DNR gives pheasant hunters a longer seasonIf you’re a pheasant hunter, the Department of Natural Resources has decided to extend your hunting season this year.Previously, pheasant hunting season ended on Dec. 19.Under the new DNR regulations, pheasant hunters will now get to hunt with friends and family through the holiday season, until Dec. 31.According to Ed Boggess, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division policy chief, the extension will offer more hunting opportunities without harming pheasant populations.According to Boggess, a number of hunters did not favor the extension, but the biology of pheasant populations supports the change and the DNR has the emergency authority to close or reduce seasons if necessary.According to Kurt Haroldson, DNR wildlife biologist in Madelia, the slightly increased harvest will not affect the pheasant numbers during the following year.The hunting season extension was requested by pheasant hunters and was supported by DNR biologists and by Pheasants Forever.Previous year’s numbers show that pheasant populations increase when hen harvest is less than 20 percent.Although hen pheasants cannot be legally harvested in Minnesota, the DNR estimates that 11 percent of hen pheasants are killed, accidentally or deliberately shot during the hunting season.More than 100,000 people hunt pheasants in Minnesota. This year’s season will begin on Oct. 16. A small game license and a $7.50 habitat stamp are required.Nitrate water testing coming to LuverneIf you rely on well water for your drinking supply, getting it tested for nitrates on a regular basis can be important.A free nitrate testing clinic will be at the Rock County Fair, from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 30. The Rock County Land Management Office is co- sponsoring the clinic with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.According to the MDA, the state’s wells have a high nitrate level and this is the most common contaminant in Minnesota’s ground water.If you want to participate in the testing, you must bring at least one-half cup of water in either a Whirl-Pak plastic bag, or a Ziploc type bag.You should let your faucets run for five to 10 minutes before collecting the sample.If you have any kind of water treatment system, softener, reverse osmosis or distillers, you should take a sample before and after the treatment process to determine if the system is properly removing the nitrates.Samples should be taken 24 hours prior to testing and should then be refrigerated until testing.The process takes less than five minutes and the homeowners are given the results on the spot.Class of ’89 is planning a get- togetherThe class of ’89 is planning its 15th class reunion this summer.The dates for the event will be August 13 to 15.Events for the weekend will include a social hour at Sharkee’s Friday, a golf tournament at Luverne Country Club Saturday morning and a banquet at Sharkee’s Saturday night.For more information, contact Angela (Earl) Ahrendt, Sara (Schei) Altman, Dave Halverson, Julie Laabs, or Sara (Dispanet) Oldre.More political opportunitiesLast week I told you about the opportunities for public service you could have with the city hall opening.This week I was going to fill you in on the county and school board options, but since Lori is putting it in her column, I’ll let you read it there and spare you the redundancy.Lori’s column with all the local political vacancies can be found on the columns page.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com