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

By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer

Saturday, Dec. 1 is a very important day in Southern Minnesota. It marks the 34th Annual Wild Game Feed in that great town of Geneva.

Plans have been made and before we know it a large heated tent will  be set up in the Geneva Bar & Grill parking lot, and a large number of deep fryers and grills are being prepared which will serve a great array of wild game to all the great people coming to Geneva.

The day will provide everyone the chance to enjoy a wild variety of foods, including turkey, pheasant, goose, duck, venison, alligator and frog legs, and many different kinds of fish.

The great assortment will be served under the big top starting at 11 a.m. until it is gone, all for the cost of a free-will donation. If there is a particular wild game that you enjoy, it is suggested you come early because others may like your favorite choices as well.

Also included in the day will be a 50-plus gun raffle starting at 10 Saturday morning.

Benefit for Ashley Hagen Dec. 2


HAGEN FAMILY: Above from left: Lizzy, Ashley, Brad, Ben, and Allyson Hagen. Ashley Hagen is pictured holding the family dog whose name is Babe. (Submitted photo)

By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Contributing Writer

At a time when most teenagers are worrying about grades in school and what outfit to wear to the movies, 14-year old-Ashley Hagen worries about how to deal with the pain and lower the toxicity level in her body.

At 12 years old, when she was just finishing sixth grade on the A honor roll and anticipating her involvement on the varsity cheer team, Ashley sprained her ankle playing kickball with her cousin. She woke up the next morning with her ankle bruised, swollen, and painful, but that was just the beginning. The pain from Ashley’s sprained ankle didn’t abate over the next six months, but spread up her entire leg, causing paralysis in her foot. Ashley saw multiple doctors and had multiple x-rays, CT scans and MRIs.

The ankle sprain occurred in May 2016. Mayo Clinic doctors finally diagnosed her condition in November of the same year: Complex reginal pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare and complex neuroinflammatory disorder that affects the immune system, autonomic nervous system, and the central nervous system. CRPS is incurable and at this point doctors do not understand what causes it. It is categorized as the highest rated pain condition on the McGill scale. According to Ashley’s mother, Allyson Hagen, the pain of CRPS has been described as “being wrapped in barbed wire, set on fire, and then electrocuted at random intervals.”

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

Mark Domeier has written material intended for public consumption since elementary school.

He hasn't stopped since.

Domeier, an NRHEG English teacher, Star Eagle columnist and published author, shared his writing expertise and signed books during an Author Event at the New Richland Public Library Monday, Oct. 22.

"Maybe you've heard him at football games, seen him around Ellendale or read his column in the Star," said Nancy Rudau as she introduced Domeier. "He's a good addition to the NRHEG area and a good person as well."

Domeier's first foray in the writing arena started in third grade, when students were instructed to write a creative story and read it in front of the class. The next year he was published for the first time when he wrote a play. It was a big deal. He was interviewed by a television station and became known as the writer in his class.

In college, Domeier had a professor who did not easily hand out A's.

Residents push back against citywide garbage disposal plan

Public encouraged to attend Dec. 10 meeting

 

By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer

There has been a growing sense of concern, confusion and frustration among the people of New Richland in recent weeks, sparked by the city council’s approval of a contract for citywide garbage and recycling collection at a Sept. 24 meeting. 

The idea of organized, citywide trash collection for New Richland is not new—the topic has been kicked around by the council for years. In 2015, a public meeting was held on the subject, and the council chambers were filled nearly to capacity with concerned citizens who voiced their objections to the proposed plan. Their message was clear: New Richland residents not only disapproved of the plan, but firmly believed it went against the best interests of the people.

After that meeting, the council dropped the subject, and it wasn’t seriously discussed again for a long time. The following year, a free recycling service for city residents was implemented, consisting of two (later increased to three) dumpsters at city hall to be collected by Waste Management. Video surveillance equipment was purchased and installed at the site as well, and the city was responsible for the cost of the service.

In January of this year, discussions started again in city council meetings regarding citywide trash collection. Not mentioned during these talks were the concerns expressed at the previous public meeting on the topic. The beginnings of a plan started in July, and by August a contract was finalized and ready for a council decision.

How the Veterans Day program has changed at NRHEG

PRESENTING THE COLORS - Local veterans gathered in the NRHEG high school gymnasium for the annual Veterans Day program Friday November 9. Pictured above are local American Legion members presenting the colors. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)

By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher

When Steve Fredrickson was a first-year principal at NRHEG 18 years ago, he inquired about the Veterans Day program at the school and was told it was discontinued. He did not find that acceptable.

With the help of Georgia Dinneen, Fredrickson got the Veterans Day program back on the schedule, and it’s been going strong since.

Fredrickson was one of the guest speakers Friday morning at the annual ceremony honoring veterans in the NRHEG High School gym.

Current high school principal David Bunn welcomed everyone, saying, “This is a great opportunity to honor folks who truly deserve honoring.”

The NRHEG Elementary choir then performed, “This Land is Your Land,” accompanied by guitarist Shawn Larson.

“Veterans Day is a special day,” said NRHEG Superintendent Dale Carlson. “It’s a blessing for all of us as we have the opportunity to say thanks for protecting our freedom.”