On the surface it’s a thoughtful offer from another country, but perhaps it should be questioned. We’re talking, of course, about Zimbabwe’s latest fund-raising program, designed to lure U.S. tourists with weight problems. According to the London Sun Times, the plan promises to be a win-win situation for both Zimbabwe’s floundering economy and overweight Americans. One Zimbabwean bureaucrat explains it this way — "Since Americans are so fat, let’s set up tours from the U.S. so that people can pay us money to come here and work off their pounds by laboring on our farms." The CIA reports that under Robert Mugabe, the country’s apparent president-for-life, a chaotic land redistribution program begun in 2000, "caused an exodus of white farm owners, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities." That’s not the stuff of vacation brochures. Even though the Zimbabwe unemployment rate is 70 percent, the farms, now owned by people with little or no knowledge of farming, are in dire need of trained workers. Overweight Americans would ostensibly raise the country’s corn, cotton, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts, sheep, goats and pigs because the Zimbabweans are too busy suffering, starving and dodging illegal drug traffic. If we stop to think about the proposal, there might be certain advantages, other than losing weight, with taking a work vacation in the southern Africa country. For one thing, we wouldn’t have to bother with losing weight so we’ll look good in bathing suits at some tropical beach or pool area. With all of the fieldwork ahead of us, we might actually want to beef up a little by grabbing second or third helpings of whatever meals we happen to be eating now. It might be refreshing to spend time in an unusual vacation climate. What Zimbabwe lacks in beaches and palm trees, it more than makes up with recurring droughts, floods and life-threatening storms. The country is roughly the size of Montana, but because only eight percent of the land is suitable for farming, we would have plenty of opportunities to mix with other Americans as they rake coffee beans under the burning sun, shear sheep and harvest sugarcane with long machete knives. Incidentally, the remainder of the land is classified as "other", as in sand, sand and more sand. By working while we’re vacationing, we would experience less guilt about abandoning our regular workplaces and families at home. Feel like something is missing from your life now that our own presidential election is over? Immersion in Zimbabwean politics might be just what the doctor ordered. Get right back on that political bandwagon with the country’s rigged elections, general strikes, political violence, human rights violations and general economic collapse. Another advantage to working on a farm and burning off calories at the same time would be the freedom from having to buy postcards ("Working up a good sweat — wish you were here") and having to send them to everyone you know back home. No economy, no stores. No stores, no postcards. It’s as simple as that. Finally, any child back home would be proud to wear a shirt which reads, "My parents picked cotton in Zimbabwe and all I got was this lousy t-shirt."

10 years ago (1994)
Rock County Extension Educator Joe Schimmel resigned, effective Jan. 15.
Ada Kalass is assistant manager of the new Casey’s convenience store on South Highway 75, which opened Dec. 1
The following statistics were reported for 1994 in Rock County: 128 births, 103 deaths, 94 marriages, 30 divorces.25 years ago (1979)
Christmas Eve was a working day for many in Rock County: Karla Braa was dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Office; Ronnal McClure was the deputy on duty; Sheriff Ole Hommen was on call; Clyde Menning was on duty for the city police; Keith Aanenson was on call; Don Vrtacnik was state patrol officer on duty; Kevin Bouma and Jeff Stewart were on call for the ambulance; Dr. Donald Odland was on duty at the hospital; Marian Holte and Nyla Sandbulte were registered nurses on duty; Sandy Vogt was on call; Mildred Deunen and Linda Van Meeteren were licensed practical nurses on duty at the hospital, and switchboard operators were Marilyn Munns, Virginia Menning, Gloria Nelson and Pat Johanning.50 years ago (1954)
Mrs. R.A. Sherman resigned from the Library Board after 19 years of service. The late Emil Frick appointed her to the board. Mayor Harold Van Roekel has appointed Mrs. Benjamin Vander Kooi as her successor.
Council Oak Stores advertised red raspberries in 12-ounce packages for 29¢, stalks of celery for 17¢, large Tide laundry soap for 25¢, beef steaks for 59¢ per pound.75 years ago (1929)
Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Bowen commemorated their golden wedding anniversary Christmas Day. Miss Winnie Brown and Asa E. Bowen, residents of Kanaranzi Township, drove to Luverne in a blinding snow storm in order to be wed on Christmas day of 1879.
Carl Ruud, who has long been a fancier and breeder of Rose Comb Rhode Island Red chickens, exhibited a string of birds at the annual New Ulm Poultry Show and won several awards.
"In view of the recent accumulation of sleet and snow in this section it may not be amiss to call attention to the fact that this covering is undoubtedly depriving birds of much of their source of food supply. Consequently the scattering of table scraps or grain on cleared-off spots where the birds can get it, will be both humane and thoughtful and will go far in making this a holiday season for bird life."100 years ago (1904)
A large number of Luverne people enjoyed a good, old-fashioned fox chase. One fox and two jack rabbits were secured and special excitement was given by a long chase after a wolf.
John H. Morris has tendered his resignation as bookkeeper at the First National Bank and will sever his connection with that institution about the first of February.

By Sara QuamPlumbers who want to work in the city of Luverne have until the end of 2007 to get plumbers licenses. Now, they just need a permit. The City Council’s vote Tuesday extended the time initially discussed in order to give plumbers time to pass the state test, which is offered just twice a year.Unlicensed plumber Mark Kurtz said, "It’s not an easy test; they make it quite tough."He and two other plumbers who do work in Luverne would be affected by this change.Kurtz said he does many small plumbing jobs and the test has a lot of commercial and large-scale plumbing questions. To change faucets or install new toilets, he said, doesn’t warrant needing a state license.In order to qualify to take the test for licensure, plumbers have to work for five years as a plumber and be bonded through that time.Cities with populations of more than 5,000 have to require plumbers’ licenses. At about 4,800 people, Luverne is less than 200 people from hitting that population threshold and is starting to transition into requiring the state license with the expectation that the populaion will reach 5,000.Also, there is talk of the state law changing, requiring all plumbers to have a license. In the case of the state changing standards, there wouldn’t be any transition time.The state already requires even non-licensed plumbers to comply with state plumbing codes, which are upheld by Luverne Zoning Administrator Dan Delgehausen.Plumbers are already required to be insured and bonded to legally work anywhere in the state.Administrator contractCity Administrator Greg LaFond’s employment contract was approved Tuesday, with a salary of $85,841.The original agreement had changed, and a new contract was drafted to reflect those in one concise document.The new contract calls for six months severance pay if LaFond is terminated without cause. The initial employment agreement allowed for six months severance pay during the first two years with declining amounts in subsequent years.If LaFond is terminated with cause, or if he resigns, there is no severance package.To terminate LaFond without cause requires three council votes. To terminate with cause, three votes by signature are required. LaFond must give 60 days notice to resign. That is increased from 30.Pool contractThe Council passed a Pool and Fitness Center joint powers agreement extension until March 31, 2005, or three months after it expires.Rock County still has to pass it, but is expected to agree.The county proposed the extension in order to buy time to renegotiate a joint powers agreement. It will pay one-quarter of its annual contribution to the facility, or $14,210.The city and county will negotiate how capital purchases of $11,000 will be handled in the meantime.The city asked that those be paid as a condition on the extension initially. Tuesday, council members said they thought it was fair to remove that condition for negotiations to continue.

By Lori EhdeLike many Luverne High School graduates, Spc. Suzanne Gluf and Spc. Mandy Iveland are home in Luverne for the holidays.But, as recently deployed Army National Guard members, their homecoming has been especially poignant."We were so lucky to be able to come home for Christmas," said Iveland, a 2000 LHS grad.She and Gluf, a 2003 LHS grad, and another LHS grad, Emmy Bush, were all deployed from Camp Ripley in Little Falls just after Thanksgiving. "That seems like so long ago," Iveland said about deployment.Gluf said, "The training is so intense. Every day feels like Monday. We trained every single day without a break."Fuelers are targetsThey’re members of Company A, 434th Main Support Battalion, which happens to be comprised of 50 percent women. They’ve been training in Ft. Benning, Ga., for the past three weeks.As a support battalion, members of the 434th have a variety of responsibilities. But the primary role of Iveland and Gluf’s platoon is to transport fuel and refuel Army vehicles, which includes everything from tanks and Howitzers to helicopters and trucks.The work itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, but Gluf and Iveland said fuel convoys are primary targets for enemy fire, so they’re prepared for those possibilities.For example, they’ve completed training in rifle marksmanship, convoy operations, first aid and improvised explosive devices (like car bombs)."IEDs are the biggest thing killing people and wounding people there now," Gluf said.Fuelers are also the most protected, so Gluf and Iveland said they feel relatively safe. "Those in the Marine Corps have it a lot more intense," Iveland said. "But we’re prepared for the worst."Gluf said, "… and we’re hoping for the best."Regardless, they’re armed at all times with M-16s and grenade launchers, and when they first land in Kuwait, they’ll wear "full battle rattle," as they call it, which includes flak jackets and additional weapons.They say they don’t know specifics about where they’ll be or what their mission will be, but Iveland said, "We’re pretty sure it will be in the Middle East, and we’re pretty sure it will eventually be in Iraq. … It just depends what’s going on there at the time."Holiday luxuriesJust knowing what they’re in for has made their holiday home visit a luxury.Gluf said, for example, she’s appreciated using a real bathroom (not a port-a-pot) and she’s enjoyed wearing makeup and having the time to spend on such frivolities."I actually feel like a girl again," she said.Both she and Iveland admit they like to shop, so they spent some of their time at home last weekend spending money."We get to wear our new clothes for a week, and then hopefully they’ll still be in style when we get back," Iveland said.Their 18-month deployment officially started last month, and Gluf said they have 513 days to go.The two joke about shopping and "real" bathrooms, but what they’re bracing themselves for is less contact with their loved ones.So far, they’ve been able to communicate with home via cell phones, but in a week or two, that luxury will also end. "I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in two or three months," Iveland said.Their next opportunity to be home will be May of 2006."This is going to be for the long haul," Iveland said."This is definitely it," Gluf said.So the women are now relishing every remaining moment at home."I’m very, very grateful we got to come home," Iveland said. "We are very, very lucky," Gluf said.Their parents said they feel lucky, too."There was a whole new meaning to this year," said Iveland’s mother, LaDonna, "because we know she won’t be here next Christmas."Attitude is everythingIveland and Gluf said they’ll miss their families, but they say they’re proud to serve and look forward to putting their training to use."We’re just trying to stay positive," Gluf said. "If you have a good attitude, the days go so much better."Iveland agreed."We try to make a point to laugh about something every day."Gluf, daughter of Bruce and Harveen, is a pre-med student at South Dakota State University, Brookings, working on an athletic training degree.Iveland is an English teacher at Wadena-Deer Creek High School in Wadena.The two can receive correspondence at their army e-mail addresses. Those are suzanne.gluf@us.army.mil and mandy.iveland@us.army.mil

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office demonstrated extraordinary commitment and achievement in reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries in 2004, which warranted a federal grant of $1,000 from the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. The Safe & Sober Challenge program grant was presented to Sheriff Michael Winkels and Deputies Ken Baker, Evan Verbrugge and Nick Schafer by OTS on Dec. 28. The Rock County Sheriff’s Office plans to use the grant to purchase traffic safety equipment to be utilized in further traffic safety efforts"We are honored to have the opportunity to continue to make the roads safer in Rock County," Deputy Baker said. "This grant enables us to conduct critical traffic safety projects and activities."The awards are based on the merits of traffic safety activities that law enforcement agencies conducted in 2004, including community focused programs, enforcement, officer training, public and media relations and presentations. The Rock County Sheriff’s Office continued a long-standing tradition of dedicated service and further reduced traffic- related tragedies over the past year. "We plan to continue our efforts in 2005, and with the generous grant provided by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety we will be better suited for the challenge," Baker said. "The Rock County Sheriff’s Office is a successful model for all Minnesota law enforcement agencies," said Kathy Swanson, Director of OTS. "Their proactive traffic safety initiatives have saved lives."The Safe & Sober Challenge program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by OTS. Safe & Sober is designed to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

By Lori EhdeThe year 2004 will be remembered in Rock County for stormy weather, stormy politics, construction projects and several accidents and crime stories.These highlights round out the Star Herald’s Top 10 news stories of 2004.Stormy weatherSpring of 2004 started out with a bang — or rather a loud crack of thunder.
The May 13 edition of the Star Herald featured spectacular photos submitted by area residents of twisters that touched down northeast of Luverne.Some farms, like Brad Scott’s, had structural damage, but no one was injured.
The June 3 Star Herald reported on a storm that produced 90-mph winds that flattened building and downed power lines.Pea-sized hail fell briefly in Luverne, but there were no reports of damage to crops. That came in the next storm …
The July 15 Star Herald reported on a thunderstorm that delivered heavy rain, hail and 60-mph winds that stripped and flattened local cornfields.Some crops bounced back, but farmers later cursed that July storm during their 2004 harvest. They had to slowly drive equipment across the rows to properly feed the "goose- necked" corn stalks into the combine heads.
Mother nature delivered her heaviest blow on Aug. 3 with a violent thunderstorm that left a permanent mark on the city of Luverne.The national weather service reported 90-mph winds, but when the dust settled, it looked like a tornado had struck, and the trees were the hardest hit.Previously shady neighborhoods were left blinking in bright sunlight as damaged old trees were cleared out and hauled away.Stormy politics
Just when the weather quieted down, local politics started heating up, and in November, City of Luverne voters rejected incumbents at the polls. Write-in candidate Esther Frakes started a late campaign, but she got enough votes to overcome Tom Martius. The end tally was 782 to 545 for the North Ward seat. Maynard Lafrenz challenged David Hauge for the South Ward alderman spot and won. There the votes were 568 and 447. Luverne will also have a new mayor, with current Mayor Glen Gust not filing for office again. Both Andy Steensma and Alex Frick were new to run for the office. Steensma earned 1,832 votes, compared to Frick’s 621.
At the core of the political discussion in Luverne this year was the ongoing debate over joint law enforcement in Luverne and Rock County.City officials have questioned the fairness of the current contract to city taxpayers, and alternative payment scenarios have been exchanged between city and county. But not renewing the contract would mean a return to a separate city police department and sheriff department, and the shared dispatch services would be uncertain.Big tent celebrationFortunately, there were plenty of bright spots to counter the dark political undertones in Rock County.
In April, a festive party under a big circus tent on Main Street celebrated Luverne’s good fortune in being Minnesota’s first JOB Zone to attract an out-of-state business. Gov. Tim Pawlenty was on hand to welcome Total Card Inc.’s South Dakota business expansion to Minnesota. In addition to the tax benefits of Minnesota’s new JOBZ legislation, Luverne’s large, finished former Tri-State Insurance building, along with solid telecommunications infrastructure, sealed the deal with Total Card. The credit card company now employs 58 people in Luverne, and it’s still growing.Hospital, water tower change north horizon
A story that was big news when it started in 2003 is even bigger news in 2004 as it materializes.Footings were poured last fall for Sioux Valley’s new hospital and clinic campus in Luverne, but today the walls are up, windows are in and the impressive structure has forever changed the northern landscape of the city.Doors are scheduled to open in summer of 2005.
Speaking of permanent changes, the 175-foot water tower on the Sioux Valley campus went up in December, putting an exclamation point on Luverne’s steadily changing northern horizon. It will hold 300,000 gallons of water when it’s filled next summer and improve water pressure throughout northern neighborhoods.Wind towers change prairie landscapes
Other structures changing Rock County horizons are the wind turbines near Hills and Beaver Creek.Seven new wind turbines began turning in November near Beaver Creek, bringing the total number of wind turbines in Rock County to 11.The Beaver Creek wind towers are a sister operation to the four turbines northeast of Hills, which began producing energy in October 2002.Even more than the physical impact the looming structures make on the landscape is the local economic impact of producing renewable energy in Rock County.Both campuses are owned/managed by Minwind Energy, a limited liability corporation made up of 250 member investors — mostly farmers — in southwest Minnesota.With all 21 blades turning (three blades per each of the seven new towers), the turbines in the new project alone will produce enough electricity to meet 90 percent of the city of Luverne’s needs.Overhauling OakleyOn a much smaller scale, but a much greater direct human impact, the Oakley Street reconstruction project dragged on for a good portion of 2004.The $1.6 million project wrapped up in September, much to the joy of residents who for months put up with the inconvenience of having their driveways and sidewalks torn up.Luverne man arrested for grand theftThe top crime story in Rock County for 2004 is unquestionably the arrest of Luverne’s Terry Hoffman for his involvement in roughly $250,000 worth of stolen property in three states.Hoffman was arrested Dec. 8 for possession of stolen property, and now he’s in the Minnehaha Jail in Sioux Falls where he faces charges of grand theft.So far there have been no other arrests, and investigators are still gathering evidence.Ongoing battle against methamphetaminesAn ongoing crime story, but always a major news item is the rural battle between local law enforcement and the abuse and sale of meth.In 2004, the Star Herald reported on several meth busts and related crimes, but a story on May 6 outlined the long-term human costs of the drug.The bad news is that the drug is more widely used and abused than ever, but the good news is that the public is more educated and people are helping law enforcement arrest users and sellers.AccidentsStories about motor vehicle accidents appear regularly in all local newspapers, but in the Star Herald, two stand out as particularly notable.In September, a motorist crashed a car into the Edward Jones building on the corner of Main Street and Freeman Avenue. No one was seriously injured, but it created quite a scene and caused severe damage to the office.In what may well be the saddest motor vehicle accident of 2004, a little girl was killed in a tractor-train collision near Hills in November. Seven-year-old Josie Dilly was killed instantly when the tractor she was riding in was struck by a train. Her uncle, Jonathan Pap, survived with minor injuries.

By Lori EhdeThe 110-year-old building that housed the Adrian Hardware Store burned to the ground Sunday.The blaze not only left the small community without the services of the business, but it drastically changed the look of its downtown district.Karen Lyons lives in the block behind what used to be a stately, brick-front two-story structure. "It’s weird," she said. "You look out the front door now and you can see the stores all the way across the street."Before the turn of the century, the building was the largest establishment in Nobles County, according to local historians.Lyons empathized with East Coast residents who lost the Twin Towers in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."The look of the whole neighborhood has changed," Lyons said.Appearances aside, the long-term effect of the fire is that the town is now without its hardware store."I can’t go across the street to get incidentals anymore," Lyons said, adding that she also relied on the business for household maintenance like furnace and sewer work."Those guys were a great help," she said. "Now where am I going to go when I need something done?"She said the site was still smoking as of Tuesday afternoon, and the neighborhood was still relying on generators for electricity.Except for one room in her house, she said smoke wasn’t damaging. "We were pretty lucky," she said. "It could have been a lot worse. We just did some air fresheners."The Adrian Fire Department responded to the call around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and soon after that mutual aid was requested from departments in Luverne, Ellsworth, Rushmore and Worthington.Crews worked through the night to fight the blaze and were still on the scene Monday afternoon.Two city blocks were closed to traffic, as the building spilled onto the street taking power lines with it.Adrian Hardware Store was operated by Wes and Rose Henricksen, and the historic building was owned by Virgil and Mary Schutz.State Fire Marshal Steve Kellen is investigating the fire, but a cause has not yet been determined.

Items from 1908The following were items in the local column in the Rock County Herald on July 17, 1908:Beginning last Sunday evening and continuing until the first of September the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations will hold union services every Sunday evening, the services to be held in the different churches in rotation. Sunday evening the service was held in the Baptist church with sermon by De. Cowgill, presiding elder of the Methodist church. Governor John A. Johnson passed through Luverne twice last Saturday, while en route to and from Sioux Falls, where that afternoon he delivered the opening address at the Sioux Falls Chautauqua. Going to Sioux Falls he passed through Luverne on the early morning train, and returned therefrom on the train known as the midnight passenger. As the hours were rather unconventional and it was not generally known that he would pass through Luverne on his way to and from Sioux Falls, there was no one at the station to greet him and he did not leave the car. Had it been more generally known that he would pass through the city on the night train, there no doubt would have been a big crowd of his Luverne friends at the station. Lovers of the great national game should not fail to attend the game at Athletic park in this city next Wednesday afternoon, the 22nd, between the famous St. Paul Colored Gophers and the Luverne Regulars. The Gophers have the reputation of being the fastest baseball aggregation outside of the big leagues, and those who witnessed them play here last year are not likely to dispute this claim. The Regulars will strengthen their team by securing three or four of the strongest players in this section, so that a good, fast game may be looked for. The game will be called at 3 o’clock, but the gates will be open at 2 o’clock so as to give those who wish opportunity to watch the teams "work out."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.

The bare landscape is revealing prairie secrets to me. As I travel between Ellsworth and Luverne, I’m discovering farmsteads, home sites and habitat that I did not know existed. Topography and surface formations are showing off that could not be seen when the landscape was leafy and green in summer. I can see a lot more detail in the terrain. The 20-mile journey is a route of discovery. Nature’s hidden little treasures are uncovered. Oh, the joy of the prairie in winter!The new sightings in winter remind me that we’re in a good time of year to do some examining of our lives. I might simplify my life a bit, like nature simplifies now, in order to see some things about myself that are hidden at other times. I might discover something that would make for a good New Year’s resolution. For example, in the stark simplicity of winter, as I look inward, I might find willfulness, petulance, hardness, cynicism, contemptuousness that needs to be emptied. As I look at the outlines of my life, I might discover some hidden selfishness, self-absorption, self-indulgence, self-righteousness, self-assertion, and self-exaltation. I might observe some attachments to allurements and charms that are not healthy. On the other hand, with my winter vision, I might discover some goodness in my life that I haven’t recognized before now. What a gift to look at my outer world and my inner world through the eyes of winter.