By John RittenhouseThe Luverne VFW baseball team locked up the No. 2 seed for the District 3 Southern Division Playoffs by sweeping a double-header from Fulda at home Thursday.Luverne bested Fulda by 10 runs in a six-inning game to start the set. The Cardinals coasted to a 19-run, four-inning win in the finale.The Cardinals end the regular season with a 25-6 record. Luverne opens the postseason with a home game tonight against Marshall Orange or Slayton.Luverne 12, Fulda 2The Cardinals put together a pair of big innings to best the Raiders in Game 1.Luverne opened the scoring with a five-run second inning and ended the game by scoring six times in the sixth to win by the 10-run rule.The Cards scored four runs on wild pitches and received an RBI double from Tyler Reisch during the five-run second.Jake Clark slapped a two-run single, Tanner Skattum singled home one run and Caleb Bruynes and Chris Den Hoed drew bases-loaded walks to highlight the six-run sixth.Fulda trimmed Luverne’s lead to three runs (5-2) with single runs in the third and fifth frames.A sacrifice fly by Den Hoed in the bottom of the fifth made it a 6-2 game before the Cards settled the issue in the sixth.Andrew DeBoer tossed four innings of one-run ball to pick up the win. Adam Ossefoort pitched two innings of one-run relief.Box score AB R HClark 2 1 1Boomgaarden 2 1 0Reisch 3 0 1Arndt 0 1 0DeBoer 4 0 0Olson 4 3 2Hoff 3 1 0Bruynes 1 2 1Den Hoed 2 1 0Skattum 2 2 1Luverne 19, Fulda 0The Cardinals completed their sweep of the Raiders with a 19-run victory in the finale.After the teams played to a scoreless draw through two innings, Luverne exploded for 12 runs in the top of the third inning before adding seven more in the fourth.Jacob Arndt tripled and Clark and Ossefoort contributed one double each to Luverne’s 12-run rally in the third.Tyler Reisch and Jeremy Hoff registered inside the park home runs during Luverne’s seven-run fourth inning.Bruynes tossed all four innings to get the win. He fanned nine batters, walked two and surrendered one hit during his shutout.Box score AB R HClark 2 1 1Hoff 2 2 1Boomgaarden 3 1 1Den Hoed 1 1 0Reisch 1 3 1Arndt 4 3 2DeBoer 3 1 2Olson 3 1 2Richters 4 1 1Skattum 2 2 0Ossefoort 4 0 3

By John RittenhousePlaying in familiar surroundings didn’t provide an advantage to the Luverne American Legion baseball team late last week.Luverne, the host of the Sub-District Playoffs, dropped a pair of games at Redbird Field to bow out of the double-elimination event.Adrian, which placed third at tournament’s end, topped the Cardinals 7-4 Friday. Edgerton handed Luverne a 2-0 setback in an elimination game played Saturday morning.Tournament champion Pipestone, second-place Okabena and Adrian will represent the Sub-District and the Second District Division 2 American Legion Baseball Tournament that will be played in Pipestone the next two weekends.Luverne ends the year with a 10-9 record.Edgerton 2, Luverne 0The Cardinals were unable to generate any offense during Saturday’s elimination game at Redbird Field.Edgerton blanked Luverne through seven innings, limiting the Cardinals to three hits in the contest.Luverne’s Brett Lundgren and Craig Oeding singled and advanced to second base in the third and sixth innings respectively. Both runners were stranded on second.Nathan Boler singled and gained third base in the fifth inning but was was unable to reach home plate.J.T. Bruynes pitched a complete game during the losing effort.Bruynes, who yielded single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, tossed seven innings of four-hit, four-walk, five-strikeout ball.Box score AB R H BIPick 2 0 0 0Bruynes 3 0 0 0Oeding 3 0 1 0Wysong 3 0 0 0Nath 3 0 0 0Schepel 3 0 0 0Petersen 3 0 0 0Boler 3 0 1 0Lundgren 3 0 1 0Adrian 7, Luverne 5The Cardinals opened the playoffs by dropping a two-run decision to Adrian at Redbird Field Friday.Adrian snapped a scoreless draw by scoring six runs in the top half of the third inning and never lost control of the contest.Adrian’s second-inning rally featured a two-run double from Will Lutmer, who went the distance on the hill to pick up the win.Luverne did outscore the Dragons 5-1 after the top of the second, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Cards from losing their first game in the double-elimination event.The Cards plated their first run in the bottom of the third when Boler reached base after being hit by a pitch. Boler scored when Jared Pick doubled.Adrian plated a single run in the top of the sixth to make it a 7-1 game before Luverne capped the scoring by producing one run in the bottom of the sixth and three counters in the seventh.Pick walked and scored in the sixth when Oeding singled.Ben Nath singled and Boler walked to give the Cards life in the seventh. Seth Goembel doubled home two runs, and Pick chased Goembel home with a double before Adrian recorded the final out of the game.Lutmer limited Luverne to six hits during his complete game on the mound. Cody Kontz led Adrian at the plate with two hits.Pick surrendered six runs, two hits and four walks during a two and one-third inning stint as Luverne’s starting pitcher. He took the loss. Boler worked the final four and two-third innings. He allowed one run, three hits and two walks.Box score AB R H BIPick 3 1 1 1Bruynes 4 0 0 0Oeding 3 0 1 1Wysong 3 0 0 0Lundgren 3 0 0 0Schepel 1 0 0 0Nath 2 1 1 0Boler 2 2 1 0Goembel 3 1 1 2Petersen 3 0 1 1

By John RittenhouseFour drivers from the Star Herald coverage area posted feature wins at local speedways on Friday and Saturday nights.Adrian drivers Mark DeBoer and Daniel DeBeer picked up wins at Rapid Speedway Friday, and former Luverne resident Mike Steensma won a feature event at Murray County Speedway the same night.Brett DeJager, another former Luverne resident, secured a feature championship at Nobles County Speedway Sunday.The Adrian drivers stole the show during Friday’s races at Rapid Speedway.After winning the first heat race in the street stock class, DeBoer took the lead three laps into the A feature and went on to win his second feature event of the season.DeBeer had a good night in the factory stock division, placing second in the first heat and winning the A feature at Rapid Speedway.Steensma took top honors in the modified feature in Slayton Friday.DeJager won the modified feature in Worthington Sunday.Here is a look at the rest of the results from area tracks over the weekend.Huset’s SpeedwayBrandon, S.D.Sunday’s resultsStreet stock: Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids, second in first heat and sixth in A feature; Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, fourth in first heat and 17th in A feature; Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, fifth in third heat and ninth in A feature.Hobby stock: Greg Brandt, Luverne, fifth in second heat and eighth in A feature.Rapid SpeedwayRock Rapids, IowaFriday’s resultsStreet stock: DeBoer, first in first heat and first in A feature; Scott Overgaard, Luverne, second in first heat and second in A feature; Korthals, fourth in first heat and ninth in A feature; C.Deutsch, fourth in first heat and ninth in A feature; Brad Klaassen, Adrian, fifth in first heat and fourth in A feature.Sportsmen: Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, second in first heat and third in A feature.Hobby stock: Nick Van Belle, Luverne, third in second heat and seventh in A feature; Amanda Deutsch, Kanaranzi, fifth in second heat and 12th in A feature.Factory stock: DeBeer, second in first heat and seventh in A feature; Adam Jenniges, Ellsworth, third in first heat and third in A feature.Jackson SpeedwayJacksonNationals’ resultsHobby stock: Ellsworth’s Mike Deutsch placed sixth in Thursday’s A feature and sixth in Saturday’s A feature.Lake County SpeedwayMadison, S.D.Saturday’s resultsStreet stock: Akkerman, fifth in first heat and 10th in A feature; C.Deutsch, first in second heat and third in A feature; S.Overgaard, third in second heat and eighth in A feature.Sportsmen: Roemen, second in first heat and third in A feature.Hobby stock: Brandt, fourth in second heat and seventh in A feature.Murray County SpeedwaySlaytonFriday’s resultsModified: Steensma, first in A feature; DeJager, fourth in A feature.Nobles County SpeedwayWorthingtonSunday’s resultsHornets: Jeremy Roelfs, Adrian, fifth in B feature.Sportsmen: Cliff Lynn, Adrian, fourth in A feature.Modified: DeJager, first in A feature; Steensma, second in A feature.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds finished the regular season with a 10-11 record after dropping two of three games in the final week of the campaign.Luverne rolled to a nine-run win in Worthington Wednesday, July 13 before dropping four- and one-run decisions in Hadley and Wilmont Friday and Sunday respectively.The Redbirds opened the Gopher League playoffs with a home game against Worthington last night (July 20). A win would send Luverne to Hadley Friday. A loss would set up a Sunday game at a site to be determined.Wilmont 4, Luverne 3The Cardinals pushed a pair of runs across the plate in the bottom half of the 11th inning to nip the Redbirds in Wilmont Sunday.Luverne led 3-2 when Mike Wenninger reached base on an error and scored on an error in the top of the 11th. Wilmont answered with the game-winning rally in the bottom of the frame.The Redbirds led 2-0 when Zach Wysong walked and Mike Boen reached base on a fielder’s choice in the third. Both runners scored on an error.Wilmont tied the game with single runs in the sixth and seventh inning.Mike Miller took the loss after yielding a pair of runs without retiring a batter in the 11th. Mike Wenninger pitched five scoreless innings of eight-strikeout ball as the starter. Adam Kurtz yielded two runs while pitching three and two-thirds innings of relief. Jake Studer worked a scoreless inning and one-third.Box score AB R H BIStuder 4 0 0 0Wysong 3 1 1 0Boen 5 1 0 0Wenninger 5 0 0 0Jr.Pick 0 1 0 0Miller 4 0 2 0Sandbulte 5 0 0 0Fisher 5 0 1 0Kurtz 5 0 0 0Fodness 4 0 0 0Hadley 4, Luverne 0The Redbirds were unable to produce a run during Friday’s game in Hadley.The Buttermakers limited Luverne to six hits in the contest, with two coming from Tony Sandbulte.Hadley scored two runs in the first and sixth innings to win the game.Jesse Kuhlman pitched seven and one-third innings of four-run ball to take the loss. Kyle Kreun blanked Hadley in the final inning and two-thirds.Box score AB R H BIBoen 3 0 1 0Jo.Pick 4 0 1 0Miller 4 0 1 0Kurtz 3 0 0 0Gacke 1 0 0 0Fisher 4 0 0 0Sandbulte 3 0 2 0Shelton 4 0 1 0Reisch 3 0 0 0Kreun 3 0 0 0Luverne 15, Worthington 6Wenninger and James Fisher drove in three runs each to lead the Redbirds to a nine-run victory in Worthington June 13.Wenninger belted a two-run homer in the top of the first to open the scoring. He drew a bases-loaded walk to ignite a four-run rally in the fifth that snapped a deadlock at two.Fisher contributed a sacrifice fly to the fifth-inning surge, which included an RBI single from Sandbulte and a bases-loaded walk from Rob Fodness.Worthington trimmed the difference to two runs (6-4) in the bottom of the fifth, but Luverne iced the game by scoring six times in the eighth before adding three more in the ninth.Fisher slapped a two-run single to lead the way in the eighth. Wysong, Miller and Sandbulte added RBI singles to the rally. Barry Shelton drew a bases-loaded walk.Kuhlman picked up an RBI with a fielder’s choice and Kurtz recorded a sacrifice fly during the ninth inning.Kruen tossed the first five innings to earn the win. Fodness pitched three innings of relief, while Studer worked the final inning.Box score AB R H BIWysong 4 3 1 1Jo.Pick 4 1 1 1Reisch 1 1 0 0Miller 5 4 3 1Wenninger 4 3 2 3Kuhlman 1 0 0 1Kurtz 4 1 0 1Shelton 0 0 0 1Fodness 3 1 1 1Fisher 5 0 2 3Sandbulte 4 1 3 2Jr.Pick 3 0 0 0

The cost to fill my father’s suburban with gas on Friday afternoon — $78.50.The cost to buy food and drink for three days for myself, my parents and my little brother at Super Wal-Mart in Pierre, S.D., — $88.70.The cost to enter myself and my father in a couples’ fishing tournament at my family’s bait shop — $100.The cost to fill the boat with gas — $29.80.The cost to stop for ice cream treats, hamburgers and cheese balls on the drive home — $28.20.The cost of a weekend at my parents’ trailer on Lake Oahe — priceless?Even after years of this slogan being an effective marketing tool, I am still not sure if I buy it. How do all of those bills really add up to priceless?I did not even include the cost of bait, fishing licenses, trailer rentals or the cost of my fishing outfit. but, man — it was an expensive weekend. We probably could have gone on a real family vacation for that amount of money.So how is it considered priceless?Is it because I had nearly nine hours of alone time with my father on a boat searching for giant walleye? Or because I was able to help my youngest brother write a short story? Or because I got to go kitten hunting with my mother on several occasions? Or maybe it has something to do with teaching my cousins and brother how to play black jack while my grandfather and uncle looked on?I guess these "priceless treasured moments" are supposed to make the steep price of gasoline and insane price of an out-of-state fishing license seem like nothing.Well, I am sure my father’s wallet and bank account would claim that’s not the case.I look at my weekend’s activities as old-fashioned fun, but looking at the cost, it was high dollar vacation.My team, called Team John and Lexi, did not place in high enough to get any return on our entry fee, but we were respectable.Last week when I asked my father how much money we could win, he said, "Well, we usually try not to humiliate ourselves, so we just want to be respectable."We caught the needed five walleyes to participate and brought in one drum and one small mouth bass to participate in the side contests, so that was respectable in my dad’s eyes — although our drum did end up being the biggest and netted my dad $50.This was the seventh year of the annual event, but it was my first. For all of the past years except one, my sister has taken the role as female team member.The first year my mother, who is terrified of boats and water, put her fears aside and boarded the boat in search of the winning fish. Unfortunately, that was the same day as one of the season’s worst storms. They did not win and probably with my mother’s screams, they had a hard time being respectable.This year, I was close enough to home to be asked to participate in the action. Of course, my relationship with my sister will probably suffer for a while because I was given her coveted spot on the boat.Again, are these really "priceless treasured moments" or just typical family adventures with a very high price tag?Finally, let me walk through the price of the fresh walleye fillets I brought home at the end of the weekend.We netted 14.2 pounds of walleye. After my father had "cleaned" the fish and returned with a bowl of fillets, I imagine we had less than five pounds of edible meat. I am guessing at this figure, so to make my team look better I will round it up and say we had six pounds.$108.30 gas$100.00 tournament fee$65.00 out of state license$29.00 in state license$10.00 bait+ $30.00 food, drink on boat$342.30 Total- $50.00 Biggest Drum contest$292.30 Total price of fishing.Divide this by six pounds of fillets and it equals $48.72 per pound of walleye.Even for fresh walleye that seems pretty high. Next time members of my family suggest we make a quick run to Lake Oahe, I am going to ask if they would rather go to the store, buy some walleye for $8 per pound and use the left over money to take a trip to the zoo in Omaha.Surely we could come up with just as many "priceless treasured moments," but maybe we would actually have some interesting photographs to prove it.Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

10 years ago (1995)
The city of Luverne is considering allowing businesses to put signs on Highway 75 to give directions to businesses off the highway. The directional signs would have the name and address of businesses and be limited in size.
The Luverne school system may upgrade its computer technology for about $180,000.25 years ago (1980)
Mikael Andersson from Sweden is the 1980 Rotary Exchange Student in Luverne.
The Magnolia team, sponsored by Smokey’s Pizza of Luverne, is the winner of the Fun-in-the-Sun Softball Tournament.50 years ago (1955)
Preliminary work just started on the new picnic shelter to be built at the Mound Springs State Park this summer.
Rodger Jensen, who has purchased the legal practice of the late R.C. Engan, has re-opened the law offices on the second floor of the First National Bank building. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen and their two small sons will reside in a home on North Oakley Street.
The Rock County Courthouse purchased and installed a photograph microfilm machine that will copy records by film instead of staff doing the duplicating. Cost for the new system was $1,765.75 years ago (1930)
More than 150 work horses succumbed to the intense heat of last week in Rock County and immediately adjacent territory, according to fairly conservative estimates.
Approximately 1,200 rats were killed in the series of six rat extermination demonstrations last week. More than 400 people witnessed the demonstrations as spectators of the calcium cyanide gassings. All of the drives were considered a success except for the one at the dump, where the piles of rubbish were so open that the runways could not be effectively penetrated. Anyone who does not think that the dump grounds are fairly "lousy" with the pests should pay a visit there just at sundown any evening. It is said they come out in droves at that period and literally fight for every bit of rubbish of an eatable nature that has been deposited there during the day.100 years ago (1905)
The first barley to be harvested this year in this county was cut Monday by H. Bierkamp.
The Luverne Roller Mills were shut down Wednesday morning for the purpose of installing a new and larger boiler in the engine room. The shutdown will last for about 10 days but preparations were made beforehand to supply all demand for flour and feed.
The partnership in the tailoring business heretofore existing between Thomte & Sjolseth has been dissolved, Mr. Thomte having bought out his partner’s interest.

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ANDNOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFVivian Cauwels DECEDENT It is Ordered and Notice is given that on August 8, 2005, at 3:30 (p.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at the Rock County Courthouse, 204 East Brown, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated September 11, 2003, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of Colette Cauwels whose address is: 6748 Foliage Ct., Rosemount, Minnesota 55068; (2) Colleen Anderson whose address is: 1409 Tilden, Fairmont, Minnesota 56031 as personal representatives of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing if proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representatives will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debt, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate.Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ Timothy K. Connell 7/18/05Timothy K. Connell Judge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 7/18/05Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerKlosterbuer & Haubrich, LLP120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538507 283-911156674(7-21, 7-28)

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A VARIANCE TO THE CITY OF LUVERNE ZONING ORDINANCENOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the City of Luverne Board of Appeals and Adjustments that a public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Luverne, Minnesota, at 5:00 p.m. on August 1, 2005, to consider a variance, as requested by Tom Nergaard on behalf of James Stroh, to City Code Section 11.09, Subd. 3 & 4, to allow less than the required 25 ft. front yard setback for a corner side yard lot for construction of an attached garage addition in the R-1 Low Density Residential District on property located at 514 S. Donaldson St., Luverne, Minnesota. All persons wishing to be heard in favor or in opposition to the variance request should be present at the hearing or present written comments prior thereto to the City Clerk. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s office, 203 E. Main St. (507) 449-2388.MARIANNE PERKINSCITY CLERK(7-21)

Special Board Meeting 7:00 P.M.Law Library/Rock County Courthouse July 8, 2005Chair Hoime called the special meeting to order with all Commissioners present. Purpose of the Special Meeting was to discuss the negotiation of a contract for architectural services for the LEC building project. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize County Attorney Klosterbuer and Administrator Oldre to negotiate a contract with Paulsen Architects for the new construction of a Law Enforcement and Community Corrections building and present the contract at the next regular scheduled County Board meeting, July 19th; declared carried on a unanimous vote.With no further business to come before the joint boards, the meeting was declared adjourned. Ken Hoime, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(7-21)