The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Sept. 16, 1932.
 
Highway Dept. Shows Interesting Figures
 
Assorted Activities of State Highway Patrol Summarized for August; 100 Cars Taken Into Custody
 
The report of activities of the state highway patrol for the month of August, as summarized by a recent highway bulletin, shows that in addition to giving directions and other information to 117,000 motorists and first aid to twelve persons injured into traffic accidents, patrolmen found time to check up a large number of vehicles and issue tags calling for corrections of unsafe or illegal equipment.
A total of 1,277 drivers were given tags for failure to have rear lamps lighted; 1,274 because of head lamps being out of adjustment; 742 one lamp dark; 373 on account of glaring lights; 145 insufficient light; 119 illegal lights, and 106 because of no clearance lights displayed on wide vehicles.
Faulty brakes were found on 49 vehicles; 45 had defective warning devices; 48 had no rear view mirror, and 50 no windshield wiper. Failure to have exhaust pipes properly muffled brought tags to 58, and 149 were tagged because of swinging license plates, obscured license plates, or because of the license plates not being illuminated at night.
Improper operation of motor vehicles brought many motorists to the attention of the patrolmen, the report shows. Warnings were given to 3,044 for improper parking; to 659 for failing to stop at arterial highway “Stop” signs; to 572 for driving too fast in congested areas, and to 316 for not driving in the correct traffic lane. Others given warnings included 164 for improper passing of other vehicles; 80 for passing on curves, and 32 for passing on crests of hills.
Infractions for which tags, calling for corrections within 48 hours, were issued by the patrol officers included 212 vehicles with expired licenses or large trailers without licenses; 125 no Minnesota license plates; 30 wrong class of license, and 75 having only one license plate displayed. Chauffeurs to the number of 81 were tagged for failure to have proper license. Corrections in this class of irregularities required the payment of vehicle tax to a total of $3,337.25.
All violators of traffic regulations were not, however, fortunate enough to but get tags, according to the report. Motorists to the number or 72 were arrested for driving while drunk, and paid fines totaling $5,716.00. Others placed under arrest were: 29 for failure to stop before entering on or crossing arterial highways; 19 for careless driving, and 17 for having improper license plates on their vehicles. These latter paid fines amounting to $995.50.
Cars taken into custody by the patrol officers numbered an even one hundred. The majority of these were on account of drunken drivers.
Patrolmen required the removal of 285 signs improperly placed on state trunk highways.
 
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

10 years ago (2011)
•Even after moving into a bitter cold, snow-filled winter, prior Georgia residents Pastor Billy Skaggs and his wife, Cindy, have a fire in their hearts for their new church home in Luverne.
“It’s the people here,” Skaggs said about being senior pastor of Living Rock.
“There are incredible families God has placed in our church.
Living Rock is a nondenominational congregation that meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays in the former Furniture House building on East Main Street.
“God has really placed a passion in our hearts to love and minister to families in the area,” he said.
The couple also has family in the area, which influenced their decision to move from sunny Georgia to seasonal Minnesota. His daughter, Ashley, and her husband, Jared, live in Sioux Falls with their three girls.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•Rock County Corn and Soybean Board members were introduced to yet another new product made from corn at a recent board meeting.
Board president Gene “Pucky” Sandager said the most recent corn by-product is a product that can replace liquid fire-starting material.
Sandager said, “It’s a paste that you squeeze onto wood. It doesn’t run all over. You can carry it in a backpack if you’re hiking, and it doesn’t leave an after-taste if you’re grilling.
The fire starter is just one of hundreds of products that are made from corn and corn by-products. Sandager said ethanol continues to be the No. 1 alternative use of corn, but lots of other products are being developed. They include deicing material for airplanes, windshield washer fluid, biodegradable plastic and water-absorbent materials which are used in diapers among other things.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•Luverne’s High School cagers brought home the District 8 crown Saturday night after a fight-to-finish 69-65 victory over arch-rival Pipestone. Since 1924, Luverne has captured 23 district championships, and has won berths in the regional competition in six out of the last eight years. On Tuesday, Luverne advanced to the Region II finals with a 64-53 win over District 7 Champion, Windom. Friday night’s regional championship is slated for 7:30 p.m. in the Worthington High School Gymnasium against the winner of Wednesday’s regional contest between Frost of District 5 and St. James, District 6.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•Competing against five schools in the district speech contest held here Saturday, Luverne high school contestants won five first places, and four second places in the seven different divisions to take the biggest share of the honors.
Jean Ellen Canfield, participating in the original oratory division with her oration, “See Here, Mr. Striker”, won a superior rating; Howard Binford, giving “The Phantom Delegate” rated superior in oratorical declamation; Jack Butler rated an excellent in the discussion division on the topic “Our Future Relations with Soviet Russia” to tie with Adeline Sauter; Fulda; Eldon Michaelson rated an excellent in extemporaneous speaking discussing “Federation of Malayan States”; Alyce Anderson was given a superior rating on her interpretative reading selection, “Elizabeth and Essex.” All of these placed first in their divisions and they are now eligible to compete in the regional contest at Windom, March 25.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•School will re-open in the Central school building next Monday morning, as usual, in at least six of the eight rooms, Supt. H. C. Bell announced Tuesday afternoon.
Careful examination of the building has disclosed that the fire in no way weakened the floor supports of any of the rooms, the main damage being confined to non-essential dividing walls, and consequently it is deemed entirely safe for any of the rooms to be occupied.
A fire which originated in the southwest part of the basement of the Central school building, and for a time threatened the destruction of the structure, was discovered at about 7 o’clock Tuesday, and while not a great deal of damage was done to the building, it was sufficient with the disarrangement of the heating system to make it impractical to attempt to hold school there during the remainder of this week.

Mark and Karen Willers, Beaver Creek, and Charlie Golden, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, announce the engagement of their children Natalie Willers and Robert Golden.
Natalie is a 2008 Luverne High School graduate and works as an intensive care nurse at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
Robert graduated from Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls, and works as a quality assurance technician at Diamond Mowers, Sioux Falls.
The couple plans a May 29, 2021, wedding celebration.

Gertrude “Gert” Bruynes, 86, Luverne, died Monday, March 8, 2021, at her home in Luverne.
A funeral service was Friday, March 12, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Memory Gardens near Luverne.
Gertrude Berghorst was born Oct. 21, 1934, to Sidney and Marie (Vlieger) Berghorst in Oldebrook, Netherlands. She was baptized at the Reformed Church in the Netherlands. In July of 1948, when Gert was 14, her family came to America on the New Amsterdam ship and settled in Versailles, Missouri. The family relocated to Hull, Iowa, in 1951.
On Sept. 20, 1954, Gertrude married Jacob Bruynes at the Rock County Courthouse in Luverne. The young couple started their married life on a farm west of Luverne until moving to Hardwick in 1963. Gertrude was confirmed on Nov. 21, 1965, at the Hardwick Lutheran Church. Jacob and Gertrude were blessed with five children.  Gertrude remained in Hardwick until 2010 when she and her daughter Vicki moved into a condominium in Luverne.
Gertrude was a hard worker. She was a housewife, she cleaned houses, was a custodian for Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, as well as both the Mary Jane Brown Home and the Minnesota Veterans Home. She also was employed with Fey Industries in Edgerton for five years.
Gertrude was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne and was active in many church activities. She enjoyed knitting, gardening, and playing cards, especially with the condo ladies. Gertrude loved a clean house and thought her house was never clean enough. She was also an animal lover and cared for injured animals. She loved square dancing and walking with her sister Fran for as long as she was able. More than anything, she loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of them all. 
Gert is survived by her children Deb Fick of Woodbury, Vicky Bruynes of Luverne, Jacob (Terri) Bruynes of Hardwick, and Susan (Lee) Bitterman-Bruynes of Mitchell, South Dakota; nine grandchildren, Ryan (Kristy) Fick, Melissa Fick-Dorn, Lisa (Luke) Lien, Jacob (Katie) Bruynes, Caleb (Tricia) Bruynes, Jonathan (Mickie) Tooley, Jamison (Sarah) Tooley, Kyle (Andrea) Bitterman, and Nicole (Thomas) Argubright; 14 great-grandchildren; and siblings Frances Vos of Luverne, Henry Berghorst of Benson, Martin (Judy) Berghorst of Wilmar, Arthur (special friend Pat) Berghorst of Canby, John (Sheila) Berghorst of Canby, Mary Wiering of Alexandria, and Jack (Julie) Berghorst of Canby.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jake; daughter Martha Bruynes; sisters Wilma DeBoer and Minnie Hubbling; and brother Frank Berghorst.
Funeral arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
(0318 F)

Shirley Ann Ford, 93, Luverne, died Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone.
A public visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. A private family graveside service is planned for Thursday, March 18, at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Shirley Skoland was born March 30, 1927, to Tobias and Lila (Spease) Skoland in Luverne. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1945.
Shirley married Harold Ford on Aug. 31, 1946, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church parsonage in Luverne. The couple lived in Luverne where Shirley had worked as a receptionist for Dr. Martin and Dr. Siebert. She also worked at Myhre Studio and at The Style Shop. Shirley later volunteered at the Luverne Sanford Medical Center.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne and the Luverne VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Her family remembers her for her loving and caring nature, her endless knitting and her skill at cooking and baking. She also enjoyed playing bridge.
Shirley is survived by her three sons, Rod (Linda) Ford of Rochester, Greg (Fern) Ford of Boulder, Colorado, and John “Jack” (Mary Ann) Ford of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold, on June 2, 1993; and a sister, Dorothy Foss.
Memorials are preferred to the Disabled American Veterans or the Luverne Dollars for Scholars.
Arrangements are provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
(0318 F)

It’s Monday and I am thinking of all the pruning I got done last week. Now I’m looking at a blanket of the whitest and heaviest snow we have seen in awhile. But hey, the frost came out of the top layer of soil so this will be wonderful moisture to help replenish the deficit from last year.
So, we get a couple of days off but we do want to get the pruning done whenever we get the chance because just because we take a couple of days off, the calendar keeps moving.
Yearly I try to remind my gardening friends that cutting back the tall Carl Foerster ornamental grass should be the first pruning project to tackle. I got a lot of them cut last week and noticed that new growth was popping up already.
This is a cool season grass, so they are one of the first perennials to start growing. At this point, cut them back as close to the ground as possible, thereby eliminating all of the previous year’s growth, and they will look fresh from the start.
If you notice that the crown seems to be dead in the center with new growth around the edge, that’s an indication that it is time to divide the clump. Before you put all the effort into cutting it back, dig out the entire clump.
Use your spade to cut the root mass into four sections. Cut off the old growth on one section and plant it back into the hole where you dug it out. You can discard the other three divisions, plant them somewhere else, or bless a friend with them. Be prepared to add soil to the hole to account for the vacancy left from what you removed. Water the new transplant to settle the soil around the root mass.  Easy … almost nothing to it!
This same thinning should be done to daylilies if those clumps have become so thick that they don’t seem to be blooming as plentifully as they did earlier. Ignoring the overcrowded condition situation will not correct the problem. People tend to procrastinate investing that hour of work and regret it for the rest of the season.
If you have a clump of rhubarb that you want to move or divide, now is when you want to get to it. Rhubarb can grow in the same location for years without complaining. Most often if begins to decline. The issue is inadequate sunlight or harvesting too late in the season, although it is pretty forgiving unless you continue late harvesting year after year.
The shade issue kind of sneaks up on a person. Trees don’t seem to grow all that fast and we tend to ignore them until a neighboring plant doesn’t seem to be blooming or growing as well as in previous seasons. In the case of rhubarb, it is easier to move the rhubarb to a site where it gets full sun than it is to move the tree.
 

U of M Mankato names honor students
The University of Minnesota Mankato has announced the high honors and honors students for Fall 2020 semester.
Janae Kopp and Sierra Wieneke, both of Luverne, were named to the high honors list with a 4.0 GPA.
Griffin Ahrendt, Jacqueline Diaz, Kaitlyn Roberts and Sidney Wicks, all of Luverne, Jordyn Gyberg of Adrian, and Faith Mounce of Hills were named to the honors list with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99.

Minnesota West Community & Technical College has been recognized as one of the Top 47 Colleges in the State of Minnesota for 2021 by Intelligent.com.
The top college picks by Intelligent.com are affordable, respected, and flexible.
These rankings are based on assessments of over 153 universities and colleges along with comparisons of over 344 educational programs.
Colleges that have made this top list have also been ranked based on areas including program strength, student readiness, return on investment, cost, and student engagement. These areas are then scored and given an overall ranking based on a score between 0 and 100.
Amongst the Top 47 Colleges Minnesota West Community and Technical College was listed as the best for Network Security. With an Intelligent Score of 79.67. For a complete list of ranked colleges visit https://www.intelligent.com/best-colleges-in-minnesota/.
Minnesota West Community & Technical College offers over 60 majors and technical programs for students to choose from. Minnesota West has programs designed to get students into the work force in as little as 9 months, and programs that prepare students to continue on, for further education after completion of their two-year degree. Minnesota West strives to be the regional college of choice while preparing learners for a lifetime of success. Minnesota West values and places emphasis on community engagement, courage, innovation, diversity and inclusion, integrity, and the success of our students.
For more information about Minnesota West Community & Technical College visit www.mnwest.edu or call 800-658-2330.

Sanford Luverne Medical Center has been named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” for 2021, according to a list released by the Chartis Center for Rural Health.
“It’s an honor to be named a top 100 critical access hospital,” said Tammy Loosbrock, senior director of Sanford Luverne. “Our team of physicians, nurses, techs, assistants and many other ancillary staff pride themselves on the hard work and dedication to the communities we serve. At Sanford, our goal has always been to provide quality health care close to home, making access to health care convenient for our patients.”
According to the Chartis Group website, hospitals making the “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” list serve as a benchmark for other rural systems.
“Amidst uncertainty, transition and strain, these top performers are excelling in increasing patient satisfaction, securing better outcomes for patients, managing risk, achieving higher quality and operating at a lower cost than their peers,” the website stated.
For more information about Sanford Luverne Medical Center, visit sanfordhealth.org.