Twelve Luverne students competed in the mini spectacular Saturday at Marshall High School — a first for LHS students.
“We never attended since it is usually in January,” co-coach Caroline Thorson said. “Ten of the 12 from our team made it into finals.”
The Luverne speech team placed third overall.
Students competed in three rounds before competing in the final round. Top six finishers included:
•Discussion: Burke Johnson, second.
•Creative expression: Brianna Kinsinger, third.
•Extemporaneous speaking: Chance Tunnissen, first; Zander Carbonneau, second.
•Great speeches: Rylee Anderson, fifth.
•Humorous interpretation: Luke Thorson, first.
•Informative speaking: Jessika Tunnissen, fourth; Lizzy Mulder, sixth.
•Poetry: Mia Wenzel, first; Alex Perkins, fifth.
Seniors Luke Thorson and Chance Tunnissen qualified for the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions.
They are the first Luverne students to receive a bid for the national event in May.
“This meet constituted as a qualifier for the NIETOC,” Thorson said.
“Competitors need to receive two bids throughout their season to qualify for participation. We have never sent anyone to this national competition before.”

USDA Rural Development has funding availabile for very low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area.
The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very low- and low-income applicants that are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as one percent with a subsidy. Applicants must meet income and credit guidelines and demonstrate repayment ability. The program is available in rural communities of generally 35,000 people or less.
The maximum loan amount is $20,000 at a one-percent interest rate, repayable for a 20-year term and can be used to improve or modernize homes and do essential repairs. Grants of up to $7,500 are available to homeowners 62 and older and must be used to remove health or safety hazards, such as fixing a leaking roof, installing indoor plumbing, or replacing a furnace.
Time is limited to receive funds for the current fiscal year.
In southwest Minnesota the USDA Rural Development Housing Specialists are located in Marshall and Worthington.
In Marshall:          USDA Rural Development; 1424 E. College Drive, Suite 500; Marshall, MN 56258-2090
phone: 507-537-1401 ext. 4
In Worthington:
1567 McMillan Street, Suite 2; Worthington, MN 56187-2801
Phone:507-372-7783 ext. 4
USDA Rural Development loans and grants provide assistance that supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas.
For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

This year’s legislative session will be about getting Minnesota back on the right track. My priorities will be to tackle the tax infrastructure, the state's education system, and public safety.
 
Surplus
With a $7.7 billion surplus in the Minnesota state budget, there are a lot of opinions about what to do with all this extra money.
Before I discuss what we should and should not do with the money, I would like to briefly discuss the glaring problem that you probably noticed yourself — the fact that we have a $7.7 billion surplus.
Simply put, Minnesota government has taxed you too much. Governor Walz recently proposed a solution to give a small refund of $150 to $350, which would only total around $700 million of the $7.7 billion surplus.
We can do better than that. First, we need to adjust all our tax rates, especially the income tax rate, where we are doing a targeted, permanent income tax relief to all families.
Second, we can also eliminate social security from the state’s income tax with this budget surplus. You, the taxpayers, have paid tax on the money that went into the social security program. You should not have to pay for it again.
Third, we can also pay off the $1 billion unemployment tax loan we owe the federal government with this budget surplus. With this loan paid off, we will not have to charge businesses additional unemployment tax, thereby reducing the cost of doing business.
Finally, we can address our infrastructure issues throughout our state. With this money, we can repair many of Minnesota’s aging roads, bridges, and buildings.
There is also a major need in our nursing homes and adult care facilities for help. We must avoid the closing of more facilities and we should consider a program to be of assistance.
 
Education
The school closures due to Covid have been a terrible experience for the children and parents. The school policies enacted during the pandemic have left many children behind from Covid learning loss.
To also add to that trouble, school classrooms in some places have become a place of political activism that has cost the children their education.
I will focus on bringing schools back to the basics, a place where children learn and meet their math and reading scores. I am also committed to bringing increased transparency and accountability in schools. This means parents should know what their kids are being taught and have a say in the students’ education.
 
Public safety
Every Minnesotan deserves to live in a safe community. The best way to ensure this is by supporting our local law enforcement and giving them the resources they need to do their job.
With activism in our state that seeks to disparage our law enforcement officers, we have seen a significant uptick in crime. Along with this uptick in crime, we have seen a lot of officers quit and retire early.
This anti-police activism has discouraged people from applying to become peace officers, and departments across the state have seen a significant decrease in applications compared to years before.
We need to support our law enforcement and increase their presence on the streets and highways of Minnesota.

You may remember actresses and sisters Marlene and Darlene from Leota, Minnesota. (They drive to Luverne in their Toyota.)
DJ Luethje and I created the elderly characters who performed a show, “Marlene and Darlene Present the Nutcracker,” at Luverne’s Palace Theatre in December of 2018.
It was a fundraiser for the construction of a new senior citizens building.
The show raised $15,000 in spite of the fact that Darlene put out a “suggestion” box instead of a “donation” box. It was considered a success.
A lot has changed since then. A few short weeks after the fundraiser the Palace closed, as did the senior center. 
Marlene blamed herself.
She spent the next two years in a Dorito-fueled depression. Her formerly Dutch-lady clean house filled with empty Doritos bags, Edgerton Bakery wrappers and the used Kleenexes she generated watching the Hallmark Channel.
She gained 50 pounds.
Darlene, always spunky and looking at the bright side of things, has had enough of her sister’s dark mood. “Oh, for Pete’s sake! It was Covid, not you, that closed the Palace! Go outside! You’ll feel better.”
Marlene remains unmoved.
At wit's end, Darlene has hatched a scheme to get Marlene to join a fitness class at the senior center, now known as Generations, in the former Grand Prairie Events.
Will Darlene be successful? Will Marlene ever get out of her post-Covid funk, clean up her house and lose all that weight? 
The answer to these questions will be revealed at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at Generations when we bring our characters back to the stage.
The goal is to raise (another) $15,000 for Generations.
Stay tuned for more information and answers to additional questions, such as, “Will the building even be open on April 28?” “Will George Bonnema donate a carrot cake?” and, “Will Marlene fall off the stage attempting a fitness move?”
I’m just as curious as you are.

The phrase “the new norm” has gained popularity since the pandemic starts to wind-down.
Personally, I am not a fan of most of the new norms. Maybe over time I’ll start to warm up to people working from home or a new supply shortage of the week.
I really struggle with going to the store, any store for that matter, and not always finding what I went there for.
I was killing time before a grandson’s basketball at a Runnings store in Windom last week. I was meandering down the aisle when I found myself in the spray paint section.
The shelf was darn near empty. Not just one color was missing, but the entire section was bare.
I asked the clerk what was up with the spray paint section? She replied that she really didn’t know, but it’s probably like everything else — we never really know what will or won’t show up on the delivery truck.
So, that took a while to get to my “new norm” experience.
A little over a week ago our daughter Emily and her fiancé Steven celebrated a combination early and belated 40th birthday party for themselves.
They sent out invitations and hosted a backyard barbeque-themed party at Big Top Tents and Events here in Luverne.
The “new norm” thing was that while nearly all the guests thought they were coming to a 40th birthday party, they discovered upon entering the building it was an indoor backyard barbeque-themed surprise wedding.
Only a handful of people who were sworn to secrecy knew of the surprise and they pulled it off. Guests were completely surprised, thrilled for the couple and had a great time.
I am not sure this will really become the “new norm” for weddings, but in this case it was awesome.
Stacey and Jordan Smidt and their crew at Big Top Tents and Events were a joy to work with and did an outstanding job helping us host the event.
Like I mentioned earlier, it’s taking me some time to warm up to new norms, but the surprise wedding idea gets two thumbs up from me.

Krueger: Township residents should attend annual meeting
To the Editor:
Township Day is Tuesday, March 8
All township residents have a direct voice and a direct vote with their localgovernment. On Tuesday, March 8, townships will hold their annual meetings on“Township Day.” Make sure to attend to make your voice heard!
The tradition of a town meeting has roots in colonial America. New Englandtown meetings gave citizens a way to exercise local authority. Those meetingswere especially important in the development of democracy because itemphasized problem-solving through group efforts.
Growing from this historic background, we are still effective as‘grassroots government.’ Residents participate in discussion and a directvote on the tax levy, and many townships will be electing new officers.
We encourage every township resident to attend your annual meeting – together we’ll shape the future. Mark your calendar for March 8 and find thelocation and time by checking your local newspaper or contacting your township clerk and invite your neighbors to the annual meeting on Township Day.
Jeff Krueger,St. Michael

Compeer Financial donated $10,000 to Generations Friday to support the remodeling work at Grand Prairie Events, which will be the new Generations home this spring. Pictured are (from left) Barb Bork, George Bonnema, Carlene Boll, Connie Frahm, Janet Majerus, Ken Vos, Marlys Nelson, Pat Barnett, Judy Fenske, Roger Henderson, Marion Schneekloth and Lynette Hoiland. The money will be used to support construction costs associated with retrofitting the prep kitchen at Grand Prairie to a full kitchen and also for an office for A.C.E of Southwest Minnesota.

Dispatch report
Feb. 11
•Complainant on W. Hatting Street reported a shoplifter.
Feb. 12
•Complainant on E. State Street, Magnolia, filed a trespassing complaint.
•Complainant in Lyon County, Rock Rapids, requested assistance from another department.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street reported a scam.
Feb. 13
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 8.5, Beaver Creek, reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported an assault.
•Complainant on 110th Avenue, Luverne, reported smoke coming through vents.
Feb. 14
•Complainant on 10th Avenue, Garretson, reported a child locked in vehicle at location.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported all locks were cut off storage units.
•Complainant on 101st Street, Luverne, notified sheriff of termination of services.
•Complainant reported scam calls.
•Complainant at Redbird Field reported a vehicle left near snow dump.
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported a suspicious person in bank lobby.
Feb. 15
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported an altercation at location.
•Complainant on W. 1st Street, Hardwick, reported a break in and theft.
•Complainant on 201st Street, Luverne, reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant reported suspicious activity on 1st Street, Hardwick.
•Complainant on S. Cottage Grove Avenue reported property damage.
•Feb. 16
•Deputy was out with vehicle at location on County Road 9, south of County Road 1, Ellsworth.
•Complainant on W. Bishop Street reported suspicious activity.
•Suspicious activity was reported at location on E. Main Street.
Feb. 17
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue reported phone was stolen.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported a noise complaint at location.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported disturbance at location.
Feb. 18
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, Valley Springs, reported debris on the road.
•Complainant on E. Minnesota Avenue, Steen, reported HRO violation.
In addition, officers responded to 1 motor vehicle accident, 1 deer accident, 1 vehicle in ditch, 14 ambulance runs, 3 paper services, 6 animal complaints, 2 fingerprint requests, 11 burn permits, 1 gas drive-off, 2 alarms, 2 drug court tests, 5 purchase and carry permits, 2 stalled vehicles, 10 traffic stops, 9 abandoned 911 calls, 1 test, 1 welfare check and 3 follow-ups.

Luverne-Adrian FFA attends SMSU Ag Bowl
Nine members of the Luverne-Adrian FFA Chapter traveled to Marshall Feb. 11 for the Southwest Minnesota State University Ag Bowl.
Participating in the ag sale contest were A.J. Ossefoort, Jaden Reisch and Rydell Uithoven. Ossefoort tallied the high score for the team.
Three first-year members participated in the Best Informed GreenHand contest. They included Maren Stegenga, Andrew Kinsinger and Andrea Luitjens. Stegenga had the high score for the team.
Fish and wildlife contest participants included Chris Aning, Harrison Uithoven and Ryan Vos. Aning posted the team’s high score.
Stegenga and Luitjens entered the small animal/vet contest. Luitjens came away with the high score.
 
Luverne-Adrian FFA competes at Region 6
Luverne-Adrian FFA’ers traveled to Tracy High School Feb. 18 for the Region 6 career development events. Nine Luverne-Adrian FFA’ers competed in the event.
The Fish and wildlife team of Ryan Vos, Chris Aning, Harrison Uithoven and Layke Miller placed 12th out of 19 teams. Individually, Aning posted the team’s highest score finishing 24th out of 78 participants.
Andrea Luitjens, Julia Hoogland, Maren Stegenga, Morgan Bonnett and Emma Deutsch comprised the small animal/vet team, placing 10th out of 18 teams.
Luitjens finished 28th individually out of 70 participants to lead the team with Hoogland, 33rd, and Stegenga, 37th.