The biggest outdoor day of the year in Minnesota was May 13. The fishing opener, to many, is better than any of the other holidays when you don’t have to go to work.
Minnesota sells more fishing licenses than any other state per capita. There will have been long lines at many boat ramps across the state and especially at the most popular walleye lakes in the state. There will be a larger than normal number of folks who will have lost their patience with other users on this day than almost any other.
The reason for this is that there is always going to be a certain percentage of folks who either do not understand or just don’t care to abide by some of the most common boat ramp etiquettes.
The following ideas will make sure you are not the cause of your fellow fishers’ short tempers. The first is that you should never learn how to back a trailer on opening day at a busy boat ramp. I have spent many a day over the past 35 years just sitting on a lawn chair at a boat ramp to watch the follies. Backing a trailer is really not all that hard when you get the hang of it. Getting the hang of it should be in an empty parking lot done well in advance of the opening day rush.
The key to backing a trailer is simple. Put both hands on the bottom of the steering wheel and turn the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. Back up slowly and make slow, small movements of the wheel until you can back that trailer like a professional semi-driver.
Be ready before you get in the unload line. This means you remove the boat tie-downs, load you gear from the vehicle, arrange the boat so you can move freely front to aft.
There is great benefit to unplugging the trailer lights before you back in. This is not always necessary but if you have any questionable light issues, the bulbs will most likely not burn out if they get wet with no power supplied. LED boat lights have pretty much solved this problem, but my old boat does not have them. I carry an entire box of replacement bulbs in the boat’s glove box to ensure I can replace them when needed.
If you are unloading a boat as a solo operator, you should always move the boat around the dock to the non-ramp side once the boat is off the trailer. (I tie it off with a short rope that is never removed from the nose anchor point in the front.) Doing this allows others to continue to use the ramp while you go park and return. This does not work when there are two ramps, one on each side of the dock, but on many smaller lakes and landings there is one dock and one ramp.
Whatever you do, don’t budge in line. Everyone wants on the water as fast as they can, and if you think sneaking into the line and saving a few minutes is OK, then you are one of those folks who either don’t care or don’t know about boat ramp etiquette. Remember that when entering the ramp and figuring our when it is your turn, also includes understanding that the line often alternates from those wanting into the lake and those wanting off the lake.  If there are three boats lingering just off the end of the dock, they are most likely waiting for their driver to return with their trailer. You need to take turns with those wanting off just as much as you do those wanting on.
If you are new to boating or a long-term lake user who just doesn’t get out that often, practice loading your boat on and off before you hit a busy ramp. I have seen operators who attempted more than a dozen times to drive their boat onto the trailer. They either have the trailer backed way too far in or not far enough. Learn where the boat fenders are in relation to the water line. Watch this in the rear view mirror. When the step on the fender is just even with the water level, that is my boat/trailer sweet spot.
I was visiting with a stranger at a boat ramp last year as we entertained ourselves watching the antics of an unprepared boat launcher. The gentleman looked at me and said with a smile, “I know exactly what that guy’s problem is.” When I asked him to clarify, he very patiently responded that the person had just not been yelled at enough yet.
Don’t be that person.  Practice and get at least recreationally proficient at backing a trailer and knowing simple boat ramp etiquettes. The only thing that I know for sure is that when boating activity is brisk, you will need to pack a much larger cooler full of patience. If anybody knows where you can get a good deal on that, please let me know. I will stock up so I can share it at a busy boat ramp the next time someone runs out of it.
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com.

Dispatch report
May 12
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and Interstate 90 overpass, Beaver Creek, reported a parking complaint.
•Complainant on S. Main Street, Steen, reported a civil issue.
•Complainant on S. Cedar Street reported a complaint with road and drive laws.
May 13
•Complainant on Mag Road reported found property.
•Complainant on W. Edgehill Street reported theft.
•Another department assisted on N. Kniss Avenue and W. Lincoln Street.
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75, Luverne, reported suspicious activity.
May 14
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, exit 1, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
May 15
•Complainant on County Road 4 at Interstate 90 overpass, Beaver Creek, reported an abandoned vehicle.
•A warrant was issued in Nobles County, Worthington.
•Complainant on N. Oakley requested a residence check.
•Complainant on S. Anna Avenue, Hills, reported a civil issue.
•A warrant was issued on Airport Road, Worthington.
•Complainant on W. Hatting Street reported a disorderly.
May 16
•An outage was reported.
•Complainant on 121st Street reported a civil issue.
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported a civil issue.
•Complainant on 121st Street reported trespassing.
•Complainant on E. Fletcher Street reported theft.
May 17
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75 reported an open door/window.
•Complainant on N. Summit Avenue reported a parking complaint.
•A warrant was issued on Airport Road in Worthington.
•Complainant reported a civil issue.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 6, Beaver Creek, reported debris.
May 18
•Complainant on 161st Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and Mag Road, Luverne, reported found property.
•Complainant north-bound at Interstate 90 and Highway 75, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant reported a scam.
•A warrant was issued in Orange City, Iowa.
May 19
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported an assault.
•Assistance from another department was requested on S. Kniss Avenue.
•Assistance from another department was requested on S. Kniss Avenue.
•Assistance from another department was requested in Rock County.
 
In addition, officers responded to 4 motor vehicle accidents, 2 deer accidents, 2 escorts, 5 ambulance runs, 9 paper services, 9 animal complaints, 9 fingerprint requests, 22 burn permits, 1 alarm, 4 purchase and carry permits, 3 stalled vehicles, 62 traffic stops, 22 abandoned 911 calls, 3 welfare checks, 4 reports of cattle out, 1 OFP and 3 follow-ups.

Fifteen Rock County graduating seniors signed Future Educator Letters of Intent in the Hills-Beaver Creek and Luverne districts.
The program encourages graduates to return to their home districts to teach after completing their college degrees.
The H-BC Education Association conducted its first educator signing Wednesday morning, May 17.
“We commend you on making an honorable decision to improve the quality of education for students,” said teacher and program host Samantha McGaffee.
“You will be a great asset as we work toward ‘Educating America’s Future.”
Four H-BC seniors signed commitment letters. They include Braydon Metzger, Taylor Huisman, Britton McKenzie and Amallia Ternus.
The Luverne Education Association conducted a Future Educator Letter of Intent signing earlier this month.
Eleven LHS seniors signed letters of intent to become educators.
They include Camden Janiszeski, Emma Beyer, Abigail Anderson, Ashton Eitreim, Tiana Lais, Logan Ommen, Katharine Kelm, Kamryn Van Batavia, Elizabeth Wagner, Jacie Graham and Anja Jarchow.

Card showers
Mel and Bev Viessman celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, May 24. Greetings may ber sent to them at 500 Phyleon Drive, Luverne, MN 56156.
 
Wilma Elbers will celebrate her 90th birthday on Wednesday, May 31. Greetings may be sent to her at Parkview Manor; 308 Sherman Ave.; Ellsworth, MN 56129

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, May 29: Memorial Day — Closed.
Tuesday, May 30: Pasta in meat sauce, romaine salad with dressing, pineapple chunks, bread stick, dessert.
Wednesday, May 31: Meatloaf, baked potato with sour cream, pears, bread, bar.
Thursday, June 1: Chicken a la king, brown rice, broccoli, fruit cocktail, cookie.
Friday, June 2: Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, California Normandy vegetables, bread, fruit.
Half-Price Day in memory of Delores Dreesen.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Pam Franken at 283-9846, extension 11 to reserve one day prior, to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older.
The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on October 14, 1943.
 
John Welzenbach, Luverne…was Early Day Cigar Maker
     
         Old time cigar smokers well remember the famous “Brown Beauty” and “Speckled Trout” cigars, but it may be a surprise to many of them to know that a Luverne man, John Welzenbach, once helped make them in a Davenport, Iowa, cigar factory.
         A carpenter’s son, Mr. Welzenbach had little choice but to learn a trade of some kind. As there was an opening in the cigar factory, he served his apprenticeship, and continued in that line of work for 15 years. Then, his health was endangered so he quit and moved to Rock county where he started farming.
         Mr. Welzenbach was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 18, 1868, the son of Anton and Barbara Welzenbach. At the age of three, he came with them to the United States and grew to young manhood in Davenoort, Iowa. He attended the public schools, but because he belonged to what he terms the “proletariat,” he had to begin earning his own money early in life.
Weeded Onions
         One of his first salary jobs as a boy was weeding onions in the big onion fields near Davenport. He was about 12 or 13 years old at the time. Anyone who has done any weed pulling at all can well imagine how difficult a task he had. “We’d work on our hands and knees 10 hours a day for 25 cents a day,” Mr. Welzenbach states, “and man, would the backs of our ears be sunburned and blistered!” Later, he was promoted from weed pulling to “topping” the onions. This was a more specialized job, and carried with it a salary increase of 75 cents a day, boosting his total earnings to $1.00 a day.
         One summer, he hired out to a farmer to herd cows, and if he had his way about it, he’d have been a farmer from the start, because he always liked working in the open so well. But at the insistence of his parents, he began learning the cigar making trade, and although he didn’t make it his life’s work, it did provide him with experience that he perhaps never would have had otherwise.
         For instance, in the fall of 1895, when the work was slack, he together with his brother and a friend pooled their resources and bought a cabin boat and travelled down the Mississippi river from Davenport to St. Louis. “We had all the comforts of home,” Mr. Welzenbach states, “and as long as we were not pressed for time, we were in no hurry to reach our destination. The current of the river and the wind was all the power we had. All we had to do was to guide the boat to keep it in the center of the channel. Once in a while, we’d use our sweeps (a form of an oar) to go to shore where we would do a little hunting, we’d anchor occasionally if the weather was rough. It took us six weeks to get to St. Louis, and we really had a dandy trip. After we got there, we sold our boat and came back by train, just in time to go back to work again.”
Came Here in 1900
         When he was advised to get out of the cigar factory to protect his health, he immediately decided to begin farming. Being unable to rent a place in Iowa, he came to Minnesota, where his brother-in-law lived. Here, he found, he was able to buy a farm out of his savings, so he made a deal for the purchase of the southwest quarter of section 14 in Mound township. He moved there in March, 1900, and since then, has been a Rock county resident.
(Welzenbach's story continues next week.)

DSU announces honors students
Dakota State University, Madison, South Dakota, has released the Spring 2023 honors list. To be eligible, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0. Named to the list were Ethan Teunissen, Cade Wenninger and Austin Winter, all of Luverne.
 
Brake earns PhD at U of Nebraska
Joseph Brake, son of Curtis and Theresa Brake of Northfield and grandson of Ivan and Betty Brake of Luverne, received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln on May 19, 2023.
His dissertation is titled “Copper in Hepatocyte Functions and Fat Metabolism:  Protection from Hepatic Lipid Toxicity by Copper Homeostasis.”
A graduate of Northfield High School, he earned his BS degree in biochemistry from Winona State University.

10 years ago (2013)
•The new Luverne logo that was unveiled April 16 is showing up on city vehicles, stationery and now on colorful banners that started going up on Main Street light poles Tuesday afternoon. There are 55 light poles between Highway 75 and the Rock River Bridge.
The 18-by-40-inch panels on each side of the light poles carry the various messages about Luverne. One panel has the Luverne logo, and the other says, “Love the life,” or “Love the charm,” or “Love the arts,” and so on, incorporating different aspects that have been identified as sources of local pride.
The bottoms of the banners are 10 feet from the ground, and the tops are just under the street lamps. The Main Street banners cost roughly $15,000, which is covered by Luverne’s contingency fund.
 
25 years ago (1998)
•George Bonnema is retiring from his job as a business education teacher at Luverne High School. As a native of the county, his ties to the community are long, strong and deep. He grew up just eight miles south of Luverne and graduated from Hills High School before going on to Northwestern College, Orange City.
When he graduated from college and got married in 1964, his first job was at Magnolia High School. Four years later, when Louise Berg took the library job at the high school, Bonnema applied for her business education position in Luverne. …
In the next phase of his life, he’s planning to use his time to volunteer and work part time. He also plans to continue duties as a referee at school.
 
50 years ago (1973)
•There will be three Co-Valedictorians and four Co-Salutatorians in the Luverne High School graduating Class of 1973, school officials announced last week.
Named to Valedictorian honors were Susan Den Herder, Deborah Kirby and Debra Tofteland. Co-Salutatorians this year are Jane Estenson, Narcy Recker, Susan Toms and Ann VanderKooi.
The seven young ladies head a list of 44 Luverne seniors this year who attained a 3.0 or above average.
 
75 years ago (1948)
•Orville Ohlen is now sole owner of The Grill café, having purchased Karl Heiden’s interest in the business. He had previously purchased Arnold Ormseth’s interest, with whom Heiden was associated when the business  was bought from Marvel Roberts. The café will be closed today to install air conditioning equipment and for a general “spring housecleaning,” Ohlen announced, but will re-open tomorrow for business. The Grill Room, in the basement is open every Saturday and Sunday night, and available for private parties on other nights.
 
100 years ago (1923)
•With afternoon and evening sessions being held each day, the Rock County Sunday School association will hold their annual convention tomorrow and Sunday in this city.
Two state representatives will be here for the two days of the convention. They are Rev. P. A. Lang, field worker, and Miss Mabel Bailey, of Minneapolis, state primary worker. Both of these are said to be wonderful speakers, and great things are expected of them.
At the sessions tomorrow afternoon and evening, Rev. H. J. Meinders, of Beaver Creek, president of the association, will preside. The program will consist of worship and song, and addresses by the state representatives and by Rev. H.F. Rieke, of Pleasant View. An election of officers will be held in the evening.

Kenneth John Hopperstad of Luverne, Minnesota, peacefully entered the Kingdom of God on the afternoon of May 20, 2023, with his wife, Hazel, at his side. He was 88 yeas old.
Kenny, as he was known to his friends, was born August 31, 1934, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Edwin Kenneth (“EK”) Hopperstad and Sarah (Kinden) Hopperstad. He had an older sister, Ann Iris, and two younger sisters, Frances and Marilyn. EK owned the Touristville Service Station in Mason City for a couple years before buying the Ford garage in Emmons, Minnesota. At the start of World War II, the family moved to Long Beach, California, where Kenny grew up.
After his discharge from the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict, Kenny settled in Albert Lea and worked at the Wilson and Company packing plant where he met the love of his life and his wife of almost 67 years, Hazel Marie Christensen.
They began farming south of Emmons, Minnesota, then west of Emmons, and finally buying the Kinden family farm from his uncles and aunts north of Lake Mills, Iowa. Their family grew by four sons, Kenneth, James, John and Robert during that time. After John graduated from high school, Kenny and Hazel bought a farm outside of Pigeon Falls, Wisconsin, and stayed in that area until Robert graduated from high school. He then accepted a position as a USDA Food Safety inspector and they moved to Luverne, Minnesota.
He was outgoing and made friends easily. Kenny was a millwright at the Wilson’s packing plant and could fix almost anything. He was an expert welder and a voracious reader and enjoyed making people laugh.
Survivors include his loving wife, Hazel, sons Kenneth, James and his wife Grace, and John and his wife Nina; sisters Ann Iris White and Frances Ranelli; grandsons Mark and Jacob Hopperstad; wonderful neighbors Jolene and Mike Cronin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joining Kenny in heaven are his father and mother, EK and Sarah Hopperstad; son Robert Hopperstad; daughter-in-law Lucy Hopperstad; sister Marilyn Skinner; brothers-in-law Bob White and Gino Ranelli; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Frances and Phillip Teetzel.
Kenny's memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, officiated by Monsignor Gerald Kosse. A time of fellowship will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday. Inurnment will be a private family gathering at a future date.