Luverne native’s house torchedRandy Hoffman, a Luverne native and current resident of Brandon, S.D., was in northern Minnesota last week when he received a phone call telling him that there had been a fire at his home in Brandon.When Randy and his wife Joni returned, they found their five-year-old home severely damaged, possibly a total loss.A neighbor who was taking care of Hoffman’s dog thought something was suspicious when he noticed the dog running around outside in the middle of the night.Investigators believe the fire was started with a propellant in the basement.Investigators from Hoffman’s insurance company were scheduled to examine the home this week.Hills Phone Company now owned by Alliance CommunicationsAlthough they have been a part of the Hills Phone Company since 1996, Alliance Communications is now the sole owner of the phone service.In 1996, Alliance Communications, along with Golden West Communications, purchased the phone services in Alvord, Iowa; Hills; Inwood, Iowa; Larchwood, Iowa; Lester, Iowa; and Steen.The company will continue to have four technicians working the six communities.Other Alliance Communication properties include: Alcester, Baltic, Brandon, Carthage, Crooks, Garretson, Howard, Hudson, Oldham and Ramona, all in S.D.Alliance’s main office is located in Garretson, S.D., but also has offices in Baltic and Brandon.The company employs 22 office employees and 21 technicians, including four previously employed by the Hills Phone Company.Red Cross offers audio/visual messages to service membersDependents of members of the military will now be able to send their family members an audio/visual message electronically from the American Red Cross in Sioux Falls. The service is free of charge.According to Jeff Stingley, CEO of the Sioux Empire American Red Cross, they are one of 50 chapters in the United States to receive the equipment and technology making the service possible.The service is available for South Dakota as well as the surrounding states.If you would like to set up an appointment to create a video message, contact the Sioux Empire Red Cross at (605) 336-2448.The process to create the video message will take approximately 10-15 minutes.Dependents will need to bring an e-mail address the military member uses in order for the Red Cross to send the e-mail via the internet.Kids, get ready for the Triathlon Parade of AthletesThe 22nd annual Minnesota Border-to-Border has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5, but the parade of athletes will be on Aug 4.This is not only an opportunity to watch the athletes parade down Luverne’s Main Street on their bikes and other forms of transportation, but kids can also be a part of the action.Kids of all ages are encouraged to decorate their bikes for the parade and participate in the event.All kids participating in the parade will be given a Dairy Queen coupon.Anyone wishing to participate should meet at the Sears parking lot at 4:15 p.m.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com
