Meetings
Blue Mound Cemetery Association will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the home of Dick and Dolly Remme.
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in the township hall. Note the afternoon time.
Heroes Behind the Badges blood donation Jan. 23
Luverne Fire Department, EMS, Rock County Sheriff’s Office and Sanford Luverne will host the annual Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive Monday, Jan. 23, at Sanford Luverne.
The public can donate blood, support their local heroes and impact patients by donating between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
Donors can schedule an appointment by logging on to www.cbblifeblood.org, select “events” and choose Jan. 23 at Sanford Luverne Medical Center. They can also call 605-331-3222, and walk-ins are welcome.
Blue Mounds State Park offers January activities
•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 at library
Story Time with Bronwyn at the Rock County Library is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through April 25, and at 10 a.m. Fridays beginning Jan. 20 through April 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.
UMC community free meal Jan. 25
The United Methodist Church will host its Wednesday night free community meal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. A pick-up option is available by calling 507-283-4529.
Mobile dental clinic in Luverne Jan. 26
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Rock County Health and Human Services community room.
This clinic provides dental care for adults and children ages 0-100+. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted. It's organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force.
H-BC FFA fundraiser Feb. 6
The Hills-Beaver Creek FFA Chapter is sponsoring a chili cook-off and silent auction fundraiser Feb. 6, beginning at 5 p.m. in the secondary school commons.
Chili cook-off participants are sought. Call 507-962-3240 ext. 33 to enter the cook-off.
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.
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.
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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