By John RittenhouseFour drivers from the Star Herald coverage area posted feature wins at local speedways on Friday and Saturday nights.Adrian drivers Mark DeBoer and Daniel DeBeer picked up wins at Rapid Speedway Friday, and former Luverne resident Mike Steensma won a feature event at Murray County Speedway the same night.Brett DeJager, another former Luverne resident, secured a feature championship at Nobles County Speedway Sunday.The Adrian drivers stole the show during Friday’s races at Rapid Speedway.After winning the first heat race in the street stock class, DeBoer took the lead three laps into the A feature and went on to win his second feature event of the season.DeBeer had a good night in the factory stock division, placing second in the first heat and winning the A feature at Rapid Speedway.Steensma took top honors in the modified feature in Slayton Friday.DeJager won the modified feature in Worthington Sunday.Here is a look at the rest of the results from area tracks over the weekend.Huset’s SpeedwayBrandon, S.D.Sunday’s resultsStreet stock: Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids, second in first heat and sixth in A feature; Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, fourth in first heat and 17th in A feature; Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, fifth in third heat and ninth in A feature.Hobby stock: Greg Brandt, Luverne, fifth in second heat and eighth in A feature.Rapid SpeedwayRock Rapids, IowaFriday’s resultsStreet stock: DeBoer, first in first heat and first in A feature; Scott Overgaard, Luverne, second in first heat and second in A feature; Korthals, fourth in first heat and ninth in A feature; C.Deutsch, fourth in first heat and ninth in A feature; Brad Klaassen, Adrian, fifth in first heat and fourth in A feature.Sportsmen: Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, second in first heat and third in A feature.Hobby stock: Nick Van Belle, Luverne, third in second heat and seventh in A feature; Amanda Deutsch, Kanaranzi, fifth in second heat and 12th in A feature.Factory stock: DeBeer, second in first heat and seventh in A feature; Adam Jenniges, Ellsworth, third in first heat and third in A feature.Jackson SpeedwayJacksonNationals’ resultsHobby stock: Ellsworth’s Mike Deutsch placed sixth in Thursday’s A feature and sixth in Saturday’s A feature.Lake County SpeedwayMadison, S.D.Saturday’s resultsStreet stock: Akkerman, fifth in first heat and 10th in A feature; C.Deutsch, first in second heat and third in A feature; S.Overgaard, third in second heat and eighth in A feature.Sportsmen: Roemen, second in first heat and third in A feature.Hobby stock: Brandt, fourth in second heat and seventh in A feature.Murray County SpeedwaySlaytonFriday’s resultsModified: Steensma, first in A feature; DeJager, fourth in A feature.Nobles County SpeedwayWorthingtonSunday’s resultsHornets: Jeremy Roelfs, Adrian, fifth in B feature.Sportsmen: Cliff Lynn, Adrian, fourth in A feature.Modified: DeJager, first in A feature; Steensma, second in A feature.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds finished the regular season with a 10-11 record after dropping two of three games in the final week of the campaign.Luverne rolled to a nine-run win in Worthington Wednesday, July 13 before dropping four- and one-run decisions in Hadley and Wilmont Friday and Sunday respectively.The Redbirds opened the Gopher League playoffs with a home game against Worthington last night (July 20). A win would send Luverne to Hadley Friday. A loss would set up a Sunday game at a site to be determined.Wilmont 4, Luverne 3The Cardinals pushed a pair of runs across the plate in the bottom half of the 11th inning to nip the Redbirds in Wilmont Sunday.Luverne led 3-2 when Mike Wenninger reached base on an error and scored on an error in the top of the 11th. Wilmont answered with the game-winning rally in the bottom of the frame.The Redbirds led 2-0 when Zach Wysong walked and Mike Boen reached base on a fielder’s choice in the third. Both runners scored on an error.Wilmont tied the game with single runs in the sixth and seventh inning.Mike Miller took the loss after yielding a pair of runs without retiring a batter in the 11th. Mike Wenninger pitched five scoreless innings of eight-strikeout ball as the starter. Adam Kurtz yielded two runs while pitching three and two-thirds innings of relief. Jake Studer worked a scoreless inning and one-third.Box score AB R H BIStuder 4 0 0 0Wysong 3 1 1 0Boen 5 1 0 0Wenninger 5 0 0 0Jr.Pick 0 1 0 0Miller 4 0 2 0Sandbulte 5 0 0 0Fisher 5 0 1 0Kurtz 5 0 0 0Fodness 4 0 0 0Hadley 4, Luverne 0The Redbirds were unable to produce a run during Friday’s game in Hadley.The Buttermakers limited Luverne to six hits in the contest, with two coming from Tony Sandbulte.Hadley scored two runs in the first and sixth innings to win the game.Jesse Kuhlman pitched seven and one-third innings of four-run ball to take the loss. Kyle Kreun blanked Hadley in the final inning and two-thirds.Box score AB R H BIBoen 3 0 1 0Jo.Pick 4 0 1 0Miller 4 0 1 0Kurtz 3 0 0 0Gacke 1 0 0 0Fisher 4 0 0 0Sandbulte 3 0 2 0Shelton 4 0 1 0Reisch 3 0 0 0Kreun 3 0 0 0Luverne 15, Worthington 6Wenninger and James Fisher drove in three runs each to lead the Redbirds to a nine-run victory in Worthington June 13.Wenninger belted a two-run homer in the top of the first to open the scoring. He drew a bases-loaded walk to ignite a four-run rally in the fifth that snapped a deadlock at two.Fisher contributed a sacrifice fly to the fifth-inning surge, which included an RBI single from Sandbulte and a bases-loaded walk from Rob Fodness.Worthington trimmed the difference to two runs (6-4) in the bottom of the fifth, but Luverne iced the game by scoring six times in the eighth before adding three more in the ninth.Fisher slapped a two-run single to lead the way in the eighth. Wysong, Miller and Sandbulte added RBI singles to the rally. Barry Shelton drew a bases-loaded walk.Kuhlman picked up an RBI with a fielder’s choice and Kurtz recorded a sacrifice fly during the ninth inning.Kruen tossed the first five innings to earn the win. Fodness pitched three innings of relief, while Studer worked the final inning.Box score AB R H BIWysong 4 3 1 1Jo.Pick 4 1 1 1Reisch 1 1 0 0Miller 5 4 3 1Wenninger 4 3 2 3Kuhlman 1 0 0 1Kurtz 4 1 0 1Shelton 0 0 0 1Fodness 3 1 1 1Fisher 5 0 2 3Sandbulte 4 1 3 2Jr.Pick 3 0 0 0

The cost to fill my father’s suburban with gas on Friday afternoon — $78.50.The cost to buy food and drink for three days for myself, my parents and my little brother at Super Wal-Mart in Pierre, S.D., — $88.70.The cost to enter myself and my father in a couples’ fishing tournament at my family’s bait shop — $100.The cost to fill the boat with gas — $29.80.The cost to stop for ice cream treats, hamburgers and cheese balls on the drive home — $28.20.The cost of a weekend at my parents’ trailer on Lake Oahe — priceless?Even after years of this slogan being an effective marketing tool, I am still not sure if I buy it. How do all of those bills really add up to priceless?I did not even include the cost of bait, fishing licenses, trailer rentals or the cost of my fishing outfit. but, man — it was an expensive weekend. We probably could have gone on a real family vacation for that amount of money.So how is it considered priceless?Is it because I had nearly nine hours of alone time with my father on a boat searching for giant walleye? Or because I was able to help my youngest brother write a short story? Or because I got to go kitten hunting with my mother on several occasions? Or maybe it has something to do with teaching my cousins and brother how to play black jack while my grandfather and uncle looked on?I guess these "priceless treasured moments" are supposed to make the steep price of gasoline and insane price of an out-of-state fishing license seem like nothing.Well, I am sure my father’s wallet and bank account would claim that’s not the case.I look at my weekend’s activities as old-fashioned fun, but looking at the cost, it was high dollar vacation.My team, called Team John and Lexi, did not place in high enough to get any return on our entry fee, but we were respectable.Last week when I asked my father how much money we could win, he said, "Well, we usually try not to humiliate ourselves, so we just want to be respectable."We caught the needed five walleyes to participate and brought in one drum and one small mouth bass to participate in the side contests, so that was respectable in my dad’s eyes — although our drum did end up being the biggest and netted my dad $50.This was the seventh year of the annual event, but it was my first. For all of the past years except one, my sister has taken the role as female team member.The first year my mother, who is terrified of boats and water, put her fears aside and boarded the boat in search of the winning fish. Unfortunately, that was the same day as one of the season’s worst storms. They did not win and probably with my mother’s screams, they had a hard time being respectable.This year, I was close enough to home to be asked to participate in the action. Of course, my relationship with my sister will probably suffer for a while because I was given her coveted spot on the boat.Again, are these really "priceless treasured moments" or just typical family adventures with a very high price tag?Finally, let me walk through the price of the fresh walleye fillets I brought home at the end of the weekend.We netted 14.2 pounds of walleye. After my father had "cleaned" the fish and returned with a bowl of fillets, I imagine we had less than five pounds of edible meat. I am guessing at this figure, so to make my team look better I will round it up and say we had six pounds.$108.30 gas$100.00 tournament fee$65.00 out of state license$29.00 in state license$10.00 bait+ $30.00 food, drink on boat$342.30 Total- $50.00 Biggest Drum contest$292.30 Total price of fishing.Divide this by six pounds of fillets and it equals $48.72 per pound of walleye.Even for fresh walleye that seems pretty high. Next time members of my family suggest we make a quick run to Lake Oahe, I am going to ask if they would rather go to the store, buy some walleye for $8 per pound and use the left over money to take a trip to the zoo in Omaha.Surely we could come up with just as many "priceless treasured moments," but maybe we would actually have some interesting photographs to prove it.Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

10 years ago (1995)
The city of Luverne is considering allowing businesses to put signs on Highway 75 to give directions to businesses off the highway. The directional signs would have the name and address of businesses and be limited in size.
The Luverne school system may upgrade its computer technology for about $180,000.25 years ago (1980)
Mikael Andersson from Sweden is the 1980 Rotary Exchange Student in Luverne.
The Magnolia team, sponsored by Smokey’s Pizza of Luverne, is the winner of the Fun-in-the-Sun Softball Tournament.50 years ago (1955)
Preliminary work just started on the new picnic shelter to be built at the Mound Springs State Park this summer.
Rodger Jensen, who has purchased the legal practice of the late R.C. Engan, has re-opened the law offices on the second floor of the First National Bank building. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen and their two small sons will reside in a home on North Oakley Street.
The Rock County Courthouse purchased and installed a photograph microfilm machine that will copy records by film instead of staff doing the duplicating. Cost for the new system was $1,765.75 years ago (1930)
More than 150 work horses succumbed to the intense heat of last week in Rock County and immediately adjacent territory, according to fairly conservative estimates.
Approximately 1,200 rats were killed in the series of six rat extermination demonstrations last week. More than 400 people witnessed the demonstrations as spectators of the calcium cyanide gassings. All of the drives were considered a success except for the one at the dump, where the piles of rubbish were so open that the runways could not be effectively penetrated. Anyone who does not think that the dump grounds are fairly "lousy" with the pests should pay a visit there just at sundown any evening. It is said they come out in droves at that period and literally fight for every bit of rubbish of an eatable nature that has been deposited there during the day.100 years ago (1905)
The first barley to be harvested this year in this county was cut Monday by H. Bierkamp.
The Luverne Roller Mills were shut down Wednesday morning for the purpose of installing a new and larger boiler in the engine room. The shutdown will last for about 10 days but preparations were made beforehand to supply all demand for flour and feed.
The partnership in the tailoring business heretofore existing between Thomte & Sjolseth has been dissolved, Mr. Thomte having bought out his partner’s interest.

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ANDNOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFVivian Cauwels DECEDENT It is Ordered and Notice is given that on August 8, 2005, 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 September 11, 2003, 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 Colette Cauwels whose address is: 6748 Foliage Ct., Rosemount, Minnesota 55068; (2) Colleen Anderson whose address is: 1409 Tilden, Fairmont, Minnesota 56031 as personal representatives 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 representatives will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debt, claims, taxes and expenses, to 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 representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ Timothy K. Connell 7/18/05Timothy K. Connell Judge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 7/18/05Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerKlosterbuer & Haubrich, LLP120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538507 283-911156674(7-21, 7-28)

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A VARIANCE TO THE CITY OF LUVERNE ZONING ORDINANCENOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the City of Luverne Board of Appeals and Adjustments that a public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Luverne, Minnesota, at 5:00 p.m. on August 1, 2005, to consider a variance, as requested by Tom Nergaard on behalf of James Stroh, to City Code Section 11.09, Subd. 3 & 4, to allow less than the required 25 ft. front yard setback for a corner side yard lot for construction of an attached garage addition in the R-1 Low Density Residential District on property located at 514 S. Donaldson St., Luverne, Minnesota. All persons wishing to be heard in favor or in opposition to the variance request should be present at the hearing or present written comments prior thereto to the City Clerk. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s office, 203 E. Main St. (507) 449-2388.MARIANNE PERKINSCITY CLERK(7-21)

Special Board Meeting 7:00 P.M.Law Library/Rock County Courthouse July 8, 2005Chair Hoime called the special meeting to order with all Commissioners present. Purpose of the Special Meeting was to discuss the negotiation of a contract for architectural services for the LEC building project. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize County Attorney Klosterbuer and Administrator Oldre to negotiate a contract with Paulsen Architects for the new construction of a Law Enforcement and Community Corrections building and present the contract at the next regular scheduled County Board meeting, July 19th; declared carried on a unanimous vote.With no further business to come before the joint boards, the meeting was declared adjourned. Ken Hoime, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(7-21)

ORDINANCE NO. 278, THIRD SERIESAN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF REAL ESTATE(Well Site in Vicinity of Dodge Street and Blue Mound Avenue—Robert Frakes)THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUVERNE ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Pursuant to City Charter, Section 12.05, the City Council is authorized to sell or convey the following described real estate located in the City of Luverne, County of Rock, State of Minnesota, described as follows, to-wit: The South Fifty (S. 50) Feet of the North 90 (N. 90) Feet of the East Fifty (E. 50) Feet of the West Two Hundred Eighth (W. 208) Feet of the Northeast Quarter (NE 1/4) of Section Eleven (11), Township One Hundred Two North (102N), Range Forty Five (45) West of the 5th P.M., City of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota.SEC. 2. The Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute such necessary and appropriate documents of conveyance. SEC. 3. This ordinance shall take full force and effect seven (7) days after its publication. (7-21)

Law Library 9:00 A.M.Rock County Courthouse July 05, 2005Chair Hoime called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present.Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the July 5, 2005, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the June 21, 2005, County Board minutes and the June 13, 2005, Board of Equalization minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Hoime, to approve the following items on the consent agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.1. Contact 4-05 with Keystone Treatment Center to provide Chemical Dependency Treatment services to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-05 to 12-31-05. 2. Amendment to Contract 108-2110-05 with Southwestern Mental Health Center to provide Emergency Crisis Line services. Amendment effective 6-1-05.3. Contract 14-1074-05 with Volunteers of America, Dakotas, to provide Chemical Dependency Treatment services to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-05 to 12-31-05.Mark Sehr, Engineer, requested final payment on (2) contracts: the Blue Mound Bike Trail $19,358.84 and Bridge L2148 over the Beaver Creek on CSAH 17 $239,472.00. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Wildung, to authorize final payments, declared carried on a voice vote. The Engineer presented quotes for a 15,000 cubic yard stockpile for road surfacing aggregate on the north half of the county: Henning Construction $2.90/cu. yd. and Ridell Construction $3.15/cu. yd. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken, to accept the quotes from Henning Construction, declared carried on a voice vote. Rock County was in receipt of a letter from Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) informing the County Board that the Capital Improvement Plan that was submitted will be approved in 90 days without review by the state. The County Board received notice that the State Auditor’s Office is reviewing health insurance provided by Service Cooperatives and the issues of how contractors are paid by both Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as the Service Cooperatives. Additional information is forthcoming. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims and per diems of $650.00; motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to pay the claims and per diems, declared on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of the claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. General Revenue $ 31,010.42Family Services $ 98,390.79Road & Bridge $ 12,424.46Land Management $ 4,429.57Rural Water $ 8,344.50TOTAL $154,599.74Motion by Bakken, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the fund balance report, declared carried on a voice vote.Wendell Erickson, former Rock County Commissioner, stated that he and his wife Kathryn had attended the Capitol Centennial Garden ceremony on behalf of Rock County and that he had appreciated the opportunity to represent Rock County. The County Board was in receipt of the City of Luverne Tax Increment Financing report; no action was taken. The County Board was informed of the Regional Development Commission Annual meeting; no action was taken. The County Board discussed and commented on the joint powers agreements; motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to endorse the new joint powers concept making Public Health and Community Corrections more autonomous and to continue to negotiate the final details with Nobles County, declared carried on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Boyenga voting nay.Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to approve a 63-month lease for a postage machine and electronic scale at the Human Services building, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Wildung, to authorize up to $500.00 for the purchase of a refrigerator at the Courthouse, declared carried on a voice vote.The County Board was informed that a small grant had been received from Resource Conservation District for the railroad ties clean up project and that the paper work is forthcoming. Commissioner Bakken informed the County Board that he had been contacted by Gene Rozeboom of Pipestone County and he inquired as to how Rock County handled extension services as the Extension Agent position is vacant in Pipestone County. Commissioner Bakken stated that he provided a letter of response on his own behalf. With no further business to come before the County Board, meeting was declared adjourned. Ken Hoime, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(7-21)