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GIVING THEIR TIME - Heritage Society members (from left) Dan Nelson, Becky Lassahn, Barb Mrotz, Jo Lerberg, Johnny White, Nathan Vanek, Andy Lerberg and Brenda Dokken volunteered their time at the organization’s Oct. 10 fundraiser held at the Ellendale Community Center. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
About 40 people enjoyed snacks and beverages while listening intently to proclamations from bingo caller Scott Groth: a cash prize and a pound of Hope butter were on the line for 21 rounds of bingo the evening of Saturday, Oct. 10.
Ellendale Heritage Society president Dan Nelson shared that...
Members of the Waseca County board of commissioners plowed their way through a hefty agenda during their Oct. 6 meeting. Numerous actions and decisions from the day are summarized in separate articles which appear in this week’s edition.
Among actions not addressed elsewhere, board members...
Waseca County Public Health worker Josh Ramaker encouraged county commissioners to update the county’s codes and practices surrounding tobacco sales, mentioning to them that the current statute was enacted in 1999.
In a presentation given during the Oct. 6 county board meeting, Ramaker...
The county planning and zoning office is proposing numerous adjustments to the county’s codes regarding cannabis which were presented during a county commissioner work session the morning of Oct. 6.
Planning and Zoning administrator Tina Wilson explained most of the county’s existing rules...
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER - Volunteers across southern Minnesota came together for a clean up day in New Richland. Crews worked collectively over 180 hours of service, cleaning houses and the community.
NEW RICHLAND, Minn. — More than 50 volunteers from across southern Minnesota came together in New Richland for a volunteer cleanup day, helping residents continue the difficult work of recovering from recent flooding. Collectively, over 180 hours of service was completed.
The City of New...
Larry Muff, 63, of New Richland has announced a write-in candidacy for Mayor of New Richland.
After the recent flooding, Muff said he was approached by a New Richland resident saying he spoke for a group of individuals who wanted him to run for Mayor.
“I have been at city council...
AG ENTREPRENEURSHIP - Andrew Phillips, founder and leader of Farmers Fuel Coffee near Hartland, shows a map that indicates where his company’s products are sold. Nearby is one of the displays available for use at retail outlets. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
Andrew Phillips discovered coffee during college. The 2023 NRHEG graduate was recruited to play baseball at South Dakota State University, where the simultaneous demands of the Agricultural Technology degree he was pursuing, coupled with a rigorous physical regimen, brought him to rely on the...
BOAT OF SERVICE - Rudy and Becky Maurer in their pontoon which carried medical equipment and supplies out of the New Richland Care Center as it was filling up with water. Some staff members, but no residents, rode on the pontoon with the last load of equipment as members of the high school football team pushed the craft through sometimes chest-high water. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
Rudy Maurer probably never imagined he would be launching his pontoon in the wee hours of the morning–or in the middle of the street. But that’s exactly what happened not long after sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Rudy and his wife Becky, in their mid-sixties, have lived in the blue house...
STRONGER THAN WATER - At left, Dan and Amber Lewer, owners of Neighbor’s Meats in New Richland, are grateful to their employees whose work and dedication helped make it possible for the company to be back in operation only three days after flood water receded from their building. Star Eagle photos by Deb Bently
The pictures–and the rumors they spawned–implied complete ruin.
New Richland businesses Neighbor’s Meats, owned by Dan and Amber Lewer, and New Richland Auto Repair owned by Isaac Kofstad, were both completely surrounded by water during the flooding that hit the community the morning of...
HARVEST HELP - Another Feed a Farmer event took place at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church over the lunch hour on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Volunteers are pictured from left: Keira Hutchins, Judy Kortz, Stacy and Rob Hutchins, Lori Routh, Sandy and Bobbi Tollefson, Jim Kortz and Jim Tollefson. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
The LeSueur River Lutheran Church held its sixth Feed a Farmer event on Sunday, Oct. 4. This was a to-go food service held for farmers in the middle of harvest, with the intent of giving them a chance for a quick and hearty meal out in the field. Event organizer Leanne Hojberg said, once costs...