The Luverne volleyball team played in Marshall Tuesday night, Sept. 7, and the Tigers were relentless in their attack, keeping the Cardinals’ back row on alert all evening. 
Marshall came out on top 3-1, ending what had been a five-game winning streak for the Cardinals.
Luverne's first point of the match came after a dig by Macy Stratton to Reghan Bork, who set for Elise Ferrell to hit it over. 
Bork later surprised Marshall by putting the ball over the net into a hole to gain another point for the Cardinals. 
The Tigers turned up the heat and delivered some fierce serves and kills to put Luverne behind 13 - 3.
After a Luverne timeout, Morgan Ahrendt delivered a kill to put another Cardinal point on the board.
Luverne's final point came from Stratton, who executed a back-row attack. However, the Cardinals lost the first game 25-6. 
Game 2 saw competitive volleys to prove the Cardinals wouldn’t be subdued by their opponents.  
Luverne earned its first point on a dig by Stratton to Bork who surprised Marshall by lightly tapping it over the net. 
It was déjà vu when the Tigers ran away from the Cardinals on the scoreboard, forcing Luverne to call a timeout, behind by 12. 
The Cardinals came out of the timeout with Ferrell and Christina Wagner teaming up on a block to earn a point and then Wagner delivering a kill on the next play to reduce the gap to 10 points. 
The Cardinals would go on to lose Game 2 with a score of 25 to 5.   
The situation pivoted in Game 3 when Luverne took its first lead of the night with Anja Jarchow executing two ace serves and Wagner and Ferrell teaming up on blocks to put Luverne up by 2.
The Tigers caught up, but Luverne was able to regain the lead when Trista Baustian lightly tapped the ball over the net. 
Game 3 continued with Luverne falling behind by one or two points and then catching up with kills by Jarchow, Ferrell and Ahrendt, a precision serve by Bork and a Baustian/Wagner block. 
Luverne finally took the lead in Game 3 for good when Ferrell delivered a kill and Carly Olson served up one that landed just inside the edge of the court. After a nail-biting volley, Ferrell ended it with a light tap over the net to win Game 3 by 25-22. 
Game 4 started out with Luverne landing a point on the scoreboard first with a set assist from Bork to Jarchow for the kill. 
That would be the only lead for Luverne in Game 4, despite key back row digs by Stratton and Olson.
Behind by three points, Baustian set up Ferrell for a powerful attack that Marshall could not control. 
Later, Baustian set to Ahrendt for the kill, and Jarchow delivered an attack to close the gap by one point.
Later with Luverne behind by three, Bork set Ferrell for a hit into the Marshall hole.
Despite great volleys between the two teams, a Luverne back row on fire, and kills by Ahrendt, Jarchow and Ferrell, the Cardinals lost Game 4 with a score of 19-25, giving up their first match of the season.
 
Stat Highlights:
Serves:  Reghan Bork 12/13 with 1 Ace; Anja Jarchow 10/10 with 2 Aces
Digs:  Carly Olson 15; Macy Stratton 18
Set Assists:  Trista Baustian 9; Reghan Bork 12
Blocks:  Christina Wagner 6 assists
Attacks:  Elise Ferrell 7; Anja Jarchow 3; Morgan Ahrendt 3

The Luverne Cardinals progressively increased the point spread for each of the three games they won to take the match against the Southwest Christian Eagles Monday night in Edgerton.
Luverne earned the first point of the night with a bump by Trista Baustian to Reghan Bork who set for Anja Jarchow to put it over. 
The first part of the game consisted of alternating points on the scoreboard with solid offensive plays earning the Cardinal points.
For example, Bork passed to Baustian with a set to Elise Ferrell, who surprised the Eagles with a light tap over the net, taking a different approach than her usual powerful kill. 
Executing the light tap again was Christina Wagner aided by a set assist from Bork. 
Later, Baustian executed an ace serve just inside the edge of the court, which the Eagles thought would be out of bounds. 
With Luverne in the lead by one, Ferrell passed to Baustian who set to Morgan Ahrendt, and then the trio executed the exact strategic move on the next play. 
Luverne put up some effective defensive blocks by duos Wagner and Kamryn Van Batavia and another by Ferrell and Anja Jarchow. 
Shortly after that, the Eagles tied Luverne at 14. However, some hard straight-line serves by Macy Stratton along with Eagles errors put the Cardinals up by five. 
The Eagles fought back to decrease the gap by four, but a couple of blocks by Wagner and Van Batavia and some Eagles errors allowed Ahrendt to claim the final point with a kill to win Game 1 with a score of 25-21.
 Luverne started Game 2 in the lead with blocks by Jarchow and Baustian followed by some Eagles errors.
The Eagles gained some traction by getting on the board for two points until Ferrell delivered a kill, and Wagner and Baustian teamed up on a block to put Luverne up by four. 
Luverne would slowly increase that gap with the offensive plays of Ferrell catching the Eagles off balance by delivering a light serve over the net into a hole, Bork set assist to Baustian for a light tap over the net, and then changing it up with a powerful kill by Wagner. 
Southwest Christian gained control but the Cardinals went on the offensive again with Van Batavia passing to Baustian who set up Ferrell for the kill, and the trio of Ahrendt, Baustian and Ferrell executing that strategy again. 
With Luverne up by seven, the Eagles pecked away at the score. A bump pass by Stratton to Baustian who set assist for the Ahrendt kill stopped the Eagles’ run only to have the Eagles decrease the gap to three points. 
The duo of Jarchow and Bork put Luverne just shy of 25 when Baustian delivered a kill on the next play to take Game 2, 25-20. Luverne dominated in Game 3 despite Eagles getting on the board first. Ahrendt and Baustian executed a block to put Luverne up by one. 
Then Wagner put one over, which the Eagles could not control. A couple of plays later, it would seem Luverne was losing control, but Stratton saved the play with a spectacular dive to the side of the court, putting the ball back in play to help put Luverne up by four at this point in the game. 
An ace serve by Ferrell, a successful Ferrell bump pass to Bork who set assist for a Wagner kill, and two additional kills by Van Batavia increased the Cardinal lead by six points. 
The Eagles regained some control to decrease the gap to four, but after that the Cardinals soared. An ace serve by Stratton and a bump pass from Stratton to Bork setting up Ferrell for the kill initiated a steady stream of points. 
Again, Ferrell delivered a light serve just over the net, causing the Eagles to scramble, and Baustian caught the Eagles off balance again with a light delivery over the net. The final point was a gift from the Eagles with a touch net call. 
Luverne won Game 3 by a score of 25-14.

Thankful thoughts and godly thoughts will change your day.
“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make know his deeds among the peoples.” 1 Chronicles 16:8
“Complaining not only ruins everybody else’s day, it ruins the complainer’s day, too. The more we complain, the more unhappy we get.” (Dennis Prager)
The focus of our thoughts will affect our day and those around us.  When you slip into the quagmire of complaining, your day, your life and the life of those around you will quickly slide down the slippery slope of gloom, into the concentration camp of negativity.
God understands that complaining leads to destruction, so, in one form or another, he told us over 100 times in the Bible to give thanks. Not just give thanks as in have happy thoughts, but give thanks to the Lord. 
We are to give thanks for His deeds. Honestly think about what God has done for you as well as your family. Our mind often rushes to earthly things. Thanks for the food we have. Thanks for the house we live in. Thanks for the beautiful day.  Thanks for the flowers, the birds, and a plethora of other things we see. Yet, there are many people who have a shortage of food, or there has not been enough water for the flowers to grow. 
When we give thanks for His deeds, start with the items that are unchangeably good. Thank God for His work of salvation. Salvation is a gift from God. It is not based on anything we have done; it is all the work (deeds) of a gracious God.  Give thanks that God is watching over us. God knows when a sparrow dies, he takes care of the lilies in the field which are here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire. He will take care of us because we have greater value in Christ.  We were created in the image of God.  Nothing that God created has that claim, only humanity.
Thank him for sending his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life and willingly go to the cross as a ransom for us from the wrath of God resulting from sin.
Thank Jesus for the promise of sending the Holy Spirit to live in all believers as a guide, teaching us all truth and being an ever-present comforter. 
Let's take advice from Solomon, the wisest man ever, who said, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” (Proverbs 17:22) and choose not to complain.
 

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
1033 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, Sept. 16: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, Sept. 18: 5:30 p.m. Worship with Holy Communion and Baptism. Sunday, Sept. 19: 9 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion and Blessing of the Quilts. 10 a.m. First day of Sunday school. Fellowship Coffee. 10:15 a.m. 10th grade Confirmation. Monday, Sept. 20: Deadline for Grace Notes. Tuesday, Sept. 21: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Sept. 22: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. NO Confirmation classes. Thursday, Sept. 23: 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, Sept. 17: 6:30 a.m. Community men’s Bible study. Sunday, Sept. 19: 9:30 a.m. Bible Sunday, grades 1 and 7. 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:50 a.m. Sunday School. 12 p.m. Youth room reserved. 1:30 p.m. Mary Jane Brown and Poplar Creek services. Tuesday, Sept. 21: 12 p.m. Staff meeting. 7 p.m. Consistory meeting. Wednesday, Sept. 22: 5:30 p.m. Midweek Meal. 6:30 p.m. Pioneer Club. Jr. High youth group. Sr. High youth group. Thursday, Sept. 23: 9 a.m. Kitchen reserved. 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
Dorrie Hall, Pastor
Saturday, Sept. 18: 1-4 p.m. Rogney wedding shower. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Sept. 19: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 9:45 a.m. Coffee hour. 3 p.m. Bonfire. Live streamed on Facebook and radio. Monday, Sept. 20: Messenger deadline. Tuesday, Sept. 21: 10 a.m. Shut-in visits 6 p.m. Trustee meeting. 6:30 p.m. Church council meeting. Wednesday, Sept. 22: 7:40 a.m. See You at the Pole – the School. 5:30 p.m. Community Meal. 6:15 a.m. FUEL. 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. 8 p.m. AA Meeting.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Sunday, Sept. 19: 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10:15 a.m. Worship service. Wednesday, Sept. 22: Deacons. 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, Sept. 18: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, Sept. 19: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible study. Wednesday, Sept. 22: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ. 7:30 p.m. 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. 449-6522; 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 
 
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, Sept. 19: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10 a.m. Sunday school. 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, Sept. 19: 10:30 a.m. Worship 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
 
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, Sept. 19: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, Sept. 21: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, Sept. 22: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Confirmation class. 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

Most hunters pay little attention to protecting their hearing from the loud blast of a shotgun.
Rifle hunters, on the other hand, almost always wear substantial hearing protection. Some will even spend north of $1,200 to adapt their rifle to a suppressor, which is quiet enough not to require hearing protection.
It the past I never wore hearing protection while hunting. I did not shoot enough times in a day that I thought it relevant enough that it might endanger my hearing.
That has changed.
The No. 1 reason hunters haven’t worn hearing protection is that past methods of protection interfered with mounting the gun.
The head phone style hearing protection (called shooting muffs) would hit the stock of the gun when you mounted it to your shoulder.
This was unacceptable to almost every shooter.
The second option was foam ear plugs. These came in many styles, but almost all of them fit badly and were not comfortable to wear for long periods.
The major issue I have with the two mentioned earlier is that wearing either of them reduces my reaction time when a bird flushes.
I most often see the instant that a bird takes wing. I identify the target and shoot it if it’s legal and safe.
But what about the bird that flushed from 90 degrees to my right? He is at the outer edge of my peripheral vision. In situations like these I might not get a read on that bird in time to take a shot.
This is because with muffs or ear plugs, I cannot hear the wings. If a bird launches from behind me, even if he is really close, chances are he will make a successful getaway because I cannot see or hear him.
Foam ear plugs are better today than in the past, but they do not solve the issue of listening to wings. You can get plugs molded to the exact shape for your ears. These are a great step up from the 99-centers you buy from a big jug on the counter.
I decided that I shoot enough and hope to do it long enough that gun shots could very well affect my hearing in the long term.  I am 60 already and don’t want to spend the last 25 years of my life asking “What?”
I finally broke down and purchased my first set of electronic hearing protection from Sound Gear. These allow you to hear all normal conversations, including wing beats, but they block sound that exceeds unsafe levels for humans. These are pricey at about $1,000, but they’re cheap compared to hearing aids that can run $5,000 or more for damaged hearing.
They can and do act like something called a game ear, which can amplify all of the sounds around you. You might hear a white tail deer buck stepping on crispy leaves before you can actually see him. They also block the loud sounds. But they primarily come in the muff style, which is a big drawback.
I have used the electronic set I have for the past two years but I still did not wear them as often as I should have because I had trouble adjusting the volume with the end of my big fat fingers.
It was either too loud or too soft but rarely ever just right. Very frustrating. Others did not seem to have the same issue, but I struggled with it.
I reached out to Sound Gear and updated to a unit called Phantom, which is supposed to have even better sound quality that’s adjusted with an app on your phone.
I am not a phone guru, but I can follow directions and Blue Tooth connection is something I can handle. The cost is still much cheaper than being deaf when you are old.
Add some quality hearing protection to someone on your Christmas list. It will make playing cards with them way easier on the holidays. … What did you say again?
 
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.
 

Increased coronavirus activity is prompting Luverne School officials to implement a district-wide mask mandate, effective immediately.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl corresponded with parents and guardians electronically Monday indicating that everyone inside the school building must wear a facial covering.
“There has been a lot of illness activity in our health office and we have several students and staff who are currently quarantined due to close contact with a positive COVID case,” he wrote. “The medical community has also seen an increase in COVID activity in the past week.”
The district has seven active COVID-19 cases, as of Sept. 13. The school year began Sept. 7.
Three cases are in the elementary and four at the high school.
“We have worked with the Minnesota Department of Health on each of these cases to identify close contacts in order to determine steps to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Oftedahl indicated. “If your child is identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case at school, the school district will contact you.”
As of Friday, Sept. 10, the number of positive cases in the District was at two. By Monday afternoon, five additional cases were reported.
“The medical community has also seen an increase in COVID activity in the past week,” Oftedahl wrote.
The medical community is recommending that masks be worn in order to curb the spread of the virus.
The mask mandate will last through Oct. 1.
Oftedahl indicated that the medical community expects the current COVID surge is to peak around the end of September or the beginning of October.
In that timeframe, school administrators, along with members of the district’s incident command team, will evaluate case numbers and make adjustments as needed.
“Keeping children in school is critical to their emotional health and well-being and their educational success,” Oftedahl stressed. “The Luverne School District is committed to in-person learning for all students throughout the 2021-2022 school year. This is only possible with the cooperation of families and students.”
He encouraged parents and guardians to remember the following:
•Keep children who are ill and not feeling well at home.
•Take advantage of the testing options when students and parents are exhibiting symptoms.
•Continue to report cases among families and students with our school nurse, Phil Paquette.
•Wear a mask and encourage others to mask up.
•Take advantage of vaccinations for those who are age eligible.
•Maintain social distancing when possible.

More than 100 local student drivers were licensed in the past year, and they all had to travel outside the county for their written and behind the wheel exams.
That’s because the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) closed all 93 testing stations around the state in March 2020 during the pandemic.
A few months later, it reopened 14 consolidated stations, and few months later 23 test sites were open.
However, 70 test sites, mostly in rural areas of the state, remained closed, forcing rural drivers to travel hundreds of miles to get licensed.
Luverne’s Tyler Arends and his family were among the Rock County drivers affected by the DVS closures. He turned 16 on June 22, and his mom, Kim Arends, planned ahead.
On May 13 she scheduled Tyler’s behind the wheel test for June 22 in Marshall, which was the test site closest to Luverne. That would allow him to drive on his 16th birthday.
The plan fell apart, however, on June 2 when a rained-out golf meet got rescheduled and they had to reschedule the driving test for June 24, two days after Tyler’s birthday.
“The next closest place was Willmar,” Kim said. “I heard from other families who drove to Fairmont.”
It took a day of travel, but she’s counting their blessings.
“Luckily he passed on the first try,” she said. "And he’s a summer birthday; he didn’t have to miss school.” They traveled to Marshall in June 2020 for the written test to get his permit.
“It’s a bummer for the kids, too,” Kim said. “This is something they look forward to for a long time.”
 
Efficient for whom?
During the pandemic closures, state DVS officials reported “major efficiencies” from the consolidations and centrally locating staff.
Those efficiencies, however, came at the expense of the taxpaying public which picked up the extra miles, time and fuel.
Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre lamented the inefficiencies of so many people traveling for the tests, when a handful of DVS personnel could travel to the outstate locations to test drivers.
“Do they think it’s more efficient for 100 people to drive east, in our case, rather than two people to drive here?” he said. “It just doesn’t make any sense. But that’s the state for you.”
Cindy Arends handles driver’s education registration for families in the Luverne School District.
Between March 2020 and March 2021, she said more than 100 students were affected by the state’s test station closures.
Many of them traveled 70 miles to Marshall’s driving exam station or more than 90 miles to Fairmont’s station. Others drove 140 miles to Willmar when they learned the wait was too long in Marshall and Fairmont.
And they made these trips twice, once for the written test and another trip later for the driving test. They made return trips if students didn’t pass their tests.
If all the students licensed last year went to Marshall, the closest option during that time, they made the 140-mile round trip twice (once for the written test and once for behind the wheel), totaling 280 miles.
In many cases, the accompanying adults took a day off work, and the student drivers missed a day of school.
Pre-pandemic, exam stations were in each county operating at least one day per week, and students missed only an hour of school to take the test and then return to class.
 
Hardships and challenges
Brian Snyders is the driver’s education instructor in Luverne High School.
He said the absence of an exam station in Luverne has been a challenge for local families.
“They had to travel to take the test and then travel again for the driving test,” he said. “At first they were driving to Fairmont and Marshall.”
He said some families scheduled driving tests in northern Minnesota, timed with family vacations to save time and miles.
Snyders said Worthington, which recently reopened its test station, is a closer option, but it’s still an hour round trip, and it’s an unfamiliar place for local students to drive.
To prepare them with their test streets, he said he’d take the student drivers to Worthington at least once during behind-the-wheel training.
“They have four-way stops and roundabouts that we don’t have here,” he said.
Further, when DVS examiners tested in Luverne, Snyders said he worked with the examiner to learn what the students would need to know for the tests.
Without an exam station in town, Snyders said, that’s not possible.
And students aren’t the only ones facing hardships by test site closures. Farmers who hire seasonal drivers faced delays and extra costs, and rural transit drivers were having difficulties getting commercial licenses.
 
Seeking solutions
The Legislature recently ordered the reopening of all 93 stations in Minnesota, saying the distance and time for rural residents to reach larger cities for driver’s exams was unacceptable.
State law requires DVS to offer knowledge and road tests for Class D licenses either in or adjacent to every county in the state.
Similarly, statute ensures that customers obtain road tests with 14 days of requesting one, a requirement that is also not being met.
As of Aug. 10, the DVS has 26 exam stations open, including one in Worthington, and the goal is to reopen all 93 by Jan. 31, 2022.
To get to that point, state officials say they’ll need to:
•Renew leases or find new spaces to lease.
•Hire and train enough staff to cover testing at each location currently open.
•Hire 34 additional examiner positions.
•Set up an appointment schedule at each location.
Oldre said “finding” test sites shouldn’t be an issue, since many of the pre-pandemic locations are still available.
“Rock County stands receptive,” he said. “We want them back. It’s about serving the public, which is what we do.”
Legislators also approved nearly $5.2 million over the next two years to improve staffing and resources to accomplish the task.
Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the public is getting services it pays for and to make it fair for all drivers, whether they live in a metro area or in outstate Minnesota.

Reactions to life events can often be motivating or devastating, depending on one’s mindset.
Parker Hanson, 24, chooses to rise above adversity and embrace the life he was given.
“God doesn’t want you to look back in your life,” he said. “He wants you to look forward to tomorrow.”
Hanson, a former Augustana University baseball standout and Sioux Falls Canaries player, spoke at the inaugural Rock the Edge prayer breakfast Wednesday morning, Sept. 1, at Grand Prairie Events in Luverne.
Hanson encouraged the 100 students, parents and community members to “Rise Above Adversity: There’s No Excuses in Life,” to set the tone for the upcoming school year.
The Hawley, Minnesota, native was born without a left hand, yet he excelled at sports, rose to be a top pitcher in high school and college, and fulfilled his childhood dream of playing professional baseball.
However, he said the achievements were “fake happiness,” while inside he was dealing with his parents’ divorce, his step-dad’s cancer and years of ridicule he experienced for his physical deformity.
The pressure built through Hanson’s late teens. After Tommy John surgery on his right pitching arm, he was kicked off the baseball team and his step-father died. The lack of purpose and the depression led Hanson to start binge drinking as a college freshman.
“This is where I hit rock bottom,” Hanson said.
The turning point came when a friend invited him to church on Sunday. Hanson said he regularly attended services as a youth, but when the pastor talked about suicide, the message hit home.
He heard about the importance of mental health and the downfall of negative thoughts, and he found more meaning in life by moving forward with God’s help.
Hanson realized his negative thoughts were his worst enemy.
Among his most ardent supporters is his mother, Barb Hanson. “My mom says, ‘Your only disability is a bad attitude,’” he said.
The self-realization led Hanson to share his experience, and he found others who shared the same obstacles in life and needed to combat negative thoughts.
Hanson shared six tips to rise above adversity: Be yourself, trust in God, look forward not backward, build a positive mindset, accept failure, and (his favorite) always lend a helping hand .
He uses his missing hand as an illustration to go forward.
“If I can make one person smile — make one person’s day — I had a good day,” he said.
Hanson closed out his message by sharing that he spent one week as a professional baseball player. Doctors said the pain in his right arm could be relieved through another surgery.
He’s declined, instead opting to leave professional baseball behind and move forward.
“I want to be able to hold my (future) children,” he said.