Bravo, Luverne, on a job well done hosting the 60th Annual Hot Dog Night and Cardinal Pride All-School Reunion over the weekend.
Of course, to praise “Luverne” is to praise Luverne leaders, Chamber staff, committee members, businesses and countless volunteers who worked quietly behind the scenes for months to make sure the community was ready for the big weekend.
The goal was to put our best foot forward and make our guests feel warmly welcomed. (Temperatures nearing 90 degrees helped with the “warm” part.)
This was facilitated in part by staging events and activities that encouraged reconnection with classmates and old friends and stirred a renewed appreciation for an alma mater and hometown.
Judging by post-weekend chatter among those who participated, the weekend accomplished all that and more.
There were rave reviews about everything from the Wiener Dogs to the classic cars in the Cruise and Park to the live music performing at each venue.
Everywhere we looked, there was red and white attire and bright smiling faces, from the Class of 1950 to the Class of 2020 and everyone before, after and in between.
For those who didn’t graduate from Luverne High School but call this community home, it was a proud weekend also. You don’t have to be an LHS grad to appreciate compliments from visitors about your community.
If we didn’t know it before Cardinal Pride weekend, we sure do now.
We heard over and over how great the town looked, how progressive it had been with development, and well planned the parties were for Cardinal Pride.
Again, Bravo, Luverne — the people who worked to make Cardinal Pride a success. Thanks for making us all proud.
Enjoy this week to regroup before we roll out the red carpet again for visitors.
The Rock County Fair is on deck for July 27-30, and we can do it all over again.
Be sure to check out our 2022 Fair Preview Special Edition inserted in this week’s Star Herald. See you at the fair!

Dispatch report
July 8
•Complainant reported neighbors are working on cars at all hours.
•Complainant in Sioux Falls reported a fire at location.
•Complainant on 90th Avenue, Hardwick, reported crops damaged by herbicide.
•Complainant reported a lost wallet.
•Complainant on southwest corner of Main Street and S. Kniss Avenue reported a panhandler.
•Complainant on 161st Street reported calls for help.
•Complainant reported vandalism.
July 9
•Complainant on N. Oakley Street requested assistance.
•Complainant on 140th Avenue, Hardwick, reported theft of tools.
•Complainant on S. Dakota Street, Steen, requested assistance.
•Complainant in city of Steen requested to speak with supervisor.
•Complainant on Warren Street and Kniss Avenue reported loud music at location.
July 10
•Complainant on Oak Drive reported running water in parking lot at location.
•Complainant on Interstate 90, mile marker 5, Beaver Creek, reported a semi tried to run them off the road.
•Complainant reported a Publisher’s Clearing House scam.
•Complainant on Virginia Street reported a dog locked in car.
•Complainant reported a camera outage.
•Complainant on W. Crawford Street reported a possible fire.
July 11
•Complainant on W. Warren Street and S. East Park Street reported a parking violation.
•Complainant requested to speak to the sheriff.
•Subject was arrested on Rock County warrant in Yellow Medicine, Granite Falls.
•Deputy assisted state patrol with a motor vehicle accident westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 15, Luverne.
•Report of camera outage.
•Complainant on Lake Street and 4th Avenue, Worthington, requested mutual aid for emergency.
•Complainant on 164th Avenue, Hardwick, reported vehicle speeding.
•An outage was reported.
•Complainant on Britz Drive reported theft.
July 12
•Complainant on 164th Avenue, Hardwick, reported a vehicle revved its engine near location.
•Extra patrol was requested in the area on 164th Avenue, Hardwick.
July 13
•A duty officer reported for hazmat material on 91st and 50th Avenue, Beaver Creek.
•Complainant reported harassment via social media.
•Complainant on Highway 75, mile marker 10, Luverne, reported truck with unsecure load at location.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 23, Magnolia, reported trailer with no plates and thinks it may be stolen.
•Complainant reported a scam.
•Complainant northbound from Iowa, on Highway 75, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
July 14
•Report of a 911 outage.
•Complainant on 60th Avenue and Interstate 90, Beaver Creek, reported many work vehicles parked on shoulder.
•Complainant on 8th Street E., Jasper, reported harassment via phone call.
•Duty officer was reported for hazmat material on E. Main Street.
•Complainant on southwest corner of Main Street and S. Kniss Avenue reported a panhandler.
•An outage was reported.
•Complainant in Sioux Falls reported a stolen vehicle at location.
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported they found an iPhone.
•Deputies assisted with a pursuit in northeast Rock County, Kenneth.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on 101st Street, Beaver Creek, reported trespassing.
•Complainant on S. Church Avenue, Hills, reported a house fire.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported an accident with property damage.
In addition, officers responded to 1 motor vehicle accident, 1 vehicle in ditch, 1 transport, 13 ambulance runs, 3 paper services, 6 animal complaints, 7 fingerprint requests, 5 burn permits, 2 vehicle impounds, 4 gas drive-offs, 4 alarms, 4 drug court tests, 12 purchase and carry permits, 2 stalled vehicles, 21 traffic stops, 6 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 1 welfare check, 6 reports of cattle out and 2 OFPs.

Duininck Inc. of Prinsburg began widening the shoulders last week along County Road 4 east of Luverne from the Rock River bridge to County Road 9 near the radio station. The shoulder work (shown above from Friday) is completed and will be paved in early August during a mill and overlay of County Road 4 from the Rock River to Magnolia.

Card showers
Sue Gruis celebrated her 75th birthday on Sunday, July 17. Greetings may be sent to her at PO Box 366, Onida, SD 57564.
 
 Patsy Cragoe will celebrate her 80th birthday Saturday, July 30. Cards and well wishes may be sent to 209 Cashin Drive, Luverne, MN 56156.
 
Raney and Jan Israelson will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Thursday, July 28. Greetings may be sent to 507 McKenzie Street, Luverne, MN 56156.

LSS meals at Generations
 
Monday, July 25: Cubed turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, dinner roll, warm fruit crisp.
Tuesday, July 26: Tater tot casserole, green beans, warm peaches, dinner roll, dessert.
Activities: 12:30 p.m. Pinochle or favorite game.
Wednesday, July 27: Ham pasta salad, creamy cucumbers, cantaloupe, dessert.
Thursday, July 28: Chicken salad on croissant, coleslaw, tropical fruit, dessert.
Activities: 1 p.m. LSS frozen food meal distribution in main entrance.
Friday, July 29: Baked fish, rice pilaf, Oriental blend, warm apple slices.
Half-Price Day sponsored by American Reformed Church.
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 18, 1943 edition of The Rock County Star Herald.
One of Clinton township’s well-known retired farmers is Bernard Slieter, Steen. Known more familiarly to his close friends and neighbors as “Ben,” he now lives in Steen where he moved upon retirement from actual farming operations in 1931.
The village of Steen was but 10 years old when Mr. Slieter came to Rock county, and many changes have taken place in that community since that time.
Mr. Slieter was a native of Germany. He was born in that country Jan. 25, 1865, and it was there that he grew to manhood. On July 6, 1889, he married Ida Dohlman, and two years later, they set out together to make their home in the United States. They arrived in Applington, Ia. May 10, 1891, and Mr. Slieter immediately went to work on a farm as a farm hand. Wages were not high—only $1 for a 12 or 14 hour day, but compared to what farm hands were being paid in Germany, he thought he was getting excellent wages and was well satisfied.
After working on farms for three years, he had saved a little money and he used it to set himself up in farming in Grundy county, Ia. It was in 1898 that he decided to come to Rock county with his family. He farmed several places in the Steen vicinity, and in 1908, he bought a farm east of Steen which was the Slieter home for 21 years.
Although Steen was a comparatively new place on the map of Rock county when the Slieters moved here, it was already quite a business town. It had enjoyed a period of growth during the few years before and two general stores had been built; there was a pool hall, a harness shop, blacksmith shop, livery and feed barn, elevator, lumber yard and hardware store in addition to the railroad station and postoffice. Two years after Mr. Slieter’s arrival, Steen was visited by a fire that destroyed two elevators containing some 20,000 bushels of grain.
In 1908 Mr. Slieter bought a farm east of Steen and resided there 21 years. In May, 1929, he and his family were attending church when their farm home burned to the ground. Not a thing was saved. Although some of the furnishings could be replaced, the loss that was perhaps felt most were the main keepsakes, pictures and mementos that had been collected and saved during the years which had passed. A new house was built to replace the one that was destroyed, and while it was under construction, the family lived in a small bunk house.
In 1931 he retired and moved to the village of Steen and has lived alone in his home there since the death of his wife on Aug. 21, 1939. He is still very active and is able to do his own work. He enjoys spending a day or two, now and then, with his children who live on farms, and in the spring helps put in different gardens.
Of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Slieter, eight are still living. They are John Slieter, Pipestone; Mrs. Mareka Loger, North Redwood Falls; George Slieter, Lester, Ia.; Mrs. Nick Stravenger, Luverne; Mrs. Arnold Schneekloth, Hills; Bernard Slieter Jr., Steen; Mrs. LaVerne Davis, Boise, Ida., and Emil Slieter, Hills. One daughter, Grace (Mrs. Gerrit Smith), died in 1937. Other direct descendants of Mr. Slieter are 39 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
As far as he knows, all his brothers and sisters with the exception of one are still living. There were seven children in the family, and one of the boys was killed during World War I. Two sisters and one brother are still living in Germany. A brother, John, resides at Watertown, S.D. and a sister, Mrs. Albert  Bussman, lives at Applington, Ia.
Mr. Slieter is a member of the Evangelical church at Steen.
He attributes his long life to the grace of God and hard work.
         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.

10 years ago (2012)
•Words like “salvage” and “disaster” have begun to appear in 2012 crop reports.
The drought covering 56 percent of the United States has crept into Rock County as the area’s weather designation moved from “abnormally dry” to “moderate drought” last week. …
Some farmers have begun to consider the option of harvesting the corn plants now for silage instead of risking a total crop failure if the region’s drought continues.
Sioux Falls recorded its second driest June since 1893, receiving less than an inch of rain. Luverne recorded less than a half inch of rain in June.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•The only certainty downtown is change.
After 15 years in business on Main Street Luverne, Derald and Linda Shaw will close Shaw Drug.
On Aug. 11, Derald will start a new job as manager of the pharmacy in the new Pamida Store opening south of the I-90 interchange.
Linda will continue to operate the gift business for a short time at their downtown location until the inventory is sold out. The couple will eventually sell the building.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Ben Vander Kooi, Luverne attorney, will again be seeking election to the State Senate from the newly formed District 26, composed of Pipestone, Rock, Nobles and a large portion of Murray County.
Vander Kooi, who sought the Senate chair in 1970 and lost by a slim margin, filed July 18. …
Vander Kooi has been an active member in the Rock County DFL for 22 years, and has served as county chairman during ten of those years. He is a member of the Luverne Airport Commission, Blue Mound Board, Rock County Historical Society Board, V.F.W., Farmers Union and the Minnesota Bar Association. He is a Rotarian, was American Legion past judge advocate of District 2 and was Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles in Rock County for ten years.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•A Luverne youth, James Moeller, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Moeller, became not only junior champion skeet shooter in the state of Minnesota Sunday, but won the junior championship of the Northwest Skeet Association. …
“Jimmy” and his father had discussed the matter of taking in the state skeet shoot several times, but never really gave it much consideration until last Saturday night. Then, after talking the matter over, it was decided they wouldn’t go. A neighbor, caused the Moellers to change their minds, when he said he’d drive his car to St. Paul the next day if they would go with him. That settled the matter, and early the next morning they left Luverne for the cities.
“Jimmy,” who has been making some impressive scores at the local gun club since last fall, had to shoot against some of the best junior shooters in this part of the northwest. He defeated last year’s state champion, Nick Smith, of St. Paul, breaking one more clay-bird than the champion. The Luverne youth shot 43 out of 50, breaking 22 in one round, and 21 in the other. The St. Paul youth shot a 42, 21 in each round.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•Luverne’s two theatres passed under one ownership and management Saturday when Mark Swedberg, who had conducted the Cort theatre since a year ago last May, sold this popular amusement place to Herman Jochims, owner and manager of the Palace theatre. The new owner was given possession Sunday.

Paige Tweet, Lismore, and Tucker Oeltjenbruns, Luverne, were married Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Living Rock Church in Luverne. Pastor Billy Skaggs officiated.
Parents of the couple are Jeff and Carol Tweet, Lismore, and Glen and Cris Oeltjenbruns, Luverne.
Matrons of honor were Alisha Boomgaarden and Megan Meinders, sisters of the bride.
Bridesmaids included the bride’s friend Rylie Hokeness, the groom’s sister Amanda Englund, the bride’s cousin Kasie Tweet, and the bride’s friends Hannah Ver Steeg, Riley Schmitz and Miranda Lakness. The bride’s personal attendants were her friends Greta Ahrendt, Sarah Auen and Sarah Reinarts. Oaklie Englund, the groom’s niece, was the flower girl.
The groom’s friend Eli Bakken was his best man. Groomsmen were the groom’s brother Spencer Oeltjenbruns, his friend Jake Haugen, his brother-in-law Trevor Englund, and his friends Tyler Reisdorfer, Coy Gonnerman, Owen West and Dylan Mente. Ring bearer was Wells Boomgaarden, the bride’s nephew. Ushers were the groom’s friends Jaxon Nelson and Cade Ver Steeg.
A reception followed the ceremony at Big Top Tents and Events in Luverne.
Paige graduated from Adrian High School in 2018 and from South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, in 2021. She is employed at C & B Operations in Luverne.
Tucker graduated from Luverne High School in 2018 and from Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, South Dakota, in 2020. He works for C & B Operations in Luverne.
They live in Luverne.

Jerre Jordahl, 76, of Rosemount, Minnesota, passed away on July 11, 2022.
Jerre was known to make people feel at home in his company. He loved making people laugh and made friends easily everywhere he went. He believed in taking care of others and remaining humble. Nothing made him happier than being around his loving wife, his children, and his grandchildren (and Woody the dog).
Jerre was born on May 15, 1946, to Harold and Bonnie Jordahl in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After graduating from Luverne High School, Jerre went on to study business at Mankato State. After graduating, he went to work in the finance and banking industry, where he made his career. He retired from The Salvation Army after thirteen years of working in Planned Giving where he enjoyed the opportunity to assist those who needed help.
In 1979 Jerre married his best friend, Kathleen, and stayed by her side for 43 years, owing in no small part to his great charm, but also his selflessness, humility and aversion to complaining. He was, it must be said, the most gentle soul, a man who never harmed a living thing and was happiest simply being around family.
Jerre had a fantastic sense of humor and loved telling stories and making people laugh. His love of the outdoors was a thread woven throughout his life. He cared deeply for others, and for the state of our world.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jon Jordahl.
He is survived by his sister Janine (Gary) Papik, his wife, Kathy, son Grant (Karin), daughter Katie (Bryce Blilie) and his grandchildren Autumn, Violet, Magnus, and Ryker.
A small celebration of life will be held by Jerre’s family at a later date. His family welcomes donations to a charity of your choice in honor of Jerre’s life. 
Arrangements are provided by Summit Funeral and Cremation, www.summitfuneralandcremation.com
(0721 V)