The idea for the American flag on the side of Greg Kvale's barn on County Road 6 stemmed from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. "Everybody kind of paid tribute to 9/11, and I wanted to do something," said Kvale. He knew he'd be putting new siding on the barn anyway soon, so with the assistance of neighbor Harley Fransman, Kvale cut 50 white stars out of steel with a hand grinder and a cutting disk. The flag design, which took three to four days for the men to complete, measures 57 by 26 feet and is wired with 3,000 watts of flood lighting to illuminate the roof at night. The 100 pieces of red steel, and the blue steel for the job was special ordered. Kvale said many people have commented on his new roof. A Navy recruiter, who apparently was just driving by on the highway, stopped and left his card with a little note that read, "Nice flag!"

Photo by Jolene Farley

Live today like there's no tomorrow
I was fortunate to be part of our local Sept. 11 observance Wednesday on Main Street, Luverne.

It was the most fitting, appropriate, reverent way I could imagine to observe the anniversary of an event that changed our nation.

There were no politicians campaigning under the guise of a Sept. 11 speech, there were no media rehashing and replaying the events of the day, there were no collections taken for yet another 9-11 fund.

It was simply a united effort by many local citizens to send a powerful message. I can't speak for everyone, but the message I heard in that long moment of silence is that we haven't forgotten, and our hearts still ache for the victims and their families.

When the somber notes of "Taps," rang in the ears of downtown participants, a lump formed in my throat to think what the day must mean to those still mourning.

The song ended, and we in Luverne parted hands and returned to our daily lives.

Meanwhile, loved ones of the victims return to their daily nightmares. Children are still going to sleep without goodnight kisses from their daddies, new brides are still getting used to being widows, and the scenarios of grieving souls are endless.

Their loss will last a lifetime. It didn't end with the cleanup of Ground Zero and it didn't end with a one-year anniversary observance.

All the media interviews, all the countless documentary films and all the memorial ceremonies won't change that.

Such is war.

So how does a country begin to pay respects amid all this heartache?

Just the way Luverne did Wednesday. By pausing to remember and by sending a collective prayer with each toll of a church bell...for the victims, for the leaders of our country, for the servicemen and women at war and for peace around the world.

Then, when it's all said and done, it's best to do what we did Wednesday: return to the task of living Ñ not the living we did prior to 9-11-01, but living with renewed purpose.

If we take to heart anything from the media interviews with families of victims, we need to heed their advice to live each day as if it were our last.

In essence: love more, stress less and generally simplify our lives so that what remains has meaning.

If the United States of America emerges from 9-11 in this condition, the war will already have been won.

County Road 4 to close on Monday
County Road 4 (Main Street), will be closed on Monday, east of Luverne for approximately 8 to 10 weeks.

The construction will begin just east of the Luverne City Park entrance for two bridge construction projects.

The official detour will include US Hwy. 75, County Hwy. 16 and County Hwy. 9.

For those wishing to get to the golf course for one or two final rounds of the year, the beginning of River Road, at the city park, will still be open, if you don't mind taking a gravel road.

The county request that any trucks and over-width vehicles use the assigned detour route in lieu of alternate routes.

Auditions set for Sanders Family Christmas
Green Earth Players have announced audition dates for the upcoming play "Sanders Family Christmas."

The audition dates will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, and at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23.

Both auditions will be at the Green Earth Players building, located one-half block east of GlenÕs on Lincoln Street in Luverne.

A recent GEP newsletter described the production as "An evening filled with music, song and holiday cheer and - just a touch of romance! Back home for the holiday season, the lovable, quirky Sanders family returns to warm our ears and tickle our funny bones with their singin' and witnessin'. A smash hit in the 1998-1999 season, this sequel to "Smoke 'n the Mountain" brings us to 1941, with a gospel-singing family in one of their final appearances at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Times are uncertain, but Burl, Vera, Dennis, Denise, Stanley, June and Rev. Oglethorpe are 'fine as from hair' with their traditional Christmas music and some old time gospel and bluegrass tunes to boot."

20 bands to participate in 2002 Tri-State Band Festival
Twenty bands, made up of more than 2,400 students, will be a part of the 2002 Tri-State Band Festival, according to the Luverne Chamber of Commerce.

The bands from Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota will gather in Luverne Saturday, Sept. 28, for the 52nd annual event.

The festival is one of the longest running festivals of its kind in the Midwest.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. with the parade on Luverne's Main Street, followed by the field competition at 1 p.m. at the Luverne High School athletic field.

Entrance to all field events requires a Tri-State Band Festival button, which can be purchased either at the gate, or on Main Street, prior to the parade.

You just gained 1.3 years of life expectancy
In the last 10 years, between 1990 and 2000, life expectancy increased to 81.5 years for females and 76.5 years for males.

That's an increase of 1.3 years from the previous decade.

The increase in the 90s is actually smaller than it had been in the 80s, when the increase was 1.6 years, or the 70s when it increased 3.2 years.

The difference between men and women is also narrowing. The gap used to be 7.4 years, but now is down to 5.

If you think we are getting healthier, think again. We are still too fat and don't exercise enough, but the increase in the medical system, which has lowered the death rate from diseases such as AIDS and cancer has made a significant impact.

If you would like to know more about the report, Minnesota Life Expectancy in 2000, you can find it on the web at

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at
tolly@star-herald.com

Earl V. Loebig, 77, Lismore, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Saturday, Sept. 14, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore. The Rev. Eugene Egan officiated. Burial was in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, Lismore, with full military honors.

Earl Loebig was born to Frank and Mathilda (Jansen) Loebig on Feb. 25, 1925, in Lismore. He graduated from St. Anthony Catholic High School. He joined the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II.

After the service he moved to Lismore where he worked on road construction. He later managed Wilmont Mutual Fire Insurance Company in Lismore. He retired in 1982 after suffering a stroke. He moved to Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth in September 2000.

Mr. Loebig was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore, Knights of Columbus and Lismore American Legion.

Survivors include one brother, R.F. "Bud" Loebig, New Orleans, La.; two sisters, Coletta Voss, and Vera Loonan, both of Lismore; and 13 nieces and nephews.

Mr. Loebig was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Maxine Loebig.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Adrian, was in charge of arrangements.

Elsie I. Kluever, 88, Worthington, died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, at Worthington Regional Hospital.
Services were Monday, Sept. 16, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Worthington. The Rev. Bob Schulze officiated. Burial was in Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Elsie Hohensee was born to Otto and Marie (Fenske) Hohensee on July 5, 1914, in Bigelow Township. She was raised and attended school in Bigelow.

She married William H. Kluever on April 1, 1933, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Worthington. After their marriage the couple lived in Bigelow. In 1949, they moved to the farm west of Bigelow. She worked as a cook in the Bigelow School for more than 20 years. In 1959, they moved to the farm north of Bigelow. They retired in 1976. In 1996,they moved to Worthington.

Mrs. Kluever was a lifetime member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Worthington. She enjoyed spending time and decorating in her home.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas (Luetta) Kluever, Bigelow, and Darwin (Marie) Kluever, Garrison; one daughter and son-in-law, Karen (Robert) Meester, Worthington; 13 grandchildren, Renee, Janell, Kim, Tamera, Scott, LeAnn, Kristi, Dawn, Jackie, Mark, Carmen, Shane and Andrea; 17 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dale (Sharlene) Hohensee, rural Worthington; and two sisters, Emma Rockman, Sibley, Iowa, and Dorothy (Vernon) Petrich, Sanborn, Iowa.

Mrs. Kluever was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William, in December 1996, one son, Robert, in September 1985, an infant granddaughter, Michelle, in 1964, four brothers, Paul, Carl, Ed and Walter Kluever, and five sisters, Clara Haack, Anna Johnson, Gertrude Butcher, Minnie Rockman and Ruth Woolridge.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, was in charge of arrangements.

Milo Schomacker, Hartford, SD, died Tuesday, Sept. 24.Visitation begins Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. at Miller Valley View Chapel. Services will be Friday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hartford. Burial will be Saturday, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Kenneth Lutheran Cemetery. Miller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Myrl Ripley, 83, Jasper, died Wednesday, Sept. 18 at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls. Services will be Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 20 form 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial with military honors will be at Maplewood Cemetery.

Hilda Carsrud, 81, Luverne, died Wednesday, setp. 18 at Redeemer Residence Nursing Home in Minneapolis. Visitation will be Sunday, Sept. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Monday, Sept. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Gary Klatt officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Margaret Evelyn Cooney, 93, Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Memorial services were Wednesday, Sept. 4, at United Methodist Church in Luverne. The Rev. Bart Fletcher officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Margaret Moore was born to Clarence and Ada Moore on July 15, 1909, in LeMars, Iowa. She graduated from high school in LeMars. She graduated from Iowa State TeachersÕ College, Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she received a degree in elementary education. She taught kindergarten for five years at the Northern Iowa School for Special Need Children in Glenwood, Iowa.

She married John Cooney on June 29, 1935, and together they owned and operated a dry cleaning plant in Glenwood until 1938 when they moved to Luverne where Mr. Cooney, an avid hunter and fisherman, could enjoy more outdoor activities. She taught kindergarten in Luverne from 1954 to 1974.

Mrs. Cooney was a member of United Methodist Church in Luverne. She was a life member of the National Teachers Association, a 40-year member of the National Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and a 50-year member of Eastern Star. She served two years on the Luverne School Board, and was a member of Pink Ladies, the local hospital auxiliary.

Survivors include one son, Judd (Diane) Cooney, Pagosa Springs, Colo.; and one daughter, Cloyce (David) Smith, Luverne; three grandchildren, Lisa (Mike) Kraetsch, Pagosa Springs, Carrie (Chad) Overgaard, Luverne, and Mike Smith, Highland Park, Ill.; and four great-grandchildren, Zane, Cole and Magan Kraetsch and Nathan Overgaard.

Mrs. Cooney was preceded in death by her husband, one grandchild, Blaine Cooney, and one great-grandchild, Paige Augusta.

Memorials are preferred to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, Luverne.

Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.