By John Rittenhouse
The fields are set and the brackets are in place for the annual Luverne High School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Holiday Classic Tournaments that are set for Friday and Saturday.

The varsity girls’ tournament begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Luverne Elementary School gym.
Luverne plays Sleepy Eye in the opener, and Westbrook-Walnut Grove faces Canby at 8:15 p.m.

The loser’s of the first-round games will meet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Luverne High School gym.

The championship game will be played in the Elementary School gym at the same time.

The first-round games in the boys’ varsity tournament will be played in the Luverne High School gym Friday.

W-WG takes on Canby at 6:30 p.m., and Luverne meets Lakeview at 8:15.

The losers of the first-round games will play at 8:15 p.m. Saturday in the Luverne High School gym. The championship game will be played at the same time in the Luverne Elementary School gym.

B squad boys’ and girls’ tournaments will be played in the afternoons on both days.

The B squad girls’ tournament begins at 2 p.m. Friday with Luverne meeting Sleepy Eye in the Elementary School game, and W-WG taking on Canby at 3:30 p.m.

The losers of the first-round games will play at 2 p.m. Saturday in the High School gym. The championship game will be played at the same time in the Elementary School gym.

The B squad boy’s tournament opens in the High School gym Friday. W-WG plays Canby at 2 p.m., and Luverne takes on Lakeview at 3:30 p.m.

The losers of the first-round games play in the High School game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The winners of the first-round games play at the same time in the Luverne Elementary School gym.

By Lori Ehde
Of all the Christmas stories of goodness and joy, this one warms the soul.

It’s about a little girl’s wish to become an accomplished pianist and a community effort to make that wish come true.

It all started with an off-hand remark by fourth-grader Cassandra Sunderland to Luverne Elementary music teacher Beth Capistran.

She had mentioned that she’d like to take piano lessons someday, so Capistran referred the student to Child Guide Lisa Dinger.

Through her duties connecting children to positive community assets, Dinger called around town to find a piano teacher.

The aspiring young musician wasn’t lacking talent or ambition, but she did lack a piano at home and the resources for lessons.

That’s where Cassandra’s friends in the school and community pulled together to help out.

Word eventually reached retired piano teacher June Polzin, who started volunteering lessons for Cassandra at school once a week.

When Child Guide Advisory Board member Julie Wynia updated the Rock County Board on the program, she mentioned the piano lesson story as an example of connecting students with positive community assets.

After the meeting, County Commissioner Jane Wildung and County Administrator Kyle Oldre launched a community-wide search for a piano for Cassandra so she could practice at home.

Oldre’s wife, Sara, works at Hills-Beaver Creek School with Diane Vanden Hoek, who had an upright piano to donate.

Oldre solicited help from friends to move it to Cassandra’s home.

After school on Friday, Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff and several teachers made arrangements to drive Cassandra home where the surprise piano waited in the living room.

Also waiting for her were Santa Claus (Terrie Gulden), Wildung, Oldre and her aunt, Paula Lingen.

Directing her to the piano, they simply said, "Merry Christmas."

Since so many were involved, they simply said the piano was a gift from Santa Claus.

With her eyes dancing at the sight of the ivory keys, Cassandra sat down and played by ear "Silent Night."

With tears welling in their eyes, everyone reflected on the positive outcome of the group effort.

For Dinger, it’s the perfect example what can be done for kids in a community of caring individuals.

"This is how things happen for all the kids I have in the Child Guide program," she said.

Children are referred to the program for various reasons, and she connects them to community people and resources.

"There are lots of little things that go on all the time," Dinger said, "but this one just happens to be a big thing."

She said the message needs to get out that everyone who works for children needs to understand their input, whether big or small, can make a big difference if it’s used in collaboration with others.

"People pulling together helping a child will make a huge difference in a child’s life, especially if they are at a crossroads in their life deciding a future path," Dinger said.

"What excites me is how this community pulls together, especially for the youth."

By Sara Strong
The City of Luverne has been named in two lawsuits involving electric accidents in 2001.

The first was filed by Fulda Electric regarding an electric accident that injured Phillip Kramer Dec. 3, 2001.

The company is suing the city, because it says it’s had to pay increased workers’ compensation coverage and will continue to do so in the future.

Fulda Electric is suing for "an amount in excess of $50,000 together with interest, costs and disbursements as allowed by law."

The city is also facing a lawsuit by the heirs of Brad Herr, the man who died after an electric shock and fall while working in Luverne.

This suit was filed in U.S. District Court, because the accident occurred in Minnesota, Herr was a resident of South Dakota and the family resides in Iowa. In addition, the amount the heirs are suing for exceeds $75,000.

Herr’s accident occurred Oct. 20, 2001, when he was working for RCH Cable Sales Company of the Midwest. He was installing equipment for digital cable Mediacom, which the lawsuit said Luverne hired to do the work.

Herr was working on a pole near the National Guard Armory on Freeman Avenue and "came into contact with a ground wire that was not connected to a suitable grounding electrode."

The lawsuit calls to attention a prior incident on the same power pole that occurred Sept. 28, 2001, and charges that the city did not take proper measures to remedy the line, and further, that the city work done by employees of the city was "substandard, negligent and dangerous."

The heirs and the next of kin of Herr say through the suit that they have "sustained damages, including funeral expenses, loss of society, companionship, affection, support and other pecuniary loss."

The plaintiff is asking for a judgment against the city of Luverne for "a reasonable excess of $70,000, together with interest, costs and disbursements as allowed by law. Plaintiff also demands a trial by jury."

The Dec. 3 incident, in which Kramer lost his left hand and part of his forearm, prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to fine the city $56,000.

The city is trying to appeal those fines, which were given with the designation of "willful" violations.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne School Board members formally approved the creation of a Luverne School Foundation during their Monday night meeting.

Appropriately following woeful discussion on the future of education funding, the board approved a resolution that puts the wheels in motion to establish a vehicle for accepting private donations.

With the Southwest Minnesota Foundation serving as the umbrella organization, the Luverne School Foundation will be able to accept tax-deductible donations exclusively for the benefit of the district.

It will not serve the same purpose as Dollars for Scholars, rather the board views it as a potential "sister" foundation to Dollars for Scholars.

A committee of School Board members Becky Walgrave, Bill Stegemann and Don Bryan will meet with Superintendent Vince Schaefer Thursday, Jan. 9, to work out the details.

It will be set up to accept undesignated funds to be channeled toward technology or other identified areas of need. In addition, it may accept designated funds earmarked for needs specifically identified by donors.

The foundation will provide the opportunity to set up endowments, which would use only money generated from interest, or it may accept funds as grants to be used outright.

All gifts to the foundation will be tax deductible.

"At least now we have a vehicle in place to receive donations," Schaefer said.

Administrative salaries
The board approved administrative salaries during regular business at Monday’s meeting.

Schaefer’s salary as superintendent will increase from $91,960 in 2002-03 to $96,098 in 2003-04.

High School Principal Gary Fisher’s salary will increase from $84,751 in 2002-03 to $88,141 in 2003-04.

Curriculum Coordinator and Alternative School Director Jan Olson’s salary will increase from $58,565 in 2002-03 to $60,907 in 2003-04.

Activity Director Harvey Crable’s salary for a one-year contract is set at $37,046 for 2002-03.

These salaries are effective retro to the start of the current school year, July1, 2002.

Playground concerns
Playground Committee member Dan Kopp updated the board on a few concerns that may need attention.

A major storm drain is located in the middle of play area on the southwest side of the elementary school. Water sometimes ponds around this drain causing safety issues.

The chain-link fence may have been placed too near the west side of the building, compromising play space.

Wood fiber chips under playground equipment needs to be replaced about a semi load per year because high winds blow them away. Wood is less expensive, but not when it needs to be replaced that often.

The committee is looking at alternatives to wood chips, in addition to solutions to the other playground issues.

In other business, Monday, the board …
Approved an agreement with Nobles-Rock Public Health to designate the school as a mass dispensing site or clinic in the event of an emergency.

Depending on the emergency, the district will make available its kitchens, commons area and/or gymnasiums.

Formally swore in re-elected board members Walgrave, Stegemann, Kopp and Cary Radisewitz.

Noted the next regular School Board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23.

Luverne’s 6-0 pounding of the Wildcats in Luverne’s Blue Mound Ice Arena. Pictured in the foreground is Luverne’s Chris Morgan (18).

By Sara Strong
The Luverne boys’ hockey team is still unbeaten after Saturday’s 6-0 home win over Dodge County.
The game started in favor of Luverne with four goals in the first period. The second and third periods each brought the Cardinals a goal.

The Wildcats let the first goal by when Chris Morgan scored with an assist by Nick Otten and Dan Schneekloth.

Then, Eric Lammert scored with an assist from Morgan.

Tyler Elbers also made a goal with an assist from Dan Park, which was followed by another goal by Steven Berghorst, assisted by Otten and Justin Arndt.

The Cardinals had one save and the Wildcats had seven saves in the first period.

Tony Smedsrud scored the only goal of the second period. The Cards recorded three saves in the second period, with visitors tallying seven saves.

The third period brought a goal by Andy Hess, assisted by Park. The Cardinals had four saves and the Wildcats had nine saves in the third period.

The Cardinal boys’ hockey team plays in the Bulldog Tournament Dec. 26-28.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team gave their home fans a thrill Tuesday night in Hills.

Playing four-time defending state champion Southwest Christian in a Red Rock Conference clash, the Patriots stunned the Eagles by saddling them with a 62-57 setback.

Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema couldn’t recall the last time one of his H-BC teams beat SWC, but he was proud of the way his young Patriots took care of business Tuesday.

"The kids played really well," he said.

The Patriots led 21-20 at the end of the first quarter before increasing the difference to four points (39-35) by halftime with an 18-15 scoring advantage in the second quarter.

With Trey Van Wyhe and Kale Wiertzema netting four points each to lead the way, H-BC outscored the Eagles 11-6 in the third quarter to take a 50-41 advantage into the final stanza.

SWC trimmed the difference to three points at one stage of the fourth quarter, but the Patriots met the challenge by fighting back to win by five points.

Van Wyhe led the Patriots with 18 points and nine rebounds in the game.

Tyson Metzger scored 15 points and latched on to seven rebounds, Wiertzema scored 14 points, passed for eight assists and collected six rebounds, and Tyler Bush added 10 points and six steals to the winning cause.

Turning the ball over seven fewer times (12-19) and outrebounding the Eagles by seven (29-22) were keys to the win for H-BC.

The 3-2 Patriots will take a two-game winning streak into another RRC clash against Murray County Central in Slayton Friday.

Box score
Bush 2 0 6-11 10, Wysong 0 0 0-0 0, Broesder 1 0 0-0 2, Wiertzema 1 3 3-5 14, Metzger 4 1 4-6 15, Leuthold 0 0 3-6 3, Van Wyhe 8 0 2-4 18.

Team statistics
H-BC: 20 of 43 field goals (47 percent), 18 of 32 free throws (56 percent), 12 turnovers, 29 rebounds.
SWC: 23 of 47 field goals (49 percent), five of 10 free throws (50 percent), 19 turnovers, 22 rebounds.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team opened the Red Rock Conference play by posting an impressive road win Thursday in Edgerton.

Taking on a talented Flying Dutchmen squad on their home floor, the Patriots battled hard before pulling out a 69-66 victory at game’s end.

H-BC trailed at the first three quarter breaks before outscoring Edgerton 25-21 in the fourth quarter to win by three.

Edgerton led 16-15 after eight minutes of play before increasing the difference to three points (29-26) at the intermission with a 13-11 scoring edge in the second quarter.

H-BC trimmed the difference to one point (45-44) in the third quarter before winning the contest with its fourth-quarter rally.

Tyson Metzger, who put the Patriots in front 67-66 with a free throw with three seconds remaining, played a key role in H-BC’s victory.

Metzger made all eight of his two-point field goals he attempted in the game and was 10 of 14 from the floor (71 percent) overall.

The Patriot senior had a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Metzger also recorded five assists and three steals.

Kale Wiertzema and Trey Van Wyhe also turned in solid performances for H-BC.

Wiertzema, who had six rebounds, five assists and four steals, made 53 percent (seven of 13) of his field goals while scoring 18 points.

Van Wyhe cashed in on four of five field goals (80 percent) while scoring 12 points.

Tyler Bush added 11 points, five assists and three steals to the winning effort. Bush drained a pair of charity shots with one second left to put the game away.

Box score
Bush 2 0 7-10 11, Wysong 0 0 0-0 0, Roozeboom 0 0 3-4 3, Broesder 0 0 0-0 0, Wiertzema 4 3 1-3 18, Metzger 8 2 2-5 24, Leuthold 0 0 1-4 1, Van Wyhe 4 0 4-6 12.

Team statistics
H-BC: 23 of 43 field goals (54 percent), 18 of 32 free throws (56 percent), 27 rebounds, 11 turnovers.
Edgerton: 28 of 52 field goals (54 percent), six of eight free throws (75 percent), 31 rebounds, 17 turnovers.

By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members reviewed a great deal of information at their Tuesday meeting, but made no decisions on the proposed high school locker room project.

Initial cost estimates for the project, without a weight room, range from $398,144 to $439,552 or $80.31 to $88.67 per square foot.

A weight room would add $113,302 to $127,512 to the cost of the project, handled by Group II Architects, Sioux Falls.

Department of Children, Families and Learning and Title 9 requirements increased the cost of the project, according to Superintendent Dave Deragisch.

CFL now requires a minimum of 1,500 square feet for each locker room when the board initially discussed 900 square feet of space for each locker room.

Title 9 rules require that girls’ and boys’ locker rooms have equal square footage.

"We are meeting the minimum requirements by the CFL," Deragisch said.

The district could comfortably pay for a portion of the construction from current cash assets, but would ask voters for the rest of the money in the form of a new levy.

The building committee and Deragisch worked extensively with the architects to streamline the design.

"They (the architects) started out with the Taj Mahal, and we are down to the minimum requirements set by CFL," said Deragisch.

If the project cost remains less than $500,000, the CFL doesn’t require a Review and Comment, Deragisch said.

But if a new high school or any other project is planned for the future, CFL could make the district bring all previous construction up to code.

"As I stand before you, I refuse to go over $500,000 in cost," Deragisch said.

He suggested reducing the hall width from eight to seven feet to shave an estimated $8,500 off the price tag. Not finishing the weight room space or not building a weight room at all were also mentioned as cost saving options. Hiring local contractors could also reduce costs.

A letter, including plans and cost estimates, will be sent to Hills-Beaver Creek residens asking if they are in favor of the project. The board will review the responses at their Monday, Jan. 13, meeting.

Based on the responses, the board will decide how to proceed.

"If we had overwhelming support from the public I would feel comfortable hiring the architecture firm," Deragisch said.

If support doesn’t seem to be there, community meetings may be planned to educate the public further on the project.

Group II made preliminary drawings for the project for a fee of $3,500, but future work is quoted at 10 to 12 percent of the total project cost.

Unless renegotiated, these fees would add an additional $43,955 to $52,746 (high end estimate) to the locker room project alone.

Deragisch said the board would need a plan in place on how to utilize the old locker room space.
Board member Ann Boeve asked for a list of options for the board’s next meeting.

In a survey sent to district residents two years ago, 87 percent of respondents expressed concern about the current locker room facilities, according to Deragisch.

Personnel changes
Current band and choir instructor Brent Steinert will be full-time fifth- through 12th-grade band for the second semester.

There are 84 students in band, and Deragisch estimates the numbers could jump to 115 students next year.

Elementary choir instructor and special education instructor Jodi Ackerman will take over the high school choir.

"Now we’ve got an individual that’s very dedicated and showing great results," said Board Member Gary Esselink. "I think as a board we should support that."

Marie LaRock will increase her speech/language time by 12 hours per week at a cost of $4,636, because student numbers have doubled.

Mary Mudder will work full-time in the elementary school, replacing Jodi Ackerman, and the district will hire a part-time special education instructor for the high school at a salary of $15,000.

By Jolene Farley
Officials in Beaver Creek are waiting for the results of a camera probe of the city well to determine if they can fix the existing well or if they need to drill a new well.

"We’ve got a problem with the old well," said Beaver Creek Mayor Al Blank. "We’re getting a bit of sand in the water."

City employee Lloyd DeBoer and some residents began noticing sand in the water two to three weeks ago.

He said DeBoer immediately slowed the flow and began flushing the hydrants closest to the well periodically hoping to decrease the amount of sand in the water.

The council hired Thein Well, Spicer, to pull the pump and send a submersible camera down the 30-year–old well so officials can determine the extent of the problem. Work on the well was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

The problem appears to stem from a screen in the well that allows water through but is supposed to filter out sand and other solid materials. The screens can deteriorate with age.

The decision to fix the well or drill a new one will hinge on cost, according to Blank. An optimistic estimate for drilling a new city well is $50,000.

"I think in another week we probably will have devised a plan of action," he said.

Blank said the council hasn’t determined where to drill another well if the need arises.

"We don’t know where to drill," he said. "The health department has a lot to say about where you can and cannot drill a well."

The council explored hooking up to the Rock County Rural Water System, but decided against it, due to cost.

The council received a quote of $219,000 for initial hookup and a charge of $1.85 per thousand gallons of water for usage.

"The council and myself have agreed that that’s not an option," said Blank. "The cost would be to great."
Residents shouldn’t be concerned about running out of water. Even though the pumps are slowed, they still keep up with the winter demand for water, Blank said.

Residents also shouldn’t be concerned about the quality of drinking water.

Periodic water testing is required by the Environmental Protection Agency and the water is safe.

Though the well problems have been linked to a recent earthquake in Nebraska and South Dakota, Blank said that’s not the likely cause.

He said although there has been a rash of well problems that developed around the region after the quake, it would be a long jump to connect the two incidents.