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Community Coffee

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Created: 19 April 2024

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By DEB BENTLY

Staff Writer

Each Thursday since Feb. 29, Prairie Senior Cottages along New Richland’s South Ash Avenue has been offering coffee, rolls and conversation to any community members who care to stop by.

Folks are also heartily invited to the facility’s open house–an outdoor cookout with a free lunch being offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 20.

As many as 20 people have attended the weekly coffee break, although numbers have been decreasing. “We hope people will make a habit of stopping by around 9 a.m. every Thursday,” observes facility manager Missy Czenkus. She points out that the dining area at Prairie Cottages is an inviting, comfortable space. She says she, the facility’s 15 or so staff members, and its 18 or so residents would enjoy the social interaction and conversation.

“We want to engage with the community and give them a better idea of what we’re all about,” she says. “I think everyone would enjoy themselves and make some connections.”

Visitors of all ages–perhaps especially children–are welcome. “Visiting our residents is not much different from visiting your grandma or your grandpa,” said Czenkus. “There’s a particularly strong connection between children and the elderly.”

So much so, she goes on, that Prairie Senior Cottages invites staff to bring their children to work. Czenkus tells of bringing her own 4-year-old, and says the visits are always enjoyable.

Prairie Senior Cottages specialize in memory care–that is, their facilities house individuals who are forgetful or confused because of their age or medical condition.

There is nothing confusing, however, about interacting with children. The facility installed a play area on its grounds during a recent remodeling project to enhance family events held on the grounds. “We have birthday parties and other celebrations here all the time,” said Czenkus. “Whether it’s outdoors during the warm part of the year or indoors in our living room and fireside area, people gather, share their experiences, and keep building relationships.”

Residents staying in the facility, according to Czenkus, come from a variety of backgrounds and from various communities; a number of residents have strong connections to the New Richland area.

The facility is purposely arranged, she explains, to be as “home-like” as possible. Many of the rooms and spaces are very similar to what most people have in their homes, but a little more spacious to accommodate larger numbers.

In addition to the April 20 open house and the weekly coffee hours, Czenkus says Prairie Senior Cottages is making it a priority to interact with the community. “We plan to be in the Farm and City Days parade,” Czenkus mentions. “And we are in the process of making some additional plans as the year moves forward.

She mentions that, prior to 2020, the facility had an arrangement with the school to have students visit and even sometimes sing or play music. “Of course the Covid pandemic brought that to a sudden stop, but we’d like to see it started up again,” she observes.

“It’s all based on times when people really did have ‘cottages,’ and people felt free to stop over, visit, and chat,” she said. “We’d like everyone to feel at home coming by for a visit.”

New coach for NRHEG baseball, but he’s no stranger

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Created: 09 April 2024

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By JIM LUTGENS

Sports Editor

A new head coach is in place for the NRHEG High School baseball team in 2024, but he's no stranger to the Panthers.

Shawn Larson, longtime assistant baseball coach and the varsity wrestling coach, will lead NRHEG on the diamond last spring.

While the Panthers have no seniors on their roster, a number of key players are back from last spring's team that finished 10-2 for second in the Gopher Conference and 11-5 overall.

Larson looks for good things from juniors Alden Dobberstein (P/SS/2B), Carter Martens (P/3B) and Jace Ihrke (P/C), and sophomore Jared Lee (P/1B/OF).

The other juniors are Aaden Hanna (P/OF), Mayson Patten (3B), Aidan Schlaak (P/IF), Seth Staloch (SS/2B) and Brock Ziemke (1B).

Varsity sophomores includ Isaac Bauleke (OF), Jordan Brouwers (OF/3B, Wyatt Larson (P/C/3B), Deven Parpart (P/IF/OF) and Owen Wayne (P/2B/SS).

"It is unkown at this time if we will be using any freshmen," said Coach Larson. "Alden Dobberstein, Carter Martens, Jace Ihrke and Jared Lee are all varsity returning players who we expect to stand out on our team this season."

As for new player impact, Larson looks forward to contributions from everyone.

"We have a cast of players that are capable of good things," said Larson. "Look for players like Aidan Schlaak, Wyatt Larson, Owen Wayne, Jordan Brouwers, and Deven Parpart to have good seasons and really help out the Panthers in the 2024 season."

Larson looks for wide-open races for both the Gopher Conference and section championships, and he believes the Panthers can contend.

"We have potential to be competing for both the section and conference title," said Larson. "Our section has several teams that will be contenders for the title. If I had to pick a favorite, I would have to pick Belle Plaine to be the top contender for the section. Our conference is extremely talented this season. United South Central, Maple River, Hayfield, Randolph, and Kenyon-Wanamingo are all teams that can win. Based of of last season, I would say that USC is probably the preseason favorite."

Larson, who replaces Mark Lee as head coach, will be assisted by first-year coach Marcus Fischer and former NRHEG head coach Jeff Reese.

“We have a plan as a team to use people in as many was as possible, so being able to know every role and help everybody else know every role is very important, because we don’t have a lot of guys,” said Dobberstein. “We need multiple people to do multiple things. I think the most important thing is building a family within the team.”

Lee, a sophomore, said he feels no pressure this season, but the lack of outside practice could be a challenge for the Panthers.

“We haven’t had a lot of outside time, so if we can get started on a hot streak, fix things as soon as possible rather than letting them build on each other,” said Lee. “Because it’s going to be hard not being outside, getting right into the games.”

So who’s going to pitch for the 2024 Panthers?

A shock to the system

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Created: 09 April 2024

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By DEB BENTLY

Staff Writer

“When you hear the ‘C-Word,’ it’s a shock to the system,” says Geneva area resident Todd Utpadel, who says he sometimes has the sense cancer is all around him.

“It just kept hitting and kept hitting,” he says of the number of relatives and close friends the disease has taken. “When you feel useless, that’s when it’s time to look for a way to make a difference.”

Utpadel, a 1978 graduate of Ellendale-Geneva High School, and a founding member of the Snowy River Band, decided he would use music. A persistent performer at venues across southern Minnesota, he announced at Albert Lea’s Moose Lodge on New Year’s Day he has formed the group “Musicians Against Cancer,” and will be donating all tips he receives during 2024 to the Blooming Prairie Cancer Fund, which has a two-fold approach to fighting cancer. During 2023, it contributed $120,000 to the Eagles’ Cancer Telethon and also gave more than $30,000 directly to individuals battling the disease to help meet their expenses.

“My donations are specifically for the second part,” Utpadel reveals. “Of course research is important, but I choose to help people who need the support right now for everything they’re going through. For many of them, the cure won’t be found in time; they’re facing challenges from many directions at once, and one of them is their finances.”

Utpadel set himself a goal of raising $10,000 by the year’s end. His plans got a boost when Albert Lea’s Moose Lodge–a venue he plays fairly often–offered to match his receipts for the month of January up to $500. His “day job,” Owatonna Motor Company, did the same for February. A pair of private citizens is matching March’s the same way. The Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club has committed to helping with April. Utpadel says he hopes to find organizations which will continue the pattern for the remainder of the year.

He expresses gratitude to his wife, Sherry, Owatonna Motor Company, owner Bill Zaharia, and general manager Brandon Ratkowski for their patience and support, since his enthusiasm for the goal has him booking performances “rather ambitiously”--nine weekend nights in April alone.

“But this is not about me, and I’m not doing it by myself,” says Utpadel, mentioning “The Red Solo Cup Cancer Jam” scheduled for April 19 at the Albert Lea Moose Club. Utpadel has been in touch with many fellow musicians and has commitments from a range of people.

Among those who may come are some members of the Snowy River Band, which, over time, has opened for about 30 national acts including Waylon Jennings and John Michael Montgomery. Other performers with ties ranging from local to national have indicated an interest.

During a recent performance at Spare Time Entertainment Center in Owatonna, friends and fans Todd and Tracy Jerzak of Rochester made the trip to hear Utpadel play. “He’s a great musician,” said Todd enthusiastically. “He’s a traditionalist in that he likes some of the older music, but he includes the newer stuff, too.

“It’s just like him to play for no money,” interjects Tracy. “He has a good heart.”

“I’m a musician myself,” says Todd. “I play the guitar and banjo. I can imagine it’s a really good feeling to use your music to help people, to take away some of their worry and stress. It’s a great cause.”

Fans Deb and Gerald Herget, one-time Ellendale residents who now live in Albert Lea, say they request Utpadel’s schedule and attend every performance they can that is within a reasonable driving distance. Deb says her sister married Utpadel’s uncle, and so she not only remembers the days of the Snowy River Band, but was there on some of the night’s when a younger Utpadel was being taught his way around on a guitar’s strings.

As for his own skills as a musician, Utpadel indicates that using them for the good of others just makes sense, since it was the support and encouragement of family members, teachers and community members which helped him acquire and build them. As he and his siblings grew up on a farm south of Ellendale, he remembers his uncle teaching him to play guitar, the music instructors at school offering encouragement even from the time he was in elementary school, and his grandmother advising him, “You’ve been given a gift. Don’t mess it up.”

His musical career, he says, has “never been about money, anyway.” The chance to perform with other musicians, to combine their mutual skills to create something that brings them satisfaction and pleasure for the audience, “is more of a blessing than anything.”

On nights when he performs alone, Utpadel says he arrives at the venue about an hour ahead of schedule. He sets up a banner which lets people know their tips are being given to a cause, and being matched. “People appreciate that,” he observes. “It means that, when they put one dollar in the can, it’s almost as if they’re putting in two.”

Utpadel’s usual performance times are from 6 to 8 p.m. He says he plays and sings “straight through,” with no break. He typically includes older, traditional country songs, but also plays ballads and occasional gospel numbers. He says he gladly plays requests when he can find the needed music on electronic sources, and invites others to sing along or simply sing while he accompanies them. When children are part of the audience, he gleefully announces, “Okay, it’s time for the Grandpa Song!” He says young children take particular pleasure in “Baby Shark.”

“I try to play something for everyone, so every night is different,” he observes. “I try to include a little humor, maybe a few jokes. I pick on the help, I encourage children to go invite their grandmothers to dance.

“I like being around people. I like people. I hate to see anyone hurting. That’s why I wanted to start Musicians Against Cancer.”

Utpadel recommends that anyone interested in finding out more about Musicians Against Cancer, or about the Blooming Prairie Cancer Fund can find out more on Facebook. He will be performing at the Geneva Bar from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 5.

Grapplers send three to state, nine medal at sections

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Created: 29 March 2024

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By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

NRHEG wrestling coach Shawn Larson offered thanks and praise for the 2023-24 Panther squad at the annual winter banquet.

“Before I get into our season and our team, I want to congratulate and thank a lot of people here,” Larson began.

Larson thanked the other winter sports competitors, assistant coaches Nate Jensen and Dillion Kubiatowicz, videographer Daniel Petsinger, staff members Karla Christopherson, Teri Kormann, and Sue Kulseth, as well as Activities Director Dan Stork; NRHEG cheerleaders; the Wrestling Booster Club; and all others who help make NRHEG wrestling successful. Larson also thanked Erik Olson for “his willingness to do any job or work with any athlete” as well as Krey Cory and Lance Perkins for their work in the elementary program. Student helpers Winter Pederson, Aspyn Stenzel, Ciara Stenzel, and Zoe Wilson were also thanked. 

“And last but not least by any means, I want to thank all of the parents and families who are involved with these kids,” Larson concluded. “Because you have to give up holidays… And kids will recall their weight when it's Christmas time, or Thanksgiving and things like that. You know, pretty much every Saturday from November to March, you're doing something. I really appreciate all the time and effort, and I mostly appreciate that you let me have time with your athletes. Thank you.”

Season recap

The Panthers finished their regular season with a poor team record due to injuries and had a bad matchup against Medford in the team section meet, losing in the first round.

“Our wrestlers had continued growth over the season and had some good things happen,” Larson said.

Most of those good things were significant individual accomplishments, including nine placewinners at the section tournament, one section champion, George Roesler, and two runners up, Annabelle Petsinger and Ryan Schlaak. 

Last year’s state champion Petsinger ultimately suffered an injury at the state tournament and forfeited two matches. Larson stated she battled injuries all year long and showed tremendous character. Next year she will be wrestling at the college level for Iowa Central Community College. 

Ryan Schllak had a fantastic run at the section tournament, but had two rough draws and lost both of his state tournament matches. 

Roesler won two matches by fall in the state tournament, but lost in the “blood round” just barely missing out on a medal. 

“The three wrestlers who competed at the state tournament should know they made the Panther Nation proud,” Larson concluded. “We are proud of you for representing NRHEG well.”