The Luverne Redbirds will open the 2021 Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Chaska.
The Redbirds, 25-5 on the season, will face the Eagle Lake Expos in the second round of the tournament.
Luverne earned a first-round bye after winning the Region 13C tournament.
The No. 1-seeded Redbirds swept the Adrian A’s, Hadley Buttermakers and Milroy Irish by a combined score of 55-8 during the region playoffs.
The Windom Pirates and Milroy Irish also represented Region 13C in the state tournament, with both teams playing in the first round of the 48-team tournament.
The Pirates lost to the Sobieski Skis 2-0 Saturday while the Irish came up short 4-0 to Maple Lake Sunday.
Eagle Lake, 8-11 on the season, reached the state tournament by defeating the Waterville Indians 1-0 in ten innings during the Region 6C semifinal.
In the region championship game, the No. 12-seeded Expos lost 7-0 to the top-seeded Jordan Brewers.
The Eagle Lake team began in 2018 and is playing in its first state amateur baseball tournament.
At the state tournament, Eagle Lake defeated the Cannon Falls Bears 2-1 during Round 1 Sunday in Chaska.
In that game, the score was tied 1-1 when the Expos’ Luke Johnson hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning.
When the Expos held the Bears scoreless in the ninth inning, Eagle Lake won 2-1 and advanced to face Luverne in the  second round Saturday.
“They look young and athletic,” said Luverne player-manager Brooks Maurer about the Expos.
According to a report from KEYC-TV in Mankato, seven of the Expos’ nine starters are 20 years old or younger.
“From what I’ve heard, it’s mostly young guys from Mankato,” Maurer said.
“Once you get to this second weekend, you have to play your best baseball to beat any team you play,” he said.
The winner of the Redbirds-Expos game will advance to play the Watertown Red Devils or the Avon Lakers at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, in Waconia.
Teams that advance to play Labor Day weekend need to win once Saturday, twice Sunday and once Monday to win the championship in the single-elimination Class C State Tournament.
“It will be a fun weekend and hopefully we make it to Labor Day weekend,” Maurer said.

The Luverne girls’ tennis team had a successful start to the 2021 season with a pair of road victories on Saturday.
The Cardinals defeated the Morris Area Tigers and Benson Braves by identical 4-3 scores.
LHS number 1 singles player, Mia Wenzel, and the No. 3 doubles team of Tori Hemme and Priscilla Muehr all went undefeated for the day with 2-0 records.
LHS girls’ coach Jon Beers said he is optimistic about the new season, even though there are only a few returning players with varsity experience. 
“We only have three returning players with varsity matches from last year,” Beers said. “But the new varsity players didn’t seem to be nervous.”
 
Luverne 4, Morris Area 3
Wenzel, returning No. 4 singles player from last year, defeated Morris Area’s Abbigail Athey in a thrilling 3 set match 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
At No. 2 singles, Luverne’s Olivia Wieneke lost 6-2, 6-0 to Kassidy Girard. No. 3 singles Jacey Smith lost a close three-set match to Cate Kehoe 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Luverne’s Roselyn Hartshorn defeated Claire Stark 6-3, 7-5 at No. 4 singles.
Kristin Rud and Hope Thorson from Luverne defeated Lakie Manska and Brianna Schmidgall 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 at No.1 doubles.
Luverne’s Katharine Kelm and Sarah Stegenga lost to Hope Sperr and Kjersten Nibbe 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 in No. 2 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, Tori Hemme and Priscilla Muehr from Luverne, defeated Liz Pollard and Lydia Fynboh 7-5, 6-0.
 
Luverne 4, Benson 3
In the Benson match, Wenzel defeated Elise Duncan 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 singles.
“Mia played great in both of her matches. I am really excited to see how her season goes,” Beers said.
Rud and Thorson moved to singles for the Benson match. At No. 2 singles, Rud lost to Hannah Helm 6-0, 6-2 and Thorson lost 6-2, 6-0 to Elle Kletshluer at No. 3 singles.
“Kristin and Hope played a hard three-set match against Morris Area,” Beers said.
“I was pleased to see how hard they played their singles matches without much time between the matches.”
At No. 4 singles Hartshorn lost to Abby Dejoy 6-4, 7-6. 
Luverne won all three doubles matches in the Benson match.
Wieneke and Smith played No. 1 doubles after playing singles in the first match and won an exciting match 4-6, 6-3, 10-2.
No. 2 doubles Kelm and Stegenga won 7-6, 4-6, 10-8, and No. 3 doubles Hemme and Muehr won 3-6, 7-5,
10-5.
“All three doubles teams had exciting matches with all three going to a third set tiebreaker,” Beers said.
“If we had lost any one of the matches, we would not have won the team dual. I could not be more proud of all the girls that played doubles matches today.”
Luverne returns to action at 2 p.m. on Tuesday for their home opener with matches against Yellow Medicine East and MACCRAY.

Local dirt track races were rained out Friday, but three area tracks staged races on Saturday night.
The final LSR (Luverne-Slayton-Rock Rapids) Enduro Series race of the season was at Murray County Speedway in Slayton.
Twenty-seven drivers from the three states competed in the race, including eight from Rock County.
Chase Overgaard, Luverne, finished in third place, moving all the way up from his 23rd position start. Jasmine Kalass, Luverne, placed fifth overall.
Silas Top, Hardwick, finished second in the Bombers Class A Feature race at Worthington Speedway Saturday night.
Below are the full results for Rock County drivers from Aug. 21 races at area tracks.
 
Murray County Speedway – Aug. 21
LSR Enduro Series

Chase Overgaard

Luverne

  3

Jasmine Kalass

Luverne

  5

Tony Fluit

Luverne

  9

Hunter Fluit

Luverne

12

Eric Gaul

Luverne

16

Josh Fick

Luverne

17

Chris Hoogland

Jasper

20

Trevor Fluit

Kenneth

22

 
Worthington Speedway – Aug. 21
Bombers A Feature

Silas Top

Hardwick

  2

 
I-90 Speedway – Aug. 21
USRA Hobby Stocks A Feature

Cadyn Wessels

Luverne

18

The first fall gunning season is only two weeks away.
The fall hunting season starts with the mourning dove opener on Sept. 1. The mourning dove is the most numerous game bird in North America, and states have been hunting them for decades.
When the season started in Minnesota more than a decade ago, it was a pretty big controversy. A segment of the population thought they should be left alone, as they did not hurt anything and sounded really cool. The other segment described them as a renewable resource that could be hunted with no measurable impact on their populations. Both feel like they are right, and this debate will most likely never end.  After more than 10 years, the volume on this debate has toned down significantly.
A mourning dove has a life expectancy of about 11 months. Most of the doves that hunters shoot would likely be dead by the same time next year due to natural causes. It is this fact that should convince the majority of anti-dove hunters in the crowd.
I really enjoy hunting doves, but I live in a part of the state where dove hunting is really hot and cold. The season runs several months but could last twice as long and the number of doves harvested would not increase. Doves are a wimpy bird. There are doves around on the opener, but after one or two solid frosts, all of these critters will be gone from Minnesota on the way to warmer pastures.
It is not only cold temperatures that send them packing. A few years back the dove opener was really successful. I missed opening day, and on day two the wind blew 45-50 mph. On day three when the wind went down, there was not a single dove left in the county. I missed one day and ended up missing the entire season.
Dove hunting spots are not hard to identify, but they are really hard to find in my world. Wheat fields are their favorite haunts. They can be found there in good numbers during early morning and evening hours. The problem is that there are almost no small grain fields in the area where I live. The ones that do exist would have 100 hunters each if the landowner said yes to every person who asked permission. Other small grains like oats and barley don’t seem to do the trick nearly as well.
Small grains are used in a crop rotation for soil health reasons in many cases. They are also places to spread manure before the fall corn and bean harvest gets in full swing. Once the manure is spread over the spot, the doves don’t like it nearly as well. Most wheat fields will have this effort completed within one week of the actual harvest. So if you find a good spot, it is likely that in only a few days it won’t be nearly as good a spot.
One other pretty good option for finding doves is to look for new seedings of CRP or new grass stands on new public hunting lands. These weedy areas will attract doves, but the vegetation growth is normally so tall that finding downed birds is a much greater challenge. I like walking these areas and flushing the birds from the cover much like a pheasant.
Dove hunting is great for kids because there is normally quite a bit of shooting if you can find a good spot and the temperatures are warmer so the kids won’t freeze to death or make comments about going home after only 15 minutes into the hunt. They also don’t have to be so super quiet, and a little fidgeting on the bucket is still allowed.
I still use my hunting Labradors to mark the downed birds and make the retrieves, but it takes the right dog. Doves are small and some dogs can chew up the bird before they can run it back to you. The limit is 15 per day, but few hunters fill their daily limit very often. My dad (back in the day when it was legal) would ride on the front fender of the old Chevy station wagon and then hop off and shoot them when they flew off the power lines. He was the only guy I knew that could harvest 15 doves with a box of 25 shells. The average hunter expends six to seven rounds for each dove harvested, so the ammo companies love dove hunters.
You do need a license to hunt doves, but not the migratory bird stamps like duck hunters need. The season is short and the spots a little hard to find, but after sitting on the sidelines for 9 1/2 months it will great to smell the aroma of gunpowder again.
You have two weeks to scout a spot and find a youth to take along. Folks that don’t hunt miss the very best times of the day, those being sunrise and sunset. Don’t miss out. Recreate outside this fall and start with a little dove hunting.
If you hunt in southwest Minnesota, look for the guy driving the pheasant truck. I would love to share your story with others even more than my own.
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.

When you hear the word “work,” what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
When I hear the word “work,” positive images pop into my mind. In part I believe that is because I grew up in a home where work was seen as a good thing. It was something I never heard my parents complain about.
As I grew older, I started working for others, whether that was baling hay for area farmers or carrying out groceries at Fareway.
After I started working, I also found out that not everyone liked work. Work wasn’t a joy for some people; instead, they saw it as a burden.  Work was something they had to do to make a living.
I found myself wondering why I liked to work when other people did not like to work. Did my dad and mom brainwash me? Was work more difficult for some people than it was for me?  Was my family just weird?
I wondered what the Bible has to say about work.  I found I didn’t have to look very far to find my answer. It was right there at the beginning of the Bible. Work is a part of God’s perfect creation, as Genesis 2:15 shares with us. God created humans and then he gave them work to do. God didn’t just plop Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and then tell them to take it easy. He instructed them to work it and take care of it.
What this teaches us is that work is not something that’s bad. Quite the contrary, it is something that is good – in fact very good – because it is a part of God’s perfect creation.
Think about the impact that Genesis 2:15 can have on how we view work. What we begin to recognize is that work existed before sin entered the world.
For some people the thought of work being good is unthinkable. For them work is at best simply a means to an end.
There are two competing theories about work. One is that people work to play, meaning work is some kind of necessary evil,  some kind of burden we have to bear in order to do what we want to do.
But that isn’t what God is teaching us. If work is a part of creation pre-sin, then it would stand to reason that work isn’t burden. Work is a blessing because it was a part of the perfect world from the beginning.
In God’s perfect design there will always be work for us to do. Keep in mind that it will be good work, productive work. Work that will keep us occupied with gladness of heart.

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
Roger Sparks, Pastor
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on Roger Sparks’ Facebook page 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, Aug. 26: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, Aug. 28: 5:30 p.m. Polka Worship service. Sunday, Aug. 29: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10 a.m. Fellowship coffee and treats. Tuesday, Aug. 31: 8:30 a.m. Grace notes assembly. 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, Sept. 1: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. Thursday, Sept. 2: 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, Aug. 27: 6:30 a.m. Community men’s Bible study. Wedding rehearsal. Saturday, Aug. 28: Wedding of Emilee Johnson and Nate Haraldson. Sunday, Aug. 29: 9:30 a.m. Worship service with Guest Pastor Dave Heilman. Tuesday, Aug. 31: 12:00 Staff meeting. 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
Saturday, Aug. 28: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, Aug. 29: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service; live streamed on Facebook and radio. 4:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible study. Tuesday, Aug. 31: 9:30 a.m. Folding team. Wednesday, Sept. 1: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, Sept. 2: 6:30 p.m. RTE community prayer breakfast.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Sunday, Aug. 29: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. Wednesday, Sept. 1: Committee meetings. 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, Aug. 28: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, Aug. 29: 9 a.m. Worship service. 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, Aug. 29: 10 a.m. Joint worship at Palisade Lutheran. Masks are no longer required 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, Aug. 29: 10 a.m. Joint worship at Palisade Lutheran. Masks are no longer required 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, Aug. 29: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Youth time. 10 a.m. Worship service. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, Aug. 31: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

H-BC School Board 
meets July 28
Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671
Minutes
July 28, 2021
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semi-monthly meeting at 7:02 p.m. in the H-BC Secondary School Board room. Chair assigned Ethan Rozeboom 
as Acting Clerk.
Board members and Administration present in the HBC Secondary Board room were Bosch, Fransman, Gehrke, Harnack and Rozeboom. Superintendent Holthaus and Business Manager Rozeboom were also in attendance. 
Board members Knobloch and Rauk, and Principal Kellenberger were absent.
Motion by Bosch, second by Fransman, and carried to approve the agenda.
Proposed Addition to agenda: Chair assign Acting Clerk
Visitor to the meeting was Matthew Hammer with Ehlers by phone. Statement
regarding evaluation of Todd Holthaus - District Superintendent.
BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS: - none
Motion by Harnack, second by Bosch, and carried to approve Consent Agenda:
Minutes—07/12/2021
Bills
Accepting the resignation of Arielle Larson as paraprofessional effective
immediately.
Accepting Arlen Leenderts resignation as daily P.M. bus route driver effective 
the 21-22 school year.
Hiring Graham Sudenga as part time spanish teacher for the 2021-2022 School
Year.
Hiring Graham Sudenga as part time special needs paraprofessional for the 
21-22 school year.
Hiring Julie Shamatt as part time special needs paraprofessional for the 21-22
school year.
Hiring Tedra Voss as part time After School Enrichment/Child Care Coordi-
nator for the 21-22 school year.
Hiring Mark Top as P.M. bus route driver for the 21-22 school year.
Purchase of the following Kitchen Equipment as part of the food service fund
spend down:
Two Utility Carts, Three Stock Pots, 36 Sheet Pans, One Pan Rack, One
Refrigerator
Second Reading of Handbooks for the 2021-2022 School 
Year -Secondary Student Handbook
-Elementary Student Handbook
  -Preschool Handbook
-Crisis Plan
-Employee Handbook
-Non-Classified Handbook
-After School Enrichment/School Age Care Handbook
INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS:
Motion by Harnack, second by Rozeboom, and carried to approve Resolution for
10 year Long Term Facility Maintenance Plan/update.
Motion by Bosch, second by Fransman, and carried to approve resolution relating to renewing the General Education Revenue of the School District, 
approving an inflation factor and calling an election thereon.
DISTRICT NON-ACTION ITEMS:
•Superintendent Report
AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING:
DATES TO REMEMBER:
11.1 Regular Board Meeting, Monday, August 9 
11.2 Regular Board Meeting, Monday, August 23
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Ethan Rozeboom, Acting Clerk
(08-19)