By John RittenhouseThe Luverne VFW baseball team went 1-3 without placing at the New Ulm Tournament over the weekend.The Cardinals opened the tournament by dropping 11- and six-run decisions to Maple Grove and Mankato on Friday.After losing a three-run game to Hutchinson Saturday morning, Luverne ended its tournament appearance Saturday afternoon by defeating New Ulm Gold by seven runs in extra innings.Luverne ended the tournament with a 15-4 overall record.Luverne 9, NUG 2A seven-run outburst in the top of the ninth inning gave the Cardinals their lone win in the tournament Saturday in New Ulm.The teams played five scoreless innings before Luverne broke through to score nine runs in the top of the ninth.Micah Boomgaarden and Chris Fitzer delivered two-run singles to cap the rally. Zach Olson and Adam Ossefoort singled home one run each, and Andrew DeBoer contributed a sacrifice fly to the rally.Luverne opened the scoring by scoring twice in the first inning before Gold tied the game with single runs in the second and third frames.Tyler Reisch was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Jake Clark registered a sacrifice fly to account for Luverne’s first-inning runs.Clark went the distance on the mound, pitching nine innings of three-hit ball. He recorded eight strikeouts.Box score AB R H BIBoomgaarden 6 1 2 2Elbers 6 2 2 0Fitzer 4 1 1 2Reisch 5 1 4 1Clark 3 1 0 1Olson 6 1 1 1DeBoer 3 0 1 1Bruynes 3 1 0 0Skattum 1 0 1 0Ossefoort 5 1 1 1Hutchinson 3, Luverne 0The Cardinals opened play Saturday by dropping a three-run decision to Hutchinson in Essig.Caleb Bruynes pitched a solid game for the Cards, throwing six innings of four-hit, three-strikeout ball.Hutchinson, however, blanked the Cards. Luverne was limited to four hits. Derek Elbers, Fitzer, Reisch and DeBoer all singled for Luverne.The winners scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and two in the third.Box score AB R H BIBoomgaarden 4 0 0 0Elbers 3 0 1 0Fitzer 2 0 1 0Reisch 3 0 1 0Clark 3 0 0 0DeBoer 3 0 1 0Bruynes 2 0 0 0Hoff 1 0 0 0Olson 3 0 0 0Arndt 2 0 0 0Ossefoort 1 0 0 0Mankato 7, Luverne 1The Cardinals came up six runs short when they took on Mankato during the second game of the tournament Friday in Essig.Mankato opened a six-run lead (scoring single runs in the second and fourth innings and four in the sixth) in the first five and one-half innings of play and won the game by six.Luverne plated its lone run in the bottom of the sixth when Olson tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Elbers.Mankato plated a run in the top of the seventh to cap the scoring.Boomgaarden tossed the first five and one-third innings, taking the loss after surrendering six runs. Fitzer pitched one and two-thirds innings of one-run relief.Box score AB R H BIElbers 2 0 0 1Boomgaarden 3 0 0 0Fitzer 3 0 0 0Reisch 3 0 0 0DeBoer 3 0 1 0Clark 3 0 2 0Bruynes 3 0 0 0Ossefoort 2 0 0 0Skattum 1 0 0 0Hoff 1 0 0 0Olson 1 1 1 0MG 12, Luverne 1The Cardinals opened the tournament by losing an 11-run, five-inning decision to Maple Grove Friday in New Ulm.Luverne trailed 4-1 after scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Maple Grove put together four-run rallies in the fourth and fifth innings to win the game by the 10-run rule.DeBoer pitched the first four innings and took the loss after surrendering 12 runs, five of which were earned. Ossefoort pitched one inning of scoreless relief.Reisch drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning to account for Luverne’s run.Box score AB R H BIElbers 3 0 1 0Boomgaarden 2 0 1 0Fitzer 1 0 1 0Skattum 0 0 0 0Reisch 2 0 0 1DeBoer 3 0 1 0Clark 2 0 1 0Bruynes 2 0 0 0Arndt 1 0 0 0Olson 1 0 0 0Ossefoort 1 0 0 0Hoff 2 1 1 0

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds went 1-2 and placed fourth at an eight-team tournament in Fairmont over the weekend.Luverne posted its fourth straight victory in the opener against Winthrop, but losses to Kasson and Wilmont in the final two rounds left the Redbirds with a fourth-place finish.The 6-7 Redbirds host Pipestone (7 p.m.) and Jackson (7:30 p.m.) Friday and Tuesday. Luverne plays a 7:30 p.m. game in Hartford, S.D., Sunday.Wilmont 9, Luverne 0Gopher League foe Wilmont saddled the Redbirds with a nine-run setback in the third-place game of the Fairmont Tournament Sunday.Wilmont limited Luverne to four hits (two singles by Rob Fodness, and one single each from Joey Pick and Adam Kurtz) during the contest.Wilmont scored three runs in the third inning, two in the fifth and four in the sixth.Kyle Kreun took the pitching loss for Luverne, allowing three runs (one earned) and three hits in four innings. Jake Studer, Fodness and Tony Sandbulte pitched in relief.Box score AB R H BIStuder 2 0 0 0Remme 1 0 0 0Sandbulte 3 0 0 0M.Boen 3 0 0 0Kurtz 3 0 1 0Fisher 3 0 0 0Jo.Pick 3 0 1 0Kreun 1 0 0 0Kuhlman 2 0 0 0T.Boen 2 0 0 0Fodness 2 0 2 0Kasson 4, Luverne 2A two-run loss to Kasson during Saturday’s second round sent the Redbirds to the third-place game.Luverne led 1-0 when Studer singled and scored on Mike Miller’s single in the top of the third inning, but Kasson countered with four runs in the bottom of the third to open a 4-1 lead it would never relinquish.Tim Boen tripled and scored when Studer singled in the seventh inning to account for Luverne’s final run.Kurtz tossed all six innings and took the loss. He surrendered six hits and four earned runs during a four-strikeout performance.Box score AB R H BIStuder 4 1 2 1Fodness 4 0 0 0Miller 3 0 2 1Kurtz 3 0 1 0Shelton 2 0 0 0Kreun 1 0 0 0Sandbulte 2 0 0 0Jo.Pick 3 0 0 0Fisher 3 0 0 0T.Boen 3 1 2 0Luverne 5, Winthrop 4A four-run rally in the top of the fourth inning led the Redbirds to a one-run victory in Saturday’s tournament opener.The score was tied at one entering the fourth, when Luverne used RBI singles from James Fisher, Fodness and Kurtz, and a sacrifice fly by Studer to take a 5-1 lead.Winthrop trimmed the difference to one run (5-4) by scoring one run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth before being blanked in the final two frames.Fisher gave Luverne a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second inning before Winthrop knotted the score in the third.Jesse Kuhlman fanned eight batters in seven innings to pick up the win. He allowed six hits and one earned run.Box score AB R H BIStuder 5 0 1 1Fodness 4 1 2 1Miller 3 0 0 0Kurtz 4 0 3 1Shelton 3 0 1 0Sandbulte 3 2 1 0Jo.Pick 2 1 0 0Fisher 4 1 3 2T.Boen 3 0 0 0

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne American Legion baseball team turned a productive weekend into a second-place finish at the Jackson Tournament.The Cardinals posted consecutive wins over Welcome, Minnesota Lake and Fairmont to earn a berth in the championship game, where they lost a one-run decision to Sacred Heart.Luverne ended the event with a 7-2 overall record.SH 6, Luverne 5The Cardinals came up one run short when they played Sacred Heart during Sunday’s championship game in Jackson.After tying the game at five when Jared Pick tripled and scored on a ground out by J.T. Bruynes in the bottom of the sixth, the Cards surrendered the eventual winning run in the top of the seventh before being blanked in the bottom half of the frame.SH opened the scoring with a three-run rally in the top of the first. Luverne countered with a two-run double by Marc Boelman and a squeeze bunt from Craig Oeding in the bottom of the first to tie the game at three.Luverne fell behind 5-3 before Steve Schepel slapped an RBI single in the fifth inning, setting up the game-tying RBI by Bruynes in the sixth.Boelman tossed four innings of six-hit, three-run ball as Luverne’s starting pitcher. Zach Wysong took the loss in relief, yielding two hits and three runs in three innings.Box score AB R H BIPick 3 2 1 0Bruynes 4 1 1 1Boelman 3 2 2 2Wysong 3 0 0 0Schepel 1 0 1 1Nath 4 0 1 0Oeding 4 0 0 1Petersen 2 0 0 0Elbers 2 0 0 0Goembel 2 0 0 0Luverne 12, Fairmont 2The Cardinals opened Sunday’s championship round by coasting to a 10-run, five-inning win over Fairmont in Jackson.After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, Luverne battled back to outscore Fairmont 12-1 the rest of the way to win handily.The Cards took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run double by Wysong and a RBI single by Oeding.Fairmont scored once in the top of the second to trail 3-2 before Luverne plated nine unanswered runs (one in the second, five in the third and three in the fifth) to prevail by the 10-run rule.A solo homer by Pick accounted for Luverne’s second-inning run.Derek Elbers doubled home three runs, Seth Goembel slapped an RBI single and Oeding drew a bases-loaded walk when the Cards extended their lead to seven runs (9-2) in the third.Pick singled home a run before the game ended when Boelman delivered a two-run double in the fifth inning.Pick pitched all five innings to gain the win. He surrendered four hits and three walks.Box score AB R H BIPick 3 3 2 2Bruynes 4 1 1 0Boelman 4 1 1 2Wysong 3 1 1 2Nath 3 1 1 0Oeding 2 1 1 2Petersen 3 2 0 0Goembel 3 1 1 1Elbers 3 1 1 3Luverne 4, ML 3The Cardinals completed pool play by notching a one-run win over Minnesota Lake in Saturday’s second game.Bruynes tossed a six-inning complete game and his Cardinal teammates produced four runs in the bottom half of the third inning to highlight the victory.The teams played to a scoreless draw through two and one-half innings before Luverne’s Wysong doubled home one run, Ben Nath slapped a two-run single and Oeding added an RBI single in the bottom of the third to give the Cards a 4-0 lead.ML closed the gap to one run (4-3) by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth, but Bruynes rebounded to throw a scoreless sixth inning to ice the win.Bruynes yielded three hits and three walks during a six-inning pitching performance. He fanned five batters.Box score AB R H BIPick 3 0 0 0Bruynes 3 1 0 0Boelman 2 0 0 0Wysong 3 1 1 1Schepel 2 1 1 0Nath 3 1 1 2Lundgren 3 0 0 0Oeding 2 0 2 1Goembel 1 0 0 0Luverne 3, Welcome 0Nath pitched a one-hit shutout to carry the Cardinals to a three-run win during the tournament opener Saturday.The right-hander walked one batter and hit two hitters during his six-inning stint on the hill. Nath recorded 10 strikeouts.Luverne scored two runs in the second inning and one in the fifth to assume the margin of victory.Oeding singled and scored during a double-steal to open the scoring in the bottom of the second. Goembel added an RBI single before the inning was complete.Boelman singled and scored when Wysong doubled to account for Luverne’s fifth-inning run.Box score AB R H BIPick 4 0 0 0Bruynes 3 0 1 0Boelman 3 1 0 0Wysong 2 0 1 1Nath 3 0 0 0Lundgren 3 0 0 0Oeding 2 1 1 0Petersen 2 1 0 0Goembel 2 0 1 1

About the Guards: When we know, you'll knowIt's rare that a newspaper publishes a story telling readers there is no story, but sometimes it's tempting.The local coffee shops are again buzzing with word that our local National Guard unit will soon be deployed to Iraq.Back in January, our news office received official notice that the First Battalion, 125th Artillery , is on alert for possible activation in summer 2006.That much is true. And as far as we know, that’s still the official word.You may remember these same guardsmen returned in the spring of 2004 from a six-month deployment in England, where they worked as security officers.They weren’t in the trenches of Baghdad, but their presence in England meant they weren’t here at home. For the parents, wives and children they left behind for six months — not to mention employers getting by without them — the deployment was a big deal.And will be a big deal and a big news story if it happens again.The troops were training in Fort Ripley over the weekend, and apparently they learned it’s no longer a matter of "if" they’ll be deployed to Iraq, but "when."The Star Herald office has it on pretty good authority that there's some truth to that statement, but don't look to these pages for a story — at least for a while.In typical U.S. military style, neither the local National Guard office nor the Minneapolis public affairs office of the National Guard could or would speak on the record about the specifics of possible activation.They politely told me they'd release a statement as soon as something was certain.This is understandable, but it's frustrating from the perspective of a news office, where people turn to confirm or squelch coffee shop rumors.It might be irresponsible to print this at all, but it can't hurt to let readers know we're not ignoring the story.When we get official word, so will you.Meanwhile, the rumors can serve as reminders to enjoy our guardsmen while they’re home.

By John RittenhouseLuverne’s Mike Kunkel opted for a career change more than two decades ago when he was slapped in the face with a dose of reality.Members of the Luverne Country Club should be thankful he did.He decided his career choice after graduating from Adrian High School in 1978 wasn’t his cup of tea, so Kunkel landed a job working on the LCC grounds in 1980.One-quarter of a century later, Kunkel still is a member of the LCC staff. As superintendent of the course for the past 19 years, it’s Kunkel’s labor, with help from his capable staff, that makes the course one of southwest Minnesota’s best."I really enjoy it," Kunkel said of his position at the LCC. "It’s fun. I started here in May of 1980, and I took over as head (superintendent) in 1986. I’ve been here ever since."While LCC members are aware this is Kunkel’s 25th year at the course, the superintendent is treating it like any other year.He takes his work seriously, and a day rarely passes when he’s not on the job."I usually put in 60 hours per week at this time of year. I start between 5 and 5:30 a.m., and I’m usually done around 3 (p.m.). Sometimes I come back in the evenings and do some mowing," he said.A 60-hour work week is taxing, but Kunkel said it’s better than the career he considered after his high school days at AHS.Kunkel went to technical school in Willmar in pursuit of a career in autobody work. His older brother had a shop in Adrian, and Kunkel worked there as a high school student. The plan was to go back and work with his brother after college, but that’s when fate intervened."My brother started to get spots on his lungs (a hazard of the occupation). He offered me the business, but I said I’m not doing this anymore."With the help of a connection, Kunkel started working at the LCC in May of 1980."Pete Banck, who was from Adrian, was a member of the grounds committee at the time. He said he had a job for me over in Luverne, and I took it," Kunkel said. "I got lucky."Although the pay wasn’t great (Kunkel said he was making less than $4 per hour when he started), the position turned into a valuable learning experience. Working under then head groundskeeper Alvin Hecht, Kunkel learned the fundamentals of a job he has held for 25 years.When Hecht stepped down from the top spot in 1986, the LCC had a capable replacement in Kunkel, who received the 2001 Superintendent of the Year Award from the South Dakota Superintendents’ Association."Things have changed a lot since then," Kunkel admitted."Alvin showed me how to do it all, and I did it. You can’t do it like that anymore because you need a special license to do the fertilizing."While it’s up to Kunkel to lay the chemicals down on the course, he gets plenty of help from his three-person staff. His daughter, Amy. 21, who will be a senior at Winona State College this fall, and neighbor Dusty Smeins are full-time workers. Adam Kindt works on a part-time basis."Every day when I go to work, I make up a list of things that need to be done. The kids can go look at the list and know what to do without having to come and ask me," Kunkel said.The task list is a demanding one that changes from day to day.Kunkel said the greens need to be mowed on a daily basis, with the tee boxes needing to be trimmed every other day. The fairways are cut four times each week, and the rough is tamed twice a week. When the list is complete, there’s always extra trimming around the grounds to keep the help hopping.The superintendent must be an inspiring mentor. Nine former crew members who worked under Kunkel in the past went on to study the trade in college, and six are currently working in the field at different courses, which is something Kunkel takes pride in.Kunkel has had offers to work as superintendent at other courses, but he remains at the LCC because he said he’s treated right.The day will come when he decides to step down from his position, but not until his children, Amy and Curt, 24, a junior in graduate school at Baylor University, Waco, Texas, are out of school. However, Kunkel hopes to remain connected to the LCC or another golf course when that time arrives."If they allow it, I’ll probably keep at it at least five more years," he said."When I do retire (as the LCC superintendent), I still would like to work there. Just put me on a mower, and I’ll work five days a week. Then I’ll go camping on the weekends."

Arlo was a gentle giant. He was about 6 feet, 4 inches, and large framed. He farmed until middle age and then entered the ministry. Entering the ministry is challenging enough, but to crank up the classroom skills at middle age after farming for years is a daunting task. After finishing school he became a pastor in rural parishes. Although I don’t know the time frame exactly, I would say he served about 20 years until he was in his late 60’s. It was then that Arlo returned to his home, Our Savior’s Lutheran of rural Henry, S.D. Our Savior’s was the cradle of his faithful beginnings and now he returned to the place I was serving in my first parish.When I first met Arlo I nearly wrenched my neck looking up into his face, but his soft eyes and welcome smile softened my heart. He was loose jointed and wore a crew cut that as far as I could tell hadn’t changed over the years other than it was now a snowy white. My hand disappeared in his. He sealed our handshake with his free hand and said, "I am so thankful for your ministry here." I could tell that Arlo would not only be a blessing to the congregation, but a blessing to my life as a person and as a pastor.About a year after Arlo arrived, there was a time when some challenges in my ministry and personal life came to a head. I am generally quite resilient, and being a young upstart, I had not yet faced a mountain I could not climb. But I was at the end of my rope. Arlo was the only person I felt I could go to for consolation. He was my pastor. As I drove up to his trailer house my heart was heavy. But as soon as I stepped out of the car, he ducked his head under the front door and invited me in. He gave me something warm to drink and offered me a chair. And then he listened as I poured out my grief and frustration. He didn’t offer me solutions but a space where I felt as though I encountered the presence of Christ. And when I had finished he offered me a prayer. I felt an overwhelming sense of healing. It was as if Jesus himself had laid his hands upon me as the words poured from his lips. He re-presented Christ to me. Last week the Argus Leader announced to me that Arlo died. I dedicate this devotional offering in memory of Rev. Arlo Eidsness, who taught me to humbly present Christ to each person I meet.

ICE SERVICE PLANT TO BE OPENED SATURDAYThe following appeared in the Rock County Herald on June 17, 1932:Pure Ice Company Offers Curb Service at New Station on No. 9; 25 Lbs. Of Ice free on Opening DaysA.P. Fitzer, of the Pure Ice Co., this week announced that the formal opening of his new ice service plant on trunk highway No. 9, in the southwest part of Luverne, will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 18th and 19th, and that the public is cordially invited to call at the plant on those days, in particular. As a special inducement, those who do so, and who fill out the coupon published elsewhere in this issue, will be given a twenty-five-pound cake of pure manufactured ice, free of charge. This gift will be limited to one to a family.In connection with the opening special emphasis is placed upon the fact that curb service will be offered at the cooling plant every day in the week, from early morning until quite late at night, although the company also specializes in the forenoon delivery of ice in any part of the city. The local company handles manufactured ice exclusively and it is obtainable in any amount desired. In connection with the opening of the cooling station, the motor service station immediately adjacent to the ice plant will also stress its service, which consists of Rock county Co-Operative Oil company gasoline and oil products, sold on a regular basis of profits being pro-rated to customers. The proximity of both service places makes it possible to give better service than would otherwise be possible, especially in regard to the curb service of the Pure Ice Co.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156. Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

As people make plans to celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends, the fun of a long weekend can sometimes overshadow the real purpose of the holiday. It’s a time to recognize when America declared independence on July 4, 1776, from England.An important symbol of freedom for the United States of America is our flag — the red, white and blue stars and stripes.While discount stores sell tablecloths, napkins and paper plates decorated with flags for this occasion, there are still proper ways to use our country’s symbol.The U.S. Flag Code specifies how to show respect for our flag. There are details in it that many of us don’t need to know, but here are some general guidelines:oRaise the flag briskly; lower it slowly and ceremoniously.oFly the flag outdoors only between sunrise and sunset, unless you illuminate it during the dark hours.oWhen lowering the flag, do not let it touch the ground or touch any other object.oAlthough you should generally display the flag every day, do not display it during a rainstorm or a heavy snowfall unless it is an all-weather flag.oWhen displaying it on the same pole with another flag (e.g. a state flag) always position the U.S. flag at the top.oNever carry the flag flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. That our flag is flying free is as much a symbol of our country as is the flag itself. When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, position the stars at the top, to the observer's left.oClean and mend a flag when necessary. If it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, destroy it in a dignified manner. Contact a local veterans’ group to inquire about flag retirement ceremonies.Just remember that properly using our country’s flag is a way of showing respect for everything it has seen us through — from the American Revolution through today. The Rock County Star Herald Editorial Board is comprised of Roger Tollefson, Rick Peterson, Lori Ehde and Sara Quam.

As the earth around us becomes increasingly cluttered, it’s reassuring to believe the skies above us will continue to be orderly, neat and pristine. Like most residents of fly-over land, we expect to see the wispy, white trail of a jet flying from one coast to another or hear the sputter-sputter of a crop duster. Other than those few interruptions, we can see no more than the varying colors of the skies, a moon, a sun, rainbows and a scattering of stars. That could all possibly change with the addition of outsized billboards, designed to orbit the earth while still being visible to the naked eye. That’s why the Federal Aviation Administration proposed last month that it be allowed to enforce a yet unwritten law that prohibits "obtrusive" advertising in zero gravity. According to the FAA, outsized billboards placed in low Earth orbit could be as large as the moon and could hinder astronomers. "Large advertisements could destroy the darkness of the night sky," an FAA spokesman told Reuters. On a larger scale, billboards adrift in space might change the way we look at our culture and how we rank astronauts among the world’s riskiest career choices. It will be a sad world when the last thing to go through an astronaut’s mind would be a gigantic billboard for a popular brand of mouthwash. If we continue introducing satellites and eventual billboards into outer space, we will someday be unable to distinguish between natural and man-made objects up there. Nursery rhymes and even popular songs will have to be rewritten. We will teach our grandchildren the words to "Twinkle, twinkle, little billboard" and "Billboard light, billboard bright, first billboard I’ve seen tonight — I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight." The little ones will also have to be taught, "Hey diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the billboard." It might not sound quite as catchy as the original version, but change happens. Jiminy Cricket will have to reappear and sing, "When you wish upon a billboard," and someone resembling Judy Garland will have to record, "Somewhere Over the Billboard." Other songs to be rewritten might include, "By the Light of the Silvery Billboard", "Billboard Glow" and "Billboards fell on Alabama Tonight." The billboards will reflect advances in space travel and how we look at the ever-shrinking world around us. We might expect to read, "401,000 miles to Wall Drug" and "Fill up now! Last rocket fuel stop for next 50,000 miles." Rest stop areas will be reported to be light years apart. Roadside Burma Shave signs, which entertained us in the 1950s, might stage a comeback with series of space-side signs placed every 10,000 miles for space travelers. For those unfamiliar with the Burma Shave signs, here’s an example of what once appeared on a series of five signs: "Doesn’t she kiss you — like she useter? Perhaps she’s seen — a smoother rooster! Burma Shave." Humor was more simple then. Although the Burma Shave signs were eventually discontinued, the shave cream people must have foreseen an era of orbiting billboards in outer space when they parodied, "Twinkle, twinkle — one-eyed car — we all wonder — where you are! Burma Shave."