Dispatch report
Jan. 14
•Complainant on E. Highway 34, South Dakota, reported subject with a Rock County warrant.
•Complainant on W. Lincoln Street reported someone banging on the door.
•Complainant at Expressway, Luverne, requested assistance.
Jan. 15
•Complainant on S. Ross Street, Hardwick, reported a subject in the hospital.
•Complainant reported theft.
Jan. 16
•Complainant on N. Estey Street reported a runaway.
Jan. 17
•Miscellaneous public assist was provided on County Road 4 and Minnesota Avenue, Luverne.
Jan. 18
•Complainant on N. McKenzie Street reported keys locked in vehicle.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 8, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported an accident at location.
Jan. 19
•Report of open door at location on W. Maple Street.
•Complainant reported a money scam.
•Subject in Mankato was arrested on Rock County warrant.
•Complainant in Luverne reported a resident of Luverne stole a vehicle from her in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Jan. 20
•A fire was reported at location on County Road 17 and County Road 4, Manley.
•Complainant on E. Brown Street reported a vehicle title issue.
•Complainant on E. Mead Court reported property damage.
•Runaway was reported on W. Luverne Street, Magnolia.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a stolen vehicle.
In addition, officers responded to 2 motor vehicle accidents, 4 vehicles in ditch, 1 transport, 1 escort,  11 ambulance runs, 1 animal complaint, 16 burn permits, 1 background check, 1 driver’s license check, 1 gas drive-off, 1 alarm, 3 drug court tests, 14 purchase and carry permits, 2 stalled vehicles, 3 traffic stops, 10 abandoned 911 calls, 2 tests, 2 welfare checks and 2 reports of cattle out.

Minnesota West names area students to dean’s list
Minnesota West Community and Technical College has announced the Fall 2021 semester dean’s list. To be eligible, students must earn a minimum of 12 graded credits with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
Named to the list from Luverne are Eduardo Carrillo, Sarah Kozak, Tenley Nelson, Ashlee Overvaag, Mallory Oye and Lucia Samper Eiroa.
Area students named are Brookelynn Brust, Beaver Creek; Zachary Prins, Kenneth; and Liam Raymon, Hills
 
Lake Area Tech names president’s list
Lake Area Technical College, Watertown, South Dakota, has named honor students to the president’s list for the Fall 2021 semester. Students must earn a minimum of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. (4.0 is indicated with an asterisk.)
Luverne students named to the list include Nicholas Nekali, Haylee Overvaag* and Paige Sandbulte. Chase Bosch from Hills was also named to the list.
 
Oftedahl named to dean’s list at Central Lakes
Carleton Oftedahl, Luverne, was named to the Fall 2021 semester dean’s list at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. Students are required to earn a 3.25 to 3.74 for the dean’s list and a 3.75 to 4.0 for the president’s list.

I spent the weekend trying to keep an old family tradition alive.
My parents, now both in the upper 80s, used to make old-fashioned ring bologna. I asked them over and over how it was done, and a few years back my family and I made a batch together.
It was comprised of beef and pork and a whole lot of garlic and other seasonings.
It is not wild game by any means, but when it comes to outdoor life, I have lots of other tasty favorites.
I was trying to find room in my freezer to put my share, which was just north of 150 pounds, and as a result, I did some freezer space sorting.
The rule at my house is that wild game, fish and other foods collected from wild get their allotted space. That space was pretty full, but as I was restacking my frozen favorites, I remembered another recipe my mom was quite famous for.
It’s called Heart Attack Pheasant, and it’s my favorite way to prepare the harvest of my fall adventures.
It is not at all difficult.
Cut the pheasant breasts into about five pieces and debone leg and thigh. Coat the pieces of meat in flour with lots of pepper or your other favorite seasoning.
Fry these in butter, (not margarine) over medium heat until they are browned up.  They do need to be cooked through. Once browned, transfer them to a glass baking dish or other shallow roaster. 
Adding a stick of butter at a time is usually needed. A big batch can use a pound of butter.
When this prep is done, fry up an onion that has been chopped into medium-sized pieces in the remaining butter and cook it until it’s soft.
Then add a giant tub of sour cream to the frying pan and scrape all the “fryings” off the bottom to get a light brown gravy.
Here is the tricky part:  You need to add enough milk to the pan in order to have enough sauce to cover the contents of the glass dish or roaster. Now take another onion and slice it really thin and lay these slices over the top of the meat and sour cream sauce.
Bake one hour at 325 degrees or two hours at 250 degrees. I think the lower temperature for longer is a better outcome. You can add some more milk if the concoction looks to be getting dry. Bake it uncovered, and the onion slices will soften and brown up for a great presentation.
People who say they won’t eat pheasant, or any wild bird for that matter, will take a bite and then come back for seconds or even thirds.
This pheasant recipe has converted more non-game-eating individuals over to the good side than any other I have ever tried.
The best part of this recipe is how great it tastes as leftovers. I can’t really explain it, but the second time around is every bit as good as the first bite. You do need to be careful about busting your crown or cap on a shotgun pellet. The breast meat is pretty good at hiding a stray pellet or two.
My other go-to recipe is pretty easy, but every bit as close to Heart Attack Pheasant. 
Cut up the pieces as before but then soak the meat in a saltwater solution for about 15 minutes (add 3 heaping tablespoons of salt to a half gallon of water). I then coat them in my favorite seasoning like shore lunch or other flour-like coating. Deep fat fry those morsels in canola oil and then toss them in your favorite barbecue sauce. My favorite is the mango habanero from Buffalo Wild Wings, which also has a good teriyaki sauce.
The soaking does something I cannot explain. In many cases, without the soak stage, the breading just gets mushy and falls off when you try to eat it. By soaking the meat first, it allows the finished product to have a crunchy exterior but a moist and soft interior.
My hardest challenge is trying to make my pheasant supply last until the season opens next fall. Once you try these two recipes for your birds, you will never let another member of your hunting party take any of your birds home with them to avoid the cleaning effort. Your cardiologist will frown on them, so enjoy in moderation.
 
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.
 

A small area within the Luverne Elementary School media center is dedicated to a former teacher who was passionate about helping students read.
“Carrie’s Reading Nook” was established in memory of Carrie Bakken, who assisted in the Response to Intervention and Title I reading programs.
Bakken died in July 2019 from complications of scleroderma, which she was diagnosed with in 1994.
As a final wish, she asked that memorials be directed to the Luverne elementary library. The school received $1,200.
“We were asked to use the memorial funds in a way that would enrich the lives of students in the elementary,” said Tina Petronek, a media center paraprofessional.
“Since Carrie’s focus was on struggling readers, we opted for books and a reading nook.”
The reading nook includes a bookshelf and two oversized beanbag chairs. The chairs encourage children to stop and sit in the quiet corner, and the bookshelf is full of selections meant for students to read individually or in small groups.
The books feature series called “Jobs with Animals,” “Gross Jobs,” “Natural Disasters” and “Beginning to End.”
“The books chosen are what the book industry calls ‘Hi/Lo’ books, meaning the books are at a high-interest level but at a lower reading level,” Petronek said.
“Since Carrie lived on a farm and her family is in the agriculture industry, we tried to select books that were agriculture-related.”
Each book in Carrie’s Reading Nook is fitted with a small sticker on the spine, and inside the front cover a label is affixed that reads, “Donated in the Memory of Carrie Bakken.”
The books are popular with students, something Carrie would have been proud of, said colleague Lynette Stensland.
“She was passionate about finding just the right strategies, books and materials to engage her students and help them succeed,” Stensland said.
“Carrie’s determination to do her job well, despite her health challenges, was an inspiration to all of us here at Luverne Elementary.”
Family members attended an informal unveiling of Carrie’s Reading Nook on Jan. 19.
Her husband, Peter, son, Eli, and her parents, Darold and Helen Laabs, talked with staff and viewed the items purchased in Carrie’s honor.
The gathering brought tears and heart-felt appreciation to those who attended.
“I want to give accolades to the teachers for the support that the school gave her,” Peter Bakken said.
Due to Carrie’s vision, students are able to spend time enjoying reading and improving their skills in Carrie’s Reading Nook.

Open House
A come-and-go baby shower for Lauren Guy will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne.
 
Card Shower
Dorothy Klosterbuer will celebrate her 80th birthday Sunday, Jan. 30. Greetings may be sent to 1607 Blue Ridge Drive, Luverne, MN 56156.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, Jan. 31: Pepper steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, dinner roll, gelatin with whipped topping.
Activities: 8:30 a.m. Quilters. 10 a.m. SAIL class.
Tuesday, Feb. 1: Lasagna, California Normandy vegetables, peaches, breadstick, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by American Reformed Church.
Activities: 12:30 p.m. Pinochle and Dominos.
Wednesday, Feb. 2: Baked chicken, au gratin potatoes, vegetable, bread, dessert.
Activities: 10 a.m. SAIL class.
Thursday, Feb. 3: Turkey stuffing casserole, mixed vegetables, sliced apples, bread, dessert.
Friday, Feb. 4: Beef chili with beans, romaine salad with dressing, corn bread, blushing pears, cookie.
Activities: 10 a.m. SAIL class.
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.

10 years ago (2012)
•Luverne’s Terry Vajgrt will be sworn in next month as a judge in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” he said Monday about being appointed by the governor. “I greatly appreciate the local support and encouragement I received through the application process.”
He replaces Judge Timothy Connell who retired late last year after 24 years on the bench.
 
25 years ago (1997)
•Rezoning an area near the hospital and clinic means the Luverne Community Hospital will be able to offer outpatient chemical dependency services in Luverne.
The Luverne City Council, Monday, approved rezoning the north half of the 400 block just north of the Luverne Clinic and Hospital from single family residential/institutional.
In October, the Luverne Community Hospital Board purchased the Torkelson house on North McKenzie Street with plans to convert it to use as offices for an outpatient chemical dependency facility.
The property adjoins a parking lot already owned by the hospital. With the rezoning approved, the hospital will do some minor remodeling to get the facility in operation as soon as possible, according to Lynn Remme, administration assistant.
 
50 years ago (1972)
•Radar is proving its effectiveness in controlling traffic in Luverne, Police Chief Chester Bendt said in a report to the City Council Tuesday.
The equipment was purchased last year at a cost of $1,775 and with reimbursement of state and federal funds it left the city with an investment of $887.50, Chief Bendt reminded.
Enforcement began Sept. 6, 1970, and for the first four months there were 80 speeding arrests with a collection of $1,123 in fines. In 1971, there were 148 arrests with a total of $2,505 in fines. To date, $4,628 in fines have been imposed. The radar equipment has earned $3,539 in fines in the past 16 months and to date there has not been one “not guilty” plea in municipal court, the chief said.
 
75 years ago (1947)
•Alan C. McIntosh, publisher of the Rock County Star-Herald, was elected second vice-president of the Minnesota Editorial Association last week. The association held its annual convention at Minneapolis, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
New president of the organization is Ludwig I. Roe, publisher of the Montevideo News. Norman E. Nelson, Cloquet, Pine Knot, was elected first vice-president, and Henry Mead, Aitkin, Independent Age, third vice-president, and W. F. Duffy, Shakopee Argus-Tribune, was re-elected treasurer.
Walter E. Barnes, Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch, was named to the board of directors. Holdover directors are M. A. Johnson, Blue Earth Post, and D. A. McKenzie, Crookston Daily Times.
 
100 years ago (1922)
•Luverne will not have a municipal ice skating place this winter. This decision is due to the fact that the committee in charge of the matter has been unable to get the consent of the trustees of the Norwegian Synod church to use the street on the north side of the church property for the purpose. …
One of the trustees of the Synod society declined to consent to the plan, however, because he wanted the street as a place for parking cars, for members of the congregation, although both sides of Freeman avenue in front of the church property and also alongside of the Central school grounds would be available for this purpose.

The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on July 7, 1905.
Was a Grand Success
Such Was Luverne’s Celebration of the Glorious Fourth
6000 People Were in Attendance
Notwithstanding Preceding Unfavorable Weather Conditions, Luverne Observes Our Nation’s Birthday With a Notable Successful Celebration—Occasion Graced by Presence of Governor John A. Johnson Who Delivers Inspiring Address—Splendid Program Carried Out to the Satisfaction of All
This article is continued from last week.
The Picnic Dinner
The picnic dinner which followed immediately after the exercises was one of the most enjoyable events of the day to those who were so fortunate as to be able to take their lunches under the beautiful shade trees of the school and court house grounds. The school house grounds were filled with merry picnicking parties and many who were unable to find room there went across the street to the court house grounds, which were equally well shaded and adapted to the purpose, the only drawback being that the latter grounds were more remote from the free lemonade stand. Some idea of the number of people who availed themselves of the opportunity to take their dinners on the grounds may be gained from the fact more than five barrels of lemonade were dispensed.
Vaudeville Show
The program for the afternoon events opened at 1 o’clock with the vaudeville show at the pavilion on the school grounds, with a large crowd in attendance. The show consisted of monologues, comic songs, bag punching, etc. The bag punching exhibition was given by Harry Burns, who holds the American championship in this art.
Ball Game
The next events on the program were the ball game between Luverne and Hills at the improvised grounds in Parriott’s addition on North Freeman avenue, and the ring ride on Main street, both of which started at the same hour and both drawing large crowds. Owing to the short time intervening after it was found necessary to abandon the Driving park grounds it was impossible to erect a grand stand or seats at the new ball grounds. Nevertheless the consequent unavoidable inconveniences did not apparently deter many who wished to see the game from attending, for fully fifteen hundred people were in attendance and the crowd was dispersed in such a way that all were able to witness the game with comfort. Hills was first at bat and made one score in the first inning, while Luverne drew a goose egg in her half. Both sides drew blanks in the second inning and Hills continued the circle score feature in her half of the third. In her half of the third inning Luverne connected with the horse hide often enough to bring in one score and tie the game. Hills again drew a goose egg in her half of the fourth inning, but Luverne had gotten a taste of the elusive little sphere and wanted more, and, of course, got it, landing on the ball with an earnestness and frequency that allowed three men ample time to amble across home plate. The score was then 4 to 1 in favor of Luverne and remained unchanged at the end of the sixth inning. In the first half of the seventh inning with two men out and one man on first base, Feay, of Rock Rapids, who was playing first base for Hills, drove a two-bagger into the left field, sending it over the line of carriages and spectators, and before the fielder got the ball both men crossed the home plate. This ended the game. Umpire Amos Scott called the ball foul. The Hills players immediately swarmed around the umpire and a rag-chewing match succeeded the National game. Feay became abusive, called the umpire an odious name and promptly received a well directed jolt under the right ear. The Hills players then walked off the diamond and refused to play. Later they agreed to finish the game if they could have a new umpire, but as they had deferred this decision until the ten minutes had expired allowed by the rules in which a team shall play after having once left the field, the Luverne players refused to continue the game except on the basis on which it was begun. Hills refused to accede to this condition and the game was declared forfeited to Luverne by the score of 9 to 0. The incident was most unfortunate and was deeply deplored by all. As to the correctness of Umpire Scott’s decision there appears to be a wide difference of opinion. Many who were in position to see declare that the ball in dispute was foul, while perhaps an equal number who were in equally as good position to judge declare that it was fair. The word of J. S. Joles, who found the ball and placed his foot upon it pending the umpire’s decision, is undoubtedly correct and should be authoritative, and Mr. Joles’ statement is that the ball was fully ten feet outside the lines. But regardless of this point, the fact remains that the Hills players should have abided by the umpire’s decision. Another point is that if the ball had been declared “fair” neither of the scores run in under it would have counted. The ball was what is termed a “blocked ball” and a player is not entitled to more than two bases on a ball of that character, while as it was one man ran from first base and the striker from the home plate. Several ifs naturally arise but the most important one is that “if” the Hills nine had been playing their own team instead of a pick-up team from the various surrounding towns, the trouble most likely would not have occurred.
         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.

Janice Kleve, 68, Magnolia, died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at Living Rock Church in Luverne. A time of fellowship will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Arrangements are provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Adrian, dingmannandsons.com.  
(0127 DN)