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SMART Transit will come to NR Wednesday and for scheduled rides
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
History will be made Saturday, Jan. 2 as Waseca County introduces public transportion.
Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit announced earlier this year it would expand services — currently provided in Steele, Freeborn and Mower County — to Waseca County as part of a Minnesota Department of Transportation initiative that aims to improve access and service in greater Minnesota.
The Waseca County Demand Response Bus/Van will operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with local service in New Richland on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and in Janesville on Mondays from 10:30-12:30. Demand Response is a county-wide service where people can schedule rides. Cost is $2.50 for county-wide trips and $2 for in-town service. To schedule your ride, call 1-855-762-7821.
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NRHEG Community Education is sponsoring a bus trip to the Old Log Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 27 to see “The Wedding Singer.” This play is based on the 1998 film of the same name. Bus will leave Ellendale (Gopher Stop) at 10:10 am. Cost is $70 if registered by Jan. 11. Lunch is included and your choices are: beef short rib, tilapia, vegetarian pasta or boneless chicken breast.
More information is available on the NRHEG Web site or by calling 507-417-2667.
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When Raul Donoso faced old friend Harvey Ronglein in the 1948 district finals, it was a tall order
STILL FRIENDS — Raul Donoso, center, in 2013 visited the former State School in Owatonna with his daughter Melody and Harvey Ronglien. The men were boxing teammates during part of their 10 years as “State Schoolers.” They faced each other in the District 17 final bout as welterweights and have remained good friends throughout the years.
(Editor’s note: Part three of a seven-part series about local, area, and state amateur and professional boxing.)
By RODNEY HATLE
Contributing Writer
After about a dozen District 17 elimination bouts each night on the 21st and 24th, a Wednesday and a Saturday, the finals came on Wednesday the 28th. It was January 1948 at the old Armory in Owatonna.
The deciding welterweight bout pairing Raul Donoso with Harvey Ronglien was for entry into the Upper Midwest Tournament. This matched former boxing mates at the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children.
Ronglien says he was impressed right away by Raul’s growth and development since he had been at the institution.
Nevertheless, Ronglien said he expected to win. After all, on the first night he had “scored a technical knockout [TKO] in the second round” when the referee stopped the bout against his Northfield opponent.
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Students shine in annual concert
CHRISTMAS CONCERT — NRHEG High School music instructor Jacob Bender conducts the band during the annual Christmas Concert Monday, Dec. 14. (Star Eagle photo by Nikki Erickson)
By NIKKI ERICKSON
Contributing Writer
The Christmas season began at NRHEG High School with the combined choir and band Christmas Concert Monday, Dec. 14.
The choir started the evening with a joyful piece called, “A Festival Holiday,” by Jerry Estes. This rhythmic holiday tune was filled with solos by Nicole Edon on the xylophone, Emma Tollefson on tambourine and Mircedes Mattson on the bongos.
“Tänd ett ljus,” a traditional Swedish piece, was played in celebration of NRHEG exchange student Linnea Strom-Olsen, who sang the lyrics in her native language. “Tänd eft ljus” translates to “light a candle” in hope for a better world.
“White Christmas,” by Irving Berlin and arranged by Joyce Eilers Bacak, was sung with all the longing for a beautiful season of snow during the Christmas season.
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Goette recounts near death experience
DIFFERENT NOW — Russ Goette and his fiancée Patti Carlson have a little different outlook visiting the graves of his parents since Goette suffered a heart attack and subsequent surreal experience three years ago. (Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently)
By DEB BENTLY
Contributing Writer
Although the date on his birth certificate indicates he is 55, Russ Goette of Ellendale feels he is telling the absolute truth when he says, “I recently celebrated my third birthday.”
And as unlikely as his statement may sound, his fiancée Patti Carlson will back him up 100 percent.
“Russ started a new life three years ago,” she says.
Carlson would know: she was there when his first life ended without warning on the afternoon of Saturday, September 8, 2012. Napping in a chair near her, he suddenly made a gurgling sound, met her eyes, reached out toward her as if unable to speak, and then lapsed into unconsciousness. Carlson knew a heart attack when she saw it, so she dialed 911, requested paramedics, then worked CPR on his unresponsive frame for 15 to 20 minutes until first responders arrived and restarted his heart.
“They had to use the defibrillator twice,” Carlson recalls. “But they got a beat going, and then they took him to the hospital.”