A Minnesota Department of Transportation official notified Luverne Public Schools in writing that landscaping near the tennis courts is in the right of way.
Board members were informed at their Thursday night, April 27, meeting that a portion of the flower and shrub garden needs to be removed.
Business manager Tyler Reisch said discussions about meeting MnDOT’s demand may include more than what’s required.
“Once we take out what is necessary, we may have to take everything out because it will look odd,” Reisch said.
The school district has 60 days to comply to the removal order, according to the letter received April 24 from MnDOT permitting manager Emily Eichner.
“The State is preparing a road construction project on Trunk Highway 75 through Luverne,” she wrote. “During MnDOT’s work on this project, it has come to our attention that the landscaping near the southeast corner of the tennis courts is encroaching into the Truck Highway 75 right of way.
“Please remove the landscaping encroachment within 60 days.”
MnDOT plans to resurface Highway 75 in front of the Luverne school campus in 2025.
The flower and shrub landscape project was part of the 2008 grassroots fundraiser, “Campaign for Courts” to expand and resurface the tennis courts.
The successful $429,000 campaign was completed for the 2008-09 school year.
Eichner stated MnDOT doesn’t actively search out encroachments but will address the issue with property owners once the encroachment is discovered.
“(We) understand this may seem like a minor issue and an unneeded expense to correct for you as a property owner,” Eichner wrote.
She states MnDOT personnel will mark the right of way if request.
Eichner also noted the district may need a miscellaneous work permit from her MnDOT office in order to complete the work.
 
In other business, board members:
•hired Jon Schomacker as 2023 summer recreation director for $9,600, a $200 increase from last year; Jake Haugen as mathematics teacher beginning with the 2023-24 school year for a salary of $43,727; and Kathy Hawes as special education teacher beginning with the 2023-24 school year for a salary of $52,624.
•accepted the resignation of Tara Sudenga as high school mathematics teacher effective May 26; Austin Maxwell, special education teacher, effective at the end of the current school year; and Joel Evans, elementary physical education teacher and middle school football coach, effective at the end of the school year.
•approved a medical leave of absence for Jen Bose, Community Education paraprofessional, beginning April 3 for the remainder of the school year; and approved Ben Nath as a volunteer golf coach.

The third time was the charm for Luverne High School freshman Zander Carbonneau, as he claimed a fifth-place medal in extemporaneous speaking at Saturday’s Class A state speech tournament in Apple Valley.
“It was pretty nice. It was kind of a surprise to make it to the finals, but it was a good one (surprise) at that,” he said.
The top eight speakers in each of the 13 competition categories moved on to the finals.
Also competing at the state meet were senior Parker Carbonneau, junior Roselynn Hartshorn and sophomore Bri Kinsinger.
Kinsinger finished 24th in creative expression and Hartshorn 21st in original oratory.
Parker Carbonneau, a three-time state tournament qualifier, placed ninth in extemporaneous speaking, one place out of moving on to the final medal round.
A low score in Round 1 prevented the senior from advancing.
“Every judge has their own preferences and things they look for, and the political nature of extemporaneous speaking can also introduce subconscious bias,” said coach Gavin Folkestad.
“Parker was absolutely deserving to compete in finals. It is disappointing that it only took one judge who held a drastically different viewpoint from the other to significantly alter the outcome.”

LHS senior Parker Carbonneau is among the 105 speech competitors selected for the Minnesota Speech Coaches Association (MSCA) 2023 All-State Speech team.
Carbonneau served as captain of this year’s LHS team.
“Parker has been a perfect role model for the activity and our school,” said coach Gavin Folkestad. “He is responsible and hardworking — as evidenced by his consistent high placings and multiple trips to state. He is always polite and has been a great leader for us over the years. He will certainly be missed next year.”
Carbonneau, who became a member of Luverne’s competitive speech team as a seventh-grader, was selected to the all-state team based on a series of milestones established by the MSCA. Qualifications include being a high school senior, documented excellence in competition including competing in subsection/section teams, and at least one appearance at the Minnesota State High School League state speech tournament. Other criteria include community engagement and utilizing their speech skills in at least three other activities.
Carbonneau said the oral and written skills learned in competing in extemporaneous speaking overflow into his other high school classes.
“For me I’d say it makes other projects easier,” he said.
Carbonneau received All-State recognition Saturday night at the Class A awards banquet.

Elementary students at Hills-Beaver Creek learned about raptors Monday.
The birds, not the dinosaurs.
Max Borge with the Gabbert Raptor Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, said many people ask him if he has dinosaurs in the blue plastic kennels emblazened with “The Raptor Center” stickers on each side.
“No,” is his polite answer.
Instead, he often travels with a falcon, an owl, an eagle and a hawk, all of which he brought to Beaver Creek so the elementary students could learn about the non-extinct raptors.
Each bird is an ambassador at the Raptor Center and each has injuries that prevented survival in the wild. Each raptor posed on Borge’s arm as he talked about it, except for the eagle, who was hesitant to leave the darkness of the plastic kennel.
Borge left students with a message.
“Each raptor is very important to the environment,” he said. “If you see raptors, the environment is healthy.”
Borge slipped each raptor raw meat as a reward for sitting patiently on his left arm. Each gobbled the treat as students watched.
The Raptor Center treats about 1,000 eagles, hawks, owls, falcons and vultures in a year, with 60 percent successfully returned to the wild.
Those who survive and are not rehabilitated back into nature become ambassadors at the center or become exhibit birds for nature centers across the U.S.
The Raptor Center’s visit was sponsored by the H-BC Elementary PTO.

Javner probate
STATE OF MINNESOTA FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
                                                                         DISTRICT COURT
COUNTY OF ROCK                                                                     PROBATE DIVISION
 
Estate of                                                                           Court File No. 67-PR-23-85
Deborah Maymee Javner, a/k/a                                 
Deborah M. Javner,                          NOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON
a/k/a Deborah Javner,                    PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND
      Decedent         APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL 
REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
 
It is Ordered and Notice is given that on June 5, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., a hearing
will be held in this Court at 204 E. Brown St., Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal
probate of an instrument purporting to be the Will of the Decedent dated, May 9, 2022,
(“Will”), and for the appointment of Greg Vanderpoel, whose address is 1721
75th Ave., Lake Wilson, MN, 56151 as Personal Representative of the Estate
of the Decedent in an UNSUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the
petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing.  If proper and if no
objections are filed or raised, the Personal Representative will be appointed with full power  to administer the Estate including the power to collect all assets, to pay all legal debts,
claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and to do all necessary
acts for the Estate.
Notice is also given that (subject to Minnesota Statutes section 524.3-801)
all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims
to the Personal Representative or to the Court Administrator within four months
after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred.
 
Dated: April 25, 2023 BY THE COURT
 
COURT SEAL /s/ Terry S. Vajgrt
District Court Judge
 
Attorney for Petitioner /s/ Natalie Reisch R. Paul Goode, Jr. Court Administrator
Runchey, Louwagie & Wellman, P.L.L.P.
533 West Main Street
Marshall, MN 56258
Attorney License No: 0336415
Telephone: (507) 537-0515
FAX: (507) 537-0518
Email: paul@rlwlawyers.com
(05-04, 05-11)

The Luverne Redbirds baseball team will face the Sioux Falls Canaries at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, for an exhibition game on Redbird Field in Luverne.
The event is sponsored by Take 16 Brewing Co., which is brewing a special craft beer for the Canaries baseball program.
“It’s kind of a fun kick-off for summer,” said Luke Rensink, Take 16 master brewer and general manager.
The Canaries beer, “Birds Brew,” is essentially Take 16’s signature Country Mile Kolsch packaged in a Canaries label.
Some cans will be available at Saturday’s game in Luverne, but the majority will be sold at the Canaries stadium in Sioux Falls.
As part of a marketing deal, Take 16 also purchased advertising on the third base bar for the season.
Rensink is brewing 128 cases (3,072 cans) that will also be available in the Luverne brewery and other regional outlets.
He said proceeds from Saturday’s game will benefit the Luverne Baseball Association, which is the official event host. Tickets cost $5.
LBA board member Don Dinger said the Redbirds will be missing some players who are still finishing college, but they’ll field a complete team for the game.
For both teams, he said it will be a chance to test pitchers’ and players’ abilities ahead of the regular season.
“Basically, it’s a way to bring something cool to town,” Dinger said. “It helps the brewery and it helps us.”
An after-game party in Take 16 will feature a meet-and-greet with Canaries players along with food, games and beverages.

The Luverne comedy duo “Marlene and Darlene” will return to the stage Thursday night, May 11, for a dessert theater fundraiser at the Generations Event Center on South Estey Street.
Actresses Brenda Winter (Marlene) and DJ Luethje (Darlene) will join auctioneer Yvette Vander Brink to raise money for the Generations special events fund.
The event will mark the third stage appearance of the hapless elderly sisters who “travel in their Toyota from Leota, Minnesota” to Luverne to advocate for a cause.
This time, their visit has two primary objectives, according to Winter: to make people laugh and to convince people that Generations is a fun place to be.
“People need to laugh,” Winter said. “It’s been a tough go these past couple years for so many people. We must laugh.”
The dessert auction becomes part of the Marlene-and-Darlene skit when the sisters decide, “We don’t need no auctioneer; we can do this ourselves.”
Marlene makes Darlene promise that they will not call their sister, “Charlene, (Vander Brink), the famous, successful, good-looking auctioneer with a handsome husband.”
But when things get out of hand, Charlene comes to the rescue.
When asked if Winter and Luethje have rehearsed with Vander Brink, Winter said, “You know Yvette, right? I am not writing any lines for her. DJ and I are just going to hold onto our hats. … She’s her own show.”
In addition to George Bonnema’s legendary carrot cake, the dessert auction introduces featured cakes in the program, but two last-minute, unplanned entries show up when Marlene and Darlene add their own cakes to the lineup.
Advance tickets for the Marlene and Darlene dessert auction are $20 in the lobby of Generations from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through May 8 Tickets at the door will be $25 the night of the event.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11, and the show begins at 7.
Raffle tickets for several donated gifts — many valued at more than $100 — are also available in the lobby. See the Generations Facebook page for details.

Meetings
Kenneth Cemetery Association annual meeting will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Kenneth Community Center. Members and non-members are encouraged to attend.
Sanford Luverne Pink Ladies will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 8, in the Sanford Luverne meeting room. Call Sharon at 507-227-3821 with questions.
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, at the township hall in Beaver Creek. 
MS Support Group will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday May 16, at Pizza Ranch in Luverne. All persons with MS, family and friends are invited. Call 507-283-2069 or 507-283-2964.
American Legion Auxiliary Post #123 will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Luverne Pizza Ranch. Call Dianna Tomlinson at 507-283-1934 with questions.
 
LHS to perform ‘Addams Family’ musical
Luverne High School Drama Department will perform the “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy,” on May 4, 5 and 6 in the performing arts center. Curtain opens at 7 p.m.
 
Powerful Tools for Caregivers starts May 3
A series of six classes, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, starting May 3, at A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota, located in the Generations building in Luverne. Classes to help caregivers take better care of themselves are free, but registration is required by calling 507-283-5064.
 
Nutrition for seniors May 4
A.C.E. of SW MN will offer its Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors 60 and older from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 4. The drive-thru distribution will be in the parking lot off Maple Street on the east side of Generations Event Center. Pre-registration is required by calling 507-283-5064.
 
Fifth-grade band concert May 5
Luverne elementary fifth-grade band concert will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 5, in the performing arts center. The public is welcome to attend.
 
SAIL classes start May 8 at Generations
SAIL classes meet from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings starting May 8 through June 30 in Generations Event Center in Luverne.
The classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. There is no cost, but pre-registration is required by calling Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064, or ACE Volunteer Cory Ziegler, 507-920-0587.
 
‘Marlene and Darlene’ return to Generations May 11
Local actresses Brenda Winter and DJ Luethje will return as Marlene and Darlene in “Piece of Cake” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Generations. Tickets for the third annual Dessert Theatre are $20 in advance (in the Generations lobby 9:30-1 p.m. April 24-May 8) and $25 at the door to benefit special events at Generations. Email livewellagewell100@gmail.com.
 
Register until May 10 for 4-H camps in June
Youth who have completed grades 3-6 can attend one of two residential camps at Lake Shetek June 19-21 and June 21-23. 4-H staff and high school youth counselors lead activities, small group discussions and outdoor activities during the camps.
Registration is open until May 10. Contact the Rock County Extension Office, 507-283-1302, or mnnext-rock@umn.edu.
 
Mobile dental clinic in Luverne May 18
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne on Thursday, May 18, at ATLAS of Rock County to provide dental care for adults and children of all ages. Call 612.746.1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted. Organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
 
Master Gardeners plant sale May 20
The Rock County Master Gardeners annual plant sale will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20, in the Atlas/Redeemed Remnants Parking Lot. Gardeners bring their pre-priced perennials, annuals, etc to sell (no professional growers). Shoppers get great buys on plants and have gardening questions answered. Call 507 669-2905. 
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
The summer Community Education brochure was included in the April 29 Luverne Announcer. Many of the classes have early registration deadline of May 24 for lower fees. Register for football, volleyball, tennis, golf, morning rec, arts & crafts, basketball, track, gymnastics, weight lifting, wrestling. 
Defensive Driving refresher four-hour classes are May 8, June 12, July 10. The beginning class is Sept. 11 and 18 (four hours each evening).
Families, day cares, and visitors are invited to play and learn in the Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom located on the southwest corner of school property. To order a paver (to support the project maintenance), or to reserve a time for a field trip to the classroom, call 283-4724.
 
SAIL classes in Beaver Creek
SAIL classes meet in Beaver Creek Monday and Wednesday mornings now through May 24.
The classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. They meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Beaver Creek City Hall in Beaver Creek. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by calling Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064.
 
SAIL classes in Hills
SAIL classes meet in Hills Monday and Thursday mornings now through June 22. The classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. They meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Game Plan 4 Hope, 312 W. 3rd St. in Hills. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by calling volunteer class leaders Carol Gerhke, 507-220-1116, or Nelva Behr, 507-962-3413.
 
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Books on Tap takes place at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month at Take 16 in Luverne.
Story Time with Bronwyn is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays now through April 28. Stories and make-and-take crafts are the same at either event.
The 50 State Challenge for adults and older teens is currently underway where patrons are encouraged to read a book set in one of each of the 50 states through Jan. 1, 2024.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
STEAM kits are also available checkout. Motion, lights, hydropower, robotics and magnets are among the kits.
 
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.

Kindergartners at Luverne Elementary School took to the performing arts center stage Friday afternoon for their first music program of their academic careers. The 71 students sang several popular Mother Goose rhymes including “Mother Hubbard,” “Jack B. Nimble,” “Three Little Kittens” and “Humpty Dumpty.” Conducting the students is Morgan Van Holland.