I am not a letter writing person, but I would like to take the time to let others know about two individuals who deserve praise — Bruce Gluf (head coach) and Pete Janiszewski (assistant coach) who together coach the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams in Luverne. All too often we hear only the negative things about sports, athletes and coaches. Bruce and Pete choose instead to be positive role models and mentors to more than 30 boys and girls in our school. Of course I am biased; my oldest daughter has had Bruce as a coach for six years and Pete for three, while my youngest daughter is running her first year under their guidance. If you haven’t been to a cross country meet, you should make the effort to attend one. YES, it IS a spectator sport, and YES, you CAN watch your son or daughter compete one on one and as part of a team in cross country. How many of you can say you know of coaches who cheer for EVERY one of their athletes, regardless of their talent level? In the last two years alone, I have seen Bruce and Peter run from one end of a race course to the other to cheer for their athletes, whether that athlete is a first place finisher or is the very last runner to cross the finish line. These two coaches represent what is good and decent about competition, and they encourage and expect each athlete to push themselves and improve. There is a simple lesson to be learned here — if you give respect to others, you get respect in return. My father, who was an activities director for 35 years, once said about sports: "Twenty years from now, people won’t remember if you were a state champion, but they will remember if you were a decent citizen." While they are coaching their athletes to do their best in each race, Bruce Gluf and Pete Janiszewski are also creating decent citizens. Luverne High School is extremely fortunate to have coaches of this caliber, and much of the growing success of the cross country program in our community is due to their dedication and commitment to our kids. Thank them when you get the chance!Pat and Helen SaumLuverne

Does anyone else get a sinking feeling in their stomach when they drive down Main Street, Luverne, and see the missing Palace Theatre marquee? I know I do. It’s been a year since my position as director of the Council for Arts & Humanities in Rock County was dropped due to budget cuts in the arts, and seeing the missing marquee (even though I know a new one is taking its place) makes me stop and think about what would happen if the Palace really wasn’t there anymore. I know that people typically don’t miss something until it’s gone. They also probably don’t realize how important it is for the economy of the city to keep a place like the Palace Theatre going because it provides entertainment year-round and keeps people coming into town. With that said, I really want people to know how important it is to support events at the Palace so that this beautiful historic treasure continues to exist and never fades away. There are plenty of opportunities between now and the end of the year to do just that. On Oct. 29-31 the movie "Friday Night Lights" is playing. Following that, our favorite community theatre group, the Green Earth Players, is presenting the Nunsense Christmas musical "Nuncrackers" on Nov. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. At the end of November, talk is of having a "PlayStation" tournament, utilizing the new digital projector. On Dec. 3, 4, 5, coinciding with Winterfest, the play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" will be presented by American Reformed Church. On Dec. 11, "Go Fish" returns to the Palace with their inspirational Christian Christmas concert and on Dec. 17, the annual Christmas at the Palace, featuring local musicians, returns. All this and more, along with numbers of hard-working dedicated volunteers, keep things hopping at the Palace Theatre. Show them that you appreciate their work and want to see the bright lights of the Palace marquee sparkling on into the future by attending events at the Palace. For ticket information, call Carnegie Cultural Center at 283-8294.Tammy Makram,Luverne

Regardless of which political party you support, all of us should have real concern for the expanding national debt. An eye opening article appeared in Monday’s Minneapolis Tribune. In it the current national debt figures were shown to be $7,442,486,001,563.20 and counting. If that doesn’t grab your attention, then how about the figures showing each family’s share which is $76,356!Our government is borrowing money from foreign countries, some of which are not friendly toward us. Interest alone on our debts is cause for concern. Each of us can at last ask our government representatives to put fiscal restraint ahead of party politics.Dave HesselLuverne

I guess I have to take exception to a statement made in your article on the school referendum in your Oct. 21 Star Herald.Toward the end of the article it is stated, "Those who don’t own property won’t be affected by the referendum."If they are living here, and not owning any property, they must be renting. It’s not difficult to see that rents will have to increase as our government tries to squeeze landlords ever more. A related observation. One day last week I stopped for an early coffee and proceeded north on Highway 75. Although it was dark, I noticed a car passing me that had a sign in a window that said, "I support the Luverne school referendum." The car had South Dakota plates and turned left at Dodge Street.I wonder if they are voting for Daschle or that other guy. Bill FrakesLuverne

On Monday, Oct. 25, I attended Luverne Public Schools’ operating levy referendum information meeting. I was one of only a handful of people who attended the meeting conducted by Superintendent Schafer. As a former public school employee, I am very familiar with the publishing of information regarding operating as well as bond referendums. While I found the information pamphlet mailed to district residents about the upcoming $455 operating vote helpful, it was misleading. The same pamphlet and information were also given out during the public meeting.It was only by attending the public forum and asking the question did I fully understand the upcoming operating levy vote of $455 will be in ADDITION to the current $400 operating levy approved in 2001. The current levy can be in effect for the next seven years. Together, the current levy and the upcoming levy, if approved, will give Luverne Public Schools an $855 operating levy.However, only the $400 operating levy is actually depicted in the information pamphlet and was shown and explained at the meeting. This showed Luverne well under the state average and in the lower third as compared with other area districts’ levies. The chart and the information it supplied did not give an accurate picture that included the upcoming referendum vote. It led me to believe that the upcoming $455 vote may REPLACE the current $400 levy, meaning only an additional $55 levy was being requested. This is not true at all. The correct information was verified by Superintendent Schafer in the form of a question, which he answered without hesitation. I wish to share this information with readers so that they, too, will know this proposed operating levy will be an additional tax on top of the current levy. While Superintendent Schafer explained that Board of Education members do not have to ask for the full levy amounts, I have yet to experience any governmental agency that has willingly exercised that option.Mavis FodnessHardwick

To the young man who paid for my dinner at Subway in Pelican Rapids Sunday noon, Oct. 17. He said he was from Luverne. Thanks very much.Luverne, you helped raise a generous, fine young man.Cecil FemlingPelican Rapids

Author Ralph Perry has said, "Voting is the least arduous of a citizen’s duties. He has the prior and harder duty of making up his mind." He must have been referring to the 2004 election. In the 2002 general election 84 percent of those registered in Rock County voted. In the 2004 primary election one precinct in Luverne had less than 10 voters. We can do better. If you have not registered to vote, you may do so at the office of the Auditor/Treasurer or at your polling place Nov. 2.Consider voting a responsibility and please study the issues, listen to the candidates, make an informed decision and cast your ballot on Nov. 2. Annabelle FrakesLuverne

10 years ago (1994)"When it comes to making ends meet, farmers and the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council are teaming up to do just that. And when it comes to getting a job done, farmers and the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry are getting that done, too. Earlier this year, the PIC established a program for those farmers, spouses, young adults over age 18, and other disaster affected persons to earn some extra cash. PIC funded temporary jobs to assist in clean-up, repair and/or reconstruction of disaster damaged public property."25 years ago (1979)"The official announcement that the Hills-Beaver Patriots will join the Big Seven Football Conference was made this week by Patriot Head Coach, Dale Huber. The Big Seven is a 9-man football conference. The Patriots switched from the 11-man football game this year and by doing so dropped out of the Star Conference they have played in for the past several years. The teams involved in the Big Seven conference are Balaton, Cottonwood, Hendricks, Ivanhoe, Morton, Lake Benton and Raymond."50 years ago (1954)"Elsewhere in The Crescent this week will be found an announcement that Dr. John M. Hermanson is going to resume his practice at Valley Springs, after about a year’s absence. Having built up a considerable practice in this area, his many friends will be happy to hear this news."75 years ago (1929)"Neighboring exchanges are commenting on the big lot of solicitors, agents, beggars, etc., who are infesting their towns. Same can be said for Hills. Naturally, as long as people keep on handing out money to beggars, just so long will they steer clear of everything that looks like work. In the case of an old man, it’s different, but the healthy and strong can find plenty of work on farms if they try."100 years ago (1904)"Monday will be Hallowe’en and we would advise our citizens to snugly stow away all loose property about their premises, load the family blunderbuss with a generous supply of crushed rock salt and keep it trained all night in the direction of the backyard. The grown-up Hallowe’en imps have become bolder each year, and a few shot-gun compliments would not come amiss from long-suffering property-holders. Next year this place will in all probability be incorporated and the village marshal will be instructed to invite a little party of deputies to stay up all night with the imps, and see that the topography of the town remains unchanged."

Jean and Emory Larson, Shelby Township, Mich., spent from Friday until Sunday a week ago in the home of her sister, Harriet Skattum.On Sunday Don and Edyth Briggs attended the Youth String orchestra concert at Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. Wilmer and Betty Elbers joined other family members at the home of Cheryl Elbers in Valley Springs Sunday afternoon to celebrate the birthdays of Steven Walker and Mitchell and Madison Elbers. Sunday afternoon Joanne Goehle drove to Bonesteel, S.D., and also to Gregory, S.D., to attend the 46th anniversary of her sister and brother-in-law, Carole and Marvin Gies. Joanne spent the night at the home of her brother and sister-in-law Ed and Cheryl Jons in Bonesteel and returned to Hills.Visitors over the weekend in the home of Darlene Anderson, Luverne, were Gary and Diane Vink, Iola, Kan., and Harvey and Barbara Klowitter, Marshfield, Wis. The girls are daughters of the late Nels and Doris Anderson, Steen. They visited their sister Doreen Anderson of Luverne and other relatives and friends in the area. The Vink daughters and Denise and Karessa Clexen flew in from Salt Lake City, Utah, for a visit with the relatives. Harriet Skattum returned home Thursday after spending a week in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Margo and Dewayne Edwards, at Forestburg, S.D. Harriet and her daughter cooked the pheasants which the Edwards’ family hunters brought in. The hunters came from Indiana and Texas for the hunting season. Wednesday of last week Rose Bleyenberg, Edgerton, Hendrene Veldkamp, Luverne, and Betty Elbers attended the Women’s Christian Club meeting in Rock Rapids. Jean Smith, Lititz, Pa., spent from the 17th until the 22nd in the home of her mother, Mary Carter. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe attended the New York Knicks and the Timberwolves basketball game at Sioux Falls Arena Friday night. Joanne Goehle drove to Tracy Monday, Oct. 18, to see her grandson Andrew Carmany of Tyler play football.Fran Sandager accompanied Sheldon and Ellie Sandager to the Cities last Tuesday to visit with Marie and Merle Muckala. Fran returned home Wednesday night. Betty Elbers attended the band performance at Washington High School in Sioux Falls Friday evening. Her granddaughter Kelsey Elbers played a flute in the band. Rich, Michele and Patrick Nester, Winona, and Nikki Nester, a college student at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, were guests of Joanne Goehle from Friday until Sunday. Dick and Audrey Heidenson returned home Sunday night after a two-week vacation spent visiting their former hometown at Arlington Heights, Ill. They visited former friends and their former church there. En route and returning, they spent the weekends with friends in Janesville, Wis. All the children and grandchildren of Chuck and Rheta DeBoer had an early Thanksgiving Friday night. The group numbered 20. Mark, Brenda, Zack, Katie and Colby Hadler, Edgerton, Steve, Andrew, Elliot and Allison Carmany, Tyler, Vivian Holst, Luverne, and Tom Goehle, along with the Nester family were Saturday dinner guests of Joanne Goehle. Evelyn Rogness is in a swing bed at Luverne Community Hospital. Marcella Theis is now in Tuff Memorial Home. Mae Top is recuperating at Tuff Memorial Home after her fall last Wednesday.