ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDSSealed proposals will be received by the City Council of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota at the Luverne City Hall, 203 E. Main, P.O. Box 659, Luverne, Minnesota 56156-0659 on Friday, the 9th of April 2004 at 10:00 A.M. for the Interceptor Sewer and Street Improvements, Luverne, Minnesota, at which time the bids shall be publicly opened and read aloud. The approximate quantities of work on which proposals will be received are as follows:2,080 T Type LV3 Wearing Course Mixture (B)3,470 T. Type LV3 Non-Wearing Course Mixture (B)7,850 L.F. Concrete Curb and Gutter, Design B624 23 Ea. 48" Diameter Sanitary Sewer Manhole2,650 L.F. 18" Sanitary Sewer Main3,235 L.F. 15" Sanitary Sewer Main 800 L.F. 15" RCP Storm Sewer 500 L.F. 36" RCP Storm Sewer 32 Ea. Storm Sewer Intake 13 Ea. Storm Sewer Manholeand other related items of construction.All bids shall be made on proposal forms furnished by the Engineer and shall be accompanied by bid security in the form of a certified check or bid bond, made payable to The City of Luverne, Minnesota, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid, which security becomes the property of the City in the event the successful bidder fails to enter into a contract and post satisfactory bond. Work shall be completed and all streets shall be open to traffic by November 6, 2004.The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technicalities and irregularities. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.Project manual and drawings may be examined at the office of the Engineer or at the Luverne City Hall. Copies of said project manual and drawings may be secured from DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company, 1302 South Union Street, Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246, telephone 712-472-2531, FAX 712-472-2710, upon payment of thirty-five dollars ($35.00), none of which is refundable.Published upon order of the City Council of Luverne, Minnesota.LUVERNE, MINNESOTAATTEST: By /s/ Glen Gust Mayor/s/ Marianne Perkins City Clerk(3-18)

FEBRUARY 23, 2004MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF INDPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184, ROCK COUNTY, LUVERNE, MINNESOTA. A regular meeting of the Board of Education, ISD #2184, was held in the District Office on Thursday, February 23, 2004, at 7:30 p.m.The following members were present: Don Bryan, Colleen Deutsch, Dan Kopp, Cary Radisewitz, Bill Stegemann, Steve Tofteland, and Becky Walgrave. Also present: Superintendent Vince Schaefer, Marlene Mann, Melody Tenhoff, Angie Swenson, and Matt Crosby, KQAD/K1O1 RADIO.The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Rebecca Walgrave. Mr. Schaefer gave announcements including there is an addendum to the agenda. Motion by Stegemann, second by Radisewitz, to approve the agenda with addendum. Motion unanimously carried. Administrative reports were given.Motion by Kopp, second by Deutsch, to approve the school board minutes of February 12, 2004. Motion unanimously carried.Motion by Kopp, second by Tofteland, to approve payment of the district bills in the amount of $883,804.45. Motion unanimously carried.Motion by Stegemann, second by Deutsch, to receive the Student Activity Report showing the balances as of January 31, 2004. Motion unanimously carried. Angie Swenson presented information for the German trip scheduled for June 13 through June 27. Motion by Stegemann, second by Radisewitz, to give approval for this trip. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Bryan, second by Deutsch, to set the Driver’s Education fee at $230.00 per student. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Kopp, second by Tofteland, to hire Greg Hurst as custodian effective February 23, 2004. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Tofteland, second by Deutsch, to approve hiring Dave Svingen as long term substitute for Jennifer Radtke. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Radisewitz, to approve hiring Paula Lammert as long term substitute for Becky Rahm. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Kopp, second by Bryan, to approve hiring Crystal Swenson as 7th grade softball coach. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Kopp, second by Stegemann, to approve the Statement of Assurances for Southwestern Youth Service (formerly Pinnacle Programs) as required by the State Department. Motion unanimously carried.Motion by Deutsch, second by Radisewitz, to allow Deb Solis to complete her Community Education field experience under Karen Willers. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Bryan, second by Stegemann, to approve a leave of absence request for Mary Jo Graphenteen for three days. Motion unanimously carried.Committee reports were given.The upcoming meeting dates were reviewed.Motion by Radisewitz, second by Stegemann, to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously carried. Dated: February 23, 2004Colleen Deutsch, Clerk(3-18)

NOTICE OF APPLICATIONFORLIVESTOCK FEEDLOT PERMITNotice is hereby given per Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 215, that Russell Knutson, has made application to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or the County of Rock for a permit to construct or expand a feedlot with a capacity of 500 animal units or more.The existing and/or proposed feedlot will be located in the NW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 22 of Magnolia Township, Minnesota. The existing facility consists of 1250 head of feeder cattle, 990 animal units; raised in open lots with daily scrape and haul and temporary stock piling of manure. The proposed facility consists of 3500 head of finishing cattle, 3500 animal units; raised in open lots with daily scrape and haul and temporary stockpiling of manure. The total animal unit capacity will be 3500 total animal units.This publication shall constitute as notice to each resident and each owner of real property within 5,000 feet of the perimeter of the proposed feedlot as required by Minnesota State Law. (3-18)

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDSSealed proposals will be received by the City Council of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota at the Luverne City Hall, 203 E. Main, P.O. Box 659, Luverne, Minnesota 56156-0659 on Friday, the 9th of April 2004 at 10:30 A.M. for the North Booster Station, Luverne, Minnesota, at which time the bids shall be publicly opened and read aloud. The approximate quantities of work on which proposals will be received are as follows:SCHEDULE 4 – NORTH BOOSTER STATION:Construction of a new 20’ x 24’ Booster Station, concrete block construction, site work, miscellaneous appurtenances, and other related items of construction.All bids shall be made on proposal forms furnished by the Engineer and shall be accompanied by bid security in the form of a certified check or bid bond, made payable to The City of Luverne, Minnesota, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid, which security becomes the property of the City in the event the successful bidder fails to enter into a contract and post satisfactory bond. Work shall be completed by December 1, 2004. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technicalities and irregularities. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.Project manual and drawings may be examined at the office of the Engineer or at the Luverne City Hall. Copies of said project manual and drawings may be secured from DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company, 1302 South Union Street, Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246, telephone 712-472-2531, FAX 712-472-2710, upon payment of thirty-five dollars ($35.00), none of which is refundable.Published upon order of the City Council of Luverne, Minnesota.LUVERNE, MINNESOTAATTEST: By /s/ Glen Gust Mayor/s/ Marianne Perkins City Clerk(3-18)

Early newspapersThe following was printed in the Rose History in 1911, continued from last week:"The efforts of the residents of Luverne to induce someone to cast his fortunes and his printing press with the new settlement were not successful until the spring of 1873. During the month of May a printing outfit, consisting principally of an old Washington hand press and a few cases of worn-out type, was hauled in from the south in a lumber wagon drawn by oxen. The outfit became mired in the mud a few miles from the town, and P.J. Kniss and E.D. Hadley went down to assist in extricating it. S.J. Jenkins, the owner of the outfit, announced that he was looking for a location to launch a paper, and he was heartily welcomed.(A novel incident occurred about 1873. A man came into town barefooted, ragged and in his shirtsleeves. As usual in those days, we corralled him to find out his name and business. He said that his name was Jenkins and that he wanted to start a paper in Luverne. Thinking him a tramp or lunatic, we asked where his printing outfit was. He replied that it was coming at a whoa, haw, gee gait up the valley, behind a pair of oxen. He did not ask a bonus, but wanted a shelter in which to run a machine and make a first-class paper. Sure, enough, the founder of the Rock County Herald proved a better man than he looked and he gave us a very good paper, one which now has a wide reputation. —R.O. Crawford in an address, 1888) He set up shop in one corner of a real estate office, and on May 23, 1873, he issued the first number of the Rock County Herald. (George Blasdell received the first copy taken from the press.)The Herald was founded as a seven column folio and only two of its pages were printed at home. Its politics were republican and its subscription price was $2 per year. Mr. Jenkins employed Charles F. Crosby as managing editor and E.D. Hadley as local editor, who were connected with the paper less than a year. H.A. Gregory became interested in the publication of the paper on Nov. 28, 1873, the firm of publishers being Jenkins & Gregory and Mr. Crosby retaining editorial control. The latter’s connection with the Herald ceased at the beginning of the next year, the owners, as a measure of economy, attending to the editorial feature. On April 10, 1974, Mr. Gregory sold his interest to his partner, and thereafter the founder conducted the paper alone. Reviewing the first year’s history of the Herald, Mr. Jenkins wrote:With this number the Herald completes its first volume. One year ago, in answer to a want profoundly felt by the people of this vicinity, we tried the experiment of publishing a newspaper in Rock County. Experience in other localities of the far west had taught us enough to prevent our entertaining any idea of suddenly becoming rich at the newspaper business in so new a country among a population of pre-emptors and homesteaders. Aided at the outset by the energy of Judge Crosby, who enlisted the business men in our enterprise, and by the pen of Mr. Hadley, we started off with a generous patronage in the line of local advertising and a fair subscription list, and we proceeded to business. Since that time we have regularly issued the Herald in spite of storm, oppressive heat and wintry cold, in spite of all opposing elements, never missing a number. While it is the custom of many frontier papers to suspend publication through the winter months, the Herald has not failed to visit the fireside of each subscriber once a week through the long winter. Our anticipations have not failed pecuniarily; although we have not become bloated capitalists, we have had our ‘meat in due season.’ "Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

As it turns out, the people living in faraway Beijing, China, and I share a profound fear of exploding beer bottles. Suddenly, the world seems much smaller. According to Reuters, "Beer bottles that exploded in the hot summer weather were one of the biggest health risks Chinese consumers faced last year." The China Consumers’ Association complaint and law department received 1,621 complaints about food safety in 2003 and most of the personal injuries were caused by beer bottle explosions. The unwritten message between the lines is that drinking can be dangerous, even before the bottle is opened. What their mothers told them as children still holds true for adult beer drinkers — "Be careful or you will poke your eye out." My personal fear of exploding beer bottles dates back to the early ‘50s, when my father took up a new hobby, brewing beer. His one-consumer brewing and bottling operation was set up in the basement fruit cellar, directly beneath the kitchen. The five children in our family were encouraged to watch what was going on but we couldn’t touch the equipment. It was tempting to run hands over the shiny kettles and the brand-new bottle-capping device in the room, which had been proudly lined from floor to ceiling with jars of my mother’s pickled peaches, stewed tomatoes, bread and butter pickles and corn relish. Even the brown paper grocery store bags, filled with shiny, long-necked brown beer bottles were attractive to us. Our father had consumed diligently to save enough bottles for his new hobby. For a short time, odors of something that smelled like bad bread mold or sweaty, old gym socks drifted up the basement stairs and to the rest of the house. If we complained, we were reminded by our father with his Calvinist upbringing, "Some things must be suffered before they can be enjoyed." The long-awaited bottling activities began early on a Saturday morning. Our father became a one-man assembly line and, by the time the sun was setting, what seemed like hundreds of newly capped bottles of beer stood at attention on the concrete cellar floor. There seemed to be entire regiments of bottles, perfectly lined up from all directions, and they covered most of the floor. Before he flicked off the ceiling light and shut the cellar door, my father gave a final benediction, "Now it will have to settle. It will be good." With his work behind him, he planned to rest the seventh day. We were all eating around the chrome-legged kitchen table on Sunday evening when the disturbance broke loose beneath us. At first it sounded like a single gun shot and then the shots quickly escalated into a deafening, all-out war. Sharp pings vibrated the floor beneath our feet and the noisy racket and unmistakable sounds of shattering glass seemed endless. As suddenly as they had started, the shots ceased. "Don’t move, anyone!" admonished my father. "I’ll go down there alone." When he returned to the kitchen, his face was pale and his eyes still registered shock and disbelief. The aftermath of war is never pleasant. As the oldest child, I was instantly promoted to the after-dinner cleanup detail. The slowly opened cellar door revealed wall-to-wall shards and splinters of brown glass, barely visible beneath a tidal wave of beer foam. Like small fountains, a few newly punctured jars of peaches and stewed tomatoes spewed their contents onto the floor. As for the beer bottles — there were no survivors.

One constant of teaching is that students will learn more if they’re interested in the subject. I discovered the accuracy of that tenet when I taught a class in theater during the 1996-97 school year in Luverne. The core of the class was writing a full-length play as a sequel to "Tongues of Stone," a historical drama that I penned in 1979 about our Blue Mounds' ancestors. The class project was a success, I believe, because the students involved were lured by the opportunity to create something original in a world they enjoyed, namely the theater.The setting of the play is Rock County from 1912 to 1939. The students did research for the play through interviews, readings and studying the economics and sociology of the time. They took field trips to Maplewood Cemetery, Hinkly House, etc.Make no mistake that the heroes of this effort were the 14 students who contributed: Kristen Altoff, Trista Boyenga, Molly Burns, Nic Ceynowa, Matt Cohrs, Machelle Cook, Elissa Cox, Mandy Curl, Ryan Hemme, Shawn Kinsinger, Jenn Top, Derek Walgrave, Suzie Walgrave and Kate Winkels.The class titled the play, "Elizabeth," after the central character. Here "Liz," 18, and her sweetheart, "Jon," 21, are discussing the world-wide flu epidemic of 1918: LIZ: My father said the town is thinking of banning all public gatherings. Closing schools and the churches — like for funerals — and the bowling and pool halls!JON: And the Palace?LIZ: Probably! You know I heard almost 5,000 people a week are dying in New York City from this! It's called influenza. JON: My parents must really be frightened because they've never said anything about it to me. LIZ: Some people say that all the kids in school could be getting it.JON: Do you think maybe it's because you all drink from the same barrel of water?LIZ: But we've been doing that for years! I think it's in the stars or something. Did you hear about the twins who burned to death in their home recently? People dying of TB. scarlet fever. No, I think the world is getting awfully strange. And that war in Europe! THIS REALLY GETS JON'S ATTENTION.JON: Well, at least they're dying for a cause. We can't just let Germany and the Central Powers dictate their beliefs on the rest of the world. I think —LIZ: I thought you were a poet. I didn't know you were so interested in the war!JON: You better believe I am! Poets can defend their country, too! My father says that if we don't stop Germany now they'll be coming here to take over.LIZ: Here? In Rock County?JON: Right here. My father says that there are actual Germans living in Luverne who want to destroy our way of life! He says —LIZ: My mother is German.JON, CAUGHT OFF-GUARD: Well, your mother... ah ... I know, but ... I'm not talking about all Germans. But the local Loyalists say they're looking for a guy who belongs to the Nonpartisan League. Those people are not real Americans. No, Liz. After our country lost 124 people when they sunk the Lusitania three years ago, we've had an obligation to defend ourselves. (PAUSE) And I've been thinking that I — (PAUSE) — Well, I've been wondering —LIZ: What, Jon? What? THEN SHE REALIZES. Oh, no! You're not thinking of —JON, AFTER A MOMENT OF SILENCE: Maybe.(To be continued)

While public discussion has been focused on the hostilities faced by our servicemen and women in Iraq, precious little attention has been extended to the quality of health care that will be provided to them when they return to the United States. Already, numerous veterans who served in Iraq are coming home with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injuries. In serving their country honorably, these veterans have made a personal sacrifice that will stay with them for the remainder of their lives. You might think that our government is keeping its commitment to provide these veterans with the best and most timely care possible. You could be wrong.Just look at the President’s proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the next fiscal year. The proposed increase in the VA health-care budget — a mere 1.2 percent increase — fails miserably to keep up with year-to-year cost increases, necessary for existing patients, let alone the new veterans coming into the system. Currently, thousands of veterans are forced to wait six months or longer just to see a specialist for the first time because of delays in funding. An independent, recent nationwide survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International shows that three out of four Americans believe that veterans’ health should be a "top to high funding priority" in the federal budget. An identical number also believe that Congress and the President have a major responsibility to ensure that veterans receive their health care and other benefits following military service.Finally, a large majority of the Americans polled signaled that candidates for this fall’s congressional and presidential elections should discuss these issues in public forums. But elected officials should do more than talk about this support for veterans. They should act to see that veterans’ services are funded in full. Edwin J. DeutschLuvernePVA MemberNational Director- North Central Chapter

Now more than ever, Mattel’s Barbie doll needs a reality check. In light of her recent separation from Ken, rumors are flying around and they need to be examined. According to the Associated Press, "After 43 years as one of the world’s prettiest pairs, the perfect plastic couple is breaking up." A well-placed source from Mattel explains, "Barbie and Ken feel it’s time to spend some quality time — apart." At first glance, it’s Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck (the couple also known as Bennifer) all over again — a girl who likes to change outfits often and a guy who always seems to have the same expression on his face. However, after 43 years, Kenarbie hardly had a whirlwind romance. Theirs was more of a "no weather in the forecast" kind of relationship. A few of us, who have been observing the couple throughout the years, would like to ask, "Weren’t they married? What about those beautiful wedding dresses? Shouldn’t Kenarbie stick this out for seven more years and be able to celebrate their golden anniversary?" Things between them must be pretty serious to give up frosted sheet cakes, molded cream cheese candies, crepe paper streamers and balloons. A spokesman for Mattel explained to the AP that Ken was reluctant to marry and "all those bridal Barbie dolls in toy chests around the globe are really just examples of Barbie’s wishful thinking." (It must be something like the two-piece bathing suits and tight shoes some of us keep in the backs of our closets.) Another problem bothering Kenarbie fans who aren’t mathematically challenged is Barbie’s age. Because she made her first public appearance in 1959 at the New York Toy Show, people assume that was also the day she was born. They think she will soon be 45. Actually, given the fact that she appeared to be 18 or older in 1959, her real age is at least 63. That changes things considerably. Plans have been made to introduce a new look for Barbie — "Cali (short for California) Barbie." In addition to skateboarder shorts, a skimpy bikini top, metal hoop earrings and a deeper tan, Cali Barbie will have another accessory — Blaine, the Australian boogie boarder. The one obvious difference between Barbie’s two suitors is that Blaine is able to bend his knees. What’s-his-name couldn’t. What does Barbie expect? If she’s 63, then Ken is at least her age. In his defense, not being able to bend one’s knees at 63 isn’t all that rare. Perhaps Barbie should take a new look at Ken and count her blessings — he’s loyal, he still has all of his hair and he always has a pleasant smile on his face, A post-menopausal woman could do worse. And that’s what Barbie is. Since 1959 she has been everything — a swimsuit model, a rock star, a teacher, a nurse and a military medic. She has traveled to, and stayed in, 150 countries. In a real world, she would have grandchildren, varicose veins and elastic waistbands. Patricia O’Connell of Business Week magazine thinks the real reason for Kenarbie’s split is simple. "To Barbie, Ken is an accessory, just like her pink convertible or her beach house. Mattel merely extended Barbie’s consumerist mentality to her boyfriend. Besides, Ken was never all that hot." Goodbye, Ken, we’ll miss you. Hello, Blainarbie.