The Luverne Legion baseball team started the Sub State Legion Tournament on Thursday, July 15, in Wabasso against Wabasso and picked up a 9-2 victory.
In the second round, Luverne defeated Springfield 6-2 on Friday, July 16, in Wabasso.
“We had great hitting and pitching in our first two games,” Luverne coach Cody Zeutenhorst said.
On Saturday, July 17, Luverne fell to Blue Earth 9-5. With the loss, Luverne will move to the elimination bracket and play on Saturday, July 24, in Wabasso.
 
Luverne 9, Wabasso 2
Luverne scored one run in the top of the first to jump out to an early lead and never looked back.
Luverne scored two more runs in the top of the third to build a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Luverne scored four runs to push their lead to 7-0.
In the final inning, Luverne scored two more runs to make it a 9-0 ballgame.
Wabasso pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the final score 9-2.
 
Luverne 1 0 2 0 4 0 2 9
Wabasso 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
 
Luverne 6, Springfield 2
Luverne used a pair of three-run innings to best Springfield 6-2 on Friday, July 16.
With the two teams deadlocked at 0-0, Luverne scored three runs in the bottom of the third to claim a 3-0 lead.
Springfield scored two runs in the top of the sixth to trim Luverne’s lead to 3-2.
Luverne answered back with another three-run inning in the bottom half of the sixth to make the final score 6-2.
Kyle Anderson led the team with two RBIs.
 
Springfield 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Luverne 0 0 3 0 0 3 x 6
 
Blue Earth 9, Luverne 5
Luverne grabbed the momentum right out of the gate by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early 3-0 lead.
That momentum quickly swung into Blue Earth’s favor, as they scored eight runs in the first two innings to claim an 8-3 lead over Luverne.
“We started quick but then gave up four runs in the bottom of the first and second,” Zeutenhorst said. “That seemed to take the energy away from us and got them rolling. All their hitters seemed to have more confidence after those two innings.”
Luverne scored two runs in the top of the sixth to trim Blue Earth’s lead to 8-5.
Blue Earth got one of those runs back in the bottom of the sixth to make the final score 9-5.
Bailey Cowell led Luverne with two hits.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Zeutenhorst said. “We will need to come back next week and play the winner of Wells and Springfield. We will need to beat Blue Earth twice now to go to state. We have the talent to accomplish that and I’m excited to see how we finish this.”
 
Luverne 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 5
Blue Earth 4 4 0 0 0 1 x 9
 
Hitting: Cowell 2-4; Beyer 1-3; Sehr 1-3

The Luverne Junior Legion went 2-0 on Sunday, July 18, to get one game closer to reaching the championship game.
Luverne outscored its two opponents on Sunday by the total score of 20-0.
Luverne defeated Blue Earth in Game 1 by 10-0 behind a strong pitching performance from Conner Connell. Connell pitched a no-hitter and helped Luverne blank Blue Earth.
“Conner pitched really well again,” Luverne coach Jared Pick said “He got ahead of a lot of hitters and kept them off balance all game. When Conner is on top of his game, he is tough to hit.”
In Game 2 on Sunday, Luverne blanked Lamberton 10-0 in five innings.
With the victory, Luverne will host St. James on Tuesday, July 20, at Redbird Field.
“St. James is a good team,” Pick said. “We have to play good defense behind our pitchers. If we do that, we will have a good chance to be in the ball game in the end.”
If the Luverne Junior Legion team wins, they will play on Sunday, July 25, at Redbird Field and be one win away from reaching the state tournament.
With a loss they'll have to win three straight in order to reach the state tournament.
The stats from the two games were not available.

With the increase in popularity of off-road recreational vehicles, I am seeing more and more side-by-sides running around the counites where I live.
The units I am referring to are like 4-wheel-drive golf carts. Polaris Rangers and others made by Arctic Cat, Yamaha and Bombardier are all commonly seen in southwest Minnesota.
I have seen many of these units that have had the off-road tires removed and street tires installed. This exchange makes them handle way better on hard surfaced roads and it quiets the ride considerably. I recently swapped out the off roads for street tires myself.
I opted for street tires that still have a pretty aggressive tread. I wanted something that made road travel easier but did not sacrifice traction to the point where I could not go where I wanted.
I am not one of those folks who go tear up the trails and roads like some of the crazy videos you might have seen. I am respectful of the terrain and others who use the same trails and roads that I do.
With the advent of street tire options, it takes nothing to drive one of these rigs 100 miles or more in a day.
If you need to, you can put one of them on a trailer and make it to the destination I am about to share with you.
One of the best wildlife rides I have ever been on is what I call the “Rall Real Tree Road Trip to the Talcott State Wildlife Refuge.” It’s a few miles east of Fulda, west of the city of Windom on Highway 62 and just north of the great little town of Dundee.
This spot is approximately 5,400 acres and is managed by the Minnesota DNR area wildlife manager Bill Schuna.
This spot is big and it takes a while to see it all. UTVs and ATVs are limited to designated roads. No off-roading is allowed, and it is not necessary to do so in order to enjoy this spot.
There are about 10 feeder roads that come off the main highways and dead-end back in the bush. Many of these spurs are used by area cooperating landowners to access the properties where they plant food plots for wildlife. They are also used by DNR personnel for management activities.
You can normally see tons of wildlife. You can drive past the designated blinds used for waterfowl hunting. These are reserved and limited in number to keep the hunting experiences top shelf.
Back in the day, the Talcott refuge was one of the hottest spots in the state to hunt Canada geese.
The blinds were in super high demand and hard to get.  As the populations of these geese grew over the past five decades and the hunting opportunities expanded, a designated blind is no longer the only way to get one.
The Talcott dam is downstream of Lake Shetek, which is the headwaters of the Des Moines River.
We stop in there to see what’s biting and talk to the anglers that always seem to be there no matter what day you show up.
Bird watching is really big on this refuge, and you can see all kinds of different birds if you want to bring the binoculars or spotting scope along.
There is one road that has a concrete stream bed section, and driving through that is pretty fun. The low water this year might make this spot a dry, dusty one this time.
You can get back into spaces where, if I turned you in a few circles and then left you there, you would have a hard time finding your way home.
When you grow up in a part of the state, as I did, that has a road every mile for hundreds of miles, being away from it all and feeling like you are in pre-settlement days is a very satisfying pleasure.
We always take a small portable grill and some lawn chairs along with a big umbrella or two and do a little cookout in the way back places of this great natural resource.
It is a ride that, whether done in a car or on a side by side, is one of the best southwest Minnesota has to offer.
If you want to find out more about this great riding destination, reach out me at scottarall@gmail.com and I can get you all of the additional information you need. If I am available, I might just serve as your guide, if you let me.
 
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.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
I was recently reading Paul’s letter to the Colossians and had to stop and think about that verse. How does a word dwell in us richly?
I wonder whether you have noticed that nearly every time the scriptures mention “success,” they relate it to one basic requirement. And this is not just “spiritual” success, but material, financial, social, and even political success. God says, “Do this and …” Your way will be prosperous, and you will have good success … you will be like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit and not withering. … You will discover how to live. … You will excel in wisdom beyond all your teachers. … You will have faith, understanding, peace, joy, and life itself.
Do what, exactly? Interestingly enough, It is NOT to pray, worship, witness, fast, get elected to your local church governing boards, or even tithe. (Though all of those things are very important!) It is to meditate on God’s Word, and we find this mentioned often.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.” (Joshua 1:8)
Who is like a tree planted by the waters, bearing fruit and not withering? The one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord ... who meditates on it day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
How do I attain greater wisdom than my teachers? “By making your testimonies my meditation.” (Psalm 119:99)
Where do peace and joy come from? “Great peace have those who love your law.” (Psalm 119:165)
“My mouth praises you with joy when I meditate on you. ...” (Psalm 63:5)
Biblical meditation is not the same as Eastern meditation or forms of pop culture meditation. The goal of those kinds of meditation is usually emptying the mind and will of content. This is dangerous in the extreme, because we have a spiritual enemy who will seek to fill both mind and heart with lies if we give him the chance.
The goal of Christian meditation is to fill our minds with God’s truth, and so absorb it into our innermost being; then many of the other practices such as prayer, worship, witnessing will flow out of us.
And so my hope is that all of us will practice these words: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)

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, July 22: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, July 24: 5:30 p.m. Christmas in July worship. Sunday, July 25: 9 a.m. Christmas in July worship. 10 a.m. Fellowship coffee and treats. 1:30 p.m. Worship at Mary Jane Brown Home. 2:15 p.m. Worship at Poplar Creek. Tuesday, July 27: 8:30 a.m. Grace Notes assembly. 9 a.m. Staff meeting. 1:30 p.m. Worship at Mary Jane Brown Home. 2:15 p.m. Worship at Poplar Creek. Wednesday, July 28: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 7:30 a.m. Mom’s Bible study at Wildflowers. 5:30 p.m. Gather with Grace at Luverne City Park. Thursday, July 29: 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
Mike Altena, Pastor
Friday, July 22: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, July 25: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. Tuesday, July 27: 7 p.m. Prayer 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
Ph. 283-4529; email: luverneumc@iw.net
Thursday, July 22: PD—LLP meeting in Mankato. Saturday, July 24: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, July 25: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service and live streamed on Facebook and radio. 4:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible study. Tuesday, July 27: 9:30 a.m. Folding Team. 6:30 p.m. PPR meeting. Wednesday, July 28: 5:30 p.m. Free Community Meal; pick up option available. 6:30 p.m. Rock Railway. FUEL Fun Night. 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
Thursday, July 22: 9:30 a.m. Rebecca Circle outing at Magnolia Café. Sunday, July 25: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 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, July 24: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, July 25: 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, July 25: 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, July 25: 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, July 25: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Youth time. 10 a.m. Worship service at Bethlehem with Holy Communion/New Members Sunday. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, July 27: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, July 28: 9 a.m. Quilting.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

Notice of public hearing for Capital Improvement Plan
ROCK COUNTY, MINNESOTA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON APPROVAL OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE ISSUANCE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BONDS PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 373.40
Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners of Rock County, Minnesota (the County), will meet at 9:00AM on August 03, at the Rock County Courthouse, 204 E. Brown Street, Luverne, Minnesota, to conduct a public hearing to obtain public comment on the County’s intention to approve the County’s Capital Improvement Plan (the CIP) and issue capital improvement plan bonds (the Bonds) in an amount not to exceed $21,836,249 pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 373.40, for the purpose of financing the construction of various capital improvements identified in the CIP.
If a petition requesting a vote on the issuance of the Bonds is signed by voters equal to five percent of the votes cast in the County at the last general election and filed with the County Auditor/Treasurer within thirty (30) days after the public hearing, the County may issue the Bonds only after obtaining the approval of a majority of the voters voting on the question of issuing the Bonds.
Copies of the proposed CIP and resolution are on file and may be inspected at the Rock County Courthouse during normal business hours. All interested parties are invited to attend the public hearing or to provide written comments to the undersigned, which written comments will be considered at the hearing.
Questions regarding this matter may be referred to Kyle Oldre, Administrator at (507) 283-5065. Auxiliary aids are available upon request at least 96 hours in advance of the hearing. Please contact the County at (507) 283-5065 to make arrangements.
 
BY ORDER OF THE COUNTY BOARD ROCK COUNTY, MINNESOTA
/s/ Kyle Oldre
County Administrator
(07-15, 07-22)

Luverne’s Billi Connell has been playing organized softball since she was in second grade.
She said she started playing because she wanted to spend time with her friends, but that leisurely activity became a sport she can’t get enough of.
“I play all year long,” Connell said. “… I work very hard. I practice all winter and summer long. I go to the cage four times a week.”
All that work Connell has put into her craft is starting to get recognized. Connell was recently named to the Minnesota High School Fastpitch Coaches' Association 2AA All-State Second Team.
“It makes me proud,” Connell said. “It makes my parents proud. It’s just nice to get recognized and to know that my hard work is paying off.”
Connell wrapped up her junior season with the Cardinals with a batting average over .500. Luverne softball coach Brooks Maurer noted that Connell is one of the best hitters he’s ever coached.
“She’s one of the best hitters, baseball or softball that I’ve ever been around,” Maurer said.
He said Connell’s simple, “see ball, hit ball” approach makes her dangerous in the batter’s box.
“When I’m up to bat, the only thing that’s running through my head is ‘hit the ball hard somewhere,’” Connell said. “Hitting is such a non-thinking thing. You just have to hit the ball somewhere.”
But she’s also motivated to score.
“I think I have a lot of intensity when I’m at the plate,” Connell said. “I want to get on base for my team.”
That intensity trickles over to the defensive side of things for Connell, who understands the importance of each out and that one mistake could be the difference in winning or losing the game.
“I like the competition and that you have to be locked in all the time,” Connell said. “You may only get one ball a game, but that ball could change the course of the game.”
In the field, she’s capable of playing multiple positions, a versatility she takes pride in.
“I’m athletically capable of playing multiple positions,” Connell said. “I’m just locked in when I’m out there. I think I can play wherever. It’s fun to play multiple positions. It’s fun to get to play shortstop, third base or even outfield. I’ll play wherever the team needs me.”
Connell’s love for the game of softball is due to it being the ultimate team sport.
“You can’t do it yourself,” Connell said. “You have to pick up your teammates when they make an error and vice versa. Nobody can have a huge impact on the game. You can get one single, but nobody else gets a hit, you don’t score. I just love that it’s the ultimate team sport.”
Connell plays softball in the summer and in the fall for club leagues.
This spring will be her final season as a member of the Luverne Cardinals.
“We are going to be a young team,” Connell said.
“The goal is to set up the younger players to help our program down the road. They are a talented bunch. They beat Pipestone as junior varsity players. I hope for them to beat them at the varsity level and make a run at the state tournament and become section champions this spring.”

History books came alive for 50 parents, students and faculty from Hills-Beaver Creek High School who recently traveled with the H-BC World Classrooms field trip.
The group spent June 25-28 visiting Washington, D.C., and other historic sites such as Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.
School principal Andrew Kellenberger kept the community updated on the group’s activities by posting to the school’s website.
“What a great trip of fun, education, patriotism and growing as a community,” he reflected on Day 4.
Twenty-seven students and 23 adults participated in the first World Classrooms organized field trip for the school.
World Classrooms, based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, organizes the travel, site locations, meals and tour guides for a learning adventure outside the walls of the classroom.
H-BC will also offer the Washington, D.C., experience next year.
On Day 2, Kellenberger posted, “A lot of learning, fun and steps (20,000). The history books came alive today.”