The Luverne Redbirds have enjoyed smooth sailing through the Region 13C playoffs so far.
In the league crossover playoff series, the Redbirds (25-2) swept the Heron Lake Lakers 13-1 and 5-0 July 20 and 22.
In the first round of the Region 13C tournament last weekend, Luverne defeated the Adrian A’s in two games by a combined score of 28-0, 10-0 on July 27 and 18-0 on Friday.
The Redbirds, seeded No. 2 overall, will now face the Fairmont Martins (16-7) in the Final Four round of the playoffs.
The No. 6-seeded Martins swept the No. 3-seeded Windom Pirates 7-6 and 11-6 last weekend to advance to the Final Four round.
Fairmont swept the Pipestone A’s 12-1 and 17-2 in the league crossover series one week earlier.
“This series with Fairmont will be our biggest test by far,” said Luverne player-manager Brooks Maurer.
The Birds defeated the Martins 7-4 in Fairmont June 26 in their only matchup of the summer so far.
Luverne drafted Windom Pirates pitcher Kobe Lovell for the Final Four series.
 
Region 13C Round One Results
(1) Milroy vs. (8) Ruthton
July 27 – Milroy 5, Ruthton 0
July 29 – Milroy 13, Ruthton 1
 
(2) Luverne vs. (7) Adrian
July 27 – Luverne 10, Adrian 0
July 29 – Luverne 18, Adrian 0
 
(3) Windom vs. (6) Fairmont
July 27 – Fairmont 7, Windom 6
July 29 – Fairmont 11, Windom 6
 
(4) Hadley vs. (5) Jackson
July 27 – Hadley 5, Jackson 4
July 29 – Hadley 10, Jackson 9
 
 
Region 13C Final Four Round Schedule
(1) Milroy vs. (4) Hadley
Wed, Aug. 3 at Irish Yard 7:30 pm
Sat, Aug. 6 at Hadley 2 pm
*Sun, Aug. 7 at Irish Yard 2 pm
 
(2) Luverne vs. (6) Fairmont
Wed, Aug. 3 at Luverne 7:30 pm
Fri, Aug. 5 at Fairmont 7:30 pm
*Sun, Aug. 7 at Luverne 2 pm
*If necessary

A pastime I never tire of is recreational shooting. I can kill helpless clay pigeons all day long and never tire of the recoil of my shotgun.
Off-season shooting really makes a difference on opening day of pheasant season, and if a rooster gets up within 25 yards of me, he will most likely go home in my hunting vest.
I recently had the opportunity to help a friend do a little rifle shooting on a range set up on my wildlife property.
He was trying to prepare for a deer hunt in some western state, and in many of those places a decent shot is often much farther than in the farm county of southwest Minnesota.
He had his gun zeroed at 200 yards and was trying to close the grouping into about a 2-inch circle. Zeroed means having the scope properly adjusted and the gun placing all of the shots in a small one-inch circle with regularity at a specific distance.
Usually that distance is 100 yards. Usually that circle is 1 inch
The first thing we needed to do was to check to make sure the gun was still right on at 200 yards, and it was not. He shot and shot and just could not get a nice tight group. I had him move the target to 100 yards and start over. In short order we had him placing tight shots within the one-inch circle.
It does not do any shooter any good to try to shoot a target at 200, 300 or even 400 yards and beyond if they cannot be consistently accurate at targets at closer ranges. I had him download an app on his phone which is a great help to shooters regardless of their experience or prowess.
The name of the app is Strelock-pro, and it costs about $12, but it is so well worth it.
We got started and entered the specification for his particular gun and ammo.
All of the following needs to be entered first before the app becomes useful. You enter the model of the gun, the caliber, barrel twist, brand of ammo, ballistic coefficient, bullet weight, muzzle velocity and a few others. All of this information is either listed on the ammo box or available on the gun or ammo manufacturer’s website.
This process took about 45 minutes to complete. Once this is done, the app does all the math calculations for you. You shoot the gun at 100 yards to make sure it is still right on.
You then change the distance in the app to 200 yards and enter wind direction and speed and the app will tell you exactly what adjustments to make with the scope to confidently hit a target at 200. It will give you an elevation adjustment and a windage adjustments based on the factors you entered earlier.
He made the adjustments as the app directed and then hit the 200-yard target five times in a row, all within a small circle.
We then went to the 400-yard target and made the adjustments for that distance as directed by the app and he then hit the 400-yard target five times in a row. The cool part of this experience is that this hunter had never successfully and consistently made a 300-yard shot in his entire life. Now he was consistently hitting a target at 400.
We then upped the ante even more and made the adjustments on the scope for a 500-yard shot. He shot the 500-yard target five times in a row without a miss. He was elated. He could not believe that in a matter of a few hours and with a little help he could consistently make shots out to those ranges.
I know a little about long range shooting because of what I have been taught by Todd Van Langen.  He is a 21-year veteran Army sniper with 12 years in the hostage rescue unit in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He explained to me that long range shooting is basically math. You enter the parameters of the gun and the ammo and then make math adjustment from there. I do believe that any rifle shooter that wants to make dramatic improvements can do so with just a little help and a place that has targets at longer ranges.
Todd told me that shotgun shooting is harder.  He explained that there is no app that can tell you what adjustment to make on a rooster in a 5, 10 or 20-mile per hour wind. Shot gunning is all feel. This might be true, but you also don’t shoot at a rooster at 400 yards either.
If you have any questions about the app or how we achieved this success, reach out to me at scottarall@gmail.com

Stacy Krohnberg has become familiar with the checkered flag at the annual Rock County Fair enduro race in recent years.
After placing second in 2020, the experienced enduro car driver from Walters, about two hours east of Luverne, has won two straight fair enduro contests.
On Saturday night Krohnberg bested 16 other entrants in the race.
The winner completed 198 laps during the two-hour or 200-lap event.
Silas Top, Hardwick, placed second with 195 laps in two hours.
Luverne’s Chase Overgaard finished in third place after completing 192 laps.  
Trey Anderson (187 laps) and Leon Sneller (179 laps) also raced the entire two hours, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
 
Fair Enduro Results
 
Finish                                          Laps
1. Stacey Krohnberg               198
2. Silas Top                                195
3. Chase Overgaard                 192
4. Trey Anderson                      187
5. Leon Sneller                          179
6. Chris Hoogland                    176
7. Andy Krohnberg                  171
8. Scott Jones                           165
9. Jasmine Kalass                    162
10. Robert Wendler                  156
11. Carter Anderson                154
12. Nick Van Belle                      71
13. Ron Brownie                         67
14. Brian Campbell                    56
15. Trevor Fluit                            55
16. Autumn Kiggins                   55
17. Seth Miller                             52

Luverne High School varsity fall sports practices will begin Monday, Aug. 15.
Cardinal athletes in volleyball, cross country, tennis and football will have individual team eligibility meetings on Aug. 15.
All athletes and parents are also invited to attend a general eligibility meeting at 7:30 a.m. on the same day in the Performing Arts Center at LHS.
Middle School football and volleyball will begin when school starts in September.
Those athletes and parents will receive their paperwork at that time.

Hope seems to be hard to come by these days. Whether it is because of news that we hear about around the world, or sometimes even in our own home, it can be hard to have hope. Will things ever get better? Will this situation ever change? Questions come up in our mind that we may have never had because our hope is lacking and hopelessness is overtaking all of our thoughts and emotions.
However, maybe it is not hope that is hard to come by, but rather the way we have perceived hope. What I mean by this is that we have this picture of hope that is a pretty, clean-cut paradise on the beach. We see having hope almost as this magic 8 ball that will make all our wishes come true. So when disappointment does come, because we all know it will, hope seems like a pointless thing rather than an anchor for our soul (Heb 6:19). Hope is something that we should not throw away, as the author of Hebrews states.
So what should hope look like for a believer in Jesus? Does it mean everything will go our way? Does it mean when we put our hope in Jesus we will have no worries?
No. What it looks like is less of hoping things go our way and more of an attitude of believing who God is despite what is happening around us. It is believing what God has said about us despite how we may feel. It is having the courage to look at our current situation with a bigger view. Why? Because when we set our hope on who God is, what he has done, and what he has revealed in His word, our perspective can and will change. When we remember that God is the everlasting God, the King of all kings, that he is returning one day and will make all things new, our actions and mindset will be changed. We will stop acting like orphans who are not being looked after by a good father. We will start acting like children who are dearly loved and have an ever-present father to help them, lead them, and love them no matter what the situation is.
So if you find yourself hopeless today, and wondering, how do I step into hope, let me encourage you with a couple of things.
First, do not be afraid to bring your hopelessness and frustration to God. Do not keep it to yourself. Let Him know, and process it with him. He wants to help you.
Second, see hope as less of something that will get you to have everything go right in life and more as courage to believe that there is more going on than what you see. There is a king on His throne named Jesus that is not thrown off by what is going on in the world or your life. And He is a rock, a fortress, a constant, no matter what your situation.
I pray that truth will bring you hope today and help you continue to hold fast to Him as your hope in a world that is shifting and shaking.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, Aug. 4: 7:30 a.m. Mom’s Summer Bible Study at Wildflowers. 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, Aug. 6: 4:30 p.m. Van Gent Baptisms. Sunday, Aug. 7: 9 a.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion. 5 p.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion. Tuesday, Aug. 9: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. 6:45 p.m. Ministry meetings. 8 p.m. PPC meeting. Wednesday, Aug. 10: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. 7 a.m. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online worship: Sundays 9 a.m. at www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab; or Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, Aug. 5: 6:3o a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, Aug. 7: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Tuesday, Aug. 9: 12 p.m. Staff Meeting. 7 p.m. Consistory Meeting. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church
1075 110th Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-9070; email: info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor
Come as you are—Sundays @ 10 a.m.: Main Service. Kids church age 3-6th grade—Nursery. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Midweek Service—Kids age 3-6th grade.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Saturday, Aug. 6: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Aug. 7: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Hymn Sing Worship Service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible Study. Tuesday, Aug. 9: 9:30 a.m. Folding Team. 7 p.m. Cub/Boy Scouts. Wednesday, Aug. 10: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Live streamed on Facebook and radio.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net
Sunday, Aug. 7: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Thursday, Aug. 4: 8 p.m. Vacation Bible School program. Saturday, Aug. 6: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Brittney Block (Oldre) bridal shower. 5:30 p.m. Worship Service. Sunday, Aug. 7: 10:30 a.m. Outdoor Worship Service at Luverne City Park. 11:30 a.m. Church Picnic. Monday, Aug. 8: 1 p.m. Quilters meet. Tuesday, Aug. 9: 6 p.m. Women’s Missionary Guild at Pizza Ranch. Wednesday, Aug. 10: 9:30 a.m. Bible Study. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Josh Hayden, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sunday, Aug. 7: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Aug. 7: 10 a.m. JOINT Worship at First Lutheran Church. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4.
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Aug. 7: 10 a.m. JOINT Worship at First Lutheran. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4.
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270 / bethlehemofhills@gmail.com
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion. 9 a.m. Sunday School. 7-8:30 p.m. Youth group meets. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesdays: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:30 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Confirmation. 7 p.m. Social/dessert time. 7:15 p.m. Wednesday night worship service.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

Dear Governor Tim Walz and Legislative Leaders: 
As associations representing the state’s local partners — its school districts, counties, cities, and townships, encompassing all citizens of our state — we are aware of the significant challenges and needs local leaders face amid an uncertain economy and the ongoing effects of the pandemic. 
Since the legislative session adjournment on May 23rd, we are repeatedly asked by our members and the citizens we represent whether there will be a special session. This is not a casual ask of curiosity, but a plea and passion for us, as their representatives, to press forward to encourage your action and hold a special session. 
During the 2022 legislative session, school, county, city, and township leaders articulated needs for state support, some of which received consideration in bills that were not finalized before the conclusion of the session. State resources play a critical role in the provision of many local services. Challenges faced by your peers – our locally elected officials – are at a high point, and many issues need attention now and should not wait until 2023. 
Minnesota is proud of the historical partnership between the state and local governments. A strong partnership between state and local governments has long been imperative to ensuring local officials have the resources to address statutorily directed services that are provided locally. Local services are essential to our quality of life and vitally important to ensure the continued health, safety, welfare, and education, for all Minnesotans. 
Our citizens rely on us to provide services and we rely on you for the ability to provide the same. When a breakdown occurs – at any point – issues surface and frustrations can arise. 
We appreciate the consideration given to local issues and needs during the session. We know you all understand the significant issues local governments are currently experiencing. As partners, we want to work with you to inform and educate you on the impacts and issues of our priorities and why a special session is so important. 
We can provide many examples of pressing local needs. Generally, they include labor shortages that consequentially affect public services and escalating costs to provide police and fire services, social services, and the education of Minnesota’s students. 
Local leaders are also working to improve deteriorating infrastructure, but they are doing so without appropriate state investments. 
There are also urgent needs for funding the state’s social service and mental health support services to address substantial challenges being experienced by families and communities. 
Schools are confronting widespread challenges for students that will only compound without necessary resources. 
Cities, counties, and schools also are faced with issuing local regulations as a result of the new THC law. Prompt establishment of a state framework and parameters for regulation, established by lawmakers in partnership with local governments, is needed now. Not addressing a framework for regulation until next year is a recipe for a patchwork quilt of local laws, potentially and likely inconsistent from one city, county, and school district to another. 
We are therefore writing to respectfully, yet strongly, encourage the prompt convening of a special session to finalize supplemental budget and tax bills, the development of a capital investment bill and other critical unfinished business including state matching funds for the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and a framework for the regulation of cannabinoid products. 
We call upon you to continue engaging with us, your local government partners, to finalize legislation that will serve the entire state. 
The state’s historically large budget surplus provides an unprecedented opportunity for Minnesota to address the state’s immediate and critical needs. We ask you to use this opportunity and to return to the work at hand. 
Minnesota’s local governments, and the state’s residents, business, families, and students are depending on you. 
Now is the time for action: we stand ready to work with you and appreciate your attention to our request. Our constituents are your constituents, let’s work together in the next few weeks to complete the business started months ago and, in the end, benefit all Minnesotans. 
Sincerely, Patrick T. Baustian, Mayor, City of Luverne