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Veteran relates Vietnam experiences
PROUD TO HAVE SERVED — Harlan Kohnert of New Richland is proud to have served his country in Vietnam in the 1960s. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Harlan Kohnert of New Richland served his country in the United States Army. Enlisting right out of high school in 1957, his career spanned nine years, with his discharge in 1966.
“I signed up to be in ordinance, but they threw me in the medics,” said Kohnert.
Kohnert was sent to Ft. Sam Houston for school and later to Ft. Hood. His other duty stations were at Scofield Barracks, which is near Honolulu, Hawaii, and to Nuremburg, Germany. In 1960, he was sent to Ft. Benning, GA. The Army had other plans for him.
“I was with the 11th Air Assault, attached to the 101st Airborne,” said Kohnert.
U.S. Army Air Assault units use helicopters with light infantry troops to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces. U.S. Army CH-21 helicopter transports arrived in Vietnam on December 11, 1961. Twelve days later, air assault operations using South Vietnamese troops began.
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By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Money and memories have been coming in from former Ellendale-Geneva High School graduates. It’s not sufficient to make the move as of yet, but some of the fascinating memories makes this restoration more important all the time.
The Ellendale Area Historical Society had asked one person from each of the Ellendale-Geneva graduating classes to notify their classmates with information about the "Save Gus' Station" project. Barbara Mrotz has received a number of letters, along with donations since the letters went out. Many commented on the quality of education they received from Gus' Station.
Gary Hansen, class of 1955, son of Rube and Shirley, died in a snowmobile accident in March of 2001. During Ellendale’s Centenial Celebration in 2000, Gary gave a speech of his growing up years in the Ellendale, which highlighted stories about Gus' Station. He also recalled the story, "Gus Jacobson's Station,” during his last class reunion as well.
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Benefit for Lindsay Lembke June 3 at Geneva Community Center
Lindsay Lembke
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
You're beautiful, with those long dark eyelashes and big brown eyes. You're sweet 16, the time in your life when everything should be perfect. You should be attending school, enjoying time with friends, having fun and making plans for prom and parties.
And then — bam — you get hit in the stomach, hard. That’s what it feels like. But it’s so much more.
Lindsay Lembke, daughter of Lisa Cromwell Lembke of Geneva and Steve Lembke of Albert Lea, has spent time after time in the hospital since November of last year.
There were times Lindsay complained of her stomach hurting, but they figured it was just an upset stomach. But then, she woke up one morning in November very sick and throwing up. After eight trips to the ER and 12 admittances to the hospital, she had been diagnosed with any number of things and given many different kinds of medication, which were later discovered were not needed for her particular illness. She even suffered a seizure due to the medication and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors just could not determine what was wrong.
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Ellendale City Council
By SCOTT GROTH
Contributing Writer
The Ellendale City Council met Thursday May 24 with Mayor Engel and all councilmen present. Also attending the meeting were Clerk Louks, Roger Swearingen, maintenance, and Pete Paulson, interim manager at the Municipal Liquor Store.
Clerk Louks passed out the fire department’s monthly report. The department submitted $2,414.26 in bill requests. The council approved the report and requests.
Paulson was next with a report for the Municipal Liquor Store. Paulson said he was still trying to get the feel for the everyday happenings at the MLS. Paulson also said he is currently working with the staff to adjust some hours that will in the long run save the MLS some money. Paulson also told the council he was reviewing the food prices and making adjustments up or down. The council will be meeting with Paulson next Thursday evening to go over things at the MLS.
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Tollefson and Johnson gracefully accept diplomas
FEATHER IN THEIR CAPS — As NRHEG co-valedictorians Carter Tollefson and Hailey Johnson rejoice in their newly claimed appellation, the dignified honor fails to inflate their academic egos. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)
BY RACHEL RIETSEMA
Staff Writer
On occasion, Hailey Johnson and Carter Tollefson received the revered classification of walking dictionaries or encyclopedias. Sure, these two definitely are whizzes in the high school classroom, but they don’t claim Webster or Brittanica status.
Now crowned with the title of co-valedictorian for the NRHEG High School class of 2012, Johnson and Tollefson humbly accept in utter glee.
“It’s an honor,” Johnson said. “Yes, smarts come natural to me, but I also have to turn in all my assignments. I don’t think I’ve had a late assignment through high school. It’s great to be rewarded for that.”
Tollefson couldn’t agree more.