Did you hear?

Farm Bureau relocates to Creeger buildingThe Rock County Farm Bureau has relocated to the Creeger building on Luverne’s Main Street.The Farm Bureau office has been located in the WW Welding building on 204 W. Hatting for the past year and was at 102 S. Cedar for several years prior to that.The organization moved into Suite 109 of the Creeger building Jan. 1.The Rock County Farm Bureau will also have a new agent.Linda Wenzel, who had served as an agent for the Farm Bureau for the past 12 years, recently accepted a position with Minnwest Insurance.According to Melissa Dedert, Farm Bureau office manager, the new agent, John Widman, Okabena, will be starting his new position with the organization on Feb. 1.Traffic fatalities up for 2003The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported this week that this was not a good year on our highways.2003 was a "tragic year for Minnesota motorists" according to the department, with one of the greatest increases in traffic fatalities.One area of particular concern was the 15- to 19-year-old age category.According to the Department of Public Safety one of the biggest problems is the lack of seatbelt use by juveniles.More than 75 percent of the teenagers killed were not wearing their seatbelts.Speed was another issue cited.For every 10 miles over the speed limit, your chances of having an accident increase by 50 percent.What kind are you going to order this year?Girl Scout cookies of course.It’s that time of the year again, and Girl Scouts will be scouring the countryside asking for orders.This year your options will include eight different choices including:
Trefoils
Thin Mints
Samoas
Tagalongs
Do-si-dos
All Abouts
Lemon Coolers
Double DutchAccording to Lila Bauer, although the Minneapolis Girl Scout council has decided to raise their prices, the Minn-Ia-Kota council, which includes Rock County will still sell their cookies for the same $3 price they have in past years.Local troops keep 71 percent of the cookie proceeds to go toward program activities and to help make Girl Scouting available to every girl in the area who would like to participate.You can order Girl Scout cookies directly from participating Girl Scouts or by calling Lila at 283-2379TREA needs your representationThe Retired Enlisted Association, or TREA, is looking for new members in the Hills area to join for one year.According to Mark Davidson, TREA fights for the benefits earned by the retired enlisted members of the Active Duty, Guard and Reserve.Present day members of the military are eligible to join if they have 10 or more years of retirement creditable service.If you would like more information, call Mark Davidson, TREA Central Minnesota Chapter 115, at (952)884-6077; or by mail to 10007 Harriet Ave. S., Bloomington MN 55420, or by e-mail at Ldavidson7@juno.comPublisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com