I grew up in town. There is no denying it and it shows. Things are different there. Not better, not worse, just different. We had the biggest yard in the neighborhood, where kids gathered for all sorts of games. There was a huge tree at one end and my dad’s garden at the other. Beside the garage there was a side yard. Near the back door stretched a clothesline, which my mother used religiously (not by choice) because there was no dryer. The only fence in the yard was a rectangular piece about eight feet long on which a grape vine grew. (My dad and grandpa made wine one year, but that is another story.) There were no gates or barriers in our yard and we lived across the street from an entire empty block in West Sioux that we referred to as the vacant lot.I have an older brother and a younger sister, and we played outside in the fresh air and sunshine. We had a great stay-at-home mom, who was full of creative ideas to keep us busy. My mind is full of brilliant childhood memories of catching butterflies, drowning gophers out of their holes, hide and seek, kick the can, snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights and fun in the sun. Despite the lack of barriers in my youth, one lesson that I have learned in life is to "close the gate" behind me.While growing up, my siblings and I would say good-bye and announce where we were going. It came to be expected that my dad would come back with "don’t let the door hit you on the way out." It was always said jokingly, with love, and it became a sort of family ritual. While in my thirties I converted it to "close the gate behind you" and gave it a deeper meaning. Maybe my dad had a deeper meaning in mind, but I don’t think so.Closing the gate is a way of life. There are many different meanings to this very simple phrase. I run a small daycare where closing the gate on the basement stairs and across the driveway to the backyard is a matter of safety. It is a coveted privilege and honor reserved for big kids on rare occasion to go beyond the gate and into the front. When moving livestock on a farm (I’ve heard tell), gate closing is not esteemed or fun and sometimes involves a whole lot of waiting and absolutely no excitement. But it is vitally important work. Ask any farmer who has ever had the pasture gate left open by careless hunters, and they will tell you in great length and with much arm waving and gestures of its importance. But figuratively speaking, closing the gate is about tying up loose ends. It is about putting the past behind you. It is about making amends to repair or restore a damaged relationship. It is about making apologies when they are due. It is about owning up and going beyond. It is about forgiving and forgetting."Closing the gate" is a way of life that I have tried to embrace and practice on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. I try every day to do it with humor and grace, but it is difficult. Home alone and on my way to work at 6:30 one morning, I came out of the back door of the house, put my old dog in the car, went back in for something and came out again. The house yard was fenced with chain link and there was a gate two steps down from the walk. I had not shut the yard gate while going back to the house because I was coming right back. To make a long story short, I fell and hit the right side of my face on the gatepost and hinges. I knocked myself senseless and nearly put out my right eye. I broke bones in my face that bother me to this day. Surgery was available that may or may not have helped, and I decided the risks outweighed the potential benefits and opted out. It was a senseless accident that may or may not have happened if I had taken the 10 seconds necessary to shut that gate.That accident happened three years ago last August. Because I cannot take much jarring and cold and wind bother my face immensely, I have been banished to the shores of Catfish Bay when I used to live on the water. I run around outside on a cold or windy day with these huge snow ski goggles on, and it is not because I have been skiing. Wearing my full-face motorcycle helmet while riding is not a choice for me but a necessity. A lot has changed since my fall. The fence and gate were eventually removed but the lesson remains. This is not a "woe is me" tale. It is an example of life — how we need to expect the unexpected and use the tools that the good Lord has given us to move beyond the past and put things behind us once and for all. How many open gates are there in your life? Forgive, love, laugh, live and "close the gate behind you." Story ideas and comments can be e-mailed to at Nancy861@msn.com or called in at 962-3411.

This past week Steen residents braced themselves for the first 2006 blizzard. Warnings flashed across the bottoms of our televisions screens, weather radios beeped and the snow which was to be so deep ended up being just a little powder under our feet. But what was to follow did give some dismay as a Canadian clipper kept us at bay, with temperatures reading almost minus twenty, which isn’t really funny there was nothing to do but snuggle with your honey. This past Saturday Brad and Linda Bosch in a very last minute move to avoid colder weather decided to go on a vacation to much warmer weather. They headed south down Mexico way to catch some much needed rays. Also on R&R this week is the Alan Baker family. They left for Florida last Wednesday morning.In hospital news this week Don Bonnema, long-time resident of Steen, underwent surgery last Monday at the Vets Hospital in Sioux Falls to remove a spot from his lung. He hopes to return home sometime this week.In Steen news Kevin Van Batavia, son of Mel and Minnie Van Batavia, received a high-ranking honor this past week as Jr. Sailor of the Year. Kevin is serving as an aviation technician for fighter squadron VFA 106 and is currently stationed out of the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was awarded this honor while on sea duty on the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman. This week is National FFA Week, and our local schools are celebrating those who are involved in our rural farming industries. Many Steen students are involved with FFA and do many services for those in this area. Thank you to our FFA members and to their supporting business. In church news the Steen Reformed RCYF youth will be taking twelve members to Lincoln, Nebraska, this weekend for Dare 2 Share. This is a national outreach program that teaches and challenges young people to share their faith with family and community. Starting Sunday, Feb. 26, the Steen Reformed Church will begin a six-week church-wide experience titled "Come Thirsty." This is a very exciting event where the church breaks into small groups and meets every Sunday night to explore spiritual thirst and how to drink from the living water. If you are interested in joining a small group or attending these special worship services, please contact the Steen Reformed Church at 507-855-2336. All are welcome.In closing, I leave you this final thought titled "Family Ties." "Family ties are precious things, woven through the year. Of memories and togetherness, of laughter, love and tears. Family ties are treasured things, and far though we may roam, the tender bonds with those we love still pull our hearts toward home." –(author unknown)If you have any news you would like placed in the Steen news, please contact Brian at 855-2232 or at knowgrowshow@hotmail.com. Blessings!

By Lori EhdeLuverne School District will see more than $90,000 of new computer equipment and software in the coming months, courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.Luverne typically budgets $40,000 annually for its technology hardware and upgrades."Yes, this is a good thing for Luverne," said district finance officer Marlene Mann. She presented details to Luverne School Board members at their Thursday, Feb. 9, meeting.The money is from a settlement of a class-action lawsuit in which Minnesota customers and businesses claimed Microsoft Corp. was violating anti-trust laws by overcharging for its Windows operating system and its Excel and Word programs.The company had denied overcharging, saying the prices on its products had dropped.The vouchers will automatically go to districts which will be able to shop from a list of 1,500 hardware and software products – not all of them Microsoft. Districts have until 2012 to use up the vouchers, but Mann said Luverne’s technology department won’t waste time shopping."We’ve learned that money that’s here today might not be here tomorrow, so we’ll spend it quickly," she said.Many of Luverne’s planned purchases include items that will improve the long-term technology of the district.For example, several hardware upgrades are planned to network servers and switches that serve multiple labs."They’re the sorts of things that will make life better here, but you may not notice them on the outset," Mann said.In addition to district-wide upgrades in general purpose equipment and curriculum software, other purchases include printers, projectors, six or eight additional computers in the Mac lab, a 15-unit mobile lab for the elementary and technology training.The exact amount Luverne will receive is $90,141.36.Of that, $46,181 will be used in the elementary school, $23,211 will be spent on the middle school, $20,507 will go toward high school technology improvements and $225 in the alternative school.The amounts awarded to each building were determined in the settlement and must be spent half on hardware and half on software.Luverne’s vouchers are among $55 million that will be available to districts statewide, based on the percentage of students enrolled in state free and reduced meals.Roughly $430,000 worth of vouchers will be spent by schools in southwest Minnesota. It breaks down as follows:Luverne, $90,141.33Pipestone, $99,831.53Adrian, $54,084.80Ellsworth, $15,549.38Edgerton, $24,338.16H-BC, $23, 662.10Ruthton, $18,929.68Brewster, $15,324.03Fulda, $37,408.65Murray Co., $51,380.56The money is part of a $182 million settlement that made vouchers available to residents and businesses that purchased certain products from Microsoft.Half the value of the unclaimed vouchers was made available to the Minnesota Department of Education after the public deadline to claim them had passed.Tobacco settlementMicrosoft isn’t the only one giving money to Luverne schools.Mann told School Board members Thursday that nearly $11,000 was paid to the district as part of its share of a tobacco settlement dating back to 1998.However, it’s unclear how the money will be spent.Those eligible to receive the money include anyone on the district’s Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan between 1978 and 2001. That includes about 100 Luverne School District employees on the health plan during that time, and the district itself, which paid a portion of the premiums.Mann said she’s meeting with the insurance committee and representatives from the district bargaining units to agree on appropriate use of the funds.Many districts are opting to put the money toward general health or wellness programs.To disperse the money fairly would require administrative costs – particularly in locating eligible employees who are no longer with the schools today.Many districts are finding that individual awards wouldn’t amount to much, but pooling the money for the health of the district would benefit a broader good and would better fit the initial intent of the lawsuit.Blue Cross was the first health plan in the nation to sue the tobacco industry, to hold the industry accountable for its actions and to prevent a new generation of smokers in Minnesota.The industry settled the lawsuit in 1998, agreeing to pay Blue Cross $469 million in damages and to change the way cigarettes are marketed in Minnesota.Blue Cross remains the only health plan to have recovered damages.In other business:
The district will receive bids on the track resurfacing project at 1 p.m. on March 9. The estimated $200,000 project will be budgeted for next year, since the work won’t be completed until after July 1.
The board approved a $5 fee increase for driver’s education, bringing the cost to $245. The increase will cover about $1,000 in new textbooks and salary increases for licensed teachers (about 50 cents more per hour).
The board accepted the resignation of Michelle Schrantz as middle school softball coach and hired Lucinda Rofshus for the job.
The board accepted the resignation of choral director Beth Behal, who has been on an extended leave of absence. She has started a restaurant, Camille’s, in Sioux Falls and has chosen to stay with the business.The board praised her work with the choral department and also commended her replacement, Kyle Eastman, for continuing the excellence over the past two years.
The board approved a request by athletic director Todd Oye to make it the district’s policy to cover the cost of head coaches joining the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association.It will cost the district $450 this year, but it ensures that all students who qualify for athletic and academic recognition (such as Academic All-Star, for example) properly receive that recognition.
The next board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23.

By Sara QuamThe Luverne City Council dealt with new energy conservation measures at its Tuesday meeting.The city is starting a new program to give rebates to large energy users as an incentive for higher efficiency.Gold’n Plump, for example, reduced its number of compressors because of increased efficiency in the chicken processing plant and is saving 70 kilowatts per month.The city is actually required by the state to spend 1.5 percent of utility revenues on customers who make conservation improvements.That amounts to about $65,000 a year.City Administrator John Call said, "The main focus is conservation and in the long-run the environment."The city has already had programs available for residential customers, such as load management, rebates for energy efficient appliances and the Marathon water heater program.The City Council also passed a resolution for an efficient lighting program for Luverne churches.The program will allow staff to work with churches to improve electrical efficiency through lighting upgrades.Borrow $1.5 millionThe city went through the preliminary process of issuing bonds of up to $1.5 million to go toward the addition and renovation of the Luverne Fire Hall and improvements to the former hospital building for Minnesota West Community and Technical College to start a campus there.It is estimated the fire hall will cost about $1 million.The final amount borrowed through bonds depends on the cost of the projects, which is unknown at this time.The council had a public hearing on issuing bonds and received no comment.In other city business, the council:oAmended the city’s personnel policy to allow job-sharing. This has become more common in the private sector for a few years. Job-sharing allows more than one employee to work in one position and receive some benefits. It won’t cost the city more than one person doing the same job.This was brought about after Economic Development Director Jill Wolf expressed an interest.Administrator Call said it can be a positive change to reduce turnover and absenteeism and in general make the EDA office more flexible.oApproved a conditional use permit for Glen’s Food and Gas to have 24-hour pumps, operable by credit card after store hours.oDeclared some city property surplus, to be sold on the open market. Among the items are a 1957 Red Seagrave ladder truck, 34 sets of self-contained breathing apparatuses, EZ Linere walk behind paint sprayer, Westinghouse steam turbine, 300 Westinghouse generator, Kewanee boiler, bench grinder, press drill, lathe, states table, meter test bench, LeMax cherry picker, Hiduty reciprocating saw (non-working), 150 amp welder, two air compressors, a non-insulated 11- by-12-foot overhead door, an insulated 16-by-10-foot overhead door with rails and opener and various piping, valves, pumps, motors.

By Sara QuamThe Tuesday Luverne City Council agenda included the conditional use permit for Dingmann Funeral Home to relocate to Fledgling Field.City Administrator John Call’s memo to the Council even recommended its approval.But City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi recommended the council table the issue for another meeting. Council members voted to do that.Owner Dan Dingmann said, "I thought it was going to be a unanimous vote in favor of the permit."Vander Kooi said the 2003 memorandum of understanding should be formally resolved first. That memorandum had the city and Dingmann working together to put Dingmann in the former medical center building.Dingmann said he feels stuck in this process again."They’re holding my feet to the fire. I was told the memorandum of understanding wasn’t legally binding, so why do I have to sign off on it before they give me the permit?"Vander Kooi said the memorandum has enough teeth to scare off others interested in the clinic.Vander Kooi said, "We have significant possibilities that are being held up because this memorandum is out there. … We are negotiating to release the memorandum so the city can pursue those possibilities." Dingmann said he is reluctant to give up all his rights to explore remodeling the clinic because if his Fledgling Field construction permit is denied, he will be left with no options."It’s the same old thing," Dingmann said.Dingmann first started the process of trying to construct on Fledgling Field in 2000.Planning Commission recommends approvalThe Planning Commission also met Monday to formally approve the findings of fact and recommend conditions to attach to the construction project. Planning Commission member Mike Reker voted against them.Those conditions include the following:oThe use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of the other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted, nor substantially diminish and impair property values within the immediate vicinity;oThe use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding vacant property for uses predominant in the area;
Adequate utilities, access roads, drainage and other necessary facilities will be provided;
Adequate measures have been or will be taken to prevent or control odors, and that lighting will be controlled in such a manner that no disturbance to neighboring properties will result.The findings of facts that the Planning Commission approved include the following:
The City Land Use Plan recognizes that the area of Fledgling Field is zoned "Downtown," which is of a mixed use nature.
The Comprehensive Plan states that efforts to redevelop should focus on "sustaining and enhancing the residential quality." The submitted funeral home plan appears to maintain a residential look and character making it compatible with the residences in the neighborhood.
The city staff will have final approval of the exterior design for its appropriateness in fitting the residential area.
North Kniss Avenue has a mixed use character with a funeral home, several churches and a convenience store. The Comprehensive Plan states, "it does not seek to change the land use pattern along North Kniss." Another funeral home, with a residential quality, would then appear to be compatible and consistent with other current uses.
The property will have some green space and landscaping features, with additional tree planting, again approved by staff.
Vehicles will exit on Brown and Luverne Streets as the Comprehensive Plan advises, with no access to Kniss Avenue. Parking and building drainage will require approval in the building permit process.
There is no record of any complaints involving the existing Hartquist Funeral Home on North Kniss or the existing Dingmann Funeral Home on Main Street from any of the neighboring residential property owners, or any evidence that the presence of a funeral home has decreased property values.
The exterior lighting will be required to be such that it doesn’t impact the neighboring property owners, similar to lighting at the elementary school parking lot.
The property will have a privacy fence, hedges or a combination on the east side, which abuts residential back yards.
The funeral home will not have a crematorium.

By Lori EhdeIf saying it with flowers is the best way to express affection, local florists have plenty to say on Valentine’s Day.Next to Mother’s Day week, which coincides with spring garden work, Valentine’s Day is the busiest time of year in the floral business.It is the busiest single day of business in the entire year, and experience and good planning play a big role in how smoothly the pickups and deliveries are handled.George Bonnema of Luverne Flowers is the most experienced florist in Rock County and said he still doesn’t have an exact count of orders."You just hope you’re fairly close, since you’re dealing with a perishable product," Bonnema said."Nothing went out over the weekend, but it all happened yesterday and today," Bonnema said Tuesday.Much of the business is pre-arranged by his customers who have learned to be organized, but he’s still prepared for the last-minute shoppers."We have three people on the phones and two on the floor," Bonnema said, in addition to his delivery staff.Julie Hamann of Prairie Smoke Floral agreed that Valentine’s Day is her busiest day of the year, as well, prompting her to work Sunday and extended hours Monday."Our cooler is full," she said Monday, "but we usually empty it.Hamann, who is in her fourth year of business on East Main Street, Luverne, said she tries to accommodate last-minute shoppers."Men are big procrastinators," she said. "So we know to be prepared for whatever."Red roses are the most popular Valentine’s Day gift, but local florists say they get to vary their arrangements with some creativity.At Glen’s Food Center Floral Department, floral manager Tammy Putnam said her customers order candy bouquets, balloon bouquets, giant 36-inch Mylar heart balloons, blooming plants and a variety of arrangements accented by stuffed animals."We’re having more fun with stuffed animals," Putnam said. "We have the cutest little frogs, monkeys and bumblebees …"But the ones having the most fun are the floral delivery people, who become instantly popular wherever their deliveries end up."We actually make a lot of people very happy," said Gladys Blom, who delivers flowers with her husband, Alvin Blom, for Glen’s."People say things like, ‘Oh, look at those pretty roses,’ or ‘Do you have any of those with my name on them?’ This morning we delivered to a woman who was so surprised she just screamed."The Bloms have been delivering flowers for Glen’s for three years. "We enjoy this very much," she said. "It’s fun to see the smiles on people’s faces. They’re always so happy to see us."Bonnema said his customers have come to rely on Luverne Flowers for quality roses. "I’ve heard of people buying roses at Wal-Mart for $8.88 a dozen, but you get what you pay for," he said."Growers start packing roses into coolers ahead of time and call them ‘fresh-picked,’ even though they’re four to six weeks old by the time they’re sold."Bonnema said he’s dealt with the same grower and supplier for years, and his customers can be sure their bouquets will last for weeks.At the end of the day, with only a few lonely roses left in the cooler, florists are left to contemplate the romance in their own Valentine’s Day."Corrine and I just look at each other and say, ‘Whew! We made it,’" Bonnema said.And no. They don’t send each other roses.

10 years ago (1996)
Loren Forrest and family members who own land west of the school district’s property proposed to sell 70 acres to the district.
The Luverne School District is busing students who are open enrolled to Luverne. It is estimated 123 attend school here from other districts.
The Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek gymnastics team established a school record while scoring 120.95 team points during a home duel with Martin County West Friday.25 years ago (1981)
Two people from Luverne were in the Las Vegas Hilton when it caught fire last week. Howard and Lois Fitzer were on the 11th floor of the hotel, in which eight people died.
Hills-Beaver Creek basketball coach Hugo Goehle coached his 400th victory game.
Temperatures reached the mid-60s this week.50 years ago (1956)
Thieves entered the offices of the Northern States Poultry Service and rifled the cash register of approximately $118 Sunday.
Al Bot has announced that he purchased Treat’s Drug Store and the name will now be known as Bot Drug.
Palace Theatre, Luverne, was one of the few select Upper Midwest theatres chosen for the premier showing of the new motion picture, "The Last Hunt."Filmed in the Black Hills and Bad Lands of South Dakota, the movie depicts the days of the thundering herds of buffalo and the men who hunted them.75 years ago (1931)
Dogs attacked and killed four White Saanen milking goats at the W.H. Winkler farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Jake Schoon returned Tuesday from a week’s absence, during which they attended the national automobile show at Chicago, and then went to Toledo, Ohio, and purchased a new Willy’s Eight DeLuxe Sedan.100 years ago (1906)
The 25th anniversary of the Christian Endeavor Society was observed with appropriate services at the Presbyterian church Sunday evening.
Evidence of the interest which the farmers of Rock County are taking in the sheep industry was shown at F.W. Jones’ auction sale, when a drove of high grade Shropshire sheep brought an average price of over $10 per head.