Remember When

10 years ago (2010) •Luverne Graphic Arts instructor Bill Thompson’s middle school Lego Mindstorms builders have surpassed the typical store-bought set. Their Lego creations move by themselves. This Lego engineering is part of Thompson’s new Robotics encore class offered to seventh- and eighth-graders. Their Lego Mindstorms kits have more than 500 pieces each, computer bricks, motors and ultra-…

10 years ago (2010) •After an overcast, humid day Saturday, storm clouds gathered in the southwest and delivered a downpour in Luverne and much of Rock County Saturday night. According to volunteer weather recorder Troy Thone, Luverne officially received about a half inch of rain in the storm, but he said it all came in the span of about 20 minutes, which would be about 1.5 inches per hour. “This…

10 years ago (2010) •Karen Roberts has been a nurse for more than 40 years. And with the professional precision of a registered nurse, she counts her nursing career years as in the high 30s. “They made you quit when you had children back then,” she said. On Wednesday, Oct. 13, Roberts was honored by Sanford Health network with the prestigious DAISY Award. It recognizes “her excellent…

10 years ago (2010) •The city of Luverne is proposing a $75 rebate for city residents who purchase low-volume toilets to replace old ones that use more water. City Finance Director Barb Berghorst presented information to Luverne City Council members at a recent meeting. “We are very interested in water conservation, as well as electrical conservation,” she said. A low-volume toilet, in addition…

10 years ago (2010) •Twenty-five school districts in Southwest Minnesota started classes on August 23 — about two weeks earlier than their usual post-Labor Day start. Now these schools are monitoring advantages and disadvantages of when the early start might be. The flexible learning is a cooperative effort among the participating districts to improve student achievement and teacher effectiveness…

10 years ago (2010) •A note found in Luverne High School’s home economics room prompted a district-wide evacuation Friday. “School’s going to blow up at 12:30,” is what the note stated, handwritten in pencil on a partial sheet of torn white paper. Luverne High School senior Adam Gruis found the note during his first-hour foods class. “I sit there every day, and I know it wasn’t there yesterday,”…

10 years ago (2010) •This year the Rock County Sheriff’s Department has had 43 reports of narcotic-related problems and 65 total charges, according to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge. With drug traffic being an increased problem, Verbrugge said he wants to “be proactive, not reactive.” At Tuesday’s Rock County Board meeting, Verbrugge and Deputy Kyle Kreun presented information on a possible drug dog.…

10 years ago (2010) •The rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans wafts through the halls and work areas of Rock County Opportunities Inc. in Luverne. RCO, which provides employment for adults with disabilities, is now packaging its own brand of coffee. “Buffalo Joe Coffee Beans” will soon be available for purchase at the Coffey Haus in Luverne and at other retail outlets. In February, RCO…

10 years ago (2010) •Luverne’s Diane Sherwood is planning her eighth year of Remember Rally, the annual motorcycle benefit ride to honor 9-11 and military personnel. The event will be Saturday, Sept. 11, beginning and ending at the Howling Dog Saloon in Luverne. This year, a special feature for the ride is a 4-by-5-foot commemorative American flag donated by the South Dakota Patriot Guard. In the…

10 years ago (2010) •New Luverne teachers Amy Guigisberg, Tyler Woods and Gavin Folkestad agree that the first two weeks of school have gone well. All three are versatile district employees, teaching during the school day and being involved with activities before and after the bell rings. From the first-floor high school kitchen and band room to upstairs English classroom, these new employees…

10 years ago (2010) •There was a time in Rock County when pioneer families didn’t have insurance to protect them financially from the devastation of natural disasters. The founders of Beaver Creek Mutual Insurance Company recognized a need for protection, and back in 1885 the business was established in Beaver Creek. The company, now located on Main Street, Luverne, will observe its 125th…

10 years ago (2010) •When nurses Eileen Hocking and Glenda DeBoer retired from Sanford Hospital in July, they had accumulated 100 years of nursing experience in Luverne between them. The two sit in a restaurant booth reflecting on their 50 years together working in the medical field in Luverne. Both arrived in Luverne as newlyweds in the early 1960s. Hocking came fresh from St. Mary’s nursing…

10 years ago (2010) •It all started five years ago with five tractors and 50 people. Now the annual event has grown to include more than 35 tractors and 150 guests. Ken and Phyllis Vos, Luverne, hosted their annual tractor party July 30, and the event again lived up to its colorful reputation. A banner above the garage door declared, “Hay! It’s a tractor party!” in John Deere green and yellow…

10 years ago (2010) •In May the Star Tribune reported “Foreclosures in Minnesota in the first quarter rose for the fourth straight quarter, reaching the third highest level during the current housing crisis.” Scam artists are taking advantage of the increase. The number of foreclosure scams continues to rise; from radio ads to online “guarantees,” the deceiving messages are reaching hundreds of…

10 years ago (2010) •The National Weather Service determined Monday that Friday night’s storm damage was caused by straight-line winds gusting up to 80 mph. Uprooted trees and destroyed buildings were thought to be the work of a tornado, but meteorologist Todd Heitkamp said strong winds were to blame. “I didn’t see any evidence on the ground or on radar of any tornadic activity,” said Heitkamp,…

10 years ago (2010) •Bison is one of Rock County’s prairie attractions, and for one family the tourist draw is part of their farm operation. John and Jeanne Bowron are Rock County’s Farm Family of the year. They own Prairie Heights Bison, located north of Luverne on Highway 75. Their website can be found at www.buybison.com. Farm Family honorees are named by the University of Minnesota and…