Another reason to be thankful
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Church's stained glass windows returned to former glory
FORMER GLORY — A long project was completed recently at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland, where restored stained glass windows, above, were installed. (Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud)
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Contributing Writer
The congregation at All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland needed no other reason to celebrate Christmas with thankful hearts this year than the commemoration of the birth of their Lord and Savior. Nonetheless, they have additional cause to celebrate; the last of the stained glass windows on the east and west sides of the sanctuary was reinstalled this week after being repaired and re-leaded.
The windows were originally ordered from the Tyrolese Art Glass Co. in Innsbruck, Austria approximately 90 years ago. Cathedral Crafts, Inc., based in Winona, has spent the last four months in the long process of re-leading the glorious windows that depict various scenes from the life of Christ.
“We take them down to the studio, and we basically puzzle them all apart,” says Caleb Penic, whose grandfather, LaVern Campbell, founded the stained glass window company 54 years ago. During the breakdown process, the windows are cleaned in a bath with various cleaning solutions and polished. “And then we rebuild them like they’re new windows,” says Penic.
The reinstallation process involves putting in wood stops to hold the windows in place, after which putty and caulk are used to hold them permanently. Penic installs a screw at every other lead joint, and after installation, the wood frames and caulk bead are painted.
What a difference a year can make
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The temperatures for annual wild game feed were far from ideal
WILD DAY - Those brave enough to face the weather helped served the Wild Game Feed in Geneva on Dec 1. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Last year, the sun was shining and the temperatures were in the mid-40s as people gathered under the big top. This year the temperatures were in the mid-20s as a great deal of wet, heavy snow fell druing the 34th Annual Wild Game Feed.
Downtown Geneva was packed with cars almost all the way to the city pool, on Saturday Dec. 1.
The heavy snow caused problems. The tent began to sag a bit as mid-afternoon arrived, and little moist droplets of water could be felt dropping from the tent as people made their way around the event.
It takes a lot of work getting an event of this size organized and ready each year. It can’t be accomplished alone and the organizers continue to be thankful for everyone who turns out to lend a helping hand.
The tent was filled with about 50 picnic tables where people sat and enjoyed the wild game that was donated and prepared.
What does Veterans Day mean today?
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How the Veterans Day program has changed at NRHEG
PRESENTING THE COLORS - Local veterans gathered in the NRHEG high school gymnasium for the annual Veterans Day program Friday November 9. Pictured above are local American Legion members presenting the colors. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
When Steve Fredrickson was a first-year principal at NRHEG 18 years ago, he inquired about the Veterans Day program at the school and was told it was discontinued. He did not find that acceptable.
With the help of Georgia Dinneen, Fredrickson got the Veterans Day program back on the schedule, and it’s been going strong since.
Fredrickson was one of the guest speakers Friday morning at the annual ceremony honoring veterans in the NRHEG High School gym.
Current high school principal David Bunn welcomed everyone, saying, “This is a great opportunity to honor folks who truly deserve honoring.”
The NRHEG Elementary choir then performed, “This Land is Your Land,” accompanied by guitarist Shawn Larson.
“Veterans Day is a special day,” said NRHEG Superintendent Dale Carlson. “It’s a blessing for all of us as we have the opportunity to say thanks for protecting our freedom.”
She’s been through so much
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Benefit for Ashley Hagen Dec. 2
HAGEN FAMILY: Above from left: Lizzy, Ashley, Brad, Ben, and Allyson Hagen. Ashley Hagen is pictured holding the family dog whose name is Babe. (Submitted photo)
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Contributing Writer
At a time when most teenagers are worrying about grades in school and what outfit to wear to the movies, 14-year old-Ashley Hagen worries about how to deal with the pain and lower the toxicity level in her body.
At 12 years old, when she was just finishing sixth grade on the A honor roll and anticipating her involvement on the varsity cheer team, Ashley sprained her ankle playing kickball with her cousin. She woke up the next morning with her ankle bruised, swollen, and painful, but that was just the beginning. The pain from Ashley’s sprained ankle didn’t abate over the next six months, but spread up her entire leg, causing paralysis in her foot. Ashley saw multiple doctors and had multiple x-rays, CT scans and MRIs.
The ankle sprain occurred in May 2016. Mayo Clinic doctors finally diagnosed her condition in November of the same year: Complex reginal pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare and complex neuroinflammatory disorder that affects the immune system, autonomic nervous system, and the central nervous system. CRPS is incurable and at this point doctors do not understand what causes it. It is categorized as the highest rated pain condition on the McGill scale. According to Ashley’s mother, Allyson Hagen, the pain of CRPS has been described as “being wrapped in barbed wire, set on fire, and then electrocuted at random intervals.”
Leading the charge
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Panthers fall in state quarterfinals
Head coach Marc Kruger leads his NRHEG football team onto a snow-covered field in 20-degree temperatures Friday, Nov. 9 at Burnsville High School. The Panthers, making their first state tournament appearance ever in football, lost 41-0 to No. 1 ranked, undefeated three-time defending state champion Caledonia. The Panthers finished 9-3 and were ranked 10th in the final Class AA state poll. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)