The H-BC girls’ basketball team played a busy stretch of games in the past week.
The Lady Pates dropped a 71-34 game to West Lyon on Jan. 11 at home before defeating Edgerton 44-39 on the road Thursday.
They fell to Arlington in Saturday’s “Border Clash” in South Dakota and won a close game with Westbrook Walnut Grove 27-26 at home Monday.
The 5-8 Hills-Beaver Creek girls will host Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey Friday before taking on Adrian-Ellsworth Tuesday at home.
 
West Lyon 71 H-BC 34
In a game they led from start to finish, West Lyon took down the Lady Pates Tuesday, Jan. 11, in Hills.
The Wildcats, who came into the game with a perfect 9-0 record, got out to an early lead and cruised their way to a 43-14 halftime lead.
The Patriots came out of halftime playing much better than in the first half, but ultimately fell 71-34 by the end of the game. 
Kenadie Fick (7 rebounds) hit four three-pointers in the game on her way to lead the Patriots’ scoring with 12 points. MacKenzie Voss added six points for the Pates while sophomores Lanae Elbers and Larissa Steinhoff each added four. H-BC falls to 3-7 on the year and looks to rebound on Thursday night in Edgerton.
 
Box score:
Fick 0 4 0-0 12, Rauk 0 1 0-0 3, L Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Voss 3 0 0-0 6, Bork 1 0 0-0 2, Steinhoff 2 0 0-0 4, Anderson 0 0 0-0 0, O Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Elbers 2 0 0-0 4, Fagerness 0 0 0-0 0, Moser 1 0 1-2 3, Spykerboer 0 0 0-0 0,  Harris 0 0 0-0 0, E Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Kueter 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team statistics:
HBC: 14 of 43 (33 percent), 1 for 2 free throws (50 percent), 27 rebounds, 19 turnovers
WL: 28 of 67 (42 percent), 5 for 10 free throws (50 percent), 39 rebounds, 6 turnovers
 
H-BC 44, Edgerton 39
Two evenly matched teams met Thursday night, Jan. 13, in Edgerton as the fourth-place Patriots put together a great second half to take down the third-place Flying Dutchmen in a big Red Rock Conference matchup.
It was a tightly contested first half as the home team took a 23-21 advantage into the break. 
The second half was just as tight all the way through before the Patriots eventually pulled away late to beat the Dutchmen 44-39. Senior Kenadie Fick led the way for the Lady Pates with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Lanae Elbers also scored double digits with 10 points, while senior MacKenzie Voss and eighth-grader Abbie Harris each had six. 
H-BC improves to 4-7 and will take on Arlington in the Border Clash in Colman, South Dakota, on Saturday afternoon.
 
Box score:
Fick 1 4 3-6 17, Rauk 0 0 0-0 0, L Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Voss 2 0 2-2 6, Bork 0 0 0-0 0, Steinhoff 0 0 0-0 0, Anderson 0 0 0-0 0, O Deelstra 1 0 0-0 2, Elbers 3 0 4-6 10, Fagerness 0 0 0-0 0, Moser 1 0 1-2 3, Spykerboer 0 0 0-0 0, Harris 1 1 1-5 6, E Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Kueter 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team statistics:
H-BC: 14 of 44 (32 percent), 11 for 23 free throws (48 percent), 31 rebounds, 26 turnovers
Edgerton: 15 of 56 (27 percent), 6 for 10 free throws (60 percent), 24 rebounds, 17 turnovers
Arlington 46, H-BC 34
The Patriots matched up with Arlington in the Border Clash at Colman-Egan Area High School on Saturday afternoon.
These two teams played a very tight game as the Patriots went on a run to take the lead late, 32-31, with under seven minutes to go in the game. The rest of the way was all Cardinals as they went on a 15-2 run to close out the game. The Lady Pates’ 34 turnovers were too much to overcome as they fell 46-34.
Senior Kenadie Fick and sophomore Lanae Elbers each scored double digits for the Patriots with 13 and 10 respectively. Elbers also had eight rebounds in the game while seventh-grader Olivia Deelstra came down with five.
 
Box score:
Fick 2 2 3-5 13, Rauk 0 0 1-3 1, L Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Voss 1 1 1-2 6, Bork 0 0 0-0 0, Steinhoff 0 0 0-2 0, Anderson 0 0 0-0 0, O Deelstra 1 0 0-0 2, Elbers 2 2 0-1 10, Fagerness 0 0 0-0 0, Moser 1 0 0-2 2, Spykerboer 0 0 0-0 0, Harris 0 0 0-0 0, E Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Kueter 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team statistics:
H-BC: 12 of 30 (40 percent), 5 for 15 free throws (33 percent), 26 rebounds, 34 turnovers
Arlington: 17 of 50 (34 percent), 9 for 12 free throws (75 percent), 21 rebounds, 15 turnovers
 
H-BC 27, WWG 26
It was a defensive battle in Hills between the Patriots and Chargers Monday night when the Lady Pates claimed a one-point victory.
It was nearly five minutes into the game before the scoring started, but senior Kenadie Fick (13 points and four steals) hit two three-pointers in the next two minutes to give the Patriots an 8-5 lead.
With just under four minutes to go in the half, sophomore Larissa Steinhoff (4 points) took a pass from Sam Moser and put it in to put the Patriots up 14-10.
Westbrook Walnut Grove then went on an 8-0 scoring run to end the half with an 18-14 lead.
The Chargers came out in the second half trying to stall by dribbling the ball out at half court without running an offense.
Coach Dylan Gehrke and the Lady Pates decided it was time to put on the pressure.
After trailing 24-14, Fick would sink a three-pointer on the other side of the court to start a 13-0 run which included several steals thanks to the full court press dialed up by the Patriots.
One more basket by the Chargers pulled them within one point at 27-26 with 5:30 remaining in the game.
This would be the end of the scoring in the contest as the Patriots went on to secure the one-point victory.
 
Box score:
Fick 2 3 0-0 13, Rauk 0 0 0-0 0, L Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Voss 2 0 0-0 4, Bork 0 0 0-0 0, Steinhoff 2 0 0-0 4, Anderson 0 0 0-0 0, O Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Elbers 1 0 2-2 4, Fagerness 0 0 0-0 0, Moser 1 0 0-0 2, Spykerboer 0 0 0-0 0,  Harris 0 0 0-0 0, E Deelstra 0 0 0-0 0, Kueter 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team statistics:
H-BC: 11 of 36 (31 percent), 2 for 2 free throws (100 percent), 31 rebounds, 30 turnovers
WWG: 10 of 47 (21 percent), 3 for 8 free throws (38 percent), 16 rebounds, 15 turnovers

Several southwest Minnesota mayors, including Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian, met with Sen. Amy Klobuchar on a Zoom call Friday, Jan. 14, to talk about infrastructure needs in their communities.
Klobuchar was a vocal supporter of the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in November, and she told the mayors she wanted to hear about their needs for the funding.
“I want to find out what projects you have, and what your priorities are,” she said.
The legislation devotes federal resources to improving Minnesota’s roads, rail systems, and public transit, as well as building high-speed broadband infrastructure and repairing and replacing bridges and highways.
“This is the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure in history,” Klobuchar said.
“It literally is going to give us this opportunity we’ve been waiting for to repair and transform everything from highways and bridges to broadband to water infrastructure to high-speed internet.”
She said she served on the committee that secured funding for broadband.
“We have 144,000 Minnesotans in areas without highspeed internet,” Klobuchar said. “It’s a huge problem, and we’re getting hundreds of millions of dollars for broadband.”
Baustian assured her that broadband improvements in Rock County were a “game changer” for businesses and students, especially during Covid when remote learning and working were important.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill puts $23.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds, and $1 billion for rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation.
“We’re very proud of what we’ve done with Lewis and Clark,” Klobuchar said.
“The people on this call have worked for a long, long time on this.”
Lewis and Clark is expected to secure $132 million from the Bureau of Reclamation as a result of the bill, and it will accelerate construction and allow the system to increase capacity.
Baustian said this is currently a priority in Luverne.
“The city of Luverne waited 25 years to get hooked up,” Baustian said.
“This (expansion) will give Luverne an additional 400,000 gallons of water per day, on top of the 820,000 we get already.”
He said Rock County agribusinesses have been benefiting from the Lewis and Clark access through the rural water connection, allowing them to grow and expand.
“It’s a huge positive for us going forward,” he said.
Baustian said he was also pleased to see funding dedicated to the electric vehicle infrastructure.
Luverne owns its electric utility and will apply for grants to install fast chargers (which can cost up to $100,000) around town.
“We intend to build out Luverne as an electric-vehicle-friendly community so that electric vehicles can pull off I-90 and stay in our hotels and use our restaurants and put their bikes on our bike paths and visit our community,” Baustian said.
Klobuchar said the legislation will give municipalities opportunities to apply for these and other federal grants. “And it will give me more opportunities to help you,” she said.
She pointed out that workers will be needed to build the projects, and the infrastructure bill supports apprenticeships, skills training, and ways to get workers into areas with labor shortages.
“We’re not going to have a shortage of sports marketing degrees,” Klobuchar said.
“We’re going to have a shortage of the people who are going to build these projects — truck drivers, school bus drivers, masons, electricians, plumbers and people who are out there in the trades.”
Mayors on the Zoom call expressed the need for workforce housing and child care in order to provide companies what they need for their workers in order to grow and expand.
In addition to Baustian, the call with Klobuchar and her staff included Pipestone Mayor Myron Koets, Tyler Mayor Joan Jagt and Slayton Mayor Miron Carney.

Generations purchased the Grand Prairie Events building last summer, and the east side of the building has been under construction with a February move-in date.
According to Generations president George Bonnema, the project has been affected by supply-chain delays and other pandemic-related hurdles.
“I don’t know how contractors are building houses,” he said Wednesday.
Cal Den Herder with Den Herder Construction said “We can’t get windows until March, and it’s just a standard window.”
The windows are for the office that will house ACE of Southwest Minnesota, which currently leases space from Generations at the Lincoln Street building. ACE, which stands for advocate, connect and educate, was formerly known as RSVP — retired senior volunteer program.
Generations will also continue to house the Lutheran Social Services senior meal site, as it does at the Lincoln Street location.
It currently prepares more than 150 meals per day, which includes in-person noon dining and hot meals for pickup and delivery in Luverne, Pipestone, Worthington and Adrian.
Twice per week drivers deliver hot meals to Magnolia, Hardwick, Jasper, Beaver Creek and Hills, and those recipients have the option of adding frozen meals to carry over between delivery days.
Priority on the meal program has focused immediate work on expanding the event center’s “food prep” kitchen into a full-scale commercial kitchen.
In the past week, Dan Hamann Construction has been working on the platform for the walk-in cooler and freezer, 10 by 10 feet each.
“We currently have gals in the kitchen working out of 11 freezers,” Bonnema said. “They’ve needed walk-in coolers for a long time.”
Footings were in place Wednesday, and concrete was poured Thursday. “God blessed us with a couple good days, so Dan’s been able to do that,” Bonnema said.
He said the company providing the freezer and cooler encountered supply chain delays, so Generations turned to another company that may be able to access them by February.
That’s the date Generations was supposed to be out of the Lincoln Street building, which was sold with move-out set for Feb. 1, contingent on being able to move into the Grand Prairie Events building.
 
Matching fund challenge doubles donations
Meanwhile, construction costs are mounting, and fundraising is underway. To add urgency to those efforts, Bonnema said a private philanthropist has offered a $140,000 match if the group can raise $140,000 in donations.
“That would give us $280,000 if we raise $140,000,” Bonnema said. “We need people to understand the value of this.”
In a letter seeking funds, Generations wrote, “This means your gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000. Your gift of $500 becomes $1,000 … Your gift of $25 becomes $50. You get the idea.”
He said some donations have already come in to support the project, but with rising costs of construction materials, the dollars aren’t going as far.
“Costs of the remodel are hard to even estimate seeing how the price of materials changes daily,” Bonnema said.
 
Space to grow, space to lease for local events
As Generations prepares to move and expand into a new location, Bonnema said new — and younger — seniors are joining the organization and getting more involved.
For example, ACE is hosting a SAIL class (stay active and independent for life), a balance and exercise fitness series that attracted more than 20 participants.
“We need more space for these sorts of activities, and we need to get in the new building,” said Bonnema, who’s also taking the class.
“People can’t believe how much muscle tone they’ve lost over Covid.”
He points out that Generations will continue to host events in the location building but on a more limited basis.
On Feb. 24 a catered meal will serve roughly 330 people for the Sioux Valley Energy annual meeting.
“We want the community to know that we still offer this, and it provides sustainability for Generations,” Bonnema said.
 
Donate by Jan. 31 for matching challenge
To support the Generations capital fundraising campaign and meet the matching challenge, contact the Luverne Area Community Foundation at 507-220-2424 or email emily@luvacf.org. 
Or, Bonnema said, contact him directly at 507-227-0682. “And I will kneel down and kiss your feet,” he said about his gratitude on behalf of Generations.

Rock County Commissioners recently accepted a $250,000 donation to fix leaks in the county courthouse tunnel.
The underground tunnel connects the Rock County Veterans Memorial Building with the courthouse. Water has been infiltrating the membrane-lined tunnel and damaging the interior walls and ceilings.
The K.A.H.R. Foundation granted the year-end donation for the repairs.
“This is certainly a nice gift,” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre. “It’s much appreciated.”
The $250,000 is the contractor’s estimate to fix the leaks that are caused by water pooling on the Kahler Terrace and leaking into the Herreid Annex located underneath the terrace.
The terrace’s surface will be replaced, and its edges will be rounded to allow water to more easily flow off.
Repairs to the tunnel involve removing all the vegetation and soil around the tunnel on the north side of the courthouse.
The repair work won’t affect the building entrance or disturb the recent reconstruction of the courthouse entrance stairs.
The tunnel is scheduled to be uncovered late July or early August.
The tunnel will be left exposed to sufficiently dry the ground before rewrapping and waterproofing the tunnel.
Once complete, the tunnel will be covered and the area re-landscaped.
The tunnel was part of a $4 million project to remodel the former sheriff’s office and jail into the new offices for the Luverne Area Chamber, Brandenburg Gallery and veterans museum. The project was dedicated in 2009.
A small conference room called the Herreid Annex was constructed under the Kahler Terrace along with a kitchenette and storage area.
A tunnel connects the lower level of the gallery to the Herreid Conference Room, where the county commissioners convene their twice-monthly board meetings.
There are bathrooms and storage rooms along the tunnel area.

Next Era Energy hosted a stakeholders dinner meeting Thursday, Jan. 13, in Beaver Creek to update landowners, organizations and government leaders about the Walleye Wind Farm construction in western Rock County this year.
Project developer Mike Weich reviewed the project timeline for nearly 100 people at SpringBrooke Events in Beaver Creek Thursday.
The projected $150 million investment will be built, owned and operated by NextEra, which has a 30-year purchase agreement to provide 111 megawatts of electricity annually for Minnesota Municipal Power. 
Next Era plans to build up to 40 wind turbines on a 49-square-mile (31,000 acres) footprint.
Blattner Energy of Avon, Minnesota, is the general contractor for the 40 turbines, which will be 2.32 or 2.82 megawatts each.
“They’ll slowly start bringing representatives into the community in March,” Weich said. “They start to engage with county leaders and introduce construction managers, so we have a clear sense of who the points of contact are.”
 
Roads first
  Weich said that the rural neighborhoods of the project footprint will start seeing construction activity in April when access roads are staked and townships are fortified for heavy equipment.
“We make sure that roads are improved to the standard required for our construction activities,” Weich said.
“If we need turning lanes installed for some of our construction equipment to make wide turns, we do that, along with shoulder improvements.”
Fields that are staked this spring for access roads will likely not be planted this spring in the affected areas.
NextEra will build up and maintain townships’ roads used for construction, and they’ll be returned to townships when construction ends.
There is a process of “accepting back” the affected roads and properties in what is considered acceptable conditions.
Disturbed areas will be restored and reclaimed with attention to erosion control, debris removed and temporary facilities dismantled.
 
Laydown yard is ‘command station’
Parallel to road work will be the process of setting up the laydown yard directly adjacent to where the Rock County substation is now.
It will serve as the central command station and product yard where all of the equipment will be.
“We’ll have a trailer on site at the laydown yard where our construction team will be available every day,” Weich said.
“That’s where we will communicate our ‘daily sync’ to make sure everyone’s in sync with what’s going on.”
He said local leaders and county officials are welcome to attend those.
Also during the roads and laydown yard work, the existing wind towers near Beaver Creek will be “decommissioned.”
The existing (nonfunctioning) MinWind turbines will come down sometime in May, and the fiberglass blades will be recycled.
“A truck shows up on site when the blades come down, and the blades are chopped into thirds and transported to permitted facilities in Mason City, Iowa, or the Twin Cities to recycle them,” Weich said.
“They’ll be chopped down into pellets that get used for concrete or other types of manufacturing.”
 
Turbine construction is quickest part of project
Actual turbine construction won’t begin until closer to June.
“You guys won’t even see the main equipment for the turbine assembly until pretty close to when we’re actually ready to install them,” he said. “It’s like Lego sets … we bring the pieces in pretty quickly.”
He said the hardest part is placing the final pieces at the top — the motor and the blades, and a calm day, with no wind (ironically) to assemble the final pieces.
“If we get some lower windy days, we can put up a lot of blades at one time,” Weich said. “
Multiple turbine sites will be under construction simultaneously to allow for flexibility in supplies and workers.
Turbine foundations will require excavating a hole approximately 10 ft. deep and approximately 50 ft. in diameter
 
Economic opportunity
Once construction begins, more than 200 workers are expected on site, creating opportunities for local businesses.
“At some points in the construction process we might have 100 or less and other times we’ll have over 200, depending where we’re at in the process,” Weich said. “That’s what you can expect for people coming into your community starting in April.”
Luverne Area Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere attended the meeting Thursday.
“This may be a great opportunity for your business to adjust your operation to meet their needs,” she wrote in a message to local businesses Monday. 
“Please reach out to me if you have services or skills to offer these visiting workers.  The Chamber pledges to try its best to help you benefit from this great opportunity and give these workers a wonderful experience in Rock County.”
The Chamber phone number is 507-283-4061.
In addition to the temporary economic boost from laborers on site, the wind farm, once operational, will generate $400,000 to $600,000 in annual tax revenues to Rock County.
In September the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the project for site construction and certificate of need for the electricity.
“We proved that there was a need for the project, and showed that it’s consistent with the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and that it’s environmentally responsible,” Weich said.
“We did a lot of studies, avian studies … We studied every butterfly, every beetle and everything running around in Rock County to make sure that we were designing a site that wouldn’t inhibit anything environmentally.”
 
Celebration planned
Though construction will technically begin in April, NextEra will host a groundbreaking ceremony later in the spring to celebrate the project’s start.
“This will be an exciting event for the community to celebrate,” Weich said.
Construction is expected to be completed and operational by the end of October.
“The significance of that is it gives us the opportunity to do some reclamation activities — with roads and properties — before the snow starts. … We don’t leave until everything is done.”
He said there will be future opportunities for communication as construction dates approach.
For example, land agents will coordinate with landowners about when underground transmission lines are dug, likely toward the end of the project. Farmers will be compensated if crops are destroyed.
Learn more at: www.WalleyeWind.com, Facebook.com/WalleyeWind, or contact Mike Weich, 561-694-3987 or Mike.Weich@nexteraenergy.com

Two derelict buildings on Hardwick’s Main Street were demolished Monday, drastically changing the historic streetscape of the town.
The demolition follows the city’s role in facilitating Linda and Steve DeSplinter’s kitchen remodel in their Green Lantern Bar and Grill.
The project has been hindered by their exterior wall being too close (about a foot gap) to the next-door vacant and dilapidated buildings.
The east-side property comprises two buildings that once housed KJ’s Korner Bar, which closed over a decade ago when owner Lori Wendt ended a business operation agreement.
More than $3,850 in special assessments was owed on the property, plus past due utility, property maintenance and non-payment penalties totaling $9,875.
At their Dec. 14 meeting, Hardwick City Council members agreed to waive the fees and penalties on the property if a purchase agreement between the DeSplinters and Wendt was completed within 30 days.
At their Jan. 12 meeting, the city approved the demolition permit to the DeSplinters. The sale closed Jan. 13.
The DeSplinters paid $1 to Wendt and $107 plus late fees to the county for delinquent taxes on the four lots where the two buildings stood.
The council approved $5,000 to the DeSplinters to help with the estimated $25,000 to demolish and level the property.
The city received $5,000 from Arthur Moeller American Legion Post, which manages the fundraising pull tabs at the Green Lantern.
“We don’t have any enterprising funds to tear down buildings,” said city clerk Tammy Johnson.
“They (the Legion) thought it would be a benefit to the city and helpful, because we can’t use taxpayer dollars to do anything to help.”
 
Background
Wendt purchased the building and KJ’s business in 2003 from Randy Johnson, whose late wife, Kathy, operated the bar and used her initials for the business’s name.
Various people operated the bar until about 2008. The building has since been in disrepair and was still owned by Wendt.
The city has received numerous complaints of rodents and other small animals living in the former bar and of bricks falling from the building’s 1904 facade.
Linda DeSplinter told council members at their Dec. 14 meeting she offered to purchase the building from Wendt. The sale, however, was contingent on whether the city was willing to waive overdue utility payments and abate special assessments placed on the property.
 
History
Dozens of people have operated businesses in the demolished buildings during their 118-year history.
In addition to a bar, the buildings previously housed a bowling alley and hardware store, and the east side exterior brick wall was a favorite location for people to etch their names in the bricks.
Fluit Farms Excavating and Scrap of Kenneth began demolition of the buildings Monday morning.
Many of the bricks shattered as the excavator hit the century-old wall during the demolition process. However, many of the Sioux quartzite lintels were saved.
The DeSplinters said they have no plans to develop the newly acquired lots, which will be leveled for the time being.

H-BC chili cook-off entrants needed
The Hills-Beaver Creek FFA Chapter is seeking entrants for a Chili Cook-off Friday, Feb. 4, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Contact FFA adviser Cloey Anderson c.anderson@isd671.net by Thursday, Jan. 20. Categories are hottest chili, judges’ choice and fan favorite. There is no cost to enter the chili cook-off. The event, which includes a silent auction, raises funds for the chapter’s trip to the state convention this spring and the national convention this fall.
 
Winter Carnival postponed
Luverne Music Boosters Winter Carnival, which was scheduled for Jan. 22, is postponed at this time due to Covid. Watch for a rescheduled date.
 
Free community meal at UMC
United Methodist Church will offer a Free Community Meal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 109 N. Freeman in Luverne. There is a pickup option available by calling 507-283-4529.
 
Free tax preparation
AARP volunteers will offer free tax preparation for low-income and seniors at the Rock County Library on Mondays starting Feb. 9 through April 15. Call 507-449-5040 for appointments. Bring documents, including last year’s tax return and a form of identification to document social security number. Masks required.

 Free food Jan. 20
New Life Celebration Church will offer free food at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at the Generations Building on East Lincoln Street in Luverne. Vehicles should enter the west parking lot from Lincoln Street and drive to the double glass doors on the west side of the building where volunteers will load groceries into cars. Walkers should receive their pre-packaged groceries on the east side of the building. Call 507-283-4366.
 
‘Love to Grow’ Expo Jan. 22
Project Food Forest and local sponsors will host a “Love to Grow” Expo from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Take 16 on East Main Street. The event features Luverne horticulturalist George Bonnema and other professional presenters, a showcase of local projects, and vendors with locally produced goods and materials.
Appetizers and charcuterie of locally sourced ingredients are included in the ticket price, and specialty craft infused beers and herbal teas will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Project Food Forest's outreach and education efforts throughout the region. Tickets — $30 in person and $15 virtually — are at Eventbrite.com.
Contact Kimberly Rockman, 605-951-0227, with questions.
 
 
Online mental health classes
NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will offer free online mental health classes for January and February.
 Among them are suicide prevention classes called QPR – Question, Persuade and Refer — plus a special one for ag communities.
The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers and also for the general public. Go to namimn.org and click on “Classes.”
 

Community Ed
Call Cindy at Community Ed, 507-283-4724, to register for classes.
Community Ed website is http://www.isd2184.net/Communit_Ed/index.htmlRefresher 4-hour Defensive Driving Class will be Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Luverne School students, grades 8 and older may register now for the Winter Session of Student Driver Education that begins Jan. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. The fee is $355, which includes 30 hours of classroom and six hours of behind the wheel instruction. On Jan. 24, out-of-district students may register for open spots in the winter session.
First Aid/CPR/AED Certification Class is Feb. 3.  Fee is $58.
Students ages 3-12 years old will learn to play the orff instruments (smaller version of xylophone) at Melodious Mallets.  Class begins Feb. 4 and culminates with the Luverne Street Music Spring Showcase in May.  Fee is $100 for 16 lessons.
Register by Feb. 9 for the ACT Prep class that begins Feb.24 for juniors and seniors.  Fee is $125.
Softball Camp begins on Feb. 10 for six sessions for girls in grades K-8 who are interested in being catchers and pitchers to learn and practice their skills (experienced or inexperienced).  Sign up by Feb. 1 at the lower fee of $60.

Preschool Fun for children ages 0-5 years and parent Jan. 25 or Jan. 27. No fee, but registration needed to reserve morning or evening play time.
 Happenings at the Rock County Library
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com
The 2022 Winter Reading Program, “Catch a Keeper at your Library,” is currently under way and goes through March 31. Read or listen to 12 books checked out from the Rock County Library and win a fabulous prize. Winter Reading Bingo will also be played. Bingo sheets are available now at the library.
Who says kids get to have all the fun? An Adult Show and Tell will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, at Take 16. Bring an item (or items) to tell us about or perhaps a story or two. It will be a fun and relaxing evening of sharing tales of local brews.
Bring your creative selves to Bad Art Night at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 17, at Take 16, and compete to see who can make the worst piece of art with provided supplies. The less artistic ability you have, the better. Prizes will be awarded.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.
 
Goehle gym open Sundays through March 27
The Hugo Goehle gymnasium in Hills is open for public recreation from 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays now through March 27.
 
Nominations sought for Rock County Hall of Fame
The Rock County Historical Society’s Hall of Fame Committee is seeking nominations for the 2022 induction of current and former residents.
Nominees must have a significant identity with Rock County and have made an exceptional contribution to society, achieved exceptional success, and brought honor and prestige beyond the borders of Minnesota.
Nominations are accepted now through Feb. 28, 2022. Forms are available at The History Center, Luverne Area Chamber or online at www.rockcountyhistorical.com or www.luvernechamber.com. An awards presentation is scheduled for July 17, 2022.

Public Health officials caution that the likelihood of getting the virus increases as the case rate rises in Rock County.
Jason Kloss with Southwest Minnesota Health and Human Services said Tuesday the latest spike in Rock County is likely due to the spread of the omicron variant.
“We urge the public to help slow the spread of Covid by wearing a mask, getting vaccinated and booster, and avoiding large crowds or gatherings until transmission decreases in our region,” Kloss said.
“It is also important for people to stay home when they are sick and get tested for Covid.”
Luverne Public School officials called for an e-learning day on Friday. A forecasted winter storm for Friday also assisted in the district’s decision to have students learn from home.
“Since returning to school for the new year, we have experienced a sharp increase in overall illness including COVID-19, Influenza A, stomach flu and other sickness,” said Superintendent Craig Oftedahl in a Jan. 12 press release. “The increased illness has had a dramatic effect on student and staff attendance.”
Monday was a planned staff in-service.
The district has tracked COVID-19 cases since the school year started.
Since the holiday break, reports have increased from six active cases to the Jan. 13 report of 40, which involved 10 staff and 30 students. Total active absences in the district numbered 101.
Kloss recommended that persons who have tested positive for Covid or come into contact with someone who has Covid is to isolate and go into quarantine.
School returned to in-person learning on Tuesday.

Rock County Commissioners will meet Tuesday, Jan. 25, to finalize the county’s largest general obligation bond sale to date.
The $4.5 million is for capital improvements in the courthouse and the health and human services building, primarily for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
George Eilertson with Northland Securities of Minneapolis is brokering the upcoming bond sale.
He said the 20-year bond will also refinance $915,000 remaining on a 2015 bond for library work and the local share of the countywide broadband project.
Refinancing is estimated to save the county $118,908.
The new bond is estimated to have an average interest rate from 1.62 to 1.75 percent.
“It’s a good market for the issuance of new bonds,” Eilertson said. “We are not at 40-year lows, but we are close to it.”
He said the county’s AA+ credit rating, along with low debt amount of $5.8 million the county is currently repaying, will attract more interest in the bond sale.
Eifertson also examined overlapping debt that could impact county residents:
•city of Luverne, $20.7 million.
•city of Kenneth, $165,866.
•city of Magnolia, $325,000.
•Hills-Beaver Creek School District, $8.4 million.
•Luverne School District, $26.9 million.
Rocky County is currently repaying a $2.2 million rural water general obligation bond sold in 2016.
The 2022 bond sale will be Monday, Jan. 24, and the County Board meeting was moved from Jan. 18 to Jan. 25 to accommodate the results of the sale.
Prior to Tuesday’s sale, the largest county bond sale was $3.970 million, issued in 2014 for road and bridge improvements. That debt was paid through annual wind production taxes.
The wind revenue is also repaying the broadband portion of the 2015 bond. The library remodel is repaid through the county’s annual property tax levies.
The 2022 bond will be repaid through tax abatement and future property tax levies.
Rock County’s August public hearing for its five-year capital improvement plan identified $21.8 million in capital expenditures.