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

 

The American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in Waldorf on Dec. 16 from 1-6 p.m. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Waldorf to register or call 507-239-2461.

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

Strife between the New Richland City Council and the ambulance crew does not seem to be going away.

Monica Schutrop, suspended for 30 days and stripped of her title of assistant ambulance director at a previous meeting, was there to address the council at its Nov. 12 meeting. All council members and mayor Mike Shurson were there, as were city clerk Wayne Billing and about eight community members.

Schutrop delivered an emotional plea, alleging wrongdoing on the city’s part, claiming she was not properly notified about when her suspension situation would be discussed in closed session.

Billing said Shutrop was notified by e-mail, though he has acknowledged the wrong meeting date was inadvertently given.

“My rights were violated,” said Schutrop, who added that she’s hired an attorney. “It’s not only illegal, it’s immoral.”

Schutrop alleges that since she was given the wrong meeting date, the council’s actions against her are invalid. She also said she was not given the option of having the meeting open or closed, which she feels should have been done.

 

The 35th Annual Wild Game Feed is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 at Geneva Bar and Grill. Food will be served starting at 11 a.m.

People are invited to enjoy a variety of wild game prepared in various ways. Included are alligator, frog legs, venison, pheasant, goose, wild turkey, duck, fish and more.

A donation is requested. All proceeds benefit the Geneva Cancer Auction.

For more information call 507-256-7278.

Andree leaving New Richland after 25 years

PRIVILEGE AND HONOR — That’s what it’s been to serve in New Richland, according to Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Paul Andree, who’s retiring after more than 25 years in town. (Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud)

Editor’s note: Pastor Paul Andree is leaving Trinity Lutheran Church after 25 years. Pastor Paul chose not to be interviewed for an article, but did provide some insights to his feelings as he leaves New Richland. Here they are, in his words:

 

On June 16, 1994, I became the 10th pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. Shortly thereafter my wife, Rhonda, became the church organist. This community has blessed us more than words could ever describe. It was the beginning of what has become a wonderful journey with the people of the New Richland area. We have been here over 25 years, during which our two girls, Karisa and Rachel, graduated from NRHEG, so our family will always feel that this is home for us.

At an early age I knew I was going to be a pastor. I was raised in the faith at Grace Lutheran Church, Waseca. I wrote a paper on being a pastor when I was in Mr. Storby’s class at Waseca Central High School. I graduated from Luther Seminary, St Paul, Minnesota, on June 1, 1980 and was ordained on June 29. I then served churches at Arlington, South Dakota and Canby, Minnesota before coming here. Being New Richland is Rhonda’s home town, this was a double blessing for us.

My focus has been on building relationships within our church, but also by reaching out to the community so that everyone can feel welcome here as we worship God.   Another focus has been on our youth. We started a program called, FISH (Fun In Serving Him) for any child in our community in grades 3-6. It meets every Wednesday after school until 4:30 p.m. We also started a community food shelf in 2009 which is now the Area Food Shelf of New Richland.

Announcement comes on 20th anniversary of local ownership for Curt Clarambeau



ABRUPT ANNOUNCEMENT — New Richland Drug owner Curt Clarambeau announced Friday he’s closing the store. The last day to fill prescriptions there is Tuesday, Nov. 19. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

If you have a prescription to fill at New Richland Drug, you better hurry.

If you want to cash in on some closeout merchandise, time is running out.

In an abrupt bombshell of an announcement, owner Curt Clarambeau said  Friday the local drug store would no longer fill prescriptions as of Tuesday, Nov. 19, and the store would close in two or three weeks when inventory is liquidated. All current prescriptions will be transferred to Walgreen Drug in Albert Lea, though customers will have the option of choosing their own pharmacy.

According to Clarambeau, who has owned the store since 1999, those choices are dwindling.

“Fifty percent of pharmacies are expected to close in the next two years,” he said.

Still, it makes the closing of the New Richland drug store no less devastating. The town has had a drug store for many decades, and now people will have to make other arrangements for prescription refills.

“It is awful,” said Clarambeau. “It kind of has been the last couple years.”

Clarambeau was hoping to give people more notice, but he didn’t find out for sure until  Thursday, when Walgreen’s completed the paperwork.