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IMPROVEMENT- Towns that provide essential services to underserved populations are legible for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation’s applications for the Taylor Rural Improvements Grant program.
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is currently accepting applications for its Taylor Rural Improvements Grant program. Towns, or the Native nation, with populations under 10,000 in SMIF’s 20-county region that provide essential services to underserved populations are eligible....
Dairy Jersey Summer yearling - Charley K
Minnesota 4-H'ers from 87 counties arrived with over 2,671 animals at the 2025 “Great Minnesota Get-Together” for this year’s 4-H livestock encampment, which was held Wednesday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 24.
Minnesota 4-H’ers have been preparing for this event all summer long. Members...
RENEWED ACQUAINTANCES - Staff members who have retired from the Ellendale-Geneva, New Richland-Hartland, and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva schools get together twice each year--once on the first day students return to school in the fall and the other on the last student day in spring. This year more than 20 retirees took part in a gathering at The Willows on Sept. 3. They are (back, from left) Deb Bently, David Harvego-Eliason, Jill Boran, Georgia Dinneen, Crystal Maxon, Bonnie Jacobson, Pam Coyer, Kathy Anderson, (center row, from left) Darlyne Dahle, Kris Pfeffer, Diane Matthies, Julie Economy, Karen Jacobson, Ann Howe, Shelly Mangskau, Judy Thompson, (seated, from left) Tom Meyer, Tom Steidler, Marilyn Smith, Ona Meyer, Mary Ignaszewski, Beth Knudson and Kathy Meyer.
Conversation at The Willows was so energetic at lunchtime on Sept. 3 that people seated side by side had to lean in to be able to hear one another.
Gathered at two long tables were 22 people who had retired from area school districts, whether they had the name Ellendale-Geneva, New Richland...
HARTLAND UNIVERSITY - Around 70 people departed from Hartland University during the Ride to Remember on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
The Hartland University’s “Ride to Remember” challenge departed around noon from the parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 6. With 30 vehicles registered and 70 in the ride-along, those signups helped to fundraise $740, with all proceeds going to the Flags for Vets charity. There was also a 50/50 raffle...
HISTORY - Barbara Mrotz and Dan Nelson attended the Ellendale Area Heritage Society's meeting on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. They are pictured at Brown Park in Ellendale. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
The Ellendale Area Heritage Society meeting, which took place at the Ellendale Community Center on Saturday, September 6, was called to order by President Barbara Mrotz. Around ten members were present, including Dan Nelson and his black lab. The heritage society has been in operation since 1989...
After numerous discussions with the architects, the Waseca County Board of Commissioners approved moving work on the new county jail and justice center into the “schematic design” phase during their Sept. 2 meeting.
With a target construction price of about $25 million, three stories and...
RECOVERY WORKS - The Waseca County Courthouse will be lit in purple all through the month in recognition that September is "Recovery Awareness Month" both nationally and in Waseca County. Celebrating the strength and resilience of people who have rebuilt their lives after recovering from substance abuse disorder are (front, from left) Nikki Weller, Elissa Johnson, Megan Radel; (center row, from left) Hunter Carlson and Heather Clark; and (back, from left) Rachel Cornelius, Waseca County Attorney; Mackenzie Weis, Department of Corrections; Nicole Grams, Steele Waseca Drug Court Coordinator; and Dan Frenk, Waseca County Court Services. The purple shirts saying "Living Proof that Recovery Works" are from Doc's Recovery of Rochester. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
Waseca County has proclaimed September “Recovery Awareness Month,” in alignment with a nation-wide initiative.
For the next four weeks, the courthouse exterior will be lit in purple to help increase awareness surrounding recovery from substance abuse disorder and show support for people and...
B.O.B. RIDE - Pictured L to R: Don Overlie, Steele County Toys for Tots Coordinator and Harvey Farr, B.O.B. Ride Coordinator
The Bikers of Blooming Prairie 2025 B.O.B. Ride set a record of $25,729 fundraising for Steele County Toys for Tots.
The 26th Annual B.O.B. (Bikers of Blooming) Ride was held on July 19. The 145-mile ride was enjoyed by 57 riders on motorcycles, and 14 classic cars and trucks. The ride...
DISPLAY BOARD - Pictured is Kelly Warke, Kris Young and Vanessa Ziembke from the NR Liquor Company, who sold the most flags bringing in the most money.
The New Richland Area Foundation would like to extend a huge thank you to all who purchased flags and participated in our “Support Your Flag” fundraiser this summer. It was a contest for businesses to see who could sell the most flags. NR Liquor Company won that contest, bringing in $161 and...
BACK TO SCHOOL - During the NRHEG secondary school open house, Andy and son Charlie Flatness, left, looked through an activity calendar which shows events for the new school year. Right, School board members Terri Engel, Loren Schoenrock and Pat Theuer helped prepare and serve the light meal offered as part of the NRHEG Secondary site open house on Aug. 27. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
An estimated 400 or more people attended a six-hour “open house” at the NRHEG Secondary school from 2 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27. Principal Grant Berg commented he felt the event served its purpose, which was to increase the number of children and families attending the start-of-year orientation and...