For the first time in seven games this season, the Luverne girls’ basketball team experienced a loss.
The Cardinals traveled to Worthington on Tuesday, Dec. 21, and came up on the short end of a close 50-45 game.
Luverne had no trouble returning to its winning ways, however, when they defeated Tri-City United 75-17 Monday night and LeSueur-Henderson 87-26 Tuesday morning.
The 8-1 Cardinals are scheduled to play in Marshall Tuesday night.
 
Worthington 50, Luverne 45
Luverne led most of the first half in Worthington, even sporting a ten-point 25-15 lead with about six minutes left in the first half.
The Cardinals enjoyed a 27-19 lead on the 6-1, state-ranked Trojans at halftime.
The dynamics of the game changed as the second half progressed, however.
The Trojans narrowed the lead and eventually tied the game 33-33 with about ten minutes remaining.
Lead changes continued until Worthington took a 45-43 lead they would not relinquish.
Errors and fouls hurt the Cardinals, who committed 40 turnovers and 23 personal fouls with Emma Beyer, Averill Sehr and Elizabeth Wagner all fouling out of the game.
“We turned the ball over a lot, but we were able to cause turnovers for them as well,” said Luverne head coach TJ Newgard.
“Foul trouble really put us in a tough spot, but I’m proud of the way we fought and gave ourselves chances to win.”
Kira John led the way for Luverne with 14 points and Elizabeth Wagner had 12.
John also tallied 11 rebounds while Elizabeth Wagner had 10 and Christina Wagner added seven.
“I thought we were a few plays away from knocking off a very good team,” Newgard said.
 

Box Score
C. Wagner 1 0 0-0 2, Beyer 2 0 0-0 4, Ver Steeg 2 0 1-2 5, Sehr 0 1 1-2 4, E. Wagner 5 0 2-9 12, Stegenga 1 0 0-0 2, Jocelyn Hart 1 0 0-0 2, John 6 0 2-5 14, Hansen 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team Statistics
Luverne: 19 of 44 (43 percent), 6 of 18 free throws (33 percent), 41 rebounds, 40 turnovers.
Worthington: 17 of 58 (29 percent), 16 of 25 free throws (64 percent), 34 rebounds, 27 turnovers.  
Luverne 75, TCU 17
Luverne traveled to Montgomery to take on the Tri-City United Titans Monday night.
The Cardinals had no trouble with the Titans, outscoring the home team 42-8 in the first half and 33-9 in the second half to secure the 58-point victory, 75-17.
Luverne shot 57 percent from the field and held TCU to just 18 percent shooting.
Elizabeth Wagner led the Cardinals’ offense with 26 points and five rebounds.
Emma Beyer had nine points and four assists, and Brooklynn Ver Steeg scored eight and added five assists.
The Luverne defense caused 29 Titan turnovers and tallied 21 steals in the lop-sided contest.
 

Box Score
C. Wagner 1 2 0-0 8, Beyer 2 1 2-3 9, Ver Steeg 4 0 0-0 8, Sehr 1 0 2-2 4, E. Wagner 13 0 0-0 26, Stegenga 2 1 0-1 7, Jocelyn Hart 1 0 2-2 4, Sandbulte 0 0 0-0 0, John 1 0 0-2 2, Smith 0 0 0-1 0, Huiskes 1 0 0-0 2, Serie 0 0 0-0 0, Hansen 0 1 0-0 3, Schmuck 1 0 0-0 2, Jadyn Hart 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team Statistics
Luverne: 33 of 57 (57 percent), 6 of 14 free throws (43 percent), 32 rebounds, 12 turnovers
TCU: 7 of 39 (18 percent), 3 of 6 free throws (50 percent), 26 rebounds, 29 turnovers 
Luverne 87, L-H 26
The Cardinals played a rare morning game Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Le Sueur.
Just 12 hours after defeating Tri-City United by 58 points, Luverne earned its second lop-sided victory in two days (and largest of the season), 87-26, over the Le Sueur-Henderson Giants.
The Cardinals were again led by Elizabeth Wagner, who scored 32 points (28 from the field) and collected nine rebounds.
Kira John also totaled nine rebounds in the game.
Sarah Stegenga tallied 13 points and offered five assists. Averill Sehr also had five assists.
 

Box Score
C. Wagner 4 0 0-1 8, Beyer 1 0 3-4 5, Ver Steeg 1 0 4-6 6, Sehr 1 1 1-2 6, E. Wagner 14 0 4-4 32, Stegenga 3 2 1-2 13, Jocelyn Hart 1 0 0-0 2, Sandbulte 2 0 0-0 4, John 2 0 0-0 4, Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Huiskes 0 0 0-0 0, Serie 1 0 0-0 2, Hansen 1 0 1-2 3, Schmuck 0 0 0-0 0, Jadyn Hart 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team Statistics
Luverne: 35 of 77 (45 percent), 14 of 21 three throws (67 percent), 37 rebounds, 13 turnovers

Meetings
Stateline Cemetery Association will have its annual meeting at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at Pizza Ranch in Rock Rapids.
 

Winter Community Ed brochure in Announcer Dec. 31
The Winter Community Ed brochure is in the New Year’s edition of the Announcer on Dec. 31. Call Community Education at 507-283-4724 beginning Monday, Jan. 3, to register for new classes. See some upcoming classes listed in the Community Ed section below.
 
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.html
Basketball for grades K-2 will meet for four sessions beginning Jan. 8. Fee is $20.
Pickleball League meets inside, mornings and evenings, during the months of January through April. Fee is $20.
Men’s Basketball meets Wednesday nights January through Feb. 23. Fee is $25.
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.
Defensive Driving Classes are offered for adults 55 years of age and older to save on auto insurance premiums. A beginning 8-hour class is required, then a 4-hour refresher class every three years.
Refresher four-hour class will be Jan. 20 or Feb. 17.
Student Driver Education is offered for Luverne school students, grade eight and older. Students may register for a winter or summer session of driver education. Cost is $355 for 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. The winter session begins Jan. 31. On Jan. 24 out-of-district students may register for open spots in the winter session.
First Aid/CPR/AED Certification class will be Feb. 3. Fee is $58.
ACT Prep Class will begin Feb. 24. Students must register by Feb. 9. Fee is $125.
 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.
 
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.
 
Happenings at the Rock County Library
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com
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.
 
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.

With the recent snowfall and icy conditions across many areas of Minnesota, CenterPoint Energy is reminding its residential and business customers to keep their outdoor natural gas meters clear of snow and ice in order to prevent a leak or service interruption.
Although designed to withstand winter weather, your outdoor meter has a vent that regulates gas pressure and it must not be blocked by snow or ice to work properly.
When clearing snow away, it is also important to protect your meter from being damaged. In recent winters, CenterPoint Energy has responded to incidents with snowplows and snow blowers hitting meters and causing gas leaks.
CenterPoint Energy offers these important tips to protect your natural gas meter and ensure safe, reliable service to keep you warm through the Minnesota winter:
•Don’t pile snow on or near your natural gas meter. Maintain a clear path to your meter to allow access in an emergency.
•Don’t use a snowplow or snow blower near the meter. Instead, carefully shovel around the meter and move snow away from it. Use a broom or brush to gently clear snow or ice from the top of the meter and piping.
•Mark your meters. Especially for business properties and parking lots, place high-visibility safety flags or cones bynatural gas meters and regulators to mark their location and prevent snowplows from hitting them.
•Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping with a shovel, hammer or any hard object to break away built-up snow or ice.
•Call CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815 for assistance if your meter is coated with ice or if it is directly below a downspout or a roof valley with a gutter, or the overhang or eaves do not fully extend over the meter. These conditions put the meter at risk of ice buildup.
•If you suspect a natural gas leak, leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to do the same. When safely away, report the leak by calling 911 and the CenterPoint Energy emergency hotline at 800-296-9815.
For more natural gas safety tips, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/BeSafe.

At the end of every year, various publications, websites, etc. have their “Top 10” or “Top 5” list for that year.
In this column of “Focus on Ag,” I am highlighting my “Top 5 Ag Topics” for 2021, based on issues that were discussed in the columns throughout the year.
Following are my Top 5 ag topics for 2021.
 
Strongest U.S. net farm income levels since 2013
Based on the data in the latest “2021 Farm Income Forecast” that was released by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) in early December, U.S. net farm income is expected to increase by $18.4 billion or 18.7 percent above 2020 levels.
The estimated 2021 net farm income is now estimated at $116.8 billion, which would be the highest inflation-adjusted net farm income since the adjusted net farm income level of $123.8 billion in 2013.
In the recent farm income report, USDA estimated the total U.S. net cash income for 2021 at $133 billion, which is an increase of $17 billion or 14.7 percent from a year earlier.
Net cash income includes cash receipts from all farm-related income, including government payments, minus cash expenses for the year. Net farm income is accrual-based, which includes adjustments in the cash income for changes in inventories, depreciation, and rental income.
The 2021 U.S. net farm income projections show some very strong improvement compared to 2020 farm income levels and are considerably higher than farm income levels from 2014-2019.
The improvement in 2021 net farm income was largely due to improved commodity prices for crops and livestock, as well as better than expected crop yields in many areas, and continued government farm program support.
By comparison, the improved U.S. farm income levels in 2020 were largely driven by the highest level of government farm program payments ever recorded, which included payments for trade-disruption and Covid-related payments, as well as some traditional farm program payments and disaster payments.            
    
Inflation and rapidly increasing farm input costs
Almost every input cost for crop production will increase in 2022 compared to expense levels in 2021 and other recent years.
Much of the focus has been in higher fertilizer costs for corn, which are expected to nearly double in 2022 compared to average 2021 fertilizer costs.
Several phosphate and potash fertilizer products have increased by 15-20 percent since late September, while the cost of anhydrous ammonia, urea, and other nitrogen fertilizer products have increased by approximately 50 percent in the past few months.
Input costs are also expected to be significantly higher for crop chemicals, diesel fuel, propane, repairs, custom work and labor. As of late November, diesel fuel prices were 60 percent higher than a year earlier, while the cost of some commonly used herbicides was 2-3 times higher than 12 months ago.
The cost of farm equipment has also increased substantially from a year earlier, which will likely increase depreciation and other overhead costs for 2022.
The combination of significantly higher crop input costs, along with increasing land rental rates, will likely put more pressure on crop breakeven price levels for 2022.
Using typical crop input expenses, other direct costs, average overhead expenses, together with a land rental rate of $250 per acre and a targeted return to the farm operator of $50 per acre, the breakeven price on cash-rented acres to cover direct and overhead expenses for corn in 2022 would be approximately $5.00 to $5.50 per bushel.
If the cash rental rate increases to $300 per acre, the breakeven price jumps to about $5.50 to $6.00 per bushel. This compares to corn breakeven levels of $3.75 to $4.00 per bushel in 2021.
The breakeven soybean price to cover the cost of production and $250 per acre land rent would be about $11.50 to $12.50 per bushel, which compares to soybean breakeven levels of $9.00-$9.50 per acre in 2021.
 
Strong grain prices throughout most of 2021
As in most years, where farmers were positioned in the grain market and the grain marketing decisions that were made by farm operators will have a big impact on the profit levels for their crop enterprise in 2021.
Both corn and soybean markets have remained quite strong throughout most of 2021 due to increased demand both for domestic uses and for export markets, especially to China. The “basis” level between Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) prices and local corn and soybean prices has remained extremely tight in many areas of the Upper Midwest due to strong local demand and tight grain supplies, which has also enhanced grain marketing opportunities during the year.
“New crop” cash corn price bids in southern Minnesota were near $4.00 per bushel early in 2021, before rising to above $5.00 per bushel by late April and staying above that level for the remainder of the year.
The cash corn price was above $5.50 per bushel in late December. The 2021 “new crop” cash soybean bids in southern Minnesota started the year at $10.50-$11.00 per bushel and rose to above $13.00 per bushel by May.
Local harvest soybean prices were near $11.75-$12.50 per bushel, which remains close to year-end soybean price levels. USDA is currently estimating the average farm prices for the 2021-22 marketing year, which ends on Sept. 30, 2022, at $5.45 per bushel for corn and $12.10 per bushel for soybeans. This is slightly higher than current forward price bids being offered in southern Minnesota.
 
Better-than-expected crop yields in many areas
Many crop farmers in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa would categorize 2021 crop yields as “better than expected.”
Following very favorable planting and early season growing conditions for both corn and soybeans, weather conditions turned very hot and dry from late May through June. Many portions of this region only received 50-75 percent of the normal growing season precipitation from May 1 through Sept. 30, and much of that came after mid-August.
However, the combination of excellent planting conditions, no-drown-out loss, timely rainfall, and above-normal growing degree units resulted in average to above average corn and soybean yields for the year in many portions of the region.
Many growers in Illinois, Indiana, and the eastern Corn Belt, along with portions of eastern Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin had some of their best crop yields ever in 2021.
On the other hand, Mother Nature was not kind to many producers in North and South Dakota, as well as in portions of western Minnesota and in some other areas of the Upper Midwest, as they experienced the worst drought since 2012, and in some cases the worst drought since 1988.
The drought in these areas resulted in corn and soybean yields that were 20-30 percent or more below APH yields.
The drought also resulted in very low hay and pasture production, which led to many cow/calf producers in the region being forced to liquidate a portion of their beef herd.
 
Sharp increases in land values
Iowa State University recently released the “2021 Farmland Survey” results, which showed that average farmland values in Iowa increased by 29 percent from a year earlier, rising to an average value of $9,751 per acre in December of 2021, compared to $7,559 per acre in 2020. This is the highest nominal land value since Iowa State began surveying land values in 1941, topping the previous high average price of $8,716 per acre in 2013.
The percentage increase in annual land values was the second highest on record, trailing only a 32.5-percent increase in 2013.
Recent data from the U.S. Federal Reserve showed 2021 annual land value increases of 26 percent in Minnesota, 23 percent in South Dakota, and 16 percent in Nebraska, as well as 10-15 percent in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
The 2021 increase in drought-stricken North Dakota was only 4 percent.
The higher land values were largely driven by improved crop profitability, higher farm program payment levels, low interest rates, and rapidly rising U.S. inflation trends.
For additional information contact Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst and Sr. Vice President, MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal, MN.  (Phone  (507-381-7960);  email kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com)  website http://www.minnstarbank.com/

The Star Herald news writers each year at the end of December consider and recap top stories that made headlines throughout the year.
This year’s final edition again attempts to recap 12 months of news with a series of sub-headlines in a single (albeit long) story.
Just like last year, and the years before that, the annual review recaps Rock County’s tragedies and triumphs that build on our community’s history, one deadline at a time.
While the annual compilations are intended to be “Top 10 Stories” of sorts, they have a way of prompting us to reflect on their impact.
For example, we’re eager to put the pandemic behind us, but the virus continues to affect our daily lives.
So, at the end of the year, we reflect on this. What has been the impact of the pandemic on our community? How did we as individuals respond? Did our responses help or hinder the outcome?
We could ask the same questions about nearly any community challenge.
And if we’re smart, we’ll gauge our responses — in real time — in terms of how they affect outcomes, not looking back several months later.
What went well?
What did we fail at?
What mistakes did we make?
How can we prevent them next time?
Did we grow and learn from challenges?
What did we learn about ourselves along the way?
What are we proud of?
What are we grateful for?
It’s during our year-end reflections that these questions arise, and we’d all do well to consider how we’ll respond to the next challenge.
How can we be better? How can we do better? How can we make the community better by making us all better? In Jesus’ words, “Whatsoever you do to the least of your brothers and sisters, you do unto me.” (Matthew 25)
Let’s take these reflections into the New Year and work toward a positive year-end review.
As we’ve often said, we’re defined not by our challenges but rather by how we respond to them (and learn from them and grow from them).
Happy New Year, dear readers. May 2022 be the year we all do better because we all do better.

I have a habit of inserting unsolicited local history into conversations with my friends, co-workers and students. 
Not helpful, insightful historical facts that people find interesting, but often random tidbits of how things used to be. 
It’s perhaps an occupational hazard for a history teacher living in his hometown and working in the school he graduated from. But more than that, it’s human nature to look back fondly at “the good old days.”
I then often feel compelled to share how things used to be in town, at school, at church or in general with those who did not ask for a history lesson and may not want one. 
Such a situation happened last week in the Star Herald office. 
I’m covering Luverne girls’ and boys’ basketball teams this winter, and I told Editor Lori that I would have no articles for next week’s paper because neither team has games.
In that conversation I couldn’t help myself. 
I had to throw in an extra remark (which turned into six or more) of how the Luverne Holiday Tournament was once a highlight of the season for local fans. 
Lori, always looking for content for the next paper and probably wanting my ramblings to end, suggested my memories could be a column for this week’s paper.
And so here we are. 
Often during the week between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, I think back to the holiday basketball tournaments of my youth. 
The Star Herald archives show the first holiday tournament took place during the 1983-84 season, and it appears the final tournament was in 2006, although the event had changed significantly by then.
The tournaments I remember most were from about 1993-1996. 
In those days (oh boy, here I go) it was a two-night, four-team tournament with only boys’ teams from Luverne, Hills-Beaver Creek, Adrian and Southwest Christian.
And the tournament games were the place to be. 
The 1956 LHS gym, the “big gym” in those days, was always packed with fans from the four schools within 20 minutes of Luverne. 
College kids were home on break. 
High school students (before cell phones and social media) caught up with one another after being away from school for a week. 
New Christmas gift clothing was worn proudly. 
The tournament was the place to see and be seen, and it was the best chance to meet kids from the other schools (before Instagram and TikTok). 
Many adults probably saw people they hadn’t seen since the Rock County Fair – or longer – during the annual tournaments. 
Of course, today’s high school sports schedules, facilities, holiday vacations, social media and Netflix all make the holiday tournaments of the 1990s seem completely old-fashioned. 
But I really do enjoy looking back at those memories … and sharing them with others. 

I suppose seeing how 2022 is knocking on the door, it’s probably time to jot down a few New Year’s resolutions.
Well guess what? I’m not going to do the resolution thing this year. Frankly I don’t need the added pressure of trying to change my way of life or try something new.
This year it’s “Keep it simple, stupid.” Sure, I might tweak a few things, but not to the point of stressing over it.
2022 is going to be the year I relax and live life to the fullest, subscribe to the “It is what it is” way of thinking. … Take one day at a time, don’t sweat the small stuff, realize I can’t fix stupid, and look at the sunny side of everything.
Okay, so that’s not going to happen. But what I will work on in the new year is I’ll try not to swear as much at the jerks that don’t dim their high beam headlights at night. I’ll cut back on my one finger wave to the folks who don’t use their blinkers.
To my wife, Mary: I pledge to listen to you more intently. If not, I’ll at least fake it.
This one is a tough one, but I’ll try to call my kids and grandkids their own names and not the names of one of their siblings.
This one will be easy: I will use Weber, Traeger or Blackstone at least once or twice a week for a year. Maybe I’ll make that an average of twice a week for the year.
As you can tell, I am not real serious about the resolution thing, but like most of you, I do take a moment and reflect on the past year and look forward to the New Year with hope for better days ahead.
Happy New Year!

Dispatch report
Dec. 17
•Complainant on S. Cedar Street requested an unlock.
•Complainant on W. Mead Court reported a loud stereo at location.
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street reported tires flattened.
•Complainant in city lot on E. Maple reported a loud noise from several vehicles and young adults.
Dec. 18
•Complainant on W. Luverne Street reported marijuana smell at location.
•Complainant on Commerce Road reported theft of catalytic converters.
•SFPD requested assistance from RCSO.
Dec. 19
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported theft of catalytic converters.
•Complainant on N. Oakley Street reported a Bluetooth device is tracking someone.
Dec. 20
•Complainant reported an unrecognized Apple device, think it’s a tracker.
•Complainant on Xylon Avenue, New Hope, reported a subject with Rock County warrant.
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street requested deputy at location.
•Deputy assisted at the emergency room.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and 181st Street, Hardwick, reported two couches on the roadway.
Dec. 21
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported a theft.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported a theft.
•Complainant on N. McKenzie Street reported theft from motor vehicle.
•Complainant on W. Warren Street reported a stolen car part.
•Outage reported at location.
Dec. 22
•Complainant on N. Main Avenue, Hills, requested assistance in locating a person.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 5, Beaver Creek, reported an erratic driver at location.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue and W. Main Street reported a loud vehicle in area.
Dec. 23
•Complainant in Sioux Falls requested DVS information.
•Deputy found cell phone at location on County Road 20 and U.S. Highway 75, Luverne.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 7, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported a driving complaint at location.
•Complainant on 80th Avenue, Jasper, reported a fire at location.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 14, Magnolia, reported debris on the road.
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street and 140th Avenue, Luverne, reported possible unsafe ATV riding.
•Complainant on County Road 6, just south of Interstate 90, Beaver Creek, requested a deer tag.
In addition, officers responded to 5 motor vehicle accidents, 3 deer accidents, 1 vehicle in ditch, 1 escort, 11 ambulance runs, 3 paper services, 5 animal complaints, 3 fingerprint requests, 5 burn permits, 1 alarm, 3 drug court tests, 2 purchase and carry permits, 2 stalled vehicles, 7 traffic stops, 8 abandoned 911 calls, 1 test and 2 welfare checks.

The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on April 28, 1905.
New Rural Route
Fourth To Be Fed From Luverne Postoffice
To Begin Operation June 1
Recent Petition to Department at Washington for Establishment of R. F. D. R. No. 4, to Extend South from the city is Granted—Route Covers Area of Twenty-Eight Square Miles and Will Serve Population of 480
Postmaster M. Swedberg received notice Saturday from the Postoffice Department at Washington that the application for a rural free delivery route made several weeks ago by a number of the residents of Luverne, Clinton and Magnolia townships had been granted and that the route would be started June 1. Gilbert Gutterson, special agent of the department, was here a few weeks ago and inspected the route proposed by the petitioners and as it met with the requirements of the department gave it his approval. The route will be known as Luverne Rural Free Delivery Route No. 4. It is twenty-eight miles long and serves ninety-four houses and four hundred and seventy people. The course of the route is as follows:
Beginning at the post office and running southwest to the center of the east line of section 10, (the south end of Kniss avenue); thence south three miles to the center of the east line of section 27; thence west one mile; thence south two and one-half miles to the northeast corner of section 9, Clinton township; thence east one and one-half miles to the center of the south line of section 2; thence north one mile; thence east one mile to the center of the south line of section 36, Luverne township; thence north one and one-half miles to the center of section 25; thence east one-half mile and south one-half mile to the northwest corner of section 31, Magnolia township; thence east one mile and south one mile to the northwest corner of section 5, Kanaranzi township; thence east two miles; thence north three miles to the northeast corner of section 21, Magnolia township; thence west two miles and south one mile to the northwest corner of section 29; thence west two miles to the northwest corner of section 25, Luverne township; thence north two miles to the southeast corner of section 11, (known as Jaycox’ corner,) and thence along the irregular road passing through the park to the post office.
The examination for carriers for this route have not yet been held, but they will be in ample time to secure the appointment of the carrier by June 1, the date set for the beginning of delivery.
         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.