This is probably the earliest date I can remember that the ice has been gone from both Fountain and Albert Lea Lake. What effect, if any, this will have on the upcoming fishing season remains to be seen. Once the “hard ice” season draws to a close I am always anxious to see what the open water season has in store. Whenever the ice disappears from area lakes unusually early or late, I tend to be a little apprehensive.

Looking back to some of the Governor’s Fishing Openers I have attended, there have been times when the ice has been out fairly early — like the one in Red Wing when I fished the opener on the Mississippi River in a T-shirt — but there were more times than not where the ice had gone out only a few days prior in some instances, like the one about three years ago when there was still ice on part of the lake I fished. I guess what I am really trying to say is that each year can be a little different. This is what makes living in Minnesota so interesting; you never know what lies ahead, so it’s not all that easy to predict the weather or the fishing.

When my three oldest grandsons were younger I would take them shore fishing shortly after the opener. Usually the three oldest, Trevor, Taylor and their cousin Dylan, would stay overnight and we’d rise early the next morning and, after Grandma fixed us a nice breakfast, head to the channel by Frank Hall Park. Most of my time would be spent untangling fishing lines or retrieving tackle out of overhanging tree branches. We would never usually catch much more than a few small bullheads and some perch, but they never seemed to mind. Trevor had and still does have the patience and the knack for fishing, but Taylor and Dylan not quite so much as in their younger years. As the years have gone by Dylan, like Trevor, has developed into a very good fisherman and Taylor, although he still likes to fish, isn’t quite as obsessed as the other two. Having the grandkids enjoy the sport that I love makes me feel like I have passed on a very important part of our family’s heritage to yet another generation.

If you are like me, you are looking forward to and already are getting outdoors and experiencing nature and the many things that our great Minnesota outdoors has to offer. Minnesota has 75 nice state parks and recreation areas for us to enjoy and since our family built our cabin in northern Minnesota. I have to admit I have not visited as many of our state parks as I would like. I do plan on purchasing a sticker this year and will make it a point to check out a few state’s parks starting with the one we have right here in our own back yard.

Minnesota State parks to make customer service improvements

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that some key customer service improvements are coming to Minnesota state parks and recreation areas this summer.

According to DNR Parks and Trails Division Director Erika Rivers, the following changes, which begin taking effect in early May, are important steps to modernize services and meet the needs of today’s visitors to the state’s 75 parks and recreation areas.

Summer 2016 changes include:

Campsites that are 100 percent reservable at all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas

Previously, up to one-third of state park campsites were not available for advanced reservation and could only be rented by walk-in guests at the parks on a first-come, first served basis. In a 2014-2015 pilot project, about a quarter of state parks made all of their campsites reservable. Based on positive customer response, the Parks and Trails Division decided to expand this service statewide in 2016. Campsites can be reserved online at www.mndnr.gov/reservations or via phone: 866-857-2757.

Same-day reservations

For spontaneous travelers and families with busy schedules, same-day reservations will soon be available at many of Minnesota state parks’ most popular destinations (some locations will require infrastructure upgrades before implementation). Previously, the cut-off for making reservations was midnight the night before arrival day. For walk-ins, if there’s a campsite available, they’ll be able to book it either online or at a self-serve kiosk right in the park after arrival, with no reservation fee.

Easier, more convenient registration and orientation

Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are also investing in improved orientation and registration systems, which will allow visitors to register themselves and get other information without standing in line waiting for a staff person. Signs, maps and publications are being redesigned to be easier to use and to appeal to a new generation of visitors.

In moving to 100 percent reservable campsites, Rivers noted that parents previously may have been reluctant to pack up their cars and haul their kids some distance to a park that may not have a campsite available by the time they get there. “Moving to 100 percent ‘guaranteed camping’ and accepting same-day reservations is a step toward becoming even more family friendly,” she said.

Ice shelter permits for 2015 remain effective through Saturday, April 30.

Until next time, the weather is warming and the ice has disappeared from area lakes so it’s a great time to get out and enjoy walking, biking or maybe even wet a line and catch some early season panfish or perch.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers while we are enjoying the freedoms that our men and women serving their country are preserving for us. They are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms we have today.

NRHEG Community Education will host defensive driving classes.

An eight-hour class, which entitles individuals to a 10-percent reduction on insurance premiums, is April 18 and 19 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. in Room D107 of NRHEG High School in New Richland. Cost is $26. Register by April 11 by calling 888-234-1294

A four-hour refresher course (must have taken the eight-hour in previous years) is April 21 from 5:30-9:30 in Room D107 of NRHEG High School. Cost is $22. Register a week before the class by calling 888-234-1294.

There will be a preschool open house to register for the 2016-17 school year on Tuesday, April 12 in Ellendale or Thursday, April 14 in New Richland. You can attend either site and register for either site on these dates. The open house will start at 6 and end at 7:30. The registration fee will only be $20 if you attend the open house. Otherwise it will be $25 if you are registered by April 22 and do not attend the open house. After April 22 the registration fee will be $35. If classes fill up, you will be put on a waiting list.

Memorial services for Elmer James Young of New Richland, MN, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the First Congregational Church in New Richland, MN. Pastor Pamela Jensen will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Freeborn Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded.

Elmer died Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the Ecumen Care Center in New Richland. He was 94 years of age.

Elmer was born July 30, 1921 in Freeborn Township on the family farm the son of Jerome and Mabel (Rassmussen) Young. He attended country school and entered the US Army in 1942 serving overseas during WW2. He was seriously wounded in Italy and was awarded the Purple Heart. After his return in 1945 he was united in marriage to Elvira Christiansen on July 30, 1946 in Freeborn MN. Together they farmed the family farm in rural Wells for many years.

A gathering in remembrance of Kenneth W. Farr of Geneva, MN, will be held Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, MN.

Kenneth died Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center. He was 75 years of age.

Kenneth was born May 18, 1940 in Albert Lea, MN, the son of Harvey and Zadie (Ferguson) Farr. He attended the “Farr” Country School and on December 24th, 1956 was united in marriage to Julia Stieglbauer in Northwood, IA. He lived his entire life in the Geneva area and had been a member of the United Methodist Church in Geneva.

New Richland City Council

By JESSICA LUTGENS

Staff Writer

Contact has finally been made with the owner of the commercial lot on 420 2nd St. SE in New Richland, according to City Clerk Wayne Billing, who received a visit at City Hall from the property owner prior to the regular city council meeting on Monday, March 14. The owner, who was put on notice to clean up the property, has decided to attend a public hearing at the next meeting on March 28.

The council meeting began at 6:30 p.m. with all members present; the agenda and consent agenda items were approved.

The police report stated that the department responded to 86 calls for service in February, and the new squad car was received on March 11. Regarding the recent thefts around town, a juvenile suspect was arrested on outstanding Apprehend and Detain orders from other counties, and the items taken were returned to their owners. Charges are pending with the Waseca County Attorney’s Office. The report was approved.

The fire department’s purchase requests of up to $16,000 for gear, and $3,080 for light upgrades, were approved, along with the fire report.

The NRHEG Panthers gave it their all and then some against the tall and talented Norwood-Young America Raiders in the Section 2AA girls’ basketball championship game.

It just wasn’t enough.

The underdog Panthers played from behind all night and some crucial plays did not go their way as they fell short 67-56 at Minnesota State-Mankato Friday, March 11. NRHEG finished an outstanding season one win away from the state tournament, with an overall record of 23-7.

The Raiders, who should represent Section 2AA well in the state tournament, took advantage of their superior height and hit several key three-pointers while building a 30-24 halftime lead.

As the weather warms, so do my feelings about getting in some open water fishing. I have seen a few folks trying their luck on the Front Street bridge and in the channel by the Bridge Street dam. Although the walleye, northern and bass seasons are closed the season is ongoing for perch, crappie and sunfish. It seems that although we had upper 60-degree weather on Tuesday of this past week, the ice is not quite ready to go away. If you are like me, you are anticipating the day when you can cast a line with the hope of catching some tasty perch or panfish.

When I close my eyes I can drift off and put myself on any one of the many lakes that surround the area in Northern Minnesota where our cabin sits. I know I may be getting the cart in front of the horse or, in this instance, prematurely firing up the old Evinrude. If you can’t wait for open water fishing, a trip east to the “Mighty Mississippi” may be in order.

It has been many years since me and some coworkers from Wilson’s would head to the river for a day of fishing. It only seems like yesterday we were taking an early-morning trip to that river where I have to say, we usually caught fish. I also went there with my old neighbor, Gene, on one occasion and if I recall correctly it was usually a good experience no matter who I fished with.

My first trip to the river was as a youth when my Uncle Ben asked me to go along to Wabasha. Once there, we were to meet Harry, one of his good friends from Cedar Rapids. We stayed at a resort on the river and our plan was to catch some of the “slab” crappies that were biting at that time. I can remember catching crappies as fast as I could pull them into the boat. Uncle Ben reminded me many times about that time when I was so excited that I’d pull a crappie out of the water on one side of the boat and fling it back into the water on the other side in one fluid motion. We came home with our limit of nice crappie, and that was one childhood memory I cherish to this day.

Not only did I catch a lot of fish on that trip with Uncle Ben, but I caught an alligator gar, a fish I had read about before the trip. As soon as I found out I was going to the river I read up about what type of fish we could find in that area of the mighty river. To me, catching a gar was a dream come true because I knew none of my friends had ever experienced catching one. In those days I would invest a lot of the money that I’d get for doing chores or lawn mowing in hunting and fishing magazines. These books would fuel my daydreams where I’d go to fish bonefish or tarpon in Florida or muskies in Canada, so catching a gar was considered a dream fulfilled to me.

I guess it didn’t take much to satisfy me when it came to hunting and fishing, but catching that gar made that trip extra special. I was a kid who fished bullheads and sunfish at the old mink farm, which is what folks used to call Coney Island in those days. Give me some fish line, an old thermos bottle cork, a few weights and hooks, and I was good to go. In the same token, my hunting experiences at that age evolved around my trusty old Red Ryder BB gun and traipsing through the slough looking for an adventure that could only be found in my imagination.

2015 fish, game and trapping licenses expired Feb. 29

Minnesota fishing, hunting and trapping licenses for 2015 expired Monday, Feb. 29.

Licenses for 2016 now are available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online at www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense and by telephone at 888-665-4236. All 2016 fishing licenses became effective Tuesday, March 1.

New licenses are required for 2015 hunting and fishing seasons that continued past Monday, Feb. 29.

Anglers who purchased the new three-year individual angling license in 2013 when it first became available must renew their license this year.

Anglers can help maintain and enhance Minnesota’s famed walleye fishing by adding the $5 walleye stamp validation to their licenses. The stamp is not required to fish for or keep walleye.

Customers who purchase online via smartphone won’t receive a conventional paper license. Instead, they’ll receive a text message or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers. A printed copy of the text or email also can serve as proof of a valid license.

Ice shelter permits for 2015 remain effective through Saturday, April 30.

Until next time, the weather is warming and the ice is slowly disappearing from our lakes, so it’s a great time to get out and enjoy spending time in our great Minnesota outdoors.

Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, not only during the holiday season but for the rest of the year. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the alphabet song and how it is a good thing to think about when washing our hands. It really is recommended that we sing the ABCs twice as a length of time to wash our hands thoroughly.

That got my mind to thinking about the ABCs and wondering how the ABCs came about, how they were developed, how the letters were designed, how the sounds were determined, and when.

Robert Bringhurst wrote that writing is the solid form of language. I  learned the origin of writing. The way it is now woven into our civilization is truly a wonderful story. It was interesting to learn that how the letters were designed, developed and determined goes back 5,000 years.

One of the earliest examples of writing was actually done in pictograms. One of advantages of using that form was that a picture or graphic represented a thing or an idea; while people may speak many different languages everyone could understand the pictograms.

Alphabets are usually associated with a standard ordering of letters. The most popular alphabet is the Latin, which was derived from the Greek, and has been modified for many languages. We use 26 letters here in our corner of the world. The Romans use 23. The Chinese have to learn thousands of characters to express themselves.

While most alphabets have letters composed of lines, or linear writing, there are exceptions, such as the alphabets used in Braille, finger spelling, and Morse Code.

Children learn to read long before school age. I remember when my nephew Kade was little and how he was just starting to talk and was able to pick out letters off the side of a box car as we waited for trains.

Finding letters and making words was always a fun game to play with our children when we were traveling to and fro. Of course every kid knows the words “McDonald’s”, “Wal-Mart” or “Lerbergs.” True, it is by association, but they are recognizing letters and words.

And now I know about my ABCs.

It has been so nice to see people out walking on these nice "winter" days. Some have been walking their dogs and others have been walking with their children. Kids love the experience of spending time with Mom and Dad.

But one thought always comes to mind. How difficult it must be for those little legs and feet to keep up with adults. Often during those walks the parents are holding their children’s hands as they walk, often to help protect them. As a result, the young children’s arms are raised up high so they can hold their parents hands. Try it sometime….walking with your hands above your head for any distance.

We don't always remember we are walking with children and their legs are shorter and they can't take as big a steps as we do, and as a result it is harder for them to keep up.

I remember how my mother handled those situations when my sister and I were younger. She put us on a leash. No, she didn’t treat us like dogs, she just put a dog collar on us for a belt. The belt provided her a way to snap on a leash. Some people may find it repulsive I know, but my mother said that taking us for “walks” in that manner allowed us room to move around, and still be protected from getting separated from her, and it worked.

God made parents taller than their children, so the kids would have someone to look up to, not to be afraid of or to be bullied or abused because they are larger. The answer so many parents use is, because I said so. To me that is a poor excuse and needs explanation or clarification. Be mindful that children are most often aware of what you say and do because they are always watching you.

Think before you speak negatively. Things you could/should tell your children and grandchildren:  “Good job.” “You are wonderful.” “That was really great.” “I appreciate all the nice things you do.” “You come first in my life.” “You're not just my child/grandchild, you're my best friend.” “I wanted you.” “I will always love you.” “I love the sparkle in your eyes.” “I like your smile.” “You make me feel good. “I am sorry.” “I was wrong.” “Let me listen.” “You are special.” “I can't imagine life without you.” “What can I do to help?” “Pray with me.” “Play with me.” “You make every day brighter.” “I prize every moment we spend together.” “Thanks for loving me."

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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. Read your Star Eagle and you will know why we choose to live here.

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.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day!  Emma Victoria Schember, her first; Mike Cady, Ashley Marie Hagen, Shannon Weckwerth Pacholl, Dakota Ray Janning, Nicole Hanna, Patrick Wobschall, Harvey Zicafoose, Mandy Galbraith, Joel Hill, Jenifer Jensen Pietari, Kevin & Marsha Jensen

• Friday, March 18th: Axel Jameson Ladlie (2011), Ashley Marie Hagen, Lynn Sommer Eaton, Chad Cornelius, Randy Brandt, Michelle Bartness, Dan Enzenauer, Matthew Larson, Wanda Stanley, Kent Toft, Matt & Jennifer Van Hal, Dean & Sue Westrum

• Saturday, March 19th: Samuel Bartness, his 4th; Laverne Klocek, Jill Rye, Jill Neitzell, Tyler Crabtree, Bethany Butler, Tori Lynn Sage, Wyatt Marcus Westergrin

• Sunday, March 20th: Jayda Moon, Tricia Renae Hanson, Nicole Christensen, Neva Lembke,          Gary Reichl, Jim Butler, Tammy Harpel Nielsen, Winfred Bergdale, Shelly Hoeve, Billy Jo Johnson Schwierjohann, Dennis Olson

• Monday, March 21st: Amy Foster, John Krell, Doris Krause, Trent Steven Pence, Kelly Marie Dobberstein, Phillip Ingvaldson, Pam Farr, Kent Paulson, Diane Marlin, Kelly Nelson, Brody Grunwald, Darrell & Cindy Farr

• Tuesday, March 22nd: National Goof Off Day! Gordy Carroll, Brenna Lynn Hagen, Shannon Johnson, Karin Lieberg, Bob Sommers, Leah Elaine Bergerson, Jerry Peterson, Nancy & Jerry Walterman, Dennis & Glenda Blouin

• Wednesday, March 23rd: Chris Newgard, Penny Obermoller, Alan Edwardson, Troy Johnson, Troy Wagner, Jason Dwight, Alexi Jo Kitzer, Alex Dobberstein, Delaney Sue Vander Syde, Alexander James Thompson, Peter Bergerson, Chris Rutheford, Phyllis Anderson, Rick & Liz Wangsness

It is your special day. Get carried away. Enjoy the day!

Echoes From the Loafers' Club Meeting

I got to work early this morning.

Way to go.

I worked all day and got lots done.

Nice.

I wonder what else can go wrong?

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: With the upcoming election, it seems like every man I talk to wants me to have an opinion — his. That’s one of the reasons I appreciate Chuckles’ company. Some think he is so grumpy that when he sees a lemon, the lemon makes a face, but he’s just quiet. He doesn't say much, but he nods a lot. He’s like the lazy dog that merely nodded when he heard another dog bark.

Busted knuckles and sugar cookies

I bought the latest model cellphone. It had just been introduced to the market. A week later, the salesman asked if I'd like to upgrade to the phone that had just made my new phone obsolete.

I didn't upgrade.

I grew up in a family that didn’t upgrade. We patched, welded, taped, nursed and scrounged. We made do or did without.

My father worked on a misbehaving farm implement. It was dark and he was toiling under the fading light of a troubled trouble light.

I wasn’t much help. I wore my T-shirt inside out in order to advertise that fact. I added a sluggish element to the farming operation. My specialty was getting in the way of Dad’s light. I made a better door than a window. My skill set best fit that of a gofer. I was the boy who ran errands and fetched things.

"Get me a 1/2-inch box end wrench," Dad grunted, having long ago dumped the "please" that might have fit on either end of that sentence.

My feet had wings. Down into a darkened corner of the basement I hurried, determined to do a good job and prove my worth. I didn’t take a flashlight with me. In my family, flashlights were nothing more than cases to hold dead batteries.

I grabbed a wrench and carried it back to my father. It was a 5/8-inch wrench. I recommended that Dad give it a try anyway, but there was no point. A lifetime of busted knuckles had given my father the gift of being able to instantly gauge the size of a nut. A slipped wrench is a good teacher.

I hustled back to the basement and brought Dad a 3/8-inch wrench.

Dad sighed and said slower than I thought required, "I need a 1/2-inch box end wrench."

I’m sure that he’d have liked to have said more, but even bad help was hard to find.

Back to the basement I went, like a boomerang wearing hand-me-down tennis shoes.

Mom had made some of her neighborhood-famous sugar cookies. She offered me one. I ate three. By the time I’d finished ingesting the treats, I’d forgotten what my father had wanted. I knew he wanted something.

I took him a sugar cookie.

Care for ketchup on that ice cream?

The neighbor boy, Larry, and I had been on our best behaviors. That meant we’d been staying outdoors instead of clogging up the house. When we did come into the house, my mother gave us each a bowl of vanilla ice cream as an edible good conduct medal. I asked if there was any topping for the ice cream, but the cupboard was bare. We didn't even have any Karo syrup.

I put some ketchup, which was the only exotic spice found in our kitchen, onto the ice cream. I put it on Larry's ice cream, too. An uncle had told me that ketchup made everything better. I’d even considered gravy as it covered a multitude of sins. I worried that my mother would have been unable to roll her eyes far enough back had she seen me applying gravy to ice cream.

I discovered that ketchup was no improvement over plain vanilla ice cream.

Larry and I finished our ice cream/ketchup combo.

It was still ice cream. Even bad ice cream was good. Liver and onions ice cream would be edible.

I haven’t eaten ketchup on ice cream since that day.

Nature notes

A robin lives two years on average. Fledged robins experience an annual mortality rate of 50 percent. Only 40 percent of nests produce young and 25 percent of those young survive to November.

Meeting adjourned

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." — Lao Tzu