Twenty-seven seniors received diplomas Friday night at commencement exercises conducted at the Hills-Beaver Creek High School in Hills. Thirteen students were recognized for the academic achievements including valedictorian Brayden Metzger and salutatorian Devon Dysthe.
 
The H-BC Class of 2023 poses for a group picture prior to the start of graduation ceremonies. Graduates include (front row from left, seated) Taylor Huisman, Olivia Bork, Amallia Ternus, Erianne Olopuy, Regina Afkas, Lexy Drake, Tyrae Goodface, Aspen Shimp-Sheppard, (second row, standing) Jenifer Martinyuk, Carter Abels, Joshua Wiersema, Cael Noteboom, Cody Moser, Luke Fuerstenberg, Brock Harnack,, Alex Harris, Collin Schoneman, Elly Klosterbuer, Cole Rozeboom, (back) Anthony Beaner, Leif Tollefson, Britton McKenzie, Eli Taubert, Riley Sheppard, Brayden Metzger, Taylor Frederickson and Devon Dysthe.

Memorial Day speaker Kent Heronimus, a retired airman, admits he had a hard time picking one speech topic for the Memorial Day ceremony at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne Monday.
He focused on the true meaning of the day.
“Memorial Day is not about the living,” the LHS Class of ’88 graduate said. “Memorial Day is about honoring, and mourning, the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces.”
He told the story of William Hart Pitsenberger, also an airman, who died fighting in the Vietnam War in 1966.
“Memorial Day is about sharing the stories of great Americans who died while supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States,” Heronimus said. “They can be stories of local folks.”
Those local stories are easy to find.
He encouraged everyone attending Monday’s service to visit the local war memorials and learn the stories of local service members.
Remembering those who fought for freedom should be done more than just once a year.
“Bottom line: find a story and share it,” he said. “Share it on Memorial Day, and share it on every occasion you can.”

The Hills-Beaver Creek Education Association revealed the 2023 teacher of the year and friend of education recipients Friday night during the school district’s commencement exercises.
Randi Oftedahl is the HBCEA 2023 Teacher of the Year.
Kathy Metzger is the HBCEA 2023 Friend of Education.
 
Oftedahl chosen as Teacher of the Year
Hills-Beaver Creek middle school teacher Randi Oftedahl was quick to credit others in an interview prior to receiving the teacher of the year award.
“I am thankful for the many student aides that have spent time in my classroom, and I realize I wouldn’t be about to carry out all of my projects and programs or be as effective in my classroom without their help,” she said prior to the event.
Colleagues noticed Oftedahl’s dedication to education, as expressed in their nomination forms.
“Mrs. Oftedahl does amazing community service projects with her students, and it’s wonderful to see our students take ownership and pride in these projects with her.”
“She’s a caring teacher who has her students’ best interests at heart and works to help all students succeed.”
“As her colleague, I am thankful I can go to her at any time with questions and she always takes time out of her busy day to help me find solutions.
“Every year (except the Covid years), Randi has taken the initiative to make the veteran’s program memorable and honorable. This year there was even a letter from a community member thanking her for all she has done.”
Oftedahl began teaching middle school students in Hills eight years ago, after her husband, Craig, was hired as Luverne Schools superintendent.
The Warroad, Minnesota, native taught for almost three decades in Eveleth-Gilbert and Warroad before coming to Hills, where she teaches eighth-grade history and science.
Community service projects come naturally to Oftedahl.
“Growing up, my parents encouraged us to give back to the community,” she said. “I have carried that idea into my teaching each year and enjoy getting students engaged in the community with various projects.”
Most recently, her students developed a “toy library” for the communities of Hills and Steen. From the library, children can borrow sand toys, play with them, and then return when finished for use by other children.
“I feel it is important to have kids be active and outside,” Oftedahl said.
And connected to their communities, where elements from the classroom are reinforced.
“It is important to me that students have a basic understanding of knowledge in the various subject matters,” she said. “Through the base knowledge, we make connections to each other and find trust in one another. Once the trust is built, higher levels of learning can take place and students excel.”
The Oftedahls have four grown children and each has been influential in what Randi does in the classroom.
“My family has been amazing and has helped me develop my crazy ideas — given me constructive feedback — and unending support throughout my years of teaching and coaching,” she said.
 
Metzger served district for more than three decades
Kathy Metzger is a long-term substitute teacher for Hills-Beaver Creek School District, and for her dedication she was chosen the H-BC Education Association 2023 Friend of Education.
A classroom teacher for one year, Metzger soon found a place in education as a long-term substitute, a position that allowed her to care for her four children with her husband, Ray.
Metzger took her substituting seriously, said Megan Klumper, the HBCEA representative who announced and gave the award to Metzger Friday night during the high school commencement.
Klumper was speechless trying to describe the confidence that Metzger brought to the classroom, leaving the regular classroom teacher with the feeling the students were in good hands.
Others thought the same thing on their nomination of Metzger.
“She is reliable, organized and always willing to go the extra mile when she is our sub — we all breathe a sigh of relief as we know she will get the job done well,” read one comment.
Metzger substitutes for all grade levels and for all subjects at both the elementary school in Beaver Creek and the secondary school in Hills.
Once a year she completes a special job for the district.
“She also volunteers for the spelling bee as our pronouncer of words,” one nominator wrote.
Metzger is unsure exactly when she started substitute teaching, but it was before her youngest child, Rex, a 1998 H-BC graduate, and a teacher himself at H-BC, began attending school.
“She was subbing when I was a student at H-BC,” Rex said.

Rock County Community Library’s popular children’s program will go on the road this month for two weeks of “Traveling Story Time.”
Children’s librarian Bronwyn Wenzel will travel to Hardwick, Hills, Beaver Creek, Kanaranzi, Kenneth, Magnolia and Steen, reading books, singing songs and telling stories.
“I want to make sure children who don’t live in Luverne get a chance to go to Story Time, too,” Wenzel said. “I hope to encourage more kids to visit the library with all the activities we have going on this summer.”
Traveling Story Time will also take place for two weeks in July.
Wenzel will meet at the park shelter in each of the communities’ parks. In Kenneth, Wenzel will read in the gazebo.
The first three days of Traveling Story Time take place next Monday-Wednesday, June 5-7.
The event kicks off Monday, June 5, in Beaver Creek, Hills and Steen. Story times last for 30 minutes.
Wenzel will be in Beaver Creek at 10 a.m., Hills at 10:45 a.m. and Steen at 11:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, June 6, Wenzel travels to Magnolia at 10 a.m. and to Kanaranzi at 10:45 a.m.
On Wednesday, June 7, Story Time takes place in Hardwick at 10 a.m. and Kenneth at 10:45 a.m.
“The stories will be the same for each location for that week,” she said.
Traveling Story Time repeats the schedule for June 12-14.
Location times change for the two-week event in July.
On July 10, Wenzel will travel to Hardwick at 10 a.m. and Kenneth at 10:45 a.m.
July 12 schedule is Beaver Creek at 10 a.m., Hills at 10:45 a.m. and Steen at 11:30 a.m.
July 17 is Magnolia at 10 a.m. and Kanaranzi at 10:45 a.m.
The same schedule is repeated July 19, July 24 and July 26.
 
Story Time at the Park continues in Luverne
Children’s librarian Bronwyn Wenzel will again conduct “Story Time in the Park” beginning June 8.
All programs begin at 10:30 a.m., but each at a different park in Luverne.
The schedule is as follows:
•June 8, Evergreen Park.
•June 15, Kolbert Park.
•June 29, Veterans Memorial Park.
•July 6, Evergreen Park.
•July 13, Kolbert Park.
•July 20, Veterans Memorial Park.
•July 27, Hawkinson Park.
 
Kick-off for summer reading program Tuesday, June 6
The Rock County Library will kick off the 2023 summer reading program called “Find Your Voice,” with a special program at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the library.
Jolly Pops, a children’s music and entertainment group, will perform.
An ice cream social, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, will follow the performance.
Reading logs are currently available at the library. Participants who sign up earn prizes based on the number of books read this summer.
The summer reading program ends July 29.

Luverne’s 39th annual Buffalo Days Celebration is set for this weekend, with four days of events and activities for community participation.
The lineup features classic Buffalo Days events like the Friday Night Cruise-In and the Saturday morning Loop run, Main Street parade and vendor event in the Courthouse Square.
“We are excited to welcome everyone to Luverne this weekend,” said Luverne Chamber Director Jane Lanphere. 
“Again this year, we say ‘hats off’ to our community partners for doing their part to offer so many special things to do for the four-day weekend.”
The 33rd Classic Car Cruise-In will be from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday with live music by Starfire and a beer garden and food court. Take 16 will host a block party with Buffalo Gal concessions at 4:45 p.m. and music by Chavez and Friends at 6 p.m.
Saturday morning’s Buffalo Days Run for a Cause, a benefit for Carson’s Cause (see related story), starts at 7 a.m. in the Luverne City Park, and the parade starts at 10 a.m. on the corner of Freeman and Main streets near the Palace and heads east.
The Buffalo Days Expo in the Courthouse Square (formerly at the city park) starts at 9 a.m. in the Courthouse Square with 48 vendors, live music, family activities and 11 different food vendors.
“The Expo will provide a wonderful opportunity to shop for handmade and unique items from vendors from the Tri-State area including students from the CEO program.”
New to the Expo this year will be the Magic Art Bus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with kids’ interactive glow art, stone painting and mini plant hangers for 13 and older.
Throughout the weekend, more than 60 youth baseball teams will be in town for the Junior Legion Buffalo Days Tournament.
“The town will be busy,” Lanphere said. “We encourage you to come out and support all the businesses and organizations who have put together the first full weekend event of the summer.”
The complete daily events schedule can be found on the front page of the May 27 Luverne Announcer, which can also be viewed at www.star-herald.com.
 
‘Tour de Loop’ adds fourth day to weekend
New to the Buffalo Days lineup this year will be a Thursday event — the Tour de Loop — that organizers hope will become an annual fourth day lead-in to the weekend.
It’s a community bicycle ride on Luverne’s Loop that features prizes awarded for stops on the seven-mile trail.
This year the community will celebrate the recent trail completion with a 5:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting and grand opening festivities that include free Take 16 root beer floats, music and food by Wildflowers and Bluestem Catering.
“It’s going to be a family-friendly community bike ride,” Lanphere said.
“This year, because we’re celebrating the completion of this beautiful trail system through our community, we’re pulling out all the stops.”
 
Tales from the Graves moves to History Center
The popular Tales from the Graves historic reenactments for the Historical Society will move this year from Maplewood Cemetery to the plaza on East Main Street
Featured characters this year include Simon Skovgaard, Edia Headley, Margaret Vegge and Hugo Goehle, representing a broad spectrum of eras in Rock County history and a variety of professions.
Performances start at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and pie and ice cream will be served from 1 to 4 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Historical Society.
For questions about Buffalo Days, the Chamber can be reached at 507-283-4061 or luvernechamber.com.

Cheers erupted throughout the Luverne School campus Friday morning as the 83 graduating seniors finished practicing for Sunday’s commencement exercise and walked through the hallways of the elementary school, giving and receiving high-fives, and out the west doors of the middle-high school.

Pop-up book sale at library June 1-3
Friends of the Library will have a pop-up book sale in the Rock County Community Library in Luverne over Buffalo Days weekend. Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1,  11 to 4 Friday, June 2, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3.
 
Pie and ice cream
Luverne United Methodist Church will serve pie and ice cream from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 2, in the church courtyard on Main Street Luverne.
 
Blue Mounds naturalist programs
The Blue Mounds State Park naturalist will offer the following upcoming programs. Contact bluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us or 507-283-6050 with questions.
Colors of the Prairie will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 2, at Eagle Rock Vista. Join the naturalist for a 1.5 mile walk on the prairie to see what plants are blooming in early June and what makes prairie plants and wildflowers unique.
Pollinator Power Nature Cart will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, at the Eagle Rock Vista. Meet some of the Blue Mounds’ most common pollinator species during the stop-and-go style program.
Bison Babies Nature Cart will be from 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at the Eagle Rock Vista. With calving season in full swing, drop by the pop-up naturalist’s station for some quick facts about the park’s new herd members.
Predators of the Sky will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at the amphitheater. Learn about the park’s birds of prey and how these birds use their adaptations to conquer the sky. Bring a chair as seating is limited. All ages welcome.
 
Blood Bank at Sanford June 5
Sanford Luverne Medical Center and Community Blood Bank will host an All American community blood drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. Monday, June 5. Schedule an appointment at www.cbblifeblood.org under “events” and June 5, Sanford Luverne Medical Center, or call 605-331-3222. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Donors receive Casey gift cards and “All American” blood donor t-shirts as a thank you.
 
June 5 meeting for suicide prevention walk
A community planning meeting for the Sept. 16 Out of the Darkness Luverne Walk to Prevent Suicide will be at 7 p.m. Monday, June 5, in Luverne City Park.
The walk is a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which provides research, education and advocacy to prevent suicide. Event organizer Angela Nolz can be reached at angela.nolz@sanfordhealth.org.
 
Bloodmobile in Luverne June 13
The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will accept donations from from noon to 6 p.m. June 13 at Living Rock Church on East Main Street in Luverne. Make an appointment through the donor app or through redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
 
Storytelling kits at library
Libraries in the Plum Creek Library System are rolling out its new Storytelling Kits in a wide range of subjects from ABCs to Zoos.
Each of the more than 130 kits contain a variety of materials based on the kit’s theme. Some include Wonderbooks, puppets, music CDs and DVDs. Various learning activities can also be found in the kits as well.
The initial checkout period for the kids is one week with two renewals.
 
SAIL classes in Magnolia
SAIL classes meet from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings, June 6 through Aug. 24, in the Magnolia Post Office. The free classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. Call A.C.E of Southwest Minnesota manager Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064, or A.C.E. volunteer Connie Frahm, 507-220-3584.
 
Rock The Edge accepting service projects
Rock The Edge will host the local Service Over Self mission week June 26-29. If you have a project you need assistance with (painting, cleaning, yardwork, small construction, etc.) call 605-261-4000 or 507-227-1978. To volunteer as an adult, call 401-500-3427. Childcare provided upon request.
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
 Students grades 3 and older (as attended during 22-23 school year) will receive training that can prepare them to be Home Alone on June 1. Fee is $15.
Co-Ed Outdoor 3 on 3 Basketball League begins on June 1 for boys and girls in grades 3-6 as attended during the 22-23 school year. Fee is $50 (or $40 if registered for another basketball camp/offering).
Early Play Ball classes begin on June 5 for children ages 4 through Kindergarten (as attended during the past school year). Fee is $35.
Girls, grades K-2 (as attended during the 22-23 school year), will learn fundamentals and skills at Girls’s Basketball Camp beginning on June 5. Fee is $50.
Book Club may be for grades 2-4 (as attended during the 22-23 school year) will meet for 4 sessions starting on June 6. A snack and book will be provided. Fee is $30.
 
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Books on Tap takes place at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month at Take 16 in Luverne.
The 50 State Challenge for adults and older teens is currently underway where patrons are encouraged to read a book set in one of each of the 50 states through Jan. 1, 2024.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
STEAM kits are also available checkout. Motion, lights, hydropower, robotics and magnets are among the kits.
 
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.