NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

This will be another one of my hop-scotch articles. (You might call it a running of the words.)

A sure sign of good economic times is when the price per gallon of gas in Hartland is at or a bit less than the population.

I busted a front tooth which required a visit to the local dentist. In looking at the situation, Mary Jo scolded me with these words of wisdom, “Your front teeth are for viewing, not chewing.”

A quote from Nancy Jane to her bakery in New Richland, “Pie fixes everything.”

Smart car license seen in Albert Lea, HI-IQ.

My nephew Brian is a soccer coach at St. Peter. His brother Brad (also my nephew) is a basketball coach at Faribault. In attending the games in Albert Lea, I was criticized for sitting in the wrong fans section. My answer, “Blood runs thicker than residency.”

A flock of mud hens, also known as coots, in migrating south, landed on Lake Geneva to rest before continuing. The air temperature nose dived freezing the water. As you know, coots must have open water as they paddle the surface water on take off. Two pairs of adult bald eagles recognized the coots problem and solved it one coot at a time.

Gary and Cindy Fisher hosted a family noon Christmas Day feast at their farm place. The only requirement was to attend with an empty tummy and an empty plastic food container, which we did. Of course, both tummy and container were full when we left. (Gary is an employee of Gopher Stop in Ellendale.)

How’s this time frame for service? We accidentally break the grill on our microwave oven. December 11 we stop at Sorenson’s Appliance in Geneva with the old grill to order a new grill. We were told they would order a new grill and call us when it was in. Dec. 17 we were called but not home to take the message. Dec. 18 we were called in the a.m. to be home in the p.m. and John would deliver the new grill. John not only delivered the new grill, he also installed it. Guess who gets our vote for the Number One Appliance Area Business?

Some of my great moments while ringing the Salvation Army bell in Albert Lea were:

A lady, after putting money in the kettle, asked if I had lunch yet. The answer was no and she gave me a Snickers candy bar.

A lady asked if I would let her daughter (age 9) ring the bell while she was gone a few minutes. I did and the mom returned with a big smile and whispered to me she didn’t want her daughter to see her Christmas present as they both put money in the kettle.

A lady with 4 young daughters all put money in the kettle. Mom asked if the daughters could sing their favorite Christmas song. They beautifully sang their version of “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

A fellow Hanson, as he put a ten dollar bill in the kettle, stated he always gave a ten toward the end of the campaign.

A farmer friend stopped and asked if I had a bucket list. He explained ringing the bell was on his bucket list. I gave him the bell and said I’m going to the men’s room. When I came back he gave me the bell with a big smile and thanks as he put a twenty in the bucket.

Genie and I said goodbye to 2014 with a toast of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry. We said hello to 2015 with breakfast from McDonald’s. 

May your opportunities in 2015 be greater than you expected.


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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.

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