By Lori EhdeNorma Remme is living her professional dream, and the experience is sweetened by the fact that she’s living it with her family members.Norma, her husband Dennis, their son Scott and his wife, Lisa, are co-owners of Luverne’s newest business, Remmedez (pronounced "remedies").They purchased the former Harvey’s Gun Shop on the corner of Main Street and Highway 75 in August last year from Glen Gust.The building now houses three entities of the Remme business: a hair salon and a gift shop, which fall under the Remmedez name, and office space for Remme Construction.The whole business is owned as a four-way partnership between Dennis, Norma, Scott and Lisa Remme.Lisa, who has her manager’s license in cosmetology, heads up the salon portion of the business, and her sister-in-law, Susie (Remme) Bork, who also has a manager’s license, rents booth space for styling in the salon as an independent contractor.Lisa said business ownership is something most salon professionals strive for. "Nobody likes to work for someone else," said Lisa, who worked four years in Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, as a health unit coordinator prior to attending Stewart’s School of Hair Styling, Sioux Falls.Linda Uithoven is employed as a part-time nail technician in the Remmedez shop. All three women have previous salon experience in Luverne.Both Lisa and Norma share duties in the Remmedez retail area, although Norma described this portion of the business as her dream come true."I love to decorate and now I can do it here," said Norma, who has incorporated many of her personal decorating ideas into the shop interior itself."A lot of the decorating and design ideas were Susie’s — especially in the salon, and I find myself consulting with her, too, on merchandise ideas for the gift shop."The shelves stock giftware items and home accessories, such as Wall Talk, candles and handmade décor items. There is a special place for little people, featuring items such as dolls and wooden puzzles.In addition, the store stocks jewelry and lotions.Norma said she finds most of her inventory on the Internet and said keeping the store stocked has been a learning process. "I like to find different and unique stuff, but a lot of it takes six to eight weeks for delivery," Norma said. "So, I’ve ordered Christmas merchandise already."Norma will also spend a good share of her time in the Remme Construction office, which occupies the north portion of the building."We’re doing the same thing we’ve always done, but now it’s in an office instead of at our house, Scott’s or in the pickup," Norma said. "So it was time to have an office." Dennis said the office in town has been good for business. "For Norma doing books, and for people stopping in, it’s easier," Dennis said. "It’s one place to go to do your bid meetings and to meet with clients."Remme Construction deals primarily in agriculture cement work. For example, they’re busy with monoslope cattle barns, bunkers and dairy setups.Dennis worked construction from 1969 to 1976, when he started farming, and he kept doing construction work on the side during his farming years from 1976 to 1992.Both he and Scott have been working construction for Dunham Companies and Limoges Construction Inc., Sioux Falls, for the past several years.As far as Scott is concerned, he’s doing the same work, but he said he enjoys doing it on his own schedule — one of the perks of business ownership.Norma seemed to speak for the group when she said the business venture has so far been a good thing."I’ve always wanted to do something like this. … It’s a nice change for me," said Norma, who previously worked 16 years with Rock County Family Services in child support services. "When Susie was going to cosmetology school we started thinking about it, and then when Scott started seeing Lisa (also a cosmetologist), that really sweetened the pot. … Now we are all in our own business."They all agreed business ownership has been somewhat stressful, but they said the experience so far is positive."We seem to be doing more work now than ever," Norma said. "But it’s just where I want to be and what I like to do."The 4-by-8-foot Remmedez sign will be erected at the corner in the next couple of weeks.

By Sara QuamThe warm weather typically brings a slight increase in crime, according to Sheriff Mike Winkels, and that holds true in the last quarterly report for activity in the city of Luverne. Winkels shares activity reports with the city of Luverne as a part of the contract agreement for law enforcement services.Liquor violations and vandalism are generating slightly more attention from the Rock County Law Enforcement Department, mostly because high schools and colleges are on summer break.Vagrancy is slightly more than last quarter, again because of the weather. Traffic violations show higher numbers this quarter because of a state-wide "Click It or Ticket" campaign.Winkels said there were even more warnings issues than tickets during that effort.Some highlights from this quarter include:
34 seatbelt citations (There were two last quarter and 58 in all of 2005.)
23 speeding citations (There were nine last quarter and 29 in all of 2005.)
Five DWIs (There were seven last quarter and 24 in all of 2005.)
18 under-21 consumption arrests (There were none last quarter and 18 in all of 2005.)
14 disorderly conduct complaints (There were five last quarter and 29 in all of 2005.)
62 dog and animal complaints (There were 26 last quarter and 183 in all of 2005.)
20 family or child abuse complaint calls (There were nine last quarter and 47 in all of 2005)
27 investigations of vandalism (There were 14 last quarter and 67 in all of 2005.)
12 incidents of vagrancy (There were five last quarter and 30 in all of 2005.)

By Lori EhdeThe heat wave lifted this week just in time for the 2006 Rock County Fair, which officially starts today.Highlights at the fairgrounds today include the Rock Nobles Cattlemen’s beef feed at 5:30 p.m. and the Rock County Amateur Talent Contest in the grandstand at 7 p.m.According to one of the talent show organizers Jane Wildung, a strong showing of entries — more than 20 — had signed up by the July 28 deadline.Highlights on Friday’s fair schedule include free water nitrate testing by the Rock County Land Management Office starting at 2 p.m. and the Senior Citizens Day program — featuring Rock County’s Outstanding Senior Citizens and entertainment by Country Grass — also at 2 p.m.The Rock County Pork Producers will start their pork feed at 5:30 p.m. and the Ranch Rodeo will begin in the grand stand at 6 p.m. (see story in the Star Herald sports pages).The grandstand finale Saturday night features the Bio Fuels Enduro Race starting at 7 p.m. (see writeup in the Star Herald sports pages).Thursday, Friday and Saturday features daily livestock shows, with the parade of champions at 6 p.m., exhibits in the commercial buildings and the Floral Hall and Mad Jax on the Midway from 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday, and from 1 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

By Lori EhdeRock County and several area counties received much needed rain this week, but the big question is, "Did the moisture come in time to help drought-stricken crops?"According to SWMN Farmers Co-op crop consultant Shawn Vis, corn was starting to suffer under the stress of the recent heat wave."We’ve had corn pollinating under extreme heat," Vis said. "When that happens — even under normal rainfall — 90- to 100-degree heat when corn is shedding pollen is not ideal."He said the weather is changing just in time."These rains, and especially the 10-degree drop in temperature, will really help to relieve stress on the corn," Vis said, "especially since it’s in blister stage and starting to set an ear."Recent rainfall totals in Rock County vary widely depending where the reports come from.The northern part of the county, such as the Kenneth and Hardwick areas, received an inch to 1 1/2 inches last week Monday. That same day, Luverne had only a few tenths, and south of Luverne, in the Kanaranzi and Ash Creek areas, reports were only trace levels.As of Tuesday afternoon, those areas were still quite dry and some fields there were starting to show wear. "It’s pretty bone dry there," Vis said Tuesday.Wednesday morning totals in Luverne at 1.19 inches, and in Hills 1.85 inches. But north of Beaver Creek, farmers were reporting nearly 5 1/2 inches of rain."That’ll pretty much make those guys for the year," Vis said.As varied as Rock County’s rainfall has been, so is its soil quality from one area to the next.The Steen and Hills areas haven’t received much rain (only six tenths Tuesday morning compared with nearly an inch by Hardwick) but the soil there is richer, and crops are still in good condition."We have to remember we had an abnormally wet spring," he said. "And our soil can hold moisture fairly well, so there’s still some moisture down there."Vis said the hot, dry spell hit at a bad time for corn development, but he still predicts a relatively decent yield this fall."It won’t be a record setter like last year, but it will still be good," he said.As far as soybeans are concerned, Vis said they should be relatively unaffected by the heat wave."It’s still early to tell, but the story will be told in August. We make soybeans in August," he said. "So I have a lot of optimism for soybeans. Even after a drought you can get some really nice beans in August."He said the story with soybeans this year is again the destructive soybean aphid. "It’s a big problem, but we know how to manage it," Vis said. He said this week and next, most soybean producers will spray their fields with pesticides, either by ground application or by air with crop dusting planes."It’s not just a Rock County problem," Vis said. "It’s a regional problem."

Preparing the next Guard care packagesThe next care packages for National Guard troops will be prepared on Saturday, Aug. 12.The packages will be assembled at the Luverne National Guard facility.According to Gina Newman from the Family Readiness Group, enough items were remaining from the previous month so that they didn’t have to ask for contributions for the July packages.The Family Readiness Group assembles 25 packages each month, enough for a third of the local area deployed National Guard soldiers.The goal is for each soldier to get a care package every third month.If you would like to donate, you can either give money or items from their requested list.The list includes:black ink pens, Pringles, Lays Stax, beef jerky, pizza crust mix, hard candy and gum, small bags of sunflower seeds, granola bars, freezer pops, Purell hand sanitizer in travel size bottles, Gold Bond powder, Baby Wipes, facial wash wipes, lip balm with sun screen, reading material, puzzle books, Ziploc bags in various sizes.Personal items are also appreciated, items such as personal letters from community members, pictures that your kids make or other things that might remind them of their community.Donated items can be dropped of anytime at the armory in either Luverne or Pipestone.In addition to the items for our soldiers, the Civil Affairs team is collecting school supplies for the Iraqi children.Requested items include backpacks, shoes, pencils colored pencils (but no crayons, because they melt) wire-bound notebooks, rulers, erasers and soccer balls.If you have any questions, you can contact Gina Newman at ginanewman@myclearwave.net.State Rep hopeful to visit LuverneMike McCarvel, the DFL nominee for District 22A, will be in Luverne at noon this Saturday in the city park.McCarvel, a resident of rural Brewster, is focusing on the revitalizing of education and working for affordable healthcare and insurance as his campaign themes.McCarvel has been involved in education for some time. He has served on the Brewster School Board for the past ten years and is also a member of the Minnesota State School Board Association.On the health front, McCarvel will strive for more affordable health insurance and healthcare, by working toward containing costs.McCarvel received a degree from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Animal Science and a B.A. in Agricultural Business Administration.He has been farming in the Brewster area since 1980.Currently, McCarvel serves as chairman of the Nobles County Corn and Soybean Growers Association.McCarvel and his wife, Bev, own and operate Curves for Women in several locations. The couple have three children.McCarvel will be taking on our current state representative, Doug Magnus. The Republican incumbent was first elected in 2002 and will be running for his third term in the house.Last call for Community EdThe 2006 fall schedule for Community Education is being compiled, and if you want to be a part of it, your time is running out.Anyone who wishes to take Community Ed classes between September and December needs to contact the Community Ed office by Monday, Aug. 7.For more information, call 283-4724.While you’re at it, they are also looking for some suggestions on which classes you would like to see offered in the near future.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Sacrifice of the KingdomGreat treasure demands great sacrifice, according to a pair of parables recorded in Matt. 13:44-46.In the first of these, Jesus says: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then, in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."Put yourself in that situation for a minute. You’re walking across a field — perhaps taking a shortcut home; perhaps just enjoying the sights and sounds of the season. Seeing something out of place, you stoop, brush away some dirt — and your eyes shine with the glint of gold! Ancient, buried treasure! But there’s a problem: you don’t own that field. We can understand the man’s solution. He sells everything to raise the money to purchase the field, understanding that the treasure this land conceals is worth far more than the sacrifice demanded by the purchase. That, said Jesus, is the Kingdom of Heaven. It demands everything — all that we have, all that we know, all that we love. For the sake of serving our Savior, we might be required to forsake father and mother, or perhaps to go without a husband or wife. It might demand that we turn our backs on lucrative job offers, live in modest houses, or settle in neighborhoods that make us less than comfortable. But for those who respond with a no-holds-barred faith, the reward is unimaginable. The God who made heaven and earth is the One who promises your reward — and His blessing is without limit! Then comes this second parable. Jesus says: "Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Pretty similar idea, isn’t it? The kingdom demands our all, but it promises an unimaginable treasure. Wrong. Read the parable again. The Kingdom of heaven is like — a pearl? No! The Kingdom of heaven is like the merchant. Jesus — the Master of the surprise ending — has turned the tables. The Kingdom of heaven itself is seeking treasure — and you are that treasure! You are the pearl! And having found that pearl of great price — having found those whom the Father chose from the start (Eph. 1:4) — the Kingdom of heaven went and sold everything in order to obtain it. In its desire for that great treasure, it was willing to sacrifice even the beloved Son (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10). In the person of the Son, it was willing to sell its claim to heaven’s glory (Php. 2:6-8). It sold everything — in order to redeem the members of the Kingdom of heaven. How much did God love His people? Enough to consider them a priceless pearl, worth the ultimate sacrifice. Now He asks us: how much does the Kingdom of heaven mean to you?

Last week was the annual Bremer family vacation. Tradition requires that Savanna and Glenda go on a kayaking adventure. Last year we were the lesser-known twin sisters of Neil and Lance Armstrong. This year it was an unbearably hot and humid summer day when Savanna and Glenda competed in the Daytona 500 (went kayaking). You may be unaware that Savanna and Glenda are the little known twin sisters of NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth, respectively. Savanna Kayne drove a hot pink vehicle with capricious black flames painted on her #9 car. Glenda Kenseth, older and more refined, drove her #17 car painted in a lovely shade of pastel pink with the somewhat unpredictable chartreuse flames. As it turns out, Kasey Kahne was injured in a previous race and had a broken arm. Matt Kenseth broke his nose and both drivers were stuck in the pit. Therefore Savanna and Glenda were racing in their places. Whoopi Goldberg dropped the green flag and they began the race neck and neck. Suddenly and without warning, a random flock of turkey buzzards descended on the track. Savanna braked to a screeching halt to avoid the beasts. Glenda screeched to a halt, too, but was less fortunate. A turkey buzzard pecked a hole in her tire. The caution flag came out and the girls headed to the pit stall to sip on Gatorade and have their nail polish touched up while repairs were made. The race resumed and the girls entered the Tunnel of Terror (viaduct between two lakes). Savanna smacked the wall as Glenda speeded forth toward the finish line. Suddenly and without warning, Jeff Gordon, that weasel, skidded out of control on an oil slick (floating weeds) and rammed Glenda’s car. In the meantime, Savanna Kahne forged ahead toward victory. Out of nowhere, Glenda Kenseth reappeared on the tail of Savanna and inched passed her. For reasons unknown, Glenda spun out of control and headed down the track in the wrong direction. Savanna called her on the NASCAR radio system and said, "Glenda, you dingbat, you’re going the wrong way." All of a sudden, a rogue turkey buzzard nicked the windshield of Kurt Busch. He was black-flagged for hurting a bird. A feather was sucked into Savanna’s carburetor and it blew unexpectedly. The engine exploded into a blaze of fire. Fortunately, her twin brother, Kasey Kahne, screamed onto the track in his red #9 car and dragged Savanna from the fiery inferno. She grabbed the paddle (I mean, steering wheel) as Kasey popped into the backseat. Glenda finally came to her senses and casually reversed direction, hoping that NASCAR fans hadn't noticed her driving indiscretion. She downshifted into warp drive (this is fiction) and caught up with Savanna, driving Kasey’s car. It was the battle of the ages as Glenda and Savanna vied for victory. At the final moment, the NASCAR announcer proclaimed, "Savanna Kahne takes the checkered flag." I might add that she crossed the finish line just two milliseconds ahead of Glenda Kenseth. At the finish line, both drivers returned the kayaks to the beach, carried the paddles to the cabin, and went shopping. While I was on vacation, many books by your favorite authors came in. Here are a few: "Judge & Jury" by James Patterson; "Crisis" by Robin Cook; "Power Broker" by Stephen Frey; "Dead Wrong" by J.A. Jance.

This appeared in the Rock County Herald May 9, 1930:LONG SERVICE STATION NOW BEING REMODELEDStructure is being relocated, super service plant installed and other improvements under way.Preliminary work toward the installation of a super service station is now well under way at the V.A. Long service station at the junction of trunk highways No. 9 and No. 6, in this city. This includes the re-location of the office building farther north on Kniss Avenue, the laying of concrete driveways, and the general improvement of the grounds.Besides moving the station back a little farther from the corner, there are several other alterations that must be made to permit widening the driveways. The confectionery stand that abuts on the sidewalk north of the station will be set in a few feet, and the greasing pit adjoining the north side of the station is to be filled in. Next to the cement driveway, which will clearly be a splendid asset to the station, the foremost improvement in the line of service facilities is a hydraulic hoist that Mr. Long intends to install on a platform directly northwest of the driveway and to the right of the station in its new location. This system of greasing has unquestionable advantages over the old methods because it is faster and cleaner. The new basement and foundation for the station were finished Saturday. Work on the driveway will be under way the fore part of next week, if weather conditions are suitable. Note: This is where the Dairy Queen is now.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

Sometimes the mundane can be exciting, especially when it’s someone else’s everyday life you’re seeing.A couple of books have gotten a lot of attention, and they are composed entirely of submitted bits of average people’s lives. One author, Sasha Cagen, is soliciting information for her new book to be published in the fall of 2007 by Simon & Schuster: "Your To-Do Lists."It will include the bits that make up our daily lives. People scan in their handwritten lists and those images will essentially be the book. I saw a preview of the book and somehow I can’t turn away.It includes everything from garden-variety daily to-do lists to lifelong goals, pros and cons lists, wish lists, work lists, honeymoon ideas, clichés to avoid, boys/girls you have kissed, vocab lists and movies to see. Some people made menus, lists of what they’d lost, what they love about someone and lists of resolutions.I laughed yesterday when I saw how my own list for the day looked: make Glen’s shopping list, try zucchini cake recipe, get latest law enforcement report for story, Habitat house picture?, from home — write column, write business story, check name spellings, write law enforcement story. … Not so interesting. If your lists are worth other people seeing, send your real, handwritten lists to: TO-DO LIST BOOK P.O. Box 40128 San Francisco, CA, 94140. The deadline is Sept. 15, but sooner is better. You should include your name, mail address, e-mail address, phone number, and a few lines about what was going on in your life when you wrote your list. You can also scan the lists and e-mail them to todolistblog@gmail.com.Another interesting book that came out last year wasn’t really written by the author either.It was a compilation of what Frank Warren received in the mail when he invited strangers to anonymously write their secrets on postcards and mail them to his Maryland home. He’s received more than 10,000 secrets from around the world, some of which appear in "PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives."Some examples: oI tell people I’m an atheist, but I believe I’m going to hell.oI’d rather get skin cancer than be pale.oI hate people with gross feet who wear open-toed shoes in public.oWhen I was a little boy I wanted to be Punky Brewster.Most of these postcards were hand-written or artistic to look at, good reading aside.I don’t know why these kinds of books are selling so well these days. Maybe it’s because they make for short, easy reads. Or maybe it’s because we like to peer into people’s lives and relate them to our own. Small things like lists and secrets can make us feel connected. These books remind me of how I may be driving or walking at night, and a home is lit up and the window shades aren’t closed. I can’t help but turn to see the décor, or who’s reading or watching TV or whether the man of the house is cooking or doing dishes. As ironic as it sounds, it’s the minutiae that can end up being meaningful and can make us all a little interesting.