Activities at the Rock County Fair are well underway Monday with last-minute preparations and pre-fair judging at the fairgrounds in Luverne. The old stone ticket booth on the fairground’s northwest side received a little sprucing up with a new roof and, beginning on Sunday with the Ahrendt brothers’ telehandler, a new 53-foot square iron tubing trellis joining the ticket booth and its two stone posts together. Retired welder Dean Wenzel spent 60 hours designing and creating the iron structure with this son, Rob. With the help of his son-in-law, Don Luitjens, and ag society member Jim Hatting on Monday, Wenzel put the finishing signage on the structure. The Rock County Fair continues through Saturday night.

Sanford Health Systems announced July 22 that it would require all employees, including its Good Samaritan Society locations, to get COVID-19 vaccinations by Nov. 1.
Dr. Josh Crabtree, Luverne, said the move was prompted by patient requests and common sense safety considerations.
“It’s really important that people understand we have patients with vulnerabilities coming to us every day, asking our staff if they’ve had the vaccine,” said Crabtree, vice president of Sanford Clinic for the Sioux Falls network.
“They depend on us and our staff to be as safe as we can be. … We want people to trust that they will not be harmed when they come to us for care. This is the reason we are going to require all of our staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine.”
He said 81 percent of Sanford Luverne employees are fully vaccinated, but he said he expects all but a small number, some of whom have health reasons, to agree to get the vaccine.
Sanford Health employees are already required to have several other vaccines, including the annual flu shot. Under the new policy, any COVID-19 vaccine received in the past 12 months will qualify for the 2021 requirement.
All unvaccinated employees can get their vaccine at any time prior to Nov. 1, and Sanford allows certain exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
Sanford’s policy follows a national trend among hospitals and health systems that are implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements for health care personnel.
Mayo Clinic, for example, followed suit this week, as have government entities including New York City and California state employees.
Crabtree said the reasons for requiring the vaccine for employees are outweighing doubts among a shrinking minority of those who have resisted getting the shot.
“The really important message is that the vaccine is safe,” he said Monday. “I know there are questions people have had about it not being FDA approved. It’s had emergency FDA authorization, but there’s not a big difference.”
He said the vaccine is standing the test of time, and is therefore gaining trust.
“The more experience we have with this vaccine the more we understand that the safety we presumed early on has been confirmed over and over again,” Crabtree said.
“If this weren’t the case, we would not be requiring our employees to be vaccinated.”
According to the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, United States nursing homes showed a 96-percent decline in COVID-19 cases within three months of initial doses for nursing home residents and staff.
COVID-related deaths in nursing homes declined 91 percent in the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, Sanford Health president and CEO Bill Gassen said the vaccine requirement for employees is an important step toward community immunity.
“This is the right thing to do for our patients and residents, people and communities,” Gassen said. “As more variants continue to spread and threaten our communities, we must do everything we can to protect each other and our loved ones.”

Meetings
Springwater Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 3, in the township hall.
Parkinson Support Group will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, at Poplar Creek apartments in Luverne. Masks must be worn.
 
Highway 91 bridge near Adrian now open
The Highway 91 near Adrian opened at traffic and detours were removed Friday.
The $1.9 million replacement over Interstate 90 began on April 12 and was completed by Redstone Construction of Mora. The project that replaced the bridge, guardrails and improve the drainage from the structure was originally scheduled to be completed next month.
 
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. Nominees should also exhibit quality in character and action as to be outstanding role models for the county’s citizens. 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.
 
Manure Demo Day and commercial recertification Aug. 10
The Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District will be part of a first-ever Manure Demo Day Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris.
The morning session for commercial animal waste technicians (CAWTs) begins at 8:30 a.m. and includes lunch. Space is limited to the first 100 people for the CAWT session. Pre-register by Aug. 3, by visiting https://z.umn.edu/MDD2021.
In-field demonstrations — free and open to the public — will begin at 1:15 p.m. Exhibitors and vendors will be on site to answer questions and provide product information. Rock County SWCD/Land Management can be reached at 507-283-8862 or www.rockswcd.org.
 
Blue Mound Quilters host ‘trunk’ show Aug. 2
The Blue Mound Quilters will host a ‘trunk’ show featuring quilts from Betty Pomerenke of Worthington and Becky Berning of Sioux Falls. The show begins 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, in the Rock County Library basement. The event is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Any questions can be answered by calling 605-212-3219.
 
Dental clinics come to Luverne Aug. 4
The next dental clinics will be held on Tuesday, Aut. 3, and Wednesday, Aug. 4, at Rock County Health and Human Services. These clinics, organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force, provide dental care for all ages. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment or stop by Rock County Health and Human Services for assistance in scheduling. All forms of insurance accepted.
 
‘Pint for Pint’ blood drive at Take 16 Aug. 6
The Community Blood Bank and Take 16 Brewing Co. will host a “pint for a pint” community blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Take 16 on East Main Street, Luverne. Donors are encouraged to give blood to help Take 16 Brewing Co. in the competition against Remedy Brewing Co. of Sioux Falls to win the traveling stein for the most blood donations. For information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org. All who donate receive an event blood donor T-shirt and a pint of beer. To schedule an appointment, log onto www.cbblifeblood.org, select Friday, August 6 and Take 16 Brewing Co. or call 605-331-3222.
 
School office open for registration
Families interested in registering their students for the 2021-22 school year are encouraged to call Luverne School District to set up an appointment. The Luverne Middle School-High School office is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the phone number is 507-283-4491. The Luverne Elementary School office will open Aug. 2 and the phone number is 507-283-4497.
 
Community Education announcements
Luverne Community Education is closed for the final two weeks of July and will reopen Aug. 2. Registrations for the following classes can be taken at that time. Call 507-283-4724 to sign up. See comed.isd2184.net to view the brochure and list of offerings.
Friday morning Adventure Day Camps End of Summer Fun will be Aug. 13 at the Rock County Fairgrounds. Fee is $15 per day. Limited to 15 students in grades 1-4 as attended during the 2020-21 school year.
Have fun cooking at Kids in the Kitchen this summer for grades K-8 includes Bakery Fun Aug. 19. Fee is $16/child.
Students ages 8-13 may attend Boot Camp the week of Aug. 2-6. Learn how to muster, march and drill, about military history and the American flag, complete service projects, hear guest speakers who were in the military and more. Cost is $60.
Art Camp is three days of creativity for students who added grades K-5 during the past school year. Dates are Aug. 10, 11 and 12. Cost is $100.
Grades K through adult will Learn to Play Chess on Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 26. Use grade attended through the 2020-21 school year. Last class is a tournament. Great adult/child activity. Fee is $15.
Taking Defensive Driving Classes allow adults aged 55 or older to save on insurance premiums. After the beginning eight-hour class, a four-hour fresher class must be taken every three years to receive the reduced premium benefit. Beginning class is Nov. 11 and 18. Four-hour refresher is Sept. 16
 
Library Happenings
The Rock County Library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For additional questions, contact library personnel at 507-449-5040 or rocklibrarystaff@gmail.com.
Story Time at the Park will feature songs and stories with children’s library Bronwyn Wenzel each Tuesday through June and July at a different park in Luverne. The events begin at 10:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. The schedule will be:
•July 27, Hawkinson Park, East Adams Avenue.
Toby Kid presents “Color Your World” with interactive comedy, magic, puppetry and silliness at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, at library.
Children’s Summer Reading Program, “Reading Colors Your World,” registration is now along with the adult summer reading program. Pick up a reading log at the library. Program ends Friday.
The Adult Summer Reading Program continues through Aug. 15. For every five books read, an prize slip is earned for one of several gift baskets.
Monthly trivia nights with locally written questions are the first Thursdays of the month at Take 16 on East Main Street in Luverne for teams of one or more individuals. No pre-registration is necessary. Library personnel conduct the event.
 
Explore Prairie Ally
Free guided tours at Prairie Ally Outdoor Center (308 N. Blue Mound Avenue in Luverne) are Thursdays at 6, 6:30, and 7 p.m. through August or by appointment. Volunteers are needed Tuesdays from 10a.m. to noon and Thursdays at 5:30 June through September. A workshop on edible perennials will be Aug. 19. Contact: prairieallymn@gmail.com, 605-951-0227. Also, visit projectfoodforest.org/events.
 
Take and Make bird treat kits
Stop by the Luverne Area Chamber at 213 East Luverne Street to pick up one or more Take and Make bird treat kits. Kits are free, but a $5 to $10 donation is welcome to benefit Project Food Forest in Rock County. (Or donate online at https://donorbox.org/support-pff

Superintendent Craig Oftedahl (far right) led a tour of Rock County Commissioners and county staff Tuesday, July 20, as part of the commissioners’ annual road and bridge tour. The group stands on the stage of the new performing arts center on the school campus. The $30 million project enters the final month of remodeling and construction work on the middle-high school facility. After the school tour, commissioners viewed the current road and bridge improvements in Vienna and Battle Plain townships.

Have you ever wondered about something you’ve seen or heard about in Rock County or have questions about a story you read in the Star Herald?
If so, we would like to answer questions on what you’re curious about.
We’re calling it “Curious Rock County.”
It’s not an original idea; we’re borrowing it from the Star Tribune.
In 2019 Star Tribune editors launched “Curious Minnesota,” which invites readers to submit questions, and reporters use those questions to research and report on stories.
Curious Minnesota is part of the metro paper’s community-driven reporting project.
The Tribune answered questions such as “Why is a casserole called a ‘hot dish’ in Minnesota?” and “Why can’t Minnesotans figure out how to zipper merge?”
While these questions made stories in the Tribune and were featured on the newspaper’s podcast, we would like questions focused on or in Rock County.
We may also want to talk with those who submit the questions, to find out more of why they’re curious. We’ll do the research and, if it’s an answer worth printing, we’ll put the story in the paper.
Each question submitted should include a name, phone number and an indication of whether or not you want credit for asking the question. We will not research anonymous questions.
For those who are curious, “hot dish” is simply a descriptive phrase originating in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hot dish described a serving that was heated to keep food warm. Food writers later used hot dish to refer to a meal’s warm entrée.
As far as zipper merging goes, the concept is a simple way to manage traffic when a lane is closed in work zones. Drivers remain in their respective lanes until they reach the designated merge point, and then they’re supposed to take turns falling orderly in line.
Curious about something? Email us or call us with a question.
Submit questions to editor@star-herald.com with “Curious Rock County” in the subject line.
Or call us at 507-283-2333.

My husband, Jim, has been telling people that we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary last week by “getting a room” in Orange City, Iowa. Then he slyly adds, “a hospital room.”
(Long story. Sanford and Avera are “out of network” for our insurance.)
It all started two weeks ago with what I thought was heartburn.
A week later, the “heartburn” returned with a vengeance. I was hot. I was cold. I was nauseous. I couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t lie down. 
I was also at a cabin on Lake Minnewaska with my dear friend, Sherri the Nurse, who asked, “Shall we go to the emergency room now, or would you like to wait until the middle of the night?”
Nurses are good at making options clear.
The nice people in the ER gave me massive pain killers and diagnosed “heartburn” as a gallstone.
I would need surgery. 
The plan was to meet with a surgeon the following Thursday to schedule the surgery. But gallbladders do not care about plans. It attacked again Wednesday morning and even the painkillers didn’t help this time.
And so, it was Jim’s turn to drive to the ER in Orange City as I clung to the dashboard with white knuckles and gritted teeth.
They got me right in.
Because of my complex history of abdominal surgeries and because the gallbladder was already dying, the 45-minute surgery took 2 1/2 hours.
Jim began planning my funeral at the 90-minute mark just as he received word that “Brenda is OK, but it’s complicated.”
After the delay we were back together in “the room.”
I had a hospital bed with all the bells and whistles. Buttons to call nurses. Buttons to lower my head or raise my feet. I had heated blankets. I had a staff tending to my needs and all the pain meds required to keep me comfortable. 
Jim had a little window ledge with a foam mattress.
During the night I gazed past my IV pole to see his lanky frame clinging to the narrow ledge on which he slept. A bright light on the building’s exterior shined in his eyes. His blanket was the size of a beach towel.
I adjusted my covers and thought, “In sickness and in health, Sweetie. Love you lots.”

Albert Einstein stated, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” Having a thirst for knowledge keeps your mind sharp. Age is only a number. When you’re over the hill, you pick up speed.
Here are three things I’ve learned this week. If you haven’t got your three for the week, borrow one of these:
•When birds are migrating, they don’t eat, and they sleep while flying. Source: my grandson.
•When someone is impaled, don’t pull out the object. This week a fisherman had “bottom bouncer” weight (imagine a small spear) come out of the water and impale his heart. Good for him that his daughter, who was accompanying him, was an RN who knew better than to pull out the object.
Many of us have watched too much TV and seen impaled people pulling out the object while biting a bullet. His daughter protected the area, left the small spear in his heart alone, and let the surgeons at the hospital remove the object. Had she taken it out earlier, her father would have died. Source: Friend in my Bible study and my RN wife.
•If you’re talking with someone and your mind, heart or gut tells you they’re in a bad place mentally and possibly thinking about suicide, what do you do?  Answer: Be direct and ask them, “Are you thinking about suicide?” They might seem offended but let them know that you love them, and this is important.
Asking about suicide doesn’t plant any seeds in their mind about considering suicide in the future. Just the opposite, they can either say yes, they are considering suicide, at which time you can seek help (suicide hotline 800-273-8255) or no, they are not, and by talking about the problem it might help them work through the bad place they find themselves. Then finally you can say, would you do me a favor and tell me if you were ever considering suicide in the future? Source: safeTalk Resource Book from our friends at Farm Bureau and local mental health professionals.
 Cary Radisewitz
Luverne

Just when you’re about to give up on people in general, something happens and you realize there are still good people out there … more than we realize.
As strange as what you’re about to read may seem, it really happened.
A week or so ago on a Saturday, Mary and I thought we would take our side-by-side to Rowena, South Dakota, to the junk fest. We were going to zigzag our way over there, and we were about 3 miles out of town when Mary realized she forgot her purse at home. We decided it wasn’t necessary to turn around to fetch the purse.
The junk fest was just that — a bunch of junk. We were about to head home when our daughter called and invited us to join her and her family at the farmers market at Falls Park in downtown Sioux Falls. So we headed that way.
We’ve never been to the Sioux Falls Farmers Market, and as it turned out, that was just the first stop before we headed to Phillips Avenue.
I was standing outside on the sidewalk while Mary and the granddaughters were in some sort of toy store. My phone rang. It was a name and number I didn’t recognize, but I answered it anyway and I’m glad I did.
The guy on the other end asked if I was Rick, and of course I said “Yes.” I asked him why, and he asked if Mary Peterson was my wife. Of course I said, “Yes, why?” His answer floored me.
He said he had her purse. Someone found it at the farmers market and dropped it off at the Lewis Drug Store where he works.
I told him that was impossible because my wife left her purse at home in Luverne. He asked me if we live on Pine Drive, and I asked how he knew that.
He told me my name and address were on a pill bottle in the purse. By now I am thinking this is really weird.
I went into the toy store and found Mary. Putting the phone on speaker, I asked him to describe the purse. He did, and it was a perfect match to Mary’s purse.
So how did someone find Mary’s purse at the farmers market in downtown Sioux Falls and then take it to Lewis Drug on 41st and Marion Road?
The story turned a little more weird as we headed to Lewis Drug.
It was Mary’s purse, and everything in the purse was accounted for. I asked the Lewis Drug Store guy if he knew the person who brought the purse in and why they would bring it all the way out to Marion Road.
He said he didn’t know the person who dropped off the purse. He thought maybe they lived in the neighborhood, and because the pill bottle was from Lewis Drug, they brought it there.
The Lewis Drug Store guy really went above and beyond to get in touch with us and return the purse to Mary.
My name and address were on the pill bottle, and I am a Lewis Drug customer. He had looked me up in their data base for my phone number and called the number on file.
It turns out the number on file was our old landline number which we disconnected four years ago. He called the Lewis Drug Store in Luverne, explained the situation, and asked if they had my cell number on file, which they did. That is how he tracked me down, and we are so glad he did.
About the only explanation we can come up with as to how Mary’s purse ended up at the farmers market is maybe she set the purse in the box of the side-by-side before we left for the junk fest and it rode all the way to Sioux Falls in the back. Someone walked by the side-by-side at the farmers market, saw the purse sitting there, and didn’t want someone else to take it. For whatever reason they turned it into the west side Lewis Drug Store.
Strange but true.

Dispatch report
July 16
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported identity theft.
•Complainant on Blue Mound Avenue and Main Street reported child riding bike in roadway.
•A warrant was issued in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
•Complainant on County Road 20, west of 100th, Luverne, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on W. Edgehill Street reported found property.
•Complainant on 50th Avenue, Luverne, reported a civil issue.
•Complainant on W. Gabrielson Drive reported a driving complaint.
July 17
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 15, reported a driving complaint.
•A fire was reported at location on 150th Avenue, Luverne.
•Complainant on W. Veterans Drive reported a runaway.
•Deputy assisted another department on Elm Street.
July 18
•Complainant on W. Warren Street reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on 241st Street and 170th Street, Edgerton, reported a rollover.
•Complainant on E. Main Street reported drug activity.
•Assistance from another department was conducted westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 12, Luverne.
•Disorderly subject was reported at location on S. Kniss Avenue.
•Deputy assisted Nobles County.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported suspicious activity.
July 19
•Complainant on Ross Street and Main Street, Hardwick, reported a verbal dispute at location.
•Complainant reported receiving a bad check.
•Complainant on E. Luverne Street requested a vehicle unlock.
•Complainant on S. Fourth Street, Beaver Creek, reported a scam.
•Complainant on Linden Street reported a noise complaint.
•Complainant requested to speak with a deputy.
•Assistance from another department was conducted in Jasper.
•Complainant on S. Cedar Street and E. Maple Street reported suspicious activity.
July 20
•Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 16, Magnolia, reported a driving complaint.
•Complainant on 41st Street and 50th Avenue, Hills, reported a road closure.
•Complainant on 244th Street, Dell Rapids, reported a driving complaint.
July 21
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue and Interstate 90 overpass, reported an intoxicated party.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 7, Beaver