In two months voters in Congressional District 1 (which includes Rock County) will face the first of several ballots to fill the U.S. representative vacancy.
I say “several” ballots because in the middle of filling the vacancy for five months, another vote will take place to fill the same position during the November general election for the two-year term beginning in January.
The best scenario would be that the same person is selected in both elections, giving that person 2.5 years to settle into the position.
Until the elections, the process and vote schedule will be confusing, and I predict most of us will not care enough about politics to even participate.
I am determined to not only participate but also to be an informed voter.
Just days into the task, I’m already overwhelmed.
In the upcoming May 24 primary, 20 people plunked down the $300 filing fee to have their name included on the ballot.
At a glance, 10 candidates are registered Republicans, eight are Democrats and two are from parties who want to legalize cannabis in the state.
There are three women and 17 men.
The candidates themselves range from former legislators to spouses of former legislators.
Getting to know the candidates personally is impossible. Technology is the quickest avenue to get to know the candidates.
Even the internet is proving to be limited.
Not all the candidates have websites dedicated to introducing themselves to the 679,000 people who live in CD 1.
Some have been covered by the statewide news agencies while others have stories available from their hometown media outlets. Still others have nothing on the worldwide web or in print.
I am not giving up on making an informed decision. I hope you won’t either. Their names appear on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, sos.state.mn.us.

In the span of less than two weeks we turned our clocks ahead an hour, pretended to be Irish for a day, and celebrated the first day of spring. All good signs of longer, brighter, warmer days ahead.
All of those are signs that the outdoor grilling, smoker and flat top griddle season is here.
Remember the good old days when all you had for outdoor cooking was a round charcoal grill on a flimsy aluminum-legged tripod. If you were living on the right side of the tracks, you probably had a four-legged grill, two of which had wheels.
The real key to old-fashioned grilling was the charcoal briquets and lighter fluid.
Kingsford charcoal and lighter fluid was my dad’s choice. One of my most cherished memories is of my dad teaching me the proper way to light the charcoal for grilling.
What kid wouldn’t be interested in dirty charcoal, lighter fluid, matches and fire?
I suppose the way my dad started his charcoal isn’t much different than the way others did, but in my eyes, it was his way, so that became my way.
I don’t currently have a charcoal grill, but if I did, this is the way I would start my charcoal: First I’d pile the charcoal in a teepee in the center of the grill. Then I’d give it a good dousing of lighter fluid and let it soak in for 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, I’d give the pile of charcoal a little squirt of fluid and then stand back and throw a lit match on the pile.
After the charcoal burns for about 15 minutes, most of it should be turning gray and the center of the charcoal teepee should be red hot.
Now it’s time to spread the charcoal out, put the grill grate back on over the hot coals, let the grill grate heat up for a few minutes, and then throw those 39-cent Corn King hot dogs on the grill. We lived on the three-legged side of the tracks.

Even under Trump, Putin will not be stopped
To the Editor:
Comments I have heard lately like, “If Trump was in charge now, Putin would not have invaded Ukraine,” couldn’t be further from the truth. This letter to the editor that appeared in The Land newspaper I received is so spot-on that I decided to submit it to the Rock County Star Herald.
Donald Reker
Jasper
The following is the letter referenced and submitted by Reker:
To the Editor:
There is the appearance that Putin and Trump worked as a tag team to undermine Ukraine. Trump illegally asked Russia for help in his 2016 campaign. When Trump entered office, he worked to lift the current sanctions on Russia in exchange for nothing. Trump said he would not necessarily defend new NATO members from a Russian attack. Trump gave Putin what he wanted in Syria. Trump left Putin with full dominance and a bi-partisan House majority voted to rebuke Trump for it. Trump attacked U.S. allies for not admitting Russia into the G7 economic group. Putin and Trump held several private conversations with no note taking. Trump talked about pulling the United States out of NATO but was warned by his aides that it would be politically dangerous. Trump reportedly said, ‘We’ll do it in the second term.’
Newly elected President Zelensky resisted Trump’s blackmail attempt. So Trump illegally refused to give Ukraine the military aid that Congress had approved.
U.S. intelligence agencies blamed Russia for interference in the 2016 presidential race. Trump and Putin blamed Ukraine. Trump often attacked Ukraine as “corrupt.” This weakened American support for Ukraine and emboldened Putin.
Trump attempted to smear the Biden-Ukraine connection as corrupt. Republicans’ own investigation found Trump’s claims to be baseless. John Bolton said that if Trump had been re-elected, Trump would have simply given Ukraine to Putin. Thank goodness for President Biden.
Greg Rendahl
Ostrander, Minnesota
 

Dispatch report
March 11
•Metro reported a 911 text from Jasper.
•Complainant in Luverne reported a missing person.
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street requested information on local electricians.
•Complainant on E. Main Street, Hardwick, reported stolen mail.
March 12
•Deputy assisted SFPD on W. Main Street.
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported vandalism.
•Report of a vulnerable adult on 180th Avenue, Magnolia.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street reported theft.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported suspicious activity.
•Deputies assisted with pursuit westbound of Interstate 90, Magnolia.
March 13
•Complainant on 20th Avenue, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported an intoxicated driver.
•Report of a vulnerable adult on 180th Avenue, Magnolia.
March 14
•Complainant on W. 4th Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, requested information from RCSO.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 408, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported an abandoned vehicle.
•Complainant reported a vulnerable adult.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported children playing on the ice.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported a child walking against traffic in bike lane.
•Complainant on 180th Avenue, Magnolia, reported trespassing.
•Complainant on W. Barck Avenue reported subjects breaking things at location.
•Complainant on Warren Street requested information on services in Rock County.
March 15
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street reported theft.
•Complainant on W. Main Street, Hardwick, reported suspicious activity at location.
March 16
•Complainant reported an abandoned vehicle on W. Virginia Street.
•Complainant on W. Lawn Park reported neighbor kids are picking on her kids.
•Complainant on N. Estey Street reported loud music.
March 17
•Complainant on 200th Avenue, Edgerton, reported a barn fire.
•Complainant reported driver’s license in lost and found.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported an intoxicated driver at location.
•Complainant on County Highway 4, Magnolia, reported a weapons issue.
•Complainant on S. Ross Street, Hardwick, reported theft.
March 18
•Complainant reported stolen checks were used at location.
•Complainant on County Road 4, east of Magnolia, reported a pickup losing debris.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a returned check.
In addition, officers responded to 2 motor vehicle accidents, 2 deer accidents, 3 escorts, 8 ambulance runs, 4 paper services, 3 animal complaints, 4 fingerprint requests, 20 burn permits, 4 vehicle impounds, 4 alarms, 11 drug court tests, 11 purchase and carry permits, 22 traffic stops, 17 abandoned 911 calls, 1 welfare check, 2 reports of cattle out and 5 follow-ups.

Steven and Dianne Carlson will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday, March 27. Greetings may be sent to 615 N. Oakley Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
 
Peter and Kristie Jessen will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday, March 27. Greetings may be sent to 707 181st Street, Jasper, MN 56144.
 
A bridal shower for Paige Tweet (bride-to-be of Tucker Oeltjenbruns) will be 10 a.m., Saturday, April 2, at Take 16 Brewery, 509 E. Main St., Luverne.

Monday, March 28: Orange chicken, brown rice, Oriental vegetables, mandarin oranges, cookie.
Activities: A.C.E. of SW MN-Rock Co.: 8:30 a.m. Quilters.
Tuesday, March 29: Goulash, peas, tropical fruit, garlic bread stick.
Activities: 12:30 p.m. Fast Track; Pinochle.
Wednesday, March 30: Chicken fiesta casserole, corn, pears, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by St. John Lutheran Church.
Thursday, March 31: Chicken-fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, bread, dessert.
Friday, April 1: Fish patty on a bun with tartar sauce, cheesy hashbrowns, baked beans, 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.

The five-member Luverne-Adrian FFA Chapter ag mechanics team will compete at the state career development contest April 24-26 in the Twin Cities.
The team of JT Remme, AJ Ossefoort, Ryan Los, Lucas Hansen and Nicholas Hansen placed third out of the 11 teams at the Region 6 ag mechanics contest March 8 at the Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Jackson.
Remme placed fifth overall as an individual.

10 years ago (2012)
•Luverne seventh-grader Knute Oldre has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2012 Minnesota National Geographic Bee.
Oldre, son of Kyle and Sara Oldre, excelled in the Luverne spelling bee earlier in the school year and now will compete in the geography contest at the state level on March 30 in St. Cloud.
To advance to state competition, he took a qualifying test for the National Geographic Society.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•Push is coming to shove for the planned hospice cottage to be built near Luverne Community Hospital.
The land is purchased, the architect has been hired and a spring ground breaking is scheduled. The next item on the agenda is the annual Charity Dinner and Auction on April 11 to raise money for the project.
That night will also feature the grand unveiling of the architect’s drawings for the cottage. Baldridge and Associates of Sioux Falls was hired for the architect work. It is the same group that refurbished the Rock County Courthouse several years ago.
The drawings will detail a five-bedroom, one-story, wheelchair-accessible house to be built on the corner of Luverne and Oakley streets.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Luverne Senior Co-Captain Dick Iveland received statewide honors last week when he was named to the WCCO 1972 All-State Basketball Team of the Year. Iveland along with 34 other players will be honored with the featured guests at a special dinner at the University of Minnesota on March 25.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•Jack Kent announced this week that he had contracted to sell the Luverne Recreation Alleys to Elmer Schmuck, farmer living near Luverne. The new owner will take possession about June 1. Mr. Kent, who had owned the alleys the past year, has no definite future plans.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•Two new entries were made in the political arena the past week, when A. S. Hoime, of Springwater township, and Julius Stoterau, of Beaver Creek township, filed as candidates for the office of the county commissioner from the Second district, comprising the townships of Beaver Creek and Springwater. Mr. Hoime filed Wednesday of last week, and Mr. Stoterau filed Tuesday of this week.
O. I. Godfrey, of Beaver Creek, the present commissioner from this district, announced some time ago that he intends to file for re-election, and the two filings above mentioned therefore make certain a contest in the primary election. It has been known for several months that Mr. Stoterau has had an ambition to represent his district as a commissioner, and as he has been prominently identified with the affairs of his township for a number of years, is well known to the voters.
Mr. Hoime is one of Springwater’s best known and most progressive farmers, and his entrance in the contest is said to be due to the insistence of many friends, who contend that if a change is to be made in the commissionership, it should go to a Springwater man.

The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on July 4, 1902.
Condition of the Crops.
The Reports are Generally Encouraging
Recent Rain and Warm Weather Have Given Vigorous Impetus to the Growing Grain and Wrought Marked Improvement in the General Crop Conditions—Interviews with Well-Informed Farmers and Land Owners.
Another heavy rain Tuesday night, followed Wednesday by sunshine and higher temperature, gave new vigor to the growing crops and fresh impetus to the growth which had been to some extent retarded by too cold weather. The effect is shown in marked and most gratifying improvement in the condition and appearance of crops of all kinds. The large acreage of corn which was not injured by frost is in fine condition and it is quite safe to say, so far as this part of the crop is concerned, that corn never looked better at this season of the year than it does at present. Much of the corn which was struck by the frost is recovering rapidly and with favorable weather will give a good average yield. The outcome, however, in the fields most seriously injured can not as yet be predicted. A fair idea of the general conditions may be gained from the information and opinions given in the following interviews:
E. N. Darling: “The frost didn’t hurt my corn at all. I am going to have between fifty and sixty bushels to the acre of good corn. Wheat, barley and oats are doing fine and will be a big crop.”
Fred Kreps: “The frost didn’t touch me, except a little strip in a gully. If the weather warms up pretty soon I will have one of the best corn crops I ever raised. The small grain is coming along fine and will yield above the average.”
T. H. Croswell, Beaver Creek: “Take it as a whole I will have a very good crop, especially of small grain. The frost hurt my corn a little, probably ruining about one-fifth of it, but the rest with favorable weather will make first class corn. I think this year’s crop will compare very favorably with that of last year.”
O. A. Hulett: “I don’t believe the frost hurt my corn a bit. It may have delayed it a couple of weeks, but that is all. All of the small grain is fine. The recent rains have done wonders to the crops changing conditions so much that in some instances it is hardly possible to recognize the same fields. I think we’ll have just as good a crop this year as last.”
Ira Crawford, Beaver Creek: “It would be pretty hard to say just how much damage was done by the frost over our way. There are a lot of pieces that are probably entirely ruined. On the whole, however, I don’t believe that the damage is very great. The freezing of the leaves won’t hurt it except to make it a little late. If the tassel in the center of the stalk isn’t frozen it will be all right and will make pretty fair corn no matter how hard the leaves were hit. All the other grain is first class and we will have a big crop if the weather continues favorable.”
A. H. Turner, Magnolia: “The frost hit us pretty hard out our way. I believe that it hurt all of the grain. Almost every field of corn was hurt more or less. If everything is favorable from now on—that is if we have plenty of rain and warm weather—we will probably get about half of the usual corn crop. The recent rain came just right and has, no doubt, done a great deal of good, although it does not now show up owing to the continued cold weather. I am afraid the wheat crop will be light; possibly not over two-thirds of a full crop. The barley and oat crop will be good, and fully up to the average.”
J. A. Kennicott: I don’t believe the corn crop is hurt half as bad as a lot of them say. Of course the frost hit a lot of it pretty hard, in some places killing it outright, but in most instances just the tops of the leaves have been touched, which with a little warm weather will come out all right and make pretty fair corn. I believe that five per cent would be a large estimate of the corn that was completely ruined by frost. Other grain will be good—about the same as last year, I should think—which means a very fair average crop. Of course, everything depends upon the weather. To make it come out right we will have to some warm weather pretty soon.”
James Hagedorn: “We’re going to have about a half crop this year. I don’t believe that it will be to exceed that. The long dry spell cut down the yield a great deal more than most people think. No, the frost didn’t hurt my corn much. I have seen some pieces that were completely ruined, but there are not very many that were. We can always raise corn here. I went down to Davenport a few weeks ago to sell my farm in the vicinity so as to buy more land in Rock county. I didn’t make the sale, but I will in a short time, and when I do I will buy here. I wouldn’t buy land anywhere else than in Rock county. It is the best I ever saw, and I have traveled all over the United States during the past ten years. I can raise fifty bushels of good corn to the acre without any trouble, and so can others.”
         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.