Dispatch report
March 25
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported a vehicle in school zone going 60 mph.
•Complainant reported theft and family issues.
•Complainant on 141st Street, Beaver Creek, reported drug paraphernalia found at location.
•Complainant on W. Hatting Street reported sales scam on Facebook Marketplace.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and Main Street reported violation of child safety seat.
March 26
•Complainant on W. Mead Court requested deputy on standby for safety records.
•Parking issue was reported at location.
•Complainant on County Road 4, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported pieces of flatbed on roadway.
•Report a driver’s license was found.
•Complainant on Minnesota Avenue reported vehicles tearing up parking lot. Requested extra patrol.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, Luverne exit, reported motorist assistance.
•Complainant reported a scam.
•Complainant on E. Fletcher Street reported a suspicious car outside residence.
March 27
•Complainant on Interstate 90 and Kniss Avenue reported someone tapping on window.
•Complainant reported possible paging outage.
March 28
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue and W. Main Street reported someone blew the stoplight.
•Complainant reported finding surveillance equipment.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported possible drunk driver.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported a possible drunk driver.
March 29
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 1, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported semitrailer doors are open.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and Highway 270, Steen, reported a possible drunk driver.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street requested notification of prisoner release.
•Complainant on Elmwood Avenue reported a warrant scam.
March 30
•Warrant check was requested in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
•Complainant on County Highway 4, Magnolia, reported an abandoned vehicle.
•Complainant on State Highway 270, Hills, reported a bus arm stop violation.
March 31
•Complainant in Luverne flagged down deputy.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported weapons issue at location.
•Complainant on S. West Park Street reported his neighbors are a nuisance.
•Complainant on Highway 269, Jasper, reported ditch on fire at location.
April 1
•Complainant on 41st Street and 50th Avenue reported train blocking intersection near location.
•Complainant requested identity theft record be removed.
In addition, officers responded to 3 motor vehicle accidents, 2 vehicles in ditch, 5 escorts, 13 ambulance runs, 4 paper services, 2 animal complaints, 2 fingerprint requests, 16 burn permits, 2 background checks, 1 driver’s license check, 3 alarms, 9 drug court tests, 12 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 36 traffic stops, 7 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 1 welfare check, 1 report of cattle out and 1 follow-up.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will work on portions of Interstate 90 this summer in western Rock County. The $17 million project includes:
•Resurfacing concrete on eastbound I-90 lanes between Beaver Creek and the South Dakota state line.
•Resurfacing concrete on westbound I-90 lanes between County Road 11 (Steen blacktop) and the South Dakota state line.
•Reconstructing shoulders.
•Extending outside ramp shoulders for truck parking.
•Repairing guardrail.
•Improving drainage (cleaning, repairing, or replacing pipes and culverts).
•Upgrading guardrails and lighting.
 
Traffic impacts 
Traffic will utilize crossovers with a head-to-head configuration during construction (head-to-head in westbound lanes during eastbound work and head-to-head in eastbound lanes during westbound work).
County Road 6 ramps will remain open to I-90 traffic for Beaver Creek access, but Highway 23 ramps will be closed alternately.
When the eastbound lanes are closed for the first stage of construction, the eastbound Highway 23 exit and entrance ramps will be closed.
When westbound lanes are under construction, the westbound ramps for Highway 23 will be closed.
For Stage 3 work, the westbound ramps at County Road 6 will be closed.
The I-90 construction is part of Minnesota’s 184 road and bridge projects, plus 51 multimodal projects to improve airports, water ports and transit infrastructure.
“Minnesotans will soon see work zones popping up throughout the state,” said MnDOT Interim Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger.
“As always, safety is MnDOT’s top priority – so we urge motorists to pay attention to signage in work zones, slow down, and put away distractions behind the wheel. Everyone, including our hard-working road and construction workers, deserves to get home safely.”
For an overview of the 2022 state construction program, including maps and full project lists, visit mndot.gov/construction.
Individual project pages also include information about construction schedules, traffic impacts, maps, benefits and project costs.
Minnesotans can also stay informed about projects and other transportation topics by connecting to MnDOT via social media and signing up to receive email updates for specific topics or projects.

Prescribed fire is one of the most beneficial management tools and is one of the most misunderstood.
Spring burning gets a really bad rap from those who do not fully understand prairie ecosystems. Even when these benefits are explained, there will always be a certain percentage of folks who will disagree as they have drunk the wrong Kool-Aid served up at some local coffee shop.
The most difficult part for many to understand is the fact that a springtime prescribed fire in most cases will destroy a very small number of ground-nesting birds like waterfowl and pheasants that have already started the nesting process. Depending on how late into the spring you burn, this can be as few as none to maybe a handful of nests.
I always do a drive-around inspection after a burn to see how many nests were affected. I have seen on an 80-acre burn where no nests were observed as being destroyed. The most I have ever seen is about eight in a burn of that size. It forces those hens to re-nest in a different location.
This is why you always try to burn less than 100 percent of any spot. Burning 25-50 percent of a spot is desired. This allows affected hens to move only a short distance to start their re-nesting efforts. Remember that as a percentage, very few nests of the total are actually destroyed by a spring fire. My experience shows me this.
Pre-European settlement wildfires were common. They were started by lightning and in many cases could burn many thousands of acres at a time. It was said that a man on horse back could not outrun a wild fire. Native Indians were the first prescribed fire makers.
They would light fires, and the resulting flush of green grasses would attract large herds of buffalo that these native people relied on to survive. Fire to native grasses is like fertilizing your front yard grass.
The most predominant species for native grasses are called warm season grasses, and they don’t start growing until the soil temperatures reach about 70 degrees. The black ash that results from a fire absorbs the suns rays and the ground heats up much sooner than in a normal year without a fire. This gives these desirable native grasses a growing season that might be as many as 45 days longer than normal.
The greatest threat to native prairies and restored native grass stands today is the human introduction of smooth brohm.  This is a cool season grass that was brought here many decades ago. It sprouts early in the spring and gets a good head start on the more desirable warm species grasses that are better for wildlife. By allowing these cool season undesirables to sprout and then knocking them back with fire allows desirable grass species to outcompete their poor-for-wildlife habitat competitors.
If left completely un-managed, native prairies and restored native grass stands could completely convert to cool season undesirables in a period of about 10-15 years. Once these brohm stands get well-established, it can take back-to-back burns for up to five years or cultivation and starting over to re-establish cover suitable for a wide variety of wildlife.
Another reason to utilize prescribed fire is to control invasive trees.  This is another area with lots of misunderstandings. Many folks think every single tree is a good tree no matter its variety or location. This is just not the case when you become more knowledgeable about prairie land ecosystems. Trees will die in a fire if they have not grown too large. Cedar trees just about melt in fire and are easy to control using this method. Even trees that ring a wetland – most of the time there are cottonwoods – dramatically reduce the success rates of ground nesting birds due to the fact that mammalian predators use trees for their travel corridors. Almost no successful nests are observed within 100 yards of a tree line.
If any of my readers would like more detailed information about springtime prescribed fire, I will be glad to send you more scientific data that can and does back up my understandings of fire.
I am helping out with a few prescribed fires in Nobles and Rock counties. If you need help finding the right folks in your county to help you manage your grasslands, reach out to me and I will get you connected to the right folks to help you make your grasslands the most productive they can be.
 
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 champion.
 

Judy Carlson will celebrate her 80th birthday on Thursday, April 14. Greetings may be sent to 803 E. Dodge Street, Apt. 102, Luverne, MN 56156.
 
Evelyn Harmsen will celebrate her 95th birthday on Wednesday, April 13. Greetings may be sent to 110 S. Walnut, #128, Luverne, MN 56156.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, April 11: Country-fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, bread, dessert.
Tuesday, April 12: Chicken salad with croissant, coleslaw, tropical fruit, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Security Savings Bank.
Wednesday, April 13: Lasagna, California Normandy, peaches, breadstick, dessert.
Thursday, April 14: Baked chicken, baked potato with sour cream, Italian blend vegetables, bread, dessert.
Friday, April 15: Beef chili with beans, romaine salad with dressing, cornbread, pears, dessert.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

FFA’ers participate in Ag Mechanics Invitational
 
Ten Luverne-Adrian FFA’ers participated in the South Central College Ag Mechanics Invitational March 24 in Mankato.
Team members included AJ Ossefoort, Harrison Uithoven, Ryan Vos, Jacob Hansen, Lucas Hansen, Nicholas Hansen, Sawyer Sasker, Jaden Reisch, Andrew Kinsinger and Tucker Remme.
The members participated in skills and problem solving for electricity, building construction, skid loaders, and small and large engines.
The team placed third out of six teams. Ryan Vos placed third overall individually.

U of M announces Fall 2021 dean’s list

Several area students have been named to the Fall 2021 semester dean's list at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. To qualify, students must earn 12 or more graded credits with at least a 3.66 GPA.
Students named from Luverne are Amelia Jarchow, freshman, College of Liberal Arts; Sierra Schmuck, senior, Carlson School of Management; Grace Sweeney, senior, College of Liberal Arts; Solveig Tofteland, freshman, School of Nursing; Jordan Winter, sophomore, Carlson School of Management.
From Garretson, South Dakota, Emilie Bartels, senior, Carlson School of Management. 
Huisman named to Bemidji State dean’s list
Anna Huisman, Luverne, was named to the Fall 2021 dean's list at Bemidji State University in Bemidji.
To be eligible, students
must be enrolled in at least 12 credits and earn a minimum of a 3.5 GPA.

10 years ago (2012)
•Luverne Public school parents, students and staff will soon have the opportunity to express their opinion of the flexible learning year (FLY) calendar.
Superintendent Gary Fisher said an on-line survey will be made available near the end of April so the district can determine what the community thinks about the FLY.
The survey is shorter than the previous one and the results are not sent into the local school but are tabulated at Southwest State University.
The three-year FLY option was first offered to Minnesota schools in 2010. The option overrules a state law prohibiting schools from starting before Labor Day in Minnesota.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•The Luverne Community Hospital board met in special session Wednesday afternoon with “economic reductions” as their only agenda item.
According to Hospital Administrator Gerald Carl, the total hospital budget is in the red by about $148,000. To make matters worse, the board had forecast a positive figure of $40,525 by the end of the first quarter.
What it adds up to is about $188,253 variance in the budget, which led to Wednesday’s board action.
 
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Luverne’s High School’s Swing Band will present a free concert open to the public on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
Under the direction of Scott Shelsta, the group will perform a collection of nostalgic big-band sounds as well as a few more up-to-date selections arranged in the jazz band style.
The program will open with a Jocoby-Hoyt Jones number titled, “Jacob Jones.” This selection will feature senior John Ford on trumpet with Mary Kontz adding an incidental solo.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•Carol Corwin, 14, is Rock county’s new spelling champion. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Corwin, who reside north of Luverne, and attends school in district No. 11, taught by Mrs. Ethel Remme.
While the contest started at 1:30 p.m., it was not until 4:30 p.m. that the last of the 21 contestants was eliminated. And to win the championship, Carol had to spell-down last year’s champion, Eunice Hoime, of district No. 56, who won runner up honors. Third place winner was Joan Hagedorn, of district No. 48. All three were in the race for quite some time after the others were eliminated. All three also participated in the written as well as oral contests. In all, 21 grade school pupils participated in the event.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•H. C. Bell was re-elected superintendent of the Luverne public schools for the coming year, at a meeting of the board of education held Monday evening.
With the close of the present school year, Mr. Bell will have served eleven years as superintendent of the Luverne schools, and the re-election tendered him therefore for the twelfth year.
All the present teachers were also tendered re-election to their present positions for the coming year, and they are to notify Supt. Bell whether they wish to return the coming year by the 13th of the month. It is known, however that quite a number will not return.

The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on July 18, 1902. This is continued from the March 31 edition of the Star Herald.
Summer Training School
For Teachers of Rock County and Vicinity—Four Weeks’ Term Begun Monday.
READING.
The study of some good selection as Vision of Sir Launfal.
With this I plan to give outlines of work from Clark on “How to Teach Reading” applying the steps from day to day, as we read.
GEOGRAPHY.
The earth as a globe.
1. Form, size and movement.
2. Longitude and latitude.
3. Composition and general structure.
4. Distribution of land and water.
5. Movements of air and water.
6. Climate and weather.
Study of the continents.
1. North America.
a. Position, shape, size, zones bodies of water.
b. Surface, distribution and extent of mountains, highlands, lowlands; drainage and the continental slopes.
c. Physical features with reference to their relation to life-relations, productions, industries and trade.
d. Location of places with special reference to their physical and industrial relations.
1. Subdivisions of North America.
Unit of work based on relief. Special detailed study of the United States following the outline for N. A. as given above.
2. South America studied in the same manner as North America. Comparisons.
3. Eurasia, Africa and Australia. Line of work as for N. A. Comparison.
PHYSICS.
This subject will be taken up in what seems the best way for the class.
ARITHMETIC.
Decimals, Percentage and Mensuration. There will be two classes in this subject.
PRIMARY METHODS.
Training of the child in first, second and third grades.
MUSIC.
Music for all the students taught in a way that will help teachers in giving proper directions to pupils in the common schools.
a. Elements of music as taught in the first four grades.
1. Ear training.
2. Rhythm.
3. Tone work.
4. Notation.
b. Sight reading of simple exercises from music readers, supplemented by chart and black board drills.
c. Chorus work.
DRAWING.
FIRST WEEK.
a. Landscape studies in water color. Simple water color washes to represent different phases of nature.
1. The sky.
2. Sky and background.
3. Sky, foreground, line of distance.
b. Simple charcoal sketches from nature, teaching principles of proportion, growth and proper filling of space.
SECOND WEEK.
A. Charcoal. Drawing of sphere and hemisphere. Studying the effect of light and shade to express surfaces. Study of spherical objects.
b. Water color. Stained glass effects. Flower, sedge and grass study.
THIRD WEEK.
Simple growing of still life, teaching proportion, distance and space filling.
Mediums. Charcoal or color in flat tones.
FOURTH WEEK.
a. Principles of perspective as exemplified in the cube and cylinder.
1. Foreshortened surface.
2. Convergence of parallel lines.
3. Direction of lines when seen at an angle above, an angle below, or on a level with the eye.
b. Figure posing. Pose in landscape.
c. Imaginative drawing.
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
General Exercises—Correct position, correct. Walk.
Stretching exercises.
Lifting and dropping of arms. Hand work. Chest movement of arms. Arch movement of arms. Shoulder movement of arms. Swimming movement of arms. Head movements. Knee movement. Hip movement. Foot extension in 1st and 2nd attitudes.
Arm whirl—finger work. Pivot with arm work. Body over, arms back. Head down, arms up. Free leg, forward bend. Chart work.
Arm swinging; from chest; from shoulder; oblique; front and back of hip.
Body bending.
Several good lectures will be given during the course of the term and a day for an outing has been proposed, but the plans as yet have not been fully matured and will be announced later.
To arouse as interest in the subject of agriculture, Prof. Wm. Robertson, of the State Agricultural school, will occupy a part of the time July 19th and 21st.
The school is in session from 8:00 a.m. until 12:25. The work of the term will be concluded August 9.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.