10 years ago (1995)
In the past few months, the Rock County Sheriff’s office has received reports of more than 20 damaged or ruined mailboxes all over rural Rock County.
Mike Cox started his own new business, Mike D. Cox Financial Services.
Luverne will have 87 students open enrolled for the 1995-96 school year. Luverne also has students enrolled in other districts: three in Hills-Beaver Creek, one in Edgerton, one in Adrian and two in Ellsworth.
Joan Heeren, Millie Lais and Mary Donth have all worked more than 30 years at the Magnolia Steakhouse.25 years ago (1980)
The Blue Mound Area Theatre Corporation has signed a purchase agreement for the Palace on Luverne’s Main Street. The group applied for a grant, with Tom Brakke leading the effort.
Roger Jackson was named Hills-Beaver Creek teacher of the year.
Sheila Siebenahler and Kathy Murphy won places in the gymnastics region tournament.50 years ago (1955)
A flip of the coin yesterday morning decided who would be assessor in Martin Township for the next two years. In the election, Art Rogness received four write-in votes, and so did Herman Paulson. Neither had filed. County Attorney Skewes looked up the statute and found that the board could use any method they preferred to determine the winner by lot. A disinterested party flipped a coin, and Paulson was declared elected.
Plans are underway for the mass polio vaccination of all Rock County first and second grade children. The vaccination will be free, after an evaluation report from the University of Michigan confirms its safety. The university studied the Salk vaccine field trial, which involved 1,830,000 children last year.
Orlie Davis, Luverne, purchased the service station property known as Noll’s Corner Station, a half mile east of Beaver Creek.75 years ago (1930)
Geo. E. Holliday & Son will open their new implement house with a complete new stock of farm implements tomorrow in the Hinkly building on East Main Street. Vernon Holliday will manage it.
John B. Mann, of Mound Township, received a Hereford summer boar pig Wednesday from John C. Schulte, of Norway, Iowa, the originator of this new variety of swine.100 years ago (1905)
Nelson Brothers have completed arrangements for building two large safety deposit vaults in their store building for the preservation of their books, accounts and jewelry in case of fire.
A deal was completed Saturday whereby J.H. Thiel traded his building and saloon stock and fixtures on Main Street, to the Minneapolis Trust company.

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFOPAL I. NELSON, AKA OPAL NELSONDECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on April 4, 2005, at 9:00 (a.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at Rock County Courthouse Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated April 7, 1999, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Sat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of Arthur Ehde whose address is: 1410 150th Ave. Luverne, MN 56156 as personal representative 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 representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, 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 representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ TIMOTHY K. CONNELLTIMOTHY K. CONNELLJudge Date/s/ SANDRA L. VRTACNIKSANDRA L. VRTACNIKCourt Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeBENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.VANDER KOOI LAW OFFICES, P.A.127 E. MainPO. Box 746Luverne, MN 56156-0746507-283-9546Attorney I.D. No. 112124(3-10, 3-17)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGConditional Use Permit for Gravel ExtractionPursuant to the Rock County Zoning Ordinance, notice is hereby given by the Rock County Planning Commission that a public hearing will be held at the Rock County Family Service Center located at 2 Roundwind Road in Luverne, MN at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21st, 2005. The purpose of this hearing is to hear public comments on the following conditional use permits for gravel extraction:Brad Bos Gravel Extraction Located in the NE 1/4 of Section 26 in Clinton TownshipWayne Biever Black Dirt Extraction Located in the SE 1/4 of Section 26 in Luverne TownshipHenning Brothers Gravel Extraction West 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 35 in Mound TownshipNorthern Con-Agg Gravel Extraction Located in the North 1/2 of Section 1 in Luverne TownshipNorthern Con-Agg Gravel Extraction East 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 19 in Vienna TownshipNorthern Con-Agg Gravel Extraction East 1/2 of the SW 1/4 and the West 1/2 of the SE 1/4 and the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 36 in Mound TownshipZoning AdministratorEric Hartman(3/10, 3/17)

Law Library 9:00 A.M.Rock County Courthouse February 22, 2005Chair Hoime called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present.Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve the February 22, 2005, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Bakken, seconded by Wildung, to approve the February 8, 2005, County minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Wildung, to approve items on the consent agenda, declared carried on a voice vote. 1. Resolution No. 12-05, a rural water split on parcel 08-0071-000 located in the SE 1/4 of 13-101-462. Day care licensing – Rhonda Feit3. Day care re-licensing – Judy Ripley, Glenda Groen, Tara Pap, Angela HubblingMark Sehr, Engineer, presented Resolution No. 09-05, a cooperative agreement between Rock County and MnDOT for the construction of US Hwy 75 adjacent to Sioux Valley Hospital; motion by Jarchow, seconded by Wildung to approve Resolution No. 09-05, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to approve the bid letting for the US Hwy 75 and CSAH 37 project for March 29, 2005, declared carried on a voice vote.The Engineer presented a request for out of state travel for Lee Hamann to attend a conference in Fargo, North Dakota, for training on the proper selection and maintenance of all types of pavement markings, signs and temporary traffic control measures; motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken to authorize the out of state travel, declared carried on a voice vote. The Engineer informed the County Board that the annual weed and road/bridge informational meetings are scheduled for April 5, 2005, at 1:00 P.M. in the basement of the Rock County Community Library. The County Board received notice that Excel Energy is hosting an Open House for the Split Rock to Lakefield Junction Transmission Project on February 24th, 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. in Brandon, South Dakota. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented a License Center activity report and the claims. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to pay the claims as presented, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of the claims is available by request at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office.General Revenue $ 22,835.08Family Services $ 72,290.71Road & Bridge $ 26,899.56Land Management $0.00Rural Water $0.00TOTAL $122,025.35Motion by Bakken, seconded Wildung, to approve the fund balances report, declared carried on a voice vote.The County Board discussed the possibility of participating/enrolling in the Magic Fund, a joint powers investment fund with seventy-six county members; the County Board requested the Auditor/Treasurer to draft financial comparisons over the last calendar year between the Magic Fund and the local investments. Randy Ehlers, Family Services Agency Director, and Bonnie Burkett, School Mental Health social worker for Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek schools presented a program update; no action was taken. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to pull from the table a PPIE funding request of $750.00, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Bakken, seconded by Boyenga, to deny the funding request from PPIE for $750.00 and inform them that the county already subsidizes the Rock County Pool & Fitness Center to help keep the rates affordable, declared carried on a voice vote. Mike Winkels, Sheriff, requested permission to declare surplus (3) VHS Radius Radios and (2) Vista Light Bars and sell or transfer to another governmental unit; motion by Jarchow, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the equipment as surplus and authorize the sale or transfer of the surplus equipment, declared carried on a voice vote. Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, and Mike Winkels, Sheriff, presented a review of a contract for Law Enforcement Services for the City of Luverne. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Jarchow, to approve Resolution No. 11-05, entering into a contract with the City of Luverne for Law Enforcement Services; roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Bakken, Jarchow, Wildung, and Hoime voting aye and Commissioner Boyenga voting nay. Terrie Gulden, Heartland Express Transit Director, presented discussion on state funding for a building project. Currently, Rock County was awarded $160,000 in grant funding (considerably less than anticipated) for the construction of a Heartland Express garage and office complex. Following considerable discussion, motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to decline the $160,000 in grant funding and request to be placed on the funding list for 2006, and authorize up to $10,000 for architectural design and directed the Building Committee and Transit Director to determine the building design, declared carried on a voice vote.Commissioner Bakken stated that the Extension Committee would be holding an Estate Planning seminar on March 15th. The County Board directed to schedule a meeting for all cities with law enforcement contracts, with the exception of the City of Luverne, on March 3, 2005, at 7:00 P.M. at the Human Services Building. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken, to lease and sell Lots 1 & 4 of Outlot 3 of the Sioux Valley addition, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to approve Resolution No. 10-05, rescinding Resolution No. 48-03 dated 12/29/2003, terminating the joint powers agreement for the Rock County Pool & Fitness Center, declared carried on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Boyenga voting nay. With no further business to come before the County Board, meeting was declared adjourned.Ken Hoime, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(3-10)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FARMERS UNION CO-OPERATIVE OIL COMPANY OF LUVERNE, MN — LUVERNE AND LISMORE, MNTo The Stockholders of Farmers Union Co-operative Oil Company of Luverne and Lismore, MnYou are hereby notified that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Farmers Union Co-operative Oil Company of Luverne, Minnesota, PO Box-1018, Luverne MN will be held at BLUE MOUND BANQUET & MEETING CENTER, 401 W. Hatting St. in Luverne on MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005 AT 7:30 PM for the purpose of transacting any business that may properly come before the meeting.Election of Directors will be held and the following terms expire: Lloyd Hemme — Luverne area Larry VanDyke — Luverne area The following are presented for your consideration as candidates for the Directors terms: Lloyd Hemme — Luverne area Larry VanDyke — Luverne areaNominations will also be accepted from the floor. The evening meal will be served from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM and dividend checks will be distributedDated: 3-1-05 Lloyd Hemme, Secretary(3/10)

Change is good ... depending who's changing and who's affected by it"Change is good." That's the first thing Assistant Rock County Attorney Terry Vajgrt told me about his plans to leave the Skewes, Klosterbuer and Vajgrt firm.I’d say that depends who's changing and who's affected by the changes.The change will be good for Terry, as he'll get to explore new avenues of legal work and enjoy a professional change of pace. Plus, he'll get to spend more time in the courtroom, something he enjoys and is good at.The change will be good for his family if the part-time home office arrangement works out. I drive by the Vajgrt home every day, and it warms my heart to see Terry and his three boys playing in the yard, whether it's driveway basketball, as he calls it, or playing catch in the yard.The change will definitely be good for the defendants in the Nobles County legal system. They will likely be clueless to their fortune, but with Terry as their public defender, they will no doubt receive a fair chance at justice.I'd argue change in this case is sad news for Rock County, and I know a few others who would agree with me.He'll be sorely missed in the Sheriff's Department and Family Services offices (see the front-page story).Selfishly, I'll miss working with him on Star Herald news of criminal activity. Court documents are essential sources for crime stories, but they're often dry, dull and cumbersome to read.I could always count on Terry to cut to the facts of a case for me when I called him for interpretation. I appreciated his willingness to work with me on stories, patiently clarifying facts and pointing out opportunities for fairness and balance.I learned through the years that Terry rarely prosecuted a case unless the evidence warranted it. As far as I know, he never lost a trial in his 15 years in Rock County District Court.As a newsperson, that offered a certain degree of comfort in reporting on those cases, knowing we weren't recklessly exposing defendants before proven guilty.Attorneys (not unlike journalists) have a reputation for being power-hungry ambulance chasers. There's a plethora of attorney jokes to reinforce this stereotype.Terry, however, stands out as a shining gem among his sometimes-tarnished peers. Through his quiet, consistent drive to do the right thing and to do his job well, he clearly raises the bar on legal standards everywhere he works.Congratulations on the big change, Terry. Despite our loss, we wish you all the best in your new endeavor.

The following appeared in the Rock County Weekly on July 25, 1884:Beaver Creek TownshipOLD CHRONICLE’S REPORTIt was after 2 o’clock P.M. Monday when the gathering of the clouds in the north west gave the first indications of an approaching storm. Gradually the clouds continued to gather toward a common center gaining in darkness till their blackness was intense, and lowering toward the earth, the sky in the meantime, in the vicinity of the cloud assuming a greenish tint. Slowly this storm cloud approached until its rumbling noise could be distinctly heard, but it was after 3 o’clock when preceded by what appeared to be a huge volume of dust and mist which advanced with a rotary motion apparently destroying everything in its pathway, it suddenly burst upon our village with a roar of fury and a deluge of rain. In an instant boards and other debris were flying in the air; out houses of all kinds blown over or dashed to pieces, and the pieces hurled against the sides or through the roofs of dwellings adding to the confusion and terror of the inmates: windows were blown in with a crash and the interior of the house deluged with water; chimneys came down with fearful racket and the bricks went whirling in the general confusion.Two cars standing on the side rack were upset; two grain warehouses were lifted from their foundations and carried several feet upon the bank; the building in the rear of White’s store was torn to pieces and Knudtson’s stable badly demoralized. One door was blown from the depot building. The old hotel occupied by the families of Mr. Mather and Mr. Ness stood for a few moments then racked over toward the East each moment threatening its entire destruction. The doors becoming tightly wedged, the inmates escaped through a window. The two ladies with six small children were caught by the wind and prostrated in the middle of the street, but finally succeeded in reaching the residence of Mr. White. Charley Cox’s wind mill was blown part way over but remained standing.Considerable damage was done otherwise and several narrow escapes reported, but fortunately no loss of life or serious injuries. Col. White had a close call. Accompanied by a girl who he was taking to a neighbor’s in the country, he was overtaken by the storm while passing the farm of Squire Humphries, and sought shelter in the granary, tying the horse to the building outside. The first gust of wind tore the building from the foundation, driving the inmates out in the storm in fear of their lives. They managed to reach the house in safety, where they found the family very much frightened, Mr. H. being absent at the time. Endeavoring to return to unhitch the horse, the colonel was lifted from his feet by the wind and deposited in a hay stack. Finally succeeding in getting to his horse, he had just got the tugs loosened when the building went to pieces burying the whole outfit in the ruins. The colonel don’t know exactly how he got clear and reached the house, but it is certain that he escaped with a few slight bruises. After the storm was over the horse was got out alive and apparently uninjured but the buggy was a total wreck.From the country comes reports of damage to buildings, grain, hay, stock, machinery, etc. Mr. Hardwick had his barn destroyed and one colt killed. N. Snook’s suffered considerable loss, the roof of his new barn was carried away and badly racked; granary and contents destroyed, machinery ruined etc. The barn of A.B. Price was blown all to pieces and most of the pieces lost; three horses in the barn were uninjured. His granary was torn from its foundation and moved several feet. John Brietson had taken refuge in the building, leaving his horses tied outside. When the building began to move John skipped for the willows and the horses ran the other way. A strict search failed to discover any trace of the animals until last evening when they were captured near Rock Rapids. J. Merkel’s and J. Marshall’s new barns were moved from their foundations. Mr. Walker’s stable was torn to pieces and in addition to other damage a seeder was carried three quarters of a mile and the pole driven in the ground ten feet. Joseph Stearns, before the storm, was better fixed in regard to barns and other farm buildings, machinery etc., than a majority of our farmers, but everything was swept away but his house. No one in the track of the storm but what suffered some damage. Scores of buildings, which want of space will not permit us to particularize, were blown down; grain in field and granary destroyed or injured, and hundreds of tons of hay blown to the winds, but with all our losses the people of this vicinity have cause for thankfulness in view of our exemption from loss of life and serious injuries. The storm lasted about half an hour. It had no form of a cyclone, but blew steadily all the time, and although the worst storm ever experienced in this part of the country, was no worse probably than has been reported from different sections of the United States at various times during the last three years.(To be continued)Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156. Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

We can run, but apparently we can’t hide from government rules and guidelines. Shortly after entrepreneur Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, announced plans to make space travel "as ordinary as a Caribbean cruise," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) came up with passenger guidelines. The newly drafted suggestions cover pre-flight physical exams, risk waivers and safety training. In other words, what originally sounded like an adventure now resembles another day at work. It’s only a thought and it might cost less, but the FAA could more easily revise passenger guidelines already in place for domestic flights: Pack essential items, such as prescription drugs and dental floss, in your carry-on bag. There is always the possibility that checked-through baggage may be misdirected to another planet, if not another galaxy, and you will never see it again. You will undoubtedly experience weightlessness during this trip. However, there is no need to change the somewhat embarrassing weight listed on your driver’s license to "zero." Unlike your actual weight, the weightlessness of outer space is short-lived. Pack for extreme weather changes. Sunscreen lotions might be needed if the aircraft veers too closely to the sun. Insulated underwear would be advisable for side trips around the dark side of the moon. Passenger use of cell phones and other transmitting devices is strictly forbidden after lift-off. In addition to compromising the space ship’s communications system, possibly sending the craft into an unpleasant "graveyard spin," the roaming charges on your next phone bill might easily send you into cardiac arrest. It is highly recommended that you bring along at least 114 brown-bag meals from home for the duration of the trip. Your only other alternative will be to purchase the same number of in-flight meals from the flight attendants. The menu choices for your flight include plastic bags of nutritious, space ready meals in the following colors — mud gray, brown and tan. Smoking is not allowed in either the main cabin or the lavatories. Because of the length of this trip, roughly 38 days, heavy smokers might want to reconsider their flight plans. If you are caught lighting up, your pilot may be forced to make an unscheduled stop and drop you off on some uncharted star. Your total luggage weight limit is 10 pounds. Let’s face it, you won’t be seeing anyone at some final tropical destination, so there won’t be a need to dress to impress. This is truly a round trip. You get on, you travel in a big circle, you get off and that’s it. As far as unexpected medical emergencies are concerned, don’t go whining to the flight crew about heart palpitations or other discomforts. Our flight attendants are busy enough with handing out unidentifiable food bags, keeping a lookout for destructive asteroids, switching us over to reserve tanks of fuel whenever needed and fluffing pillows. Deal with it. Exercise calm and restraint for the duration of the trip. It does no good to shout, "Oh, no! We’re falling apart!" or "The entire ship is on fire!" when we’re 350,000 miles from Earth and the nearest rescue squad. Such outbursts, while they may be true, only serve to demoralize the flight crew and your fellow passengers. Don’t spread dread. Finally, be on a constant vigil for extraterrestrial terrorists. You can never be too careful.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate city and county officials for finalizing the new law enforcement contract. The new contract is not perfect. For example, the city still will turn its share of municipal monies over to the county, which is contrary to the provisions of state law. Both sides made concessions and a new contract is the result. The City Administrator and the gentlemen I served with on the council deserve a special thanks from citizens for their courage and determination at staying the course and saving city taxpayers $500,000 in the next five years. It’s time to eliminate the "Special Assessment for Landfill," which the county continues to include on your property tax bill. Here’s the facts:oThe Special Assessment was established years ago to provide monies for closing the old dump. oThe county has continued the Special Assessment long after the funds were needed. oToday, the $210,000 collected annually from the Special Assessment are used for other county purposes in violation of the law. oCity of Luverne taxpayers pay more than 60 percent of the Special Assessment fees even though they represent only 19 percent of the property value in the county. oThe Special Assessment does not apply to vacant land. Call your city council members and demand that they take action to call on the county to end this "Special Assessment."David HaugeLuverne