Star Eagle office
More than generous
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Geneva cancer ‘mini auction’ highlights weekend
By TRISTAN JENSEN
Editorial Assistant
“Stretch your bidding arms,” was the call made as Geneva Cancer Auction held its Annual Mini-Auction Saturday, April 1 at the Geneva Bar and Grill. At their mini-auction they sell any remaining items which there wasn't time to auction off at the main auctions in January. Barb Kuchenbecker, of the Geneva Cancer Auction board, said there was more than usual available on the mini-auction this year as people were very generous with their donations this January. In addition to leftovers from the big auction there were some new donations for sale, particularly food and floral items. The auction began at 2 p.m. and was scheduled to go “until it's gone.”
Johannsen ‘went for it’ at NR care center
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By TRISTAN JENSEN
Editorial Assistant
Bob Johannsen began as administrator of the New Richland Care Center last October. His parents, Dale and Dixie, live in the New Richland area and he has a sister, Rachel Jellum, living in Waseca. Prior to taking this role, he was doing interim work. When Johannsen heard a permanent position near his family was available, he says he felt it would be a better fit for him than traveling and “went for it.” As administrator, Johannsen oversees operations at the Care Center, ensures they have appropriate staffing levels, and plans future events – whether those are meetings, activities, staffing changes, or projects for community maintenance.
Happy, healthy, wonderful
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Knutson serves as New Richland Care Center’s director of nursing
By TRISTAN JENSEN
Editorial Assistant
Jessica Knutson took over as Director of Nursing for the New Richland Care Center in September of 2022 after a period serving as Interim Director of Nursing. “She was so good at it that we offered her the job,” said Administrator Bob Johanssen.
“It's not something I ever saw in my cards, that's for sure,” Knutson said about her promotion to the director position. Prior to becoming a nurse, Knutson worked as a welder. She started out at Chart Industries in Owatonna and learned everything she needed to know about welding there. When the company closed, she worked in Waseca for “a while” before finding an opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. The support she needed to leave her welding job and attend nursing school came from her fiance, John Madson. Madson supported Knutson through her time at Riverland College in Austin, allowing her to begin a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and eventually become a Registered Nurse (RN) in 2001.
Drug program improves lives
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher
The National Institutes of Health have found that inmates who leave jail or prison are not only likely to begin using drugs again upon release, they are more at risk for death by overdose than other addicts. Even if they may have been forced to “get clean” during incarceration, returning to their former social circles and circumstances often encourages them to pick up old habits.
The Waseca/Steele County “Drug Court” program focuses on helping people whose lives have included drug use to change their habits while also building resources to help them resist the temptations they will inevitably encounter.
Offenders who have been brought into the court system because of drug-related crimes–everything from drug possession or sale, DWI, or even crimes such as burglary which were motivated by a desire to get money to buy drugs–may be referred for consideration for this research-based program.
A Way of life
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By TRISTAN JENSEN
Editorial Assistant
Homesteading is New Richland area resident Christa Wadekamper's full-time job. As part of it she sells eggs and sourdough bread, and has an online store for handcrafted items at barefootlanemn.com.
Wadekamper spoke about her experiences and the rationale behind them during an event at the New Richland Public Library on March 16.