“10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. 15 You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. 16 For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. 18 I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Greetings to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ!
This month is set aside to be thankful for all that we have been blessed with.  To look back where we have been, and take stock of the blessings God has provided.
Sometimes when we look back, we tend to think that all that we have is what we have worked for, what we have saved, what we have accomplished, what we did on our own.
I want to question that. Just what have you done on your own? When did God provide the opportunity? When did God push you to do something that turned out much better than the initial plan you had? When have you been successful because the right person just happened to be there, liked what you were doing and supported your plan?
Verse 13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” is a reminder that even when you’re down, God strengthens you, but it is also a reminder that when you are on the top of your game, feeling well, feeling accomplished, God is there too. We cannot forget to give thanks in all things!
Paul talks about being both in need and being well fed, and each one of us has been in both places. When my children were young, our financial situation was very hard, the economy was tough, and our salaries were even worse, but the joy, the love of those children were all that mattered. We just worked more hours to get the basics, and I thank God that those opportunities were there to do so.
Now life is harder in a different way. Saying “until we meet again” to the ones you love is very difficult, and yet there is joy in the ones that surround you. There is joy in the memories, there is peace in knowing they are no longer in pain.  God is good, and “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Pat Baustian this week defended a contribution he accepted for his campaign in the Minnesota District 21A House of Representatives race.
Baustian campaigned on the DFL ticket to challenge incumbent Joe Schomacker, R-Luverne, for the House seat.
Baustian is also mayor of Luverne and was on the hiring committee that recommended Jill Wolf as Luverne’s new city administrator.
He’s come under fire from people who questioned a $500 contribution from Jill Wolf and her husband, Chris, to Baustian’s campaign.
“I find it quite interesting that the mayor of Luverne accepted a campaign donation from a city administrator candidate during the hiring process. This candidate was chosen for the job. Our mayor was also on the committee that selected the candidates,” city council candidate Mert Kracht posted on Facebook on Nov. 2.
“Do you think this is right? Do you think things are getting a little too cozy at city hall? We have an election in six days. Make your voice heard.”
While there were several who commented in dismay, Mike Cox shared insight as a person on the hiring committee.
“I was one of six individuals on the selection committee that was assigned to search for a new city administrator,” he said, pointing out that it was a six-month, extensive process that started with 30 candidates that were narrowed to four finalists to be interviewed by the committee, department heads, council members and community members. 
“The recommendation from the committee went to the City Council and they voted on the person. Mr. Baustian did not vote, since he only votes as a tie breaker. This process was fair,” Cox said.
“The comment about the city being a little too ‘cozy’ was totally out of line. I saw nothing but professionalism and hard work. Mr. Baustian showed nothing but fairness and leadership.”
Baustian, when contacted Monday, said only that the contribution was made on July 20, long before Wolf’s Aug. 11 application, and that nothing was illegal about accepting the gift.
He pointed out that it was a unanimous decision by the recruitment committee to recommend Wolf for the position and that it was a unanimous vote by the City Council to hire her as the next city administrator — a vote that he did not participate in.
Cox also made this point online.
“The campaign contribution was made before any application process began,” Cox said. “To assume there were some things done inappropriately is totally unfounded, misleading and wrong.”
The Star Herald went to press as Tuesday’s election was still underway. See www.star-herald.com for the latest, or follow results as they come in on www.sos.state.mn.us.

Rock County voters have a number of choices on their ballots for the Nov. 8 General Election, depending where they live.
Here are the quick links to our coverage of contested races:
•Luverne School Board http://www.star-herald.com/news/luverne-school-board-candidates
Click here for the video link: http://www.star-herald.com/news/luverne-school-board-candidates
•Luverne City Council 
http://www.star-herald.com/news/candidates-seeking-office-luverne-city-…
Click here for the televised candidate forum: https://www.cityofluverne.org/luvtv
•Hills City Council http://www.star-herald.com/news/five-candidates-seek-election-two-open-…
•Beaver Creek City Council http://www.star-herald.com/news/four-candidates-seek-election-two-open-…
•Minnesota House of Representatives. http://www.star-herald.com/news/candidates-seeking-office-minnesota-hou…
Link here for the televised candidate forum: https://www.cityofluverne.org/luvtv
 
The Star Herald has been following these races and has an “election” link on its home page, www.star-herald.com featuring candidate questionnaire profiles and links to school board candidate video interviews.
The Minnesota Secretary of State website, sos.state.mn.us, has helpful voting information, and local elections authorities in the Rock County Auditor Treasurers Office can be reached at 507-283-5060 or ashley.kurtz@co.rock.mn.us.
 
Eighteen Luverne School Board candidates
Voters in the Luverne School District will have the most research to do.
Fifteen candidates have filed for four open seats and three more filed for one unexpired term.
The four-year terms of
Katie Baustian, Reva Sehr, Jodi Bosch and Eric Hartman for up for election, and only Hartman filed.
In addition, Michael DeBates, Heather Johnson, Jason Schear, Amber Lais, Matt Goembel, Amber Nath, Jacob Hartz, Austin Kurtz, Brett Hood, Zach Nolz, Randy Sasker, Maggie Siebenahler, Josh Gangestad and Scott Wessels have filed for the three 4-year positions.
Three others filed for the two-year term vacated by Jeff Stratton when he resigned from the school board to become the school resource officer. Seeking election to that seat are Ryan DeBates, Maggie Vanderburg and Matthew Van Grootheest.
 
Luverne City Council
There is a race for the Ward 2 Luverne City Council seat held by incumbent Kevin Aaker, who filed for re-election along with challenger Mert Kracht. Incumbent Caroline Thorson will run unopposed for re-election to her seat on the council.
 
Baustian challenges Schomacker for House 
Minnesota District 21A State House seat is up for election this fall, and incumbent Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) will face current Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian as the DFL candidate on the ballot for that two-year term. 
Baustian would need to relinquish his mayoral duties if he accepts the House seat.
 
Hills and Beaver Creek city council races
The Hills City Council election has five candidates vying for two open seats. Incumbents Vickie Busswitz and Alan Leenderts filed for re-election, and they’ll face challengers Brian Kraayenhof, Cory Metzger and Dusty Seachris in the November election.
Beaver Creek Mayor Josh Teune filed for re-election unopposed, but four people are seeking election to two open seats on the council. Council members Jeff Dysthe and Pat Bender did not file for re-election, and Heidi Freese, Joe Conger, Jacob Conger and Madison Conger filed for their open seats.
Vienna Township Treasurer Albert Rust and supervisors David Severtson and Brad Skattum filed for relection, and Kraig Rust is challenging Skattum for the Supervisor C seat on the board.
In other voting decisions, the Minnesota District 21 State Senate seat is open for election, and incumbent Bill Weber, R-Luverne, is running unopposed.
Rock County voters will also choose between DFL-er Jeff Ettinger and GOP candidate Brad Finstad to fill the unexpired term of Dist. 1 Congressman Jim Hagedorn who died of cancer in February.
The offices for Minnesota governor and lieutenant governor are up for election this fall, as are the secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general and judicial offices.
 
Uncontested races
Because of redistricting, all Rock County Board seats are up for election, and all five incumbents will be on the ballot this fall unopposed. They are Gary Overgaard, Stan Williamson, Greg Burger, Sherri Thompson and Jody Reisch.
Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge and Rock County Attorney Jeff Haubrich are also seeking re-election unopposed.
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board has four candidates seeking election to four open seats currently held by Harley Fransman, Renee Knobloch, Ethan Rozeboom and Arlyn Gehrke.
Gehrke and Rozeboom filed for re-election, and they’ll be joined on the ballot by Travis Helgeson and Eric Uitenbogaard.
Hardwick Mayor Willy Baker did not file for re-election, and council member Tom Haas (who has been acting mayor) is seeking election to the formal title.
Two candidates, Gordon (Sam) Hansen and Don Bryan filed for two open council seats on the Hardwick City Council.
Kenneth Mayor Keith Hoven and council members Sheri Vyskocil and Laurie Gangestad are seeking re-election unopposed.
Magnolia Mayor Dennis Madison and council members Melanie Madison and Jeff DeGroot are up for election, but the Secretary of State Website shows that no one has filed.
Steen Mayor Lynette Woelber and council members Jazmine Dagel and Brad Bosch are up for election, but only Woelber and Dagel have filed, according to the state website.
Battle Plain Township Supervisors Eric Sas and Aaron Sandbulte are seeking re-election unopposed.
Denver TownshipTreasurer Lloyd Hemme and supervisors Tony Roosand Donald Arends are seeking re-election unopposed.
Martin TownshipSupervisor Nathan Fick filed for re-election.
Rose Dell Township Treasurer Jerry Purdin and supervisors Larry Fjellangerand Joe Buysse are seeking re-election unopposed.

At the section meet Thursday, Oct. 27, the Luverne boys’ cross country team won their way to the state meet this Saturday in Northfield. This marks the first section championship for the Luverne boys’ team.
Two Luverne girls, Jenna DeBates and Ella Schmuck, also qualified for the state tournament in Northfield as individuals because they finished in the Top 10.
Coach Pete Janiszeski complimented his teams not only for their outstanding achievement in cross country but in academics as well.
“Not only are they great athletes but they are excellent students as well,” said coach Pete Janiszeski. “Both the boys’ and girls’ teams earned the All-State team academic gold standard.”
To qualify for gold, the teams must have a team GPA above 3.75.
Camden Janizseski and Jenna DeBates also earned individual All-State academic honors.
“I was very proud of all of the kids for their effort and performances,” coach Janiszeski said. “They did an excellent job of controlling the controllables. They combined for 10 or 11 PR performances, and you can’t ask for much more than that at this point of the season.”
Also advancing to state is second-place boys’ team Redwood Valley.
State-qualifying girls’ teams were Murray County Central/Fulda in first place and Canby/Minneota in second. Luverne girls placed third as a team.
 
Boys’ results, 5k
Owen Janiszeski, 2nd, 16:05.29
Ryan Fick, 7th, 16:38.54
Camden Janiszeski, 9th, 16:53.32
Sage Viessman, 22nd, 17:30.33
Leif Ingebretson, 26th, 17:36.38
Carsen Tofteland, 29th, 17:51.33
Kaleb Hemme, 53rd, 18:31.63
 
Girls’ results, 5k
Jenna DeBates, 3rd, 18:30.10
Ella Schmuck, 8th, 19:52.06
Khloe Visker, 17th, 20:56.06
Grace Ingebretson, 19th, 21:00.87
Renae DeKam, 27th, 21:33.59
Kayla Bloemendaal, 53rd, 22:28.06
Grace Kempema, 58th, 22:35.63

More than 1,000 people participated in Luverne’s 10th Annual Trunk ‘n Treat community Halloween event Monday evening in the Luverne Elementary School parking lot.
“What a fantastic event for children,” said Luverne Area Chamber Director Jane Lanphere. “With 44 individuals, organizations and businesses participating…we can say that this was the best Trunk ‘n Treat ever.”
She said the beautiful weather quieter location, more families and children attended Monday than ever! 
The Chamber hosted its first Trunk ‘n Treat in 2012 in the effort to give more businesses and organizations the opportunity to be involved in what was before a Main Street event.
“We are so proud of our participating partners who go out of their way to make the event special by putting together creative displays. Many trunks were decorated with fantastic themes that entertained the children and families along the way.”
She thanked everyone involved, including Luverne Public Schools for its use of the parking lot. 
“Construction on Highway 75 proved to be a blessing as the location at the school made it better access for everyone,” Lanphere said. “Next year – we plan to have multiple start points so the lines aren’t so long.”

Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow hosted its annual meeting Friday in the form of several tours highlighting community development.
In a round-robin approach, groups of roughly 20 people at a time visited four separate sites for 20- to 25-minute tours between 4 and 6 p.m.
By the end of the evening each site had hosted four tour groups, updating attendees on progress.
The new PrairiE Loft Apartments on South Highway 75 were a highlight on the tour where Greensmith Builders’ Aaron Smith and Luverne’s Rich Dreckman took visitors through the newly completed apartments — some of them completed.
There are two, three-story, 27-unit apartment buildings along Hatting Street toward the east end of what used to be the Sharkee’s and Mert’s Repair lots.
Dreckman said the south building has 18 of its 27 units rented out and will be full within a week or so. He’s taking reservations for the north building.
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,095 and two-bedroom units rent for $1,295 to $1,495 with utilities included. “We’ve had people move in before even seeing the place,” Dreckman said. “We’ve had good response.”
Because of demand, another three-story, 27-unit apartment building is being planned east of the north building along the north side of the retaining pond. A mixed use commercial-residential complex is planned for the space fronting Highway 75.
Primarily renters are young professionals with good-paying jobs, mostly single people and couples without children who work locally and had been commuting from Sioux Falls or Brandon.
Dreckman also talked about what makes the PrairiE Loft apartments unique. For example, each unit is elevator accessible and has its own stackable GE washer and condensing dryer and full set of appliances with granite countertops and undermount sinks.
The buildings have direct access to the Luverne Loop that connects with the Ashby Memorial Trail and the Blue Mounds Trail.
The apartments are built to meet “EnergyStar, Indoor AirPlus, Zero Energy Ready Home requirements and those of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, making them the most energy-efficient buildings in the state.”
There will be EV car chargers in the parking lot and solar panels on the roof.
 All interior finishes are low-emitting (no chemical smell) and an ERV fresh air machine is included in each unit to bring in fresh, filtered outdoor air.
All units have radiant heated floors and dedicated heat pump heating and cooling systems, and the entire complex was built out of structural insulated panels made in Cottonwood.
“With 14 inches of insulation, you won’t hear your neighbors,” Dreckman said. “The units are quiet.”
Each building is fire sprinklered and protected by a security system, and an Amazon package center accepts deliveries for residents.
Another popular tour Friday night was the former TCI building (originally Tri-State Insurance) where the Luverne community child care center will be established.
Luverne Economic Development Authority director Holly Sammons led tours using colored tape to show hallways, bathrooms, classrooms, large play areas and other rooms inside the 30,000-square-foot office building
The day care center, when occupied at near capacity, will accommodate 186 children.
Of those it will be licensed for 24 infants (6 weeks to 16 months), 42 toddlers (16 to 33 months), 60 preschoolers (33 months to kindergarten) and 60 school-age children (kindergarten through 12 years old).
The center will have three infant rooms, three toddler rooms, three preschool rooms and two school-age rooms, all handicap-accessible and all but the infant rooms will have size-appropriate bathrooms.
Two small rooms will accommodate nursing mothers to come in and feed babies in privacy, and there will be a kitchenette and refrigerator to store breast milk.
The building already has an enclosed vestibule, offices, a kitchen area, a conference room, bathrooms, garage, loading dock and more.
Sammons talked about the nearly $6 million project and the fact that half of it may need to be funded locally. “It will take a lot of time and a lot of money,” she said. “But you have to see the vision.”
She mentioned Lineage Logistics 80 new jobs and Premium Minnesota Pork’s 90 new smokehouse jobs in addition to existing developments, and the fact that progressive cities respond to growth with growth.
“When good things are happening and growing, that’s opportunity to keep improving the community,” Sammons said.
“These 25-, 30-, 40-million-dollar projects add tax base to our city and they’re paying property taxes each year. That is income that we can capture to facilitate further growth.”
She said it’s important to capitalize on opportunities to create more opportunities.
“If you have all these good things happening, if you sit there with closed fists, and you don’t solve housing and day care you’re going to stifle that growth.”
City Administrator John Call and Electric Utility Supervisor Brian Remme led tours in the city power plant on East Main Street where an $11 million remodel and repowering was recently completed.
Earlier this year, a crane installed two 50,000-pound generators, each with 3-megawatt capacity, to join the city’s existing 1960s 3-megawatt generator in the power plant.
The combined 9-megawatt continuous capacity of the three generators ensures Luverne’s backup generation can carry a major part of the city’s total electrical load in the event of an outage.
The improvements will also allow the city to provide more backup power for Missouri River Energy Services, which contracts with Luverne for that energy.
MRES currently pays the city $75,000 per year to keep its generators in working condition for backup power in peak usage times. In a new capacity agreement, MRES will pay Luverne $6.7 million over 30 years, which will help pay for roughly half the $11.8 million total cost of the project.
In addition to the new generators, the project included modernizing the east substation and associated switchgear, a new control building, and improvements to the power plant to house the generation equipment.
In the Trailhead Building at Blue Mound Avenue and Main Street, Dan Paquin talked about the construction of Premium Minnesota Pork’s $70 million smokehouse in 2023.
The new facility, approximately 90,000 square feet, will be built between the current pork harvest plant and the Lineage Logistics freezer warehouse
When the new business comes online, it will hire 90 employees who will process35 to 40 million pounds of pork per year.
Products include bacon, smoked hams, case-ready products and ground pork.
The tour groups ended up at Take 16 to meet and greet some of Luverne’s newest business owners, such as Luverne Lawn Care, Benson Tech Solutions, First Comes Love, Graphenteen Real Estate Group, B’s Bakehouse, Prairie Wind Pet Cremation and others.
LIFT is a 501C3 corporation dedicated to “strengthening Luverne and Rock County.”
Current board members include president Pat Baustian, vice president Gary Papik, secretary Holly Sammons, treasurer Greg Burger, Cory Bloemendaal, Tim Connell, Judy Fenske, Craig Oftedahl, Knute Oldre, Mark Opitz, Janine Papik and Tony Schmoacker.
Ex-officio board members are Marilyn Bloemendaal, John Call, Warren Herreid II, Betty Mann, Scott Marquardt, Kyle Oldre and Jane Wildung Lanphere.

ATLAS of Rock County rolled out its first batch of clothing bales last week after installing the new machinery this fall.
A 20-by-30-foot detached building on the northwest corner of the existing building houses the baler that helps the organization more efficiently process donations.
ATLAS volunteers sort through hundreds of bags of donated clothing each week, sending the best items to be sold at Redeemed Remnants thrift store.
Items less saleable are donated to other organizations, and the rest are baled and distributed to destitute regions of the world.
“Clothing bales are the industry standard for clothing recycling,” said ATLAS director Michael Blank. “It’s the most efficient and cost-effective way to move clothing.”
He said his staff and volunteers used to make the weekly two-hour round trip to Rock Valley with items to be baled.
To save money and streamline operations, ATLAS purchased its own baler this spring so that donations can be processed on site.
Blank said the baler solves the problem of space (piled up donations) and transportation (gas and time).
Once clothing is baled, Minnesota Clothing Recyclers picks it up to transport to their facility in Watkins, Minnesota, to be distributed around the world.  “I’ve always wondered, when you see a picture of a little boy in Africa wearing a Nike shirt … this is evidently how that happens,” Blank said.
 
6,000-pound machine to make 1,200-pound clothing bales
The 20-by-30 building houses the 6,000-pound clothing baler that ATLAS bought from a party for $2,500 under cost.
Like a hay baler, the clothing baler is 12 feet tall and 5 feet square and makes 3-by-4-foot bales that are 3 feet high, 1,200 pounds per bale.
About 70 garbage bags of clothing makes a bale. “You can see the amount of space we’re saving.”
The bales have value as a commodity, based on the quality of the clothing in the bales.
Some clothing that’s not usable gets shredded for use in automotive industry for filler. “The good thing is 100 percent of what gets baled is going to get used for something,” Blank said.
He encourages people to be judicious about donations, essentially requesting that donors don’t bring items they wouldn’t consider wearing themselves.
“We accept only good, used clothing,” Blank said. “Minnesota Clothing Recyclers are very specific about what they will take, so we have to be specific about what we will take.”
The better the donations, the better it is for the nonprofit Christian ministry of ATLAS … “To offer support and assistance to those struggling with life’s difficult issues,” according to its website.
Clothing donations are accepted at the Redeemed Remnants back door during business hours only.
“Please don’t leave items outside,” Blank said.

New Vision Co-op tax
abatement hearing Nov. 8 
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF COUNTY OF ROCK FOR 
TAX ABATEMENT FOR NEW VISION COOPERATIVE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Rock County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on 9:00 A.M. on November 08, 2022 at the Herreid Board meeting room of the Rock County Courthouse located at 204 E. Brown Street; Luverne, Minnesota to consider the request of New Vision Cooperative for the abatement of certain real property located in Magnolia Township and described as follows, to wit:
 
A 62’ x 352’ warehouse expansion building structure located in the NE 1/4
of Section 15-102-44, of Magnolia Township
 
For abatement of real estate taxes for a period of up to ten years
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §469.1813. That the estimated amount of
the abatement, on annual basis, for the County of Rock is  
Year 1-5 - $11,977.00 (100%)
Year 6       $9,582.00 (  80%)
Year 7       $7,187.00 (  60%)
Year 8       $4,791.00 (  40%)
Year 9       $2,396.00 (  20%)
Total          $83,841
All persons desiring to be heard should appear at the hearing or present written comments to be presented at the hearing by delivering the same to the Rock County Administrator at 204 E. Brown Street; Luverne, Minnesota.
COUNTY OF ROCK
By                 /S/___________                      
Kyle J. Oldre
Rock County Administrator
(11-03)