Banks of Luverne — First National BankThe following was printed in the Rose History in 1911:The First National Bank is the successor to the first banking concern established in Rock County. This was the private bank opened by P.J. Kniss and O.D. Brown, under the name of Bank of Luverne, in the fall of 1876. The partnership between the original proprietors existed until January 1881, when Mr. Brown withdrew his interests and a reorganization was effected. The officers under the new regime were P.J. Kniss, president; G.Q. Kniss vice president and E.D. Hadley, cashier, W.P. Hurlbut succeeded Mr. Hadley as cashier in November 1882 and the banking firm took the name P.J. Kniss & Co.The Bank of Luverne commenced business as a state bank Nov. 15, 1884, and was capitalized at $30,000, paid in by 17 stockholders. A year later a further reorganization was carried out, which resulted in the conversion of the institution into a national bank. The capital stock was increased to $50,000, and under its new charter the First National Bank opened its doors Jan. 7, 1886. The first officers and members of the board of directors were: P.J. Kniss, president; E.D. Hadley, vice president; W.P. Hurlbut, cashier; H.J. Miller, N. Nelson, W.H. Halbert and E.A. Brown. A number of important changes in the management of the institution occurred in 1887. On Jan. 27, W.H. Halbert succeeded W.P. Hurlbut as cashier, and in August the majority stock was purchased by S.W. Thompson of East Randolph, N.Y., who thereupon succeeded to the vice presidency, vice E.D. Hadley. Charles C. Thompson was installed as cashier on Nov. 8, 1888. In December 1890, P.J. Kniss withdrew from the bank, and as a result S.W. Thompson was elevated to the presidency and N. Nelson became vice president. The First National’s fourth cashier was C.E. Huntington, who succeeded Charles C. Thompson in January 1891. Later in the same year a most important change in the bank’s management was negotiated. President Thompson and Cashier Huntington both retired and the stock they controlled was transferred to William Jacobsen and A.D. LaDue, both formerly connected with the Rock County Bank. Mr. Jacobsen became president and Mr. LaDue cashier, and those officers served 13 years. E.A. Brown, the present vice president, succeeded N. Nelson in 1894. The final change in the personnel of the First National’s management was made by reason of the death of Pres. Jacobsen in 1905. Since then the officers have been: A.D. LaDue, president; E.A. Brown, first vice president; O.P. Huntington, second vice president; William Jacobsen, Jr., cashier; D.M. Main, assistant cashier. On the same occasion the board of directors, then consisting of A.D. LaDue, E.A. Brown, O.P. Huntington, G.C. Huntington and P.E. Brown, was increased to seven members, and William Jacobsen Jr., and J.A. Kennicott were chosen as the new directors. On Jan. 1, 1906, the capital stock was increased to $100,000, to which were accumulated a surplus and reserved profits of nearly $50,000. The brick block occupied by the First National Bank was erected in 1878.(This building stood where the City Hall is now.) 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@lw.net.

New Yorkers aren’t laughing. In an apparent effort to enrage its residents and receive additional revenues at the same time, New York City is in the midst of what Reuters news service calls a "silly summons blitz." The so-called ticketing frenzy also serves to remind us that life can be funnier than fiction. Many of the tickets are being issued for obscure city ordinances and residents of The Big Apple must be shaking their heads in disbelief. One resident was fined $105 for sitting on a milk crate on a Bronx sidewalk, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In what could be a new way to reduce excessive tourism, a visitor to the city from Israel received a $50 ticket for taking up two seats on a subway headed for Queens. A Greenwich Village merchant had to pay a $400 fine for having too many words on his store awning. According to the New York Daily News, one woman, six months pregnant, sat down on a subway stairwell in complete exhaustion and was fined $50. Big Apple residents are suddenly aware of little known offenses, such as carrying an open bottle of water onto a bus or being a man in a playground without a child. Last, but not least, a woman in Queens was ticketed $25 for talking loudly to her neighbor, who lives in a nearby apartment. The Daily News interviewed the woman and she explained, "I couldn’t leave the food on the stove, so I opened my door and my friend opened her door and we stood in front of our apartments talking." There was no mention of whether or not a pot of simmering soup was confiscated as possible courtroom evidence in the case. However, the woman’s excuse is clearly that of a hardened criminal. The world will definitely be a better place when crate sitters, over-wordy awning owners, loud talkers and tired, pregnant women are removed from our streets. It now appears that other cities in the world hope to follow the example set by New York City. A gardener in Berlin was ticketed last month for driving his lawnmower while intoxicated. The guilty party had just finished mowing a lawn for a client when he was breath-tested by the police and fined $460. Unfortunately, he had also just finished a bottle of wine. We can only guess what behavior tipped off the police in the first place. It couldn’t have been drunk driving on a public road or speeding. He was on private property and the mower in question has a maximum speed of four miles per hour. Perhaps he left a trail of scalped flower gardens, hedges and topiaries in his wake. He might have reduced a lovely set of lawn chairs and a matching sun umbrella table to a miserable pile of shredded, plastic confetti. It might even have been the way he brandished the bottle in the air as he steered the riding mower and shouted to everyone within earshot, "Bite my clippings!" On the other hand, it might have been nothing. It’s possible similar ticketing frenzies could come to all of our towns and cities during this long, hot summer. Be careful out there.

To protect and serve?I am writing this letter because of an incident that happened at my residence on the night of June 27. Shortly after midnight, my son called and informed me there was an officer walking around our house looking through the windows with his flashlight. I decided to park a couple of blocks away from my home and walk to see if there was anyone around my house. While walking down the alley, I noticed a figure standing in the dark behind my garage. As I got closer, I realized it was a police officer. As I approached, he asked if I was out for an evening walk. With no response, I questioned him on what he was doing. He then pointed toward my driveway and said, "I am waiting for one of those cars to leave." My response was "Are you going to pick him up?" He replied, "Yes." At that time I became very upset and told him to get off my property. He seemed somewhat surprised that I was the owner and refused to leave. I became even more enraged. I asked what his name was and went into my house to call the sheriff. I told the sheriff in so many I wanted them to get away from my house. After hanging up the phone I went back outside and the police officer was driving away. As I walked to the end of the driveway, I noticed a set of headlights came on about a half block away. It was another police officer sitting in the dark waiting for something to happen. As I stood at the end of my driveway, the patrol cars continued to drive by my home for the next hour. This is no longer police work; it has become a big game hunt for a few officers. On Saturday morning, I talked to the sheriff again and explained I was still upset and wanted to know what was going on. He told me an officer was driving by my house and had seen some kids standing in the driveway. As the officer approached, they put something in a car and ran away. If this did happen, why didn’t they leave when they couldn’t find the kids? The officer continued to walk around my home and hide in the dark until I caught him. I was told he looked into the car that was sitting on my property, there was no search warrant. I do not know the law, but this seems to be an invasion of privacy. I have not checked but I would bet this officer is No. 1 in giving DWI’s. Don’t get me wrong, if someone is driving out of control, I have no problem with them getting pulled over. On the other hand, when an officer simply sits outside of an establishment and waits for someone to leave and then starts following them around town hoping they make a mistake, this is not justice. It has turned into a game for a certain few; it’s like when it gets dark the hunt begins. I had one personal incident. As I left the Eagles Club, I noticed an officer parked on the street. As I turned out of the parking lot to leave, a set of headlights came on. I had no idea which officer it was, but they followed me down Highway 75, down Warren Street, and as I turned into my driveway on Donaldson the officer continued driving southbound on Donaldson. This is not law enforcement, it’s not serving the public, it’s simply a witch-hunt. My situation is not the only occurrence, there are many others which the public does not know about. Since 9-11 happened everyone talks about terrorism. We have a similar situation in Rock County with certain individuals on the force. It’s too bad that when it gets dark, you are afraid to go out and drive home. A sad factor is some of these same officers can go out drinking and think nothing of it. They drive home without a worry in the world, knowing no one is waiting for them. What makes them any different than the rest of us?Our local police force has been tarnished due to a few officers. I feel sorry for the other officers who serve Rock County the way it is intended. I hope I have not upset all the officers in Rock County with this letter, but I do feel something has to be done. I wouldn’t doubt that sometime down the road you will see my name appearing in the paper under District Court. I believe that what occurred at my residence on June 27 and me voicing my opinion with this letter, I now have an "X" on my forehead, and certain people will go out of their way to find me. Terry ReischLuverne

Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is going full speed ahead! We were relieved and excited to learn that not only would most of our Fiscal Year 2003 funding be restored that had been cut, but that the Administration agreed to commit a total of $36 million for Lewis and Clark and Perkins County RWS in its 2004 and 2005 budgets. Considering the Administration had earlier not included any funding for Lewis and Clark in 2004, this turnaround is incredible news.More than the money itself, this signals a strong commitment to the project on behalf of the Administration. This is confirmation once and for all that this vital water pipeline will be built. For that, we have our congressional delegation to thank. Sen. Dayton, Sen. Coleman and Congressman Gutknecht really stepped up to the plate and convinced the Administration of the importance of this vital water project. Our congressional delegations in South Dakota and Iowa also provided strong leadership during this critical time. Without the strong support from all of our elected leaders, none of this would have been possible.When you’re talking about the need for a quality, dependable supply of drinking water for the region, there are no party lines or state lines. It is refreshing to see everyone working together toward a common goal.Troy LarsonExecutive DirectorLewis and Clark Rural Water System

DISTRICT COURTFifth Judicial DistrictProbate Court DivisionORDER FOR HEARING PETITION FOR DESCENT OF PROPERTYSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate of George WassenaarThe Petition of Robert Wassenaar, dated the 20th day of June, 2003, having been filed in this Court representing that the above named decedent has been dead for more than three years leaving certain property therein described, and requesting that the descent of said property be determined and assigned by the Court to the persons entitled thereto.IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, That said Petition be heard on Monday, the 28th day of July, 2003, at 9:00 o’clock a.m. by the above named Court at Luverne, State of Minnesota. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED That the petitioner give notice of said hearing in the manner prescribed by M.S.A. 524.1-401 to all persons entitled to notice pursuant to M.S.A. 524.3-403 and to all persons who have filed a demand for notice pursuant to M.S.A. 524.3-204. Dated: June 30, 2003/s/ Timothy K. Connell, District Court Judge/s/Sandra L. Vrtacnik, Court AdministratorDOUGLAS E. EISMAAttorney for PetitionerEISMA AND EISMA130 East Main StreetP.O. Box 625Luverne, MN 56156(507) 283-4828(7-3, 7-10)

Effie Stroh, 98, Luverne, died Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Services were Monday, July 7, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Dell B. Sanderson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Effie Anderson was born to Anders and Oline (Iveland) Anderson on May 31, 1905, in Rock County. She attended country school at 4 West School in Rock County and graduated from Luverne High School in 1923. She also attended Normal School Training for two years. She taught country school in Rock County for 10 years. She was a homemaker.She married Jerry Stroh on July 2, 1935, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Luverne. They lived northwest of Luverne and later moved south of Luverne to her parent’s farmstead. They moved to Luverne in 1973. Mr. Stroh died in 1974. Mrs. Stroh was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne and taught Sunday School. She was involved with church circles and also served as president of Ladies Aid. She belonged to Extension Club, Neighborhood Club and enjoyed playing cards with her friends. She enjoyed baking, sewing and flowers. She also crocheted and made doilies with family’s names. She raised chickens and ducks. Survivors include three sons, David (Judy) Stroh, Harold (Carol) Stroh, all of Luverne, and Rodney Stroh, Beaver Creek; one daughter, Helen Biren, Owatonna; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.Mrs. Stroh was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jerry, one brother, Selmer Anderson, and five sisters, Sena Severtson, Louise Pierson, Anna Beatty, Helen Lunde and Gena Dibbern. Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Villagers didn’t hear one firecracker on the 4th of July, but we did hear the clap of thunder and the flash of lightning as winds blew, pounding the rains against the window. In the morning there were branches to pick up and a tree was blocking the park street but the sun came out and the Inwood parade went on as scheduled. Berdella and Signe went with family and Bud drove down, all returning to the Village to report on the parade’s success. Here the tables in the dining area were appropriately decorated and we had a picnic dinner of hot dogs, potato salad, calico beans and ice cream cones. There were visitors. Martha’s family, Linda and Richard, Peter and Carrie, Eli and Makayla. The Olson’s company, along with son Miles and Arla were Delmer and Lavonne Johnson of Beresford, S.D., and Iona and Margaret Scholten of Valley Springs, S.D. Lavonne and Iona are David’s sisters. Margaret is Arnold’s sister. Margaret and Arnold are a sister and brother who married a sister and brother. Vic and Fran Sandager were guests of Carolyn C. Arnold S. had two young visitors along with Joan and Segundo. They were Segundo’s brother’s children from California. Joan told they were their grandchildren who came to spend two weeks in the summer. Nicholas and Siana love Minnesota and are especially fond of Village food. They did not like leaving for they would like to live with Arnold S. all the time. The children enjoy hearing Arnold’s stories of the past. Joan tells of visiting her Dad every two weeks or so and they always make a trip to Sioux Falls. Each time he tells a different story of family or friends living along the way.Caregiver Deb requested baby pictures. She said she’d not hurt them but display them on bulletin board and allow us to guess who they are. To date no one’s been very successful. Age changes you but we are the "Same Old Me."I Am The Same Old MeWhen I was in my younger days, I weighed a few pounds less,I needn’t hold my tummy in to wear a belted dress.But now that I am older, I’ve set my body free;There’s comfort of elastic, where once my waist would be.Inventor of those high-heeled shoes, my feet have not forgiven:I have to wear a nine now; but used to wear a seven. And how about those pantyhose- they’re sized by weight, you see,So how come when I put them on, the crotch is at my knees?I need to wear these glasses, as the prints were getting smaller;And it wasn’t very long ago, I know that I was taller.Though my hair has turned to silver and my skin no longer fits:On the inside I’m the same old me, just the outside’s changed a bit. Arnold T. spent the weekend in Austin with his sister Maxine and family. Signe’s been gadding about with her son from Philadelphia here for his Larchwood class reunion. Miles Olson is entertaining us each dinner hour with the toe tapping organ music playing from memory not a song book. The weather has allowed us to sit outside. A young lady from Brandon, S.D., doing community service is weeding our garden. Joan Berdahl came one night to play "Whist" with us.I’ll keep you posted!

New Yorkers aren’t laughing. In an apparent effort to enrage its residents and receive additional revenues at the same time, New York City is in the midst of what Reuters news service calls a "silly summons blitz." The so-called ticketing frenzy also serves to remind us that life can be funnier than fiction. Many of the tickets are being issued for obscure city ordinances and residents of The Big Apple must be shaking their heads in disbelief. One resident was fined $105 for sitting on a milk crate on a Bronx sidewalk, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In what could be a new way to reduce excessive tourism, a visitor to the city from Israel received a $50 ticket for taking up two seats on a subway headed for Queens. A Greenwich Village merchant had to pay a $400 fine for having too many words on his store awning. According to the New York Daily News, one woman, six months pregnant, sat down on a subway stairwell in complete exhaustion and was fined $50. Big Apple residents are suddenly aware of little known offenses, such as carrying an open bottle of water onto a bus or being a man in a playground without a child. Last, but not least, a woman in Queens was ticketed $25 for talking loudly to her neighbor, who lives in a nearby apartment. The Daily News interviewed the woman and she explained, "I couldn’t leave the food on the stove, so I opened my door and my friend opened her door and we stood in front of our apartments talking." There was no mention of whether or not a pot of simmering soup was confiscated as possible courtroom evidence in the case. However, the woman’s excuse is clearly that of a hardened criminal. The world will definitely be a better place when crate sitters, over-wordy awning owners, loud talkers and tired, pregnant women are removed from our streets. It now appears that other cities in the world hope to follow the example set by New York City. A gardener in Berlin was ticketed last month for driving his lawnmower while intoxicated. The guilty party had just finished mowing a lawn for a client when he was breath-tested by the police and fined $460. Unfortunately, he had also just finished a bottle of wine. We can only guess what behavior tipped off the police in the first place. It couldn’t have been drunk driving on a public road or speeding. He was on private property and the mower in question has a maximum speed of four miles per hour. Perhaps he left a trail of scalped flower gardens, hedges and topiaries in his wake. He might have reduced a lovely set of lawn chairs and a matching sun umbrella table to a miserable pile of shredded, plastic confetti. It might even have been the way he brandished the bottle in the air as he steered the riding mower and shouted to everyone within earshot, "Bite my clippings!" On the other hand, it might have been nothing. It’s possible similar ticketing frenzies could come to all of our towns and cities during this long, hot summer. Be careful out there.

The Hills Town fast-pitch softball team had their annual Independence Day tournament in Hills starting off on Thursday evening. Eleven teams participated. Taking first place honors was the Hills Town team. Second place winners were the Rock Rapids Merchants. Lester, Iowa, came in third place and the Beaver Creek team was the fourth place winner. The games had a late start Friday morning due to a wet diamond but the tournament was finished that night.The descendants of Theodore and Lucy Larson had their family reunion Saturday at the home of Tedd and Diane Larson. Present were Bob and Milly Larson and family, Armour, S.D; the Dolores Rempel family, Rapid City, S.D., and Oregon; the Paul Larson family and Audrey and Martin Feistner, Madison, S.D.; Ann Larson and family, Luverne; Dennis Roning, Hills, and his daughter, Deneise and Bill Swanson and their four sons and children; and the hosts, Tedd and Diane Larson and their children, Lance, Tricia and Lucy; and Hanna and Matt Harter, Rock Rapids, Iowa. More than 100 were in attendance. On July 3rd, Noreen and Gary Greve, Verona, Wis., and nephew, Art and Marjorie Vander Waal came to spend the day with her sister, Harriet Skattum. Friday all went to South Dakota to visit Harriet’s sisters at Sinai, Volga and Huron. They returned to Hills last Thursday and the visitors returned to their homes in Wisconsin. Tom and Joanne Goehle spent the Fourth in the home of Randy and Sheri Sunne attending a family gathering. Betty and Jerry Ackerman, Erma, S.C., are visiting her mother, Grace Wassenaar and other relatives and friends. Some of their children came up from Iowa to visit them and spent the day in the Wassenaar home. Robert and Twila Kirsch drove to Heron Lake to spend the Fourth with the Luke Mathias family and along with their children attended the celebration at Lake Okabena. Tim and Dana Vink and daughters, Karis, Alaina and Caley, Tulare, Calif., came to Hills to visit in the home of Dana’s parents, John and Carol VanMaanen and to attend Dana’s 20th class reunion. They will also visit his parents, Jim and Janice Vink, in Luverne before returning home on July 17. Gene and Barb Sikkink, Duluth, are spending a few days in the home of Vic and Fran Sandager. Ed and Marllis Fiscella, Green Valley, who are spending some time in Inwood, Iowa, were Sunday guests in the Sandager home. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe visited Sunday afternoon in the home of Tom and Matthew VanWyhe in Sioux Falls.Lee and Betty Sandager, Marine on the St. Croix, and Leona Goehle, Tyler, spent a few days with the Sandagers. They and Vic and Fran were Wednesday evening steak dinner guests of Sheldon and Ellie Sandager. Alicia, daughter of Mark and Karen Sandager, New York, is spending a few days with home folks. Alicia, Ian and Tom, Leona Goehle and Lee and Betty Sandager were Tuesday dinner guests of Vic and Fran Sandager. Coryn Iverson, daughter of John and Peggy Iverson, Charlotte, N.C., is spending a few days in the home of her grandparents, Wilmer and Betty Elbers. Howard and Lois Hoyme spent from Friday until Sunday at the Sandager’s ranch with Sheldon and Ellie at Herrick, S.D.Thursday evening Wilmer and Betty Elbers drove to Hull, Iowa, to have dinner with the Vander Haar relatives at the Pizza Ranch. Ron and Faith Talsma, Bellflower, Calif., are visiting this week with relatives and friends in the area.