Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge is challenging Rock County residents to jump in The Lake Feb. 11.
Called the Luverne Leap — Reezin’ for Freezin’, the fundraiser will benefit the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
“We are hoping for a good turnout,” said Verbrugge, who will take the first plunge into freezing water.
“It’s cold,” he warned. “I did it in St. Peter in temperatures about 35 degrees. We plan to jump (in Luverne) unless the weather is really bad.”
The challenge is open to individuals, teams and businesses to sign up on the Luverne Area Community Foundation social media or directly at https://luverne.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create.
Those who want to sign up for the Luverne Leap must pay the initial $25 pledge and then raise an additional $75 before the Feb. 11 event.
Prizes will be awarded for best costume and for top fundraising among individuals and teams/businesses. Top fundraisers will receive a special delivery from the sheriff’s office.
“Basically, this will be that the sheriff’s office will be bringing them donuts and coffee,” Verbrugge said. “We want the money to stay local in Rock County.”
LACF is a countywide organization that supports community nonprofits through grant requests in five focus areas: arts and humanities, community and civic affairs, social and economic growth, environmental and beautification, community wellness and health care.
Donors may designate a Rock County community to receive their money.
Emily Crabtree is the LACF executive director.
“We hope that any organization that has received a grant from the Luverne Area Community Foundation will consider a designated jumper as part of their giving back to donors and their community,” she said.
The Luverne Leap — Reezin’ for Freezin’
begins at noon Saturday, Feb. 11, at The Lake, 601 Edgehill St. in Luverne.
The Luverne Fire Department will cut the hole in the ice (at a depth no deeper than 5 feet) and supply two firemen in “gumby” suits in the water to help people in and out of the water.
The festive event will have music, free hot chocolate, and a backdrop for selfies, and a master of ceremonies will announce names of those jumping into the water. Emergency personnel will also be on site for the event.
Signup deadline is Feb. 1 in order to receive a T-shirt for bravery.

With the season’s first sub-zero temperatures in the forecast, CenterPoint Energy is reminding its customers about simple energy-saving and safety steps they can take to help lower their heating bills while continuing to stay safe and warm in the cold weather.
In addition, customers who believe they may have trouble paying their heating bills this winter should contact CenterPoint Energy to set up a payment arrangement and find out if they are eligible for energy assistance that can help pay their bills. To learn more, visit
CenterPointEnergy.com/NaturalGasCost.
 
Energy-saving tips
•Make sure your heating system is operating safely and efficiently. An annual inspection and tune-up are recommended, and make sure it is performed by a qualified technician.
•Change or clean your furnace filter regularly. Good air flow is essential for maximizing the efficiency and life of your furnace.
•Turn down the thermostat. Lower it by 10 degrees at night or when you’re away for at least eight hours. You can potentially save 10 percent on your space heating costs. With a programmable thermostat, it’s easy to have your heating system work around your schedule.
•Make your home more airtight to keep warm air in and cold air out. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts. Close fireplace dampers when not in use so you don’t lose heat.
•Keep curtains and blinds open during the day to allow the sun’s heat to warm your house. Close curtains and blinds at night so you don’t lose heat when the sun goes down. Also, set your ceiling fans to turn clockwise to circulate warm air.
To learn more about energy-saving tips and efficiency, visit
CenterPointEnergy.com/SaveEnergy.
 
Safety tips
•Use space heaters safely. Use a space heater with an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away. A space heater that uses gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
•Test your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms to make sure they work properly. Change batteries regularly. Alarms don’t last forever, so replace according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
•Know the signs of CO poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing symptoms, it may be CO poisoning. Get fresh air immediately and call 911.
•Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak.  If you smell the “rotten egg” odor of natural gas, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815. Don’t use electric switches/outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location, or do anything that could cause a spark.
To learn more about natural gas safety, visit
CenterPointEnergy.com/Safety.
Contact Ross Corson, 612-321-4879 or ross.corson@CenterPointEnergy.com with questions.

After two years of virtual competition, the Hills-Beaver Creek High School mock trial team’s feelings are mixed as the 2023 season begins this week.
“Most of the students are excited to be back into the courthouse because it makes the case more authentic for them,” said adviser Megan Klumper.
“A few of the newer members did express a bit of nervousness.”
Due to the pandemic and backlog of court cases, the event organized by the Minnesota Bar Association has been conducted virtually with each high school team competing via Zoom from their home schools.
This year, the five-round season will be split. The first two rounds will be back to in-person competitions at courthouses throughout the state. Rounds three and four are virtual.
For the Greater Minnesota Southern Division, round five will be in-person at Rice County Courthouse in Fairbault to determine which three teams will compete at this year’s virtual state tournament in March.
This year’s case centers around medical malpractice.
“The most challenging part for students will be the terminology,” Klumper said. “Portraying a medical expert takes a lot of practice because students must become comfortable with the medical jargon if they are to be seen as an expert.”
The civil case is Jamie Morton versus Audi Ramidus, M.D., where Morton, a high school swimmer, alleges that Ramidus was negligent in the repair of Morton’s injured knee and in his standard of care delivery.
For H-BC, the plaintiff Morton is portrayed by freshman Gavin Voss. Witnesses include Dr. Madison Adams (portrayed by junior Kyler Hartz) and swim coach Kris Peterson (junior Joy Taubert). Plaintiff lawyers are sophomore Emma Deelstra, junior Madison Gaugler and sophomore Blake Leenderts.
The defense team for H-BC is Dr. Ramidus (portrayed by senior Britton McKenzie), physical therapist Robin Still (junior Tahliya Kruger) and swim team member Val Rivera (senior Tyrae Goodface). Defense lawyers are seniors Lexi Drake and Leif Tollefson and freshman Sarah Prohl.
Time keepers and alternates for the team are sophomores Isaiah Stefanyuk and Lexxus Wessels.
Currently, the H-BC team doesn’t have an attorney coach but is actively seeking a volunteer.
“It seems like every year I learn more and more about how mock trial works,” said fourth-year coach Klumper. “After competitions, the judges give advice on how teams can improve. This is the best learning opportunity for myself and my team.”
H-BC’s first competition is Thursday, Jan. 12, against Murray County Central. The mock trial begins at 1 p.m. in Slayton.
Round two is 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, against Luverne in Windom.
Opponents for the virtual rounds three and four will be determined from team records from the first two rounds.

Luverne Mock Trial students will return to the courtroom Thursday, Jan. 12, for the first time in two years as the 2023 season gets underway.
According to adviser Jason Berghorst, the pandemic and resulting backlog in courtrooms statewide required competition to be virtual until this year.
“The students are looking forward to in-person trials,” Berghorst said.
“But only three members of our team have seen in-person trials — when they were freshmen – so the majority of our team isn’t really sure what to expect. Of course, that will be the case for the other teams as well.”
Rounds 1 and 2 will be in-person, with Rounds 3 and 4 virtual. Round 5 will be in-person at the Rice County Courthouse in Faribault, where the top three Southern Division teams compete for berths in the still-virtual state tournament in March.
“(The virtual rounds) will hopefully allow us to compete against schools from a further distance, as we were able to do the last two years when all competitions were online,” Berghorst said.
This year’s case involves civil medical malpractice when college swimmer Jamie Morton alleged negligence by Dr. Ardi Ramidus in the knee surgery and standard of care Dr. Ramidus prescribed.
For Luverne, Morton is portrayed by senior Mallory Von Tersch, with additional witnesses portraying medical expert Dr. Madison Adams (sophomore Xavier McKenzie) and swim coach Kris Peterson (sophomore Adam Ask.)
Plaintiff attorneys are juniors Roselynn Hartshorn and Cassi Chesley and freshman Tyler Hodge.
Senior Parker Carbonneau portrays Dr. Ardi Ramidus, with senior Jadyn Hart as physical therapist Robin Stoll and senior Ella Lanoue as swim team member Val Rivera.
Defense attorneys are senior Ross Bergman, freshman Zander Carbonneau and sophomore Keaton Ahrendt.
Alternates include sophomore Eli McLendon (who is also the bailiff) and freshman Nicole Areualo as attorneys. Alternate witnesses are sophomore Makayla Oechsle (also the time keeper) and junior Hallie Bork.
Jeff Haubrich returns as the team’s attorney coach.
Berghorst said since the medical malpractice case was released in October, students have been busy navigating technicalities and specific terminology.
“Team members are enjoying the process overall as they research what the terms mean and the law says, and create our strategies for the season based on what they are learning,” Berghorst said. “It’s not easy, but they are working hard.”
Round 1 for LHS is Thursday, Jan. 12, against Lakeview at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Ivanhoe. Competition begins at 1 p.m.
Round 2 is Friday, Jan. 20, against Hills-Beaver Creek at the Cottonwood County Courthouse in Windom, beginning at 9 a.m.
Opponents for rounds three and four are yet to be determined.
Round 5 brings the six teams with the best records in the first four rounds together, and the winners move on to the virtual state tournament.

Rock County’s recent heavy snow created headache and hardship for many people attempting to travel – and even depart their blocked garages and driveways.
This week’s Star Herald chronicles the efforts of professional snow movers and shares images of snow blowing, snow shoveling and snow piles of mammoth proportions.
The sheer volume of snow last week was the third largest in recent history, according to the National Weather Service, in terms of 24-hour accumulation for our area.
This is newsworthy, but another story riding the undercurrents of snow moving is the goodness and generosity of local residents and businesses along the way.
We saw neighbors helping neighbors as 3- to 4-foot snowbanks piled up beside sidewalks and driveways, and many brought their snowblowers and shovels to dig out the elderly and disabled.
Additional fire hydrants saw daylight after public officials put out a plea for area residents to “adopt a hydrant” in order to keep them free in case they’re needed for fire emergencies.
We heard stories of pickup drivers hooking to the bumpers of buried cars to pull them free, and in some cases, these same Good Samaritans connected jumper cables under car hoods to spark ignition.
And in rural Rock County, tractors and skid loaders equipped with plows and snowblowers crisscrossed country miles to help those who were having trouble clearing paths from homes and farmyards.
Meanwhile, those who couldn’t scoop or operate heavy equipment took to the kitchen, giving away hot food to workers laboring in cold conditions. Some donated money to support the restaurants.
“Our community has always been so supportive of us. I love to give back when I can,” said Jodi Reverts of Howling Dog Saloon where her staff gave away 29 meals. “I got the idea from other restaurants doing it. I chose to do it the days they did not.”
We caught snippets of stories like these in conversations and social media posts, and as Star Herald writers, we wished to put each of them in print.
At the end of the day, it’s simply worth stating — again — that we’re blessed to live in a community where people take care of each other.
Keep up the good work, Rock County. Winter is far from over, and this spirit of generosity is what will get us through until spring.

The frost on the trees bordering the cemetery Monday morning was spectacular. Blazing white branches sparkling against a brilliantly blue winter sky created a stunning scene worthy of the cemetery’s name, “Pleasant View.”
My sister and I drove past the cemetery on our way to spend some time with Dad at the farm.
We’ve driven by this cemetery thousands of times. With Mom at the wheel of a ’66 Mustang and then a ’73 VW van, we drove to town for church or school activities, or to visit Grandma, or to get a part for Dad.
In high school, one of my summer jobs was mowing the grass at Pleasant View. The evergreens were small and I had to be careful not to hit them with the blades.
Monday morning, shimmering with frost, the Pleasant View evergreens towered over rows of stones and, with two feet of snow on the ground, there was no concern about lawn mowers.
I’ve always kept my eyes on the road driving by the cemetery.
Now I turn my head to look.
I look for the plot near the road marking the place Mom and Dad chose for their headstone. After they told us they’d bought the stone, none of us went to look at it. Mom seemed a little disappointed that we weren’t excited about how pretty it is.
It was at Mom’s burial in November that, for the first time, I saw how pretty it is.
Etched into the granite, a garland of flowers hovers over “Winter” in all caps.
Two squares surround my parents’ names and dates of birth. A pair of entangled rings displays their anniversary date. The names of their four children are listed at the bottom. Monday morning, all of this was under the snow.
But the trees were not.
They stood glittering against a brilliant blue winter sky creating a stunning scene worthy of the cemetery’s name, “Pleasant View.”
Mom would have loved it.

Flipper Man will come out of retirement to take the leap for Reezin’ for Freezin’ Luverne Leap at The Lake on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The Rock County Sheriff’s Department is organizing the Luverne Lake Leap, Reezin’ for Freezin,’ as a fundraiser for the Luverne Area Community Foundation Grant Fund.
Flipper Man has quietly been a longtime supporter of the Luverne Community Foundation, and he has agreed to jump into the freezing waters of The Lake to show support and raise some money.
Flipper Man has only made one public appearance in Luverne, and that was on Halloween maybe 15 years ago, give or take a year or two.
Those that may have witnessed the Flipper Man’s Halloween appearance may recall it as a sight they have not yet been able to erase from their memory.
News of the Reezin’ for Freezin’ Leap into the Lake fundraiser was just announced last week, and hearty soles are already starting to sign up to take the plunge. It’s always amazed me what people will do to help raise money for a worthy cause.
People will take a pie to the face or shave their head for a cause. I’m sure you might remember the Ice Bucket challenge that was a huge success on social media a few years back that raised millions of dollars.
People jumping into freezing water commonly known as the Polar Plunge have to be the bravest or the craziest. I give Flipper Man two thumps up for committing to take the Reezin’ for Freezin’ Leap.
By the way, Flipper Man has told me he is trying to raise $1,000 for the fundraiser, and in addition to that, he has an anonymous donor that will match the $1,000 to make it a total of $2,000 for the Foundation Grant fund.
If you would like to help Flipper Man reach his goal, you can call me at the Star Herald office at 507-283-2333 to donate, or stop by the office and drop off your donation.
If you would like to take the Leap yourself and be a part of the fundraising effort, contact Emily Crabtree at the Luverne Area Community Foundation office at 507-220-2424.
I’ll ask Emily for updates and keep you posted as to who and how many people have signed up to join Flipper Man in the Reezin’ for Freezin’ Leap into the Lake.

Frakes; "Reparations are in order"
Letter to the Editor:
I’ve been hearing the word “repatriations” a lot lately. I think it’s a good idea. We can give all the descendants of slaves a free ticket back to their home continent so they could live the life they’ve always dreamed of.
Hold it! Hold it! My bad! I just found out the word is actually “reparations.”
A little different but still a good idea. All the families who lost fathers, brothers, husbands and sons when they went south to free the slaves should receive reparations.
Hundreds of thousands did not return at all, and hundreds of thousands returned all mangled and disabled.
We have to remember that the total population was much smaller than it is today, so these losses had a huge impact.
Reparations are in order.
Bill Frakes,
Luverne

Dispatch report
Dec. 30
•Complainant on County Highway 4 reported trespassing.
•Complainant on W. Crawford Street and S. Donaldson Street reported found property.
•Complainant on 161st Street and Highway 23, Garretson, South Dakota, reported property damage.
Dec. 31
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 13, Luverne, requested roadside assistance.
•Complainant on N. Estey Street reported a lost child.
•Complainant on N. McKenzie Street reported property damage.
•Complainant on 150th Avenue, Luverne, reported a fire.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 6, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported drunkenness.
•Complainant northbound on Highway 75, mile marker 15, Hardwick, reported a driving complaint.
•Assistance from another department was requested on N. Kniss Avenue and W. Bishop Street.
•Complainant on W. Hatting Street reported an assault.
Jan. 1
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported an abandoned vehicle.
•Complainant on 110th Avenue reported a civil issue.
Jan. 2
•Complainant on Highway 23 and County Road 7, Jasper, requested roadside assistance.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on Evergreen Drive reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on S. Church Avenue, Hills, reported a fire.
Jan. 3
•Complainant on N. Estey Street reported an unlock.
•Complainant on 251st Street, Jasper, reported an HRO violation.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported an outage.
•Complainant on N. Cedar Street reported a parking issue.
•Complainant in Pipestone reported a fire call.
•Complainant on W. Crawford reported a parking issue.
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported a parking issue.
Jan. 4
•Complainant reported an outage.
•Complainant on Spring and Luverne reported a parking issue.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported a disorderly.
Jan. 5
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 8, Beaver Creek, requested assistance from another department.
•Complainant on Josephine Avenue reported a parking issue.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported threats.
In addition, officers responded to 9 motor vehicle accidents, 2 deer accidents, 11 vehicles in the ditch, 3 escorts, 16 ambulance runs, 4 paper services, 2 animal complaints, 1 fingerprint request, 7 burn permits, 1 background check, 2 alarms, 7 purchase and carry permits, 4 stalled vehicles, 6 traffic stops, 4 abandoned 911 calls, 1 test, 2 welfare checks and 5 follow-ups.