Meetings
Luv1LuvAll board will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, June 10, at the Southwest Health and Human Services building. Luv1LuvAll works to “create opportunities for people to move out of poverty,” and all are welcome. Call Holly at 605-413-5415 with questions.
 Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, in the Township Hall.
Vienna Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, in the Kenneth Community Center.
Battle Plain Township Board will meet 7:30 p.m. June 15, at the Edgerton Ag conference room.
 
‘Service Over Self’
The second Rock The Edge Service Over Self day will be July 20. Youth who have completed grades eight through 12 are welcome to register, as well as adults. (Signup is by July 14 for July 20 service day.) Email rocktheedgemn@gmail.com or call 507-283-2316 to request a registration form.
 
Run, Walk, Roll ends June 12
Living Rock Church will host the last Run, Walk, Roll family event Sunday, June 12. Brunch will be after the church service followed by running, walking or riding bike on the Luverne Loop.
 
June 13 is ‘Touch a Truck Night’
The LIFT Plaza Committee will host “Touch a Truck Night” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, on Main Street Luverne by the Plaza on Main. Various trucks and heavy equipment will be on display for children of all ages who will get hard hat and earn prizes when all trucks/vehicles are visited.
A food and beverage fundraiser for the Rock County Historical Society will also take place during the event. The event is free. Rain date is June 20.
 
Free food for seniors
A.C.E. of SW MN will offer its drive-through-style Senior Nutrition Program from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 16, for seniors 60 and older in the Maple Street parking lot on the east side of new Generations Event Center. Pre-registration is required by calling Linda at 507-283-5064.
 
Food distribution is June 16
New Life Celebration Church’s third Thursday monthly food giveaway is now at the Atlas building at 101 W. Maple St. in Luverne.
The next distribution is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16, until the food is gone.
Enter from Maple Street and stay along the west side of the building. Parking lot opens at 3 p.m. Do not block the Redeemed Remnants parking lot, intersection or alley entrance. Food will be loaded into vehicles, which then exit via the alley going west toward Estey Street.
Call 507-283-8963 or 507-283-4366 with questions.
 
Community Ed
Call 507-283-4724, to register for classes. Community Ed’s website is www.isd2184.net, select Luverne Community Education under schools.
Trips to the Arboretum and Twins game are full.
The first of three Friday morning Adventure Day Camps, Magical Fairytales, will be June 10 at the fairgrounds for students who have completed Grades 1-4.
Amazing Raku for all ages (younger than third grade attended by adults) is June 11. Select and pay for a pottery bisque piece at the studio for $10-$30 to glaze and fire.
Defensive Driving Classes Beginning Class is June 21 and 23 (4 hours each evening). Refresher Four-Hour Classes is June 16
 
Rock County Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Magician “Magic Zac” is rescheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 28.
Teens in Action (grades 5-12) will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursdays. A different activity will be featured each week beginning June 16.
Find the Hidden Animal Tracks during a scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 14.
Movie and snacks for Camp Rock begins at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. The movie is 1 hr. 37 min., rated G. All ages are welcome.
Michael Albert and POP ART program will be Friday, July 15. Registration is required.
Movie and Snacks for The Lorax begins 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 19. The movie is 1 hr. 35 min., rated G. All ages are welcome.
A naturalist from Prairie Ecology Bus Center will present the program “Animals Can Do What?” from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, for grades K-4.
The summer reading program, “Camp iRead: Read Beyond the Beaten Path,” continues to Aug. 1.
Readers in grades K-4 who completed all eight weeks of the summer program will be invited to an End of Summer Pizza Party at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4.
Teens (grades 5-12) who complete a bingo card will be invited to a pizza/prize party at 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 5.
Storytime @ the Park will be 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Locations and start date will be released at a later date.
Seed library is open and available to anyone in the public who wants to plant a garden. Flowers, fruit and vegetable seeds are available for free.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.

Demolition crews removed the city-owned building at Main Street and Highway 75 on Wednesday, June 1, to clear the way for future development.
The city purchased the property last year from the Dennis and Norma Remme family who opened Remedez Hair Salon in 2007 in the location, which also housed the business office for Remme Construction.
Remedez closed in January 2021 and the 7,348-square-foot lot was listed for sale in March. The city purchased it last year for $155,000 with intent to remove it.
In the months since then, Fareway Stores bought the former W-2 Quality Meats building on the opposite corner and the company is eyeing the newly cleared lot for a possible Fareway expansion.
According to Star Herald Facebook followers, the building has a long business history in Luverne, once housing a gas station, Gert Egan’s Café in the 1950s and 60s, a gun shop and others.

Brad Finstad, New Ulm, will be the Republican candidate facing DFL candidate Jeff Ettinger, Austin, in the special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn.
Finstad, a former USDA official for the Trump administration, and Ettinger a former Hormel CEO, emerged from the crowded Republican and Democratic primary races Tuesday, May 24.
Voters in southern Minnesota chose from eight DFL candidates and 10 GOP candidates to determine who would advance to an Aug. 9 special election for the seat.
Ettinger garnered more than 64 percent of the DLF vote while Finstad won by only 388 votes over state Rep. Jeremy Munson on the GOP side.
The winner of the Ettinger-Finstad race will serve the remainder of Hagedorn’s term, which ends in January.
On the same day as the Aug. 9 special election, a primary will decide party nominees for the normal November general election.
The winner of the fall contest, which will be held under the new court-drawn lines brought about by redistricting, will be elected to a full two-year term to the seat.
Information about the candidates and the process can be found at the Secretary of State’s website, sos.state.mn.us.

I called my son Brandon on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to thank him for his military service. He was deployed twice to Afghanistan and Iraq back when things were pretty hairy for our service members.
I asked him if he wanted to take his two daughters fishing for any part of the weekend, and we started reminiscing about one fishing adventure we had when he was little.
Brandon and his twin sister, Brittany, were about 5 or 6 years old at the time. I had gotten a super-hot fishing tip about a local lake in Nobles County, and at the time my wife was working 3 p.m. to midnight at the local hospital, so if I was going to go fishing, it had to be a family affair. We added the resident cocker spaniel to the mix as well.
I met my tipster just coming off the lake with his limit that he caught in about 20 minutes, and he gave me three of the hot-colored twister tails in a color called bubble gum. I was all set. We unloaded the boat and with pop, snacks, and a dog in tow, we were off. We only motored about a quarter mile to the rocky shoreline on the east side, and I dropped the trolling motor to start a slow stroll to what was going to be a great night.
I tied on the right stuff and told the kids to make sure they didn’t spill the pop in the boat. Before I started, I poured them each an orange soda and threw out two rods with a bobber and bait to float behind the boat as I slowly moved along. As I was readying to make my first cast, I heard a holler, “I am snagged.” I fixed the snag and then tried to make my very first cast again. I had raised the bobbers so the bait was only a foot or two under water, thinking this would solve my snagging issues.
I maneuvered for my first precision cast, and a strange sound appeared in my ears. It was the sound of a 32-oz. bottle of orange soda that was pouring copiously out unto the carpet in what appeared to be slow motion.
Now this is far from the first thing that has gotten spilled in this boat. I did what I could, and the dog was helping lap up what he could get. What followed were two more snags and some more unorchestrated chaos.
It was during a lull, that I was just about to make my first cast, and I heard the sound of a potato chip bag that exploded when Brandon tried to open it. The chips fell right where the pop had spilled. As I again picked up my rod, I was informed that one of them had to go the bathroom.
Perfect timing. Handled that, and as I picked up my fishing rod yet again, it became abundantly clear that 40 million flies had found the chips mashed into the pop-soaked carpet by four little feet until it looked like orange mashed potatoes.
Things were looking pretty bleak. Another boat came by in the meantime, and it was a friend of mine who had come on the lake after we did. He and his wife were already halfway to their limit. It was time to make things happen. I picked up my rod and made one incredibly poor cast and as the jig did a perfect rendition of a gymnast in the uneven bars by wrapping around a branch 120 times, I knew my troubles were not over.
I broke the line, tied on another jig having lost one of the three magic bubble gum twisters, and knew I had to be more careful. I earlier had considered duct tape to subdue my little fishing partners but though better of that idea. I was just about to make my second cast when at the top of a little child’s lungs I heard, “What’s that smell?”
What I thought were challenging events up to this point were only the warmup band of this fishing adventure. Rosco, the cocker spaniel, had laid out a nice soft No. 2, and those same four little feet transformed it into a thin coating of doo over the entire length of the boat’s carpet.
I paused for a moment and surveyed my current situation: 40 million flies, orange mashed potatoes, boat carpet that looked like the floor of a hog building, and two kids that wanted nothing but out.
As I hung my head in utter despair, I pulled up the trolling motor and headed to the landing where I met that same couple loading their boat ahead of me with a limit of 12 nice walleyes in the 16- to 18-inch range.
Kids with shoes removed and a boat on the trailer, I headed home on what young kids today call the walk (or in my case) the drive of shame.  When I got home, the only conceivable solution to a boat interior that looked like a landfill was the garden hose. I put the kids to bed and fertilized my front yard with 30 minutes of homegrown pressure washing.
The bite lasted about two weeks on this lake, but I never made it back to try again. As unsuccessful outings go, this one topped the list, but today those little feet are attached to two adults 36 years of age. Memories outdoors are the most vivid. I fished for thousands of hours with those two kids, and I would not have traded a single minute for anything in the world. Now I hope to have the chance to repeat those memories with four grandchildren. But no orange pop is allowed.
 
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

My three besties from the LHS Class of 1981 and I celebrated turning 59 with a 24-hour “Luverne Experience” over Buffalo Days.
Our adventure began at noon Friday with the renting of electric bikes from the Luverne Aquatics Center.
There were a few glitches. One battery was dead. Two batteries occasionally shorted out. The highlight was the collapsing seat which left one of us “riding like a circus monkey” for a portion of the ride.
But, just like we did in high school, we laughed so hard we cried, and the biking challenges became part of the adventure. (Disclaimer, staff
members at the Aquatics Center were more than gracious and did their very best to help us have a great E-biking experience.)
After the bike challenges were sorted out, we did a progress survey of Luverne. From the Aquatics Center, east on Ashby Trail to the new campground, then back and south past the new apartment buildings by the fair grounds, then west to the Minnesota National Guard Armory building, to The Lake and back we rode bike and observed, “There’s a lot going on here.”
We broke up the ride with a stop at Take 16.
Next, we had pre-Cruise-In hors d’oeuvres by our friend’s Sprinter van on the lawn near Maxwell Apartments.
As we laughed and talked and nibbled, a local home owner arrived with four pieces of Better Than (Something) cake.
“I saw you girls sitting out here and thought you might like some cake. I had a few extra pieces.”
(Yes, this is the kind of community where people randomly share plates of homemade cake.)
Next we hit the Cruise-In. It was a little unsettling to see the 1963 car models called “old.” Since the four of us are all 1963 models, we have chosen to be called “vintage.”
Then it was back to Take 16 for food, music and, of course, really good craft beer. (I had a coupon!)
The slumber party at my house started at 11 and ended at 12:30, which was not quite like the old days when we’d wait for the sun to come up before going to bed.
At the 10 a.m. parade, we helped a small child fill his bag with candy before heading off to the Arts Festival on Court House Square.
It’s hard to believe we four friends have spent 59 years having a “Luverne Experience.”
Last weekend was a great start to our 60th.

Thumbs up — to our local graduates: given their profile information in the recent Star Herald graduation edition, these kids are going places. Also, this week’s Arts and Academics edition showcases all kinds of student talent worth community accolades.
Thumbs down — to Main Street business owners and their employees who park in front of other businesses. A brief stop is one thing, but we’ve heard from businesses who suffer from repeat all-day parkers that force elderly patrons to take extra steps around a vehicle in the middle of a block.
Thumbs up — to Buffalo Days Chamber staff, volunteers and committee organizers. Despite the dreary weather, the weekend had great participation and a wonderful lineup of attractions.
Thumbs down — to inflation. High prices — especially gas prices — hurt the most vulnerable among us. Our working families finally saw wage hikes but are now hammered by inflation (while corporations post record profits).
Thumbs up — to the local spirit of volunteerism in Rock County. In the wake of our Memorial Day violent storms, we heard countless stories of neighbors helping neighbors to clean up debris from downed trees and damaged property.
Thumbs down — to limited Sunday dining options in Luverne. Lila does a great job at the Pizza Ranch keeping people in town by keeping her doors open, but a dinner-and-drinks option requires an out-of-town trip. We understand the need for company days off, but Monday might be a better day off, especially during summer travel months and weekend community events.
Thumbs up — to Shawn Kinsinger and his Palace Theatre staff and volunteers for their superb work keeping our arts scene alive and vibrant in the community. His quarterly report to the City Council meeting (see related story) is similar to his past reports in that we have a great deal to be proud of in Luverne. We are the envy of community fine arts and entertainment around the region.
Thumbs down — to the weeds and shabby-looking shrubs on the back side of the Rock County Veterans Memorial. The fabulous memorial was built to honor our veterans, and we can do better than this.
Thumbs up — to the Luverne Chapter of Dollars for Scholars, which awarded more than $500,000 to the Class of 2022 qualifying seniors. Luverne is a great district for quality education and student opportunities, but the scholarships are certainly a bonus. Thumbs up also to the hundreds of community members and LHS alumni who donate money to the local chapter.
 
The Star Herald publishes Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down editorials based on tips from our readers. Send ideas for future “thumbs” editorials to editor@star-herald.com or call 507-227-3820.

In one of their final actions of the regular legislative sessions, the Minnesota House and Senate passed a mental health bill that will address some needs, especially for children.
“We are facing a mental health crisis in our state,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota. “More people are needing mental health services and yet access is diminishing.”
In 2019 a task force began studying community competency restoration programs to develop recommendations for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial.
The bill provides clear directives and timelines on the supervision of defendants to protect community concerns and the constitutional rights of the defendant at the same time.
“[This] will result in meaningful changes in people’s lives. Instead of going through the revolving door into the jails, people with mental illnesses will be connected to the treatment, services, and housing they need to be well in the community,” Abderholden said.
Among other things, the bill creates funding for:
•Crisis stabilization beds for children and youth. Currently there are crisis beds only for adults. This will provide an option for children boarding in the ER but who do not need hospitalization.
•School and shelter mental health programs, providing mental health treatment where the children and youth are.
•Loan forgiveness for mental health professionals.
•Mobile crisis services to build on the current system that covers all 87 counties but with inadequate funding cannot always respond in a timely way.
•Supervision to become a mental health professional for free. Finding and paying for supervision has been a major barrier for people completing their licensure requirements.
•Locked residential facilities for people deemed incompetent to stand trial.
•Programs that help young people experiencing psychosis. 
Another bill that passed late Sunday night was the Health and Human Services Policy bill. Among other things it allows:
•Children's Hospital to add psychiatric beds.
•Two-way interactive “telehealth” to supervise people working toward licensure.
•Mental health practitioners to be case managers.
•Students completing an internship or practicum to be mental health practitioners.
•Respite care for foster families.
Abderholden said NAMI applauds these investments and policy changes but is still needed for day treatment and stabilizing and maintaining workers in children’s programs.
NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families through its programs of education, support and advocacy.

The old concrete bridge near the Luverne City Park entrance has been removed, and River Road has its own entrance to County Road 4 farther east.
Henning Construction demolished the bridge May 24, and by May 26, paving had begun on the new road that intersects directly with County Road 4.
Luverne City Council members approved the project last summer, based on traffic safety and condition of the bridge, and the city worked with Rock County Highway Engineer Mark Sehr.
“I really think our Rock County engineer put a lot of thought in this project, and I think having two entrances down there, a separate one for River Road, is the best plan,” City Administrator John Call said in August.
“The main thing is that the bridge is beyond its useful years.”
Henning was the low bidder on the work at $80,707.

Dispatch report
May 27
•Complainant on N. Jackson Street reported threats/disturbance.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported suspicious guest at location.
•Complainant at Luverne High School reported vandalism.
•Deputy out with vehicle at location on Barck and Freeman.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported vehicle blocking drive through.
•Complainant on First and Main Street, Hills, reported vehicle poor driving conduct.
May 28
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported broken window on a car.
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported harassment via text message.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 6, Beaver Creek, reported an aggressive driver.
May 29
•Complainant reported a thunderstorm warning.
•Complainant in Garretson, South Dakota, reported an accident with personal injury.
•Complainant reported threats via phone call.
•Complainant reported property damage.
May 30
•Complainant reported a severe thunderstorm warning.
•A severe thunderstorm warning was issued.
•A tornado warning was issued.
•Complainant on E. Church Avenue, Steen, reported gas leaking.
•Complainant on W. Hatting Street reported trees down in roadway.
•Deputy reported tree down on Dodge Street and N. East Park Street.
•Deputy reported a tree down on Barck Avenue.
•Trees down in roadway in Luverne.
•A power outage was reported in Luverne.
•Complainant on 51st Street and 190th Avenue, Kanaranzi, reported powerlines down.
•Complainant on 200th Avenue reported lines down.
•Complainant on 120th Avenue reported lines down.
•Complainant on 111th Street reported lines down on roadway.
•Complainant on 51st Street, Magnolia, reported a propane leak.
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street reported a flag pole was damaged.
•Complainant on 111th Street reported vehicles driving past road closure signs.
•A thunderstorm warning issued.
•A tornado warning was issued.
•Complainant on 190th Avenue and 51st Street, Magnolia, reported vehicles driving on closed roads.
May 31
•Complainant reported a lost wallet.
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75 reported a lost handbag.
•Complainant reported a 911 outage.
•Complainant on Kniss and Main reported stoplights not working.
•Subject in Granite Falls was arrested on a Rock County warrant.
•Minnehaha County sheriff reported an assault that happened in Minnesota, westbound of rest area, Valley Springs, South Dakota.
•Minnehaha County sheriff reported a hit and run eastbound of the rest area, Valley Springs, South Dakota.
•Complainant on W. Lincoln Street reported theft of landscaping material.
•SFPD requested assistance.
June 1
•Complainant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had questions with current HRO.
•Complainant on Highway 75, Hardwick, reported a vehicle driving erratically.
•Complainant on N. Estey Street reported subject choked him.
•Complainant on Wall Street, Jasper, reported a gift card scam.
•Complainant requested to speak to sheriff.
•Complainant reported harassment via phone call.
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported harassing communication.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a woman lying in the grass at location.
•Complainant in Luverne requested information on possible arrest.
•Complainant on Highway 23, mile marker 5, Garretson, South Dakota, reported an injured horse.
June 2
•Complainant on West Mead Court reported three people dressed in black peeking in windows.
•Complainant on 171st Street, Luverne, reported estate issues.
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75 reported unauthorized boat in the pond.
•Complainant on 171st Street, Luverne, reported a civil incident.
•Complainant on S. Central Avenue, Hills, reported threatening behavior/harassment.
In addition, officers responded to 3 motor vehicle accidents, 1 deer accident, 1 escort, 7 ambulance runs, 3 animal complaints, 1 fingerprint request, 13 burn permits,  1 background check, 1 gas drive-off, 5 alarms, 7 drug court tests, 6 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 38 traffic stops, 3 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 2 welfare checks and 1 report of cattle out.