We had cake in the office Tuesday to celebrate my 30 years as Star Herald editor. I love what I do, and I cherish the role of a weekly paper in a community, so it’s definitely worth celebrating.
Thirty years sounds impressive, but it’s just on par with countless feature stories we’ve written about people in their jobs for 30 or more years.
When I started at the Star Herald in April 1993, Charlie Braa was still running the County Auditor’s Office — and the County Board, too, from what I could tell.
Bill Weber had just replaced Gordy Gits as Luverne mayor, and Andy Steensma was representing us in the State Capitol where Arne Carlson was governor.
In my first months on the job, I wrote about Kyle Oldre starting as county personnel director (now administrator) and Dr. Diane Kennedy starting at Luverne Community Hospital (when it was still located downtown).
I wrote about Betty Mann’s retirement from 25 years of teaching. Norm Miller was school superintendent and Ed Salzer was elementary principal in the three-story brick building in the middle of town. Magnolia elementary students still attended classes in Magnolia.
The Veterans Home had just opened in 1993 and the Evergreen housing additions were still part of the city’s long-range plan.
I came to Rock County after writing for the U of M campus daily in Minneapolis and at the Worthington Daily Globe.
Lynn Taylor was the outgoing editor and Carole Olson was the reporter who became my mentor and dear friend.
We were still photographing on film, which we developed in the darkroom where we printed images on paper in chemical trays. We pieced together the weekly editions one strip of waxed news copy at a time on pages that were driven to a press room 30 miles away.
Today we’re digitally produced and sent to printers online. We still circulate news on paper, but many of our subscribers like the E-edition.
What hasn’t changed in 30 years, however, is our approach to local news.
We’re more committed than ever to telling the stories of Rock County — the schools, governments, businesses and, of course, the citizens.
In the name of journalism, I’ve had rare opportunities to get close to people and families I may have never otherwise met, and I’m a better person (and better journalist) for knowing them.
If this job has taught me anything, it’s that we’re all human, and everybody hurts.
And more than that, I’m repeatedly impressed by the resiliency of our people and the generosity of our community when someone needs help.
It's what sets us apart from other communities, and it’s what makes my work so rewarding.
I consider it an honor and privilege to have been documenting Rock County’s history for 30 years, and Lord willing, I’ll be here many more.
Thank you, dear readers, for the journey and for allowing me to tell your story.

Spring rummage sale (May 3-6) and the citywide spring cleanup (May 1-5) are just around the corner.
The citywide cleanup event is one of the nicest perks the city offers. There are rules to follow as to what you can place by the curb for free pickup. The citywide cleanup also draws a fair number of out-of-town treasure seekers as well as locals.
Truth be told, I’ve harvested a treasure or two over the years.
Now for the rules for the spring cleanup. Don’t put out tires, chemicals, electronics, batteries, light bulbs or paint cans. If you do, they will be left at the curb. Don’t start hauling your junk out too early. One week prior to pickup would be appreciated.
The city is running ads in today’s Star Herald and this weekend’s Luverne Announcer with a schedule of neighborhood pickup dates.
Your garbage and recycling routes will remain the same.
It would be a good idea to set your containers away from your curbside items.
If you have a few of the hefty items such as appliances and mattresses, the city crew will pick those up on Friday, May 5. There is a cost for this, however. Appliances cost $15 each and the mattress/box springs cost $30 each. You must prepay and register at city hall before the pickup, and no refunds will be issued.
As you should know by now, our city crews operate like a well-oiled NASCAR pit crew, and if they hit your “hood” before the scheduled date, don’t worry. They make a return visit.
Branch pickup will start on Monday, May 8. Put the branches parallel to the curb, and they are to be no more than ten feet long.
Don’t lollygag on this one – get your branches to the curb by 7 a.m. or you’ll be hauling them to the burn site yourself. The city crews will make one pass through the city to pick up branches.

Dispatch report
April 7
•A warrant was issued in Lyon County.
•Road closure on 60th Avenue, from 41st Street to 61st Street, Hills.
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue reported disturbing the peace issue.
April 8
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75, Luverne, reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on 191st Street, Hardwick, reported a fire.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and County Road 16, Luverne, requested roadside assistance.
•Complainant on 180th Avenue, Ellsworth, reported property damage.
•Complainant reported an outage.
•Complainant on 180th Avenue and 211th Street, Hardwick, reported flooding.
•Complainant on S. Church Avenue, Hills, reported a civil issue.
•Complainant on 161st Street and 100th Avenue, Luverne, reported suspicious activity.
April 9
•Complainant on 140th Avenue, Hardwick, reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on Highway 75, Hardwick, reported trespassing.
•Complainant on 141st Street requested roadside assistance.
April 10
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue requested assistance from another department.
•Complainant on 141st Street requested roadside assistance.
April 10
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue requested assistance from another department.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported property damage.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and 81st Street, Beaver Creek, reported an abandoned vehicle.
•Complainant on N. Estey Street and Luverne Street reported burning.
•Complainant on 170th Avenue and 251St Street, Edgerton, reported flooding.
•Complainant on Church Avenue, Hills, reported a parking issue.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 8, Luverne, reported a miscellaneous public assist.
April 11
•A warrant was issued on W. Hatting Street.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue requested assistance from another department.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported trespassing.
April 12
•A warrant was issued at W. Hatting Street.
•A fire was reported at 60th Avenue, Hills.
•An outage was reported at Highway 75 and Fletcher Street.
•Complainant on W. Luverne Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant reported an outage.
April 13
•Complainant at Redbird Field reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on W. Interstate Drive reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant reported drugs.
•Complainant reported narcotics.
In addition, officers responded to 2 motor vehicle accidents, 1 vehicle in the ditch, 2 transports, 1 escort, 8 ambulance runs, 5 paper services, 3 animal complaints, 29 burn permits, 11 purchase and carry permits, 34 traffic stops, 18 abandoned 911 calls, 1 OFP and 1 follow-up.

Luverne firefighters had a busy Monday when they were dispatched to a barn and grass fire on the heels of a truck fire.
At around 10 a.m. the Luverne Fire Department and emergency responders were sent to a truck fire west of Luverne on County Road 5.
The driver of the Buffalo Ridge truck, Jason Lindquist, of Pipestone, said he heard a clunking sound under the hood as he was driving down the road.
He discovered a fire and attempted to put it out with an extinguisher but ended up calling for help.
By the time firefighters arrived, the semi was fully engulfed in flames, and it took them about a half hour to completely extinguish the blaze.
Only a few hours later, the Luverne Fire Department was dispatched to a blaze northwest of Luverne that was reported as a grass/barn fire at 1371 120th Ave. Luverne.
The fire, reported at 1:45 p.m., was caused by a burning tree pile that got out of control and spread to the barn, which appeared to be a total loss.

The Hills Area Fire Department spent four hours at the Norm Sjaarda farm north of Hills fighting a fire involving large hay bales.
Fire chief Jared Rozeboom said his department received the call at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 12.
The farm is located along County Road 6 near 51st Street in Martin Township.
The Beaver Creek Fire Department provided mutual aid.
“The downside of a hay fire is that you can’t put them out without a whole lot of work,” Rozeboom said.
He surmised a piece of metal in one of the bales went through the bale grinder at the feedlot, providing the spark for the fire.
“They’re pretty sure it wasn’t a mechanical failure, just metal went through the grinder,” he said.
Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading as the bales were opened and allowed to burn themselves out.
No livestock was affected by the fire.
A hoop building near the grinding area was lost.

The driver of the pickup truck that hit a garage last week in Luverne was issued a citation for reckless driving, according to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge.
He said 44-year-old Jesse Cody, Brandon, missed the curve on West Main Street Tuesday morning, April 11, and barreled across the boulevards to the northeast.
The 2020 Chevy pickup took out a light pole across the street from Rock County Opportunities and hit a tree at Main and Walnut streets before crashing through the garage wall on Davidson Street and landing inside the structure on its side.
Law enforcement and emergency responders were dispatched to the crash scene where they found Cody walking away from the twisted, mangled vehicle.
Verbrugge said Cody had been in Brandon 20 minutes prior to the crash. He’d been working out at a fitness facility but doesn’t remember how he ended up in Luverne or why.
“It’s possible there was some kind of medical thing going on with him,” Verbrugge said Tuesday, April 18, after reviewing the report.
EMS personnel tended to Cody at the scene, and he was taken to Sanford Luverne ER by ambulance where he was treated and released.
The property is owned by Lowell and Roni Feit who weren’t there at the time of the crash. No one else was injured.
The Rock County Sheriff's Office reported speed as a factor in the crash. A reckless driving citation can result in fines and fees up to $1,000.
Verbrugge said Cody and his auto insurance will be responsible for property damage.

Monday, April 24: Asian chicken, rice pilaf, peas and carrots, peaches, bread.
Tuesday, April 25: Pasta in meat sauce, green beans, pineapple chunks, bread stick, dessert.
Wednesday, April 26: Meatloaf, baked potato with sour cream, pears, bread, bar.
Thursday, April 27:
Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, California Normandy, bread, fresh fruit.
Friday, April 28: Chicken ala king, brown rice, broccoli cuts, fruit cocktail, cookie.
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.

Earlier in March I gave you nature indicators when to plant what for your vegetable garden.
I was reminded when I saw all the pre-emergent crabgrass preventer in stores that I had not given you that indicator, which is when the lilac buds are ready to open, but not yet open.
Crabgrass is an annual weed, and the seed will not germinate until the ground is warm. These preventers are pre-emergent, meaning that you have to have it applied prior to the seeds germinating … too late and it isn’t effective, too early and rain could potentially move it down into the soil too deep to be preventative. If you’re on schedule, the lilacs don’t and won’t lie!
If you have summer- to fall-blooming perennials that need to be thinned or moved, ie: asters, daylilies, phlox, ornamental grass, hosta, sedum, mums, etc., get that job done in the next week, or wait until late summer. For spring-blooming perennials like peonies and bearded iris, wait to transplant or thin until mid-August.
     While cleaning up your flower garden, if you have had a problem with iris borers in your German bearded iris, now is when you want to do a thorough cleanup of ALL of last year’s stems and leaves.  The borers lay their eggs in the leaves, and that carries them into the next season.  Getting rid of all of those leaves now will likely eliminate most reinfections by the pest.
If you have a strawberry patch that is getting too thick, you can thin it now.
My experience is that after the plants have been producing for four years, they tend to become too thick, resulting in a decline in production and quality of the berries. I plan for this by rooting runners in 1-quart pots of soil in August. After about four to six weeks, those new plants will have become established and those babies can be planted in a new area.
It is best when renewing strawberries to move the patch to a new area to eliminate root and leaf diseases that can and will plague older plants. Thus, my thinning is actually a total renewal.
Yes, it is work but if I’m after quality berries, it is so worth the effort.
I grow a variety called Seascape, which is an everbearer, meaning that the plants bloom and produce a crop in June and then come back into production in August and continue until cold weather prevents their ripening.

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 September 16, 1943.
(Continued from last week.)
Mr. and Mrs. Scott (Abraham and Lou) were married at Gettysburg, Pa., March 3, 1890, and then moved to Dixon, Ill., where they lived 16 years, seven of which they lived on a dairy farm owned by the Borden Company. They milked 36 cows by hand and when they were done, they had 11 ten-gallon cans filled to capacity. Their morning milking would be done by 6 a.m. and then Mr. Scott would load the cans into a wagon and drive to Dixon where the condensed milk factory was located.
“I really had some cold trips sometimes,” Mr. Scott recalls. “In the winter time, especially when the wind was cold, I really hated to cross the bridge there at Dixon, as that seemed to be colder than any other place in the country.”
Mr. and Mrs. Scott worked in partnership with I.B. Countryman in Illinois, and it was he who induced them to come to Minnesota to live. He had a farm near Hardwick, and in 1905, they moved there. They were almost ready to turn back after their first year, because it was such a change from what they were accustomed to in either Illinois or Pennsylvania. Their first corn crop turned out to produce nothing but husk, and the land was not as desirable as it later was because it had not been tiled. Conditions improved the following year, and they finally made up their minds to stay.
They farmed until 1920, and then moved to Hardwick, which has since been their home. It was there they observed their golden wedding anniversary three years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott were the parents of four sons, only one of whom is now living. He is Byron J. Scott, of Hardwick. They have five grandchildren.
Mrs. Scott has two brothers living. They are Frank Manahan, of Dayton, Ohio. There were five in the family at one time. Mr. Scott has two sisters living. They are Mrs. Mary De Lapp, and Elizabeth Scott, both of Harrisburg, Pa. There were seven children in the Scott family.
 
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.