Editor's note: Looking Back is a regular feature on the pages of the Star Eagle
75 Years Back - 1946
• With a good crowd present, the revived business men’s basketball tournament started off with a close game between Kruezer’s Red and Johnson’s Gray Ghosts. George Mobley, New Richland’s shoemaker, made the first points of the game on a short field goal. Kreuzer’s team won 44-13. Other first-round actions saw the Yellow team beat the Purple squad 18-14 and, in the final game of the evening, the Orange team, led by the marksmanship of J. Jeddeloh, came close to tying it, but the Blue team prevailed 15-12.
• Carl Jeddeloh is the new owner of the former Congregational Church parsonage, which he purchased Thursday last of Ervin Engel. Mr. and Mrs. Jeddeloh and the former’s daughter, Mrs. John Reb, and the former’s mother, Mrs. Jeddeloh, and daughter, Miss Pearl, will occupy the home just purchased.
• Elected as officers in New Richland were Emil Bolduan, for the 21st time as clerk; Chester Johnson, supervisor; Ray Sybilrud, Justice of the Peace; and Carl Kobernius, Constable. Appropriations were $4,500 for roads and bridges, $500 for general purposes and $1,000 for snow removal. Elected in Byron Township were Harold Ditsworth, Harvey E. Crumb and William Pierce, Otto A. Krueger, Francis Adams and Jule Boettger, clerk. $10,000 was appropriated for all township purposes. Only 18 votes were cast in Wilton in the election of James Osmudson, supervisor for three years, and Ewald Gehring, clerk for two years. Money appropriated for all purposes was $7,500.
• We have been hearing a lot recently about the housing shortage and mass production of homes by new government subsidized industries.
• Walter “Bud” Mertz is the new adjutant of the Andrew Borgen Post 75 of the American Legion, succeeding Dr. R. Hawley, who resigned on leaving New Richland. “Bud” is a World War II veteran and it is predicted he will make the post an excellent adjutant.
• “Yes, indeed, it is an unusual plant,” said Norris O. Peterson, judge of probate, speaking of a “crown of thorns,” plant in the east window of his office. “It has been in constant bloom for at least seven or eight years that I know of.” The plant was presented to him by Mrs. Rosa Eckart, living on Route 2 New Richland, after he had probated her husband’s estate, which included her husband’s near the north line of the county.
50 Years Back – 1971
• Senator Paul Overgaard and State Representative Rod Searle will meet the people of the New Richland, Waldorf, Hartland area Saturday, March 27 at the American Legion meeting rooms in New Richland starting at 7:30 a.m.
• Lori Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Phillips, was selected by the American Legion Auxiliary of Hartland to attend Girls State. Lori is a junior at New Richland-Hartland High School.
• Spring floods hit New Richland as the mild south wind blew across the snowbanks, melting the winter’s accumulation. Boot Creek finds little space until the bridge on Grand St., but, due to the watchfulness of the city crew, there were no flooded basements.
• The New Richland-Hartland High School instrument ensemble took starred ratings at the District II Music Contest at Lyle. Members of the squad: Diane Sandsmark, Susan Miller, LeAnn Loken, Dennis Winegar, Vicki Jessen, Ruth Liane, Becky Westeng and Carol Westland. These youngsters will enter the State-Regional contest May 8.
• And as a parting thought – As I travel throughout the state now and then, there is always a detour in some main highway. I imagine the thought comes to the average person’s mind that, “This will be a wonderful highway when they finish it.” When I traveled to and fro on Highway 61, when my better half would go up to Northern Minnesota to visit her folks, I, too, thought and made the same statement. However, when they finished building the other end, they started to construct a new highway from whence they started. — E.H. Engesser
25 Years Back – 1996
• After pinning his way to the championship match in the Class B division of the Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament, Matt Petsinger of NRHEG met University of Minnesota-bound Brad Pike of Hayfield in one of the most exciting matches of the entire tournament. Pike managed an escape in the second overtime period and wons 4-3. Most area wrestling fans agree that Matt is the better wrestler and that Pike managed the win with a bit of stalling. “Many wrestlers would be thrilled to finish second in the state tournament,” said Panthers coach Paul Cyr. “Matt is not one of them. Only a state title will satisfy him.” Also wrestling for the Panthers at state are Robert Routh, fourth; Dan Routh, fifth; Dan Petsinger and Gabe Routh.
• After being ranked second in the state in Class B for most of the season, the JWP wrestling team finished their season with a 21-3-1 record after losing their state team opener 33-16 to Hayfield. The Golden Bears bounced back to defeat Minneota 28-23 in the consolation bracket and rolled over Pierz 36-15 to claim the Class B consolation title. Winning an individual state championship for the Golden Bears is Dana Gostomczyk.
• Tom Coyer is congratulated by high school counselor Tim Stoesz for being elected NRHEG’s nominee for the AAA Award.
• Julie Economy is selected Teacher of the Month for March at New Richland Elementary School.
• Lloyd Peterson of New Richland was presented a 50-year membership pin and certificate at the meeting of the Tuscan Lodge #77 in Waseca.
• Members of the NRHEG Future Farmers of America Meats Judging team placed first in Region VII competition in New Richland, advancing to state. Members of the team are Chris Mortenson, Andy Gekeler and Justin Schumacher, who placed fourth individually.
• Boy Scouts of New Richland Boy Scout Troop 90 met at the dentist office of Dr. Timothy Flor for three sessions to learn proper dental care and to earn a patch. Pictured in the Star were Trevor Johnson, Nakia Berg, Jon Whiteside, Brian Worthley, Matt Malakowsky and Josh Grunzke.
• Four hog barns sprawl across a hill northeast of Waldorf. Three of the barns are used for breeding, gestation and farrowing of sows. The fourth barn is where the piglets are held until they reach 40 pounds and are then shipped to a finishing site. When they reach 240 pounds, the hogs are ready for marketing.
• Lynsey Supalla was named Student of the Month for February at NRHEG High School by social studies instructor Merlyn Johnson.
• The NRHEG boys’ basketball team completed its best season ever, finishing with a 22-2 overall record and 13-1 in the Gopher Conference, good for a first-place tie with JWP. The Panthers include Brandon VanHal, Bryant Stiernagle, Ryan Wangen, Nik Anderson, Dak Sorenson, Jeremy Hullopeter, manager Scott Brekke, Joe Sevcik, Ryan Weber, Tom Coyer, Kyle Schlaak, Dan Schmidt, Kyle Goslee, Jesse Langlie and coach Ted Pelzl. The Panthers lost to JWP 56-52 in a wild section championship game, finishing one win away from the state tournament. “The boys were either awed by playing at Gustavus-Adolphus or they were just nervous during the opening quarter,” said Pelzl. “I am not making any excuses, but both times JWP beat us, it was from the free-throw line.”
• The NRHEG ninth-grade mathematics team, coached by Jenny Stoesz, finished ninth out of 26 schools statewide. Team members are Jess Cleven, Amy Demmer, Nicole Werth, Jason Johnson, Steve McShane and Josh Krueger.