State transportation officials have decided a roundabout in Luverne would reduce crashes at the intersection of Highway 75 and Main Street.
Stoplights are due to be replaced at roughly $475,000. The state is instead considering a $900,000 roundabout as a safer solution.
The recommendation is based on a recent traffic study that was discussed at at a Nov. 16 meeting of county and city leaders with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The study is the result of a planned 2.5-mile resurfacing project scheduled for 2025 on Highway 75 from Main Street to Veterans Drive.
As part of that project, engineers looked at traffic corridors along the project route and ordered a closer look at the Main-75 intersection this summer.
“The signal at this location has met its useful life,”  said Ronda Allis, MnDOT District 7 planning director.
“And instead of coming back in and doing a signal replacement, it made sense to come back and look to see if there are other intersection improvements that made more sense at this location as this project gets closer to construction.”
Robert Jones is the project manager for the 2025 Highway 75 project as well as the resurfacing project from Luverne to Trosky scheduled for 2028.
He assured county and city leaders that they’d have a voice in the process.
“What we are doing is presenting these alternatives to you — you guys help us decide what you want here,” Jones said.
“This is not the days of old when MnDOT was coming in here and saying ‘we are going to do this because we think it is the best.’ We might think there is one that is the best and may tell you which one is the best but we want to make sure we know what is wanted locally.”
At the Nov. 16 meeting the engineers outlined various types of intersection controls, applied “level of service” value and installation costs. They also reviewed the crash history at the current intersection controlled by traffic signals.
They said baseline data shows a roundabout would be the best alternative when compared to the current and other traffic light configurations.
 
Current system: ‘Above average crash rate’
MnDOT Traffic Engineer Ross Baker said data from vehicle counts and traffic movements over a 24-hour period earned the current traffic signal configuration a “C” rating, meaning a driver may wait an average of 17 to 24 seconds to move through the intersection, depending on the time of day.
By contrast, traffic moves through a compact, single-lane roundabout in 4 to 8 seconds, an “A” rating, the best grade possible on the scale where “F” is the worst.
At a 15-mph speed limit, studies show a roundabout would decrease the current crash rate by 68 percent.
A total of 22 crashes have been reported at the 75-Main intersection from 2016 to 2020, two of which involved pedestrians who were injured.
“This was above the average crash rate for similar intersections and right around the ‘critical crash rate’ where we think it has sufficient crash problems,” Baker said.
Most of the crashes occurred as drivers turned in front of another driver who was going straight through the intersection.
On average, about 12,000 vehicles pass through the intersection in the 24-hour period. Twelve percent of the traffic is heavy truck traffic.
In the next 20 years, traffic is expected to increase.
 
Various intersections come with cost
Keeping the current traffic light configuration would cost $475,000, the least expensive option.
Three traffic light configurations were presented and involved adding left and/or right turn lanes on County Road 4.
Each would enlarge the intersection to create larger turn lanes for heavy trucks.
Costs for these alternatives were estimated at $801,000 to $877,000 and may involve removing recent city boulevard aesthetic improvements.
Because constraints surround the intersection, MnDOT officials recommended a “compact roundabout,” in which heavy truck traffic could drive over its center. Cost would be $900,000.
 
Decision to be made by end of year
In addition to the baseline data of intersection options and costs, the study also takes into consideration social and economic factors, pedestrian crossings and other factors such as right-of-way impacts, utilities and ease of navigation. This information will be added through additional talks with local officials.
The baseline data gives the current traffic signal an overall neutral score by MnDOT engineers. The other traffic configurations also have an overall neutral score. Only the roundabout receives a positive score.
City and county officials questioned the baseline data and the suggestion that the current 75-Main intersection needs to change.
“Are we trying to fix something that doesn’t need fixing?” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre.
MnDOT project manager Jones said a decision is needed by the end of the year in order to have final designs and plans ready for the 2025 construction season.
Council members and commissioners plan to pass resolutions by next month indicating which traffic configuration they support.

Two sets of LED stop signs were installed last week on County Road 4 at the intersections of County Road 6 east of Beaver Creek and County Road 17 just north of Manley. According to Rock County engineer Mark Sehr, the four solar-powered signs each cost $1,500. The eight flashing LED lights on the octagonal signs capture drivers’ attention to remind them to stop at the intersections. Reports of accidents, near misses and injury crashes have occurred at each of the intersections through the years. The LED-enhanced signs are especially noticeable under low-visibility conditions.

In the few short weeks since groundbreaking, construction on the apartment buildings at Hatting Street and Highway 75 has progressed rapidly.
Foundations are poured, plumbing is roughed in, and prep work is underway for pouring concrete slabs next week, weather permitting.
After that, framing will begin in January, and 10 to 12 weeks later the roof will go on.
“Getting concrete poured is our big hurdle,” said Luverne developer Don Jahnke of Midwest Sustainable Construction.
Each building footprint is 9,000 square feet — about the size of two high school basketball gyms. They’ll each require 112 yards of concrete that will need time to cure.
Jahnke and general contractor Mike Bourquin and investor Aaron Smith of Greensmith Builders were on site Friday to share a progress report.
The $8 million project is known as PrairiE Loft 1 and PrairiE Loft 2 apartments, with the capital E representing “environmental sustainability and smart building practices.”
Construction will use “Extreme Structural Insulated Panels,” high performance heat pumps, in-floor heat and LED lighting that qualifies for Energy Star and the Net Zero Ready Program.
Jahnke said each unit will have an energy recovery ventilator — a fresh air machine — that brings outside fresh air in, exchanges it with hot or cold air, and keeps the fresh air circulating throughout.
“They’re the lungs of the building,” Jahnke said, adding that features like these are typically seen in luxury homes.
The units will be finished with GRI FloorScore®-rated flooring with carpet in bedrooms, and kitchens will have granite countertops. FloorScore® is a third-party certification that measures risks to indoor air quality — specifically volatile organic compounds in surfaces and finishes.
Greensmith Builders invests in green building projects nationwide, primarily in small communities, but Smith said this is the company’s first project with structurally insulated panels.
“They’re super insulated, and super air-tight, which is great, but the really nice part is they go together like Legos,” Smith said, describing the 9-by-8-foot interlocking panels made in Cottonwood.
“You just drop these in with the crane, and it will happen really quickly.”
Ten to 12 weeks after that, the roof will go on.
“That’s really one of the big advantages, as we see it,” Smith said. “Not only is it this great insulation — which helps with better efficiency, but from a production standpoint, it’s so much faster to build. We’ll be able to open the buildings months ahead of a traditional building schedule.”
Bourquin said the time saving is due to work done ahead on panels that are manufactured in a climate-controlled environment and are delivered with window cutouts and other features already in place.
“We figure we save two to three trips of people around that building by using the panels. They’re pre-insulated and pre-sheathed,” he said.
“As soon as there’s a roof on, we’re turning on a heat, whereas other times, you’d have to go around get wiring done and insulation in. We can get other contractors in, because you have this work done ahead of time.”
He said the materials are more expensive up front to build with, but that’s offset by the time saving.
Ultimately, renters will benefit from the efficiencies, Smith said.
“We all live in Minnesota. Your rent is one thing, but if your heating bill in the wintertime is $200-$300 per month and you budgeted for rent, it can be crushing for people,” Smith said.
“Both these buildings are modeled for less than $20 per month for heating and cooling.”
The two buildings will have one- and two-bedroom units on three floors with elevators and off-street parking.
The north building is progressing slightly ahead of the south building, which needed extra dirt work to keep it at grade with the rest of the property.
Smith said the unit will be above street level and will have a retaining wall on the east side, and a drainage pond will help with storm water runoff.
“That south building looking east and south, you look across the field and to the retaining … that’s going to be a nice view,” he said.
“Even in that first-floor unit, you’re enough above the road you probably won’t see it looking out the window. You’ll look out to the field.”
First Farmers & Merchants Bank in LeSueur, is providing local financing along with Greensmith and a federal PACE loan (property assessed clean energy), which finances energy-efficient and renewable energy projects on private property.
In addition to the property purchase, site work and other investments, the city of Luverne also provided a $550,000 deferred loan for the project.

A small group of gardening enthusiasts gathered Saturday morning at the Rock County Library to teach participants how to save various grain, vegetable and flower seeds for next year’s gardening season.
The second of three free “seed soirees” featured proper seed drying and packaging. The hands-on session also allowed participants to shuck and clean next year’s seeds.
The session was led by volunteer Berty Stearns, who collected mature plants from Prairie Ally, the Project Food Forest in Luverne, as well as from local area gardens before this fall’s freezing temperatures set in.
Seeds for popcorn, beans, radishes, basil, asters, cosmos and cucumber seeds were prepared during the morning session.
Stearns demonstrated the various shucking techniques — stomping dried pods to more easily gather the seeds, blowing and tossing in baskets to remove chaff, or the washing and drying of seeds before packaging into small paper envelopes.
Kim Rockman with Prairie Ally explained that plants grown at the Food Forest are “not only for food, but for decoration and seed.”
Seeds prepared at Saturday’s event were offered to those participating and will also be available this spring in the library’s seed exchange.
The first session introduced participants to the theory behind seed saving, language used and proper labeling.
A third session is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the library. It will focus on garden design — where certain plants should be located to prevent cross pollination for genetically strong and diverse seed production.

A football season that started out with a postponed game because of a water-soaked field in Hills ended on the turf of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots had their tournament run end on Nov. 19 at the semi-finals of the Minnesota Nine-Man State Football Tournament.
The 12-0 Fertile-Beltrami Falcons defeated the Patriots by a score of 30-22 in an evenly matched battle that would not be determined early.
H-BC scored first on a two-yard Cole Baker run with 5:28 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion run failed, but the Patriots held an early 6-0 lead.
The scoring drive was the result of the H-BC offense marching down the field alternating between runs of Baker and Oliver Deelstra. Fertile-Beltrami answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass to even the score. The Patriot defense held on the conversion run to keep the score tied 6-6.
The second quarter saw both defenses come up with timely stops and forcing the other’s offense to turn the ball over on downs.
However, late in the second quarter, the Patriots’ offense went back to work, mixing the run and the pass. With just 19 seconds left in the half, quarterback Oliver Deelstra threaded the needle on a pass to wide out Drew Leenderts, who jumped above the Falcon defender and hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass with just 19 seconds left before half-time. Fullback Casey Kueter bulldozed his way for the two-point conversion and the Patriots held a 14-6 lead going into the half.
Fertile-Beltrami would dominate the third quarter scoring with two touchdown runs of five and 30 yards. They were successful on both two-point conversions to take a 22-14 lead going into the final quarter.
The Patriot offense came back on the next possession, which culminated in a touchdown run by Baker of five yards with 10:28 left in the game. A Baker-to-Gideon-Taubert two-point conversion pass brought the Patriots back to tie the Falcons at 22.
Later in the fourth quarter, the Falcons came back to score a touchdown on a three-yard run, then added the two-point conversion to extend the lead to eight, 30-22.
The Patriots’ offense was not able to score again during the game. The defense did make the Falcons turn the ball over on downs with less than a minute to play deep in Patriots territory. But with no time-outs left and over 90 yards to cover, the Patriot offense was not able to move the ball and was on the field when time expired.
Patriot Head Coach Rex Metzger reflected on the game afterward.
“Fertile-Beltrami was a real good football team that did a lot of things really well both on offense and defense,” he said. “They threw the ball a little more than expected and hurt us a few different times.”
He said the entire season was a rewarding experience with the team.
“I’m proud of our guys and the year that we had,” he said. “It was a heck of a run through the playoffs, and to be able to play at U.S. Bank (Stadium) is something they will never forget.”
The Patriots finish the season 10-3 and are the two-time defending Section 3 9-man champions.
 
Team statistics
HBC: 217 rushing yards, 72 passing yards, 289 total yards, 21 first downs, five penalties for 40 yards.
F-B: 147 rushing yards, 136 passing yards, 283 total yards, 15 first downs, three penalties for 35 yards.
 
Individual statistics
Rushing: C. Baker 25-118 yards, C. Kueter 9-42 yards, Ty Bundesen 3-30 yards, O. Deelstra 12-27 yards.
Passing: O. Deelstra 8-10 for 72 yards, C. Baker 0-1.
Receiving: Drew Leenderts 1-19, one touchdown, C. Baker 2-17 yards, C. Kueter 1-15 yards, T. Bundesen 2-12 yards, Andrew Harris 2-9 yards, Gideon Taubert one extra-point.
Defense: Austin Allen 8 tackles, C. Kueter 7.5 tackles, Drew Leenderts 7 tackles, O. Deelstra 4.5 tackles.

A Christmas lighted train engine will join the 2021 community holiday plans, which kick off with fireworks Nov. 28 in Luverne City Park.
Under a “Polar Express” children’s story theme, individuals, businesses and organizations have been decorating lighted displays in the park.
Ellis and Eastern Railroad will transport Santa and Mrs. Claus through several communities on Sunday, starting at Rushmore at noon with stops in Adrian and Magnolia before ending in Luverne.
The jolly couple will meet families and pose for photos at the Omaha Depot on Freeman Street from 5 to 6:15 p.m.
At 6:15 the city park will open to let cars into the park to watch fireworks, which will begin at 7 p.m. Each car will be charged $10 to enter, and the first 500 children will receive a Santa bell, chocolate milk, a Christmas cookie and Polar Express candy.
A fireworks display will begin at 7 p.m. and the grand park lighting will be at 7:30.
When Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the park, people in cars will be instructed to roll down their windows and ring their bells.
“They’ll be told that if Santa hears the bells, the park will light up,” Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere said.
“When the lights come on, those cars inside the park will get to circle the displays first, and then we’ll open up the park to everyone.”
She said the lighted park evening is a solid plan, regardless of pandemic shifts.
“This will totally be a fun thing to experience for families,” she said.
“It’s been another trying year for families and individuals, and if the pandemic flares up again, we’ll be safe. Everyone will be in their cars with their own families.”
More information is on the Chamber website or by calling 507-283-4061.

Meetings
Rock County Association of Townships annual meeting is at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at the Rock County Library.
Parkinson’s Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. Monday Dec. 6, at Poplar Creek in Luverne.  Masks are required.  Call Diane Karlstad at 507-530-3307 with questions.
Springwater Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the town hall.
 
Bell ringers needed for Kettle campaign
Volunteer bell ringers are needed for the 2021 Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Nov. 26 through Dec. 24 at Sunshine Foods in Luverne. Sign up for two-hour increments between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Use the link https://signup.com/go/ARwFTiC or call Carrie Soto, 507-220-8897 with questions.
 
Mobile dental clinic Dec. 1-2
#Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force has organized a mobile dental clinic in Luverne on Wednesday, Dec. 1, and Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Rock County Health and Human Services building community room. These clinics provide dental care for ADULTS and children of all ages. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted.
 
Festival of Nativities Dec. 4
St. John Lutheran Church will host a Festival of Nativities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. More than 100 handcrafted nativities of every size and shape — international, children's sets and more — will be on display to walk through and enjoy. Refreshments will be served, and commemorative gifts will be handed out while supplies last. Free admission and handicap accessible. Location is 803 N. Cedar St., Luverne.
 
Holidays at the Hinkly House Dec. 4, 11
Hinkly House committee members Diane Jauert, Shirley Harrison and Janet Burger will host a Holiday Open House at the Victorial Luverne home for two weekends, from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. The holiday displays this year are paper glitter and music boxes.
 
Hospice tree lighting Dec. 2
Hospice Tree Lighting Ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the corner of Main Street and Highway 75 in Luverne. A special candle lighting will be part of the ceremony as submitted names are read in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Hot cider and cookies will be served. Call 507-283-1805 with questions
 
Community Education offerings
Luverne Community Education will offer the following classes and activities. Call 507-283-4724 or visit the website: comed.isd2184.net
Register by Dec. 1 for Snowmobile Safety class on Dec. 11 for ages 12 and older by Dec. 31.
Bread Baking on Dec. 11 shows how easy it is to make your own bread at home. Fee is $10. All supplies furnished.
 
Library happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email at 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.
Story Time with Bronwyn is at 10:30 a.m. Fridays.
 
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.

Farm profitability in 2021 depends on location and severity of drought. The other big factor in farm profitability in 2021 was where farmers were positioned in the volatile grain markets during the year.
 
2021 crop yields
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. Late in the growing season, large areas in southwest and west-central Minnesota were also impacted by strong windstorms that severely damaged crops, resulting in greatly reduced corn yields in some locations.
Many crop farmers in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa would categorize 2021 crop yields as “better than expected.” Following favorable planting and early season growing conditions for both corn and soybeans, weather conditions turned very hot and dry from late May through June. In many areas, it remained quite dry until mid-August, with the exception of a few timely rains in July.
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.
Given the very dry conditions in many areas for most of the growing season, 2021 was also a very good testament for the advancements in crop seed genetics that has occurred in the past couple of decades.
On the other hand, 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.
These areas benefited from all of the factors described earlier as far as early planting, no crop loss from heavy rains, and above normal growing degree units, as well as also receiving much more uniform rainfall during the growing season than in the areas that were described earlier.
The combination of excellent corn and soybean yields, together with very strong crop prices, led to some of the best profit margins ever for some crop producers in these regions.
Grain marketing decisions
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 been fairly strong throughout most of 2021, due to increased demand both for domestic uses and for export markets.
 China returned to buying U.S. soybeans in a big way late in 2020, which has been a trend that has continued throughout 2021. China also became a major importer of U.S. corn, as the country increased its feed capacity for rebuilding swine herds following the devastation that resulted from African Swine Fever.
The “basis” level between Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) prices and local corn and soybean prices has remained extremely tight, which has also enhanced grain marketing opportunities.
The local “new crop” 2021 corn price early in the year was $4 to $4.50 per bushel at many locations in the Upper Midwest.
Many farmers took advantage of that price to forward contract some of their corn for post-harvest delivery in 2021 or early 2022, since this was the best pre-planting corn pricing opportunity that had existed for several years.
From May until now, the local price for 2021 “new crop” corn in the Upper Midwest has been in a range of $5.00 to $5.50 per acre, or about $1 per bushel higher than the price earlier in the year.
Many farmers are now facing this same corn pricing dilemma for next year, as forward contract prices for the 2022 corn crop are above $5 per bushel, which is at the highest level in nearly a decade. They are wondering whether to take that price from a risk management standpoint or to “roll the dice” on prices going even higher, as occurred in 2021.
There was also a big difference in post-harvest marketing following the 2020 crop year. Many farmers had sold all or most of their 2020 corn and soybeans following harvest due to the best crop price levels that we had seen in many years.
Once the soybean price exceeded $10 per bushel and the corn price exceeded $4 per bushel late in 2020 and early in 2021, crop producers began aggressively selling their 2020 corn and soybeans at these profitable levels.
However, from late April through July of 2021, the cash prices were $14 to $16 per bushel for soybeans and $6 to $7 per bushel for corn across the Upper Midwest. By that time, many farmers had very little 2020 grain remaining to be sold.
The timing of crop sales can have a major impact on final profit levels for crop producers. If two farmers both had a final 2020 corn yield of 200 bushels per acre, the farmer that sold his corn for $4.50 per bushel grossed $900 per acre, while the farmer that had an average price of $6 per bushel grossed $1,200 per acre, which is a difference of $300 per acre. Both farmers probably netted a profit on the 2020 corn crop; however, there is a big difference in the level of profitability.
We are likely to see this wide variation in crop production profit levels again in 2021, due to both yield differences and grain marketing strategies.

It was with great delight and joy that we welcomed our long-lost daughter, Kate, home from Vietnam a few weeks ago.
I was more than thrilled to have her return home from a two-year Covid exile in a foreign country. 
But also, because Kate had used her lockdown to become a fitness buff, I was thrilled to now have access to my very own personal trainer.
I hired her on the spot.
I gave Kate a brief outline of my limitations. 
The post-radiation lymphedema in my right leg requires that I avoid all jarring-type activities like jumping, hopping or lunging. 
Or jogging. 
Or fast walking.
The stoma I have for my post-cancer colostomy bag leaves me at great risk of a hernia, so no lifting of anything really heavy. 
Or somewhat heavy. 
Or even a little bit heavy. 
Avoiding excess strain on my stomach muscles also includes no sit-ups or crunches. 
Planks are right out. 
Kate reviewed my list of limitations and retreated to create a custom exercise routine for her soon-to-be fit and trim mother.
I waited.
I saw her watch a few videos and take notes. 
One day she casually asked, “Did you know that the life expectancy of a person with lymphedema is two years?”
Suddenly my fat ankle seemed ominous. 
I went to Google and realized she’d been reading about lymphangiosarcoma, which is a different disease. 
I had dodged a bullet.
But still no mom-slimming workout routine appeared. 
I waited. 
Days passed until finally my personal trainer revealed her findings. 
“Mom,” Kate said, “it looks like all you can really do is lay on the floor and take deep breaths.” 
All I could do was laugh, and be thankful that Kate is home to help me get up off the floor.