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Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday October 25, with Mayor Engel and all councilmen present. Also attending the meeting were Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele, City Clerk Steve Louks, Roger Swearingen, maintenance, Pete Paulson-, MLS manager, Caren Swearingen, Donovan Eaker and Steele County Commissioner Bruce Kubicek.
The council reviewed the contract prepared by the Sheriff’s Department. The contract will be a one-year contract that automatically renews at the end of the current year. The agreement calls for approximately 19 hours of coverage per week and spread as evenly over seven days as possible. The contract calls for the city to pay $3,261.00 per month in 2013. Included in the agreement is a 3 percent raise each year the county provides services to the city. The contract calls for the county to provide all vehicles and maintain them. Sheriff Thiele told the council he felt the city has, over the years, received more coverage than contracted. After a few more comments the council approved the contract.
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New manager at New Richland’s Country Neighbors relishes her job
NEIGHBORLY — Julie Strong, left, visits with Country Neighbors resident Floa Finholdt. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
For an hour straight, Julie Strong’s eyes have glazed over so many numbers she can’t see straight. Well, not really. She just needs to hit the pause button for a few minutes and gain some human interaction.
What better way to do that, than to walk outside her office door.
“The residents are special in every way,” said Strong, New Richland’s newest manager for Country Neighbors. “I just graduated from Minnesota State University in Mankato and am a licensed social worker. It’s not a requirement, but it’s certainly an asset to the job.”
For one, Strong can really advocate for the 13 residents activity-wise.
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After one year, Helen Sawyer can say she loves it at Whispering Oak
FAMILY TIME — Whispering Oak resident Helen Sawyer, left, chats with nieces Lynn, Pat and Paulette. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
By RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
Whispering Oak and Helen Sawyer are soon to be celebrating their one-year anniversary.
And, you know what? They were made for each other.
“My stay here has been wonderful,” Helen said. “The staff is friendly and continually gives of themselves.”
Director Maryann Schlaak has nothing but nice things to say about Helen as well.
“She is very gracious and appreciative,” she said. “She’s just an all-around neat lady.”
Schlaak’s observations go far beyond just those. There’s so much more to Helen than meets the eye.
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THREE YEARS — Blondie’s in New Richland is celebrating its three-year anniversary Friday, Nov. 2. Pictured from left are owner Carly Solland and cook Angie Hoffman. (Star Eagle photo by Nicole Billing)
By NICOLE BILLING
Editorial Assistant
Where does the name “Blondie’s” come from? Not from owner Carly Solland, as some might think.
The name comes from Hollywood blondes such as Marilyn Monroe, whose picture can be seen on Blondie’s walls.
Blondie’s has been in the New Richland community for three years now and is always busy with customers. It will perhaps be busier than usual this Friday, Nov. 2, as the restaurant holds a three-year anniversary celebration featuring a lunch special along with free coffee and treat.
Solland has been in the restaurant business for seven years and said, “I want to do this for the rest of my life. It’s not always what it’s cracked up to be, but I’m doing what I want to do. Even though it doesn’t always pay the bills, liking what I do is important.”
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NRHEG School Board
THANKS, MONSANTO! — Monsanto presented a $25,000 check to the NRHEG school during the high school pep fest on Friday, October 5. Pictured from left: Paul Cyr, Kevin Wellen, Mike Pruat, Anne Feist, Amanda Inouye, Jennifer Hatton, Rick Schultz, Chris Beyer and Tom Chandler. (Star Eagle photo by Nicole Billing)
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
The list of donations approved by the NRHEG school board for the month of October topped $40,000.
Monsanto grant
Topping the list was the $25,000 grant gift from Monsanto.
The Monsanto Grow Community Farm Progress grant was made available to school districts with a choice of taking $10,000 per district, or submitting their district to be nominated by area farmers for a possible $25,000.
The project description states, “NRHEG will use the grant to update science laboratories to state-of-the-art facilities. The district will be acquiring 13 Labquest Interface equipment and sensors that will broaden the scope of scientific investigation in the classrooms. The grant will also be used to purchase two digital microscopes that will be integrated with SMART Boards that are already in use.”