Summer road construction hit Luverne and Rock County this week as several major projects convened simultaneously.
Main Street in Luverne was closed to parking Monday morning for crews to mill off the surface as part of repaving County Road 4 from Highway 75 to the Nobles County line.
Also on Monday, lane closures began on I-90 for a concrete pavement overlay between Luverne and the South Dakota border.
Duininck Inc., Prinsburg, is the contractor for the in-town, out-county and I-90 projects.
 
In Luverne and Rock County
The Main Street construction is part of a broader project that involves a mill-off and overlay of several county state-aid roadways:
•County Road 4 from Highway 75 to the Nobles County line.
•Blue Mound Avenue between Warren Street and Fairway Drive.
•Warren Street between Blue Mound Avenue and Cedar Street.
Duininck has the contract for the work, which was bid in two parts — the in-town portion at $824,557 and the work from the Rock River to the Nobles County line at $2.4 million.
The contract also includes repaving parking lots at the Rock County Library and Rock County Highway Department. Mill-off work began last week for some parts of the contract and new pavement is being laid on this week.
A specific timeline for completion will depend on weather, which is forecast to be rainy this week.
 
I-90 between Luverne and South Dakota border
Meanwhile, motorists traveling on Interstate 90 between Luverne and the South Dakota border should expect construction delays starting this week as crews move to the second stage of construction.
The project, with expected completion in November, includes a concrete pavement overlay on the eastbound and westbound lanes and reconstruction of shoulders.
Duininck, Inc. was awarded the project with a bid of nearly $22.5 million.
Outside ramp shoulders will be extended for truck parking, guardrails will be repaired, and culverts and pipes will be cleaned, repaired and replaced to improve drainage.
From Monday, Aug. 15, until Wednesday, Aug. 17, traffic was scheduled to be reduced to a single lane in each direction in the eastbound and westbound lanes between the South Dakota border and the County 11 underpass west of Luverne.
Beginning Aug. 17, westbound lanes will close, and westbound traffic will cross over to the eastbound lane, which will carry traffic in each direction between the South Dakota border and the County 11 underpass west of Luverne.
Construction during this stage will require entrance and exit ramp closures on westbound I-90 at Highway 23 and the entrance ramp closure at County Road 4 west of Beaver Creek.
Ramp closures will also be required at Rock County Road 6 at Beaver Creek for approximately one week for paving, with the timing yet to be determined.
During the final stage of construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction from west of Beaver Creek to County Road 9 east of Luverne.
As a side note, the eastbound Minnesota rest area, which has been closed since June, reopened to the public Monday.
Visit https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/i90sd-luverne/index.html for more information.

Area children will bring the Brothers Grimm fairytale, “Hansel and Gretel” to life on the Palace Theatre stage after six days of auditions and rehearsals.
Acting coaches Tyler Olson and Liz McRae lead this year’s production for Missoula Children’s Theatre.
“It’s one of (Missoula’s) funnier plays,” Olson said.
During Monday’s auditions for 43 roles, Olson and McRae offered advice to the budding thespians through exercises to bolster observation, concentration, memorization and imagination skills.
By noon the cast began rehearsing for Saturday’s two performances.
Missoula’s version of “Hansel and Gretel” centers around modern-day characters Hank and Gretchen, portrayed locally by Oliver Mead and Emersyn Remme.
Hank and Gretchen spent their summer with Aunt Wally (played by Missoula’s McRae) instead of attending a summer camp. As an activity and a way to pass the time, Aunt Wally gives them the book, “Hansel and Gretel” to read.
They fall asleep, waking inside the storybook and in the middle of the forest where they meet Granny (played by Sarah Prohl) and the Wicked Wildwood Witch (McKinley Paquette).
“The witch has a secret that participants will learn over the course of rehearsals this week,” McRae said.
Also in the forest are the Wallybirds, who dash about picking up the bread crumbs as markers by Hank and Gretchen. The Rascals also dart around the trees as Hank and Gretchen try to make sense of their new surroundings.
“The Wallybirds really steal the show,” McRae said.
Also helping to bring Hank and Gretchen back home are the new and old campers from Camp Wildwood along with the Cooks, who help the witch collect children for dinner.
Student directors are Ashlyn Johnson and Britton McKenzie.
The play, written by Jim Caron and Michael McGill, also includes singing for the hour-long production.
The theater camp is sponsored by Blue Mound Area Theatre, the Green Earth Players and Luverne Community Education.
Saturday’s performances are at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Palace Theatre, Luverne. Tickets are $5.

Communities in Rock County are taking action to ban the sale of edible THC products after the state legalized them this summer.
The Rock County Board took the lead last month with a moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived THC food and beverages in non-municipal areas of the county.
Luverne City Council members mirrored the county ordinance at their Tuesday evening meeting, and Beaver Creek City Council members addressed the matter at their Wednesday, Aug. 10, meeting. Other municipalities are poised to follow suit.
“Gummies” and other THC-infused products are being rapidly introduced for sale; however, they’re largely unregulated, and some fear their strength and content aren’t safe.
In fact, since the law changed, there have been documented reports of consumers getting sick from edibles that were stronger than expected or contained harmful ingredients.
“This presents a potential threat to the public health, safety and welfare to the residents of the city of Luverne, and particularly to the youth of the community,” Luverne City Administrator John Call said Tuesday.
“The moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived THC gives the city time to study the issue and consider zoning, licensing, rules and controls for the sale of the legalized edible gummies, similar to tobacco sales and products.”
For example, edible cannabis products would be sold behind the counter with IDs checked, and the city would establish enforcement, compliance checks, license fees and other regulatory framework.
Rock County’s resolution establishing the moratorium on edible sales references the U.S. surgeon general advisory about known and potential harms to developing brains posed by the availability of highly potent marijuana in multiple, concentrated forms and increasing use by teens and adolescents.
It references similar public health concerns by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Minnesota law recognizes the danger of cannabis use among youth by prohibiting the sale of edibles to those under 21 and by requiring that edibles be packaged without appeal to children and in child-resistant containers.
The law that took effect in July legalizes edibles and beverages with up to 5 milligrams of hemp-derived THC per serving.
While that level is considered low, the products (with up to 50 milligrams per package) contain enough psychoactive potency to get most users high.
The law aimed to provide legal clarity regarding hemp-derived consumables stemming from the 2018 Farm Bill.
Marijuana is still illegal in Minnesota. Only the THC derived from hemp — in certain amounts — is now legal to consume.
The Luverne City Council, on a roll call vote, unanimously adopted the interim ordinance to establish a one-year moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived THC in food and beverages.
“I think it’s the right step,” said council member Caroline Thorson. “It will give us a chance to get our heads around it.”
Mayor Pat Baustian said he hoped that in a year’s time, the state will get involved with more specific regulations so that communities don’t have to all act independently.
The moratorium doesn’t affect the sale of CBD oils and other non-edible cannabis products that have long been legal for sale and use.

On Thursday, Aug. 11, the Luverne Area Chamber and community members celebrated two ribbon-cuttings on East Main Street.
One was for the new Wildflowers Coffee Boutique mobile beverage and lunch trailer, which will operate in the community in addition to its downtown restaurant location.
The other ribbon-cutting celebrated the completion of the new Plaza shelter building in the lot west of the Rock County History Center.
Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere congratulated Tracy Wieneke and her Wildflowers team for their new mobile venture, and she praised the Design Committee of LIFT (Luverne Initiatives For Tomorrow) for “following through with their vision” for a Main Street Plaza location.
Dozens of people lingered at the plaza under blue skies and pleasant temperatures while Ron and Jane Cote provided live music for the occasion and the Wildflowers staff served lunch and refreshments from the new food and beverage trailer.

For the second summer in a row, the Luverne Redbirds are champions of Region 13C Minnesota amateur baseball.
Luverne defeated the Milroy Irish 2-1 in the best-of-three-games region championship series last week.  
With the series win, the Redbirds not only claimed the region championship but also earned a first-round bye in the 2022 Minnesota Baseball Association Class C State  Tournament.
As the top-seeded team, Milroy hosted Games 1 and 3, which were both won by Luverne (4-3 on Aug. 10 and 8-7 on Sunday), while second-seeded Luverne hosted Game 2 Friday, which was won by Milroy 3-0.
“We’re really excited to win back-to-back region championships,” said Luverne player-manager Brooks Maurer.
“It’s really tough to make a run at state, so getting a first-round bye to help get further in the tournament is really important,” Maurer said.
 
Luverne 4, Milroy 3
No. 2-seeded Luverne traveled to Irish Yard in rural Milroy Wednesday night, Aug. 10, to face the top-seeded Irish in Game 1 of the Region 13C championship.  
The visitors came home with a close 4-3 win.
With Jake Haugen of Luverne and Hunter Weinhoff of Milroy starting on the mound, the two best baseball teams in southwest Minnesota played scoreless ball through seven innings.
In the top of the eighth frame, Luverne’s Gaige Nath and Phil Paquette reached base on singles before Skyler Wenninger earned a walk to load the bases.
When the next two batters, Ben Serie and Declan Beers, were hit by Weinhoff pitches, Nath and Paquette scored the first two runs of the game and the bases remained full.
Haugen then hit a two-RBI single to left field that scored Wenninger and Serie and the Birds took a 4-0 lead.
Milroy then answered by plating two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
After Luverne was scoreless in the top of the ninth frame, Milroy needed at least two runs in the bottom of the inning to avoid a loss.
After the first Irish batter lined out to third base, the next two batters hit singles to put the tying run on first base.
A wild pitch to the next batter advanced the runners to second and third bases before that batter struck out for the second out of the inning.
A passed ball during the next at bat scored the Milroy runner from third base to make the score 4-3.
When pitcher Serie struck out the Irish batter, the game ended by that score and Luverne took the 1-0 game advantage in the series.
Haugen spent seven complete innings on the mound. He gave up seven hits and two runs while striking out six and walking two.
Serie came in to pitch the final two innings. He gave up three hits and one run and struck out four.
Colby Crabtree led the Redbirds at the plate, going two-for-four.
 
Luverne   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0       4
Milroy      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1       3 
 
                           AB  R      H      BI
D Lundgren     5      0       1       0
P Paquette       5      1       1       0
S Wenninger   4      1       0       0
B Serie             3      1       1       1
D Beers            3      0       1       1
J Haugen         4      0       1       2
C Wenninger   4      0       0       0
C Crabtree       4      0       2       0
G Nath              4      1       1       0 
 
Milroy 3, Luverne 0
The Redbirds hosted the Milroy Irish in Game 2 of the Region 13 championship series Friday night.
The final home game of the season on a beautiful night drew a large crowd to Redbird Field.
The home fans were not treated to a win, however. The Irish won the game 3-0, the first time the Redbirds have been shut out in 32 games this season.
Luverne’s Cade Wenninger and Milroy’s Collin Lovell, a draftee from the Windom Pirates, pitched outstanding games.
Wenninger was on the mound for eight complete innings. The left-hander gave up only three hits along with three runs (one earned). He struck out five and walked two.
The Redbird defense held Milroy to only three batters in each of the first two innings and four batters in the third stanza before the Irish scored their first run in the top of the fourth.
Milroy scored two additional runs in the sixth inning.
Ethan Beyer replaced Wenninger on the mound for the ninth inning. He struck out two and gave up no hits and no runs.
Haugen was the only Redbird with extra hits (two for three). Lundgren, Skyler Wenninger and Nath had the other hits for Luverne.
 
Milroy      0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0        3
Luverne   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0        0 
 
                           AB  R      H      BI
D Lundgren     4      0       1       0
S Wenninger   4      0       1       0
B Serie             4      0       0       0
J Haugen         3      0       2       0
C Wenninger   4      0       0       0
E Beyer            3      0       0       0
C Crabtree       3      0       0       0
C Reisch          3      0       0       0
G Nath              3      0       1       0
                          
Luverne 8, Milroy 7
Entering the third and decisive game of the Region 13C championship series at Irish Yard Sunday afternoon, Milroy and Luverne had played four times this season with each team winning twice and the away team winning each contest.
The “away field advantage” theme continued Sunday, with the Luverne Redbirds coming from behind in the ninth inning to defeat the Irish 8-7 and claim their second consecutive region championship.
“It’s always an intense matchup between us and Milroy,” Maurer said.
“Sunday’s game was no exception,” he said, “especially the top and bottom of the ninth inning.”
Luverne scored the first run of the game in the second inning.
Logan Norman led off with a single and Beyer reached first base on an error by the catcher after a bunt. Norman then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Nath.
Milroy then scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead.
The Birds answered with one run in the top of the sixth.
Haugen drew a walk and Norman was hit by a pitch before a sacrifice bunt by Beyer advanced the runners to second and third base.
Haugen then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Charlie Reisch.
Milroy then plated three more runs in the seventh inning to take a 5-2 advantage.
Luverne got one run back in the top of the eighth when Haugen hit a double, advanced to third on a ground out by Norman and scored on an RBI single by Beyer.
Entering the final inning, Luverne was down 5-3.
Nath led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Lundgren then hit a single and Nath advanced to third base.
When Paquette was hit by a pitch, the bases were filled. When Skyler Wenninger was hit by a pitch, Nath scored and the bases remained loaded.
Serie then hit an RBI single that scored Lundgren to tie the game with the bases still loaded and no outs.
Next up, Haugen popped out to right field. Skyler Wenninger scored on the throw and Paquette scored after tagging up at third to take the 7-5 lead.
Serie then scored on a Beyer line drive to center.
The Irish scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it would not be enough. The Redbirds won the game 8-7.
Serie pitched the first 6 1/3 innings for the Birds. He gave up four runs off eight hits and struck out five.
Kobe Lovell, a draftee from the Windom Pirates, pitched to four Irish batters during the seventh inning. He gave up one hit and one run.
Luverne’s Lundgren came to the mound for the final two innings and picked up the win.
Lundgren gave up no hits, two runs and struck out five, including two in the decisive final ninth inning.
The Redbirds tallied 12 total hits in the victory.
Haugen led the offense with two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
Lundgren, Paquette and Beyer also collected two hits each. Beyer also had two RBIs.
 
Luverne     0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 5       8
Milroy        0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 2       7 
 
                           AB  R      H      BI
D Lundgren     5      1       2       0
P Paquette       4      1       2       0
S Wenninger   4      1       1       1
B Serie             5      1       1       1
J Haugen         4      2       2       2
L Norman         3      1       1       0
E Beyer            4      0       2       2
C Reisch          4      0       0       1
G Nath              4      1       1       1

Paula Lammert won her fourth women’s club championship at Luverne Country Club Tuesday, Aug. 9.
Lammert won with an 18-hole gross score of 82. She has previously won the tournament in 1998, 2006 and 2014.
“I win every eight years – kind of weird,” Lammert said.
Lammert wasn’t anticipating that trend to continue this year, however.
“I haven’t played much golf this summer,” she said. “I was busy working in June, had family here in July and trips to the lake. In August I had more time to golf, so I decided to play.”
Lammert said her chances improved when she found out four-time reigning club champion Mary Jo Graphenteen would not be competing in the tournament.
“I was very surprised when I heard that day that Mary Jo couldn’t play due to an injury – I felt a bit excited thinking I might have a chance to win again.”
In addition to naming the club champion (low gross score), flight winners (low gross score) were also named.
Becky Eeten won the second flight with a score of 105 and Susan Skattum won the first flight with a 99.
The president’s flight was won by Joan Kindt  with a 91.
Lammert’s 82 score was followed by Melissa Sandbulte with an 84 and Colleen Nath with a 93 in the Championship Flight.
“Melissa and I stayed close the whole round,” Lammert said. “I kept myself in it with consistent play, staying out of trouble and no three putts.”
“It was very exciting to get the win,” she said.
“I love the ladies at LCC and their support of me even though I haven’t been out there much this summer.”
 
Women’s tournament results:
 
Second Flight

1

Becky Eeten

105

2

Marla Van Dyk

108

3

Dana Klay

 111

 
First Flight

1

Susan Skattum

  99

2

Marlene Kopp

102

3

Wendy Evink

108

 
President’s Flight

1

Joan Kindt

  91

2

Sherry Dorhout

  95

3

Susan Schneekloth

103

 
Championship Flight

1

Paula Lammert

82

2

Melissa Sandbulte

84

3

Colleen Nath

93

Fifteen candidates have filed for four open seats on the Luverne School Board, and three more filed for one unexpired term.
Several of those threw their hats in the ring just before the 5 p.m. filing deadline Tuesday after the Star Herald went to press.
The four-year terms of Katie Baustian, Reva Sehr, Jodi Bosch and Eric Hartman for up for election, and only Hartman filed.
In addition, Michael DeBates, Heather Johnson, Jason Schear, Amber Lais, Austin Kurtz, Matt Goembel, Amber Nath, Jacob Hartz, Brett Hood, Zach Nolz, Randy Sasker, Maggie Siebenahler, Josh Gangestad and Scott Wessels.
Three others filed for the two-year term vacated by Jeff Stratton when he resigned from the school board to become the school resource officer. Seeking election to that seat are Ryan DeBates, Maggie Vanderburg and Matthew Van Grootheest.
Baustian, who was first elected to the School Board in 2010, said she’s not aware of a single major issue driving so many candidates to seek election. 
“I don’t know why any of these people are running but we truly are a very fortunate district,” she said.
“Our teaching staff is in place for the coming year, we have a new building and new technology.”
She said she ran for office in 2010 out of concern for the music program after middle school music educator Mary Goheen retired and wasn’t replaced. 
“We saw that as a cut and thought the sky was falling,” Baustian recalled. 
“But when Seana (Graber) was moved to 6-12 choir, it turned out to actually be a good thing, because she could start training students earlier.”
Baustian said she quickly learned what board members actually do. 
“We’re policy makers, not micromanagers,” she said. “We’re the administration’s boss, and we have to trust their judgment.”
She added that she’s been grateful for Superintendent Craig Oftedahl’s leadership.
“We have an amazing superintendent who thrives on getting things done,” Baustian said. “The way things are at right now, there are no big issues for the board.”
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board has four candidates seeking election to four open seats currently held by Harley Fransman, Renee Knobloch, Ethan Rozeboom and Arlyn Gehrke.
Gehrke and Rozeboom filed for re-election, and they’ll be joined on the ballot by Travis Helgeson and Eric Uitenbogaard.
 
Cities and townships
The Hills City Council election has five candidates vying for two open seats. Incumbents Vickie Busswitz and Alan Leenderts filed for re-election, and they’ll face challengers Brian Kraayenhof, Cory Metzger and Dusty Seachris.
The Hills council changed its mayor term to four years, so Mayor Keith Elbers is not up for election this year.
Beaver Creek Mayor Josh Teune filed for re-election unopposed, but four people are seeking election to two open seats on the council. Council members Jeff Dysthe and Pat Bender  did not file for re-election, and Heidi Freese, Joe Conger, Jacob Conger and Madison Conger filed for their open seats.
Hardwick Mayor Willy Baker did not file for re-election, and council member Tom Haas (who has been acting mayor) is seeking election to the formal title.
Two candidates, Gordon (Sam) Hansen and Don Bryan filed for two open council seats on the Hardwick City Council.
Kenneth Mayor Keith Hoven and council members Sheri Vyskocil and Laurie Gangestad are seeking re-election unopposed.
Magnolia Mayor Dennis Madison and council members Melanie Madison and Jeff DeGroot are up for election, but the Secretary of State Website shows that no one has filed.
Steen Mayor Lynette Woelber and council members Jazmine Dagel and Brad Bosch are up for election, but only Woelber and Dagel have filed, according to the state website.
Battle Plain Township Supervisors Eric Sas and Aaron Sandbulte are seeking re-election unopposed.
Denver TownshipTreasurer Lloyd Hemme and supervisors Tony Roosand Donald Arends are seeking re-election unopposed.
Martin TownshipSupervisor Nathan Fick filed for re-election.
Rose Dell Township Treasurer Jerry Purdin and supervisors Larry Fjellangerand Joe Buysse are seeking re-election unopposed.
Vienna Township Treasurer Albert Rust and supervisors David Severtson and Brad Skattum filed for relection, and Kraig Rust is challenging Skattum for the Supervisor C seat on the bord.
 
Rock County, Luverne and other elections …
The filing period was in May for federal, state, county, city of Luverne and judicial offices. 
There is a race for the Luverne council seat held by incumbent Kevin Aaker, who filed for re-election along with challenger Mert Kracht. Incumbent Caroline Thorson will run unopposed for re-election to her seat on the council.
Because of redistricting, all county commission seats are up for election, and all five incumbents will be on the ballot this fall unopposed. They are Gary Overgaard, Stan Williamson, Greg Burger, Sherri Thompson and Jody Reisch.
Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge and Rock County Attorney Jeff Haubrich are also seeking re-election unopposed.
 
Baustian challenges Schomacker for House 
Minnesota District 21A State House seat is up for election this fall, and incumbent Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) will face current Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian as the DFL candidate on the ballot for that two-year term. 
Baustian would need to relinquish his mayoral duties if he accepts the house seat.
The Minnesota District 21 State Senate seat is open for election, and incumbent Bill Weber, R-Luverne, will face Republican challenger Brad Hutchinson this fall.
Rock County voters will also choose between DFL-er Jeff Ettinger and GOP candidate Brad Finstad to fill the unexpired term of Dist. 1 Congressman Jim Hagedorn who died of cancer in February.
The offices for Minnesota governor and lieutenant governor are up for election this fall, as are the secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general and judicial offices.
The Minnesota Secretary of State website, sos.state.mn.us, has all the details.

Luverne business owner Jen Wipf is asking Rock County Commissioners to change their year-long moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived THC food and beverage.
She opened her Rock River Apothecary store in Luverne last year.
Since the county’s moratorium went into place in July, Wipf said she’s lost 50 percent of her hemp product business from the Luverne location.
She would like to be grandfathered into the new law in order to prevent her business from failure.
“I think there’s definitely a common-sense solution,” Wipf said. “We sell tobacco and alcohol so there has to be a solution to this. I think we can work together.”
The city of Luverne adopted a similar moratorium on THC sales Aug. 9.
An upcoming Luverne city-county liaison committee meeting will focus on the issue of THC food and beverage sales.
Commissioners passed the moratorium at their July 19 meeting in response to the state’s legalizing the sale of tetrahydrocannabinol, which began July 1. The state’s focus was on legalizing the use of the hemp-derived Delta 9.
The new state law caught business owners and municipalities by surprise. The state did not provide guidance on how the new law would be enforced.
Wipf discussed her compliance to the federal hemp act of 2018, the purchase of tested product only and how her customers have come to rely on her for a more natural and balanced control of pain, sleeplessness and anxiety.
“I am a rule follower,” Wipf said, adding the majority of her customers don’t like the potency of Delta 9, preferring the milder form of THC, Delta 8.
However, the commissioners’ focus is on public safety, and the board won’t change the moratorium until more rules and regulations are put into place.
“The reality is that not everyone out there is thinking about selling Delta 9 the same way you are,” said county attorney Jeff Haubrich.
“We can have Delta 9 gummies sold at every store in town, but I don’t think that’s what everybody wants. It’s not going to be used for health issues — it is a way to get dope out there and that’s what it is.”