By Mavis Fodness
A community literacy program continues at Sanford Luverne thanks to a donation from Minnwest Bank, Luverne.
Bank representatives donated $2,500 to keep the nine-year-old program, “Reach Out and Read,” going locally.
“We are committed to building stronger, more vibrant communities everywhere Minnwest calls home,” said Melissa Fick, market president in Minnwest Bank, Luverne.
“Early childhood literacy contributes to the growth of the Luverne area and supports local families, and we are thrilled to be part of this work.”
Reach Out and Read is a nationwide nonprofit that integrates reading into pediatric practices. Families are advised about the importance of reading with their children, and as a catalyst, children receive free books at all well-child appointments.
“Our providers and staff focus on family-centered care, and they look forward to sharing books through this program,” said Tracy Schultz, Sanford Luverne Clinic director.
“It’s a wonderful way to encourage healthy development and learning habits to families in the community, and it gives our youngest patients a fun surprise during their exam visit.”
Yearly about 750 books are distributed at the Luverne clinic.
Children begin receiving age-appropriate books at 6 months of age and continue to do so until age 5 or when the child begins kindergarten.
The community partnership for the Reach Out and Read program began in July 2014.
In Minnesota there are 306 clinics across the state who have distributed annually over 313,000 books to children. More than 2,200 doctors and clinicians have received training on the program’s impact.
The research completed by the nationwide Reach Out and Read program indicates parents who receive books from their physicians are 2.5 times more likely to read to their children.
Children who are read to regularly score 3 to 6 months ahead of non-participants in language development skills. These early foundational language skills help start children on the path of success by the time they start school.

For the third year in a row, a Luverne High School math league team participated in state competition.
The 10-member team competed at South St. Paul High School on Monday, March 13, finishing in seventh place. 
Members include seniors Mallory Von Tersch, Parker Carbonneau, Camden Janiszeski, Anja Jarchow, Reese Louwagie, Logan Ommen; juniors Zoey Berghorst, Steven Woods; freshmen Ella Hoogendorn and Zander Carbonneau. 
Third-year adviser Aaron Perkins said 46 students were members of this year’s LHS math league, with students participating in one or more of five meets conducted each month since November. 
The Luverne math league finished first in Section 2A and was runner-up in the Dynamic South Division, finishing behind Montevideo High School. 
“It was close the entire year,” Perkins said. “We had four of the top 10 scores in both divisions and section.” 
Perkins said competition is tough at the state level. 
Teams answer as many of the 24 questions they can in 12 minutes — many without the use of a calculator – in the four topic areas of algebra, geometry, trigonometry and precalculus.

Luke probate
STATE OF MINNESOTA probate COURT
                                                                         DISTRICT COURT
COUNTY OF ROCK                                                                     PROBATE DIVISION
 
In Re: Estate of                                                                Court File No. 67-PR-23-55
Duane A. Luke, a/k/a Duane Luke,
Deceased                                                 ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING
FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND
APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION
AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
 
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:
It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 10th  day of April, 2023, at  8:30  O'clock a.m., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated October 22, 2013, and for the appointment of Todd Luke whose address is 814 N. Cedar St., Luverne, Minnesota 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 representatives 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 thereto 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.
 
Date Filed: March 8, 2023 /s/ Terry S. Vajgrt
District Court Judge
 
Douglas E. Eisma /s/ Natalie Reisch Attorney for Petitioner Court Administrator
Eisma and Eisma
130 East Main (COURT SEAL)
Luverne, MN 56156
(507) 283-4828
I.D. #158343 (03-16, 03-23)

When I was a kid, I spent hours imagining I was the keeper of a “store” in the farmhouse basement’s huge food storage room.
Since Mom’s passing in November, I’ve been straightening and cleaning at the farm, and last week my focus was the basement pantry.
To step through its threshold is to step through time.
Grandpa and his brothers built the brick house in the early 1950s. He built the storage room shelves with dimensional 2x10 planks of hardwood.
Grandma carefully covered them with pages from the 1948 Ladies Home Journal.
The fabric curtains she hung to protect the canned goods from light still hang from the original wire. A mouse or two have sampled the fabric, adding to the busy patterns Grandma preferred.
Seventy years have passed, and covered with dust, elements of the trendy design style called “farmhouse” fill the room. Here is a Red Wing crock. There, an egg basket. Over there, a copper ash bin and dozens of blue Kerr canning jars with glass lids.
And, of course, the shelves still boldly display Mom’s gleaming jars of red tomato sauce, green beans, pink canned meat and orange peaches.
As I straightened the pantry’s shelves and swept its floors, I recalled all the good things that came out of this room.
It was a happy day when Mom said we could have a jar of canned Bing cherries with dinner. My brother and sister and I would carefully count the pits to confirm we’d had equal servings.
A meal featuring Mom’s canned cubed beef with mashed potatoes and gravy came straight from heaven.
“Run down and get a jar of beans,” was a common instruction to one of us as Mom made supper.
I blink, and 50 years have passed. Hundreds of those jars now stand empty and dusty on Grandpa’s sturdy-built shelves.
A few dozen jars display Mom’s last harvest.
And I am a middle-aged lady with a broom and a dustpan, keeping a store in the farmhouse basement storage room.

Bauman probate
STATE OF MINNESOTA probate COURT
                                                                         DISTRICT COURT
COUNTY OF ROCK                                                                     PROBATE DIVISION
 
In Re: Estate of                                                              Court File No. 67-PR-23-52
Dallas Dale Bauman, a/k/a Dallas D. Bauman,
a/k/a Dallas Bauman,                                        ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING
Deceased FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND
APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION
AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
 
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:
It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 3rd day of April, 2023, at 8:30  O'clock A.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated December 2, 2022, and for the appointment of David James Goedken, whose address is 28413 Bulick Avenue, Adrian, Minnesota 56110, 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 thereto 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.
 
Date Filed: March 6, 2023 /s/ Terry S. Vajgrt
District Court Judge
 
Jennifer L. Eisma-Reinke /s/ Natalie Reisch Attorney for Petitioner Court Administrator
Eisma and Eisma
130 East Main (COURT SEAL)
Luverne, MN 56156
(507) 283-4828
I.D. #389457 (03-16, 03-23)

Sandy Robinson and Ben Carlson were part of news reports as birth announcements in Minnesota’s newspapers. 
Neither one was probably aware of the attention created by the event, but we could expect to see more of Sandy and Ben in the coming years. 
Likewise, we hope the local newspapers become a part of their daily routines.
Newspapers pride themselves as recorders of local history. I encourage all Minnesotans to join in celebrating their local newspapers during Sunshine Week, March 12-18. 
At its foundation, the week underscores the importance of the free flow of information for an open, effective and accountable government. 
Shedding light on information, however, is much broader than probing into government workings. Newspapers regularly strive to provide stories that people should read and like to read.
Readers may view many reports as routine, but chronicling the lives of Sandy and Ben often represents years-long initiatives to gain access to information. The items often show up on refrigerators or a permanent place in family scrapbooks. 
The news may range from publishing vital statistics to capturing photos of winning scores to detailing presentations before a school board or city council. The opportunity for anyone to collect a variety of data or enjoy ringside seats to many events is not happenstance. The press has a storied history of working to shed light on all aspects of everyday life.
Sandy and Ben’s births will remain part of local history. Newspapers take pride in helping families spread news of special events in their lives — maybe a pinewood derby or a youth sports championship. 
The achievements will be recognized, especially through high school, with honor rolls, school activities and photos in graduation editions. The relationship with their hometown papers is likely to continue with college news, scholarships, dean’s lists and subsequent careers.
I expect Sandy and Ben may someday decide to start their own families, and news pages will announce engagements and acknowledge weddings — wonderful additions to family scrapbooks. 
Their names will be in the news some more if they join boards of civic organizations, become youth leaders at church or volunteers at school. They might even start their own businesses, which will be recognized as well.
Then the families, along witholder brothers and sisters, will be planning a special anniversary celebration for their parents. Once again, the event will make the paper.
Individuals are the essence of community newspapers. After all, people make the news. 
Today’s media landscape is more fractured than ever, underscoring the value of community newspapers in providing a living history of our hometowns. Many stories are easily gathered; others are more challenging. 
They all represent the expense of time and resources by newspaper staffs. 
During Sunshine Week, we pay tribute to the millions of readers who invite newspapers into their homes each day. I speak firsthand from many years sitting behind the editor’s desk. We enjoy the relationships we’ve made, and we hope our readers do, too.
- Jim Pumarlo is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. He is a former editor of the Red Wing Republican Eagle and former board member of the Minnesota News Media Institute.

To the Editor:
The members of the Luverne Area Convention & Visitors Bureau enthusiastically support the efforts of the “Just for Nuts” 501C non-profit organization to site and construct the “world’s largest nutcracker” in Luverne.
Some of us were skeptical in 2017 when Roger Brooks’ assessment told our community that our “one big, unique thing” that could grow our tourism industry was the collection of nutcrackers at the History Center. 
Over the past five years, as the collection and its reputation have increased, Brooks’ recommendation was spot-on.
The story of Luverne’s nutcracker collection is now seen via print, video and social media throughout the country which has increased our visitor traffic and improved the bottom line of our retail and service industries which depend on tourism to survive.
We believe that the world’s largest nutcracker will only improve our visitor traffic and increase the revenue of businesses in our community.
Our friends in Blue Earth, Minnesota, started seriously promoting their “Green Giant” in the past couple of years. Today they get about 40,000 visitors a year to stop by their statue.
Imagine what could happen if 40,000 additional visitors stopped in Luverne to see the “largest nutcracker.” 
If we could get even a quarter of those visitors to go downtown to see the History Center’s collection and spend an hour or two … Roger Brooks estimates that Luverne could see an additional $2 million in revenue. 
We urge you to work with the wonderful people of the “Just forNuts” organization to accomplish the goal of siting the “World’s Largest Nutcracker” in Luverne. We know that this will increase tourism … that in turn will strengthen and grow our business community! 
Your support to make this happen will make Luverne a better place to “live, work and play.” 
Luverne CVB Board 
Mike Davis (chair)
Vance Walgrave (vice-chair)
Diana Hensley (secretary)Chris Ingebretsen 
Lori Hallstrom
Pastor Bob Junak 
Ashley Benson
Wendel Buys
Wyatt Sprecher
Kanaan Centeno
Usha Parmar
Tom Sawtelle

Dispatch report
March 3
•Complainant on S. KnissAvenue reported a parking complaint.
•Complainant on Crawfordand Blue Mound Avenue reported a parking issue.
•Complainant reported ascam.
•Complainant on S. KnissAvenue requested assistance from another department.
March 4
•Complainant on E. MainStreet reported a suspicious vehicle.
•Complainant on S. KnissAvenue and W. Fletcher Street reported a garbage complaint.
March 5
•An outage was reported.
•Complainant on E. LuverneStreet reported a scam.
•Complainant eastbound onInterstate 90, mile marker 14, Luverne, reported a road and drive law issue.
March 6
•Complainant on 110th Avenue and County Road 4, Luverne, reported debris.
•A warrant was issued on N.Spring Street.
•Complainant reported identity theft.
•Complainant on CountyRoad 6 and County Road 7 reported an abandoned vehicle.
•Complainant on SunshineAvenue reported vandalism.
•Complainant on N. SpringStreet reported suspicious activity.
March 7
•Complainant on N. KnissAvenue reported a disorderly.
•Complainant on W. MeadCourt reported a parking issue.
•Complainant on MackenzieStreet and Main Street reported property damage.
•Complainant on CountyRoad 3 and Interstate 90, Magnolia, reported a transient.
•Complainant on E. MainStreet reported a suspicious vehicle.
March 8
•Complainant on Rapp andJackson streets reported a parking complaint.
•Complainant west-boundon Interstate 90, mile marker 22.5, Adrian, requested assistance from another department.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street requested roadside assistance.
•Complainant eastbound onInterstate 90, mile marker 14, Luverne, reported a pedestrian.
•Complainant on Highway23, Jasper, reported a civil issue.
In addition, officers responded to 9 motor vehicle accidents, 3 vehicles in the ditch, 1 transport, 1 escort, 6 ambulance runs, 3 paper services, 5 animal complaints, 3 fingerprint requests, 11 burn permits, 1 background check, 1 alarm, 9 purchase and carry permits, 3 stalled vehicles, 91 traffic stops, 13 abandoned 911 calls, 1 test, 1 report of cattle out and 1 follow-up.

In my years of being a gardener, I have had many people ask when the best time is to plant various vegetable crops in the garden. I can’t tell you how often I have been asked if I have my potatoes planted on Good Friday.
My simple answer is “No, I plant them when the soil conditions are right,” because the calendar has nothing to do with what day to plant anything … nature does. Considering that Good Friday can fall anywhere from March 20 to April 23, early planted potatoes can get nailed by a frost, and even though they will usually regrow, they don’t really like that setback.
Some vegetable crops benefit from being planted early while soil temperatures are still cool … BUT NOT COLD! These crops become established much more quickly in cool soil. 
Other crops absolutely will not tolerate cool soil temperatures. The seeds rot or the plants become stunted or developmentally delayed from that stress. Soil temperature is the key here, not the calendar. 
So, what I am telling you is that there is not one day when I plant my garden. Potatoes are probably first on my list along with onions, peas, some of the brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, kale, and Brussels sprouts), spinach, and radishes. A minimum soil temperature of 50 degrees is ideal for these “hardy” crops.
Next on the list are the “half hardy” candidates: beets, carrots, lettuce, and cauliflower. They prefer a bit warmer soil temp of 55 degrees.
After that come the warm season crops: beans, corn, celery, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes and peppers, requesting a soil temperature of 60 degrees or above. 
OK, you’re telling me that you don’t have a soil thermometer. … Well then, you get to read nature’s calendar: When the forsythia is finishing blooming, you can plant peas, (obviously, you need to know what forsythia is). Plant hardy crops like potatoes when the first dandelions bloom (not referring to those against the south side of the house). Half-hardy crops get planted when the dandelions are in full bloom or the lilacs are in first leaf. Plant corn when the petals fall from the apple blossoms. Plant beans, squash and cucumbers when the lilacs are in full bloom. Plant tomatoes when the lily of the valley are in full bloom. And finally, plant peppers and eggplant when bearded iris bloom. 
So there you have the time range when I plant my garden. First on my list is for the soil to be dry enough to do the tilling (I usually spread my compost in the fall).
Ahead of that first is during the winter, while hibernating, I map out what is going to get planted where as I plan for crop rotation and successive plantings. Crop rotation for a garden of the scale I have is a major consideration to maximize soil nutrients and minimize insect and disease issues. 
Regarding starting your seeds indoors, wait until the first week of April for tender crops. 
Chin up … spring is coming because it always does … just get ready. Maybe even a few stretching exercises a few times a week to prepare your body, too!