Real-life reality TVwould be canceled… too real to tolerateI was glad to see a couple TV commercials announcing new fall lineups at the major networks. The ads caught my eye because they didn’t show scenes from new episodes of the latest so-called "reality" shows.Thank goodness. I hope the ads were a sign of change in our TV choices for good.I’ve gotten tired of trying to find an actual story to watch with a plot line involving real actors. Without that, TV just isn’t very fun anymore. Of course, I could stop spending my weeknights watching TV, passively or not. But Ozzy Osbourne is more likely to lose his stutter before I stop watching TV.Sometime around the peak of popularity for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" I stopped watching reality TV, or game shows or anything involving a primetime contest.I just couldn’t get into them. I’d rather watch imaginary dramas with more creativity than a "reality" where the premise is to kick out housemates or judge a preschooler screeching out a Whitney Houston song. In my reality, men in bikini shorts don’t eat cow brains for cash. Nor do a dozen or so eligible 20-somethings compete for some trashy lady’s affections. Well that one does happen sometimes, but it doesn’t last an entire season and there’s usually some type of prescription medication involved. Maybe I’m just bitter because I don’t have the looks, talent or personality to be on a reality show. If I had my own, it would go something like this:Episode 1 would involve me talking on the phone while painting my nails and balancing the checkbook. Neither the gossip nor the bank balance would generate much drama.Episode 2 would involve major household tension as I raise my voice, "Why should I have to kill it? Don’t you want to rescue me from the spider in the bathroom?"Episode 3 would be sort of funny … and a little sad. It would show me on the couch in my pajamas from about 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. flipping through the channels (foolishly looking for a non-"reality" show). During Episode 5 there would be a video montage of me spending a series of nights inventing things in the kitchen. It would cut to scenes like, "Honey, does this taste like that potato leek soup I ordered?" and "Don’t be scared. Just try it. It’s artichoke-spinach dip."By Episode 5, the reality show would be cancelled. … Too real for most people to tolerate.

Knights of Pythias and Pythean Sisters LodgeThe following was printed in the Rose History in 1911: "A Luverne fraternal order with a record for noteworthy achievement is Luverne Lodge No. 113, Knights of Pythias, which was organized Nov. 15, 1892, with 22 charter members. The lodge was instituted by Fred E. Wheaton, grand chancellor of Minnesota. Following is the initial membership roll, including the first officers of the order: E.S. Rogers, P.C.; F.H. Helener, V.C.; W.H. Randall, P.; F.E. Johnston, K.R. and S.; W.A. Shawver, M.F.; N.C. Gunderson, M.V.’ J.B. Johnson, M.A.; S.B. Nelson, I.G.; T.J. McDermott, O.G.; F.E. Shafer, C.H. Pumphrey, Harper Shafer, C.W. Orvis, H.W. Rogers, Henry Meyer, E.O. Krook, Mark Swedberg, J.C. Glynn, L.S. Nelson, J.W. Gerber, C.A. Yaeger. The Knights of Pythias possess one of the most finely appointed lodge rooms in the state. The chambers occupy most of the second floor of an elegant business block erected by the lodge in 1908, at a cost of $16,000. The formal dedication of Pythian Castle hall occurred July 22, 1909. A distinguishing feature of the event was the fact that the dedication ceremonies were conducted by Supreme National Chancellor H.P. Brown of Texas. The home of the Luverne Knights is the first one in the Grand Domain of Minnesota to be so signally honored. The Pythian Sisters Lodge (an order until a few years ago known as the Rathbone Sisters) is a flourishing organization. Luverne Temple No. 41 was granted its charter March 17, 1906. The 17 charter members and first officers were as follows: Emma Johnston, M.E.C.; Myra Davis, P.C.; Etta Gerber, E.S.; Irene Cottrell, E.J.; Carrie Jones, manager; Nina Canfield, M.R.C.; Addie Delate, M. of F.; Ada Mae Bell, P.; Libbie Yaeger, G.; Cora Nutting, Alice Birch, Charity Hughes, Georgenia Myhre, Sarah Hafsoons, Belle Davis, Nellie Canfield, Laura Dobell."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.

It was sure nice to attend the barn dance Saturday night. It brings back memories. I wish my dad, Lester Wieck, would have been here. He built a barn on one of his farms northeast of Magnolia many years ago. The Magnolia band needed some instruments. Dad had a barn dance in the hayloft with a band and lunch. He donated the money to buy some instruments. Everyone had a grand time.It was great to watch the square dancers Saturday night also. They went right along with the barn dance. It was nice, Delmar Dahnke.Evelyn BruhnMagnolia

Cookie lovers should sleep better these days. A frivolous lawsuit to ban Oreo cookies in California has been dropped like a ton of lard. Stephen Joseph, the British-born attorney who filed the suit against Kraft Foods Inc. last month, said he only wanted to make people more aware of trans fats in our foods. What he didn’t take into consideration is that, for many of us, our love for Oreos transcends any fears we might have of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Fats happen and we must swallow that fact. Oreos, tasty chocolate wafer cookies lovingly bonded together with creamy frosting, have become a comfort food for many of us. From our early childhoods to the present, we have been fully aware of the benefits of the little sandwich cookies. For example, the makers of Oreos have enhanced our holidays with exciting varieties of festive frosting colors. We expect to see orange-colored frosting fillings for Halloween and red frosting for Christmas. All of the many other frosting colors have enriched our appreciation for the holidays and seasons more than we can possibly imagine. Oreos are better coffee or milk dippers than doughnuts, pieces of pie or chunks of cake. While those other Oreo wannabes become soggy, break apart and plummet like space debris into our beverages, Oreos both soak up well and maintain their original shapes. In this sense they are a perfect food. Another advantage of Oreos is that they teach children everything they should know about sharing. They learn quickly that sharing isn’t necessarily a synonym for equal. It’s not always fair. Just ask any younger sibling who was always stuck with the unfrosted sides when Oreos were divided in halves. (In self defense I would suggest that as older siblings kind enough to do the sharing in the first place, we more or less deserved to be rewarded with the frosted halves.) Oreos have taught most of us to save the best for last. Eat the plain half of the Oreo before the frosted side. This also ties in perfectly with the Calvinist idea of suffering before you can enjoy. When compared to other questionable foods such as fried liver with onions, boiled beef tongues or lima beans, Oreos provide the best culinary way to celebrate the pursuit of happiness, one of our basic freedoms. Now that the lawsuit in California has been dropped, our country no longer faces the possibility of being torn into two groups — Oreo dunkers and Oreo debunkers. The dropped lawsuit should also serve to remind us that so-called junk foods shouldn’t be treated like much-maligned cigarettes in our courtrooms. After all, no innocent bystander has become sick from second-hand exposure to chocolate wafers or creamy frosting fillings. They may wish they had Oreos and drool a bit, but it’s only temporary. The Oreo lawsuit in California raises one important question. Who appointed Stephen Joseph to be head of our cookie police, anyway? We like our Oreos and we don’t want people to mess with them. That’s the truth and that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Spending the weekend in the home of Dean Greenfield were his children, Leah and Kent Teveldal and Courtney, Scott and Karen Greenfield and family, all of Lamberton, and Troy Greenfield, Slayton.Bob and Twila Kirsch attended funeral services Saturday morning at our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls for Vernon Haraldson. They were classmates at the Hills school. Jim and Marj Roning attended the Sioux Valley Sangerfest concert and supper afterward as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harley Eliason of Canton, S.D. Terry Walters, a former Hills-Beaver Creek music teacher, was the assistant director. Tom and Matt VanWyhe, Sioux Falls, were lunch guests Sunday noon in the home of Cliff and Vi VanWyhe in honor of Father’s Day. Steve VanWyhe, Steen, also stopped by. Enoch and Madeline Thorsgard, Northwood, N.D., spent from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning in the Wendell Erickson home. He is Kathryn’s cousin.Luella Schlueter visited her cousin, Alvin Heetland, Friday at Good Samaritan Village Assisted Living apartments in Sioux Falls. Saturday evening Fran Sandager attended the wedding of Suzanne Johansen and John Parks at the Zion Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls and the reception at the Brandon Golf Club. Friday Brenda Hadler and Colby of Edgerton visited in the home of Joanne Goehle. Sunday the Steve Carmany family of Tyler, were visitors and also Tom Goehle. Wednesday Susan Hofman and son, David, Melvin, Iowa, visited in the home of her parents, Chuck and Rheta DeBoer.Sunday evening, Cliff and Vi VanWyhe were entertained in the home of Lexia and Ron DeWit in Sioux Falls.Vic and Fran Sandager returned home after spending two weeks in the home of their son, John Sandager, in Colorado Springs, Colo., and attending the wedding of Tatiana Sandager and David Kucera on June 8. Thursday, Chuck and Rheta DeBoer took Frank and Berdella DeBoer to Rock Rapids for dinner in honor of Father’s Day and then went on to Sheldon, Iowa, to visit Frank’s brother, Bill DeBoer and wife, Nelva. Sequndo and Joan Valesquez spent a couple of days here with her father, Arnold Swanson. They returned Sunday to their home in Mendota Heights accompanied by Arnold who will spend about a week there. Friday afternoon guests in the Vic Sandager home were Norris and Lorraine Meland of Wallace, S.D.Saturday, Chuck and Rheta DeBoer went to Spirit Lake, Iowa, to attend a DeBoer get-together.

Vernon Haraldson, 80, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Hills, died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls.Memorial services were Saturday, June 14, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls.Vernon Haraldson was born on Feb. 26, 1923, in Hills. He grew up and received his education in Hills. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1942 to 1945, serving in the North Atlantic.He married Martha Madtson on Sept. 6, 1944, in Norfolk, Va. He worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Sioux Falls for 38 years, retiring in 1985. Mr. Haraldson was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church where he was an usher for many years and served on the Board of Property. He drove for Meals on Wheels 18 years, belonged to the VFW, NARFE and worked with Habitat for Humanity for 10 years where he was a Master’s Builder. Survivors include his wife, Martha Haraldson, Sioux Falls, three sons, Ron (Marci) Haraldson, Willmar, Dennis (Carol) Haraldson, Sioux Falls, and Paul (Marisa) Haraldson, Ely; one daughter, Sheila (Terry), Martinez, Calif.; six grandchildren Heidi Nelson, Gretchen Haraldson, Caryn Haraldson, Hailey Castagnozzi, Staci Schiller and Steve Schiller; one brother, Berdell Haraldson Sioux Falls; and one sister, Lois Sims, Cheyenne, Wyo. Mr. Haraldson was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.Memorials may be directed to Habitat for Humanity or Our Saviors Lutheran Church Foundation.Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

By Sara StrongRock County has the chance to become one of about 20 regional sites for the University of Minnesota Extension Service.During the next three weeks, interested communities will have an opportunity to submit information on how their communities would be a good Extension site.This process is necessary after Extension’s latest reorganization that will leave fewer offices open. The new regional sites will be completely state- and federally-funded, instead of the local cost-sharing system currently in place. After this reorganization, everyone will have access to Extension services as they have in the past. However, Extension may not have an actual office in Rock County.Rock County Extension Director Holli Arp said the local Extension Committee met Monday to discuss the value of a regional site in Rock County and the chances of the state locating one here.The Committee indicated it may be even more supportive of researching how to get a satellite office, which would cater more specifically to local wants and needs. The Committee is just in the beginning stages of this discussion and hasn’t brought it to the Rock County Board of Commissioners yet.If Extension doesn’t put one of its regional offices in the county, Rock County can still decide to have one, but it will pay all the office costs. The county currently pays $110,544 in salaries, benefits and rent to keep Extension in the county. The county pays 60 percent of the 4-H Coordinator’s salary, and 40 percent of educators’ salaries. The county won’t know until mid-July where the regional Extension offices will be located.This week a state task force released recommended criteria that will be used in determining the location of regional Extension centers:oThe community and site supports a strong technology connection.oAn existing University of Minnesota facility will be considered whenever possible.oThe centers should be distributed geographically to ensure that Extension is available throughout Minnesota.oLocations that maximize value for anticipated costs for the employer, customer and employee will be sought.oThe location lends itself to increased collaboration with agency partners.oThere are existing acceptable facilities.oThere is an active commitment from the host community.oThere are partnership opportunities with other educational institutions.oThe site is a user-friendly location for customers and the deployment of staff.The new regional model of Extension will start in January 2004. Counties, local agencies and non-profits will have the choice of contracting with Extension for programs, services and positions. Also, the standard educational programming will remain in place statewide.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds ran their season-long winning streak to five straight games with a pair of victories on Father’s Day Sunday.Luverne edged Hadley by two runs in Hadley Sunday afternoon before returning to Luverne to edge Pipestone by one run Sunday evening.The 8-1 Redbirds will play at the Green Isle Tournament Friday through Sunday.Luverne 4, Hadley 2The Redbirds put together a three-run fourth inning to set the stage for a two-run victory during Sunday’s first game in Hadley.The teams played to a scoreless draw through three innings before Luverne opened scoring in the top of the fourth.Derek Ohme doubled and scored, Eric Edstrom reached base on a fielder’s choice and scored and Ben Winkels singled and scored during the rally.Hadley plated a single run in the bottom of the fourth before Winkels singled and scored on a double from Jeff Sehr to make it a 4-1 game in the top of the sixth.The Buttermakers produced the game’s final run in the bottom of the sixth.Jon Jarchow tossed the first six innings to pick up the win. He allowed two runs (one was earned), five hits and three walks while recording four strikeouts. Ohme tossed a scoreless seventh inning to register a save.Box score AB R H BIOhme 3 1 1 0Edstrom 3 1 0 0Winkels 3 2 2 0Weber 3 0 0 0Fisher 0 0 0 0J.Sehr 3 0 1 2M.Sehr 2 0 0 0Schneider 1 0 0 0Iveland 2 0 1 0Sandbulte 2 0 0 0Jarchow 3 0 1 0Luverne 3, Pipestone 2An RBI single by Tony Sandbulte in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Redbirds a one-run home win over the A’s Sunday evening.Pipestone erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning, but Sandbulte settled the issue in the bottom of the seventh.Mike Wenninger, who was the winning pitcher for Luverne along with slapping three hits at the plate, singled to start the seventh-inning rally. One out later, Winkels singled and Luke Iveland walked to load the sacks for Sandbulte, who singled home the game-winning run.Wenninger opened the scoring when he belted a solo homer to lead off the second inning. Iveland singled and scored on an error to make it a 2-0 game in the fifth.Wenninger fanned four of the five batters he faced in a relief performance that netted him the win.Travis Arends pitched the first five and one-third innings, allowing two runs, three hits and three walks. Arends struck out six batters.Box score AB R H BIOhme 2 0 1 0Edstrom 3 0 0 0J.Sehr 3 0 0 0Wenninger 3 2 3 1Arends 0 0 0 0Weber 3 0 1 0Winkels 3 0 1 0Iveland 2 1 1 0Sandbulte 3 0 1 1Eernisse 2 0 0 0

Luverne senior Jake Studer prepares to swing at an offering from St. Cloud Cathedral pitcher Josh Hollenhorst while players from the Crusaders’ bench look on during Thursday’s Minnesota State Class AA Baseball Tournament quarterfinal-round game at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. Cathedral topped the Cardinals 4-2 and went on to win the state championship with two more wins.By John RittenhouseLuverne’s impressive post-season run came to an end with a 0-2 performance during the Minnesota State Class AA Baseball Tournament in St. Cloud Thursday.The Cardinals dropped a two-run decision to St. Cloud Cathedral during the quarterfinals before falling by five runs to La Crescent in the first round of consolation play.Luverne ends the 2003 campaign with a 16-11 record.SCC 4, Luverne 2The Cardinals drew the unenviable task of playing the tournament’s top team when they met the Crusaders in Thursday’s quarterfinals at Joe Faber Field.SSC, the team that beat Luverne 6-4 in the 2001 championship game, bested the Cardinals by two runs in what turned into another state championship for the Crusaders.The 4-2 win over the Cards proved to be the closest test SCC would receive during the tournament as it topped Perham 6-0 in the semifinals and Breck 12-2 in the finals.A strong pitching performance by Josh Hollenhorst and some timely hitting in the game’s early stages by SCC snapped what was a seven-game winning streak for LHS.Hollenhorst pitched all seven innings for the Crusaders, limiting the Cards to four hits and five walks. Hollenhorst fanned three batters. Both runs he was charged with were unearned.Jesse Kuhlman tossed a strong game for Luverne, but control problems haunted the senior in the early stages of the game.After blanking the Crusaders in the first inning and recording the first out of the second frame, Kuhlman hit SCC’s Scott Halupczok before walking Adam Koopmeiners to place runners on first and second.Brian Zawacki then singled home the first run of the game before the next SCC batter popped out to third baseman Adam Kurtz. Crusader Brian Knoblauch singled to right field to chase home the second run of the inning before Mike Schmidt walked to load the bases. The first of two fielding errors in the game by LHS allowed the third run to score before the final batter of the second inning bounced out to Kuhlman.Good fortune shone on SCC when it scored a single run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-0.Hollenhorst started the inning by lifting a fly ball that landed in fair territory by two feet. The ball skipped away from right fielder Nick Uilk, allowing Hollenhorst to stretch the bloop hit into a double.SCC’s courtesy runner for Hollenhorst advanced to third on a fly ball to right field by Halupczok before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field by Koopmeiners.While SCC was scoring runs in the early innings, the Cardinals were losing offensive opportunities on the base paths. Three LHS runners were picked off at first base in the first four innings of the game.Jake Studer drew a two-out walk in the top of the first and Mark Remme walked with one out in the second, but Hollenhorst, a right-hander, picked them both off at first base. Uilk drew a walk to start the fourth inning. One out later, Koopmeiners, the catcher, threw out a straying Uilk at first base after receiving a pitch from Hollenhorst.Moments after Uilk was tossed out at first, Kurtz lined a double to left field that may have scored Uilk from first.Kuhlman, who limited SCC to a pair of hits after the third inning, walked three batters with two outs in the fifth inning to load the bases. When he recorded his lone strikeout of the game to escape the jam, it gave the Cardinals momentum that led to a two-run top of the sixth.Zach Wysong reached base on an infield single to start the rally, but he was forced out at second base when Joey Pick reached first on a fielder’s choice.Canaan Petersen, the courtesy runner for Pick, moved to second when Uilk reached base on an error. One out later, Kurtz lined his second double of the game to left field to plate Petersen and Uilk. Remme then singled to right field to give LHS runners on first and third, but Remme was forced out at second base when a bouncer off the bat of Aaron Schmidt never left the infield.Luverne was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning, ending the 4-2 game.Kuhlman allowed five hits and five walks during his six-inning stint on the hill. Three of the four runs he surrendered were earned.Box score AB R H BIJo.Pick 3 0 0 0Petersen 0 1 0 0Uilk 2 1 0 0Studer 2 0 0 0Kurtz 3 0 2 2Remme 2 0 1 0Schmidt 3 0 0 0Reisch 2 0 0 0Kuhlman 3 0 0 0Wysong 2 0 1 0Jr.Pick 0 0 0 0La Crescent 7,Luverne 2Luverne’s season came to an end with a five-run loss to the Lancers at Joe Faber Field Thursday evening.The Cardinals led 2-1 after four and one-half innings of play, but La Crescent put together a six-run fifth inning that gave the Lancers a five-run win.La Crescent went on to beat Waconia 8-4 in Friday’s consolation championship game.The pitching of La Crescent’s Brad Bjerk proved to be too much for the Cardinals to overcome Thursday.Bjerk, a hard-throwing right-hander, fanned 11 LHS batters in seven innings. He walked one batter, allowed two hits and one earned run.La Crescent opened the scoring in the home half of the first inning.Bjerk doubled to left field with two outs and scored when Luke Shimshak doubled to left moments later.After being set down in order during the first two innings, Luverne managed to break through and score two runs to take a 2-1 edge in the top of the third.Adam Reisch drew a walk and Kuhlman singled to center field to start the rally. After Wysong laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third, Pick produced an infield chopper that was misplayed by the La Crescent second baseman. Reisch scored on the play, Kuhlman moved to third and Pick gained first base.Uilk then chopped a ball that was fielded by Bjerk. Instead of trying to make a play on Kuhlman, who was racing home from third base, the Lancer pitcher tossed to second base to force out pinch-runner Petersen. When Uilk beat the relay throw to first base, he received credit for the go-ahead RBI.The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth, when La Crescent scored six times to settle the issue.Jared Pick, who limited the Lancers to three hits and one run through four innings as Luverne’s starting pitcher, looked to be in good shape when he induced the first batter in the fifth to fly out to left field.Pick, however, walked the next two batters before giving way on the mound to Kurtz.Kurtz, who notched one win and four saves during the Section 3AA Tournament, ran out of luck during the two-on, one-out situation he inherited against the Lancers.Matt Tuka, the first batter Kurtz faced, lined a single to tie the game at two.Bjerk then fouled out to catcher Joey Pick for the second out of the inning. Shimshak, the next batter, dribbled a bouncer that was fielded by Kurtz, but the Cardinal pitcher couldn’t throw to first base in time to get out Shimshak. Scott Curran, the runner at second base when the play began, kept running when he reached first base and scored the second run of the inning to make it 3-2.La Cresent’s Zach Schoh slapped a run-scoring single to center field that plated Tuka before Kurtz walked Sean Siebold to load the bases. Another walk to Dan Wieser forced home the fourth run of the inning, and an infield error by the Cardinals allowed the final two runs to come home.After scoring two runs in the third, Luverne was limited to a single by Remme the rest of the game.Jared Pick took the loss after allowing three earned runs in four and one-third innings of work on the mound. He surrendered three hits and three walks while fanning two batters.Kurtz allowed four runs (two were earned), three hits and three walks while tossing one and two-thirds innings of relief.Box score AB R H BIJo.Pick 3 0 0 0Petersen 0 0 0 0Uilk 3 0 0 1Boen 0 0 0 0Studer 3 0 0 0Kurtz 3 0 0 0Remme 3 0 1 0Schmidt 3 0 0 0Reisch 1 1 0 0Kuhlman 2 1 1 0Wysong 1 0 0 0Jr.Pick 0 0 0 0Goembel 0 0 0 0