Part-time Orv's employee Ray Roning, Hills, (left) and David Smedsrud, Luverne, sit at picnic table beside Orv's Station in Hills enjoying the sunshine and mild temperatures Tuesday. They, like most area residents, hope spring is here to stay!

Turn off the TV, turn on creativity

Sunday's episode of the X-Files was about a little boy whose creative imagination got him into trouble.

X-File viewers won't find the plot odd, but the boy could cause dreadful things to happen to people he didn't like just by imagining them.

I didn't see the whole episode, but I caught the last scene, which showed the boy seated in a recliner in the middle of a large, dark room facing an entire wall of television screens, each airing their own broadcasts.

It was a logical way to prevent more ill from befalling other unsuspecting victims: simply stifle the boy's imagination with TV. Brilliant.

It's ironic a TV show would make the point that TV stifles imagination, but the point arrives just in time for National TV-Turnoff Week, which starts Monday, April 22.

If Jonathan misbehaves, our first choice of punishment is grounding him from TV, which he views in limited quantities as it is.

While it's an unpleasant for him to miss a few Cartoon Network shows, wonderful things happen in our house when the TV is off. Books open up, Crayola markers and crayons find their way to blank sheets of paper, and talks of kindergarten capers unfold.

Next week, local elementary students will join thousands of schools, libraries and community groups nationwide in a coordinated effort to encourage millions of families to turn off their TV sets for seven days.

TV-Turnoff Week focuses not only on the general poor quality of TV programmin, but on the excessiv quantity most Americans watch - an average of four hours a day according to Nielson Media Research. All that time adds up to lost opportunities for reading, conversing, participating, thinking and creating.

On Friday, students will come home from school with yellow tally cards to record the total number of minutes watched. There will be special prizes awarded for students who watch no TV or less then 60 minutes during TV-Turnoff Week. They're also asked to refrain from videos, movies, computer games, Game Boys, Nintendo or similar media for the week.

To help fill the "four-hour" per day void, school volunteers Carol Morgan and Barb Golla have contacted various businesses and organizations to participate in TV-Turnoff Week. Special events will be offered to families either free or at reduced rates.

Their List here.

Just looking at the community calendar in the Star Herald, I see plenty of additional opportunities:

Family Reading Night is from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the elementary school

The elementary school Spring Fever Dance will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26.

The Green Earth Players musical production of "Oliver!" is at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the High School Theater.

If you're not event-oriented, the Blue Mounds State Park is a great place to hang out - whether you make a camping trip out of it, or just take a walk along the cliffline or water front.

Regardless of how you spend your TV time, make sure it's quality time, because when and if the TV comes back on, those creative opportunities will again be gone.

Send Lori an e-mail

Vickerman and Winter announce re-election intentions
The current incumbents to the Minnesota House and Senate, Sen. Jim Vickerman and Rep. Ted Winter, both announced this week that they will seek re-election to their positions.

Vickerman
Vickerman was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1986 and re-elected in '90, '92, '96, and in 2000.

He currently chairs the State and Government Operations Committee, is Vice-Chair of the Legislative Commissioner on Minnesota Resources and serves on the Senate Tax, Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resource Committees.

Vickerman said that the rural economy and the quality and availability of health care in rural communities are his top priorities.

Vickerman was a farmer and former county commissioner before being elected to the Senate.

Winter
Rep. Ted Winter, who has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 1986, also announced his re-election plans.

Winter, a family farmer from the Fulda area, stated that he would continue working to help "Main Street" businesses and farms prosper and meet the education, transportation and health care needs of rural Minnesota.

Winter serves on the Rules and Legislative Administration, Taxes, property tax division and sales tax division.

Winter points to his efforts in the passage of the biodiesel legislation as a major accomplishment.

The measure would require the use of soy-based biodiesel oil in diesel fuel sold in Minnesota beginning in 2005.

Restoring cuts in nursing home funding and education would be priorities on WinterÕs agenda in the next session.

USDA to conduct farm identification survey
The USDA will begin its 2002 farm survey beginning this month.

The survey includes 500,000 potential farms and ranches in the US, including nearly 7,000 in Minnesota.

The surveys should come in the mail over the next two weekends.

According to the USDA, the intent of the survey is to identify agricultural operations for the 2002 Census of Agriculture.

In a recent announcement, the USDA emphasized that many people who do not consider themselves to be farmers or ranchers actually qualify as a farm and are important to the 2002 survey.

The survey consists of seven short questions, which help determine the status of agriculture in the country.

The farm identification survey takes less than five minutes to complete and comes with a self-addressed postage-paid envelope.

Responses to this survey and the 2002 Census of Agriculture are mandatory under the law, which also assures that the information will remain confidential.

The 2002 Census of Agriculture forms will be sent out in December to 2.75 million potential farms and ranches.

Inmates paying their own way?
Locking up criminals is an expensive proposition.

And with the current budget problems legislators are considering a bill aimed at the high cost of holding criminals and making them accountable for their actions.

A bill that would allow counties to collect room, board, clothing, medical, dental, and other correctional services for convicted offenders spending time in a county jail, workhouse, or correctional farm is now the law.

The law goes into effect Aug 1.

The payments can be made during the sentence or after it has been served.

If a court has ordered restitution to be paid, that obligation will take precedence over the paying for room and board.

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

Dean Jorgenson, 90, Mesa, Ariz., formerly from the Rock County area, died Monday, April 15, 2002, in his home.

Dean Raymond Jorgenson was born to Raimer and Minnie (Savold) Jorgenson on July 16, 1911, at his parentsÕ home in Hills. He was baptized in Hills by the Rev. J.H. Lunde. The family moved to a farm in Rock County near Jasper when he was a small child. He was confirmed at Rose Dell Lutheran Church, Jasper, by the Rev. L.P. Lund on July 5, 1925. He graduated from Jasper High School in 1928.

He married Alta Carlson on Jan. 23, 1935, at the parsonage in Luverne. The Rev. L.P. Lund officiated. He farmed near Jasper and Garretson, S.D., for 15 years. He then sold cars and machinery for Thone Implement and Johnson and Olson in Luverne. He was the field office manager of Production Credit Association, Rock County, from 1956 to 1976. He retired in August 1976 and moved to Fountain of the Sun in Mesa in 1977.

Mr. Jorgenson was a charter member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. He was a member of the Luverne Rotary Club until he moved. He also served on the Board of Regents of Bethany College in Mankato.

Survivors include his wife, Alta Jorgenson, Mesa; two sons, Dr. Dennis (Lois) Jorgenson, Norwood, and Dr. Bruce Jorgenson, Las Vegas, Nev.; one daughter, Mary (Arlen) Edmundson, Gilbert, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dale (Doris) Jorgenson, Chandler, Ariz., and one sister, June Nelson, Luverne.

Mr. Jorgenson was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Clayton, Robert and Wayne.

Services for Arnold Hansen will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2002, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. Visitation will be for one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Arnold K. Hansen, 83, Luverne, died Monday, April 22, 2002, in Luverne Community Hospital.

Arnold Hansen was born to Thomas and Alma (Dahl) Hansen on March 19, 1919, in Sycamore, Ill. As a boy he moved with his family to Crookston. He graduated from Crookston High School and then attended two years of agricultural college. In the early 1940s he moved to the Luverne-Hardwick area to help his parents on their farm.

He married Mardella Swenson on Feb. 14 1943, in Luverne. He continued to help on his parents' farm. In 1953 he bought the farm from his parents. He retired from farming in 1984. After his retirement he still enjoyed mowing the grass at the farm and spent many hours tinkering and tuning his mowers.

Mr. Hansen was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. He served on the Creamery Board and the Mound Township Board.

Survivors include his wife, Mardella Hansen, Luverne; two sons, Dave (Mary) Hansen, Luverne, and Dan (Darcie) Hansen, Jasper; two daughters, Diane Vanden Hoek, Luverne, and Darla (Brian) Steeneck, Alcester, S.D.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Broman, Willmar, and Florence (Ted) Brouwer, Annandale; several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Mr. Hansen was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son.

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

By Jolene Farley
Construction on a fire hall and city office facility in Beaver Creek is delayed because the council received no bids on the project, according to Beaver Creek Mayor Al Blank.

"We had some problems at the last meeting," he said. The council met on Tuesday, April 16.

Contractors were unhappy with building plans the city provided for the bidding process, according to Blank.

They were concerned bathrooms wouldnÕt pass handicap accessibility code requirements.

The council is currently interviewing architects to rework the plans.

"Hopefully, we'll get it bid again sometime in May," said Blank.

In October 2001, the city of Beaver Creek and Beaver Creek Township agreed to trade property located on Main Street in Beaver Creek.

Beaver Creek Township received the City Hall building and a vacant lot to the east of the building on which they built a new maintenance building.

The city of Beaver Creek received the township building where they plan to build the new fire hall and city office.

Luverne's Colby Anderson studies the green before putting in Monday's golf match against Windom at the Luverne Country Club. Anderson helped the Cardinals win their first Southwest Conference match since the 2000 season by shooting a par 36 on his home course.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne boys' golf team turned in solid performances on three different courses since last Thursday.

The Cardinals edged Tracy-Milroy-Balaton by one stroke in Tracy Thursday before posting their first conference win in two seasons at home against Windom Monday. The winning streak ended with an eight-stroke loss in Marshall Tuesday.

Luverne, 4-7 overall and 1-2 in the loop, hosts Redwood Valley today, Lincoln HI tomorrow and Hull (Iowa) Western Christian Tuesday.

Marshall 159, Luverne 167
The home-standing Tigers stopped Luverne's two-match winning streak by upending the Cardinals by eight strokes in a Southwest Conference match Tuesday.

Tiger Chad Michelson led the hosts to victory by firing a medal-earning round of 38 strokes.

Eric Lammert and Pete Connell shot four-over-par 40s to lead the Cards, while Colby Anderson and Steven Berghorst contributed 41- and 46-stroke totals to the team tally.

Tony Smedsrud and Jesson Vogt shot 47- and 50-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.

The Marshall B squad handed Luverne a 183-200 setback. Andy Haakenson shot a 48 for Luverne.

Luverne 167, Windom 171
The Cardinals posted their first Southwest Conference win since the 2000 season when they upended the Eagles by four strokes at the Luverne Country Club Monday.

With Colby Anderson leading the charge with an even par 36-stroke round, the Cards beat a SWC for the first time in two years.

Jesson Vogt and Tony Smedsrud contributed 42- and 44-stroke rounds to Luverne's winning team tally.

Eric Lammert and Steven Berghorst carded 45s for the Cards, while Pete Connell turned in a 51.

Luverne fielded a complete B team against in an incomplete Windom team. Andy Haakenson shot a 46 to pace the Cards.

Luverne 177, T-M-B 178
The Cardinals opened their busy six-day stretch by nipping the Panthers by one stroke in Tracy Thursday.

Luverne's Colby Anderson shot a three-over-par 39 on a windy day to capture medal honors for the Cards.

In a one-stroke match, the scores of Luverne's next three low players were equally important to the cause. Steven Berghorst, Tony Smedsrud and David Nelson added 44-, 46- and 48-stroke rounds to the winning cause.

Pete Connell and Eric Lammert shot 49s without contributing to Luverne's team effort.

Jordan Roots shot a six-over-par 42 to pace T-M-B.

Luverne's B and C squads posted respective 192-224 and 222-237 victories over T-M-B. Austin Hoiland shot a 45 to led the B team, while Brent Fransen carded a 52 to pace the C team.

Luverne's Scott Goebel (center) leads the pack during the first lap of the 800-meter run during Saturday's Tri-State Relays in Luverne. Goebel won the race, and the Cardinals won the meet's team title for the first time in the eventÕs nine-year history.

By John Rittenhouse
The 2002 boys' track team accomplished something on Saturday that no other past Luverne team could at Cardinal Field.

The Cardinals have hosted the Tri-State Relays since 1994, but this proved to be the first year the boys won a team championship in the nine-year history of the event.

Luverne tallied 220.5 points to run away from runner-up Canby-Minneota, which scored 116.5 counters.

Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth (100.5), Canton (68.5), Adrian (61), Southwest Star Concept-Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster (50) and Edgerton (15) also attended the meet.

Winning the T-SR was something that was on the minds of all Cardinals during the week leading up to the event. They got the job done with a solid team effort.

"Winning this meet definitely was one of our goals," said LHS coach Craig Nelson. "We talked about how we never have won it before last week and how nice it would be to win it. The boys followed through with their hard work on a cold and windy day. I'm really proud of that."

Capturing nine event titles paved the way to victory for LHS.

Craig Bosch and Andrew Norton won two individual events each. Bosch took top honors in the shot put and discus with respective 49-5 1/5 and 158-0 tosses. Norton won the high (5-10) and triple jumps (40-6 1/2).

Travis Johnson, Tom Sandager and Scott Goebel won individual running events. Johnson ran 200 meters in 24.22, Sandager 400 meters in 54.19 and Goebel 800 meters in 2:14.21.

Tim Rust, who placed second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.14, cleared 8-6 to take top honors in the pole vault.

Luverne also fielded the winning 800-meter relay team. Johnson, Tyler Elbers, Chris Morgan and Sandager turned in a 1:38.06 time in the 800.

Goebel (5:06.72 in the 1,600) Marcus Walgrave (55.91 in the 400), Morgan (46.12 in the 300 hurdles), Ruston Aaker (8-0 in the pole vault) and Norton (19-4 1/4 in the long jump) all placed second in individual events.

Luverne's 1,600-meter relay team of Johnson, Elbers, Norton and Sandager placed second in 3:43.57.

The LHS boys will compete at the Worthington Invitational and the Arrow Relays in Pipestone today and Tuesday respectively.

Here is a look at the rest of Luverne's top-eight finishers during the T-SR.

Third place: 3,200 relay (Nick Otten, Kyle Bitterman, Jamison Tooley and Aaker), 9:31.27; Otten, 800, 2:19.02; Elbers, high jump, 5-2; Ryan Wynia, pole vault, 8-0.

Fourth place: Bitterman, pole vault, 8-0; Cody Gehrke, 100, 12.29; Tooley, 1,600, 5:32.34; 400 relay (Gehrke, Elbers, Bitterman and Morgan), 51.35.

Fifth place: Ben Peters, 100, 12.7; Aaker, 400, 58.81; Peters, 200, 26.21; 1,600 relay (Goebel, Aaker, Jerome Willers and Otten), 4:06.8; Michael Nelson, pole vault, 7-0.

Sixth place: 400 relay (Wynia, Jordan Siebenahler, Brandon Johnson and Peters), 53.78; Bitterman, 800, 2:27.43; Tim Schneekloth, 3,200, 12:46.6; Gehrke, shot, 36-2.

Seventh place: Jon May, 3,200, 13:02.69.

Eighth place: Willers, 100, 12.91; Willers, 400, 1:03.46; Siebenahler, 200, 27.6; B.Johnson, discus, 96-8.

Amending redistricting of City Election Wards Ordinance
ORDINANCE NO. 247, THIRD SERIES
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REDISTRICTING OF CITY ELECTION WARDS, AMENDING CITY CODE, SECTION 2.04
THE CITY OF LUVERNE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN:
SECTION 1. Whereas the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, has completed the 2000 Census, the City Council, in compliance with Minnesota Statutes 204B.135 and City Charter Section 1.05, hereby reapportions and redistricts the City election wards by the adoption of this ordinance.

SEC. 2. City Code, Sec. 2.04, is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
SEC. 2.04. ELECTION WARD BOUNDARIES. In compliance with State law and City Charter, the City of Luverne shall be divided into two wards by a line running generally in an easterly and westerly direction.

A. Ward Number 1 (North) shall consist of that portion of the City lying north of the following described line:

Commencing at the center line of Dodge Street and the west boundary of the City's corporate limits; thence east along the center line of said Dodge Street to the intersection of Kniss Avenue; thence south along the center line of Kniss Avenue to the intersection of Brown Street; thence east along the center line of Brown Street to the intersection of Blue Mound Avenue; thence south along the center line of Blue Mound Avenue to the intersection of Main Street; thence east along the center line of Main Street to the most easterly portion of the east boundary of the City's corporate limits.
B. Ward Number 2 (South) shall consist of all that part of the City which is not located within Ward Number 1 described above.

C. New Annexations. Unless otherwise specifically provided by ordinance, any newly annexed property to the City lying north of the dividing line between Ward Number 1 and Ward Number 2 and the easterly and westerly extensions thereof shall be upon such annexation a part of Ward Number 1, and any property lying south of said boundary line and the easterly and westerly extensions thereof shall upon said annexation be part of Ward Number 2.

D. This section shall be effective and shall govern the 2002 City and State primary election (September 10, 2002) and all elections held thereafter, and shall further, in accordance with the City Charter, govern the election of City officials to be elected at the City's general election in 2002 and thereafter.

SEC. 3. This ordinance takes full force and effect seven (7) days after its publication.
(4-25)

Overgaard probate
DISTRICT COURT
FIFTH Judicial District
Probate Court Division
ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF ROCK
In Re: Estate of
Gordon Overgaard
Deceased
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:
It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 13th day of May, 2002, at 9:00 o'clock A.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named decedent, dated June 17, 1983, and for the appointment of Mabel Overgaard, whose address is 1009 N. Jackson Street, Luverne, MN 56156 as personal representative of the estate of the above named decedent in supervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, said personal representative will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the estate. Upon completion of the administration the representative shall file a final account for the allowance and shall distribute the estate to the persons thereunto entitled as ordered by the Court, and close the estate.

Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.

Dated: April 5, 2002

TIMOTHY K. CONNELL
Judge
/s/ SANDRA L. VRTACNIK
Court Administrator
Attorney Walter A. Tofteland
109 North Cedar
Luverne, MN 56156
507-283-2112
MN Atty. Lic. No. 110279
(4-28, 5-2)