By Lori EhdeMyrtle Gott, 79, Luverne, lives in the Blue Mound Towers and doesn’t own a car.When the weather’s nice, she runs errands on foot, but when she needs a set of wheels, she calls Heartland Express."I’m so glad they’re here, and my son, Tom, is too, because I used to call him to give me rides," Gott said Monday."I really like it. The drivers are so good to you. They help you with everything — on and off the bus, with getting your groceries to the door."Gott is among hundreds of local riders who rely on Heartland Express, Rock County’s bus system, to get around.Next week, Heartland marks its 30th anniversary of providing local public transportation.The anniversary will be officially observed next summer, but meanwhile, Heartland Express director Terrie Gulden has enjoyed researching the history of the organization.Started with a mini-bus for senior citizensAccording to the Sept. 25, 1974, Star Herald, it was Sept. 26, 1974, that the Rock County Board started providing public transportation to senior citizens. It was one of the first rural counties in the state to initiate such a service for its residents."That was a pretty bold, progressive decision for a small county board," Gulden said. "They did it without really having any idea what it was going to cost them."The vehicle was a $6,550 15-passenger mini-bus and the transportation office was at the Senior Citizens building, with pickup stations established in area communities."In retrospect, it was a good decision, even though the county would pick up 100 percent of the cost after three years," Gulden told County Commissioners in a letter presented during their Tuesday meeting."I commend the County Board on their vision 30 years ago. Certainly, Rock County was a progressive thinker in a rural county in the state of Minnesota."Ione Bush was the first director, Betty Iveland was the first driver, and Carmen Suurmeyer was in charge of bookkeeping, bus routings and scheduling.According to a Sept. 11, 1974, Star Herald story, the federal government would participate with 75 percent of the funding the first year and gradually reduce that commitment to zero after three years. The cost for the first year of service was projected to be $45,973.Suurmeyer’s salary was paid by the Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council. She made $2 per hour and worked 40 hours per week. Iveland was paid by the county $350 per month and also worked full-time.The service at that time was offered at no cost. The Sept. 11 Star Herald reported, "Contributions for the rides by the individuals are welcome, but not required."New name, new bus, new ridersThe bus operated as "Rock County Senior Transportation" until 1991, when it became "Heartland Express."The name change came with a new bus capable of accommodating wheelchairs and a new approach to serving riders. Instead of focusing only on senior riders, the service became available to all Rock County residents.In that first year, more than 10,000 passengers rode roughly 16,000 miles. Within a year, ridership jumped to 14,621.In March 1992, the Star Herald reported on those changes:"A busy day used to be 20 to 35 people. Now we can get up to 100. We're going all over in the county, and we're serving all ages from 3-month-old babies to 93-year-old ladies," said Heartland Express Director Deb Fick.They provide rides for school children and Head Start students. They transport children from school to babysitters' houses. They take people in wheelchairs wherever they want to go. Buses transport people to senior dining and to dances and gatherings at senior centers. Heartland coordinates with Rock County Family Service to provide transportation for clients.Fees at that time were 50 cents one way in Luverne, and $1 one way for rides outside Luverne.Numbers holding strongToday Heartland Express boasts a ridership of more than 24,000 local people per year with in-town fares set at $1.50 for one way and $3 for trips in the county.The current Heartland Express fleet has four buses, one of which serves as a back-up vehicle.A new bus is scheduled to arrive next week.Gulden said the buses still transport senior citizens, but there are many young riders as well.Children in Discovery Time Preschool and Little Lambs Preschool make up a large percentage of riders during the school year."Those are busy times of the day," Gulden said about preschool pickup and drop-off times.Current ridership breaks down as follows:oChildren 27.2 percentoYouth (6-18) 13.5 percentoAdults (18-65) 17.5 percentoElderly (65+) 29.5 percentoDisabled 12.3 percentHeartland operates on a $250,000 budget, but fares represent only $48,000 of its revenue, and Rock County contributes nearly $6,000. The rest comes from state and federal aid. "Our taxpayers need to understand it’s not a real cost to have this service in Rock County," Gulden said. "… And it’s a beautiful service."Gulden pointed out that no city tax levy dollars go into supporting the Heartland Express. "However, the city benefits from 85 percent of the services rendered by our system," he said. "Our ridership split is 85 percent Luverne with 15 percent all other areas in Rock County."Gulden said the children make for a nice variety of riders, both for the drivers and the other senior passengers on the bus.Another busy time for Heartland Express is Sunday mornings when riders need to get to church.Gulden said he’s proud to be working for an office that provides such a valuable service."The gist of it is that we have a wonderful service here, both in bus drivers and volunteer drivers," he said. "It’s really priceless."

By Lori EhdeActing on a tip from an unnamed informant, Rock County deputies arrested three local young people last week for possession of methamphetamine.According to documents filed Monday in Rock County District Court, 22-year-old Jeremy Alan Wallenberg, 23-year-old Shaun Robert Edberg and 18-year-old Ashley Wynn Mortimer were arrested Thursday, Sept. 16.The arrests were the result of a search warrant executed on a trailer home on West Mead Court after someone tipped off police about drug use there.At about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sheriff Mike Winkels and five deputies searched the trailer, rented by Wallenberg and Mortimer. Edberg said he’s also been staying at the trailer.According to the complaint, law enforcement found all three in the trailer, in addition to Michael Reverts, who doesn’t face any charges at this time.All were handcuffed during the search as a precaution, but no weapons were found in the home.Small amounts of powder and rock meth were found around the trailer, and Wallenberg and Edberg admitted to smoking marijuana and meth the night before.Wallenberg, Mortimer and Edberg were transported to the Nobles County Jail and now face charges of fourth-degree controlled substance crime.Investigator Jeff Wieneke said it’s not been established whether the three were dealing drugs or if they had connections to the Steven Mauch case in Nobles County."That part is still being investigated," he said.

By Sara StrongCustomers in Luverne may be able to order "strong beer" and liquor when they’re out on Sundays after this November election.The November ballot will ask city of Luverne voters to decide on the Sunday liquor issue.Howling Dog owners Mark Zimmer and Dan Wedin asked the City Council in April to consider giving bar owners the option to get a Sunday liquor license. The council agreed to put the issue on the ballot.All bars and restaurants with liquor licenses could apply for a Sunday permit, not just the establishment requesting the ballot item.Zimmer said, "For us it’s purely an economic issue."He said many people want to order drinks with their Sunday dinners or while watching sporting events, and the Howling Dog loses business because of that on Sunday.Manager Jodi Christy said she turns away Sunday business because many people aren’t aware that Luverne bars can’t serve regular beer or liquor. "I tell people they have to drive a few miles west to order a drink," Christy said. "I’m looking forward to the election to find out what we can do."On Sundays, Luverne bars can now serve lower alcohol beer (3.2 percent) and wine, if permitted, or sell under a "set-up" system. The "set-up" system allows people to mix drinks by using their own liquor. Christy said the Howling Dog doesn’t sell as a set-up because it would still be liable for drinking customers.The Eagles Club does use the set-up system and is the only bar regularly open Sundays. Christy said the Howling Dog will be open Sundays if the ballot question passes.Eagles manager Deb Bush said the Eagles will continue to be open Sundays regardless of the vote results."We do want a Sunday liquor license," she said. "I think it’ll be more convenient because we won’t have to stock separate beer and we can regulate what mixed drinks people are having."Sharkee’s and the Magnolia Steakhouse are closed on Sundays. The actual question on the Luverne ballot will be: "Shall the city of Luverne be authorized to issue on-sale licenses to hotels, restaurants, bowling centers, clubs or congressionally chartered veterans’ organizations for the sale of intoxicating liquor at retail on Sundays?"At a meeting today, the Rock County Ministerial Association will discuss the Sunday liquor issue and may form an opinion on it.

By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday voted in favor of a 10-year tax abatement requested by Sioux Valley Regional Health Services.Commissioner Ron Boyenga voted against the motion, but would have favored a 50-percent abatement.The abatement passed by the county will amount to $10,000 a year. Abatements are usually granted when substantial economic development will occur.Boyenga said, "It’ll just benefit the doctors, and people should know that. Whatever we abate is paid for by taxpayers."Boyenga pointed out that clinic profits stay with doctors, and they are the ones taxed. The hospital portion of the Sioux Valley facility is not taxed. Jane Wildung said, "I understand Ron’s concerns, but I think the long-range benefits to the community from this clinic make the tax abatement something I support."The abatement is only from the county portion of taxes, not city or school. Sioux Valley outlined reasons for the abatement request:oexpanding medical servicesoincrease tax base with the new building and a planned additional five jobs that could encourage housing developmentothe current hospital and clinic will be taxed as the new one becomes occupiedoa hospital is a quasi-public service, providing emergency medical care regardless of patients’ ability to pay.As a side note to the Sioux Valley news, four lots near the new hospital will be donated to the county. Two have been earmarked for housing for the developmentally disabled, and two will be the county’s to use or sell. In other business Tuesday, the board:oEstablished a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee. Rock County was awarded a grant through the Regional Development Commission to develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan. With the plan, people can apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which they can’t without a local plan in place.The committee will determine where hazards are in the county (chemicals, flood-prone areas, etc.) and determine how to handle disasters.

Fragment to play at the PalaceA Bluegrass band with a Slovak flavor will grace the stage of the Palace Theatre in Luverne.According to their Web site, "Fragment was founded in Bratislava, Slovak Republic" (former Czechoslovakia) in 1983."The band's main intention was to play progressive newgrass music, and the band quite fast gained its recognition on the Czechoslovak bluegrass scene."In the nearly 20 years of its existence, the band has seen many musicians and musical styles come and go — from newgrass to new acoustic music and bluegrass."The group is currently on tour in the United States and will play at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 26, in the Palace Theatre.When should school start?By law, school cannot start before Labor Day.The education lobby wants that date to be moved up to August.The hospitality industry wants it left just the way it is.The hospitality industry has always argued that an earlier start would put the state’s family resort businesses in a bad situation.Starting school in August, kids, both high school and college, who depend on their jobs working at the resorts as much as the resorts rely on them, would have to quit work around mid-August to get ready for the return to school.According to a recent Politics in Minnesota, the loss of those thousands of workers would damage many of the small family-owned resort businesses and cut deep into revenues from one of the three big holidays of the summer season in Minnesota.On the 2004 and 2005 calendars, Labor Day falls about as late as it possibly can.Some schools, receiving waivers to start prior to Labor Day were blamed by many for the drop in attendance of more than 100,000 from this year’s Minnesota State Fair, which ran through Labor Day.So, what did Minnesotans think at the fair?The political newsletter, Politics in Minnesota, checked with the Minnesota State Senate and the House of Representatives to find out how their annual polling whet.Although the polls are not considered scientific, here are some of the answers they received.
Should there be a statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants? Six of our 10 agreed with the idea in the House poll, while the Senate version showed an almost even split.
Should the state have a constitutional amendment defining marriage? 57.7 percent in the Senate poll were opposed to the idea, while only a sliver over one-third supported the amendment proposal.
Should we expand legalized gambling in Minnesota? The House poll showed 53.1 percent opposed and 32.2 percent in favor.
Two thirds of those polled indicated support for laws limiting the use of off-highway vehicles.
52.46 percent liked the idea of the six-year terms of senators being staggered, with a third of them up for reelection every two years. Currently they are all up for reelection every six years.
67.7 percent favored the state preventing contracts from being outsourced to other countries.
All day, every day Kindergarten was approved of by the respondents by a margin of 62.57 percent to 28.45 percent
Gov. Pawlenty’s proposal to deny drivers licenses to truant high-schoolers was supported by 77 percent in the House poll.
The House poll showed 73 percent in favor of continuing same-day registration with only 20. 4 percent opposed.
53.7 percent of those polled in the House poll supported making it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving.Even Smokey the Bear has to put up with changes at workAfter six decades of telling people to "Only you can prevent forest fires," Smokey the Bear is getting his message altered.In order to reflect the importance of fire in a healthy forest ecology Smokey’s new slogan will now be "Only you can prevent wildfires."In conjunction with the Governor’s Fire Prevention Day recently the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry had a 60th birthday party for the aging bear.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

By Lori EhdeActing on a tip from an unnamed informant, Rock County deputies arrested three local young people last week for possession of methamphetamine.According to documents filed Monday in Rock County District Court, 22-year-old Jeremy Alan Wallenberg, 23-year-old Shaun Robert Edberg and 18-year-old Ashley Wynn Mortimer were arrested Thursday, Sept. 16.The arrests were the result of a search warrant executed on a trailer home on West Mead Court after someone tipped off police about drug use there.At about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sheriff Mike Winkels and five deputies searched the trailer, rented by Wallenberg and Mortimer. Edberg said he’s also been staying at the trailer.According to the complaint, law enforcement found all three in the trailer, in addition to Michael Reverts, who doesn’t face any charges at this time.All were handcuffed during the search as a precaution, but no weapons were found in the home.Small amounts of powder and rock meth were found around the trailer, and Wallenberg and Edberg admitted to smoking marijuana and meth the night before.Wallenberg, Mortimer and Edberg were transported to the Nobles County Jail and now face charges of fourth-degree controlled substance crime.Investigator Jeff Wieneke said it’s not been established whether the three were dealing drugs or if they had connections to the Steven Mauch case in Nobles County."That part is still being investigated," he said.

By Jolene FarleyFour local men traveled around the world to share their convictions with others. Scott Harnack, Tom Goehle, Chris Fransman and Andrew Kellenberger signed up for a trip through a non-denominational Christian organization from Colorado Springs, Colo. "We went with a group called Sports Ambassadors," team member Scott Harnack said. "They take Christian sports teams to different countries every year."Sports Ambassadors uses sporting events as the stage for testimonials from team members about their faith. The group didn’t know for certain what their destination would be when they signed up, but they soon learned they would travel to India on their mission trip. Goehle previously took a trip to Singapore with the organization and was instrumental in organizing this summer’s trip to India.The four men left home Monday, July 26, for Colorado Springs, where they stayed for a couple of days before departing on the second leg of their journey. "They told us about Sports Ambassadors and what their goal was," Harnack said. "They prepared us a little for India and what we would see over there." The group also met the last member of their basketball team, Jon Cain from Michigan, and organizer Robin Cook, who also traveled with the group. Cain signed up for a Sports Ambassador trip online and was matched with Harnack, Goehle, Fransman and Kellenberger. After 50 hours of travel, the basketball team arrived in Chenai, India. They boarded a train to Coimbatore and took a van up a mountain to Coonoor, a village of 100,000 residents. "There are just so many people in India," Harnack said. "That’s considered a small village."After arriving in Coonoor, the team began offering basketball clinics and sharing their faith with the locals. "It’s an easy way to get people gathered," Harnack said. "We got a great opportunity to talk to them about Jesus."The five men talked at schools during morning services and at breaks during games. They shared Bible stories with the children."We talked to them about Jesus and what he’s done in our lives," Harnack said. The group stayed in Coonoor for five days before traveling back to Coimbatore where they played again. "We played eight basketball games, and then shared testimonials at half-time," Harnack said "We also did basketball clinics at the YMCA and a college." Before a recent change in government, open Christian worship wasn’t allowed in the predominantly Hindu and Islamic country. Until now India wouldn’t have been a travel option for a Christian mission trip. "We were lucky enough to be one of the first groups to go over," Harnack said. "Two months ago, we wouldn’t have been able to do this." While talking during the opening ceremonies at the schools telling their stories, the group often heard Hindu chants originating from shrines in the background. The men were well-received, according to Harnack. "They love to see Americans. They were open to whatever we wanted to talk about."The group shared their faith with more than 4,000 people during their time in India. Harnack said they hope to travel again next year with Sports Ambassadors, this time inviting a group of high school athletes along.

By John RittenhouseThe Adrian volleyball team played a pair of hard-fought five-game matches in Red Rock Conference play since last Thursday.The Dragons edged Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin in a five-game match played in Mountain Lake Thursday. Southwest Christian nipped the Dragons by the same score on Tuesday.Adrian, 3-6-2 overall, plays in Hills tonight and in Tyler Monday before hosting Westbrook-Walnut Grove Tuesday.SWC 3, Adrian 2Adrian came up on the short end of the final score during its second five-game match of the week against the E-Gals.SWC stunned the Dragons by posting 25-20 and 25-15 wins to open the match in Adrian, but the hosts battled back to knot the match at two games each before falling in the finale."We didn’t play well in the first two games," admitted AHS coach Jessica Hogan. "Then we woke up from our slumber and made a match out of it."The Dragons shocked the Eagles in Game 3 by turning a 20-19 deficit into a 25-21 win by outscoring SWC 6-1 late in the game.Game 4 was tight the entire way with AHS pulling out a 25-23 victory.SWC opened an 11-7 lead in the fifth game and settled the issue by topping the Dragons 15-11.Amber Loosbrock and Brittany Bullerman served nine points each for the Dragons. Jessica Parsley charted 11 kills and eight blocks. Kayla Bullerman distributed 24 set assists to the Adrian hitters.Adrian 3, ML-B-O 2The Dragons won their second straight conference match when they outlasted the Wolverines in Mountain Lake Thursday.Trailing 2-1 after ML-B-O took Game 3 by a 25-15 tally, the Dragons needed a rally to come out on top. AHS met the challenge by securing 25-20 and 15-11 victories in Games 4 and 5 to win the five-game match."Our play in the third game wasn’t up to our standard, but we fought back to win the last two games," said AHS coach Hogan. "We found a way to win and that’s huge for us."In a tightly-contested first game, Adrian sported a 24-23 edge before ML-B-O bounced back to pull out a 27-25 win.Adrian evened the match at one game each with a 25-13 win in Game 2, and the teams split the next two contests, setting up a decisive fifth game. The Dragons scored the first four points of finale and went on to win by four.Parsley paced AHS at the net with 12 kills and 12 blocks. Brittany Bullerman added 14 kills to the cause, while Amanda Lynn chipped in nine digs.Loosbrock completed all 22 of her serves and recorded 15 points in the match. Kayla Bullerman, who led the Dragons with 21 set assists, went 18 of 18 serving with nine points.

By John RittenhouseThe Adrian Dragons ran their football record to 3-0 after thumping Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 43-24 in Adrian Friday.AHS senior quarterback Levi Bullerman tossed for three touchdown passes in the first half and senior tailback Billy Anderson ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Dragons to a 19-point win over an injury-plagued Knights squad.R-T-R, the defending Red Rock Conference champions, entered the game at an offensive disadvantage. With the starting quarterback, fullback and wide receiver on the sidelines with injuries, it was a bad time for the Knights to face a fired-up AHS squad."They were dinged up," said Dragon coach Randy Strand. "They were missing some kids who could have made some plays for them."Injuries aside, R-T-R would have been hard-pressed to stop Adrian’s impressive offensive performance Friday. The Dragons racked up 432 total yards in the game and scored 22 points in the first 9:51 of play.Bullerman, who completed 11 of 14 passes for 18 yards in the game, did most of his damage in the first quarter. Bullerman threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and set up another score with a long pass when the Dragons opened a 22-0 lead they would never relinquish."We felt that we could get at them through the air early," Strand said. "Actually, our entire game plan worked pretty well. We were able to pass the ball, and we did a good job of holding down Minett (Kyle, R-T-R’s standout running back). Minett ran for 300 yards against us last year, and we held him to 110 yards this time. We did a good job of getting him on the ground."Three explosive plays left the Dragons sporting a 6-0 lead 36 seconds into the game.After Bullerman returned the opening kickoff 43 yards into R-T-R territory, he tossed a 33-yard pass to Clint Metz and moved the ball to the Knights’ six-yard line on the first play from scrimmage. Anderson scored on a six-yard run during the next play, giving the Dragons their six-point advantage at the 11:24 mark of the opening period.The Dragons came up with another key play when R-T-R was forced to punt as the first period progressed.A bad snap from center led to the R-T-R punter being tackled at the AHS 20-yard line. On the first play of the possession, Bullerman tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Brent Tjepkes at the 5:35 mark of the opening period. Anderson carried in the two-point conversion to make it a 14-0 game.Adrian received another key special-teams play when R-T-R fumbled the ball during the kickoff return following Tjepkes’ touchdown. Anderson recovered the fumble on the R-T-R 47, setting up a seven-play drive that ended with Bullerman throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Tjepkes. Bullerman then threw a successful conversion pass to Brett Block, giving the Dragons a 22-0 lead at the 2:09 mark of the first period.The score remained 22-0 until the final minute of the first half, when both teams managed to register one touchdown.R-T-R trimmed the difference to 16 points (22-16) at the end of a 16-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Minett scored on a three-yard run with 40 seconds left in the second period.The Dragons marched 55 yards during the next possession, which ended with Bullerman throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Block as time expired. Bullerman added the extra point to make it a 29-6 game at halftime.Adrian turned its first possession of the first half into a 36-6 advantage. The Dragons marched 59 yards in six plays, with Tony Sauer scoring on a 10-yard run at the 8:17 mark of the third quarter. Bullerman booted the extra point to make it a 30-point difference.R-T-R countered with a 12-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Minett scoring on a three-yard run with 3:12 left in the third stanza. A pass for the two-point conversion failed, leaving the Dragons with a 36-12 lead.Minett scored his third touchdown of the game on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter, but the Dragons answered with an eight-play, 57-yard drive capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Anderson. Bullerman’s extra point gave AHS a 43-18 lead.R-T-R capped the scoring when Brandon Johnson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Drew Mikelsen with 3:31 left in the game.The Dragons will play RRC unbeaten Fulda in Fulda Friday.Team statisticsAdrian: 252 rushing yards, 180 passing yards, 432 total yards, 17 first downs, six penalties for 57 yards, zero turnovers.R-T-R: 140 rushing yards, 110 passing yards, 250 total yards, eight first downs, two penalties for 10 yards, one turnover.Individual statisticsRushing: Anderson 19-103, Sauer 6-41, Bullerman 7-53, Metz 2-7, Brandon Biekmann 2-19, Tyler Vaske 2-21, Glen Kruger 1-6, Reid Strand 1-2.Passing: Bullerman 11-14 for 180 yards.Receiving: Metz 1-33, Tjepkes 3-54, Block 3-36, Reverts 1-15, Anderson 2-34, Sauer 1-8.Defense: Bullerman 14 tackles, Metz 14 tackles, Sauer 13 tackles, Casey Knips 12 tackles and one deflected pass, Anderson one fumble recovery.