Poultry roaming around our farm is a common sight.
Over the years there have been ducks, geese, chickens and guineas. Of all the poultry, guineas by far exhibit the strangest behavior.
They scamper silently from location to location. Frequently they come up behind you in the yard or in the barn and utter a noise that I can only describe as a well pump in need of oil. If you’re not prepared, the high-pitch squawks and hiccups scare you out of your shoes.
While they are good at scaring people, guineas are not very good at hatching their chicks. Very few of the guinea females will sit on a nest for the 28 days required for hatching. Chickens are, by far, better suited as incubators.
I recently had a front-row seat as one of the white laying chickens sat on a dozen guinea eggs for one 28-day period only to have no chicks hatch.
The hen made a nest behind the large floor fan in the horse barn, out of the way of the cats and any other creatures who venture through the barn.
When she was sitting, she was all business and didn’t move from the nest except for an occasional drink of water.
The second batch of eggs yielded five guinea chicks so small they looked like one-inch puffballs on sticks. That white hen would protectively gather the chicks under her with only 10 little legs visible under her feathered body.
The hen proved to be a good mom.
She would lead those guinea chicks on day trips between the horse and cattle barns, scratching at the ground and showing her “children” how to feed themselves. Each night she would bring her brood back to the horse barn, tucking them under her as she sat behind the fan.
I also found she was pretty protective of those chicks.
One evening, when a barn cat tried to make an entree out of one of the chicks, a fight between the hen and the cat rivaled any WWF match. Feathers flew, wings pummeled the cat with a flurry before the attacker suddenly ran away.
I admit I laughed at the fight. I’m glad it wasn’t my foot (which she often pecked as I walked too close to her chicks).
The developing cornfield south of the barns seemed to be a favorite place for the hen to search for food – until she became food for something that hides in the cornfield.
One morning, just hours after I saw the hen and chicks walking along the cornfield’s edge, a large area of white feathers covered the ground, more than what was lost when the hen fought the cat.
I suspected the worst, which was confirmed when the white hen didn’t return to the nest in the barn.
Fortunately, the white hen’s legacy does live on.
Those five guinea chicks are now mothered by a young guinea hen who often strolled nearby while the chicken had the chicks out on a walk. They frequently scamper around the farm and are developing the telltale “squeeky pump” noises that only a poultry mother can love.

Stroeh: Sept. 17 is Constitution Day 
To the Editor:
Sept. 17 is Constitution Day. A day which I feel is more important than ever in our country. My biggest fear is that we have already given up so many of our precious freedoms that I wonder if we will ever get them back.
Why is our Constitution so important? Why did our founding fathers work so hard to make sure everyone in America would be able to have all the samerights?
The first three words of our Constitution are “We the people …” which is so important because it means our government is for us, the people.
Our Constitution has seven main principles:
1. Sovereignty – a government the people rule.
2. Separation of powers – how is the power divided.
3. Checks and balances – the power of government is evenly distributed each branch needs the other to perform the work of government.
4. Federalism-power is shared by states and federal government
5. Limited government – everyone alike must obey the law, no one is above the law.
6. Individual rights – we are guaranteed personal rights in the first 10 amendments.
7. Republicanism – citizens exercise their power by voting.
Our founding fathers wanted to assure the people that the new government would not trample on our freedoms that they considered natural and inalienable rights. The rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
These natural rights can’t actually ever be taken away, we have them regardless of any government decree, past or future. But governments can take away the exercise of the rights we have. When they do this they are violating our rights.
Today we are letting our government take away more and more of our natural rights. They decided when we could worship, who was considered essential   and non-essential workers, which businesses could be open or that we had to wear a mask. And now we are concerned that we will have to prove that we have been vaccinated. At one time that was a personal choice and now it is becoming a requirement.
We have been failing to teach about civics in school, so our young people are losing a sense of what freedom really means. Did you know that our schools have to talk about the Constitution to students on Constitution Day?
There is a national grassroots movement going on right now in each state to propose amendments that restores limits on the power of all three branches of the federal government. It is called the Convention of States.
Our forefathers were so wise that they put in an amendment in case the government got too big and powerful that the states could call a convention to get the power back to the people and to the states where it belongs.
If you want more information go to ConventionOfStates.com. You can learn about the goal of COS and sign a petition to help have your voice heard. Made by possible by our Constitution of the United States of America.
Kristi Stroeh,
Luverne

I would imagine every one of us remembers exactly where we were when we first heard the news of the attacks on the World Trade Center building.
I was walking down Second Street in Redwood Falls on my way to the Redwood Gazette office.
It was about 9:30 in the morning, and from across the street Jay Eykyn yelled over, “Hey, Rick, did you hear about the plane that flew into the World Trade Center building?” I said I hadn’t but guessed it to probably be no big deal. Boy, was I wrong.
Until that day, in my world at least, Sept. 11 meant it was my dad’s birthday.
There are only a handful of days in our history that are forever imbedded in our minds like 9/11. I suppose besides the horrific events of the day, the fact that the day is commonly known as 9/11 helps us remember the month and date it happened.
I have compiled a list of months and dates of a handful of events in our country’s history. Let’s see whether you can recall what happened on those dates without the help of Google.
The first one is easy: Dec. 7, 1941.
Now how about these?
Nov. 22, 1963
April 15, 1865
Sept. 2, 1945.
Nov. 11, 1918
March 30, 1981.
Give up? Keep trying. (The answers are at the end of this column.)
This Saturday is 9/11, or Sept. 11, now known as Patriot Day, which frankly hasn’t really caught on.
Sept. 11 is a day for so many of us in which we will pause and remember the horror of the day, the bravery of the first responders, and the heroics of people in the towers, at the Pentagon and on the planes.
So much of it we will never really know. So let’s continue to remember this day and so many other days that have affected our country and in many cases our way of life.
Answers:
Dec. 7, 1941:  Attack on Pearl Harbor.
Nov. 22, 1963: President Kennedy assassination.
April 15, 1865: President Lincoln assassination.
Sept. 2, 1945: Victory over Japan; end of World War II.
Nov. 11, 1918: Armistice Day and end of World War I, now more commonly known as Veterans Day.
March 30, 1981: Assassination attempt on President Reagan.

Dispatch report
Aug. 27
•Phone outage was reported.
•Reported a pedestrian light at crosswalk is possibly out.
•Complainant on W. Adams Street reported a civil property issue.
•Complainant reported an abandoned vehicle on 91st Street, Luverne.
•Complainant reported a camera outage.
Aug. 28
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue and Dodge Street reported a suspicious vehicle.
•Complainant on 21st Street, Steen, reported a vehicle fire at location.
•Complainant on W. Maple Street reported a parking complaint.
•A tornado watch was issued for Rock County.
•A tornado warning was issued for Rock County.
•Complainant on S. Walnut Avenue reported storm damage.
•Complainant on 21st Street, Hills, reported debris on road with possible power lines down.
•Report of flash flood warning in Rock County.
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported suspicious activity.
Aug. 29
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a disorderly male.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 1, Beaver Creek, reported plywood in the lane of travel.
•Complainant reported harassment.
•Complainant reported harassment by subject.
•Complainant northbound on Highway 75, south of Luverne, reported an erratic driver.
•Complainant on Highway 75, north of Luverne, reported a vehicle almost ran several cars off the roadway.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 12, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
Aug. 30
•Complainant on E. Crawford Street reported a break-in and theft from location.
•Complainant reported a subject threatened him.
•Motorist needed assistance on Highway 23 and County Road 4, Valley Springs, South Dakota.
•Complainant on E. Crawford Street reported damage to property.
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 270 and County Highway 6, Hills, reported a speeding driver.
•Complainant on S. East Park Street reported a vehicle has been parked in front of her house for a long time.
•Complainant reported fraud.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street requested deputy for property exchange.
•Complainant on Main Street and Warren Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reported out of state emergency.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a transient at location.
Aug. 31
•Complainant on County Highway 4, Beaver Creek, reported a scam caller who made sexual statements.
•Complainant on E. Crawford Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on Kniss Avenue and Main Street reported a traffic jam.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported trespassing.
•Complainant at Redbird Field reported smoke.
Sept. 1
•Complainant on Highway 75, mile marker 8, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on 41st Street, Hills, reported cross arm was stuck.
•Complainant southbound on Highway 23, mile marker 3, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant in Rock County requested siren testing.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90 from Worthington, reported speeding vehicles.
Sept. 2
•Complainant in Steen reported motor vehicle theft.
•Complainant on W. Warren Street reported motor vehicle theft.
•Complainant on N. Oakley Street requested a residence check.
Sept. 3
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported a vehicle running for hours.
•Complainant on 101st Street, Luverne, requested Nobles County deputy to assist in locating subject.
 In addition, officers responded to 1 deer accident, 1 vehicle in ditch, 1 transport, 6 escorts, 8 ambulance runs, 5 animal complaints, 3 fingerprint requests, 4 burn permits, 1 vehicle impound, 4 alarms, 13 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 6 traffic stops, 8 abandoned 911 calls, 1 test, 2 welfare checks, 1 report of cattle out, 1 OFP and 3 follow-ups.

The city of Luverne recently installed an electric car charger at the East Main Street and Blue Mound Avenue intersection.
The Level 2 charger is approved by Luverne’s electricity provider, Missouri River Energy Services, and city workers installed it in late August.
It’s capable of charging two cars at a time and takes up to two hours per charge, as opposed to the “fast chargers” that are more expensive and require more electricity.
The fast chargers are commonly installed at bars and restaurants where drivers can plug in their vehicles and have lunch while they charge.
The city is planning a fast charging station at a location closer to I-90, but for now the Level 2 charger will attract motorists with more time to stop.
Plus, they can plug in for free.
The charging station on East Main Street costs the city just over $1 per charge, but for now it’s being offered free of charge as an economic development tool.
“At the trailhead, you can check out a bike, walk up town or go across the street to the brewery,” Mayor Pat Baustian said at a recent council meeting.
“It’s placed it strategically where there is a high demand.”
Motorists with electric cars have apps on their cell phones showing the locations along their traveled route where they can charge their vehicles.
The city of Luverne purchased the Level 2 charging station for $11,000, which includes a five-year warranty, through MRES and received a $3,000 rebate from MRES to install it.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, Sept. 13: Sloppy Joe on a bun, broccoli, baked beans, cookie.
Tuesday, Sept. 14: Roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, California Normandy, bread.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church.
Wednesday, Sept. 15: Ham pasta salad, creamy cucumbers, fresh fruit, bar.
 Thursday, Sept. 16: Sub sandwich, peas and cheese salad, fruit, dessert.
Friday, Sept. 17: Chicken Alfredo, fettucine pasta, mixed vegetables, mandarin oranges, Rice Krispie bar.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

Bridal Shower
An open house bridal shower for Jenna Leslie, bride-to-be of Brandon Boeve, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills.

This summer has been one of the more frustrating summers for gardeners in recent years.  Persistent drought, heat, and pests have presented challenges than were not encouraging.  I am grateful for the abundant rain we have been blessed with in the past week because going into winter with limited top and sub soil moisture can be a critical factor for survival of many of our trees, shrubs, and perennials.
This is the perfect time to spray your lawn to eliminate weeds. The herbicide is most effective when weeds are growing actively, and the moisture and cooler temperature have encouraged that growth. Persistent weeds like creeping Charlie will take more than one application for control, and spraying  now gives enough time to hit it a   couple of times this fall.
This is also the best time to move or divide perennials. The cooler air and warm soil encourage rapid re-establishment before winter so in the spring there is no growth set back because of root disturbance.
I’ve mentioned before that daylilies in particular benefit from division every four to five years. After that, the clumps get so crowded that the quantity and quality of blooms declines dramatically.
Additionally, in looking at your garden layout, if you want to rearrange or reposition perennials to make combinations more appealing or heights adjusted, you know exactly what is where so it is easier to make those moves now.
September is also a great time to plant new trees, shrubs or perennials, provided you can find the varieties that you want. Selection is always more limited at the end of the season, but growers really make an effort to maintain reasonable availability.
September and October are also the months to plant spring-blooming bulbs. I’ve been receiving mail order catalogs since June, and those companies start shipping later this month. The big box stores will have prepackaged bulbs available now also.  Daffodils prefer to get planted before the end of September, but the other bulbs can be planted into October.
There are three main classes of tulips: early, mid and late bloomers. The latest-blooming are the Darwin varieties, and they have the largest blooms, the longest stems, and are the most reliable for blooming year after year.
Mid-season tulips are the triumph varieties. This is the tulip bulb we use for indoor forcing as well as outdoor planting. The bulbs are not quite as hardy as the Darwins but usually do pretty well in our Zone 4 climate.
There are several varieties of early tulips, with the emperors being the most common. Stems will be short and they do well in a protected area, but the fact of their blooming early makes them vulnerable to late freezes. A protected area close to the foundation will help with that threat in addition to being an area where the ground doesn’t freeze quite as hard.
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The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on May 20, 1932.
 
Raccoons are Latest Addition to Park Zoo
 
Alderman Peschon Secures Pair from Arnold Schoon to be Exhibited with Deer and Bear at Park
An important addition to the zoo annex at Luverne’s public park was made the first of the week by Park Commissioner Frank Peschon, when he secured a pair of raccoons, which are now on exhibit there with the bear and the deer that have been domiciled at this popular recreation grounds for a few weeks. The latest addition was secured from Arnold Schoon, of Steen.
Mr. Schoon has had the ’coons in captivity since last fall, having purchased them in Iowa with the intention of raising a colony. They do not appear to be much inclined to cultivate an intimate acquaintance with the public and since they took up their new residence they appeared bewildered.
Mr. Peschon procured a securely built wire enclosure with the raccoons from their owner, and this is the only reason why they are still habituating at the park, for from the very outset they have shown a pronounced dislike for human associates and are inclined to crawl into their box and remain out of sight whenever anyone approaches. Mr. Peschon outguessed them, however, by attaching a wire to one end of the box that represents their home, and by raising this the little animals are prevented from remaining out of sight. As time goes by they will likely get used to being on daily exhibition, but so far they have persisted in showing a very unfriendly attitude toward everyone.
 
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.