Earlier this month Mary and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary. A couple of weeks after that, I added another year to my age.
I bring up both of those milestones because with our aging we have noticed some not-so-subtle changes that are starting to creep into our daily lives.
Body aches and pains are more frequent, and I can handle that. But the hard part about those aches and pains is that they hang around a lot longer than they used to.
Stronger prescription glasses or bi/trifocals are no doubt on the horizon. Having had some sort of corrective eyewear for the better part of our lives, a visit to the eye doctor for a stronger prescription doesn’t really heighten my aging denial way of thinking.
Admitting hearing aids may be in our future, on the other hand, would be like throwing in the towel on the anti-aging fight.
During our 44 years of marital bliss, Mary and I have had our share of, let’s say, minor disagreements along the way. Those disagreements, like many married folks usually have, deal with parenting issues, money matters, home décor decisions or how many hunting outings I go on, and so forth.
Recently our disagreements have been focusing on whose hearing is worse.
Lately our recent conversations have been going something like this: It doesn’t really matter who starts the conversation, but for this column let’s say I start the conversation with “Hi Honey, I’m home. How was your day?” Mary responds with “What?” I come back with “What?” She says in a much louder tone, “What did you say?” After shaking my head, I say even louder, “I said, ‘Hi Honey, I’m home. How was your day?’” Then she would say something like, “Why do you need money and a comb for the hay?”
Then I would say, “Oh, (insert bad word of your choice) just forget it.” She then closes out the conversation with, “OK, Honey. You have a nice day.”
The problem with those conversations – and  I am not throwing Mary under the bus here because I am just as much at fault as she is – but they are more the norm than they used to be.
We are working on what I call our hearing aid denial plan.
When Mary starts to talk to me, I lean in toward her with my right ear (the better of the two). She tries to help by facing toward me and begins to talk. This has helped but only if we are sitting next to each other.
So, until one or both of us get hearing aids, the “What did you say?” will continue and the louder than normal conversation will be just the new norm.

Monday night the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board took their yearly building tour of the elementary school in Beaver Creek and the Hugo Goehle gymnasium and secondary school, both in Hills.

The 2021-22 school year begins Sept. 7 in H-BC for middle and high school students and Sept. 8 for elementary students.

Dispatch report
Aug. 13
•Complainant reported driver not returning his truck.
•Complainant on N. Cedar Street reported property damage.
•Complainant requested to speak to deputy.
•Driving complaint was reported westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 1, Valley Springs, South Dakota.
Aug. 14
•Complainant on E. 1st Street, Hardwick, reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant requested to speak to deputy about landlord-tenant issue.
•Complainant on 201st Street reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and 95th Street, Beaver Creek, reported an erratic driver.
•Complainant on N. Linden Street reported someone disturbing the peace.
Aug. 15
•Deputy assisted motorist on S. Kniss Avenue.
•Deputy on E. Veterans Drive stood by for property exchange.
•Complainant at The Lake reported kids behaving badly.
•Deputy assisted a citizen on 1st Street, Jasper.
•Complainant on railroad bridge near Redbird Field reported a bike was found.
•Complainant on Luverne Street and Donaldson Street reported a traffic complaint.
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 19, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on W. Luverne Street in Magnolia reported an assault at location.
•Complainant on S. Steen Street reported suspicious activity.
Aug. 16
•Complainant in Woodstock reported a personal injury at location.
•Police department requested information.
•Complainant on Dakota Street and Iowa Avenue, Steen, reported a large fire.
•Complainant on N. Blue Mound Avenue reported an open door at location.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported a possible theft.
•Complainant on State Highway 23, Jasper, reported erratic driving.
•Complainant on Crawford Street reported construction signs being posted at location.
•Complainant on E. Adams reported a driving complaint.
Aug. 17
•Report of party needing assistance with fuel on Walnut Avenue and Sunshine Avenue.
•Deputy checked on tent at Redbird Field.
•Jackson County arrested subject on Rock County warrant.
•Complainant on S. Ross Street, Hardwick, reported garbage dumped at the tree dump.
•Complainant reported theft.
•Property was found at location on S. Kniss Avenue.
Aug. 18
•Complainant on W. Barck Avenue reported harassing communications at location.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and 110th Avenue, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street reported a property dispute.
•Complainant on E. Dodge Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on Donaldson Street and W. Hatting Street reported a parking issue.
•Complainant on Interstate 90 reported debris on roadway.
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue reported harassment through Snapchat.
Aug. 19
•Complainant on County Road 4 and 180th Avenue, Luverne, reported debris on roadway.
•Deputy assisted stranded motorist on County Road 4 and 180th Avenue, Luverne.
•Complainant on W. Barck Avenue requested a deputy to stand by for property exchange.
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported a garage door open.
Aug. 20
•Complainant on McKenzie and Lincoln reported kids disturbing the peace at location.
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 3, Beaver Creek, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on W. Virginia Street and N. Lindale Street reported a flat tire and vehicles speeding by her.
•Complainant on S. Walnut Avenue and County Road 4 reported a semitrailer blocking traffic.
 In addition, officers responded to 5 motor vehicle accidents, 1 deer accident, 1 vehicle in ditch, 2 transports, 8 escorts, 6 ambulance runs, 7 paper services, 1 animal complaint, 1 fingerprint request, 4 burn permits, 1 vehicle impound, 5 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 2 traffic stops, 7 abandoned 911 calls, 5 tests, 3 welfare checks, 1 report of cattle out and 1 OFP.

Birth
A boy, Emmett Mark, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces, 19 inches long, was born to Andrew and Laura Fodness, Adrian, on July 30, 2021. Grandparents are Bryan and Mavis Fodness, Hardwick, and Mark and Janine Lorang, Lismore. Great-grandparents are Betty Olson, Luverne, and Charles and Kathy Fodness, Rushmore.

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, Aug. 30: Chicken and noodle casserole, mixed vegetables, peaches, cookie.
Tuesday, Aug. 31: Tater tot casserole, green beans, bread, cinnamon apples.
Wednesday, Sept. 1: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, brownie.
Half-Price Day sponsored by American Reformed Church.
 Thursday, Sept. 2: Chicken pasta salad, marinated vegetables, fruit, dessert.
Friday, Sept. 3: Chicken-fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, dinner roll, dessert.
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.

10 years ago (2011)
•A powerful storm swept through Rock County in the overnight hours of Tuesday morning.
Nearly 60-mph winds uprooted trees, tore rooftops off buildings and collapsed grain bins, among other reported damage. …
The most concentrated area of damage, and perhaps the most visible, was in the center of Luverne, primarily in a two-block area of Estey and Brown streets.
There, decade-old trees were uprooted, and towering maple and cottonwood trees downed, leaving gaping holes in the sky where there were once wide canopies of shade.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•Plum Creek Library System will no longer bring the Roadrunner Bookmobile to rural Rock County communities. In fact, if no other organization steps forward to operate it by next spring, the bookmobile will cease to exist altogether.
The Bookmobile was established in 1975 to make books and educational materials available to residents of rural communities who didn’t have access to libraries.
It was started by the Plum Creek Library Board, which is governed by representatives from nine southwestern Minnesota counties that utilize the bookmobile.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•About 20 students living in the city of Luverne will be eligible to receive bus transportation to their respective schools, under the provisions of a new law enacted by the Minnesota Legislature.
Meeting in a special session Monday night, the school board adopted the policy providing transportation under Chapter 890, which permits the school board to transport students living one mile or more from the school.
According to Supt. Harvey G. Eitreim, the distance a child lives from school is defined as the shortest route from the child’s residence by public walkway, street or highway to the assigned school. Here, the distance will be determined by engineer’s map or actual measurement.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•Luverne’s newest retail store, Leuthold and Bauer, will be opened to the public Friday (tomorrow) at 8:30 a.m.
A complete line of men’s and boys’  wearing apparel and footwear, will be featured, according to Bill Bauer, co-partner and manager of the firm. This includes not only what might be termed “dress” clothing, but work clothing and sportswear will also be carried.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•Luverne will have a foot ball team this fall and about 15 games will be scheduled. This was decided upon at a meeting in the city hall Friday night, when a representative crowd of foot ball enthusiasts convened for the purpose of organizing a Luverne team and electing officers.
O. H. Mosby was unanimously selected as secretary and treasurer and will take care of the arrangements of games. Millard Mosby was chosen captain of the team and will handle the work outs of the men.
The team at present has enough foot ball togs to outfit about sixteen men, and it is particularly desired that all young men who have played foot ball or want to try for positions on the team report to Captain Mosby.

Mavis Grage, 99, Jasper, died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2021, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. 
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jasper. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.  Burial will be in the Jasper City Cemetery in Jasper.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home, Jasper Chapel, www.hartquistfuneral.com
(0826 DN)

The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on March 29, 1935.
 
Rock County Burial Assn. Re-Elects Four Directors
Encouraging Reports on Past Year’s Business Submitted at Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Four directors were each re-elected for two years at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Rock County Co-Operative  Burial association, held Saturday afternoon at the Luverne Commercial club rooms. They are Wm. J. Vander Haar, of Clinton township; Thos. Vandezan, of Luverne township; Wm. Heckt, of this city, and J. N. Jacobson, of Hills.
The directing board will meet at a later date to name officers for the coming year. At present Mr. Vander Haar is president; Mr. Vandezan, secretary, and Mr. Heckt, treasurer.
Encouraging reports were submitted by the secretary and treasurer and by Manager Lloyd Johnson, disclosing that during the past year the association had not only handled a larger volume of business than usual, but it was also in very good financial condition. Improved collections were shown to have placed the finances of the organization on a firmer and more substantial footing.
The burial association maintains an undertaking parlor and funeral chapel on West Main street, and in the same building there are maintained home accommodations for the undertaker and his family.
         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.

Graber graduates from Marine Corps
Private First Class Mitchell Graber graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, on Friday, Aug. 20. PFC Graber is continuing his training at the School of Infantry, which will be followed by schooling for his Military Occupational Specialty.
PFC Graber is a member of the Minnesota Marine Reserves. He is the son of Keith and Seana Graber and the grandson of Marlyn and Karen Roberts, all of Luverne.
 
Walgrave accepting patients at Sanford Luverne Clinic
Luverne native Suzie Walgrave, CNP, has started accepting patients by appointment at Sanford Luverne Clinic.
“My goal is to provide compassionate, safe and effective care to every patient, every time,” Walgrave indicated in her idea of care.
She recently received her Master of Nursing Practice from Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. She is a specialist in family medicine.
Walgrave is board certified with the American Academy of Nursing Practitioners and has a Doctor of Nurse Practice degree from Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota, where she is also an adjunct professor for nurse anesthesia. Walgrave is also pursuing a doctorate degree in nursing leadership and education at Mount Marty.
She trained and competed as a martial arts athlete with Team USA for several years. She continues to train and coach high-level athletes when not at the clinic.
Walgrave lives in Luverne with her two mini-Aussies named Ludo and Leela.