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Close the gate

I am an impulse shopper. Not of usual things like candy or shoes but things like cars. Not sure how it happens, really. Or why it happens mostly when my other half is out of town on business, but in either case, it does occur. I’ll be just minding my own business and catch a "for sale" sign out of the corner of my eye and wham! One easy phone call to the banker and then comes the difficult task of calling Doug to say, "Guess what I bought today!" The poor man. I am afraid he might expire before his time with some of the shockers that I lay on him. If you see him in town, some sympathy might be in order if you can spare it. Thanks.That’s how I bought my motorcycle last spring. A friend’s husband is a mechanic at a bike shop down the street and needed a haircut for a funeral. (Did I ever tell you that I am a licensed cosmetologist?) At any rate, I said something about always wanting to get a motorcycle and he said they just took this sweet older one in on a trade and the next thing you know…It is an older model Suzuki in super shape with low miles. After I bought it, I immediately signed up for the safety council’s safe rider course to learn the ins and outs. I have limited motorcycle experience from my teens and have learned that you look at everything differently when you attain your forties. I wanted to ride unharmed and within the limits of the law, of course, with the proper license endorsement.The course was excellent and I learned a lot of great tips for safety. My favorite is to SEE. It stands for Search what is coming up, Evaluate what could happen and plan for what to do if it should, and Execute the plan if necessary. By the by, the answer to the question of what to do if you are cruising by and approached by a dog is not to throw your empty beverage can at him.I passed the course, got my license and rode very limited last year. Mostly just into Hills, around the streets and back home. Doug is a very experienced rider, also has a bike and we rode together a couple of times.This summer I have decided to be more adventurous and actually take my bike into the city. I decided the outskirts would be a great place to start and Memorial Day was the day. I would take it to Catfish Bay, where I have been involved with the shows for 14 years, for the first show of the season. Doug got my bike out, did the full inspection thing and I got ready to go. I loaded my little trunk with what I needed, put on my boots, my helmet, my full biker leathers and I was off. I may have been roasting, but I would arrive with my skin intact.I took the highway through Valley Springs and on to I-90 for the first time. Just my jittering nerves and me. I would like to relate what I learned on my first adventure onto the interstate system with my motorcycle.1. Contrary to popular belief and misinformed meteorologists, tornados are not caused by weather fronts but by gigantic 35-foot motor homes going 75 miles per hour and passing a 450cc Suzuki ridden by a frightened lady going about 60. 2. Road kill looks way different from the seat of a bike than the seat of a car.3. Road kill smells a lot different, too.4. The aroma of fresh-cut alfalfa from the cyclist’s perspective makes one want to pull over, get off the bike, lay on the first fluffy wind row you come to, inhale the sweet smell deeply and do nothing but watch the clouds go by.5. If you tell your husband that you are taking route A, you should not change your mind and take Route B without calling him because he just might have decided to try and follow you.6. If I’m taking my bike, I just might be late.7. You have to get off the cycle to close the gate.Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Nancy at Nancy861@msn.com or please call me at 962-3411.

Mortgage foreclosure sale set for June 15

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALETHE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage:DATE OF MORTGAGE: May 1, 2000MORTGAGORS: William H. Bullis and Terry R. Bullis, husband and wife. MORTGAGEE: Option One Mortgage Corporation.DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded May 12, 2000, Rock County Recorder, Document No. 147827.ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTAGE: Assigned to: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. its successors and assigns, a nominee for "First Union National Bank, as Trustee of the Amortizing Residential Collateral Trust, 2000-BC3," without Recourse, Dated: June 22, 2001, Recorded: July 24, 2001, Document No. 150527.LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:The North Seventy-Six (N 76) feet of Lot Fourteen (14) in Auditor’s Plat No. 3, Subdivision of Outlot Seventeen (17) in County Auditor’s Plat of Luverne Outlots in Section Ten (10), Township One Hundred Two (102) North of Range Forty-Five (45) West of the 5th P.M.COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: RockORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $43,190.00AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $43,226.35That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows:DATE AND TIME OF SALE: June 15, 2006, at 10:00 A.M.PLACE OF SALE: Sheriff’s Office, West Entrance, Law Enforcement Center, 213 East Luverne Street, Luverne, MN to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. MORTGAGOR(S) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE: None"THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED."Dated: April 19, 2006.Mortgage Electronic RegistrationSystems, Inc. Mortgagee/Assignee of MortgageeUSSET & WEINGARDEN P.L.L.P.BY: /S/ PAUL A. WEINGARDENPAUL A. WEINGARDENAttorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee4500 Park Glen Road #120Minneapolis, MN 55416(952) 925-688840-15940002868594THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.(4-27, 5-4, 5-11, 5-18, 5-25, 6-1)

Did you hear?

A date for ‘The War’Ben Vander Kooi sent out an e-mail last week to fellow BMAT board members to let them know he had received a phone call from the New York firm handling the publicity for the Ken Burns PBS television miniseries which was filmed in Luverne last summer.The coordinator making the arrangement requested we reserve the Palace Theatre for the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, for the Midwest premier of the film.That was good news, but the best news was yet to come.Not only is Ken Burns himself planning on attending the showing, his fellow co-producer, Tom Hanks, would like to attend also.The multi-academy-award winner and most recently the star of "The Da Vinci Code," along with his co-producing role in "The War," will also be the voice of Al Macintosh, former publisher of the Rock County Star Herald, whose columns about the war are used in the film.To refresh your memory, Luverne is one of four cities and small towns highlighted in the film. The other three are Sacramento, Calif., Waterbury, Conn., and Mobile, Ala.Final plans come together for Relay for LifeThe 2006 Relay for Life will take place in the Luverne City Park on June 16. The event will again host 19 teams, the same number as last year.According to Glenda Schomacker, a couple of teams that had been around for a few years dropped out this year, but there was an equal number of new teams that want to start a tradition.One thing they are still looking for is some entertainment. If you would like to lend your particular talents to the evening, contact either Glenda Schomacker or Vivian Holst.This is the sixth year for the annual event.Last year the organization raised more than $77,000.LHS seniors share plans for futureFor Luverne grads who shared their future plans, SDSU seems to be the most popular choice for post-secondary education.Eleven members of the LHS class of ’06 plan to attend the Brookings school.According to the most recent issue of the Luverne High School newspaper, The Echo, other popular choices include Southeast Tech with seven, North Dakota State University with six, SMSU (Marshall) at four and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus with four.Other schools with one or two students attending include Augustana, Bemidji State University, Bethel, College of Saint Catherine, Concordia Moorhead, Concordia (Seward, Neb.), Knox College, Le Cordon Bleu, Minnesota West Pipestone, Minnesota West Worthington, Northwestern, North Hennepin Community College, Presentation College, Ridgewater Tech, School of Mines and Technology, St. Cloud State, St. Mary’s (Winona), St. Olaf, Stewart’s and University of Sioux Falls.One plans to attend a University in Mexico, two are undecided, three plan military options and one plans to go straight into the work force.Of the 85 LHS graduates, 65 responded to the survey.

Buffalo Days set for this weekend

The Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce announces its 22nd annual Buffalo Days celebration schedule for June 2-3-4, 2006. Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, with the Cruise-In for antique and classic cars at Downtown Main Street in Luverne. Also at 7:15 p.m. Friday will be a 5K-10K run and a half-mile run (12 and under) at 7 p.m., sponsored by Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. for these events at the Rock County Community Pool. Saturday events include a Belgian waffle feed sponsored by the Southwest Minnesota Chapter of the Red Cross from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in downtown Luverne. The Buffalo Days parade will be at 10 a.m. on Main Street. The annual Arts in the Park will begin at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Luverne City Park with more than 100 vendor spaces. There is also a variety of food booths and entertainment throughout the day. The world famous Buffalo Chip throwing contest will begin at 2 p.m. and the Auto Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday highlights include free Buffalo burgers at Blue Mounds State Park in celebration of their annual open house. Serving begins at 11:30 a.m. and continues until the burgers are gone. For more information on any of these events, contact the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce toll-free at 1-888-283-4061 or check the Web site luvernemn.com

June 8 meeting to show survey results on 'social capital'

The University of Minnesota Extension Service and the Southwestern Meth Task Force will sponsor public meetings to provide results of a social capital pilot study in Rock, Pipestone and Nobles counties.The meetings will be in Luverne on June 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rock County Library, in Pipestone on June 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pipestone High School Commons and in Worthington on June 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Worthington Middle School Commons.The survey was completed by 960 community members from these three counties. The results are in and everyone is welcome to attend the public meeting. Results of the survey reflect perceived norms, trust, and networking potential. The information that was gathered can lead to new strategies to help communities prevent and educate youth and adults on the issues of methamphetamine and other drugs.While the survey was sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension Service and the Southwestern Meth Task Force, the results show broad trends in community networks, safety, inclusion and exclusion, bridging and bonding, and trust. The information is applicable to a variety of sectors and will help residents think more intentionally about how to build links and strengthen communities.

Power outage scheduled for Tuesday

By Lori EhdeResidents in the northwest part of Luverne have been notified about a planned power outage that could put them in the dark for half a day or more.According to Rick Hoftiezer, line maintenance foreman for Missouri River Energy Services, an outage is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, that could last up to 8 hours."I don’t believe it will take eight hours," Hoftiezer said, "but if I don’t say eight hours and it takes that long, my name is mud."The outage will affect neighborhoods north of Luverne High School on the west side of Highway 75 to the western and northern city limits.About 100 homes in the area will be affected, and Hoftiezer said each one will receive a notice hung on the door alerting them of the outage."I know there are some people up there with water issues who have sump pumps running continuously, so they’ll have to make some arrangements," Hoftiezer said.Classes in Luverne dismiss today for summer, but administrative offices of the school district will still be affected by the outage.There are two churches in the affected area, First Presbyterian Church and the American Reformed Church, but they won’t be affected, Hoftiezer said.The outage is planned in order for the electric department to upgrade equipment and cable."This is the price of progress," Hoftiezer said about the inconvenience of the outage. "This will bring us one step closer to a cleaner, more reliable system."

Luverne to get vets memorial

By Sara QuamLuverne will finally have what many have said is missing — a veterans memorial. A father and son pair have spearheaded the project. Warren Herreid, a decorated veteran who’s been active in the community, noted that a memorial would be appropriate for veterans of all branches of service from Rock County. His son, Warren Herreid II, and his wife, Jeannine Rivet, have committed themselves financially to getting the monument in Luverne.Rock County Commissioners have already given tentative approval for a memorial on the courthouse lawn near the cannon. Herreid II found a bench with a life-size bronze soldier statue that he hopes the county will decide is appropriate as a memorial. Another part of the memorial includes listing names of Rock County veterans.Herreid II and his wife also started a foundation, K.A.H.R., which will collect money for maintenance and care, and things such as flowers, to add to and retain the beauty of the memorial. Details on how to donate to that foundation will be released later.Herreid II spoke at a Tuesday program in the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne, as a part of the Memorial Day celebration. He recalled a childhood in Luverne. "Almost all of my parent’s friends had some connection to the military, mainly the National Guard: Dale Earl, Marty Kvaas, George Carsrud, Carl Heiden, Dale Opsata, Ted Anderson, Arvid Erickson, to name a few," Herreid II said."I grew up hearing stories about HHC and H Company, 205th Infantry, and how times were tough and everyone wanted to join the National Guard."National Guard members earned $1 per drill then, and children as young as 14 would lie about their age to enlist.Herreid II said, "At one time the Army had to declare amnesty to allow everyone to put their correct ages in the official records."Herreid II remembers his dad being activated for the Korean War in 1951 and how he waved to his dad as he left a train for Camp Rucker, Ala., where the family later joined him.Herreid II remembers Memorial Day being close to the end of school, when the public pool opened, the roller rink tent was set up and opened, the popcorn and peanut wagon was next to the Luverne Style Shop, and that he would play Army wearing old helmet liners and soft caps that fathers brought home from the war.Some of Herreid II’s friends back then were Dave and Mike Smith, his cousins Gary and Charlie Herreid and Alex Frick.He remembers the week of Memorial Day being similar to what it is today: veterans sold crepe paper or cardboard poppies to honor the veterans who had died during the wars."It was important to have one of each poppy and to pay for it ourselves out of our allowance," Herreid II said.He hopes people learn the history and purpose of Memorial Day, and not treat it just like another long weekend. Herreid II said, "At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen have been increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are still towns that hold Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, many have not done so in decades. Some think the day is for honoring any and all dead, not just those who have fallen in service to our country."Herreid II said he has plenty of hope for the future veterans."Two weeks ago," he said, "I had the pleasure of attending two ceremonies at Fort Benning, Ga. I am very pleased to tell you that our country’s new soldiers are the best trained, most highly motivated, smartest, most physically fit and patriotic young people I have ever seen. They are there because they want to be and there to be the best that they can be. And I am here to tell you they are good."Other people who contributed to the program include Gaylord Keck, Chaplain David Jahn, the Honor Guard, Ray Lens, Pam Barrows, Colby Anderson and Dan Nelson.Hardwick effort Along with Luverne’s memorial, other area towns have notable monuments to veterans. Ron Hansen is one veteran who is starting an effort to get a memorial in Hardwick. He said Magnolia, Jasper and Edgerton have done nice memorials and he hopes Hardwick can have one of its own. People interested in having their name on the memorial in Hardwick are asked to donate $50, but no one will be refused. Wes Pierson, Lowell Ahrendt, Bob Heitman, and Hansen are accepting the donations. The Hardwick Legion is meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, to decide where the memorial should be placed.

H-BC-E-E pushes 21 athletes into section meet

By John RittenhouseA total of 21 Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton athletes extended their seasons during the Sub-Section 10 Track and Field Championships Thursday in Pipestone.Five H-BC-E-E boys advanced to today’s Section 3A meet in Pipestone after locking up three automatic berths in the section field by placing third or better in individual events and relays.Another seven Patriots advance to section competition by earning at-large berths in the section field.Four at-large berths (in every event) in the section are awarded to athletes based on their performances compared with the athletes from the other three sub-sections that comprise Section 3A.One H-BC-E-E girl locked up an automatic berth in the section field during Thursday’s meet. Another eight Patriots advance to the section meet by locking up at-large berths.The H-BC-E-E boys, who placed fifth in team competition with 85 points, received one sub-section title from Kevin Vander Schaff. Vander Schaff won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.58.Vander Schaff also ran legs with H-BC-E-E’s 400- and 800-meter relays, which secured automatic berths into section competition by placing second with respective 45.83 and 1:35.6 times.Cody Rozeboom, Casey Van Midden Dorp and Kerry Fink round out the 400-meter squad. Pavel Matejski, Rozeboom and Fink joined Vander Schaff in the 800.Van Midden Dorp (second in the long jump with a distance of 19-2 3/4) and Fink (third in the 400 in 53.66) also locked up automatic berths in section competition for the Patriot boys.The Patriots earned at-large berths to the section meet in six events.John Sandbulte (fourth in the triple jump with a distance of 37-4 1/2 and fourth in the 300 hurdles in 44.51), Dustin Verhey (fifth in the 3,200 in 10:56.66) and Tyler Paulsen (fifth in the 1,600 in 4:57.82) qualified individually.The 3,200- and 1,600-meter relays advance after placing fourth and sixth with respective 9:04.46 and 3:40.23 times.Rozeboom, Cody Schilling, Matejski and Sandbulte ran the 1,600. Sandbulte, Halden Van Wyhe, Brent Kramer and Paulsen teamed up in the 3,200.Mya Mann picked up the lone automatic berth into the section field for the Patriot girls, who finished seventh in team competition with 55.5 points.Mann won the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.96.The Patriot girls earned at-large berths into the section field in seven events.Mann (fourth in the 800 in 2:27.81), Heather Karner (fifth in the 800 in 2:36.07), Rayna Sandoval (fifth in the 3,200 in 12:57.94) and Rosie Lewis (fifth in the shot put at 33-4 1/4) advance individually.The Patriots also earned at-large berths in the 800-meter relay (fifth in 1:56.46), 1,600-meter relay (fifth in 4:20.55) and 3,200-meter relay (sixth in 10:24.16).Santana Wysong, Amanda Connors, Ashley Bucher and Lewis ran the 800. Jocelyn and Ashley Bucher, Connors and Mann teamed up in the 1,600. Amanda Tilstra, the Buchers and Sandoval formed the 3,200-meter squad.Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of H-BC-E-E’s point-earning efforts during Thursday’s meet.Boys’ standings: Southwest Christian 122, Luverne 120, Murray County Central 117, Fulda, 113, H-BC-E-E 85, Adrian 68, Pipestone 66.Girls’ standings: Pipestone 191, Luverne 126, SWC 100, MCC 80, Adrian 74. Fulda 65.5, H-BC-E-E 55.5H-BC-E-E boysFifth place: Schilling, high jump, 5-4.Sixth place: Roger DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 18.72; Van Wyhe, high jump, 5-2.Seventh place: Van Midden Dorp, 100, 12.21; Matejski, 200, 24.2; Adam Finke, pole vault, 8-6; Schilling, triple jump, 36-8 1/2.Eighth place: Peter Luchtenburg, 110 hurdles, 19.4; DeBoer, long jump, 17-0; Terrence Reid, triple jump, 36-0 3/4.H-BC-E-E girlsFourth place: Lewis, discus, 95-7.Fifth place: Heather Esselink, 400, 1:06.93.Sixth place: 400 relay (Wysong, Whitney Wilgenburg, Connors and Lewis), 55.43.Seventh place: Kari Roozenboom, 100 hurdles, 18.6; Wysong, high jump, 4-4.Eighth place: J.Bucher, 300 hurdles, 54.99; Connors, triple jump, 30-3 3/4.

Memorial to honor veterans will be built

By Sara QuamLuverne will finally have what many have said is missing — a veterans memorial. A father and son pair have spearheaded the project. Warren Herreid, a decorated veteran who’s been active in the community, noted that a memorial would be appropriate for veterans of all branches of service from Rock County. His son, Warren Herreid II, and his wife, Jeannine Rivet, have committed themselves financially to getting the monument in Luverne.Rock County Commissioners have already given tentative approval for a memorial on the courthouse lawn near the cannon. Herreid II found a bench with a life-size bronze soldier statue that he hopes the county will decide is appropriate as a memorial. Another part of the memorial includes listing names of Rock County veterans.Herreid II and his wife also started a foundation, K.A.H.R., which will collect money for maintenance and care, and things such as flowers, to add to and retain the beauty of the memorial. Details on how to donate to that foundation will be released later.Herreid II spoke at a Tuesday program in the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne, as a part of the Memorial Day celebration. He recalled a childhood in Luverne. "Almost all of my parent’s friends had some connection to the military, mainly the National Guard: Dale Earl, Marty Kvaas, George Carsrud, Carl Heiden, Dale Opsata, Ted Anderson, Arvid Erickson, to name a few," Herreid II said."I grew up hearing stories about HHC and H Company, 205th Infantry, and how times were tough and everyone wanted to join the National Guard."National Guard members earned $1 per drill then, and children as young as 14 would lie about their age to enlist.Herreid II said, "At one time the Army had to declare amnesty to allow everyone to put their correct ages in the official records."Herreid II remembers his dad being activated for the Korean War in 1951 and how he waved to his dad as he left a train for Camp Rucker, Ala., where the family later joined him.Herreid II remembers Memorial Day being close to the end of school, when the public pool opened, the roller rink tent was set up and opened, the popcorn and peanut wagon was next to the Luverne Style Shop, and that he would play Army wearing old helmet liners and soft caps that fathers brought home from the war.Some of Herreid II’s friends back then were Dave and Mike Smith, his cousins Gary and Charlie Herreid and Alex Frick.He remembers the week of Memorial Day being similar to what it is today: veterans sold crepe paper or cardboard poppies to honor the veterans who had died during the wars."It was important to have one of each poppy and to pay for it ourselves out of our allowance," Herreid II said.He hopes people learn the history and purpose of Memorial Day, and not treat it just like another long weekend. Herreid II said, "At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen have been increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are still towns that hold Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, many have not done so in decades. Some think the day is for honoring any and all dead, not just those who have fallen in service to our country."Herreid II said he has plenty of hope for the future veterans."Two weeks ago," he said, "I had the pleasure of attending two ceremonies at Fort Benning, Ga. I am very pleased to tell you that our country’s new soldiers are the best trained, most highly motivated, smartest, most physically fit and patriotic young people I have ever seen. They are there because they want to be and there to be the best that they can be. And I am here to tell you they are good."Other people who contributed to the program include Gaylord Keck, Chaplain David Jahn, the Honor Guard, Ray Lens, Pam Barrows, Colby Anderson and Dan Nelson.Hardwick effort Along with Luverne’s memorial, other area towns have notable monuments to veterans. Ron Hansen is one veteran who is starting an effort to get a memorial in Hardwick. He said Magnolia, Jasper and Edgerton have done nice memorials and he hopes Hardwick can have one of its own. People interested in having their name on the memorial in Hardwick are asked to donate $50, but no one will be refused. Wes Pierson, Lowell Ahrendt, Bob Heitman, and Hansen are accepting the donations. The Hardwick Legion is meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, to decide where the memorial should be placed.

Veterans and residents celebrate Memorial Day

By Lexi MooreMembers of the Hills American Legion Post No. 399 honored fallen veterans Monday with a Memorial Day program. Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Flint presented the address.Flint is a maintenance technician with the South Dakota National Guard. In January 2004 he was activated with the 1st Battalion 147th Field Artillery to Iraq. He ran the maintenance program from the fall of 2003 to the spring of 2005.His battalion’s duties included convoy security, destruction of captured enemy ammunition and civil support.His team would prepare convoys carrying 40 to 50 loads of gasoline, food and equipment for travel between Kuwait and Baghdad. Each convoy would be escorted by at least seven armored tanks.He oversaw operations at four different sites in Iraq. Each site had its own self-contained service shops."It was kinda like a big huge truck stop," Flint said. "We had hard floors, it was like any other shop — all greasy, we just loved it."During his 14-month stay in Iraq he estimates that he traveled nearly 2.5 million miles with the convoys.His battalion was broken into three groups, one dedicated to convoy security, the third worked on destroying ammunition dumps. (WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND?)"There is ammo stored everywhere in Iraq," Flint said. "Old Saddam must have been the paranoid sort, he had ammo for weapons he didn’t even have."The group would gather the ammunition in 500-ton piles and destroy it.Flint said many of the sites would have 500 to 600 bunkers, each being about the size of the legion hall.He said the most rewarding part of his mission was the civil support the battalion gave to the communities. The built and rebuilt schools and markets would provide temporary security in towns.Servicemen BoardAt the ceremony, Robert Sandbulte, Steen, announced that the post office had assembled a bulletin board with photos and names of local servicemen and women. He encouraged visitors to remember these young men and women in their prayers and thoughts.He also asked that families in the service who are not represented on the board contact him about being added.

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