NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

Despite forecast, rains hold off for Zoe’s Rainbow Dash


By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

It was a strange weather phenomenon that caused the winds that sank the boat and killed Sue and Zoe McDonough July 5, 2012 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Another strange thing happened with the weather this year.

Contrary to every forecast, it did not rain during the inaugural Zoe’s Rainbow Dash, a 5K run in memory of beloved New Richland resident Sue McDonough and her granddaughter Zoe held July 4 in Chattanooga.

“The forecast said there was 100 percent chance of rain, and the Weather Channel forecast is almost always on the money,” said Brett McDonough, Zoe’s father. “The radar showed a huge, red wall. When it got to Chattanooga, it broke up and moved around the city. It didn’t rain during the race. It was pretty miraculous, actually.”

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

A blue-eyed, handsome young boy who loved and lived life to the fullest, Markus Misgen’s life was cut short in his 12th year. Marcus died Thursday, July 11 at the Owatonna hospital. Although he had previous medical issues, the cause of death is not known.

Though his sudden death was a shock, filled with unbelievable sadness to those in the community, he will be remembered for his many interests and activities.

Litomysl’s Summer Festival Sunday

The annual Litomysl Summer Festival is Sunday, July 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Polka Mass at 10 a.m. The event offers fun for the entire family, with food, refreshments, live music, games, prizes and silent auction starting at 11 a.m. From Ellendale, find Litomysl east on Hwy. 30 to Co. Rd. 45, then 5 miles north on Co. Rd. 45 to Co. Rd. 4 (SE 98th St), then 2 miles east to 24th Ave SE.


Equipment needed to finish volleyball courts

Progress was finally made last weekend on the sand volleyball courts in New Richland, but help is needed. According to Girl Scout Troop Leader Laina Rajala, “We are hoping to find someone that can let us (and when I say us, I mean a skilled operator…not me or the girls!) borrow a track skid loader (as opposed to a wheeled skid loader) to help with the last of the sand and a steel drum roller to help with the clean-up.” If you can help, call Laina at (507) 463-8625.

Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met Thursday, July 11 with Mayor Swearingen and all Councilmen present. Also in attendance were Josh Otto, Maintenance; Pete Paulson, Municipal Liquor Store, and Mark Lee, Fire Chief. 

Otto told the council he had been on the roof of three of the City’s buildings with a prospective roofing bidder. Otto and the salesman checked out the Municipal Liquor Store’s roof, the Community Building and the Fire Hall. The salesman noted to Otto a few recommendations. One, he would take down some of the skirting on the MLS building as this is causing undue stress. On the Fire Hall, he would remove the heating unit because it doesn’t appear to be used. The council did hear some figures for repairs and reroofing, but felt in fairness to other possible bidders not to print the dollar amount. The council moved to get more bids for the Fire Hall and repair bids for the MLS.

By CARRIE GILBERTSON

Staff Writer

The evening of Monday, July 1 was a time of history in the making. The Hartland City Council and Freeborn City Council held concurrent meetings at Hartland City Hall. The purpose of such an event was to adopt an alliance between the two, benefiting the residents of their communities.

The city of Hartland has long been working on the construction of a new water treatment facility. The old structure had ongoing problems for several years, and though it has been able to serve its purpose temporarily, the city knew that the functionality was not sustainable long term.