Law Library 9:00 AMRock County Courthouse October 21, 2003Chair Boyenga called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present.Brent and Kathy Polanchek, operators of the Buffalo Ridge Regional Railroad, discussed the current status of the railroad and that they are currently working to bring in additional customers as traffic has dropped on the rail including the DDG business as well as grain business. So they continue to find ways to generate new business for the rail as well as to garner grants for making rail improvements. Mark Sehr, County Engineer and Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, presented the bids for the transportation of MSW and demolition materials. The following bids were received: Loaded 2 way haul Loaded 1-way haul Total 125 trips/year 100 trips/year oVan Dyke Sanitation $225/trip=$28,125 $185/trip=$18,500 $46,625oKetterling Sanitation $200/trip=$25,000 $180/trip=$18,000 $43,000oRitters Sanitary Service $180/trip=$22,500 $175/trip=$17,500 $40,000After review and discussion of the bids, motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to table action until the November 4th County Board meeting, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board reviewed the access issues for the new hospital from Highway 75 and the impacts it would have on properties east of Highway 75 as well as the residents that live on Veterans Drive. The Engineer also presented construction updates stating that the various bridge construction projects throughout the county are proceeding. The Engineer informed the County Board that the US Post Office in Minneapolis has reviewed and approved the rural addresses in Rock County and that on November 1st residents will receive notification of their new address. Randy Ehlers, Family Services Agency Director, presented a school mental health service update and requested the county to assist with the cash flow of a Mental Health School Social Worker to be shared between both school districts located in the county. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Hoime, to support the financing of the position and to finance the position from county reserves in the form of a 0% interest loan, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the October 21, 2003 County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Bakken, seconded by Wildung, to approve the October 7, 2003 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve the following consent agenda items, declared carried on a voice vote.1. Solid Waste Abatement of $63.00 on Parcel #20-1273-000 located in the Randall & Holbert’s Addition, the E 78.5’ of lot 1, the E 78.6’ of lot 9 and all of lots 10, 11, 12 in block 2.The County Administrator presented an E911 Committee update and stated that the committee had met and discussed upgrade options to accommodate emergency cell phone calls and that they will be meeting again to review that information and discuss Regional Dispatch options. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the fund balance reports, claims and Commissioner’s per diems of $140.00. All items were approved on a motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of the claims is available by request at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. General $ 34,832.21LEC 337.55Road & Bridge 38,453.71Welfare 43,761.80Landfill 469.46TOTAL $117,854.73The Auditor/Treasurer presented a GASB34 update stating that information has been gathered and that implementation is proceeding. The Auditor/Treasurer stated that in Y2004 there would be 27 pay periods instead of 26 pay periods and that will impact the salaried positions throughout the county. Motion by Hoime, seconded Wildung, to not authorize a resolution of support for the Southwest Minnesota Waste to Energy Facility project in Lamberton, Minnesota, declared carried on a unanimous vote. The County Board discussed VEBA Health Insurance options for 2004 and directed to move forward in setting up informational presentations as soon as possible for the employees to attend. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to name the County Administrator as the MCIT Alternate Voting Delegate, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board received a City/County Liaison Committee update; discussions still continue on Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as well as assessing services with the City of Luverne. The County Board received amortization schedules explaining different scenarios of payoffs of loans that are currently being held by Rock County Rural Water; no action was taken. Commissioner Hoime stated that he had attended a Land Use meeting as well as the AMC District VIII meeting. Commissioner Jarchow stated that he had attended a Home Health Care meeting in Nobles County in which they are considering eliminating the home health care services and letting the Worthington Regional Hospital acquire those services. With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was declared adjourned. Ron Boyenga, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(11-6)

OCTOBER 9, 2003MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184, ROCK COUNTY, LUVERNE, MINNESOTA.A regular meeting of the Board of Education, ISD #2184, was held in the MS/HS Media Center on Thursday, October 9, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. The following members were present: Colleen Deutsch, Dan Kopp, Cary Radisewitz, Bill Stegemann, Steve Tofteland, and Becky Walgrave. Absent: Don Bryan. Also present: Superintendent Vince Schaefer, Marlene Mann, Stacy Gillette, Jan Olson, Gary Fisher, Melody Tenhoff, Wendy Nath, Beth Capistran, Mary Goheen, Kyle Eastman, Jane Cote, Patti Nelson, Dale Nelson, Seana Graber, Matt Crosby, K101/KQAD Radio, and Lori Ehde, Rock County Star Herald.The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dan Kopp. Mr. Schaefer gave announcements. Motion by Stegemann, second by Radisewitz, to approve the agenda. Motion unanimously carried. Dale Nelson, Seana Graber, Beth Capistran, Patti Nelson, and Kyle Eastman reviewed the music curriculum with the School Board. Melody Tenhoff, Jan Olson, and Stacy Gillette presented information to the Board regarding the Student Achievement Data. Administrative reports were given. Motion by Stegemann, second by Deutsch, to approve the school board minutes of September 25, 2003. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Radisewitz, second by Deutsch, to approve the Music Education Curriculum Guide as presented. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Tofteland, second by Radisewitz, to set the Meet and Confer dates for November 12 and March 17. Motion unanimously carried. Committee reports were given.Motion by Walgrave, second by Stegemann, to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously carried. Dated: October 9, 2003William Stegemann, Clerk(11-6)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Luverne Economic Development Authority will hold a public hearing commencing at 5:00 P.M., Central Standard Time, on Wednesday, November 19, 2003, in the City Council Chambers located on the second floor of City Hall, 203 East Main Street, Luverne, Minnesota, regarding the conveyance of Lot 2, Block 1, Veteran’s Addition to the City of Luverne. All citizens are encouraged to attend the hearing, ask questions, and/or give comments. Any citizen may also submit written questions or comments prior to the hearing by addressing them to the Economic Development Director, PO Box 659, Luverne, Minnesota 56156. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s Office, 203 East Main Street, Luverne, MN (507) 449-2388. Glen W. GustPresident(11-6)

10 years ago (1993)"Terrie Telford is a senior at Luverne High School, but she is also a student at Worthington Community College. Telford is one of five Luverne seniors taking advantage of Post Secondary Option — a program that allows high school juniors and seniors to get a jump on their college education while finishing high school courses.The option was established during the 1985-1986 school year. Since then, Luverne has had more than a dozen students get a jump on college."25 years ago (1978)"County law enforcement officials are taking extra steps to avoid vandalism and damage to property during Halloween activities this year.During the past several years everything from window soaping to egg throwing to small trash fires to serious vandalism has been part of the annual observance in Luverne and other cities in the county. Plans to be followed Halloween night were outlined in a meeting of law enforcement officials on Friday. In attendance were Tim Connell, county attorney, Ole Hommen, county sheriff, and Keith Aanenson, acting chief of police in Luverne."50 years ago (1953)"Fred Dubbe was elected president of the Luverne Civic and Commerce association at the annual meeting of the organization Monday. He will succeed U.J. Lodermeier to that office on January 1. Lodermeier will then serve as a member of the board for one more year.Elected vice president was James Hogue. Henry C. Wuertz was re-elected treasurer."75 years ago (1928)"The hunting season for the year 1928 closed last evening. During the seventeen days that it had been permissible to take male bird pheasants, many Rock County nimrods got quite well posted on the delicious eating quality of the Chinese ringneck pheasant, whose chief claim for consideration as a game fowl is a breast that contains about three times as much meat as that found on any other game fowl, of a flavor and tender consistency that is not excelled by any other game bird.… But while the hunting season made quite a decrease in the pheasant population, there are still a great many birds roaming about. … To all appearances these attractive game birds sensed that an open season had been declared against them about the second day of hunting, and from that time on had been getting increasingly illusive."100 years ago (1903)"In the past rural school teachers have not had a district organization nor had any representation at the meetings of the Minnesota Educational Association, except through the county superintendents. In view of the fact that these teachers instruct about one half of the pupils in the state schools, it has been deemed wise and proper to organize a separate section for them."

People have been commenting about city of Luverne leadership for a few weeks. Whether those comments are favorable or not (or whether they should be favorable or not) isn’t a part of my column this week.However, I do think that our leadership needs to hear ideas and comments from all of us now, because there’s a lot happening … or about to happen. There’s plenty of business on the city table that requires decisions: private garbage collection, private pool management, new city attorney, old buildings, plans for business growth, vacant properties, and the list goes on.All of these issues require solid leadership to achieve results that are good for all of us. Our city leaders should prefer to hear opinions now, rather than after things are decided, because, by then, what could have been useful comments turn into futile complaints. Of course, all of this is easy for me to say; I’m not a leader. I’m one who sits on the lower rung, spitting out facts and occasionally offering my view. That’s why it’s important for those who are in leadership to do it well and with good intentions … because the rest of us are trusting them with a big part of our lives — the place in which we live. As good leaders, they should listen. They should leave their egos at the door. They shouldn’t place their pride above their citizens. Dwight D. Eisenhower said it all better than I could, though: "You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that's assault, not leadership."Gobble, gobbleWhat’s the key to a great Thanksgiving dinner? The turKEY, of course.I’ve just been alerted that I’m playing host for Thanksgiving this year. It will save my husband and me a long drive to North Dakota, and it’s always fun to fill our little home with family. So the fact that we’re hosting is great news.But what about the turkey?When I hosted Christmas last year, it was a little easier because we had meatballs and gravy over mashed potatoes for our main dish. But I just can’t get away with a Thanksgiving minus the perfect bird … and all the complicated side dishes that go next to it. I’ve already been thinking about the turkey and remembering all the little tips people mention that I somehow remember.There are those that recommend hourly basting. Some people swear by those oven bags. Others lay strips of bacon across the breast for moisture and flavor. My Dad likes to inject it with flavorful broths. Mom’s traditional turkey is baked with a plain old lid on the roaster, and it always seemed moist.I have a strong sense that I won’t be the only cook in the kitchen, so it’s probably not going to be up to me.If all else fails, I’ll rely on my charm and tasteful humor to make it up to the crowd. I can distract people eating dry turkey with a fitting joke like: Why can’t you bring the turkey to church? Because they use fowl language. Drum roll please … or maybe just a drum stick.

As librarians we read a lot and nothing really surprises us anymore. But, last week we had a little shocker. Two of the "senior" librarians were perusing the Victoria’s Secret Catalog during coffee break. I do not purchase Victoria’s Secret apparel and, frankly, I don’t think I need to explain why. As Barb and I browsed through the selections of lingerie, we came upon a page of thongs; that’s not footwear, but underwear. I was aghast, not because of the preposterous nature of the fashions themselves, but because of the exorbitant prices. For example: The beaded string thong went for $85. It is comprised of 12 inches of quarter-inch ribbon, perhaps 20 inches of glass beads (sounds comfy) and a decorative floral unit in front. I flipped out. You could make it for $2.95. Barb observed that the decorative floral unit would protrude under your clothes, possibly leading people to believe you had an abdominal tumor. As we perused the following pages of flirty, feminine fashion, the pencil-thin models, with flawless skin and long flowing hair with natural highlights, started to wear me down. I started to feel my normally-high level of self-esteem start to waver. I was too old and too beefy. My hair didn’t flow and my highlights may not be natural. Then I remembered: I AM A LIBRARIAN. I can recite the First Law of Thermodynamics without faltering. I can sing, "Little Rabbit Foo Foo." I know the Dewey Decimal number for professional wrestling and for lace doily patterns. I seriously doubt that any one of those Victoria’s Secret models can lay claim to that. I can also buy books that you like and here are a couple that I’m pretty sure will be popular. "Fire Flight" by John Nance. Veteran pilot Clark Maxwell thought his fire bombing days were well behind him. But when Jerry Stein, Maxwell's friend and airtanker fleet-owner, calls at the height of the fire season to beg him to reenter the war, he doesn't hesitate. A pair of ferocious forest fires is raging out of control, threatening to destroy Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and incinerate thousands of area homes. A paranoia plagues the fire bombers and smoke jumpers, after a mysterious string of accidents among the airtanker fleet claims the lives of some of the most fearless and experienced veterans. Maxwell has long argued that the airtankers are faulty museum pieces that should have been grounded years ago. Now some of the fleet seems to be falling apart in midair. In the middle of the area's worst wildfire season in history, Maxwell is convinced that a sinister cover-up is behind the horrific air disasters. As he races to unravel the mystery and prevent a natural disaster of massive proportions, Maxwell's probe just may cost him his life. "Safe Harbour" by Danielle Steel. On a windswept summer day, a solitary figure walks down the beach, a dog at her side. At 11, Pip Mackenzie’s life has already been touched by tragedy; nine months before a terrible accident took the lives of her father and brother. From the moment the curly-haired girl walks up to his easel on the sand, Matt Bowles senses something magical about her. Pip reminds him of his own daughter at that age, before a bitter divorce tore his family apart. With her own mother, Ophélie, retreating deeper into her grief, Pip spends her summer at the shore daydreaming and remembering how things used to be. When she meets artist Matt Bowles, who offers to teach the girl to draw — he can't help but notice her beautiful, lonely mother. At first, Ophélie is thrown off balance by her daughter's new companion, but as their newfound friend works his subtle magic, mother and daughter slowly begin to heal.When summer ends, Ophélie and Pip must leave the beach for the city. But as soul-sharing phone calls and autumn beach getaways deepen Ophélie and Matt's friendship, fate strikes another blow. Out of the blue, Matt must confront unfinished business from his past. Days later, Ophélie is struck by a stunning betrayal by someone she trusts. As these events reverberate in two already wounded hearts, something extraordinary happens.

Armistice Day observed Friday, Nov. 11, 1921The following article appeared in the Rock County Herald on Friday, Nov. 11, 1921:Fitting program of exercises in tribute to Nation’s dead in World War completed.Business houses will close for the day at 11:30 a.m. Bells will be tolled from 11:58 a.m. to 12, and people stand at attention from 12 to 12:02 p.m.All business houses in Luverne are asked to close at 11:30 a.m. today in observance of Armistice Day, and remain closed throughout the afternoon. Under an act of Congress adopted last week, Armistice Day was made a national holiday, and the day will accordingly be observed in Luverne with exercises arranged jointly by Dell-Hogan Post, American Legion and the Luverne Commercial Club.A proclamation issued by President Harding following his signing of the bill making Nov. 11th a national holiday, requested that all bells in every community in the country be tolled for two minutes between 11:58 a.m. and 12 o’clock noon, and that for the two minutes immediately following every person shall stand at attention, with heads bared, facing the west, as a solemn tribute to the Nation’s dead in the World War. Therefore, in accordance with this request, all of the bells in this city will be tolled from 11:58 a.m. to 12 o’clock noon, and from 12 to 12:02 p.m. every person is asked to stand at attention, regardless of where they may be, with heads bared and facing the west. The fire whistle at the power house will be blown as a signal for the bells to be tolled and also to indicate the arrival and lapse of the time to stand at attention. It is expected that like observance will be made throughout Rock County.According to the program arranged for the day, at 1 o’clock all are asked to assemble at the Central School grounds to form a parade. The line of the parade will lead from the school grounds down Freeman Avenue to Main Street, thence east to Spring Street, and then return to the Manitou Hotel corner where the Armistice Day exercises proper will be conducted. These will consist of a song by a male quartet, addresses by H.C. Bell and R.C. Engan, closing with a song by the audience. At 2:30 p.m. there will be a football game between the teams of the Luverne High School and the Canton, S.D., normal school at Athletic Park. The Luverne band will lead the way to the grounds. 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.

Most extreme sports should be left to the very young and the very foolish. Extreme sports, just in case you don’t surf the sports channels, involve free-falling from airplanes, rock climbing, roller blading, snow boarding or skateboarding. There are other extreme sports, but this shortened list should be exhausting enough. Basically, extreme sports are dangerous and they might cause any mother to say, "If you break your neck, don’t come crying to me," followed by, "I told you so." However, much of this changed during the past year, when the first World Extreme Ironing Championship was held in Munich, Germany. Inga Kosak won the event, based on running a course through several stations (for example, up in trees and in the middle of streams) and ironing a designated garment. According to the Wall Street Journal, a South African later proclaimed, "I came, I saw, I pressed a crease," after he ironed his national flag at the 20,000-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Oh, did I mention that he did all of that while nude and in freezing temperatures? This spring, a British diver sawed through lake ice in Wisconsin, put on a wet suit, dived in and ironed a shirt that was braced against the underside of the ice. Finally, we have an extreme sport most women my age or older can understand. We have been training in our homes for all of our lives for such a competition. It may not be too late for many of us to strike while the iron is hot. Ironing clothes, week after week, has never been a job for the fainthearted, and it’s one of the reasons why we live in a wash-and-wear world. As far back as I can remember, it was a triathlon with three main events. The first challenge involved sprinting to the outdoor clothesline, often through hail, sleet or snow, while balancing a heavy basket of newly washed laundry on one hip. (One woman once told me how, as a new bride with critical neighbors, she would dip her bed sheets into a tub filled with water on Monday mornings, and dash outside to the clothesline in an effort to look like an industrious early-riser.) The second step of the triathlon included dashing back into the house with the dried or freeze-dried laundry, sprinkling each garment with water, tightly rolling each garment into something resembling a jelly roll, and refrigerating the rolls until they were ironed the next day. The final event usually took place on Tuesday, the day set aside for ironing, or as it might be called today, "pressing issues." It was the most dangerous of the three events, often resulting in accidental burns on hands and forearms of the women doing the ironing and any child wandering too close to an ironing board. Triangle-shaped patterns were burned forever into carpets and kitchen floors when the irons toppled over. Some fancier homes had mangles with huge rollers for flattening sheets and pillowcases until they resembled proverbial pancakes. However, wary homemakers from more modest homes figured they must have been called mangles for a good reason. They didn’t want to be the subject of some newspaper headline reading, "Local woman mangled." Clothes irons are not for novices. A young relative recently confided how she tried to steam-iron wrinkles from the front of her skirt – – while she was still wearing it – – and she landed up with a nasty-looking burn on her leg. She might be well-advised to stay away from Munich when it’s time for the Second Annual World Extreme Ironing Championship.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.On the ABC evening news, it was reported that, because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington, D.C., the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They refused. "No way, Sir!"Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7 since 1930. I don’t usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I’d be darn proud if this one reached as many as possible. We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve. God bless them.Submitted by Ron Hansen, Rock County Veteran Services Officer