The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on July 1, 1965.
 
TALK ABOUT A WET SPRING-
She Pumps Water Every Morning At 3 A. M. To Keep Well From Getting Too Full
         “It’s the absolute truth,” says Mrs. Elsie Herschberger, Kenneth.
         “It’s been so wet this spring that I have to get up every morning at 3 o’clock to pump out my well, or it gets too full.”
         It’s no joke for Mrs. Herschberger. She’s hoping for some dry weather, and so are a lot of other people in Kenneth and Hardwick who have water in their basements.
         Mrs. Herschberger said she first experienced trouble when she tried to run water one morning and the electric motor on her pump wouldn’t start.
         She checked and found the water in the well had risen to the point where it covered the electric motor, which is about 10 feet in the well. A fire department pump was put into service to lower the water level so she could get the motor out and dry it.
         To prevent recurrence of the situation, she now pumps the water level down just before she goes to bed at night. Then she gets up about 3 a.m. and starts the pump again. She estimated that the water level rises six to seven feet during the five-hour period. She lets it pump for about an hour, and that lowers the water level sufficiently so that it doesn’t reach the motor. Again during the day, she has to run water so that the level does not come up to the danger point.
         It’s kind of hard to convince people that it’s been so wet in Kenneth that the wells are almost at the point of running over, says Mrs. Herschberger, but it’s the truth. “And my house is on some of the highest ground in town,” she added.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on July 1, 1965.
 
Record Crowd Attends Hills 75th Jubilee
         Biggest crowd to gather in Hills during its 75-year history was on hand for the Diamond Jubilee cele-bration Tuesday night.
         Parking space for late comers could be found only at the village’s extreme limits. Weather cooperated, and now it was a day of fun and interest for all in attendance.
         The big evening parade proved to be one of the best seen in this area in a long time, with nearly 100 units taking part. Lively music by the Hills, Luverne, Brandon-Valley, Jasper and Magnolia marching bands added to the enjoyment of the big crowd of parade watchers.
Prizes Awarded
         Prizes were awarded for the best nine floats. Steen Reformed church placed first; Trinity Luther League, Hills, placed second, and Bethlehem Lutheran church, third in the religious category. Most original float was made by the West side group of Hills. A 4-H group placed second in this category, and the Recreation Development  group of Hills placed third. In the humorous category, the North Side group of Hills placed first; Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Goehle and girls placed second, and the “Has been Band,” led by Henry Nowka, former Rock countian, now of Sioux Falls, placed third.
         In the whisker contest, Bud Griffin, Hills, won the prize for having the heaviest beard. Henry Ueke, Hills, won the award for the “best effort” beard. Other beard winners were Jake Haan, Hills; Ray Delfs, Steen; C. B. Sjolseth  and Ervin Johnson, both of Hills.
Costume Contest
         In the costume contest, the Delmar Larson family won first place in the family group category. Mrs. Pete De Jongh, her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Preston DeJongh and her children placed second, and Mrs. Arie Fikse and daughter, placed third. In the children’s division, Connie Leenderts placed first and Lori Leenderts, second. In the replica costume, Ada Uhley was first and Mrs. Sam Sundem, second. Prize for the oldest dress went to Carol Bowman, Mrs. Don Boysen placed second.
         One of the impressive features of the parade, both for participants and spectators, were the residents of the Tuff Memorial Home, who rode in cars in the parade. All of them were senior citizens, many of whom could remember Hills as it was in the early days.
         The celebration concluded yesterday with a kiddie parade, a tractor pulling contest, go-cart races and a dance in the evening.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on June 17, 1965.
 
Odd Jobs Club Now Open From 9-11 On Week Days
         A plan to operate the Odd Jobs Club from the Luverne Community Center was announced this week by Rev. Wayne Hoffman, chairman of the Center.
         A telephone and desk, to be manned by volunteer help, has been installed for coordinating work with employers and members of the Odd Jobs Club. The telephone number is 283-4088. Anyone desiring help from Odd Jobs Club members may call beginning today from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The phone for the Odd Jobs Club will be manned Monday through Friday at these hours.
         A total of 55 boys and girls registered at the school and are available for employment now.
Ages 12-18 Eligible
         Anyone between the ages of 12 and 18 may register at the Community Center to be available for employment.
         Employers should call the number listed above to obtain help. Pay should be predetermined by the employer. Additional infor-mation may be obtained while the Odd Jobs club phone is being manned at their number. 
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on June 10, 1965.
 
Three Stores Hold Grand Openings
New Fronts Give Main St. New Look
         Grand opening days will be held this week at three Luverne businesses with more than a thousand dollars in free merchandise prizes to be given away Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Along with this issue of the Star-Herald is a special commemorative section for the event.
         Creeger’s, Smith Furniture and Merrill’s Shoe Store are celebrating redecorating and remodel-ing projects that have given their buildings a modern and decorative exterior, plus new interiors and lighting.
         A free carnation will be given away to the first 100 women visiting any of the three stores each day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
         Creeger’s invites their customers to stop in and register for $1,000 in free door prizes to be given during this big Grand Opening event. Now in newly expanded quarters, nearly double the old store area, Creeger’s is Luverne’s newest and most complete clothing center. Free coffee and cookies will be served from 2 to 4:30 p.m. each afternoon downstairs in the new lounge in the store.
         And, during this great event, many items for men, women and children will be on sale at Creeger’s.
         After 46 years, Merrill’s Shoe Store is in a new, larger location, offering footwear in popular brands for all members of the family, in sizes for everyone.
         Smith’s Furniture of Luverne invites everyone to attend their gala Grand Opening. With a newly remodeled exterior display and store front, they offer a big bonus deal to all customers Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In addition to the price of each of the furniture selections they offer, they include special values in other merchandise. And some lucky person will win a free trip to Minneapolis to watch the Minnesota Twins play.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on May 27, 1965.
 
OLD GN RESERVOIR IS:
Hills’ Recreational Area
         Give the people of Hills a worthy project for the community and you need not search far for helping hands. Such is the unanimous opinion of Bud Bush, Dennis Ronning or Fred Nuffer, who comprise the members of the Hills Village Council.
         The three members of the Village Council absolutely refuse more than a little credit for offering moral support in the project which is generally referred to as the Hills Recreational Area.
         Ed Demuth is generally credited with having the original vision of a park and recreational area, which the community badly needed.
Old GN Reservoir
         The whole idea of a local recreational area developed when the old Great Northern reservoir became available to the community. For many years this reservoir served as a source of water for Great Northern Railway steam engines.
         Mr. Demuth was named general chairman of the project and he has been assisted by Delmar Larson and Charles Nelson in the general planning and organizing.
         The committee envisioned all manner of recreational opportunities. The reservoir, which is several acres in size, offered opportunities for swimming, fishing, water skiing, boating, skating and canoeing. The surrounding area provides opportunity for picnics, camping, games, hiking, nature study and relaxation.
Response From Everywhere
         The general plan of procedure was announced to the residents of Hills and surrounding area. Response came from everywhere. People came from the town and country. There was a great big clean up job to be done. Trees, branches and debris that had accumulated through the years had to be removed. Roads and pathways had to be built.
         Rock and stone had to be placed to rip rap the pond and protect against wave action. Drainage systems needed to be planned. The Soil Conservation Service offered some help in this area. Farmers came out with trucks and tractors. City folks came with saws and shovels. Money was needed and it came from memberships, at $5.00 each, in the Recreational Development Committee. Nearly 100 memberships were sold. The Village Council voted a little money. Nearly $800.00 was raised. Help came from other sources also. Clem Hatting donated 40 loads of gravel. Fish were requested from the Fish and Game Division of the Minnesota Conservation Department.
         Some work remains to be done. Some work will no doubt remain to be done for a long time, but much of the project is finished. The swimming pool will be ready this summer, so will the areas for picnicking. More buildings will be constructed, but these will come from year to year.
         For now, the people of the Hills community, whose leaders want no credit for what they did, are very proud of the Recreational Area they built themselves.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on July 13, 1967.
 
Ordinance Gives City Authority To Remove Trees
         Under authority given by an ordinance adopted by the city council Tuesday night, city workmen yesterday began removing the elm tree at 516 N. Cedar, diagnosed as having Dutch elm disease.
         The ordinance, passed under emergency powers provided by the city charter, authorizes the city council to declare trees known to be infected with the disease to be a public nuisance.
         The office of City Forester was created and the hat of the office was delegated to City Administrative Assistant Richard J. Stevens.
         Henceforth, if any more trees are determined to have the disease, a notice will be served the owner. The owner then has five days in which to abate the public nuisance. If the owner does not act within five days, the city may move in and take the tree down if it is shown that danger is imminent to other trees. Loss of the elms would depreciate property values in the city.
         All nearby high value elms may be sprayed if it is determined necessary.
Long Deliberation
         It was after long deliberation that the council passed the ordinance.
         The ordinance prohibits the transporting of the diseased elmwood except under controlled conditions. All elmwood must be burned unless it is de-barked.
         Penalty for delaying or prohibiting removal of diseased tress on property also is established in the ordinance. The offense is considered a misdemeanor with a maximum $100 fine or 90 days confinement.
         The new ordinance will necessitate the city to start a control program. To start, after removing the diseased tree, a trimming and later a spraying program will be put into effect. The city expects to remove diseased trees, if any more are discovered, from boule-vards and public property. Trees on private property are to be removed at the owner’s expense within five days. If they remain after five days the city must move in and remove the tree, the cost being assessed the property owner on the tax rolls.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 17, 1958.
 
Luverne Lions Club begins
         The Luverne Lions Club came to life officially last Wednesday night when John Lutter, Lions District Governor, presented the new group’s charter to its president, Donald Stoterau, at left. Charter members of the Luverne Lions Club and their wives attended the charter banquet. The Pipestone Lions club sponsored the banquet. Worthington members were also present.
Officers of the Luverne club, above are left to right, Dr. G. N. Getman, 2nd vice president; Jim Jarchow, secretary-treasurer; Stoterau; Garland Anderson, 3rd vice president; Rev. Wesley Drummond, 1st vice president; Mr. Lutter; Tony Tesarek; Lions public relations, and Herb Hansen, Lion Tamer. Missing from the picture is Gene Blair, Tail Twister. (Star-Herald photo.)
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

Only 15 cities with more than 2,500 population in the State of Minnesota have a lower tax rate than Luverne. Only one of them is in southwestern Minnesota.
         According to an announcement by the Minnesota Taxpayers Association, Luverne’s tax rate for 1957, payable in 1958, is 180.36 mills, which is lower than its neighboring cities.
         Nearby cities that have a higher tax rate include Pipestone, 186.51 mills; Worthington, 200 mills; Tracy, 204.73 mills; St. James, 220.57 mills; Marshall, 198.39 mills; and Windom, 211.37 mills. Only area city that is lower than Luverne is Jackson, with a levy of 177.71 mills.
Three Fourths over 200
         More than three fourths of the 101 cities and villages with more than 2,500 residents have property tax rates higher than 200 mills this year, the tax association  reports. Highest rate is 577.12 in Eveleth (in the northeast part of the State), and the lowest is 142.63 at New Ulm.
         Luverne’s low tax rate, compared to other cities, is especially notable in view of the fact that the city has a new junior-senior high school, a new sewage disposal plant; completed an ambitious program of applying hard surface to several blocks of city streets last year, and has completed a tie-in power line with Interstate Power Co. A new community hospital was also completed here last year.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
 

The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 10, 1958.
 
County Road Improvement Contracts Total $162,437
         Rock county’s Board of Commissions Tuesday awarded a total of $162,437.27 in three contracts for road improvement this year.
         Major projects will be the installation of a gravel base and bituminous surface costing $102,898.67 for 10.7 miles on C.S.A. No. 5. That is the county road going west from Luverne on Dodge St.
         Winning contractor on the gravel base and blacktopping job was McLaughlin and Schulz, of Marshall. Next lowest bid was submitted by Judd Brown, for the amount of $106,905.48. Work will begin as soon as the weather permits.
Regravelling Contract
         Regravelling of several miles of county roads accounts for a contract of $40,940, awarded to Hogan and Faber, of Rock Rapids. Second low bidder on that job was F.S. McLaughlin, with a bid of $43,000.
Seal Coat
         The other contract let Tuesday was on a bid of $18,598.70 for a seal coat to be applied to various blacktop surfaced roads in the county. The seal coat will provide a smoother surface on the roads that have previously been blacktopped. Winner of that contract was the Hi-Way Surfacing Co., of Minnesota. Next low bidder was the Minnesota Valley Improvement Co., with a bid of $19,763.20.
         The county doesn’t have to go into debt on the road improvement program, for money from regular funds has been embarked for the projects.
Other Contracts Awarded
         The Rock County Board of Commissioners awarded three contracts at its regular meeting last week.
         A bid of $8,329.20 for seal coating on the blacktop road from Highway 75 to Jasper along the county line submitted by McLaughlin and Schulz, Marshall. This was a joint agreement with the Pipestone county board.
         The county awarded a contract to the Connell Chevrolet, of Luverne, for a new carry-all panel type truck on a bid of $1,776.52. Other bidders on the truck were Schoon Motor Sales, $2,200, and Mark Jacobson, $1,900.
         In other bidding action, the commissioners awarded a contract for Isopropyl Ester Weed Killer to Lyon Chemical, Inc., of St. Paul, on a bid of $2.74 per galloon.
Welfare Term Expires
         Commissioners were advised by the Public Welfare Department of the State of Minnesota that the term of Mrs. Florence Wellendorf as a member of the county welfare board expires July 19 and asked them to submit a panel of three names to fill the post. Names submitted will be Mrs. Leonard Lein, Mrs. R. C. Juhl and Mrs. Curtis R. Paulsen.
         The commissioners agreed to hold a hearing at 8 p.m. May 7 on the granting of two petitions for the reconstruction of sections of county roads. One petition seeks the alteration of C. S. A. No. 1 through Clinton and Kanaranzi townships, connecting U. S.                 No. 75 on the west, then east for 6 miles. The other petition seeks the alteration of C. S. A. No. 17 connecting Highway 23 on the west, then east along or near section lines terminating at U. S. No. 16 at Beaver Creek.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.