Mother Nature delayed the start of the season for the Luverne golf team, but the Cardinals are in full swing now.
They competed in three meets this past week. The boys’ and girls’ teams hosted Adrian on Tuesday, April 20. Luverne then hosted a Big Southwest division meet.
On Monday, April 26, the Cardinals traveled to Marshall for a conference meet.
On Tuesday, April 20, the Cardinals slayed the Dragons at the Luverne Country Club, 169-180.
Henry Hartquist was the top individual performer with a round of 38.
Brady Bork finished fourth with a score of 42.
Colin Schoeneman finished with a score of 44 to place fifth.
A total of six teams competed in the Big South meet in Luverne on Thursday, April 22.
The Cardinals took home first place by finishing with a score of 167. Marshall finished second overall with a score of 175. Redwood Valley finished third with a score of 179.
Hartquist was the top individual performer with a score of 38.
Luverne’s Owen Sudenga finished one stroke off the pace with a score of 39 to place second.
A total of five teams converged on the Marshall golf course on Monday, April 26.
The Tigers edged out Luverne for the top spot by finishing with a score of 165. The Cardinals finished with a score of 166. Windom placed third with a final score of 174.
Hartquist shot a 37 to lead the Cardinals. Cooper Arends shot a 40. Brady Bork finished with a round of 44. Tyler Arends shot a 45 and Sudenga shot a 46. Colin Schoeneman shot a 49.
While the Luverne boys were in Marshall, the girls’ golf team was in Windom for a conference meet.
Just like the boys, the Cardinals were one stroke off the leaderboard. Marshall finished with a round of 207, while the Cardinals finished with a final score of 208.
The golf teams will be back in action on Thursday, April 29, when they welcome the Worthington Trojans to the Luverne Country Club.

The Luverne softball team dropped a pair of games on Tuesday, April 29, against St. James in Luverne.
Luverne lost the first game of the doubleheader 10-4 and then dropped Game 2 by a score of 14-3.
The pair of losses dropped Luverne’s overall record to 2-4.
 
St. James 10, LHS 4
St. James scored four runs in the first four innings. The visiting team added three more runs in the sixth inning to build a 7-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, St. James scored two runs to take a 10-0 lead.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the 10-run deficit was too much to overcome for the home team.
Carly Olson went 3-4 at the plate with a double. Olson also drove in all four runs for the Cardinals.
Roz Oye collected two hits for the Cardinals.
 
St. James 14, LHS 3
The Cardinals scored one run in the top of the first inning in Game 2 against St. James.
That lead didn’t last long, as St. James scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
St. James added five runs in the second inning to build an 8-1 lead.
The visiting team tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to build a 10-1 lead.
Luverne got two runs back in the top of the fourth inning to trim St. James’ lead to 10-3. St. James added four runs in the bottom half of the inning to open up a 14-3 lead.
Oye picked up two hits and drove in one run for the Cardinals.
Luverne hosts the Adrian Dragons at home Tuesday, April 27.

The Hills-Beaver Creek golf team competed in two meets this past week.
On Tuesday, April 20, the H-BC girls took home first place, while the boys placed third.
In Fulda on Thursday, April 22, the boys finished second and the girls placed first.
 
Meadow Acres
H-BC, Red Rock Central and Southwest Minnesota Christian-Edgerton all competed at Meadow Acres golf course on Tuesday, April 20.
The H-BC girls took home first place with a score of 248. RRC finished second with a score of 260. Southwest Minnesota Christian-Edgerton had an incomplete score.
H-BC’s Tess Van Maanen was the top individual performer with a final score of 44.
Hannah Fick placed second for the Patriots with a score of 52.
On the boys’ side of things, RRC finished first with a team score of 189. SWMNC shot a 201 to finish second. H-BC shot a 215 to place third.
Damion Meinerts shot a 53 for the Patriots. Austin Allen, Thomas Dysthe and Dallas Page all shot 54s.
 
Fulda
H-BC, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda and Westbrook-Walnut Grove all competed in Fulda on Thursday, April 22.
The WWG and HLOF girls’ golf teams had incomplete scores, while H-BC finished with a final score of 227.
Van Maanen took home first place for the girls, finishing with a score of 45.
Fick finished with a round of 59 and Mackenzie Voss shot a 61.
“The ‘new to golf’ girls have improved every meet and hopefully that will continue,” H-BC golf coach Dan Ellingson said. “It really helps our confidence going into conference play.”
For the boys it was HLOF taking home first place with a round of 179. H-BC finished second with a score of 187. WWG shot a 202.
Thomas Dysthe finished third overall with a score of 44.
“The guys put together a good meet,” Ellingson said. “We have the ability to be around that 185-190 score each meet. Hopefully we can continue with that good effort as we begin conference play on the 29th.”
The Patriots will open up conference play on Thursday, April 29, in Mountain Lake.

The South Dakota Girls’ 16U and 19U national teams are preparing to depart for Denver for the USA Hockey Tier II national tournaments from April 29 to May 3.
Team South Dakota (TSD) 16U consists of 20 girls from 10 different communities across the state and TSD.
The 19U team has 15 players from seven communities.
The TSD 19U team has three Luverne players on the roster. They include Rylee Gee, Reghan Bork and Mallory Von Tersch.
Players skate for their local hockey associations during the regular season and then come together to form Team South Dakota for tournament play.
 To qualify for nationals, these players participated with their teammates in over 20 games last fall and have now been practicing together since mid March.
Teams from 11 different states will compete in three rounds of pool play, with the top teams advancing to the championship rounds. The Tier II National Championships will be played Monday, May 3.
TSD 16U will hit the ice Thursday, May 29, with their first games at 9:15 a.m. vs the Central New York Bobcats, and TSD 19U will face off against the San Diego Angels at 3:15 p.m.

For many prep athletes, when their senior season comes to an end, that’s the last time they get to play the sport they love at a competitive level.
That’s not the case for Hills-Beaver Creek’s Taryn Rauk. Following graduation, Rauk will be playing basketball at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Rauk was one of the 40 athletes who competed in the Minnesota All-State All-Star Game on Saturday, April 24, at Carleton College.
“I was so thankful to be able to compete in the all-state game,” Rauk said.
“It was an opportunity that will stick with me for a lifetime. It was so cool to be able to meet girls from all over Minnesota who have the same goals and to be able to play next to some super talented girls.”
Rauk finished the game with nine points. More importantly, she said it was another opportunity to put on the H-BC jersey one last time.
“It meant the world to me. It was so great to be able to represent the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots one last time.”
Rauk was able to enjoy individual and team success during her four years on the H-BC varsity squad. She credits her coaches, teammates and family for all the accolades that she was able to earn on the hardwood.
“I would not have been able to get there without my coaches that have pushed me every single day and spent endless hours continuing to develop me into a better player,” Rauk said.
“My teammates have also played a huge role to get me to where I am today with their endless support and encouragement. I also could not have done it without my supportive family and community by my side through everything.”

I just love it when it finally gets to be 70 degrees and the sun shines. My last wildlife ride included a ground hog, a new bald eagle nest, one mink, tons of Canada geese, raccoons, American kestrels, turkey vultures, turkeys, numerous white tail deer and a few mergansers and wood ducks utilizing my nesting boxes.
My favorite, though, is the big and bad ringneck pheasant.
Male ringnecks, called cocks, are more visible this time of year than any other. Everyone reports seeing them on the roads everywhere, leaving the impression that there must be tons of them.
This is not really the case. The average life expectancy of a pheasant is 11 months. Some die just after they hatch and others die two years later. 
For a pheasant to reach the age of three hardly ever happens. From the peak of the hatch, which happens in Minnesota about June 10, numbers will decline for many reasons down to about 40 percent of that peak total in a normal year with normal winter weather. This leaves 40 percent left to carry on the next season’s reproduction efforts.
The reason you see roosters all the time in the spring is that they are looking for the highest spot in the county to crow for the ladies. The more visibility they have, the better chance they have of attracting a harem.
The average rooster male services about a dozen hens. They can do the job for three dozen or more at one time. They will crow and flap their wings to attract the mates they desire.
Roosters actually lose a pretty large percentage of their body weight with this effort. Crowing and flapping, not to mention fighting with rival males, must take a lot of energy.
If you have never seen roosters battling it out, you are missing quite a sight. In the heat of these battles, you can often walk up very close to action. They are so engaged in the fight that they lose some of their keen perceptions of danger.
When the hens lay their clutch and hatch a brood, the tough part of being a pheasant begins. Many chicks will die in the first week.  Predation and in some cases cold, wet weather are to blame.
Years ago, I wanted all of my wildlife habitat to be thick, tall grass. Certain times of the year pheasants will absolutely need this kind of cover. But when you are a pheasant chick, this robust cover can be a killer. Momma hen will move about throughout the day with the chicks following behind. If the cover is too thick, the chicks cannot keep up and they are in many cases just left behind.
Brood cover, as it is called, is much more desirable this time of year. “What is brood cover?” you might ask. This is mix of much shorter and less dense cover, hopefully with lots of forbs and flowers mixed in.
This kind of cover has many open spaces, areas under the leaves and stems with some dirt exposed.
These open areas under the canopy allow the chicks easier walking and allow them to better keep up with their mom. Flowers and forbs are broad leaf plants that are insect incubators. Pheasant chicks survive their first few weeks with insects as their primary food source. Grasshoppers are a favorite.
Tall grasses, on the other hand, have almost no insects for baby pheasants to feed on. If you have a wildlife property, it should have a mix of different kinds of habitats or cover so it can fulfill all the needs of pheasant adults and chicks alike for all of the seasons, not just thick cover for the wintertime.
Public lands are strategically designed to provide for all of the needs of wildlife year-round. When seeding new public land acres, I have often seen five to six distinctly different seeding mixes all planted on different parts of the property. This was almost never done in the past, and the more scientific methods used today result in much better and longer-lasting wildlife habitats.
The more attention you pay to wildlife biology, the more you learn about what is and is not good habitat. They all look good from the road, but you need to get out and walk around in them to see just how unique they really are. Take a few hours and do just that this week.
 
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.

Read Isaiah 40:28-31: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (New International Version (NIV).
Those verses are favorites of many people, or at least the last verse is with its image of soaring like an eagle.
I also have found these verses inspiring over the years, though there have been times when I started reading these verses with Isaiah asking that question, “Have you not heard?” and thought to myself “heard what?”
Isaiah moves on to talking about God as the Creator of the earth and, of course, I’ve heard that many times. I’ve been hearing that since I was a child: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…” That’s a beginning Sunday school lesson as well as Apostle’s Creed 101.
I’ve always been convinced Isaiah wants us to hear something more than that. The key word here seems to be “weary.”
I am sure you’d agree that we all grow weary from time to time. Weary is also a strong word, one that says much more than “I am tired.”
Most, if not all, of us have experienced weariness during this past pandemic year. Isaiah says everyone grows weary at some point, no matter your age. Isaiah is trying to make us aware that any and all human beings can become weary.
This passage in Isaiah also contains one of those great “But God…” promises that are sprinkled throughout the Bible and are treasures to hold on to. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” And the reason is that God does not grow weary! Ever!
According to Isaiah, to wait for the Lord is to look up in awe and remember the expansive power and might of the one who created you. To wait for the Lord is to find your small place in God’s vast universe of mystery and wonder and know that God is still there with you.
God numbers you. God calls you by name. To wait for the Lord is to be brought to your knees by the knowledge deep within that the only thing greater than the vast reach of the One who stretches the heavens like the canvas of an artist is the vast wonder of God’s love and care…. for you.
To wait for the Lord is to cling to the very beauty of God and the promise that the Lord does not faint or grow weary.
Isaiah wants us to know for sure – “Have you not heard?” – that God does not faint or grow weary in God’s care for you … in God’s presence with you … in God’s love for you.
Now you know and now you have heard! God does not grow weary, and those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. May you hold on to that promise even as God holds on to you!

The Star Herald reached out to churches for their worship information in the absence of in-person worship services, due to coronavirus social distancing. Those that responded are listed here. Those that would like to have information posted here should call the Star Herald or email editor@star-herald.com.
 
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. Wednesday, 10 a.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday. No mass, communion service or rosary at care centers at this time. 5 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. Wednesday, May 6: 6:30 a.m. Ladies’ Prayer Time. 6:30 p.m. GEMS—Mother/Daughter/Grandma night. 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, April 29: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, May 1: 11:30 a.m. Red Arndt memorial service. 5:30 p.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. Sunday, May 2: 9 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. 10 a.m. Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Adult study via Zoom. Tuesday, May 4: 9 a.m. staff meeting. Wednesday, April May 5: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 3 p.m.-Close Youth Pizza Ranch fundraiser. 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 507-449-0291 or 605-215-9834
pastorapalmquist67@yahoo.com
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well. Mondays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne). Also visit els.org with our sister churches for online worship opportunities.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Mike Altena, Pastor
Friday, April 30: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, May 2: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:50 a.m. Sunday school. Tuesday, May 4: 12 Noon Staff meeting. Wednesday, May 5: 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. VBS station leader workshop. 6:30 p.m. Sr. High youth group. 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.
 
First Assembly of God Church
1075 110th Ave., 2 miles west of Luverne on County Rd. 4
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529; email: luverneumc@iw.net
Dorrie Hall, Pastor
Thursday, April 29: 1-3 p.m. Rock County Food Shelf curbside. Saturday, May 1: 10 a.m. UMW Spring gathering via zoom. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, May 2: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. 4:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible study. Monday, May 3: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Wednesday, May 5: 6:15 p.m. Last day of FUEL. 6:30 p.m. Last day of Confirmation. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, May 6: 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 2: 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10:15 a.m. Worship service. Monday, May 3: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. Wednesday, May 5: 7 p.m. committee meetings. 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 1: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, May 2: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible study. 11 a.m. Junior choir rehearsal. Wednesday, May 5: 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ. 7:30 p.m. Youth group. 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 2: 9 a.m. Worship at First Lutheran. Masks are highly recommended. 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 2: 10:30 a.m. Worship at Palisade Lutheran. Masks are required. 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
Sunday, May 2: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 10 a.m. Last day of Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship at Bethlehem with Holy Communion. 6 p.m. 8th-9th grade Confirmation. 5:30-7 pm. 9th-12th grade Youth night. 7-8:30 p.m. 6th-8th grade Youth night. Tuesday, May 4: 2:30 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Village Bible study. 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

H-BC School Board 
meets March 24
Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671
Minutes
March 24, 2021
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semi-monthly meeting at
7:03 p.m. in the H-BC Secondary School Media Center/via Zoom Mtg for Guest
attendees – based on MN Statute 13D.021.
Board members present were Gehrke, Harnack, Knobloch, LaRock, Rauk, and
Rozeboom. Superintendent Holthaus, Principal Kellenberger, and Business
Manager Rozeboom were also in attendance. Board member Bosch was absent.
Motion by LaRock, second by Rozeboom, and carried to approve the agenda.
(Proposed Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: 6.3 in Consent Agenda)
Visitor to the meeting via Zoom was Mavis Fodness of the Star Herald.
PATRIOT PRIDE:
-SWWC Writing Finalists for the 17th Annual Creative Writing Contest--Brystol
Teune, Brekyn Klarenbeek, Ryker Gehrke, Penni Moore, and Mazzi Moore.
Final placing is to be announced on April 18. Congratulations!
-Secondary Robotics Design Champions first ever! Congratulation to Mrs.
Moore and Robotics Team
-Successful Boys & Girls Basketball Seasons
-Taryn Rauk selected as 20-2021 Honorable Mention All-State Girls Basketball
Player
-Four FFA teams qualify for State FFA Convention
BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS:
Personnel/Finance 3/17, Building Grounds meetings 3/18, Transportation 3/22,
Community Education 3/24
Motion by LaRock, second by Harnack, and carried to approve Consent Agenda:
6.1. Minutes—03/09/2021
6.2. Bills
6.3. Macy Ellingson Leave Request beginning on or around May 10, 2021 through 
the end of the 20-21 school year.
Motion by Knobloch, second by LaRock, and carried to approve adding paid Jr.
High Community Education Baseball and Softball Coaching Position for Summer
Recreation.
Motion by Rauk, second by LaRock, and carried to approve directing the
Superintendent and Business Manager to finalize the purchase of a ten (10)
passenger van for district transportation needs.
DISTRICT NON-ACTION ITEMS:
•Secondary Principal Report
•Superintendent/Elementary Principal Report
•Legislative Update
AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
DATES TO REMEMBER:
-Regular Board Meeting, April 12, 2021
-Regular Board Meeting, April 26, 2021
-Staff Development TAB 4/7
Meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.
Tamara Rauk, Clerk
(4-22)