Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood insurance program agreed to update local maps to include flood mitigation projects implemented almost three decades ago.
Poplar Creek and Rock River watershed areas will be studied and maps updated before the final approval process starts again, possibly late this year or in the spring of 2025.
That’s according to Jeff Weiss, surface water and floodplain engineer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who confirmed plans on April 18 with Rock County Commissioners.
“There has been additional discussion and investigation and FEMA decided they are not going to go ahead with the draft maps that are out there now,” Weiss said via Zoom.
“They’re going to decide to put the process on hold until the issues in the city of Luverne are addressed.”
Weiss, who began working with the DNR in 2020, reflected back to the initial mapping meetings between FEMA and local officials in 2016 to update the 1970s flood maps.
The completed draft maps were revealed in December 2022 when Luverne and Rock County officials noticed flood plain surrounding Poplar Creek had remained unchanged.
It failed to reflect an extensive flood mitigation project after 1993 that slowed the water flow through the Poplar Creek watershed located on the west side of Luverne.
Local officials estimated 30 to 40 homes would no longer be in the flood plain as the result of those mitigation efforts, but they were still in the flood plain on FEMA’s December 2022 draft map.
FEMA officials later noticed that mitigations efforts in the Rock River watershed east of Luverne were also not included.
“Those two streams, Poplar Creek and Rock River within the city of Luverne, were not specifically included in the scope of work so that’s why they were not done with that (updated) study,” Weiss said.
“From what I understand, there was some miscommunication in productivity and mismatched expectations between what we are doing with the work and what the city and the county wanted to get at with these maps.”
Weiss said FEMA is committed to amending the scope of work to study the effect of the mitigation projects on future rain events involving Poplar Creek and the Rock River.
Weiss further clarified the reason for his Zoom presentation to the county commissioners with a letter to County Administrator Kyle Oldre dated April 17.
“FEMA has committed to fund this work, and the MnDNR has committed to complete it,” he wrote. “Work will begin after funds are available in October 2023.”
The April 18 commissioners meeting was also attended by city of Luverne representatives, including city building inspector Chad McClure,
McClure first pointed out at the public meeting in December about the possibility that the preliminary flood maps were missing mitigation information.
His sentiments about FEMA finally updating the maps mirrored those of the commissioners.
“From the city standpoint, we don’t care how long it takes,” McClure said. “Working off the old paper maps is arduous, but I would rather do that than work off something that is inaccurate.”

A rare diagnosis of rabies in a Nobles County feedlot calf has four people completing post-exposure treatment.
The rabies-positive bovine is the first to be detected in the state since 2020.
Local veterinarian Erin de Koning said skunks and bats most commonly transmit rabies locally.
“Cattle and horses are curious animals, and they will put their noses down and follow the animal around,” she said. “Then they get exposed or bit.”
Rabies is transmitted through saliva of a rabid animal.
Cattle are not normally vaccinated for rabies.
According to the state Board of Animal Health, a Nobles County calf began acting strangely on April 10 and was straining to defecate.
The veterinarian diagnosed a possible intestinal blockage and relieved the pressure surgically.
Three days later the calf struggled to stand and died that evening.
Necropsy samples were sent to the South Dakota State University diagnostic laboratory, which confirmed rabies on April 15.
The calf was housed in a pen of 28 other feedlot calves with dozens of farm cats present on the premises.
The veterinarian recommended vaccinating the calves and keeping them confined for six months. Cats were also vaccinated and will be quarantined for six months.
The state’s veterinarian recommended that the owner undergo post-exposure treatment for rabies, because there was contact with the calf’s mouth during treatment and no gloves were worn.
The veterinarian treating the calf and two assistants who restrained the calf during surgery also opted for the treatment.
All dogs, cats, ferrets and horses should be current on vaccinations.
If vaccinated animals are exposed, a rabies vaccination booster is recommended within 96 hours.

Two county road improvement projects will begin in May, once the current work to replace three bridges along County Road 6 between Beaver Creek and Hills is complete.
According to county engineer Mark Sehr, the culvert replacements are scheduled for completion by May 1, followed by two mill off and bituminous overlay projects scheduled this year.
The first overlay project is six miles of County Road 6 from Beaver Creek to Hills, which also involves a railway crossing improvement project.
The second overlay project is four miles of County Road 5 from County Road 6 to State Highway 23.
Sehr estimates it will take three weeks to complete the 10 miles of mill off and overlay.
However, start of the projects are dependent on the lifting of weight restriction limits on local roadways.

Meetings
Springwater Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, in the township hall.
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.
 
LHS to perform ‘Addams Family’ musical
Luverne High School Drama Department will present four performances of the “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy,” on April 27, May 4, 5 and 6 in the performing arts center.
Curtain opens at 7 p.m.
 
Kindergartners to perform April 28
The kindergarten students of Luverne Elementary will perform “Getting Down with Mama Goose” at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the performing arts center.
The performance will also be livestreamed from the school’s social media site.
 
State park naturalist offers programs April 29
The Blue Mounds State Park naturalist will offer two programs on Saturday, April 29, at the picnic shelter.
“Predator vs Prey,” from 10 to 11 a.m. is designed for ages 6-12, but all ages are welcome. From the smallest insect to the largest fish in the river, every animal plays a role in the ecosystem.
“Beavers: Nature’s Engineers” from 3 to 4 p.m. is about America’s largest rodent. Discover how these critters use unique adaptations to impact the landscape. The program will conclude with a short walk to the creek to look for beaver activity. 
Contact park staff at bluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us or 507-283-6050 with questions.
 
‘Coach Stig’ coming to Luverne May 1
Luverne Initiatives For Tomorrow will bring John Stiegelmeier to the Palace Theatre in Luverne at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 1.
“Coach Stig” is known as the winningest football coach in the history of South Dakota State University. His message, “It Takes a Whole Team to Win,” is free and open to the public.
Tickets for reserve seating and a VIP reception at Sterling’s are available (in advance) as a fundraiser for LIFT. Call the Chamber, 507-283-4061.
 
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.
 
Virtual Medicare 101 Class May 3
A virtual class about the basics of Medicare Part A, B, C and D from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, will offer information about when and how to enroll. Register at https://bit.ly/3Yl6hIr
The free class is a service of Senior LinkAge Line funded by the Minnesota Board on Aging. Call 1-800-333-2433 with questions.
 
Ecumenical Coffee May 3
The Presbyterian Women will host an Ecumenical Coffee at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Speaker will be Pastor Jakob Danilko on Ukraine and current needs. All are welcome.
 
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.
 
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 brochure will be published April 29 and delivered with the 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. Registrations will be taken starting on May 1.
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, daycares, 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.

Thirty of the best spellers from six southwest Minnesota middle schools gathered in Luverne Saturday morning for the 2023 Southwest Minnesota Spelling Bee,
A Luverne Middle School fifth-grader earned the champion speller title.
Oliver Carbonneau, 11, son of Mike and Molly Carbonneau of Luverne, spelled five words correctly in the final round, besting Allyson Muder of Edgerton in the finals.
Carbonneau spelled “strategy” to seal the champion title.
His winning strategy included staying calm and one other important mindset: “I didn’t worry about winning,” he said.
In addition to Luverne and Edgerton, four other schools, Hills-Beaver Creek, Worthington, Westbrook-Walnut Grove and Adrian, send students to the annual event.
Each school selected five students and an alternate to the spelling bee.
All 36 students started the competition with a 20-word written test.
Students who correctly spelled 14 or more words moved into the spelling finals, which were conducted verbally.
Seven students advanced from the written tests to compete against one another.
Joining Carbonneau and Muder in the finals were Elizabeth Anderson (Worthington), Talan Kremer (Worthington), Trinity Olson (H-BC), Makaylie Voss (H-BC) and Cooper Thone (Luverne).
One by one, each spelled the same five words verbally: scuba, tuxedo, vibrant, conscience and hygiene. Two students were eliminated.
The next set of words brought the spellers from five down to three. Those words included obstacle, schedule, unique, analyze and calendar.
The spell-off between Carbonneau, Muder and Kremer featured the words develop, encourage, awkward, competition, mischievous, miscellaneous, catastrophe and embarrass.
For the championship, Carbonneau spelled concentrate, familiar, demonstrate, jewelry and strategy correctly.
Second place was claimed by Muder, third place by Kremer, and Bergen Arp took first place among the six alternates at the competition.
Luverne Middle School took the team competition with the most accumulated points by its participants.
Luverne team members included Carbonneau, Cooper Thone, Mallory Edstrom, Allison Lysne, Isley Smith and Tyler Wicks (alternate.)
H-BC team members included Trinity Olson, Makaylie Voss, Penni Moore, Ryker Gehrke, Kaleb Olson and Malachi Bush (alternate).
As home to the current champion, Luverne will host the 2024 spelling bee.

Sanford PROMISE summer programs are a way for youth to gain hands-on science experience and learn about current research being done at Sanford Research.
An event at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Luverne is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, for students in grades 6-8 of the 2022-23 school year.
The class, “Inside Out: An Anatomy and Health Experience,” addresses how our organs work to keep us alive and how we can keep them healthy.
In this program, students will learn about the heart, lungs and kidneys.
They will dissect each organ, learn about its function, learn how to keep them healthy and learn about why researchers are interested in it.
Participants will need parental/guardian permission to participate in dissection and fitness activities.
The program is free to attend and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with a rolling admission that closes registration when the class reaches capacity.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/yc35zt6c. Upon enrolling, students will be notified within five business days of registration confirmation.
The Sanford Program for the Midwest Initiative in Science Exploration (PROMISE) was developed to connect communities in the region with cutting edge science and research.
In 2010 Sanford Research created an outreach program to provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiences for K-12 students across South Dakota and neighboring states.

Four Luverne High School students will compete at this weekend’s Minnesota State High School League Speech Tournament in Apple Valley.
The Class A schools, including Luverne, compete Saturday, while the Class AA tournament takes place Friday.
For two of the students — brothers Parker and Zander Carbonneau — it’s their third straight state appearance. Both compete in extemporaneous speaking.
Parker, a senior, placed sixth at last year’s tournament.
“My goal this year was to make it to state and hopefully make into the final round there,” he said.
The top eight speakers advance to the final rounds in each of 13 categories.
Zander, a freshman, placed 11th last year, one out of the top 10.
His goal this year was simply to achieve another trip to the state tournament.
“I feel it is a good achievement by itself because there are lots of new people in the category and they are good,” Zander said.
Junior Roselynn Hartshorn and sophomore Bri Kinsinger are making their first trip to the state tournament.
Hartshorn competes in original oratory.
“My expectations were to make it to state and always practicing to get there,” she said.
Hartshorn took the judges’ comments from previous meets and applied their suggestions to original oratory.
Her work resulted in a section championship on a topic centering around fast fashion.
“Fast fashion is the mass production of clothing at a really fast rate,” she said. “They can go through exploitation of workers and there is a massive environmental degradation with that, too.”
Her speech persuades people to look at how their clothes are made and purchase at thrift stores if possible.
As a competitor in creative expression, Kinsinger also performs a piece that she’s written.
Her speech is called “The Void,” where friends confide their feelings to her but she’s never asked about her own feelings, keeping what she feels inside.
Kinsinger is excited to finally place in the top three at the section tournament. For two consecutive years, she placed fourth.
Her state expectations are different.
“My expectation is that I don’t think I’m going to place because it is gigantic (tournament) and I haven’t done it before,” she said. “(But) at the end of the day, if I’ve actually shared how I feel, and one person comes up to me and says ‘I relate to this’ and ‘You make me feel my emotions, you made me understand something,’ I will be proud of myself.”
 
LHS placed fifth at section meet
Six Luverne High School students reached the final round in their respective categories and were in the hunt to move on to the state tournament.
However, only the top three finishers in each of the categories earn a state trip.
Two LHS students earned Section 3A championship medals.
Junior Roselynn Hartshorn captured first place in original oratory while freshman Zander Carbonneau topped the podium in extemporaneous speaking.
Other results included:
•second, Parker Carbonneau, extemporaneous speaking.
•third, Bri Kinsinger, creative expression.
•fourth, Jessika Tunnissen, informative speaking.
•fifth, Makayla Oechsle, discussion.
As a team, Luverne placed fifth out of 15 teams competing at the Section 3A tournament April 15 in Redwood Falls.

The Rock County Board of Commissioners will consider the future of mail ballots at their meeting on Tuesday, May 2. And we hope they consider the reasons we implemented mail ballot voting in the first place.
Rock County has been using mail ballots since 2006 when the federal Help America Vote Act required all precincts to make sure all voters can vote with ease, regardless of disability.
It also ensured voters could correct errors that may otherwise void the ballot.
This marked the introduction of electronic voting machines, which immediately recognize ballot errors and allow voters to make corrections.
The machines, which cost $5,000 in 2006, were too expensive for many of Rock County’s small, rural precincts, as was the prospect of making polling places handicap-accessible.
Vienna Township and the city of Kenneth were the first to use mail ballots, and they were soon followed by other rural precincts who opted to give their voters more access to elections without the burden of cost.
Today, 18 of Rock County’s 24 voting precincts use mail ballots, and those who want to vote in person bring them to the county courthouse where all ballots end up on Election Day.
And our Rock County election officials through the years have said mail ballots work: Voter participation increased, without evidence of fraud, and it’s become an accepted and appreciated form of participating in elections.
… Until, of course, last fall.
After a divisive 2020 presidential election fraught with false claims of voter fraud (each solidly debunked in courts of law), the election lies have continued.
As have divisive conversations and bad behavior at the national level (on Jan. 6), and locally.
Rock County election officials told the County Board they were harassed during the November 2022 election and felt threatened by mostly anonymous callers alleging mail ballot fraud.
Commissioners empathized with courthouse election workers and are now considering a return to in-person voting.
… perhaps combining rural precincts to share resources, and possibly assisting with election judge hiring … all good ideas.
… if we have good reason to do away with mail ballots.
But do we?
If we’re changing a process that affects 18 of 24 precincts because several courthouse workers were harassed by a handful of bad actors, that’s not a good reason.
We, too, empathize with election workers who feel threatened, and we’re deeply disappointed that the bad actors were allowed so much influence. … However, it would be more disappointing if the actions of these few resulted in changes affecting so many.
If there are reasons to return to in-person voting, then let’s consider valid informed discussion to that effect (not baseless allegations).
Our commissioners have been seeking input from township officials and city leaders in our rural towns, and many have been clear about wanting to keep the mail ballot system.
But they don’t get to decide; the county commissioners do. And it’s on their agenda Tuesday.
Whatever they decide, if they do take action at that meeting, we hope it’s for the right reasons.

A year ago at this time my family celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday, which was May 11.
We pulled out all the stops and had a day-long party concluding with Mom serving cake to 34 of her favorite descendants.
This year, we will not celebrate Mom’s 81st birthday on earth but will rejoice that she is celebrating her first birthday in heaven.
A few weeks back, I announced an April date for the next “Marlene and Darlene” annual fundraiser for the Generations in Luverne (formerly Luverne Senior Citizens.)
Well, I was wrong and the date has changed to May 11 – Mom’s birthday.
Last year, for the Marlene and Darlene skit, Mom sat near the front with other family members. She said she laughed so hard she cried.
She won’t sit with the family this year, but I hope she can see us and I hope she laughs so hard she cries. (I know there are no tears in heaven, but perhaps tears from laughter are allowed.)
Like most people who pass away suddenly, Mom had a lot of unfinished projects – including quilts. Lots of quilts.
The quilting crew at Generations offered to finish one of Mom’s quilts for the fundraiser raffle. (It’s beautiful and will be raffled along with one of George Bonnema’s famous carrot cakes, a beef bundle, a pork bundle, lawn care, car washes and book store gift cards.)
I think Mom, who was a shy person, would be a bit shocked to learn that one of her quilts will be raffled at a public event.
Perhaps it is because Mom was shy that I am not. Her art was quilting.
My art is writing and performing in skits about ridiculous old ladies who are “only trying to help.”
It will be fun to combine talents with her at Generations for this year’s fundraiser – her quilt and my skit “appearing together for one night only.”
Auctioneer Yvette VanDerBrink and actress DJ Luethje will also join the effort to raise money for special programs at Generations.
I hope you can join us May 11 for dessert, a raffle, an auction and a skit called “Piece of Cake.”
Mom’s piece will have one candle.