The Luverne Redbirds wrapped up a 12-16 amateur baseball season Wednesday, July 23, in Wilmont.
Taking on the Wilmont Cardinals for an elimination game in the Gopher League Playoffs, the Redbirds got off to a good start by opening a 5-1 advantage four and one-half innings into the contest.
The rest of the contest belonged to Wilmont as the Cardinals scored 14 runs in the fifth through seventh innings to secure a 15-7 victory.
Luverne plated single runs in each of the first five innings to gain a four-run advantage.
J.T. Bruynes walked and scored on a ground out by Andrew DeBoer to open the scoring in the top of the first, but Wilmont knotted the score at one in the bottom half of the frame.
Luverne proceeded to build a 5-1 cushion by scoring one run in the second, third, and fifth frames.
Micah Boomgaarden doubled and scored in the second when Jared Pick singled, and Zach Olson singled and scored on two throwing errors in the third to make it a 3-1 game.
Boomgaarden singled and scored his second run of the game in the fourth after Bruynes singled. Reed Van Hulzen belted a solo homer in the fifth to give Luverne a 5-1 advantage.
Wilmont moved in front of the Redbirds by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth and four in the sixth to gain an 11-5 lead.
Olson reached base on an error before scoring on a double off the bat of Van Hulzen to make the difference 11-6 in the top of the seventh, but Wilmont scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to open a 15-6 cushion.
Luverne scored its final run in the top of the ninth, when Fisher singled and scored on a ground out by DeBoer.
Pick tossed the first five innings for Luverne and took the loss after surrendering seven runs.
Box score AB R H BI
Pick 5 0 1 1
Bruynes 4 1 1 1
Olson 4 2 1 1
Fisher 5 1 3 0
DeBoer 5 0 1 2
Van Hulzen 5 1 2 2
Domagala 3 0 0 0
Skattum 4 0 0 0
Boomgaarden 3 2 2 0
Cote 0 0 0 0

By John RittenhouseThe team that won the regular season title of the Luverne Community Education Minor League summer recreation program came out on top again during the postseason tournament last week.First Farmers & Merchants Bank solidified its position as the league’s top team by winning the tournament championship Thursday night.First Farmers & Merchants Bank, which was coached by Mike Schacht and Tim Mulder, won both of its games in the six-team tournament.The tournament opened with two games Tuesday, July 25.Total Card Inc., the third-seeded team, advanced to the semifinals with a victory over Papik Motors. Minnwest Bank moved into the semifinals with a win over Hardwick State Bank in a battle of the fourth- and fifth-seeded teams.Thursday’s semifinals featured First Farmers & Merchants Bank defeating Minnwest Bank, and Continental Western Group topping Total Card Inc., setting up a showdown between the tournament’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the title tilt.In a very competitive game, First Farmers & Merchants Bank pulled out a 26-24 win over Continental Western Group to capture the championship.

By John RittenhouseLewis Family Drug proved to be the cream of the crop during the 2006 Luverne Community Education Major League baseball season.After winning the regular season title with a 4-1-3 record, LFD solidified the fact it earned the No. 1 seed for the postseason tournament by winning the event with two straight victories last week.The tournament opened Wednesday, July 19, when Gold’n Plump and AgriEnergy squared off in a game pitting the field’s fourth and fifth seeds against each other.With Gold’n Plump winning the opener, it earned the right to face LFD during the semifinals on Monday, July 24.Mother Nature made an impact during both semifinal games.After LFD took a 5-0 lead two innings into the game, GP scored three runs in the top of the third to make it a two-run difference.GP seemed to be energized when outfielder Steven Verhey robbed LFD’s Brady Dinger of a home run in the bottom of the third, but GP never received the opportunity to use the momentum. With a threatening cloud spitting out lightning to the west, officials stopped play and ruled LFD to be the winners as three innings were complete.The same weather influenced a semifinal game between second-seeded KQAD and third-seeded McClure Electric.With the score knotted at four after three innings of play, the teams were asked to complete the game on Wednesday, July 26.KQAD outscored ME 4-1 over the final three innings to win 8-5 and advance to the championship game later that night.With Dinger driving in five runs and pitching three innings of one unearned run ball and Nick Rittenhouse tossing three innings of shutout ball and chasing home three runs, LFD controlled the championship game.The champions opened a 6-0 lead early and scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to clinch an 11-1 victory.

By John RittenhouseThe grandstand lineup for the 2006 Rock County Fair includes two nights sporting activities.The fair’s first Ranch Rodeo is set for Friday night. Saturday night features the annual Bio Fuels Enduro Race.The Ranch Rodeo, sponsored by the Rock River Wranglers, will make its fair debut at 6 p.m. tomorrow.Those who love horses and like to watch local riders compete in some unique events will not want to miss this show."It’s a good event for the entire family to watch," said Marty Bonnett, one of the event organizers."The whole family can sit down and watch a Ranch Rodeo pretty easily. It can turn into a pretty comical event. We’re working with horses, so you can expect to see some entertaining things, including some of the riders rolling in the dirt."Bonnett and the Rock River Wranglers introduced Rock County to Ranch Rodeo competition last summer when they staged an event in Luverne Aug. 20 to raise funds for the fairgrounds.Bonnett said Friday’s event, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m., is similar to last year’s attraction."We’ll have 25 four-person teams competing in four different events. Two of the events were a part of our Ranch Rodeo last year, and the other two are slightly modified events that should be more entertaining for the crowd," Bonnett said.The four different events making up Friday’s show will be Trailer Loading, Doctoring, Add’em Up and Pinning.All 25 teams will participate in the four events, competing for event prizes and the overall championship during the evening.Bonnett said having local talent competing in the Ranch Rodeo should generate more interest to the public."I would say over one-half of the teams competing will be local teams, including one 4-H team. A lot of the riders, including myself, jump from team to team during a rodeo."The Enduro Race long has been one of the fair’s top attractions and should be again on Saturday.The 2006 version of the event, which is sponsored by the Rock County Corn and Soybean Association and Agri-Energy, LLC, is set to begin at 7 p.m.As usual, the Enduro Race is a 200-lap or a two-hour event, whichever comes first.A majority of the field consists of local drivers."As of Sunday, we have 40 cars entered," said Burdette Braun, one of the event organizers."I’m hoping to get 50 cars on the track Saturday night. We’ve had 60 or more cars the last couple of years."Braun said 16 of the 40 cars entered in the race on Sunday were from Luverne. The field also has drawn 12 drivers from the Adrian, Rushmore, Hardwick and Kenneth areas.Perry Schneekloth, the 2005 champion, will return to defend his title. Tracy’s Mike Bents and Luverne’s Ryan Walker, who placed second and third respectively at the race last year, will be some of the drivers trying to knock off Schneekloth.Tom Walker, who won the Pre-Fair Enduro Race three weeks ago, will not race on Saturday night.In order to make the race safer for the drivers, Braun said each car is required to have a fuel cell and racing seat installed this year.Those requirements are not expected to influence an event that has been a fan favorite for fairgoers in the past."We could use a little rain on the track prior to Saturday’s race so we don’t have to dump so much on it on Saturday," Braun said. "Other than that, I’m hoping to get 50 cars on the track and another big crowd into the grandstands on Saturday."

By John RittenhouseLuverne’s quest to advance to the Minnesota State VFW Baseball Tournament came to an end during the Third District event played in Marshall over the weekend.Luverne, the Southern Division champion, was pushed into the loser’s bracket of the four-team, double-elimination event with a 10-run loss to Marshall Blue in Saturday’s opener.The Cardinals defeated Pipestone by six runs in an elimination game played Saturday evening, but another loss to Marshall Blue on Sunday ended Luverne’s state hopes.Luverne ends the summer season with a 22-11 record.MB 8, Luverne 3The Cardinals couldn’t dig themselves out of an early hole when they met Marshall Blue during an elimination game Sunday morning.Marshall scored six runs in the first four innings (three in the top of the second, one in the third and two in the fourth) to gain a commanding lead.Luverne did trim Marshall’s lead in half (6-3) with a three-run uprising in the bottom of the fourth, but that proved to be as close as the Cards would come to catching Blue as Marshall capped the scoring with a two-run sixth inning.Jeremy Hoff doubled home one run and Phil Paquette singled home another during Luverne’s three-run rally in the fourth.Another run in the rally scored with the help of Marshall error.Paquette worked the first three innings on the mound and took the loss after surrendering six runs. Hoff tossed four innings of two-run relief.Box score AB R H BIHoff 4 1 2 1D.Van Santen 4 0 0 0Paquette 4 0 3 1Dinger 3 0 1 0Connell 1 0 0 0Olson 4 0 0 0Skattum 3 0 1 0Ossefoort 3 0 0 0Den Hoed 2 1 0 0Hemme 1 0 0 0Clark 3 0 2 0Luverne 10, Pipestone 4The Cardinals remained alive in District competition after handing Pipestone a six-run setback Saturday evening.After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning, Luverne rallied to gain a 5-3 advantage by scoring twice in the bottom of the first before adding single runs in the second, third and fourth innings.Pipestone scored once in the top of the fifth before the Cards iced the contest with a five-run rally in the bottom of the fifth.Brent Dinger came up with a big hit for the Cards in the bottom of the first when he delivered a two-run double to trim Pipestone’s early lead down to one run at 3-2.Derek Van Santen tied the game at three with a run-scoring single in the second before Chris Den Hoed gave the Cards a 4-3 edge with a sacrifice fly in the third.Hoff singled home a run to make it a 5-3 game in the fourth before Pipestone countered with one run in the fifth to make it a 5-4 difference.Two-run doubles by Paquette and Zach Olson and a run-scoring single by Van Santen settled the issue for Luverne in the bottom of the fifth.Olson tossed all seven innings to pick up the win. He surrendered five hits and fanned four batters in the game.Box score AB R H BIHoff 3 1 1 1D.Van Santen 4 2 3 2Paquette 4 1 1 2Olson 4 2 3 2Dinger 3 0 1 2Skattum 2 0 0 0Den Hoed 4 1 0 1Graphenteen 3 0 2 0Clark 0 3 0 0MB 11, Luverne 1The Cardinals couldn’t overcome a lack of offensive production during Saturday’s tournament opener against Marshall.Luverne was limited to two hits and one run during a game that ended in five innings due to the 10-run rule.Hoff singled in the first inning and Van Santen singled in the third for the Cards.The teams played to a scoreless draw through two innings before Blue scored three runs in the top of the third and eight runs in the fourth to gain a commanding 11-0 lead.Paquette drew a walk and pinch-runner Phil Altman scored on a wild pitch to make it an 11-1 game in the bottom of the fourth.Marshall, however, blanked Luverne in the fifth to end any chance of a late-game rally.After tossing two scoreless innings, Dinger was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs in a three-plus inning stint as Luverne’s starting pitcher.Adam Ossefoort was touched for five runs in a one and one-third inning relief appearance. Hoff recorded the final two outs without being charged with a run.Box score AB R H BIHoff 3 0 1 0Den Hoed 3 0 0 0Paquette 2 1 0 0Dinger 2 0 0 0Olson 2 0 0 0Skattum 2 0 0 0Ossefoort 2 0 0 0D.Van Santen 2 0 1 0Clark 2 0 0 0

Law Library 9:00 A.M.Rock County Courthouse July 11, 2006Chair Wildung called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve the July 11, 2006, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, to approve the June 20, 2006, County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to approve consent agenda items #1 & #2, with item #3 being pulled from the consent agenda, declared carried on a voice vote. 1. FSA Contracts with Habilitative Services Inc. to provide Home & Community based services to eligible individuals, funded through Medical Assistance. Contract effective 06/01/06 – 06/30/07 is #129-1689-06. Contracts effective 07/01/06 – 06/30/07 are: #120-1689-06, #122-1689-06, #124-1689-06, #125-1689-06, #128-1689-06, #129-1689-06, #132-1689-06, #133-1689-06, #135-1689-06, #139-1689-06.2. FSA Contract 140-651-06 with Children’s Home Society to provide residential treatment services to eligible children; effective 07-01-06 – 06/30/07.Resolution No. 13-06, a JOBZ resolution transferring 1.94 acres to Lot 4, Block 2, Industrial Park I Addition was approved on a motion by Hoime, seconded by Jarchow, and declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was informed that on 07 August 2006 there will be a Reintegration Ceremony involving guard soldiers in Worthington.The County Board was in receipt of a Green Earth Players thank you. The County Board reviewed the following bids to install fiber between the new Law Enforcement Center and the Courthouse: SDN $60,154.10; Dell Com, Inc $77,066.78; Chris Riley Utilities, Inc. $72,725.00. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Jarchow, to accept the SDN bid of $60,154.10 and recognized that the bid was in excess of $50,000, however the budgeted amount was $35,000 and with the receipt of Federal Financial Participation and state cost sharing over a 5-year period, the net cost to the county should be around $3,692.46. Motion was declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the purchase of a new data server with media licensing for $5,780.66 from Morris Electronics, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Hoime, to authorize an advisory sign for walleye fishing at Schoeneman Park, declared carried on a voice vote.Plum Creek Library funding was discussed and directed a joint meeting be held with the city, the Library Board and the Director of Plum Creek to discuss the issues. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims with additions and per diems of $1,215.00; motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve the claims and per diems, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of the claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. General Revenue $ 36,738.09Family Services $ 71,517.54Road & Bridge $ 39,510.15Capital Projects $198,412.86Land Management $ 2,665.08Rural Water $ 8,372.75TOTAL $357,216.47Fund balances were approved on a motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, and declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to authorize a one-day liquor license for an event sponsored by the Area Community Foundation and to waive the liquor license fee, declared carried on a voice vote. The Auditor/Treasurer discussed the Integrated Financial Systems (IFS) platform Independent project re-write. The project would include moving the data base to a JAVA language that would enable both AS/400 and PC/Network hosted architecture. Price of the re-write is $17,600 and will take three years to re-write the program with the cost split between Family Service Agency and the General Fund and will also be paid over three years. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize the re-write expenditure, declared carried on a voice vote. Randy Ehlers, Family Services Agency Director, and Don Johnson, Southwest Youth Services Director, presented a program update of the Southwest Youth Services (Magnolia).FSA Staff Nancy Lange, Kelly Bloodgood, Stacy Schepel, Randy Ehlers, Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels, Assistant County Attorneys Jeff Haubrich and Mike Schnieder presented a mock out-of-home-placement scenario, explaining the process and all of the agencies and individuals involved in the placement of a child. The County Board thanked the individuals for their time and preparation for the presentation.Sheriff Mike Winkels requested approval to purchase a radio communications tower from Raycom; motion by Bakken, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize the purchase declared carried on a voice vote. The Sheriff requested approval to declare confiscated vehicles as surplus along with confiscated bicycles and requested approval to be sold on an auction this fall; motion by Boyenga, seconded by Hoime, to declare the confiscated items as surplus and sell, declared carried on a voice vote. Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, informed the County Board that Mr. Don Fiegen submitted a $50,000 bond on behalf of Judicial Ditch No. 3 and has requested continued work on Judicial Ditch No. 3. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to hire Steven J. Penkava, PE of Jones, Haugh & Smith Inc. Consulting Engineers for the preparation of the Preliminary Survey and Report on Rock County Judicial Ditch No. 2 at an estimated cost of $20,000.00. Additional bonding would be submitted by members of the Judicial Ditch No. 2 in the amount of $13,000.00 by September 1, 2006, declared carried on a voice vote.Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented the bids for bridge project SP 67-599-133 in Martin Township:Duininck Brothers $279,582.00Structural Specialties $326,326.15Graves Construction $348,817.00M-K Bridge Construction $306,832.00Minnowa Construction, Inc $314,605.00On a recommendation by the Engineer, motion by Bakken, seconded by Boyenga, to award the bid to Duininck Brothers for $279,582.00, declared carried on a voice vote.Resolution No. 11-06, which was adopted at the June 20, 2006, County Board meeting, was discussed, as the legal description documented on the resolution was incorrect; motion by Bakken, seconded by Jarchow, to approve Resolution No. 11-06 as amended to reflect the correct legal description, declared carried on a voice vote. Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director, presented a conditional use permit for the expansion/operation of an existing livestock feeding facility to over 1000 animal units located in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 34 of Martin Township; motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, to approve the conditional use permit, declared carried on a voice vote.Also presented (2) conditional use permits for the operation of an existing livestock feeding facility over 1000 animal units with the first being located in the SE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 11 of Springwater Township and second being located in the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 16 of Springwater Township. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, to approve both conditional use permits, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was in receipt of a letter from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, referencing Knutson Feedlot stating that the feedlot is in a 30-day review for the environmental impact. Commissioner Hoime stated that he had attended an Environmental Task Force meeting.The County Board was also informed that the Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc would be conducting an Economic Classes workshop on August 21, 2006, 8:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. at the Minnesota West Worthington Campus.With no further business to come before the board, meeting was declared adjourned. Jane Wildung, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(8-3)

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORSBridge No. 67J85 and Bridge No. 67J86 / SAP 67-598-13 (Clinton Twp.)Bridge No. 67J81 / SAP 67-599-71 (Clinton Twp.)Bridge No. 67J82 / SAP 67-599-142 (Clinton Twp.)Bridge No. 67J83 / SAP 67-599-143 (Vienna Twp.)Bridge No. 67J84 / SAP 67-599-144 (Springwater Twp.)Sealed proposals will be received by the Rock County Highway Department at Luverne, Minnesota, until 10:00 A.M. on Monday, August 21, 2006. READ CAREFULLY THE PROVISION FOR THE WAGE RATES AS CONTAINED IN THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS, AS THEY WILL AFFECT THIS PROJECT.Attention is called to the fact that the Contractor must comply with the Special Equal Employment Opportunity Provisions as contained in the Proposal.Proposals will be opened and read publicly in the presence of the Rock County Highway Engineer at the Rock County Highway Building located at 1120 North Blue Mound Avenue in Luverne, Minnesota, immediately following the hour set for receiving bids for the following Rock County Highway work. Bids will be awarded on Tuesday, August 22, 2006, at the regular Board of Commissioners Meeting held in the Law Library at the Rock County Courthouse. Bridge 67J85 and 67J86 SAP 67-598-13 The major quantities of work are: 14,925 Cu. Yds. of Common Excavation; 1250 Cu. Yds. of Aggregate Surfacing / Class 5; 250 Lin. Ft. of 12’x7’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 4 – 12’x7’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections Type I; 6 – 12’x7’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections Type III; 1,709 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 264 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 200 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding; 176 Lin. Ft. of 18" Corrugated Steel Pipe Culvert; 10 – 18" Galvanized Steel Pipe Aprons; 101 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Bridge 67J81 SAP 67-599-71 The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 70 Lin. Ft. of 14’x5’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 4 – 14’x5’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections Type III; 600 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 110 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 82 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding; 88 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Bridge 67J82 SAP 67-599-142 The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 102 Lin. Ft. of 12’x6’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 6 – 12’x6’ of Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 496 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 114 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 86 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding; 40 Lin. Ft. of 15" Corrugated Steel Pipe Culvert; 2 – 15" Galvanized Steel Pipe Aprons; 50 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Bridge 67J83 SAP 67-599-143 The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 102 Lin. Ft. of 12’x8’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 6 – 12’x8’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 610 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 114 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 86 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding; 64 Lin. Ft. of 15" Corrugated Steel Pipe Culvert; 4 – 15" Galvanized Steel Pipe Aprons; 56 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Bridge 67J84 SAP 67-599-144 The major quantities of work are: 1 Lump Sum Approach Grading; 68 Lin. Ft. of 10’x5’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert; 4 – 10’x5’ Precast Concrete Box Culvert End Sections; 375 Cu. Yds. of Granular Backfill; 60 Cu. Yds. of Granular Bedding; 44 Cu. Yds. of Rock Bedding; 30 Lin. Ft. of 15" Corrugated Steel Pipe Culvert; 36 Lin. Ft. of 36" Corrugated Steel Pipe Culvert; 2 – 15" Galvanized Steel Pipe Aprons; 2 – 36" Galvanized Steel Pipe Aprons; 47 Cu. Yds. of Random Riprap, Class II.Plans, specifications and proposals may be examined and obtained at the office of the Rock County Highway Engineer, 1120 North Blue Mound Avenue, P.O. Box 808, Luverne, MN 56156-0808.The non-refundable cost for Plans and one proposal will be $40.00.Bids must be accompanied by a certified check or corporate surety bond drawn in favor of the Rock County Treasurer in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the proposal. Sealed bids shall be clearly marked "PROJECT NO. SAP 67-598-13."The Board of Rock County Commissioners reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any defects therein.Rock County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.Mark R. Sehr, P.E.Rock County Highway Engineer(7-27, 8-3, 8-10)

Midwest Wireless proposes to construct a 195-foot tall self-support communications tower with an adjacent equipment shelter in the Interstate 90 (north side of road) and County Road 6 (west side of road) area of Right-of-way east of Beaver Creek, MN 56116, in Rock County. If you are concerned about the effect this tower may have on Historic Properties, please write to: Mel Stafford, Trileaf Corp., 616 Billy Sunday Road, Suite 100, Ames, IA, 50010, 515-233-4282. Please include the Tower Location and the location of the historic resource that you believe might be affected.(7-20. 7-27, 8-3)

Midwest Wireless proposes to construct a 195-foot tall self-support communications tower with an adjacent equipment shelter in the Interstate 90 (north side of road) and County Road 6 (west side of road) area of Right-of-way east of Beaver Creek, MN 56116, in Rock County. If you are concerned about the effect this tower may have on Historic Properties, please write to: Mel Stafford, Trileaf Corp., 616 Billy Sunday Road, Suite 100, Ames, IA, 50010, 515-233-4282. Please include the Tower Location and the location of the historic resource that you believe might be affected.(7-20. 7-27, 8-3)