Another pointless
Pledge bill?
Gimme a break

I see our House Republicans are busy making themselves busy again.

In the true spirit of reinventing the wheel, our Rep. Doug Magnus has authored a bill that would require all students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom at least once a week.

Reciting the Pledge in the classroom is a time-honored tradition that teaches students patriotism to their country. I feel it’s an important ritual that should be continued for centuries to come.

Children need to understand the importance of honoring the flag and the freedoms it represents — freedom that was fought for by men and women who paid for it with their lives.

But it shouldn’t have to be mandated by law.

There are countless classroom traditions I feel strongly about, but I wouldn’t introduce legislation requiring schools to offer kindergarten naps or milk breaks. There are some things we should simply trust our local school boards and teachers to implement out of common sense.

I realize there are some Minnesota schools (obviously lacking this common sense) that have banned the Pledge of Allegiance due to its reference to God.

But this law wouldn’t change the rules in these districts anyway.

The proposed legislation permits schools to opt out of the pledge requirement with a simple majority vote of the local school board. It would also allow any student who objects to participating in the Pledge to be excused without penalty.

On the flip side, families in districts where the Pledge is banned need only lobby their school board members to get the rule changed.

These options at the local level already exist.

Our representatives in St. Paul don’t need to waste their time micromanaging classroom activities.

Rerun of a rerun
If this column sounds like a rerun, that’s because it is.

But so is the bill. And it doesn’t make any more sense now than it did when it was introduced last year at this time.

It’s the sort of happy, feel-good legislation that lawmakers fall all over themselves to sign on to. I just hope our new governor sees through the popularity contest that our former governor saw when he vetoed it last time around.

Our representatives need to get the message that we want them working on practical legislation that will actually help us, not on re-introducing failed bills that serve only to improve their political reputations.

If patriotism is truly the goal, I would call on our lawmakers to work instead on protecting education funding so that students can continue receiving adequate instruction on, say, the history of our great nation.

Glen sets March 17 as opening day
March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, will mark the opening of the new Glen’s Food Center.

According to owner, Glen Gust, the move to the former Jubilee store will take place after his current location closes on Sunday, March 16, and will reopen the next morning at the new facility.

Although the former Jubilee store is only a couple of years old, a lot of work still had to be done.

The biggest project was remodeling the deli and adding a bakery to the location.

When the facility was a Jubilee, most of the baked products were baked off-site and brought in. All bakery items will now be baked on site when the remodeling is completed.

One other physical change will be the addition of a new entrance directly into the deli.

According to Gust, the additional entrance will add convenience for the deli customers as well as freeing up parking space for grocery customers near the main entrance.

Other changes made over issues included restocking the store so items will be on the same shelves as they were in the former Glen’s location, adding all signage and repainting the store to the Affiliated colors.

Along with expanding from approximately 20,000 to 30,000 square feet, Glen’s shoppers will also appreciate the larger and more convenient parking lot the new store will have.

Will there be a 21st St. Patty’s Day Parade?
That depends on you.

Twenty years ago, Don Cashin decided Luverne needed a celebration to get spring off to a good start, and what better way to celebrate his Irish heritage, than to have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Since then, floats and cars with dignitaries have paraded down Main Street on March 17, usually taking a second loop, just for good measure.

Of course, the celebrating didn’t end there. The local dining and drinking establishments would see to that.

Last year may truly have been the last year. First Farmer’s and Merchants Bank sponsored the event up until last year, when the Chamber took the reins.

This year, unless some volunteers step forward, the 20-year tradition will come to an end.

If any individual, or possibly a corporate sponsor, would like to try their hand at it, now is the time to step forward.

Volunteers should contact the Luverne Chamber Commerce.

Esselink profiled in Star Tribune
Hills native and standout basketball player, Steve Esselink, was featured in Saturday edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Esselink, who transferred to the University of Minnesota from Augustana, was originally described as a one-trick pony, that of a gunner, or three point shooter.

Recently, however, what was considered to be his weak spot, his defensive skills, have seen some noticeable improvement.

The 6-6 junior is grabbing rebounds and coming up with loose balls, according to his coaches.

Along with his improved defensive skills, his playing time is also increasing.

In a recent game against Michigan State, he played a career high of 25 minutes. He also scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in the game.

On the negative side of this season, Esselink was sidelined for two games when he broke his left pinky on Jan. 15 at Wisconsin.

ARC holds annual rose sale
ARC is holding their annual rose sale during the month of March, in recognition of National Mental Retardation and Related Disabilities Month.

According to ARC, tables will be set up at Pizza Ranch, Glen’s and Pamida, or by calling 283-8769.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Lee Brickson, 81, Luverne, died Monday, March 3, 2003, at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.

A memorial service was Wednesday, March 5, at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne.

Lee Miniard was born to James and Maggie (Sturgill) Miniard on Dec. 15, 1921, in Harlan, Ky.

She married William Brickson and lived in Adrian. After the couple divorced, she moved to Luverne. She worked at Luverne Style Shop for many years.

Survivors include one son, James Brickson; one daughter, Meg Amundson; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Brickson was preceded in death by three daughters, Cynthia, Karen and Beth.

A tree will be planted in memory of Lee Brickson by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Marie Berghorst, 92, Luverne, died Saturday, March 1, 2003, at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.

Services were Wednesday, March 5, at Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. The Rev. George Koopmans officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Marie Vlleger was born to Hendrik and Gerrigje (Nagelhout) Vlleger on Sept. 10, 1910, in Doornspyk, Netherlands. She was raised and educated in Doornspyk.

She married Sidney Berghorst on April 24, 1932, in Doornspyk. The Berghorst family immigrated to the United States in 1948. They first settled in Versailles, Mo. and then moved to Hull, Iowa. The family moved to a farm west of Luverne in 1951 and then in 1953, made their home on a farm north of Hardwick. They moved to a farm west of Appleton in 1959. Ten years later the family moved to Hilmar, Calif. Mr. Berghorst died in 1970. Marie moved back to Luverne in 1973.

Mrs. Berghorst was a member of Christian Reformed Church and Senior Citizens, both in Luverne. She was active in the church’s Ladies Aide. She enjoyed playing board games, shuffleboard and bowling. She loved spending time knitting, crocheting and working in her garden.

Survivors include five sons, Henry (Evelyn) Berghorst, Hector, Martin (Judy) Berghorst, Clara City, Art (Pat) Berghorst, Porter, John (Sheila) Berghorst, Canby, and Jack (Ann) Berghorst, Taunton; four daughters, Wilma De Boer, Mt. Vernon, Wash., Gertrude Bruynes, Frances (Homer) Vos, both of Hardwick, and Mary Wiering, Alexandria; one son-in-law, Richard Hubbling, Hardwick; 33 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and special friend, Nina Mae Eernisse, Luverne.

Mrs. Berghorst was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Sidney, one son, Frank Berghorst, one daughter, Mini Hubbling, one granddaughter, Marty Bruynes, five brothers and two sisters.

A tree will be planted in memory of Marie Berghorst by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Mary McPherson, 90, Luverne, died Wednesday, March 5 at Mary Jane Brown Home, Luverne. Visitation will be Friday, March 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Saturday, March 8 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church, Luverne, with Rev. Bart Fletcher officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

Diane Maxine Voss, 56, Carnegie, Penn., formerly of Luverne, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003.

A memorial service was Thursday, March 6, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. The Rev. Gerald Kosse officiated. Burial of the cremains was at St. Adrian Cemetery.

Diane Kruger was born to Elmer (Knute) and Maxine Kruger on Jan. 8, 1947. She married David Kunkel on Oct. 10, 1969,

She moved to Carnegie in October 1998. She married Lloyd Voss on Oct. 23, 1999.

Survivors include her husband, Lloyd Voss, Carnegie; one son, Bobby (Shelly) Kunkel, Luverne; one daughter, Jodi Christy, Luverne; one stepson, T.J. (Deb) Voss, Pittsburgh, Penn.; two stepdaughters, Suzy Voss, Pittsburgh, and Kristin Voss, Clarion, Penn; three grandchildren, Conner and Colten Kunkel, Luverne, and Danetrea Tesch, Yankton, S.D.; one stepgranddaughter, Rebecca Voss, Pittsburgh; three brothers, Dennis (Rita) Kruger, Donald (Deb) Kruger, all of Luverne, and Sam (Deb) Kruger, Beaver Creek; two sisters, Joanne "Puddy" (Jack) Maras, and Shari (Robin) Stratton, all of Luverne; father-in-law, Hub Voss, Ellsworth; and grandparents.

Mrs. Voss was preceded in death by her mother, Maxine Kruger, Dean Kruger and nephew, Travis Kruger.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Lester Bernard Swenson, 70, Jasper, formerly of rural Rock County, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone.

Services were Thursday, March 6, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial was in Rose Dell Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Jasper.

Lester Swenson was born to Chester C. and Ragna L. (Haroldson) Swenson on March 30, 1932, in rural Rock County. He was baptized on June 4, 1932, in Luverne. He was raised on the family farm and attended school in Rock County. Following his education, he worked on the family farm until 1951 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served during the Korean War and in 1955 was granted an honorable discharge. Following his discharge, he returned home to Rock County.

He married Shirley Buss on Nov. 10, 1956, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Following their marriage, they lived in Rock County until 1969 when they moved to Jasper. He retired at age 62.

Mr. Swenson was a former member of Rose Dell Trinity Lutheran Church of Jasper. He currently was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. He served as chairman of the Split Rock State Park Advisory Board for many years. He also was a member of Arthur Moeller American Legion Post 478 in Hardwick. His hobbies consisted of reading and watching his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Swenson, Jasper; five children, Greg Swenson, Jasper, and his special friend Karen Hemminger, Mark Swenson, Lakeville, and his fiancé Diane Holter, Scott Swenson, Edgerton, Brenda Law, Kansas City, Mo., and her special friend, Deon Durr, and Kimberly Pierret and her husband, Wayne, Sherman, S.D.; 10 grandchildren, Kayla Swenson, Shabrielle Law, Freia Fenelon, Liz Holter, Josianne Holter, Taylor Swenson, Colby Pierret, Evia Ona Durr, Haylee Swenson and Hayden Pierret; two brothers, Russell (Jeane) Swenson and Dale (Marilyn) Swenson, all of Luverne, and one sister, Verna (Wallace) Schmuck, Luverne.

Mr. Swenson was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth Swenson and his wife, Betty.

Foster-Hartquist Funeral Chapel in Jasper was in charge of arrangements.

Darlene "Kelly" Hemme, 91, Pipestone, formerly of Luverne, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at Good Samaritan Village in Pipestone.

Services were Saturday, March 1, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Darlene Schuetts was born to Pearl and Bessie (Greenhagen) Schuetts on April 12, 1911, in Kewanee, Ill. When she was a young girl, she moved with her parents to Luverne where she was raised and received her education. After her graduation from Luverne High School in 1929, she attended Mankato State College in Mankato.

She married Eldo Hemme on Aug. 25, 1934, in Canton, S.D. Following their marriage, they farmed near Hardwick and then Jasper. After their retirement from farming, they moved to Pipestone. They moved to New Ulm a few years later. Mr. Hemme died on Aug. 31, 1968. After his death, she returned to Pipestone and later Jasper. In 1988, she moved to Palisades Manor Nursing Home in Garretson, S.D. In 1996, she became a resident of Good Samaritan Village in Pipestone.

Mrs. Hemme was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper. She enjoyed sewing and made many clothes for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed doing crafts.

Survivors include four sons, Roger (Shirley) Hemme, Lancaster, Calif., James Hemme, Florence, Colo., Wilburt Hemme, Aurora, Colo., and Leon (Gail) Hemme, Fort Collins, Colo.; one daughter, Jerene (Robert) Milliken, Glenview, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Hemme was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother, Kenneth Schuetts.

Hartquist Funeral Chapel, Pipestone, was in charge of arrangements.

Sonia "Sunny" Rae Haggard, 69, White Bear Lake, formerly of Luverne, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003, at The Pillars in Oakdale.

Services for Sonia Haggard were Thursday, Feb. 27, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Luverne. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Sonia Turner was born to Daniel V. and Annabelle "Bonnie" (Martin) Turner on Aug. 6, 1933, in Luverne. When she was 6 years old she moved with her family to California. She lived in California until her freshman year in high school when she returned to Luverne to live with her mother and stepfather, M.C. (Shorty) Hilger. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1951. She worked as a secretary for Wendt Poultry Company in Luverne. She then moved to Minneapolis and worked as a secretary at Twin City Federal Savings and Loan.

She married Dale L. Haggard on Sept. 10, 1955. In 1959, they moved back to Luverne where her husband practiced veterinary medicine. The family moved to Omaha, Neb., in January 1970 and then to East Lansing, Mich. in 1972. She sold real estate at an all-female brokerage firm during the early 70s.
They moved to White Bear Lake in 1978. She worked as a secretary at Lakewood College until she retired.

Survivors include her husband, Dale Haggard; two daughters, Jane (Robert) Andre and Martha (Mark) Anderson; one granddaughter, Ella Rae Anderson; her mother, Bonnie Hilger, one sister, Joyce (Bill) Sexton; mother-in-law, Jessie Haggard, two sisters-in-law, Winifred Haggard and Helen (Dwayne) Rollag; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Haggard was preceded in death by her father, stepfather, and infant son, John Hewitt Haggard, on Aug. 26, 1965, from acute lymphatic leukemia.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.