Luverne American Legion second baseman Aaron Schmidt fires a throw to first base to record an out during Friday’s Second District Tournament game against Wabasso in Truman. Wabasso handed the Cardinals their first of two losses over the weekend, ending Luverne’s season.By John RittenhouseThe Luverne American Legion baseball team was unable to advance to the second weekend of play in the Second District Tournament for the second consecutive year.That fact became a reality over the weekend in Truman, where Luverne went 1-2 while bowing out of the double-elimination event.The Cardinals lost a nine-run decision to Wabasso during Friday’s opening round before avoiding elimination Saturday with a two-run win over Minnesota Lake in the loser’s bracket.Luverne needed another win Sunday against Pipestone to return to Truman this weekend, but the Arrows ousted the Cards with 4-0 setback.Luverne ends the season with an 8-11 record.Pipestone 4, Luverne 0Luverne was blanked for the second round of the tournament when it squared off against Pipestone during an elimination game played in Truman Sunday.Pipestone’s Matt Oye blanked the Cards for six innings before giving way to a relief pitcher who completed the shutout in the seventh inning.The winners scored two runs in the top of the first inning before adding single counters in the fourth and seventh frames against Luverne pitcher Zach Wysong, who went the distance on the hill.Wysong allowed nine hits and five earned runs while recording five strikeouts.Luverne, which was limited to four hits in the game, stranded two runners on base in the first and second innings.Mark Remme slapped singles in the second and fifth innings for Luverne. Aaron Schmidt singled in the first inning, and Tim Boen singled in the second.Box score AB R H BISchmidt 4 0 1 0Kuhlman 3 0 0 0Wysong 3 0 0 0Kurtz 3 0 0 0Jo.Pick 3 0 0 0Boen 3 0 1 0Studer 2 0 0 0Reisch 1 0 0 0Tofteland 2 0 0 0Remme 3 0 2 0Luverne 7, ML 5The Cardinals avoided an early exit from the tournament by nipping Minnesota Lake by two runs in eight innings Saturday.Luverne trailed 5-3 after ML scored two runs in the fourth inning and three in the bottom of the fifth to erase a 3-0 deficit, but the Cards tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth before winning the elimination game with two runs in the eighth inning.Joey Pick provided some spark for the Cardinals in the sixth inning when he singled, advanced to second on a passed ball, stole third base and scored on a throwing error to make it a 5-4 game.Jesse Kuhlman drew a walk and knotted the score at five when Jake Studer produced a ground out that resulted in an RBI as the sixth inning progressed.Kuhlman and Studer played key roles during Luverne’s two-run rally in the eighth inning that decided the game.Kuhlman singled and scored the go-ahead run on a double by Studer. Boen gave Luverne an insurance run when he singled home Studer.Luverne opened the scoring with a three-run second inning.Boen singled and Rob Fodness reached base on an error to set the table for John Tofteland, who belted a three-run homer over the fence in left field.Kuhlman pitched the first four and two-thirds innings and didn’t gain a decision. Three of the five runs he was charged with were earned.Jared Pick tossed three and one-third innings of scoreless ball to notch the win.Box score AB R H BIJo.Pick 4 1 1 0Kuhlman 3 2 2 0Wysong 5 0 1 0Kurtz 5 0 0 0Studer 4 1 1 2Boen 4 1 3 1Ja.Pick 4 0 0 0Fodness 3 1 0 0Tofteland 4 1 2 3Wabasso 9, Luverne 0The Cardinals opened the tournament by taking a nine-run beating from Wabasso Friday.Wabasso limited Luverne to three hits in the game and scored runs in five of six innings to win handily.Wabasso chased Luverne starting pitcher Devan Goembel mound with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. The winners plated five runs (four were earned) against Goembel, who was saddled with the loss.Reliever Adam Kurtz didn’t fare much better against Wabasso. He surrendered four earned runs in three and one-third innings of relief.Boen singled in the second inning, Kuhlman singled in the third and Adam Reisch singled in the sixth to account for Luverne’s hits in the game.Box score AB R H BISchmidt 3 0 0 0Kuhlman 2 0 1 0Reisch 3 0 1 0Kurtz 3 0 0 0Jo.Pick 3 0 0 0Wysong 3 0 0 0Remme 1 0 0 0Fodness 1 0 0 0Boen 2 0 1 0Ja.Pick 0 0 0 0Studer 2 0 0 0

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development is considering application for financial assistance sponsored by Minwind III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX. The specific elements of this proposed action are on Sections 8 and 17 of Beaver Creek Township, 2 miles northwest of Beaver Creek, MNIf implemented, the proposed action would directly or indirectly convert five acres of important farmland: convert or impact no acres of floodplain/wetland; impact a cultural resource; and and/or be incompatible with the State, unit of local government, or private programs and policies to protect farmland. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of this possible result and to request comments concerning (1) the impacts of the proposed location on crops and farm land, (2) alternative sites or actions that would void these impacts, and (3) methods that could be used to reduce these impacts. The proposed action is available at the following USDA Rural Development Office:USDA Rural Development1567 North Mc MillanWorthington, MN 56187507-372-7751Any person interested in commenting on the proposed action may do so by sending such comments within 30 days following the days of this publication to:USDA Rural Development1567 North Mc MillanWorthington, MN 56187 507-372-7751A general location map of the proposed action is shown below:(7-31, 8-7)

Sioux Valley Health Network subsidy hearing set for Aug. 12NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Luverne City Council will hold a public hearing commencing at 5:00 P.M., Central Daylight Savings Time, on Tuesday, August 12, 2003, in the City Council Chambers located on the second floor of City Hall, 203 East Main Street, Luverne, Minnesota, to consider a business subsidy to Sioux Valley Health Network. A copy of the Development Agreement which includes a summary of the terms of the subsidy is available at the City Clerk’s Office. All citizens are encouraged to attend the hearing, ask questions, and/or give comments. Any citizen may also submit written questions or comments prior to the hearing by addressing them to the Interim City Administrator, PO Box 659, Luverne, Minnesota 56156. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s Office, 203 East Main Street, Luverne, MN (507) 449-2388.Marianne PerkinsCity Clerk(7-31)

The Southwest Minnesota Workforce Council is soliciting proposals to provide staffing services to the Workforce Council. Parties wishing to submit a proposal should request further information from the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Council, Lyon County Courthouse, Third Floor, 607 West Main Street, Marshall, MN 56258, 507-537-6987. Proposals must be received no later than 12:00 Noon, Friday, August 29, 2003. (7-31)

JUNE 26, 2003MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184, ROCK COUNTY, LUVERNE, MINNESOTA.A regular meeting of the Board of Education, ISD #2184, was held in the MS/HS Media Center on Thursday, June 26, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. The following members were present: Don Bryan, Colleen Deutsch, Dan Kopp, Bill Stegemann, Steve Tofteland, and Becky Walgrave. Absent: Cary Radisewitz. Also present: Superintendent Vince Schaefer, Marlene Mann, Gary Fisher, Melody Tenhoff, Mark Lundgren, Matt Crosby, K101/KQAD Radio, and Lori Ehde, Rock County Star Herald.The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dan Kopp. Motion by Bryan, second by Deutsch, to approve the agenda. Motion unanimously carried. Mark Lundgren and Joel from Minncor Industries presented information to the School Board regarding the renumbering of classrooms and new signage in the Middle/High School building. Motion by Stegemann, second by Walgrave, to approve the consent agenda which included the School Board minutes of June 11, 2003, and the Student Activity Report showing the balances as of May 31, 2003. Motion unanimously carried. Administrative reports were given.Motion by Bryan, second by Tofteland, to approve payment of the district bills as presented in the amount of $1,352,089.99. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to set the bid date for bread, milk, building fuel, and vehicle fuels for the 2003-2004 school year as August 1, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Walgrave, to give the auditor the approval to make final transfers and adjustments, when they audit the 2002-2003 fiscal year, that are necessary and according to general accounting principles, resolutions and standards. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Walgrave, second by Stegemann, to set the GASB-34 accounting threshold at $5,000. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Tofteland, second by Deutsch, to set the School Board meeting schedule as presented. Meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Bryan, to continue membership in the Minnesota Rural Education Association for the 2003-04 school year. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Walgrave, second by Stegemann, to accept the Resolution for membership in the Minnesota State High School League for the 2003-04 school year. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Bryan, second by Deutsch, to continue membership in the Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation for the 2003-04 school year. It was noted that the membership cost is $175. Motion unanimously carried. Business Manager Marlene Mann reviewed the preliminary budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to approve the 2003-04 Preliminary Budget with revenues in the amount of $11,579,040.00 and expenditures in the amount of $11,644,814.00. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Bryan, to approve the 2003-2004 Schedule of Additional Payments as presented. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to accept the resignation of Carol Ceynowa as Spring Play Director. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Bryan, second by Stegemann, to approve Todd Oye as part-time Activities Director. Motion unanimously carried. Committee reports were given. Superintendent Schaefer addressed the School Board regarding the renumbering of the MS/HS classrooms and the signage. He has three letters from the architect and engineers recommending that the room numbers are not changed. Discussion was held. Motion by Stegemann, second by Walgrave, to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously carried. Dated: June 26, 2003William Stegemann, Clerk(7-31)

10 years ago (1993)"Hills-Beaver Creek High School Principal Greg Spath announced Saturday that after 20 years with the district, he’ll soon be leaving.‘It’s a tough time,’ Spath said. ‘But I’m looking ahead at the next challenge, and that’s where I’m putting all my energies right now.’On Aug. 16 he will begin his duties as principal of United South Central, the newly consolidated school district combining the communities of Wells, Easton, Bricelyn, Kiester, Walters and Freeborn."25 years ago (1978)"There will be one primary contest and one general election contest in Rock County this year.Lyle Authier and Mike Wynia have challenged incumbent Ole Hommen for the position of county sheriff. The three will meet in the primary Sept. 12 and two of the three will be on the ballot Nov. 7.Margaret Cook, Luverne, filed for county treasurer just before the deadline at 5 pm. Tuesday. Paul Herreid, who has been county treasurer for 38 years, withdrew early Wednesday morning."50 years ago (1953)"Miss Patricia J. Nelson, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. S.T. Nelson, of Luverne, was recently chosen ‘Sweetheart of Pusan Army Port’ for 1953 by the men of the 7th Transportation Major Port at Pusan, Korea.A news release to the Star Herald from headquarters, 7th Transportation Major Port at Pusan, disclosed that Miss Nelson won the unanimous verdict of all the judges at what is the world’s busiest military port. Her photo was entered in a contest by her boyfriend, Pvt. Lyle Hanson, of Starbuck, Minn. Miss Nelson is 20 years old, is five feet nine inches tall, has blue eyes and chestnut hair.… Her father is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church here."75 years ago (1928)"Rock County’s 20th annual fair will be held August 29, 30, 31 and September 1, and if arrangements now being made by the officers are as successful as they have been in the past, the 1928 fair will, beyond all question, be the most successful one thus far held.Officers have set their mark for this year at not only a bigger exposition of Rock County products, but a more thorough and comprehensive showing in every department. As an incentive to this end very liberal premiums will be offered and every possible accommodation and convenience provided for exhibitors."100 years ago (1903)"A quantity of stone has been quarried and deposited on the lot on Spring Street in the south part of town to be dressed for mausoleum which will be constructed for the Hinkly lot in Maplewood. The rare beauty of the stone directs attention again to value of the deposits in this county."

As the Star Herald publishes in its 130th year, it’s a nice time to pat ourselves on the back. We’re a great community newspaper and bring home awards from the state contest nearly every year. That said, some people might just as soon use our pages as fish wrap as congratulate us on a job well done.It’s the kind of business that people don’t always revere, but you’d miss us if we weren’t here.People who regularly read this paper know that we try to keep the community connected by sharing important news with them. We strive to cover the local courts and school, city and county governments thoroughly. We go to meetings so people who weren’t there can read what the discussion was about. We have the purpose of keeping public information in the public eye. We hope you appreciate our efforts, but that’s not all that we do. The so-called "important" things we do aren’t all that makes this paper a vital community member. Obituaries, for example, are catalogs of people’s lives and our local Historical Society keeps them all on file for future research projects. Our obituaries are published for free, which is increasingly rare in the news business. Other things we do that might be missed if we didn’t do them is print upcoming community events, engagements and weddings, anniversary announcements and birthday card showers, all for free. We print the graduation lists from area colleges and universities and we take pictures of local school events. We connect you with others through their contributions to the paper. These are people who you might not otherwise get the chance to know: columns from the pastors, Carole Achterhof, Glenda Bremer, and Betty Mann; and all the people who keep us thinking through their letters to the editor.We cover fun things, and meet lots of fine people. The Star Herald is about much more than government meetings.I hope this newspaper will be here for another 130 years to keep the community connected. Maybe we’ll even persuade some skeptics to use it for their scrapbooks instead of lining for bird cages.

Rock County as it wasThe following is continued from last week. It appeared in the Rock County Herald July 18, 1924:During the autumn of 1866, Nathan C. Estey and James Johnson, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, visited the county for the purpose of selecting claims on the unsurveyed lands for themselves and for Mr. Estey’s younger brothers, also having a few goods to barter with the Indians. They proceeded up Rock River into Vienna Township and there built a shanty in which they lived two months. The first attempt to establish a permanent home in Rock County was made early in the month of June 1867, by a Mr. Towers, and was unsuccessful. During the month of June 1867, Philo Hawes, who was to take a more active part in early day affairs of Rock County than any other man, accompanied by Joe Fields, passed through the county selecting a route for a government mail line from Blue Earth City to Yankton, Dakota Territory, and arrived at Rock River, a short distance above the present site of Luverne, on June 13, where they camped for the night. Proceeding on their way westward they arrived on the present site of Sioux Falls on the morning of June 15, 1867, where they found a military post occupied by a part of a regiment of soldiers. The honor of making the first permanent settlement in Rock County must be accorded to Amos E. and Orville C. Estey, brothers, who arrived in Rock County the third day of August 1867, the location being section 25, Clinton Township, some two miles north of the Iowa state line. The pioneer house of Rock County erected by them was nine feet wide by 16 feet in length, seven feet high at the front and sloping down at the rear until the roof was only nine inches from the ground. The frame was constructed of poles cut along the river, which were placed upon upright, crotched poles. After the poles had been placed in position long slough-grass was placed over the frame, taking the place of clapboards. The grass was woven about the poles as the old-fashioned willow baskets were woven. Over all were piled brush, coarse hay, sod and loose dirt. This pioneer home was decidedly of the frontier, the nearest family being one by the name of Kordwell at the head of Spirit Lake. To the north there were no settlers for a greater distance, and Yankton was the nearest settlement on the west, excepting the soldiers, at the falls of the Big Sioux. Jackson was the post office of the Estey boys, and Spirit Lake, Iowa, was the point from which they secured their provisions. It is perhaps needless to add that they did not enjoy the privileges of the rural free delivery in that day. Phil Hawes, having secured the contract for carrying mail, came out to Rock County again on Sept. 18, 1867. On Sept. 19 he moved and camped near the present site of the Rock Island Depot (east end of Lincoln Street) and at this time also selected the site for his future home. The section lines had not yet been run, but he did claim under squatters rights what, when surveyed, was the east half of the northwest quarter and the south half of the northeast quarter, section 11, Luverne Township, land upon which he later filed, and later still founded the town of Luverne. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

This might be too weighty a subject for a midsummer’s day. At this time of year, our thoughts normally turn to the artery-clogging hot dogs served at baseball games, juicy burgers sizzling on the grill and mountains of potato salad. We certainly don’t want to think those same foods may cause our country to slip into oblivion. According to The Week magazine, geologist Robert Roverne has told another publication, Weekly World News, that "Americans are becoming so obese that the continent will soon sink into the ocean." If the population doesn’t shed 1.5 billion pounds, he explained, or 20 pounds per overweight person, shorelines and coastal planes will drop below sea level. If that’s the case, we should all be taking swimming lessons and investing in reliable flotation devices. "Innocent people, and I’m talking here about slim Americans," proclaimed Roverne, "are in dire peril through no fault of their own." At this point, we might question his opinion of innocent, slim Americans. After all, these are the same people who refuse to support the economy of our country by purchasing more groceries than they need. These are the same people who snub offers of rides when they’re out jogging and they look exhausted. Innocent people don’t insult hostesses by refusing to take second helpings or eat anything with more than one gram of fat. Robert Roverne’s Sinking Continent Theory can be debunked with the Hot Fudge Sundae Theory. The latter theory compares the continent of North America with a large bowl of vanilla ice cream. No matter how much hot fudge and chopped nuts are spooned onto the ice cream, the ice cream won’t sink because it’s anchored firmly to the dish, which is solid. Much like North America, the Sinking Continent Theory doesn’t float. We might also argue that, given the big picture, a surplus weight of 1.5 billion pounds isn’t all that much. The total weights of our mountains, tall buildings and every fast food restaurant in the country would make 1.5 billion pounds pale by comparison. If the Sinking Continent Theory becomes a reality, we will be aware of several warning signals, well in advance of our colossal nosedive into the ocean. With both the east and west coasts sinking into the oceans, residents of the Midwest will find large cracks in their lawns and gardens. It would be similar to the large fissure which appears when a chocolate candy bar is slowly broken in half. Unlike the usual cracks in the ground, created by periodic dry spells in late summer, the new openings would resemble the Grand Canyon. Another warning sign of imminent danger would be the Earth shifting with the uneven distribution of human weight, causing the planet to slightly tilt on its axis. At first, the changes would be minor and then we might notice New York City occupying the position formerly held by the North Pole. More serious signs will occur when the Earth breaks free from its orbit and begins free-falling toward the Sun. Nervous eating habits, frayed nerves and intense heat will be obvious symptoms that something has gone wrong. At that point of "the dire peril", a certain geologist and all of those innocent, underweight victims might wish they had eaten more during their lifetimes.