Ellis & Eastern 
Rail Junction seeks bids 
Project # 2020-047
Ellis & Eastern Railroad
Manley Junction
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for the construction of the Ellis & Eastern, Rail Junction will be received by Ellis & Eastern at the Office of Civil Design Inc, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read.  
Rail Junction Construction often includes Grading & Subballast, and Track Construction
•Schedule A - Grading & Subballast - unclassified excavation, installation of subballast,
drainage structures, and all other incidental work to complete the construction
and installation of railroad grades.
•Schedule B - Track Construction - Installation of ballast, ties, track, turnouts and other track materials (OTM) to complete construction and installation of the proposed track.
 
Bids shall be on a unit price basis, as indicated in the Bid Form.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is: Civil Design Inc., 609 Main Avenue South, Brookings, SD, 57006, (605) 696-3200. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office on Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, and may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office as described below.
Bidding Documents may be viewed online by registering with the Issuing Office. Following registration, complete sets of Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the Issuing Office’s website as “zipped” portable document format (PDF) files. The cost of printed Bidding Documents from the Issuing Office will depend on the number and size of the Drawings and Project Manual, applicable taxes, and shipping method selected by the prospective Bidder. Cost of Bidding Documents and shipping is non-refundable.  Upon Issuing Office’s receipt of payment, printed Bidding Documents will be sent via the prospective Bidder’s delivery method of choice; the shipping charge will depend on the shipping method chosen.  The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered the Bidder’s date of receipt of the Bidding Documents.  Partial sets of the Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office.
 
Owner: Ellis & Eastern Railroad
By: Clark Meyer
Title: President
Date: October 28, 2022
(11-03, 11-10)

A local woman lost her life in a truck-vs-ATV crash northwest of Luverne Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 26.
According to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 64-year-old Kathy Dietrich, Luverne, was fatally injured when her four-wheeler collided with a grain truck driven by 43-year-old Troy Meinerts.
The report states that Dietrich failed to yield at a yield sign at the intersection of 80th Avenue when she was traveling east on 151st Street.
Meinerts was traveling south on 80th and the two collided.
The crash was reported at 2:46 p.m. and the Rock County Sheriff's office, Rock County Ambulance, Luverne Fire and Rescue and the Minnesota State Patrol all responded to the scene where Dietrich was pronounced dead by the Rock County coroner.
Drugs and alcohol were reportedly not a factor in the crash. The Minnesota State Patrol is handling the crash reconstruction.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to both families during this time,” Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.
Dietrich’s obituary appears on page 7.

Rock County will pool its opioid settlement dollars with other Southwest Health and Human Services members as the best use of the funds.
Rock County will receive an average of $14,655 for the next 18 years, according to the lawsuit settlement.
Ann Orren, SWHHS community public health supervisor, talked with commissioners at their Oct. 18 meeting.
“According to the memo of agreement that cities and counties signed (in January), public health is the lead agency and chief strategist to collaborate and respond to local issues and can help counties and cities try to decide where these monies would be better spent,” she said.
“One of the important things is to have this money go toward evidence-based things for both prevention, intervention and treatment, and invest in youth prevention. All three of these things we touch.”
Together the six SWHHS-member counties — Rock, Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Lincoln and Redwood — will have $2.6 million from the multi-state law suit settlement. The settlement comes from pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
The local money is part of more than $300 million divided among state counties and municipalities.
The settlement comes as a response to the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse, abuse and overdose deaths attributed to opioids, a class of moderate to strong painkillers.
More than 5,500 Minnesotans have died, and opioid use has devastated families and communities across the state. The settlement dollars are intended to help communities provide services and resources to address the crisis.
“Our goal is to meet with community members to decide where it can go and disburse it out — whether it is to law enforcement or treatment centers, prevention coalitions or wherever — that is the goal,” Orren said.
“We don’t have the capacity to do the work or take the money and utilize it ourselves.”
Local coalition #Luv1LuvAll member Wanda Jarchow inquired about the settlement.
“I am here to find out where the money is going because I would like us to partner together,” she said. “As I think we can make better progress if we are all heading in the same direction.”
#Luv1LuvAll has several task forces involved in narrowing the gap for anyone facing poverty situations in various identified areas: oral health, brain health, one-source guide, housing and opioid use.
Jarchow said the oral health task force recently received a three-year $136,000 grant and is partnering with Nobles County, who received a similar grant, to provide affordable dental care access locally.
According to Orren, Lyon and Pipestone counties have agreed to pool their opioid settlement dollars with Rock County and are waiting for Lincoln, Murray and Redwood to make a final decision.

The city of Luverne is alerting residents and businesses of a planned power outage and sounding of civil defense sirens this weekend.
The outage will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, in order to bring on line the city’s new 3 MW Caterpillar generators installed at the Electrical Power Plant earlier this year. 
The test was originally scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 2, but a pre-test inspection showed the equipment needed further preparation.
The city recently installed two 50,000-pound generators, 3 megawatts each, to join the city’s existing 1960s 3-megawatt generator in the power plant.
Sunday’s outage is necessary to bring the new generators on line.
According to Luverne City Administrator John Call, the goal of the generator project is to have back-up power for the city in the event it is cut off from transmission lines that carry power into the city.
“These disaster events are usually caused by ice storms, tornados, straight line winds or possibly some type of disaster within the electrical grid system,” Call said.
“The generators need to be tested in a real time situation to make sure that they are ready when called upon in the case of a real disaster.”
City electric utilities staff will test the system with the assistance of engineers, electrical technicians, and representatives from Caterpillar that will be on site working with Missouri River Energy Services to make sure transition goes smoothly. 
During the 7 p.m. test Sunday, Luverne electricity customers will experience a short electrical outage lasting approximately 30 seconds up to 2 minutes. 
At that time, the generators will start and proceed to carry the load for approximately one hour.
At the conclusion of the generator testing, the civil defense sirens will be activated to let the public know that the testing period is over and that the city is back on the normal electrical grid. 
Call said the city will do what it can to make sure that all residents and businesses are aware of Sunday’s short power outage so that they can plan accordingly. 
“The City of Luverne appreciates your patience as the test is required to commission the newly installed generators,” Call said. “With the new generators in service, the city has increased reliability for all of our electricity customers.”
 He said questions can be directed to City Hall at 507-449-2388.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, countless celebrations, family gatherings and work functions often occur.
It can be a stressful time of year for some people, especially those recovering from alcohol addiction or anyone battling alcohol addiction.
The holiday season can be triggering for many people, with the holiday parties, loneliness, financial worries, or the general stress of having to be around so many people.
There are significant risks with excessive drinking during the holidays, especially among young people.
In Minnesota, roughly 16 percent of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities involve people under the age of 21. In 2020, over 58 percent of adult Minnesotans said they drank alcohol.
Unfortunately, the state had one of the highest rates of binge drinking in the nation, with 18.4 percent of adults reporting binge drinking. It is binge drinking that leads to many problems over the holiday season.
There are effective ways to avoid the onslaught of excessive alcohol use over the holidays, whether you are in recovery or do not want to drink.
“Post-pandemic, more families now than ever are recognizing the damaging effects of alcohol,” said Marcel Gemme of Addicted.org.
“At holiday parties, many people want to enjoy a holiday drink but do not want the alcohol. Holiday mocktails are becoming more popular and are an excellent option to offer to those in recovery or those who want to stay sober over the holidays.”
Avoiding the temptation of alcohol use over the holidays while in recovery can be challenging, but there are some practical ways to plan ahead.
Initially, it is critical to recognize triggers and plan in advance, for example, knowing if the family gathering is going to be alcohol excessive or if there are family members that become confrontational.
It is OK to decline an invitation and have a plan that allows for an easy exit if it becomes too much to manage.
Finally, rely on a support group, whether this is friends, family, or group meetings. In addition, try not to drink on an empty stomach, and decide beforehand how much you are going to drink.
Most importantly, have a plan to get home safely and do not drink and drive. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, there is an increase in drinking and driving.
Plan ahead, and arrange a designated driver, taxi, uber, or any other means of getting home safely.
It is possible to have a safe and sober holiday season. The holidays are a time to celebrate together, share memories and traditions, and express gratitude.
Early intervention is critical if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction over the holidays.
The holiday season is an excellent time to consider going to counseling, treatment or drug rehab. It is the ideal time to focus on caring for yourself, a family member or a friend who is struggling.

“Forever indebted” is how I’m feeling lately.
We picked up the supper tab for my sister, Lisa, one day last week. “You didn’t have to do that,” she objected.
It’s true we didn’t. But it seemed like a small thing considering all she’d done and been for us in the days following Carson’s passing.
She contacted family, organized helpers and food, kept me on track when my brain short-circuited, arranged memorials at the church and cried with me when tears welled over.
“Lisa, you were an angel at my side. I will be forever indebted to you.”
I said it again during a walk with my friend, Wendy.
“I’m so grateful for all you did,” I told her. “I will forever be indebted to you.”
She and her husband and the Kramers, Bensons and Bakkens were a small army of neighborhood angels to help and support us.
“It’s what friends do,” Wendy shrugged. And she’s right. We would have done the same for any of the other precious “family” members in the hood.
They aren’t the only ones I feel indebted to.
There were friends and family who dropped everything to drive — some of them several hours — to find us when they heard the news. Words failed, but their hugs and tears said it all.
So many people took time out of their busy lives to personally extend sympathies at the visitation and funeral. I was struck by the number of young people — many of them in their teens and 20s — who patiently made their way through the long line at the church on a Saturday night. This affected me deeply, and I feel indebted to them.
Sweet Gracie, who planned to one day marry my Carson, instead found herself planning his memorial event at the Verne Drive-in, her family’s business.
Her beautiful video on the big screen was a moving tribute to Carson and 62 other precious souls who lost their lives to mental illness and suicide.
That event, along with the T-shirt and window cling fundraiser by Eli and friends, prompted us to start “Carson’s Cause” at the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
Almost overnight, this fund, which will support local education for brain health, surpassed $10,000 as did a Dollars for Scholars fund in Carson’s memory.
This spontaneous generosity blows my mind, and I feel forever indebted.
There are many, many people I feel indebted to as we continue to grieve, and I’ve found myself wanting to return the favor if opportunity arises.
But, of course, I sincerely hope no one else must bury their child. … So, I resign myself to being “indebted,” which, by definition, means you owe someone something.
But Merriam Webster says the meaning of indebted is “owing gratitude or recognition.”
In other words, we’re grateful. … Deeply grateful for the kindnesses and generosity we’ve been shown in our darkest hour.
We can’t possibly thank everyone properly, and the favors may never be repaid, but we will meanwhile remain forever indebted.
Also known as grateful.

The opening of the 2022 Minnesota pheasant hunting season will be one I’ll never forget. It wasn’t one of my best openers – it was actually one of the worst.
Our hunting group and our wives were staying at the home of our friends in St. Cloud. We were hunting about six miles north of Richmond, just southwest of St. Cloud.
We were ready to hit the field at the opening bell along with my three dogs, Hazel (age 13), Otis (6) and the newest to the group, Ruben, who is just a year old. This was Ruben’s first real hunt, and I was looking forward to see how the day would play out.
Our first push was through a stand of very thick, waist-high sorghum. About midway through the quarter mile stretch of sorghum, I was happy with the way Ruben was working well with the other two dogs. With maybe 20-30 yards to the end of our first push, two roosters broke cover and took flight. Four shotguns were blazing and two of my dogs were in hot pursuit of the birds.
It took me a minute to realize there was no Ruben taking part in the retrieve. Ruben had vanished – I mean in a flash! There was no sign of him. I called his name, blew the whistle, and once again nothing. I headed back to the vehicle and was pretty sure he would be there, but again no sign of him.
For the rest of the day I walked cornfields, drove around and around the section where he went missing, and again no sign of him.
By mid afternoon we had posters up all over Richmond and darn near every corner post within five miles of where we had last seen Ruben. The local Facebook page was posting the poster, and we went farm to farm handing out posters with a picture of Ruben and our contact information. As the afternoon was turning into evening, our search for Ruben was about to come to a close for the day.
Earlier that morning, as we left the house to go hunting, Mary’s parting words were “Don’t you lose Ruben today.” By late afternoon I hadn’t told Mary that I lost Ruben because I was hopeful we would have found him by then. I called her with the bad news, and as you can imagine, that was an emotional conversation.
Early Sunday morning Mary and I were back out where we lost Ruben, driving the gravel roads in all directions looking and looking for Ruben. We expanded the search area and yet nothing. With broken hearts we finally had to head home, leaving Ruben behind.
Sunday turned to Monday, then Tuesday, and no word from anyone who might have spotted Ruben. Our good friends Leroy and Mindy from St. Cloud drove out to Richmond every day and continued the search.
Leroy had placed a kennel, water dish and my hunting sweatshirt out in the field so if Ruben was in the area, maybe he would come back to where this ordeal all started.
A woman down the road from where Leroy left the kennel walked the area every day keeping an eye out for Ruben. She even put some treats in the kennel just in case. By now four days had passed and no sign of Ruben.
Leroy was making his morning drive by the kennel early on day four shortly after the neighbor lady had put the treats in the kennel. He had to take a second look, and sure enough, Ruben was helping himself to a treat. When Ruben saw Leroy, he took off back into the wildlife management area.
Leroy called me, and in short order Mary and I were headed back up to Richmond. We spent a couple of hours sitting by the kennel with my other two dogs, hoping Ruben would make his way back to us.
Again hope of finding Ruben was starting to fade. Then my phone rang with a call from the El Rancho Manana campground about three miles north of where we were sitting.
The guy on the other end of the call asked if I was Rick Peterson and then said, “I found your dog.” I started to cry then, as I am now as I type this column.
Mary and I were at the campground in no time, and we had a Ruben reunion.
We can’t begin to thank all the people enough that helped in the search for Ruben. The people of Richmond, all the regulars at Corky’s Sports Bar that kind of adopted Ruben and helped spread the word. Family and friends that put together a reward. Leroy and Mindy for their daily searches, the neighborhood woman that searched daily while she was on her walk, to all those that shared the poster on Facebook, to those that sent kind words and prayers our way … and finally to Kevin from the campground who made the call.
A final note – I got a call from Leroy earlier this week. He was telling me about his new German shorthair puppy and about how much of a pain the puppy was being.
I told him, “Have the puppy go missing for four days and you’ll forget all about those pains.”
Trust me … I know.

Dispatch report
Oct. 21
•An outage was reported.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 12, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 19, Magnolia, reported debris.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street and W. Warren Street reported a parking complaint.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported a parking complaint.
Oct. 22
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported an outage.
•A warrant was issued.
•Complainant on S. Central Avenue, Hills, reported an assault.
Oct. 23
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported suspicious activity.
Complainant reported an outage.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street reported lost property.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 19, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Another department provided assistance westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 19, Magnolia.
•Complainant on Main Street and Highway 75, Luverne, reported people driving into construction area.
•Complainant on Highway 75 reported debris.
•A warrant was issued in Sioux Falls.
Oct. 24
•Complainant on N. Main Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and County Road 6, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 26, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue reported identity theft.
•Complainant on Highway 75 reported a driving complaint.
Oct. 25
•Complainant reported an outage.
•Fleeing was reported westbound on County Road 35, three miles east of Adrian.
•Complainant on S. Main Street, Steen, reported theft.
•Complainant on E. Main Street, Hardwick, reported a possible motor vehicle violation.
•A fire was reported on 140th Avenue and 241st Street, Hardwick.
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported a noise complaint.
•A warrant was issued.
•Roadside assist was provided on S. Kniss Avenue.
Oct. 26
•Fleeing was reported westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 38, Adrian.
•A NSF check was reported in Beaver Creek.
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue and E. Lincoln Street reported a parking complaint.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 6, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on Evergreen Drive reported threats.
•Complainant on County Road 7 and U.S. Highway 75, Hardwick, reported debris.
Oct. 27
•Complainant on 251st Street, Edgerton, reported debris.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported theft.
•Complainant reported an outage.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported a parking complaint.
•A warrant was issued.
•Complainant in the 24-hour parking lot reported a public nuisance.
•Complainant reported an outage.
•Complainant on Interstate 90, westbound from Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on N. Summit Avenue, Hills, reported harassing communications.
•Complainant on S. Freeman Avenue reported fraud.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported a civil issue.
•Complainant in Fulda/Brewster Area, Fulda, reported an outage.
Oct. 28
•Complainant on Highway 75, northbound from Interstate 90, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on W. Dodge Street reported disturbing the peace.
In addition, officers responded to 6 motor vehicle accidents, 4 deer accidents, 1 vehicle in ditch, 3 funeral escorts, 14 ambulance runs, 2 paper services, 6 animal complaints, 2 fingerprint requests, 3 burn permits, 1 vehicle impound, 1 gas drive-off, 2 alarms, 3 drug court tests, 2 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 29 traffic stops, 7 abandoned 911 calls, 3 reports of cattle out and 2 follow-ups.

10 years ago (2012)
•Football fans at the Luverne-versus-Pipestone game Saturday afternoon were treated to a special patriotic display on Cardinal Field.
Gary and Janine Papik of Papik Motors, Luverne, sponsored the display that included patriotic bunting, flags from 50 states and 30 American flags — all decorating the fence surrounding the field.
The highlight of the event came during the National Anthem, played by student members of the LHS pep band.
The local color guard presented the colors, and student volunteers gathered under a 30-by-50-foot American flag, and they carried it back and forth across the length of the football field.
The Papiks said they brought the display to Luverne as a way of thanking veterans and active military families in the communities.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•It was almost anticlimactic, but on Monday the Luverne City Council unanimously added its stamp of approval to the joint law enforcement contract that the Rock County Board approved Oct. 21.
Beginning Jan. 1, Rock County Sheriff Ron McClure will oversee county law enforcement that will authorize Luverne’s current police officers to become deputies. The city will contract with the county for law enforcement and will share equally in the cost. The staff positions will include two sergeants and an investigator.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Tom Dahlberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dahlberg of Luverne, was vital in the 20-7 Gustavus Adolphus win over Hamline College Saturday, rushing for 238 total yards in 35 carries.
The win gave the Gusties sole possession of first place in the 1972 MIAC title race.
In his four years at Gustavus, Dahlberg has totaled 3,288 yards rushing in 771 carries, including 27 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 1970, Dahlberg broke the Gustavus single-season rushing record with 1,158 yards and 12 touchdowns.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•The Luverne Style Shop will open for business in its new ultra modern home Saturday, Mrs. H. F. Wildung announced this week.
Temporarily located in the rear of the new building for several weeks while the work in the front part was being completed, the Style Shop will again have its entrance on Main street. …
The former Style Shop location was remodeled and given a new brick exterior, and an addition was built to the south, thereby creating a two-story structure with a 24-foot exposure to the north and a 135-foot exposure to the west. The exterior is of buff face brick. The entrance to both store quarters will be beautified by the use of peach-colored structural glass and appropriate window trim. A canopy above the entrance to the Style Shop will carry the firm name in large aluminum letters, indirectly lighted at night. Curved plate glass has been used to give a striking modernistic effect to the store front. Ceramic title is also being used to further beautify the front.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•The Steen State bank was burglarized early Saturday morning. About $150 in bonds and War Savings stamps, and from $15 to $20 in pennies, besides certificates of deposit and other valuables which they found in the safety deposit boxes were secured. Church money, amounting to about $75, which had been left in the vault for temporary safe keeping also disappeared. It is believed that the robbery was committed at two or three o’clock in the morning, but it was not discovered until the following day when the cashier of the bank, A. H. Stell, came to open the building.