Introducing Vern Russell Root
- Details
- Hits: 1076
For the next five weeks leading up to Memorial Day, the Star Eagle will present an article a week attempting to reconstruct the military history of five brothers from a farm near New Richland, Minnesota. Each article will focus on one brother and their service as can be determined based on incomplete research, conjecture, and the fading memories of surviving siblings. Those who know more about the boys and their military history are welcome to share their insight with the Star Eagle.
By COLBY ROOT
Contributing writer
Introduction
Between January 1942 and December 1972, five of Burchard Bailey Root, born 1889 and Esther (Gehring) Root, born 1900, five of seven sons served in the US military. Of the two who didn’t serve, one died shortly after birth and the other sacrificed his wishes of fighting in Korea to the responsibility of maintaining the home farm during a time of family crisis. In order of age, the brothers are: Vern Russell Root born in 1921, US Navy WWII; Marvin “Hans” “Tiger” Curtis Root, born 1923, US Navy, WWII, Korea, Vietnam; William “Bill” Burchard Root, born 1927, US Navy WWII, US Army Occupation of Germany and Vietnam War; Donald Jack Root, born and died 1928; Orville “Buck” Keith Root, 1931 farmer; Gene “Buzz” Harlan Root born 1933, US Marines, Korean Conflict; and David Wayne Root born 1938, US Navy 1956 to 1959.
Bently, Weegman retire, Schmidt resigns
- Details
- Hits: 975
As of April 17, Dan Schmidt is no longer a member of the NRHEG school board, but has instead become the district’s Transportation Site Manager. The position, which, like the district-wide management positions for food services and buildings and grounds, is new this year, will have Schmidt in charge of matters to do with bus drivers and routes, bus safety and maintenance, and bus garage operation and organization.
The board voted both to accept Schmidt’s resignation and to instate him in the transportation position during the meeting. Other resignations accepted April 17 were those of secondary-level math teacher Susan Schaub and the retirements of business teacher Lise Weegman and language arts teacher Deb Bently.
A report shared by district food services manager Sara Meihak revealed that the department is apparently having a successful year. Meihak described “farm to table” practices which, she said, have been among the factors which have resulted in increased popularity for school meals. Locally grown foods have been purchased from rural Janesville’s RCR farms, and have been raised by students in the school greenhouse. In addition to providing fresher, better-tasting food, Meihak said, the programs have allowed the food services program to receive more than $55,000 in grants to cover the costs for acquiring it.
This change and others have led to an increase of more than 10,000 meals (breakfasts and lunches) over last year’s numbers, even though all student meals were free last year thanks to federal Covid support.
Hilltop open for the season
- Details
- Hits: 1235
Hilltop Greenhouse and Farm has a love affair with flowers. Not just flowers that are placed in a vase, but all types of growing flowers and plants! They can be red, yellow, pink, orange or purple. How about green flowers, crazy striped flowers, flowers with spots even flowers that you have never seen before. This love of flowers keeps us searching for wonderful and exciting plants to grow each year.
We also love spreading that love to local communities. You will see Hilltop Greenhouse and Farm’s flowers hanging from baskets we plant for the City of Albert Lea, Alden, Austin and Glenville. In planters or in the gardens of Geneva, Hollandale and New Richland too. Or at local Cemeteries we deliver to just before Memorial Day.
Caught in the act April 14
- Details
- Hits: 867
By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
No one’s been killed - yet.
That’s the mood in “Caught in the Act,” a comedy to be performed at 7 p.m. this Friday on the NRHEG stage. The play’s 14 cast and crew members and first-time-at-NRHEG director Colin Zidlicky have been practicing for the past six weeks to bring together the 90-minute, two-act production filled with laugh-out-loud moments. Doors will open at 6:30, with free will admission charged at the door.