Mural moving forward
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
“What other small town can say it has more than 10 thriving businesses on its main street?” asked Kellie Mrotz, member of the Ellendale Gathering Place Mural Committee.
“We have that today because of the strong history of our community and the strong connections among the people who live here.”
About 25 people, including representatives from three newspapers, attended an informational session regarding the committee’s work so far toward erecting a mural in an unoccupied lot along Highway 30 within sight of the town’s community center. Those in attendance were told the Ellendale Area Heritage Society had applied for a “Small Town Grant” from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) and been awarded the maximum amount: $10,000. The grant is earmarked for supplies, printing and installation costs to create and display the mural.
The group was introduced to artist Chandler Anderson, who has painted murals all across southern Minnesota, both indoors and out. Many have been for schools: Among the samples of his work shown in a slide show were a Wellcome Memorial Knight and an extreme closeup of a tiger’s face which brought the most attention to its eyes.
According to a message from Anderson published in the evening’s handout, numerous members of his family–his great-grandfather Thor Emstad and great-grand-uncle Knute Emstad, worked on buildings and projects still standing in the community.
‘Capturing heirlooms’
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Ellendale Area’s Angie Knutson owns studio in Owatonna
By RACHAEL JAEGER
Staff Writer
Self-taught family photographer Angie Knutson of rural Ellendale owns a photography studio out of Owatonna. She’s enthusiastic about her work, especially when her sessions involve babies or children.
Knutson took every art class in high school and later acquired an Associate of Arts degree at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea. She described being “super stoked” when she was able to invest in her first professional-grade camera.
Soon afterward, in 2009, Knutson’s oldest sister had her first daughter, providing the inspiration for her first photography experience. Those first pictures snowballed as Knutson received requests from her own friends and friends of her sister. Fifteen years later, the passion and energy have never stopped.
She revealed that the majority of her clientele is from the NRHEG area. “It’s interesting to work with people I've known since kindergarten,” Knutson said. She’s also been pleased with how social media has broadened her connections, helping expand her customer base as far as the Metro.
$2.34 million raised!
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More than $25,000 donated from Wild Game Feed
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
The Geneva Bar and Grill was filled to capacity, possibly as many as 250 people, both Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6, as the fortieth Geneva Cancer Auction began. Whitey Hagen, 91, originator and long-time spokesperson for the event, welcomed crowd members and thanked them for their willingness to carry on “the good fight” to end cancer. Hagen spoke every once in a while as the auction proceeded to introduce special guests or call attention to particular happenings.
One such introduction was for David Thompson, coordinator of Geneva’s annual Wild Game Feed, held this past year on Dec. 2. Thompson presented Whitey with $25,000 raised during the “feed.”
With the donation, the total raised from the Geneva Cancer Auction since its inception is $2.34 million. 
As always, the 2024 auction is being held over two weekends, starting at 7 p.m. on both Friday evenings and at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoons. The dates are always the first and second weekends of January, ending just in time to present the collective donations during the Eagles Cancer Telethon, held the second Sunday in January–this year on January 14. A representative from the Geneva event–for the past few years, Whitey’s granddaughter Jenna Hagen–makes the trip to Rochester to announce the donation live.
During the hours of the auction, dozens of items go up for sale ranging from homemade candy, foods, crafts and even furniture, to gift certificates for everyday services such as oil changes.
Chelsea Hanson, who has been an employee at the bar for about five years, admits that staff must put in a lot of time and effort to prepare for the gathering, but says the fun and excitement make it all worthwhile. For Hanson, an annual highlight is the sale of an apple pie, homemade by Geneva area residents Doug and Sandy Selt, who lost a daughter to cancer. Hanson says that in her experience the pie has sold for as much as $1,000.
The energy and positive mood of the crowd, she says, outweigh the challenges waiters and bartenders face as they navigate the packed room.
Geneva resident Kathy Paulson has put together a first-person narrative describing events and highlights from this past weekend and inviting people to take part in the continued excitement this coming Friday and Saturday. For more information, see her piece on Page 5.
Bad Auditions by Bad Actors
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NRHEG One Act Play to perform Feb. 8 in NR
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
The NRHEG contest one-act play for 2024 is a comedy piece titled “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors.” In the play, NRHEG sophomore Winter Pederson is casting director for a community theater production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. She has promised to fill the cast by the end of the day, resting her hopes on the efficiency of her assistant Regina, played by freshman Caralee Koopal, and the talents of a roomful of actors waiting their turns to audition one by one.
Trouble is, Regina is not efficient–or even optimistic–and the actors are not talented.
While all this would be a disaster in real life, it makes for a hilarious play.
According to co-directors Solveig Sundblad and Holly Pederson, choosing the play was a joint decision made by a “process of elimination.” In addition to its humor, the piece is highly adaptable, with scenes which can be removed without harming the story line and with gender-flexible roles. The medium-sized cast list also fell into the right number range for the number of actors they expected.
The play was cast this past November, practices have been ongoing ever since. Performances will include a “festival” in which one act plays from the geographic region will compete, while also receiving valuable feedback from judges at United South Central on January 20. Minnesota State High School League subsection competition will be at Maple River on January 27.
The play will be performed on the NRHEG stage for the public at 7 p.m. on February 8.
During these presentations, audiences will be treated to auditions which range from “ridiculous” to “borderline psychotic,” to use the descriptions offered by participants. One actor is accompanied by her “coach” who calls out advice on everything from her handshake to her diction. Another is a prima donna who insists she must have “chocolate-covered Skittles” in her dressing room and expects to command a high salary–even though it’s a community theater production. A dancer can’t understand why her talents are being overlooked, and a nervous individual “just can’t figure out what to do with my hands.”
Directors Sundblad and Pederson say they are pleased with the number of younger students who have chosen to join the one-act play program this year. They are also impressed with the progression and improvement they have seen as the season has advanced, and state they are looking forward to the upcoming contests and performances.
Participants in one act play this year are Cooper Cords (grade 7), Jacob Karl (10) , Shayna Kress (9), Caralee Koopal (9), Jordis Kruger-Diaz (12), Madisyn Langfitt (11), Addison Loken (12), Winter Pederson (10), Caralee Koopal (9), Madeline Schlaak (9), Grace Starman (11), Olivia Wencl (11), and Georgia Zimprich (11), Stage crew members are Scarlett Chance (8), Jacquelyn Duryee (7), Rielly Weitzel (11).
Lady Panthers make it 7 straight
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By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
There's no doubt it.
The NRHEG High School girls' basketball team is on a roll.
The Panthers improved to 3-0 in the Gopher Conference and 8-1 overall with wins over St. Clair and United South Central before tacking on two more victories while winning the St. James Holiday Tournament.
The Panthers started their run Dec. 21 at St. Clair, where the rallied from a halftime deficit to win 72-69.
"What a rollercoaster of a game," said NRHEG coach Onika Peterson.
It began with an 11-point Panther lead in the first half.
"But we couldn’t buy a layup in the last eight minutes," said Peterson, whose team trailed 28-27 at halftime."
It was back and forth the rest of the way until the final few seconds, when Camryn VanMaldeghem came through with a huge steal and Faith Neilsen hit an easy shot to finish it off.