A look back at 2025

In the past year the NRHEG Star Eagle has covered many exciting stories worth remembering. Here is a look back at the best highlights from the year that was 2025.

 

January 

- Some welcome news was recently received by Royal Villa, the 30-apartment facility along First Street Northeast near the New Richland Care Center. The building was issued a rare 99-percent rating after an August inspection by the Minnesota Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

- These days, you'll typically find Caitlin Krell's hair pulled up into a claw clip. And as the owner of Geneva's Bliss Beauty Salon, that's just fine with Krell; her clients come first. 

- Todd Utpadel can still barely believe it happened. After creating “Musicians Against Cancer” and partnering with the BP Cancer Group, he said he had an initial goal of raising $5,000 in 2024. He actually brought in $50,000 worth of donations. 

- Members of the Ellendale City Council were sworn in during their first meeting of the year, January 9, 2025. New members include recently elected Scott Swanson, and newly appointed Charlie Berg. Joel Meyer and mayor Scott Groth were also sworn in.

- NRHEG Junior Madison Bogue took part in the Dec. 7 parade memorializing the 1941 surprise attack on the U.S. Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a day which will famously “live in infamy.” The opportunity was part of a six day trip made available to individuals who had earned the title of “All-American” from the Universal Cheer Association (UCA), a national group which sponsors many competitions and events. 

- January 10 and 11 brought the first weekend of the 2025 Geneva Cancer Auction, held at the Geneva Bar and Grill. Hundreds of people crowded the venue as a great group of supporters turned out. 

- The NRHEG Star Eagle is proud to announce the creation of its new website, which went public early this month. The website can be found at: www.nrhegstareagle.com. Our website will remain completely free. 

- Josh Warke, one of two new New Richland City Council members, as well as reelected council member Jody Wynnemer, took their oaths of office during the council’s first meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 13. Newly-elected council member Matt Economy was absent for the meeting, along with Mayor Janda Ferguson. 

- “I can’t say enough about Mr. Schaeffer’s professionalism and composure,” stated NRHEG Superintendent Michael Meihak regarding district band director Seth Schaefer’s response to a string of “construction woes” which began in June of 2024. Until Friday, Jan. 17, those “woes” called upon Schaefer and the members of the high school band to show daily flexibility as their instruction and operations were moved to other locations in the secondary building. 

- In a span of two days, the New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva High School wrestling team wrestled five dual meets. Yes, one of them was a victory.

- On the morning of Thursday, January 23, the Waseca County 911 dispatch center received notification that someone appeared to have broken into Papa Olie’s Bar and Grill on South Main Street in Waldorf and caused damage inside. Law enforcement responded and found an unlocked door. The business was checked and found to be unoccupied. There was heavy interior damage to the business and items had been stolen.

- Candidates for NRHEG snow week set for February 3 through February 8 are, for queen: Josie Bell, daughter of Zechary and Melissa Bell; Ava Cummins, daughter of Sheila Wenzel and Jason Cummins; Aryanna Howe, daughter of Angela and Jeff Howe; Jozlyn Johnson, daughter of Steph and Luke Andersen; Aspyn Stenzel, daughter of Doug and Amy Stenzel. Candidates for king: Brady Koopal, son of Jason and Lacey Koopal; Carter Martens, son of Anthony and Kelly Martens; Bo McCamish, son of Chanelle McCamish; Aidan Schlaak, son of Lindsey and Nathan Schlaak; Talon Smith-Vulcan, son of Tracy Smith and Jon Hansen, and Troy Vulcan. 

- NRHEG School board chair Rick Schultz was among only 13 people statewide honored for having earned more than 300 “training points” by taking part in Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) leadership and educational events. The acknowledgment took place during the organization’s annual “recognition luncheon” at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 16. 

- The Minnesota Department of Health has announced cases of Norovirus infection, commonly referred to as the “stomach flu,” are on the rise, having so far reached nearly double the rate of infection from last year. Common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. 

 

February

- Three local residents were present during the New Richland City Council’s second meeting of the month on Monday, Jan. 27 to voice concerns regarding street projects planned for later this year. The concerns echo those expressed by other residents at recent meetings - doubts as to the necessity of the work proposed, objections to potential street width adjustments and sidewalk removal, property reassessments and the financial impact they would cause, and possible safety issues, among others. 

- The New Richland-HartlandEllendale-Geneva High School girls’ basketball registered two lopsided wins and one milestone last week. Camryn VanMaldeghem became the 15th NRHEG girls’ basketball player to reach the 1,000-point club.

- Described by secondary school principal Grant Berg as “a way to escape the mid-winter blues,” NRHEG Snow Week from Feb. 3 to 7 was filled with activities, most notably the coronation ceremony which crowned Josie Bell and Talon Smith Vulcan from among the 10 members of the snow court, who were Bell, Smith Vulcan, and Aspyn Stenzel, Jozlyn Johnson, Ava Cummins, Aryanna Howe, Carter Martens, Aidan Schlaak, Bo McCamish and Brady Koopal. 

- The first ever NRHEG Future Farmers of America (FFA) alumni breakfast was held at the New Richland Community Center the morning of Saturday, Feb. 8. Working the event were 24 volunteers ranging from students to adults. 

- The New Richland-HartlandEllendale-Geneva wrestling team had the misfortune of facing Gopher Conference champion KenyonWanamingo in its final home dual meet Thursday. But the Panthers, according to head coach Shawn Larson, were able to compete while dropping a 59-14 decision.

- Steele County Public Health (SCPH) is thrilled to announce additional funding for the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Community Partner Awards. This funding will provide over $20,000 to community organizations, schools, and workplaces to support initiatives that promote physical activity, healthy eating, commercial tobacco prevention, and mental well-being. The overall goal is to create lasting improvements to policies, systems,and environments, to make healthy living easier for Steele County residents and prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. 

- A “Love Works” fundraiser at the Ellendale United Methodist Church the evening of Feb. 15 included a full roster of happenings in support of two charitable organizations, Finly’s Wings at Work of Ellendale and Rachel’s Light, based in Owatonna. The evening’s schedule included entertainment, music, valuable raffle items, a guest speaker and a next-level dinner with service and decorations to match. 

- About 75 people attended the Feb. 14 public performance of the NRHEG 2025 contest one-act play,“In the Forests of the Night,” by Del Martin. The evening performance completed the cast’s season, which began last November with the try-out process and included presenting the play at two events–a “festival” at which area schools received input from judges, and at the subsection contest, both during January. 

- Newly elected and installed Waldorf city council member Jamie Beckstrand, 28, is a lifelong area resident and 2015 graduate of NRHEG High School. She says she decided to enter politics because she would rather "do something" than waste time complaining. 

- “We are very open to renewable energy,” observes SteeleWaseca Cooperative Electric (SWCE) systems technician Steve Nordahl. “It has an important place in our future.” As evidence of the cooperative’s commitment, Nordahl mentions its “community solar garden,” a set of solar collector panels located near the cooperative’s headquarters in Owatonna. 

- Much of the discussion during the New Richland City Council’s most recent meeting on Monday, Feb. 10 revolved around the 2025 street project - specifically, the topic of assessments that the project will require. Present to explain further details and help the council decide whether to certify assessments prior to or following construction for the project was Shannon Sweeney from David Drown and Associates. 

- A reunion of the 2004 NRHEG High School girls' basketball team was held prior to the Panthers' game against St. Clair Monday, Feb. 10. All three coaches of the team - Mindy (Sparby) Chevalier, Jackie Schultz and Brian Hanson -  were there, along with players Erin (Anderson) Holland, Emily (Hagen) Anderson, Lynsi (Espe) Romportl and Alison (Anderson) Ricketts, and managers Kyree (Wobbrock) Worley and Onika Peterson, the Panthers' current head coach. 

- Nine two-person teams competed in the first-ever "Hartland University" coyote hunting contest which took place overnight beginning the evening of Feb. 15.  Josh Otto, 43, of Ellendale and Jens Wyrum, 42, of Hartland harvested three coyotes, managing to place first, second and fourth. Their largest animal weighed 36.2 lbs. The secondplace specimen weighed 30.2 lbs.

- The Veterans Memorial Garden, the first portion of the Waldorf Veterans Memorial Park (WVMP) has been completed. Development for this project began in early June 2024, intended completion is set for August of 2026. 

- Sierra Misgen, a senior at NRHEG High School, has been a cheerleader and member of the competition cheer team for more than a decade. This past summer, she was named an All-American Cheerleader for the second consecutive year, an honor awarded by the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) during an annual training camp at the University of Minnesota. To earn the title, Sierra took part in a tryout process that tested her skills, leadership, and enthusiasm. 

- Saturday was a great day for the NRHEG High School wrestling program. No less than four Panthers qualified for state out of the Section 2A tournament at Blue Earth. In all, NRHEG claimed nine placewinners.

 

March 

- On Saturday, March 1, 22 firefighters from Ellendale, Medford and Blooming Prairie completed about 12 hours of training to learn the best techniques for rescuing someone who has gone through ice into icy waters. After about three hours of classroom instruction, the group moved to Beaver Lake where a hole had been prepared in advance for the practice.

- Musicians in grades six to eight demonstrated their skill at vocal and instrumental performance to a nearly full house during the Junior High Midwinter Concert the evening of Feb. 25. Other “fine art” skills were presented as well: imaginative model dinosaurs and landscape paintings by participants in high school art classes were on display. Middle school musicians had also created appealing slide shows to help introduce and give visual representation to the musical numbers. 

- The New Richland-HartlandEllendale-Geneva Panthers did not bring home any medals from the 2025 Minnesota state wrestling tournament. They did pick up some valuable experience. The Panthers had four wrestlers in the three-day state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul: Grahm Jacobson, 107 pounds; Harbor Cromwell, 160; Ryan Schlaak, 172; and Cole Hutchens, 215.

- The No. 2 seed NRHEG High School girls’ basketball team advanced to the Section 2AA semifinals with a 75-42 victory over WEM at New Richland Thursday. The Panthers started fast, building a 43-15 halftime lead and never looking back.

- NRHEG Junior Chloe Stork, daughter of Dan and Stacy Stork of New Richland, says she can barely believe it. Chloe is among five people in her category statewide who will be representing Minnesota at the DECA national-level competition in Orlando, Florida from April 26 to 29. She won the honor while competing in the organization’s state contest held in the Twin Cities March 2 to 4. 

- During their regular meeting on March 3, members of the Hartland city council discussed three projects they would find beneficial: a new community center, a new fire hall, and a “splash pad,” a large-scale unit which allows children to play in sprayed or splashed water, but does not require a lifeguard. No plans were made or finalized, but consideration of the topics is ongoing. 

- Well over 500 diners benefited from the March 7 fish fry sponsored by the Ellendale Firefighters at the city’s community center and fire hall. According to fire chief Logan Busho, 450 meals were served in the dining hall and nearly 100 to-go meals were carried out. Dozens of people stood in a line which extended out the door and down the street already at the start time of 5 p.m. “It’s worth the wait,” one line member assured others as they entered the queue. 

- The chief topic of conversation during the Community Foundation of Ellendale (CFE) meeting the evening of Monday, March 10 was the “Restart the Beat” campaign, an effort by the CFE to ensure automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available throughout the community, and that people are familiar with how to use them. The initiative is to purchase four AED devices which will come with small storage cabinets suitable to be mounted on a wall. 

- The fifth annual spring blood drive sponsored by the NRHEG branch of the National Honor Society (NHS) drew 42 donors both from the community and from among the student body of the school, and collected 32 pints of blood, according to NHS advisor Liz Stiernagle. The drive, held from 8:30 to 1:30 Friday, March 14, took place in the high school gym. 

- The Waldorf city council selected member Carrie Ferch, who volunteered for the role, as its “mayor pro tem,” that is, as the person who would act as mayor in the absence of Rob Wilkening.  Other elements on the council’s March 10 agenda included a construction update and some requests from the city fire department.  

- NRHEG's best season in nearly a decade came to an end last week after two losses in the Minnesota State Girls Basketball Tournament in the Twin Cities. The Panthers lost in the opening round 84-50 to top seed, eventual state champions, undefeated Providence Academy. In their second round they lost 7954 to fourth seed Sauk Centre. 

- Despite a biting wind and temperatures around 20 degrees, seating at the city community center stayed full during the Waldorf Fire Department’s St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser the morning of Sunday, March 16. By the end of the event, about 380 people had been served at the pancake feed. The menu included pancakes, sausage, ham, eggs, and milk or juice.