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One fatality after Pemberton collision: Longtime Star Eagle employee Linda Shell’s death ‘a blow to the community’
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Linda Shell was the daughter of Donald Martin and Irene Delores. She graduated from Waldorf High School in 1972. In 2007 she was hired to work as an advertising representative for the Star Eagle.
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
A little after 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021, Linda Shell was pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident after a collision with a semi-truck at the intersection of Mainstreet in Pemberton and Highway 83. Linda was hired in 2007 by then office manager Tracie Rosacker to work as an advertising representative for the Star Eagle newspaper. Three years ago she began working for the Janesville Journal where publisher Tracie Rosacker said, "We couldn't really afford to pay her when she started and I told her that. But before I knew it we couldn't afford not to have her."
In her time with both publications, and at one time the Good News Magazine, Linda spoke with hundreds of local businesses across Southern Minnesota and got to know many more who walked through the doors of the Star Eagle and Janesville Journal. Her efforts made it possible for these publications to focus on providing quality news stories that readers have come to admire.
"Her loss is a blow to the hearts of each and everyone us in the community," Rosacker said. "Linda knew everybody. Wherever we went together, someone always knew Linda. "Doing her job made it possible for me to do mine, for all of us to do our jobs. There will never be another Linda Shell."
When Rosacker learned the news of her friend of 20 plus years and longtime employee dying she broke down. "Linda always said this wasn't just a job to her. We were her family. The last thing she told me the day before, after our office Christmas party, was that she loved me, all of us… I just can't believe this happened."
Hartland tornado
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TORNADO HITS HOME — A tornado, the first-ever in December in Minnesota, wreaked havoc on the Arcadia Bank building in towntown Hartland Wednesday, Dec. 15. See Page 5 for more photos. Star Eagle photos by Eli Lutgens
By ELI LUTGENS,
MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
At 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15 a tornado touched down in Hartland Minnesota, tearing the roofs from several downtown buildings and damaging many more.
The Hartland Fire Department was early on the scene, remaining until far into the night. Local 20-year Hartland resident and 14-year fire department member Adam Dahlen was on the scene until after 1 a.m., returning again at 5 a.m. Thursday morning. During the storm, he and his family had taken shelter in their basement less than 100 yards from Olson Excavating, a building which no longer has a back wall. “It’s scary to think about something like that happening so close to my house, to my family,” he said.
Among businesses affected, the bank suffered significant damage, as well as L and D Ag’s welding shop, the post office, and several homes.
On the night of the storm as well as the following day, news crews from stations far and near flocked to record the aftermath, including KEYC of Mankato, FOX News from the Twin Cities, and Good Morning America. By 11 a.m. Thursday, more than 100 people were scattered across the streets of Hartland, including the American Red cross, the local fire dept., and residents from Hartland and the surrounding towns.
Tim Volk traveled all the way from Mankato to see the damage for himself. “Thank God nobody got hurt. It’s been too weird of a year. I’m a kayaker and I’ve never seen weather like this. This was a history making tornado… in December! It’s crazy.”
The perfect gift for everyone: That’s what NRHEG grad aims to provide at EJ’s Mercantile
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FILLING A VOID — It’s what NRHEG graduate Kellie Steele hopes to do with EJ’s Mercantile in Albert Lea.
Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
EJ's Mercantile is that cute little shop you always wanted, where you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list. Located on 102 W. Clark St., Albert Lea, it is the brainchild of Kellie Steele, an area native who graduated from NRHEG in 1995.
Steele originally had a clothing boutique called Ellen and Jane Boutique, which borrowed the middle names of her daughters. That boutique closed due to covid in 2020, but Steele had learned a lot from that failed business about the kind of merchandise, and ultimately the kind of store, people wanted.
When Steele started seeing the demise of bigger chains, she began adding gift items to her clothing boutique. “The response was huge,” said Steele. “People wanted more and more of it, so when [Ellen and Jane Boutique] went out, we just decided that's primarily where people are wanting to spend their time – with those feel-good things: scone mixes and teas and coffees.”
After being forced to close one store, Steele said it took a lot of guts, but, being a go-getter, Steele opened EJ's Mercantile in September of 2020.
Peterson’s passion lives on
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TRADITION - Christmas lights will be lit at the Waseca County Fairgrounds, each Friday and Saturday evening Dec. 3 – 11 from 6 – 10 p.m. Guests can either walk or drive through. There is no admission fee to see the display. However, donations are being accepted for local food shelves, and Boy Scout Troop 85 and Cub Scout Pack 86 are accepting donations of toiletries, diapers and cleaning supplies at their light display.
Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Vince and Virginia Peterson shared two passions in life: the Waseca County Free Fair and their Christmas lights display.
Each July the two organized the indoor booths at the Waseca County Fair, where Vince served on the board for 57 years. On December evenings Vince and Virginia delighted in turning out the lights inside their farmhouse to watch the cars slowly drive by, filled with families who had come to see the Petersons' extensive Christmas lights display, including a Ferris wheel, Santa's workshop, an organ player, a Nativity scene, merry-go-round, trees, and much more. Each year the Petersons added something new, and each year part of their Christmas budget involved replacing burned out bulbs.
After Virginia passed away in 2004, Vince continued their yuletide tradition until his own health began to fail. He and a neighbor, Jennie Johnson, who also serves as a director of the Waseca County Fair, had discussed putting a Christmas light display up at the county fairgrounds, but they concluded that it would be too much work.
Last summer, the Waseca County Fair awarded Peterson with a plaque for his 57 years of service on the board. In August, Vince passed away at the age of 89.
Perhaps it is only fitting that this year the fair board and community businesses have taken up the challenge of setting up a Christmas display at the fairgrounds. “We knew that he loved Christmas and he loved the fair,” Johnson said, “and finally this year when he passed away we knew we had to do it.”
NHS inducts 9 juniors
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By Malu Monrreal
Panther Press
Nine NRHEG juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society during a ceremony held Wednesday, Nov. 24. New members are Anton Domeier, Bree Ihrke, Erin Jacobson, Conner Nelson, Sidney Schultz, Tatum Smith Vulcan Ethan Thompson, Eva Wayne and Grace Wilkinson.
According to NHS advisor and NRHEG secondary counselor Liz Stiernagle, membership in the society is based on four "pillars," including academic achievement, leadership, service, and character. All juniors and seniors with a qualifying grade point average are offered the opportunity to apply, and are asked to supply information about their contributions both in the community and in school-related activities and organizations. The applications are reviewed and a list of inductees is compiled.
NHS members, according to Stiernagle, "continue serving and acting as leaders" by choosing service projects and activities spread across the school year. Two long-standing events are a Toys for Tots collection prior to Christmas and assisting with a blood drive in March. Activities which have been carried out in recent years also include "adopting" a piece of highway, making Valentine's Day cards for area elder care facilities, and writing uplifting messages in the snow outside nursing home windows.