By Lori EhdeLuverne’s Honor Guard saw good response to its plea for help last week, but it’s still looking for a few more good men … and women.After putting out a plea for more members — particularly younger members — Luverne’s Honor Guard signed up 14 new recruits at its Wednesday, Jan. 18, meeting."We were very pleased with the response," said Jay Mann, who has been working with Warren Herreid to recruit new Honor Guard members."Of the new people who were there, most signed up, and that’s an indication that the individuals saw the need and responded."New recruits include:
Jim Anderson
Pat Baustian
Daryel Buss
Lowell Binford
Wendy DeLarosa Gacke
Terrie Gulden
Mel Hamann
Jerry Hoff
Randy Jensen
Scott Kessler
Rodger Ossenfort
Stan Sasker
Buck Underwood
Jerry WeimanBaustian, among the youngest of the new recruits, said he’s happy to join. "It’s the right thing to do to honor these vets who have served," he said. "It doesn’t matter how busy you are. It’s one of those things you take time off for."Despite the 14 new members, the search is far from over. "Another 10 would be great," Mann said. "Because of people’s jobs and some who are away for the winter, we want to have a large enough group so that we can share the responsibility and rotate people in as needed and as available."Baustian said local Army National Guard members who are about to deploy for Iraq will be asked to help with the Honor Guard when they get back."Duty, honor and country will mean more to each and every one of them after being over there," Baustian said.Honor Guard responsibilities include leading parades and other public events.The bigger part of their service is to be a part of the final rites of military members — firing a 21-gun salute, playing taps (the Honor Guard usually asks a high school band student to play taps) and properly and ceremoniously folding the flag to give to survivors.On a side note, Rock County Commissioners voted Tuesday to allow county employees to leave work for Honor Guard duties without having to use vacation hours.There are about 10 county employees who would be eligble to serve with the Honor Guard. At most they would miss one to two hours of work.The VFW and Legion Honor Guard previously sent out a letter to recruit more members. "As veterans, we served our country in the past and should continue to do our part to foster and perpetuate Americanism; and to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness," the letter read in part. "You’ll be pleased about how great you feel serving your fellow veterans who so honorably served our country."Luverne’s current Honor Guard is recruiting new members because its members are aging and many are finding it difficult to shoulder their rifles and navigate uneven cemetery grass to perform their duties.But that doesn’t mean current members are leaving, Herreid said. "We are still very much part of the process, and we’ll be helping with the training," he said.Luverne’s present Honor Guard members, some of whom have served more than 50 years, include:VFW Rock County Post 2757 members:
Ted Anderson
Jake Boomgaarden
Helmer Haakenson
Lawrence Overgaard
Warren Herreid
LeRoy Luitjens
Don Spease
Ray Gibson
Glen GustAmerican Legion Dell Hogan Post 123 members:
Louis Loger
Gaylord Keck
Robert Tomlinson
Eldon Gradert
Lloyd Bonnett
Jay Mann
Jack Maras
Larry BoelmanThose interested in signing up should do so soon, because an organizational and training meeting is planned in the coming week.Call Mann at 283-2238, or Warren Herreid at 283-9467.

By Sara QuamLuverne City Council members Tuesday voted in favor of paying a lobbyist to try to get a local option sales tax on the ballot.Council member Maynard Lafrenz voted against hiring the lobbyist, saying he doesn’t support a sales tax increase and doesn’t believe voters will either.The half cent sales tax would be applied to all goods already taxed. If the lobbyist is able to get legislative approval, and voters pass the tax, it could raise about $138,000 annually to go toward Palace Theatre renovations.The entire renovation, as planned now, will cost about $5.25 million.Lafrenz said, "A half-cent sales tax might drive shoppers away from downtown."Lafrenz said he had gotten a lot of feedback on the issue and he didn’t think enough people in the community would support the sales tax to warrant it being on the ballot.The lobbyist will be paid up to $15,000 to get legislative approval to put the issue on the ballot. Mayor Andy Steensma said, "Really, what we’re voting for is whether people can say they want it."Council member Bob Kaczrowski said the council should pursue it in order for real feedback to show on the ballot, not just word of mouth. Council member Esther Frakes, who has reservations about the project itself, said, "We need to move forward to explore this option, which will let the people speak. … As a public official I feel we owe it to the constituents to let them decide."Lafrenz said the city took over the Palace in order to be a pass-through agency for a grant, and he didn’t want to see it cost the public more and more money as time goes on. In other business Tuesday, the Council:
Voted to change the number of representatives on the Luverne Economic Development Authority from seven to five. It had been five for most of the board’s existence, but in recent years was changed to seven. Larry Wills and Nate Golla left the board, and the city will not refill those positions.
Amended the 2005 budget to reflect expenditures previously approved by the Council. They include a total of $111,270 in unbudgeted expenditures. City Administrator John Call said that when the entire general fund is looked at for the year, it still came out in the black, with the total revenues higher than expenditures. The extra expenses included in part city administrator recruitment and testing for $10,000; engineering costs associated with separation of the old hospital from the clinic and finding alternative uses of the old hospital for $18,500 and asbestos removal from the Main Street Dunkle building for $18,100.

By Sara QuamHigher education is coming to Luverne for the first time.Minnesota West Community and Technical College President Dr. Ron Wood said the system intends to start a "storefront" operation out of the former Luverne Community Hospital.The details aren’t quite worked out yet, but he made intentions clear to the Luverne City Council Tuesday.He said, "We’d like a partnership that won’t be a burden to the college or the city. We hope we can bring this opportunity to Luverne."The college will probably lease the space from the city.The college has budgeted $100,000 in 2006 for curriculum development, site renovation and a minimum of staff for the first year.Looking to the future, Wood said he saw old rooms suitable for dormitories, already wired for cable and Internet."I see this as a continuing part of economic development," Wood said. "We can tap a larger regional model and draw people east."He said the new campus could be seen as continuing education and training ground for business people and a way for non-traditional students to earn degrees."I’m not an engineer, but in my personal opinion, it’s a great building," Wood said of the hospital. "It’s really very exciting. This could be a great win-win for everyone."Luverne Economic Development Director Jill Wolf said, "It has been very exciting working with Dr. Wood and Minnesota West to bring higher educational opportunities to our community as well as find a viable use for the old hospital. We are still in the planning stages of this project, but the opportunities seem endless."There may be limited coursework available in January of 2007, but full classes, including some online and on interactive TV, will likely be available in September 2007.

10 years ago (1996)
Development discussions for the city of Luverne have shifted to the west. If IBP expands its operation on the west edge of Luverne, it will need additional sewage treatment capacity.
Planners of the proposed Agri-Energy ethanol plant in Luverne met Friday to take stock of their progress thus far and to measure investor support. Following that meeting, they announced they have about one-third of the equity needed, and that the co-op board decided to
Merlin Johnson, manager of the Blue Mounds State Park has retired.25 years ago (1981)
Luverne Community Residential Facility, a home for mentally retarded adults, will feature an open house celebration Sunday afternoon.
Rock County’s mill levy went down. The county will be collecting more money than last year, but the state also will be putting in more.
Redistricting has left Rock County without a local judge. 50 years ago (1956)
Personal property taxes of $200 or more will be paid by 167 Rock County individuals and firms in 1956 according to the tax list of County Treasurer Paul Herreid.
Law violations rose 24 percent in Rock County last year over the number of violations here the year before, according to the annual report of County Attorney Mort Skewes, which is submitted to the attorney general.75 years ago (1931)
Luverne’s armory will undergo extensive improvements next spring, according to plans now being made. The plans call for a two-story addition with basement (for storage and office), plastering of the interior walls and ceiling, wainscoting all walls, decorating of the interior and general repairing.
R.C. Engan’s annual report as county attorney of Rock County for the year ending Dec. 31 lists a total of 99 cases handled in the criminal courts of Rock County. Thirteen cases in district court involved general violations of prohibition laws such as selling, manufacturing or transporting intoxicating liquor, and having unregistered stills in possession. 100 years ago (1906)
Sam Foight, the ice man, began the work of filling his ice houses this week, but as the weather has been more favorable to melting than to forming ice, he has not pushed the work. The ice cut shows a thickness of not more than 12 inches, which is the thinnest known in this section for many years.
One of the busiest places in the city these days is the Luverne Automobile factory in the production of their output for the coming auto season. The company will put out three models. The company has experienced some delay in getting brass engine parts.

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OF William J. Broek DECEDENTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS (ANCILLARY PROCEEDING)It is Ordered and Notice is given that on February 13, 2006, at 3:30 p.m. a hearing will be held in this Court at the Rock County Courthouse, 204 East Brown, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated 05/13/1993, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated (N/A) and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will") and for the appointment of Becky Van Ommeren, whose address is 604 Delaware Avenue NW, Orange City, Iowa 51041 as ancillary Personal Representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the Personal Representative will be appointed with power to administer the assets of the Estate in Minnesota including the power 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.Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the Personal Representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred./s/ Timothy K. Connell 1/23/06Timothy K. ConnellJudge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 1/23/06Sandra L. VrtacnikCourt Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerKlosterbuer & Haubrich, LLP120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538507 283-911156674 1-26, 2-2

NOTICE TO SUPPLIERSPetroleum Products Sealed proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M. on February 10, 2006, by Mark Sehr, Rock County Highway Engineer. The proposals are for the purchase of petroleum products beginning February 2006 through February 2007. The items included will be for unleaded premium gasoline, unleaded ethanol gasoline, soy bio-diesel and diesel fuel #1 and #2 as required by the County of Rock for gasoline and diesel vehicles. Fuel will be dispensed into individual vehicles at the successful bidder’s station. Proposals shall be submitted on forms furnished, upon request, by the Rock County Highway Department in sealed envelopes marked "Bids for Fuel." Proposals will be opened and read publicly at the Rock County Highway Building in Luverne, Minnesota, immediately following the hour set for receiving bids. The Rock County Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any defects or technicalities. The County Board of Commissioners will award or reject bids at the February 21st board meeting.Mark R. SehrRock County Highway Engineer1-26, 2-2

How hard it is to be Christians today. There seems to be a force out there that is determined to stifle our best efforts. From gossip to heresy we have a hard time separating ourselves from the clutches of the evils of the world. For instance, the other day I was asked to help someone fill out some government papers. Now I have my own feelings about government paperwork, it could be easier or nonexistent, but I agreed. I didn’t know the answers to the personal questions and had to rely on the knowledge of the one being asked. "So, it asks here if you have any dependents?" I asked. "You don’t, right?""Well, my sister’s daughter stays with me sometimes. Can I claim her?" "No," I said, "she can’t count."OK, well, I have supported many causes in the past, does that count?""No, can’t count that either," I said. This was going to be hard work."Well," she said, "I guess I have no dependents, then." "OK, moving on." I glanced at her face. She was crying."It’s OK, you don’t HAVE to have dependents to get these services," I said."But God may find me unworthy," she said, "and I want God to find me useful so I can live a longer life."Isn’t it true how we try to place God’s love for us in human terms? Loving God and living for God cannot be measured by our earthly lives. Loving God means loving your neighbor. Loving God means going to sleep each night knowing you have done all you can do to be a good caring person. Loving God means taking that extra step in the grocery store to help another shopper get an item. It means looking for ways to be God’s hands, feet and lips in this world. Not how much you have or who you live with. Not how much money you have or how many kids you have. But loving God is manifested in a life of being there when you are needed. Of asking that question, "Who is my neighbor?" and living as if your neighbor were as important (or more sometimes) as you are.Go outside the doors of your church. Go out into the world and touch the lives of your neighbors and see how loving God really looks. It is not contained in an hour on Sunday morning and it is not always in reading scripture. It is in living for others that we discover ways to love God. Not in how many dependents we support or how often we put a dollar in the collection. It is in loving our neighbor that really counts.

Married people are always complaining, "We just don’t talk anymore." Women seem to have more of a problem with this than men. Well, fear not — the loving husband has come to your rescue with a solution to this universal dilemma.As you may know, he has to travel for his job. He usually goes for a few days at a time, and during that time we call each other every night and talk for a half hour or more. On Monday night he calls me, at which time he gives me his hotel phone and room number. On Tuesday night I call him on my cell phone. Then we rotate. Sometimes we may talk for an hour or more. I don’t know why we have so much to discuss when he’s gone, because when he’s home, conversation is minimal. During a normal week when he works in Sioux Falls, he usually gets back to the old homestead around 6 p.m. I roll in about 7 p.m. because I visit my mother after work. By the time I get home, he’s already finished eating supper and I’m starving. (We only eat the same things on the weekend. If I ate what he ate every day, I’d weigh 300 pounds.) So, I get home and I’m trying to prepare my supper and he’s moved on to the newspaper or TV or a project. I yell downstairs the traditional, "Honey, I’m home." He yells back, "Hi." And that’s about it. Later on one of us may inquire, "How was your day?" And we talk about that for a couple minutes. And that’s it, again. One night, the loving husband was downstairs in the family room. I was upstairs washing clothes, reading, and playing with Barkley (the bird). The phone rang and I answered it. To my surprise, it was the loving husband calling from downstairs on his cell phone. We talked for a half hour — on the phone — while we were both at home. There is some wisdom to be gleaned from this experience. We are accustomed to verbal communication via the phone. The phone, by its own nature, makes people talk. And it’s obviously an excellent tool for marital communication. Next week I’m going to break out the walkie-talkies and see how that goes. One word of warning, spousal communication should never interfere with reading time. Take a moment to check out the new books we have on the shelf this week. Memory in Death, by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). Eve Dallas is one tough cop. But when Trudy Lombard shows up, it's all Eve can do to hold it together. Instantly, she's thrown back into the past, to the days when she was a vulnerable, traumatized girl — trapped in foster care with the twisted woman who now sits in front of her, smiling. Trudy claims she just wanted to see how Eve was doing. But Eve's husband, Roarke, suspects otherwise. His suspicions prove correct when Trudy arrives at his office, demanding money in exchange for keeping the ugly details of his wife's childhood a secret. Barely restraining himself, Roarke shows her the door and makes it clear that she'd be wise to get out of New York and never bother him or his wife again. But just a few days later, Trudy's found on the floor of her hotel room, a mess of bruises and blood. A cop to the core, Eve is determined to solve the case, if only for the sake of Trudy's bereaved son. Unfortunately, Eve is not the only one to have suffered at this woman's hands, and she and Roarke will follow a circuitous, dangerous path to find out who turned this victimizer into a victim.

January 26, 2006Death of Liberty DuckThe following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 11, 1918.CAREER OF FAMOUS LIBERTY DUCK ENDEDDeath Overtakes Bird that Laid Vast Number of Golden Eggs for Rock County Chapter, A. R. C.Liberty Duck, the bird that laid the golden eggs for the Rock County Chapter, American Red Cross, is no more. Its useful earthly career ended last Wednesday and that afternoon it was buried at the home of Harry Rodman, its keeper, in a grave strewn with flowers by the children of Mr. Rodman’s family.For a number of months Liberty Duck has been noticeably declining, its great feats on behalf of the Red Cross presumably having undermined its health. The tender care given it by Mr. Rodman was unavailing, and when the end came the duck’s condition was such as to make it impossible to have it mounted for a memorial as was originally planned.Through the sale of Liberty Duck at various auctions the treasury of the Rock County Chapter was enriched by the sum of $16,752.64, making her the highest priced bird in the world. She was famed throughout the country and her death will be regretted by all Red Cross workers.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund may be sent to the Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.