The Luverne Redbirds upped their season record to 14-2 after three big wins over the past week.
The Birds swept a doubleheader in games with Fox Lake 10-1 and Fairmont 7-0 on Sunday after shutting out Pipestone Wednesday, June 22.
Luverne was scheduled to play the league-leading Milroy Irish at the Irish Yard Wednesday night and will host Ruthton at Redbird Field July 6.
 
Luverne 16,
Pipestone 0
The Luverne Redbirds earned their fifth shutout of the season when they defeated the Pipestone A’s 16-0 in seven innings June 22 at Redbird Field.
Luverne’s Jake Haugen and Codie Zeutenhorst combined to pitch the shutout, allowing just seven total hits and walking one Pipestone batter while striking out 11 total.
 The Redbirds, who had scored 49 runs in their previous three games, continued their offensive ways by scoring three runs in the first inning and five more in each of the second and third innings.
Phil Paquette blasted a three-run homerun to left field and Newt Johnson added a two-run homer, both in the second inning.
Gaige Nath led off the third inning with a triple to center field before the next batter, Derek Lundgren, hit a homerun that also scored Nath.
Luverne held a 13-0 lead through the fourth and fifth innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Birds tallied three more runs that were the result of four walks and some wild pitches that Luverne baserunners took advantage of.
The Wenninger brothers led the Redbirds at the plate.
Skyler was three for three and scored three runs. Cade was three for four, scored a run and added three RBIs.
Lundgren scored four runs and totaled two RBIs.
Paquette and Nath also scored three times each for the victors.
 
Pipestone    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x     0
Luverne       3 5 5 0 0 3 x x x   16
 
                           AB    R      H     BI
D Lundgren      3       4       2    2
P Paquette        3       3       2    3
C Reisch           1       0       0     0
S Wenninger    3       1       1    3
N Johnson        2       3       1    0
B Maurer           2       0       0     0
J Haugen          3       0       0    1
C Zeutenhorst  0       0       0    0
C Wenninger    4       1       3    3
E Beyer             3       0       1     1
M Sterrett          0       1       0     0
C Crabtree        4       0       0    0
G Nath               3       3       2    0
 
Luverne 10, Fox Lake 1
The Luverne Redbirds took on Fox Lake in Truman Saturday as part of an on-the-road doubleheader at 2 p.m.
Luverne got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Newt Johnson drove in two runs on an RBI single to left.
The Redbirds would go on to score one in the third, one in the fourth and two in the sixth before putting up a four spot in the top of the seventh.
The four-run inning was led by sacrifice flies by Skyler Wenninger and Mark Sterrett, and an RBI double by Declan Beers.
The Rebirds tallied 10 hits in the game, led by Beers, Johnson and Crabtree, all with multiple hits.
Cade Wenninger got the win on the mound, throwing six innings, allowing only four hits and striking out five batters. 
 
Batting:
D Lundgren: 0-3, 2 R, 2BB
G Nath: 1-4, 1R, 1RBI, 1BB
S Wenninger: 1-3, 2R, 1RBI, 1BB
D Beers: 2-2, 3R, 2RBI, 3BB
N Johnson: 2-5, 3RBI
J Haugen: 1-3, 1RBI, 1BB
C Wenninger: 1-3, 1R, 1BB
C Crabtree: 2-4, 1R
M Sterrett: 0-2, 1RBI, 1BB
 
Pitching:
C Wenninger: 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 1R, 0ER, 4BB, 5Ks
B Maurer: 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1Ks
 
Luverne 7, Fairmont 0
The Redbirds took down the Fairmont Martins behind the pitching of Derek Lundgren during the 5 p.m. game in Fairmont Sunday.
Lundgren went all seven innings, striking out six, walking one, and only giving up two earned runs.
Luverne took an early lead when Declan Beers hit a triple to score Skyler Wenninger from first base.
Newt Johnson followed up the triple with an RBI double over the left fielder.
Derek Lundgren led off the top of the third with a triple, but the Redbirds were unable to drive him in. The Martins got on the board in the bottom of the third after hitting a two-RBI double.
The Redbirds answered right away in the top of the fourth when Johnson hit a solo homerun over the scoreboard.
The Redbirds extended the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth when Declan Beers hit an RBI single to score Mark Sterrett from second.
Fairmont tied that game at four in the bottom of the fifth inning after an error and two doubles.
The Redbirds regained the lead in the top of the seventh.
Gaige Nath led off the inning with a double, followed by a Skyler Wenninger walk. Declan Beers got the Redbirds lead back when he hit an RBI double.
Wenninger, on third base, then scored on a wild pitch, and Johnson drove in Beers on a fielder’s choice. 
 
Batting:
D Lundgren: 1-4
G Nath: 1-4, 1R
S Wenninger: 1-3, 2R, 1BB
D Beers: 3-4, 2R, 3RBI
N Johnson: 2-3, 1R, 3RBI
J Haugen: 0-4
C Wenninger: 1-4
C Crabtree: 0-3
M Sterrett: 1-2, 1R, 1BB
 
Pitching:
D Lundgren: 7.0IP, 5 hits, 4R, 2ER, 1BB, 6Ks

How much are Minnesota’s natural resources worth to you?
To me they are priceless, but when it comes to those who steal or abuse those resources, the laws in Minnesota must not think so.
I have followed many different prosecutions regarding gross violations of Minnesota’s game and fish laws, and in every case I’ve researched, the penalties for violators are not even high enough to be a measurable deterrent.
Recently there was a big bust at Upper Red Lake where two or three anglers were 67 fish over their limit. There is no way to make a mistake like this one by accident. The sum total of the restitution and fines was only about $2,000 per person.
When someone catches and kills 10 times the normal legal limit, should the fine only be $30 per fish? If they get their feet held to the fire, they might lose their fishing licenses for a short time as well.
Another much bigger investigation about three to four years ago, which was also in the Upper Red Lake area, rounded up about 30 individuals and businesses that were taking illegally caught fish and selling them to different restaurants and such. This was prosecuted under the federal Lacy Act which prohibits the sale of wild game and fish. There were both tribal and non-tribal individuals involved, and in the end no serious prosecution or charges were successful even though the violations were well-documented. The tangle of Minnesota law and tribal rights doomed that to the history books.
Yet another big bust for a guy that had illegally harvested many trophy deer over a three- to five-year period was unsuccessful because the DNR got a warrant for a tracking device on the lawbreaker’s car and the judge deemed they should have used a full-blown search warrant. That guy walked scot-free as well. This really makes me angry.
You have to use the baseline foundation that a DNR conservation officer can only write citations for violations on the books, and county attorneys make the ultimate decision as to what the violator should be charged with. I hold no ill will toward the DNR Enforcement Division, but there is certainly a breakdown somewhere in this system.
I visited with a politician who was campaigning door-to-door a long while back, and I asked him about increasing the penalties for gross over-limits and such. He responded that he was not willing to make every constituent in his district into a felon for breaking game and fish violations. I then replied, “What should they be then?”
If it was the world according to Scott Rall, the cost for violating game and fish rules would remain about the same for the small stuff but would skyrocket on the big items.
Have you ever tried to count the fish in the live well? When there are mixed bag catches, even a conscientious angler can make a mistake on one or two fish. It should not happen, but it does. These people should not suffer to a point where they give up on hunting and fishing altogether.
Poaching a deer out of season, keeping 50 fish over your limit, destroying public land or property, and a long list of other gross violations should result in that person never hunting or fishing in the state again. They can take up knitting or golf.
Some people think that shooting before or after the legal shooting time or stepping over a fence onto private property for that one last pheasant are no big deal. In fact, each of these acts and hundreds of other apparently minor infractions to some folks is still POACHING!
Taking game and fish in an illegal manner is poaching. Nobody can tell me that it is not. Any person that breaks game and fish laws is not to be included in the category of “sportsman” or “sportswoman.”
I told a conservation officer one time a long time ago, “Thank you for checking me today.” He asked why I would thank him. I responded that I know if he is checking me, he is also checking everyone else.
We all need to place high value on our natural resources. They need to be protected, and we need to be the ones to do that protecting. One conservation officer covering 1-2 counties cannot do it alone.
The natural world provides a quality of life that nothing else can compare to. I for one want it to be around for my grandchildren and their kids as well. High quality natural resources, like freedom, if not viciously protected, will sooner or later cease to exist.
 
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com. or on Twitter @habitat champion.
 

Twelve members of the Luverne High School Class of 2022 have signed letters of intent to compete in athletics at the college level next year.
Griffen Jarchow will play tennis at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, in Roseville.
Tenley Nelson will compete in cross country and track at Augustana University in Sioux Falls.
Pierce Cunningham will be a member of the tennis team at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.
Mia Wenzel also plans to play tennis, but at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa.
Connor Overgaard will be a member of the football team at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton.
Reghan Bork plans to attend Concordia College in Moorhead to play hockey.
Billi Connell will play softball for the Golden Gophers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Eli Radtke plans to compete in track at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Macy Stratton will attend Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, to play volleyball.
Casey Sehr will join the baseball team at the University of Sioux Falls.
Kendall Buss plans to play softball at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud. 
Ashton Sandbulte intends to compete in both football and track at Valley City State University in Valley City, North Dakota.

Anyone with a 2022 Minnesota fishing or hunting license can receive a free camouflage Minnesota Twins logo cap thanks to a special Twins ticket offer.
The Minnesota DNR Days are back at Twins games this season through a partnership between the Twins and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The upcoming Minnesota DNR Days partnership games at Target Field in Minneapolis are:
•Sunday, July 3, vs. the Baltimore Orioles at 1:10 p.m.
•Tuesday, Aug. 16, vs. the Kansas City Royals at 6:40 p.m.
•Friday, Sept. 9, vs. the Cleveland Guardians at 7:10 p.m.
License holders can purchase a reserved game ticket online and receive a special Twins cap at the game. Ticket prices vary by game.
All ticket holders under this partnership will pick up their cap at the game.
Instructions for purchasing tickets are on the Minnesota DNR Days page (mndnr.gov/Twins).
People may buy fishing and hunting licenses at any DNR license agent, online with a mobile or desktop device (mndnr.gov/BuyALicense), or by phone at 888-665-4236.
Mobile license buyers receive a text or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, June 30: 7:30 a.m. Mom’s Summer Bible Study at Wildflowers. 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Friday, July 1: 8:30 a.m. Grace Notes assembly. Sunday, July 3: No worship service – moved to July 6. Monday, July 4: Office closed. Tuesday, July 5: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, July 6: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible Study. 1 p.m. Priscilla/Elizabeth Circle meets. 6:15 p.m. Meat outside. 7 p.m. Make-up worship service. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online worship: Sundays 9 a.m. at www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab; or Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Thursday, June 30: 9 a.m. Cookie Crew. Friday, July 1: 6:3o a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, July 3: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion. Wednesday, July 6: 7 p.m. Senior High Youth Group. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church
1075 110th Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-9070; email: info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor
Come as you are—Sundays @ 10 a.m.: Main Service. Kids church age 3-6th grade—Nursery. Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Midweek Service—Kids age 3-6th grade.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Wednesday, June 29: 7-8:15 p.m. VBS. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Saturday, July 2: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, July 3: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. Worship service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible Study. Wednesday, July 6: 8 p.m. AA Meeting. Live streamed on Facebook and radio.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net
Sunday, July 3: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Saturday, July 2: 5:30 p.m. Worship Service. Sunday, July 3: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday school; Adult Bible Study. Wednesday, July 6: 9:30 a.m. Bible Study. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Billy Skaggs, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sunday, July 3: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, July 3: Worship will be streamed live on Facebook Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4. There will not be on-site worship at First or Palisade Lutheran on July 3.
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, July 3: Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4. There will not be on-site worship at First or Palisade Lutheran on July 3.
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270 / bethlehemofhills@gmail.com
Sundays: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion. 9 a.m. Sunday School. 7-8:30 p.m. Youth group meets. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesdays: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:30 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesdays: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Confirmation. 7 p.m. Social/dessert time. 7:15 p.m. Wednesday night worship service.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

As you read this, Beryl, my wife, and I are riding our bicycles across the United States. We started in Portland, Oregon, in the end of May and will end our trip in Washington, D.C., in August.
As we pedal our bicycles, there is always an unknown before us. What is over the next mountain top? What is around the next corner?
Currently we are riding through Yellowstone National Park, and there are a lot of mountain tops and corners that make us wonder what is next.
We wonder if we have the strength to make it up one more mountain. We wonder how many more mountains we will climb. We even wonder at times if there is any flat ground in the USA.
When wondering what is next in life, what is around the next corner of life, what is over the next ridge in life, we can be reassured that God knows.
Jesus, talking to a crowd of people that are worried about what tomorrow holds, told them not to worry, it is all under control. He points to a sparrow fluttering through the sky and explains that the sparrow, the hawk, the crow, or whatever bird, does not plant a wheat field to harvest it in the fall. They don’t build grain bins to hold their crop for the chilly winter days when a blizzard howls through. And yet God makes sure they are fed.
Then Jesus points to the lily by the side of the creek and tells them to see how beautiful the lily is. Do you see the beauty of the grass in the field? Today it is growing, it finds nutrition in the soil, and gets water from the rain. They stay in one place, not working, just showing their beauty. Yet God cares for it.
Jesus then looks them in the eyes and tells them that they have far greater value than any bird, or any plant. If your heavenly father watches out for the birds of the air and the grass of the field, you can trust he will take care you.
Isaiah said, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  (Is 41:10).
You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can know that God will take care of you. Trust him today. He has proven he is trustworthy.

City of Luverne seeks 
bids by July 6 
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed proposals will be received by the City Council of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota at the Luverne City Offices, 305 East Luverne Street, P.O. Box 659, Luverne, Minnesota 56156 on Wednesday, the 6th of July, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. for the PrairiE Loft Apartments Parking Lot Paving, Luverne, Minnesota, at which time the proposals shall be publicly opened and read aloud by the City Administrator and Engineer.
The approximate quantities of work on which proposals will be received are as follows:
    5,502 S.Y.   Concrete Pavement, Varies thicknesses
    5,930 S.Y. 6” Class 5 Aggregate Base
    5,930 S.Y. 12” Subgrade Preparation
    2,400 L.F.   4” Solid Line Paint
and other related items of construction.
All bids shall be made on proposal forms furnished by the Engineer and shall be accompanied by bid security in the form of a certified check or bid bond, made payable to the City of Luverne, Minnesota, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid, which security becomes the property of the City in the event the successful bidder fails to enter into contract and post satisfactory bond. Work shall
commence on or after July 18, 2022 and be completed by October 29, 2022.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technicalities and irregularities. The City also reserves the right to increase,
decrease or delete items of work to comply with budget limitations.
The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 
The Contractor and all subcontractors shall submit to the Owner a signed statement verifying compliance with each of the criteria described in the State of Minnesota “Responsible Contractor” law as codified in Minnesota Statute
section 16C.285. See the Instructions to Bidders for more details.
Complete digital project bidding documents are available at www.questcdn.com. You may download the digital plan documents for $20.00 by inputting Quest project #8231015 on the website's Project Search page. Please contact QuestCDN.com at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in free membership registration, downloading, and working with this digital project information. An optional paper set of the proposal forms and specifications for individual use may be obtained from the office of the Engineer, DGR Engineering, 1302 South Union, P.O. Box 511, Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246, telephone 712-472-2531, Fax 712-472-2710, e-mail:
dgr@dgr.com, upon payment of $50.00, none of which is refundable.
Published upon order of the City Council of Luverne, Minnesota. CITY OF LUVERNE, MINNESOTA
By /s/ Patrick T. Baustian                
Mayor
(06-23)