By Lori EhdeThe wheels are in motion for Luverne to adopt a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf region of the South.Working through the Rock County Ministerial Association, a small group of local residents applied through the Foundation For Hope to provide temporary housing in Luverne.The organization was recommended by local churches as a reputable organization that partners with the Red Cross and others to connect evacuees with temporary housing.Judi Wiley, president of the Rock County Ministerial Association, reported this week that the Foundation had identified a Southern family that was willing to relocate to Luverne."Many of us do not realize that there are still families living in sports domes, sleeping on cots and eating in masses in the hurricane-ravaged South. Families separated from friends and extended family, waiting for a place to call home," Wiley said."One family’s wait is over. They are moving to Luverne."Wiley didn’t have their names yet, but the family consists of a woman, her four children, their grandmother and a small dog.The children’s ages are 14, 11, 7 and 4, and they’ll be staying in a house on Jackson Street in Luverne owned by First Baptist Church.Wiley said the church has agreed to waive rent for the family for 90 days until they can get settled. "This family has nothing but three paper bags with them," Wiley said.She said she spoke with the Foundation For Hope representative who interviewed the family, who registered with the organization. "She said they are just wonderful," Wiley said. "I asked her which denomination they were affiliated with, and the woman told me she didn’t know that, but that she had prayed with the family and that the grandmother ‘really loves Jesus.’ That’s all I needed to hear," Wiley said.The family has been living as refugees in the Cajun Dome, but that will close down by the end of the month, so Wiley said they’re expected sometime in the next week.The Federal Emergency Management Agency will fund the family’s transportation to Luverne. Some furniture has been donated from Volunteers of Mercy, and volunteers have come forward to help set up the house.But from there, Wiley said, it will be up to Luverne to care for its adopted family.Following is a list of items the family will need to get started in their temporary home:oPots and pans, baking pansoDish towels, bath towels, wash clothesoDishesoSilverwareoSchool suppliesoSoapsoTVoBicyclesoVacuum cleaneroMops and brooms, cleaning suppliesoCoffee pot, toaster, can openeroBasic food items, i.e.: cooking oil, salt, pepper, sugar, etc.oPersonal itemsTo donate call Wiley (227-9258) or Cheryl Thacker (283-3674).An account has been opened at First Farmers and Merchants Bank, and people can donate to the "Psalm 121 Project." Psalm 121 reads, "Whatever you do for the least of the brothers, so you do it to me."Luverne Katrina Relief Committee members Wiley and LaDonna Van Aartsen are authorized account managers for the donations.Edgerton has also been matched with a family to adopt from the hurricane-ravaged communities of the South.The adoptions through Foundation For Hope are intended to be temporary – about three to six months, until the families are able to function on their own in their new towns or return South to rebuild.In Luverne’s case, Wiley said the family intends to permanently relocate in the area. The woman plans to find work in housekeeping while her mother cares for the children.

By Lori EhdeThe Citgo Food Shop on North Highway 75 has a new owner as of this week.Glen Gust of Glen’s Food Center, Luverne, announced this week that he purchased the gas and convenience store from Palisade Oil, Garretson."I’ll be a locally-owned, independent convenience store," Gust said, "just like I’m a locally-owned, independent grocery store in Luverne."He officially takes over the business on Monday.Joel Nath, a long-time Glen’s Food Center employee, will manage the store. "I look forward to people coming in to see me," he said.Nath has experience in Glen’s deli, the Banquet Center and meat department."So he has lots of experience in the food industry," Gust said.Immediate plans include replacing the pumps so they’re able to accommodate 24-hour credit card gas customers.In addition, the convenience store will stock new inventory, deli items and gourmet coffee."We’ll run lots of promotions between Glen’s and the gas station," Gust said.Gust said he’s looking forward to taking over the Citgo shop."There’s nothing wrong with a little challenge," Gust said. "That’s what I say."In related business news, Gust said he sold Harvey’s Trading Post to Denny and Scott Remme on Oct. 1. The new owners said they’d be prepared to announce their plans for the business in the near future.

By Lori EhdeA 16-year-old Luverne girl is recuperating from injuries she received in a four-car accident Friday afternoon.Stephanie Steensma was northbound on Highway 75 near Luverne High School when she stopped behind a pickup that was waiting for a van to turn left on Dodge Street.According to the accident report, a Mack truck coming from the south failed to slow for the stopped traffic. It rear-ended her 1998 Saturn, slamming it into the Dodge pickup in front of her.In a chain reaction, the pickup, driven by Luverne’s Terry Schneekloth, then rear-ended the van, driven by Denise Ernst, Luverne.Steensma, who had been wearing her seatbelt, was taken by Rock County Ambulance to Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and released on Saturday.According to her grandfather, Andy Steensma, she’s stiff and sore, and she’ll be monitored for possible back injuries."She keeps finding glass in her hair," he said. "But she’s very fortunate to be alive."According to the report, none of the other drivers involved in the accident were injured.The report stated that Ernst had her left turn signal activated.The driver of the Mack truck, 44-year-old Douglas Donald Mathias, Worthington, was cited for failure to drive with due care.

By Sara QuamIt’s no secret that public health educator Paula Anderson not only believes everyone should quit smoking but that they should not smoke around others.She said Tuesday to the Rock County Commissioners that she thinks the only way to do that would be to get a county-wide ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.But Anderson hasn’t asked commissioners to do that yet. Even she, with all her enthusiasm for a ban, thinks it’s too soon.Anderson and other workers in the health field are not alone in their opinion. There is even a Safe Air For Everyone coalition in the county. She said their theory is essentially, "You can smoke, but don’t do it around other people. It’s like, you can drink, but you can’t drive and endanger other people."Smoking, obesity and alcohol are the top leading causes of preventable death nationwide. Following those is second-hand smoke.Anderson said the additives, not necessarily the tobacco itself, in cigarettes are harmful to breathe second-hand. Tobacco manufacturers put chromium VI (the chemical made famous in the movie "Erin Brockovitch"), lead, ammonia, asbestos and hydrogen cyanide as additives in cigarettes. She said to commissioners that forcing bars and restaurants to be non-smoking doesn’t hurt them. "Our information comes from objective sales tax data that says their sales stay the same or increase after the switch," Anderson said.She said special interest groups that say bars and restaurants are hurt by going non-smoking are misleading the public."The tobacco industry has a lot of money," Anderson said.And, speaking of money, smoking costs Minnesotans $2.64 billion a year, she said.Sharkee’s owner Dave Halverson said current sales tax figures show that Minneapolis’ ban on smoking in bars hurt them. "I looked at information that came from sales tax, too," Halverson said.He said a county or city ban on smoking would hurt business because people could easily go just outside the county to smoke in bars."It’s not just the smokers, but they bring their non-smoking friends out with them. I’m not saying all my customers smoke, but they all go out together and I think the smoking friends would get them to go somewhere else," Halvorson said."If the whole state does it, then fine, I’d have no objection to it."Anderson said people should see second-hand smoke elimination like any other health standard, such as sanitation practices in a restaurant.Anderson said she worries about restaurant and bar workers who are exposed to the 250 cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes without even smoking themselves.Anderson said, "People say it’s their choice to work there, but that’s like saying someone who is sexually harassed has a choice to stay at their job. Sometimes they don’t have a choice."Even sitting in a non-smoking section of a restaurant, if it’s not completely enclosed, can be harmful she said. "Sitting in that non-smoking section for two hours is like smoking 1 1/2 cigarettes. … It’s kind of like saying there’s a non-peeing section of a pool. It just spreads."Ten states have banned smoking altogether in bars and restaurants. Anderson said the trend may become nationwide but would be better coming from a local initiative.Anderson also plans to talk to the Luverne City Council about second-hand smoke issues but won’t ask them to ban smoking yet.

By Lori EhdeAs the Nov. 8 election day approaches for Luverne’s proposed operating referendum, efforts to educate voters are picking up speed.Information about the proposed referendum was mailed to all property owners Oct. 12 and last week volunteers followed up with phone calls.Luverne teacher Patsy Amborn was one of 30-some people who each called anywhere from 30 to 60 homes.Berkley Information Services offered the use of its phones for the effort.Amborn and others who spoke with prospective voters last week said she’s unsure where the district stands on the referendum.Callers identified themselves and asked if residents were aware of the proposed operating referendum and if they plan to vote in the coming special election."Responses varied from very positive and aware to ‘I’m not aware’ and ‘No, I’m not interested,’" Amborn said.School Board member Vicki Baartman was also among the volunteer callers last week. She said she’s not sure if the phone campaign will have a positive effect on the voting outcome, but she said it was still worth the effort."I’m just glad we at least had the opportunity to get them the information," she said.The issue about all day every kindergarten is apparently an issue with some residents. Some are angry that the program was cut last year, and they say they won’t support the referendum if there are no plans to reinstate it. Others have said they won’t support the referendum if the money will be used only to reinstate all day every day kindergarten.Luverne School Board members addressed the referendum campaign during their Thursday, Oct. 13, meeting.Like 81 other school districts in Minnesota, Luverne is proposing a referendum just to keep its head above water, not to reinstate previously cut programs.In Luverne, that will require passage of the proposed $700 per pupil operating referendum that district residents will vote on Nov. 8. If approved, it will bring $900,000 per year to the district, an amount administration and board has identified as sufficient to make ends meet."There are still some people with the mistaken idea that we’re getting 4 percent increase in new money from the state," said board chair Becky Walgrave."I still get comments that we have all this new money coming in, and my response is we’re not getting 4 percent; we’re getting 1.7 percent - $139,000. We’ll be lucky if that covers our added fuel costs for this year."Superintendent Gary Fisher told School Board members he’s visiting coffee groups, Senior Dining crowds and other small groups in order to talk one-on-one with district residents.Board member Bill Stegemann said, "I hope folks take time to read the information. The outcome of this election will have a profound effect on the future of the district.In other business Thursday, the board:oDiscussed the possibility of setting the district thermostats 4 degrees cooler to conserve heat. Last year the district spent $122,325 on heating fuel, and those costs are expected to rise more than 30 percent this winter.oHeard a report from student members of the Annual and Echo staffs and their advisor Amy Sahly. The group was on the agenda as a showcase item.oApproved long-term medical leave for Judy Thies, paraprofessional, beginning Nov. 1 for roughly five weeks.oHired Chris Medill as boys head hockey coach.oAccepted the resignation of Greg Hurst, custodian, effective Sept. 30.oSchool Board meetings in November will be Nov. 10 and Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. both dates.

By Sara QuamThe lutefisk might hit the fan in the Palace Theatre this weekend, as a hilarious Minnesota musical takes stage."Don’t Hug Me" is an award-winning play set in a north woods bar during the coldest time of the year. It’s billed as "Fargo" meets "The Music Man," minus the blood and trombones.The plot is this: Bar owner Gunner Johnson (Bruce Baartman) is ready to sell the bar and move to Florida with his wife, Clara (Terri Ebert), who would rather stay right where she is.Bernice Lundstrom (Heidi Sandbulte), the pretty waitress, wants to pursue a singing career, against the wishes of her fiancé, Kanute Gunderson (Steve Swayze). The play is about a battle of the wills that tests both relationships … until a fast-talking salesman, Aarvid Gisselson (Casey McKenzie), promises to bring romance into their lives through the "magic" of karaoke. The play was created by brothers and Minnesotans, Dr. Paul Olson and Phil Olson.Paul wrote the music and Phil wrote the script and lyrics. "Don’t Hug Me" was actually the longest running musical comedy in Los Angeles when it closed after six months. Cast member Terri Ebert isn’t a bit surprised by the success of the play. She said, "Every night I laughed until I cried during practices. The songs are so hokey and the cast had so much fun that they really got into their parts. And I love the fact that I can wear jeans, sweatshirts, flannel shirts and boots."Ebert, a seasoned Green Earth Player, usually has very specific costumes for her roles.Audience members are also invited to attend in "traditional Minnesota" attire of jeans and flannels or sweatshirts, too. As a cross promotion to the play, the United Methodist Church, Luverne is having a hotdish dinner from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The dinner also features Jell-O and other state favorites. The play is directed by Shane Amborn and Shawn Kinsinger, the youngest directors Green Earth has had. They are familiar to local audiences as actors, in "Arsenic and Old Lace," for example, but this is their first time directing. Amborn said, "We talked about directing before and I thought that as a team it would be OK. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Shawn."The two have been friends for about 10 years and also work together as manager and assistant manager at a hotel in Sioux Falls.When the play was chosen by Green Earth Players and they were signed on to direct it, they went to Minneapolis to see a production of it. Amborn said, "I never stopped laughing. It ranged from a chuckle to gut-busting, gut-wrenching, tears-streaming-down-your-face laughter."A Minnesota audience will understand the humor, which still affects Ebert, even though she’s been rehearsing for a long time.Ebert said, "My biggest challenge will be not to laugh when Bruce sings to me."Along with the humor, the play has a sweet message.Kinsinger said, "It’s really centered on relationships. One is an older marriage that is struggling and another is one that is just starting out, and maybe shouldn’t be."Ebert said, "The audience will like the songs and they’ll get to know each character. After that, they’ll learn to appreciate their own families."Showtimeso8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 o2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23o8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and Oct. 29o2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 Reserve tickets for the show are available at the Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne. That phone number is 283-8294.

10 years ago (1995)
Casey’s on South Highway 75 was robbed at knifepoint Saturday night.
The annual bison auction netted $35,150 for the Blue Mounds State Park.
The Blue Mound Ice Arena opens this week. The week-long process of flooding the building took a week to complete. Some other improvements to the building include a paint job for the cement block walls as well as adding glass on the ends where a wire mesh had been used last year.25 years ago (1980)
Arnie Gabrielson was in Luverne talking about alcohol fuel, and how it is made from corn. He said propaganda from oil companies shouldn’t discourage people from investing in the industry.
Dissolution proceedings for the Magnolia School District are stalled as the School Board is looking into more options. 50 years ago (1955)
The Rev. Donald A. Weir has accepted a call to serve as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaver Creek.
Luverne doctors now have a supply of polio vaccines for children and expectant mothers.
Thorvald Tobiason broke his leg recently and his field of corn stood ready to be picked. Some of the friends who helped with the harvest included: Bub Walgrave, Hyman Top, Herman Buss, Art Tofteland, Earl Gilbertson, Bob Meyer, Eugene Cragoe, Ray Binford, Lowell Binford, Art Dahlen, Harvey Schmuck, Arlen Nath, William Nath, Richard Slieter, Edan Larson, Keith Binford, Gust Hanson and John Johnson.75 years ago (1930)
Sneak thieves early Friday morning forced an entrance into the office of the Luverne Oil Company’s service station on South Cedar Street.
Progress is being made for the Witch Day Celebration Oct. 31.
A man was electrocuted while trying to strip copper leads and coils from a transformer to sell for junk.100 years ago (1905)
Will McDowell started the dairy this week and began delivery of milk and cream to patrons of Luverne.
A fall of snow came unexpectedly during the night. Some of the trees, still green with leaves, were so heavily burdened that some limbs were broken off.
Luverne’s handsome new hospital, which has been built this summer by Dr. A.E. Spalding, will be formally opened next Monday evening, at which time the doors will be thrown open to the public and opportunity given to all to inspect the institution.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTIONINDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184 – LUVERNE PUBLIC SCHOOLSSTATE OF MINNESOTANOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a special election has been called and will be held in conjunction with the state general election in and for Independent School District No. 2184 Luverne Public Schools, State of Minnesota, on Tuesday, the 8th day of November, 2005, for the purpose of voting on the following question:SCHOOL DISTRICT BALLOT QUESTION #1APPROVAL OF SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM REVENUE AUTHORIZATIONThe board of Independent School District No. 2184, Luverne Public Schools, has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $700.00 per pupil. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would be applicable for ten (10) years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.___ YESShall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 2184 be approved?___ NO Passage of this referendum will result in an increase in your property taxes. The property tax portion of the revenue authorized will require an estimated referendum tax rate of approximately .21866% of the referendum market value of the school district. The annual dollar increases for typical residential homesteads, apartments, commercial-industrial properties, and most other classes of property within the school district are as shown in the table below: Market Value Dollar Increase $60,000. $131. $80,000. $175. $100,000. $219. $150,000. $328. $200,000. $437. $250,000. $547. $500,000. $1,093. $1,000,000. $2,187.For agricultural property (both homestead and non-homestead), the taxes for the proposed referendum will be based on the value of the house, garage and surrounding one acre of land only. There will be no referendum taxes paid on the value of other agricultural lands and buildings. The question of increasing the general education revenue of the school district shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the district on Tuesday, November 8, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The combined precinct and polling place for this election shall be the Middle/High School Gymnasium, Luverne Public Schools. Any eligible voter residing in the school district may vote at said election at the polling place designated above for the precinct in which he or she resides. A voter must be registered to vote to be eligible to vote in this election. An unregistered individual may register to vote at the polling place on election day. Dated this 8th day of September, 2005.BY ORDER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD/S/ Colleen DeutschColleen Deutsch, School District Clerk(10-20, 10-27)

The Senior Nutrition Program is accepting bids to provide noon meals at several dining locations from 1/1/06 – 12/31/06. Call Nutrition Services, Inc. at (507)835-9145 for bid specifications. Deadline for bids is November 4, 2005.(10-20)