Star Eagle office
Delacruz Pro-Start teacher of the year
- Details
- Hits: 1572
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Kelly Delacruz admits she didn’t see it coming.
During a statewide event on Feb. 28 in the Twin Cities, it was announced that she had been selected as the statewide winner of the program’s “teacher of the year” award. As the details of the winner’s career were being itemized and becoming more and more familiar, she suddenly realized it was her–and struck her neighbor, NRHEG principal David Bunn, in the knee.
“That’s when I realized why he had come,” she admits.
Lienke, Scottie, grateful for help
- Details
- Hits: 1982
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
While dozens of people around them were lining up to depart the Waseca County Fairgrounds to take part in the seventy-third annual Sleigh and Cutter parade, Dave Lienke of rural Waldorf was caught up in a difficult situation. His Quarter Horse Scottie, who was to have carried Lienke as part of the Waseca County Sheriff’s posse, had decided to lay down in his trailer while waiting for preparations to be completed.. When it was time to stand up, the horse worked its way out onto the frozen ground outside, and then could not catch its footing on the packed snow and ice.
Live from Israel
- Details
- Hits: 1330
By MARK DOMEIER
Contributing writer
The 8th graders at NRHEG read the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank every year for instructors Nancy Rudau and Mark Domeier. After learning about the Holocaust and events that happened with the Frank family and the others who hid with them, many students search for other books to read about that tragic time. Many also take the Holocaust class offered to upperclassmen at NRHEG.
Heart-racing moments
- Details
- Hits: 1320
Driving a plow requires more than pushing snow
By DEB BENTLY
Staff writer
“I enjoy being out here when it’s crappy,” declares Adam Wacholz, snow plow driver with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), based out of Albert Lea. The 37-year-old Hollandale resident has had the job for the past 9 years, and has acquired an interesting collection of experiences and knowledge.
Not all of which he is willing to share.
But given the chance to tell the driving public anything, he knows exactly what he wants to say:
“Give us room!”
Time and effort
- Details
- Hits: 1300
Drivers asked to adjust to conditions
By DEB BENTLY
Staff writer
Mike Dougherty recognizes that it’s frustrating to have to slow down in bad weather conditions. But he points out that it’s even more frustrating to end up in the ditch. “You’ll get there faster driving safely,” he says.
A spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Dougherty’s territory covers the 11-county region in the southeast corner of the state, from the Wisconsin border to Freeborn County, and just north of Minnesota Highway 19 at Northfield.
In a recent conversation dealing with travel safety, and specifically with safety around snow plows, Dougherty observed that plow drivers are human, too. “They get into this because they want to help,” he says. “They take that responsibility personally.
“We put them out in some of the most difficult conditions you can imagine–in the dark, in blowing snow, on ice and in sub-zero conditions.
“It’s disheartening when people express anger at them.
“We don’t have a magic wand that can fix things. It takes good, old-fashioned time and effort.”
Dougherty has three strong recommendations when it comes to safety around working snow plows.
Slow down: Adjust speed to the circumstances.
Leave room: Recommended distance is 10 car lengths.
Stay vigilant: Let phone calls or adjustments to music wait.
Dougherty says that, as one who works with crews across 11 counties, he is always impressed by the dedication and fortitude he sees. “These folks have your best interests at heart,” he says. “You can respond to that by keeping yourself safe.”