In the past number of months, there has been much discussion and disagreement as it relates to the joint law agreement between the city of Luverne and Rock County. As the council who negotiated and approved this agreement, we have been reluctant to enter the fray for obvious reasons. However, the recent "survey" which spends more effort trying to influence us than to get our opinion, has made us realize that we can no longer remain silent.Obviously, it is always proper and prudent to review such agreements periodically. This is necessary to ensure that the goals of the agreement are being achieved for both parties and that all sides understand what is expected of them.At the time the agreement was put together, the city had a police force of six members and the county had a five-member sheriff’s department. As elected officials, we were concerned about achieving as efficient a system as possible; getting a full-time investigator; achieving 24-hour coverage for the city and a rapid response to all areas of the county. We recognized that if the combining departments saved money that was a bonus, and if we received expanded and better service for comparable money at the time it was worth doing.Not all agreed, especially some members of each individual force. As time has elapsed, the workability of this system has convinced most of those doubters that the system is a tremendous success and needs to continue.As to the breakdown of costs, we would simply state that law enforcement budgets have increased rapidly for everyone. In studying who paid for what in other counties, the original Law Enforcement Study Committee learned that comparing apples to apples is difficult, as everyone does it differently. In other words, what may show up as a line item in our budgets might be paid for in some other area of a budget in another county or city. This is evident in many of the numbers quoted by the city of Luverne during the negotiating debacle.We are not going to confuse the numbers by reciting more of them here. We do believe, however, that the city has been misleading in much of what it has presented to the public in regard to this issue. We believe the city is best served by 24-hour coverage and that this coverage is best achieved by a joint agreement between Luverne and Rock County.We believe that if city officials, elected and otherwise, had made an attempt to find out why the original agreement was created the way it was, they might have approached these discussions in a more informed and responsible manner.We would have been glad to share our experiences and opinions if someone had bothered to ask, rather than to show a list of numbers from other communities that told us nothing about what the numbers included.The services expected for city residents under this agreement constitute a greater level of service than that which the county is obligated to provide. In the pay-for-service climate in which we live, a 50/50 breakdown is fair, even considering the city’s share of taxes that belong to the county. Law enforcement issues within the city limits of Luverne occupy much more than half of law enforcement time.We encourage all city residents to inform their city officials, elected and appointed, that they need to get their act together. We need to remind all county and city officials that regardless of the personal frustrations that this situation has caused, their oath still is to serve the best interests of ALL citizens of this community, city and county, and that failure to renew this joint law agreement will ultimately resort in higher costs for everyone.Respectfully submitted,Judy Herman, Former South Ward Council memberEverett Brandenburg, Former North Ward Council memberKeith Erickson, Former North Ward Council memberBill Weber, Former Mayor

As it turns out, leeches may be better parents than some humans. According to Reuters, certain species of leeches brood like birds and mammals, carrying their newborns and nurturing their young. Biologists at Monash University in Australia have observed leeches carrying their young for up to six weeks after hatching, gathering food for their offspring and protecting them from predators. "The leeches also ferry their offspring to new territories where they will be safe and well fed after they leave the parent," reports the news agency. This information should come as a big surprise for many people who associate leeches with parasites or selfish behavior. Knowing what we do about leeches, let’s examine why they might be Parents of the Year. For starters, leeches are often described as a low form of life. With that kind of a reputation for all of their lives, they don’t expect too much of their children. If the kids tend to be soft, squishy and slow moving, that’s okay. They don’t set far-flung, impossible goals as parents. Because they can have up to 10 pairs of eyes, nothing escapes their attention. For this reason, they resemble human mothers who have been known to admonish, "Don’t do anything wrong. Remember, I have eyes in the back of my head." Unable to speak or make sounds, they can’t talk about "the old days" when they had to slug four yards to school during snowstorms. Without mouths, they can’t dispense unwanted, parental advice. Because they’re classified as invertebrates, leech parents can’t say cruel things to their children, such as, "You’re spineless!" or "You have no backbone!" Without the ability to hear, they hold up well to criticisms of their parenting skills. If they could hear, "As a parent, you’re nothing but a slimy, blood-sucking leech," they would simply interpret the criticism as a matter-of-fact statement. The biggest plus for leech parents is that they’re hermaphroditic – – that is, they’re both male and female. As a result, there are no frayed nerves, tensions or loud arguments between parents in front of their offspring. Because of the gender thing, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day could be covered with one gift, one phone call and less guilt. In addition, there would be no father leeches telling their children, "Go ask your mother." If they had hands and foreheads, they would have to slap those foreheads and exclaim, "Oops! Forget that. I guess I AM your mother!" Most importantly, and unlike many human parents, leeches are often heroic and they are positive role models for little leeches. Through the ages, leeches have been used in the medical field to bleed patients and they are attributed with saving countless lives. Samuel Butler, an English satirist from the 1600s, was obviously a huge fan of blood-sucking leeches when he wrote, "A skillful leech is better far than half a hundred men of war." Few human parents receive that kind of praise. When they’re not saving human lives, leeches, many of them parents, literally put their lives on the line for the rest of us. In other words, they become fish bait and they’re responsible for putting food on the tables of people who might otherwise starve. Leech parents definitely deserve our admiration.

Farmer’s Market opens for the seasonThe 2004 Farmers Market will have its opening night tonight.The market will be open every Thursday night, from 5 to 7 p.m.The location will be on the corner of Cedar and E. Warren Street, south of Glen’s Food Center.The organizers are promising the county’s freshest produce and more.So far, venders have been lined up to sell eggs, beef, pork, as well as garden produce.New vendors are always welcome, so if you would like to participate, contact Corrine Bonnema at 283-4451.MDA to hold local fund-raiserThe Muscular Dystrophy Association will be holding "Luverne convicts" on Wednesday, Aug. 18.The volunteer convicts will be locked-up and serve time in a mock jail to help raise money for "Jerry’s Kids".The Lock-Up is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Participants are sentenced to "raise bail" by calling friends and encouraging contributions for the MDA.MDA is hoping to get 30 Luverne business leaders to serve their sentences for the MDA.MDA is a health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through worldwide research.The money raised through the "lock-up" will fund monthly ASL support group meetings at Sioux Valley Hospital, physical and occupational therapy, assistance in the purchase and repair of orthopedic equipment, MDA summer camp at Lake Shetek and more.More than 550 families in the region benefit from the programs.If you would like to participate in the fund-raiser, contact the local MDA office at 605-339-2728.LCH adds online payment to their Web siteThe Luverne Community Hospital is adding online payment to the options they offer.The site is located at www.luvernecommunityhospital.orgIf you would like to pay your hospital bills online, click on the "Resources" icon.Payment options include Visa, MasterCard and Discover.While you are at the site, you can check out the photo updates of the construction of the new hospital.Minnesota gets first case of West NileA 28-year-old man, from McCleod County, was the first Minnesotan to test positive for the West Nile virus in 2004.The man became ill in mid-July with symptoms including high fever and severe headaches.According to the MDH, now through mid-September is the peak time for West Nile virus in humans.West Nile is transmitted through mosquito bites and cannot be spread by contact with an infected person.Although it can result in death, it is usually not serious in humans, but it can sometimes lead to encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain.If you are out amongst the mosquitoes, always use a bug repellent with 30 percent of the active ingredient DEET.Another good idea is to eliminate the mosquito breeding grounds around your home.Places to check include old tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters, cans and other containers that can hold small amounts of water.It you own a birdbath, or have horse troughs, it’s also a good idea to change the water at least once a week.If you are bit by an infected mosquito, symptoms usually show up in 15 days. They can include headache, high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

HEARING FOR ZONING ORDINANCE AUGUST 17NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A VARIANCE TO THE CITY OF LUVERNE ZONING ORDINANCENOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the City of Luverne Board of Appeals and Adjustments that a public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Luverne, Minnesota, at 4:45 p.m. on August 17, 2004, to consider a variance, as requested by Nate Golla, to City Code Section 11.35, (3)(a) to allow a new structure at less than the required 60 ft. from front lot line in the B-2 Highway Service Business District on property located at 617 S. Kniss Ave., Luverne, Minnesota.All persons wishing to be heard in favor or in opposition to the variance request should be present at the hearing or present written comments prior thereto to the City Clerk. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s office, 203 E. Main St. (507) 449-2388.Marianne PerkinsCity Clerk(8-5)

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds bowed out of the Gopher League Playoffs Thursday night in Pipestone.Playing Hadley in an elimination game of the double-elimination tournament, Luverne dug itself an early hole it couldn’t climb out of during an 11-5 loss to the Buttermakers.Hadley scored seven runs in the bottom half of the first inning of the clash, which was rained out on Wednesday night (July 28).Luverne outscored the Buttermakers 5-4 the rest of the night, but the Redbirds were unable to overcome the early deficit.The Redbirds trimmed the difference to four runs (7-3) after scoring three runs in the top of the third inning.Joey Pick reached base on an error and Tony Sandbulte singled to start the rally.Mike Boen plated Pick with an RBI single, and Brian Weber chased home Sandbulte and Boen with the final two runs of the third.The way things turned out, four runs was the closest the Redbirds would get to catching Hadley.The Buttermakers scored twice in the bottom half of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 9-3.The teams exchanged single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to cap the scoring.Jesse Kuhlman singled and advanced to second when Pick was hit by a pitch during the seventh inning. Sandbulte singled home Pick.Boen reached base on an error and advanced to third when Weber bounced out in the eighth. Mike Wenninger’s sacrifice fly sent Boen home with Luverne’s final run of the season.Jeff Sehr pitched the first seven innings for Luverne. He took the loss after allowing 10 runs (seven were earned).Wenninger pitched one inning in relief of Sehr, fanning three batters and yielding one run.Luverne ends the campaign with a 12-10 record.Box score AB R H BIPick 3 1 0 0Sandbulte 4 1 2 1Boen 4 2 2 1Weber 4 0 1 2Shelton 2 0 0 0Wenninger 1 0 0 1Fisher 4 0 0 0Kuhlman 4 1 1 0Goebel 4 0 0 0Sehr 4 0 0 0

By John RittenhouseA Luverne man experienced a successful weekend as a modified race car driver.Mike Steensma picked up a pair of feature titles while racing at different Minnesota tracks.Steensma’s first test came at Murray County Speedway in Slayton Friday, where he topped the field in the modified feature.The long-time Luverne competitor attended Sunday’s races at Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, where he secured his second feature crown of the weekend.Steensma was competing against some Rock County talent at both tracks.Ash Creek’s Marlin Kracht placed fifth in the modified feature in Slayton Friday. Luverne’s Brett DeJager finished fourth in the feature event in Worthington.An Ellsworth man won a B feature title in hobby stock competition at Rapid Speedway Friday.Mike Deutsch competed in three races at the track in Rock Rapids, Iowa, placing fifth in the second heat race, winning the B feature and placing 12th in the A feature.Five other area drivers competed against Deutsch Friday.Magnolia’s Josh Klay (first in the first heat and 14th in the A feature), Magnolia’s Larry Kracht (third in the first heat and 11th in the A feature), Luverne’s Seth Stegenga (third in the second heat and sixth in the A feature), Kanaranzi’s Colter Deutsch (first in the third heat and second in the A feature) and Magnolia’s Bobbi Kracht (sixth in the third heat and sixth in the B feature) raced in the hobby stock class at Rapid Speedway.Seven more men with area ties raced in different divisions at Rapid Speedway.The late model street stock competition attracted Adrian’s Mark DeBoer and Brad Klaassen, Luverne’s Jesse Akkerman and Scott Overgaard and former Rock County resident Darrin Korthals.DeBoer won the first heat race before finishing third in the feature. Korthals, who placed second in the first, led the area men by placing second in the feature.Akkerman placed third in the first heat and fourth in the feature, Klaassen second in the second heat and sixth in the feature and Overgaard third in the second heat and eighth in the feature.Former Luverne resident Anthony Mann and Ellsworth’s Greg Roemen raced in the sportsmen class at Rapid Speedway.Roemen finished fourth in the second heat before placing fifth in the feature. Mann, who secured second place in the second heat, finished ninth in the feature.Five area men mixed it up on the track at Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, S.D., Sunday.Kanaranzi’s Colter Deutsch turned in the top performance by placing second in the second heat before placing third in the hobby stock feature.Luverne’s Cory Schmuck and Magnolia’s Klay also raced in the hobby stock class at Huset’s.Schmuck placed fifth in the second heat and fourth in the feature. Klay placed third in the first heat and seventh in the feature.Adrian’s Klaassen and Luverne’s Akkerman raced in the hobby stock class at Huset’s.Klaassen won the third heat race before placing seventh in the feature. Akkerman placed third in the second heat and 14th in the feature.Ellsworth’s Roemen and Adrian’s DeBoer represented the area during Saturday’s races at Lake County Speedway in Madison, S.D.DeBoer won the first heat race before placing ninth in the street stock feature. Roemen placed fourth in the second heat before finishing sixth in the sportsmen feature.

By John RittenhouseA Luverne driver was proclaimed the winner of a rain-shortened Enduro Race at the Rock County Fairgrounds in Luverne Saturday.Greg Vande Velde, one of three drivers to complete 71 laps before heavy rain sent race fans searching for cover one hour into the event, was tabbed the 2004 champion of the event.Vande Velde completed his 71 laps in less time than Edgerton’s Heath Petersen and Ellsworth’s Adam Jenniges, drivers who also lapped the track 71 times before rain stopped the race.When it became evident that the weather would persist, Vande Velde was declared the event champion."We ran the race for one hour, then we got rained out," said event chairman Burdette Braun. "With the race being halfway finished, we decided to call it complete."The Enduro Race usually runs under a 200-lap, two-hour time limit, whichever comes first.With a field of 67 cars on the track to start the race, it was clear that it would be next to impossible for a driver to complete laps. When rain doused the 1,111 fans who paid to watch the race in the grandstand, as well as the 200-plus people who were in the pits, reaching the race’s two-hour time limit was washed out of the equation.Since Vande Velde completed his 71 laps seconds ahead of Petersen and Jenniges, who placed second and third respectively, the Luverne driver was awarded the top cash prize.The race ended up being a good one for Luverne drivers, who occupied eight of the 13 places that drew cash rewards at the end of the event.St. Paul’s Nathan Hoag completed 70 laps to place fourth overall, while Magnolia’s Jason DeBeer and Luverne’s Justin Mann both completed 69 laps. Based on times, DeBeer finished fifth and Mann sixth in the field.Luverne’s Ron Fick and Lon Remme both completed 68 laps, with Fick being awarded seventh place and Remme finishing eighth.Luverne’s Travis Van Santen, Tom Walker, Blair Nattress and Jeff Van Santen and Beaver Creek’s Matt Sandbulte all completed 67 laps to round out the top 13 finishers.Travis Van Santen finished ninth, Walker 10th, Nattress 11th, Sandbulte 12th and Jeff Van Santen 13th.Walker and Travis Van Santen missed out on bonus cash prizes that were being offered by Tri-State Auto Sales Saturday. Walker and Van Santen, who placed first and second at the Pre-Fair Enduro Race earlier in July, needed to finish first, second or third to earn bonus cash Saturday.Braun said fans of the event were short-changed by the weather."I really feel bad for the fans because they only got to watch one hour of racing. But, what can you do? We had a really good turnout of fans and drivers. Hopefully, we’ll have better weather next year," he said.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne VFW baseball team came up one win short of qualifying for its first state tournament berth since 1994 during the VFW Third District Tournament played in Marshall Saturday through Monday.The young Cardinals moved into the four-team, double-elimination tournament’s driver’s seat by rolling to a 10-run win over Olivia before nipping Marshall Blue by two runs on Saturday.Blue advanced out of the tournament’s loser’s bracket Sunday morning to earn a shot at the Cardinals that same afternoon. A 21-run win by Marshall set up a championship game Monday night.Marshall topped Luverne by five runs in the title tilt to earn a trip to next weekend’s VFW State Tournament in Alexandria.Luverne ends the season with a 21-10 record.Blue 7, Luverne 2Marshall wrapped up its Third District Tournament championship by besting the Cardinals by five runs in Monday’s championship game.Blue put together a pair of three-run innings at the plate, giving the host team enough counters to win the game handily.Marshall opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when a two-run homer highlighted a three-run rally.The score remained 3-0 until the top of the fourth, when Luverne scored its first run.Brett Lundgren walked and Marc Boelman singled in the fourth before Chris Fitzer delivered an RBI single.Marshall put the game away by scoring three runs in the fifth to open a 6-1 lead before the teams exchanged runs in the sixth inning.Tyler Reisch and Fitzer reached base on errors in the sixth for Luverne. Reisch was forced out at third base as the inning progressed, but Nathan Boler slapped a single that scored Fitzer moments later.Boelman took the pitching loss after yielding six runs in four and one-third innings. Jake Clark surrendered one run in one inning, and Boler recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning for Luverne.Box score AB R H BIClark 4 0 0 0Lundgren 2 1 0 0Boelman 4 0 2 0Reisch 3 0 0 0Fitzer 3 1 1 1Elbers 2 0 0 0DeBoer 3 0 0 0Boler 2 0 1 1Oeding 3 0 0 0Blue 21, Luverne 0Marshall forced a championship game by rolling to a 21-run win over the Cardinals in Sunday’s game at Legion Field.The experience was a humbling one for the Cardinals, who were unable to stop a pair of nine-run innings Blue put together during the game.Caleb Bruynes started the game on the mound and left the game without recording a single out.Blue scored nine runs in the first inning, and put together a string of eight consecutive hits in the frame.Marshall increased its lead to 12-0 by scoring three runs in the fourth inning before adding nine more in the fifth. Blue had a string of seven consecutive hits in the fifth.Luverne, which was limited to four hits in the game, received a four and one-third innings, 14-run relief stint from Micah Boomgaarden. Adam Finke recorded two outs in relief of Boomgaarden.Box score AB R H BIClark 3 0 1 0Lundgren 2 0 1 0Richters 1 0 0 0Boelman 2 0 0 0Deutsch 0 0 0 0Reisch 2 0 0 0Boler 1 0 0 0Fitzer 3 0 0 0Nath 1 0 0 0Elbers 2 0 1 0DeBoer 1 0 0 0Oeding 2 0 1 0Luverne 4, Blue 2The Cardinals emerged as the tournament’s lone undefeated team after Saturday’s first two rounds of tournament play by defeating Marshall by two runs in Game 2.Andrew DeBoer threw a seven-inning complete game to get the win for Luverne.Boelman and Fitzer produced key run-scoring hits during a two-run surge in the top of the fifth inning that settled the issue.The score was tied at two when Blue plated a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Cards regained the lead for keeps in the top of the fifth.Lundgren singled and scored the go-ahead run when Boelman doubled. Boelman capped the scoring when Fitzer chased him home with a single.Marshall scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first before Luverne countered with a two-run rally in the top of the third.Singles by Craig Oeding, Clark and Lundgren loaded the sacks in the third. Tyler Reisch plated Oeding and Clark with a double that gave the Cards a 2-1 edge.Box score AB R H BIClark 3 1 1 0Lundgren 4 1 3 0Boelman 3 1 1 1Reisch 4 0 2 2Fitzer 4 0 3 1Elbers 3 0 0 0DeBoer 4 0 1 0Boler 4 0 0 0Oeding 3 1 1 0Luverne 14, Olivia 4The Cardinals opened the tournament by coasting to a 10-run, six-inning victory over Olivia during Saturday’s first game.Oeding drove in three runs to lead the Cardinals offensively, and Fitzer tossed two and two-thirds innings of solid relief to pick up the pitching win.Lundgren allowed three runs to score during three and one-third innings of work as Luverne’s starting pitcher before giving way to Fitzer.The first batter Fitzer faced blasted a two-run homer to knot the score at four. Fitzer, however, blanked Olivia in the final two frames to lock up the win.Luverne, which lost a 4-0 lead when Olivia tied the game with a four-run surge in the top of the fourth, scored 10 runs in the final three innings to win the game by the 10-run rule.Clark walked and scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth on a throwing error.DeBoer and Derek Elbers slapped consecutive singles in the bottom of the fourth before scoring on a single by Oeding and a fielder’s choice by Clark to make it a 7-4 game in the fifth.The contest ended when Luverne scored seven runs in the sixth inning.DeBoer, Oeding and Lundgren all had two-run singles during the final rally.Luverne scored the game’s first four runs in the bottom of the first.Lundgren and Reisch drew walks before Fitzer plated the first run with an RBI single. Ben Nath delivered a two-run double and Elbers singled home a run before the rally was complete.Box score AB R H BIClark 2 1 0 1Deutsch 0 1 0 0Lundgren 5 1 2 2Boelman 4 1 1 0Reisch 1 1 0 0Boler 2 0 0 0Fitzer 3 2 2 1Nath 2 2 1 2DeBoer 4 2 2 2Elbers 4 2 3 1Oeding 4 1 2 3

By Sara StrongBurdella DeJager and Eddie Deutsch are well known as faithful volunteers and, for that, were named Rock County Outstanding Seniors.Janice Fick nominated DeJager, who volunteers at the senior meal site, visits residents at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, and volunteers at Christian school. She was recognized for volunteering for 6,000 hours with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.Fick wrote, "Burdella is a wonderful role model and inspiration to all who know her. Her quiet strength and tender care for others shows through her work. She has been a loyal and dependable volunteer for MJB for many years and has been with RSVP since its beginning. "She never complains, but completes her tasks so she can go on to visiting with residents. She has developed friendships, even with residents who are difficult to visit. She leads by her example."Gaylord Keck nominated Edwin Deutsch, who volunteers with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of Cooties, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Luverne Lions Club, Senior Citizens, and the Designated Contributions Committee of the Vets Home, Sioux Falls Veterans Hospital.Much of his volunteer time is at the local and state level.Deutsch has also received awards for his volunteering efforts, including Lions District Hall of Fame and the Governor’s Kindness Award.Deutsch counsels and offers advice to newly paralyzed people, since he knows well what they are going through.Keck said of Deutsch, "It is very hard to attach hours to Eddie’s history as he has been confined to a wheelchair for more than 40 years. He spends some part of almost every day working at his computer for one or more of the organizations to which he belongs. Printing newsletters, benefit tickets, advertisements, information sheets as well as taking and/or selling tickets for benefits. He also does hospital and nursing home visitations. He travels many miles in the state and nation on behalf of service organizations. Being conservative, I would estimate his volunteer service at 1,500 to 2,000 hours per year."