Jim Lutgens hands over reins to Eli Lutgens
FATHER TO SON - Jim Lutgens, right, hands the deed to the building to his son Eli Lutgens as they shake hands in front of the Star Eagle. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
The sale of the NRHEG Star Eagle was finalized this week as Eli Lutgens purchased the publication from his father, Jim Lutgens.
Jim purchased the Star from LaVonone Meyer in 2005 and acquired the Ellendale Eagle in 2007, combining the two to form the NRHEG Star Eagle. During his time as publisher, Jim worked hard to modernize the paper by putting the paper online, redesigning the layout, and adding color printing to the front and back pages.
After running the NRHEG Star Eagle, raising three kids, and working in journalism for his entire adult life, Jim said he is ready to retire. “I’m happy it’s Eli taking over for me and not someone from outside of the town or outside of our family. Someone else might not call me and ask me what I think; they would just do what they want. The paper wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for Eli. With him here, I don’t have to worry about the future of the Star Eagle.”
Jim plans to assist Eli wherever possible, but did say he is looking forward to unloading the stress of the paper from his shoulders.
“After 40 years in journalism, I have to admit I have become a little burned out and more prone to mistakes, which always bothered me more than people could realize. Being at the helm of the Star and later the Star Eagle was difficult. Some of the articles I had to write made people angry and I know it gave them the wrong impression of me,” he explained. “On the other hand, there have been some advertisers who have been with us from the start and I greatly appreciate their support. They helped me raise three kids. Their support allowed me to keep the doors open here.”
Eli plans to continue, and hopefully improve, the Star Eagle’s tradition as the primary source of information and advertising in the NRHEG area. The paper is one of the oldest businesses in New Richland, at 136 year; an incredibly humbling pill for the new publisher to swallow.
“I feel honored and humbled to hold the position of publisher,” said Eli. “I don’t think there’s any other job quite like this one in the world.”
Readers need not worry about how news is reported in the Star Eagle. Eli has been the editor for three years and has no immediate plans to change the operations of the newspaper.
Eli was raised in New Richland and has called it home his entire life. His parents Jim Lutgens and Tracie Rosacker both have extensive backgrounds in the newspaper business. Rosacker is the publisher of the Janesville Journal, a publication she opened nearly two years ago.
Eli was hired as an editorial assistant for the Star Eagle in 2013. Five years later he was promoted to editor. In 2019 he helped open the Janesville Journal, working as the editor of that paper, in addition to the Star Eagle, until the end of 2019.
This past year Eli has spent the majority of his time taking on more and more responsibilities at the Star Eagle in preparation for Jim’s retirement. “The handwriting is on the wall. Now is the time to retire,” said Jim. “I don’t want to get to age 70 with any regrets.”
What does Jim think of his son continuing the family business?
“It seems weird to have Eli take over. I raised him myself, and it’s been tough letting go of that. I said years ago I wanted to be a good caretaker for the Star Eagle. I always said I was the caretaker, not the owner, because the Star Eagle, in reality, belongs to the readers. Its future is truly in their hands.”
As for Jim’s future, he said he plans to drive his Corvette a lot more, visit friends, publish his book and take time for himself. “It’s been a great 16 years with the Star Eagle. It’s a time I’ll never forget.”
History of the Star Eagle
The first edition of the Star, originally called The North Star, was published Thursday, Feb. 4, 1886. The publisher was listed as Gregg & Co., comprised of S.K. Gregg and M.E. Goodwin.
C.W. Brown purchased The North Star in 1903 and, on April 12, 1906, the newspaper was renamed The Star.
In 1919 The Star was sold to Donald C. Brown and Herbert Sievert.
C.W. Brown returned as publisher of The Star in 1938 after stints in Minneapolis, Fairfax, Lewiston and Albert Lea. He owned The Star until 1955, when he sold it to Emmett and Margaret Engesser.
The sale of the Star, exactly 66 years ago -- was announced as follows in the Thursday, Feb. 24, 1955 edition: ‘C.W. Brown, owner and publisher of The Star since 1938, has completed a deal with Emmett H. Engesser of Viroqua, Wis., for the sale of this publication, consummation of which will take place April 1 when the new owner will take over. Mr. Brown, who has passed the 80-year mark, feels it is time to let down and so decided to dispose of his interest to Mr. Engesser. The present owner has completed 64 years of newspaper and printing endeavors. The new owner is originally from St. Peter and has been at Viroqua, Wis., for the past year or so as a partner on a paper there. He is married and has four children. He and his family will occupy the apartment above The Star for a while at least. Mrs. Engesser will assist her husband in the editorial and business end of The Star.”
On Thursday, March 31, 1955, the Engesser family was introduced to readers of The Star with a front page photo that included the cutline: “Meet Mr. and Mrs. Emmett H. Engesser, the new owners and publishers of The Star, who are now living in the apartment above The Star office. On the floor are John on the left and Thomas on the right and on Mrs. Engesser’s lap is little Sandra and between their parents is Cheryl. John started school in New Richland on Monday, Cheryl will be enrolled in the spring primary class. The family moved into their new quarters Sunday.”
The Engessers operated The Star for several decades, and Margaret Engesser continued as publisher following the death of her husband in 1983.
Margaret Engesser owned The Star until LaVonne Meyer took over the publication in 2003.
In 2005 Jim Lutgens purchased The Star from Meyer. In 2007, he acquired the Ellendale Eagle and merged the two papers to make the NRHEG Star Eagle.
To the best knowledge of the Star Eagle staff, with the purchase of the paper, Eli Lutgens is the youngest newspaper publisher in the country.