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

Principal anticipates the arrival more than 30 new students

By DEB BENTLY

Staff Writer

NRHEG Elementary Principal Craig Kopetzki has had enough of summer.

“I want to be greeting students as they arrive. I want to be walking the halls and stepping into classrooms to see the activities there.

“The building has seemed very empty these past few months.”

COURTESY OF THE 

JANESVILLE JOURNAL

It was a fantastic homecoming for Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Blashack.

She had no clue that when she flew from Texas to her hometown of Waldorf for two weeks that she would receive the warm welcome she did along with a custom award recognizing her achievements in the military.

“I seriously was not expecting this,” she told the crowd of over fifty people at the Waldorf Community Center on Thursday, August 17. That day was known as “Catherine Blashack Day.”

Blashack originally came from Waldorf and was a graduate of Waldorf-Pemberton High School in 1974. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater with a Minor in Textiles from St. Benedict University in St. Joseph, MN. She has been recognized in her current home state of Texas for her artwork, and before being surprised with a potluck and an award, she was originally home to help paint and finish the mural on the old Eisen building across the street from the community center.

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

More than a hundred hungry persons were fed during the annual Ellendale Fire Department Supper and Auction Friday, August 11 at the Ellendale Community Center. The evening began at 5 p.m. with a meal catered by the fire department. After being welcomed by Rick Johnson, David Modder, Moses McMann, and Hunter McMann, attendees were served pulled pork sandwiches, cowboy beans, coleslaw and lemon water (lemonade).

Serving the delicious meal were fire department members Josh Otto, Travis Ladwig, and Josh Burgess. Helping hand out napkins, forks and smiles was 9-year old Abby Burgess.

Otto has served with the department for nine years, Ladwig three years, and Burgess about a year.

Manning the lemonade station were sixth year firefighter Frank Altrichter, and Charlie Spinler (three years on the department).

By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD

Copy Editor

The sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland witnessed a rare performance of Latin music on Sunday, August 13 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. when the Twin Cities based group Salsa del Soul performed there as part of the Summer Burst Concert Series. Although the concert was originally scheduled to take place at the New Richland City Park, the rainy weather chased the music indoors.

Five of the nine-piece orchestra performed on Sunday, including Bryan Rossi on keyboard, David Martin on bass and guitar, Frank Rivery on vocals and congas, Shai Hayo on timbales, and Leann Lingren on saxophone and flute.

Jo named friend of the Freeborn County Fair

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

New Richland resident, Jo Bernard, 66, was recipient of the “Fair Person of the Year” award for the Freeborn County Fair held last week, August 1-6.

“It's humbling and embarrassing at the same time,” Bernard said. “It takes a lot of good people to do this every year.”