Hospice kickoffThe planning has begun for the 13th annual Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction.Once again the event will include both a live and silent auction.According to organizer Helen Saum, the auction this year will include a variety of donated merchandise including gift certificates, framed art work, handmade items, and sports-related items, including Vikings tickets.The popular wine and jewelry raffles from past years will also be making a return.This year’s event will have a New York City theme. All ticket holders will be eligible for the drawing at the end of the evening for a weekend for two to New York City.Tickets are $40 each, or you can purchase a table for 8 for $450.Last year’s event grossed more than $49,000, which goes toward the operation of the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.The 2006 banquet will be at the Blue Mound Banquet Center on Friday, April 21, with the silent auction beginning at 5 p.m. and the dinner starting at 7 p.m.Volunteers needed …A kickoff meeting is planned for Friday, Feb. 17, at the Blue Mound Banquet Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., when the 2006 fund-raising activities will be discussed. Along with longtime volunteers, new volunteers are needed.If you would like to volunteer and attend the planning session, contact Helen Saum by Feb 13th at the Hospice office at 402 E. Main at 283-1805.Luverne native chosen to compete in ’06 Custer StampedeLuverne native Shelley Creeger Stoltenberg is among 23 artists chosen to create 20 one-of-a-kind life-size buffalo art.The artists will also decorate ten table-size buffalo.The artwork will be on display in Custer throughout the summer.Ten of the artists chosen are from South Dakota, five are from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and two others from Wyoming.Other participants hail from New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina and Montana.Stoltenberg is currently living in Spearfish, S.D.Too old for the Army? Maybe notIf you’re between the ages of 34 and 40 and were thinking about a career change, the army may be the place for you.The maximum age for anyone to enlist in the army was 34 until recently, when the age was raised to 40.The army also announced that it has doubled the maximum combination of cash enlistment bonuses, up to $40,000 for the active Army and up to $20,000 for the Army Reserve.The new incentives were made possible under the provisions of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act.The change allows the active Army recruitment age limit to match the Army Reserve age limit.The Army Reserve enlistment age limit was raised last March.The maximum combination of cash bonuses for an active Army enlistment of three years is $10,000, except for a few occupational specialties that may qualify for up to $40,000.Some of the incentives may also be combined with either the Army’s Loan Repayment program or the Army College Fund.The Loan Repayment Program can repay up to $65,000 in qualifying student loans and the Army College Fund combined with the Montgomery GI Bill offers recruits up to $71,424 for higher education.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com