Following a family tradition

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Created: 01 June 2012

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NRHEG Salutatorian picks nursing

FIRM PLAN — From an early age, Amy Thompson knew she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nurse. Thompson was NRHEG’s Salutatorian for 2012. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)

By RACHEL RIETSEMA

Staff Writer

Just in case you missed the 411, there’s a recent NRHEG High School graduate who craves the sweet days of scrub fashion.

That alumnus is Amy Thompson, the 2012 Salutatorian.

“When Mr. Stoesz shook my hand in the principal’s office, I was very surprised,” Thompson said. “The last I knew, I was ranked 11th in the class. Then ever since the tenth grade, I had straight A’s.”

Bound for Riverland Community College, Thompson sheds light on why she so badly wants to become a nurse.

“As a little girl, a lady came up to me and told me how my mom saved her baby’s life,” Thompson said. “This made me want to do what she does.”

‘Just glad to make it home’

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Created: 01 June 2012

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Veteran relates Vietnam experiences

PROUD TO HAVE SERVED — Harlan Kohnert of New Richland is proud to have served his country in Vietnam in the 1960s. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

Harlan Kohnert of New Richland served his country in the United States Army. Enlisting right out of high school in 1957, his career spanned nine years, with his discharge in 1966.

“I signed up to be in ordinance, but they threw me in the medics,” said Kohnert.

Kohnert was sent to Ft. Sam Houston for school and later to Ft. Hood. His other duty stations were at Scofield Barracks, which is near Honolulu, Hawaii, and to Nuremburg, Germany. In 1960, he was sent to Ft. Benning, GA. The Army had other plans for him.

“I was with the 11th Air Assault, attached to the 101st Airborne,” said Kohnert.

U.S. Army Air Assault units use helicopters with light infantry troops to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces. U.S. Army CH-21 helicopter transports arrived in Vietnam on December 11, 1961. Twelve days later, air assault operations using South Vietnamese troops began.

Area youth fights battle for life

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Created: 24 May 2012

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Benefit for Lindsay Lembke June 3 at Geneva Community Center

Lindsay Lembke

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

You're beautiful, with those long dark eyelashes and big brown eyes. You're sweet 16, the time in your life when everything should be perfect. You should be attending school, enjoying time with friends, having fun and making plans for prom and parties.

And then — bam — you get hit in the stomach, hard. That’s what it feels like. But it’s so much more.

Lindsay Lembke, daughter of Lisa Cromwell Lembke of Geneva and Steve Lembke of Albert Lea, has spent time after time in the hospital since November of last year.

There were times Lindsay complained of her stomach hurting, but they figured it was just an upset stomach. But then, she woke up one morning in November very sick and throwing up. After eight trips to the ER and 12 admittances to the hospital, she had been diagnosed with any number of things and given many different kinds of medication, which were later discovered were not needed for her particular illness. She even suffered a seizure due to the medication and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors just could not determine what was wrong.

Extra skip in their step

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Created: 24 May 2012

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Tollefson and Johnson gracefully accept diplomas 

FEATHER IN THEIR CAPS — As NRHEG co-valedictorians Carter Tollefson and Hailey Johnson rejoice in their newly claimed appellation, the dignified honor fails to inflate their academic egos. (Star Eagle photo by Rachel Rietsema)

BY RACHEL RIETSEMA

Staff Writer

On occasion, Hailey Johnson and Carter Tollefson received the revered classification of walking dictionaries or encyclopedias. Sure, these two definitely are whizzes in the high school classroom, but they don’t claim Webster or Brittanica status.

Now crowned with the title of co-valedictorian for the NRHEG High School class of 2012, Johnson and Tollefson humbly accept in utter glee.

“It’s an honor,” Johnson said. “Yes, smarts come natural to me, but I also have to turn in all my assignments. I don’t think I’ve had a late assignment through high school. It’s great to be rewarded for that.”

Tollefson couldn’t agree more.