Giving back to local veterans
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Roger Swearingen and his wife Caren
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Roger Swearingen of Ellendale served 21 years in the Air Force. Now, he is helping other veterans, donating a 1991 34-foot Pace Arrow to the Steele County Veteran Services Office in Owatonna.
Swearingen graduated from high school in Ellendale in 1965. Like many rural Ellendale kids, he had expected to continue his family's farming tradition, but fate had other plans for him. In 1966 he received a life-altering draft notice, along with three others from Ellendale. Each of them enlisted in the Air Force. “We all had good careers in it,” said Swearingen.
Swearingen started in boot camp in San Antonio, TX. From there, he was sent to Lackland Air Force Base, where he studied aircraft for 13 weeks. Then Swearingen went to the Ching Chuan Kang Air Force Base in Taiwan. There, Swearingen's team was responsible for 150 C-130 aircraft. Swearingen's personal career field was in air conditioning, pressurization, and bleed air, etc. “We worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day,” said Swearingen.
Swearingen and his squadron flew back and forth from Taiwan to Vietnam on missions.
“After I got from Taiwan, they sent me to Bentwaters Air Force Base, England for five years to work on air force fighters,” said Swearingen. By then, Swearingen had put in so much time into the Air Force that he thought, “Well, maybe I should just stay.” Swearingen discovered that the Air Force was offering re-up bonuses. When he consulted with his family, they were amenable to the idea of Swearingen staying in the service.
‘Foxy’ inducted into Hall of Fame: Geneva’s Dan ‘Fox’ Richards honored at 31st annual HOF banquet
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HALL OF FAME - Dan Richards is pictured above alonside members of his family, including: granddaughter, Torey Richards; Tomm Richards, Sue Richards, Dan, granddaughter, Maya; grandson, Maxx; Jessica Richards and Brett Richards.
Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulson
By KATHY PAULSON
Contributing writer
Dan “Fox” Richards of Geneva was one of 19 individuals inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame Saturday, Oct. 30 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea.
The 31st annual event recognizes individuals who made outstanding contributions to the sport of softball either as a player, manager, umpire, sponsor, promotor, administrator, organizer, volunteer, or as a media contributor.
Over the years several fastpitch softball players and coaches from the NRHEG area have been inducted. Those honored include: Harold “Hank” Thompson in 1994, Daryl Paulsen in 2004, Scott Christensen in 2008; David “Dub Richards, Ron Bergstrom and Ken Hagen in 2014 and Dave “Gilly” Gilbertson in 2016 and this year Dan Richards.
Dan played fastpitch softball in the Southern Minnesota area for nearly three decades.
With his family in attendance, Richards addressed the crowd after he received his Hall of Fame plaque.
Possible town hall for apartment project: Miscommunication leads to idea of December townhall
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By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
The Ellendale City Council, with members Steph Kibler and Duane Goebel absent, approved a public meeting on the new fire building on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held to obtain public input and discuss the environmental impact of the project.
“It would be helpful if somebody shows up that knows more about what the land [for the building] was used for decades ago,” said Assistant City Clerk Steve Engel.
Present for the public input portion of the meeting were two local residents with a delinquent water bill. The residents reached a payment agreement with the council after some discussion, and the council thanked them for showing up and explaining their situation. It was also noted that utility assistance for local residents is available, and more information can be found on the city website.
Josh Otto was present for the maintenance report, during which the SCADA system and building for the lift station were discussed. Options for the building and panel for the SCADA system were outlined by Otto, though the matter was once again tabled until detailed costs for each option available can be obtained.
“I’m working on how to get it done right,” Otto said.
‘Happy to finally be here’: Care Center welcomes Brittany
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Hinz-Henry lives in Albert Lea with her husband, Jordan, and their two children, Hunter, 10, and Caliber, 6.
Submitted photo
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
As of Oct. 11, Brittany Hinz-Henry is the new director of nursing at the New Richland Care Center, taking over from Kyle Parr.
Hinz-Henry graduated from NRHEG in 2006. She studied her generals at Riverland Community College in Austin, and then attained her nursing degree at Rasmussen in Mankato.
“I love it,” says Hinz-Henry of her work at the New Richland Care Center. “I like long-term care, and being in contact with [residents'] family members as well.”
Hinz-Henry was previously a unit manager at Benedictine in Owatonna, a short-stay care facility, where she worked with admissions and discharges.
Being a New Richland native, Hinz-Henry had always told herself that, if something opened up at the New Richland Care Center, she would apply for it. When she finally received an email notice that there was a job opening there, she jumped at it.
Now, her job at the Care Center entails ensuring that everything is running smoothly with nursing and to ensure the best place for residents.
New Richland City Council: Fire dept. donates $60,000
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
Lemond Township Supervisor Jim Springer was present to address the New Richland City Council during its regular meeting Oct. 25, 2021. The township will no longer be using the service of the New Richland Fire Department for coverage in three of its 11 sections in order to “square up” the coverage on its map. Beginning in 2022 everything east of County Road 7 will be covered by the Ellendale Fire Department. (At the time of printing we could not confirm the highway number)
“Nothing against the coverage or any of that,” Springer said. “It just makes more sense on the map. It will help our residents understand who is covering what.”
Fire Chief Josh Moen said the monetary loss from this is less than $5,000. “It’s not like we’re gonna lose too much sleep over this. This is their decision... because they’re the ones paying taxes.”
Street and Water report/Skating rink question.
Eric Hendrickson delivered the Streets and Water report prior to a riveting discussion about the town skating rink.