King of Trails ‘Fall Marketplace’ set for Sept. 11.A citywide rummage sale is planned in conjunction with the Highway 75 King of Trails Marketplace Sept. 11.The Luverne Chamber will sponsor the events.The King of Trails Marketplace is in its second year in Luverne.The King of Trails, or Highway 75, recently received statewide recognition when it was named the newest scenic byway in Minnesota.The marketplace will try to get local vendors to sell their products to people traveling along Highway 75, and other communities along 75 will do the same thing.The King of Trails organization is marketing the concept as a 400-mile long rummage sale.If you would like to participate in the marketplace, you can register at the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce.The fee is $12 for vendors.The Luverne site will be at the corner of Highway 75 and Gabrielson Road, just south of Buffalo Ridge Insurance.As for what you would sell … well, almost anything.Crafts, antiques, rummage items; baked goods, fruits, vegetables, parts, cars or anything else you think someone should own, you can sell at the marketplace.Vendors will set up by 8 a.m. and continue through 2 p.m.The Chamber will also have a booth set up to help promote the King of Trails.2004 Viking Opener golf outing moved to BC Golf CourseThe annual Viking Opener Golf outing is changing locations this year.The tournament will have a shotgun start at Beaver Creek Golf Course this year, beginning at 11 a.m.A new format will also be used. This year, in addition to stroke play, individual and team prizes will be awarded.If you would like to participate, you can sign up at Rauk’s or by calling Tim Plimpton at 962-3799.Wind Energy TourHave you ever wondered how those wind towers work, or what they look like up-close?Community Ed wants to answer those questions for you.Community Ed, in conjunction with Minwind Energy, is working to give you an up-close look and explanation of how they work.The tour will include the four already in operation, as well as those under construction.The up-close tour will include an explanation of how the wind towers work as well as the construction process.The bus tour will leave the Community Ed building at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9. To register phone 283-4724.Your back-to-school expenses are up about 6.5 percentAccording to Myvesta, a nonprofit consumer organization, Americans will spend $205 more on back-to-school items than they did in 2003.The average back-to-school shopper will spend $3,389 this year, compared to $3,184 last year.The highest amount spent for back-to-school supplies was $4,144 in 2002.The largest increases include spending on electronics, dorm room supplies and transportation.One of the primary reasons for the back-to-school increases is the tightening budgets of school districts, which have been forced to pass along more costs for transportation and fees to students.Back-to-school items include: electronics, clothing, fees, sporting activities, dorm room supplies, desk supplies and transportation.As another point of interest, if this year’s average back-to-school expenses ($3,389) are charged on a credit card, and only the monthly payments are made, it would take 39.5 years to pay off, and cost an additional $9,098 in interest payments.That calculation uses an 18-percent interest rate and a monthly minimum payment of 2 percent.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com
