The nearly full moon stole the show Saturday night for the Blue Mounds State Park annual Candlelight Hike. More than 700 hikers young and old from the tri-state area enjoyed mild winter temperatures and calm winds for the 3-mile trek along moonlit and candlelit trails. Park staff and volunteers with Friends of the Blue Mounds State Park assisted with parking, campfires and hot cocoa and cookies for the evening that was intended to showcase the midwinter beauty of Blue Mounds State Park. “We were very happy with the event, and glad that so many people came out to enjoy a really pleasant night,” said Park Manager Chris Ingebretsen. “We really appreciated everyone's effort and support, and look forward to doing this again next year.”

The Den Herder Construction business of brothers Jim and Cal Den Herder is now operating as the father-son business of Cal and Colby Den Herder.
As of Jan. 1, Jim Den Herder, 66, sold his share of the 35-year-old family business to his nephew and is phasing into retirement.
“I’m still getting used to the fact that I’m no longer in charge,” he said about semi-retirement. “But I’m learning.”
Cal, 63, is currently a partner, but retirement may be around the corner.
“It’s definitely a change as we take the business from one generation to the next,” he said.
For Colby, 25, it’s an opportunity to carry on a family tradition of independent business ownership.
“I never thought I would end up back in Luverne owning a business with my dad,” he said. “But since the opportunity was presented, I’ve been excited to learn more and grow into an ownership role.”
 He and his wife, Makenna, were married in November 2020 and moved back to Luverne from Volga, South Dakota, in February 2021 to be closer to family.
“Three years ago, I graduated from SDSU with a completely different mindset on where I was going to go and what I was going to do in life,” Colby said.
“I went to school for wildlife and fisheries sciences, and I spent every summer in college working for the game, fish and parks and networking through them.”
Colby started working full time with Den Herder Construction when they got to Luverne, and Makenna, who has a sociology degree, worked as a mental health case worker in Sioux Falls.
In October of 2021, they found out they were expecting Emmett, around the time Den Herders began talking about an ownership change.
 
Entrepreneurial spirit
At 12 years old, Colby operated Den Herder Lawn Care with his 11-year-old brother, Cayd. They bought the business from their older brothers, Tyler and Trevor Den Herder.
“We had a lawn mowing trailer hooked to a riding lawn mower,” he recalled. “Doing the bookwork was actually my favorite thing. I got mad at my brother when I couldn’t read the invoices … his handwriting was so bad.”
Today Colby is building on past experiences to start a new career with his dad and wife.
“We are extremely excited about this new chapter in our lives and thank God for every twist and turn that brought us here,” he said. “This is without a doubt what was meant to happen for our family.”
 
Nearly 50 years of pounding nails
Den Herder Construction has roots in Luverne dating back to 1973 when Jim worked for local contractor John DeGroot.
“I was a sophomore in high school,” he recalled, doing the math. “I’ve been pounding nails for almost 50 years.”
Cal also started pounding nails when he was 16 going to work for Case Feikema, who also hired Jim around 1976.
Cal started on his own in 1985, and by 1988 the brothers joined forces on Den Herder Construction.
They said the construction market has changed dramatically since those early years.
“Back then, if someone called about rotten boards under a toilet, I’d tell them I could probably be there in two hours,” Cal said.
“Now if I get a call like that, I can probably make it in the year 2025. That’s a big difference. There’s a shortage of trades people.”
Jim said, “It’s important to find kids when they’re young and train them in trades.”
They both said there is job security in construction.
“There’s always a need for housing; that doesn’t go away,” Cal said. “Whether it’s low end or high end. Whether it’s new or remodel. People will always need shelter.”
 
Good workers, good customers
Den Herder Construction has seven full- and part-time employees counting Jim, Cal, Colby and Makenna. The crew grows to more than a dozen in the busy summer months.
Among the longtime employees are Aaron Van Dyken, Conner Redman, Wayne Ahrens, Kenny Clark and Marv Hoogland.
“We’ve had a lot of good help through the years who have helped us build the business,” Deb said.
“We’re very thankful for all the customers we’ve had in the past and friendships that have been made through working with people.”
Jim and Cal said they’re grateful for community support. “We’ve been blessed with good customers,” Jim said. “We’ve done a lot of work in the area and Luverne’s been good to us.”
 
Next chapter
Jim said he goes home at the end of the day and no longer works on paperwork and phone calls, but that doesn’t make it easy to let go.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “We raised this baby for 35 years and all of a sudden, we’re letting it go.”
Deb said, “But we’re letting it go to good people. We feel that Colby and Makenna and Cal will keep the quality of the business very high.”
The young couple now look to keep the business strong for the next generation of Den Herders.
“We are thrilled to have acquired a business that has been built up with many years of hard work and a strong reputation of excellence,” Makenna said. 
Colby said, “We aim to continue serving our amazing employees, customers, and community moving forward as the new co-owners of Den Herder Construction Inc.”
The company can be reached at denherderconstruction@gmail.com.

As a Luverne High School athlete in the 1970s, Mary Jo (Iveland) Graphenteen and her female classmates weren’t allowed to play varsity sports.
They could play intramural bowling, gymnastics, archery and some basketball through GAA, the Girls Athletic Association. “I called it ‘Girls Always Asking’ for sports,” Graphenteen said.
She recalled the GAA sports being relegated to the “little gym with a slippery floor” while the boys commandeered the high school gym for games and practice.
“We got one hour in the big gym each week while the boys’ basketball team had a ‘chalk talk’ before their Friday night games,” Graphenteen said.
Then in 1972 federal legislation known as “Title IX” prohibited discrimination based on gender in education programs or activities that receive financial assistance from the federal government.
In Luverne, it changed girls’ sports forever.
 
Opportunities to succeed
By the spring of 1974 Luverne High School girls could join the track team, and by the fall of 1974, they could play varsity volleyball, tennis, basketball and gymnastics. Other girls’ sports came later.
After Title IX, Mary Jo played on Luverne’s first female varsity basketball team, which made it to state playoffs in a highly competitive district and region.
“We were lucky to win at those levels,” she said. “The teams were really good that first year.”
Their conference opponents were Pipestone, Marshall, Worthington and Redwood Falls. They beat an undefeated Southwest Christian to advance to region play and then state.
She hasn’t forgotten the thrill of earning a varsity sports trophy.
“Today we have 10 sports and several individuals and teams who have had the opportunity to hold a trophy because of Title IX,” Graphenteen said. “It’s every athlete’s goal to compete at the state level,” she said.
If Title IX hadn’t happened, she said she and her teammates wouldn’t have had that opportunity. 
“Today so many people don’t know what Title IX is and what it means,” she said. “Others today need to know who came before and helped make that happen.”
 
Telling the story
That’s why she was glad to help the Luverne Basketball Association and high school celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX Friday night.
Since the law passed, female participation in sports at the high school level has grown by 1,057 percent and by 614 percent at the college level, according to the LBA.
“It has accelerated change and created a legacy of diverse women leading on and off the court and playing field,” the group shared on social media.
Graphenteen teamed up with her high school basketball coach, Vicky (Birchard) Henderson, to prepare some history displays for Friday night.
“It was God’s timing,” Henderson said about her role in leading Luverne’s first high school girls’ basketball team.
“I played basketball in Iowa, and played in college, and came here to student teach. I hadn’t paid attention to Title IX until they asked me to coach.”
She said the coaching opportunity also led her to her husband, Roger, who drove the team bus.
“The girls on the team took credit for us getting together,” said her husband of 46 years. “So did the assistant coach, Tim Burns.”
Looking back, Graphenteen said she’s grateful to have benefited from Title IX, but she laments the fact that so many missed out.
“We have had a lot of talent at Luverne, and we had great teams,” Graphenteen said.
“But I can’t help but think of the really great athletes who didn’t get to do what the ‘74 basketball team got to do. I can’t help but think how good they could have been if given the chance.”
 
Recognizing trailblazers
In addition to Graphenteen, the team included Becky Arp (Eeten), Bonnie Gerloff (Steilow), Joanne Granneman (Fodness), Deb Hatting (Hill), Faye Hawkinson (Brown), Denise Junck (Lynott), Lisa Keitel, Lynette Kemerling, Peggy Mann (Raker), Karen Noll (Fey), Sharon Remme (Miller), Pam Thorson (Hommen), Pam Visker (Walgrave), Jill Wildung (Schmidt) and the late Kathy Thorson.
Managers were Joan Aanenson (Berry) and Patricia Teclaw, and scorekeeper was the late Calene Birky (Williams).
They were recognized during the Title IX 50th anniversary celebration during halftimes of the boys’ and girls’ double-header games.
Seven of them were present Friday and were introduced along with the seven current seniors on Luverne’s girls’ basketball team.
Other early trailblazers of Title IX included Jeanne Bowron (who helped lead most of the GAA activities and was assistant coach for varsity sports) and first-year head coaches of the five girls’ varsity sports.
Katie Hemme coached three of the five girls’ varsity sports, Dave Svingen coached tennis and Henderson coached basketball.
“It’s great to be part of history,” Henderson said. “It’s really been fun to have been part of it. It’s crazy to think it’s been 49 years for us.”
The Title IX displays and history of girls’ sports in Luverne are now available at the Rock County History Center.

Luverne Elementary School is abuzz with reading activities throughout the month of February in celebration of “I Love to Read Month.”
Tucked among the various reading offerings is fourth-grade teacher Peyten Elbers’ “Book Club,” a new class offered through Luverne Community Education.
The first-year teacher wanted to offer a reading alternative during the month of February for families with third- through fifth-graders and their activity-filled schedules.
“I know how busy families are nowadays to try to have their child read every night, so I decided to merge the two ideas and create a book club to get kids excited about reading,” she said.
“I’m offering this as a fun way to get students excited about reading. There are groups for sports, robotics, cooking and Spanish. Why not add a group for reading as well.”
She has 27 third- and fourth-grade students sign up for her after-school Book Club.
For an hour each week, Elbers gathers with students from the same grade level in her room after school. Together they share a snack as Elbers reads a book. Then they read a book together, followed by playing games centered around story meanings.
“These games focus on skills such as, who is the main character, where is the story taking place, what is the plot of each story, and so on,” she said.
The selected books are based on the students’ Accelerated Reader level and the students can test on the books read in Book Club to earn points toward their individual reading goals.
“Reading can be fun,” Elbers said. “I hope that this book club helps kids reach their AR goal along with learning how to read.”
Luverne Elementary staff has organized various “Drop Everything And Read” moments, and each Friday in February students participate in various reading activities in their classrooms.
March 2 is the late children’s author Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel’s birthday and a day filled with reading as the school’s I Love to Read Monday comes to a close.
Elbers’ Book Club embraces Geisel’s whimsical stories in an effort to encourage young students to read.
“Just like Dr. Seuss said, ‘The more you read, the more things you know. The more you learn the more places you will go,’” Elbers said. “Reading is a skill we will use the rest of our lives, and I want students to view reading as something to enjoy.”

Students at Luverne Public Schools have accumulated an unpaid meal debt close to $27,000.
A state procedural plan was recently rolled out, and Luverne is poised to adopt the debt collection process this month.
“We are going to start the process of collecting after we meet to distribute Angel Fund money to needy families,” Superintendent Craig Oftedahl told board members Jan. 26.
The state provided a template for a consistent unpaid meal charge and debt collection process to collect the unpaid meal debt.
As of Monday, the district’s unpaid meal balance was $26,626.
There is $7,036 in the Angel Fund, established in 2017 from private donations for specific needs in the district.
Many district families qualify for the state’s free and reduced meal program based on income. Many, however, do not apply for the program.
Families can apply for free/reduced-price meal benefits any time during the school year, especially if a change has occurred to the household income or family size. Signup is completed in the district office.
The delinquent meal balances are several years of accumulated debt and are not a new problem for school districts.
Account balances fluctuate from year to year as balances are paid, but this year the negative balances are escalating rapidly.
At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, Luverne’s unpaid meal balance was at $3,503.
Within four months of the current school year, the balance grew to $9,608 and two months later the amount is $26,626.
“It is an oddball year due to the fact this is the first time we are charging for lunch for the past two years,” said business manager Tyler Reisch.
“I personally felt it was going to take time for parents to get back into the swing of realizing they have to put money in their child’s account.”
Due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the district participated in the National School Lunch Program to offer free breakfasts and lunches to all students during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.
The free meals for all students ended in September.
Parents can pay in person, by mail or use the district’s online payment system. Students can pay cash at the time of meal purchase.
“We keep trying to work with families to set up a plan for payment and that is we haven’t ‘written off’ the amount (to the district’s general fund),” Oftedahl said. “We try to create a positive balance by asking parents to provide some payment or set up a plan to pay down some of the negative balances.”
The district continues to accept Angel Fund donations.
 
No ‘lunch shaming’ takes place locally
No students at Luverne Public Schools are given alternative lunches or denied meals if they have a negative balance.
The district also no longer gives students stamps or slips of paper indicating they have a negative balance.
“That policy went away three years ago,” Oftedahl said. “We still notify parents when they are approaching a zero balance and when they have a negative. We do not notify the student.”
Luverne and other Minnesota school districts adopted resolutions recently mirroring what the districts were already practicing of providing student meals at school regardless of a negative account balance.
In November state attorney general Keith Ellison said that providing alternative meals violates state law that requires respectful treatment of students regarding school lunch debt and prohibits limiting access to many aspects of student life based on meal debt.
“Minnesota law is clear: students whose families are struggling to afford their lives cannot be denied a regular school lunch or offered a substandard alternative meal in place of a regular lunch,” Ellison said in a press release.
“That practice is another form of ‘lunch shaming’ that is an affront to the dignity of those students and is not allowed under the law.”

The Hills-Beaver Creek School District will host public information meetings on March 23 and 28 to answer questions about the $29.975 million bond referendum vote scheduled for April 11.
District officials propose to demolish the current elementary school in Beaver Creek and build a new elementary school.
They also propose to demolish the former high school at 205 E. Second St. in Hills and remodel the adjoining Hugo Goehle gym/locker rooms and bus garage.
Each site will host its own public information meeting and tours.
The elementary meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in Beaver Creek.
The Hugo Goehle meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in Hills.
According to Superintendent Todd Holthaus, the H-BC School Board is working to secure additional land in Beaver Creek for the new elementary school.
Board members met in their third closed session Monday to discuss land options; however, no agreement was reached.
The district is seeking 10 to 12 acres for the new elementary school.
“Ideally we would like to have a purchase agreement before the referendum vote,” Holthaus said. “We don’t have to have that for state approval. We would like to have an agreement for our own peace of mind.”
The board is working on the building project with the architects ATSR, construction manager RA Morton and the district’s finance adviser Ehlers Inc.
Representatives from all three entities will join H-BC School Board members at the March public information meetings.
The district intends to ask voters two questions on April 11.
Question 1 asks voters to consider a $26.5 million bond to build a new preK-5 elementary school and decommission the existing structure in Beaver Creek.
Question 2 asks for $3.475 million to decommission the former high school building in Hills and make improvements to the former school’s locker rooms and gymnasium. The existing bus garage and the parking lot at the current secondary school will also be expanded under the plan.
An informational brochure was recently sent to school district residents explaining the projects involved in the bond referendum and where and how residents can vote.
A copy of the brochure is available at www.hbcpatriots.com under the “2023 Referendum” tab where an impact calculator is also available for residents to gauge how the referendum may affect various property classifications.
The 2022 community facility survey and 2022 facility analysis can also be viewed on the school website.

Mortgage foreclosure sale set for Sept. 29
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:
DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 21, 2010
MORTGAGOR: Bradley G Moss and Dawn M Moss, husband and wife as joint tenants.
MORTGAGEE: Heritage Bank N.A.
DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded April 26, 2010, Rock County Recorder, Document No. 173571.
ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: Central Mortgage Company.  Dated April 21, 2010, Recorded April 26, 2010, as Document No. 173572.  And thereafter assigned to: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. Dated October 19, 2015, Recorded October 26, 2015, as Document No. 187187. And thereafter assigned to:  Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC.  Dated August 29, 2019, Recorded August 30, 2019, as Document No. 195483. And thereafter assigned to: Nationstar Mortgage LLC. Dated June 30, 2022, Recorded June 30, 2022, as Document No. 202762.       
TRANSACTION AGENT:  NONE
TRANSACTION AGENT'S MORTGAGE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON MORTGAGE: NONE
LENDER OR BROKER AND MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR STATED ON MORTGAGE:  Heritage Bank N.A.
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SERVICER:  Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a RightPath Servicing
MORTGAGED PROPERTY ADDRESS:  744 171st Street, Luverne, MN 56156
TAX PARCEL I.D. #: 110034000
LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:
A tract of land in the NW 1/4 of Section 14, Township 103 North, Range 46 West 
of the 5th P.M. Rock County, Minnesota, described as follows:
Commencing at the Northwest Corner of the NW 1/4, then east along the North Line of said Section a distance of 2,345 feet to the point of beginning; thence continuing east along the North Line of said NW 1/4 a distance of 295 feet; thence south and parallel to the West Line of said Section a distance of 375 feet; thence west and parallel to the North Line of said Section a distance of 295 feet; thence north and parallel to the West Line of said Section a distance of 375 feet to the point of beginning.
COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Rock
ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $180,000.00
AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $204,309.90
That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;
PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows:
DATE AND TIME OF SALE: September 29, 2022, at 10:00 A.M.
PLACE OF SALE: Sheriff's Office, Main Entrance, Law Enforcement Center, 1000 North Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, MN
to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys' fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns unless reduced to Five (5) weeks under MN Stat. §580.07.
TIME AND DATE TO VACATE PROPERTY: If the real estate is an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling, unless otherwise provided by law, the date on or before which the mortgagor(s) must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property is not redeemed under section 580.23 is 11:59 p.m. on March 29, 2023, unless that date falls on a weekend  or legal holiday, in which case it is the next weekday, and unless the redemption period is reduced to 5 weeks under MN Stat. Secs. 580.07 or 582.032.
MORTGAGOR(S) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE: None
"THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED."
 
Dated: July 26, 2022
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
 
LIEBO, WEINGARDEN, DOBIE & BARBEE, P.L.L.P.
Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
4500 Park Glen Road #300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(952) 925-6888
21 - 22-002677 FC
 
IN THE EVENT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
(08-04, 08-11, 08-18, 08-25, 09-01, 09-08)
 
 
Notice of postponement
NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 580.07, the foregoing foreclosure
sale is postponed until November 10, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at the Sheriff's Office, Main Entrance,
Law Enforcement Center, 1000 North Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, MN, in said
county and state.
 
Dated:  September 27, 2022
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
 
LIEBO, WEINGARDEN, DOBIE & BARBEE, P.L.L.P.
Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
4500 Park Glen Road #300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(952) 925-6888
21 - 22-002677 FC
IN THE EVENT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
(10-06)
 
 
Notice of postponement
NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 580.07, the foregoing foreclosure sale is postponed until December 22, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at the Sheriff's Office, Main Entrance, Law Enforcement Center, 1000 North Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, MN, in said county and state.
 
Dated:  November 8, 2022.
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
 
LIEBO, WEINGARDEN, DOBIE & BARBEE, P.L.L.P.
Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
4500 Park Glen Road #300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(952) 925-6888
21 - 22-002677 FC
IN THE EVENT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
(11-17)
 
Notice of postponement
NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 580.07, the foregoing foreclosure sale is postponed until February 2, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at the Sheriff's Office, Main Entrance, Law Enforcement Center, 1000 North Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, MN, in said county and state.
 
Dated:  December 20, 2022.
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
 
LIEBO, WEINGARDEN, DOBIE & BARBEE, P.L.L.P.
Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
4500 Park Glen Road #300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(952) 925-6888
21 - 22-002677 FC
IN THE EVENT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
(12-29)
 
Notice of postponement
NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 580.07, the foregoing foreclosure sale is postponed until March 16, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at the Sheriff's Office, Main Entrance, Law Enforcement Center, 1000 North Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, MN, in said county and state.
 
Dated:  January 31, 2023.
 
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
 
LIEBO, WEINGARDEN, DOBIE & BARBEE, P.L.L.P.
Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
4500 Park Glen Road #300
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(952) 925-6888
21 - 22-002677 FC
IN THE EVENT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
(02-09)

Meetings
Vienna Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the Kenneth Community Center.
Battle Plain Township Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the home of Eric Sas. 
 
School music programs Feb. 10
Luverne third- and fourth-grade students will present their music programs Friday afternoon, Feb. 10, in the performing arts center. Third-grade students will perform “Summer Camp” at 1:15 p.m. and fourth-grade students will perform “Hawaiian Beach Party.”  
 
Sno-Masters Fun Run Feb. 11
On Feb. 11 the Sno-Masters will host a Fun Run (poker run). All vehicles welcome. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the clubhouse.  Stops include the Ea­gles Club (Luverne), Take 16 (Luverne), Hardwick, Trosky, Beaver Creek, Hills and the Luverne Country Club. Five stops are neces­sary for a hand. Bring your own beverages.
 
Entries due Feb. 11 for March 4 Generations Puzzle Tourney
Generations will host its annual Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 4, on South Estey Street in Luverne to support the ongoing expenses of Generations in the community.
Entries are accepted in 300-piece two-person teams, 500-piece two- or three-person teams or 300-piece youth (eighth grade or younger) and adult teams.
Registration and payment ($50 per team) may be mailed to or dropped off by Feb. 11 at Generations, attn: Puzzle Tourney, 105 S Estey, Luverne, MN 56156.
Generations hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact Corrine Bonnema 507-920-3802 or email livewellagewell100@gmail.com
 
Dental clinic in Luverne Feb. 23
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Rock County Health and Human Services community room. This clinic provides dental care for adults and children ages 0 to over 100. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted. Organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
 
Virtual author tour in February
The libraries of the Plum Creek Library System will offer “Wrapped in Reading Author Tour,” a series of four virtual programs in February.
Feb. 14 Lorna Landvik, Feb. 21 paranormal researcher and author Chad Lewis, and Feb. 28 mystery thriller writer Brian Freeman.
Preregistration is required for each of the free programs at https://tinyurl.com/Plum­creekvirtualauthortour
For more information contact the Rock County Library at 507-449-5040 or rocklibrarystaff@gmail.com.
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Catchers and pitchers (experienced or new in grades K-8 can learn and practice skills at a four-session Softball Camp starting Feb. 16. Sign up by Feb. 6 at the lower fee of $40.
Students in grades 5 – 8 interested in acting or working behind the scenes can attend Intro to Theatre on Feb. 16.  Fee is $12.
Learn how to protect, detect and report fraud in Don’t Be a Target of Medicare and Consumer Fraud on Feb. 21 from 10 to 11 a.m. Fee is $5.
 Learn how to detect and treat Emerald Ash Borer and other common insects and diseases at Insects and Diseases in Trees: What Should I Plant? On Feb. 27. Fee is $10. 
Students grades 3-8 can learn painting techniques in Pour Painting to create beautiful art pieces on Feb. 28. Fee is $10.
 
Free tax preparation at library
AARP volunteers will offer free tax preparation for low-income individuals and seniors at the Rock County Library on Mondays starting Feb. 13 through April 15.
Call 507-449-5040 for appointments. Bring documents, including last year’s tax return and a form of identification to document social security number. Tax returns for 2021 will be prepared if requested.
 
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
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.
Winter Book Club meets at different local restaurants during February and March.
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.
The annual Plum Cleek Library System winter reading program, “Get Wrapped in Reading,” goes now until March 31.
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.
 
Community Ed announcements
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
ECFE Classes for children ages 0-5 years and parents offers information and support to parents and provides activities for parents and children to explore together through classes that meet once a week throughout the school year. 
New Residents: Census Information Needed for Preschool Children. Call 507-283-4724 with information for children ages 0 to kindergarten. The school district uses the information for planning purposes, mailing out information on school events, including the state-mandated Preschool Screening for all 3-year-old children.
 
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is now 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.
 
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets Tuesdays
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. There will be StoryHour Bible stories and playtime for ages 3 to kindergarten, and a nursery is available. It’s free for all faiths and no prior Bible knowledge is necessary. Call Kristi Stroeh at 507-227-5102 or email atkristi.stroeh@hotmail.com
 
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.

Leenderts probate
STATE OF MINNESOTA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               PROBATE COURT
                                                                         DISTRICT COURT
COUNTY OF ROCK                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  PROBATE DIVISION
 
In Re: Estate of                                                               Court File No. 67-PR-23-20
Leonard Leenderts,                                
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 27th day of February, 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 16, 2005, and for the appointment of Alan Leenderts, whose address is 510 2nd Street, Hills, Minnesota 56138, 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 representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.
 
Date Filed: January 27, 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    
(02-09, 02-16)