By John RittenhouseThe Luverne VFW baseball team upped its record to 14-6 after winning two of three games since Wednesday, June 30.The Cardinals nipped Brandon Valley (S.D.) by one run at Redbird Field June 30 before posting a seven-run league win over Marshall Orange in Luverne Thursday. BV gained revenge on the Cards by beating them by six runs in Valley Springs, S.D., Tuesday.Luverne was scheduled to host Adrian Monday, but the game was rained out and rescheduled for last night (Wednesday, July 7).The Cards play in Slayton tonight, they host Pipestone for a twin bill Monday and play in Adrian Wednesday.BV 6, Luverne 0The Cardinals experienced a shortage of offense during Tuesday’s six-run loss to Brandon Valley in Valley Springs.The hosts limited Luverne batters to three singles without allowing a run in the game.BV, on the other hand, scored three runs in the second inning, one in the third and two in the sixth to win handily.Jake Clark led the game off with a single for Luverne. Craig Oeding and Micah Boomgaarden slapped back-to-back singles in the second inning.Boomgaarden pitched the first four innings and took the loss. Nate Boler tossed two innings of relief.Box score AB R H BIClark 3 0 1 0Lundgren 2 0 0 0Boelman 4 0 0 0Nath 3 0 0 0DeBoer 2 0 0 0Richters 1 0 0 0Oeding 2 0 1 0Boomgaarden 1 0 1 0Boler 1 0 0 0Deutsch 2 0 0 0Fitzer 1 0 0 0Finke 1 0 0 0Elbers 1 0 0 0Luverne 10, MO 3The Cardinals scored seven runs in the first inning and coasted to a seven-run victory when they hosted Marshall Orange Thursday.Clark slapped a three-run double to highlight the home half of the first inning, which ended with Luverne sporting a 10-3 advantage.The early run support proved to be all Luverne pitcher Caleb Bruynes needed to pick up a win.Bruynes tossed an 84-pitch complete game, limiting Orange to a pair of runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth.Luverne catcher Ben Nath doubled home one run in the bottom of the fourth as the Cardinals countered Marshall’s challenge in the top half of the frame.Brian Deutsch contributed an RBI single to a two-run rally in the sixth that capped the scoring for Luverne.No individual box score was available from this game.Luverne 6, BV 5Andrew DeBoer’s RBI single in the bottom half of the seventh inning gave the Cardinals a one-run home win over Brandon Valley (S.D.) Wednesday, June 30.BV tied the game at five by scoring one run in the top of the seventh, but Luverne settled the issue when Marc Boelman doubled before scoring on DeBoer’s single in the bottom of the frame.After BV took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Luverne moved in front 2-1 in the bottom of the inning when Clark doubled and scored on an error and Boomgaarden chased home a run with a groundout.The score was tied at two when Boomgaarden delivered a two-run single in the third to give the Cards a 4-2 lead, but BV bounced back to tie the score at four in the fourth.Derek Elbers reached base on an error and scored to give the Cards a 5-4 edge in the fifth inning that was erased when BV plated a run in the seventh.Elbers picked up the pitching win by working one inning of relief. Boelman started the game on the mound, and Adam Finke pitched three innings of relief.Box score AB R H BIClark 4 1 1 0Elbers 3 2 0 0Boelman 1 1 1 0Oeding 0 0 0 0Bruynes 1 0 1 0Boler 2 2 2 0DeBoer 4 0 1 1Boomgaarden 3 0 1 3Finke 3 0 1 0Richters 3 0 1 0Deutsch 2 0 1 0

10 years ago (1994)"The end of an era passed with little fanfare Thursday night when District 670’s seven-member School Board met quietly for the last time. District 2184, comprised of the Luverne and Magnolia school districts, officially came into being July 1.Board chairwoman Barb Golla thanked Luverne School Board members Lowell Binford and Curt Laudon for their services. Their positions will be filled by Mike Hesch and Bob Kaczrowski when the 13-member joint board meets July 14."25 years ago (1979)"Short putts are not the only thing falling with consistency at the Luverne Country Club these days.A menacing case of Dutch elm disease has caused many trees to be cut down and hauled away in recent years, according to Bill Jarchow, groundskeeper.Jarchow said the trees were treated with a chemical to stop the spread of the disease, but to no avail."50 years ago (1954)"Dr. Donald M. Odland, Dell Rapids, will begin general practice of medicine here one week from today.The new physician and surgeon will have offices on the second floor of the Drug building on Main Street, formerly known as the Moreland building.He came to Luverne from Minneapolis where he has just completed advanced training in surgery. Dr. Odland is married and the father of two children."75 years ago (1929)"Shall the Independent school district of Luverne furnish free text books to the pupils of all grades?This question will be voted upon at the annual school meeting to be held on July 16th, and the answer given by the majority of the voters will settle the question.Decision to submit the matter to the voters of the district was reached at a regular meeting of the school board held Tuesday evening."100 years ago (1904)"One of the unfortunate attendant incidents of all celebrations is found in the number of cases of drunkenness. This is no more true of the Fourth than of any other celebration, but the Fourth always has its due share. This year, however, there were fewer incidents of the kind than usual and as is invariably the case, they were confined almost wholly to irresponsible non-residents."

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 OFEDWARD H. BRANDS DECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on August 9, 2004 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 February 25, 1999 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 Edna E. Brands whose address is: 15477 1st Street, Chandler, MN 56122 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 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 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. MainP.O. Box 746Luverne, MN 56156-0746507-283-9546Attorney I.D. No. 112124(7-8, 7-15)

Commissioner’s Room 9:00 AMRock County Highway Department June 22, 2004Chair Jarchow called the meeting to order with all Commissioners present. Motion by Hoime, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the June 22, 2004 County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to approve the June 8, 2004 County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.Tom Houselog, Assessor, requested that the county enter into a contract with the City of Hardwick for assessing services for a cost of $2,555.00 per year; motion by Boyenga, seconded by Hoime to approve the assessing contract with the City of Hardwick, declared carried on a voice vote. Randy Ehlers, Family Services Director, requested approval of (13) contracts, which modifies the consent agenda; motion by Bakken, seconded by Hoime, to approve the following consent agenda items as presented, declared carried on a voice vote.1. FSA Contract #14-1074-04 with Volunteers of America, Dakotas to provide inpatient, outpatient, and halfway house Chemical Dependency treatment services to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.2. FSA Contract 4-04 with Keystone Treatment Center to provide inpatient, outpatient, and after care Chemical Dependency treatment services to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.3. FSA Contract 22-533-04 with Southwestern Youth Services to provide non-secure detention and treatment services to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.4. FSA Contract 33-788-04 with Sioux Valley Regional Health Services, D.B.A. Luverne Community Hospital to provide various Home Health Care services. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.5. FSA Contract 37-1689-04 with Habilitative Services Inc. to provide Personal Care Attendant services to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05. 6. FSA Contract 40-582-04 with Magnolia Café to provide Home Delivered meals to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05. 7. FSA Contract 42-1684-04 with Tuff Home to provide Home Delivered meals to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.8. FSA Contract 46-850-04 with Green Lantern Café to provide Home Delivered meals to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.9. FSA Contract 52-788-04 with Sioux Valley Regional Health Services, D.B.A. Luverne Community Hospital to provide Chemical Dependency outpatient treatment to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.10. FSA Amendment to Contract 84-55-04 with Client Community Services Inc. to provide In Home Family Support services to one client. Contract effective 4-12-04 to 12-31-04.11. FSA Contract 109-1090-04 with Nutrition Services Inc. to provide Home Delivered Meals through the Luverne Meal site to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.12. FSA Contract 114-368-04 with Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan to provide Assisted Living Plus services at the Poplar Creek site to eligible clients. Contract effective 7-1-04 to 6-30-05.13. FSA Contract 97-1453-04 with Karen Gunnink to provide guardianship services to a Rock County client. Contract effective 3-1-04 to 2-28-05.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the fund balances, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the claims as presented, declared carried on a voice vote. A complete listing of the claims is available by request at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. General $21,814.20LEC .00Road & Bridge 21,382.75Welfare 33,867.48Landfill 2,835.48TOTAL $79,899.91The County Board acknowledged receipt of a thank you from the Southwest Minnesota Foundation.The County Board was in receipt of a letter from Lyon County stating that they are not interested in participating in the Waste to Energy Facility program in Redwood Falls following the study that had been completed by an independent engineer.The County Board reviewed a request to participate in caricature mapping publication for the Luverne community; it was determined that the county would not participate at this time. The County Board was in receipt of training materials entitled "Creating a More Effective Board," materials were reviewed and no action was taken. The County Board received an update from a meeting held by Sioux Valley regarding the surrounding property of the new hospital site currently owned by Sioux Valley. No action was taken. Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented construction plans for US Highway 75; currently they are at MnDOT for review and should be back in a couple of weeks.Mr. Sehr, stated that his department is working on (6) box culvert projects throughout the county and work is progressing as scheduled. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Bakken, to approve the use of the Morton building at the Highway Department for the CROP walk to be held on September 26, 2004; declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Hoime, seconded by Bakken, to enter into a recycling contract with Ketterling Services, Inc. with an effective date of 01 July 2004 through December 31, 2007 for the amount of $47,500 per year - $35,000 for processing, $12,500 for shed pick up and the county would no longer recycle glass products, however magazine recycling could be dropped off directly at the Ketterling location during business hours, declared carried on a voice vote. Dan Statema, Luverne Community Economic Development Director, presented Resolution No. 21-04, a resolution to transfer JOBZ acres from the City of Luverne to the City of Winsted; motion by Boyenga, seconded by Wildung, to approve Resolution No. 21-04 contingent upon additional clarification on the specific property being identified, declared carried on a voice vote. Don Klosterbuer, County Attorney, presented Resolution No. 22-04, authorizing the commencement of eminent domain proceedings for the acquisition of temporary construction easement and relocation of US Highway 75 access; motion by Wildung, seconded by Hoime, to approve Resolution No. 22-04, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board directed the County Attorney and the County Administrator to draft a letter to the City of Luverne for proposals for Law Enforcement stating that they would enter back into Dispatch and Pool agreements at the current rate of funding and continue the Law Enforcement contract. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to enter into the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Council Investment Act joint powers agreement, declared carried on a voice vote. Commissioner Bakken informed the County Board that he had attended the last Soil and Water Conservation District meeting and at that time they established a priority list for how they would handle engineering services for feedlots. Commissioner Hoime stated that he had attended the Planning and Zoning meeting and that they are working on bonding issues for gravel. He also stated he had attended the EQB Board meeting at the library and had met with the "Touch the Sky Prairie" individuals regarding noxious weed issues on their properties.With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was declared adjourned. Bob Jarchow, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(7-8)

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDSSealed proposals will be received by the City Council of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota at the Luverne City Hall, 203 E. Main, P.O. Box 659, Luverne, Minnesota 56156-0659 on Tuesday, the 3rd of August, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. for the Airport Apron Paving Improvements, Quentin Aanenson Field, Luverne, Minnesota, at which time the bids shall be publicly opened and read aloud.The approximate quantities of work on which proposals will be received are as follows: 13,915 S.Y. Remove Bituminous Surfacing 2,800 Ton Asphalt Pavementand other related items of construction.All bids shall be made on proposal forms furnished by the Engineer and shall be accompanied by bid security in the form of a certified check or bid bond, made payable to The City of Luverne, Minnesota, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid, which security becomes the property of the City in the event the successful bidder fails to enter into a contract and post satisfactory bond. Work shall be completed and the apron open to traffic by October 9, 2004.The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technicalities and irregularities. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.Project manual and drawings may be examined at the office of the Engineer or at the Luverne City Hall. Copies of said project manual and drawings may be secured from DeWild Grant Reckert and Associates Company, 1302 South Union Street, Rock Rapids, Iowa 51246, telephone 712-472-2531, FAX 712-472-2710, upon payment of thirty-five dollars ($35.00), none of which is refundable. Published upon order of the City Council of Luverne, Minnesota.LUVERNE, MINNESOTAATTEST: By /s/ Glen Gust Mayor/s/ Marianne Perkins City Clerk(7-8, 7-15, 7-22)

Ten Dollar LandThe following was printed in the Rose History in 1911:"It is interesting to note at this day and age, when Rock County lands are transferred at $130 per acre, that not so many years ago the prices were ridiculously low. This prediction was made by the Rock County Herald on May 30, 1884: The demand for town lots and Rock County real estate is increasing steadily and prices are rapidly advancing. Wild land in Rock County at $15 per acre will be considered a bargain one year from this time.Apparently the prediction did not come true, for we find in the Herald’s issue of April 20, 1888, this wail:‘The proposition may seem at first a doubtful one, but it is probably true that Rock County land would sell more readily if the prices asked for it were increased at least 60 percent. There is no doubt about the fact that the prevailing price of land in this county is too low. The Creator couldn’t afford to make such land as ours for $10 an acre. The price wouldn’t pay for the first cost. Land in Lyon County, Iowa, adjoining Rock County geographically, but widely removed from it’s point of value and desirability, is held at from $15 to $18 per acre, and at this price finds ready purchasers, while land in Rock County, very much superior in every way, goes begging for buyers at from $7 to $10 per acre.’ During the prosperous years of the early ‘90s land prices jumped, as the following from the Herald of Feb. 12, 1892, shows:‘Our people must accustom themselves to higher prices than those which have prevailed heretofore. It is no longer and unusual thing to get $25 to $27 per acre for improved farms and the prices are certain to go higher.’ "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.

An acquaintance returned from a trip to China recently. "How were your flights?" I asked. "Smooth as silk," he said, and I was reminded of how my flights to the land of the Great Wall in 1995 were anything but smooth. Let's check my travel journal for proof.My first plane landed in Denver. And it sat, and it sat, and it sat. Mechanical problems. By the time we departed for Los Angeles five hours late, it was obvious I would miss the following leg to Japan. However, I was told not to concern myself, that the airline would do all the worrying, that I wouldn't miss my flight. But I did the math and since we were taking off from Denver one hour before my LA-Tokyo flight was due to leave, well ... My real concern was that my host in China, Mr. Hu Zong Feng (Hoover), would be waiting for me at the Beijing airport at our originally scheduled time. I had no way to contact Hoover. He was taking the slow train from his home in Xian to Beijing, a 20-hour ride. Poor guy. He was going to be as lost as I was. I demanded that United Airlines help me contact Hoover. They were reluctant. I demanded in LA that they FAX Beijing. "Can't do that, sir!" I demanded they call Beijing. "Can't do that, sir!" Eventually, a supervisor sent an electronic message to Beijing airport with no assurance it would ever arrive.After the unscheduled overnight, I learned the electronic message was never acknowledged. So, I did not know if Hoover would be at the airport in Beijing to great me. If not, I'd be arriving at 10 p.m. in a country whose language I didn't read or speak, without knowing which hotel Hoover had booked, and not knowing another living soul there. So the question was: Is it possible to get lost in a country of 1.25 billion people? This was a big trip for me, considering I had received a kidney transplant just three years earlier. This story is a mere token of the unusual number of stresses I encountered on the trip. Yet, my philosophy is that I'd rather be challenged by the disruptions of travel than to remain forever in the safety of a routine life.The leg to Japan was tolerable because a sympathetic attendant found a place in first class for me. Leg room. The best food. Attention to my self-pity. However, another two-hour delay awaited me for the final leg to Beijing. By then, I couldn't imagine where Hoover was or what he would be thinking. I was going to need to use my survival skills, big time!From my journal: "Touchdown at 22:30, 50 hours from Sioux Falls. Smooth through customs and immigration. Military personnel checking us never asked for any of the papers I was required to bring. But where's Hoover? Searched the entire facility, not knowing what Hoover looks like. But I'm a tall American. He can spot me, right?"I'm soon outside the exit doors where there are 100 or so people waiting behind a low fence. They all have hand-printed signs with the name of the person they are meeting. With no choice but to join the ritual, I begin the search for my name on one of the signs, bending over to read each carefully. None were in English. Some of the people suppressed laughs."I was nearly at the end of my hunt when two lines of lettering on a 5x7-inch piece of worn paper caught my eye. One line read: "Frederic Manfred". And below my misspelled name was the word "Welcome". I had found Hoover. Big smiles and a big hug between an extremely thankful American and his new Chinese friend."

Application forms for hunting or fishing licenses in Montana now offer several options for identifying hair color. The choices include blond, black, gray, white, red, brown and, believe it or not, bald. "Bald has been a selection on Montana’s hunting and fishing applications since the 1970s," reports Reuters, "but the form was always filled out — discreetly, it seems — by a store clerk." Now that the applications can be filled out by anyone using the Internet, "bald" is suddenly being noticed. Several questions about baldness and hair color must remain unanswered, especially for Montana store clerks who are still filling out the forms. (Internet applicants will have to live with their own consciences.) The following guidelines, in the form of frequently asked questions, should be passed along to those employees: 1. What about dyed hair? White or graying hair, even though it is dyed, is still white or gray. This is why high-powered microscopes, similar to those shown on TV’s crime scene investigation shows, have been placed next to every store cash register in the state. Obtaining a sample for determining true hair follicle color under the microscope lens might pose a problem. If the applicant refuses to relinquish a strand of hair voluntarily, necessary force might be required. All employees in your store have been trained by the state to respond to this call for help — "Hair follicle alert! Hair follicle alert!" Within seconds, store employees will pin the reluctant applicant to the floor and secure a hair sample. (Note: Not even little, old ladies with purple or blue hair should be exempted from this treatment.) 2. What if customers lie about their true hair colors? This great state doesn’t take kindly to people who lie. A person who lies about hair color will very likely lie about other things, including their real weights, whether they floss their teeth daily or their involvement in local horse and cattle thefts. They will be shown no mercy in our court system. 3. What about people wearing obvious wigs or toupees? If it looks plastic, it probably is. Give any suspicious hair a surprise tug. You will immediately have your answer. 4. What about heads that have been completely shaved? Are they technically bald? If the applicant’s head is completely shiny and reflects overhead light, consider that person bald. If the head is covered with a telltale "shadow" and very faintly reveals a full hairline, hair follicle examination will reveal the applicant’s true hair color. (Refer to #1 for involuntary follicle removal.) 5. Should applicants with thinning hair, receding hairlines or bald spots all be classified as "bald?" This is why all store employees directly involved with the sale of hunting and fishing licenses in this state are required to have a strong background in geometry. Those math skills and memorized formulas will allow them to quickly calculate what percentage of a scalp’s surface is actually covered with hair. Any amount less than 20 percent would indicate serious hair loss or baldness. All calculations by store employees will be considered final. 6. Wait a minute! What if you know for certain that a fellow employee had a girlfriend take the high school math tests for him? What if that unnamed individual passed math, but with the lowest scores in the school’s history? We repeat — all calculations by store employees will be considered final. Live with it.

Dick and Audrey Heidenson returned home Tuesday after spending five days at the resort home of their son, Steve, at Battle Lake. Jill Kolsrud, Charlotte, N.C., visited her grandmother, Alice Kolsrud, Thursday afternoon.Wendell and Kathryn Erickson spent from Wednesday, June 23, through Tuesday, June 29, in the home of their daughter, Anna and Mike Gilman, Eden Prairie. Sunday, June 27, they attended the 50th wedding anniversary of Wendell’s brother and wife in Coon Rapids. Wilmer and Betty Elbers joined relatives at a gathering Saturday evening at the Edgerton Park to greet Lee and Renee DeBoer of Boulder City, Nev. Evangeline Opheim’s niece and nephew, Ruth Hilderman, British Columbia, and Rick Cherland, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, came Thursday for a visit and left Friday for the Cities to visit relatives of the Cherland family.Wendell and Kathryn Erickson went to Worthington on Sunday, the 4th, to take in the celebration at Prairie Village.Chuck and Rheta DeBoer attended the 4th of July parade at Inwood Saturday. Monday night friends from their church came for a picnic. Mae Top’s niece, Linda Ziegahn and husband, stopped to visit overnight Saturday. They were moving from California to Ohio. To visit with them, Bill and Judy Top, Sibley, Iowa, Jim and Gerry Sandstede, Luverne, and Allan and Judy Top, Hills, came. On Sunday for dinner were Allan and Judy Top, Jared, Kristen and Tess VanMaanen, Valley Springs. Vi Thompson, Springfield, Mo., a sister-in-law of Evelyn Rogness, and her daughter, Dawn Olney, Kansas City, Kan., spent from Tuesday until Friday of last week with Evelyn. Lexia DeWit, Sioux Falls, was a last week Wednesday visitor in the home of her parents, Cliff and Vi VanWyhe. Steve and Robie Horsman had a neighbor picnic supper at their home Sunday, the 4th of July. Also present was their daughter, Kally Horsman, Steen.Noreen and Gary Greves, Verona, Wis., came to Hills and along with Harriet Skattum, on June 26, to visit relatives and enjoyed a reunion at Volga, S.D. Harriet spent over the 4th in the home of her daughter, Margo and DeWayne Edwards, Forestburg, S.D.Weekend visitors in the home of Howard Hoyme were his son, Neal and wife, Kathy, of Pierre, S.D.Anita Rogers, cousin of Faith DeBoer, Cypress, Calif., spent two weeks here and have returned home. While here she and Faith went to Harmony to visit the Amish colony, saw a play put on by the Calumet Players, "Sound of Music," and attended Jesse James’ Days at Garretson, S.D., while also visiting relatives and friends. Sunday evening, the 4th of July, Jim and Gerry Sandstede, Luverne, took their mothers, Mae Top and Florence Sandstede, to supper and fireworks in Flandreau, S.D.