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Don’t miss the scarecrow festivalIf you haven’t driven by the north end of town recently, a trip through the Minnesota Veterans Home drive is worth your time.The Minnesota Veterans Home 8th Annual Scarecrow Festival entrees will be on display until November 1st.This year the annual contest had 34 entries competing for prizes in four different categories.This year’s winners in the four categories were:
Residents and Family of MVHFirst: Harveen Gluf, granddaughter of Clara AndersonSecond: Red Wing ResidentsThird: Green Wing Residents
Staff EntriesFirst: Shirley Connor and Mary RustSecond: MVH office staffThird: Pam Barrows, Sandy Klingenberg, Karen Amdahl
Community EntreesFirst: Glen’s Food CenterSecond: Barb SandhurstThird: Luverne American Legion
Youth EntreesFirst: Tim Christensen’s 4th grade classSecond: Craig and Anne Stegenga familyThird: Ian ConnorChamber looks for new Christmas LanesThe Luverne Winterfest Committee is hoping that past Christmas Lane participants will again be joining the line-up, but they would like to encourage new neighborhoods to start the tradition.Last year’s winner was "Angel Avenue," presented the homes along Highway 75, from Main Street to the high school.Other neighborhoods that participate included: "Penguins on Parade" — Oakland and Lindale Avenues; "Star-Spangled Cardinal Corners" — South Fairview Drive; "View of the Trees of the North" — Northview Drive; "Peace Angel Lane" — North Elm; "Carol Street Carolers" — Carol Street; Frosty's Families" — Victory and Memorial Circles; "Crystal Circle" — Cashin Drive; "Candy Cane Lane" — Phyleon Drive; "Red Ribbon Lane" — North Cedar.This year’s theme is Traditions of Christmas.Hunters may now donate venison to food shelvesUnder an agreement reached by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, deer hunters may now donate their extra venison to the needy.If you would like to participate in the program, here are some of the rules.
Hunters must legally harvest and register the deer at a DNR check station prior to making the donation.
To donate a deer, hunters must work through an approved processor. A list of processors has been posted on the venison donation page of the KNR Web site.
Hunters will be responsible for paying for processing the deer; program cooperators may provide financial assistance
Only meat processors that are approved by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture may participate in the program; food banks can only accept venison processed from approved processors.
Hunters or cooperating hunting groups must contact local food banks to learn if they accept venison, if they would be willing to pick it up after it has been frozen, and how they would like it packaged.
Hunters who drop off a field-dressed deer for donation will be asked to complete a short donation form available at approved meat processors.
Hunters will be responsible to pay for the processing and give the processor information on how to contact the food shelf when the meat is ready.According to Lou Cornicelli, big game program coordinator, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, the DNR is working with cooperating groups to establish a long-term funding source that would offset the cost of processing deer that are donated to the program.Star Herald needs your recipesThe Rock County Star Herald is working on our annual recipe book and we need your recipes.Go through your family favorites and share them with the rest of us.We want a wide variety of your favorites, whether they are something you traditionally serve during the holidays, or whether they’re family everyday favorites.Main dishes, deserts, salads or sides, we would love to help you share them with the rest of our readers.The book will be published on Nov. 18, but the deadline for submitting recipes is Monday, Nov. 1.Just drop them off at the Star Herald office at 117 W. Main St. or mail them to P.O. Box 837, Luverne.Thanks.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com