By John RittenhouseChad Boom returned to his Barnesville home Friday with a Silver Medal from the Pan American Games staged in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Aug. 7 through 14.Boom, a 1987 Ellsworth High School graduate, attended the Games as a member of Team USA’s fast-pitch softball squad.Team USA went 5-3 at the event, placing second to Team Canada.Boom said his team went 4-1 during pool play at the PAG, which established the seedings for medal round of the event.Team USA beat national squads from Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic during pool competition. The Americans lost their games against Canada.Boom’s squad earned a rematch against Canada in the first game of the medal round, but the Canadians knocked off Team USA for the second time.Team USA then beat Argentina in an elimination game before losing to Team Canada for the third time in a game for the Gold Medal.Boom said he didn’t have his best week at the plate during the PAG."I struggled a bit," he said from his home Sunday. "I think I had four or five hits and a couple of walks. I hit the ball, but nothing would go into a hole for me. That happens sometimes."Team USA may not have earned the Gold Medal, but it did accomplish something important in Santo Domingo.The PAG serve as a qualifying event of the International Softball Federation’s World Championships, which will be played in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February. The top three teams from the PAG advance to the World Championships, and Team USA is one of them."I don’t know too much about it yet, but 12 to 14 teams from all over the world will be at the tournament in New Zealand," Boom said.Boom said he will have to participate in a September try-out in California to earn a spot on the Team USA roster for the World Championships.

Melissa Kopp (middle) rallied from a four-shot deficit in the final two holes to win the championship flight during the 52nd Women’s Club Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday. Gabe Van Dyk (right) placed second. Karen Fey (left) finished third.By John RittenhouseYouth was served during the 52nd version of the Women’s Club Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday.In what ended up as a showdown between two members of Luverne High School’s 2001 state championship team, Melissa Kopp pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory over Gabe Van Dyk late in the 18-hole event.Kopp, a 2002 LHS graduate, seemed to be a certain runner-up in the championship flight when she faced a four-shot deficit with two holes left to play.Instead of throwing in the towel, Kopp never lost faith and outscored Van Dyk by five shots over the final two holes to win her first LCC club championship with a one-stroke victory."My dad (Tom Kopp, Melissa’s caddie) told me not to give up," the club champion said after the competition. "Even when I was down by four, my Dad said anything could happen."A lot of things did happen over the final two holes, but none of it was good as far as Van Dyk was concerned.The door opened a bit for Kopp on the No. 8 tee box, where Van Dyk clubbed a drive that struck a tree on the left side of the fairway. But the golf gods still seemed to be favoring the leader when the ball caromed into the fairway after hitting the tree.Van Dyk proceeded to record a bogey six on the par-5 hole. Kopp, however, countered with a par to trim the difference to three strokes with one hole remaining.More bad luck on the No. 9 tee box led to Van Dyk’s undoing on the final hole.The first player on the box, Van Dyk struck a mighty drive headed northeast on a hole that plays from the south to the north. After Kopp and Susan Schneekloth (the other player who formed the final threesome) completed their drives, Van Dyk learned her ball rolled a couple of feet out of bounds near the LCC parking lot.The two-shot penalty incurred with her first drive became even more menacing when her second tee shot struck a tree branch on the left side of the fairway came to rest in the rough. With trees obstructing her path to the green, Van Dyk delivered an iron shot that came to rest within 10 feet of the green in the right rough.Van Dyk made a difficult chip out of the rough onto the green with her fifth shot, and completed the hole with two putts for a triple-bogey seven.Kopp, who knew she caught a break in the form of Van Dyk’s two-shot penalty, took advantage of the situation like a true champion.After her long drive came to rest in bounds in the area where Van Dyk’s rolled out of bounds, Kopp struck a solid iron shot onto the green. She proceeded to drain a 20-foot birdie putt, her second birdie of the final round, to finish the hole in three shots."I thought I had a chance when Gabe’s ball went out," Kopp said. "I was just trying to put the ball in play and make par on the last couple of holes. Birdies would be nice, too, but I was just trying to make par."Kopp needed a birdie on the 18th hole to nip Van Dyk 80-81 in the final standings. A par would have forced a playoff between the two.With the exception of a few bad breaks, Van Dyk played well enough to win the championship herself.Playing with Kopp and four-time defending and 16-time club champion Karen Fey in the first round, it was Van Dyk who set the pace.The 2003 LHS graduate shot a tournament-low round of 37 strokes to sport a comfortable lead after nine holes of play.Van Dyk’s one-over-par 37 featured two birdies and four par holes, and it gave her a four-shot advantage over Kopp and Schneekloth, who recorded 41s on the front nine.Schneekloth, who chipped in for birdie twice during the opening round, lost her magical swing during the final nine holes of play. Schneekloth was unable to record a par until the final hole of the second round while shooting a 49, which knocked her out of title contention.It looked like Kopp would have to settle with playing for second place when Van Dyk extended her lead to six shots over the challenger during the first two holes of the second round.Van Dyk opened the second round by sinking a 15-foot birdie on the first hole and taking a bogey on the second hole. Kopp dropped strokes on both holes by making par and double bogey.Kopp quickly cut Van Dyk’s lead down to four strokes by following a near-perfect iron shot on the par-3, third with an eight-foot birdie putt. Van Dyk bogeyed the hole.The birdie seemed to give Kopp some momentum as she drained an 18-foot par putt on the fourth hole to pick up another shot on Van Dyk, who finished the hole with a bogey five.Van Dyk increased her lead to four strokes on the fifth hole when she chipped out of the rough on the left side of the green to within inches of the cup, setting up a par putt. Kopp bogeyed the same hole.Both Van Dyk and Kopp bogeyed the sixth and seventh holes, leaving the leader with a four-shot cushion that wilted away during the final two holes of play.Having played in the 2002 version of the Women’s Club Tournament, finishing third behind Fey at event’s end, may have worked in Kopp’s favor Saturday."I was more relaxed this year," said the South Dakota State University sophomore, who is studying athletic training and pre-physical therapy at the college in Brookings, S.D. "I wasn’t as nervous playing with Karen Fey this year than I was last year. I should say I wasn’t as intimidated by her."The intimidation factor that has helped Fey win 16 club championships may have come into play if Fey could have played her way into the final threesome Saturday.After shooting a 10-over-par 46 during the first round, Fey registered a pair of birdies during the second round while carding a 39. She finished in third place with a 46-39-85.Kopp’s final numbers were 41-39-80. Van Dyk finished with a 37-44-81.

A little etiquette goes a long way on path to parkFor anyone who hasn’t taken a spin on the new Blue Mound Trail, the paved path from Luverne to the Blue Mounds State Park beach is truly a joy.It offers the perfect combination of challenging rolling hills with a terrain marked by tall-grass prairie, shady trees, a quartzite cliff line and a sandy beach.I know I’m not the only one who enjoys it, because every time I’m out there and every time I drive by it, there’s a steady stream of bicycle and pedestrian traffic heading to and from the park.As someone who uses the path both for personal exercise and for family recreation, I can see that "trail etiquette" is something we’re all going to have to start thinking about.The key to remember is the Blue Mound Trail has always been intended as a multi-use path, meaning bicyclists, in-line skaters, runners and walkers need to be aware and respectful of each other’s presence.It’s not the secluded dirt path it used to be, and we (myself included) can’t act like we’re the only ones out there anymore.Based on comments I’ve heard from path users, and with a little internet research on "bike path etiquette," I’ll offer the following guidelines:Bikers, in-line skaters: oRemember — it’s a multi-use trail. It’s not just for things on wheels. Yield to pedestrians.oStay on the right, pass on the left.oWhen passing, politely holler in advance, "Passing on your left," so no one is startled (potentially causing a wipe-out).oBe cautious of pedestrians, especially of unpredictable children on feet or on wheels.oRacing bikers: Stay off the trail when training for a race. Bike path speeds are best kept under 15 mph. It’s simply not safe for a racing bike to blow by a pokey family of bicycles, trikes and strollers. Take speed training to the open road.Runners/walkersoIt’s a multi-use trail, but let’s face it — it’s best-suited for people on wheels who are moving more quickly than you are … so stay safely out of the way!oKeep to the right. Be defensive pedestrians at all times, listening for traffic coming from behind. Weaving to the center of the path when a sneaky biker is coming up from behind could be disastrous.oSocial walkers are the most dangerous ones on the path. Groups of three or more pedestrians who are deep in conversation tend to lump in the center of the path making it impossible for anyone to pass. Social walking is great … just be ready to jump into single file when a biker or skater approaches from behind.Children and petsoFamilies with small children are a close second to the social walkers in the "tend-to-cause-accidents" category. The path is perfectly suited for family bike rides; just train little ones at home in the driveway before bringing them out on the trail.oIf pets must come along, make sure they’re tightly leashed and are accommodated by a pooper scooper.Motorized scooters …… are strictly prohibited. The bike path is the perfect way to actually enjoy exercise. Scenic drivers should stay on the road.Motorists:Motorists need to know that just because we have a Blue Mound Trail doesn’t mean all bikers and pedestrians must use the Blue Mound Trail.I’ve heard a few indignant motorists complaining that they still have to watch for bikers and runners on the road.It’s a free country. They may run or bike wherever they feel like it — within parameters of the law, and motorists must continue to be aware of their occasional presence on roadways.Bikers training for races can’t safely ride at high speeds on the trail, and many distance runners find the cushioned shoulder of a road kinder on their joints. Let common sense and basic courtesy prevailThe path follows a beautiful route, so I’m hoping we can get along without a big ugly sign posting every rule that should be obvious with a little courtesy and common sense.

Founding of Martin TownshipThe following appeared in the Rock County Herald on July 18, 1924, telling about the county 20 odd years before:The southwestern corner township had only one and one-half sections of railway lands within its settlement in the early days was quite rapid, most of the first settlers being Norwegians. It remained a part of Clinton Township until March 12, 1873, when upon the petition of Hans Jensen, Simon Skovgaard, Nels Iverson, Goodman Anderson, Paul and Ole Sandbo, and others, it was made into a separate political division. At this time only township 101, range 16 was organized as Martin Township. The fractional part of range 47, although a long distance from the mother township, continuing to be a part of Clinton making it necessary for the voters residing in the fractional part to go to Clinton Township for the purpose of voting. Not until July 24, 1876, was the fractional strip given to Martin. The township was named in honor of John Martin, the first settler in the precinct. He located on section 13, in 1860, and built the first house in the township. In 1871 the following settlers arrived: Nels and Anders Anderson, Joseph Jacobson, Gulbrand and Kundt Moe and their mother, Mrs. Thora Moe. The year 1872 brought a number of new settlers, among which were Goodman Anderson, Nels Iverson, A.O. Skattum, Ole Rue, C. Moe, P.O. Skyberg, John and Charlie Nelson, Nels Opbye, John and Ole Goldberg, Peder Tuff, Erick Colby, Simon Skovgaard, Hans Jensen, Nels Arieldson, Paul and Ole Sandbo, L.O. Kolsrud, Fred Nuffer, H.F. Cothe, H. Luckensmeyer, Helbran Rue, A. Rabideau, T.O. Strandness. O. Birkeland, and Rev. H.Z. Hvid. In 1873, a great many new settlers also came. Among them, Hans Nerison, W.O. Ellingboe, Tollef Tollefson, G. Thompson, Ole Thompson, Martin, Lars and Gustav Pederson and their father, Peder Evanson, Nels Sjurson, Ole O. Blegan, Fred Finke, Mrs. P.O. Skyberg, who came with the Nerisons, H.A. Twange, L.S. Sayre, Robert Lucas, Charles Cox, Dan. Schofield, C. Borchers, A Herried, Andrew Harried, Andreas Gunderson, K. Egge, M. South, Haldor Knudtson, and Ira Bowen. The year 1874 brought a larger number of settlers than any previous year. Among these may be mentioned Nels Sundem, Anders Rogness, Niels Jacobson, A.T. Sexe, Tosten Sexe, B. Rossum, Ole Severtson, Lars Engelbretson, Engebert Larson, Peder Phillin, C.E. Halls, G.T. Rovang, John Strand, Odd Edmundson, Jacob and Gulbrand Qualley, Haagen Tuff, Evan Finkelson, P. Halverson Jens Olsono, Casper Taubert, and E.B. Trowbridge.

The last two years we have conducted the annual Bremer Family Crappie Tournament while on the annual Bremer Family Fishing Trip in July. All five boats of participants take off from the docks simultaneously at the sound of official tournament air horn. Last year the loving husband won by a landslide. This year it was touch and go. As brother Gordy weighed the crappie entries with the official tournament scale, Evelyn (the loving mother) suspected that she had a major contender. Being the modest and humble woman that she is, she secretly hoped that someone else would win the contest. But, alas, she took first place. Mother doesn’t like to draw attention to herself or boast of her fishing prowess. Still, when we arrived back in Luverne five days later it seemed as if the whole town knew she had won the crappie tournament. At the grocery store, a library patron yelled across the parking lot, "Hey, I hear your mom won the crappie tournament." The next day in church, at least half the congregational members said, "Good morning, I hear your mother won the crappie tournament this year." Could it be that my mother, the essence of modesty and selflessness, had called ahead to boast of her fishing escapades? I half expected a parade in her honor. Suddenly, it came to me. I called Luverne. I must have released the crappie tournament results. And, frankly, I was very relieved to know that mother’s virtue remained untarnished. Each year on vacation I try to slip a brand new bestseller out of the library before anyone else can check it out. Usually I’m the last person in Rock County that gets to read the hot books. This year I got away with "Clear and Convincing Proof" by Kate Wilhelm. The Kelso/McIvey rehab center is a place of hope and healing for its patients — and for the dedicated staff who volunteer there. For lonely newcomer Erica Castle, it's a place to make new friends. For brilliant physical therapist Darren Halvord, it’s a chance to showcase his unusual gift. For beautiful Annie McIvey it's a sanctuary from a cruel husband. A brilliant surgeon, a man whose ego rivals his skill with a scalpel, David McIvey now has controlling shares in what has always been a non-profit clinic. His plan to close the clinic and replace it with a massive new surgery center — with himself at the helm — means that the rehab center, with all its good work and good people, will be forced to close its doors. Since he is poised to desecrate the dreams of so many, it's not surprising that somebody dares to stop him in cold blood. When David McIvey is murdered outside the clinic's doors early one morning, Oregon attorney Barbara Holloway, once again uses her razor-sharp instincts and take-no-prisoners attitude to create a defense for the two members of the clinic accused of his murder. Also new on the shelf is Tom Clancy’s "The Teeth of the Tiger." In a nondescript office building in suburban Maryland, the firm Hendley Associates does a profitable business in stocks, bonds, and international currencies, but its true mission is quite different: to identify and locate terrorist threats, and then deal with them, in whatever manner necessary. Established with the knowledge of Pres. John Patrick Ryan, "the Campus" is always on the lookout for promising new talent, and a young man is about to cross its radar — Jack Ryan Jr. Jack was raised on intrigue. As his father moved through the ranks of the CIA and then into the White House, Jack received a life course in the world and the way it operates from agents, Secret Service men, and black ops specialists. He wants to put it all to work now, but when he knocks on the front door of "the Campus," he finds that nothing has prepared him for what he is about to encounter. For it is indeed a different world out there, and in here ... and it is about to become far more dangerous.

This may not be the best time to scream at ice cream. After all, it’s summer and the living is easy. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, an independent, nonprofit group, evidently dedicated to taking all of the fun out of life, is taking on most of our sacred, cow product companies. Their targets include Ben & Jerry’s, Haagen-Dazs and Baskin-Robbins. According to Reuters, the group is particularly critical of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey cones (supposedly 820 calories and 10 grams of saturated fat) and Haagen-Dazs’s sundae in a cup, Mint Chip Dazzler, which allegedly contains 1,270 calories and 38 grams of fat. The group fails to see the cultural and healthy aspects of ice cream, which most Americans recognize as a basic food group. My trusty 1965 edition of World Book notes, "Ice cream is one of the most popular and most nourishing foods in our diet." At that time, Americans were happily buying 700 million gallons of ice cream a year. Granted, times were simpler then. "Grams" was your mother’s mother and "saturated" was another way of saying, "very wet." First Lady Dolley Madison served ice cream to her guests in 1809, shortly before the British invasion of the Capital and the burning of the White House. Although no strong link between the introduction of ice cream and the invasion has been established, the ice cream undoubtedly made the events seem more bearable. We may not have the same type of royalty as England, Spain and other countries, but the ice cream study makes a mockery of every royalty member we have dedicated to ice cream and other dairy products. The study minimizes the important roles butter, ice cream, cottage cheese, and dairy princesses play in our lives. Without the presence of beautiful dairy product princesses in our community parades, the processions would be little more than a high school band, a couple of shiny tractors and candy thrown to curbside kids from tire trucks. Ice cream sodas are present in romantic scenes in big screen movies, such as "Our Town." Can we possibly imagine George Gibbs and Emily Webb discussing life in the same way over carrot sticks? Ice cream also plays an important role in "When Harry Met Sally," notably when the Meg Ryan character tells the waitress, "I’d like the pie heated, and I don’t want the ice cream on top, I want it on the side. And I’d like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream, but only if it’s real." What drama! What writing! This particular movie scene, centered around ice cream, serves to make our lives seem meaningful and worthwhile. We can only hope similar screen dialogues will impress archeologists of the distant future and they won’t judge us too harshly. As noted before, the health benefits of ice cream are truly encyclopedic. Cream, like any dairy product, is essential for strong bones and teeth. Eggs, and occasionally chopped nuts, provide protein. Fruits, included in certain flavors, and healthy sounding vegetable gum stabilizers are just what the doctor ordered. It’s time to stop bad-mouthing ice cream, and start mouthing it instead.

Johnnie and I got a chuckle from this "day brightener" sent by a friend. For job hunters, the moral of this story is to not give up. There will be a perfect job someday!RetirementMy first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned. I couldn’t concentrate.Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn’t hack it, so they gave me the ax. After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn’t suited for it — mainly because it was a so-so job.Next I tried working in a muffler factory but it was just too exhausting. Then I tried to be a chef, figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn’t have the thyme. I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I couldn’t cut the mustard. My best job was being a musician, but eventually I found that I wasn’t noteworthy. I studied a long time to be a doctor, but I didn’t have any patience. Next was a job in a shoe factory; I tried, but I just didn’t fit in.I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn’t live on my net income.I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining. So then I got a job in a workout center, but they said I wasn’t fit for the job. After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it. My last job was working at a coffee house, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind. So, I retired and found I’m perfect for the job!Rose Tofteland JohnsonLuverne

The city closing the tree dump and compost was a great disappointment to the people of Luverne. I realize the city is going to have a key check-out system which may work fine until someone puts something there that shouldn’t be there, and it will be closed permanently. Why not go with a proven system? Just have the place open eight hours per week, Wednesday four hours, and Saturday four hours. I am sure most people who use it wouldn’t mind an annual fee to take care of the extra expense. Our city crews have always done a great job keeping our city neat with the help of many residents who like to keep their places neat also. By doing this, we have a city that’s appealing to outsiders who are looking for a home in our town.Just in our neighborhood we have folks who moved here from Washington State, Napa Valley, Calif., two families from Hills, and one from a farm in Nobles County. They had the chance to go to other towns, but liked Luverne best. So, I hope the City Council will put this on the high priority list so we can continue our handy place to get rid of our trees, leaves and compost. I think Herman Van Hulzen did a fine job all those years and he should have a chance to continue there. I realize the city has a big problem. They have to cut expenses, but this is not the place to do it. Bernie MorganLuverne

We were in attendance at the going away party at the park on Monday night. Our grandson is a member of the unit leaving for six months, and it pleased us that the community responded so well. We thought that a lot of work had gone into the event; but we were disappointed in a couple of things: First of all, we wondered why each member wasn’t introduced when they received their pin given out to each one from the Rock County Board. At the time, we thought maybe it was a privacy issue but when the paper came out and the unit was pictured and named, we knew this was not the case.Second: There was no mention of the fact that the Luverne Guard unit was called up in December 1950 and left for a two-year time period in January 1951 during the Korean War. At the time, they were connected with the 47th Division of the Minnesota National Guard — Headquarters Co, 3rd Bn 135th Reg. Those that served at that time were also separated from families, but they also answered the call of their country and were proud to do it.Keith Luethje (Retired from this Guard Unit)Betty Luethje