Staff encouraged to ‘know’ each and every student
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl addressed employees at Luverne Public Schools Monday morning in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year, opening on Sept. 6.
In his annual address to all staff members, Oftedahl encouraged them to make “Cardinal Connections.”
To illustrate his message, the names of the 1,200 students were typed on a sheet of paper and taped to the wall outside the performing arts center.
Each teacher, paraprofessional, custodian, cook, support staff and bus driver was asked to place a small sticker dot on each elementary, middle and high student they personally knew.
Staff were challenged to get to know those students who did not receive a dot by their name.
Oftedahl’s message to staff explained it is important that every child needs to be known by someone at school.
As a reminder to be a difference maker, a “Cardinal Connector,” the staff received T-shirts that say “Cardinal Connection” on the front and “Connect the Dots” on the back.
Supt. Oftedahl’s full speech is reprinted here:
One of the focus areas over the last couple of years across the country has been mental health.
We know that some students are struggling with mental health issues, as well as some of the adults that we deal with, and maybe some of you have struggles as well.
Last year we implemented Project 11 as one means of helping students.
I want to thank you for your efforts to implement that across our district to provide a form of mental wellness for all our students.
We likely never know the impact of this program, but if it helps one student, that is a victory. Keep up the great work surrounding this curriculum. Your efforts are making a difference.
Each of us — and most people say relationships —are important.
One of the keys is helping all people maintain a healthy self-esteem.
I agree that relationships are vital to our entire organization having success. How do you create relationships? By building a connection.
Maybe it’s sports or pets or family or 4-H or flowers or school-related items like art, math or music. If you connect in any way with students, they will have a trusted adult in this building. That may be all they need to foster some success.
Better yet, what happens if two connections are made or three or 33?
Get to know your students, find out about them. Ask probing questions to see that you can grab onto the probe some more.
The connection you make will improve student self-esteem, get them more involved in our school, improve their academic performance and help them be successful every day. When students feed good, they do better in school.
Let’s give every student something to look forward to every day.
This little 15-minute exercise of placing dots on a sheet of people had a purpose.
As you can visually see from some of these sheets — many of you indicated you have a relationship or a connection with these students. They have lots of dots of their sheet of people.
Most of the names have a range of few to many dots. Generally speaking, these students have made connections with staff here, and we likely don’t have much to worry about.
However, let’s look at some students that we need to spend some time on.
Not counting the kindergarten students, as they are just entering the building – and I know our teachers and staff will work hard on those students, we have students that need each of you to step up.
I am asking each of you to identify one or two students and work on making a connection. It may not be easy, but the benefits will be astronomical for the students.
The leaders in the building are going to be tasked with writing down the students in their respective buildings and checking to see what staff have connected with them.
Be a difference maker for our students, especially our students that need a “Cardinal Connection.”
… Let’s connect a lot of dots this year. Have a wonderful school year!

Precent future heartache; join Sept. 10 'Out of the Darkness' walk in Luverne
Sept. 4 through 10 is National Suicide Prevention Week, and Luverne’s Luv1LuvAll will host its second annual 'Out of the Darkness' Suicide Prevention walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Luverne City Park.
The event shows community support for mental health, to support those who struggle with mental illness and/or suicidal ideation, and allows people to come together to show care and compassion for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. 
Luverne’s walk joins others occurring nationwide through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States.
It is the hope that future losses can be deterred by increasing community education about suicide prevention, focusing on community mental wellness, and ensuring that all community members are aware of services that are accessible if one is struggling with their mental health.
We had a wonderful turnout last year with 300 walkers present, and together the Luverne community raised nearly $15,000.
Money raised during these walks funds research to better understand and establish best practices for suicide prevention.
It allows for community education to be presented through AFSP in our community — education that talks about mental illness and how to support ourselves and loved ones if they are struggling.
The goal is to end the stigma associated with mental illness, allowing us to be open about the struggles we can all face, bringing us out of the darkness.
Over 80 percent of funds raised goes directly toward community education and research, making is a top-rated non-profit organization.
That is to say that your fundraising gets put to work. Our mental health providers will have booths set up at the walk that morning.
A light breakfast will be provided. We ask that you pre-register at afsp.org/luverne. Or you can come the day of, at 8:30 a.m. to register in person as well. 
If you have any questions, I can be reached at angelanolz23@gmail.com
Angela Nolz,
Integrated Health Therapist, Sanford Luverne, on behalf of 
Luv1LuvAll 
Kracht: I have more questions
To the Editor:
What is the war in Ukraine really about? There was a lot of corruption going on there. Does that have anything to do with it?
Why was Paul Pelosi Jr. with Nancy Pelosi on her Asia trip? Do you know he is very invested in lithium and solar? But it’s not in the U.S. It’s in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Do you think that’s why he went with his mother on the taxpayer’s dime? Does this sound a lot like Hunter and Joe Biden?
Where did all the mask wearing, Covid 19 vaccine touting, fear mongers go?
The CDC has admitted they blatantly lied to the American people. They have said their Covid response was mishandled. How many people have lost their jobs and livelihood over the CDC’s incompetence? If you believed in all this B.S., do you now feel like a fool?
Why are we trying to redefine the word “recession” rather than doing something about it?
The Democrats have passed a bill called the Inflation Reduction Act. Many economists say it will not reduce inflation at all. In fact, it will increase inflation. In this bill, they are going to spend their way out of inflation and debt. Do you think this will work? If it works, wouldn’t you have done that with your house loan, business loans, etc?
They say they are going to hire 87,000 IRS agents. Do you think this is to help you? Wouldn’t we be better served to hire 87,000 border patrol agents?
Why is the IRS buying guns and ammunition? Why is this administration trying to take our guns and ammunition?
Why was the Johnny Depp trial televised, but the Epstein trial was not?
Do you know the judge that signed off on the warrant to raid Trump’s home was the prosecutor in the Epstein trial, but then switched sides to help defend him? He was also a political donor to Barack Obama and Jeb Bush.
How much of our tax dollars have been spent on the “Get Trump” agenda? Two impeachments, the Jan. 6 show trial, and now the raid on his home.        
Why are they so afraid of Donald Trump? Do you suppose he has something on some very prominent politicians, and they are trying to find it before it’s exposed?               
No, that’s just crazy conspiracy stuff, right?
Are your elected officials making decisions to support what you want? Or are they just pushing their own agenda? Liz Cheney found out the answer to that by the people of Wyoming.
Why haven’t we heard anything on the two bombs that were found at the capital on Jan. 6? Does it not fit the narrative?
We have the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, involvement in the Ukraine/Russia war, the shutting down of our oil and gas industry, flooding the economy with money we don’t have, record inflation, wide open borders, shortages of every kind, and uncontrolled crime in our streets.
If you had to come up with the perfect plan to destroy this great country, would it be any different than what has happened with our current administration?
Do you trust your government?
Mert Kracht,
Luverne

Aug. 19
•Complainant on E. Bishop Street requested to speak with a deputy.
•Complainant on S. Josephine Avenue reported a vandalized vehicle.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported a vehicle speeding at location.
•Complainant in Hardwick requested extra patrol for speeding vehicles at location.
•Complainant reported juveniles loitering at location.
Aug. 20
•Complainant reported a 911 outage.
Aug. 21
•Complainant reported an outage.
•Another department assisted MN State Patrol westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 10, Luverne.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 20, Magnolia, reported a possible weapon.
Aug. 23
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street and N. Cedar Street reported theft of political yard signs.
•Complainant on S. East Park Street reported subject with warrant at location.
•Complainant in Marshall requested assistance.
•Complainant reported lost property.
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported a loud noise at location.
•Complainant on W. Fletcher Street reported vandalism at location.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 9, Luverne, reported debris on the road.
•Complainant on 249th Street and 480th Avenue, Dell Rapids, South Dakota, reported a fire at location.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a driving complaint.
Aug. 24
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 18, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on N. Oakley Street and E. Crawford Street reported kids causing disturbance.
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported suspicious activity.
Aug. 25
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported harassing communication at location.
•Complainant on W. Dodge Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on Edgehill Street reported debris.
•Complainant at the Luverne school tennis courts reported suspicious activity.
•Assistance from another department was used westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 13, Luverne.
•Complainant on N. Broadway and W. Luverne Street, Magnolia, reported a runaway.
Aug. 26
•A civil issue was reported.
•Runaway was reported at location on E. Luverne Street, Magnolia.
•Extra patrol was requested at location on S. Kniss Avenue.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported harassing communications.
•Complainant reported a public assist.
•Complainant reported camera not working.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported missing money.
In addition, officers responded to 6 motor vehicle accidents, 2 transports, 2 escorts, 19 ambulance runs, 3 paper services, 3 animal complaints, 3 fingerprint requests, 8 burn permits, 1 background check, 1 driver’s license check, 1 gas drive-off, 4 alarms, 3 drug court tests, 2 purchase and carry permits, 19 traffic stops, 9 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 1 welfare check, 1 report of cattle out, and 2 follow-ups.

The Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating criminal damage to property at the Ihlen Cemetery after Justin Olsen reported at 6:36 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, his daughter’s headstone had been vandalized.
According to a report released Monday morning, Aug. 29, the headstone had been pushed over to the east, and a black tar substance had been poured all over the base and the stone.
“The substance was crusted on the top but still wet underneath,” the Sheriff’s Office report stated.
“Tips and leads along with other investigative actions have been followed up with. At the time of this release there are no suspects, and this case remains under investigation.”
Jordyn Olsen died of cancer in March of 2014 when she was 7 years old. She would have been 16 in July when her family decorated her gravesite with birthday balloons.
Now that image serves as a “before” photo to compare with the photos of the damage, which may have occurred overnight or early morning on Monday, Aug. 22.
Pipestone County Chief Deputy Mike Hamann said Olsen didn’t think it had been damaged the day before when he drove by, but there’s not a specific time of vandalism listed in the report.
“The only other thing we can go off of was that the black tar-like substance was still wet underneath the headstone,” Hamann said. “Everything else outside of what was reported would be an assumption.”
The phone number for the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office is 507-825-1100 to speak with someone. Call 507-825-1105 to share an anonymous tip or information.
The family has cleaned up the site and has accepted donations for a reward fund that is now up to $8,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
“We have been working with the cops and have been working leads,” Olsen shared online.
“I just want to say thanks to everyone for calls, texts and messages.”
An online fundraiser to rebuild the desecrated headstone attracted donations from 175 people totaling more than $8,600.
“On behalf of the Olsen family, thank you all for your tremendous generosity,” organizers Isaac and Theresa DeBoer posted after closing the fundraiser Saturday.
“The replacement monument has been ordered with plans to put it up yet this fall, provided there are no delays.”
Jordyn’s mother, Jodi (Smook), thanked the community for donations to the reward fund and to rebuild the headstone.
“We are beyond humbled and thankful to all who have joined the effort to help find who destroyed the beautiful headstone that adorned our daughter’s grave,” she wrote.
“Words simply cannot express our appreciation and gratitude.”
The family has indicated that excess donated funds, if any, will go to Sanford Children’s Hospital and the Ihlen Cemetery in memory of Jordyn.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal is investigating possible arson at a Hardwick home.
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 5:15 p.m. Monday to conduct a welfare check at 104 N. Ross Ave. where homeowner Deb Herrick expressed concern that her home may have been entered when she was out of town.
According to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, Herrick said her neighbor who was watching the residence told her that her front door was open and unlocked.
Herrick then called law enforcement who noted the smell of burnt material and small fires had been set throughout the home and the Hardwick Fire Department was called as a precaution.
“We are in the middle of the investigation to determine if it’s a possible arson or not,” he said.
Caution tape was placed around the single-story home Monday night to preserve the scene until the fire marshal arrived Tuesday morning.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to talk with Verbrugge or sheriff office investigator Jeff Wieneke by calling the Law Enforcement Center in Luverne at 507-283-5000.

Luverne counselors Jill Boltjes and Skie Peltier-Anderson are expanding their business and now own the building where they see clients at Healing Path Counseling & Wellness.
Since 2019 they rented space in the round building at 215 N. Cedar Avenue where Luverne’s medical clinic first operated, and they recently bought it from Ronnie and Lowell Feit.
“They bought the building to help small businesses get started by having lower rent,” Boltjes said about the Feits. “That is what helped us get started.”
The women also were helped by the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Business Finance and Microenterprise Loan Program.
“Mental health services are in high demand in our region, and we’re happy to support Jill and Skie in growing their business,” said SWIF economic development officer Jackie Turner.
Peltier-Anderson said Healing Path fit the Feits’ goal for the building.
“They actually came to us specifically because they love our cause and they wanted the building to go to people who would use it in the same kind of way they intended,” Peltier-Anderson said.
Both Boltjes and Peltier-Anderson are licensed professional clinical counselors with master’s degrees.
Their therapies can help with domestic and sexual violence, adoption- and attachment-related issues, sexual orientation issues, PTSD, anger problems, depression and anxiety.
They also focus on birth to age 5 interventions, crisis intervention and parent education.
Therapy dogs in training, Ray and Koda, work alongside Boltjes and Peltier-Anderson, who currently have nearly 30 clients under their care.
“As Healing Path grows, we want to thoughtfully expand our services to meet the community's needs,” Peltier-Anderson said.
“We’re thinking about what whole person wellness means to our clients and exploring different types of services like massage therapy, reiki or trauma-informed yoga that could help them feel better.”
An infrared sauna room equipped with different colored lights can improve circulation, heart health and immune function.
And "brain spotting," "ART therapy" and "EMDR" therapy can help clients identify sources of trauma and anxiety.  Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are therapy approaches to assist in processing painful or distressing memories.
Boltjes said having several options for therapy is important because everyone responds differently.
“No one journey or path to healing is alike,” Boltjes said. “And we’re here to guide individuals and families who need support on their journey.”
She said the building has space available to lease to businesses interested in wellness. “We’re looking for a massage therapist, especially someone trained in trauma,” Boltjes said, adding that health and beauty businesses would also be a good fit.
SWIF microloan clients receive free technical assistance from SWIF staff to improve business management skills. Areas of support include business planning and financials analysis, QuickBooks training, marketing assistance and other training opportunities for the life of the loan.
This microloan program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
 
About Southwest Initiative Foundation
Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) is a nonprofit community foundation connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities in southwest Minnesota.
Since its founding in 1986, SWIF has distributed more than $97.8 million through grants and business finance programs.

Faber honored for 28 years with SMOC
Darla Faber of rural Luverne was recently honored for her 28 years of service with the Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council.
In the July 27 Minnesota Community Action Partnership’s annual conference in Willmar, Faber received a plaque and public recognition for her “dedication and commitment to SMOC and the communities it serves.”
 
Althoff’s design chosen for Chicago Tribune’s anniversary logo
Luverne High School graduate Kristen Althoff designed the official anniversary logo for the Chicago Tribune’s 175th celebration.
Her design encompassed the newspaper’s past, present and future, according to the Chicago Tribune story about the newspaper’s anniversary and logo contest.
The gold-colored circular logo featured a sketch of the Chicago skyline from the newspaper’s current masthead with the number “175” rising out of rays of light. The rays appeared in the Tribune’s masthead in 1862, shortly after the newspaper’s founding.
Althoff is the digital design director for Tribune Publishing and said “subtlety and elegance” were her inspirations for the logo.
“I wanted to create something that felt timeless and tied to the newspaper’s history, but also give a fresh and modern spin,” she said in the Tribune interview.
Althoff’s logo was used on the Tribune’s masthead through the month of June  and is emblazoned on limited-edition apparel and mugs for sale in the Tribune’s e-commerce store.
Althoff is the daughter of Terry and Deb Althoff, Luverne. She graduated from LHS is 1999.
 
Minnwest Bank announces Melissa Fick as new market president
Minnwest Bank announced on Friday that Melissa Fick is its new market president in Luverne.
Fick is a familiar face to Minnwest Bank customers, most recently serving as a commercial and agriculture relationship manager since 2016.
“Melissa is highly respected for her knowledge of agriculture and commercial financing,” said Dan Koster, ag division leader for Minnwest Bank.
“We look forward to continuing our tradition of exceptional customer experience under her leadership.”
Fick brings over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services in the Luverne and Sioux Falls areas to her new position.
“I am excited to continue building relationships with local businesses and ag operations right here in the Luverne community,” Fick said.
Joining her on the team will be Matt Overgaard, relationship manager, and Nancy Scheidt, portfolio manager. Together, this team holds over 70 years of experience serving customers’ loan, deposit and other banking needs.
Fick earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture and business management from South Dakota State University.
She serves as a school board member for Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools in Edgerton.
 
About Minnwest Bank
Minnwest Bank is a family-owned financial services company providing agriculture, commercial and personal banking services throughout Minnesota and South Dakota.
It is one of Minnesota’s largest banks, with $2.7 billion in assets and 36 branch locations. For more information about Minnwest Bank, visit minnwestbank.com.

10 years ago (2012)
•Local dignitaries gathered for a presentation by USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer Aug. 23 at the New Vision feed mill construction site west of Magnolia. …
New Vision and Rock County were recipients of more than $1 million in low-interest federal loans and grants. …
Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre was instrumental in securing the grant money for New Vision and Rock County.
Oldre told the gathering he credits Nan Larson of the Southwest Regional Development Commission for her assistance in grant writing.
When the new feed mill is up and running, it will employ up to 15 people.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•Handed down from generation to generation, the John Krogmann century farm holds rich memories for those who worked its fields, played in its barns and helped with its chores.
The 160-acre farm, located in the northeast quarter of section 23 in Mound township, was purchased by Jann Detlef Krogmann (John Krogmann’s grandfather) in 1893 and has been home to his family for more than 100 years.
The Krogmann farm has been recognized this summer by the Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Bureau as a 1997 Century Farm. To become a century farm, the property must have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and included at least 50 acres.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Luverne’s city council accepted a low bid of $32,604 last week on a new all-purpose landfill vehicle which will be used at the new County landfill.
Doyle-Lustra of Sioux Falls, submitted the lowest of seven bids received for the equipment. Delivery is expected to be within 45 days.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•A total enrollment of 726 pupils in the Luverne public schools was announced this week by Superintendent Munson. This exceeds by three the number enrolled at the beginning of the 1946-47 school year.
This year, there are 353 in the first six grades and kindergarten as compared to 327 a year ago. There are 167 in junior high as compared to 177 a year ago, and 206 in senior high as compared to 219 last year.
This year’s kindergarten class exceeds that of any year since the school has held kindergarten classes. There are 61 this year compared to 43 a year ago. The number of pupils in the various other grades are as follows: first, 53; second, 62; third, 46; fourth, 46; fifth, 43; sixth, 42; seventh, 37; eighth, 53; ninth, 77;; 10th, 79; 11th, 71, and 12th, 56.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•A 1919 model Ford touring car, the property of O. J. Mattiesen, stolen from the owner’s yard sometime after midnight Sunday, was found thoroughly stripped of most of its appendages Tuesday on a seldom used highway, about four miles northeast of Luverne.
The car had apparently been driven to the rather isolated place, and deliberately tipped over into a shallow ditch along the roadway in order that its wheels could be more readily removed. All the wheels, tires and tubes, except one wheel, as well as the front axle, had been removed and carried off. In tipping over the automobile the top was badly broken, the windshield smashed and other parts of it damaged.

DSP Week is Sept 11-17 when those who work as direct support personnel are honored for their contributions to caring for disabled and vulnerable children and adults. At Rock County Opportunities in Luverne, the organization honors a team of 10 DSP workers.
“The DSP’s at RCO are awesome,” said RCO administrative director Adria Benson. “They work hard to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all the individuals that RCO supports by being person-centered and meeting everyone at their level.” She said the local DSP staff provide a variety of employment and enrichment services, both in-house and in the community, as well as personal care as needed. “We would not be able to survive without them,” Benson said.