My newest Labrador, Ghost, is all grown up now at 1 1/2 years old. He makes No. 4 at my house with his superiors being 10, 7 and 5 years old. At full size he is the smallest dog I have ever had at a whopping 40 pounds.
I did all of the obedience and collar training on this dog starting at about 7 to 8 months of age. The puppy needs to grow up a little before you can expect their brains to be mature enough to grasp more challenging concepts. When you get to a certain point in the training process of a dog, you need a steady and constant supply of live birds to train with. 
So I sent him to my partner and full-time training expert in Bemidji. For the past few months all he did was practice quartering and retrieving live birds. There are very few problems that any dog might have that cannot be fixed or perfected with enough live birds.
The last three weeks were spent working on a hunting preserve in Gettysburg, South Dakota. At a preserve there really is no limit to the number of birds you can shoot in a day.
He was able to make hundreds of retrieves over that three-week period. He came home on Nov. 3.
Hunting pen-raised released birds is very different from hunting the wild ringnecks of Minnesota. Pen-raised birds do not have the natural instincts of wild birds.  They tend to sit pretty tight most of the time and most hunts take place in planted food plots with mowed areas around the edges. When a bird falls in the open, it’s much easier to retrieve it.
The best thing you can do for an inexperienced dog is to take them hunting by themselves. I committed that Ghost would go hunting with me for two full weeks before I allowed him to hunt with my other three dogs.
This allows the dog to learn on their own what it takes to track, flush and retrieve a wild bird without competition from other dogs, and it builds confidence in the young dog.
It can be challenging for a die-hard pheasant hunter to leave the three other members of the “A” Team at home to hone the skills of the amateur. Ghost was successful in those early weeks, but my harvest rate was way lower. Tracking a wounded bird takes time and experience in the field. I did lose two birds during that first two weeks.
Another thing you need to do with a young dog is allow them to range out further without getting in trouble. If you make steady and repeated corrections to a young dog for being too far away, you risk the chance they may just say, “OK, Dad, I’ll just stay right by your side and walk along. I can’t get in any trouble if I do that.”
As a result of a looser invisible leash, Ghost has flushed several birds out of gun range during that first two weeks. After the dog has had some success and the enthusiasm and drive is better developed, you can start to rein them in to the proper distance.
The way to keep a dog in gun range is a correction for failure to comply with a known command.  In my world I use a whistle for several commands. One long blast on the whistle means “sit.” Tooting the whistle over and over means come to me. If the dog is getting too far away, I will use the whistle “here” command to come to me.
If the dog does not comply with the “here” command, I will give the whistle command again and then apply a small amount of stimulation to the training collar to enforce the known command here.
My challenge with Ghost is that he hunts like a rocket. It only takes a few seconds for him to cover an additional 40 yards and be too far away. Some dogs hunt slower and more methodically, and others run full speed and cover more ground. It is great to hunt these two styles together.
He is going to be a star pheasant hunter. He is now running with my other dogs, and they will need to be on the top of their games unless they want Ghost to get all the feathers in his mouth.
The season is more than half over and the hunting is getting much better as the birds start to bunch up a little.
When the dogs know their jobs and do them well, there is no prettier picture than four dogs following their noses all the way to pheasants in my vest.
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.
 

Farmers in many areas of the United States, including several portions of southern Minnesota, are having a very good profit year in 2021. In the latest estimate, the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) is projecting total U.S. net farm income for 2021 at $113 billion, which is at the highest level since 2013.
The higher levels of net farm income in 2021 are the result of better than average crop yields in many locations and the highest corn and soybean commodity prices since 2013, along with some extra government program payments early in the year.
However, as we end the year, rapidly rising crop input costs for 2022 will likely increase crop break-even costs, which could lead to much lower net farm income levels next year.
Almost every input expense 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. 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.
About the only inputs not expected to show major increases are seed costs and crop insurance expense.
The cost of farm equipment has also increased substantially from a year earlier, which will likely increase depreciation and other overhead costs for 2022.
Many types of fertilizer products are now at record price levels, which is likely to have a big impact on corn break-even levels and could encourage more soybean acres next year. 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 has increased by approximately 50 percent in the past two months.
The rapid increase in fertilizer costs is being driven by high global demand, very tight supplies of many fertilizer ingredients, and by shipping issues at U.S. ports.
Following are the prices for some types of fertilizer in late November of 2021 compared to a year earlier in 2020 (based on DTN data and analysis):
•Phosphate (MAP) $911 per ton compared to $488 per ton (87 percent increase).
•Potash $769 per ton compared to $336 per ton (129 percent increase).
•Dry urea (nitrogen) $859 per ton compared to $358 per ton (140 percent increase).
•Anhydrous (nitrogen) $1,220 per ton compared to $571 per ton (114 percent increase).
•UAN32 (nitrogen) $651 per ton compared to $249 per ton (161 percent increase)
Fertilizer expense typically accounts for about one-third of a corn farmer’s crop input costs; however, in 2022 that cost may rise to 45 percent or higher. An average corn fertilizer program in southern Minnesota is expected to cost about $250 to $300 per acre in 2022, as compared to an estimated $140 per acre in 2021 and $121 per acre in 2020, based on South Central College (SCC) Farm Business Management (FBM) data.
The 2022 fertilizer costs will likely top the average fertilizer expenses of $194 and $191 per acre respectively for 2012 and 2013, which are the current highest average per acre fertilizer costs listed in the FBM records for southern Minnesota.
In addition to increases in fertilizer costs and some other crop input costs, most farmers will also likely face increases in land rental rates in 2022. Most experts expect 2022 cash rental rates in the Upper Midwest to increase by 10 percent or more, meaning that rental rates that were $225 per acre in 2021 will likely be $250 per acre or higher in 2022. However, there have also been reports of land rental rates topping $300 per acre or more in some areas.
Many of these significantly higher land rental rates for 2022 are being based on above average 2021 corn and soybean yield levels, the higher grain prices that we have experienced in the last 12 months, and crop input expense levels from 2021 or earlier.
The combination of significantly higher crop input costs and increasing land rental rates is likely to put more pressure on crop break-even 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 break-even price 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 break-even price jumps to about $5.35 to $5.85 per bushel. This compares to corn break-even levels of $3.75 to $4.00 per bushel in 2021.
The break-even 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 would increase to about $12.50 to $13.50 per bushel at $300/acre land rent. This compares to soybean break-even levels of $9.00-$9.50 per acre in 2021.
Based on the monthly World Supply and Demand (WASDE) Report in November, USDA is estimating the U.S. average corn price for the 2021-22 year at $5.45 per bushel and the average 2021-22 soybean price at $12.10 per bushel. Crop price bids in south central Minnesota in late November of 2021 for the fall of 2022 at local elevators and processing plants have been near $5.00 per bushel for corn and $11.50 per bushel for soybeans. This will likely be close to the break-even level at crop insurance APH yield levels for many Upper Midwest farm operators.
Many farmers are quite optimistic about crop prices going into 2022; however, commodity prices have been highly volatile in the past couple of years, so there is some uncertainty in the crop prices going forward.
Another way to look at the increases in fertilizer costs, cash rental rates, and other crop inputs is to calculate how many bushels of corn or soybeans it will take to cover those expenses at various crop price levels. Based on data from the SCC FBM program, it is estimated that it will take approximately 64 bushels of corn to cover the input costs for seed, fertilizer and chemical in 2021. Based on data from the University of Minnesota FINBIN program, it took an average of 69 bushels of corn in 2020 and 73 bushels per acre in 2019 to cover these crop input costs.
It is estimated that it will take 85-90 bushels of corn at $5.00 per bushel in 2022 to cover the expected corn fertilizer cost of $275 per acre, as well as seed and chemical costs. This jumps to 100-105 bushels per acre at a corn price of $4.00 per bushel. The last time we had the ratio this high was from 2014 to 2017 when it took 83-88 bushels of corn to cover crop input costs. These years were represented by fairly moderate fertilizer costs but much lower average corn prices than we have at the present time.
If a land rental rate of $275 per acre is included with the estimated crop input costs for seed, fertilizer and chemical for 2022, it would take 140-145 bushels of corn at a price of $5.00 per bushel and 175-185 bushels per acre at $4.00 per bushel to cover those expenses.
 
Bottom line
Farm operators need to be aware of the rapidly rising costs for fertilizer, chemical, fuel and other crop inputs, as well as increases in land rental rates for 2022. Strategies to address these higher input costs include having a strategic fertilizer plan that optimizes return from the fertilizer investment and looking at ways to reduce other crop input expenses.
Flexible land rental contracts that set reasonable base cash rental rates, which have the possibility of increasing at higher crop price levels, can also be a strategy to reduce risk during times of high input costs and uncertainty in crop prices.
In addition, farmers need to have solid estimates for their cost of production so they can take advantage of forward-pricing opportunities when corn and soybean prices are at profitable levels for the 2022 crop year.
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/

Luverne senior standout Reghan Bork joined an elite group of Cardinal girls by scoring her 100th career goal Tuesday, Nov. 23.
She found the back of the net five times at Blue Mound Ice Arena to help give the Cardinal girls an impressive 10-0 win over Fairmont.
The Cardinals got on the board halfway through the first period with Bork getting the tip off a hard wrist shot from seventh-grader Macie Edstrom. Ella Apel also got the assist on the Cardinals’ first goal.
Kamryn Van Batavia scored the next three goals for the Cardinals.
On Van Batavia’s first, Payton Behr won the race to the puck in the corner, chipped the pass off the boards to Van Batavia, where she skated around two Fairmont defenders and finished the play herself.
Two minutes later it was Behr to Van Batavia again to make it 3-0. Van Batavia wasn’t done yet.
Greta McClure fired a shot on Fairmont’s goalie, Hadley Artz, who made the initial save, but Van Batavia was crashing the net hard to give the hometown Cardinals a 4-0 lead at the end of the first with Luverne goalie Cheyenne Schutz making nine saves in the period.
Shots on goal for the period were 10-9 in favor of Luverne.
Five minutes into the second, Fairmont was whistled for a tripping penalty. It didn’t take long for Van Batavia to find Bork to bury a beautiful back door pass at a sprawling Artz for the power play goal to give Luverne a 5-0 lead.
Midway through the period Luverne would catch Fairmont on a line change. Billi Connell took a breakout pass, slid it up to McClure where she found her linemate Ella Apel streaking down the middle of the ice. Apel took the neutral zone pass in all alone to make it 6-0.
The Cardinals were not finished yet. Fourteen seconds on a Payton Behr faceoff win, Van Batavia dropped a pass to Bork who hit Artz with a hard slap shot. The trio of Bork, Van Batavia and Bork did it again at the 13:10 mark of the second period, Bork getting another shot past Artz, and Luverne took an 8-0 lead into the second period intermission.
Shots on goal for the second period were in favor of Fairmont 11-7.
The third and final period started just like the previous two with Bork getting her fifth goal of the game on assists from McClure and Zariah Holmgren.
The Cardinals had one more in them for the period when McClure would beat Artz with five minutes left in the game on a power play goal with assists from Bork and Mallory Nelson. 
Schutz ended the game with 28 saves and her second shutout of the year.
Total shots were 28-20 in favor of Fairmont to finish the game.
Bork reflected on her 100 goals following the game.
“Scoring my 100th goal has always been something I’ve dreamed of doing after Makayla Sterrett earned hers,” Bork said.
“I am very thankful to be in such a great program and have many great coaches who are there to help me along the way. It’s truly an honor to be a part of Luverne hockey and put that jersey on every day.”
She said the Cardinals are on a roll and enjoying their current success.
“We are a very young team, but we have a lot of determination,” Bork said.
“We work hard every day and love each other like family. With all that being said, it makes my job as captain extremely easy. We have big goals to pursue this season and we’ll work hard at them every chance we get on and off the ice.”

The Red Rock Conference recently recognized nine Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes for their performances during the Fall 2021 sports season.
The following students were recognized by sport:
•Volleyball: all-conference, sophomore Lanae Elbers; honorable mention, senior Kenadie Fick.
•Football: all-conference, seniors Casey Kueter, Max Scholten, Donavon Leenderts and Cole Baker; honorable mention, seniors Ty Bundeson, Oliver Deelstra and Austin Allen.
Max Scholten was also recognized as Lineman of the Year for the south nine-man, all-district team by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association.

More than 40 runners participated in the 19th annual De-Light-Ful 5K and 1-mile races Saturday, Nov. 27, in Luverne.
Participants started and finished at the National Guard Armory and traveled a race course on residential streets within Luverne.
Once finished, they were eligible for awards and prizes, pictures with Santa, a Bingo game and a meal and refreshments. Runners were encouraged to dress in holiday attire.
Twenty-one runners finished the 5K race.
Jennifer Recker of Adrian, running in the female 35-44 age group, completed the fastest 5K at 20:02.4.
Other 5K results include:
•Female ages 1-14: first, Raeleigh George, Sioux Falls, 34:35.1; second, Audriana George, Sioux Falls, 35:49.
•Female ages 15-24: first, Morgan Sauer, Lismore, 22:29.5.
•Female ages 25-34: first, Jennifer Recker, Adrian, 20:02.4; second, Megan Sauer, Lismore, 22:29.2; third, Alissa Sauer, Albert Lea, 22:41.4.
•Female ages 35-44: first Wendy Peters, Luverne, 29:29; second, Bobbi Dibbern, Sioux Falls, 33:16.7; third, Jessie George, Sioux Falls, 34:34.8.
•Female ages 45-54: first, Charon Doyscher, Round Lake, 36:51.7.
•Female ages 55-64: first, Cheri Bosman, Sheldon, Iowa, 31.30.3; Kathy VanMarel, Orange City, Iowa, 36:42.9.
•Male ages 1-14: first, Austin Bosman, Harrisburg, South Dakota, 22:30.9; second, Camden Dibbern, Sioux Falls, 33:13.0.
•Male ages 15-24: first, Joshua George, Sioux Falls, 28:00.4; second, Calvin George, Sioux Falls, 28:20.2.
•Male ages 35-44: first, Lucas Peters, Luverne, 29:17.1; second, Jon George, Sioux Falls, 36:06.4.
•Male ages 45-54: first, Jeff Veltkamp, Sioux Falls, 25:16.2.
•Male ages 55-64: first, Brad Strom, Jackson, 22:29.2; second, Mike Erger, Sioux Falls, 25:22.6.
Twenty-two entered the one-mile event:
•from Luverne, Lauren Peters, Kristin Schomacker, Jon Schomacker, Kelby Schomacker, Maddox Schomacker, Stella Schomacker, Luci Rofshus, Michael Rofshus, Lori Nath, Scott Nath and Ingrid Peters.
•from Edgerton, Melissa Voge, Kya Voge, Moriah Moeller.
•from Iona, Shelbie Nath and Jared Smith.
•from Sioux Falls, Paige Nath.
•from Lismore, Kerry Sauer and Barry Sauer.
•from Fairmont, Anna Tenney and Eric Tenney.
•from Orange City, William VanMarel.

I remember as a kid I liked watching Saturday morning cartoons, like Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd and Sylvester and Tweetie. However, I remember how much I disliked Wile E. Coyote and Ralph Wolf, whether it was Wile. E. Coyote trying to outwit the Roadrunner or Ralph Wolf trying to devise a diabolical plan to nab one of the sheep under the careful eye of Sam Sheepdog.
But the thing about Sam Sheepdog is he always kept his flock protected and safe from Ralph. He did whatever he had to do to make sure no harm would come under his protection.
Doesn’t that remind you of someone else?
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” John 10:1-5
The sheepfold was like a large pen which would keep the sheep in as well as wild animals and the robbers out. If someone or something would try to get in through the entrance, the doorkeeper would pull a “Sam Sheepdog” on him and BONK!
In the morning the shepherds from each family would go and enter the sheepfold and call their sheep. Each sheep instinctively knew its shepherd’s voice, even though there were other shepherds doing the same thing. However, the sheep would only respond to the voice they knew, their master.
What Jesus was trying to illustrate is that the Pharisees were the thieves and robbers. It was the Pharisees that were trying to mislead the people with deception, which is like trying to sneak in over the wall.
But Jesus tells us in John 10:14 and 16, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me. … I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. We are His sheep and we should know His voice.
I believe too many of us listen to the Pharisees and in the cover of darkness sneak over the wall, believing their lies which we face each and every day in our current culture.
Let’s listen to the Shepherd’s voice (Jesus) and follow Him. Trust Him with your life, let Him lead you to green pastures, and rest in safety surrounded in His sheepfold and in His presence.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, Dec. 2: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Sunday, Dec. 5: 9 a.m. Worship service 1st Grade Milestones. 10 a.m. Fellowship Coffee. 10 a.m. No Sunday School. 5 p.m. Worship service. Tuesday, Dec. 7: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Faithweavers. 5 p.m. Youth supper. 5:30 p.m. Bells rehearsal. 6:15 p.m. 6th-7th grade Confirmation. 7:15 p.m. 8th grade Confirmation. 8:15 p.m. 9th grade Confirmation. Thursday, Dec. 9: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online: Sundays 9 a.m. on the church website www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab or go directly to our Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 will air our worship service Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio will air our worship service on Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
pastorapalmquist67@yahoo.com
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, Dec. 2: 6:30 a.m. Community men’s Bible study. Sunday, Dec. 5: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:50 a.m. Sunday School. Tuesday, Dec. 7: 12 p.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 5:30 p.m. Midweek Meal. 6:30 p.m. Pioneer Clubs and youth groups. 8:15 p.m. Cantata rehearsal. Thursday, Dec. 9: 5:30 p.m. Tumbling Tikes. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church (formerly First Assembly of God)
1075 110th Ave., 2 miles west of Luverne on County Rd. 4
Ph. 612-800-1255; email info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor; Annette Junak, Assistant Pastor
Sundays, 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship service. Children’s church for ages 3-6th grade and nursery for ages 0-3 provided during our services. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Worship service. All services are in-person and all are welcome.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Saturday, Dec. 4: 7 p.m. Christmas Cantata at LSM. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Dec. 5: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour. 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. 6 p.m. ALIVE youth group. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 3-6 p.m. Bison Feed pickup. 6:15 p.m. FUEL. 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. 8 p.m. AA Meeting. Thursday, Dec. 9: 3-6 p.m.  Bison Feed pickup. Live streamed on Facebook and radio.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Thursday, Dec. 2: PW Executive. Sunday, Dec. 5: 8-9:15 a.m. Pancake Feed. 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:30 a.m. Sunday school. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 5:30 p.m. Bells. 6:15 p.m. Choir. 7:15 p.m. Session. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Saturday, Dec. 4: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Festival of Nativities. 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, Dec. 5: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible study; Christmas program practice. Monday, Dec. 6: 1 p.m. Quilting. 7 p.m. Elders meeting. Tuesday, Dec. 7: 6:30 p.m. Mom’s Night Out. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 6 p.m. Advent worship service. 6:30 p.m. supper. 6:45 p.m. KFC/Confirmation. 7 p.m. Choir practice. 7:30 p.m. High School Youth Group. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Billy Skaggs, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sunday, Dec. 5: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 6 p.m. Confirmation. 7 p.m. Advent service. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Dec. 5: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10 a.m. Sunday school. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 7 p.m. Holden evening prayer service. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Dec. 5: 9:30 a.m. Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 9 a.m. Quilting—Every Wednesday. 7 p.m. Holden evening prayer service at First Lutheran Church. Thursday, Dec. 9: 2 p.m. Palisade WELCA meeting. 7 p.m. Palisade Lutheran council meeting. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sunday, Dec. 5: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. 7-8:30 p.m. Youth group meets. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, Dec. 7: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, Dec. 8: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday night worship.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

Quiet title action
STATE OF MINNESOTA IN DISTRICT COURT
COUNTY OF ROCK                                                          FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Case Type: Quiet Title Action
                      Court File: 67-CV-21-274
 
Benjamin Aukes, The Eitreim Family Farm Revocable Trust Agreement dated the 20th day of December, 2005, and Gregory Allen Fick and Natalie Jo Fick, 
Plaintiffs,
vs.
All heirs, known and unknown, of Severin R. Eitreim, deceased; all heirs, known and unknown, of Gladys Eitreim, deceased; all heirs, known and unknown, of  Gene R. Eitreim, deceased; all heirs, known and unknown, of Earleen L. Eitreim, deceased; all heirs, known and unknown of Lloyd Vanden Bussche a/k/a Lloyd Thomas Vanden Bussche, deceased; Naomi Vanden Bussche; and all other persons unknown claiming any right, title, estate, interest or lien in the real estate described in the complaint herein,
Defendants.
 
SUMMONS
 
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDENTS
You are hereby summoned and reqiured to serve upon Plaintiffs' attorney an Answer to Complaint, which is filed in the office of the Court Administrator of the above-named county, within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons upon you, exclusive of the day of service. If you fail to do so, judgement by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. This action involves, affects, or brings in question real property, situated in the County of Rock, State of Minnesota, described as follows:
 
The Southeast Quarter (SE1/4) of Section Six (6), Township One Hundred Two (102) North,  Range Forty-six (46) West of the 5th P.M., Rock County, Minnesota.
 
The object of this action is to remove, terminate and quiet any interest of the defendants to this action and to the real estate described above.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN THAT NO PERSONAL CLAIM is made against any of
the Defendants. If any Defendant unreasonably defends the action, then Plaintiff is 
requesting an order of the Court directing that said Defendant shall pay full costs to the Plaintiff.
Civil cases are subject to Alternative Dispute Resolution processes as
provided in Rule 114 of the General Rules of Practice for District Courts. Alternative Dispute Resolution includes mediation, arbitration, and other processes set forth in the rules. You may contract the Court Adminstrator for information about these processes and about resources available in your area.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that sanctions may be awarded pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 549.211.
Dated: November 16, 2021
 
/s/ Paul A. Vis, Eisma and Eisma, Attorneys at Law
130 E. Main
Luverne, MN 56156
(507) 283-4828; FAX (507) 283-9188
Attorney ID No. 297550
(11-24, 12-02, 12-09)

Rock County hearing for variance request Nov. 29
Notice of Public Hearings for Variance Request
Close Proximity Owners and Local Officials of the Rock County Board of Adjustment
Notice is hereby given that the Rock County Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 29, 2021, at the Rock County Law Enforcement Center located at 1000 North Blue Mound Avenue, Luverne, Minnesota, at 7:00 p.m. to act on the following applications:
Property Owner and Applicant 1: Justin and Sara Ilse
Legal Description: Lots 12-14, Block 4, Village of Kana-
ranzi, Section 3 of Kanaranzi Township, 
T 101 N, R 44 W, Rock County, MN
Request for a variance to allow the construction of a garage, entry, and bathroom addition to an existing dwelling with the proposed addition being located no less than 35 feet from the centerline of the public right of way, Second Street. 
Property Owner and Applicant 2: Dean Tofteland
Legal Description: A 60.4 acre tract located in Section 12 
of Luverne Township, T 102 N, R 45W, 
Rock County, MN
Request for a variance to allow the construction of 3 proposed cul-de-sacs, not to exceed 825 feet in length, as part of a rural subdivision to be proposed by Dean Tofteland.  
All persons interested may appear and by heard at said time and place, or submit views in writing or by representative.
Dated: November 18, 2021
By order of the Rock County Board of Adjustment
Eric A. Hartman, Zoning Administrator
311 W. Gabrielson Road
Luverne, MN 56156
507-283-8862
(11-18, 11-24)