Most trees and shrubs will need to be replaced after excessive bark loss due to hungry deer and rabbits over the winter. However, U of M Extension educator Gary Wyatt (above, in front holding a damaged tree branch) of Mankato suggests a “wait and see” attitude when it comes to replacing woody perennial plants. Wyatt led a seminar Wednesday afternoon, April 12, at the Rock County Courthouse commissioners’ room with a tour of actual damage at the food forest on North Blue Mound Avenue. He said this past winter’s heavy snow cover prompted many animals to seek trees as food, the worst he has seen in his many decades working in forestry. He suggested waiting before removing the weedy plants to see if only the surface bark layer was damaged and not the underlying nutrient-carrying layer, which may mean the plant can recover. The seminar was sponsored by the Rock County Master Gardeners and the Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary students spent Friday afternoon walking a combined eight miles to raise nearly $6,000 for the school’s parent-teacher organization.
Kindergarten through fifth-grade students walked outside during their physical education class times.
Teacher Darin DeBoer said each class walked as a group for the same amount of time.
Classes and their distances were:
•1.2 miles kindergartners.
•1 mile first-graders.
•1.3 miles second-graders.
•1.87 miles third-graders.
•1.4 miles fourth-graders.
•1.3 miles fifth-graders.
Temperatures were in the upper 50s with occasional rain showers.
DeBoer said first-graders were interrupted by a downpour that lasted a few minutes. They sheltered in a Beaver Creek resident’s garage.
Brianna Leuthold, treasurer of PTO, conducts the annual walk-a-thon fundraiser.
She said donations help to sponsor activities such as Puppy Relays, fall festival, year-end celebration, I Love to Read Month and others.

A Beaver Creek horticulturalist is hoping to establish an orchard and cidery at the Springbrooke events facility and golf course.
Sean McFarland applied for a conditional use permit requesting an ag classification for the property so he can grow apples for cider and wine under a Minnesota Farm Winery License.
The application was submitted April 3 by Springbrooke owner Rick Gourley.
McFarland would lease the property — including the restaurant, bar, event center and part of the golf course — from Gourley to operate his agritourism business.
Beaver Creek City Council members heard McFarland’s proposal at their Wednesday, April 12, meeting.
“Successful wineries operate all around the region,” he told council members. “However, no true cideries operate within 200-plus miles of Sioux Falls.”
“True” cider is made from pure pressed cider-specific apples and has no added sugar or flavors.
“Beaver Creek has the opportunity to offer a winery and pumpkin- and apple-picking experience where none exists in the immediate area,” McFarland said.
The cider presses would be in the current Springbrooke building or in a newly constructed building nearby.
A tasting room would be in the lower-level existing bar, and McFarland would use Gourley’s existing liquor license, pending his own background checks and other paperwork clearing.
Apple trees would be planted in tight rows in and around the golf course “adding to the beauty and increasing the golf course’s playability by creating obstacles and hazards,” McFarland wrote in the permit application.
There would be roughly 1,000 trees that would take up about 2 to 3 acres of the 52-acre property. Pumpkin patches would grow among them.
“The community will benefit from a business that welcomes and attracts all people of all ages, interests and incomes,” he said. “Local businesses will benefit from increased visitors to our city.”
 
Blackshire Farms
McFarland and his wife, Marcella, have operated Blackshire Farms since 2016 west of Beaver Creek near the intersection of County Road 4 and 70th Avenue.
The farm has a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, honeybees, heirloom raspberry patches, rhubarb and strawberry beds, asparagus and personal produce gardens.
The Blackshire orchards include 2,000 heirloom cider apple trees that are maturing on schedule for a half crop this year and a full crop next year, when they plan to start pressing for cider.
“I have a vision for a cidery, and we’ve been working toward this for 10 years,” McFarland said.
When Springbrooke became available for rent, he said it was an opportunity worth exploring for his own business and to benefit the community.
“Increased visitors may increase demand for vacant lots in city limits,” McFarland said.
“The city government will benefit from increased tax revenue. The building itself will benefit from increased revenue that will ensure upkeep and renovations through the years.”
 
Farm winery license requires farming in town
Farm wineries are given a special status in Minnesota’s liquor laws to encourage and support the fledgling farm winery industry.
He said a farm winery license would allow him to harvest apples and sell the fruit and cider, but statute requires licensees to operate on land zoned or permitted for ag use.
In order to have a farm winery at Springbrooke, the property would need to be zoned or permitted for agriculture use. It’s currently zoned residential and industrial, and Beaver Creek’s ordinance doesn’t allow zoning for agricultural purposes.
For council members to accommodate McFarland’s request, they’d have to change the city ordinance — a costly and time-consuming measure that would require public notices and public hearings. (Gourley has offered to share those costs.)
At that point, the council could act on McFarland’s request for a conditional use permit, which also requires public notice and comment.
Conditions would include, among other things, no commercial livestock and no industrial farming activities except those directly relating to production of cider and wine.
Part of the property near the pumphouse and maintenance shed is already zoned industrial and could possibly allow for McFarland’s retail pumpkin growing and selling.
However, the Springbrooke building and golf course are zoned residential, and a farm winery license would require rezoning it for ag use.
 
Council denies request
McFarland’s proposal is backed by a detailed business plan and was advised by Flaherty and Hood municipal attorney Alyssa Harrington, who specializes in ordinances and permitting.
He shared her contact information with the council.
Council members listened with interest to the proposal, and among other questions they wanted to know if the golf course would remain a golf course.
“Out of respect for the people building homes there, it would be fair for it to remain a golf course,” council member Al Harnack said.
McFarland assured them he had no intention of changing the golf course, which Gourley intends to redevelop after 15 years of being closed.
Mayor Josh Teune said he’d discussed McFarland’s proposal with Beaver Creek’s city attorney Jennifer Reinke of Eisma and Eisma, who advised the city to deny the request for now.
“I think for now we have to follow our attorney’s advice and deny the permit,” Teune said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t revisit it.”
Harnack suggested tabling the request until the council had more information, but Teune said there wasn’t time for that.
The April 2 conditional use application request would automatically go into effect as submitted if it’s not acted on within 60 days.
Because the ordinance and permit process would take nearly two months, the council opted to deny the request for now.
“It doesn’t hurt my feelings not having it approved tonight,” McFarland said at the meeting.
“So long as we can talk about it again in a future context. … I’m a squeaky wheel; you’ll be hearing from me.”

A little more than half of the Hills-Beaver Creek School District voters approved both bond referendum questions in a special election April 11.
Question No. 1, to build a new elementary school in Beaver Creek, passed with 53 percent approval. Vote totals were 345 “yes” and 311 “no.”
Question No. 2, to improve the Hugo Goehle gymnasium site in Hills, passed with 56 percent approval. Vote totals were 367 “yes” and 285 “no.”
Overall, 54 percent of the district’s registered voters cast ballots April 11.
The approved $29.975 million referendum means a new $26.5 million elementary school will be built in Beaver Creek and $3.475 million will be spent to expand the parking lot at the current secondary school, demolish the former high school in Hills, and improve the Hugo Goehle gymnasium site currently attached to the former school.
School board members canvassed the tabulated results by the Rock County Auditor’s Office vote during their regular meeting Monday night.
Members commented on the historically low turnout numbers.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus pointed out 237 fewer people voted in last week’s special election than in the 2009 special election to build the new secondary school.
Despite the low numbers, board members said they appreciated the positive vote and what the building projects will mean for the district.
“Now the work begins,” said Chairman Arlyn Gehrke. “With a positive outcome to both referendum questions, we can be more future-focused in our long-term building maintenance plans instead of piecemealing necessary upgrades together if the referendum was unsuccessful.
“We thank the H-BC district voters in supporting our long-term plans.”
Due to receiving a favorable review from the State Department of Education for the proposed referendum, the two questions needed a simple voter approval to pass.
Before the polls opened at 7 a.m., there were 1,186 registered voters in the H-BC district which includes the cities of Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen and all or portions of Martin, Clinton, Beaver Creek and Springwater townships.
A total of 657 ballots were cast on the day of the special election, including 29 voters who registered at the election site. Also included were 30 voters casting absentee votes.
Residents had two polling places in which to cast ballots until the 8 p.m. deadline.
Results were different between the two precincts.
Vote totals for Question No. 1 indicated 216 voted “yes” in the first precinct (Hills, Steen, Clinton and Martin townships) with 190 voting “no.”
In the second precinct (Beaver Creek, Springwater and Beaver Creek townships) results were 108 “yes” and 112 “no.”
Question No. 2 had 238 “yes” votes and 164 “no” votes in the first precinct. Second precinct votes had 109 “yes” votes and 111 “no” votes.
 
Elementary to open for 2025-26 school year
If construction goes as planned, the new H-BC Elementary School will be complete for the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Construction is expected to start in spring 2024.
Preston Euerle with R.A. Morton of St. Cloud is the construction manager.
He said the next couple of months will have the architects, AST&R out of Sioux Falls, preparing plans for the bid process, estimated to take place in October or November.
Demolition of the former high school is expected to be completed next summer.
The current elementary school in Beaver Creek is also slated for demolition once the new school is finished.
According to information presented at Monday’s school board meeting, bonds for the $29.975 million project will also be sold at two separate sales. The first sale will take place this spring or summer, with the second sale set for the first of the year.

Hardwick City Council is considering enforcement of its public nuisance ordinance after a resident submitted a written complaint.
City clerk Tammy Johnson read the letter at the council’s April 11 meeting.
“There are many people in town with dogs,” wrote Cindy Moerke. “Most of them pick up their pets’ poo, but there are some who do not.”
She said pets often leave excrement on lawns of residents who do not have pets.
“This summer could be bad if this continues,” she said.
Dog excrement is not the only nuisance council members have observed, and they’re considering possible enforcement in the community of 186 residents.
“And not just dogs. Cat poo. I see cigarette butts all over town. Garbage blowing around,” Mayor Tom Haas said.
The council adopted its current nuisance ordinance in 2016, primarily due to the accumulation of materials piled against garages and outside homes.
The ordinance defines public nuisance as intentional acts that affect the health, morals and decency, peace and safety of city residents.
The city can enforce compliance and misdemeanor charges.
Council members took no action on Moerke’s letter at their meeting.
 
Pet excrement poses
no health hazards
Environmental health manager Jason Kloss said Monday that natural deposits by pets on lawns generally pose no health hazard.
“Animal feces on lawns typically does not meet the definition of a public health nuisance, unless the accumulation is particularly excessive,” he said.
“It’s just negligence by the pet owner. It’s not fun to see.”
Hardwick is not the only community experiencing pet excrement on lawns after cold weather begins to abate.
“In winter it is difficult to manage the routine cleanup,” he said. “In the springtime, responsible pet owners will clean up their pets’ messes.”
In larger cities, where there are more personnel to enforce nuisance ordinances, pet owners are required to submit DNA samples. Excrement found and traced to the pet leads to fines to the owner.
Kloss said many smaller communities cannot afford such enforcement measures.
These towns rely on the cleaning up after one’s pet as being a “good neighbor.”
“Go by the ‘Tall Grass Rule,’” he said. “If there’s tall grass, especially along the township road, where pets can do their business, no one cares. If it’s on a manicured lawn, it’s not acceptable and pick it up.”

Luverne Initiatives For Tomorrow will bring John Stiegelmeier to the Palace Theatre on Monday, May 1.
“Coach Stig” formerly coached the South Dakota State University football team and is known as the winningest football coach in the history of SDSU.
He served as the head coach from 1997 to 2023, compiling a record of 199–112, recently leading the Jackrabbits to a national championship before announcing his retirement.
Stiegelmeier will bring his message, “It Takes a Whole Team to Win,” to the Palace at 5:30 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
LIFT is selling tickets for a VIP reception at Sterling’s Café and Grille for $50 per person as a fundraiser for its community projects.
The reception includes “food, beverage, fellowship, and inspiration,” and $20 of the ticket purchase is a tax-deductible donation.
Tickets for the VIP event and reserved Palace seating are available only with advance purchase at the Chamber. Call 507-283-4061. The deadline to buy advance tickets is April 25.

At their Tuesday, April 11, meeting, Luverne City Council members approved annual liquor and Sunday on-sale licenses for Los Bravos, LLC, the Mexican restaurant coming to South Highway 75.
The owner of Los Bravos, Luis Abundes, purchased the former 75 Diner restaurant from Codie Deutsch and requested liquor licenses for the period April 12 through Dec. 31.
Abundes closed on the purchase Monday and plans to open for business in a month, just after Mother’s Day.
Deutsch will serve as the resident manager for Abundes, who lives in Jackson; however, she said she’ll have no role in the operation of the new restaurant.
Abundes also owns Fiesta Brava Mexican Restaurant in Jackson. Another Fiesta Brava operates in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He also owns several other restaurants in other states.
According to council information, all materials have been submitted (copy of restaurant license, certificate of insurance and fees) and the background checks for Abundes and Deutsch were favorable.
Those applications will be sent to the state for approval as well.

Meetings
Kenneth Cemetery Association annual meeting will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Kenneth Community Center. Members and non-members are encouraged to attend.
 
LHS puts on Addams Family musical
The Luverne High School Drama Department will present four performances of the “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy,” on April 27, May 4, 5 and 6 in the performing arts center.
Curtain opens at 7 p.m.
 
Kindergartners to perform April 28
The kindergarten students of Luverne Elementary will perform “Getting Down with Mama Goose” 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the performing arts center.
The performance will also be livestreamed from the schools’ social media site.
 
SAIL classes in Hills
SAIL classes meet in Hills Monday and Thursday mornings now through June 22.
The classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. They meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Game Plan 4 Hope, 312 W. 3rd St. in Hills. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by calling volunteer class leaders Carol Gerhke, 507-220-1116, or Nelva Behr, 507-962-3413.
 
Remember Rally sponsors event for emergency responders
A “Trauma and Mental Health” conference for emergency responders will be Thursday, April 20, at Pizza Ranch in Luverne. Professionals will talk about mental health, PTSD and suicide prevention for an audience of invited law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS, clergy and counselors in Luverne and surrounding communities.
Pre-register by texting Diane Sherwood, 507-920-5349, or email promos@iw.net.
The movie, Break Every Chain,” will be shown that night at the Palace Theatre at 7 p.m. as a fundraiser for Luverne first responders.
 
LWML Spring Rally April 22
The Pipestone Zone Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Spring Rally will be Saturday, April 22, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone.
Registration is at 9 a.m. with coffee and rolls. Guest speaker is the Rev. Dr. Armand Boehme on the topic, “I am spiritual, but not religious. Millenials and the church."
Gifts from the Heart are personal care items for the Pipestone County Hospice. Lunch will follow program. Call Linda Wenzel, 507-220-8194.
 
A.C.E. starts ‘Matter of Balance’ classes April 24
A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota will offer a new six-week round of “Matter of Balance” classes starting Monday, April 24, at the Magnolia Post Office. The classes will continue meeting at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through May 17. There is no cost, but re-registration is required and donations are accepted.
Call Linda, 507-283-5064, or Connie (507) 220-3584 or online at   https://yourjuniper.org/Classes/Register/3978
 
Online BQA certification April 25
University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Beef Council will host a free online Beef Quality Assurance training from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, for producers to earn a three-year BQA certification.
The training is free, but registration is required at https://z.umn.edu/BQAApril25
 
State park naturalist offers programs April 29
The Blue Mounds State Park naturalist will offer two programs on Saturday, April 29, at the picnic shelter.
“Predator vs Prey,” from 10 to 11 a.m. is designed for ages 6-12, but all ages are welcome. From the smallest insect to the largest fish in the river, every animal plays a role in the ecosystem.
“Beavers: Nature’s Engineers” from 3 to 4 p.m. is about America’s largest rodent. Discover how these critters use unique adaptations to impact the landscape. The program will conclude with a short walk to the creek to look for beaver activity. 
Contact park staff at bluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us or 507-283-6050 with questions.
 
‘Coach Stig’ coming to Luverne May 1
Luverne Initiatives For Tomorrow will bring John Stiegelmeier to the Palace Theatre in Luverne at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 1.
“Coach Stig” formerly coached the South Dakota State University football team and is known as the winningest football coach in the history of SDSU.
He'll bring his message, “It Takes a Whole Team to Win,” for the event that’s free and open to the public.
LIFT is selling tickets for reserve seating and a VIP reception at Sterling’s Café and Grille as a fundraiser for its community projects.
Call the Chamber, 507-283-4061 for advance tickets.
 
Ecumenical Coffee May 3
The Presbyterian Women will host an Ecumenical Coffee at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, Luverne. Speaker will be Pastor Jakob Danilko on Ukraine and current needs. All are welcome.
 
Mobile dental clinic in Luverne May 18
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne on Thursday, May 18, at ATLAS of Rock County to provide dental care for adults and children of all ages. Call 612.746.1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted. Organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
 
Registration opens for 4-H camps in June
Youth who have completed grades 3-6 can attend one of two residential camps at Lake Shetek June 19-21 and June 21-23.
4-H staff and high school youth counselors lead activities, small group discussions and outdoor activities during the camps.
Registration is open until May 10. Contact the Rock County Extension Office, 507-283-1302, or mnnext-rock@umn.edu.
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Students (grades 4-6) will follow along with the instructor step by step to create a painting at Paint and Snack class on April 24. Fee is $33.
Learn how to propagate fruit and nut plants during a hands on Fruit Propagation Workshop at Prairie Ally on April 29. Take home a berry or grape plant. Fee is $20.
Students grades 6-12 can learn basic yoga poses and breathing exercises at Teen Yoga. This four-week series starts on May 1. Fee is $40.
Watch for the new Summer Brochure in the Luverne Announcer April 29. Registrations will be taken starting May 1.
 
SAIL classes in Beaver Creek
SAIL classes meet in Beaver Creek Monday and Wednesday mornings now through May 24.
The classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. They meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Beaver Creek City Hall in Beaver Creek. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by calling Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064.
 
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.
Story Time with Bronwyn is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays now through April 28. Stories and make-and-take crafts are the same at either event.
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.

The H3N2 strain of canine influenza has been confirmed in the recent Twin Cities animal shelter outbreak. This strain tends to be more virulent, spreads faster and easier, and tends to make dogs sicker than the H3N8 strain. Dogs shed the virus for 28 days after becoming infected.
Vaccines may be in short supply, especially bivalent varieties. H3N2 specific, mono-valent vaccines my be available and are recommended until the bivalent supply is restocked. Animals at high risk for severe clinical disease (young, old, other medical conditions) should be prioritized, as well as dogs in high-risk settings.
Any dog with upper respiratory signs should be quarantined for 30 days to help prevent the spread of influenza, even with a negative test result.
Remember to follow some simple precautions with suspected patients in your clinic.
Patient physical contact should be limited to only what is necessary, and staff should always wash their hands before and after handling patients.
If an animal appears healthy and has had no known exposure to other dogs with suspected or confirmed canine influenza, staff can exercise normal precautions.
If an animal presents with clinical signs consistent with canine influenza virus infection, staff should put on additional personal protective equipment (PPE), including facemask, gloves and a gown or lab coat. Take off and/or discard the PPE after the animal has left the facility.