The Willows is sold
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
Last week The Willows in New Richland was sold to John and Julie Arnold of New Richland.
The previous owners, Travis and Heather Blake, made the announcement via Facebook.
“Today we close a very big chapter,” the Blakes said in the announcement. “This is a bittersweet day as our life has fully revolved around the restaurant for the last 18 years. We can’t thank you enough for your continued support over the years. This town, this community is like no other.”
Eighteen years ago the Willows, located at 100 Minnesota Highway 13 in New Richland, came into existence under the Blake family, with Travis and his wife Heather running it together for the past 15 years. The couple officially purchased the business from Travis’s dad Jim in 2016.
The Blakes shared emotional memories from their nearly two decades at the Willows, highlighting their being “the hub” for after parties during the NRHEG Girls State Championships runs in 2013 and ‘14; along with great “Friday Nights” and an overall sense of family with the community and their incredible employees.
Star Eagle writers take home awards
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The NRHEG Star Eagle took home two awards during the Minnesota Newspaper Associations annual awards banquet February 1, 2024.
Of more than 4,400 entries in roughly 40 categories, writers Deb Bently and Eli Lutgens each earned awards.
Bently earned second place in the Business Profile category for her piece titled, “Hartland Gold Rush” about the Prairie Gold Rush Magazine produced in Hartland.
Bently also received second and third place honors for articles written in the Waseca County Pioneer.
Lutgens earned third place among entries for weekly columnist. Categories were entered in the non-multi day, 1,000 - 1,500 circulation size.
For Lutgens it was his second award with the Star Eagle from MNA. Writing for the Waseca County Pioneer, he also earned two first place finishes and a third this year.
Celebrating two decades
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Lerberg’s Fitness open house February 10
By RACHAEL JAEGER
Staff Writer
Wendy Schultz, NRHEG physical education teacher and coach, runs Lerberg’s Fitness in Ellendale with her husband, John. A former Lerberg, Wendy is the daughter of Andy and Mary who used to be owners of Lerberg’s Foods; in March 2017, Wendy and John opened a gym next door to Lerberg’s Foods that they called Lerbeg’s Fitness.
Schultz recalls the Ellendale storefront used to house a “variety store” where Mary offered knickknacks and decorations for sale. After her work days ended, Mary frequently traveled to Owatonna to use fitness facilities there. The idea entered her head to turn the variety store into a fitness center. Once she discussed the possibility with Andy and Wendy, they visited different facilities to see what approaches others had used.
NRHEG Snow Week concludes
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
A packed week of Snow Week events at NRHEG included five dress-up days, a dodgeball tournament, the crowning of the King and Queen, and concluded with a dance in the high school gymnasium
Royalty gathered together in the NRHEG high school gymnasium Tuesday afternoon, January 30 to find out who among them would be crowned King and Queen.
Malonna Wilson and Danny Deniz-Clark were crowned 2024 Snow Week King and Queen by the NRHEG 2023 Homecoming King and Queen William Tuttle and Hallie Schultz.
Serving as the emcees, Hallie Schultz and Isabel Stadheim welcomed hundreds of students, faculty, friends and family, introduced winter sports coaches and instructors to speak, and finally introduced the 2024 Snow Court.
The following introduction was read aloud, introducing the queen and king, followed by the rest of the 2024 Snow Court.
Rally falls short for NRHEG matmen
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By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Any time you start a wrestling dual meet trailing 36-0 after six matches, it's awfully tough to win.
That was the situation for the NRHEG Panthers last Thursday as they hosted Westfield.
While the Panthers wrestled well in the middle weights, a miraculous comeback was not in the cards as the visitors prevailed 48-30 in New Richland.
"The timing of this dual was tough for both teams," said NRHEG coach Shawn Larson. "I do not believe that either team was at full strength, and that could make things definitely different. They have a good team and they came over with a lot of intensity, and deserved the win."
The Razorbacks pinned Charlie Tufte at 107 pounds and Dakota Schlaak at 114. The Panthers forfeited at 121 and 127 and, after a loss by fall for Parker Bunn at 133, NRHEG forfeited again at 139.
That's when the Panthers made it interesting - for a while anyway.
Deven Parpart scored a 42-second fall at 145, Reese Routh got a first-period fall at 152, Harbor Cromwell got a forfeit at 160, and Ryan Schlaak and George Roesler took first-period pins at 172 and 189, respectively, pulling the Panthers within 36-30.
The Razorbacks responded by pinning Cole Hutchens at 215 and Jace Ihrke at 285.
"We wrestled a decent match, although it will be better for us if we can get everyone competing at the same time," said Larson. "It is hard to win when there are so many forfeits."
The Panthers are home again Thursday, Feb. 1 with a triangular against WEM/JWP and St. Clair/Mankato Loyola. Wrestling starts at 5 p.m.