Time to order your Valentine Serenade
Singing volunteers will once again be serenading around town for the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center.

Whether it’s ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’ or ‘You Are My Sunshine’, your sweetie will love it.

Proceeds will go to the new assisted living building.

The serenade comes with either candy or a rose and is only delivered in Luverne.

If you want to surprise your parents, teachers, spouse, boss, employees or kids, call Nancy at 283-2375.

Efforts made to keep driver’s license stations open
The rural Minnesota driver’s license stations, which got a temporary reprieve a while back, may get another one.

Rep. Doug Magnus recently attached an amendment that will prevent the closure of any driver license examination stations until at least June 30, 2005.

Magnus said he introduced the bill "to prevent people from traveling 50 to 100 miles to take their driver test."

Magnus said his bill does not increase spending because it requires the Minnesota Department of Safety to make cuts elsewhere, and shift that funding to the exam stations.

The House, Senate and Governor will meet soon to compromise on a final balanced budget plan.

Magnus said he is confident his amendment will be included in the final bill.

Blood Bank is pleased with turnout
The Community Blood Bank, a joint venture between Sioux Valley and Avera McKennan Hospitals, announced 59 units of blood were collected in Luverne during their Jan. 29 blood drive.

According to Rita Nelson, Donor Recruitment Representative for the Blood Bank, that amount of blood will be able to help 177 seriously ill patients.

The Community Blood Bank is the sole provider to 25 different hospitals in the Tri-state region, including Luverne.

‘On Golden Pond’ auditions Sunday and Monday
While you’re at the Palace Theatre this weekend watching the 25 year history/talent show of the Green Earth Players, you may consider whether you should give acting a try.

If the answer is yes, ‘On Golden Pond’ may the vehicle for you.

GEP will hold auditions for ‘On Golden Pond’ at the Green Earth Players building, 1/2 block east of Glen’s on Lincoln Street.

Auditions will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, and 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10.

The performance will be April 4-6 and 11-13 at the Palace Theatre.

For more information, phone (507) 283-2765.

Need to organize your finances?
Every year when the New Year comes and goes, there are always resolutions left in its wake.

Quitting smoking and losing weight are usually at the top of the lists.

Getting finances in order is probably a close third, particularly after the excessive Christmas shopping you may have done.

According to Myvesta, a financial health center, 25 percent of people do not look at their credit card statement and 50 percent do not know what interest rate they are paying.

Four tips Myvesta suggests to help get your finances organized include:

Add up holiday bills, credit card bills and all other debts. List all your creditors and the interest rates you are paying on the debts.
Order a consoli-dated credit report, which contains information from all three major credit bureaus, and dispute any incorrect information you find.
Close unused lines of credit, but be careful not to close old accounts since they help your credit history.
Track your spending for at least a month to figure out where your money is going, then use that information to develop a plan to be debt free.

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

George Hisken, 88, Spring Park, formerly of the Rock County area, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, at Presbyterian Homes in Spring Park.

Services were Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo. The Rev. Don Ringnalda officiated. Burial was in Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens, Montevideo.

George Hisken was born to Ben and Gertrude (Smook) Hisken on July 11, 1914, in Adrian.

He married Margaret E. Spiekert on Feb. 3, 1937, at Zoar Presbyterian Church in George, Iowa. He farmed in Pipestone, Ellsworth, and Little Rock, Iowa, for many years.

Mr. Hisken taught Sunday School for most of his life and was a trustee, deacon and elder of his church. He was also a member of the Gideons in Montevideo.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra (Howard) Young, Waconia, and Janice Mulligan, Seattle, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Michael and Richelle Erickson, Nancy and Todd Ehret, Chris, Laura and Sarah Mulligan; one stepgrandson, Phillip (Melissa) Young; four great-grandsons, Collin and Connor Ehret, Samuel Erickson and Dylan Dority; sister and brother-in-law, Adeline and Ray Boelman, Ellsworth; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Fanny Hisken, Luverne, Mabel Beek, Lucille and Russ Brigs, all of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Rachael Brunsma, Davenport, Iowa; and nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Mr. Hisken was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Margaret, one brother, Harm Hisken, and one sister, Helen Boyer.

Johnson Funeral Home, Waconia, was in charge of arrangements.

Beatrice E. Erwin, 86, Hayfield, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield, where she had been a resident for the past five years.

Services were Saturday, Feb. 1, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Heruth officiated. Burial was in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Beatrice Streeter was born to Leonard and Margaret (Crowley) Streeter in Lamberton and later moved with her family to Worthington.

She married Charles A. Erwin on Oct. 9, 1934, in Sibley, Iowa. They lived in Sioux Falls, S.D., for three years after they were married before moving to Omaha, Neb. The couple returned to Worthington where she continued to live while her husband served in the Army during World War II. They then moved to Fergus Falls for five years before going to Faribault and then moved to the Kasson area. She worked many years in the housekeeping department of St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. She moved to Hayfield after she retired. Mr. Erwin died in 1975.

Survivors include six sons, Thomas (Audrey) Erwin, Dodge Center, Charles (Vicky) Erwin, Farmington, Joseph (Susan) Erwin, Luverne, Patrick Erwin, Cannon Falls, Gene Erwin, Byron, and Roger Erwin, South Dakota; eight daughters, Charlotte (Marvin) Tiesler, Logansville, Ga., Janice (Phillip) Nau, Ocheyedan, Iowa, Rosemary (Larry) Thostenson, Maple Grove, Connie (John) Miller, Donna (Mike) Taft, all of Sioux Falls, S.D., Linda (Alan) Krueger, Lexington, Ky., Kathy (Dan) Johnson, Waltham, and Sandy (Jon) Riedel, Kasson; 34 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Florence Norton, Woodbury, Ill.

Mrs. Erwin was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three sons, two grandchildren and one brother.

Czaplewski Family Funeral Home, Hayfield, was in charge of arrangements.

Dallis Frakes, 67, Luverne, died Friday, Feb. 7 in Orlando, Fla. Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Gary Klatt officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Donald Ray Kruger, 56, died Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Luverne Community Hospital. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 7 form 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Valley Springs, with Rev. Ray Heidenson officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Services for Henrietta Wagenaar are at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at First Baptist Church, in Luverne. The Rev. Rick Cornish will officiate.

Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home. Visitation will also be one hour prior to services at the church.

Henrietta Wagenaar, 78, Luverne, died Tuesday, Feb. 4 2003, at Luverne Hospice Cottage.

A full obituary will be printed in next week’s Star Herald edition.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, is in charge of arrangements.

Patricia Koehn Paske, 83, Lakeville, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003.

Memorial services were Thursday, Jan. 30, at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville.

Patricia Koehn was born to Ray and Jeanette Koehn in Luverne.

After raising her family she pursued a business career and was active in her church and community.

Survivors include her husband, Arthur F. Paske, one son, Thomas Paske, one daughter-in-law, Charlotte Paske; one granddaughter, Mikki; and one sister, Dorothy Stager.

Mrs. Paske was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Richard Ray Paske. Memorials preferred to Luverne Dollars for Scholars and Alumni News.

Joseph A. Erwin Sr., 58, Luverne, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the Veteran’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Wednesday, Feb. 5, at First Assembly of God Church in rural Luverne. Military honors and burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Joseph Erwin was born to Charles and Beatrice (Streeter) Erwin on Nov. 14, 1944, in Omaha, Neb. He attended public school in Worthington. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967.

He married Susan A. Swenson on July 27, 1973, in Hardwick. The couple first lived in Pipestone, later moved to Luverne, Shakopee, Beaver Creek, and then returned to Luverne. He worked as a truck driver until he retired in 1982.

Survivors include his wife, Susan Erwin, Luverne; three sons, Joseph (Sheila) Erwin Jr., Rushmore, Brian Erwin, Luverne, and Lowell (Paula) VonHoldt, Milford, Iowa; two daughters, Christina Erwin (Gene McClain), Wilmont, and Michelle Erwin, Luverne; four grandchildren; five brothers. Thomas (Audrey) Erwin, Dodge Center, Charles (Vicki) Erwin, Farmington, Patrick Erwin, Cannon Falls, Gene Erwin, Byron, and Roger Erwin, South Dakota; eight sisters, Charlotte (Marvin) Tiesler, Logansville, Ga., Janice (Phillip) Nau, Ocheyedan, Iowa, Rosemary (Larry) Thostenson, Maple Grove, Connie (John) Miller, Donna (Mike) Taft, all of Sioux Falls, S.D., Linda (Alan) Krueger, Lexington, Ky., Kathy (Dan) Johnson, Waltham, and Sandy (Jon) Riedel, Kasson; and his mother and father-in-law, Merlyn and Lavonne Schmidt, Luverne.

Mr. Erwin was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Eddie, Jim and Billy Erwin, and two nieces.

The family would prefer memorials in lieu of flowers or plants.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
The Adrian wrestling team capped a 16-11 regular season by splitting home matches staged since last Thursday.

The Dragons fell by 16 points to Minneota Thursday before roasting Tracy-Milroy by 39 points Tuesday.

Adrian opens Section 4A Team Tournament competiton Feb. 13 in Adrian. The fourth-seeded Dragons take on No. 5 Wabasso for a 7 p.m. match.

Adrian 51, T-M 12
The Dragons recovered from an early deficit to best the Panthers by 39 points in Adrian Tuesday.

Trailing 9-3 after the 119-pound match, Adrian bounced back to outscore T-M 48-3 the rest of the way by winning 10 of the final 11 matches.

The run features pins from Brandon Bullerman (38 seconds over James Prairie at 125), Nate Engelkes (1:29 over Austin Skoblik at 152), Brandon Schettler (1:41 over Brett Petersen at 189), Levi Bullerman (3:27 over Mike Schreier at 215) and Josh Winselman (2:33 over Kong Her at heavyweight).

Dragons Dusty Bullerman (10-1 over Andy Nelson at 135), Adam Voss (13-4 over Paul Carlson at 145) and Trent Bullerman (13-4 over Tim Byrne at 171) added major decision victories to the run. Pete Jensen bested Cody Arnold 13-6 at 130, and Cody Reverts nipped Andy Byrne 9-6 at 140 to pad the rally.

T-M’s Scott Torkelson kept AHS from winning the final 11 matches by topping Tyler Wolf 6-2 at 160.

Adrian’s Joey Bullerman edged Cole Cooreman 10-8 in overtime at 103 pounds to give AHS a 3-0 lead that was erased when Chad Cooreman beat Brandon Croat 7-2 at 112 and Adam Snyder pinned Josh Croat in 1:35 at 119.

Match wrap-up
103 (A) B.Bullerman dec.
Cooreman.
112 (T) Cooreman dec. B.Croat.
119 (T) Snyder pins J.Croat.
125 (A) B.Bullerman pins Prairie.
130 (A) Jensen dec. Arnold.
135 (A) D.Bullerman m.d. Nelson.
140 (A) Reverts dec. Byrne.
145 (A) Voss m.d. Carlson.
152 (A) Engelkes pins Skoblik.
160 (T) Torkelson dec. Wolf.
171 (A) T.Bullerman m.d. Byrne.
189 (A) Schettler pins Petersen.
215 (A) L.Bullerman pins Schreier.
275 (A) Winselman pins Her.

Minneota 36,
Adrian 20
A late run by the visiting Vikings gave Minneota a 16-point win over the Dragons in Adrian Friday.

Minneota was clinging to a 15-14 edge after Adrian’s Cody Reverts handed Wade Eischens a 4-1 setback at 140 pounds, but the Vikings won six of the final seven matches of the night to seal the victory.

Minneota’s late surge, in which it outscored AHS 21-6, featured major decision wins from Todd Opdahl (13-1 over Clint Metz at 145), Wade Gillund (19-5 over Nate Engelkes at 160) and Craig Myhre (13-4 over Brandon Schettler at 189). Vikings’ Jason Stripling (5-2 over Tyler Wolf at 152), Mark Olson (6-0 over Cody Lutmer at 215) and Ben Derynck (3-2 over Josh Winselman at heavyweight) added decision wins to the rally.

Levi Bullerman kept the Vikings from winning the last seven matches when he pinned Tony Opdahl in 3:00 at 171.

The teams exchanged alternating wins between 103 and 135 pounds.

Adrian received major decision wins from Joey Bullerman (12-4 over Craig Peterson at 103) and Dusty Bullerman (9-1 over Shawn Gossen at 130), and a 5-0 decision victory from Brandon Bullerman over Derek Stripling at 119.

Minneota picked up pins from Anthony Myhre (1:19 over Brandon Croat at 112) and Todd Traen (3:54 over Pete Jensen at 125), and a 5-3 decision win from Rickey Peterson over Adam Voss at 135.

Match wrap-up
103 (A) J.Bullerman m.d. Peterson.
112 (M) Myhre pins Croat.
119 (A) B.Bullerman dec. Stripling.
125 (M) Traen pins Jensen.
130 (A) D.Bullerman m.d. Gossen.
135 (M) Peteson dec. Voss.
140 (A) Reverts dec. Eischens.
145 (M) Opdahl m.d. Metz.
152 (M) Stripling dec. Wolf.
160 (M) Gillund m.d. Engelkes.
171 (A) L.Bullerman pins Opdahl.
189 (M) Myhre m.d. Schettler.
215 (M) Olson dec. Lutmer.
275 (M) Derynck dec. Winselman.