By Sara Quam
Township road signs are an increasingly important issue in rural Rock County with all surrounding counties having similar signage in place.

The only factor that has so far prevented the county from completing the signs is cost - about $70,000 for the project.

The issue was addressed at a joint townships and county board meeting Friday, Dec. 8, with an informal tally resulting in an almost even split among those in favor of, against or undecided about signs.

Terri Ebert, Rock County Sheriff Department dispatcher, said that in her opinion, it’s a necessary expenditure.

Ebert said one cause for the need is that without rural addresses, US West doesn't give the sheriff’s office updates on its new customers' locations.

Just Tuesday, that situation came into play when a woman called 911 and the only information dispatchers received on their computer system was her telephone number. They received no location and no name, which would have helped dispatchers get help to her. In this case, the woman could tell the dispatcher where she was, but not all people who call 911 are able to do that.

"We have the computers and the capability; we just need the addresses," Ebert said. "We try to have directions ready, but the old system that went by those directions is obsolete."

If the county goes ahead with the signing project, rural route addresses would become street addresses with house numbers, and the dispatch mapping system would correspond with those.

Emergency crews responding to the dispatches now follow directions by a plat map with information on township, section numbers and other directions to the location. But in cases of newly located residents or children who can’t say where they are, that system may not work.

"We don’t want to be playing games when it’s people's lives," Ebert said.

Dispatchers aren't the only personnel looking forward to an organized numbering system to roads. Delivery companies, service workers and people trying to find a business or residence in rural areas usually find road signs more helpful than not.

A matter of cost
Township board members who said they weren’t interested in the project indicated they either thought it was unnecessary or too costly.

For those who thought it was a matter of cost, they learned most other counties have split the cost with townships. With almost 540 signs needed within the county, the cost to townships would be almost $5,000 each, which the county would likely pay for initially and then get reimbursed for.

County Engineer Mark Sehr has mapped a tentative numbering system that will match Pipestone and Nobles counties. He said he chose to use numbers instead of named roads because they are easier to follow as a driver and because signs with names are more likely to be vandalized or stolen.

The dollar amount townships may be asked to pay is the estimate if the signs are done this year. That could increase with each year the project is postponed.

The county would pay all the costs for the computer mapping system, but it is uncertain who would be responsible for maintenance.

The meeting with the townships was for information only, and no decisions were made. The county wants input from the townships, although their approval is not needed to go forward with signing the roads.

Those interested in the area's railway happenings will notice Nobles-Rock Railroad is changing - first of all by name and operator.

New operator Brent Polanchek renamed it Minnesota Southern Railway, and he has been operating the line for more than two weeks.

Polanchek said the new name will "try to erase some negative feelings." The biggest change Polanchek looks forward to is increasing traffic on the line.

"We have to increase the car loadings," he said. "Obviously our goal is to get more cars moving. It's a big challenge, and I foresee it taking work."

The shortline runs from Worthington to Manley, and generally hauls ethanol, fertilizer, corn and soybeans, but Polanchek said the line is always willing to take on more projects. In fact, just last week, it started running a second engine on the line.

Ethanol will play a major part in the success of the line because it produces year-round and can keep the lines busy when crops aren't being hauled.

Polanchek signed a 20-year lease in November and took over the business when former operators Cascade Railcorp fell far behind in payments. The railroad business is not an easy one - Polanchek is the fourth operator in 10 years to lease from Buffalo Ridge Regional Rail Authority.

Polanchek doesn't claim to be a business expert, although he and his wife, Kathy, own a gun shop in their permanent home of Kallispell, Mont., near Flathead Lake.

"I'm still on the learning curve," he said.

Even though learning the trade is slow and paperwork isn't his favorite duty, Polanchek revels in his time as an engineer - or the train driver.

"My dad worked for the railroad and I remember riding on trains when I was a pup. It's a lifelong habit," Polanchek said.

His own career in railroads was hampered in 1989 when he lost his legs in a train accident. But engineering the train from the driver's seat is a task his disability more than allows for. Railroad employees Herb Tollefson and his son, J.R., are both experienced and do much of the work on the ground.

Polanchek is planning to buy a home here to split his time between Luverne and Montana. He said his experiences in the area have been "pleasurable," and he looks forward to a thriving local shortline.

4-H member Katie Kannenberg (back) supervises as Jessica Dorhout (left), Nicole Solis and Katie Dahl form "snowballs" out of cookie dough to make snowman cookies during a holiday session of Kids in the Kitchen Tuesday in the home economics room of Luverne High School. At right, Hannah Baartman (left) and Gretchen Nowatzki add pretzel antlers, chocolate chip eyes and cinnamon noses to their reindeer cookies.

Kids in the Kitchen, a joint effort of Minnesota Extension, Community Education and Jubilee Foods, teaches kids about food nutrition and food safety. Jubilee Foods Home Economist Mary Tilstra said Tuesday's session was mostly for holiday fun.

The Hills-Beaver Creek Co-op Farm Service in Beaver Creek celebrated Ham Days Thursday, Dec. 7. Hills celebrated on Wednesday. Ham sandwiches and other goodiies were served to their customers. Special incentives were offered to farmers who attended. Dave Leenderts (left) and John Matasovsky merrily serve their customers.

"We were very, very pleased. I think the thing we noticed was the quality of the floats continues to get better," Smith said.

"It takes a lot of hours and a lot of time to put these together, and it's so gratifying to see them parading down Main Street."

Smith and others who had been to lighted parades in Sioux Falls, Brookings and other communities said the quality of Luverne's floats was second to none.

Parade judges were Reid Holsen and Nancy Carlson of KELO-FM radio, and Rodger and Dianne Ossenfort. The theme for this year's parade was "A Musical Christmas," which meant the floats were equipped with both lighting and speakers.

First place went to Frosty's Families on Victory and Memorial circles. Second place went to Penguins on Parade on Oakland and Lindale avenues. Third place was awarded to the Carol Street Carolers on Carol Street.

The American Reformed Church presented its dinner theater performance of "Angel Inn" to a full house over a weekend of three separate performances.

Parade of Home organizers reported improved attendance this year as well, with 270 people viewing the four featured homes.

The Eagles Club reported that it ran out of food at its Steak Fry and the Lions Club chili, hot chocolate and coffee were also popular refreshments before and during the parade with most supplies nearly selling out.

After a foggy night Friday night and into Saturday morning, when the sun broke through Saturday morning, everything twinkled and glittered under a thick coating of frost.

"Saturday was beautiful. The sun was out.... it was cold, but there was no wind, and that makes a difference," Smith said.

Temperatures dipped into the teens after dark, making it too cold for some who might have ventured out, but Smith said he was still pleased with the community participation.

"I think everyone was pleased with how everything went," he said.

"It takes a lot of volunteers. There are so many different events going on, and everyone does their part and it comes off in the end."

It's harder to measure crowds at the parade, but Chamber Director Dave Smith estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people showed up to view the 40 parade entries.

Three solid blocks of Main Street were packed on both sides of the streets with bundled, huddled spectators.

Further down on Main Street, cars were parked in the Sears parking lot and Connell Car Care lot with people viewing floats from behind heated windshields.

The parade route went past the Hospice Cottage, Blue Mound Towers apartments and the hospital so shut-ins could see the floats. And all along that route, Smith said motorists were parked and viewing from their vehicles.

Christopher Conklin celebrates "el feliz navidad" on Miguel's float.

By all reports, Winterfest 2000 was bigger and better than ever.

The only true numbers to measure participation came from the craft show at the elementary school where admission was charged at the door.

According to those figures, more than 1,200 shoppers perused the wares of more than 85 vendors on hand at the event.

Volunteers at Santa's Workshop in the Community Education wing of the school reported kids bought 100 mom gifts and 100 dad gifts during the craft show, and they made countless other gifts as well.