By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds wrapped up a 13-8 regular season by posting a pair of wins on the road.Luverne rolled to an eight-run win in Truman Wednesday, July 9, before nailing down a five-run victory in Pipestone Sunday.Luverne opened the Gopher League playoffs by hosting Hills Wednesday night.A win over the Thunder would send the Redbirds to Wilmont Friday. A loss would set up a game in the tournament’s loser’s bracket Sunday at a site to be determined.Luverne 7, Pipestone 2The Redbirds plated five runs in the fifth inning to set the stage for victory Sunday in Pipestone.Pipestone tied the game at one by scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Redbirds responded with a five-run fifth to take control of the contest.Jesse Reisch clubbed a two-run double and James Fisher and Brian Weber added RBI singles during the fifth-inning rally.Luke Iveland doubled and scored the first run of the inning on an error.The score remained 6-1 until the ninth inning, when both teams pushed one run across the plate.Mike Wenninger reached base on an error and scored for Luverne when Fisher doubled.Iveland singled and scored in the third to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead before Pipestone knotted the score.Eric Edstrom worked the first five and one-third innings on the mound to notch a win. He fanned three batters while allowing three hits and one unearned run.Terry Eernisse allowed one unearned run and three hits while pitching three innings in relief of Edstrom. Iveland recorded the final two outs of the game.Box score AB R H BIOhme 5 1 0 0Edstrom 2 0 0 0Te.Eernisse 2 0 0 0J.Sehr 2 0 0 0Winkels 2 0 0 0Weber 3 1 1 1Wenninger 2 1 1 0Reisch 5 1 2 2Fisher 4 0 2 2Sandbulte 5 0 0 0Iveland 4 2 2 0Schneider 3 0 0 0Luverne 12, Truman 4The Redbirds scored nine runs in the middle innings to upend Truman by eight counters July 9 in Truman.Truman rallied to tie the game at three after scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.Luverne, however, outscored the hosts 9-1 the rest of the way.Back-to-back singles by Edstrom and Iveland in the fifth inning gave the Redbirds a 4-3 edge they would never give away in the top of the fifth.The Redbirds proceeded to put the game away by scoring six runs in the sixth inning and two in the seventh.Edstrom delivered a two-run double, Iveland singled home a run and Ben Winkels received an RBI for a fielder’s choice to highlight the six-run sixth inning.Jeff Sehr’s RBI double proved to be the key hit in Luverne’s two-run seventh.The Redbirds scored one run in the top of the third and two in the fourth to take a 3-0 advantage that was erased when Truman plated three runs in the fourth.Derek Ohme singled and scored for the Redbirds in the third.Edstrom and Iveland belted solo homers in the fourth.Sehr pitched three innings of scoreless ball before giving way to Kyle Kruen, who picked up the win after tossing the next two frames. Kreun yielded three earned runs and six hits.Ohme allowed one unearned run in three relief innings. Iveland worked the final frame without allowing a run.Box score AB R H BIOhme 6 1 3 0Sandbulte 4 2 1 0J.Sehr 4 0 1 1Weber 5 1 0 0Winkels 4 1 0 1Edstrom 5 3 4 3Iveland 4 1 3 3Fisher 3 0 2 1Shelton 2 0 0 0Kreun 0 1 0 0M.Sehr 2 1 1 0

Luverne third baseman Adam Kurtz protects the ball before slapping a tag on Adrian’s Pete Hohn during Tuesday’s Area A American Legion Baseball playoff game in Luverne. Kurtz ended up being the winning pitcher in a 2-1 victory.By John RittenhouseA seventh-inning rally by the Luverne American Legion baseball team gave the Cardinals a berth in the Area A Tournament championship game Tuesday.Luverne, which was hosting a scrappy Adrian team in the tournament’s semifinals, found itself trailing 1-0 heading into the home half of the seventh inning.After being baffled by Adrian pitcher Brandon Wolf for six innings, the Cardinals circled the wagons in time to pull out a 2-1 victory.The win upped Luverne’s record to 6-8 heading into last night’s Area A championship game against Pipestone at Redbird Field.A win against Pipestone would give the Cardinals the tournament championship. A loss would send the Cardinals into a game for second or third place that will be played 8 p.m. Friday at Redbird Field.Shortstop Zach Wysong ignited the seventh-inning surge by slapping a sharp, leadoff single to right field.The next batter, Rob Fodness, lifted a fly ball to short left field that bounced out of the webbing of left fielder Jake Salter’s glove for an error.Wolf then hit Luverne’s Mark Remme with a pitch to load the bases before being lifted for reliever Pete Hohn.Hohn started strong as he fanned the first batter he faced, but the situation turned sour for Adrian after that.Luverne’s Jesse Kuhlman drilled a single to left field to chase home Wysong with the tying run.Then Adam Reisch, who already had two hits in the game, chased home Fodness with an infield single that bounced out of the glove of a diving Dusty Spieker, who was manning third base for Adrian.Both teams missed a number of scoring opportunities early in the game, but Adrian broke through for a run in the top of the fifth.Adrian’s Dusty Henning reached base on a throwing error to start the fifth before stealing second base. Henning scored when Levi Bullerman doubled to left-center field. Bullerman, however, was thrown out at third base trying to go for a triple.Adrian placed two more runners on base before the fifth inning before Luverne starting pitcher Devan Goembel was replaced by Adam Kurtz.Kurtz fanned the final batter in the fifth and went on to toss two and one-third innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Kurtz yielded three hits and fanned three batters.Goembel, who was charged with one earned run in four and two-thirds innings, pitched well without gaining a decision. He allowed four hits.Wolf, who led Adrian at the plate with two hits, took the loss. He yielded eight hits, one earned run and one unearned run.Hohn recorded one out while allowing two hits.Adrian played Edgerton in an elimination game in Edgerton last night.Box score AB R H BISchmidt 3 0 0 0Kuhlman 4 0 1 1Reisch 4 0 3 1Goembel 0 0 0 0Kurtz 3 0 1 0Pick 3 0 0 0Studer 3 0 0 0Wysong 3 1 2 0Fodness 3 1 1 0Remme 2 0 2 0

Luverne’s Jared Pick takes a cut at an offering during Monday’s home VFW playoff game against Slayton. Pick had two hits and three RBIs during a 16-6 victory.By John RittenhouseA 10-run fourth inning sent the Luverne VFW baseball team into the winner’s bracket of the South Third District Playoffs Monday.The fourth-seeded Cardinals took on No. 5 Slayton to open the playoffs at Redbird Field.The situation looked bleak when Slayton scored six runs in the top of the second inning to take a 6-2 advantage, but the Cards outscored the visitors 14-0 the rest of the game to win 16-6 in six innings.Luverne, 12-14 after the victory, earns the right to face No. 1 seed Worthington tonight in Worthington. Game time is 6:30 p.m.A win over Worthington would send the Cards into the championship game at noon Saturday in Worthington. A loss would set up a 2 p.m. tilt in the loser’s bracket Saturday in Worthington.Luverne’s 10-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Cards a 12-6 lead they would never relinquish.The inning was highlighted by two-run doubles from Jared Pick and Brian Deutsch, and a two-run single from Kelsey Petersen.John Tofteland added an RBI single and Derek Johnson a bases-loaded walk to the fourth-inning rally. Two more runs scored on Slayton mistakes.The Cards went on to win by the 10-run rule after scoring one run in the fifth inning and three in the sixth.Taylor Graphenteen walked and scored on a single by Wyatt Cote to make it a 13-6 game in the fifth.Petersen capped a three-RBI game with a triple in the sixth. Graphenteen singled home a run and ended the game by scoring on a wild pitch as the inning progressed.Luverne led 2-0 by scoring twice in the bottom of the first before Slayton moved in front 6-2 in the second.Johnson walked, Petersen singled and Graphenteen reached base with a fielder’s choice to load the sacks in the first.Pick produced a sacrifice fly to score Johnson to record his first of three RBIs in the game. Tofteland was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home the second run.Cote pitched five strong innings of relief to pick up the win. He was charged with one unearned run.Graphenteen pitched a scoreless first inning before being lifted for Cote after yielding five runs in the second.Box score AB R H BIJohnson 2 3 0 1Petersen 4 3 2 3Graphenteen 4 2 1 1Pick 4 1 2 3Cote 4 1 2 1Tofteland 2 1 1 2Nath 3 2 1 0Deutsch 1 2 1 2Ward 0 1 0 0Boler 0 0 0 0Richters 0 0 0 0

By John RittenhouseA pair of first-time champions were crowned at the conclusion of the annual Member-Guest Tournament played at the Luverne Country Club Saturday and Sunday.The father-son team of Don and Tom Cashin prevailed in a sudden-death playoff against brothers Jeremy and Jason Sudenga to take top honors in the 2003 version of the event.Playing under the quota point-scoring format for the first time since 1997, a playoff became necessary when Cashins and Sudengas completed 36 holes of play with plus 10 1/2-point efforts.Tournament officials opted to use a net team scoring total to break the tie. The Cashins prevailed by completing the first playoff hole with net nine strokes compared with net 11 produced by the Sudengas.Member Don Cashin and guest Tom Cashin (San Francisco, Calif.) formed one of 20 two-man teams in the 36-team field to finish with plus points at tournament’s end.The Cashin’s, however, had to come from behind to win their championship.Member Dave Gangestad and guest Doug Hart (Spencer, Iowa) set the pace during the first round of the Quota Tournament Saturday.Of the 22 teams to finish the first day with plus points, Gangestad and Hart led the pack with 14 points.Four teams were tied for second place behind Gangestad and Hart with 11 points when play was complete Saturday.The Cashins and the Sudengas were involved in the second-place deadlock. Member Gary Golla and guest Dave Steele (Castle Rock, Colo.), and member Dan McGuire and guest Mark Iveland (Lincoln, Neb.) also scored 11 points as teams Saturday.While Gangestad and Hart came up eight points short of meeting their quota Sunday to slip back in the field, the Cashins and Sudengas missed meeting their scoring quota by one-half of one point. Both teams sported 10 1/2 point totals, setting up the sudden-death playoff won by the Cashins.Consistent play by member Darwin Elbers and guest Mike Koepke (Sioux Falls) allowed them to place third in the Quota Tournament.Elbers and Koepke scored three points Saturday and three and one-half points Sunday, giving them a six and one-half point total for 36 holes.Gangestad and Hart finished fourth with six points.Member George McDonald and guest Bob Fliechtner (Fargo, N.D.) placed fifth with five and one-half points.The Cashins may have denied the Sudengas a Member-Guest team title, but Jason Sudenga (Sioux Falls) proved to be the best player on hand for the two-day event by shooting a one-over-par 145 to win the tournament’s low gross championship. Jason shot a one-under-par 71 Saturday before turning in a two-over-par 74 Sunday.Member Roger Tollefson emerged as the tournament’s low net champion. Tollefson shot a net 71 Saturday and a net 69 Sunday for a net four-under-par 140 overall.Two more events were staged during the course of the Member-Guest weekend.The Derby title went to member Dan Serie and Adrian’s Dean Elias, the guest of Denny Holtrop.The Derby field is made up of the 10 members and 10 guests who shoot the lowest gross scores during the Quota Tournament on Saturday.The members and guests form two-man teams that play nine holes of alternate-shot golf with one team being eliminated at each hole.After eight holes of play, Serie and Elias and the team of Jeremy Sudenga and Mark Iveland remained alive in the hunt for the title.When both teams made par on the ninth hole, Elias and Sudenga participated in a chip-off on the ninth green. Elias produced the shot that was closest to the pin, giving Serie and himself the championship.The Dave Lammert Memorial Tournament opened the Member-Guest weekend Friday.The 18-hole handicapped tournament serves as a fund-raiser for the Luverne Dollars for Scholars Chapter.LCC member Terry Johnson took top honors for the event with a net 66.McDonald placed second with net 68, while Tom Cashin and Tollefson tied for third place with net 70s.Don Cashin, member Mike Haakenson and Bill Wallace (Omaha, Neb.), the guest of Tom Serie for the Quota Tournament, tied for fifth place with net 71s.Members Paula Lammert and Gary Golla both shot net 72s.

Did you contribute to WWII at Home?If you were involved in World War II, but did your service at home, there is now a Web site set up to make note of your contribution.The American Battle Monuments Commission has organized the web-based list in an effort to extend recognition to as many as 16 million Americans who served in and out uniform during the Second World War.As well as those who contributed through the Military, the Web site is set up to recognize those who contributed on the home front.How’s your SPAMSpam: Unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail.It’s also a lunchmeat made famous during World War II by the Hormel Corporation, but that’s not the spam we’re talking about.As congress starts to look at ways of solving the computer version of the spam problem, a recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune showed what most of the span you receive really is.* Products:(25%) An offer of advertised general goods or services * Financial:(20%). Lately home mortgages seem to be the most common feature in this category.* Adult:(19%) Contains or intended for persons above the age of 18, but in reality they go to everyone. These ads usually want to increase the size of something.* Scams:(9%) Recognized as fraudulent, intentionally misguiding or known to result in fraudulent activity by the sender. At least twice a week I am offered about $35 million if I will let someone from the middle east transfer twice that amount into my checking account, because they need to get it into the county.* Internet:(7%) Specifically offer of advertise Internetor computer related goods or services.* Health:(7%) Offering or advertise health related products and services.* Leisure(6%) Offer or advertise prizes, awards or discounted leisure activities.* Spiritual(4%) Containing information about religious or spiritual evangelization or services.* Other(3%)Spammer don’t know who you are or if they are hitting someone that might be interested in the particular product they are selling.Spammers use software called spiders or robots that search the internet for anything that uses an @ address symbol.One spammer profiled by CBS news said he sends out an average of 180 million spam e-mails each day.If a tiny fraction of those are responded to he get paid.A recent article in the Washington Post reported 40% of e-mail is unwanted spam and that number is expected to grow to more than 50% by the end of the yearAnd if you think you are getting rid of them by responding, forget about it. Any response only confirms that they have hit a valid e-mail address.Know your treesIf you don’t know your trees, now is a good time to learn.The National Arbor Day Society has put together the book, "What Tree Is That?"The 72-page guide will help you identify 135 different trees found in the eastern and central U.S.Well-known trees, such as oaks, maples, spruces, and pines are featured along with less known species such as horse chestnut and mocker nut hickory, sassafras and shadbush persimmon and paw paw and pagoda tree and pecan.The book also has dozens of drawings and illustrations of the tree’s leaves or needles and their acorns, berries, seedpods and other identifying features.To obtain the $3 book contact the National Arbor Day Foundation at Nebraska City, NE 68410, or go online to www.arborday.org.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFEffie Stroh DECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on August 11, 2003 at 9:00 (a.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at the Rock County Courthouse, 204 East Brown, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated August 30, 1971 and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of David A. Stroh whose address is: RR 2, Box 117, Luverne, Minnesota 56156 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate.Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ Timothy K. Connell 7/11/03Timothy K. Connell Judge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 7/11/03Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerSkewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt, L.L.P.120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538Telephone 507-283-9111Attorney License #56674(7-17, 7-24)

REQUEST FOR BIDSLUVERNE PUBLIC SCHOOLSNotice is hereby given that bids will be received until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2003, at the Office of the Superintendent, Luverne High School, Luverne, Minnesota, for the furnishing of the following products:A. Gasoline and Fuel ProductsB. Fuel OilC. Bakery ProductsD. Milk ProductsDetailed specifications and information are available at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.The School Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any technicalities. William StegemannClerk(7-17, 7-24)

10 years ago (1993)"Keith Erickson, the Luverne City Council representative to the pool commission, brought drawings of a proposed addition to the swimming pool and exercise facility to the Board and explained how the addition will be financed and used.An approximately 1,000-square-foot triangular meeting room will be added to the east side of the existing structure. It will use the existing walls of the original pool and the current meeting room for two walls. A new wall will serve as the long side of the triangle."25 years ago (1978)"‘There’s a lot more damage out there than we realize.’ Rock County Sheriff Ole Hommen’s reaction was formulated after several days of reviewing the damage caused by a severe storm shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. Two injuries have been attributed to the storm. One directly and one indirectly."50 years ago (1953)"Not a very sizable sum remained in the city utilities fund when the 1952-53 fiscal year ended on March 20 this year. After expenses had been paid and funds transferred to the capital expenditures and net revenue accounts, and after bonds and interest payments were made the city recorder had only $6,797.36 of last year’s income in the utilities fund bank."75 years ago (1928)"Ellsworth’s juvenile baseball team administered an overwhelming defeat to the Luverne lads Sunday afternoon at Athletic park, by a score of 23 to 12. As was the case in the game a week previous with the Sioux Falls Argus Leader team, the Luverne boys were opposed by players surpassing them in size and experience, and the result was not a surprise.Speculation had existed as to whether or not the Ellsworth team was actually a ‘juvenile’ organization, inasmuch as the personnel was anything but ‘kids.’ Manager Fronsdahl had been assured that the oldest player on the Ellsworth club was 14 years of age, but when the team arrived its members disclosed extraordinary development for their age."100 years ago (1903)"Horse shoe throwing has been resurrected as a live sport among persons who are taking a vacation without going out of town. It was inaugurated among the grain buyers and elevator employees on the Rock Island tracks and has spread uptown. Stakes have been set on the street near the Security Bank and the practice now being secured should develop some champions."

I’ve been furiously cataloging new books this past week. There are so many titles by your favorite authors that I’m going directly to book reviews. Grab a writing utensil and make a list of the ones you want to read. "A Man to Call My Own" by Johanna Lindsey. Amanda and Marian Laton are identical twins but they are as different as night and day. Amanda is beautiful but nasty, and Marian is nice but plain — purposely so to avoid provoking her spiteful twin's jealousy. When their wealthy father suddenly dies, the two gently reared New England heiresses are sent to live with their aunt on a sprawling Texas ranch. There the twins meet Chad Kinkaid, the cowboy son of a neighboring rancher. Marian is fascinated by Chad's rugged good looks and masculinity, but she knows that like every other man she and her twin have met, he will pursue Amanda, not her. Chad is indeed beguiled by Amanda's beauty, but soon he begins to see beyond Marian's carefully constructed dowdy facade. After witnessing Marian's taste for adventure, her sense of humor and bravery in the face of danger, Chad finds himself wanting her. But how can he, a man who's just a cowboy without fancy airs or urbane charm, convince her she's the only woman for him? "White Death" by Clive Cussler. Hailed as a hero for the new millennium, Kurt Austin is the leader of NUMA Special Assignments Team — and the threat before him now is definitely special. A confrontation between a radical environmentalist group and a Danish cruiser has forced Austin and colleague Joe Zavala to come to the rescue of a ship full of trapped men; but when the two of them investigate further, they discover that something far more sinister is at work. A shadowy multinational corporation is attempting to wrest control of the very seas themselves and is killing anyone who attempts to stop them. When Austin's boat blows up and he just barely survives, it seems certain he is the next in line to die — but he cannot stop now. For the environmental disaster has already begun, and only he and NUMA stand in the way. "Shifting Calder Wind" by Janet Dailey. Chase Calder, regains consciousness after a vicious head wound stripped him of all memory. He has no idea who he is, why he came to Fort Worth, or who tried to put a bullet in his head. Laredo Smith, a big burly cowboy, saved his life and is sure that he is Chase Calder, owner of the Triple C Ranch in Montana. According to the local papers, Chase Calder has been declared dead — a victim of a fiery car crash. None of it rings true to Chase, but his gut tells him to stay dead until he can find the answers he needs. "Last to Die" by James Grippando. Tatum Knight is a former contract killer. Ruthless. Conniving. And he's criminal defense lawyer, Jack Swyteck’s newest client. Tatum is the older brother of Jack's best friend, Theo. Theo himself spent time on death row until Jack found the evidence to prove him innocent. Jack isn't so sure about Tatum. Sally Fenning was worth 48 million dollars when she died. Money had never made her happy, so she left it all to her enemies. She named six heirs in her will, but there's a catch: No one gets a penny until all but one of the heirs are dead. It's survival of the greediest. Quickly the lawyers gear up for a bitter legal battle, but Jack braces himself for much worse. He alone knows that heir number six — Tatum Knight — is a professional killer. As the heirs begin to fall, Jack races against time to discover if Tatum is behind all the killing. Or is someone even more frightening, more dangerous, going to be the last to die?