A plan to reprint his grandfather’s book of sermons turned into an 18-month project for Dan LaRock, who will introduce the book in Hills next week.
“I believe my grandfather, as a Methodist minister, would have loved to see his words come forward to a new generation, and, Lord willing, to even more people than the original work was able to reach,” LaRock said.
An open house book launch for “Grandpa’s Gift: How Old Wisdom Can Inspire New Life” will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Rock Ranch, 355 40th Ave., Hills.
Book proceeds will benefit Rock Ranch, an equine therapy and horse-riding lesson facility started by LaRock and his wife, Marie (Nelson), in 2016.
LaRock’s maternal grandfather, C. Maxwell Brown (affectionately called Grandpa Max), spent 32 years in the ministry, primarily in North Dakota and in the San Francisco Bay Area.
From 1960 and 1965, Brown delivered a series of radio addresses across the Bay Area. Thirty of those messages were included in a self-published book called “Backpacking in a Cultural Wilderness.”
In the book’s forward, written in 1985, Brown thanked his wife, Dorothy, for transcribing and saving copies of his radio sermons.
“She is now in heaven, but I send her my sincere thanks for the accumulated savings, which is rewarding me with interesting memories and encouragement during these retirement years,” he wrote.
Brown’s book arrived as he lived with his daughter, Beatrice’s family, that included a LaRock as a teen.
Brown died in 1992 when LaRock was 22.
Ten years ago, LaRock re-read his grandfather’s book and purchased copies of the book (still for sale on Amazon) to give to family members and friends.
“His words helped me with the cementing of my faith foundation. I feel like I know Grandpa Max better and better each time I read them,” he said. “They are timeless. They are rich with wisdom.”
Family and friends encouraged him to add his own words.
LaRock selected a little more than a dozen of his Grandpa Max’s 30 published sermons to include in “Grandpa’s Gift.”
“I didn’t change anything about Grandpa’s work. I just chose 15 of what I thought to be the most impressionable messages, which still really resonate for the times we’re living in, and added some of my thoughts as a guide through them,” LaRock said.
The book’s forward was written by Adam Weber, the lead pastor with Embrace Church. He read the book’s draft and found that “I couldn’t put it down.”
“It felt like I was sitting down with a wise, older mentor teaching me about God and life,” Weber wrote.
“What struck me most was the timeliness of Dan’s grandfather’s work. Even as I write this, I still can’t believe how relevant they are.”
LaRock partnered with Throne Publishing Group of Sioux Falls to bring “Grandpa’s Gift” to the public in both print and audio versions.
LaRock’s uncle, J. Wesley Brown, supplied the voice of Grandpa Max. Wes, also an ordained United Methodist minister, will also be at the book launch open house at Rock Ranch. Also attending will be Max’s daughter and LaRock’s mom, Beatrice, who lives in Sioux Falls.
The book comes on the heels of the death of LaRock’s dad, James, 87, in March 2022.
“My mom is thrilled with the book,” LaRock said. “It’s good to have that to think about during this season of change in our family.”
RSVP for Thursday’s open house at www.grandpasgiftbook.com

A holiday-decorated Ellis and Eastern train engine arrived at the Luverne depot at 4:30 p.m. Sunday with lighted Christmas trees and Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Hundreds of children shared their Christmas wish lists with the jolly couple before exploring the train and enjoying hot cocoa and frosted cookies, courtesy of the Ellis and Eastern Company, which operates the short line railroad between Worthington and Manley.
This year Tony and Lindsey Schomacker played the role of Santa and Mrs. Claus. “Seeing the children’s faces light up when it was finally their turn to sit on Santa’s lap was well worth the long day’s work,” Tony Schomacker said about his new role.
In all, nearly 400 people visited Luverne’s iconic train depot, the last stop in an afternoon of Santa escorts.
“Eric Berning and his team at Ellis and Eastern deserve a heartfelt round of applause for all the efforts they put into making the day so special for children and families from Rushmore to Luverne,” said Luverne Chamber Director Jane Lanphere.
Families then traveled to Luverne City Park where they took their places in a line of vehicles on the park’s circular driveway to wait for the fireworks to begin at 7 p.m.
“Luverne's licensed pyrotechnician Jonathon Kurtz and his team shot off a wonderful display to usher in the park lighting,” Lanphere said. 
“Special thanks to all the sponsors of the fireworks. It was spectacular! What a wonderful free gift all of these partners gave to everyone.”
Kurtz was assisted by his wife, Krista, father Mark, and friends Jenn Wiebe and Aerick Dennis.
The last of the fireworks signaled the ceremonial lighting of the community-decorated displays in the park.
“Businesses, organizations and individuals who stepped up to the plate to decorate the park made ‘Light the Night’ possible, and we couldn’t be prouder of our partners,” Lanphere said the next day.
“Special thanks to the city of Luverne electrical and public works departments for going out of their way to make sure the power works and the general decorating was done.”
She estimated 150 vehicles entered the park for fireworks viewing and another 100 came through after the fireworks were done. Nearly 300 gift bags were shared with children.
“On behalf of the Chamber - we just can’t say how grateful we are to live in such a giving and supportive community,” Lanphere said. 
The displays in the city park will remain lighted through the holiday season. In 2021 it was estimated that over 8,000 vehicles circled through the park between Nov. 27 and New Year’s Eve.

At the Nov. 8 County Commissioners meeting, county engineer Mark Sehr presented a crash report for the intersection of County Road 4 (old Hwy. 16) and County Road 6 on the northeast side of Beaver Creek, where six accidents have occurred since 2010.
Commissioners questioned safety measures at the intersection after the Oct. 9 motorcycle vs. vehicle crash that seriously injured Matt McClure of Luverne. They asked if additional safety measures should be implemented at the intersection.
“The best solution, in a perfect world, would be a roundabout,” Sehr said.
However, a 55-mph roundabout would require several acres of land, which is not a viable safety option at the intersection.
Sehr also ruled out an all-way stop.
“It creates two more (distractions) — where people need to make decisions or not obey — then you have the same situation,” he said.
“It was a busy intersection because you have the golf course right there, a house right there, and railroad tracks.”
The intersection was studied prior to the installation of LED-enhanced stop signs in the fall of 2021.
“I looked at this intersection — when you stop (on County Road 6) you can see both directions (along County Road 4) from a distance — when we put the flashing stop signs in,” Sehr said.
Sehr used the Minnesota Department of Transportation software program MnCMAT (Minnesota’s Crash Mapping Analysis Tool) to determine if additional safety measures need to be implemented at that intersection.
Sehr’s study included accidents from 2011 to 2021, during which timeframe there were four crashes. The report did not include the McClure crash or the 2010 collision that killed Luverne’s Joshua Nibbelink and the motorcyclist who failed to yield.
County officials expected the number of crashes to be higher than what the report showed.
No additional safety measures were recommended for the already distraction-riddled intersection.
 
MnCMAT report reveals four crashes
The MnCMAT uses information gathered by law enforcement agencies to plot all crashes in Minnesota.
The report includes 67 pieces of information including route, date/day/time, severity, crash causation, weather and road conditions.
Information is available over a 10-year timeframe. None of the crashes at the intersection near Beaver Creek showed any pattern.
The crashes revealed:
•One minor injury and the other three property damage incidents.
•They occurred at different times of the day ranging from 6 a.m. to just before midnight.
•They involved drivers ranging in age from under 21 to two drivers over age 65.
•Driving conditions in three of the crashes were dry, and one involved ice/frost.
Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said speed may be a factor.
Drivers drop down to 30 mph coming into Beaver Creek traveling east and begin accelerating as they come to the intersection of County Roads 4 and 6.
However, Verbrugge said many drivers are not going slow enough through Beaver Creek.
“I’ve had a deputy sitting there at the location near the curve — at the old gas station — and pulls people over all the time for speeding,” he said.
“We are actively trying to slow people down. It comes down to driver distractions.”
 
Report shows possible driver distraction
The MnCMAT indicated drivers primarily reported they failed to yield the right of way to traffic on County Road 4. Three of the drivers reported no clear contributing action in the crashes.
Sehr pointed to the Nibbelink crash and the most recent McClure crash as to the seriousness when drivers become too distracted as they drive up on the intersection.
“I don’t know if it is driver distraction coming off the interstate and trying to figure out where they are going or what they were doing that they don’t take a hard look there or a hard stop. I’m at a failure to explain the last one that happened with Matt. I think the sun conditions may have (been a factor) but it is hard to say,” Sehr said.

Four local high school graduates marched several miles Thanksgiving Day in the most-watched parade in person and on television.
Tess Van Maanen, Kacie Kracht, Sophie Holmberg and Kevin Kessler were a part of the 344-member Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band from South Dakota State University in Brookings.
The Pride of the Dakotas was one of 12 bands invited to march the 2.5-mile parade route through Manhattan for the 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. An estimated 3 million people lined the streets for the event.
Kessler, an LHS Class of 1993 graduate, is the band’s director.
“It was thrilling,” he said. “The enormous crowd, the sounds, and marching in amongst the skyscrapers combined to create an overwhelming atmosphere.”
Holmberg and Kracht are also graduates of LHS in the classes of 2021 and 2020 respectively.
“The whole thing was crazy,” said Holmberg, who plays mellophone.
Thanksgiving Day was a long one for Holmberg and the 344-member band.
They met at 2:30 a.m., already dressed in full uniform. The band appeared on live TV at 11 a.m. performing in front of the Macy’s department store.
“By the time we were marching down the street, we were already tired,” Holmberg said. “It was amazing because there was still this energy within the band that kept us awake and energetic.”
Van Maanen, H-BC Class of 2022, played the trumpet in the unique experience.
“I got to spend time with some of the most amazing people, and those memories that I made are something I will never forget,” she said.
Being a part of a marching band is a new experience for Van Maanen.
“Coming from a school that did not do any marching was difficult, but once I got the hang of everything, it just clicked. It has been an amazing experience,” she said.
Kessler said he prepared the band for the long parade route by putting in extended time marching and then mimicked the solo performance on the Macy’s Star in front of the department store.
The band prepared a series of songs for the parade route.
They performed “Ring the Bell,” the SDSU fight song, and played a medley of tunes from “West Side Story” while moving down the street. At the Macy’s Star, the band stopped, faced the audience and played “Birdland.”
Kessler said the band went through an application process that included sending in a video of the band, a biography that included a history of the band, and letters of recommendation.
The 2022 Macy’s parade was the first time an SDSU band performed at the annual televised event.
“It was really cool to know people back home in Luverne were watching us,” Holmberg said.

A special 16th birthday celebration is taking place at the Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School in memory of a former student.
Ethan Erickson would have turned 16 on Nov. 11.
Instead, a day before Ethan’s birthday, his fellow sophomores invited the rest of the sixth- through 12th-grade students to participate in a five-week activity called “Be Like E.”
“I felt that the school could benefit from thinking of others and being thankful and kind during the month of Thanksgiving,” said Ethan’s mom and secondary teacher Heather Erickson.
“I always strive to have a ‘No Meanness Zone’ in my classroom, and I felt that it would be more impactful for the students when thinking about how their friend was a role model for them and left a lasting impression on their lives.”
The “Be Like E” schoolwide activity began Nov. 16 and will continue through the week of Dec. 12.
Each week focuses on a characteristic or trait that Ethan exhibited regularly until his death from leukemia in October 2019 at the age of 12.
Empathy. Thankful. Honest. Accepting. Nice.
Or E-T-H-A-N.
“Choosing the characteristics for E-T-H-A-N were easy for me to come up with because he truly was a kind, caring, empathetic soul, who was nice to everyone around him,” Heather said.
 “Ethan was a people pleaser and just wanted others around him to be happy.”
Others recognized the same traits in Ethan.
Four years ago, Heather and her husband, Aaron, were presented with a book of letters from H-BC students in Ethan’s memory. The students shared memories and kind words about Ethan. The book is treasured by the Erickson family.
“This book gave me the inspiration for the idea of ‘Be Like E’ to use in my classroom,” Heather said.
“The continued message that we share are the last words he had written to my husband and me in our birthday cards.”
Rocks were also included.
A rock collector, Ethan enjoyed finding unique rocks and used to rub prayer stones to stay calm as he felt the love and peace around him during treatments.
His lasting message to his parents was, “Sometimes the one touch you need is love. Take these rocks to help you remember.”
Ethan is also remembered by his close friends, who assembled a four-minute YouTube video for the kickoff “Be Like E” student assembly.
Sawyer Bosch, Emma Deelstra, Cameron Allen and Jack Moser each related stories about Ethan’s display of empathy, honesty, acceptance and being nice. Heather completed stories for “T” with thankfulness.
During the five weeks of “Be Like E” activity, H-BC secondary students exhibiting the characteristic of the week are rewarded with tickets that can be redeemed through the school’s G.R.A.D. store.
Secondary principal Andrew Kellenberger said the store conducts weekly drawings for gift cards to local businesses, or students can choose from a variety of locally donated items.
G.R.A.D. stands for goal-orientated, respectful, accountable and determined.
“These are the expectations we teach throughout the school year,” Kellenberger said. “We also believe they are good college, career and life skills for all our students.”
“Be Like E” reminds H-BC students and staff to show empathy, be honest, thankful, accepting of others and nice to everyone just like Ethan displayed regularly.
“Having a positive attitude is contagious, and it can change our environment for the better,” Heather said. “I asked students to think about what they want their legacy to be when they leave H-BC.”

Winterfest 2021 represented a return to normal after the pandemic had stymied community celebrations. The 2022 version of the celebration this weekend will feature all the classic Winterfest activities, plus several new events.
“We are looking forward to a more normal Winterfest this year,” said Luverne Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere. 
“There are so many community partners who again have stepped up to the plate to make the weekend special for people of all ages.”
For one thing, the Friday morning Puppet Show Story Hour at the Rock County Library is back, live and in person, with original storytelling and local puppeteers.
The Historic Hinkly House expanded its Winterfest open house to Friday and Saturday, and the congregation of St. John Lutheran Church will feature more than 250 nativity sets in the second year of its Festival of the Nativities.
“This is a wonderful event that focuses on the ‘reason for the season’,” Lanphere said.
She said the craft show, a primary highlight of Winterfest weekend, will again be a draw for holiday shopping.
“The craft show is always a wonderful event and this year,” Lanphere said, “we have quite a few new vendors who are breaking into the craft show business.”
Myhre Studio will again photograph children with Santa, with proceeds this year benefiting Generations, which will design the backdrop display for the photo shoot.
Lanphere said the Winterfest event to watch this year will be Flannel Fest at Big Top Tents and Events where a chili cook-off supports youth hockey, and friendly competitions feature bean bags, beer pong and “Pizza, Pitchers & Puzzles.”
Vocalist Madi Oye will lead karaoke, and a flannel fest contest will honor the best-dressed attendees.
“It is a great event that offers a different kind of thing to do. It should be such a fun time for everyone,” Lanphere said.
“We are so honored this year to partner with Big Top Tents & Events as they have put together a wonderful new day-long event. The Chamber’s part is simply helping to promote it, and the team at Big Top is putting all the work into the planning and execution.”
She said Take 16’s introduction of a new Christmas beer profile and “Name that Tune” on Friday night offers another social outlet, and the History Center’s nutcracker open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday will boast 5,000 (the latest count) nutcrackers on display.
The Carnegie Minstrels will highlight the Community Christmas Cantata, “Let There Be Christmas” at 7 p.m. in the school performing arts center to benefit the Rock County Food Shelf.
The Chamber’s Destination Branding Committee is sponsoring a free screening of the classic “Nutcracker Ballet” at the Palace Theatre at 2 p.m. Sunday with free activity books for children and a drawing for a free book sponsored by Friends of the Library.
There will be wine and beer tasting Friday and Saturday evenings at Blue Mound Liquor, two special meals at the Luverne Eagles Club Friday and Saturday evenings, the Rock County Sno-Masters swap meet Saturday morning, and a Sunday waffle feed by the Masons.
Lanphere said she’s looking forward to this year’s Winterfest weekend.
“Having great community partners — all putting work, planning and resources into an event weekend – is why Winterfest has continued for 26 years,” she said. “Luverne truly offers activities and events for every age bracket and every taste.”
See page 14 for information and visit luvernechamber.com or call 507-283-4061.

Rock County commissioners unanimously adopted an ordinance on Nov. 22, lifting the moratorium on sales of THC food and beverages in Rock County.
The hemp-derived products ordinance takes effect Friday, Dec. 2.
Commissioners passed the moratorium in July, and other county municipalities within the county, including Luverne, adopted similar moratoriums.
Those councils will now either adopt the county’s ordinance or add stipulations specific to their communities before commissioners issue the five available licenses.
The Nov. 22 public hearing was the second hearing conducted to lift the moratorium.
The first hearing was on Oct. 18.
Between the hearings additional input to regulate the sale of THC edible products was garnered from the two existing sellers in Rock County.
County Administrator Kyle Oldre said input from the first hearing and subsequent input from the retailers clarified the definition of hemp-derived products, reduced the number of licenses from 10 to 5, made businesses with existing liquor licenses ineligible for a hemp-derived products license, and removed the ban on coupons or price promotions offered by licensed businesses.
 
City attorney only speaker at second public hearing
Luverne City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi was the only one to speak publicly at the Nov. 22 public hearing.
He said the city supports the county’s proposed ordinance.
“We hope this is countywide so that it can be applied uniformly so it’s easier for law enforcement to handle,” he said. “We absolutely applaud your doing that. The only concern we have is prohibition in certain areas.”
The wording, “youth-oriented facilities,” which Vander Kooi defined as playgrounds and ball fields, was removed along with the proximity stipulations to a religious facility.
“That is the one restriction we would like kept in, if at all possible,” he said.
County attorney Jeff Haubrich served on the county committee that developed the ordinance.
Youth-oriented facilities, proximity to other licensed retailers, and churches were removed from the original ordinance.
“We took the churches (and other areas) out because it was so limiting in geographic area (for permitted sales),” said County Attorney Jeff Haubrich.
The current ordinance continues to prohibit sales of licensed products within 1,000 feet of a school and only from a storefront location, which shouldn’t affect youth-oriented facilities.
“We won’t let them sell at farmers markets or anything like that,” said Commissioner Jody Reisch.
Additionally, Vander Kooi questioned if the ordinance allowed businesses who have tobacco licenses to be “grandfathered in,” but are within the distance perimeter to a school. He supported reducing the distance to 500 feet.
“We think it is important to keep focus on that we don’t want kids to have this stuff, especially since gummies are candy-like. That’s why we raised this issue,” he said.
Haubrich clarified no grandfathering is a part of the hemp-derived products ordinance. All retail businesses must meet the stipulations under the THC edible sales ordinance before a license is issued.
After the 15-minute public hearing, commissioners passed the ordinance, keeping the distance to 1,000 feet from school property and buildings.
 
First to pass county THC ordinance
Rock County is one of the first counties in Minnesota to pass an ordinance for the sale of hemp-derived products since the state legalized the sale of THC (tetrahydrocannabinols) food and beverages on July 1.
However, the state’s legalization did not contain provisions for licensing, rules and sales, or management controls of the THC products.
The lack of regulations led commissioners to impose a moratorium through Dec. 1, after which the hemp-derived products ordinance goes into effect.
Rock County’s ordinance stipulates license fees, identification parameters, enforcement and compliance checks similar to those in place for tobacco sales.

Ordinance of hemp derived 
products for Rock County
Resolution No. 37-22
The following Ordinance is hereby published by title and summary:
1. Title of Ordinance: Rock County Hemp Derived Product Ordinance
2. Summary of Ordinance: 
Section 1: Defines the purpose of the Ordinance to regulate the sale of hemp derived products that may be legally sold under Minnesota law.
Section 2: Sets forth definitions of terms use in the Ordinance.
Section 3: Provides that a County license is required prior to offering for sale any licensed products. Specifies the procedure for applying for a license and sets the minimum clerk age at 21. Establishes the license term and provides for renewals. Restricts the sale of licensed products within 1,000 feet of school building or property; Prohibits pharmacies and healthcare practitioners who certify qualifying conditions for medical cannabis patients. Establishes the maximum number of retail licenses.
Section 4: Provides that every license must designate a manager and an agent for service of process. 
Section 5: Section 6: Sets forth the bases for denial of a license.
Section 7: Describes prohibited sales; including self-serving displays, vending machines, and delivery sales. Indicates that licensee is responsible for actions of employees. Sets the minimum age for a sales clerk at 21 years of age and identifies requirements for signage and age verification.
Section 8: The licensee is responsible for the action of their employees.
Section 9: Provides for compliance checks.
Section 10: Prohibits anyone over the age of 21 or older to purchase or otherwise obtain licensed products on behalf of a person under the age of 21 and prohibits the use of false identification.
Section 11: Provides certain exceptions to the Ordinance related to lawfully recognize religious, spiritual or cultural ceremony or other indigenous practices.
Section 12: Sets forth administrative process related to violations and sets penalties for violations of $600 for first violation; $1000 for the second violation along with suspension; and $2,000 along with revocation after third violation.
Section 13: Contains a severability and savings clause.
Section 14: Provides that the ordinance is to be effective on this date of publication and provides that existing licensees shall have until December 31, 2022, to sell and remove inventories of products that are no longer permitted to be sold under the provisions of this Ordinance.
3. Availability of Ordinance: A complete printed copy of this Ordinance is available for inspection by a person during regular business hours in the office of the County Administrator located at 204 East Brown, Luverne, Minnesota 56156. This Ordinance was passed by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Rock on the 18th day of October, 2022, and shall become effective immediately upon the date of publication.  
Jody Reisch,
Board Chairperson
ATTEST: 
Kyle J. Oldre,
County Administrator
(12-01)