10 years ago (2011)
•The Luverne Middle and High School students and staff had the goal of raising $2,000 through the Pennies for Patients program in just one week’s time.
The incentive was to gain permission to shave the heads of Ryan Johnson, principal, and Todd Oye, activities director.
During the Friday pepfest on Feb. 11, though, students cheered as two other chairs were filled by Wade Hiller, technology coordinator, and Terry Althoff, 10th-grade math teacher. Together the schools raised $4,700.80 from Monday to Friday.
All donations benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•It will take another bus, but the Luverne School Board unanimously agreed Thursday to provide transportation for children open-enrolling to Luverne for the 1996-97 school year.
Transportation director Lon Remme used a map to show board members where students currently open-enrolled in the district live and where new students who have requested transportation live.
When the district sends letters of acceptance to parents of these students, the letter will say transportation will be arranged either from students’ homes or from pick-up points.
Preliminary open-enrollment numbers as of Jan. 15 show an estimated  123 students may attend school in Luverne from outside the district.
The district is not obligated to provide transportation to students outside the district; however, with bus costs figured into the state-aid formula, and with the benefits for the district of gaining additional students, Luverne Superintendent George Maurer said it will pay off in the end.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•Rock County schools would stand to get a considerable increase in state support for maintenance costs according to figures released last week by Gov. Wendell Anderson’s office in a report explaining his proposed new education aid formula.
Maintenance costs do not include the capital expenditures or debt costs of the school districts.
Anderson’s proposal suggests that the state’s share of maintenance costs be increased from the current 43 percent to 64 per cent next year and 70 per cent in 1972-73.
Financing for the new state aids would come with increased income and excise taxes, which, Anderson proposes, would be offset by plans being made for property tax relief.
Conservative legislators have been criticizing the proposal for tax reforms with the idea that the state should be more concerned with spending cuts and not tax adjustments.
Rep. Wendell Erickson of Hills, in a telephone conversation with the Star-Herald on Monday, said “You can’t spend more money without hurting somebody, taxwise.”
 
75 years ago (1946)
•Jack Kent, who for the past 16 years has served as a bulk truck driver for the Rock County Cooperative Oil Company, has purchased the Luverne Recreational Alleys from L. A. McClure.
Mr. McClure, who has operated the alleys here since 1937, said Mr. Kent would take possession of the business March 1. At the present time, they are located in the basement of the McClure Plumbing and Electric shop, but they will be moved this summer to the building now occupied by the “Reck Club,” adjacent to the McClure building, and several more alleys added before next fall’s bowling season begins, McClure stated.
Mr. Kent has disposed of his bulk gasoline truck to Virgil Noll, who recently returned from the service. Since his discharge, Mr. Noll has been employed at the Boyer Grain and Feed Company.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•The comedy drama, “And Home Came Ted,” will be given tonight at the Palace Theatre by the Seniors of the Luverne high school. The first performance of the annual class play was presented last evening at the Palace to a crowded house, and was well received, the play combining humorous  incidents and dramatic situations in a manner which held the interest of the audience throughout.
The drama comprises three acts of one scene each, with a cast of twelve characters, the various roles being well taken by the members of the senior class. The play is given under the direction of Miss Georgia Adams, who has had entire charge of rehearsals.

Births
         A son, Conner Gregory, weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and 21 1/4 inches long, was born on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at Sanford in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Greg and Natalie Fick of Beaver Creek.
         Grandparents are Harlan and Sue Stueven of Hills and Al and Chris Fick of Beaver Creek. Great-grandmother is Florence Fick of Beaver Creek.

SDSU names honor students
Several area students were named to the Fall 2020 dean’s list at South Dakota State University in Brookings. To be eligible, students must earn a 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students with a 4.0 GPA are indicated with an asterisk after their names.
(Codes for abbreviations of colleges of study: SNURS – College of Nursing; SAHSS – College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; SEHS – College of Education and Human Sciences; SPAHP – College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions; SNS – College of Natural Sciences; SAFES – College of Agriculture, Foods and Environmental Sciences; SENG – College of Engineering)
Adrian: Rylie Hokeness*, SEHS; McKinley Nelson*, SNURS.
Ellsworth: Ashlyn Meester, SEHS.
Hardwick: Dalton Javner*, SPAHP.
Hills: Luke LaRock, SAHSS; Jax Wysong*, SNS.
Luverne: Mariah Aukes*, SEHS; Tacey Baustian*, SNS; Tyler Fick, SAFES; Jenae Hamann*, SEHS; Alexis Henrichs, SAFES; Jacinda Hustoft, SAHSS; Kacie Kracht, SEHS; Jonah Louwagie, SAHSS; Aric Meinerts, SENGR; Allie Skattum, SNURS; McCall Stegenga, SPAHP; Melissa Teal, SNURS; Benjamin Wagner SENGR; Danielle Watts-Boll, SAHSS.
Lismore: Brittney Loonan, SEHS; Paige Tweet, SAFES.
Steen: Whitney Elbers*, SNURS.

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 02-11-20 edition of the Star Herald)
 
         At this early stage of Manley’s development an invitation was extended to both Beaver Creek and Valley Springs to join forces with the new town, before circumstances should force such a procedure.18 The boom that was expected to eventuate in 1890 did not materialize so fully as anticipated. In April an elevator was erected by C. N. Bell, of St. Paul, and F. C. Bell was placed in charge. After much bargaining, L. K. Lee was induced to build a roller mill at Manley. The enterprise was launched early in August. Late in July a postoffice was established and Miss Mary E. McCallen appointed postmistress. The office was housed in a small building erected for the purpose.
         To encourage the development of the town the townsite owners extensively advertised and held an auction sale of town lots that resulted successfully so far as their pockets were concerned. The sale was held on July 30, 1890. For the occasion a free excursion train was run from Sioux City, which carried prospective investors, the majority of whom were laboring men. It was reported that 588 persons were entertained by the company on the day of the sale and that seventy-five lots were sold.19 The many promises of building projects that were made before the wholesale disposal of lots were not fulfilled. The activities of the year 1890 from the first of August may be summarized: A small bottling works was put in operation; several small residences, one by E. M. Percival and another by Mr. Sturtevant, were erected; the first and only store in the town was established by H. H. Loeffler in December; the firm of Rood Bros. engaged in the fuel business and stock buying; an ice house with a storage capacity of 160 tons was completed by Albert Johnson in December.
         There were a few additions to Manley in 1891. John Butler erected a 24x50 feet grain warehouse in time for the fall season, and in December a blacksmith and wagon maker located in the town. The Manley mill was closed in March, 1892, and from that time the deadline of the junction city was rapid, while Beaver Creek and Valley Springs continued to prosper. In the course of the next few years every industry in the town, with the exception of the grain elevators, were withdrawn.
         The store building and the few residences remained unoccupied for a period and were eventually moved away.20 A fire on the morning of October 8, 1901, destroyed one of the two elevators, entailing a loss of $2500. In 1904 the station was closed but was later opened for a period. No agent is maintained at Manley at the present time.
         18“A representative of the Northern Land company, which owns the towns along the Sioux City & Northern railway, has been interviewing the merchants and residents of the towns of Beaver Creek and Valley Springs, with a view to induce the two towns to unite  and form a thriving town and the junction of the Sioux City & Northern and Omaha railways.”—Beaver Creek News-Letter, November, 1889.
         19“The sale of town lots at Manley last week is said to have been a big affair, the purchases aggregating about $4000, at prices ranging from $50 to $150 a lot. The free excursion from Sioux City drew a big crowd.”—Rock Rapids Review, August, 1890.
         20“Manley will soon be a has-been town. One by one the buildings of that place are being taken away. The last building to be removed, and about all that remains of Manley, will be the two story building. The building was sold this week to A. N. Nerison, of Hills. The building will be removed to Hills and used as a dwelling.”—Valley Springs Vidette, March, 1900.
 
         The story of other places will start in the Feb. 25 edition of the Star Herald.
         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.

More than 140 years of experience is housed in one Sanford Luverne office separated by two office dividers in the patient appointment center.
LPN Cheryl Groen started Aug. 18, 1980, and has been with Sanford Luverne 40 years.
MA Vicki Nelson started Sept. 16, 1976, and has been with Sanford Luverne 44 years.
LPN Carol Wieneke started Nov. 23, 1963, and has been with Sanford Luverne 57 years.
The three of them work in the Sanford Luverne Clinic scheduling office, sometimes working together on cases, but always striving to help patients have the best outcomes.
 
Cheryl Groen, the junior staffer, started as a nurse in Luverne Community Hospital and held various office jobs.
After an accident compromised her health, she became a nurse scheduler, utilizing her nursing background to place orders for physicians.
“I get a little variety every day. I don’t talk to the same people every day — except for the people I work with,” Groen said. “Carol and I communicate really well over the wall. We work together all the time. …We transfer calls to each other.”
Groen said she gets the satisfaction of patient contact that she enjoys as a nurse while scheduling orders like ultrasounds, mammograms, CT scans and surgeries.
“There are some people I work with quite a bit — the ones with recurring orders, such as lab work,” she said. “So I get to know them.”
Every test and every procedure needs an order, and it all comes through Groen’s desk.
Part of the work involves “investigative work.” For example, if a CT scan is ordered for a patient with a pacemaker, Groen calls it to the doctor’s attention.
She said improved technology has helped improve patient care, with doctors being able to access vital information more readily.
“It really makes you feel good when everything runs smoothly,” Groen said. “Communication is the most important part of this job. … with the doctors and with the patients. … and I enjoy helping people come to an answer to their health problems.”
Groen said she enjoys working as a team with Wieneke and Nelson.
“Vicki gets them lined up, and we schedule them. “So it’s really a three-person effort.
 
Vicki Nelson works in “Care Coordination” to make sure patients get in for follow-up appointments and keep up with health maintenance such as a colonoscopy and staying current with their medicine.
While her heart will always be “on the floor” where she worked for 39 years, she said care coordination offers her the rewards of helping patients nonetheless.
“Some of them answer the phone and recognize my voice,” Nelson said. “They say, ‘Vicki, is that you?’”
Also rewarding, she said, is being able to assure patients they’re getting the best care at Sanford Luverne.
“How lucky Luverne is to have the doctors we have here,” Nelson said. “We have doctors that since I started passed down the tradition of really giving good care and taking care of their patients.”
Nelson retired on Feb. 10, just after being interviewed for this story.
She fought back tears after being asked what she’ll miss about her 44 years at Sanford Luverne.
“I’m going to miss … my co-workers and the doctors and our patients,” Nelson said. “I love our patients. This has been my second home for 44 years.”
She worked full time for most of her career, which started at 19 years old.
As hard as it is to leave, Nelson said retirement has a better offer in the near term.
“I’m retiring so my new baby grandson doesn’t have to go to a big day care right away,” she said.
 
Carol Wieneke, with her 57-year career, is legendary in the Sanford Health System and Good Samaritan as the longest-running employee on record.
Still, she has no intention of retiring soon.
Wieneke is known for her able hands and gentle demeanor, and her work as an LPN has been celebrated at milestone parties marking 40 years, 50 years and even 55.
“I am very thankful for my family’s support throughout all of the 57 years. My husband and children always knew about my dedication,” she said. “There were times when I came home late and they were still patiently waiting with supper for me.”
Wieneke lost her husband in September and said she’s getting through the tough time with support of her colleagues.
She said the Sanford family is her family, and her accolades are her co-workers’ accolades.
“I didn’t do this by myself,” she said at her 50th anniversary party in 2013. “I’ve worked with wonderful co-workers and physicians through the years.”
She said the reason she’s been a nurse for so long is that she finds her work helping patients rewarding.
“I’ve always enjoyed coming to work. I’ve never had a day when I didn’t want to come to work,” Wieneke said. “And my patients have always come first.”

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, Feb. 22: Chicken noodle casserole, mixed vegetables, peaches, cookie.
Tuesday, Feb. 23:
Baked ham, coleslaw, sliced carrots, dinner roll, brownie.
Wednesday, Feb. 24:
Roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, sage dressing, pumpkin bar.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Minnwest Bank.
Thursday, Feb. 25: Tator tot casserole, green beans, dinner roll, peaches.
Friday, Feb. 26: Pork chop with sauce, diced potatoes, peas, bread, lemon bar.
 
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

Cory Bloemendaal of Buffalo Ridge Insurance was recently honored for his ongoing pledge to education, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the insurance program.
The Society of Certified Counselors (CIC) presented Cory Bloemendaal with a formally inscribed certificate for his continued participation in the CIC program. Earning his CIC designation and maintaining all update requirements for 20 years places Cory Bloemendaal in the top one percent of all insurance professionals in the country.
“The high standards of leadership maintained by Cory Bloemendaal not only benefits Buffalo Ridge Insurance, but the insurance profession as a whole,” stated William Hold, CRM, CISR, CEO and president of the Society of CIC.
The Society of CIC is an organization nationally recognized as a leading continuing education program of insurance professionals. A not-for-profit organization, the Society of CIC is the cornerstone program for the National Alliance of Insurance Education & Research, headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Brad Weinkauf, 50, Jasper, died Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Hartquist Funeral Home – Pipestone Chapel. A private family funeral service will take place. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Arrangements are provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Pipestone, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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Pa Si Phan, 67, Worthington, died Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Sanford Luverne hospice cottage.
A private service will take place at a later date at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
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