Meetings
Battle Plain Township Board will meet 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the conference room at Edgerton Ag, 1300 Mechanic St. No. 4408.
Blue Mound Cemetery Association will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the home of Dick and Dolly Remme.
Blue Mounds State Park offers January activities
•Meet in the Picnic Shelter from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, to learn about beavers, nature’s architects and America’s largest rodents.
Discover how these critters use their unique adaptations to play a valuable role on the landscape. The program will conclude with a short walk down to the creek to look for beaver activity.
•Meet in the Picnic Shelter from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, for Winter Birding: Owls. Winter can be a great time to view owls. Find out what makes these wonderful birds so special and discover what species are in the backyard.
Story time starts Jan. 17 at library
Story Time with Bronwyn at the Rock County Library is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 17 through April 25, and at 10 a.m. Fridays beginning Jan. 20 through Apri/ 28. Stories and make-and-take crafts are the same at either event.
For more information call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Winter Carnival Jan. 21
Luverne Music Boosters Winter Carnival will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the Luverne Classic Gym. The event features food, games, prizes, Bingo, a cakewalk and more to benefit music education in Luverne Schools.
Online Extension offerings
The University of Minnesota Extension will offer two distance education opportunities.
•Introductory farm transitions and estate planning is each Wednesday through January. Register at https://z.umn.edu/23FarmTransition to receive a link to each session. Call 507-372-3900 ext. 3906 for info.
•Sowbridge, the distance education series for managing and caring for sows and/or their litters and boars are scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. There is a cost.
Register by Jan. 20 at z.umn.edu/SowBridgeRegistration.
Free tax preparation at library
AARP volunteers will offer free tax preparation for low-income individuals and seniors at the Rock County Library on Mondays starting Feb. 13 through April 15.
Call 507-449-5040 for appointments. Bring documents, including last year’s tax return and a form of identification to document social security number. Tax returns for 2021 will be prepared if requested.
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Luverne students grades 8 and older may register for Winter or Summer Driver Education for $365, which covers 30 hours of classroom and six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. Winter session begins Jan. 23. On Jan. 16, out-of-district students may register for open spots.
Children ages 0-5 years and parents can enjoy Preschool Fun Time on Jan. 24 or 26. There’s no fee, but register for morning or evening.
Kids in the Kitchen (grades K-6) will make Superbowl Snacks on Jan. 26. Fee is $21.
Students (grades K-5) can learn to decorate Valentine’s Day Cookies at B's Bakehouse on Feb. 2. Register by Jan. 27. Fee is $30.
ECFE Classes for children ages 0-5 years and parents offers information and support to parents and provides activities for parents and children to explore together through classes that meet once a week throughout the school year.
Defensive Driving 8-hour class provides a 10 percent premium discount on auto insurance to anyone 55 years of age or older. The 8-hour class needs to be taken once and the insurance discount is good for three years. A 4-hour refresher class can be taken every three years to remain eligible for the insurance discount.
Beginning 8 Hour Classes are April 17 and 24 (4 hours each evening)
Refresher 4-Hour Classes are Jan. 23, Feb. 13, March 13, April 3
New Residents: Census Information Needed for Preschool Children. Call 507-283-4724 with information for children ages 0 to kindergarten. The school district uses the information for planning purposes, mailing out information on school events, including the state-mandated Preschool Screening for all 3-year-old children.
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Story Time with Bronwyn is 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Jan. 17 through April 25, and at 10 a.m. Fridays beginning Jan. 20 through Apri/ 28. Stories and make-and-take crafts are the same at either event.
Winter Book Club is currently being organized to meet at different local restaurants during January, February and March.
The 50 State Challenge for adults and older teens is currently underway where patrons are encouraged to read a book set in one of each of the 50 states. The challenge ends Jan. 1, 2024.
The annual Plum Cleek Library System winter reading program, “Get Wrapped in Reading,” goes now until March 31.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is now open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets Tuesdays
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. There will be StoryHour Bible stories and playtime for ages 3 to kindergarten, and a nursery is available. It’s free for all faiths and no prior Bible knowledge is necessary. Call Kristi Stroeh at 507-227-5102 or email atkristi.stroeh@hotmail.com
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.
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