Pat Scheidt cast the winning bid on the Ellis and Eastern Train Ride package through Ellis and Eastern Railroad during the Sanford Luverne Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction on Aug. 26 in Luverne.
“I’ve been looking all these years at those tracks that go by my place,” said Scheidt, who lives west of Luverne on County Road 4. “I’ve just always wanted to ride the train.”
So, when the auction item came up for bid, Scheidt made sure to bid to the end, despite a few other bidders who were determined to get it.
Train Engineer Jason Lanpher picked up Scheidt and her friend, Tom Nelson, at Scheidt’s acreage Tuesday morning and they chugged eastward at about 10 mph.
The tour took them through Luverne and Magnolia and ended in Adrian. They stopped in Magnolia at the cafe, and later returned to the depot in Luverne for a short tour of the renovations.
“Ellis and Eastern has indicated they want to become more a part of the community, so this is one way to do that,” Scheidt said. “How neat is that?”

After a dominating first half, the Luverne Cardinals football team held on during the second half to secure a 31-20 Homecoming victory Friday night over New Ulm. 
The win was Luverne’s second in a row and evened the team’s midseason record at 4-4. 
The Cardinals started strong and enjoyed an 18-0 lead at halftime. 
An early score in the third quarter expanded the home team’s lead to 25-0 before New Ulm scored twenty unanswered points to close the game at 25-20 in the fourth quarter. 
When Luverne quarterback Casey Sehr ran in a late touchdown with five seconds left in the game, the Cardinals secured the eleven-point victory. 
“The team did a great job of overcoming adversity when faced with injuries in the second half and when New Ulm made a run at the end of the game to try to take the lead,” said Luverne head coach Todd Oye.
“The defense came up with a big stop and the offense was able to seal the victory with a touchdown drive to end the game,” Oye said. 
Luverne had an impressive offensive showing with 443 total yards of offense. 
Sehr, who was crowned Luverne Homecoming king earlier in the week, completed 15 of 27 passes for 337 total passing yards. 
Junior Gannon Ahrendt led Luverne receivers with 191 yards off of seven receptions, averaging 27.3 yards and scoring two touchdowns. 
The Cardinals totaled 106 rushing yards with senior Ashton Sandbulte leading the ground effort with 54 yards on 15 carries. 
Luverne’s defense started the scoring with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter when Eli Radtke intercepted a New Ulm pass and ran 26 yards for the first Cardinals touchdown. 
Radtke totaled 79 yards off of three receptions in the game. 
The two-point conversion attempt was not successful, and Luverne had the early 6-0 lead. 
The Cardinals’ second score came with 47 seconds left in the first quarter when Ahrendt took in a 25-yard pass from Sehr. The conversion pass from Sehr to Ahrendt was no good.
When Braydon Ripka recovered a fumble two plays later, the score was set at 12-0 at the end of the first quarter. 
In the second quarter, Luverne added to its lead with a thrilling 63-yard touchdown pass from Sehr to sophomore Conner Connell. The extra point attempt by sophomore Patrick Kroski was not successful. 
When neither team scored for the remainder of the second quarter, the Cardinals entered the half-time break with the 18-0 lead. 
Luverne started the third quarter with the ball. Sehr connected with Radtke on a 44-yard pass on the first play of the quarter.
Three plays later, Ahrendt hauled in a 28-yard touchdown from Sehr with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter. This time the PAT kick from Kroski was good and Luverne owned a commanding 25-0 lead. 
The victory would not come that easy for the home team on Homecoming, however. 
New Ulm scored two rushing touchdowns and added a two-point conversion later in the third quarter to make it 25-14 at the start of the final quarter. 
When the Eagles scored a three-yard touchdown and missed the attempted conversion with 11:22 remaining in the game, the score stood at 25-20. 
Things got even more interesting on the first play of the next possession, when New Ulm recovered a Cardinals fumble to take the ball back and have a chance to take the lead. 
Luverne’s defense held, however, and the Eagles were unable to sustain any drives in the fourth quarter. 
When the Cardinals took possession with about five minutes remaining, they chipped away and gained three consecutive first downs to effectively run the clock down.
With 17 seconds left on the clock, Luverne took a timeout facing a fourth and five situation. Sehr then ran 33 yards for a touchdown and the score was 31-20 with five seconds remaining. 
When New Ulm did not gain any yards off a 16-yard Riley Sneller punt and then threw one incomplete pass, the clock ran out and the Cardinals earned the win. 
Defensively, Luverne was led by Sandbulte and Jamie McCarthy with six tackles each. 
The Cardinals travel to Worthington Friday to face the 0-4 Trojans. Worthington’s losses have been to Jordan, Pipestone Area, St. Peter and Marshall. 
 
Team Statistics:
Luverne: 106 rushing yards, 337 passing yards, 443 total yards, 14 first downs, 5 penalties for 40 yards, 1 turnover. 
New Ulm: 248 rushing yards, 21 passing yards, 269 total yards, 12 first downs, 4 penalties for 25 yards, 4 turnovers. 
 
Individual statistics:
Rushing: Ashton Sandbulte 15-54, Casey Sehr 1-33, Braydon Ripka 9-19
Receiving: Gannon Ahrendt 7-191, Eli Radtke 3-79, Conner Connell 3-73
Defense: Ashton Sandbulte 6 tackles, Jamie McCarthy 6 tackles, Braydon Ripka 5.5 tackles, Nathaniel Cole-Kraty 5 tackles

The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots took their undefeated football team on the road to Westbrook-Walnut Grove on Friday to take on the Chargers. The visitors came away with a 43-8 win, keeping their win streak intact.
Going back to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Patriots have reeled off 11 wins in a row.
Although they put up 48 points on the host Chargers, H-BC head coach Rex Metzger noted that his team wasn’t quite where they should have been.
“Offensively we just didn’t get in a real good flow all night,” he said.
Penalties thwarted a couple of first half drives, but the Patriots squad fought through and registered their fourth win of the season.
After a WWG three and out to open the game, the Patriots were able to put together a six play, 58-yard drive for a touchdown on their first possession.
The Pates overcame two penalties during that first drive and eventually managed to hit paydirt. Senior Cole Baker took the football in from 10 yards out for his first of four touchdowns on the night. He also ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.
The stingy Patriots defense forced three punts and one interception by Andrew Harris during the first stanza alone.
“We were able to put pressure on their (WWG) quarterback and slow down their passing attack,” coach Metzger said about his Patriots’ defense.
 On the other side of the ball, a total of five penalties by the Patriots’ offense kept them from scoring again during the quarter and the score stayed 8-0 at the end of the first quarter of play.
The second quarter saw more of the same by the H-BC defense, as they forced three more WWG punts.  
The H-BC offense found their groove and the endzone three times during the second quarter. Cole Baker accounted for two of those scores. Baker scored touchdowns on runs of 5 and 8 yards.
Oliver Deelstra scored the third touchdown of the quarter on a nine-yard scamper on fourth and goal from the four-yard line.
A Deelstra- to-Drew Leenderts pass gave the Patriots two points after the first touchdown registered in the quarter. The run failed after the second touchdown.
However, after the third H-BC touchdown in the second quarter, Ty Bundesen split the uprights on his extra-point kick for the 21st point of the quarter to end the first half with a 29-0 score.
During the third quarter, the Patriots bumped the lead to 35-0 with a 56-yard sprint by Cole Baker for his fourth touchdown of the evening.
Also in the third, the Chargers managed to put together an eight play, 80-yard drive, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown run. A completed pass for the successful 2-point conversion moved the score to 35-8.
The only score in the final period came on a Luke Fuerstenberg run from seven yards out. Justin Roelfs ran in the 2-point conversion to cap the Patriots’ score at 43.
With the final score of 43-8, the Patriots move their record to 4-0 and dropped the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers to 2-2.
“I thought our defense played a great game,” Metzger said while complimenting the entire team.
The H-BC Patriots put their undefeated record to the test on Friday night versus the 2-2 Renville County West Jaguars in Hills. Game time is 7 p.m.
 
Team statistics
HBC: 289 rushing yards, 72 passing yards, 361 total yards, 11 first downs, nine penalties for 42 yards, one turnover.
WWG: 59 rushing yards, 55 passing yards, 114 total yards, four first downs, five penalties for 32 yards, two turnovers.
 
Individual statistics
Rushing: Baker 14-150, Deelstra 9-49, Fuerstenberg 3-28, Brock Harnack 1-16, Bundesen 2-16, Sawyer Bosch 5-12, Roelfs 3-11, Drew Leenderts 2-8, Cameron Allen 1-minus 1.
Passing: Deelstra 8-16 for 72 yards, Sawyer Bosch 0-1, Bundesen 0-1.
Receiving: Bundesen 4 for 34, Andrew Harris 1 for 17, Drew Leenderts 2 for 13, Baker 1 for 8.
Defense: Brock Harnack four tackles, Casey Kueter four tackles, Max Scholten three tackles, Austin Allen three tackles, Donavan Leenderts three tackles and two caused fumbles, Deelstra two pass deflections and one interception, Andrew Harris two tackles and one pass deflection and one interception.

The county is seeking an additional $188,264 for its 2022 budget. Commissioners set a preliminary 2022 property tax levy increase of 2.97 percent at their Sept. 21 meeting.
The amount will increase the local levy to $6.5 million of a $12.5 million budget planned for next year.
Cost of the new school resource officer is estimated at $35,000, with the school districts of Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek and the city of Luverne contributing to the full-time officer, whose salary, equipment and vehicle are estimated at $100,000.
The position is expected to implemented next year.
The commissioners also approved $65,000 to hire an additional full-time officer with the city of Luverne, again contributing to the estimated $100,000 cost.
The additional officer is in response to upcoming retirements from the sheriff’s office in the next few years, according to Commissioner Greg Berger, who serves on the county’s budget committee.
Commissioners are also contributing an additional $15,500 to the three ambulance service districts in the county. The services include Jasper, Edgerton and Rock County ambulances.
Commissioners will adopt the final levy in December. A Truth-in-Taxation meeting will be in December in the county courthouse commissioners room.
In other business Sept. 21, the commissioners:
•granted a $10,000 request from the Luv1LuvAll coalition in support of a twice-a-month dental clinic in Luverne.
•finalized plans to make $100,000 available to each of the six small communities in Rock County to upgrade water and sanitary sewer infrastructures. Cities include Luverne, Hills, Beaver Creek, Hardwick, Kenneth, Magnolia and Steen. No match is necessary for the communities to access the American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the county by the federal government.
They also agreed to allocate $100,000 to each of the rural water systems serving Rock County.

The City of Luverne set its proposed 2021 tax levy at $2,530,180, which reflects an 11.77-percent increase over the current levy.
The levy includes $2,280,100 for the General Fund, debt service, and $250,080 for principal and interest on existing debt.
Council members reviewed the city’s five-year capital improvement plan at their July 30 meeting and the proposed 2022 budget at their Aug. 17 meeting.
The governmental budget includes the general fund, airport, pool and capital projects.
Governmental expenditures in 2022 are expected to be $8.5 million and revenues at $8.2 million.
Governmental expenditures include:
Public safety at $1.5 million, about 18 percent of costs;
Public works at nearly $1 million, about 11 percent of costs;
Parks and recreation at nearly $700,000 at 8 percent
Governmental revenues come in the form of:
•property taxes at roughly $2.28 million, or 28 percent;
•local government aid from the state at $1.5 million, 18 percent of revenue; and
•the rest from enterprise funds, fees and other sources.
 
Levy increase not the same as property tax increase
The council acknowledged that the city’s levy has been steadily increasing in recent years, but the actual increase in taxes has remained relatively modest, thanks to Luverne’s overall tax rate.
A $150,000 home for example, saw an actual property tax increase of 1.3 percent in 2021, despite the levy increase of 7.9 percent.
By statute cities must set preliminary levy amounts in September and certify them in December. The December amount may be lower than the preliminary levy, but it may not be higher.
The city’s annual Truth in Taxation hearing is set for Dec. 14.

Meetings
People First Group will meet 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, at the Pizza Ranch in Luverne.
Parkinson’s Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, in Poplar Creek Estates on Oak Drive in Luverne. Masks must be worn.
 
Information available for H-BC levy
Residents in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District are invited to attend information sessions about the renewing the district’s current operating levy.
The two in-person meetings will be: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 at the H-BC Elementary School in Beaver Creek and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the H-BC High School in Hills.
The referendum vote takes place Nov. 2. More information about the operating levy referendum is available at the district website: www.hbcpatriots.com.
 
Community Education offering
Luverne Community Education will offer the following classes and activities. Call 507-283-4724 or visit the website: comed.isd2184.net
Grade 5-6 Volleyball begins Sept. 30 and meets for 8 after school sessions. Fee is $25.
Learn everything you need to know about having a pet at Paw Patrol class on Oct. 4 for students in grades K-5. Fee is $10
Learn how to play Pickleball on Oct. 9. Fee is $5.
Learn the ins and outs of using a library, checking out ebooks, and more at Library 101 on Oct. 6. Fee is $5.
Kids in the Kitchen (grades K-6) will make Halloween Goodies on Oct. 7. Fee is $16.
Cheer Camp for grades K-5 meeting is on Oct. 8. is $12.
Intro to 3D Printing on Oct. 11 will shows how it works and how it is a useful tool. Fee is $8.
Register by Oct. 12 for Cardinal League Com Ed Basketball for grades 3–6. Fee is $50.  Participants (grades 4-6) that want to travel out of town in addition to the local Cardinal League, should register for the Harrisburg League at www.bsybl.com prior to Oct. 12. That will take care of Cardinal League registration, too.
Register now for the Music Man Bus Trip to Chanhassen Dinner Theater on Nov. 6. Cost is $115.
Defensive Driving Classes allows adults 55 years of age and older to save on insurance premiums. After the beginning eight-hour class, every three years drivers take a four-hour refresher class. The Beginning classes will be Nov. 11 and 18 (four hours each evening). Refresher four-hour classes are Oct. 14 (Edgerton), Dec. 16.
 
‘Paint the Prairie Purple’ through Oct. 1
The SW MN Dementia Awareness Network wants individuals to show support and bring awareness to dementia by “Painting the Prairie Purple” from Sept. 27 through Oct. 2. Participants are encouraged to decorate businesses and home exteriors in purple for the week. Pictures can be shared or questions asked to ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us. Pictures will be shared on the SW MN Dementia Awareness social media site.
 
Hospice volunteer training offered in October
Sanford Luverne Hospice is in need of men and women volunteers at The Cottage and for patient visiting. An application and orientation is required and will be offered in October. If interested, contact Helen Saum at 507-283-1805 or email: helen.saum@sanfordhealth.org
 
Library seeks ideas through survey
As part of the American Library Association grant, Rock County Library personnel is continuing the grant’s community conversation through a paper survey about programming outside the library’s walls. The survey is available through Sept. 24 to gather initial ideas. A second survey about programming ideas will be available from Sept. 27-Oct. 1. A public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the library will review survey results and finalize programming for grant funding.
 
Donate blood Oct. 5 in Jasper
The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in Jasper from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.. 5, in the Evangelical Lutheran Church on Spicer Street. Make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767. Donors can also save time with RapidPass® by completing pre-donation information online, on the day of donation. Bring a blood donor card or driver’s license at check-in.
 
 
Chuckwagon feed at Take 16 Oct. 5
The 70th annual Rock County DFL Chuckwagon Feed will be 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Take 16 Brewing Company in Luverne. The event continues until 8 p.m.
 
Dementia Walk coming Oct. 2
Dementia Walk for a Cure will be Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Luverne City Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. Register at http://walk-for-a-cure-swdan-2021.eventbrite.com. The event is sponsored by the SW MN Dementia Awareness Network. All funds raised remain in southwest Minnesota to promote dementia education and increase awareness. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place a Grand Prairie Events in Luverne. More information contact Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064.
 
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.
Story Time with Bronwyn is at 10:30 a.m. Fridays through Nov. 19. As the weather permits, the event will in one of Luverne’s city parks. See the library’s social media page for specific locations.
Saving Seeds: An Intro to Seed Saving will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the library.
 
H-BC Class of 2019 event Oct. 16
The H-BC Class of 2019 parents and graduates will host a community event from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, to support 2019 H-BC grad Preston Wilhelmi who has cancer. The event at the Steen Reformed Church includes a meal, baked goods and auction. Call Staci Bundesen, 507-227-5175, or Marie LaRock, 605-929-9291 for information or to support the effort.
 
Rock the Edge food drive Oct. 10
Rock the Edge community youth group will canvas the community to collect food for the Rock County Food Shelf beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. To participate while also respecting social distance, place food items in bags on doorsteps. Call 507-283-4529 if your house is missed.
 
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.

Cleveringa Construction will build a twin home at 101 West Brown on a lot the city had previously cleared of residential blight.
On the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Luverne Council approved a conditional use permit for the project, and construction will begin this fall.
The property previously faced east with a North Freeman driveway, but the twin homes will face north with a Brown Street driveway on the combined lots of 319 North Freeman and 101 West Brown.
Council member Caroline Thorson serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission and said the twin home will be good use of the property.
“It’s a great project for in-fill, which is exactly what we were hoping for,” Thorson said at the Aug. 24 meeting. “It sounds like there’s a good plan in mind.”
The house that previously occupied the lot was demolished in the spring of 2018 as part of the city’s blight removal efforts.
The property had been vacated due to heating equipment failure, which in turn caused the frozen plumbing and subsequent water damage and mold throughout the structure.
The house was declared unfit for human occupancy, and repairing the house would have been cost-prohibitive.
The city paid $15,000 to Danelle Hamilton for the property at 319 North Freeman, and the house was removed and lot cleared in April 2018.
Taxes previously paid on the property amounted to roughly $1,065. The twin homes will have an estimated value of $350,000 per side, greatly increasing the tax capacity of the lots from their previous state.
Each of the units will have two bedrooms, double garages and 1,550 square feet.
Mayor Pat Baustian said the property will be affordably priced and will likely be sold and occupied quickly, given current housing demand.
According to the conditional use permit approved for the twin home, it must observe an eight-foot setback from the south property line and no less than a five-foot setback from recorded utility easements.
One of the twin homes may be completed this fall and the other next spring.
Mayor Pat Baustian said this project and others like it are a way for the city to make small upfront investments for beneficial future returns.
“Those are perfect examples of why we do what we do with blighted properties,” Baustian said at the city’s operating budget planning meeting Aug. 31.
“Those are great opportunities to add to our overall tax capacity and spread the taxes around.”
He pointed to the duplexes on East Barck Street as an example.
“Of all those blighted properties, the initial tax capacity was $140,000,” Baustian said. “Last year, they went over $2 million in tax capacity for those units there.”

Residents in Hills face a $500 fine if they are found in violation of the city’s nuisance junk ordinance after Oct. 1.
Council members unanimously adopted the fine for the misdemeanor offense at their Sept. 14 meeting.
The fine is in response to the council’s ongoing effort to clean up yards in the city limits.
Two months ago, notifications were sent to 300 Hills residents, property and business owners to clean up their properties or face potential fines.
Deadline for cleanup is Oct. 1.
Residents are also subject to any cleanup costs if the city is forced to rid the property of nuisance items.
Any unpaid fines or cleanup bills will be assessed to the owner’s property taxes. No maximum penalty was established.
City attorney Paul Vis sent the nuisance letters on Aug. 1. Since that time, the city has sponsored two cleanup days for residents to use. “We’ve given them plenty of opportunity,” said council member Vickie Busswitz.
Council members have noticed renters are the primary violators of the city’s ordinance adopted in 2013. However, no fine has been associated with the ordinance until the Sept. 14 meeting.
The nuisance ordinance asks all residents to “remove all unlicensed, uninsured, inoperable vehicles, yard debris, garbage, waste, etc.” from the property.
Once the property is cleaned, if the nuisance reoccurs within 12 months, the fine will double to $1,000.

Lowell Fick runs the combine through his soybeans west of Luverne Thursday morning, Sept. 23, along the north side of County Road 5. Fick is among many Rock County farmers taking advantage of ideal harvest conditions to make quick work of soybean harvest this week. Soybean yields around the area have been varied but still good, averaging 45 to 60 bushels per acre, depending on where drought affected the growing season. Some fields near Steen and Hills yielded nearly 80 bushels per acre in some spots. Fields that experienced storm damage and drought will likely not do as well.