The Great Plains Oliver Club sponsored Plow Day on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Bill Kroon farm near Steen. Collectors from South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa participated with 10 Oliver tractors plowing and 48 people attending. The event is a chance to "travel back in time," according to Bill Kroon. "Not many people plow anymore," he said. "It was an opportunity to get people together and play in the dirt." Vicki Bennet and Jason Kroon help Bruce, Vicki's husband, plow a straight line. Vicki is Bill Kroon's niece visiting from Boston, Mass.

Charlotte Marshall Phalen, 87, Carson City, Nev., a native of Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001, in Carson City.

Services were Saturday, Sept. 1, at Walton's Carson Gardens in Carson City.

Charlotte Marshall was born to William and Ada Marshall on June 6, 1914, on a farm near Luverne. She attended rural school District 24 in Rock County and graduated from Luverne High School in 1931. She received a two-year diploma from Winona Teachers College in 1933 and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, Nev., in 1958 with a bachelor of science in elementary education. She taught in rural school in Pipestone and Rock County for 15 years and Hawthorne, Nev., Elementary School for 21 years.

She married Joseph Phalen on Nov. 3, 1934, in Luverne. They lived in Jasper from 1938 to 1953 and then moved to Hawthorne.

They moved to Carson City in 1974 to enjoy their retirement years. Mrs. Phalen was active as a volunteer and a member of educational and retirement groups in Carson City. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Carson City.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Delores and Don Pringle, Carson City, Azalia and Roy Alexander, Towanda, Kan., and Cheryl and Danny Nelson, Elk Grove, Calif.; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Phalen was preceded in death by her husband in 1991.

Oliver W. Albee, 83, Amiret, died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001, at Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne
Services were Monday, Sept. 10, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Marshall. Burial was in Marshall Cemetery.

Oliver Wesley Albee was born to John Henry and Annabell (Killius) Albee on Aug. 8, 1918, in Sodus Township, Lyon County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith. He attended country school. He entered the Army Air Corps on May 30, 1942. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 10, 1945.
He married Carrie Menuey Prescott on Feb. 17, 1948, in the Methodist church in Sioux Falls, S.D. They farmed in Sodus Township until he retired in 1985 but remained on the farm and spent many winters in Apache Junction, Ariz.

He enjoyed playing cards, old time music, dancing, fishing and just visiting with friends. He also enjoyed watering his son JohnÕs calves and playing with the dogs.

Survivors include his wife, Carrie Albee, Tracy; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Floyd and Betty (Paxton) Albee, Rochester, Jim and Monica (Lipinski) Albee, Marshall, and John Albee, Tracy; two daughters, Linda Shaw, Helena, Mont., and Susan Schmidt, Hudson, Wis.; foster children, Gene and Elsa Wilson, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Ronnie Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; five foster grandchildren; and one sister, Mildred Wendorff, Tracy.

Mr. Albee was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Lloyd, two sisters, Viola Wendorff and June McDaniel and an infant sister.

Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home, Marshall, was in charge of arrangements.

Mildred Dohlmann, 80, Magnolia, died Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home, Ellsworth. Services will be Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Magnolia Methodist Church with Rev. Chris Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Luverne Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday, Sept. 17 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne.

Kathleen Johnson, 44, Hardwick, died Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Luverne Community Hospital. Funeral mass will be Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Luverne, with Rev. Andrew Beerman officiating. Burial will be at St. Catherine's Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 14 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne.

Minnie J. Wood, 86, Truman, died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001, at Lutheran Retirement Home in Truman. She was the mother of Marge Noll of Luverne.

Services were Saturday, Sept. 8, at St. PaulÕs Lutheran Church in Truman. Burial was in Ridgelawn Memorial Park at Truman.

Minnie Johanna Themer was born to John and Minnie (Miller) Themer on Aug. 5, 1915, in Waverly Township, Martin County. She attended school in Truman and graduated from Truman High School in 1933 where she was class valedictorian. She then worked at WolfÕs Grocery and Huemoeller Hardware in Truman.

She married Harold Raymond Wood on June 27, 1937, in Waverly Township. They operated a feed grinding business in the Truman area. In 1948 she worked as a bookkeeper for Bosshart Construction in Truman until her retirement in 1979. They wintered in Mesa, Ariz., for many years. Mr. Wood died Jan. 18, 1987. In 1993 she entered Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont and in 1996 she moved to the Lutheran Retirement Home in Truman.

Mrs. Wood was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Truman where she was active in the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Oles-Reader-Bosshart American Legion Post No. 115 Auxiliary and Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 36 Auxiliary. She was a past leader of Westford 4-H Club and a former member of Rose Lake Golf Club. She loved crossword puzzles, knitting, crocheting and golfing.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Marge and Dale Knoll, Luverne, and Darla and Darryl Vilt, Waseca; six grandchildren, Timothy and Sharon Knoll, Brandon, S.D., Amy and Sidney Fitch, Spencer, Iowa, Beth and Joshua Fleming, Las Vegas, Nev., Thomas and Janet Knoll, Woodbury, Christopher and Kimberly Vilt, Plainfield, Ill., and Gregory and Stacy Vilt, Waseca; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Duane (Darlene) Kahler, Truman, and Lester (Lillian) Kahler, Austin; one sister-in-law, Ione Gray, Truman; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Wood was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harold, one brother, Earl Themer, and one sister, Viola Barge.

Lakeview Funeral Home, Fairmont, was in charge of arrangements.

Adrian senior hitter Andrea Burzlaff slips the ball past a Jackson County Central blocker at the net during Tuesday's volleyball match in Adrian. The visiting Huskies swept a three-game match from the Dragons, who posted their first conference win since 1999 at home Thursday night.

By John Rittenhouse
The Adrian volleyball team experienced some ups and downs during the second week of the regular season.

The Dragons posted their first win of the season and first conference victory since 1999 when they nipped Red Rock Central in a five-game match played in Adrian Thursday.

Things went the other way for AHS when it went 0-5 during the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Tournament in Westbrook Saturday. The Dragons lost a three-game home match to Jackson County Central Tuesday.

Adrian, 1-8 overall, plays in Westbrook tonight before hosting Hills-Beaver Creek Tuesday.

JCC 3, Adrian 0
The Dragons couldn't keep the home momentum gained by beating RRC Thursday when they dropped a three-game match to the Huskies Tuesday.

JCC controlled play during the match by outscoring an uninspired AHS 45-14 in 15-2, 15-8 and 15-4 wins.

"The girls have to fire up, play with enthusiasm and communicate a little better on the floor," said Dragon coach Kim Hoff. "When we talk more on the floor, we play better. We also have to serve better than we did (AHS was 30 of 40 serving). Everyone missed at least one serve."

The Huskies raced to a 6-0 lead in Game 1 before Adrian's Becky Knips served an ace and another point to make it a 6-2 difference.

JCC, however, scored the next nine points to lock up a 13-point win.

The Huskies scored the first four points of Game 2, but the Dragons countered with a four-point run consisting of an ace tip and service point by Kelli Von Holtum, and service points by Andrea Burzlaff and Carmen Erlandson to knot the score at four.

JCC moved in front 6-4 moments later before Adrian used two ace serves and another point by Jenna Honermann to take its first lead of the match at 7-6.

Adrian's surge didn't last as JCC went on a 9-1 run the rest of the game to prevail by seven points.

Ace serves by Kylie Heronimus and Burzlaff gave AHS 1-0 and 4-3 cushions during the third game, but JCC scored the final 12 points to win by 11 counters.

Von Holtum and Heronimus led AHS with four and three kills respectively. Honermann was seven of eight serving and recorded 10 set assists. Erlandson was six of eight serving with five points.

W-WG tourney
The Dragons dropped five consecutive matches and placed fourth during Saturday's four-team tournament in Westbrook.

Taking on three Red Rock Conference foes, Adrian went 0-3 in round-robin action and dropped two more tests in the championship rounds.

The Dragons did force three-game matches in three of the five contests, but they couldn't break through and pick up a win.

"We played OK; we just didn't play well at the right times," said Dragon coach Hoff. "We need to become more of an offensive threat. We passed the ball pretty well, but we missed some important serves at crucial times. Our blocking is getting better. Defensively, we need to work on moving to the ball a little better."

Adrian took on W-WG to open the tournament and came up on the short end of 15-10 and 15-4 tallies.

After dropping 15-3 and 15-8 games to Murray County Central in the second round, the Dragons beat Fulda 15-4 in Game 1 of the third round before falling 15-11 and 15-9 in the final two tests.

Adrian was pitted against MCC in the semifinals of the championship round, and the Dragons opened the match with a 16-14 win. The Rebels, however, took the next two games by 15-2 and 15-9 tallies.

The Dragons beat Fulda 15-7 in the first game of the match for third and fourth place. The Raiders bounced back to win 15-13 and 15-11 in the final two games.

Kylie Heronimus had 26 kills and five ace blocks at the net, while Andrea Burzlaff recorded 12 blocks and 17 kills. Becky Knips had 13 kills and six blocks.

Jenna Honermann had 40 set assists for the Dragons, who could gain revenge against all three teams they faced Saturday.

"We battled hard and played each team pretty well. When we play them again in the regular season, the kids should feel good about their chances of beating them. We just have to make sure everyone is playing well," Hoff said.

Adrian 3, RRC 2
The Dragons accomplished something in their third outing that they were unable to do in the 2000 season.

Coming off a winless Red Rock Conference campaign last fall, the Dragons opened league play in style by nipping the defending RRC champion Falcons in a five-game match in Adrian Thursday.

The Dragons pulled out a tight 17-15 win in Game 1 before taking a 2-0 lead with a 15-9 victory in the second game.

RRC battled back to tie the match at two with 15-11 and 15-9 victories in Games 3 and 4, but Adrian prevailed 15-12 in the fifth game to win the match.

"It was very exciting," said Dragon coach Hoff. "We hung in there to win Game 1 and played well in Game 2, but the momentum switched, and we didn't play well in Games 3 and 4. In the fifth game, our passing was good and we played some scrappy defense."

Kylie Heronimus, who led AHS with 19 kills, put the ball away five times in the decisive fifth game. Becky Knips, who was credited with playing a consistent match, was 35 of 37 serving with 23 points.

Andrea Burzlaff served 14 points while going 23 of 26 at the line. She also had seven kills. Kelli Von Holtum, who contributed five kills to the cause, was 21 of 24 serving with 13 points. Jenna Honermann had 34 set assists for the Dragons.

The Luverne Middle School Band has been selected to perform at the 2002 Minnesota Music Educators State Convention in February.

Mary Goheen, director of the band, submitted a recording of last year's 7th and 8th grade band to the MMEA committee early last spring.

"I never expected to be accepted the first time we applied," Goheen said. "Last spring the middle school band attended the Brandon Band Festival and received a recording of their performance. When my husband heard our recording he was very impressed and suggested that I apply for the convention. I knew that the quality of this year's band would equal that of last year's, so I went ahead and sent in the tape. I received word in June that we had been accepted and tried to keep it quiet until I was able to tell all the band students the first week of school."

The acceptance letter stated that more than 60 bands had applied to play at the 2002 convention, and Luverne was selected to be one of the three middle school bands to perform. The concert will be on Feb. 14, 2002, in the Minneapolis Convention Center.

"I am hoping that most of our parents are there to hear and see what a great experience this is for the students," Goheen said. "Band, choir and orchestra directors from all over the state attend the concerts, and it would be wonderful to see parents, administrators and school board members sitting in the audience as well."

In preparation for the MMEA concert the middle school band will give a separate concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, in the Little Theater rather than with the high school band on Jan. 7.

By Sara Quam
The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday set its preliminary levy at $2,850,692, or just more than 3 percent over last year's.

Although the levy is preliminarily set, the county still has a lot of budget work to do.

The public will get a chance to offer input at an Oct. 2 meeting. The county department heads will be on hand to answer questions at 7 p.m. in the Human Services community room.

The preliminary levy is the maximum the state allows and can be lowered. The board, except for Commissioner Ron Boyenga, voted to pass the preliminary levy at the highest permitted to allow for room to change.

The budget doesn't include salary increases yet because those contracts haven't been negotiated. Law enforcement costs could skyrocket due to the recent murder investigation.

Chairman Ken Hoime said, "This is only preliminary; we can adjust down. We're dealing with a lot of unknowns yet."

County Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "We have a number of costs that could be coming in."

Bookmobile signs
The county will purchase and erect signs at the three stops the Plum Creek Library System bookmobile makes in Rock County.

The signs cost $11 each and will be the dark blue with white lettering that similar landmark signs use. A schedule of stops will be attached below the blue sign on the same post.

Stops in Rock County are: Hardwick, on Main Street Wednesdays Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Hills, by the school Wednesdays Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; and Kanaranzi, by the school Wednesdays, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m..