From time to time the Star Herald runs a “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down” editorial. Almost all of the “thumbs” are based on local issues or events. We try to run a balance of ups and downs, and I’m guessing the “thumbs up” outnumber the “thumbs down.”
So, with “thumbs” in mind, I thought I would share a few thumbs of my own that are life- and product-related and not necessarily local.
First, “thumbs down” to the high cost of cable TV from our local providers (whoops, that was local) all the while television programing has never been worse. To be fair, local internet speed and availability is better than most.
For example, I moved here from Redwood Falls, Redwood County, years ago. There are 87 counties in Minnesota, and Redwood County ranks 85th in internet availability and speed. “Thumbs down” to Redwood County.
Back to television, as I search for another more cost-friendly alternative to cable, I never knew there were so many options to cable — YouTube TV, Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, fubo, sling, AT&T TV and more.
So you would think this many options would garner a “thumbs up,” but I’m so darn confused now I give this a “thumbs down.”
OK, it’s time to turn those “thumbs down” down side up.
“Thumbs up” to Dawn dish soap for Dawn foam hand soap.
“Thumbs up” to self-check-out counters.
Major League Baseball lockout deserves a different digit up than the thumb.
For the first time I bought a vest this winter. I liked the first one so much I bought two more and I have to give them all a “thumbs up.”
Mary bought herself a pair of jeans with a button fly and flared bottoms (“bell bottoms”). I have no doubt she would give them two “thumbs up.”
Finally, “thumbs up” to the high school winter sports seasons for the Cardinals and Patriots.
Sure, there were some disappointments as well as successes, but there is nothing like taking in a high school sporting event. So, here’s your “thumbs up.”

Dispatch report
Feb. 25
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street reported theft by check.
•Complainant on E. Church Avenue, Steen, reported threats.
Feb. 26
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a possible gas leak.
•A warrant was issued.
•Complainant on N. Prospect Street, Hardwick, reported suspicious activity.
Feb. 28
•Assistance with contact information to another department was provided.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue and W. Fletcher Street reported railroad light malfunction.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 12, Luverne, reported speeding and reckless driving.
•Complainant on S. Church Avenue requested to speak with a deputy.
March 1
•Complainant reported law enforcement issues.
•Complainant on North Drive, Sioux Falls, reported a subject with Rock County warrant.
•Complainant on 11th Street, Ellsworth, reported subject is harassing mother.
March 2
•Complainant on S. Cedar Street reported two cars driving through pasture.
•A civil issue was reported on S. Church Avenue.
•Complainant on Holly Boulevard, Brandon, Sioux Dakota, requested Rock County’s sheriff’s assistance.
•Complainant on E. Veterans Drive reported a confused elderly person.
March 3
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported a hazmat spill.
•Complainant reported an abandoned vehicle on 91st Street, east of County Road 9.
•Complainant requested to speak to an investigator.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a weapons issue at location.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue requested personal property retrieval.
•Complainant on Highway 75 reported a piece of wood on shoulder of road.
•Complainant on 171st Street reported suspicious vehicle at location.
•Immigration in Dallas, Texas, requested Rock County assistance.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, reported an erratic driver that exited at Luverne.
•Extra patrol on S. Kniss Avenue was requested for overnight.
In addition, officers responded to 1 motor vehicle accident, 1 deer accident, 1 escort, 9 ambulance runs, 5 paper services, 1 animal complaint, 1 fingerprint request, 15 burn permits, 1 vehicle impound, 1 background check, 1 gas drive-off, 5 drug court tests, 5 purchase and carry permits, 2 stalled vehicles, 30 traffic stops, 2 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 1 welfare check and 1 report of cattle out.

Hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale during the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 15, 2022, to submit their applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP). SMHPP, which is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, originally had a deadline to submit applications by Feb. 25, 2022.
SMHPP assists hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2020, the period during which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the pandemic. USDA is offering SMHPP in response to a reduction in packer production and supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in fewer negotiated hogs being procured and subsequent lower market prices. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began accepting applications for SMHPP on Dec. 15, 2021.
“In response to stakeholder feedback and our analysis of the program to date, we will be making adjustments to clarify the definition of a spot market sale and to hog eligibility, while including documentation requirements to prevent erroneous payments,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We’ll be announcing those updates soon and want to assure hog producers that there will be ample time to submit their applications for assistance.”  
 
Applying for assistance
Eligible hog producers can apply for SMHPP by completing the FSA-940, Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program application. Visit farmers.gov/smhpp to learn more.
Applications can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. To find their local FSA office, producers can visit farmers.gov/service-locator.
Hog producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.
Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. Because of the pandemic, some USDA Service Centers are open to limited visitors. Contact your Service Center to set up an in-person or phone appointment. Additionally, more information related to USDA’s response and relief for producers can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
To learn more, visit usda.gov.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, March 14: Chicken chow mein with brown rice, Oriental vegetables, mandarin oranges, pudding with whipped topping.
Activities: A.C.E. of SW MN-Rock Co.: 8:30 a.m. Quilters.
Tuesday, March 15: Spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, pineapple, Texas toast, cookie.
Activities: 12:30 p.m. Bingo; 12:30 p.m. Pinochle.
Wednesday, March 16: Creamy chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, biscuit, warm fruit crisp.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Security Savings Bank.
Thursday, March 17—Happy St. Patrick’s Day: Pork loin, candied yams, broccoli, bread, dessert.
Activities: 1 p.m. Lutheran Social Services frozen meal distribution.
Friday, March 18: Meat loaf, butternut squash, stewed tomatoes, bread, cake.
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.

Luverne’s Gordon Mulder is serving a term as Lions 5M3 district governor, which started on July 1, 2021, and continues until June 30, 2022. 
The district includes the 13 southwest Minnesota counties with 35 clubs and 1,036 members. As governor, Mulder is expected to visit each club, bringing the Lions International President’s message of “Service from the heart. Kindness matters.”
Mulder said his own personal motto for this Lions’ year is “Rock your world with service and kindness.” He said, “The backdrop on my pin is a picture of the Blue Mounds quarry.” 
Mulder said the Lions have a district-wide project of tying fleece blankets, which will be donated to the Sanford castle this spring.  
One of the main projects of the Lions Club is fulfilling the challenge of Hellen Keller to be “Knights of the blind,” so that is the reason for the “leader dog” project. 
“Also, since diabetes is the leading cause of onset blindness, there is much money given to UMN toward the treatment and cure of diabetes,” Mulder said. 
“We also help send local kids with Type 1 diabetes to summer camp.”
The main projects of Lions include leader dog, diabetes, eye problems, cornea replacement, hearing issues, children's camps, childhood cancer treatment and the Lions Club International Foundation, which provides immediate care after natural disasters worldwide.
At the district convention last weekend, Don Kuehl from Jackson was chosen to be the district governor for next year.

For the 14th consecutive year, Buffalo Ridge Insurance achieved the prestigious status in the Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company’s President’s Club.
The achievement recognizes outstanding continued service to customers and community and superior performance.
Buffalo Ridge Insurance employees include Marilyn Bloemendaal, Cory Bloemendaal, Steve Smedsrud, Pam Haakenson, Lori Gruis, Dawn Trendt, Ashley Monier and Sadie Steen.

10 years ago (2012)
•Geronimo Wind representatives told Rock County Commissioners Tuesday that May 1 is the targeted start date for pouring concrete pads for the 119 wind towers north and west of Luverne.
Pad construction will continue through June. Beginning in August, the towers will be set up at a rate of 10 per week. …
Geronimo will remove the meteorological towers when they are no longer needed.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•Before they’ve even broken ground, planners of the Mary Jane Brown Congregate Living Apartments have found ways to improve the project, creating an added challenge for fund-raisers.
New plans will include a recreation room and library for an extra $25,000. Transportation is a current amenity offered to tenants of the facility, but the 1980 bus/van currently used by MJB will soon need to be replaced. Another $25,000 is needed to cover costs for the $45,000 vehicle.
For these reasons, MJB is hoisting its goal from $100,000 to the new goal of $150,000 needed for equity to secure a loan.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•A proposal to call for bids to furnish a site and operate a county sanitary landfill for refuse disposal was adopted by the Rock County Board of Commissioners Monday.
The decision was made after about four hours of their monthly meeting was spent discussing various aspects of the Pollution Control Agency’s requirement that counties comply with PCA refuse disposal regulations by July 1, 1972.
Interest has been shown by private individuals in providing both the site and the maintenance of it, and this interest prompted the board to call for bids which will be opened on March. 22.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•A crowd estimated at over 2,000 persons attended the Luverne Civic and Commerce Association’s “Good Neighbor Party” here Monday night.
According to the lunch committee, about 4,000 doughnuts and nearly 100 gallons of coffee were served at the huge gathering, which filled the armory almost to overflowing.
Curly Boyd and his Dakota Cowboys presented a stage show of about 1½ hours duration, after which free lunch was served. An evening of dancing, featuring both old and new time music, concluded the evening’s free entertainment.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•After an absence of several months from Luverne theatres, Madge Kennedy will make her appearance again at the Palace theatre tomorrow night in the Goldwyn feature, “The Highest Bidder.”
Based on a story by Maximilian Foster, “The Highest Bidder” deals with the complications which ensue when marriage a la mode and marriage of a tender sort come into conflict. Miss Kennedy plays the part of a girl who has bound herself to “marry for money,” as the saying goes. Fortunately, or unfortunately, she meets Henry Lester, a millionaire, who has long been convinced that women are only after his wealth, and not his heart.

Luverne Middle School students spent last week participating in the Winter Olympics 2022, which included the scooter luge, scooter curling, bean bags and figure skating. Individual and grade medals were given out to the sixth- through eighth-grade students. The seventh-grade class earned the most medals with five.

Jacob M. Schelhaas, 87, Jasper, formerly of Woodstock, died Wednesday, March 3, 2022, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
A memorial gathering of family and friends will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 26, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 4 p.m., all at the Woodstock Community Church in Woodstock.
Jacob Schelhaas was born on Oct. 28, 1934, to John and Lena (Van Roekel) Schelhaas in Murray County. Jake learned how to work hard at a very young age and after completing his education through the eighth grade, he began working. He had a love for animals and treated the livestock he was entrusted to care for with great pride.
In 1955 Jake enlisted in the Army and served for three years. After being honorably discharged, he met Gladys Wassenaar one Sunday night at the Steen Reformed Church. They were married at that same church on Sept. 30, 1960, and lived in Woodstock.
Jake was a faithful member of the American Reformed Church in Woodstock until he and Gladys retired and moved to Jasper. They became members of the Jasper Methodist Church at that time. They lived together until Jake entered Hospice.
Jake wore many titles through the years but the one he was most proud of was grandpa.  He wore his Luverne Cardinal apparel with great pride.
Jacob is survived by his wife, Gladys; three children: son Brian (Barb) Schelhaas – Alec (Ashley Caldwell); son Lowell (Hope) Schelhaas – Nicole and Jenna; and daughter Lynette (Rick) Ossefoort – Chessa (Orrie) Frahm and Adam (Racheal) Ossefoort;
sister-in-law Betty (Jerry) Ackermann, Bonnie (Dave) Shelton, Nelva (Ron) Behr; brother-in-law Gary Posthuma; sister-in-law Beverly Wassenaar; nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law William and Grace Wassenaar; daughter-in-law LeAnn; siblings and spouses, Carolyn and Henry DeGroot, Laura and Gerrit Posthuma, Nelvin and Geneva Schelhaas, Janice Posthuma, and an infant brother; brother-in-law Gerrit Wassenaar; and sister-in-law Bev Wassenaar.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(0310 F)