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ENERGETIC COLOR - The Ellendale Color Run took place on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. They had around 200 participants. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
A carnival-sized crowd gathered at the NRHEG Schools elementary site in Ellendale to cheer on participants in the NRHEG Color Run on Saturday, Oct. 24. More than 200 participants started the race in conspicuously white shirts ready to be decorated with colored powder as they ran, walked or were...
FOREVER YOUNG - Janice Jensen will turn 90 years old on Oct. 31, and she wanted to show off her youngest relative, Anthony, who is 10 months old, at the Ellendale Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 24. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
Janice Jensen of Ellendale was born on Oct. 31 of 1936, which means her 90th birthday is coming up, even though, in her words, “I certainly don’t feel like I’m 90.” Her family threw her a party at the Ellendale Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 24, and she said she was “blown away” by the...
EAGER STOMACHS - Arlo Tweeten and Megan Sorensen were discussing how much roast beef they wanted at the Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church's roast beef sundae luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hartland held its second annual “Roast Beef Sundae”
luncheon fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 25. The church basement was full of people who seemed eager to eat after the Sunday service. They named this hot lunch menu item after they saw a vendor at the Albert Lea...
The Southeast Minnesota Association of Realtors shared with New Richland city council members during their Oct. 12 meeting that Minnesota realtors are donating $70,000 worth of flood aid to help area residents with housing costs incurred because of the Sept. 19 flooding. According to Realtor...
Eric Bromwell of the Southeast Minnesota Association of Realtors informed city leaders the Minnesota Realtors Association’s Relief Foundation has allotted up to $70,000 in grant funding for New Richland residents who experienced extra housing costs due to the September flood. Up to $1,000 per...
During their Oct. 21 meeting, Waseca County commissioners approved up to $50,000 for an impact study which County Land and Water Resources director Chris Howard said would help “anticipate and address regulatory hurtles” for routing water which currently goes through the town of New Richland to a...
The Steele County School District #70, commonly known as Berlin School. Row 1: Kenneth Johnson, Elroy Utpadel, Dale Strenge, Lorraine Jasinski, Nadine Olson, Janice Muri. Row 2: Roberta Styer (She is half hidden behind her brother whose name is unknown.) Duane Wilert, Lorraine Olson, Alvina Hagen, Roger Smith, Philip Evenson. Row 3: Delmer Trandem, Maynard Muri, Donna Johnson, Helen Muri, Betty Edwardson, LaVonne Hagen, Bernice Olson, Betty Trandem. Row 4: Unknown, unknown, Jerome Lee, unknown.
I was born in 1936 and in the above photo I was in first grade. My teachers were:
1st grade teacher was Miss Oriet Lee, and she was perhaps the one taking the picture.
2nd Grade: Miss Oriet Lee became Mrs Oriet (Lee) Johnson.
3rd grade: Mrs. Marie Palan (Felix)
4th grade Mrs...
MOVING UPHILL - This aerial photo of New Richland, taken in the 1930s, shows development in the city moving to the west and north, while avoiding flood-prone areas to the south and east. Highway 13 did not yet exist when this photo was taken.
Waseca County Land and Water Resources director Chris Howard says it's understandable that people feel there has been little or no progress in reducing the amount of water which flows through New Richland during significant rain events. He shares, though, that through continued collaboration with...
VISUAL TRAP - This roadway in Waseca County provides an example of a “visual trap.” An unfamiliar driver could easily believe this road continues straight ahead, but the hill is concealing a curve. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
Interested and invested parties were invited to a three-hour session which addressed the process of updating Waseca County’s “County Roadway Safety Plan” the afternoon of Oct. 6. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and from the Twin Cities company SRF Consulting met...
FUTURE FLOODING - Between 80 and 100 acres of New Richland were under water at the peak of the Sept. 19 flood. Analysis and planning toward alleviating future flooding has been on-going for about 5 years, beginning with a study in 2022. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
Waseca Land and Water Resources director Chris Howard has devoted many hours of attention to determining and analyzing water flow through New Richland, beginning in 2023 soon after he was first hired by the county.
He does not disagree with a statement made by one area resident that, when...