Beginning in 2022, residents of Kenneth won’t see regular patrols from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and some of their calls won’t be handled by a peace officer.
The Kenneth City Council voted 3-1 Dec. 15 against signing a new five-year law enforcement contract with Rock County. The move saves the city $3,413 annually.
“They (the council) are sick of the costs going up all the time,” said Kenneth Mayor Keith Hoven, “Like any small town, we are struggling.”
Councilors Duane Nieuwboer, Laurie Gangestad and Paul Tweet also voted to discontinue the sheriff services in the city of Kenneth. Councilor Sheri Vyskocil voted “no.”
Kenneth was part of a multicity agreement for one law enforcement officer to be shared among six Rock County communities.
After years of little to no wage and equipment cost increases, the new five-year contract proposed annual increases of 2 to 3 percent through 2026.
The amount of the contract varied according to population.
At an estimated 60 residents, Kenneth was contributing the lowest amount among the six communities.
The mayors and council members from each of the small cities were invited to a meeting earlier this year to discuss the new contract.
Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre said the cost of an officer along with equipment costs (including a vehicle) have risen to an estimated $90,000 a year.
Together, the communities have paid $63,520 toward the one officer.
The county budget covered years of shortfalls.
Kenneth’s share under the proposed contract to begin in 2022 increased $1,095 from the $2,318 paid in 2021.
According to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, the majority of the calls to the cities of Hills, Beaver Creek, Magnolia, Hardwick, Steen and Kenneth involved animal complaints, domestic issues and mental health calls.
Calls from the 1,582 small city residents in the county make up about 1 percent of the total call volume to the local sheriff’s office.
Without a law enforcement contract, an officer will not respond to dog, animal or neighbor complaints.
“We would only be responding to gross misdemeanor and felony calls,” Verbrugge said.
Each of the other small cities in Rock County has agreed to the new five-year contract.
The communities, the populations and law enforcement costs for 2022 are:
•Hills, 686, $39,026
•Beaver Creek, 280, $15,929
•Magnolia, 196, $11,150
•Hardwick, 189, $10,752
•Steen, 171, $9,728.
In another cost-cutting measure, the Kenneth City Council voted to disband the community’s volunteer fire department in 2017 and contract for fire coverage through the Lismore Volunteer Fire Department.
At their Dec. 15 meeting, Kenneth council members voted to adopt a levy for taxes payable in 2022 that remains at $16,000 for the second-straight year.

Rock County Commissioners agreed to contribute $3,000 to develop plans for a regional trail system through the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC).
SRDC representatives Jessica Welu and Rosemary Bruce-White asked commissioners for their support at the Dec. 14 meeting.
“What Covid has taught us, if anything, is that our trails and our parks were immensely important,” Welu said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has a $209,000 trails development grant available if the SRDC provides a 20-percent funding match.
Bruce-White said the SRDC has set aside $14,000 for the match and is asking the nine southwest Minnesota counties to contribute $3,000 each.
The Rock County Board approved the request unanimously.
“A lot of our communities have great ideas for projects and construction plans,” Bruce-White said.
“When they heard money was available — but without a plan and without all those things in motion — we couldn’t get anything started for them and that (a regional trail plan) was something the EDA wanted to see on the application.”
SRDC officials pointed to recent successes in Rock County and the city of Luverne to fund and build public walking and biking trails.
“We want to take what is happening locally and regionalize it,” Welu said.
The proposed study and regional plan development are expected to pull together existing recreational trail plans and add suggested improvements from local trail users.
The study and plan development are expected to take 18 months to complete and will spearhead future funding applications to connect the counties of Rock, Nobles, Jackson, Cottonwood, Murray, Pipestone, Lincoln, Lyon and Redwood.

Free Christmas Eve Community Meal
The United Methodist Church in Luverne will host a free community Christmas Eve meal at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24. Sign up by Dec. 20 for dine in or take out. (Donations are accepted, but not expected.)
 
Gymnastics ‘Day of Fun’ Dec. 29
The Luverne High School gymnasts are planning an afternoon of fun for children from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, in the high school north gym. Cost is $20. Register at the event’s Facebook page “Gymnastics Afternoon for Fun.”
 
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.
December Take-and-Make project, DIY book page roll-up art, is available by contacting the library. Participants who send a picture of the completed project are eligible for a prize.
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.
 

Winter Community Ed brochure in Announcer Dec. 27
The Winter Community Ed brochure will be in the New Year’s edition of the Announcer on Dec. 27. 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.

Nurse medic Sheila Meyer retired last week from her work with the Rock County Ambulance after 20 years of helping people in emergencies.
“I finished my last shift last night and turned off my radio for the last time,” she said Friday. “It’s kind of sad.”
Meyer’s work with ambulance forged friendships with other first responders at hundreds of local emergencies through the years.
“I’m going to miss working with the people in the community and with the fire departments, sheriff’s offices and all of them,” Meyer said.
“They’re a good group of people and they’re very good at what they do.”
Ambulance work was part-time for Meyer, a nurse in Sanford Luverne.
On Monday she started her new job at Sanford Sioux Falls where she transferred to work in the patient appointment center.
While she’s looking forward to a new professional chapter, Meyer said she’ll miss her work with the ambulance.
“I’ll miss the adrenaline; we’re all crazy that way,” she said.
“But it’s something I really loved to do. I love helping people. They’re having a horrible day and I like helping them make it a little better.”
She and her husband, Dave, continue living in Luverne.

A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers Respite Care services right here in Rock County. Our 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.
Our volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers in need. This helps them continue to provide at-home care, gives them time for themselves, relieves caregiver stress, and helps the caregiver stay healthy.
Are you needing a break? Does someone depend on you night and day? Do you have a family member who suffers from diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cancer, or other long-term health conditions? Do you need time to relax, go to a doctor appointment, run errands, or maybe just have an hour to yourself away from home?
Who is taking care of you? The demands of care-giving can be stressful. The best thing that you can do for the person you love is stay healthy yourself. Breaks don’t have to be long to make a difference. It is alright to have help with your care-giving. It will benefit you both. A break renews you both.
Our Respite Care program can make a difference as it helps relieve your stress. You stay healthy mentally and physically.
It helps support your connection with your loved one and your own well-being.  A.C.E.’s Respite Care program is a free service provided to age-qualified individuals. There is, however, a voluntary contribution/sliding fee scale in place for anyone wanting to make a tax-deductible donation to the program. No one will be denied this service due to their inability or unwillingness to make a donation.
Respite volunteers are also needed, and you can help. 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.
A.C.E. volunteers are recruited from all walks of life. A commitment for helping others is the most important requirement for becoming a volunteer of our Respite Care program.
Many times, the volunteers are close friends or neighbors that are already helping out and visit your loved one. If this sounds like your current situation, we would like to “capture” those volunteer hours.
In fact, our Respite Care program provides mileage reimbursement for A.C.E. volunteers who drive out of town to provide respite care. All involved parties – the caregiver, care receiver and the A.C.E. volunteer – must be comfortable with one another and follow all health and wellness protocol when participating in the Respite Care program.
Safety is always first when it comes to A.C.E. volunteers and the people they are serving.
For more information on receiving Respite Care or becoming an A.C.E. Respite Volunteer, contact A.C.E. of SW Minnesota 507-283-5064 or email ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.
We also offer monthly caregiver support group meetings here in Rock County. Those interested can also call A.C.E. for information.

Luverne history teacher Canaan Petersen won the Security Savings Bank Best Beard Contest last week after he raised the most money and collected the most toiletry items in the contest with his colleagues. The beard fundraiser included 11 bearded staff members and concluded with a total of $636.36 donated in cash for the Rock County Food Shelf. Security Savings Banks donated $200 to the school, and the teachers also collected over 450 toiletry items for the food shelf.

Christians believe “God so loved the world that he gave his only son” to take away the sins of the world (John 3:16), and as such, we celebrate the arrival of Jesus as told in the Bible’s second chapter of Luke:
 
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. … And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
 
Merry Christmas, dear readers. We at the Star Herald wish you joy and peace this holiday season.

My mom used to hide Christmas gifts in the closet under the stairs. I passed by that door every day as I went up to my bedroom.
I never gave a thought to what was inside until one Christmas decades ago I just had to see if I was getting the gift I hoped for.
As it turns out, I was.
The gift was a Breyer horse. Two, actually, because the Clydesdale mare and her foal were a set. They each came with fleece blankets that could be taken on and off.
I spied the horses at the local Coast-to-Coast store and immediately fell in love. I already had several of the Breyer models, having received the first in 1973 when I was 10.
The Clydesdales, however, continued to represent my dream of owning my own horse.
I recently rediscovered them in a plastic tub while cleaning the basement, and the sight of them reminded me of my neighbor’s draft horses.
When I was a young girl, I recalled seeing my neighbor as he walked past our farm on his way to feed his own large animals.
One day I joined him with a plastic bread bag stuffed with grass hay. I fell in love with one of his fillies and named her “Brown Sugar.”
I dreamed Brown Sugar would come home with me and I would become her owner. My dreams didn’t come true that year.
Until I received a real horse, those plastic Breyer models became substitutes for my dreams, and I spent hours playing with those toys.
I spent many summers under the shade of the large trees in our front yard, constructing pens and pastures out of twigs.
Fast forward to 2021 and that Breyer collection of more than 50 horses are slowly being “rehomed” to my grandchildren.
The discovery of the Clydesdale mare and foal brought instant thoughts to the horses’ new owner.
My 2-year-old grandson, Logan, is not a horse lover like his sister. He prefers cows to equines except for one horse, the “Daddy” Clydesdale.
This week he’ll receive the “Mommy” and “Baby” to complete the family.
I imagine the large grin on his face, his fast chatter of having a complete horse family, and the excitement of having a toy his sister will covet.
Merry Christmas, Logan. I hope the gift brings you hours of (horse)play and allows your imagination to soar as mine did all those years ago.

Question: I purchased an old trailer to haul my Ranger around. Are brakes required on it?
Answer: Brakes are required on all trailers with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more. Trailers manufactured after June 30, 1988, with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more require brakes installed on all wheels.
Every trailer with a gross weight of more than 3,000 pounds shall also be equipped with a breakaway brake device which will automatically apply and hold the brakes should the trailer accidentally become detached from the towing unit.
Trailers manufactured prior to July 1, 1988, that are equipped with three or more axles are not required to have brakes on the front axle, provided the brakes on all other wheels meet the performance standards prescribed by law.
The manufacturers of many new vehicles equipped with anti-lock brake systems require any towed unit be equipped with electric brakes and the towing vehicle be equipped with an electronic brake controller.
It’s also important to check the brakes on your personal vehicle every three months. Too often, vehicle owners put off simple maintenance until it’s too late. Deteriorating brakes can create longer stopping distances, ultimately leading to a crash. Do your part to maintain your vehicle to avoid a crash.
Question: I called in a driving complaint of a possible drunk driver and received a call back and was told the driver was tired. Can the driver be cited for this?
Answer:  Yes, the drowsy driver could be cited for inattentive driving, and additional serious charges could be incurred if the drowsy driver causes a crash. A drowsy driver is an unsafe driver. Lack of sleep negatively impacts performance. It slows reaction time, impairs judgment, situational awareness and increases lapses in attention and risk taking.
According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who sleep 6 to 7 hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those sleeping eight hours or more. People sleeping less than five hours increase their risk four to five times.
Before hitting the road be sure to:
•get a good night’s sleep. While this varies, the average person requires about 8 hours of sleep a night.
•schedule regular stops.
•avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair your driving. Alcohol interacts with fatigue, increasing its effects – just like drinking on an empty stomach.
 
While on the road be alert for warning signs of fatigue, for example, drivers who:
•can't remember the last few miles driven.
•drift from their lanes or hit a rumble strip.
•experience wandering or disconnected thoughts.
•yawn repeatedly.
•have difficulty focusing or keeping their eyes open.
•tailgate or miss traffic signs.
•have trouble keeping their head up.
If you recognize warning signs:
•never count on the radio, open windows or use other "tricks" to keep them awake.
•respond to symptoms of fatigue by finding a safe place to stop for a break.
Surviving the holiday season this year can be as simple as driving smart by staying alert, slowing down, paying attention, planning a sober ride and always buckling up.
If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at Statue 169.791 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848.  (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us)