News
Rep. Peggy
State Representative Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, will hold a press conference on Monday, January 5 at the Abert Lea High School to announce her candidacy for Minnesota Governor. She will be announcing her future status as state representative at this time as well.
Bennett, a former...
The Minnesota State Court of Appeals judge from Owatonna who was charged with drunk driving pleaded guilty Friday and was immediately sentenced in the case.
Renee Lee Worke, 67, originally faced two counts of gross misdemeanor third-degree DWI; one of the counts was later amended to a...
WINNER - Johnny Bird, former Geneva resident and current Las Vegas Performer, has won the First Place Award for Personal Essay of the Year.
Former Geneva resident and current Las Vegas performer, Jonny Bird, has won the First Place NAMPA Award for Personal Essay of the Year.
The North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) awards publishers and writers nationwide each year in a variety of magazine categories.
Bird...
RAISING HOPE - Keith and Jamie Hagen hold a handcrafted cradle sold during the Geneva Cancer Auction in 2024. Now in year 42, the event has raised nearly $2.5 million toward its goal of eradicating cancer.
For four days in January, the Geneva Bar and Grill is a maelstrom of emotion and energy.
“We have a lot of sad stories,” says planning committee secretary/treasurer Barb Kuchenbecker. “And we often cry happy tears.”
The 2026 Geneva Cancer Auction will be January 9, 10, 16 and 17–two...
The NRHEG Panthers were the 2025 Section 2AA Champions. Front row: Manager Marnie Mullenbach, Manager Vivienne Schlaak, Manager Jade Wyrum, Manager Lauren Johnson, Camryn VanMaldeghem, Emilia Stadheim, Julieann Wobbrock, Alayna Groskreutz. Middle Row: Kenley Gehrke, Izley Boerner, Ezra Boerner, Clara Buendorf, Quinn VanMaldeghem, Alex Estrada. Back Row: Coach Onika Peterson, Savannah Farr, Manager Eva Buendorf, Chloe Stork, Kylie Olson, Gabrielle Schlaak, Assistant Coach Kayley Camerer, Assistant Coach Betsy Schoenrock
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 city of Ellendale held their city council meeting on Thursday, Dec. 11. There was a truth in taxation public hearing meeting held before the city council meeting on Dec. 11 for public comment on the levy. There will be a property tax levy increase of 7.10 percent over the 2025 property tax...
Meihak
NRHEG Superintendent Michael Meihak recently completed the first-ever Advanced Leadership Academy offered by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA). The academy brought together a cohort of superintendents from across Minnesota for an intensive 16-month professional learning...
SIGNED - Senior Jacob Karl, an anchor of the NRHEG Cross Country team, signed on to join the CC team at Crown College, located at the southwestern edge of the Twin Cities metro area during a short ceremony the afternoon of Dec. 12.
NRHEG Senior Jacob Karl, son of Tony and Melissa Karl of rural Ellendale, signed on to run with the 2026-’27 Crown College cross country team during a brief ceremony held the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2025.
District athletic director Dan Stork described cross country (CC) as a “rugged” sport...
A cooperative project being undertaken by numerous regional power companies is underway to build a new 765 kiloVolt (kV) powerline intended to extend across most of southern Minnesota. Representatives from two power companies appeared at the Dec. 2 meeting of the Waseca County board of...
Numerous reports and summaries share what local employers already know: it’s growing harder and harder to find workers with specialized qualifications who are interested in making greater Minnesota their long-term area of residence.
The League of Minnesota Cities summarizes that there are “...