set in 2007 and shattered the four-set record of 26 held by three different players. Her previous career high in kills was 25. 

Jerilyn Knowlton, age 69, of Mabel, formerly of Canton, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 near Mabel from injuries received in an automobile accident.   

Jerilyn was born Oct. 15, 1945 in Preston, Minnesota to J. Wesley and Nelda (Larson) Knowlton. She attended the Prosper and Canton Schools.

Jerilyn ran the family business, the Sportsmans' Chalet, in Canton from 1975 to 1985. She was a people person and enjoyed the many jobs that she had in the hospitality industry. Her presence could light up a room and she loved to socialize and share funny stories with everyone. She was a member of the Scheie Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. 

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

NRHEG High School athletes will not just be playing football or volleyball or running cross country races this fall.

Some of them will be shooting.

This fall marks the fourth season for the clay target team, which will be signing up players through Friday, Sept. 11.

“We expect between 30 and 40 students to participate this season from NRHEG, Albert Lea and Waseca,” said coach Dan Sorum.

The team lost several talented individuals to graduation, according to Sorum, including top shooter Frank Altrichter, who was one of the conference’s top shooters in both the spring and fall seasons.

But that doesn’t mean Sorum isn’t optimistic.

NOWHERE TO THROW — NRHEG’s Karter Sletten sacks WEM quarterback Kallen Dorenkemper Friday, Sept. 4 at Waterville. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

The NRHEG Panthers were decided underdogs heading into last Friday’s game at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, ranked No. 5 in in the state.

When the dust finally settled on a  sweltering early September night, the Bucs managed a win. Barely.

Outgained and outplayed most of the night, WEM scored a late fourth-quarter touchdown and held off the Panthers, 13-7.

“We made far too many mistakes against a good WEM team,” said Panthers coach Dan Stork, whose squad fell to 2-1.

Included in the mistakes were two lost fumbles, an interception and eight penalties for 90 yards. They seemed to come at inopportune times for the Panthers.

“At times we looked in control,” said Stork. “But the penalties and turnovers were the difference.”

STRONG START — Abby Wacholz smacks a spike during the season opener for the NRHEG volleyball team. The Panthers were on the road twice last week, winning two of three to start the year. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

For a while, it looked as if the NRHEG volleyball team might be off to a 3-0 start.

But things changed quickly and they didn’t get any better.

The Panthers, who started last week with a 3-1 at Nicollet, won game one 25-20 at Kenyon Thursday night but dropped the next three 25-10, 25-12, 25-15.

“We started out aggressive in game one,” said Panthers coach Onika Peterson. “We took advantage of their errors and were able to make some runs. Kenyon battled back. They really made our defense work in games 2-4. They did a nice job switching up their hits, and adjusting to what are defense was giving them.