By Helen Saum
Hospice Volunteer Coordinator

For the third year, Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital gave awards to three people in the area who have significantly contributed to the success of the Hospice program. The awards given were original Raku pottery vases designed with the hospice logo and made by local artist Jerry Deuschle of Luverne. The awards were presented at the annual Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction on April 20th. This year Angeline Willers of Beaver Creek was recognized as the Distinguished Hospice Volunteer for 2001.

Angie was one of the first people back in 1993 to sign up to learn about hospice care when Luverne Community Hospital started its Medicare Certified Hospice program. Angie and her husband, Burdell, both completed a 12-hour hospice training course and have been involved with the program since that time. Angie has individually volunteered more than 650 hours for hospice in a variety of capacities. Angie is a Hospice Patient Care Volunteer, meaning she is available to assist hospice patients who are living in their own home, apartment or those in the nursing home. Some patients' family members live at a distance so hospice volunteers like Angie help to fill in the gaps of whatever is needed. Oftentimes volunteers may begin as just someone to visit and check on them periodically.

As the patient's health declines over time the volunteer may assist with other aspects such as doing some light housekeeping, running an errand, picking up prescriptions or taking the patient to their doctor appointments. Other hospice patients may have family nearby and use a volunteer to come to give the caregiver a break. Other patients in the advanced stages of their illness may want a volunteer to sit at their bedside, read to them or just be there with them.

Angie has helped with many patients over the years, some who have been strangers, some who were people she has known for many years, but in every situation she has helped to provide comfort, dignity and quality of life for whatever amount of time they have to live. In addition, Angie volunteers some of her time helping with patients at The Cottage in Luverne. Angie has also served on the Hospice Community Advisory Committee for the past three years and is active with helping to raise money for the hospice program. Burdell Willers won this award in 1999.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne girls' track team played catch-up at Cardinal Field Saturday.

Three weeks after having the Tri-State Relays rained out, a slimmed down version of the event was staged in Luverne over the weekend.

The Cardinals took advantage of the situation to score 156 points while placing second to Southwest Star Concept-Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster, which won the team competition with 214 points.

Worthington, Fulda and Canby-Minneota capped the field with 118, 89 and 50 points respectively.

Two Cardinals won individual events and one relay team secured a meet title during the meet.

Victoria Arends and Danielle Cook captured the individual titles for LHS.

Arends ran 1,600 meters in 5:49.84. Cook cleared the 300-meter hurdles in 48.6.

Luverne also took top honors in the 1,600-meter relay. Amanda Dooyema, Jenni Christensen Hannah and Sadie Dietrich ran the distance in 4:17.36.

The Dietrichs and Amanda Aning placed second in individual events.

Sadie Dietrich ran 200 meters in 28.42, and Hannah Dietrich was timed at 1:03.84 in the 400-meter dash.

Aning tied a meet record while finishing second in the pole vault by clearing 10-0. Worthington's Marten, who also cleared 10-0, was awarded first place based on misses at prior heights.

Aning also cleared 5-0 to place second in the high jump.

Luverne's 800-meter relay team of Callen Bosshart, Cook, Maggie Vanden Hoek and Christensen also placed second with a time of 1:53.47.

The Cardinal girls will wrap up the regular season by competing at the Southwest Conference meet in Pipestone.

Here is a look at the rest of Luverne's top eight finishers from the Tri-State Relays.

Third place: Adria, Sherwood, discus, 98-5; 400 relay (Bosshart, Vanden Hoek, Nicole Willers and Aning), 55.01.

Fourth place: Maggie Kuhlman, 3,200, 15:27.67; Christensen, 800, 2:43.44; N.Willers, 100, 14.03; Tracey Scheidt, 300 hurdles, 51.46; Marissa Stewart, shot, 30-9 1/2.

Fifth place: Marissa Stewart, discus, 89-10; Chelsea Park, 3,200, 15:40; Scheidt, 100 hurdles, 18.26; Bosshart, 100, 14.6; Abby Klosterbuer, 400, 1:09.68; Patricia Willers, 300 hurdles, 51.71; N.Willers, 200, 29.35;.

Sixth place: Megan Johnson, 3,200, 15:50; Christina Smidstra, 100, 14.62; Vanden Hoek, 200, 30.04; Dooyema, triple jump, 29-8 1/2; Allana Gacke, pole vault, 7-0.

Seventh place: Nicole Cronquist, 1,600, 6:16.4.

Eighth place: Jessica Willers, 100 hurdles, 20.29; Park, 400, 1:12.61; Arends, 200, 30.66; Gacke, triple jump, 28-4 3/4; Sandra Willers, shot, 28-11; Sara Sneller, discus, 86-2.

By Lori Ehde
Now is a good time for local farmers to invest in soil conservation practices, according to Dave Rose, district conservationist with the Luverne field office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

In April, the USDA announced new incentives for landowners to put ground into the Continuous Conservation Program.

The incentives come at a good time, considering erosion from heavy rains has shown where grassed waterways are needed.

"A lot of farmers have gullies, and I think practices like filter strips and waterways are a great way to heal these up," Rose said.

"I don't think most people realize what a great deal these are."

The incentives are offered as part of the National Conservation Buffer Initiative, which seeks to establish 2 million miles of buffers across the United States by 2002.

Buffer practices include filter strips, riparian forest buffers, grassed waterways, field windbreaks, shelter belts and living snow fences.

Incentives to participate in the Continuous CRP include:

oAn up-front signing bonus of $100 to $150 per acre at the start of the contract to help defray costs for buffer practices.

oCost-share and incentive payments that result in up to 90-percent reimbursement for the establishment costs of buffer practices.

oUSDA will pay the landowner rental for the acreage enrolled. Rental rates in Rock County can be up to $140.60 per acre per year.

The program and its incentives are available through the end of September, and Rose advises landowners to sign up soon.

"You never know with the next farm bill if these incentives will exist," Rose said. "These practices are really the best thing for Rock County and for individual landowners."

To sign up, or for more information, contact Rose, 283-8685, ext. 3, or Roger Carlson of the Farm Service Agency, 283-2369.

By Betty Mann
This article appeared in the "Headlight" in 1898 about the Nelson Bros. & Co. store on the corner of Main and McKenzie. It was where Loopy's is now.

"In this thriving city, situated in the richest portion of the Rock River Valley, the visitor is surprised to find a department store, entirely metropolitan in its character and equal in its proportions to anything of its kind outside the large cities. The building is an imposing structure of brick and stone, with pressed brick front, located on the busiest corner of the town. It has a frontage equal to three ordinary store fronts, besides the grocery frontage opening on another street (McKenzie) The store is 75 x 136 feet, two stories and basement. Approaching this building from the outside, one is impressed with the thought that the surrounding country must indeed be a garden spot to be able to support such a magnificent establishment. The extent of its capacity, completeness of arrangement and variety of stock is a surprise. The first floor is occupied by the departments of dry goods, clothing, shoes, groceries and hardware. This floor is in one large room, the departments being separated only by shelving. At the rear end of the dry goods room is the cloak department, furnished with a full-length three-plate mirror, and carrying in its stock seasonable wraps of all kinds. Dress goods of newest styles, wash goods, ladies' furnishings, notions, etc., comprise a stock most attractive and satisfactory to the careful purchaser.

The show department, in the center front, between the dry goods and clothing is a model of completeness, including in its stock everything desirable in footwear for man, woman and child. In clothing, as in every department, it is the aim of the firm to suit the needs of its customers, and here they spare no pains to meet the demands of the trade, both as to price, style and fit. This stock includes everything in the line of menÕs furnishings, business and dress suits, working clothes, fur coats, hats, caps, trunks, valises, etc. In the grocery department there is everything in plain and fancy groceries, seasonable fruits, etc. In the hardware line they carry shelf and granite ware, kitchen utensils, fence wire, nails, churns, washing machines, etc. On the second floor there is shown the famous line of BuckÕs stoves and ranges, manufactured in St. Louis and unequaled for beauty, utility and wearing qualities. They handle also the "Insurance" gasoline stoves, a line which has special safety features, the burner being so arranged as to shut off automatically the flow of gas in case of the flame being accidentally blown out. On the second floor are shown also house furnishings, carpets, rugs, Japanese mattings, floor oilcloths and linoleums, window shades, lace curtains, portieres, blankets and comforters, sewing machines; also an elegant line of plain and fancy crockery and glassware.

The immense basement on a busy day presents a lively scene. Most of its room is utilized for storage purposes, while the rear end and east side are devoted to freight receiving, butter and egg rooms and shipping department. Twenty-five to $30,000 worth of butter and eggs annually are handled in this department and shipped to Eastern markets. During May and June of this year (1898) shipments were made in carloads. Besides this the firm shipped 18 cars of potatoes last season and has bought 15,000 to 18,000 pounds of wool this year. Total sales were $125,000 last year and will, without a doubt, reach $140,000 or $150,000 this year.

The business was established by Mr. N. Nelson, now senior partner of the firm, in 1876, when the town consisted of a few straggling buildings out on the prairie, with no railroad facilities, and goods had to be hauled 35 miles by team. In 1884, the firm name was changed to Nelson Bros. by the taking into partnership of Mr. S.B. Nelson, who now has personal supervision of the business. Four years later F.C. Mahoney, a brother-in-law of the Nelsons, became a partner, and the firm assumed its present name of Nelson Bros. & Co. These men are thoroughly businesslike and have built up their trade on the plane of square dealing, understanding that benefits to their customers mean benefits to themselves, and endeavoring always to give value received. From a very small beginning the business has steadily grown to its present proportions. In 1892, the firm erected the building which they now occupy, furnished it with all modern arrangements, and at present, 20 people are employed in the house to handle a trade which is not only very satisfactory but constantly increasing. People coming from a distance, either to trade or look over the store, are always made welcome, and the firm enjoys an enviable reputation at home and abroad.

Their personal character is of the highest, their achievements as merchants and businessmen have been most brilliant and successful, and we are but voicing the sentiments of their numerous customers and friends in saying they are among the most conspicuous representatives of the business interests of the place."

By Lori Ehde
Irid Bjerk had long retired from his 40-year Star-Herald career, but his passion for community news stayed with him until his death.

Bjerk died Thursday, May 10, in Luverne's hospice Cottage. He was 86.

Though he's been involved with many aspects of the community, Bjerk's friends say he will most be remembered for his work with the Star Herald.

"He's been with the Star Herald as long as I've known him. It almost seemed he was the Star Herald," said Larry Brinkman, one of Bjerk's closest friends.

"He knew so much about the community and the town."

Through his weekly Boy Off the Farm columns, the community grew close to him, as well. After his retirement, he assembled a collection of those columns and published them in a book.

Luverne's Brenda Winter interviewed Bjerk during the community's 125th celebration in 1992. Following is an excerpt from the resulting story:

He chronicled the births, lives and deaths of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Rock County residents. "I always thought just putting people's names in the paper is the best thing you could do for them," Bjerk said. His reward for his efforts was hearing those same people say, "I enjoyed what you wrote in last week's paper."

"There's no better feeling in the world than hearing someone say they read and enjoyed your writing," Bjerk said.

Forty years gave Bjerk enough time to know this farming town like few people know their communities. He knew the movers and shakers on Main Street and the "just plain folks" working the land and raising their families.

Because he was a part of the community and not exempt from it, in some cases he lived the news while he reported it. He felt the pain and fear of the 1948 polio epidemic that swept through the area. "Two and three children died each week for an entire summer. One week I think we had seven obituaries."

Writing those obituaries was more than a job to Bjerk as he and his wife, Roberta, feared at the time for the health and lives of their own two small sons.

During World War II Bjerk was asked to take the group pictures of the county's gallant young men as they were called to active military duty. The men, in Bjerk's words, "were going to be the ones to stop Hitler and Hirohito."

Bjerk took the pictures, wrote the stories about the troops' successes overseas and, when "those awful telegrams came" wrote the obituary telling the community that yet another of its brave young men had lost his life fighting for a noble cause.

...As an editor Bjerk said the biggest stories in his tenure were World War II, the polio outbreak, the blizzard of 1940, and the state boysÕ basketball championship in 1964.

Bjerk's friends remember how he took the job to heart.
"He was terribly conscientious. He never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings," Brinkman said Monday.

"He tried to be very honest and present the truth, but he was very careful about not offending anyone."

Luverne's Alex Frick said he remembers Bjerk commenting one day about how he was glad he didn't have to cover ambulance calls and take pictures anymore.

"He told me how that used to bother him. He really did care about people, and it really affected how he interacted with people," Frick said.

"To Irid, everyone had an inherent worth - there were no throwaways in his book. It's a wonderful way to be, but it's a hard way to be, because you end up caring so much and getting hurt."

After his retirement, Bjerk continued writing and become known as the local historian. Until recent years, he served as a contributing writer for the Star Herald, often writing pieces of historical significance as the need arose.

In addition, he wrote histories of the Rock County Courthouse, for local insurance companies, St. John Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran Church. He also authored "A Look At Our Historical Past," a booklet that accompanies the walking tour of Luverne's historic district.

Frick spent time with Bjerk in his last hours, volunteering to write down any pertinent thoughts as they arose.

As it turned out, his pain and subsequent medicated state made it difficult to articulate thoughts, but Frick said one message came through clearly.

"He wanted me to tell his sons and all his friends that he loves them and appreciates all they've done for him," Frick said.

This is significant in the sense that many will remember Bjerk for his own spirit of giving.

"He was always willing to help someone out, and he wasn't looking for accolades or a pat on the back," said Gregg Gropel, who worked with Bjerk on an award-winning Rotary newsletter.

Bjerk's obituary includes a long list of civic contributions to the community.

"Anything he took on he was dedicated to," Gropel said.

Memorial services were Monday in Grace Lutheran Church.

By Sara Quam
Border city legislation's future looks brighter to Luverne and to everyone who supported it. It is now in both Senate and House tax bills and is on its way to the conference committee - almost a sure bet to be signed into law.

Last year, the same legislation made it into only the Senate tax bill. However, no one is looking back because the legislation could be so valuable to the city.

"This will change the rules of economic development for Luverne. It will level the playing field across the border," City Administrator Matt Hylen said.

The provision aims to compensate for tax disparities between Luverne and South Dakota by providing incentives to businesses coming to Luverne: state sales tax and local property tax exemptions, a corporate franchise credit, a new industry payroll credit and payment in lieu of taxes.

As recently as last week, the outlook was bleak for the legislation. Luverne Mayor Glen Gust went to St. Paul to lobby Wednesday and stayed through the week.

"It's a great economic development tool for the city," Gust said.

At first an amendment including border city provisions didn’t make it into the Senate’s tax bill as proposed by State Sen. Arlene Lesewski - a Republican in a DFL-controlled Senate.

So DFL Sen. Jim Vickerman introduced the same amendment in the DFL Tax Bill and it passed.

Lesewski voted for the DFL bill in order to support Luverne's special legislation that was outlined in it. Both DFL and Republican senators from Greater Minnesota and from the metropolitan area spoke in favor of the amendment.

Gust said, "Sen. Lesewski and Sen. Vickerman helped other legislators understand the real competitive issues Luverne is faced with. They made a very strong case for the amendment."

With the tax bills now in conference committees, slight differences between the House and Senate versions will be negotiated.

Gust said the entire procedure was exciting to witness and participate in.

"It's good for Luverne, good for Rock County, and it's good for the state." Gust said, citing research that says 25 jobs created will pay the money back to the state.

The city isn't sure exactly how the businesses would access the tax incentives, and each case will likely be approached separately. State money is used for all of the tax incentives, except for local property tax exemptions. But all available incentives don’t have to be used just because they are available. The process the city takes will mean public hearings and input.

Luverne Economic Development Authority Director Tony Chladek said, "It'll certainly be one of those tools I can throw out there," when he's making contacts with prospective businesses.

Gust said the legislation will emphasize the already high quality of life in Luverne. He also said it should help stop businesses from moving and encourage others to stay. Tri-State Insurance Company has said it will move to South Dakota, and Luverne Truck Equipment Company and Luverne Fire Apparatus Company have already relocated there.

The House of Representatives version of the tax bill included border city privileges for Luverne earlier in the session, largely due to the efforts of Rep. Richard Mulder.

Background on border city legislation
City leaders started more closely analyzing Luverne's economic situation in 1999. Then a city intern conducted a study that proved initial perceptions right. To back up that study, which could be seen as biased, the city hired Maxfield Research to complete its own study. The results were similar.

Both studies concluded that Luverne's situation as a border city is partially due to Interstate 90, which makes travel to South Dakota so easy. And businesses have an easier time with taxes in South Dakota.

When here, for example, Luverne Truck Equipment Co. employed 75 workers; since moving to Brandon, it employs 250. Luverne Fire Apparatus Co. now employs 70 people and in Luverne employed just 35.

A Maxfield Research study compared border cities (Luverne, Sioux Falls, Brandon), regional cities (Luverne, Pipestone, Marshall, Windom, Worthington), western Minnesota border cities (Luverne, Breckenridge, Ortonville and East Grand Forks) and non-border cities of similar size (Luverne, Glencoe, Redwood Falls and Stewartville).

In short, Luverne falls behind in all of the categories.

The research company showed that Luverne has experienced slower economic growth than other border cities. It is illustrated best in a comparison with Brandon, once a smaller city than Luverne.

Brandon's population surpassed Luverne's through the '90s while Luverne's stagnated.

In comparison to regional cities, Luverne is behind most in household growth, job retention, gross sales and taxable property.

The study says "Luverne's decline in employment is unmatched among all" western border cities. Another shortcoming Luverne has compared to other western border cities is gross sales. Sales stayed constant from 1990 to 1996 while other border cities had an increase.

Non-border cities of similar size compared favorably to Luverne based on population and household growth, employment, gross sales and taxable property.

By Sara Quam
Jacob O'Donnell wants a new computer so bad he can taste it. But in order to get that computer, he won't be tasting any pop or candy for the rest of the year.

The Luverne Elementary fourth-grader is midway through a bargain he made with his parents - no pop or candy for a year and he can have any computer he wants.

And his mom and dad, Donna and John O'Donnell, Ellsworth, couldn't be more pleased with the arrangement.

John said, "He quit cold turkey the first day, and he's been 100 percent ever since."

That the New Year's resolution lasted this long hasnÕt surprised Donna, "That's the kind of kid he is; if he's determined, he'll just do it."

For Easter, Jacob didn't get a basket full of candy - he got a kite and snacks like pretzels and crackers.

"There's temptation everywhere," John said.

A trip to the movies means nachos and water instead of Juju Fruits and Mountain Dew.

Jacob's teacher, Sheryl Berg, said he resists indulging when she brings candy to school for a special treat. "He just politely says 'No, thank you' every time I come around with it," she said.

Jacob says it was more difficult to abstain at first. "It was like, 'Ah, give me some.'" But he's grown used to it and doesn't miss the candy anymore.

And for anyone who feels sorry for him, Jacob said he's not deprived. "I can still have chocolate chip cookies, just not Hershey's candy bars."

Discipline and sacrifice
Even though he's not being punished for anything, Jacob is now learning valuable lessons in discipline and sacrifice.

John first brought up the deal. "We wanted to get him off the sugar and caffeine," he said.
Side benefits have come in weight loss and better sleeping for Jacob and some money saved in the process.

"He hasn't been crabby or moody through any of it," Donna said.

"There's been no complaining on his part," John said.

That doesn't mean he hasnÕt been teased by his four siblings ... and his parents, too, according to Jacob. "My parents were testing me at first, leaving candy around the house and stuff."

Donna suspects he's learning a lot from the experience. "It's the little things. He holds up his hands and says, 'Hm, let's see, candy or a computer?' Like the choice is so obvious."

Jacob already has a computer at home, but itÕs an older model that canÕt carry the games and other accessories he wants.

The main use for his computer will be the Internet. He wants to communicate with his dad when he's on the road as a truck driver. Jacob also looks forward to playing DVDs and burning CDs.

So, with those options staring him in the face, he can easily go without his former favorites: Sour Skittles and Mountain Dew.

Even when his year of going without is up, it's not going to be a junk-food frenzy for Jacob. His parents said they have the right to take away the computer with the same deal that got him the computer.

But Jacob said he might try to slide around that if he gets bold enough. "Maybe I'll sneak some when I'm older."

Amy Stratton (front left) enjoys a massage at this year's Women's Expo from Marcia Jonas. In back Shelly Popkes massages Diane Gustafson.

Massages, hair makeovers, cholesterol checks, blood pressure checks, non-alcoholic drink taste testing and gardening and chocolate demonstrations were all a part of the day's activities. Sherry Kurtz from KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls hosted a women's issues discussion.

During the Women's Expo, Mrs. Minnesota Sue Nelson presented Luverne's Ruth Pickett with the Rock County Woman of Excellence Award. Pickett is the second winner; Jane Wildung received the award last year. Pickett recently retired from her job as the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program Coordinator for 25 years. Pickett's nomination letters said about her: "Ruth has worked with the RSVP Program in Rock County for 25 years. We currently have 267 volunteers at 36 sites. Ruth knew most of her volunteers and knew what kind of things they liked to do. She is responsible for making the Rock County RSVP program the well-known and respected program it is today. Ruth's ability to match a client with the appropriate volunteer has made the RSVP experience great for both client and volunteer.

Ruth served many consecutive terms on the District 2184 Community Education Advisory Council, representing the senior citizens of the community. Very rarely did Ruth ever miss a meeting, and if she had to be absent she always informed the director. This represents a loyalty not only to those she represented, but to the community education program as well. Ruth played a very prominent role in helping establish the Alumni News. Perhaps the many qualities Ruth possesses have been mentioned. But in any case, she has demonstrated many of the qualities the Rock County Family Coordinating Council is trying to instill in our community's youth today: friendship, caring, kindness, responsibility, honesty, courage, patience, honor, wisdom, respect, perseverance and sharing. It is my honor to have known and worked

George Bonnema of Luverne Flowers plants a young tree in front of the Community Education Building Monday, April 30, with the students involved in the Family U After School program. Pictured with him are (clockwise from left) Andrew Kannas, Nathan Kannas, Zoe Forsberg, Christian Rise, Sara Ladd, Brady Wrede, Katie Dahl, Ellen Dahl and Austin Eeten. April 27 was Arbor Day, and another tree dedication ceremony took place at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center. The City of Luverne gave MJB two trees, and Mayor Glen Gust joined the residents for coffee after the ceremony, which included a poem read by Helga Rassmussen.

Photo by Lori Ehde