Stargazing - by Eli Lutgens

A live version 'Google machine'

I attended a new church with my dad this weekend. It was the first time since the closing of the Congregational Church in New Richland that we have attended the same service. Dad tried a couple different churches before deciding on Christ Community Church in Waseca. (I attend church with Deb in...

South Dakota scrapbook

Highlights from Eli and Madison’s South Dakota adventures from Oct. 7 through 12, 2025. Highlights included the Badlands, Mount Rushmore and dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Lewison

South Dakota vacation adventures

Last week I returned from a five-day South Dakota vacation with my friend Madi. I first got to know Madi two years ago, and already back then she began talking about a vacation to South Dakota. She joked she was going to kidnap me if that’s what it took. I was hesitant then, because of the...

From left: Phillip and Barb Lewison, Madison Sladek, and Eli Lutgens

Vacation turned trip back in time

What I thought was a vacation to visit South Dakota’s Badlands, National Parks and the Black Hills turned out to be an emotional trip back in time. Four years ago I wrote a column about my second-grade teacher, Barb Lewison. A few weeks later, another former teacher, Mary Sack, mailed her...

Every week is the same but different

The last time former Star Eagle Publisher Lavonne Meyer and I visited, it started when she banged on my front door, waking me up from a peaceful sleep. She was mad. After I relieved myself, got dressed, and hurriedly put on shoes (without socks), I opened my front door to see which...

Mayo closure hurts seniors the most

My first conscious trip to the New Richland Mayo Clinic came in 2000. I was not yet three years old. After playing a little too roughly in Amy Ferber’s day care, I tripped and went head first into the corner of a dresser. Amy brought me into the bathroom, pulled my hair back to look at my head...

An in-depth look at newspaper construction

The last few newspaper editions have been what I describe as 70-email and 100-missed-phone-call days. Every day I wake up to anywhere from at least 50 and up to 70 or more emails. Of those, only a dozen or two usually require responses. I have a system. I drag emails to various boxes for their...

Don't drink and do stupid things

I was awoken at 2 a.m. Saturday morning to the sounds of screeching tires and brakes. A minivan had stopped behind my apartment and lights were shining into my apartment. A few minutes later, the vehicle parked in my neighbor's driveway. After calming down I was almost back to sleep when I...

New, exciting, expensive hobbies

Tuesday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending the Waseca Exchange Club meeting. The day prior, Mikhail, the Exchange president, had shared the presentation he was going to be giving with me in advance: it was about his experiences on Sept. 11, 2001. It remained powerful as I heard it for the...

Remembering September 11

Monday afternoon I sat down for lunch with Mikhail to talk about his 9/11 story. His story was powerful, emotional and moving. We were in agreement that the story he shared should simply be in his words. With this edition of the paper publishing on 9/11, I wanted to feature stories...