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NR Craft Mall opens
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Business fills vacancy left by New Richland Drug
NICE WORK — Jennie Johnson admires one of the hand turkeys painted during a Saturday crafts day at New Richland’s Craft Mall, located in the building formerly occupied by New Richland Drug. (Star Eagle photo by Eli Lutgens)
By ELI LUTGENS
Editor
New Richland residents walking down Broadway may have noticed that the vacant building left by New Richland Drug has recently been occupied. The new renters are calling themselves the New Richland Craft Mall.
The idea started a month ago when the owner of the building came into contact with Sara Jo Vulcan and Jennie Johnson.
“We started talking and one thing led to another,” said Vulcan. “The owner of the building said someone local should open a business and well, we’re local.”
Vulcan went on to say, “All of the area craft fairs from October through December have been cancelled. Our family counts on the money I make from working that to pay for Christmas. Without the craft fairs, like a lot of folks, my family and I are stuck wondering how we're going to get through.”
Sara’s partner in this venture, Johnson, was pushed by Vulcan to pursue this together. “Sara told me we needed to do this,” said Johnson. “She told me, ‘You’ve run a store before and I’ve done crafts. We are perfect for this.’”
Celebrating 40 years
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Flor considers herself fortunate to work in home town
IT WENT FAST — Kathy Flor celebrated her 40th work anniversary with New Richland Care Center Nov. 3.
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Kathy Flor, activities director, celebrated 40 years of working at New Richland Care Center on Nov. 3, 2020, for which she was recognized by care center staff.
Flor was born in Sleepy Eye, Minn., and lived in Stewart, Minn. At the age of 16, she and her family moved to New Richland, where Flor graduate from high school.
Flor planned to work with the elderly after high school. “I enjoy being around the elderly,” she says. “It seems like, if I'm ever around a group of people I don't know, I tend to visit with the elderly people that are in the group.”
Flor studied to be a certified nursing assistant in Glencoe, Minn., and began working at NRCC in 1980. After seven years, she started working with the activities department. In 2003, she became the activities director.
“I really like working here,” says Flor. “I love the residents, and I'm so fortunate to be able to work right in my home town.
Cutting trees for 25 years
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LOOK NO FURTHER - If you’re wondering why over the past months, there have been piles of tree brances, look no further than Bernie Anderson (left) and Matt Harrington (right). ( Star Eagle photos by Eli Lutgens)
Bernie Anderson and Matt Harrington talk tree maintenance
By ELI LUTGENS
Editor
New Richland residents might have recently noticed neat piles of tree branches around town. The New Richland Commercial Club is responsible. More specifically, Bernie Anderson and Matt Harrington are responsible.
Roughly 25 years ago, Anderson, and others began planting trees along main street and throughout the city.
“Any of these smaller trees you see along the edge of the streets, (referring to the crabapple trees pictured) were planted by us,” remarked Harrington. “Bernie began before I did. I was a kid when he started.”
"We've been doing this for over 20 years," remarked Anderson. "I think we started in ‘95 and we had crews of four or five. We planted over 400 trees."
Wenzel getting out of antiques
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MAKE AN OFFER — That’s what Wayne Wenzel, left, says of the antiques remaining at Dad’s Good Stuff on Broadway Ave. in New Richland. After Jan. 1, Wenzel plans on closing the antiques portion of the business, but will still remain open for furniture repair, building and repairing windows and selling house paint and supplies. Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
“January first, I'm going to lock the door,” says Wayne Wenzel of the antique shop, Dad's Good Stuff.
“The front,” he qualifies. Those who know Wenzel well know that friends, and customers who want their furniture and screens repaired, use the back door anyway.
The Wenzel antique business has been around for a long time. According to Wenzel, his wife, Merlys, used to run it in the old Peterson grocery store. “And then that building was condemned, so we had to move,” says Wenzel. He was in Starke, Florida on a trip with his trucking business when Bernie Anderson called to ask if he wanted the building on the southwest corner of Broadway Ave. and Division St. Wenzel told him, “Bernie, I just bought a brand new truck and two new trailers. Do you think I can afford it?” Per Wenzel, Anderson replied, “We'll talk about the money later. We don't care about the money. Do you want that building or don't you?”
Election results slow to come in
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Results from local races
Election was a long night for everyone, including the communities of New Richland, Hartland, Ellendale, and Geneva. Normally, the Star Eagle reports the winners of the local elections the week of the election, but this year was not a typical year.
New Richland Elections
According to Wayne Billings, this was one of the most contested elections in New Richland history. The winner of the New Richland mayoral race was Gail Schmidt (477 votes) defeating Christina Petsinger (114). There were 19 votes for write-in-candidates.
Winners of the race for the two open council seats are Chad Neitzel (309 votes) and Jody Wynnemer (235). Runners up were: Pat Darcy (178), Jenna Pederson (167), Joyce Wobbrock (81), Patrick Petsinger (63), David Hedin (60).
New Richland residents also voted in a special election. The winner of New Richland’s special election was Loren Skelton (223). Angela Gehrke (209) and Brandon Schlaak (157) were the two other candidates vying for the open seat.
NRHEG School Board
As was the case for many different races this election cycle, the NRHEG School Board saw many candidates seeking your vote. Dan Schmidt (1,304), Terry Engel (1,273), and Loren Schoenrock (1,001) were winners for the three open school board positions. Runners up were: Karen Flatness (981), Nancy Lageson (701), Tami L. Tufte-LaCanne (698), Jennifer Johnson (596).
JoAnn Hagen Maloney ran unopposed in the special election in the other open school board race. The other item on the ballot for voters was a vote for a property tax increase to provide an additional $560 per student in the NRHEG school district. The measure was voted down by a vote of 1,783 opposed to 914 who voted yes.