Rock County voters will join Minnesota’s First Congressional District on Aug. 9 to elect a replacement for the late Congressman Jim Hagedorn.
Mail ballots were sent last week to roughly 200 Rock County voters in rural precincts that have no polling stations, and early voting and absentee ballots are available by request.
Republican Brad Finstad, New Ulm, is facing DFL candidate Jeff Ettinger, Austin, in the special election to replace Hagedorn, who died in February of kidney cancer.
Finstad, a former USDA official for the Trump administration, and Ettinger, a former Hormel CEO, emerged from the crowded Republican and Democratic primary races May 24.
Voters in southern Minnesota chose from eight DFL candidates and 10 GOP candidates to determine who would advance to the Aug. 9 special election for the seat.
Ettinger garnered more than 64 percent of the DFL vote while Finstad won by only 388 votes over state Rep. Jeremy Munson on the GOP side.
The winner of the Ettinger-Finstad election will serve the remainder of Hagedorn’s term, which ends in January.
On the same day as the Aug. 9 special election, a primary will decide party nominees for the normal November general election.
The ballot has two sides for voters to fill out.
The winner of the fall contest, which will be held under the new court-drawn lines with redistricting, will be elected to a full two-year term to the seat.
Local voting questions can be directed to the Rock County Auditor Treasurer at 507-283-5060.
Information about the candidates and the process can be found at the Secretary of State’s website, sos.state.mn.us.

When I was growing up and doing chores around the family farm, a radio would often be heard in the dairy barn.
WNAX out of Yankton, South Dakota, frequently broadcast the play-by-play of the Minnesota Twins games.
Through the mid- to late 1970s I heard the names of future Hall of Famers Tony Oliva, Rod Carew and Bert Blyleven as they came to the plate or played a great defense.
Hearing those games as a child fueled my love for the game later in life.
For years I was on local women’s softball teams and absolutely loved playing the games.
Recently I was reminded of those days of listening to the Twins games on the radio as I volunteered to be the sports photographer this summer.
That meant regularly attending home games of the Junior and Senior Legion teams as well as the Redbirds.
I don’t think I’ve had more fun working an assignment.
The task became even more fun when I could shoot photos from the dugouts.
The close proximity to the playing field also brought back memories of my playing days.
…freshly mowed grass, the sound of the ball hitting a leather glove, conversations between teammates.
I could feel the excitement as the home team hit a long ball to the outfield or when a ground ball bounced through the infield.
I admit I’ve missed photographing some good plays because I was too busy watching and enjoying the game.
This week Luverne will host the State Legion Baseball Tournament.
As hosts, the Luverne Senior Legion team earned an automatic berth in the tournament.
The action begins Friday and goes through Sunday.
I encourage everyone to take in a game at Redbird Field in Luverne sometime this weekend.
Enjoy the outdoors, buy snacks from the concession stand, and embrace the joys of youth baseball.
Adding to the excitement at the Legion tournament is that each of the 14 games will have local musicians or singers performing the National Anthem.
Organizer Janine Papik spent weeks arranging the local talent. She said some of the performers will surprise you with singing or playing an instrument.
One person who won’t be singing the National Anthem would be me — I have no positive memories of singing publicly that I want to relive.

The Star Herald asked around for tidbits to include in this month’s round of Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down, and the worst complaint for Thumbs Down was that weeds are making some properties look dumpy.
We encourage residents and businesses to mow or spray their weeds to help keep our communities clean and inviting.
Other than that, we have nothing but Thumbs Up to share:
Thumbs up — to the festive run of community celebrations this summer. (See Rick Peterson’s column this week).
Thumbs up — to the stellar lineup of family attractions and entertainment coming to the Rock County Fair this week. (See the front-page fair preview story.)
Thumbs up — to the Verne Drive-In for keeping Luverne on the map with its tasty concessions (including fresh-grilled burgers) and even better lineup of the latest releases. No wonder the Verne surpassed its own nightly attendance record (now at over 600 people) three times this summer.
Thumbs up — to recent cooperation from Mother Nature, especially for local crops. After a rough start to summer (numerous damaging storms), we’re seeing previously flattened corn standing tall and all crops (corn, soybeans, alfalfa) taking advantage of adequate moisture and sunshine.
Thumbs up — to splash parks in Rock County — the new one at Luverne’s Aquatics and Fitness and the free one that opened last year in Beaver Creek. Both have the slowly-fill overhead buckets that periodically dump on children who watch for the right moment to run beneath the deluge. It’s fun for kids, but it’s even more fun for grownups to observe.
Happy summer, readers.
We encourage Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down submissions at editor@star-herald.com. Call 507-283-2333 or snail mail at 117 West Main Street, Luverne MN 56156.

It’s the last weekend of July, and after Sunday you might possibly have heard a citywide collective sigh of relief.
We started the month with the Fourth of July celebration at The Lake complete with fireworks lighting up the sky to bring the day to a close.
Next was the Terry “Butch” Connell memorial ride July 9. Hundreds of folks in cars, motorcycles, UTVs and even a bus participated in the countywide poker run that raised money for Dollars for Scholars.
Less than a week later, 15,000 free hotdogs were served up to droves of hungry carnivores for the 60th annual Hot Dog Night July 14.
Hot Dog Night was the kickoff to the Cardinal Pride weekend that welcomed untold numbers of out-of-town and local Cardinal Alumni for a three-day bash.
The three days included greeting old friends and family while enjoying the best of what Luverne has to offer in food, drink, music, alumni parade and again fireworks.
The next weekend, the Rock County Revival took center stage in the Luverne city park with worship, testimonials, preaching and activities.
This weekend the Rock County Fair and the Minnesota State Legion Baseball Tournament take over the town.
The fair is three days of everything that one could imagine at a fair – midway, cows, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens, ducks, geese rabbits and all kinds of other 4-H exhibits … donkey races, enduro races, concerts, farm equipment, new and old, and daily activities and shows for the young and old alike.
Eight teams from across the state will be playing on Redbird Field vying for the Minnesota State Legion Baseball Tournament Championship.
All of that fun was in just one month. Thousands of visitors and locals attended many of these events, and some attended all of them.
None of these events happen without the hundreds of volunteers that work behind the scenes for months, even years, to put these events together.
Along with the volunteers there are the businesses that donate tens of thousands of dollars to finance these events.
More often than not, the volunteers and business don’t get the thanks they deserve.
So, that being said, I want to thank those that had any part in pulling off one of the greatest month-long parties of family, friends, faith, fair, baseball, fireworks, food, drinks, parades, concerts – all of which make Luverne the place we love to call home.

Dispatch report
July 15
•Complainant on S. Church Avenue in Hills reported house fire.
•Complainant reported reckless driver on I-90 eastbound, mile marker 6.
•Complainant on West Lincoln Street reported car parked in his yard.
•Complainant on East Lincoln Street reported theft.
July 16
•Complainant on 101st Street, Beaver Creek, reported trespassing.
•Complainant on West Barck Avenue reported damage to door.
•Security camera outage was reported.
•A wallet was found on North Kniss Avenue.
•Pipestone County requested assistance.
•Complainant reported stalled vehicle on Highway 75 at mile marker 13.
July 17
•Alarm reported at location on South Freeman Avenue.
•Motorist on I-90 eastbound at mile marker 8 near Beaver Creek reported trucker driving unsafely.
•Complainant reported truck ran into bench on South Kniss Avenue.
•Complainant reported possible drunk driver at Main and Warren.
•Complainant reported man in park is selling toys to kids in park.
•Complainant on South Dakota Street in Steen reported someone with a shotgun.
July 18
•Complainant on Highway 75 at mile marker 10 near Jasper reported man walking on side of road.
•Complainant on Barck Avenue reported unlicensed child driving vehicle.
•Complainant at 180th Avenue, Edgerton, reported trespassing.
•Complainant at Mead Court reported assault.
•Complainant at Mead Court reported female returned.
•Complainant reported vehicle all over roadway on I-90 westbound, mile marker 5.
•Complainant on East Main Street reported a possibly hazardous package.
July 19
•Warrant information was exchanged with Amboy, Minnesota.
•Complainant reported property damage on East Veterans Drive.
•Luverne business reported unlawful garbage dumping.
•Complainant on East Main Street reported man in area huffing something and yelling.
•Complainant on East Barck Avenue reported someone tried to get in window.
July 20
•Deputy conducted warrant check on North Spring Street.
•Subject turned self in at law enforcement center in Worthington on Rock County warrant.
•Complainant on 31st Street in Hills reported damaged roadway.
•Complainant on East Warren Street reported hit and run.
•Complainant on South Kniss Street reported stolen bike.
July 21
•Complainant on 160th Avenue, Ellsworth, reported several construction vehicles driving past location at 70 mph.
•Complainant reported subject with warrant on East Crawford Street.
•Complainant on Oak Drive reported U-Haul truck violating parking laws.
•Complainant reported wallet found on South Kniss Avenue.
July 22
•Complainant reported suspicious vehicles on 101st Street, Beaver Creek.
•Complainant on North Oakley Street reported parking issue.
•Complainant reported cattle truck swerving on I-90 westbound at mile marker 1.
•Complainant reported possible drunk driver on 71st Street, Beaver Creek.
•Nobles County law enforcement requested assistance from Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
•Minnesota State Patrol requested pursuit assistance from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition, officers responded to 3 motor vehicle accidents, 1 transport, 2 funeral escorts, 15 ambulance runs, 5 paper services, 9 animal complaints, 5 fingerprint requests, 3 burn permits, 2 gas drive-offs, 2 alarms, 5 drug court tests, 2 purchase and carry permits, 27 traffic stops, 4 abandoned 911 calls, 3 tests, 3 welfare checks, 2 follow-ups, and 1 OFP.

A Luverne community weaving project engages the artist in all of us.
Luverne residents Lowell and Shirley Harrison have a simple “loom” at the trailhead building on the corner of Blue Mound Avenue and East Main Street, and they provide yarn for the community weaving activity.
Discarded T-shirts from Redeemed Remnants are cut into long, thin colorful strips, and anyone passing by the trailhead can pick one or more of the strips and weave between the baling twine stretched to form the loom.
Two wooden slats on top and bottom of the loom keep the twine and weaving in place, and the Harrisons have started a few weaves for people to follow and complete as many rows as they want.
“I thought this was a great idea,” Shirley said. “I just like the idea of people all contributing and weaving their lives into the piece.”
Community members are encouraged to add organic elements to the weave. For example, the Harrisons contributed dried moss and pine cones.
On a recent walk, Shirley said she found a strip of bark that she wove into the project, and she encourages “whatever you find” to be included in the community weave.
The Luverne community weaving project is a result of the Harrisons volunteering at the Stephen Foster Culture Center State Park in White Springs, Florida, where Shirley played her dulcimer and another couple set up a community weave project.
The Harrisons learned from the couple who encouraged visitors to add organic materials they found in the park to the weave.
“It was fun seeing what people think of doing,” Shirley said.
According to the culture center’s website, the ancient art of hand-weaving maintains relevance and power as a form of storytelling.
The story told by the Luverne project will be displayed in a public location to be determined at a later date.
Depending on when the project is finished, the Harrisons may set up another loom at the trailhead for the community to finish.

Card showers
Lillian Fick Peterson will celebrate her 88th birthday on Thursday, July 28. Greetings may be sent to her at Falls Landing, 1101 N. Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone, MN 56164.
 
Patsy Cragoe will celebrate her 80th birthday on Saturday, July 30. Greetings may be sent to her at 209 Cashin Drive, Luverne, MN 56156.
 
Margaret Loger will celebrate her 90th birthday on Saturday, Aug. 6. Greetings may be sent to her at 200 W. 7th Street, Adrian, MN 56110.
 
Larry and Cathy Lewis will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, Aug. 12. Greetings may be sent to them at 29568 St. Hwy. 91, Adrian, MN 56110.

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, Aug. 1: Spaghetti with meat sauce, Romaine salad with dressing, peaches, Texas toast, bar.
Tuesday, Aug. 2: Pork loin, yams, broccoli, bread, dessert.
Wednesday, Aug. 3: Chicken pasta salad, sliced cucumbers, fruit salad, dessert.
Half-price day sponsored by Security Savings Bank.
Thursday, Aug. 4: Roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner roll, dessert.
Friday, Aug. 5: Barbecue pork on a bun, coleslaw, pineapple, dessert.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846, extension 11 to reserve one day prior, to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older.
This article appeared in the March 25, 1943, edition of The Rock County Star Herald.
         When Edward Byrne, Luverne, came west from Iowa to settle, South Dakota was still a part of Dakota Territory. A lot of people, who had heard of the rich prairie land open to homesteaders in the territory, moved out of Iowa in immigrant trains at that time, and joining the throng was Mr. Byrne and his brother. He was then only 17 years old.
         Mr. Byrne was born March 18, 1865, in a log house in Alamakee county, in the northeast corner of Iowa. His parents, Lawrence and Bridget Hart Byrne, were natives of Ireland who came first to Quebec, Canada, and then to Iowa to live.
         They settled not far from the Mississippi river, and at that time, the land in that area was covered with timber. Unusually fine trees were cleared by the settlers so they could begin raising crops, Mr. Byrne states. Now comparatively rare, the walnut tree, butter nut trees, three kinds of oak and basswood trees would be cut down just to get them out of the road.
         Mr. Byrne was a boy of 10 when he began earning his own money. He received 25 cents a day for planting corn by hand. The fields were marked out in squares, and wherever lines crossed, the person or persons doing the planting had to drop two or three kernels of corn. After some practice, Mr. Byrne reports, it was no trick at all to pick out the exact number of seeds out of the bag and drop them exactly where they were supposed to be. Men, and often times the women folks, would follow after the person doing the planting and would cover up the seed with hoes.
         In 1881, Mr. Byrne’s older brother Frank went to Dakota Territory, and the following year, Mr. Byrne and his brother Will moved there, going to the vicinity of Marion.
         In 1884, they decided to go to Faulk county where there was a lot of prairie sod to be broken for settlers who had homesteaded there. Mr. Byrne, using four head of oxen on an 18 inch sulky plow, and his brother, using three horses on a 16 inch sulky plow, together broke five acres a day. They received $4 per acre for the work—a good salary, Mr. Byrne says, but every dollar was well earned.
         So new was Faulk county, when they went there, Mr. Byrne said, that section lines in some places hadn’t even been surveyed. He was present to see the surveyors running the first section lines in Arcade township, Faulk county.
         Although he was not out in the storm, he remembers the blizzard of 1888 well. His brother had driven to Faulkton with a team and sled and was about two or three miles out of town on his way home when the storm struck. He decided to turn around and go back, but his team would not face the wind. He managed to keep his bearings by driving parallel to the railroad grade. He drove 10 miles through the blinding snow and finally arrived in the town of Miranda where he remained until the weather conditions improved.
         But Mr. Byrne never entered politics himself, with the exception of the time he served as treasurer of Hillsdale township in Faulk county. His brother Frank, however, served as governor of South Dakota for two terms, 1913 to 1917.
         Mr. Byrne was married at Waukon, Ia. Sept. 30, 1908. He and his wife farmed in South Dakota until 1919, and then moved to Luverne which has since been their home. They decided to move here after they had visited in Luverne several times and had grown to like the town. After coming here, Mr. Byrne operated a dray and bus line for two years, and retired after he suffered a leg injury.
         Mr. and Mrs. Byrne have two children, Mrs. Nick Forrette of Adrian, and Sgt. Robert Byrne, who is attending a radio school in Montreal, Canada. They have two grandchildren.
         Of a family of 10, Mr. Byrne, and two other brothers, Joe Byrne of Clairmont, Fla., and Tom Byrne of Clairmont, Fla., and Tom Byrne of Seattle, Wash. are still living.
         He is a member of St. Catherine’s church of Luverne.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.