Did you hear?

It’s now ‘Home, Health and Garden Show’The Luverne Chamber of Commerce has taken over the reins of what used to be called the Luverne Home Show and has expanded topics to include health and garden issues.Along with the additional subjects, time and location have also been changed.In past years the show was housed at the Blue Mound Ice Arena.Because of conflicts with hockey, the date for the show had to wait until the hockey season was over, a little later than what the organizers prefer.This year the event will be at the Luverne Cardinal Gymnasium and Commons area on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Along with approximately 30 vendors from the home, health and garden fields, demonstrations will also be available throughout the day.The presentations include:9:30 a.m. Nate Golla from the Luverne Farm Store will talk about lawn care tips including how you can prepare your lawn for spring.
10:30 a.m. John Ball, professor of forestry at South Dakota State University, will present a program concerning trees and shrubs in southwest Minnesota.
11:30 p.m. Holly Sehr, a physical therapist with Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital, will present a session dealing with proper lifting techniques. The lifting techniques can also be used as an exercise program to prepare you for your outdoor spring activities.
1:00 p.m. Mitch Moe from Wausau Supply will present a program on composite decking materials and construction.
2:00 p.m. Teresa Meyer from Sioux Valley Home Medical Equipment will discuss home air purification. Advantages of clean air systems designed to clean your entire home through your furnace will be discussed.In addition to free admission, visitors can register for door prizes, and concessions will be available.For more information contact the Luverne Chamber at 283-4061.Grant money available for combat zone vetsThe Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund has announced they are paying grants to all Minnesota service members who have served in DoD combat zones since Sept. 11, 2001, to include Bosnia, Kosovo, and Croatia.The grants, or appreciation bonuses, are being awarded to all Minnesota service members who served Active, Reserve or Guard, regardless of rank or financial status.According to information received from Ron Hanson, Rock County Veterans Service Officer, grants of $250 are currently being distributed but are expected to go as high as $1,000, depending on ongoing donations.For those wounded in action, the window is $2,500 to $10,000 and $10,000 for families of those killed in action.Those who qualify and apply now will receive the $250 plus any additional money in the future as donations keep coming in.Anyone about to be deployed may apply after one month of service in a combat zone when they have a copy of their LES showing Combat Pay.You can find out more information as well as apply for the bonuses at their Web site: www.thankmntroops.org.The ‘Great Backyard Bird Count’If birds are your thing and you’re looking for something to do this weekend, the Pipestone National Monument will be participating in the "Great Backyard Bird Count," a nationwide event to document changing patterns of birds in winter.There is no registration required for the four-day event, which runs from Feb. 17-20.If you would like to participate, you can spend as little as 15 minutes or stay for all four days.All you have to do is bring a pen and binoculars, if you have them, and look at the birds. Write down what kind you see and how many are in a group.The data collected nation-wide is forwarded to Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.If you would like to know more, contact the Pipestone National Monument at 507-825-5464.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com