- Details
- Hits: 1265
Deadline to sign up is Nov. 19
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Contributing Writer
Santa Claus is not a myth. Anyone who has given a gift anonymously knows this. The Santa Anonymous program in New Richland has been Santa Claus to local children whose parents could otherwise not afford the toys on their letters to Santa.
This program is receiving some updates this year. First, rather than being called “Santa Anonymous,” parents will now sign up for the “Wishing Tree” program at local businesses. Second, those who wish to donate gifts through Wishing Tree will have a much more hands-on opportunity, as they will personally purchase the gifts rather than merely donating money for gifts.
Once the program has enough qualifying applicants, Wishing trees will be displayed at local businesses, filled with tags, each of which will include a child’s name, age and an item on their wish list. Those who wish to purchase a gift for a child can take a tag, purchase the item on the tag and bring it to the New Richland Area Food Shelf, New Richland City Hall, Wagner Foods or New Richland State Bank.
Sign-up sheets for the New Richland Area Wishing Tree program can be found at the bank, city hall, Wagner’s, the post office, New Richland Drug and the Lady Bug. Sign-up sheets are also available online at www.facebook.com/NRwishingtree, and can be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Sign-up sheets must be completed and submitted to the Food Shelf or online by Monday, Nov. 19. Wishing Trees with tags will be located at the bank, city hall, Red Leaf Café, Nancy Jane’s Bakery, the post office, the drug store, First Impressions and area churches. The deadline for donating gifts is Dec. 3.
- Details
- Hits: 4893
Additions made to Gus’ Station
SPECIAL GUESTS - Visitors of Gus’ Station on Friday, Oct. 26 are pictured above from left to right: Anna Nicholson, Andrew Schuur, April Schuur, Grant, Andrew, Barbara Mrotz, Lloyd Kaplan, behind him, Terry Prokopec, Jean Kjos, Ron Kjos, Shelley Dale, and James Lindgren. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
If you’ve been to the Village of Yesteryear at the Steele County Fairgrounds, you know the Steele County Historical Society has one of the best exhibits of the past that can be found. They celebrate, display and work at keeping it a valuable asset to anyone who appreciates what once was.
One of the ambitious displays is Gus’ Station. The Ellendale Area Historical Society has worked long and hard on this project and though it almost looks modern compared to the log cabin in the village, it has a surprising history.
Built by Hember C. and Ruth Steele in 1931 on the corner of what would later be called 8th Ave. and School St., across from the Ellendale Creamery and a half block from the Ellendale School, Gus’ Station has attracted many special visitors over the years.
Some of you may wonder, what is historic about an old gas station? It was located on what was then Highway 30 and is believed to be the first gas station in Ellendale.
Members of the EAHS took on the challenge to move this landmark from Ellendale to the Village of Yesteryear in Owatonna. And over the years EAHS volunteers have been busy restoring and outfitting the station so that others can learn and see first hand the history this great building holds.
- Details
- Hits: 1010
Rick Schultz, Travis Routh, Lucas Routh and Richard Mueller were elected to the NRHEG School Board in the Tuesday, Nov. 6 election. With 16 of 16 precincts reporting, Travis Routh had 1719 votes, Schultz 1708, Lucas Routh 1475, Mueller 1281 and Wynnemer 1201. The totals are not official.
In New Richland, Ellendale and Hartland, the municipal races were uncontested. Mike Shurson was elected mayor of New Richland while Jessie Schafer and Jason Casey were elected to the city council.
Russ Goette was reelected mayor of Ellendale. Also reelected were council members Scott Groth and Steph Kibler. An initiative of whether to allow Ellendale to issue a liquor license to someone who is not a business owner, thus allowing it to sell the Muni, passed by a margin of 235-56.
Elected in Hartland were mayor Trent Wangen and council members Megian Bell and Jon Bakken.
- Details
- Hits: 1690
Lighting of Holiday Lights Nov. 24 in Geneva
Team Geneva would like to invite everyone to the Geneva City Park on Saturday night, Nov. 24 at 7 as it is will be the time to celebrate their second annual “Lighting of the Holiday Lights.”
The lighting of the big, 24-foot Christmas tree and snowflakes will take place and Santa will be making a stop to visit the kids of the community. Please come and take this opportunity to visit with your neighbors and share some holiday cookies and hot chocolate, thanks to Team Geneva.
Trinity Lutheran Christmas Bazaar Dec. 1
The Trinity women of the ELCA would like to invite you to their Christmas Bazaar Saturday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Full meal lunch deal for $5. Take-outs will be available. Browse homemade baked goods, lefse, candy and crafts. Visit Attic Treasures for great buys on household items, holiday decorations and new outdoor seasonal decor. Trinity Lutheran, 204 1st St., New Richland, is handicap accessible.
Christmas by the Lake bus trip Dec. 1
F.R.O.G. of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church is thrilled to present its latest bus trip. On Saturday, December 1 from 3-9 p.m. is Christmas by the Lake.
Activities include: 3 p.m. bus departs from Wok-n-Roll in Albert Lea for Clear Lake, Iowa; 3:45 p.m. tour Christmas activities on Main Street; 5 p.m. watch the lighted Christmas parade, which can be viewed from the bus; 6 p.m. fireworks on the lake; 7:30 p.m. Chinese buffet at Wok-n-Roll in Albert Lea; concluding at 9 p.m. with the bus choir singing We Wish you a Merry Christmas.
If you are interested in this unique experience, please contact Bob or Genie Hanson at (507) 373-8655 or Wayne or Bev Indrelie at (507) 826-3267.
NRHEG junior high band/choir Christmas Concert Dec. 3
The NRHEG junior high band and choir Christmas Concert is Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. It is free and open to the public.
NRHEG High School Christmas Concert Dec. 10
The NRHEG High School band and choir Christmas Concert is Monday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in
the high school gym. It is free and open to the public.
Christ Community Church to host recording artist
Jillian Jones, recording artist of Mankato, will be the featured speaker/entertainer at the 22nd Annual Women’s Christmas Candlelight Dinner, “Celebrate the Gift,” Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for table viewing with meal beginning at 6:30. The event is hosted by Christ Community Church of Waseca. For more information visit the church’s website www.cccwaseca.org.
All area ladies are invited to join us as we usher in the Christmas season.
NAMI support group meets in Mankato
NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) sponsors free support groups for families and friends of individuals living with a mental illness. Led by trained facilitators who also have a family member with mental illness, the support groups help families develop better coping skills and find strength through sharing their experiences. A family support group meets in Mankato on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 1250 Monks Ave. For information, call Diane at 507-358-7804.
- Details
- Hits: 4871
NRHEG to face Caledonia in state quarterfinals
NRHEG High School football seniors posed for a photo with the Section 2AA championship trophy. From left: Lucas Bailey, Sawyer VanMeldeghem, Tyler Jacobson, Jacob Schuller, Alex Buckmeier, Spencer Tufte, Quinten Arndt, Devin Buendorf and Brady Agrimson. The Panthers face Caledonia in the state quarterfinsals Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at Burnsville High School. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is another state tournament appearance for the NRHEG Panthers.
That's how public address announcer Mark Domeier may have put it if the game were played in New Richland.
The Panthers shocked nearly everyone Friday night, knocking off WEM 46-6 at Janesville for the Section 2AA championship, their first-ever section crown in football. The victory avenged a 48-6 loss at the hands of the Bucs in the Panthers' homecoming game.
It's the first section championship for NRHEG football, though New Richland-Hartland won numerous titles including two state championships under coach Jim Simser in 1976 and '78. The Panthers, who have a strong winning tradition in football, have been seeded No. 1 in the section and reached the section finals but never before advanced to the state football tournament. This year the Panthers were seeded second, one spot behind WEM.
Panthers coach Marc Krueger needed only one word to describe how it feels: spectacular.