Hellwinckel probate 
STATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT
                                                                         FIFTH JUDICIAL COURT
COUNTY OF ROCK                                                                     PROBATE DIVISION
 
In Re: Estate of                                                                Court File No. 67-PR-22-71
Deborah Marie Hellwinckel,
Decedent       NOTICE OF AND ORDER FOR HEARING
ON PETITION FOR FORMAL
ADJUDICATION OF INTESTACY,
DETERMINATION OF HEIRS, FORMAL
APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE  AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
 
It is Ordered and Notice is given that on June 6, 2022, at 8:30 a.m., a hearing will be held in this Court at 204 E. Brown St., Luverne, Minnesota, on a petition for the adjudication of intestacy and determination of Decedent's heirs, and for the appointment of Becky Lynn Schultz, whose address is 388 N. Lake Dr., Watertown, SD 57201, as personal representative of the Decedent's estate in a supervised administration.
Any objections to the petition must be raised at the hearing or filed with the Court prior to the hearing. If the petition is proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the Personal Representative will be appointed with full power to administer  the Decedent's estate, including the power to collect all assets; to pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses; to sell real and personal property; and to do all necessary acts for the Decedent's estate.
Notice is further given that subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the Decedent's estate are required to present the claims to the Personal Representative or to the Court within 
four (4) months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred.
 
Date Filed: May 10, 2022 BY THE COURT
/s/ Terry S. Vajgrt
Judge of District Court
 
Attorney for Petitioner /s/ Natalie Reisch 
Klosterbuer and Haubrich, LLP Court Administrator Jeffrey L. Haubrich
MN# 0300020
PO Box 538 (COURT SEAL)
Luverne, MN 56156
Telephone: 507 283-9111
FAX: 507 283-9113
Email: jhaubrich@khlawmn.com
(05-19, 05-26)

Some weather experts called it a derecho, “a powerful windstorm extending more than 240 miles, with a line of quickly moving thunderstorms.”
Others said it was a haboob, an Arabic word to describe “a severe thunderstorm with powerful winds that cause dust blackouts.”
Regardless of its name, all eye-witness accounts were the same: A billowing wall of dust and debris rose from a blackened western sky, and damaging winds wreaked havoc on the ground.
It stretched for 500 miles from eastern Nebraska to northern Minnesota, barreling through Rock County around 5:15 traveling east at roughly 70 mph.
It downed trees, overturned vehicles and flattened buildings, scattering pieces of tin and shingles for miles across nearby tilled and planted fields.
And as quickly as it struck, it abruptly ended, with a smattering of rain and a temperature drop of more than 20 degrees.
Meteorologists say Thursday’s record heat (94 degrees in Sioux Falls) and humidity fueled the complex system that tore through five states.
It drew the attention of national media, including the New York Times, which on Friday quoted Adrian native Todd Heitkamp, who has been with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls for 35 years.
“We haven’t seen anything like this,” Heitkamp told the Times. “There was probably nothing that was more terrifying-looking than that because you knew what was going to hit the city of Sioux Falls.”
In Rock County and the tri-state area, there were numerous reports of semis and trucks blown over on roadways and property damage ranging from loose shingles and siding to toppled fences and structures.
A deputy noted a boat had landed in a field.
In Hills, neighbors helped each other clean up trees and branches after the storm. Brian Fick was among several property owners with tree damage, but he said he’s grateful the fallen limb missed his house.
East of Hills near Steen, livestock producer Matt Boeve lost a cattle shed in the storm and was rounding up an escaped steer after the dust settled.
“It’s not a big loss,” he said about the collapsed structure, “but if I’m going to get rid of a building, I’d rather not do it this way.”
 
Rock County ‘dodged a bullet’ Thursday
Rock County Emergency Management Director Kyle Oldre said the county made an emergency declaration to the state Friday in anticipation of possible storm damage from the Thursday afternoon and evening events.
Commissioners rescinded the declaration at their Tuesday morning meeting. Initial damage assessments from the small cities and townships were minimal.
Rock County was among as many as 45 counties who made local emergency declarations, mainly due to flooding, Oldre said.
“I think we dodged a bullet in Rock County, that’s for sure,” said commission chairman Jody Reisch. “We all saw the sky that night.”
Some public damage in the county was limited to the southern half.
The Rock County Rural Water System main pumping station received roof damage, and Magnolia Township’s equipment maintenance shed in Magnolia was flattened, snagging a powerline on the way down. Insurance is expected to pay for the repairs.
Oldre noted that local fire departments were busy helping motorists and, in the case of Magnolia, keeping the public away from the downed powerline.
“A lot of First Responders were out there in the middle of it and they did a great job,” he said.
 
Kanaranzi storm May 11
On Wednesday night, another severe thunderstorm clipped the southern part of Rock County damaging property in Kanaranzi.
A detached garage at the home of Meranda and John Kramer was destroyed when a large tree fell on it.
According to Meranda’s mother, Missy Fick, the vehicles inside received minor damage, but everything else inside was totaled. The garage will need to be torn down.
She said when Mike Davis came out to remove the tree, he remarked that it appeared to have been a tornado. “He said it was a hard tree with a good root system,” said Fick, who lived at the property for 25 years before her daughter and husband moved there.

Workers with the city of Luverne and Missouri River Energy Services began hanging the 90 banners on utility poles along Main Street Luverne on Friday. Eighty-two banners depict members of the LHS Class of 2022, with eight of the banners welcoming passersby to the city.
 
The annual tradition of senior banners began in 2020 to help make graduation special for the seniors who missed so much that year of the pandemic. “We heard all the bad things come out of Covid. This is one of the good things,” said Annie Opitz with Quality Printing where the banners were produced. “It is so exciting.” A parent committee now organizes the banners each year with parents and/or sponsors paying for the printing costs. The banners will remain on display through the summer and will be removed this fall and given to students to keep. Commencement for the LHS seniors is at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29, in the Cardinal Gym.

The Schomackers announced Monday that they’re expanding their Home Galleries business into the Sewing Basket next door, and the Sewing Basket will move down the street to the Mall on Main.
“We need more space,” Tony Schomacker said Monday morning. “It gives us more room to expand our offering of fabrics and sewing machines.”
He said the Sewing Basket was getting crowded, and the Home Galleries is seeking space for more appliances and possibly a live kitchen for demonstrations.
Schomackers Home Galleries has operated in its Main and Cedar location (the former Luverne Style Shop) since the summer of 2016.
In November of 2020 the Schomackers purchased the next-door Sewing Basket business from Barb Bork, who retired after 40 years. 
Schomackers Home Galleries continued operating the Sewing Basket and integrated its products and services — including Husqvarna and Viking sewing machines — into the Schomackers business offerings.
They opened a doorway in the adjoining wall to support both businesses’ customer service.
Home Gallery sells name-brand mattresses, kitchen and laundry appliances and floor covering (plus installation).
Now, both businesses need more space, and the Schomackers have signed a lease with Curt and Marilyn Bloemendaal for the third open suite at Mall on Main.
“It will be good for all of us,” Schomacker said. “Plus, it will help to make the Mall on Main more of a shopping destination.”
The Schomacker family business dates back to 2009 when Randy and Sharon Schomacker started their office cleaning business.
In 2014 they opened the West Main Street location to expand cleaning services for duct work, upholstery, windows, stripping and waxing floors, tile and grout and construction cleanup.
Their sons, Tony and Joe Schomacker, joined the family business which grew to include flooring products and other services.
The Sewing Basket staff will move to the Mall on Main late in May, possibly opening June 1 after being closed on Tuesday, May 31.

Weather events and cold soil temperatures over the past month have delayed the spring planting schedule throughout Minnesota.
Rock County farmers returned to the fields in earnest Monday, trying to get the corn and soybean seed into the ground before another event arrives in the area.
Last week the state’s farmers spent 2.4 days in the field, according to the latest crop report.
Nick Overgaard was planting soybeans in Beaver Creek Monday night, finishing his 2022 planting in Rock County.
He said he took a chance in late April to begin putting seed in the ground, even though the cool weather conditions were not optimal for seed development.
“You take a risk — that’s what farming is,” Overgaard said.
The early start has paid off in getting seed into the ground, especially corn, before May 25. Odds of the corn plant reaching its full yield potential drop progressively after that date.
In his travels as district representative for Wyffels Hybrids, Overgaard noted field conditions remain wet, with more rain in the forecast.
According to the state’s latest crop progress and condition report, the rains have removed drought conditions from the area.
 Subsoil moisture is rated at 91 percent adequate to surplus with only 9 percent short or very short across the state. Topsoil moisture is at 99 percent adequate to surplus with only 1 percent rated as short.
The rains have delayed progress in the fields statewide.
Corn planting across the state is at 35 percent complete as of Sunday. Last year farmers were 94 percent complete, and the five-year average is 72 percent complete.
Soybean planting is 11 percent complete, compared to 85 percent last year and the five-year average of 47 percent.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking volunteers to monitor the state’s more than 12,000 lakes and 92,000 miles of streams for water quality.
These include several high priority sites in Rock County, and the agency is recruiting residents for its popular Volunteer Water Monitoring Program.
The volunteers measure water clarity at various locations along the Rock River and the creeks of Ash, Elk, Mound Champepadan and Sater’s.
“This is a perfect opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts and those interested in helping protect our state’s natural resources,” said Lauren Lewandowski, MPCA communications specialist.
“Through the Volunteer Water Monitoring Program, volunteers do a simple water clarity test in a body of water twice a month during the summer.”
Ron Feucht of Hills monitors The Rez and the Rock River near County Road 1 in southern Rock County. Once a month he samples the Rock River near Edgerton.
Feucht is in his third year of volunteer water monitoring and said he enjoys the weekly outdoor activity.
“I get to stop and look at nature,” he said.
“It is interesting to see Mother Nature do her stuff.”
At both locations, Feucht uses a small white bucket to gather the samples on a weekly basis.
He measures the temperature and completes a clarity test using a Secchi tube.
Sediment is one of the main pollutants in Minnesota rivers and streams. It can harm fish and aquatic insects and degrade aesthetic and recreational qualities.
It can be expensive to treat for drinking water purposes.
Feucht said he’s noticed the differences in water clarity depending on the time of year, most notably in the spring.
He said his weekly clarity tests improve or are clear when vegetation is present along shorelines because it filters the water before it reaches the small streams that feed The Rez or enter the Rock River.
MPCA provided the equipment and trained Feucht to take the water samples. He electronically records his findings with the MPCA on his home computer.
Retirees like Feucht are among many who volunteer as water quality monitors, according to Lewandowski
“Program volunteers come from all walks of life,” she said. “From retirees and families to teachers with their classrooms and entire community groups. Anyone can be a volunteer.”
The MCPA uses the data to help determine whether lakes and streams are meeting water quality standards designed to protect aquatic life and recreational activities like fishing and swimming.
“In some cases, the information gathered by volunteers is the only monitoring done on a particular lake or stream,” Lewandowski said.
Streams are typically monitored from April to October and lakes are done from May to October.
Volunteers can join the program at any point in the year, Lewandowski said.
More information is available at www.mn.gov/volunteerwater or call 1-800-657-3864.

The Luverne High School boys’ tennis team remained unbeaten among Minnesota opponents this week by defeating Pipestone Area 6-1, Benson/KMS 6-1 and Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle Valley 7-0. 
The Cardinals are now 15-1 on the season, with their only loss to Sioux Falls Lincoln, the No. 1 team in South Dakota Class AA tennis. 
Luverne was scheduled to face the St. Peter Saints (8-3) in the Big South Conference championship in St. Peter Tuesday after this edition of the Star Herald went to press. 
LHS will then travel to a tournament in St. James on Saturday before hosting the first round of the Section 3A team tournament on Monday. 
A win on Monday would send the Cardinals to Redwood Falls on Tuesday for the Section 3A team semi-finals. The section team championships are scheduled for May 26 in Redwood Falls. 
 
LHS 6, Pipestone Area 1
The Cardinals defeated their rivals from the north, the Pipestone Area Arrows, 6-1 at home on Thursday, May 12. 
Luverne swept the matches that were completed before the No. 4 singles match was ended due to severe weather. When the match was called, Pipestone’s Isaac Stiles was leading Luverne’s Ethan Nath and was awarded the win. 
Pierce Cunningham defeated Tony Wacker 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. 
At No. 2 singles, Griffen Jarchow downed Ryan Woodbury 6-2, 6-1.
Blake Frahm defeated Cole Paulson at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-1. 
In doubles play, Logan Ommen and Chance Tunnissen defeated Jaden Lorang and Owen Minet in the No. 1 slot, 6-3, 7-6. 
At No. 2 doubles, Kyle Ferguson and Jase Arp won over Lucas Zupp and Cody Norberg 7-6, 6-0. 
Luke Bosch and Spencer Kracht defeated Makhi Winter and Mathew Swenson 6-2, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles. 
 
LHS 6, Benson/KMS 1
Luverne traveled north on Saturday to take on two different teams and earned two decisive victories during the travels. 
In the first meet of the day, the Cardinals defeated Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg 6-1 Saturday morning. 
“The match was a lot closer than it looks; everything that could have gone our way did,” said Luverne head coach Lucas Larson. 
“Benson is a solid team, though, and should be good competition for us at sections next week. Our doubles teams were just clutch for us today.” 
Both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches went into third sets, and both of those matches were won by Luverne. 
At No. 2 doubles, Ferguson and Arp defeated Tyler Hadfield and Harold Habben 6-1, 6-7, 10-5. 
At No. 3 doubles, Bosch and Kracht also won a hard-fought victory over Isaac Carlson and Logan Schauer 4-6, 6-3, 10-7. 
A tough Benson No. 1 doubles team of Matthew Thompson and Mason Bakke defeated Ommen and Tunnissen 6-1, 6-0. 
Luverne swept all four singles matches against Benson. 
At No. 1 singles, Cunningham bested Taylor Duncan 6-4, 7-6 in a competitive match. 
Jarchow defeated Hunter LeClair 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. 
Frahm won at No. 3 singles over Alberto Vargas 6-2, 6-1 and Nath defeated Alex Carlson 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. 
“Ethan has really improved this season. He’s playing some great tennis,” Larson said. “Overall, this win over Benson was a good one for our team.” 
 
LHS 7, D-B/LQPV 0
After the win in Benson Saturday morning, LHS traveled a few miles down the road to Lac Qui Parle Valley High School to take on Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle in an afternoon contest.
The Cardinals swept D-B/LQPV 7-0. 
At No. 1 singles, Cunningham remained undefeated on the season, winning 6-1, 6-1 over Jackson Buer. 
Jarchow defeated Liam Risch 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Frahm won 6-1, 6-1 over Mathew Martinson at No. 3 singles and Nath swept Luke Stock 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. 
In doubles play, Ommen and Tunnissen defeated Levi Olson and Gavin Stulz 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 1 slot. 
At No. 2 doubles, Ferguson and Arp defeated Wyatt Wiebe and Nate Gruwell 6-0, 6-3. 
Bosch and Parker Carbonneau bested Garrett Kostad and Gunnar Olson 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 doubles.

Mobile dental clinic May 19
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne Thursday, May 19, at the Rock County Health and Human Services community room.
This clinic provides dental care for all ages, infants to over 100. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted. Organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
 
Free food for seniors May 19
A.C.E. of SW MN will offer the Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors 60 and older, from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 19, in a drive-through distribution in the parking lot on Maple Street on the east side of the new Generations Event Center.
Call Linda Wenzel at 283-5064. Preregistration is required.
 
Food distribution is May 19
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, May 19, 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 with questions.
 
Luverne pops concert May 20
Luverne choir students will present their spring pops concert, “Disney Channel Throwback,” at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, in the performing arts center.
The performances are the same, but the second show will recognize seniors and choir award winners.
Admission for each performance is $6 for adults and $4 for students.
 
‘Pound the Mound’ May 21
Pound the Mound foot race will be May 21 at the Blue Mounds State Park. Sign up for 10-, 20- or 30-mile distance options. Go to poundthemound.com for more information. Proceeds benefit The Friends of Blue Mounds State Park. It’s co-sponsored by the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota.
 
Library summer reading program
Signup begins May 23 for the Rock County Library summer reading program, “Camp iRead: Read Beyond the Beaten Path” from June 1 through Aug. 1. Call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
 
Free community meal May 25
The United Methodist Church will host its Free Community Meal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. A pick-up option is available. Call 507-283-4529.
 
Luverne Thirty dedication May 28
The Rock County History Center will host an open house dedication for the Luverne “Thirty” automobile from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 28, to recognize the history of the car and show appreciation to those who helped to bring it back to Luverne. Many of the Leicher descendants will be there and one will speak briefly during the program.
 
Memorial Day in Hardwick
Hardwick American Legion Post #478 will host a Memorial Day program at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Hardwick Veterans Memorial (inside the Legion Hall if weather is poor) with guest speaker Eric Oye, U.S. Army Retired First Sergeant.
Grace Ingebretsen, 2022 Girl Stater, and Gunnar Oldre, Cadet, Notre Dame ROTC, will provide patriotic readings, and Madi Oye will perform special music. Bring lawn chairs. Coffee, juice and cupcakes will be served following the program. 
 
Community Ed
Many classes in the Summer Community Ed brochure have an early registration deadline of May 25.  Take advantage of lower fees ahead of that date for: hockey, football, volleyball, tennis, golf, morning rec, arts & crafts, basketball, track, gymnastics and weight lifting.
Call 507-283-4724, to register for classes. Community Ed’s website is www.isd2184.net, select Luverne Community Education under schools.
Stensland Dairy Bus Trip on May 26 is for a parent with a child age 3 and older.  Fee is $20 for the pair and includes an ice cream treat.  
Register by May 27 for the June 21 bus trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for flowers, grasses, exhibits and more.  Mary and Harold Tilstra will assist the Rock County Master Gardeners in hosting this trip. The low fee of $49 is made possible through a donation from Jeannine Rivet and Warren Herreid.
Defensive Driving classes allow adults 55 years of age and older to save on insurance premiums. After the beginning 8-hour class, every three years drivers take a 4-hour refresher class. In Luverne, the beginning classes are June 21 and 23 (four hours each) and the refresher four-hour class is May 19.
 
Rock County Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
May Take-and-Make Project: Book Page Flowers is now available.
Sign up for the summer reading program, “Camp iRead: Read Beyond the Beaten Path,” begins on May 23. The program begins June 1 and will continue to Aug. 1.
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.

Luverne native Martha Helen Schmidt has composed a setting of Minnesota poet Bill Holm’s “Playing Haydn for the Angel of Death,” a musical tribute to Holm that premieres Saturday in Minneapolis.
Schmidt, a composer and educator from Minneapolis, stopped in Luverne Monday ahead of Tuesday’s preview performance at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
The production also features pianist Daniel Rieppel, who was Holm’s good friend at SMSU, and singer Ryan Hugh Ross, a former student of Rieppel. They are all musicians and authors, as was Holm.
“Bill was a fine musician, and you will hear excerpts of his Boxelder Bug variations for piano at the concert,” Schmidt said.
“It’s kind of neat that we all have this southwest Minnesota connection,” Schmidt said. “We’re really excited. It’s a big piece for us.”
Her composition provides a 15-verse musical setting of Holm's epic poem entitled "Playing Haydn for the Angel of Death."
The world premiere will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Open Book Literary Arts Center in the Target Performance Hall on Washington Avenue in Minneapolis.
Schmidt, daughter of Howard and Donna Schmidt, grew up east of Luverne and graduated with the LHS class of 1975. She learned piano and musical appreciation from her mother, who played organ for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Luverne.
“She and I were a great team,” Schmidt recalled. “I played flute and sang, and she accompanied on the piano. We debuted at the Methodist Church when I was in sixth grade.”
She went on to earn a master’s degree in music and studied in France with world renown teacher Nadia Boulanger.
She’s had five choral octavos published and her choral works have been performed by regional college ensembles as well as Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago, Basilicas of St. Mary’s and St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis, Notre Dame in Paris, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
She collaborated with National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg, also a Luverne native, on “Earth Teach Me,” a choral work based on a Native American Ute poem illustrated by Brandenburg’s photos.
In another Luverne connection, in 2016 Schmidt wrote an Art Song called, “Lonely,” based on the poetry of poet Freya Manfred, daughter of the late Frederick Manfred, Luverne.
While in Luverne this week, she stopped at local attractions and visited the grave sites of her parents, Howard and Donna Schmidt, and grandparents, Art and Helen Schmidt and Dena and Louis Gilbertson.