Curves gets new ownersThe Curves Fitness Center in Luverne has new owners.Jason and Laurie Veld, Brandon, have purchased the Luverne Curves. Curves is a fitness center that caters to women.Curves opened in 2002 in a part of the former Smith Furniture Building.This is the first Curves operation for the Velds, and according to Laurie, no immediate changes in the operation are planned.Rock County Historical Society to hold annual meetingThe Rock County Historical Society has set Tuesday, Sept. 21, for their annual meeting and banquet.This year’s speaker will be Vance Walgrave, who will talk about moving the old Luverne cemetery, from its former location north of the American Reformed Church to Maplewood Cemetery west of Luverne.The evening is also used as the society’s annual fund-raiser. A silent auction and raffle will be used to help raise funds for the group. Some items included will be a handmade queen-sized quilt, a toy John Deere tractor, and a pork bundle.Tickets for the banquet can be purchased at the Luverne Chamber of Commerce or the Luverne Style Shop.One project recently completed was the cataloging of negatives from Myhre’s Studio during the ‘30s. The negatives were donated by Sam and June Polzin.The negatives are listed by family name. If you are interested in a family photograph from the ‘30s, contact Betty Mann at 283-2913.Cyclone Marching Band to be featured at Tri-StateThe featured guest band for this year’s Tri-State Band Festival will be the Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band.The Cyclone Marching Band is considered one of the premier college marching bands in the country and has marched at various events throughout the United States to promote Iowa State University.Along with Iowa State as their guest band, the Tri-State Band festival will have 19 bands performing this year from Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa.The Sept. 25th event will begin with a parade at 10 a.m. on Luverne’s Main Street and will be followed by field competition at 1 p.m. at the Luverne High School athletic field.This will be the 54th year for the Tri-State Band Festival, which is the longest running festival of its kind, according to the Luverne Chamber of Commerce.Entrance to the field events requires a band festival button and will be available at the parade as well as the gate to the field events.Bookin’ Buddies needs your helpThe Rock County Collaborative is once again working with the Luverne Elementary School to get the Bookin’ Buddies program going for this school year.To facilitate the project, the group is seeking mentors for their lunchtime reading program.According to Lisa Dinger, the mentors share 30 minutes of their time each Wednesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. during the school year reading with a second grade student.The program is scheduled to start on Oct. 6.If you would like more information about the program, contact Lisa Dinger at 283-4497, ext. 3580.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com