Features (1071)
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group will meet Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. The group meets monthly, every third Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 S. Washington Ave., Albert Lea, in Jacobsen Fellowship Hall. Enter through the door off of the parking lot.
Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide is welcome. The group offers support and understanding to each other, helping individuals know they are not alone in suffering their tragic loss.
Anyone with questions may phone John and Jodi at (507) 377-0332 or Judy at (507) 373-2461.
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
If you want to meet somebody you haven't seen lately, the place to go is the Steele County Fair, which will be held the third week in August this year.
With that thought in mind the Ellendale High School Class of 1970 plans to gather for their 45th class reunion on Saturday, August 22. Members of the class are encouraged to gather at the Spare Time Bowling Party Room in Owatonna, which is just south of the Fairgrounds, from 3-6 that afternoon. The bar and grill at the bowling alley will be open that day and will have a room ready for the class members to gather. Jim Motz reports they have a nice bar, patio and a great grill menu at the bowling alley if people want to order something to eat.
Once upon a time, we kept our porch lights on. We opened the door even if we didn’t know who rang the bell. And we could always leave the back door unlocked during the day.
National Night Out is an annual community‐building campaign that promotes police‐community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods a safer, better place to live.
Together, we are making that happen. It enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Inaugural 5K attracts around 200 entrants
A GOOD DAY — The first ever Preston Peterson Memorial Fund 5K was held Saturday, July 18. Pictured here with a check for $5,000 are the Peterson family from left: Tom, Tammy, Paige, Palmer, Perry, Porter and Payden. More than 200 people were in attendance for the event. (Star Eagle photo by Nicole Billing)
By NICOLE BILLING
Editorial Assistant
Weather conditions were a little warm for the inaugural Preston Peterson Memorial Fund 5K.
But that didn’t stop folks from turning out.
Approximately 200 participants showed up in New Richland Saturday, July 18 at 9:30 a.m. for the first scholarship fundraiser for Peterson, a 2014 graduate of NRHEG High School who tragically took his own life last December.
Some participants ran while others walked. Cindi Bartness, one of the organizers of the event said, “There were two reasons we decided to do this. One of them was to keep Preston’s memory alive and the other was to continue to add money to the scholarship memorial fund.”
There has been an account set up at the State Bank of New Richland for Connor Weckwerth and his family as they continue to seek treatment for his recent diagnosis and surgery for cancer.
Donations can be dropped off at the bank or sent to: SBNR, P.O. Box 68, New Richland, Minn. 56072.
August 1st will be the date of the annual meeting of the Ellendale Area Heritage Society at the old Thompson Boat House on the south side of Beaver Lake. For the past few years we have had our August meeting here and found that it is a good time to share memories and photos of the lake, and maybe even some artifacts. We invite anyone who would like to share their stories; whether you grew up around here, visited, took swimming lessons, fished, waterskied or have a lakefront home.
Ed and Norrine Jensen are greats hosts and will have the coffee pot on. We will meet at 9 a.m. Come and join us for a fun time of reminiscing and storytelling!
Wayne, Merlys Wenzel chosen 2015 Farm and City Days grand marshals
WAY TO GO WAYNE AND MERLYS! — Pastor Charles Espe, left, congratulates Wayne Wenzel as his wife Merlys looks on during the pancake breakfast at the New Richland Fire Hall Saturday, July 11. Wayne and Merlys were selected grand marshals of the 2015 Farm and City Days parade. See Pages 9, 11 and 12 in this week's Star Eagle for more Farm and City Days photos. (Star Eagle photo by Nicole Billing)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Wayne Wenzel didn’t know how to react when he and his wife, Merlys, were announced as 2015 Farm and City Days parade grand marshals.
He was stunned.
“It was a great honor, it sure was,” said Wenzel, a New Richland native. “The wife and I were very surprised. I was just dumbfounded. I never imagined they’d pick us.”
Wenzel, known around town as a friendly, jovial, down-to-earth character, has had his antique business, Dad’s Good Stuff, on New Richland’s main street for about 25 years.
Merlys Wenzel, born and raised in Glenville, moved here in 1959.
“That’s when she found me, in 1959,” quipped Wenzel.
The grand marshal announcement was made Saturday morning during the pancake breakfast at the NR Fire Hall. The Wenzels rode in the parade later that afternoon.
Lecture July 23 at History Center
The Steele County Historical Society is pleased to announce a roundtable discussion about the history of Ellendale on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. in the Wenger Room of the History Center at 1700 Austin Road, Owatonna. The lecture is sponsored by Swenson Financial Services. The roundtable is being done as a compliment to the “Welcome to Ellendale” exhibit that is currently on display in the History Center.
Presenters will include: Barb Mrotz, President of the Ellendale Heritage Society; Lloyd Kaplan, Ed and Norrine Jensen, also of the Ellendale Heritage Society; Jim Deml, farmer; and Mary Groth, Donnavon Eaker, and Andy Lerberg all Ellendale business owners, past and present. Guests to lecture will learn about the community’s varied history, from agriculture, to locally owned and grown businesses, to the early origins of the community and the impact of the arrival of the railroad.
In response to growing public concerns about land use and water, a Southern Minnesota Land Use Expo will take place Monday, July 20 at a farm near Blooming Prairie.
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson is scheduled to speak at the Expo, which will focus on agriculture and water. Other elected officials are expected to be on hand for a special legislative listening session starting at 1 p.m.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rodney Krell farm along U.S. Highway 218 two miles north of Blooming Prairie.
There will be field demonstrations on various types of liquid and solid manure application equipment as well as various types of conservation equipment.
“This is an educational experience for all ages whether they’re connected to farming or not,” said Dan Vermilyea, feedlot specialist for Steele County, who is helping to coordinate the event. “We’re hoping everyone will come away with a better understanding of agriculture and how it impacts water.”
Vermilyea said what makes this event unique is that it will have a legislative listening session.
St. Peter Lutheran Church of Otisco will host its annual ice cream social Sunday, July 12 beginning at 4:30.
The menu includes barbecues, ham sandwiches, potato salad, calico beans, pie, ice cream, cake, coffee and lemonade.
Music provided by “Just Friends.”
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St. Peter Lutheran Church of New Richland will be serving lunch in the park after the church service Sunday, July 12 at 11:30.
They will be serving shredded beef sandwiches, potato salad, calico beans, lemonade, water and a cookie — bringing back an old-fashioned picnic, please join in celebrating their 125th anniversary.
If you have had the opportunity to enjoy the 2014 improvements to the Memorial Park area beside the New Richland Post Office, you will notice the growing number of engraved bricks being installed. The improvements have added a sense of reflection and peace as you enjoy the scenery of the mural from donations of many, the bench in honor of long-time firefighter Tom Bruzek and the many bricks that have been donated by families remembering a loved one.
Orders continue to be taken for the bricks. They are $100 with your choice of wording, with or without any artwork. The money goes into the Mural Fund which will be used for continued upkeep and improvements to the area. If you wish to order a brick, you can do so by stopping up at City Hall and filling out a form or you can contact Gail Schmidt at (507)-383-1147.
If you have not had the opportunity to visit the area, it is hoped you do so.
As the New Richland Area Foundation continues to provide grants to various organizations, city departments and the NRHEG schools, it is also about growing the fund.
The fund has grown from $13,929 to $434,713 in just 5 1/2 short years. The NRAF is administered under the family of funds through the Waseca Area Foundation, an affiliate community fund of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners.
Though this year’s granting dollars available was $15,000, the NRAF grants committee continues to be challenged with requests of more than $35,000 each year. Therefore it is our plea to request the community’s help in growing the fund so that more dollars become available to grant each year.
The Ellendale United Methodist Church new pictorial directory is being compiled. Pictures will be taken at the church by Brant Hemingway on two Sundays July 12 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on one evening Wednesday, July 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. Please sign up for your preferred time at the church.
For questions call the church office at 684-2731.