LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, July 3: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, dinner roll, orange.
Tuesday, July 4: 4th of July—Closed.
Wednesday, July 5: Taco salad with salsa, sour cream and corn chips, apple, dessert.
 Thursday, July 6: Chicken salad sandwich, creamy cucumbers, tropical fruit.
Friday, July 7: Ham, scalloped potatoes, carrots, bread, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Christian Reformed Church.
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.

Lauren Witte and Scott Cerny, both of Nashville, Tennessee, were married May 25, 2023, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Lauren is the daughter  of Lori Witte of Luverne and  the late Stan Witte. The groom’s parents are Dean and Mary Cerny of Milan, Illinois.
The wedding ceremony was performed by Sean Caramore. Maid of honor was Meghan Witte and matron of honor was Cristina Worley.
The reception took place at Mhares Sea Club.
Lauren graduated from Luverne High School, Luverne, in 2011 and from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2018.
Scott graduated from Sherrard High School, Sherrard, Illiniois, in 2006 and from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, in 2010.
The couple live in Nashville.

10 years ago (2013)
•A container of biohazardous waste — presumably full of used hypodermis needles — recently showed up in a load of recycling material at Ketterling Services.
There is a recycling label clearly marked on the container, which also instructs users to dispose of biohazardous waste according to their hospital or municipal policy.
This creates a confusing message about how it should be disposed of, and Bill Ketterling of Ketterling Services said he’s concerned for the safety of Rock County Opportunities workers who must handle dangerous items that sometimes show up in the recycling stream.
According to Kristin Peterson, infection prevention and control practitioner for Sanford Luverne, patients are instructed to dispose of their used needles in a hard plastic container, such as a liquid laundry detergent bottle, and place it in the garbage.
This follows the Minnesota Department of Health recommendations for disposing medical waste.
 
25 years ago (1998)
•Luverne High School’s Sara Stegemann earned an honorable mention in a national media contest sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office on Smoking and Health. Sara entered an article in the contest headlined, “Joe Camel Sighted in Area,” which she’d written for the October edition of the LHS publication, the Echo.
She received notice of the award in early June. Echo adviser Roger Headrick suggested the topic and said she could contact Jennifer Thorp, media relations manager for the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, for more information.
 
50 years ago (1973)
•Two young Luverne athletes, Randy Kuechenmeister, 11, and Kurt Burmeister, 12, will be competing this weekend in the Western National AAU Wrestling Tournament in Missoula, Mont.
Randy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Kuechenmeister, captured the state title in the Midget Division’s 90-pound category. His seven rounds of action this spring during the tournament held in Minneapolis ended with only one loss and the least number of “Black Marks.”
Kurt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burmeister, Route 1, Luverne, earned a third place finish in the Jr. Division at heavyweight.
Randy left for the University of Montana with his family earlier this week while Kurt was scheduled to leave by chartered bus from Roseville on Wednesday.
 
75 years ago (1948)
•A new type of farm tractor that may prove to be the final threat to horses on the farm is now on display at Rapp Motor and Implement Co., local Allis-Chalmers dealers. Lloyd Rapp, owner, predicts it will replace that last team of horses on many farms by serving as a chore tractor, and that it will fill complete power needs on many other farms.
The new Allis-Chalmers model differs from previous tractor design in that it has a rear-mounted engine with implements attached in front within unobstructed view of the operator. Moving the engine to the rear keeps the front of the tractor clear for mounted implements, and of which can be attached or detached in five minutes. Even the plow is front-mounted.
Mr. Rapp points out that many farms keep one last team of horses for a few seasonal jobs, such as corn planting or hauling.
 
100 years ago (1923)
•During the progress of the annual picnic of the Sunday school at the First Dutch Reformed church of Steen, held Wednesday at the church grounds a shortly after between forty and fifty members of the congregation had taken shelter there to escape the drenching rain.
The bolt struck the steeple of the church, and ran down the outer wall. Many of the occupants of the buildings were severely shocked by the terrific force of the lightning, especially a number of young ladies and girls who were out at the entrance, immediately under the steeple.
Several of them were knocked down and badly dazed, and in the case of Harriet Nissink, of Clinton township, considerable effort was required to revive her.
It was at first thought  a number of the people in the church had been severely injured. Dr. Sherman, of this city, was called and assisted in resuscitating several, including Miss Nissink, after making the first drive there.
It was during the noon hour that the lightning struck.

The Denver Go-Getters 4-H Club is the first recipient of a grant through the Hardwick Community Grant program.
The club received a $300 check.
The communities of Hardwick, Hills, Beaver Creek, Kenneth, Jasper, Steen and Magnolia were challenged by the Luverne Area Community Foundation to establish gift giving within their own communities.
If the communities raised $5,000, the LACF matched the amount to start a $10,000 endowment for future needs in the communities.
In addition to Hardwick, communities who have met the LACF endowment challenge are Beaver Creek, Hills, Kenneth and Magnolia.
Hills recently distributed its second endowments.
According to Emily Crabtree, LACF director, the community committees in Beaver Creek, Kenneth and Magnolia will distribute their first grants next year.

Wickherst receives high school diploma
Shyann Wickherst, Luverne, recently received her high school diploma as a member of the statewide public virtual school’s Class of 2023 from Falcon View Connections Academy.

Gehrke makes president’s list at Mitchell Tech
Dyllon Gehrke, Luverne, was named to the Spring 2023 semester president’s list at Mitchell Technical College in Mitchell, South Dakota. To be eligible, students must earn at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale with 12 or more graded credits.
 
Knips named to dean’s list at U of Nebraska Lincoln
Sara Knips of Magnolia has been named to the Spring 2023 dean’s list in the College of Business at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. To be eligible, students must earn a minimum of a 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Graduates of the Luverne High School Class of 1963 recently gathered for their 60th class reunion. Pictured are (front, from left) Sandi Hitch, Stan Sasker, Patti Kirby Pierson, Juli Anderson Kuipers, Sharon Sasker Meinerts, Eva Lou Opsata, Carol Walgrave, (second row) Jon Hovland, Jan Gangestad Wange, Marty Thompson, Gloria Aanenson Rolfs, Sue Reimer Mohr, Marcia Ross Ossenfort, Dean Madison, Loren Fick, (back) Warren Herreid, Bob Frahm, Alvin Veldkamp, Fred Vegge, Elwayne Petersen, Jarnet Johansen, Larry Richters, Ruth Van Batavia Wallig, Bob Meester, Rolf Berg and Roger Van Batavia.

I was driving to work today in my small-town USA and saw a sight that is so common, one that just causes me pain. It is one of those pains that I don’t actually suffer from but feel it when I see someone else suffering from it.
My route parallels a walking path that weaves its way through my town. The sight I saw was a lady of smaller stature walking her dog down this path.
About 50 yards ahead of this gal was another gal walking her dog toward her. Both dogs were going bat crazy as the other dog got closer. Each lady was holding on for dear life, trying to keep the dogs apart. One lady was almost pulled to the concrete. The meeting of these two gals on the path took everything each of them could muster just to traverse 50 yards.
So why on earth would anyone want to own a dog that they cannot even take for a walk? Seems like a pretty simple question but one that 80 percent of dog owners apparently cannot answer.
Taking a dog for a walk is necessary and important. Dogs that get enough exercise are less anxious, destructive and in general much calmer.
So what is the secret to taking a dog for a walk? I am not sure that what follows would qualify as a secret, but I have proven many times for many customers that it works.
The first thing you need in order to succeed is to own a dog that knows it is actually a dog. A dog is not a human child and should not be treated as one. When a dog’s mental state allows it to think it is an equal or a superior to the human, this is where the problems (many different ones) start.
Your dog fills in a space as a member of your pack. That dog’s place needs to be in a pecking order that allows every human to occupy a spot higher in the order.
One way that a dog asserts itself high in the pecking order is to walk ahead of the human. When they walk 15 feet ahead of the dog walker, they are in a position as the leader. The human takes a pack space lower in the hierarchy. Retractable leashes are a big part of this problem.
When walking a dog, the animal needs to be at your side or just a step or two behind the human. This indicates to the dog you are the leader. You need to be able to control the dog. Total control is the only option that works. Chest harnesses allow the dog to pull hard with little control by the human. Retractable leashes are a no-no in my book as are harnesses.
A slip chain collar allows the human to apply a corrective stiff tug on the leash, commanding enough to keep the dog where it needs to be. When the dog pulls hard, you need to utilize a quick snap on the leash strong enough to get the dog back into position. The command heel is used … a stiff snap on the leash and a repeat of the command heel.
Consistence is the key. I have taken a dog that would not walk like a lady or a gentleman for the owner ever and had that dog walking like it should in a matter of 3-5 minutes. The dog learned very quickly that I was in command. Instructions for dogs are not recommendations. They are called commands for a reason. They are not a request backed up with copious amounts of pleading from the dog’s owner asking nicely for compliance.
Big dogs or little all require the knowledge that they are a dog and live lower in the pack order. When it comes to meeting another dog on the path, I start by making the dog sit next to the path as the other dogs pass by. Sit means sit and when the other dog has passed, I can then give the heel command and start on my walk again. After the dog masters this situation by sitting on command, I can continue the training until I can walk any dog past any other dog without issues. This can and does happen even if the other dog is completely out of control.
I can take my four Labradors for a walk as easily as I could one little Fu-Fu dog. The more aggressive the other dogs you might meet are, the more you need total control of yours. I have trained each dog to walk on my right or left side. Two per side makes traversing parked cars and other obstructions easier. Each can walk on either side depending on what it is I have instructed them to do. Squirrels and rabbits are not for chasing or barking at. A slip chain collar is the only way to keep total control.
In the end, teaching a dog to go on a nice walk has more to do with training the dog owner than training the dog. I have never met a dog that wouldn’t walk nicely by my side when they figured out who was the boss and that commands are commands and not requests.
I am sure there will always be dogs that treat their owners like subordinates. It is my hope that you will not have one of those dogs. When the dog rules, it is an owner problem and not really a dog issue.
Be in charge and stay in charge. When you get this down, taking a dog for a walk will again turn into a very pleasurable experience.
 
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.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Summer is upon us, and so is the hustle of our busy life. The area community enjoyed a beautiful day of worship in Unity at Friendship Days here in Hills.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made that beautiful day happen. Thank you to Tom Goehle for his words of wisdom as the speaker that day. Thanks to Angie Johnson and Dan LaRock and others for sharing their musical skills. What a blessing it is for all!
We all have so many things to do, and hopefully we throw in some fun and relaxation too. Vacation Bible School will be coming soon, July 16 -20, and we are looking forward to sharing that time with kids as we celebrate the Heroes of our faith! We look forward to welcoming many children, and encourage adults to step up and help us support this ministry.
Our youth will be taking a fun mission trip in August to the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and joining the congregation of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church as we learn about their culture, enjoy a POW WOW with them and support the work of God in that place. We are all a new creation, ambassadors for Christ, reaching out, learning new things and sharing the message of Love of Christ in other places.
My prayer is that all will feel the presence of God in their lives as they live out their calling. As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 20: “So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
As ambassadors we need to step into our calling; yes, we relax more in the summer, but we are still called to do God’s work.
Ex. 20:6 says, “I lavish my love upon thousands of those who love me and obey my commandments.” Be one of those who God “lavishes” with his love, and then remember to share the joy, the hope, and the presence of the one who never gives up on us!
May we never give up on each other, and may we step up and help our neighbors in need wherever they may be!