Hannah hopes to make a difference
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NRHEG grad off on six-month mission
HOPING TO HELP — 2014 NRHEG graduate Hannah Lundberg will depart July 1 on a six-month mission to Australia and, hopefully, Nepal. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
Hannah Lundberg has always known what she’s wanted to do in life. Even as a young child, her mother says she was destined for a life of service. But it wasn’t until a few short months ago that she became aware of how she was going to do it, and that she would soon be doing it on the other side of the globe.
The 2014 NRHEG graduate has never traveled beyond the relative confines of the Midwest — her lengthiest excursion being a few inner-city missions in Chicago — but come July 1, the 19-year-old will embark on a six-month journey that will see her spend time in Australia and (hopefully) Nepal to combat the seedy underbelly of human trafficking.
“I’m nervous,” says Lundberg. “I’ve never been out the of Midwest, never flown, and now my first flight will last about 36 hours. It’s going to be a big change. I feel blessed and humbled. Not many people get the opportunity to do something like this.”
Seven decades
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Area couple celebrates extraordinary anniversary
PLATINUM — Russel and Delores Rosenau of Waldorf celebrated their 70th — or platinum — wedding anniversary June 9. The couple will be honored with an open house Saturday, June 20 from 1-5 p.m. at the Waldorf Community Center. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
They say time flies when you’re having fun. That’s certainly been the case for Russel and Delores Rosenau, who hit their milestone 70th wedding anniversary on June 9.
“It’s been a long time,” said Delores of her 70-year marriage, “but when you stop to think about it, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.”
The couple was married in 1945, in a double-wedding ceremony along with Delores’ sister Jane and Victor Kluenoer.
“It was unheard of at the time,” said their daughter, Ramona.
“When our father found out both daughters were getting married, he said ‘we’ll do one pig, one wedding, and that’s it,” said Delores.
Narrow escape
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Fire departments, ambulance crews pull off rare grain bin rescue
SUCCESS — Members of area fire departments and ambulance crews freed a trapped Chris Johnson of Owatonna from a grain bin northwest of Geneva Wednesday, May 20. According to at least one source, the chances of a successful grain bin rescue are one in 18. Johnson was reportedly stuck for more than two hours. (Photo by Brant Hemingway)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
The Geneva Fire Department received a call of assistance to the Chad Johnson farm northeast of Geneva at 9:47 a.m. Wednesday, May 20. A crusted layer that had developed on the top of the corn in a 50,000-bushel grain bin being emptied plugged the auger. Chad's uncle, Chris Johnson of Owatonna, had been helping load the corn into a semi at the farm, and decided he would have to go into the grain bin to free the auger.
Once Chris was able to get the 10-inch auger free again, the corn in the bin dropped extremely fast and started taking everything in the bin with it, including Chris. Originally they had thought there was about 8-9 feet of corn in the bin, but they soon discovered that there was more.
Safety measures had been considered before Chris entered the grain bin and he was able to grab a rope rescue system that had been installed in the bin. Chris was able to hold on to it until rescue workers were able to get him out of the bin.
So long, seniors
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NRHEG class of 2015 graduates
Members of the NRHEG High School class of 2015 officially ended their high school careers with commencement Sunday, May 31 at the high school in New Richland. Above from left: Jill Peterson, Anna Stork, Sam Pettey, Aurora Strom, Mikayla Pope, Dakota Thiele, Christina Quezada Jiminez. See Pages 9 and 12 of this week's Star Eagle for more photos from graduation Sunday. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
A real honor
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WWII veteran Johnson visits D.C. memorial
HONORED — Lee Johnson salutes during a ceremony during his recent visit to the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. See Pages 8-11 of this week's Star Eagle for additional Memorial Day coverage. (Submitted photo)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
It took nearly 60 years from the end of World War II for the National WWII Memorial to open for public viewing in Washington, D.C. On April 11 of this year, nearly 70 years after the war ended, 90-year-old WWII veteran Lee Johnson of Ellendale was able see it in person.
“It was a trip of a lifetime,” said Johnson while paging through a thick photograph album of his trip. “There were people everywhere, and wherever you went, they were always saying ‘thank you for your service.’”
The one-day jaunt to visit a number of war memorials in Washington, D.C., was made possible by Honor Flight - Twin Cities, a non-profit organization that is part of a national Honor Flight network in all 50 states.