This past weekend I was in line at a concession stand when a guy standing behind me started harassing the woman at the front of the line.
As he did so, he laughed and rhetorically asked, “If you can’t verbally abuse your neighbor, who can you?”
The answer is, “No one.”
Whether it is verbal, physical, sexual or psychological, violence and abuse is never OK.
Now, I understand that the man thought he was being funny and making a joke, but the problem is that abuse is never OK and it is certainly not a joke.
In the last 12 months, the Southwest Crisis Center (SWCC) worked with over 400 individuals who experienced domestic violence.
None of them came to the SWCC laughing that their partner was so funny. Across the state of Minnesota in 2021, at least 26 people were killed from domestic violence.
How does this happen?
How do over 400 people in rural Minnesota find themselves not safe in their own home? How is it that every year Minnesotans are losing friends, family members, sisters, mothers, brothers and fathers to domestic violence?
It is because we laugh – uncomfortably, so maybe we snicker, we stand in silence. We use phrases such as “It’s just a joke,” “Lighten up,” “Don’t take things so seriously,” “Boys will be boys,” and “Don’t let a girl do better than you.”
This year for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, vow not to stand in silence. Question where someone’s sense of entitlement comes from that they think any form of violence against another person is permissible. Lend support and encouragement to someone experiencing violence.
Not sure where or how to start? The Southwest Crisis Center is here to help you. Check us out online at mnswcc.org, on social media, or by calling 1-800-376-4311.
I’m serious.

Carson has been gone for a month.
It’s been one of the hardest parts of grieving his loss — knowing that with each passing day he’s slipping farther into the past.
There will be no new social media posts, no new Christmas card photos with his smiling face among our own, and no new milestones in his life to celebrate.
What we have of Carson’s 21 years is the current sum of all we’ll get.
But we’re blessed to have had him for 21 years.
One of the first things we learn in grief is that we’re not alone. Many others in this “Grieving Parents Club” lost their children as infants or young children.
At least I have more memories to cherish.
In the first four weeks of this journey, I’ve learned some other things.
For one thing, people are good. Very good. And very generous — with their time, talents, gifts, sentiments and prayers.
We continue to receive cards with heartfelt messages of sympathy and encouragement … in handwritten notes in beautiful cards, some of them artfully handmade.
A mountain of cards remains in our home office waiting to be read. My thoughtful husband has opened each note to direct monetary gifts and then returned the messages to their envelopes for a day when I’m ready.
I look forward to reading them all (and properly thanking their senders).
When asked how I’m doing, I say, “People have been so good to us.”
And I say, “God is good.”
And when they ask what they can do for us, I say, “Please keep praying for us.”  Because this is hard.
In grief we learn about the power of prayer.
I felt it during the four-hour funeral wake of marathon hugs and tears. At the end of what should have been an exhausting night, I wasn’t tired. Remarkably.
I described what felt like a pair of angels, one on each side, with wings under my arms for strength and grace.
Which allowed me to connect with each and every dear person in that long line of human sympathizers, young and old. I felt their connection to my Carson, and I was deeply grateful for their presence.
At times I felt like a third-party observer, watching myself and my grieving family and friends among the flowers and tears, wondering when I’d wake from the bad dream. 
They say grief brings clarity, and it’s even more true now than when I buried my parents. Skies seem bluer, sunsets more magnificent, harvest moons more celestial … Stars twinkle with prisms when viewed through tears.
Clarity in loss reminds us that in a blink of God’s eternal plan, we’ll be with our loved ones again.
And we’ll meanwhile hold our earthly loved ones more closely, count our blessings more often, and lean on angels’ wings when needed.

Fick wants comments on controlling weather
To the Editor:
So NASA now has sent machinery into outer space, targeting toward an asteroid, in fact striking it, attempting to send it into a different orbit. Controlled from earth?
Why then can’t they send a rocket into the eye of a developing hurricane over the center of the ocean, igniting an explosive, destroying or lessening its strength before it hits land, causing severe destruction and human loss? Or redirecting it over colder water or even sparsely populated real estate, controlled from earth!
Will some knowledgeable or informed person comment or explain, please.
Let’s not deny rebuilding storm damaged areas. Guess where many of these people would go. Just a thought!
Robert Fick,
Luverne
Wallig: Thanks, Good Samaritans, for stopping, helping wife after fall
To the Editor:
I want to thank the two anonymous Good Samaritans who came to my wife’s aid when she fell at the corner of Crawford and Estey streets. 
We had come to Luverne for theTri-State Band Festival and were walking up to the field competition when shetripped, fell and hit her head hard on the sidewalk.
An EMT and apediatrician who were just passing by stemmed thebleeding and helped when I returned with our car nearby.
The Luverne ER decided she required specialized attention, and she was rushed to the neurological wing of the Sanford USC Medical Center in Sioux Falls. 
After surgery and two weeks of wondering if she  would survive, I can report she is rapidlyimproving but will require weeks of therapy with no guarantee of fullrecovery. 
We meanwhile appreciate her friends and the various faith communities of Luverne who are praying for her. Those prayers give her great comfort.
My wife was born and raised here and has family here. We live in Arizona, and Luverne is our second home.
“Love the Life” is an appropriate motto for a truly magnanimous rural city. Our deepest gratitude to all of you who trulycare.
Mark Wallig
(for Ruth Van Batavia Wallig)Luverne

Dispatch report
 
Sept. 30
•Complainant on Highway 75, Hardwick, reported a driving complaint.
•Extra patrol was requested at the location at 161st Street, Luverne.
•A fire was reported on 486th and 237th, Flandreau, South Dakota.
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported property found.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported a disorderly subject.
•Complainant on Donaldson Street reported parking complaint.
Oct. 1
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street and N. Blue Mound Avenue reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant requested information.
•Complainant on Highway 75, Jasper, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant west-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 5, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on N. Cedar Street reported an open door.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 1, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 14, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on Main Street, Luverne, reported  driving complaint.
 
Oct. 2
•Complainant on W. Warren Street and Sunshine Avenue reported loitering.
•Report of road closure on 41st Street, Hills.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported suspicious activity.
Oct. 3
•Complainant on County Highway 4, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported property damage.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a driving complaint.
•A civil issue was reported on S. East Park Street.
•Complainant on 61st Street, Luverne, reported a fire.
•Complainant on W. Luverne Street reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on Koehn Avenue reported a public assist.
Oct. 4
•Complainant west-bound on Interstate 90, exit 18, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant reported identity theft.
Oct. 5
•Complainant on Veterans Drive reported a runaway.
•Complainant on W. Veterans Drive reported suspicious activity.
Oct. 6
•Complainant reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on W. Interstate Drive reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported parking issue.
Oct. 7
•Complainant west-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker, 18, Luverne, reported assistance from another department.
In addition, officers responded to 6 motor vehicle accidents, 4 deer accidents, 1 funeral escort, 8 ambulance runs, 8 paper services, 11 animal complaints, 6 fingerprint requests, 2 burn permits, 2 background checks, 3 gas drive-offs, 3 alarms, 6 drug court tests, 8 purchase and carry permits, 31 traffic stops, 12 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 1 welfare check, 4 reports of cattle out and 3 follow-ups.

Hills-Beaver Creek School District withdrew its participation in the state’s “Solar On Schools” program in action taken at Monday night’s board meeting.
Board members accepted the recommendation from the board’s building/grounds committee, who met Oct. 6.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus told committee members that an updated analysis on solar production and anticipated utility rates lowered the annual savings to the district. Instead of a possible savings on electric usage, a detailed analysis indicated that the district would lose $18,886 over the next 25 years.
“We thought for education purposes it would still be worth it,” he said.
Under the program, the solar installation would be a part of the school’s curriculum for students to learn about green energy and its impact on the environment.
However, costs to remove the solar arrays from both the elementary and secondary schools for any roof repairs would be the district’s responsibility. Cost to remove the solar arrays from the roofs is estimated at $20,000.
Due to those removal costs, committee members Tim Bosch, Ethan Rozeboom, Chris Harnack and Dalton Bass opted to recommend to the board not to proceed in the program.
Instead, a similar program may be available through Sioux Valley Energy, which has already approached the district about a similar opportunity.
H-BC was preliminarily approved earlier this year for a $66,000 grant through the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The district would own the solar arrays and iDEAL Energies in Minneapolis would operate the arrays and purchase the generated electricity from iDEAL for 20 years.
However, lower-than-expected rates paid by the utilities for the generated electricity eliminated the potential energy savings to the district.

The First Presbyterian Church in Luverne is supporting Ukrainian people affected by the war during a mission service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23.
During that service Yakov Daniko, a Ukrainian pastor from Sioux Falls, will talk about the needs of the Ukranians and about local opportunities to help. A youth choir from the Sioux Falls congregation will provide special music. 
The Luverne Presbyterian Church is raising money to distribute simple stoves to keep Ukrainian people warm this winter in war-torn areas where standard heating sources won’t be available.
The stoves, which will use wooden rubble of war as fuel, will be distributed in homes, churches, government offices and businesses to help the Ukrainian people withstand the coming frigid winter weather. 
The Ukrainian people in the Sioux Falls area have direct contacts in Ukraine, and 100 percent of the donated funds will be spent on the stoves. Western Union has waived transfer fees for funds going to Ukraine.
For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Val Putnam, Interim Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Luverne, by phone at 507-283-4787 or email at vputnam@sio.midco.net.

10 years ago (2012)
•Patrick Swyter brought his insulation business from Iowa to Luverne for reasons completely unrelated to business — family and schools. …
In 2008 Swyter purchased the insulation portion of Four Way Roofing and Insulation.
The business specializes in applying spray polyurethane foam, stabilized cellulose and installing fiberglass in homes and businesses.
Though the company has been working in the area for a few years, Swyter is building a shop for his trucks and tools on Walnut Avenue in Luverne (between Papik Motors and Gevo).
 
25 years ago (1997)
•Twenty-five scare-crows line the driveway at the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne. The scarecrows, which will be displayed through the month of October, are part of a festival at the Veterans Home to celebrate fall as a community, according to activities director Shirley Connor.
“Some of the residents don’t always feel part of this community because they’re not from here,” she said. “This is just a nice way to celebrate fall and involve different community groups.”
The festival will end with a Harvest Moon Ball on Oct. 26 with a formal dinner served by the Peer Helpers and a dance led by the Country Time Fiddlers from Estelline, S.D.
Groups who made the scarecrows include St. Catherine Church, Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Luverne ECFE, two 4-H clubs, Luverne High School Peer Helpers, the Middle School council, Family Drug, a Luverne special education class, the Fulda VFW Post, the Tuesday Morning Coffee Group, some grandchildren of residents, a local day care and various Veterans Home departments.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Jim Herman of Herman Motors in Luverne last week announced the winners of the local Punt, Pass and Kick competition which was held recently.
First place winners were scheduled to compete in one competition on Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. at the Mankato High School football field. Trophies for the local competition were distributed during halftime of the Luverne-Windom game Friday.
Age groups and the top three contestants in each group in the local contest were as follows:
Eight-year olds: 1st — Brad Franz, 2nd — Daniel Stepp, 3rd —Troy Claussen of Pipestone.
Nine-year olds: 1st —Randy Ehlers, 2nd — Michael Haakenson, 3rd — Steven Foss, Pipestone.
10-year olds: 1st —Mike Kraetsch, 2nd — Mark Spease, 3rd — Peter McCormick.
11-year olds: 1st — Todd Wandersee, 2nd —Alan Boisen, 3rd — Kevin Brandenburg.
12-year olds: 1st — Geoff Fitzer, 2nd — Tim Mann, 3rd — Scott Suprenant.
13-year olds: 1st — Paul Gits, 2nd — Bruce Woodley, 3rd — Tom McCormick.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•Rock county farmers were informed this week by Leonard A. Arp, chairman of the county Agricultural Conservation committee, that the basic loan rate and  purchase price for 1947 crop soybeans grading number 2 or better by U. S. Grain Standards, and containing no more than 14 percent moisture is $2.04 a bushel.
To be eligible for government loan, soybeans  must be stored in approved from storage, while to comply with purchase program requirements, soybeans may either be stored in approved farm storage, or in approved warehouses, Arp said.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•What seems to have been the preliminaries to a bank robbery or other burglary at Ashcreek was staged Sunday, when all the toll and farmers’ telephone lines out of that village were cut and disconnected in several places. That nothing further developed was likely due to the discovery of the severed lines at about 8 o’clock in the evening.
The toll lines had been cut at the fourth pole from the bank building, and again about one-fourth mile farther out, on the edge of town. The farmers’ lines had also been severed right in town and a short distance in the country; and both the toll and farmers’ lines had been disconnected at the railroad crossing. The telegraph wires were left unmolested.
So far as is known, the last time that a toll line was used on Sunday was at about seven in the morning, which signifies that all work had been done sometime during the day.
Reports from a lady residing at Ashcreek are to the effect that she had seen two large cars, driven and occupied by strangers, riding around the town from 12:00 to 12:30, and that the men seemed to be closely observing the village.
After the damage had been discovered, Chas. Carter came to Luverne to notify Manager H. Edgar, of the Luverne exchange, who with a company of repairmen set out for Ashcreek. Although it was about 10:30 p.m. when they arrived at the place, the men succeeded in putting the toll lines into working order that night.

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, Oct. 17: Tuna noodle casserole, mixed vegetables, warm cinnamon applesauce, dessert.
Tuesday, Oct. 18: BBQ pork on a bun, coleslaw, vegetarian baked beans, warm fruit crisp.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church.
Wednesday, Oct. 19: Tater tot casserole, green beans, romaine salad, dinner roll, warm apple slices with raisins.
Thursday, Oct. 20: Meatballs in marinara sauce, peas and carrots, fresh fruit, break stick, gelatin with whipped topping.
Friday, Oct. 21: Brat with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, bread, dessert.
 
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846, extension 11 to reserve one day prior, to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older.
The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on May 13, 1943, and is continued from last week’s issue.
(Continued from last week, featuring Mrs. Sarah Scott.)
She remembers how two small boys who were herding cattle, were found frozen to death after the storm subsided, their arms clasped about each other and their dog between them.
         It was while they lived in that part of the county that Mr. Scott “cried” his first auction sale, Mrs. Scott states. He had gone to the station of Bruce one day where the liquor store was to be sold at auction. The auctioneer, a Sioux Falls man, was unable to get a bid, so Mr. Scott made the comment that even he could do that well. The auctioneer invited him to try and he did, eventually selling the property.
         From that community, they moved nearer Luverne, farming the William Jacobsen farm in Luverne township for three years, and moving from there to a farm in Clinton township, between Luverne and Ashcreek. After residing there 10 years, they moved to Luverne where they purchased some property east of the Rock Island depo. Later they lived in a home on East Maple street, and this was Mrs. Scott’s home for a number of years after Mr. Scott died in 1920. At the present time, however, she makes her home with her children.
         Mrs. Scott has six children, R. B. Scott and Mrs. Logan Trunnell of Luverne; Mrs. Ben Mc Dowell, Beaver Creek; Mrs. Bertha Stein and Russell Scott of Bremerton, Wash., and Claude Scott of Fulda. She also has 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Of the former, two serving in the armed forces, namely, Corp. Glenn Trunnell and Staff Sgt. Vance Scott.
         She has three half-sisters and one half brother living. They are Mrs. May Brown, Orleans, Neb.; Mrs. Stella Cover, Kearney, Neb.; Mrs. Josephine Rogers, Minden, Neb., and Harvey Boicourt, also of Minden.
         During their lifetime, Mrs. Scott has been interested in many outside activities. She at one time was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, the Women’s Relief corps and of the Ladies Aid of the First Presbyterian church.
         She always liked sewing and doing fancywork as a hobby, but during later years has been forced to quit because of her health. However, she still reads books, magazines, newspapers and the Bible.
         Last Sunday she observed her 82nd birthday, and for the first time, her birthday and Mother’s day fell on the same date. She was well remembered by her friends and children, and she expresses her appreciation for their thoughtfulness.
 
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.