The Luverne Cardinals softball team split a pair of games this past week to bring their overall record to 9-9 with just two regular season games remaining.
The Cardinals opened the week on Tuesday, May 18, with a 13-3 victory over Adrian/Ellsworth.
Luverne wrapped up the week with a 5-1 home loss to Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian on Thursday, May 20.
 
LHS 13, A/E 3
The Cardinals and Dragons appeared to be on their way to a nail-biting finish in Adrian on Tuesday, May 18.
The two teams were deadlocked at 0-0 until the Cardinals scored six runs in the third inning.
The Dragons answered with one run in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 6-1 game.
Luverne tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth to build an 8-1 lead.
The Cardinals pushed across one run in the top of the sixth to make it a 9-1 game.
The Dragons scraped across two runs in the bottom of the sixth to trim Luverne’s lead to 9-3.
In the final inning, the Cardinals scored four insurance runs to take a 13-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Roz Oye earned the win for the Cardinals by pitching all seven innings and recording eight strikeouts.
Shelby Kracht, Billi Connell and Carly Olson all hit home runs for the Cardinals.
Ainsley Robinson recorded a team-leading four hits.
 
LHS 0 0 6 2 0 1 4 13 15 3
A/E 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 4 2
 
Hitting: Connell 3-5; Robinson 4-5; Olson 2-4; Oye 1-4; Boll 2-4; Kracht 2-3; Bork 1-3
Doubles: Connell; Olson; Bork; Boll
Home Runs: Kracht; Connell; Olson
 
Edgerton/SWMNC 5, LHS 1
In the first meeting between Luverne and Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, it was the Cardinals edging E/SWMNC 7-6.
The second meeting on Thursday, May 20, in Luverne went to the Dutchmen 5-1.
The Cardinals and starting pitcher Gracie Nath set down the visitors in order in the first inning.
Connell led off the bottom of the first inning with a sharply hit single.
The Cardinals put runners on third and second in the inning but were unable to bring them home.
Nath opened the top of the second inning by striking out the first batter she faced.
With two outs in the inning, the Dutchmen hit an RBI single to open the scoring.
The Cardinals scored the equalizer in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 1-1 game.
E/SWMNC scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to make a 2-1 ballgame.
The visiting team added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to make the final score 5-1.
Connell led the Cardinals with two hits. Connell also recorded two stolen bases.
The Cardinals will wrap up the regular season on Thursday, May 27, in Luverne with a doubleheader against the Marshall Tigers.
 
E/SWMNC 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 5
LHS 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
 
Hitting: Robinson 1-2; Olson 1-4; Connell 2-4; Kracht 1-3
Doubles: Kracht

The Luverne Cardinals wrapped up their regular season by going 2-1 this past week to finish with a 17-2 record.
The third-ranked Cardinals opened the week with a 13-5 victory over Murray County Central in Slayton on Tuesday, May 18.
On Thursday, May 20, the Cardinals fell to the Marshall Tigers 3-1 in Marshall.
The Cardinals wrapped up the week and regular season with a 14-1 victory over Adrian on Monday, May 24, in Adrian.
 
LHS 13, MCC 5
The Cardinals jumped on the Rebels early and kept their foot on the gas on Tuesday, May 18, in Slayton.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the first inning to jump out to an early lead.
Luverne added two more runs in the second and three more in the third to build a 9-0 lead.
The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the top of the fourth to build a 12-0 lead.
MCC got five runs back in the bottom of the fourth to trim Luverne’s lead to 12-5.
Luverne scored one run in the top of the sixth to make the final score 13-5.
Kaden Anderson recorded eight strikeouts in three innings of work on the mound. Anderson also collected three hits at the plate.
Bailey Cowell recorded three hits, including a triple.
Cade Wenninger recorded a team-leading four RBIs.
 
LHS 4 2 3 3 0 1 0 13 13 3
MCC 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 5 5 5
 
Hitting: Cowell 3-4; Wenninger 2-3; Beyer 1-3; Sehr 2-3; Ripka 1-2; Connell 1-4; Anderson 3-5
Doubles: Anderson; Beyer
Triples: Cowell
 
Marshall 3, LHS 1
The Cardinals lost a hard-fought battle to the Tigers on Thursday, May 20, in Marshall. The Tigers snapped Luverne’s six-game winning streak by defeating the Cardinals 3-1.
The Tigers scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning to put Marshall up 1-0.
Marshall scored one more run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
The Cardinals scored one run in the top of the sixth inning to trim Marshall’s lead to 2-1.
The Tigers got that run back in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Luverne was limited to just one hit in the game.
Ethan Beyer pitched three innings and recorded five strikeouts.
 
LHS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 5
Marshall 0 0 1 1 0 1 x 3 3 2
 
Batting: Sehr 1-3
 
LHS 14, Adrian 1
The Cardinals wrapped up the regular season with a 14-1 victory over the Dragons on Monday, May 24, in Adrian.
Luverne scored three runs in the first inning. The Dragons got one run back in the bottom half of the inning. Unfortunately for the Dragons that would be the only run they’d score in the contest.
The Cardinals scored six runs in the second inning to open up a 9-1 one lead.
Luverne tacked on five more runs in the top of the third inning to make it a 14-1 ballgame.
Sehr hit a pair of doubles and drove in five runs to lead the Cardinals.
 
LHS 3 6 5 0 0 14 14 1
Adrian 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 6
 
Batting: Wenninger 2-4; Beyer 2-3; Sehr 3-4; Overgaard 2-2; Bosch 2- 4; R. Anderson 1-2; Sneller 1-1; K. Anderson 1-4
Doubles; Sehr 2; Overgaard 1

The Luverne Cardinals golf teams competed at the Big South Conference tournament Monday, May 24, at the Dacotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton.
The girls placed fourth overall with a score of 420. Fairmont took home first place with a final overall score of 373.
The boys placed eighth with a final score of 364. The top boys’ team was Blue Earth Area with a final score of 324.
The top individual performer for the boys was Blue Earth’s Braden Gudahl with a score of 78.
Henry Hartquist tied with Pipestone’s Braxton Thompson for 23rd overall with a final score of 88.
Owen Sudenga and Cooper Arends both shot a 91 for the Cardinals.
Brady Bork shot a 94. Tyler Arends finished with a 95. Colin Schoeneman finished with a round of 99.
Lauren Hansen led the girls’ team with a round of 101.
Paige Sandbulte finished with a score of 102.
Morgan Gonnerman shot a 107. Cheyenne Schutz shot a 110.
Jocelynn Mann finished with a 134 and Perceyis Trierweiler finished with a score of 150.
Luverne will compete next in the section tournament in Oakdale, with the girls’ team playing on Wednesday, May 26 at 9 a.m. and the boys playing on Thursday, May 27, at 9 a.m.

The Hills-Beaver Creek golf teams competed in their final regular season meet on Tuesday, May 18, in Worthington.
On the boys’ side of things, it was Adrian/Ellsworth taking home first place with a team total of 344. The Patriots placed fourth overall as a team with a final score of 399.
The top individual performer was Adrian/Ellsworth’s Brock Henning who shot a 77.
Thomas Dysthe was the top individual performer for the Patriots with a final score of 92.
Dallas Page shot a 98 to get under 100.
Ethan Kruger placed third on the team with a final mark of 104. Austin Allen finished right behind Kruger with a final score of 105.
Jacob Axness shot a 108 and Damien Meinerts shot a 109.
For the girls, it was Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Brielle Vis finishing as the top performer with a round of 96.
Adrian/Ellsworth took home first place with a team score of 414.
The H-BC Patriots placed third with an overall score of 432.
Tess Van Maanen led the Patriots with a final mark of 104.
Hannah Fick finished a few strokes behind her teammate with a score of 106.
Tara Paulsen was third on the team with a round of 108.

The Luverne Redbirds played four games this past week and went 4-0 to bring their overall record to 5-1.
The amateur baseball team opened the week with a 10-0 victory over Tracy on Wednesday, May 19, in Luverne.
On Friday, May 21, the Redbirds traveled to Pipestone and defeated the A’s 5-2.
The Redbirds defeated the Ruthton Royals 9-6 and Mountain Lake 9-0 on Sunday, May 23, in Luverne.
 
Redbirds 10, Engineers 0
Luverne and Tracy were tied at 0-0 when the Redbirds came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Luverne’s Phil Paquette broke that tie when he hit an RBI double to score Ben Serie.
The Redbirds added one more run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Redbirds tacked on two more runs to build a 4-0 lead.
The Redbirds scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the bottom of the eighth to win the game 10-0.
Isaiah Bartels picked up the win for the Redbirds by pitching four innings and recorded six strikeouts.
Jake Haugen went 4-4 at the plate with a double and three runs batted in.
 
Tracy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Luverne 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 3 10
 
Hitting: Nath 1-5; Serie 2-4; Paquette 1-3; Haugen 4-4, Meyer 1-5
 
Redbirds 5, A’s 2
The Redbirds scored four runs in the final three innings to pick up a come-from-behind victory over the A’s on Friday, May 21.
Codie Zeutenhorst hit an RBI single to score Newt Johnson in the first inning to give the Redbirds an early 1-0 lead.
The A’s answered back by scoring a run in the bottom of the first and the bottom of the second to claim a 2-1 lead.
The Redbirds scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the ninth the Redbirds added a pair of insurance runs to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
Serie picked up the save for the Redbirds by closing the door on the A’s in the bottom of the ninth.
Paquette went 3-4 at the plate with a triple and one RBI.
 
Luverne 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 5
Pipestone 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
Batting: Beers 2-5; Serie 2-4; Paquette 3-4; Zeutenhorst 1-5; Haugen 1-5; Meyer 2-4; Bartels 1-4
Doubles: Beers
Triples: Paquette
 
Redbirds 9, Royals 6
The Redbirds used another late rally to defeat the Ruthton Royals 9-6 on Sunday, May 23.
With the Royals holding a 5-2 lead, the Redbirds scored a combined seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pick up a 9-6 victory.
The Royals scored five runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early lead.
Luverne was able to get one run back in the bottom of the first inning to make it a 5-1 Royals lead.
Ruthton added one run in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 6-1.
The Redbirds got that run back in the bottom of the fourth to once again make it a four-run deficit.
In the bottom of the fifth, Codie Zeutenhorst hit a pinch-hit grand slam. The grand slam was part of a five-run fifth inning for the Redbirds that helped them take a 7-6 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Paquette hit a solo home run.
 
Ruthton 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 6
Luverne 1 0 0 1 5 2 x 9
 
Batting: Beers 1-4; Serie 1-3; Paquette 1-3; Wenninger 2-3; Norman 1-1; Crabtree 1-3; Zeutenhorst 1-1; Nath 1-3
Doubles: Beers; Crabtree
Home runs: Paquette
 
Luverne 9, Mountain Lake 0
The Redbirds limited Mountain Lake to one hit on Sunday, May 23. With the Mountain Lake bats silenced, the Redbirds cruised to a 9-0 victory.
With the score 0-0, the Redbirds scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Redbirds tacked on four more runs to make the final score 9-0.
Paquette finished the game 2-3 at the plate with a home run.
By going 4-0 the Redbirds improved to 5-1 overall.
The Redbirds will be back at Redbird Field on Friday, May 28, against Marshall.
 
Mountain Lake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Redbirds 0 0 5 0 4 0 x 9
Batting: Nath 1-5; Paquette 2-3; Johnson 1-1; Wenninger 1-3; Beers 1-3; Zeutenhorst 1-4; Haugen 1-4; Meyer 1-3
Doubles: Johnson
Home Runs: Paquette

“I hope I can find a job after I graduate.” “I hope I meet the right person and get married one day.” “I hope my new college or university is a good fit.” “I hope my team wins the championship.” “I hope I get to go to heaven.”
When we use the word “hope,” there is often a lot of uncertainty attached to it. Sometimes we use the word “hope” as if it’s a wish or a dream, sometimes even an impossibility. “I hope.”
However, when the Bible uses the word “hope,” it uses it in a very different way. “Hope” in the Bible is sure and certain. It is sure and certain because it is based on an event that has already happened.
The Apostle Peter explains, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance that is undying, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
“Hope” in this sense is not uncertain because Christ is truly risen. Because of Jesus’ perfect life for you, his innocent death on the cross for you, and his glorious bodily resurrection for you, we now have a sure and certain hope in Him.
So, of what does Jesus’ resurrection make us certain? Peter points to our life in heaven. We should not look at life in heaven as some sort of “wish.” Our eternal life in heaven is a real certainty.  Our Savior has won heaven for you and me!
This is a certainty not because of how we have lived or anything we have done, but because God sent His Son to perfectly accomplish our salvation. Jesus has earned it all. And He sends the Holy Spirit, as we celebrate at Pentecost, to create living faith in our hearts through Baptism and His powerful Word.
The blessings of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection are made ours personally through the Word and Sacraments.
This means the “hope” of heaven is yours. You and I can rejoice and be confident in the sure, certain hope that is ours from our living, victorious Savior!
And that same Lord Jesus is with you throughout your life. He loves you, and is taking care of you!
May our gracious God richly bless our graduates!
 
Adapted from:  Good News for You! 2020 Peace Devotions

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 nursing homes – check bulletin. Sundays at 8:30 a.m. p.m. Saturdays and 8:30 a.m. mass 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. Sunday, May 30: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Worship service. Wednesday, June 2: 6:30 p.m. Ladies’ Prayer Time. 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
Thursday, May 27: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, May 29: 5:30 p.m. Worship service. Sunday, May 30: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:30 a.m. Adult Bible study via Zoom. Monday, May 31: Office is closed. Tuesday, June 1: 9 a.m. staff meeting. Wednesday, June 2: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are still 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. – NEW TIME! Radio: KQAD-AM Radio will air our worship service on Sundays at 8:15 p.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, May 28: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Wedding rehearsal. Saturday, May 29: 8 a.m. Fellowship Hall reserved. Worship center reserved. Sunday, May 30: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. Fellowship Hall reserved. VBS registration deadline. Tuesday, June 1: Noon Staff meeting. 7 p.m. Prayer meeting.Worship 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, May 27: 1-3 p.m. Rock County Food Shelf curbside. Saturday, May 29: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, May 30: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible study. Monday, May 31: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Tuesday, June 1: 9:30 a.m. Folding Team. Wednesday, June 2: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, June 3: 1-3 p.m. Rock County Food Shelf curbside.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Sunday, May 30: 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10:15 a.m. Worship service. Monday, May 31: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. Wednesday, May In-person Worship service and through Facebook Live Sunday. 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, May 29: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, May 30: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday school and Adult Bible study. 7 p.m. Online Bible study. Worship service is 75 people. 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, May 30: 10 a.m. Joint worship service at Palisade Lutheran. Masks are no longer required if fully vaccinated. Facebook live. 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, May 30: 10 a.m. Joint worship service 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, May 30: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Youth time. 10 a.m. Worship at Bethlehem. Basement reserved. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

The great Minnesota fishing opener was May 15. I have participated in this annual event about 25 of the past 30 years.
When I was younger, I would start at the midnight opening bell. I entered every fishing contest in the area for the competitive challenge.
Today my fishing exploits have far more to do with who I am with and which lake I am on than how many fish I could catch in a day or even a season for that matter.
The entire effort to ensure that I had one or six of every new lure and color has been replaced by the ability to drive by a big sporting goods box store and not even slow down.
Times do change. I still really like to fish, but the life with four Labradors, hours dedicated to habitat conservation, and operating four different businesses at the same time has created other priorities.
What are your best fishing memories? My dad never was much of a fisherman. He would take our family out to the Missouri River in the summer to fish from the bank. He would just ask some rancher for permission to camp in their pastures. A hole was dug for the weekend outhouse and that was all we needed.
He was an industrial sort. He rigged up about a dozen rod holders and used a battery-operated bicycle horn. You could adjust a spring on the contraption that set the sensitive line. When a fish would pull on the line, the rod would apply pressure to the horn and it would sound. It was normally my older brother who could run the fastest, and he would grab the rod, set the hook and reel in the fish.
Back in the day we only had primitive fish stringers. At 6 or 7 years old I decided to do one better.  I dug a hole in the bank with only a small inlet to let the water fill the hole. Any fish we caught we put in my land-based live well, and at the end of the day dad would clean whatever fish we caught and we would eat them for supper.
I cannot really remember catching very much. The one thing I do remember is that when a school of fish swam by, all of the horns would start going off at one time. We caught walleyes, small mouth bass, silver bass, catfish and a few panfish. I was in about second or third grade at the time.
It was enough to give me the love of fishing that has lasted the rest of my life. I spent hundreds of hours as a kid peddling my bicycle round the lake in our town. Lake Okabena was a great babysitter for young kids who understood that when the 6 p.m. whistle sounded, it was time to get home for supper.
After supper it was when the streetlights came on that it was time to head home for the night.
There is one spot in the brain of every human being that is attracted to the outdoors, and fishing is the most common way for all ages to enter into that kind of lifestyle. I figure yet today kids running up and down the shore with poles in hand are less likely to end up on the wrong side of the law.
When is the last time you went fishing? If you are a regular participant, when is the last time you took someone new fishing with you? Taking new anglers is not necessarily for the faint of heart. You tend to get little fishing in and spend most of your time with tangles, broken equipment, tipped over tackle boxes and answering where the snacks are.
My dads’ favorite line when I got snagged was to just wait a little bit and see if a fish could or would unsnag my hook. Never worked but I was too young to know how bad those odds were.
Fishing license sales are up, as we were unable to do many of the indoor things we were used to doing. I hope that when folks actually got back outside after months of not having done so that many of them will re-energize in the sport of fishing. It doesn’t take a lot of money but you can’t be doing 10 other things at the same time. It just allows you to stop the crazy world spinning and take a few moments to ponder what is really important in your life.
Fishing does that. Kids on the dock, your wife or girlfriend in the lawn chair next to you living in the greatest country in the world. What could be better? Not much in my opinion.
Take some time to sit by the water and unplug the craziness around you. You will be glad you did.
 
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.

The name Job is a name synonymous with suffering. God allowed Job to endure so much, including the loss of his wife and children, and he is remembered for remaining faithful.
Still, there was a point at which Job wasn’t so faithful. You might remember Job saying, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away,” but do you recall when he angrily demanded answers from God?
In Chapter 30, Job says, “I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer. I stand up, but you merely look at me. You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me. You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm. When I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. Let the Almighty answer me!”
Anger at God is a common response from people who face great suffering.
Do you find yourself sometimes feeling anger toward God when bad things happen in your life? Do you feel tempted to believe that God doesn’t care about you or is disinterested in answering your prayers? That’s how Job felt.
Humanity’s situation as a whole is a lot like Job’s. We have lots of trouble but few answers. We are troubled by our sin, and the sin in our world is pervasive. It manifests itself everywhere. As we cry for answers, God does not answer as we expect.
No, his response to us is far better. It is because God is our good and gracious Father that he promises to be with us and not leave us in despair.
God has heard the pleas of his people, and in these last days he has given us an answer to our suffering, to our sin, and to death.
Children loved by God, this answer is not given to us as lists of reasons and explanations for his mysterious ways. Instead, God's answer has come to us in flesh and blood. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the answer to our condition.
Yes, Jesus is our heavenly Father's answer to us. Jesus allowed himself to be sacrificed for our sins, to bear the punishment we could never pay, to take Satan and death head on so that no matter the temptation or suffering we face in this life, the battle has already been won.
The victory has been secured with the blood of Jesus on the cross. Because of Jesus, your sins are forgiven!
Because of the free gift of faith — the gift of trust — that he gives us, our perspectives on life have changed.
Our trust in God frees us to worship Him. Our trust in God frees us to live in service to our neighbor. Our trust in God frees us from having to know all the answers, as we now look past the suffering and death of this life to the new world to come, where there is no more suffering or pain, only life with God.