By John Rittenhouse
Six of the 13 winter sports teams from the Star Herald coverage area will have opened the 2002-03 season by next Tuesday.

The Luverne girls’ hockey team was the first squad to see action by playing games last Friday and Tuesday nights.

The Cardinal girls are scheduled to host Marshall tonight before playing in Fairmont Tuesday, meaning the LHS skaters will play four games prior to the Thanksgiving break.

Girls’ basketball teams representing Hills-Beaver Creek and Ellsworth will play each other to open the season Friday.

After playing in Hills, Ellsworth hosts Dawson-Boyd and Southwest Christian Monday and Tuesday respectively.

The H-BC girls will travel to Pipestone for a Tuesday tilt.

The Luverne and Adrian girls’ basketball teams and the Luverne boys’ hockey team will open their seasons Tuesday.

The LHS boys will skate against Mankato East at the Blue Mound Ice Arena.

Luverne’s girls’ basketball team will play Lincoln HI in Ivanhoe Tuesday, while Adrian travels to Round Lake to challenge Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster.

Six of the seven area winter sports teams are scheduled to open the season Tuesday, Dec. 3.

In boys’ basketball, Luverne hosts Fulda, H-BC hosts Pipestone, Adrian travels to Canby and Ellsworth takes on SV-RL-B in Round Lake Dec. 3

The Luverne-H-BC-E wrestling team competes in Fulda the same night, while the L-H-BC gymnastics team competes against West Central in Sioux Falls the same evening.

Adrian’s wrestling squad is the final area team to make its debut. The Dragons host Pipestone Thursday, Dec. 5.
Look for reports on all of the games played prior to next Tuesday in the sports section of next week’s edition of the Star Herald, which will be on newsstands Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Also included in next week’s paper will be the Star Herald Winter Sports Preview.

All games played between next Tuesday and Dec. 3 will be included in the Dec. 5 edition of the Star Herald.

Seven Adrian High School football players drew post-season honors from the Little Sioux Conference coaches. They are (left to right) Brent Voss, Levi Bullerman, Pete Hohn, Dusty Henning, Dusty Spieker, Brandon Schettler and Joe Kruger. Henning, Kruger, Schettler, Bullerman and Spieker made the 2002 All-LCS Team. Hohn and Voss made the league’s All-Academic Team.

By John Rittenhouse
Five members of the Adrian High School football team made the 2002 All-Little Sioux Conference Football Team that was announced last week.

Adrian and Minneota, teams that tied for second place in the loop, placed five athletes each on the 26-player all-conference roster.

Making the team from Adrian are seniors Dusty Henning, Joe Kruger, Brandon Schettler and Dusty Spieker, and sophomore Levi Bullerman.

Minneota’s team qualifers include seniors Nick Pohlen, Craig Myhre, Wade Gillund, Todd Opdahl and Nathan Buysee.

Canby, which won the league championship with a 7-0 mark, drew seven all-conference selections.

Leading the list for the Lancers is senior quarterback Nick Kockelman, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the LSC.

Seniors Justin Zajic, Chuck Schmitz, Troy Tolefree, Russ Kockelman and Matt Hoffman, and junior Dave Monke are Canby’s other all-league selections.

Fulda drew three all-league picks in seniors David Lund, Tom Bergman and Troy Paplow.

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Dawson-Boyd claimed two roster spots each.

R-T-R seniors Reed Burckhardt and Zac Dubbelde, and D-B senior Nick Hastad and junior Tim Cariveau grace the roster.

Rounding out the all-conference team are Murray County Central junior Shawn Platt and Ortonville junior Riley Sammon.

Two players from each school were named to the LSC’s All-Academic Team.

Seniors Pete Hohn and Brent Voss represent the Dragons on the team.

By Sara Strong
Issues of land management were up for discussion at Tuesday’s Rock County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Land Management Director Eric Hartman told the board Rock County could be designated "livestock friendly."

Hartman said the county could sell itself as livestock friendly to help draw population and livestock business to Rock County.

Rock County’s current setbacks are generally twice as strict as the livestock friendly designation would allow. Commissioners will have to decide if it’s something they want to pursue, given the amount of time and energy already spent making setback ordinances.

The board referred the issue back to the Planning and Zoning Board for research and review.

In-house engineer
The Rock County Board passed a resolution of support for the Southwest Joint Powers Organization to seek a grant for an engineering intern to work out of the Rock County office.

The local cost would be mostly "in kind" costs of about $34,000 that would come from providing a work area, telephone and vehicle for the engineer.

The two-year grant would allow most of the engineer’s time to be dedicated to working with feedlot owners in Rock County. This would be especially helpful to those who have to make changes based on the Level III inventories, which were ordered by the District Attorney.

County costs of the inventories themselves will be partially covered by the settlement from a plea agreement with David Logan of Global Ventures, a hog operation that was involved in bribery crimes. The Level III inventories are being done to ensure no environmental harm was done during the tenure of former Land Management director John Burgers, who was also implicated in the Global Ventures scandal.
BWSR received $130,000 to spend on inspections and Rock County received $30,000.

Rock County has a better chance at getting the engineer grant if it goes through the Joint Powers Organization.

If the grant is approved, the county could designate how it wants the engineer to spend time, whether on clean-ups needed because of recent inspections or for expansion projects.

A big part of local producers’ fears of inspections has been based on the cost of engineers that would be required to sign off on most feedlot designs.

The Joint Powers Organization has an engineer that could back up what the intern engineer does, as required until the intern obtains a full license.

Task force
The Rock County Feedlot Task Force will meet Dec. 5. Part of the session will be about the feedlot evaluation process.

The 16-member Task Force was formed to work through the feedlot inspection process in the county. The group meets periodically to discuss rule interpretations in gray areas of environmental code and will try to disseminate public information.

By Lori Ehde
In the moments leading up to his sentence hearing Monday, 20-year-old Mark Duane Lafrenz somberly eyed the motionless legs of Lynette Kemerling in her wheelchair.

Lafrenz, Luverne, pleaded guilty Oct. 7 to criminal vehicular injury, and the reality of what he’d done made for a long wait outside the courtroom door.

Kemerling was paralyzed on Christmas Day last year when Lafrenz’s speeding car rammed into the rear end of the vehicle she was riding in north of Luverne on Highway 75.

Before Judge Timothy Connell delivered the sentence Monday, he asked Lafrenz if he had anything to say for himself.

"I’d just like to say I’m sorry," Lafrenz said, putting his head in his hands on the courtroom table.

He should be, according to Kemerling.

"My life has changed," she told the court. "I will never be the person I was before this accident."

Struggling at times to maintain composure, the Luverne High School graduate talked about how the actions of Lafrenz affected her, her family and friends and her place of work.

"This young man chose many things that led up to Christmas day 2001," she said.

"First, he chose to drive up to 80 mph on a busy holiday. Second, he chose to use meth, which will alter your judgment. Third, he chose not to have proper brakes on his vehicle, which will eventually cause problems. And, last, he decided not to insure his vehicle.

"All of these actions led up to an accident which he must be accountable for."

She and her brother, Harland Kemerling, were on their way home for Christmas when Harland slowed down to allow Roger Erickson in the vehicle ahead of them to make a left turn. It was 11:30 a.m. That’s when they were rear-ended by Lafrenz.

When they were hit, Kemerling’s body was first thrust forward and then backward, the force of her weight breaking the car seat and laying it flat.

Harland was wearing his seatbelt. Lynette was not.

She was partially thrown through a rear window of the van and she remembers skidding through the snow face down as she was dragged by the van.

"I must have known I was flying because I remember grabbing at things. … I really lucked out. I thought I was going to die there," Kemerling, then 44, said in a Star Herald interview in June.

According to Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines, the presumptive sentence for criminal vehicular injury is three years in prison, but Kemerling, and prosecuting attorney Terry Vajgrt had a more creative sentence in mind.

Instead of three years in prison that would end with an abrupt release, they sought punishment that might yield a more positive long-term result.

In a plea agreement prior to sentencing, Lafrenz exchanged three years in prison for only one year in county jail in Worthington.

The conditions of this arrangement are that he spend at least 28 days in in-patient treatment and five years on probation. During that time, he’ll be subject to random blood and urine tests to ensure he’s abiding by the requirements of probation and treatment aftercare.

He must also attend weekly Alcohol Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings and meet regularly with a sponsor.

He must also make restitution to Kemerling of $15,000 over a five-year period.

The idea behind requesting the reduced prison sentence is two-fold, according to Kemerling and Vajgrt: to give Lafrenz a chance to get his life on track, and to ensure he doesn’t pose an immediate threat to society if imprisoned without treatment.

If he violates the conditions of probation following release from jail, he’ll automatically go to prison for 33 months.

In her testimony Monday, Kemerling said she doubted Lafrenz could get better, but said she hoped he would.

"To my knowledge, this young man has not shown any respect for me or my family," she said, pointing out that he violated his bail restrictions and was placed back in jail.

She said both her life and Lafrenz's have changed as a result of that Christmas day accident, but her condition is permanent.

"He has the ability to change and make a better life," she said. "I pray that this punishment is enough to make that change. I do not want his actions to cause pain and suffering to any other individual. … I hope this young man’s friends and family can help him make this change and not let me down."

Judge Connell followed the sentence order with some stern warnings for Lafrenz. "Without this agreement, there is no way you would have not gone to prison for at least 33 months," Connell said.

"I hope you appreciate the remarkable thing she’s done. She’s giving you a chance. I would have sent you to prison, and you need to know if you screw this up, you will go to prison."

Elaine Harms accepted her "Teacher of the Year" plaque Monday on behalf of "the wonderful veterans and retirees who have paved the way and educated me in this district".

By Lori Ehde
Elaine Harms cried Monday when she accepted her plaque as the 2003 Teacher of the Year from her peers in the Luverne Education Association.

Her tears reflected a deep respect for the teaching profession and for the honor of being named Teacher of the Year.

During all of her years of teaching, Harms has also been a student, learning under the masters with experience.

"I accept this plaque for the wonderful veterans and retirees who have paved the way and educated me in this district," Harms said during her brief acceptance speech Monday.

"They’re the ones who taught me excellence in teaching. The learning here is exceptionally strong among our co-workers."

All members of Luverne’s Education Association are eligible to nominate one or more of their peers for the honor of Teacher of the Year.

The recipient is chosen by an LEA committee of former Teachers of the Year, based on nominations.

Harms received only one nomination this year, but the committee selected her for the award because she’s been nominated so many times in the past.

"Elaine Harms exemplifies all qualities of a great teacher and is an advocate for our school and community," said 2001 Teacher of the Year Bill Thompson.

"She works long hours, including many evenings and weekends, to ensure that her students succeed by using innovative and creative teaching methods and activities. … She makes reading great fun that develops into a lifelong activity."

Harms teaches 10th-grade English, but her award was based largely on her role with peer helpers, a program that involves students in helping teachers, administrations, other students and community organizations.

"As director of the peer helping program, she has helped students develop a sense of leadership, responsibility and helping others," Thompson wrote in his nomination.

Harms has earned her master’s degree and has attended many professional conferences in language arts and literature, and, Thompson wrote, she is a "positive influence in the community."

In addition to Thompson, the past five teachers of the year include Lisa Lundgren in 2002, Joel Swanson in 2000, Terry Althoff in 1999 and Shirley Harrison in 1998.

By Sara Strong
Recent advertising of city building code rules has gotten lots of attention from home owners and professional contractors.

Luverne Building Inspector Dan Delgehausen and the Luverne City Council reviewed state building laws, which the city adopted as its code.

"My perception is that there’s been some misinformation spread," Delgehausen said at the Tuesday meeting.

He didn’t get a lot of phone calls in response to published information on city permit rules, but contractors and homeowners may have concerns they weren’t taking to the source.

"Once you can explain things to people, they seem to understand, but the communication has been the biggest problem," Delgehausen said.

He has created a brochure that outlines city code to help people understand the city’s permitting process.

Mark Henson, represents the southwest region of the state and helps cities and counties implement the state building code.

All cities with a population more than 2,500 have to follow the state’s minimum code laws. Counties aren’t required to, but 18 of Minnesota’s 87 do, and more are expected to adopt the codes county-wide this year.

Counties may choose to adopt the state codes as insurance companies, mortgage companies and even the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages them to do so.

Even if a county or small city doesn’t have a code, contractors and workers are still obligated to follow the state code, which includes fire, electrical, plumbing and general contracting. The state Department of Commerce enforces the codes. It also is the agency responsible for issuing licenses to contractors.

In general, building permits are required when a building is constructed, enlarged or structurally repaired.

Plumbing/mechanical permits are required if water lines, sewer lines or gas lines are enlarged, constructed, converted or replaced.

Zoning permits are required when erecting a fence or storage shed less than 120 square feet. More than that size warrants a building permit.

Other things that require zoning permits are exterior concrete work, some decks, demolishing a structure, swimming pools, some tents and altering or erecting a sign.

Electricians are responsible for getting electrical permits and inspections as required by state code.

Clearing stoppages in a plumbing system, replacing a faucet, sink or water closet, air conditioners (if no duct work is remodeled) and water softeners (if the water lines are not altered) are all exempt from permits.
The city suggests calling 449-5031 before doing work to ask if it requires a permit.

Utilities and renters
The City Council also discussed the policy on collecting unpaid utility bills, especially in the case of renters.
The city will no longer act as an intermediary between tenants and landlords and their private agreements if a tenant doesn’t pay the city utility bill.

Actual policy hasn’t changed, but the new procedures more closely follow the policy already in place.

If the renter’s bill is unpaid in three months, the unpaid amount will be sought by a collection agency. After a year, the unpaid charges will be assessed to the landlord’s property taxes to ensure the city gets its payments.

Electric portions of the bill don’t apply to assessments. The water, sewer, storm sewer and refuse will be certified to the landlord’s property taxes.

The city is sending landlords in Luverne a letter explaining the policy and practices.

When the city is contacted by renters who are moving, the city will contact the landlords to let them know of the move-out date. If the landlord says the renter is responsible for utilities through the month as the lease may indicate, that will have to be worked out between the landlord and renter.

The city won’t bill the tenant through the end of the month as a landlord may have been accustomed to in the past. The utility bill for any time remaining in the month will be in the landlord’s name as of the move-out date.

Landlords have the option of working out lease arrangements that call for utilities to be a part of the rental payment or to keep a portion of the deposit money for utilities left unpaid when a lease is broken.

The city is simply not involved in that process anymore.

Financial officer Barb Berghorst said it’s rare that collections efforts get no response, so certifying utilities to taxes will be rare.

Mayor Glen Gust said he was concerned that landlords may get stuck with unpaid utilities and suggested the city could write off the loss of unpaid bills after collection efforts are exhausted.

Assistant City Attorney Jeff Haubrich said it’s typical for city codes to have landowner pay utilities because he or she is the true customer.

He said the citizens would, in effect, subsidize the business of renting to tenants if the city services weren’t paid.

Haubrich also said the city is doing property owners a service by billing renters instead of the actual legal customer, the owner.

By Lori Ehde
It’s been a year of awards and accolades for 2003 Friend of Education, Luverne Lanes owner John Serie.
Serie is still basking in statewide attention for his generosity with Special Olympics bowlers.

In October, Luverne Lanes was named the "Minnesota Outstanding Corporate Business Organization" by Special Olympics Minnesota.

"It’s probably one of the nicest things that’s ever happened to me," he told the Star Herald after accepting his plaque. " … to be selected best business in the whole state."

Special Olympics Distinguished Service Awards recognize those who "best exemplify the spirit of Special Olympics."

Serie and Luverne Lanes were nominated by Jeanne Bowron and Katie Hemme, who co-manage and coach the Luverne Area Special Olympic athletes.

"He’s just been there for everyone in Special Olympics," said Bowron, who nominated Serie for his "generosity and big warm smile" that he extends to the bowlers.

LEA members Mary Jo Graphenteen and Mike Wenninger nominated Serie for the school’s Friend of Education Award.

"John Serie has been a friend of education for many years," Graphenteen wrote in her nomination.

"His continued support of our physical education classes and his willingness to use his expertise in teaching bowling skills to a number of students in a number of ways has been very beneficial.

"He has opened his bowling alley to all students and has made sure all students get a chance to bowl, regardless of their financial situation or skill level."

Serie’s involvement with Special Olympic bowling dates back to the 1980s when fewer than 10 students were involved in the program. Today, the program has grown to nearly 35 members, including an adult special needs population.

The bowling program starts in September and concludes in February. Serie accommodates those with physical or financial difficulties, and loans out his equipment for out-of-town competitions.

Wenninger and Luverne senior high school bowling league uses Luverne Lanes one day per week for two shifts of bowlers.

"Mr. Serie does a fantastic job of involving himself with all of the students that visit the bowling alley," Wenninger wrote in his Friend of Education nomination.

"He is an excellent teacher in a one-on-one basis. He truly cares for each person and finds the best in all of them."

The Friend of Education Award is judged by a committee of former teachers of the year.

The LEA has been honoring Friends of Education since 1988. Friends named in the past five years include: Lila Bauer last year, Dolly Talbert in 2001, Todd Mann in 2000, Carol Morgan in 1999 and Keith Maine in 1998.

By Sara Strong
An engineer and architect firm, Vetter-Johnson, will inspect the Luverne Community Hospital today and report on whether its structure is worth remodeling.

The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved spending up to $5,000 to evaluate the hospital.

Depending on the outcome of today’s inspection, the Rock County Board may approve more money to research costs of remodeling the facility for specific uses.

A law enforcement center, for example, is one option the county previously discussed.

The hospital may be vacated if Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System decides to build a new hospital in Luverne. The county and city of Luverne have shown interest in working with Sioux Valley and will consider purchasing the building, if it’s available.

In other business
Tuesday the board:
Corrected an error in the previously reported levy increase. It will be 1.25 percent more than last year, instead of what had been incorrectly tabulated as a 4-percent increase.

Passed a resolution of support to seek funding from the state to get topographical mapping statewide. The system of reading topography would benefit the Highway Department, Land Management Office and the county assessor.

Learned that County Road 4 east of Luverne, probably will be open to traffic next week. The bridges under construction near the city park will be completed.

The Board discussed Rock County’s $500 contribution to Prairie Public TV for the second week. At the last meeting, a tie vote stopped Ron Boyenga’s motion to no longer contribute to the station. He wanted to pull funding because it aired the late Sen. Paul Wellstone’s memorial service, which turned into somewhat of a political rally for Democrats.

Jane Wildung and Ken Hoime said at the last meeting that the content wasn’t under the control of the station, so considering other programs of local interest, they would support the donation.

The county will still contribute $500 because Tuesday’s motion by Boyenga died for lack of a second.

Elmer "Chick" E. Efting, 81, Adrian, died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, at Arnold Memorial Health Care Center in Adrian after a short bout with lung cancer.

Services were Monday, Nov. 18, at United Methodist Church in Adrian. The Rev. John Strunk officiated. Burial was in Adrian Cemetery.

Chick Efting was born to Gerritt and May (Druger) Efting on Feb. 25, 1921, in Sheldon, Iowa. He attended school in Sibley, Iowa. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army.

He married Mary Eshleman on May 9, 1945, in Aurora, Colo. Shortly after their marriage, the couple returned to Adrian. They started Chick’s Produce in Adrian, buying eggs from area farmers for 25 years. In 1967, they moved to Pierre, S.D., where he worked at the ASCS office. In 1993, they returned to Adrian.
Mr. Efting enjoyed golfing, square dance calling, fishing and dogs.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Efting, Adrian; one son, Bill Efting, Avon, Colo.; one daughter, Jo (Dale) McClure, Jasper; four grandchildren, Angela Efting, Sioux Falls, S.D., Lindsay Efting, Vermillion, S.D., Brady Efting and Casey Efting, both of Greeley, Colo.; his beloved dog, Chelsea; one brother, Bill (Lou) Efting, Waterloo, Iowa; two sisters, LaSalle Gashal, Branson, Mo., and Geneva Peterson, Sibley; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Efting was preceded in death by his parents, one brother John Efting, and one sister, Shirley Efting.

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