Dale Knoll, 83, Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at Luverne Community Hospital. Services were Thursday, Aug. 14, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt officiated. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.Dale Merle Knoll was born to Percy and Frances (Maynard) Knoll on June 30, 1920, in Correll. He graduated from Correll High School in 1938. He attended Mankato State Teachers College where he earned a bachelor of science degree in education. For two months preceding his graduation in July 1942 he taught at the high school in Madison, Minn. After college graduation, his first full teaching position was in Hendricks, where he taught until he entered the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served his country during World War II in the South Pacific until 1946. He returned to Hendricks to finish out the school year. He taught and coached at Truman High School for 16 years until 1962. During that time he worked on his master’s degree in high school guidance counseling. Upon completion of his master’s degree in July 1962, he accepted a position as counselor at Luverne High School where he worked until his retirement in 1984. He married Helen Jane Chesley on Sept. 12, 1942. They had one son, Tom. They joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman where he was confirmed as an adult. Mrs. Knoll died in February 1958.He married Margie Wood on June 14, 1959, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont. They had three children, Timothy, Amy and Beth. Mr. Knoll was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. He loved sports as evidenced by his interest in basketball and baseball in high school and college. At Mankato State he served as a co-captain on the basketball team in 1941 and 1942. He played basketball and baseball on independent teams when he lived in Truman. He enjoyed coaching all sports in Truman and in Luverne he continued his coaching tradition as head coach of boys’ and girls’ golf and assistant coach in other sports. In his retirement he faithfully followed the many Minnesota sports teams. He also loved playing golf and was a long-time member of Luverne Country Club. Gardening, woodworking, cards, especially bridge, were favorite pastimes. He also gave bridge lessons through community education. Survivors include his wife, Margie Knoll, Luverne; two sons, Tom (Janet) Knoll, Woodbury, and Tim (Sharon) Knoll, Brandon, S.D.; two daughters, Amy (Sidney) Fitch, Spencer, Iowa, and Beth (Joshua) Fleming, Las Vegas, Nev.; nine grandchildren, Christopher and Samantha Knoll, Lindsey, Brittany and Payton Knoll, Kyle and Madison Fitch, and Bailey and Rieley Fleming; two brothers, his twin brother, Dean (Evelyn) Knoll, Litchfield, and Merle (Lucille) Knoll, Osakis; two sisters, Peggy (Harold) Welsh, Pensacola, Fla., and Patricia (Gerald) O’Connor, Spicer; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Knoll was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Helen Jane, and a sister, Carol White.Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne was in charge of arrangements.

By Lori EhdeU.S. Sen. Mark Dayton was in Luverne Wednesday to award a long-overdue Purple Heart to Luverne resident Anthony Dispanet.Dispanet is a Vietnam veteran who was injured in 1968 when enemy fire hit an ammunition supply near the M.A.S.H. unit where he worked as a medic."We’re a better nation for what you did," Dayton said during a small ceremony in the Dispanet home Wednesday. "It was an act of courage and compassion, and it redefines patriotism. … You acted to save lives without regard to your own life and safety. This is the ultimate definition of an American hero."Dispanet told the Star Herald prior to the ceremony that his minor wound didn’t warrant a Purple Heart. He did say the whole process rekindled 35-year-old memories, and on Wednesday he was overcome with emotion.Through tears, he accepted the award on behalf of those who didn’t come home from Vietnam. "I think they gave me some of their courage," Dispanet said.Dispanet was assigned to C Company Medical Battalion attached to the 1st Calvary at Camp Evans, located just 11 miles south of the demilitarized zone. When an enemy mortar hit the stored ammunition, the resulting explosions and fire took 13 hours to extinguish. Dispanet immediately began treating the numerous injured soldiers who had suffered shrapnel wounds and burns. He didn't realize until everyone had been cared for that he, too, had been hit by shrapnel."When the dust settled and it was all over, I noticed there was a small laceration on my leg," Dispanet said Tuesday. "To be honest, I can’t even remember which leg."He said he’s known since discharge that he’s been eligible for the Purple Heart, but he’s never felt that worthy of it."Looking back, it was quite insignificant compared with a lot of others who were injured," Dispanet said. "But it was considered a wound incurred in a hostile situation."His brother Jim, San Antonio, Tex., encouraged him to get the medal, and ended up making many of the arrangements.Dispanet said the medal serves more as a reminder of what he’s been through, than as a reward for bravery. "It dredges up lots of memories and thoughts of what happened back then with the fellas I was with," he said Tuesday.While the shrapnel injury was insignificant to his long-term health, Dispanet was diagnosed in December 2000 with multiple myeloma. The plasma cell cancer has been linked to the herbicide Agent Orange that was used to clear fields in Vietnam during the war.After a stem-cell transplant, the cancer went into remission, but Dispanet recently discovered the illness has returned.Dispanet and his wife, Barb, have a son Anthony (Ace), a daughter-in-law, Shannon, and a 3-year-old grandson, Amos, who is named after Tony's dad. His brothers are Tim, Luverne, and James, San Antonio, Tex.‘Put Mark to Work For You’ at ethanol plantDayton was also in Luverne this week as part of his "Put Mark to Work For You" program.On Tuesday, he helped staff at the Agri-Energy Ethanol Plant with some daily tasks, such as weighing trucks, fixing plant equipment, testing ethanol samples and loading feed trucks."It gets me out of the office and out of a suit," Dayton said, when asked about the point of his work visits. "It’s a great educational experience for me."He said working along side his constituents gives him a chance to engage in meaningful conversation on timely concerns."I’m a real good dishwasher," he said. "If I go and wash dishes with staff in a school kitchen, I might get a sense of the issues affecting that school and its students and employees."He said he prefers to help with simple tasks that don’t require special skills."That setting lends itself more to sharing information," Dayton said. "Some might be more likely to ask questions in that setting that they may not feel comfortable asking in a room full of people."In the past several months of the program, Dayton has worked on a farm, in a veterans home kitchen, on a construction site, in a school classroom, and on a Habitat home.

By Sara StrongDiane Sherwood, Luverne, hopes her idea to raise money for Sept. 11 rescue workers and volunteers will become a nationwide fund-raiser.She’s planned a motorcycle run at 1 p.m. (CDT) Sept. 13 that will start locally at the Howling Dog Saloon. But so far, people from South Dakota, Maine, Colorado and Tennessee have shown an interest in organizing their own fund-raisers that will coincide with the one started in Luverne."It really shows unity when we can all start at the same time, same day," Sherwood said.Sherwood wanted to spearhead a fund-raiser because since the 2001 attacks in New York City, money has slowed in getting to the people who need it."We want to keep the word out so people don’t forget," Sherwood said.The chronic health problems — especially lung and breathing trouble which Ground Zero workers endure — have cost people physically and financially."Some people have lost their homes, they can’t work," Sherwood said.The burning buildings and rubble contained many pollutants and the dust itself was breathed in following the World Trade Centers’ destruction.Sherwood hopes people will notice the reflection of the burning towers shown in the sunglasses reflection in the Remember Rally logo.All funds raised will go directly to people needing the money through Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Tuesday’s Children, an organization providing counseling for children who lost a parent on 9-11."The response has been great so far," Sherwood said. "People have heard about it and come up to me and ask for fliers to show all their friends."Registration starts this week and can be handled through at www.rememberrally.com or info@rememberrally.com.

By Jolene FarleyThree Rock County residents are recovering from injuries they received in a two-vehicle accident northwest of Hills Thursday.A 1998 Buick Park Avenue driven by Sherryl Knobloch, 55, of rural Hills, and a 1994 Chevrolet pickup driven by Ryan Burgers, 25, Luverne, collided at a blind, unmarked intersection about 4 1/2 miles northwest of Hills.Chris Louwagie, 28, Luverne, was a passenger in Burger’s vehicle.After the collision, Burgers walked to the Marlin DeNoble’s farm about a half mile away from the scene, and DeNoble called officials, according to Burgers.The Rock County Sheriff’s Department responded at 7:46 a.m. to the intersection of 30th Avenue and 51st Street. The Hills Fire Department, Rock County Ambulance, Avera McKennan Careflight, Sioux Valley Trauma I and the Minnesota Highway Patrol also responded. Knobloch was airlifted to Avera McKennan Hospital and Louwagie was airlifted to Sioux Valley Hospital, both in Sioux Falls.Burgers was transported by ground ambulance to Avera McKennan Hospital.Burgers said Monday that doctors anticipate he’ll be released from the hospital Wednesday or today. He had a bleeding spleen and is "stiff and sore." Knobloch has been moved to a private hospital room from the Intensive Care Unit. Doctors may release her by the end of the week to recover at home, according to her daughter-in-law, Amy Knobloch.Her injuries include a stabilized fracture in her neck, a punctured lung, broken ribs, cuts on her eyelid and head, and bruises and scrapes. Knobloch will wear a neck brace for eight to 12 weeks instead of having surgery for the fracture in her neck, according to Amy. Louwagie, a teacher in the Hills-Beaver Creek School district, is still in the Intensive Care Unit at Sioux Valley Hospital, according to his wife, Laura. "He has chest and back injuries," she said from the hospital waiting room."He is able to move all his limbs, and his condition is improving daily." Burgers said he was impressed with the way rescue workers responded to the accident. "I think the Hills Fire Department did an outstanding job," he said from his hospital bed Monday. "They were there quickly and they did a very good job."

By Sara StrongThe first meeting for the new Comprehensive Plan for the city of Luverne is Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the Luverne Elementary School Commons.Even though a cross-section of local representatives sit on a Comprehensive Task Force, the general public is asked to take part.Rusty Fifield is Luverne’s lead consultant for this project. He said, "Luverne residents are really local planning experts. Everyone carries beliefs, concerns and aspirations for the community."The Hoisington Koegler Group is contracted with the city to do the Comprehensive Plan, as it did in 1994. It is a Minneapolis-based planning and urban design firm, specializing in community planning.The Plan involves more than a guide for land use. It also provides a blueprint for public actions and investments, such as adequate streets and utilities, parks and trails, and the city’s role in attracting new businesses.Some of the questions the Comprehensive Plan will address are:oWhat should Luverne be like in 10 years?oHow important is the creation of new jobs to the future?oWhat steps are important to preserving the quality of existing neighborhoods?oWhat things define the quality of life in Luverne?oHow can the community realize the most benefits from the construction of a new hospital and the redevelopment of the existing hospital site?Comprehensive Plans are supposed be used in daily decisions at City Hall, which is why an effective Plan could make for a better city.The local Comprehensive Plan Task Force will be at the meetings to steer the planning process. They won’t write the actual plan, but will review and evaluate information prepared by the consultants. Fifield urges people to not be complacent or believe that their thoughts do not matter."The public workshops provide a way to listen and learn about the community," Fifield said. "Unless people help us to understand what they want for the future, we have to use our own judgment."The Task Force will try to ensure that the Plan meets the needs of Luverne.Members of the Task Force are:oBruce BaartmanoPatrick BaustianoKaris GustoJim HarneroDavid HaugeoWilliam KetterlingoWayne RobinsonoPat SaumoDavid SmithoBart ThielbaroAmy VerSteegThe plan will be completed in the next six months.

By Lori EhdeA 24-year-old Adrian High School graduate drowned Saturday in a swimming accident near Silver Bay.Jared Johnson, rural Wilmont, was enjoying a church outing in Two Harbors State Park where he and some friends swam in the Baptism River.According to those who were with him that afternoon, Johnson and three others were swimming a distance from the others and found themselves in trouble with a river undercurrent.Two were able to save themselves, and Johnson helped another to safety before he drowned. It was 2:47 p.m. when he went under and didn’t resurface.His parents, Randy and Carol Johnson, rural Rushmore, were at a wedding reception when Nobles County Deputy Ryan Kruger interrupted to bring them the news."It wasn’t easy for him either. He knew Jared well," Carol said Tuesday. "He told me we should be proud of our son because he saved someone’s life."The Johnsons first received news of the accident at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. "They told us he went down and they hadn’t found him," Carol said.Rescue workers recovered Johnson’s body a half hour later at 6 p.m. "I’m glad they found his body," Carol said.She said her son was an accomplished swimmer but she was told the water was very cold, and that may have paralyzed his legs, making survival more difficult. The same thing likely happened to the young woman Johnson saved."They told me he pushed the young lady out to her husband," Carol said. "She was saved, but he was brought down by the current … and the Lord took his soul."The woman’s husband reportedly then tried to save Johnson, but Johnson never resurfaced for that opportunity.Funeral services were Wednesday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont.His parents are now clinging tightly to his memory. "He lived his life for Jesus Christ," Carol said. "He was a joy to everyone. … He loved to make people laugh."In addition, she said he’ll likely be remembered for his tireless volunteer work, especially for hospice where he made himself available at all hours for those who needed him.He had worked with Campus Ministry during college, and he most recently worked with the JOPPA Christian ministries group.He graduated in 1997 from Adrian High school and has an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He was recently accepted into the Mortuary Science program at the U of M.

By Lori EhdeLocal National Guard members will leave Wednesday, Aug. 13, for a six-month deployment in England.For the past several weeks, the affected soldiers and their families have been preparing for the departure, and on Monday, the community will bid them farewell in a deployment ceremony.A private picnic meal will be served for National Guard members and their families at 5:30 p.m. in Luverne City Park.The community is invited to a public ceremony from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Speakers include Mayor Glen Gust, County Commissioner Jane Wildung and National Guard Commander and World War II Veteran Warren Herreid."The entire community is invited to the park to show support for the families of guard members and honor those leaving," said Chamber Director Dave Smith."This will be a major change for many families and we want them to know that while their loved ones are away, the communities they leave will be here to support their families."The event will include the presentation of a joint color guard, special seating for the guard members and patriotic music.At last word, local Guard members were told they’re going to England to serve as additional security officers. They could be doing things such as checking IDs and patrolling bases.There are 93 affected members in the local unit that includes Luverne and Pipestone. Of those, 55 serve duty at the National Guard Training and Community Center in Luverne.Twenty-three of those live in Rock County and 21 live in Nobles County.

By John RittenhouseArea drivers Colter Deutsch, Mark DeBoer and Marlin Kracht posted feature victories on consecutive nights at different racing venues over the weekend.Deutsch came up with a winning performance at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, Friday. DeBoer posted his win at Lake County Speedway in Madison, S.D., Saturday. Kracht’s victory came at Worthington Speedway Sunday.Kanaranzi’s Deutsch was a double winner Friday in Rock Rapids. He took the checkered flag in the second heat race in the hobby stock class before winning the A feature.Ash Creek’s Bobbi Kracht also had some hobby stock success in Rock Rapids. Kracht, who placed ninth in the feature event, won the first heat race in her class.Steen’s Billy Cowell and Magnolia’s Larry Kracht also competed in the hobby stock class at Rapid Speedway.Cowell placed third in the first heat and 14th in the feature. Larry Kracht finished third in the third heat and fifth in the A feature.Prior to posting a heat win and feature victory at Lake County Speedway Saturday, Adrian’s DeBoer and four other area drivers raced in the late model street stock class at Rapid Speedway.DeBoer placed third in the second heat and fourth in the feature, former Rock County resident David Kruger placed second in the second heat and third in the feature, Luverne’s Scott Overgaard placed fourth in the second heat and second in the feature, Ellsworth’s Scott Overgaard placed sixth in the second heat and ninth in the feature, and former Rock County resident Darrin Korthals placed third in the first heat and 12th in the feature.The Star Herald coverage area had representation in the 360 sprint and sportsmen classes at Rapid Speedway.Luverne’s Brandon Buysse placed eighth in the first heat and 14th in the A feature in the 360 sprints.Former Luverne resident Anthony Mann placed second in the second heat and fifth in the A feature in the sportsmen class. Ellsworth’s Greg Roemen placed fifth in the first heat and 11th in the feature in the same class.Luverne’s Marlin Kracht and Mike Steensma represented the area well during Sunday’s races at Worthington Speedway.Kracht won the feature race and Steensma placed second in the modified class.Luverne driver Jeff Haubrich posted a heat win at Murray County Speedway in Slayton Friday.He won the first heat race before placing third in the feature at the Minnesota track.Luverne High School graduate Mark Brockberg competed against Haubrich in Slayton. Brockberg placed fifth in the feature.Luverne’s Josh Reisch placed third in the modified feature at the track in Slayton.Luverne driver Jake Peters had a good night at Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, S.D., Sunday.Peters placed second in the first heat race, second in the first A feature race and fourth in the second A feature in the outlaw sprint class.Peters also raced in the 360 sprints Sunday, finishing 14th in the A feature.Steen’s Brad Cowell won the second heat race in the hobby stock class at Huset’s before placing 14th in the feature.Deutsch raced against Cowell at Huset’s, finishing third in the first heat and second in the feature.Kruger, Chad and Scott Overgaard all raced in the street stock class at Huset’s.Scott Overgaard placed fifth in the second heat and fifth in the feature, Chad Overgaard placed second in the second heat and seventh in the feature, and Kruger placed fifth in the first heat and 10th in the feature.

By John RittenhouseA 1987 Ellsworth High School graduate will represent the United States as a softball player during an eight-day span starting today.Chad Boom, a standout football and basketball player at EHS during his high school years, spent his summers as a youth playing fast-pitch softball for Ellsworth.Boom continued playing softball after graduating from Southwest State University in Marshall in 1991, and now he is considered one of the Top-Five best fast-pitch softball players in the world.Chad currently plays with a Minnesota major-level team named RWP based out of Geneva. B.J. Boom, Chad’s younger brother, is another member of the team.Boom’s status in the softball world was established when he was selected to compete with Team USA in the Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament in Guatemala last fall.With the Team USA winning the qualifying event, Boom and his teammates have earned the right to compete at the Pan American Games that begin today in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.The Pan American Games run from Aug. 7-14, and they serve as a qualifying event for the International Softball Federation’s World Championships that will be played in New Zealand next February.Team USA will play single games against national teams from Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Canada during the first five days of the event.Those games will count toward the seedings for the Gold Medal Tournament those same teams will compete in Aug. 12-14.Boom, who has been playing at the sport’s highest levels since 1991, will be a position player for Team USA.He made a name for himself as a pitcher in the past, but Team USA coach Pete Turner utilizes Boom’s versatility in the field. He has started at first base, third base and as the designated hitter for the team, and he also serves as the squad’s No. 2 catcher. Boom also has pitched some innings for Team USA.The son of Ellsworth’s Marlin and Mary Boom currently lives in Barnesville with his wife, Julie, and children Sidney (8) and Payton (4).Chad currently works as a concrete cutter for a company based in Fargo, N.D.