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.
FNB Donates $6,350 to NRHEG schools
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First National Bank presenting NRHEG Public schools with a check for $6,350 from the Panther Debit Card Donation program.
PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2021 (Waseca, MN) — First National Bank recently presented NRHEG Public Schools with $6,350 to purchase equipment and curriculum through their Panther Debit Card Donation Program.
“The community partnership between NRHEG Public Schools and First National Bank of Waseca has enabled staff to enhance the education provided to students,” said Superintendent of NRHEG Schools, Michael Meihak. “Through their generosity, we are able to bring learning opportunities to a new level. As a school district, we pride ourselves on providing a top-notch education for our students and could not do this without the help of our communities working together. First National Bank has proven to be invested in our school and supporting our mission.”
Items purchased from the donation include a portable SMART board for elementary math intervention and a light table for Bridges transitional kindergarten program. In addition, funds have been given to put towards guided reading and small group text sets for elementary students. These donations are projected to impact more than 500 students annually.