January
• During the past two summers, NRHEG school buildings were under construction. The goal was, as principal David Bunn describes, to give students increased opportunities. New projects included renovations to the High School science rooms, the weight room, and the Home Economics room, including all new kitchen appliances. A new shop was constructed for Agriculture classes, including a new greenhouse. Along with these renovations, a new entryway to the elementary school was built. According to principal Bunn, students and staff were eagerly awaiting the full return of students to school, so they could enjoy the new facilities to their fullest extent.
• “It seemed like something we could do to reach out to the community,” says teacher Nancy Rudau, who proposed to fellow staff members at the secondary school that, by working together, they could share something positive and appealing. Mrs. Rudau shared her vision with fellow teacher Deb Bently, and together they put together a plan, then invited any and all staff members in the secondary building to contribute their talents. About 20 people responded and the work began. The result is a 12-foot-wide, 6-foot high mural which extends across 6 large window panels at the northeast corner of the building. The mural shares the message “Accept Winter’s Gifts” and is intended to remind everyone that, along with its many challenges, winter brings us beauty, anticipation, solitude, astonishment and other pleasures.
• When you look through the season information sheet for the NRHEG girls’ basketball team, one thing stands out: The Panthers have been pretty good in Onika Peterson’s six seasons as head coach. The Panthers were 2016-17 state consolation champions in Class 2A, they are 103-66 under Peterson, and last year they managed to go 13-13 overall and 7-7 in a tough Gopher Conference, despite having mostly a young, short squad. The Panthers return several players who contributed last year, including junior Sophie Stork, who surpassed 1,000 career points last year while totaling 465 points, 208 rebounds, 45 assists, 40 steals and 15 blocks per game last season.
• Sara McKay is the new city administrator in New Richland, although many in the area may know her as “that Underwood girl.” When she was growing up, McKay was a lifeguard at Beaver Lake, which is how she came to work in government positions. She received her undergraduate degree in recreation and sports management from Mankato State University, and her master’s degree from Minnesota State University. McKay subsequently ran recreation programs first in Owatonna and then in Waseca. In those positions, she became familiar with budgeting and sports programming. In 2020, McKay’s position in Waseca was eliminated. McKay found the New Richland position on the League of Minnesota Cities website.
• The New Richland City Council held its first regular meeting of the year on Monday, January 11. All members were present, and new Mayor Gail Schmidt, along with newly elected council members Loren Skelton and Jody Wynnemer took the Oath of Office.
• Secondary in-person transition process update: DALE CARLSON: When we last discussed learning model updates, we were concentrating on the Elementary school. After the first week the Elementary school is going well, but what next? As of today, the other schools in the three counties have moved elementary to in-person like us, but for the middle school and secondary they all have continued to maintain Hybrid Learning. Our team has proposed a phased approach, following the K-5 process, beginning with Grade 6, and still trying to bring in more of our seniors, following the Hybrid strategy.
February
• All members were present for the Ellendale City Council’s second meeting of the year on January 28. A request for the council to approve the location of benches, tetherball, volleyball courts, and bean bag toss at the park was approved, and it was agreed other details will be addressed at a later date. It was also noted that editor access to the committee’s Facebook page, which was discussed at the last council meeting, has been taken care of.
• The 2020 growing season brought smiles back to the faces of most area farmers. The weather cooperated for much of it, although it wasn’t without its moments. For those still trying to forget the 2019 growing season, this 2020 growing season summary marked a refreshing change. The three prior harvests brought difficult stretches of weather to finish starting in September and October. Finally, this fall, fieldwork and in particular fall tillage and manure applications were able to be completed on schedule and into December if desired. The October snowfall was a little unnerving, but that soon melted, allowing field operations to resume.
•After opening the week with a 55-43 setback at United South Central to fall to 0-4, things couldn’t have looked much worse with arch-rival WEM coming to town Friday. But the Panthers refused to fold. Bolting to a 22-14 halftime lead, the Panthers won handily 66-46. “It’s a good feeling to get a win!” said Panthers coach Isaiah Lundberg. “I’m proud of the effort the guys have played with for the first five games and we finally got to see the hard work pay off!” It helped that the Panthers got off to their best start of the season, building an 18-9 lead about halfway through the first half.
•Ross Sletten of Lerberg’s Foods has been making renovations to the historic Ellendale grocery store. The biggest change so far has been the installation of a long row of new refrigeration units for produce, meats, dairy, and frozen foods. “Our other cases were starting to show their age,” said Sletten concerning what led to the change, “and they were open cases, and so they took a lot of energy to run.” The new refrigeration units, which are closed cases with glass doors, are far more efficient.
• Even triumph looks different during a pandemic. This year’s MSHSL contest one-act play was the most successful play Amanda Inouye, NRHEG science teacher and play director, has produced, not only advancing from subsection to sections, but taking second place at the higher level – one step away from continuing to state-level competition.
• Minnesota State head coach Todd Hoffner has announced that Sam Lundberg will join the Maverick football coaching staff as the tight ends coach. Lundberg joins the Mavericks after spending the previous two seasons at Ellsworth Community College. In 2019, Lundberg worked as the team’s tight ends coach and director of operations before assuming the offensive line coaching position in 2020. He also served as the team’s recruiting coordinator during his two seasons with the Panthers.
March
• The 2021 Snow Week celebration, set for March 8-12, will include some long-standing, although slightly modified, traditions, and some events added for the first time. Elected to this year’s court are Elli Baker, Aubrey Fischer, Sara Johns, Cassidy Martin, Amy Tasker, Gavin Anderson, Ashton Cords, Andrew Hoelscher, Evan Reyna, and Carter Stencel.
• An apparent power struggle among city leaders and administrators seems to be leading to controversy and inefficiency in the New Richland ambulance service, which over the past several months, has led to a failed state inspection, an audit, an internal investigation and the termination and demotion of the two most senior members of the ambulance department.
• The New Richland Caring Friends Relay for Life Team sponsored a project, “Take a Step for Help Fight Cancer” in the NRHEG Schools to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The students and staff at both NRHEG sites were given the opportunity to donate one dollar for a footprint with a name of someone touched by cancer. The footprints were displayed on the hallway walls.
•At the Jan. 25 New Richland city council meeting, Chuck Ness, administrator for the New Richland Care Center, recounted a harrowing story of their fight with Covid-19. Waseca County was in the “Red Zone” in Dec. and Jan., which means that over 10% of county residents tested positive for COVID. By Jan. 25, the care center had been free of Covid for over two weeks, and the number of cases in Waseca County had decreased below 10%. This number, designated the “Yellow Zone,” means that the care center can decrease testing to once per week. Once the county gets down to the “Green Zone,” when no cases crop up, the care center can reduce testing to once a month.
•Last week was an enjoyable one for the NRHEG boys’ basketball team. Unfortunately, the Panthers were able to enjoy only one of them. After bowing 63-60 to Blooming Prairie Tuesday night, the Panthers blew out visiting JWP 70-28 on Friday. The Panthers jumped to leads of 9-0, 20-5 and 28-13 on the Bulldogs. They then went on a 17-0 run on their way to a 45-13 halftime lead.
•Wallace Laundromat was forced to close in early 2021 due to economic repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. They reopened following the threat of fines from the state of up to $25,000, including jail time. Now, the owners struggle with an increasing debt on a failed business, while still trying to keep the lights on at home.
•Monday evening, March 15, at their regular meeting, the NRHEG Board of Education approved the contract for Michael Meihak for Superintendent.
•On Friday, March 19, the students of the NRHEG National Honor Society (NHS) hosted a blood drive at the New Richland Community Center. According NHS advisor Liz Stiernagle, a total of 55 people – full capacity for the drive – came to donate. In total, 48 pints of blood were donated, surpassing the group’s goal of 45.