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
Standing in front of a new electronic sign in Ellendale are Susan Eberline, representing Keen Bank, and Ellendale Community Action president Allison Muilenburg.In 2018, the Ellendale Community Action Group (ECAG) came together with the goal to “improve and better Ellendale and make it a great place to live.” Group member Donavan Eaker proposed an electronic sign which area civic groups, churches and the school would be able to use to share events and news with the community. Residents of Ellendale and those passing through may have noticed the sign has become a reality, located on Highway 30 just east of the railroad tracks. It is the same design and concept as the sign outside the high school building in New Richland, and was ordered from M&M Signs in Mankato. “I wasn’t sure at first because it’s a big project,” said Allison Muilenburg, ECAG President, but as ideas of how the ground would look and all the possible uses developed, she saw how the community loved the idea. The sign was installed in mid-July of this year. The five years since its proposal have been spent fundraising. The ECAG sponsored bingo games at the community center as fundraisers, with themes such as De- signer Purse Bingo, Christmas Family Bingo, and a Halloween Costume Bingo. The group also received many generous donations from community members – too many to name. Muilenburg had the following message: “We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the sign, along with Keen Bank and another major supporter who preferred to remain anonymous.” Muilenburg said she also plans to use the sign to give thanks to the many sponsors and donors who made it possible. The members of the ECAG who have worked alongside the community to bring this idea to fruition are Allison Muilenburg, Jackie Froman, Brenda Misgen, Kaitlyn McGowan, Courtney McGowan, LeeAnn Hojberg, Doug Anderson, Carina Beauvais, Jody Larson, Jenny Gollhoffer, Nicki Bergland, and Paula Conklin.The next step for the ECAG and the Ellendale community is a memorial at the site. The proposal includes memorial bricks around the base of the sign and a bench where visitors can view and contemplate the bricks. “I am completely on board,” Muellenberg said about the proposal, “I love it.” While the bench is still an uncertain element, bricks stamped with both “In Memory of” and “In Honor of” have been purchased in preparation for the next steps. Ellendale community groups who wish to display an event or message on the sign can contact Muilenburg at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
