PROBATE COURTDISTRICT COURT—COUNTY COURTPROBATE DIVISIONCourt File No. P8-03-192ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate ofGertrude Feikema, DeceasedTO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 8th day of September, 2003, at 9:00 o’clock A.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated January 15, 1996, and for the appointment of Robert Faber and Ashton State Bank, whose addresses are 3324 F 52 Trail, Parnell, Iowa 52325 and P.O. Box 278, Ashton, Iowa 51232 respectively, as personal representatives of the estate of the above named decedent in unsupervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, personal representatives will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property and do all necessary acts for the estate. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.Dated: August 11, 2003/s/ Timothy K. ConnellJudge/s/ Sandra L. VrtacnikCourt AdministratorAndrew E. Hagemann, Jr.Attorney912 Third AvenueWorthington MN 56187Address/Phone(507) 372-2974Registration No: 39305(8-21, 8-28)

Community Room 9:00 AMRock County Family Services Agency August 5, 2003Chair Boyenga called the meeting to order with Commissioners Wildung, Jarchow and Bakken present and Commissioner Hoime absent.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the July 22, 2003 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.The Chair called the Public Meeting for Judicial Ditch No. 3 to order. Jim VanderWoude from DGR presented a "preliminary field summary" pertaining to proposed improvements for Judicial Ditch No. 3. Mr. VanderWoude also presented hydraulic information and gave the following options: Option #1: continue with the current study and include a hydraulic study Option #2: dismiss the petition based on the outlet not being feasibleThe chair allowed public comment and thereafter closed the public hearing at 9:30AM.Motion by Bakken, seconded by Jarchow, to table the petition until the August 19th County Board meeting. Mary McLaughlin, RSVP Director and Greta Van Der Brink, Local RSVP Coordinator presented a program update and the 2004 budget funding request of $.98 per capita, which reflects a decrease of $.03 from 2003; no action was taken. Heartland Express Director Terrie Gulden and Bus Driver Linda Anderson informed the County Board of Anderson’s second place achievement at the MnDOT Annual Bus Rodeo. The County Board congratulated Ms. Anderson for her fine work in representing Rock County at the state level. The Heartland Express Director also requested to submit a grant request for a facility that would store the (4) buses along with a wash bay; state and federal funding would be 80% with 20% local funding. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to move forward with the grant application, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Wildung, to approve Resolution No. 30-03, authorizing the operation of Heartland Express for 2004, declared carried on a voice vote. Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented a number project updates: oThe bike path is essentially complete minus the signage oCounty Road 4 — grading and installation of fly ash materials into the aggregate to re-construct the base oOverlays projects will begin on County Roads 8, 17 and 3.There was additional discussion regarding a Bike Path dedication ceremony. The Board directed that the Administrator and Engineer work with Commissioner Wildung in organizing that dedication ceremony. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, requested approval of the claims with additions to the list; motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to approve the claims as presented, declared on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office. General $ 38,669.63LEC 1,056.86Road & Bridge 12,686.48Welfare 42,838.21Landfill 7,452.93TOTAL $102,704.11Motion by Wildung, seconded Jarchow, to approve the fund balance report, declared carried on a voice vote.The Auditor/Treasurer informed the County Board of property in the City of Hardwick that is due for tax forfeiture and also has a lien on the property from the Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council. After discussion, the County Board referred the matter to the County Attorney’s office for further legal research. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the per diem payments totaling $175.00, declared carried on a voice vote. The Budget Committee presented a summary report from their previous meeting; they will be proposing a number of recommendations to accomplish a balanced budget for 2004.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to agree in principle to a new lease for the Land Management Office in the building owned by DD & JJ Enterprises located at 311 W. Gabrielson Road for 5 yrs with square foot payments of $11.00 — 2004, $11.00 — 2005, $12.00 — 2006, $13.00 — 2007 and $13.00 — 2008, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was informed of the following:oFederal charges in the Overgaard lawsuit had been dismissed. oA joint meeting with the City of Luverne will be held August 12th @ 7:00PM in the City Chambers. oThe Lyon County Board of Commissioners has submitted their intent to withdraw from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).oThe Feedlot Task Force has decided not to apply for a Feedlot Friendly designation to the state.The County Board scheduled a meeting on August 18th @ 7:00PM in the Community Room at the Human Services Building inviting representatives of the contract cities to discuss contract law enforcement rates. Rock County representatives will be Administrator Oldre, Commissioner Wildung and Commissioner Hoime. Commissioners were informed of a Rock/Nobles Corrections Annual meeting to be held September 15th @ 6:30PM and a Feedlot Task Force meeting with the MPCA Commissioner to be held on August 14th.Commissioner Boyenga stated that Rural Water is working to repay a loan with the current funds that are being held by the county in order to save on interest expenses and that DAC is looking at a building project to meet special needs for individuals. With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was declared adjourned. Ron Boyenga, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(8-21)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALEDate: August 12, 2003YOU ARE NOTIIFED THAT:1. Default has occurred in the conditions of the Mortgage dated September 1, 2000, executed by Thomas D. Serie and Roberta L. Serie, as Mortgagors to First National Bank in Montevideo, as Mortgagee, and filed for record September 1, 2000, as Document Number 148435, in the Office of the County Recorder of Rock County, Minnesota. The land described in the Mortgage is not registered land. 2. The Mortgage has not been assigned. 3. The original principal amount secured by the Mortgage was: One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).4. No action or proceeding at law is now pending to recover the debt secured by the Mortgage, or any part thereof. 5. The holder of the Mortgage has complied with all conditions precedent to acceleration of the debt secured by the Mortgage and foreclosure of the Mortgage, and all notice and other requirements of applicable statutes. 6. At the date of this notice the amount due on the Mortgage, and taxes, if any, paid by the holder of the Mortgage is: $104,354.70.7. Pursuant to the power of sale in the Mortgage, the Mortgage will be foreclosed, and the land described as follows:Beginning at the southwest corner of Block Fourteen (14) in Warren & Kniss’ Second Addition to the City of Luverne, Minnesota; thence one hundred fifty (150’) feet due North; thence ninety-two (92’) feet due East; thence twenty-seven (27’) feet due South; thence twenty (20’) feet due West; thence one hundred twenty-three (123’) feet due South; thence seventy-two (72’) feet due West to the point of beginning, in Rock County, Minnesota. Including easements and all appurtenances. will be sold by the Sheriff of Rock County, Minnesota at public auction on October 7, 2003, at 10:00 a.m., at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 213 East Luverne Street, Luverne, Minnesota 56156. 8. The time allowed by law for redemption by Mortgagor(s) or Mortgagor’s personal representatives or assigns is six months after the date of sale. 9. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Attorney(s) for Mortgagee:R. Lawrence HarrisMelchert Hubert Sjodin, PLLP121 West Main StreetWaconia, MN 55387Phone: 952 442 7700Brian Johnson, Sr. Vice-PresidentFirst National Bank in Montevideo(8-21, 8-28, 9-4, 9-11, 9-18, 9-25)

Five more women joined champion Melissa Kopp as flight winners during the Women’s Club Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday. Standing (from the left) are flight champions Susan Skattum (first flight), Lori Martinson (third flight), Lori Witt (president’s flight), Pat Rieck (second flight) and Kim Arends (fourth flight).By John RittenhouseA total of six championships were on the line during the 52nd Women’s Club Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday.Along with Melissa Kopp winning the club championship (see the front page of the sports section for the story), Lori Witt, Susan Skattum, Pat Rieck, Lori Martinson and Kim Arends also won flight titles.Witt ended taking top honors in the four-person president’s flight.Witt, Faye DeBoer, Lorna Bryan and Melissa Sterrett formed the president’s flight after falling out of contention for a club championship as members of the championship flight during the first round of play.DeBoer, who shot a 46 during the opening round, sported a one-shot edge over Witt (47), a two-shot lead over Sterrett (48) and a three-shot cushion over Bryan (49) entering the second round.Witt made par twice while shooting a 49 during the second round, but she picked up four shots on DeBoer, who shot a 53 on the back nine.Witt won the flight by shooting a 47-49-96, two strokes better than the 49-49-98 turned in by Bryan. DeBoer was third with her 46-53-99.Consistent play helped Skattum win the event’s first flight.Skattum recorded a pair of 46s to win the flight with a 92-stroke total. She made par seven times in 18 holes.Skattum led Nancy Frakes and Elda Trisko, who carded 39s, by three shots after nine holes of play. Skattum’s flight-low 46 during the second round iced her title.Frakes and Wendy Evink, who moved past Trisko in the second round, shared second place with a 49-50-99. They finished seven strokes off the pace set by Skattum.Rieck won a close competition to take the championship of the second flight.Rieck shot a 53 during the first round to lead Sandy Vrtacnik and Marlene Kopp, who turned in 54s, by one shot and Lorna Anderson (55) by two strokes.Rieck shaved four shots off her opening-round score by shooting a 49 during the second round. Her 18-hole total of 102 strokes featured two par holes.Kopp (54-40-104) and JoAnne Fodness (56-48-104) shared second place. Fodness’ 48 on the back nine was a flight-low effort for both rounds.Martinson strolled to a seven-stroke win in the third flight by shooting a 48-54-102.Martinson, who made par three times and registered one birdie during the tournament, used her 48 during the first round to open a three-shot advantage over Shirley Top (51) and a four-shot lead over Deonne Hemme (52).Martinson’s shot total increased by six strokes in the second round, but her 54 was a flight-low effort.Top (51-58-109) and Marla Van Dyk (54-55-109) shared second place in the third flight.Arends recorded an eight-stroke victory in the fourth flight.Arends, who made one par Saturday, carded a 55 during the first round to sport one-shot leads over Becky Eeten and Pat Doherty, who turned in 56s. Glenda Vander Griend was two shots off the pace with her 57.Arends put the title away by firing a flight-low 48 during the second round for an 18-hole total of 103 strokes.Vander Griend (57-54-111) finished second and Eeten (56-57-113) placed third.

By John RittenhouseThree area drivers recorded feature wins at different tracks on consecutive nights over the weekend.Former Luverne resident Anthony Mann and former Ash Creek resident David Kruger were double winners at Rapid and Huset’s Speedways respectively. Adrian’s Mark DeBoer posted a win at Lake County Speedway Saturday.Kruger capped a good weekend by winning the first heat race and the A feature in the late model street stock class at Huset’s Sunday.Luverne’s Chad Overgaard raced against Kruger, placing second in the first heat and sixth in the feature.Kanaranzi’s Colter Deutsch posted a victory in the first hobby stock heat race at Huset’s. Deutsch finished fourth in the A feature.Ellsworth’s Chris Tiesler (second in the first heat and sixth in the A feature), Luverne’s Mike Buss (fifth in the second heat, second in the B feature and 10th in the A feature) and Steen’s Billy Cowell (fifth in the third heat and fourth in the B feature) raced in the hobby stock class at the track near Brandon, S.D.Luverne’s Brandon Buysse placed seventh in the third heat during the 360 sprints competition at Huset’s.DeBoer’s feature win came Saturday in the late model street stock class at LCS in Madison, S.D. DeBoer won the feature after placing third in the first heat race.Mann secured a pair of wins Friday in the sportsmen’s class at Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, Iowa.Mann won the first heat race and the A feature.Ellsworth’s Greg Roemen placed fifth in the second heat and 11th in the sportsmen’s feature.Six area drivers competed in the hobby stock class at Rapid Speedway.Magnolia’s Larry Kracht posted the lone win by taking top honors in the second heat before placing ninth in the feature.Deutsch (second in the second heat and third in the feature), Cowell (fourth in the second heat and sixth in the feature), Buss (sixth in the second heat), Tiesler (fourth in the third heat and seventh in the feature) and Ash Creek’s Bobbi Kracht (third in the first heat and eighth in the feature) competed against Larry Kracht in Rock Rapids.Ellsworth’s Scott Overgaard led area drivers by placing third in the first heat and third in the feature in the late model street stock class at Rapid Speedway.DeBoer (fifth in the first heat and fourth in the feature), Kruger (fifth in the second heat and fifth in the feature), Chad Overgaard (third in the second heat and 12th in the feature) and former Hills resident Darrin Korthals (fourth in the first heat and sixth in the feature) also competed in the street stock division Friday.Luverne’s Buysse finished seventh in the first heat and 16th in the feature event of the 360 sprints at Rapid Speedway.During Friday’s races at Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Luverne’s Mike Steensma placed second in the modified feature.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne tennis team opened the 2003 season at the Worthington Invitational Tournament Tuesday.The individual competition turned into a decent debut for two LHS singles players and a doubles team.Cardinals Nikki Van Dyk and Brittany Boeve placed second at No. 2 and No. 3 singles respectively. Heidi Sandbulte and Christina Lovett finished second at No. 3 doubles.Considering the Cardinals are a young team adjusting to life without four seniors from the 2002 squad, Luverne experienced a good opener."We had five girls get their first varsity experience today," said Cardinal coach Greg Antoine. "All of our experienced players are young, and we had to move them up in our lineup. Once the girls adjust to playing where they are playing now, we’ll be OK."Tuesday Van Dyk and Boeve seemed to make a smooth transition from playing doubles last year to singles this season.Van Dyk handed Worthington’s Lindsey Radloff a pair of 5-3 setbacks in the first round before dropping a 5-2, 5-3 match to Pipestone’s Abby Brody in the second round. Van Dyk secured a 6-5 (7-3 in the tie-breaker), 6-4 win over Martin County West’s Brittany Wieseman in the third round to finish the day at 2-1.Boeve posted 6-4 and 5-2 wins over Worthington’s Kassi Buysman before losing a 5-1, 5-3 match to Pipestone’s Chrisy Cunningham in the second round. Boeve bounced back to best MCW’s Cailey Grupe 5-6, 5-1, 7-4 in the third round to finish third.Sandbulte and Lovett went 2-1 while playing their first varsity tennis matches as a doubles team.They beat Worthington’s Kristy Jackson 3-5, 5-2, 7-5 in the first round before topping Pipestone’s Tonya Rudy and Caroline Cooper 5-3 and 6-5 (7-5 in the tie-breaker) in the second round. MCW’s Jessica Dressen and Toni Pribyl denied the Cardinal team a doubles title by beating the LHS squad 5-3 and 6-4 in the final match.Luverne’s Kaitlyn Deragisch placed third at No. 4 singles with a 1-2 record. Jessica Klein and Amy Herman went 1-2 to place third at No. 2 doubles, and Lindsey Severtson and Katie Kraetsch went 1-2 to finish third at No. 4 doubles.Alyssa Klein went 0-3 at No. 1 singles, and Andraya Gacke and Alyssa Klein went 0-3 at No. 1 doubles.Luverne plays at the Fairmont Tournament Friday before playing a match against Yellow Medicine East in Pipestone Monday and taking on Brandon Valley in Brandon, S.D., Tuesday.

By John RittenhouseChad Boom returned to his Barnesville home Friday with a Silver Medal from the Pan American Games staged in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Aug. 7 through 14.Boom, a 1987 Ellsworth High School graduate, attended the Games as a member of Team USA’s fast-pitch softball squad.Team USA went 5-3 at the event, placing second to Team Canada.Boom said his team went 4-1 during pool play at the PAG, which established the seedings for medal round of the event.Team USA beat national squads from Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic during pool competition. The Americans lost their games against Canada.Boom’s squad earned a rematch against Canada in the first game of the medal round, but the Canadians knocked off Team USA for the second time.Team USA then beat Argentina in an elimination game before losing to Team Canada for the third time in a game for the Gold Medal.Boom said he didn’t have his best week at the plate during the PAG."I struggled a bit," he said from his home Sunday. "I think I had four or five hits and a couple of walks. I hit the ball, but nothing would go into a hole for me. That happens sometimes."Team USA may not have earned the Gold Medal, but it did accomplish something important in Santo Domingo.The PAG serve as a qualifying event of the International Softball Federation’s World Championships, which will be played in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February. The top three teams from the PAG advance to the World Championships, and Team USA is one of them."I don’t know too much about it yet, but 12 to 14 teams from all over the world will be at the tournament in New Zealand," Boom said.Boom said he will have to participate in a September try-out in California to earn a spot on the Team USA roster for the World Championships.

Melissa Kopp (middle) rallied from a four-shot deficit in the final two holes to win the championship flight during the 52nd Women’s Club Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday. Gabe Van Dyk (right) placed second. Karen Fey (left) finished third.By John RittenhouseYouth was served during the 52nd version of the Women’s Club Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday.In what ended up as a showdown between two members of Luverne High School’s 2001 state championship team, Melissa Kopp pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory over Gabe Van Dyk late in the 18-hole event.Kopp, a 2002 LHS graduate, seemed to be a certain runner-up in the championship flight when she faced a four-shot deficit with two holes left to play.Instead of throwing in the towel, Kopp never lost faith and outscored Van Dyk by five shots over the final two holes to win her first LCC club championship with a one-stroke victory."My dad (Tom Kopp, Melissa’s caddie) told me not to give up," the club champion said after the competition. "Even when I was down by four, my Dad said anything could happen."A lot of things did happen over the final two holes, but none of it was good as far as Van Dyk was concerned.The door opened a bit for Kopp on the No. 8 tee box, where Van Dyk clubbed a drive that struck a tree on the left side of the fairway. But the golf gods still seemed to be favoring the leader when the ball caromed into the fairway after hitting the tree.Van Dyk proceeded to record a bogey six on the par-5 hole. Kopp, however, countered with a par to trim the difference to three strokes with one hole remaining.More bad luck on the No. 9 tee box led to Van Dyk’s undoing on the final hole.The first player on the box, Van Dyk struck a mighty drive headed northeast on a hole that plays from the south to the north. After Kopp and Susan Schneekloth (the other player who formed the final threesome) completed their drives, Van Dyk learned her ball rolled a couple of feet out of bounds near the LCC parking lot.The two-shot penalty incurred with her first drive became even more menacing when her second tee shot struck a tree branch on the left side of the fairway came to rest in the rough. With trees obstructing her path to the green, Van Dyk delivered an iron shot that came to rest within 10 feet of the green in the right rough.Van Dyk made a difficult chip out of the rough onto the green with her fifth shot, and completed the hole with two putts for a triple-bogey seven.Kopp, who knew she caught a break in the form of Van Dyk’s two-shot penalty, took advantage of the situation like a true champion.After her long drive came to rest in bounds in the area where Van Dyk’s rolled out of bounds, Kopp struck a solid iron shot onto the green. She proceeded to drain a 20-foot birdie putt, her second birdie of the final round, to finish the hole in three shots."I thought I had a chance when Gabe’s ball went out," Kopp said. "I was just trying to put the ball in play and make par on the last couple of holes. Birdies would be nice, too, but I was just trying to make par."Kopp needed a birdie on the 18th hole to nip Van Dyk 80-81 in the final standings. A par would have forced a playoff between the two.With the exception of a few bad breaks, Van Dyk played well enough to win the championship herself.Playing with Kopp and four-time defending and 16-time club champion Karen Fey in the first round, it was Van Dyk who set the pace.The 2003 LHS graduate shot a tournament-low round of 37 strokes to sport a comfortable lead after nine holes of play.Van Dyk’s one-over-par 37 featured two birdies and four par holes, and it gave her a four-shot advantage over Kopp and Schneekloth, who recorded 41s on the front nine.Schneekloth, who chipped in for birdie twice during the opening round, lost her magical swing during the final nine holes of play. Schneekloth was unable to record a par until the final hole of the second round while shooting a 49, which knocked her out of title contention.It looked like Kopp would have to settle with playing for second place when Van Dyk extended her lead to six shots over the challenger during the first two holes of the second round.Van Dyk opened the second round by sinking a 15-foot birdie on the first hole and taking a bogey on the second hole. Kopp dropped strokes on both holes by making par and double bogey.Kopp quickly cut Van Dyk’s lead down to four strokes by following a near-perfect iron shot on the par-3, third with an eight-foot birdie putt. Van Dyk bogeyed the hole.The birdie seemed to give Kopp some momentum as she drained an 18-foot par putt on the fourth hole to pick up another shot on Van Dyk, who finished the hole with a bogey five.Van Dyk increased her lead to four strokes on the fifth hole when she chipped out of the rough on the left side of the green to within inches of the cup, setting up a par putt. Kopp bogeyed the same hole.Both Van Dyk and Kopp bogeyed the sixth and seventh holes, leaving the leader with a four-shot cushion that wilted away during the final two holes of play.Having played in the 2002 version of the Women’s Club Tournament, finishing third behind Fey at event’s end, may have worked in Kopp’s favor Saturday."I was more relaxed this year," said the South Dakota State University sophomore, who is studying athletic training and pre-physical therapy at the college in Brookings, S.D. "I wasn’t as nervous playing with Karen Fey this year than I was last year. I should say I wasn’t as intimidated by her."The intimidation factor that has helped Fey win 16 club championships may have come into play if Fey could have played her way into the final threesome Saturday.After shooting a 10-over-par 46 during the first round, Fey registered a pair of birdies during the second round while carding a 39. She finished in third place with a 46-39-85.Kopp’s final numbers were 41-39-80. Van Dyk finished with a 37-44-81.

A little etiquette goes a long way on path to parkFor anyone who hasn’t taken a spin on the new Blue Mound Trail, the paved path from Luverne to the Blue Mounds State Park beach is truly a joy.It offers the perfect combination of challenging rolling hills with a terrain marked by tall-grass prairie, shady trees, a quartzite cliff line and a sandy beach.I know I’m not the only one who enjoys it, because every time I’m out there and every time I drive by it, there’s a steady stream of bicycle and pedestrian traffic heading to and from the park.As someone who uses the path both for personal exercise and for family recreation, I can see that "trail etiquette" is something we’re all going to have to start thinking about.The key to remember is the Blue Mound Trail has always been intended as a multi-use path, meaning bicyclists, in-line skaters, runners and walkers need to be aware and respectful of each other’s presence.It’s not the secluded dirt path it used to be, and we (myself included) can’t act like we’re the only ones out there anymore.Based on comments I’ve heard from path users, and with a little internet research on "bike path etiquette," I’ll offer the following guidelines:Bikers, in-line skaters: oRemember — it’s a multi-use trail. It’s not just for things on wheels. Yield to pedestrians.oStay on the right, pass on the left.oWhen passing, politely holler in advance, "Passing on your left," so no one is startled (potentially causing a wipe-out).oBe cautious of pedestrians, especially of unpredictable children on feet or on wheels.oRacing bikers: Stay off the trail when training for a race. Bike path speeds are best kept under 15 mph. It’s simply not safe for a racing bike to blow by a pokey family of bicycles, trikes and strollers. Take speed training to the open road.Runners/walkersoIt’s a multi-use trail, but let’s face it — it’s best-suited for people on wheels who are moving more quickly than you are … so stay safely out of the way!oKeep to the right. Be defensive pedestrians at all times, listening for traffic coming from behind. Weaving to the center of the path when a sneaky biker is coming up from behind could be disastrous.oSocial walkers are the most dangerous ones on the path. Groups of three or more pedestrians who are deep in conversation tend to lump in the center of the path making it impossible for anyone to pass. Social walking is great … just be ready to jump into single file when a biker or skater approaches from behind.Children and petsoFamilies with small children are a close second to the social walkers in the "tend-to-cause-accidents" category. The path is perfectly suited for family bike rides; just train little ones at home in the driveway before bringing them out on the trail.oIf pets must come along, make sure they’re tightly leashed and are accommodated by a pooper scooper.Motorized scooters …… are strictly prohibited. The bike path is the perfect way to actually enjoy exercise. Scenic drivers should stay on the road.Motorists:Motorists need to know that just because we have a Blue Mound Trail doesn’t mean all bikers and pedestrians must use the Blue Mound Trail.I’ve heard a few indignant motorists complaining that they still have to watch for bikers and runners on the road.It’s a free country. They may run or bike wherever they feel like it — within parameters of the law, and motorists must continue to be aware of their occasional presence on roadways.Bikers training for races can’t safely ride at high speeds on the trail, and many distance runners find the cushioned shoulder of a road kinder on their joints. Let common sense and basic courtesy prevailThe path follows a beautiful route, so I’m hoping we can get along without a big ugly sign posting every rule that should be obvious with a little courtesy and common sense.