Preparing the next Guard care packagesThe next care packages for National Guard troops will be prepared on Saturday, Aug. 12.The packages will be assembled at the Luverne National Guard facility.According to Gina Newman from the Family Readiness Group, enough items were remaining from the previous month so that they didn’t have to ask for contributions for the July packages.The Family Readiness Group assembles 25 packages each month, enough for a third of the local area deployed National Guard soldiers.The goal is for each soldier to get a care package every third month.If you would like to donate, you can either give money or items from their requested list.The list includes:black ink pens, Pringles, Lays Stax, beef jerky, pizza crust mix, hard candy and gum, small bags of sunflower seeds, granola bars, freezer pops, Purell hand sanitizer in travel size bottles, Gold Bond powder, Baby Wipes, facial wash wipes, lip balm with sun screen, reading material, puzzle books, Ziploc bags in various sizes.Personal items are also appreciated, items such as personal letters from community members, pictures that your kids make or other things that might remind them of their community.Donated items can be dropped of anytime at the armory in either Luverne or Pipestone.In addition to the items for our soldiers, the Civil Affairs team is collecting school supplies for the Iraqi children.Requested items include backpacks, shoes, pencils colored pencils (but no crayons, because they melt) wire-bound notebooks, rulers, erasers and soccer balls.If you have any questions, you can contact Gina Newman at ginanewman@myclearwave.net.State Rep hopeful to visit LuverneMike McCarvel, the DFL nominee for District 22A, will be in Luverne at noon this Saturday in the city park.McCarvel, a resident of rural Brewster, is focusing on the revitalizing of education and working for affordable healthcare and insurance as his campaign themes.McCarvel has been involved in education for some time. He has served on the Brewster School Board for the past ten years and is also a member of the Minnesota State School Board Association.On the health front, McCarvel will strive for more affordable health insurance and healthcare, by working toward containing costs.McCarvel received a degree from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Animal Science and a B.A. in Agricultural Business Administration.He has been farming in the Brewster area since 1980.Currently, McCarvel serves as chairman of the Nobles County Corn and Soybean Growers Association.McCarvel and his wife, Bev, own and operate Curves for Women in several locations. The couple have three children.McCarvel will be taking on our current state representative, Doug Magnus. The Republican incumbent was first elected in 2002 and will be running for his third term in the house.Last call for Community EdThe 2006 fall schedule for Community Education is being compiled, and if you want to be a part of it, your time is running out.Anyone who wishes to take Community Ed classes between September and December needs to contact the Community Ed office by Monday, Aug. 7.For more information, call 283-4724.While you’re at it, they are also looking for some suggestions on which classes you would like to see offered in the near future.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com