Luverne High School football coach Todd Oye (left) has a word with quarterback Andy Stegemann during a Southwest Conference game at Cardinal Field this past season. As the LHS Activities Director, Oye could be scheduling future Luverne games as a member of a new conference.By John RittenhouseCould a Luverne-St. James football rivalry develop in the near future?Could a Luverne High School hockey team make a road trip to New Ulm to play a conference game in years to come?Based on talks between school officials representing the Southwest and South Central Conferences, both scenarios could become a reality some day.The possibility of having the SWC and SSC merge is on the discussion table, and the future of some Luverne High School sports teams may be affected."If something were to change, it would be two years down the road," said LHS activities director Todd Oye. "Most of the scheduling for next year (2004-05 school year) already has been completed, so we’re looking two years down the road at the earliest."According to Oye, the SSC, a six-team conference formed by schools from New Ulm, Blue Earth, Fairmont, Waseca, St James and St. Peter initiated talks about a possible merger last year.Jackson County Central and Windom, two SWC schools that would be a good fit with the SSC geographically, expressed early interest in joining the conference.Not wanting to leave the five remaining SWC teams (Luverne, Worthington, Marshall, Pipestone and Redwood Valley) out in the cold after years of developing rivalries with them, JCC and Windom officials have gotten all SWC schools involved in the conference discussion.Oye said preliminary talks between the superintendents in all 13 schools have centered around football and hockey at this point. Talks about the other sports could develop in the future."What we’re looking at is finding a way to make scheduling easier. Filling our open dates in football and hockey would easier to schedule (if the conferences joined)," Oye said"Last year, we had to drive to Barnesville to play a football game. JCC had to play a game in Fergus Falls this year. The big benefit for us would be in scheduling hockey games. Right now we have our kids traveling up to the Twin Cities and to the Northeast to play games, but no one wants to drive down here and play us."Waseca, New Ulm, St. Peter and Fairmont all have hockey programs, and forming a conference with those schools would give the Cardinals a chance to have home and away games against those teams each season.Oye said all talks between a SWC-SCC joint venture are in the early stages, and nothing is certain.Discussions have included forming one big conference, and setting up a conference with two divisions (East and West, or, big and little schools).What Oye doesn’t see is tradition and competitive spirit developed by the current SWC schools lost in the future"We want to keep the rivalries we’ve developed in the SWC in tact," he said.Still, Oye realizes that losing JCC or Windom to the SCC would leave Luverne and the remaining SWC teams in a bind, and that’s why Luverne will remain involved in the SWC-SCC discussions."The difficult thing for us is our location," he said. "We’re bordered by Iowa to the south, and South Dakota to the west, so our options are limited. We’ll have to work out something if we lose JCC and Windom from the SWC."

Hills-Beaver Creek High School football players Cody Scholten (second, right) and Zach Wysong (right) made the 2003 All-Southwest Ridge Conference Football Team. Travis Broesder (left) and Tom LeBoutillier (second, left) drew honorable mention.By John RittenhouseFour members of the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth football team drew postseason honors Monday.Two Patriots’ players were selected to the 2003 All-Southwest Ridge Conference Football Team. Two more H-BC-E players drew honorable mention from the league’s coaches.Making the All-SRC squad for the Patriots are juniors Cody Scholten and Zach Wysong.Juniors Travis Broesder and Tom LeBoutillier drew honorable mention.Lakeview, the SRC champion with a 5-0 record, placed five players on the 18-athlete all-conference roster.Seniors Tyler Jeseritz, Cody Doom, Sean Woodbeck, Derek Louwagie and Davin Wiesen made the squad for the Lakers.Lakeview’s Jeseritz was named the league’s Back of the Year, Woodbeck the Lineman of the Year, Jim Gaudreau the Coach of the Year, and Tom Yahnka and Erik Lundberg the Assistant Coaches of the Year.Lincoln HI-Lake Benton and Edgerton, teams that placed second in the loop with 3-2 marks, drew four all-conference selections each.LH-LB seniors Garrett Petersen, Dayton Hurd, Chad Midtaune and Justin Jerzak graced the list. Juniors Jordan Menning and Travis Hulstein, and sophomores Brett Elgersma and Max Zwart made the team for Edgerton.Southwest United gained two positions on the All-SRC roster with seniors Anthony Johnson and Mark Riley making the team. Westbrook-Walnut Grove sophomore Dominick Madson rounds out the all-league roster.Broesder and LeBoutillier are two of 12 players to receive honorable mention from the SRC coaches.Lakeview senior Brandon Bossuyt and junior Tyler Isaackson, LH-LB junior Mitch Pederson and sophomore Josh Prosch, Edgerton seniors Kyle Blom and Chris Tinklenberg, SWU juniors Trevor Wintz and Dillon Mathias, and W-WG senior Jordan Dibble and junior Alex Johnson also received honorable mention.

Five Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes drew honors from the Red Rock Conference this week. Melinda Sandstede (middle), Erin Boeve (second, right) and Cassi Tilstra (right) made the All-RRC Volleyball Team. Brittney Rozeboom (left) and Kelly Mulder (second, left) received honorable mention.By John RittenhouseFive members of the Hills-Beaver Creek High School volleyball squad drew recognition from the Red Rock Conference coaches this week.Three Patriots were selected to the 2003 All-RRC Volleyball Team, and two others drew honorable mention.H-BC, which placed second in the conference, was honored by having seniors Erin Boeve and Melinda Sandstede and junior Cassi Tilstra grace the 24-player All-RRC roster.Juniors Brittney Rozeboom and Kelly Mulder received honorable mention for H-BC.Murray County Central and Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin led all teams by drawing four All-RRC selections each.Seniors Cara Counter and Shelly Halbur, junior Amanda Einck and sophomore Rachel Christianson made the team for MCC. ML-B-O seniors Mikkala Junker, Lindsay Nesmoe and Arlun Saelee, and junior Tracey Hildebrandt also made the team.Southwest Christian, Fulda, Southwest Star Concept and Edgerton placed two players on the All-RRC team each.SWC senior Ashley Zeinstra and junior Megan Boeve, SSC juniors Kirsten DeWall and Kacie Paul, Fulda juniors Susan Grandgeorge and Abby Oakland, and Edgerton senior Megan Butson and Kendra Van’t Hof graced the list.Rounding out the All-RRC team are Westbrook-Walnut Grove senior Jenny Heinrich, Red Rock Central senior Andrea Kircher, Comfrey senior Jessie Gobliersch, Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster sophomore Molly Eichenberger and Adrian senior Kylie Heronimus.Mulder and Rozeboom are two of 15 players to receive honorable mention.MCC senior Marissa Beers and junior Emily Counter, SWC senior Elizabeth DeWitt and sophomore Kayla Kreun, Fulda junior Jamie Bell, SSC junior Brittany Carlson, Edgerton senior Kelly Esselink-Arp, W-WG senior Megan Warner and sophomore Jessica Olson, Comfrey senior Melissa Lang, SV-RL-B junior Kourtney Strandberg and Adrian senior Andrea Lonneman are the other honorable mention selections.

NOTICE OF MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF SWMN FARMERS COOPNotice is hereby given that an annual meeting of the stockholders of SWMN Farmers Coop (a Minnesota Cooperative Association) will be held in the Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Center, Luverne, MN on Monday, Dec. 1, 2003 at 7 p.m. for the following purposes namely:To elect Two directors and other additional business which may properly come before the meeting.Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.By order of the Board of Directors. Melvin FickSecretary(11-13, 11-20, 11-26)

DISTRICT COURTFIFTH Judicial DistrictProbate Court DivisionNOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate of Marie M. Hensch DeceasedNOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:Notice is hereby given that informal appointment of Ardith Tofteland whose address is 1409 Evergreen Drive, Luverne, MN 56156 as personal representative of the estate of the above decedent, has been made. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative and the personal representative is empowered to fully administer the estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of his letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate, unless objections thereto are filed with the Court (pursuant to Section 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred. Dated: November 4, 2003TIMOTHY K. CONNELLRegistrar /s/ SANDRA L. VRTACNIKCourt Administrator Attorney Walter A. Tofteland109 North CedarLuverne, MN 56156507-283-2112MN Atty. Lic. No. 110279(11-13, 11-20)

Rock County Family Services is developing their 2004-2005 Child Care Assistance Plan which specifies how State and Federal child care assistance funds will be spent in Rock County. This plan is available for review by the public. Rock County will accept public input to this plan through December 11, 2003. The plan will be submitted to the State on December 15, 2003, and becomes effective January 1, 2004. To receive a copy of this plan, please contact: Randy Ehlers, DirectorRock County Family Services Agency2 Roundwind RoadBox 715Luverne, MN 56156507-283-5070randy.ehlers@co.rock.mn.us(11-13)

10 years ago (1993)"A nationwide trend toward healthier lifestyles and eating habits has given sudden popularity to the otherwise unattractive wild turkey.Tedd Larson raises wild turkeys with his father-in-law Fred Metzger at his farm south of Hills. What began six years ago as a small hobby for the men is steadily becoming a business as demand for the birds is growing."25 years ago (1978)"School District 670 will have a new superintendent beginning the first of the year.Norman R. Miller, superintendent at Spring Valley, was hired by the school board during a special meeting Friday noon.His contract includes the dates of Jan. 2, 1979, through June 30, 1980. Erling Tofteland, board chairman, said the terms of the contract call for salary and benefits of approximately $32,000 annually."50 years ago (1953)"Earl Seeman, of Jasper Telephone Company at Jasper, said Sunday that damage from ice to his lines would possibly amount to $20,000. He said he might be able to restore the system to operation with an expenditure of half that amount, but he wasn’t sure."75 years ago (1928)"Rock County gave Herbert Hoover, Governor Christianson and all other Republican candidates on the state ticket, with the exception of Arthur E. Nelson, substantial majorities. Herbert Hoover carried the county by a majority of 1,234, winning out in every precinct in the county but two, tying in Beaver Creek village and losing in Magnolia village."100 years ago (1903)"The sporting columns of the daily papers contain the announcement that the Hillebrand brothers, Arthur and Homer, have signed with the Washington, D.C., American League team. Arthur’s position with the Washington team will be the pitcher’s box and Homer will play first base."

As librarians, sometimes we are allowed to be goofy and outrageous and people don’t necessarily think it’s strange. Every year we delight children with our zany puppet characters, such as Brittney Steers and N’Stink. Story hour often finds me waddling like a duck in some of our stories. No one has every looked at me with disapproving stares. That’s the beauty of children. They haven’t quite figured out that you have to act a certain way; they are just enjoying life and laughing. I love fall story hour. We have a story hour all about sound and color and we go outside and walk around the block where I have piled some bright colored leaves that have fallen. The children sit in them and throw them about. We discuss how the leaves sound crunchy and are so orange and red and yellow. Last year, the Japanese beetles were awful and as we sat in the leaves throwing them about, I heard a shrilling scream and then another and then another. It seems the girls of the class weren’t too fond of the flying insects as the boys were smashing them with their hands. Four-year-olds are full of surprises. After our story hour artwork is complete, I usually hang them up for a week for library patrons to see. After announcing this to the kids, one child slowly walked up and whispered to me, "I would appreciate if you didn’t hang mine up."Story hour lasts for six weeks and you will always find me shedding a tear or two on the last day. I tell my kids not to cry too much when they leave, which makes them giggle even more.Adults on the other hand make me nervous. I thought it would be a good idea to audition for GEP’s "Steel Magnolias." Now, as opening night is approaching, I am not so sure it was a good idea. I guess I will just have to use the old, "imagine the audience in their underwear" trick. I hope it works. Don’t forget your tickets.Next week, Nov. 17-23, is Children’s Book Week. We have lots going on at the library.Monday Nov. 17: 4 to 6 p.m. Children’s room open house. Tuesday Nov. 18: 10 to 10:30 a.m. 1-, 2-, 3-year-old story time. Wednesday Nov. 19: Accelerated reader day. Lots of kids are looking for accelerated reader books. The library will have them all on display and the librarians will be on hand to help you find reading levels.Thursday Nov. 20: Preschool story hour for 4- and 5-year-olds.Fine amnesty week, Nov. 17-23. We will waive fines for children this week with an outlandish excuse of course. "An alien took my book." My dog ate it." "It got legs and crawled under my bed."Come celebrate children’s books at the Rock County Community Library. Come see all the new books for fall, register for prizes all week and get your free book bags and bookmarks.

Rural mail boxes on right-hand sideThe following article appeared in the Rock County Herald on Oct. 21, 1921: All must be changed by Nov. 1st, according to new order of post office departmentRuling applies to all sections of countryNew ruling governing hours offices shall remain open have also been receivedUnder a new ruling issued by the post office department at Washington, all patrons of rural mail delivery routes must, on or before Nov. 1st, have their mail boxes erected on the right side of the road, according to the direction from which the mail carrier arrives. For instance, if the carrier travels north, the mail boxes must be on the east side of the road, regardless of whether the patron resides on that or the west side of the highway. If the carrier travels east, the boxes must be on the south side of the road; if he travels south the mail receptacles must be on the west side, and if he travels west the boxes must be on the north side. The order further specifies that patrons must place the boxes so that the carriers can reach them without driving over ditches, or through places where there is danger of their vehicles becoming mired or lodged in wet weather. The mail boxes should be placed close to the edge of the road, and not near the patron’s fence, and the approach to the box should be flat and not slanting, so as to eliminate the danger of skidding into the mail box with automobiles in muddy weather. All mail boxes must have lids on them so they can be closed easily in order to protect the mail matter against inclement weather, the order provides. Failure to comply with these requirements lays the patron liable to discontinuance of mail delivery service. The rule requiring that all mail boxes be placed on the right side of the road from the direction in which the carrier travels in reaching a patron, is in keeping with the state laws that specify that all travelers must keep to the right side of the road on public highways. In connection with the new rules, the post office department calls the attention of patrons to the fact that the winter mail service can be greatly improved if patrons will see that weeds and other rank growths along the roadways are cut now, so that snow will not have a tendency to lodge on the highways. When it is considered that 75 percent of the rural mail routes lead over roads that are subject to very little travel at any time of the year, it will readily be appreciated that a little assistance in the respect on the part of the patrons will make possible much better service from the carrier. Patrons residing within Luverne are urged to have all mail addressed to street and house numbers. Even though a patron does not take advantage of city delivery he should have his mail addressed to street and house numbers, it is contended, as this is often a means of identifying the addressee. This is especially true in cases of similarity of names. Adding the street and house numbers of post office box numbers insures more efficient service on the part of the post office. There is an average of 150 pieces of misdirected mail received at the post office daily, which require directory service. Besides this, there are about the same number of pieces received daily which are undeliverable and must be returned to the sender. Local firms are urged to present their mailing lists at the post office for correction. This service can be charged for according to the postal regulations, but will be done free of charge during this month. By correcting the lists it will be a mutual service to both the patron and the post office. It will eliminate delay for the patron and unnecessary handling of misdirected mail by the post office force. Under a ruling of the post office department the office hours at the post office are from about 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The lobby door must be closed promptly at 8 p.m., unless there is someone still on duty in the office proper. Complaints of any character concerning service received by patrons of the office, should be made to the postmaster, and prompt attention will be given to rectifying them. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.