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Rock County Golf Scrambler for kidsThe 9th annual Rock County Golf Scramble and Dinner has been set for Aug. 7.The organizers are looking for individuals and teams to participate.Participants will have the option of golf only, dinner only or both.Registration for the golf scramble will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a shotgun start at 5:30 p.m.The social hour will begin at 7 p.m. followed by dinner and an awards presentation.The event, held at the Luverne Country Club, helps raise money for the Rock County Collaborative programs which serve Rock County children and their families.For more information, contact the Extension office at 283-1302.Minnesotans seem to think we are on track"What do you think is the single most important problem facing the state of Minnesota today?"According to the Star Tribune’s Minnesota Poll, most voters feel the state is on the right track, 54 percent this year, compared with 50 percent last year.Since the last Minnesota poll, fewer people are concerned about the economy, with more worrying about education and taxes.The poll also indicated an increase in people who will be voting for someone based on their position on a single issue, with abortion being the most prevalent. Most political analysts agree anti-abortion advocates are the vast majority of the group.Of Minnesotans polled, 45 percent considered themselves single-issue voters.Top single-issue subjects of concern among voters include:
abortion, 27 percent
education, 13 percent
gay rights/marriage 12 percent
Iraq war, 8 percent
immigration, 7 percent
taxes, 6 percentThe paper also cited new areas of concern, which didn’t show up on the poll in recent years. Of some concern this time around are gas prices, immigration, and roads.Of voters who cited multiple concerns, the only two issues in double digits were education at 22 percent and taxes at 15 percent.In 1988 and 1990, only 3 and 5 percent respectively listed education as an important problem facing Minnesota.Taxes, as you might expect, has always been a double-digit issue in Minnesota.In 1984, the first year poll results were listed, 24 percent of voters named taxes as an important political issue.The issue of taxes was at its lowest at 10 percent in 2000.Goodwill suspends collection routesThe high price of gas has taken one more toll.Goodwill Industries of Sioux City has suspended their Ambassador routes for the remainder of 2006.According to a recent press release, the decision was made due to escalating fuel and transportation costs.The agency plans to use the remainder of the year to reevaluate the transportation priorities.If gas prices should return to former levels, service could be reinstated.……………According to Jupiter Research, almost half of 13- to 16-year-olds have cell phones.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com