Open day of 2022 pheasant hunting season was Oct. 15. I hosted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in Worthington that weekend. It was quite an event. There were media outlets of all kinds in town for the event. Many of those hunted on the public lands of southwest Minnesota.
Finding a good hunting spot on opening weekend is not possible. The weather is usually pretty good, and this weekend probably brings the most hunters to the field of any day of the regular season. Getting to a spot at 6 a.m. does not eliminate the risk that some other less respectful hunter won’t show up 10 minutes before legal shooting time and walk all over your plans.
After the opening weekend circus, this gets a little better, and I do have a few pointers as to how to pick a top spot when things are still pretty competitive.
The first one is to completely forget the Minnesota DNR’s pheasant density map. This is compiled from roadside counts done in the first two weeks of August and is a relatively good indicator of where pheasant populations would be the highest. The problem with this is that every other hunter in the state will be using that same map.
I would have no hesitation to hunt in areas of the state that show lower pheasant populations. Few pheasants might also mean far fewer hunters to compete with. I would rather hunt a spot with five birds on it and be the only one than to hunt on a spot that might have 20 birds on it and have four other guns chasing them as you would be doing.
I did the routes in Nobles County and they showed very poor populations, but my personal investigation and scouting indicate a very different picture. Consider areas less populated and enjoy your hunt with less interruption from other hunters.
My second recommendation is to hunt areas that are called Waterfowl Production areas managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service instead of Wildlife Management areas managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  Federal properties require non-toxic shot and there will always be that section of hunters who think non-toxic shot does not kill birds as well. This was certainly the case 20 years ago, but modern-day non-toxic shot alternatives are deadly pheasant killers these days.
These areas just plainly and simply don’t get as much hunting pressure as the areas that allow lead shot. Depending on where you are located in the state matters, but these areas are available pretty much in every county.
Hunt as far from a hard-surfaced road as you possibly can. I have people call me all the time when they are in my area asking me where they should go. Many of them won’t drive their wife’s SUV on a gravel road. Sounds silly but it is so true and happens far more often than you might think. Add in a little rain and the thought of two hours in the car wash when they get home is a thought provoker for many.
Hunt smaller spots. Other hunters want to go where they can park the car or truck and not have to move it for the rest of the day.  They pick out the largest hunting areas and concentrate on those.  Hunting smaller spots will very likely lead you to birds that have not yet seen a hunter that day.
My last tip – and the one most less successful hunters have the hardest time with – is to hunt for 90 minutes at the opening bell and then rest your legs and the dogs until the last hour of the day. Hunters will take off at the 9 a.m. opening bell and by 1:30 p.m. their energy and the dogs’ energies are completely spent. The roosters will have spent their day in a cornfield hiding from hunters and gathering up their supper and will head back to cover after all of the hunters have left.
I have sat on my tailgate and watched hunters pound a spot with no luck and after they have left, I will continue to sit there until the last 45 minutes. During that time I see roosters returning, and I watch where they settle in. Many times, in about 20 minutes I can do better than the ground pounders did all day.
Save your legs and your dog’s energies and hunt after everyone else has left. You can then be the hunters with game pictures to post instead of an empty vest and 20 empty water bottles.
 
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com. or on Twitter @habitat champion.

The H-BC volleyball team traveled to Fulda Tuesday night, Oct. 11, to play Heron Lake Okabena Fulda and hosted Adrian/Ellsworth Monday night for a Seniors Night game.
The Patriots lost both games 3-0, bringing their record to 0-8. They were scheduled to meet the Cardinals in Luverne Tuesday, Oct. 18, to wrap up their regular season play.
 
HLOF 3, H-BC 0
HLOF took an early lead in the first set and maintained that lead to win 25-9.
Layla Deelstra had the first point of the night with a tip over the net to an open spot in the front. Bailey Spykerboer had a good night serving and tallied several points with three aces.
She started the second set with an ace serve and Lanae Elbers had a couple of passes to Spykerboer, who set Deelstra and Larissa Steinhoff for kills to stay close 6-5.
Brynn Rauk, who is back from an injury, set Elbers up for a tip over the net to an open spot in the front row. Grace Anderson added an ace serve to narrow the point spread to 12-9.
HLOF had several hits out-of-bounds but extended their lead 21-15. Taylor Huisman added a kill before the set ended 25-16.
HLOF started the third set strong with a 7-0 lead before Anderson passed to Spykerboer to set Steinhoff up for a kill. Spykerboer added two ace serves for a score of 7-3.
H-BC fought back with the help of a block by Elbers to move the score to 10-8. Steinhoff and Deelstra both added kills, but HLOF would go on to win 25-17.
Anderson was 5 of 6 serving with two aces and had eight digs. Deelstra delivered four kills and one block and went 7 of 7 at the service line. Elbers had four kills, two blocks and three digs and was3 of 4 serving.
Elly Klosterboer was 5 of 5 serving and had three digs, Larissa Steinhoff had five kills and one block, and Spykerboer was 8 of 9 serving with three aces and contributed eight set assists and one dig.
 
A/E 3, H-BC 0
The H-BC volleyball team recognized their six seniors on Senior Night and were hoping to come out with a victory, but they fell short to Adrian/Ellsworth Monday night. 
The game scores were 15-25, 15-25, 17-25
The game started out hopeful for the Patriots with Layla Deelstra registering the first kill and Bailey Spykerboer serving two aces to put the score at 4-1.
A pass from Grace Anderson to Spykerboer to set up Larissa Steinhoff for a kill kept the lead at 8-3.
Lanae Elbers tallied a kill to make it 11-7 before A/E started to close the gap.
A nice back row set from Anderson to Deelstra for the kill made it 12-11. Both Steinhoff and Deelstra added tips to open spots in the front row before A/E went on a serving streak to end the first set 15-25.
Elbers registered a couple of kills in the second set along with an ace serve, but A/E started out with an early lead 9-20. Deelstra was able to score off a push to an open spot in the back row and Steinhoff added a block, but A/E finished the set with the same score 15-25.
A/E started the third set with a five-point lead before Spykerboer set up Deelstra for a kill to give H-BC a point.
A/E had several hits that went out of bounds and some net serves that allowed the Patriots to stay close. Elbers added a kill with a 12-16 score. Steinhoff and Taylor Huisman each tallied a kill before the set ended 17-25.
Bailey Spykerboer had 13 set assists and five digs and was 4 of 6 serving with two aces.
Olivia Bork was 5 of 5 serving with one ace and had six digs.
Lanae Elbers was 6 of 6 serving and had four kills, eight digs and two blocks.
Larissa Steinhoff added three kills and two blocks.
Layla Deelstra had four kills and was 8 of 8 serving with one ace.

The Luverne Cardinals football team fell to the Fairmont Cardinals Thursday night in Fairmont where the hosts took a 7-6 lead into halftime and outscored Luverne 21-0 in the second half to earn a 28-6 victory. 
With the loss, Luverne moves to 4-3 on the season.
The story of the game for Luverne was turnovers, as the Cardinals committed five turnovers throughout the evening. 
Luverne was able to outgain Fairmont by 58 yards of total offense, but ultimately the turnovers were too hard to overcome.  
“Second-half turnovers led to short fields for Fairmont and too many scoring opportunities,” said Luverne football coach Todd Oye after the game.
“The first half our kids played very well. We were able to get a lead, but our late turnover gave Fairmont a touchdown to end the half.”
Both defenses looked strong to start the game as neither team was able to score until late in the first half. 
Luverne was able to start the scoring with a 68-yard scoring drive after receiving the ball at the 32-yard line with 3:51 left in the first half. Carter Sehr completed back-to-back passes to Conner Connell to move the ball into Fairmont territory.
The Cardinals then executed their longest play of the night when Sehr found senior receiver Gannon Ahrendt streaking past the Fairmont defense for a 48-yard touchdown reception. Luverne missed the extra point attempt, and the score was 6-0 with 1:13 remaining in the second quarter. 
The Cardinals looked to keep the momentum going when the ensuing kickoff was fumbled by Fairmont and picked up by Luverne at the Fairmont 16-yard line. 
Unfortunately for Luverne, Fairmont gained all the momentum back on the very next play as the Fairmont defense was able to knock the ball away from Sehr.
The ball was recovered by Fairmont’s Parker Mathiason, and he was able to run 84 yards into the Luverne end zone. Fairmont’s extra point kick was good, giving Fairmont a 7-6 lead with 53 seconds left in the second quarter. 
Luverne was not able to advance the ball, and Fairmont took the 7-6 lead into halftime.  
Luverne kept the turnover theme going as they fumbled the first offensive play of the second half, giving the ball right back to Fairmont. 
Fairmont players once again capitalized on the Luverne mistake as they put together a 49-yard scoring drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown run from Fairmont quarterback Brendan Schmidtke. After a successful point after kick, Fairmont had a 14-6 lead with 4:48 left in the third quarter. 
The LHS offense moved the ball in its next scoring drive and was able to get inside the Fairmont red zone after a 29-yard run from senior running back Kaleb Hein.
However, the Cardinals committed yet another turnover as Sehr’s pass was intercepted by a Fairmont defender who returned the ball to the Luverne 46-yard line. 
Fairmont took advantage of the Luverne turnover and scored five plays later, this time on a 14-yard touchdown reception from wide receiver David Maakestad. Fairmont’s extra point kick was good, and the host Cardinals held a 21-6 lead with just three seconds remaining in the third quarter. 
Maakestad gave Fairmont its last touchdown of the night, but this time he did it on defense, intercepting Sehr’s fourth down pass on the next Luverne possession and returning it 73 yards into the Luverne end zone.
After another successful extra point, Fairmont held a 28-6 lead with 7:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Neither team was able to score the remainder of the game as Fairmont took the 28-6 victory over Luverne. 
Luverne will now turn its attention to a 6-1 Waseca team that is undefeated in section play.
“Waseca will be the No. 1 seed in our section, so this will be a great opportunity to see where we are at headed into the playoffs,” said coach Oye. 
Luverne will host Waseca on Wednesday night at Cardinal field. Game time is 7 p.m.
 
Team statistics:
Luverne: 94 rushing yards, 129 passing yards, 223 total yards, 13 first downs, 5 penalties for 40 yards, 5 turnovers.
 
Fairmont: 123 rushing yards, 42 passing yards, 165 total yards, 14 first downs, 4 penalties for 45 yards, 1 turnover.
 
Individual statistics:
Rushing: Kaleb Hein 6-42, DJ Rock 3-35, Tyson Cowell 6-28
Passing: Carter Sehr 6-13, 96 yards (1 TD), Conner Connell 6-11, 33 yards
Receiving: Gannon Ahrendt 2-52 (1 TD), Conner Connell 4-48, Gavin DeBeer 1-22
Defense: Anyuon Atem 8 tackles, Conner Connell 4 tackles, Tyson Cowell 4 tackles, Gavin DeBeer 3.5 tackles, Elijah Woodley 3.5 tackles, Kaleb Hein 3 tackles

The Duff Dog Backyard Ultra attracted 17 athletes to the Blue Mounds State Park Saturday, Oct. 15.
Last year Luverne’s David Duffy hosted his first “ultra” running event that challenges athletes to complete 100 miles in one day.
There were seven participants in the 2021 event, so Duffy said he was pleased with the number of registered competitors. 
“The talent we have this year is incredible. First, we have Tim Fryer and Eva Gut back from last year’s final two runners,” Duffy said. “If you remember, Tim outlasted Eva by completing 18 loops to Eva’s 17.”
He said in this year’s field there were several runners who had a chance to get to the 24-hour mark for 100 miles.  
As it turned out, the longest holdouts in the 2022 event were Gut, 39, of Sioux Falls, and Fryer, 43, of Hendricks.
“Tim finished first, and the first thing he said to us was, ‘She’s gonna make it,’ and sure enough, a few minutes later here comes Eva,” Duffy said.
“She had a great day, with six hours more than last year and 3 yards farther than her goal this weekend. Way to go, Eva.”
After 23 hours (95.8 miles) Eva called it a day, remarking that she was glad she was able to “assist her good friend, Tim, on his journey to 100 miles.”
Mike Siebersma, 44, Arlington, South Dakota, ran for 20 hours and 83.3 miles, and 52-year-old Lance Smith of Sioux Falls ran 19 hours and 79.1 miles.
Complete results can be found on Duffy’s Facebook page under “Duff Dog Backyard Ultra.”
The backyard ultra is a form of ultramarathon race where competitors must consecutively run the distance of 6,706 meters (4.167 miles) in less than one hour.
When each lap is completed, the remaining time within the hour is typically used to recover for the next hour’s race.
The competition is for anyone to join and challenge themselves by running one hour, two hours or more.
Key milestones are Hour 6 at 25 miles, Hour 7 where runners surpass the marathon mark in mileage, Hour 12 when they hit 50 miles, Hour 18 at 75 miles and Hour 24, which is the 100-mile mark.
Duffy provided hourly updates on the runners through his Facebook page.

Many products in our world today change all the time. For example, cell phone companies often will exchange your favorite model for the new one.
Other products, though, never change. Coca-Cola has not changed their formula in over 100 years. They attempted to change it in the 1980s, but it was an utter failure. Customers were angry that the company had changed the flavor of their most precious soft drink.
In some ways, God’s Word is like Coca-Cola, or some other long-standing favorite item. “You cannot mess with perfection.” God’s Word is perfect in every way because it is given to us by a perfect, holy God.
And yet there are many times and places where we would like to change his Word. We would like it to say something different. Maybe it just seems too old-fashioned and we’re tempted to think it no longer applies to the 21st century. Maybe we would like it to say something different about marriage or sexuality. Maybe we do not like what it has to say about creation or right-to-life issues.
The problem is, if we change God’s Word, it is no longer God’s Word. It becomes our own word.
In Numbers 23:19, God says this: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he changes his mind. Does he say something, and then not carry it out? Does he speak, and then not bring it about?”
God does not change his mind, nor does he change his Word or his Law. That might terrify us. What God said over three thousand years ago concerning his moral law still applies to us even today!
But there is also comfort in the fact that God’s Word does not change. In Hebrews 13:8 it says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Yes, God’s Law does not change, but thankfully neither does his Gospel. Jesus Christ still forgives sins. He forgives all who come to him, repenting, turning to him in faith. He eagerly offers full and free forgiveness. Now and always.
And that reminds me of a story. … One day, before leaving for work, a father asked his son to mow the lawn. After dad left, the son thought to himself, “I’m not going to mow the lawn. I’m going to play baseball and have fun!” So he headed into the backyard with his bat and ball. After a few swings and misses, the boy smacked a hard line drive that broke the kitchen window! Then he fell on his knees in tears, wondering what he was going to do. His dad had told him to mow the lawn, and now the window was broken. The next-door neighbor saw all of this and felt pity for him. He came and asked what was wrong, and the boy told him the entire story. The neighbor had compassion on the boy and offered to help him replace the window. However, even after the window was fixed, do you think that boy’s father would be happy with him? No. The son had not done what his dad had asked: mowing the lawn. Thankfully, the neighbor helped with that too. He quickly took care of it with his riding lawn-mower just before the dad got home from work.
This story illustrates what Christ has done for us. Jesus paid for what we have broken. He did that on the cross for us. He paid the punishment and price for our sins by shedding his holy blood. In addition to this, he has also fulfilled what God required of every one of us: to follow his commandments perfectly, to love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “For just as through the disobedience of one man the many became sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will become righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
Because of Jesus’ perfect obedience throughout his life and because He gave up his life on the cross, you and I are now made right with God. What a precious, loving Savior we have! And what comfort to know that his Word does not change. 
(Adapted from Good News for You! 2020)

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, Oct. 20: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Worship service. NO Sunday School or Confirmation due to MEA break. 5 p.m. Hayride and pumpkin decorating contest for MS students. 7 p.m. Hayride and pumpkin decorating contest for HS students. Tuesday, Oct. 25: 8: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Oct. 26: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. 6:15 p.m. 6th Grade confirmation class. 6:30 p.m. Voices of Grace rehearsal. 7:30 p.m. 7th Grade confirmation class. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online worship: Sundays 9 a.m. at www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab; or Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Thursday, Oct. 20: 9 a.m. Cookie Crew. Friday, Oct. 21: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, Oct 23: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. 10:50 a.m. Sunday School. Tuesday, Oct. 25: 12 p.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Oct. 26: 5:30 p.m. Midweek Meal. 6:30 p.m. Pioneer Clubs and Youth Groups. 8:15 p.m. Cantana rehearsal. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church
1075 110th Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-9070; email: info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor
Come as you are—Sundays @ 10 a.m.: Main Service. Kids church age 3-6th grade—Nursery. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Midweek Service—Kids age 3-6th grade.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Thursday, Oct. 20: 7 p.m. New AA group. Saturday, Oct. 22: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Adult Sunday school; FUEL. 9:45 a.m. coffee hour. 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible Study. Monday, Oct. 24: 6:30 p.m. 2nd Genesis to Revelation Bible Study. Tuesday, Oct. 18: 10 a.m. Shut-in visits. 6:30 p.m. PPR meeting. Wednesday, Oct. 19: 6:15 p.m. FUEL and Confirmation. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, Oct. 20: 7 p.m. New AA group. Live streamed on Facebook and radio.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net
Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:15 a.m. Worship service. Youth Sunday school during worship service. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Thursday, Oct. 20: NO Little Lambs - MEA. Saturday, Oct. 22: 5:30 p.m. Worship Service. Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School; Adult Bible Study. 11:15 a.m. Junior Choir. Monday, Oct. 24: 1 p.m. Quilters meet. 3 p.m. Youth Night at Pizza Ranch. Wednesday, Oct. 26: 9:30 a.m. Bible Study. 10:30 a.m. Little Lambs Chapel. 1 p.m. Little Lambs Chapel. 6:30 p.m. Catechesis Class. Kids for Christ. 7 p.m. Senior choir. 7:30 p.m. Youth Group. Thursday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m. RCMA at St. John. 9 a.m. Little Lambs Chapel. 10:30 a.m. SD DCE Cluster meeting. 1:30 p.m. Chapel-Mary Jane Brown. 2:30 p.m. Chapel-Poplar Creek. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Josh Hayden, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662 – firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 23: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Worship service at First Lutheran. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @FirstLutheranValley Springs; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Wednesday, Oct. 25: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation for ALL 7th and 8th graders. We will meet at First Lutheran.   
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — palisadechurch@alliancecom.net
www.palisadelutheran.org
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Worship at Palisade Lutheran. 10 a.m. Sunday School. We Are ONLINE! Facebook: @PalisadeLC; YouTube: FirstPalisadeLutheranParish. Wednesday, Oct. 25: 9 a.m. Quilters meet at Palisade Lutheran Church. 6:30 p.m. Confirmation for ALL 7th and 8th graders. We will meet at First Lutheran. Thursday, Oct. 20: 1:30 p.m. WELCA meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270 / bethlehemofhills@gmail.com
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sunday, Oct. 23: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship Service. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

Rock County Commissioners meet Sept. 6
Herreid Board Room          9:00 A.M.
Rock County Courthouse Sept. 6, 2022
The meeting was called to order by the Chair with Commissioners Overgaard, Thompson, Burger and Williamson present. Also in attendance were Administrator
Kyle Oldre, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich and Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Williamson, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the September 06,
2022, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the August 17, 2022,
County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Calla Jarvie, Rock County Community Library Director requested authorization for out of state travel to attend the Rural and Small Libraries conference in
Chattanooga, Tennessee. She explained the conference would be paid for through a grant from the Association of Rural and Small Libraries providing a $1,500 scholarship to cover travel and lodging costs; the conference is the 14-17 of September. Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Burger to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.  
Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director and Mark Sehr, Highway Engineer, reviewed a Feasibility Study of the Rock County Demolition Landfill.  Three options were presented from the report drafted by engineering firm SEH.
•Option 1. No Expansion- remaining useful life of demolition landfill is
5.6 years in this option assuming the same tonnage annually.
•Option 2. Lateral Expansion – would modify the footprint of the existing
demolition landfill and allow for a 44 year capacity. It is estimated to cost between
$2.5 and $3.5 million to construct and final closure of this design, this option
would also have increase operation cost as leachate would have to be
collected and transported for treatment.
•Option 3. Vertical Expansion of existing demolition landfill- this option would change 
the slope to the existing demolition landfill to allow for a 10 year life expectancy of the 
demolition landfill, cost for this construction is estimated between
$750,000 and $1 million.
After hearing the presentation the County Board directed that the Engineer and LMO Director discuss these options with MPCA and report back.
Hartman requested approval of a service contract with SEH Professional Services to conduct quarterly monitoring and the Transfer Station/Demolition Landfill; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of the claims; motion by Williamson, seconded by Overgaard, to approve, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing the claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 CLAIMS OVER $2,000
A & B BUSINESS INC $2,795.74 
BREMIK MATERIALS, INC           23,103.41 
BROCK WHITE           11,543.64 
CHOSEN VALLEY TESTING, INC               7,230.00 
DODGE OF BURNSVILLE INC           33,737.00 
ERICKSON ENGINEERING               8,913.50 
FIFTH ASSET INC DBA DEBTBOOK               6,500.00 
HEARTLAND GLASS COMPANY               3,826.50 
HERMAN MOTOR CO               4,574.30 
HILDI INC               3,700.00 
JOHNSON CONTROLS           80,759.64 
NOBLES COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER   9,780.00 
PEARSON BROTHERS INC.           45,255.25 
POWERPLAN               4,585.35 
QUADIENT FINANCE USA INC               3,999.37 
W & N CONSTRUCTION INC               2,541.16 
WIDSETH SMITH NOLTING & ASSOC, INC   2,306.00 
77 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000           31,869.64 
     TOTAL               $287,020.50 
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Thompson, to approve the Fund
Balance Report, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of correspondence from MCIT informing them of the 2022 Dividend amount of $42,399; the budgeted amount was $50,000.
The County Board was informed that FEMA has approved Rock County’s
5-year Hazardous Mitigation Plan.
The County Board was informed of a draft document establishing a THC Ordinance. After discussion, the chair appointed Commissioners Thompson and Williamson along with the County Attorney, Sheriff and Administrator to review that draft and bring recommendations back to the board at its next meeting.
The board was informed that the AMC District meeting will be 27 October in
Wabasso.
Commissioner Williamson stated that he attended the following meetings: BRRRA, 
Lineage Logistics tour.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she attended the following meetings: Lineage Logistics tour, ACE and Southwest Health and Human Services.
  Commissioner Overgaard stated that he attended the following
meetings: Road & Bridge tour, City/County Liaison, Extension, LHS Liaison,
AMC and Extension State meeting.
Commissioner Burger stated that he attended the following meetings:
Southwest Health and Human Services and Lineage Logistics.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he attended the following meetings: Southwestern MN Opportunity Council, City/County Liaison, Lineage Logistics.
With no further business to come before the County Board,the
meeting was declared adjourned by order of the chair.
(10-13)

After a two-year hiatus, Bookin’ Buddies returned to Luverne Elementary School Wednesday, Oct. 5.
“We are very excited to have the program back up and running,” said Zoe DeBates, the school’s Child Guide.
“The primary goal of the Bookin’ Buddies program is to foster relationships between all second-grade students at Luverne Elementary and caring adults within Rock County and to teach the children a love of reading.”
Adults and students spend 30 minutes together each Wednesday. The four second-grade classrooms are split, with two classrooms participating in Bookin’ Buddies the first semester of the school year and the other two during the second semester.
During second semester of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic closed in-person instruction and Bookin’ Buddies came to a halt.
The program’s positive influence brought adults and the second-graders back together again last week for the current school year.
Adult volunteer Connie Connell sparked the program’s inception in 2001 after she and a group of citizens finished the Blandin Foundation’s leadership program.
“That made us eager to use our new skills at organization,” she said. “At the time, it wasn’t long-term though.”
Connell returns each year along with 40 to 45 other adult volunteers.
“It’s one of those programs where the time commitment is minimal,” Connell said. “It’s a chance to meet some young people – and know you’ll have your summers off.”
Impacts of the interaction, however, are long-term.
Connell frequently sees her second-grade Bookin’ Buddies (now adults) who also have fond memories of the program.
DeBates was one of those second-graders.
“My buddy’s name was Colleen and I looked forward to seeing her each week,” she said. “It was nice to have someone come to the school who was only there to work with reading and spend one-on-one time with me.”
Now as the school’s Child Guide, DeBates said the program has a more significant impact in her efforts to connect students with activities and family with community resources.
“As a result of the relationship established between youth and caring adults, the children are introduced to a positive role model, learn to love to read more, and have a greater chance at being successful,” DeBates said.