Keeping leaves out of the street is an important step homeowners can take to protect water quality in Minnesota's lakes and streams. Leaves are a source of phosphorus that can degrade water quality, said Bob Mugaas, Hennepin County educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

"When leaves fall from our deciduous trees in the fall, they often accumulate on hard surface areas such as streets and driveways," said Mugaas. "Then they may begin to decompose, releasing both organic and inorganic forms of phosphorus. When it rains runoff water can carry this phosphorus into storm sewers and then into nearby bodies of water."

"As cars travel over leaves in streets and driveways, they further grind up the leaves, making them even more susceptible to decomposing while lying on the street."

When there is a heavy rainfall, leaves themselves can be carried directly into lakes and rivers, said Mugaas. Tree leaves can also blow directly into lakes, ponds, and lakes and rivers.

During the growing season, and especially in the spring, tree seeds and sometimes fruits are often dropped liberally onto the ground and the street. "Just as with leaves, traffic driving over these materials crushes them and breaks them up, making them easier to decompose or be carried away in runoff water," said Mugaas. "Like leaves, these materials contain phosphorus and other plant nutrients."

Mugaas does not advocate eliminating trees from our surroundings. "What we can do," he said, "is to keep our street areas clean of leaves and seeds. We can rake or sweep them up during the growing season, especially spring and fall. They can be used for mulching other areas of the landscape. In the case of seeds and fruits, it may be a good idea to compost them to avoid having little tree seedlings sprouting all over the landscape."

Keeping leaves out of the driveways and streets in front of our homes is a way we can each contribute to cleaner runoff and cleaner lakes and streams, said Mugaas. "And it should go without saying that we should not blow grass clippings into the street or onto hard surface areas where they can run off," he adds. "Blow clippings back onto the lawn where they can be chopped up even further with consecutive passes of the mower. Keeping lawn clippings on the lawn contributes the equivalent of about one to one and one-half applications of fertilizer per year back to your lawn."

"History has shown that we did some good over there, and it's nice to see they're finally recognizing that," Lowell Binford said. "South Korea is a prosperous country, and North Korea is in terrible shape. We drew that line."

'Forgotten War' medal
In an effort to ensure American soldiers who fought in the "forgotten war" are not themselves forgotten, the U.S. Defense Department is now allowing Korean War veterans to claim service medals originally offered in 1951.
The South Korean government had offered the Republic of Korea War Service Medal to United Nations Forces, but at that time, the U.S. military was prohibited from wearing medals issued by foreign governments.
Congress changed that policy in 1954, but by then, all but a few GIs eligible for the medal had returned home and forgotten about it.
The Korean government has since renewed its offer of the service medal to U.S. veterans of the war, and last year, the Defense Department accepted that offer, saying it can be worn by U.S. military personnel who saw action there.
To be eligible for the combat award, veterans must have been on active duty in territorial Korea between June 25, 1950, when the conflict started, and July 27, 1953, the date the armistice was signed.

Better late than never
Southern Minnesota veterans who applied received their commemorative pins during an Aug. 17 ceremony at the Steele County Fair in Owatonna.
Luverne's Allen Willers attended that presentation. "I was interested to see what it's all about," he said of his trip. "It's not much of a pin, but it's high time for recognition. It's too bad it didn't come 50 years ago."
Those who didn't attend the ceremony received theirs by mail.
Binford's came in the mail with a letter thanking him for his service. "The violence and valor that was shown during this forgotten war led to the deaths of more than 20,000 American servicemen and lifelong injuries to countless others," the letter read.
"I recognize that the courage you displayed during this difficult time has all but been forgotten. However 50 years after the Korean War ended, I ... would like to thank you for your service to our great country."
The letter, dated Aug. 15, was signed by Congressman Gil Gutknecht.
Luverne's Ralph Sunde, along with Binford and Willers, encourages local veterans to also apply for their pins. "There is a pin available to all Korean War veterans," he said. "If you've earned the right to have it, go get it."
Rock County Veteran Services Officer Ron Hansen has application forms available at his office in the Rock County Courthouse. That phone number is 283-5061.
Medals may be applied for at any time in the next three years commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war.

Casualties of war
Binford has done some research on Rock County's contribution to that overseas military conflict.
According to his figures, 170 people from Rock County served in the Korean War, and of those, 150 were involved in actual combat.
Among those was the late Jim Van Hove, Luverne, who received the highest military honor of valor for saving the lives of several comrades when their position was overrun by the enemy.
Among those who lost their lives in the conflict was the late Arthur Moeller, brother of rural Luverne's Elmer Moeller. The Hardwick American Legion Post was named in his honor.
Sunde, who also received his pin in the mail this summer, remembers the horrors of combat fighting, but he said the conflict broke out in a post-WWII era when men didn't question their patriotism.
"We were called to duty, and we answered the call," Sunde said.

Uncommon allies united for common good
Binford agreed. In fact, he served with "Fritz" Mondale, "which goes to show you everybody served," he said. "There were kids from rich families and poor families."
He recalls leaving the United States on a ship with 8,000 servicemen who boarded in tight spaces for the duration of the 13-day trip. "It was no luxury cruise," Binford said.
While overseas, U.S. troops fought with a number of different nationalities, including Australians, French, Filipinos and Ethiopians, all of whom were also fighting communism.
Despite the very brief mention of the Korean "conflict" in history books, Binford and his fellow Korean War veterans feel their military role was significant.
"We saved South Korea from the North Koreans, who were being pushed by the Russians – the communists," Binford said. "I have very positive thoughts about Korea and what we did and how it's going today."

By Lori Ehde
Korean War soldiers are getting special recognition more than 50 years after serving their country, and many local veterans are happily obliging.

Meet the Blue Mounds naturalist at the Interpretive Center and venture onto the windswept prairie atop the Blue Mounds at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, to watch the sun set on this first day of autumn.

A mysterious quarter mile long row of stones lying near the crest of the mounds aligns true east and west, and the sun seems to rise and set directly over these stones on the first days of spring and autumn, signaling the change of the seasons ahead. The boulders of this unnatural alignment are all sizes, some small and others quite large. At its east end, in places the wall is four to five feet high; in others the stones recede into the rocky ground and become obscured among the big bluestem grass. There are very few answers to the many questions raised by those stones, only many theories and "might have beens."

Not officially photographed until an aerial survey accidentally recorded it in the 1930s, this unusual line of rocks has been known, but not widely publicized. Since the 1970s, the -alignment' has been studied by both professional and amateur archaeologists, without much agreement to what the meaning of this 1,250-foot-long stone wall may be. The only points everyone seems to be in agreement upon is that this is the work of man and these rocks have been in place a very long time. A recent and popular theory explains this alignment as an attempt by early plains dwellers to develop a rudimentary native astral observatory or compass.

Maybe someday investigation will provide additional information to answer the questions. Until that time, since the stones aren't speaking, this simple rock formation will continue to pose more questions than answers. This will be your opportunity to look at and to ponder this rare and interesting feature of our local prairie landscape. This program is free of charge; however, a vehicle permit is required to enter the state park.

By Sara Quam

The Luverne City Council Monday set the preliminary tax levy for 2001 at a 5.2-percent increase over last year's levy.

That increase, after state aid, amounts to an extra $27,338 from the taxpayers. The total governmental budget for the city is $3,517,306.

In setting the preliminary levy, the city can't increase the overall figure but can lower it before finalizing the levy in December. The council is confident that the numbers will stay the same after spending time refining it throughout the summer.

A Truth in Taxation hearing is set for Dec. 11, when citizens may comment on the budget and five-year capital improvement plan.

Blandin Foundation

The Council also passed a resolution authorizing the city of Luverne to serve as the fiscal agent to distribute funds from the Blandin Foundation.

The Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau is a part of the Blandin Community Partnership Grant program already and needed to have a fiscal agent.

Blandin Coordinator and Chamber Director Dave Smith said most other communities receiving Blandin money have used cities as fiscal agents.

As the agent, the city of Luverne will distribute funds as the Blandin projects progress. Luverne has applied for a $124,000 grant from Blandin that includes projects like trail development, day care and after-school care, and youth leadership.

Of those projects, Blandin can prioritize or award a reduced grant, but Smith said he thinks it's likely Luverne will receive the full amount.

In other business Monday, the council:

Agreed to participate in a program that would grant mutual aid between publicly-owned utilities in the event of disasters and emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse costs provided the utilities publicly set a cost prior to any disaster.

Of the 126 Minnesota Municipal Utilities, about 50 have signed on so far. Staff is checking into whether this will also allow reimbursement for helping communities in Iowa and South Dakota.

Approved a conditional use permit for the Rock County Developmental Achievement Center to expand its building. The building will be expanded to correct various code violations while preserving its existing operating space.

Granted a temporary on-sale liquor license to Blue Mound Liquor in order to conduct a wine-tasting event.

Cancelled the Sept. 25 meeting.

Strong winds made an already tough course even more challenging, but Luverne, A-E and Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth athletes made impacts during different races during the meet.

A-E was the lone area program to field complete teams in both varsity races.

The Harrier girls scored 75 points to place third behind Southwest Star Concept-Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster (27) and Murray County Central (49) in the team competition. The A-E boys had 53 points, placing second to MCC (22).

Sarah Kruger led A-E's girls by placing seventh in 18:11.

Krissi Thier (12th in 18:54), Ashley Diller (14th in 19:02), Kelly Banck (15th in 19:07) and Lacey Heitkamp (17th in 19:29) contributed to the team tally. Chelsea Heitkamp placed 18th in 20:06 without influencing the scorng.

Jason Eickhoff paced the Harrier boys by finishing fifth in 19:45.

Wade Ulmer (10th in 20:25), Paul Honermann (11th in 20:26), Todd Alberty (13th in 20:59) and Jake Salter (14th in 21:01) helped A-E's team cause.

James Matthiesen and Josh Markl finished 19th and 20th with respective 22:39 and 23:06 times without influencing the scoring.

Luverne and H-BC-E used a combination of five runners in the varsity events.

Cardinal Hannah Dietrich and Patriot Brad Haak turned in strong performances by placing second in their respective varsity runs. Dietrich was timed at 17:32, and Haak completed his race in 19:22.

Luverne's Jesse Kuhlman and Tony Kopp placed 12th and 18th in the varsity race with times of 20:44 and 21:37.

H-BC-E's Nathan Fick was 17th in 21:26.

Here is a look at the rest of the individual results from the meet.

Junior high boys

H-BC-E: Tyler Bush, first, 5:43; Kale Wiertzema, sixth, 6:39; Travis Broesder, eighth, 6:45; Kerry Fink, ninth; 6:49; Derek Haak, 12th, 7:21; Justin Hinks, 18th, 11:13.

Luverne: Nick Otten, second, 6:08; Ruston Aaker, third, 6:18; Travis Halfman, 13th, 7:36; Michael Nelson, 15th, 7:48.

Adrian: Brandon Bullerman, fifth, 6:33; Joey Bullerman, seventh, 7:03; Marcus Uithoven, 17th, 9:03; Aldon Vassler, 19th, 7:03.

Junior high girls

Luverne: Sadie Dietrich, first, 6:53; Victoria Arends, second, 7:17; Amanda Saum, third, 7:22; Jessica Willers, ninth, 7:53; Breanna Studer, 12th, 8:21; Michelle Riddle, 16th, 8:58.

H-BC-E: Melinda Feucht, fourth, 7:24; Kari Roozenboom, 10th, 7:54; Amanda Tilstra, 13th, 8:21; Kilee Baker, 15th, 9:38.

Adrian: Samantha Ferguson, fifth, 7:30; Erika Fransen, sixth, 7:38; Abbey Henning, eighth, 7:45; Jenny Weiss, 14th, 19:45.

Junior varsity boys

H-BC-E: Matt Buck, third, 16:19.

Luverne: Kevin Klay, 15th, 21:35.

Adrian: Derek Vastenhout, fifth, 16:35; Kelly Seeman, 12th, 19:42; Paul Poppen, 13th, 19:45; Jesse Vande Kieft, 14th, 19:45.

Junior varsity girls

Adrian: Lindsay Loosbrock, sixth, 16:35; Sarah Wolf, seventh, 22:03; Jessica Lynn, eighth, 22:10.

Youth character and leadership development

The grant request itemizes the least amount of money for the third part of Luverne's VIP project, but it's an equally important priority in the scope of improving Luverne's overall community health.

The proposal specifically seeks to expand on Rock County's current mentoring program, Big Buddies, and establishes new student-parent-faculty leadership projects.

Blandin Community Investment Partnership

The Blandin Foundation was established in 1985 for the purpose of strengthening rural communities.

The Blandin Community Investment Partnership is an offshoot of the Blandin Community Leadership Training Program that 24 Luverne residents went through in October 1998.

The new Investment Partnership, in only its second year, helps communities identify needs and weaknesses and provides grant money for qualifying programs or projects that would improve the overall well-being of a rural town.

Luverne is one of only eight communities so far to be accepted in the BCIP program.

In the case of Luverne's $760,000 VIP project, Blandin's share, if the grant is approved, would be $128,000 or 16 percent of the project's total cost.

According to Chamber Director Dave Smith, who compiled the formal grant, projects that show support from other local entities stand a better chance of being approved.

He said most of the remaining funding for the VIP project has already been committed, either verbally or in writing.

Smith submitted the grant Thursday, Aug. 31, and a decision won't be made until late December.

"This is the end result of a year's worth of work," he said.

"Everyone wasn't directly involved with the process all the way through, but all the people who had input in the beginning influenced the outcome. It was their ideas, comments and suggestions that brought this thing together."

Editor's note: This story serves as an introduction to Luverne's VIP project. Watch the Star Herald in coming weeks for more details on each of the three priorities identified in the grant request.

By Lori Ehde

It's been more than a year since the Blandin Foundation offered Luverne a chance at free money to improve the health of its community.

Since last summer, residents have been looking at possible projects that would qualify for the Blandin cash.

After countless brain-storming meetings and input from hundreds of individuals, three community projects have been identified in a grant request through the Blandin Community Investment Partnership.

The grant request incorporates all three proposals into a $760,000 project named "Luverne VIP: Vision, Involvement and Promise."

Economic development

Residents in the past year identified economic development as one major priority, particularly looking to tourism, agribusiness and high-tech opportunities as ways to improve Luverne's economic diversity.

Since local leaders are already well on their way to improving agribusiness and technology, the grant request focuses on funding requests for prairie tourism projects.

Specifically, funding is requested to expand on the current bike path, looping it around the north side of the Blue Mounds, with a prairie resource learning center strategically located somewhere on this loop.

Day care center and after-school program

The second major community priority identified in the process was the need for a community day care center.

With the renovation of the former elementary school to apartments, the developer, Dunham Companies, Sioux Falls, has already donated free space for a day care center on the lower level.

The grant request specifically asks for one-time funding of indoor and outdoor playground equipment.

As part of the day care funding request, the need for an after-school program is also identified. Parents and students have identified access to computers, tutoring, board games and swimming lessons as possible components in an after-school program.

By John Rittenhouse

Luverne ran its volleyball record to 2-0 after turning in a dominating home performance against Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster Thursday.

The Cardinals limited the Raiders to two points in each of the matches' three games while outscoring their opponents 45-6 during a convincing 3-0 victory.

Luverne coach Mary Jo Graphenteen thought her team made some progress compared with the first match of the season, which always is a positive sign.

"We took a step ahead. They didn't pass the ball very well, and that allowed us to get going. We did some things we needed to do, like keeping the ball in play and not being afraid to hit it hard, and we didn't have any unforced errors. When you play against a team like that, you want to look your best. I think we did that," she said.

Luverne got off to a good start in the opening game by scoring the first eight points.

Missy Boomgaarden served a five-point run featuring an ace, two kills by Tracey Scheidt and another kill by Susan Remme to start the match. Brooke Lundgren served a point and another ace, and Boomgaarden capped the 8-0 rally with a kill.

The score was 10-2 when Boomgaarden served two points and an ace, Remme provided a kill and Emmy Bush served another point to cap a 15-2 win.

The Raiders led 2-1 in Game 2 before the Cards scored 14 consecutive points to take the game.

Lisa Mulder served a six-point run featuring an ace, a kill by Boomgaarden and a block by Remme. Boomgaarden served a four-point run that consisted of two aces, a kill and an ace tip by Scheidt. Another block by Remme and a service point by Lundgren made it 13-2 before Abbey Franken closed out a 15-2 win with a pair of ace serves.

The Cards trailed 1-0 in the third game before stringing together 13 straight points.

Scheidt served four straight aces during a six-point run that included a kill by Franken. Lundgren served the next seven points with Franken and Emily Kuhlman adding one kill each.

After SV-RL-B snapped Luverne's run with a point to make it 13-2, Franken served a pair of aces to put the match away.

Boomgaarden was 12 of 13 with 12 points and four aces at the service line. Lundgren, who had 18 set assists, was 12 of 12 with 11 points. Mulder was 10 of 11 with nine points.

Remme and Scheidt led the Cards at the net with seven and five kills respectively.