The highest valued farmland sale in Minnesota took place this year in Rock County.
The sale, $19,700 an acre for the unimproved parcel, topped the previous highest sale in Rock County when a similar unimproved Clinton Township parcel sold for $19,000 in 2017.
Auctioneer Randy Buntjer of Ellsworth organized the sale of the 149-acre parcel in Clinton Township for the Esterly Revocable Trust. Total price for the parcel was $2.9 million.
A series of fortunate events coincided for the Aug. 19 sale that set the state record, he said, one being that the parcel is unique to the area.
“You don’t see much farmland come up on the (public auction) market,” Buntjer said.
He said continued high commodity prices, low interest rates and the parcel’s rich soils also combined to increase bids to the final sale price.
The sale for the property three miles east of Hills on Hwy. 270 drew the interest of 80 people who attended the August sale, which is more than the average number at a land sale. Three bidders vied for the property in the 20-minute auction.
Rock County Assessor Rachel Jacobs is anticipating the final recording of the Clinton Township sale coming into her office by the end of the year. The sale may be a factor in determining local farmland market values in 2024.
Jacobs, whose job is to value and assess real estate and personal property sold within the county, tracks real estate and market sales that occur each year from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. The market values are used to determine the county’s tax capacity used by local government entities to determine levy allocations. Increasing market values are tied to property tax increases.
However, not all sales are used to determine taxability within the county.
 
Sales need to be
‘arm’s length’
Jacobs explained the process she’s implemented at her Oct. 4 report to county commissioners.
She said each land and personal property sale is verified by Jacobs or by one of three appraisers in her office.
Only those sales considered “arm’s length” are used in the state’s market assessment process.
“They are a good depiction of the market and that is what an ‘arm’s length’ sale is — none of the parties are related to each other,” she said. “There’s all sorts of rejection reasons.”
Topping the state’s list of 31 possible rejections is the “relative sale,” where family members purchased land or personal property from each other. Often these sales are private and sale prices are under current market values. Jacobs said even in relative sales where the current market price is paid and/or purchased at public auction, the sale is still not considered arm’s length.
The second most common assessment rejection in Rock County is partial interest sales, where one business partner sells his or her interest in a jointly owned parcel.
To be included as a farmland sale, the parcel must be for ag use and be larger than 34.5 acres.

The Rock County Star Herald will host a candidate forum at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in council chambers of Luverne City Hall.
At 2 p.m. candidates seeking election to the Ward 2 seat of Luverne City Council will answer questions pertaining to duties of that position.
Incumbent council member Kevin Aaker and challenger Mert Kracht are seeking election to that seat.
At 2:45 p.m. candidates for Minnesota House of Representatives will answer questions. Incumbent Joe Schomacker, R-Luverne, is facing challenger Pat Baustian, running on the DFL ticket for that seat in the House.
Prior to each forum, a coin flip will determine who answers the first question first, and after that they’ll alternate who goes first. Responses will be limited to two minutes with one-minute rebuttals if requested.
The forum will be livestreamed through the city of Luverne’s LuvTV where it will be archived for future viewing.
A link to the city’s LuvTV site https://www.cityofluverne.org/luvtv will be available through the Star Herald’s home page, www.star-herald.com where election coverage is compiled in a single location with links to previous information about local races so far in the 2022 election.

Atlas sets dates for One Warm Coat distribution
Atlas Ministries accepts donations for Rock County One Warm Coat from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 10 to 7 Thursdays, and from 10 to 4 Saturdays at Redeemed Remnants.
Donations can also be left in the Luverne Elementary School commons during normal school hours.
Distributions dates are from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 10, and from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 12.
Accepted are new or gently used, clean winter wear, including coats, hats, gloves, boots, scarves and snowpants. Call Destiny Ripka at 507-220-0030.
 
‘Rock the Aqua’ swimming and pizza event Oct. 21
“Rock The Aqua” free area-wide youth event is from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Luverne Aquatics and Fitness Center for grades 9-12. The event, which includes swimming, door prizes and pizza, is sponsored by Rock the Edge and the Substance Free Coalition of Rock, Nobles, and Pipestone Counties. Call 507-227-1978 with questions.
 
Food distribution is Oct. 20
New Life Celebration Church’s third Thursday monthly food giveaway is at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Atlas building at 101 W. Maple St. in Luverne.
Enter from Maple Street and stay along the west side of the building. Parking lot opens at 3 p.m. Do not block the Redeemed Remnants parking lot, intersection or alley entrance. Food will be loaded into vehicles, which exit via the alley going west. Call 507-283-8963 or 507-283-4366 with questions.
 
Library hosts ‘Zombie Appreciation Day’
The Rock County Library will host Zombie Appreciation Day Friday, Oct. 21, with a zombie scavenger hunt and zombie costume contest.
The event starts at 10 a.m. with a zombie story time, followed by come-and-go zombie activities from 2 to 4 p.m. These include spooky cookie decorating, Frankentoy crafts and zombie trivia.
Call 507-449-5040 with questions, or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
 
Shoebox collection begins Oct. 20
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox collection week is Nov. 14-21. Boxes can be ordered online at samaritanpurse.org. Boxes may also be picked up at the American Reformed Church in Luverne (south door) beginning Thursday, Oct. 20, and dropped back to the church during collection week.
Call Edna Buys, 507-227-7169 or Charla Sandbulte, 507-227-1722, for more information.
 
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is now open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
 
SHARE releases distribution date
Those wishing to receive groceries, clothing and toys from the Rock County SHARE program must apply by Wednesday, Nov. 23.
SHARE will distribute the gifts to Rock County residents in need from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Luverne National Guard Armory on South Freeman Avenue. 
Note: SHARE is NOT accepting donations of used items at this time. To support the program, mail financial gifts to SHARE, PO Box 792, Luverne, MN 56156.
For information, contact Amy at 507-227-6944 or Monica at 507-820-1100.
 
UMC community free meal Oct. 26
The United Methodist Church will host its Wednesday night free community meal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26. A pick-up option is available by calling 507-283-4529.
 
Fall servant event Oct. 23
St. John’s and Zion Lutheran church women in Rock County will participate in the Oct. 29 LWML Fall Servant event, "Sharing Your Food with the Hungry," at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Marshall. Attendees will support the Marshall Food for Kids program and Birth Right, with donated diapers (size newborn, 1 and 2) and wipes and new or gently used, blankets, onesies, swaddlers and sleepers. To carpool, contact Linda Wenzel, 507-220-8194.
 
Halloween announcements
Luverne’s annual Trunk ‘n Treat event will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, in the Luverne Elementary School Parking lot. (It’s moved off Main Street this year because of the detour route from Highway 75 construction.)
Good Samaritan Society- Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home will be open for Trick or Treating from 3:30 to 5:30 Monday, Oct. 31, for Halloween.
Generations will celebrate Halloween during its 11:30 a.m. meal with sing-a-long music and dancing with Bruce Dysthe until 1 p.m. Reserve a meal several days in advance by leaving a message at 507-283-9846.
Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne will not host trick-or-treating this year, due to covid precautions.
 
Gospel Jubilee Oct. 30
The American Reformed Church in Luverne will host a Gospel Jubilee with the Klassens from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, with refreshments to follow the concert.
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Students (grades 4-6) will follow along with the instructor step by step to create a painting at Paint & Snack class on Oct. 24. Fee is $33.
Men’s Basketball meets on Wednesday nights November through February starting Nov. 2. Register by Oct. 26. Fee is $35 for the 4 months.
Learn how to rescue and repair your wardrobe at the Basics of Mending on Oct. 29 at The Sewing Basket. Fee is $15 plus cost of supplies purchased at the store.
 
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Story Time with Bronwyn is Fridays from now through. Dec. 2. The event starts at 10 a.m.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
 
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets Tuesdays
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. There will be StoryHour Bible stories and playtime for ages 3 to kindergarten, and a nursery is available. It’s free for all faiths and no prior Bible knowledge is necessary. Call Kristi Stroeh at 507-227-5102 or email atkristi.stroeh@hotmail.com
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.

Four people are seeking election to two open seats on the Beaver Creek City 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.
Mayor Josh Teune is running unopposed for re-election.
The Star Herald reached out to the candidates for information about themselves, why they’re seeking election to the council, and what they see as important for Beaver Creek.
Following are their responses.
Heidi Freese
How long have you lived in the community, what do you do for a living and who are your family members?
I have lived in Beaver Creek for two years. Our children are grown and my family now consists of me, my husband and my mother-in-law. I teach eighth-grade language arts at George McGovern Middle School in Sioux Falls.  
 
Why are you seeking election to the Beaver Creek City Council?
I absolutely love Beaver Creek.  Moving here was the best decision we've made. Because of this, I want to do whatever I can to help the community. I want to make sure that Beaver Creek continues to be the safest, best environment for everyone to live in. 
 
What would be your strengths as a city leader? 
I have been in the education field for 29 years. I make decisions constantly at my job that affect many people. Those decisions are made for the well-being of others. I also have to deal with difficult situations regularly. I believe this is a strength. I think another strength is my age. I'm at a point in my life where I can devote time to the community. Our children are grown, so this gives me more time to give back to my town.  
 
What do you see as the primary challenges facing the community? 
As our town grows, I feel like it’s important to manage that growth. As an educator, I see how important it is to have the facilities needed to educate our students.
Anytime growth happens, there are challenges that go along with it. What I have experienced in Beaver Creek is that the community works hard to make it a great place to live and thrive. I hope to be part of that continued practice.   
Joe Conger
How long have you lived in the community, what do you do for a living and who are your family members?
I have lived in Beaver Creek all of my life.   I own and operate a small trucking company based in Beaver Creek. Mandy is my wife, and we have three kids, Austin Cameron and Kaitlin.
 
Why are you seeking election to the Beaver Creek City Council?
To serve and help improve our community. 
 
What would be your strengths as a city leader? 
The experience I have along with the ability to lead. 
 
What do you see as the primary challenges facing the community? 
Beaver Creek is a great town. There is a lot potential for growth. We need to help the town grow.    
Jacob Conger
How long have you lived in the community, what do you do for a living, and who are your family?
I grew up in Beaver Creek and have lived here my whole life other than while I was gone serving in the military. I run my own mobile mechanic business based out of Beaver Creek. My wife, Madison Conger, and I are expecting our first child around the beginning of the year.
 
Why are you seeking election to the Beaver Creek City Council?
I grew up in this community and it is my home. When I started my business, the people of this community played a big role in supporting me.
When I was homesick on my first deployment, the people of this community sent care packages and letters and even went as far as driving around and taking pictures of the town to make me feel closer to home.
The people of Beaver Creek have given me so much over the years, and I want to give back.
 
What would be your strengths as a city leader?
My strength as a city leader would be helping make responsible decisions for the city. And by helping make decisions to maintain and make the most out of the city’s equipment.
 
What do you see as the primary challenges facing the community?
I believe Beaver Creek could grow by population and by helping each other in times of need. 
Madison Conger
How long have you lived in the community, what do you do for a living and who are your family?
I moved to Beaver Creek in 2018 from California with my now husband Jacob Conger. I run customer experience for a company in Sioux Falls that builds and maintains water towers. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in January 2023 and we couldn’t be more excited.
 
Why are you seeking election to the Beaver Creek City Council?
Since moving here I have always wanted to be a part of the community. I know it’s a little unconventional to run with your significant other, but with a little one on the way, we want to provide the best community for him and the children of Beaver Creek’s future.
 
What would be your strengths as a city leader?
In my current job, I am known as the voice of the customer. I play the middle man between my company and city officials all over the United States. I believe I could apply that to my position on the council and be a voice for the community.
 
What do you see as the primary challenges facing the community?
I would love to see more opportunities for Beaver Creek to grow, whether it be by population or town events. I love our small town and I want what’s best for it.

Two seats are up for election Nov. 8 on the Hills City Council.
Incumbents Alan Leenderts and Vickie Busswitz filed for re-election to the four-year seats. They are challenged by Brian Kraayenhof, Cory Metzger and Dusty Seachris.
The Star Herald recently sent questionnaires to the candidates asking two questions:
1.) Why did you run for or seek re-election to a position on the Hills City Council?
2.) List experiences that will be helpful in fulfilling the position’s duties.
3.) What do you think are the primary challenges facing your community and how will you lead your city through these challenges?
Following are their responses, which have been edited for spelling and grammar:
 
Vickie Busswitz
Busswitz is seeking re-election to the Hills City Council. She and her husband, Cory, have lived in Hills for 17 years. The couple has two sons who attend Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School.
1. I am seeking re-election on the city council because I am passionate about keeping our smalltown values, along with utilizing Hills’ other assets of our high quality school system, Hills Rez Park, city park and ball fields, and a sense of pride in our town.
2. I am the current president of the Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary PTO and previous secretary. I am also a member of the Luverne Area Community Foundation — Hills Grant Fund and have been on the city council since 2018.
3. I feel our current challenges are child care and housing. We need additional child care to keep young families staying in our community as well as bringing new families into Hills. There is work happening, but more will need to be done at all younger age levels. Limited housing opportunities cause us to be overlooked. Homeownership has shown to strengthen communities, foster civic pride and help to enable a stable living environment. To enhance growth here in town, we need to invest public and private funds into existing homes and land to provide quality homes for all generations.
 
Alan Leenderts
Leenderts is seeking re-election to the Hills City Council, a position he’s held for 16 years. Leenderts has lived in Hills for 45 years. He and his wife, Bonnie, have three grown children and six grandchildren.
1. I am seeking re-election to the Hills City Council to maintain our low tax base and still maintain the service the city of Hills needs to provide. I would also like to follow through with several projects the city is currently involved in: The day care facility in which we are giving three individuals the opportunity to start their own business — day care has become a need in town — and be involved in the process of maintaining our aging infrastructure.
2. I have been a small business owner for 30 years and involved in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church as trustee, vice president and soon to start my second term as president of our congregation.
3. Challenges include keeping taxes affordable with the rising cost of services — every year the cost of police protection was a big increase we are dealing with. We need to find a way to recruit business to Main Street — bring a convenience store to town.
All of these challenges are going to be made easier if we can increase our tax base, which is done by adding business and housing. It is always an ongoing discussion on how to do this. We started this year by providing an opportunity on Main Street with the day care facility.
Infrastructure is budgeted every year and will continue if I am re-elected. Hills is basically land-locked for huge expansion projects, but we will continue to investigate opportunities that come our way. If I am re-elected, I will continue to serve the city to the best of my abilities.
 
Brian Kraayenhof
Kraayenhof is challenging for one of two seats up for election on the Hills City Council. He has lived in Hills for 20-plus years. He is married to Darla (Haak), who was born and raised in Hills.
1. The reasons why I am running for city council is because there is a need to let the residents know what the city council discusses at their meetings. Since the loss of the Hills Crescent, public knowledge of what is discussed is not easily accessible. I would like to get the information out to the public as it should be.
I would also like to see if there is a way to improve not only the first impression of Hills but to clean up some of the run-down properties, look at options to improve the Rez and the city park so people will use it and enjoy them more. I would also like to attract a store to carry convenience items because during the day, after school, and after events there is no place in town for the public to go. I would listen to the public and welcome their input on matters that Hills faces.
2. I am a retired member of the Hills Fire Department, worked as a new construction plumber and is currently the maintenance supervisor at the Tuff Memorial Home for the past six years. I have also served on his church’s consistory for nine years.
3. The toughest challenges will be to improve and keep Hills a good community that people will be proud to live in.
 
Dusty Seachris
Seachris is challenging for one of two seats available on the Hills City Council. He and his wife, Missy, have an 8-year-old son, Remington, and a 4-year-old daughter, Talia. Both Seachris and Missy are graduates of Hills-Beaver Creek High School. He grew up in Beaver Creek and has lived in Hills since 2003, with a few years in Luverne in between.
1. I have decided to run for city council because I believe the people of the community are in need of more outdoor recreation opportunities for the youth and adults as well.
2. Being an avid outdoorsman, I have vast knowledge of the outdoor activities in our area and many ideas to make them more accessible and enjoyable for our community. I have a lot of support from members of the community to make plans to improve both the city park and the Rez park to allow both young kids and adults more opportunities to utilize the resources we already have.
3. Hills has many assets that attract people from around the area to come and visit. I believe we can use that and build on it as well to make it even better. Many of the families in Hills have great ideas for what can be done by our city officials, and I would be honored to be able to talk to everyone, get their ideas, and be part of making good things happen!
 
Cory Metzger
Metzger is running for one of two seats up for election on the Hills City Council. Metzger grew up on the farm three miles southwest of Hills and have lived in town for three years. He and his wife, Ashley, have a 7-year-old daughter, Chloe.
1. I am running for council because my wife and I see ourselves growing old in Hills, and I am a prideful person and take pride in our town and want to be a part of taking care of it and helping it grow. The more I observe Hills, the more I notice it is far from the town I remember as a kid, fewer businesses, houses and yards not being taken care of very well. That inspired me to try and help make some changes.
2. My former military experience and my current career have made me an open-minded person who loves hearing ideas and taking suggestions. I feel I am a people’s person who is very approachable. I also like to do my research when it comes to anything. I feel not being too proud to ask for help or even reach out to other towns for advice or suggestions is a key for any council member.
3. Some of the larger challenges facing our city I feel are how and where do we grow? How do we attract businesses and good, blue-collar families to move to Hills? How do we inspire the citizens of Hills to take more pride in their houses, yards and in the town? I have no answers on how I would go about addressing these challenges at this very moment as I would need to be on the council, get the lay of the land, see if these issues are already something they are looking into or not, and what I need to do to get the ball rolling. However, these are the things on the top of my personal list and would be my top priorities.
Hills is a great place to live. We have a great community of caring people for the most part that come together when needed. We need to keep that going and even take it further. We need people to buy into our community and to be on the fire department, other committees and groups that are for Hills not because they have to but because they want to, because they care. Like the old saying goes, “It takes a village.”
I want the best for this town and its people and would do everything I can to help. Serving on the city council just might be the best place to start.

We at the Star Herald take seriously our role in educating voters as they navigate their options for the Nov. 8 General Election.
In the Luverne School District, voters will choose school board members from a crowded ballot of 18 candidates, and residents in Ward 2 of the City of Luverne will choose one of two candidates seeking to represent them on the Luverne City Council.
Voters in the cities of Hills and Beaver Creek will also decide contested races on their respective city councils, and all Rock County voters will have choices for state and federal elected officials.
The Star Herald has been following these races, questioning the candidates on pertinent matters, and recording their answers in print and in videos.
All but one of the 18 school board candidates were video recorded in late September and shared on our website.
This week we feature candidates for the Hills and Beaver Creek city races in the paper.
Last week we featured candidates in Luverne’s Ward 2 race and in our district of Minnesota’s House of Representatives in the paper, and the four of them will also participate in Thursday afternoon’s candidate forum in Luverne City Hall, livestreamed on the city’s LuvTV at www.cityofluverne.org/luvtv.
It takes effort for our little news team to chase down candidates in contested races and get their information to readers, but it’s important work.
And we hope our readers are paying attention, because voting is important work.
To review what you may have missed so far, click on the elections link on the Star Herald’s home page, www.star-herald.com for additional links to candidate questionnaire responses and 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 Treasurer’s Office can be reached at 507-283-5060 or ashley.kurtz@co.rock.mn.us.

I volunteer at Redeemed Remnants and you should, too.
Redeemed Remnants is a thrift store ministry of ATLAS of Rock County. It’s located a block south of Main Street in the former Luverne Kawasaki building.
I think volunteering to work the store’s back door is the most fun because opening each donation box is like opening a Christmas surprise. “What’s in this box?”
Cars, vans, pickups – even  trailers pull up to the drop-off door bringing everything from lamps, to shoes, to boxes of ornaments, to used undies, to plates, to dog dishes, to tablecloths and everything else.
One twenty-something young man observed, “I’ve never met people so happy to take all of your crap.” The same young man entered the front door and said, “Wow, nice store!”
That’s what the volunteers and staff at Redeemed Remnants do – they turn “your crap” (which it is not, by the way) into the stuff for sale in “a nice store.”
Half the fun of unpacking donations is playing the game I call “What do you think this might be?”
Last week I learned that what I thought was the world’s largest garlic press was actually a potato ricer used to make lefse. (Who knew?)
Sometimes staff and volunteers try to guess the exact number of cut glass pickle dishes that still remain to be donated in Rock County. (Current guess: thousands.)
We laugh ourselves to tears collecting white elephant gifts for the upcoming staff Christmas party.
“Perhaps the scarecrow made from a mop head would suit her? No? Then how about the green Santa bear? The Lawrence Welk album set? The deer-drinking-from-a-stream tapestry?”
Of course the list of “really good” things for sale at Redeemed Remnants is too long to cover. We (sometimes) have new Vans shoes, lovely home decor, Luverne Cardinal clothing, winter hats and coats and boots, jewelry, crafts, linens, books … it’s endless.
But the “stuff” at Redeemed Remnants is actually not that important compared to the camaraderie shared by staff and volunteers.
If you’re looking for a fun way to get out of the house a few hours a week, and you like coffee and homemade bars, try out volunteering at Redeemed Remnants.
You might be surprised by what’s in the next box.

The topic of a recent office conversation was the new Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the new Apple Watch.
Personally, I am not a fan of the Apple Watch and all its bells and whistles.
Have you seen the latest Apple Watch commercial on television? You know someone is wearing an Apple Watch because they more than likely told you how many steps they have taken on any given day.
I don’t need a watch to tell me if I have taken a lot of steps in a day. My feet generally let me know that.
If counting one’s steps wasn’t enough, now the newest Apple Watch can tell you the length of your stride. Really? Why?
The commercial also tells you when you’re doing your daily laps in the swimming pool and whether you’re doing the front stroke or the back stroke. If you don’t know if you are swimming on the stomach or your back without a watch telling you, should you really be in the pool?
Finally, the new Apple Watch can track your temperature while you’re sleeping so it can estimate when you will be ovulating.
The one thing the commercial never mentioned that the watch can do is to do what a watch does … and that is, tell you the time.
The new Apple iPhone pro Max goes for about $1,400. However, depending on which streaming channels or cable stations or social media outlet you follow, I have heard and seen offers for $800 all the way down to free. Keep in mind, free doesn’t always mean free.
Much like the Apple Watch commercials, they are designed to promote all the features it has like really fancy camera, streaming and texting feature, and the fact that you can watch your favorite sporting event or movie, or catch up on the TV show “Yellowstone.”
It may come as a surprise to some of you, but you can actually make a phone call on your cell phone.

Niessink: Psalm 139 is still relevant for today's world
To the Editor:
God inspired David to write these words in Psalm 139:13-16:
“You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
“When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Even though David wrote Psalm 139 many years ago, the entire Psalm is still relevant for today’s world.
Corinne Niessink,
Luverne