Stargazing - by Eli Lutgens

Sharing the 'state of the newspaper'

Last year at about this time it was recommended to me by Waseca City manager Carl Sonnenberg that I speak to the city council and give a “state of the newspaper” summary. Tuesday evening I shared the following message via speech to the Waseca City Council. Good evening council members...

My dad will always be my favorite writer

Two weeks ago my dad and I attended the Waseca State Championship football game at US Bank stadium. If anyone had told my dad and me at any point in our lives that we would attend two state championship games together, both covering Waseca sports, standing on the sidelines/court together, I don’t...

Writing about my favorite things

I’m grateful I have the opportunity to write about local sports. This past week I attended the NRHEG Fall Sports Banquet. The banquets are among my favorites to write about. When I arrived at the athletic banquet Tuesday evening, I was surprised when I saw former teacher and my former coach...

A slowly recovering patience

Amelia took a vacation week this week so I returned, momentarily, to the role of layout editor. This same week I took on the role of reporter also as I covered three important events alongside an exciting, cold, football game Saturday. I really enjoyed the events I wrote about this week, the...

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...