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

NRHEG to continue food, daycare services

ST. PAUL – Minnesota schools will be closed to students by Wednesday and through March 27 so educators can prepare for distance learning and administrators can work through the challenges of closing schools for an extended period if needed in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Tim Walz ordered Sunday.

“No matter where we live or what we look like, we all want our kids to keep learning and growing through this difficult time,” said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota. “That can only happen if educators are given some time to use their training and experience to transform classroom lessons into distance learning. Gov. Walz is recognizing the complexity of the educators’ work with this preparedness period.”

The planning time will also give classroom educators and administrators time to figure how to provide vital services, including food, mental health services and other student supports, if public health officials recommend that schools close to staff and students for weeks or months this spring.

“Public schools play a complicated and crucial role in the smooth functioning of every community in the state,” Specht said. “Minnesota’s educators are problem solvers, community leaders and ready to step up. We will keep students and ourselves safe. We will do our part in our communities as we face this unprecedented situation. It’s what we do every day.”

A benefit for Cindy Green of Ellendale set for Saturday, March 21 has been postponed to Saturday, April 18 from 3-7 p.m. at the Geneva Community Center. Included are silent and live auctions a meal for free-will donation, and a bake sale.

Cindy was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in early 2018. It is a horrible, aggressive disease with no cure and has unfortunately caused numerous complications in Cindy’s Daily Life. Things we take for granted such as eating, drinking, walking, and even breathing (she now must use portable oxygen) have become difficult for Cindy.

The financial burden of this disease will increase as it progresses. A group of family and friends have gathered to organize the benefit.

If you are interested in donating or helping, conctact Allie Larson at 507-456-3234 or Jean Worrell at 507-383-0633. For monetary donations, send to Cindy Green Benefit Account, Commerce Bank, Box 149, Geneva, MN  56035.

The FFA Chapters from JWP, NRHEG, and Waseca will be hosting a screening of the independent film, SILO on March 20th at 5:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Waseca High School.

SILO is the first ever feature film, about a grain entrapment, a possible tragedy agricultural communities face every day.

Inspired by true events, SILO tells the story of Cody Rose, an 18-year-old who falls victim to a grain entrapment incident in a small American farm town. As grain turns to quicksand, family, neighbors and first responders must put aside their differences to rescue Cody from drowning in the crop that has sustained their community for generations. 

In addition to the screening, a guided conversation will follow the film using discussion points curated by the SILO team and their non-profit partners, the Grain Handling Safety Coalition. The post-film discussion is designed to address the safety issues as well as other themes in the film that affect people in agricultural communities. 

“Throughout the farming community, it’s often hard to talk about grain entrapment because so many people have been hurt or killed... The movie will be something that people can really learn from.” - World-Grain.com 

ATTENTION ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF NEW RICHLAND CARE CENTER!

At this time we do not have any cases of Corona Virus in our facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Minnesota Dept. of Health, and CMS (Medicare) have recommended a variety of steps that we are implementing to help reduce the potential for the virus to enter our building.

AT THIS TIME, WE REQUEST THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS DO NOT VISIT THE CARE CENTER. We are limiting all visitors to our facility unless absolutely necessary. We are actively screening all individuals, including staff, who need to come into the building.

We understand that connecting with your loved ones in incredibly important, and there are a variety of other ways you might consider communicating with them. These may include telephone, email, text, video chat , or social media. If you believe a visit to the Care Center is necessary, we request that you contact Tammy Busho @ 507-465-3292 M - Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

 

NRHEG School Board

By REED WALLER
Staff Writer

Co-op Sports transportation

The NRHEG Board of Education, at its February meeting last week, moved to discontinue providing transportation of students to cooperatively held athletics activities as of the next school year.

This will include gymnastics.

This issue was brought up at the October meeting, when the board moved to add JWP to the cooperative of school sports, which now includes boys’ and girls’ hockey and soccer as well as gymnastics.

The district has been providing transportation for all co-op sports on paper, but it was waived for soccer and for hockey. But gymnastics students have been provided with transportation on a daily basis since the co-op agreement started in 2009.

Transportation for all co-op sports, including gymnastics, will be discontinued at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

“In the old days, like 40 years ago, people signed up to provide rides,” commented board member Neil Schlaak. He suggested that the district go back to the volunteer system.