Amanda Woodley, 89, Le Mars, Iowa, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002, at Plymouth Manor Care Center, in Le Mars.

Services were Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Paul Fries officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.

Amanda Margaretha Maria Kathrina Mary Wilke was born to Lillie and Robert Wilke on Jan. 30, 1913, near Inwood, Iowa. She received her schooling in Inwood with valedictorian honors. She then taught school.

She married Fay Woodley on June 22, 1932. They farmed in Iowa and in Rock County beginning in 1955. When health failed they moved to Luverne in 1967. Mr. Woodley worked for Hanson Silo Co. Mrs. Woodley worked in several local cafes.

She was a member of the Round Table Extension Club. She enjoyed gardening and crafts and cooking.

Survivors include one grandson, Scott (Tina) Draayer; great-grandchildren, Katie and Joshua Draayer, daughter-in-law Carol Draayer and son-in-law, Earl Draayer; two stepgrandchildren, Ashlee and John Draayer, all of Le Mars; one brother, Wayne (Bev) Wilke, Lester, Iowa; three sisters, Eleanor Nagle, Helen Knobloch, both of Larchwood, Iowa, and Vera Von Der Lieth, Rock Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Woodley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Fay, one son, Ralph Woodley in 1977, and one sister, Marcella Hoffenkamp.

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

By John Rittenhouse
Four athletes representing the Star Herald coverage area drew post-season honors from the Red Rock Conference.

Two members of the Hills-Beaver Creek and Adrian High School volleyball squads were selected to the 2002 All-RRC Volleyball team, or drew honorable mention.

The All-RRC roster consists of 24 team members. A total of 15 athletes drew honorable mention.

Area athletes making the all-league roster are Adrian senior Jenna Honermann and H-BC junior Erin Boeve.

H-BC senior Sarah Rozeboom and Adrian junior Kylie Heronimus drew honorable mention from the league's coaches.

Conference champion Westbrook-Walnut Grove drew four all-conference selections.

Seniors Shanell Amundson, Katie Hansen, Becky Schultz and Katie Swanson represent the Chargers.

Murray County Central, Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin and Fulda drew three selections each.

MCC seniors Mandy Dierks and Shelly Halbur and junior Cara Counter, ML-B-O senior Carissa Haglund, junior Mikkala Junker and sophomore Tracey Hildebrandt, and Fulda seniors Rachel Gunderman, Katrina Kramer and Erin Oakland grace the roster.

Southwest Christian, Sioux Vallley-Round Lake-Brewster and Red Rock Central picked up two all-league selections each.

SWC seniors Rebecca Raak and Danielle Vander Woude, SV-RL-B seniors Ashley Janssen and Rosa Malenke and RRC seniors Katie Furth and Lindsay Olson are members of the team.

Rounding out the All-RRC roster are Edgerton senior Amber Poppen, Comfrey senior Holli Pederson and Southwest Star Concept senior Brianna Liepold.

Joining Rozeboom and Honermann as honorable mention selections are MCC seniors Kayla Johnson and Kim Spartz, Fulda sennior Jamie Goedtke and junior Susan Grandgeorge, SWC seniors Bethany Anderson and Juliet Spronk, SV-RL-B senior Erin Haberman and freshman Molly Eichenberger, W-WG junior Jenny Heinich, RRC junior Andrea Kirchner, Edgerton sophomore Kendra Van't Hof, Comfrey senior Jessica Schumann and SSC sophomore Brittany Cranston.

Lori DeJongh-Slight, a 1989 Luverne High School graduate, poses with the family pet for a recent photograph in her Boone, Iowa, home. DeJongh-Slight is head coach of the Des Moines Area Community College volleyball team, which plays at the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament in Toledo, Ohio, today through Saturday.

By John Rittenhouse
Lori DeJongh easily could have disassociated herself with volleyball after a disheartening high school experience, but she didn't.

After making the Luverne High School roster as a junior in 1987, DeJongh and another senior classmate were victims of a numbers crunch that led them to being cut from the team.

Instead of giving up on volleyball, DeJongh showed some intestinal fortitude and accepted the offer to serve as Luverne’s student manager for the 1988 season.

More than one decade later, boosters of the Des Moines Area Community College volleyball program on the Boone Campus are glad the 1989 LHS graduate did not give up on the sport.

Now known as Lori DeJongh-Slight, daughter of Luverne's Norm and Norma DeJongh, she has led the DMACC Lady Bears to its first berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament as program's head coach.

“We leave for Toledo, Ohio, Wednesday (yesterday), where the national tournament will be played,” DeJongh-Slight said, from her DMACC office Friday.

“The tournament will be played Nov. 14-16, and there will be 12 teams there from all over the nation. We would need to win seven matches to become national champions.”

All things considered, it’s amazing the Lady Bears have made a national name for themselves at this stage of the game.

DeJongh-Slight was hired to start the volleyball program for DMACC in 1999. Now, four years later, the Lady Bears are contending for a national championship.

“This is gratifying,” the coach offered. “It's not like they brought me in to take over a team that was bad. We built this program from scratch. We made it to the region tournament that first year, and we've been slowly chipping away at it, getting better and better, and now we've won our first regional championship.

“I give the credit for our improvement to our girls and the people we have working for the volleyball program. We've gone from non-existence to a national power in four years.”

DMACC brought DeJongh-Slight into the fold to build a quality program, and she did it with little coaching experience at the junior college level.

After a short stay as a student at Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa), DeJongh-Slight enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, where she said her interest in coaching bloomed. After her stay in Ames, DeJongh-Slight enrolled at Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, Iowa), where she took a job as an assistant volleyball coach.

DeJongh-Slight gave up her assistant duties at Buena Vista to take head-coaching positions at Colo-Nesco, Aurelia and Storm Lake High Schools in the 1990s before taking over the post at DMACC in 1999.

As expected, DMACC struggled during a 3-20 initial season in 1999, but three conference wins allowed the Lady Bears to advance to their first regional tournament that year.

The team made a dramatic improvement in 2000, when it compiled a 19-20 record before placing fourth in its conference. The program took another positive stride in 2001, finishing tied for third in the regional tournament and compiling a 29-19 record.

The first three seasons set up a breakthrough 2002 campaign.

The Lady Bears finished second in their conference and went 5-0 to win their first region championship. In order to win the region title, DMACC had to knock off four-time defending champion Kirkwood Community College, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“Kirkwood won our region the last four years, and we ended up beating them in three games. We fell behind 7-1 in the first game, but we came back to tie the game at seven. We ended up winning that game and never trailed during the rest of the match,” DeJongh-Slight said.

DMACC will enter the national tournament as the nation's No. 3-ranked team with a 47-7 record, and the coach hopes that will lead to No. 3 seed for the 12-team event.

The competition will be tough, but DeJongh-Slight believes her team made up of one athlete from Minnesota (Kasson), two from Bucharest, Romania, and 12 from Iowa can make a run at a national title.

“It's going to be tough, because there will be a lot of good teams in Toledo. We're hoping our experience will pull us through. We've played against a lot of Division JCCAA Division 1 teams this year, so we're thinking we have a little more competitive experience than some of the other teams have,” she concluded.

By Sara Strong
The city of Luverne Tuesday tried to resolve the issue of an abandoned dump by approving the purchase of part of it.

The city agreed to buy 13.5 acres from Jim and Cathy Rockman, Luverne, for $45,000.

Part of the old landfill was under the Rockman property and they feared being held liable for environmental or any other claims that might come as the result of the dump.

The city of Luverne will now be responsible for working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in any contamination associated with the dump.

The old dump is buried east of the intersection of Phyleon Drive and East Dodge Street. The Rockmans live on Blue Mound Avenue, but their property extended backward to the old dump area.

Previous tests have shown that about 60,000 cubic yards of waste are buried at the dump and that didn’t count what was under the Rockman property.

It is unclear when the landfill was formally closed and covered by the city.

New bonds
To help cover the cost of future interest payments and to pay for firefighter retirements, the Luverne City Council authorized four bond sales Tuesday.

In the case of fire relief, or firefighter pensions, the city issued a $560,000 bond at 5 percent interest to go to the relief fund.

The bond will cover beyond what the general levy of the city can handle within state-imposed levy limits.

Bonding allows the city to go around the levy limits, freeing up the general levy for other city general expenses.

The high number of retirees, the increased benefits in recent years and poor performing investment portfolios have meant the fire relief fund has suffered.

Retiring firefighters get $1,900 per year of service, paid by the city of Luverne in a lump sum as they retire.

Essentially, the fire relief fund has $1 million in costs and half that in assets so the bond will make up the difference.

The city still has a standard contribution to fire relief on the general levy. The bond is needed in addition to that.
Mayor Glen Gust, a firefighter, said he worried that the bond could mean salary caps for the department members.

Councilman Tom Martius, a firefighter, cast the only vote against the fire relief bond.

The City Council sets the retirement payment, and has steadily increased benefits from $600 per year of service in 1989.

Councilman Keith Erickson said the bond issue was really separate from the salaries because the city would support raises as needed regardless of bonds, as it already has.

Tuesday the council also issued three other bonds that refinanced other debt projects. The lower interest rate on those bonds combines to save the city a little more than $123,000 in interest over the life of repaying the bonds.

Kapperman property
The Luverne City Council also opened a hearing Tuesday to discuss declaring the Jerome Kapperman property on the 200 block of Southeast Park Street a nuisance. The property was destroyed in a July fire.

The building stored salvage material that Kapperman sells as part of his business. He has cleaned some of the rubble, but enough is still there to warrant attention from the city.

Kapperman indicated he would be willing to transfer sellable salvage material to another site if the city gave him time to do so and didn’t declare the property a nuisance.

The storage faciliy was located in a residential zone. After the fire, it lost the variance to have the commercial property in the residential zone because the structure was destroyed. Any new buildings will have to be residential in nature.

The city will review plans to clean the site in December and continue to work with Kapperman.

By Sara Strong
The city of Luverne has long ago decided to take an aggressive approach to economic development.

From granting businesses small amounts of cash for property improvements, to tax increment financing projects, to getting border city legislation passed — Luverne government holds hands with businesses in many ways.

Considering city time and money spent trying to help businesses, has it been worth the effort?

Mayor Glen Gust says it is.

As mayor, he also serves as president of the public body, the Luverne Economic Development Authority, which meets monthly.

"In order for Luverne to grow, we have to provide quality jobs," he said.

Getting those jobs to Luverne means helping businesses get here and once they’re here, helping them grow.

In the past, Gust was vocal about government staying out of business, particularly in the case of tax increment financing, which allows improvements while not increasing taxes to a certain extent.

Gust now says he is a believer in financially helping businesses, especially in the form of loans.

When dealing with businesses, Gust emphasized that checking backgrounds and credentials thoroughly should be a priority.

"We have to be choosy in the projects we do," he said.

Besides money, Gust said using resources like time and advice from the city can also be valuable to businesses.

Those theories of economic development are shared with most in Luverne’s city government.

Dan Statema is the LEDA director as a non-elected city employee.

Statema said government involvement in business is dependent on the specific project.

"I view my job as finding what’s good for the city. It is preferable to have more private business venture, but I can help as a facilitator," Statema said.

He can assist businesses by looking for financing options or by finding the right business plan for a start-up.

Counting the cost
The city of Luverne is involved with businesses on large and small scales.

Recent city involvement in larger business deals includes Exsito, the failed tomato-based food processor, and Netbriefings, which started with two employees and now has one.

The city is trying to recuperate some of the costs associated with Exsito, and owns the building, which it hopes to sell.

The city often helps get businesses lower interest rates on loans, which are individually approved in the open LEDA meetings.

Another in-house economic development program is the Commercial Backfill program which grants up to $5,000 to improve blighted property.

The city has approved 20 tax increment financing projects since 1975. They are: Centennial Apartments, Gibson Pamida, Walgrave apartments, Rock Manor apartments, Luverne Medical Clinic, Hardee’s, Larson/True Value, Sieperda Family Drug, Truckers Territory/Skattum, Taco John’s/Hospital, Dehy/Ferrellgas, Plenquick/Amaco, Connell Klosterbuer, Cor-Tech, Family Drug, Pamida (1997), Minnwest Bank, Luverne Family Housing, ethanol plant, and Jubilee.

Rock County itself hasn’t taken an active role in economic development. It has defined its place as a governmental unit that carries out state mandates such as Family Services, keeping adequate roads and bridges and providing law enforcement.

By Sara Strong
Luverne Vietnam veteran Terrie Gulden sees Veterans Day as a way to acknowledge the past and hope for a peaceful future.

Gulden is known to Rock County residents as director of the busing service Heartland Express, but Monday he spoke as part of a celebration of veterans at the Minnesota Veterans Home.

"As a veteran, this is a very special day for me," he said.

Gulden reminded the audience at the Minnesota Veterans Home that 226 years ago America’s founding fathers declared all men equal and defined their rights.

Since then, military personnel have sacrificed to ensure Americans’ rights are protected.

"Freedom isn’t free," Gulden said. "… Sometimes it comes at a terrific price."

Gulden said sacrificing for freedom doesn’t always mean casualties during a battle. Small sacrifices of personal freedoms sometimes protect the freedom of a nation.

"Since the Revolutionary and Civil War there has been peace within our borders," Gulden said.

That all changed Sept. 11, 2001, with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.

"The twin towers aren’t far from here," Gulden said, citing recent national security releases that estimate terrorism will continue and hit the Midwest.

"This war is unlike any other war we’ve fought, but the goals are the same," Gulden said.

"Today I give thanks to the men and women of our military. I understand the sacrifices military people make — the greatest of which is life," Gulden said. "My comfort in all of this is that I know God is with each one who is asked to give that sacrifice."

Gulden asked people to take time to pray for peace and good judgment in leaders on Veterans Day.

By Lori Ehde
Three Luverne High School 10th-graders are suspended, and a fourth is pending following their behavior in the FFA Haunted Hallway Oct. 31.

According to information at the district office and at the Rock County Attorney’s Office, a girl allegedly engaged in oral sex with three male classmates during Halloween activities.

Rock County law enforcement and Family Services investigated the incident to determine whether the acts were consensual.

Those reports were forwarded to the County Attorney’s Office.

Upon reviewing the information, Assistant County Attorney Terry Vajgrt said he found no evidence to suggest that criminal sexual conduct statutes were violated.

"The evidence suggests the conduct was consensual," Vagjrt said.

He said he has not ruled out consideration of indecent exposure charges.

Meanwhile, the three boys are suspended from school for 10 days. When they return on Nov. 19, they will meet with High School Principal Gary Fisher for a readmission conference.

The behavior violates Minnesota State High School League rules, and those students involved in extra-curricular activities will face those penalties as well.

For a first violation of MSHL rules, students are out for two events and two weeks.

While the district office was still conferring on the girl’s suspension at press time Wednesday, Superintendent Vince Schaefer said, "All the kids will ultimately be disciplined the same."

He described the matter as a "difficult situation caused by inappropriate — at the very least — behavior."

By Lori Ehde
It’s not live, but it’s the next-best thing.

Luverne art teachers Chris Nowatzki and Cloyce Smith are recording their lessons on i-movies, and storing them on a compact disc for later review.

They’ve accessed exemplary grant funds for the project, and presented examples of two art lessons to School Board members at their meeting Tuesday night.

One was an eight-minute lesson on pastels, in which Nowatzki recorded Smith’s hands working with pastels. Smith’s voice was then recorded over the i-movie to tell students what she was doing.

"It’s a great teaching tool, and its an excellent learning tool," Nowatzki told board members. "Students can slow it down and review it, frame by frame."

He pointed to several practical uses for the CDs, for example, if a student misses a lesson due to illness, or if he or she wants to review it for clarification, it’s available.

Also, it can be valuable for teachers who are planning to be absent. "If they know they’re going to be gone ahead of time, they can put it on a CD and the substitute can use it for reference material," Nowatzki said.

It took Nowatzki and Smith a week to record six lessons on CDs, and so far, only the art department has utilized the technology.

But Nowatzki said there’s potential for all areas of the district to benefit from the practice. He mentioned Mary Jo Graphenteen recording volleyball plays, for example.

"It takes a long time [to record a lesson] but we’ll be continuing our library build-up next summer," Nowatzki said.

The regular board meeting was scheduled for tonight, but was moved to Tuesday in order to canvass the votes from the Nov. 5 school board election.

All four incumbents, Becky Walgrave, Cary Radisewitz, Bill Stegemann and Dan Kopp were re-elected to new four-year terms.

In other business Tuesday, the board …
Heard the K-8 math meeting Monday night was well-presented, but not necessarily well-attended by parents. "I know a lot of teachers worked very hard preparing this information," said Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff.

Reviewed the district’s health curriculum with Jan Olson, district curriculum coordinator. She brought the information to the board after Parents: The Anti-Drug and Violence Task Force asked what the district is doing to prepare and educate students on substance abuse.

She said students get their first real dose of anti-drug training in fifth grade with the DARE program presented by Rock County Sergeant Mike Winkels.

Superintendent Vince Schaefer pointed out that the district has a formal curriculum to address substance abuse, but he said, "You can rest assured there are plenty of opportunities for informal discussion on drug education, too."

Heard Middle School Principal Stacy Gillette’s response to governor-elect Tim Pawlenty’s proposal to abolish Profiles of Learning.

"It’s taken over 10 years to implement this program, and now we understand it," she said. "Our teachers have imbedded them in their curriculum, and we’ve figured out a system for record-keeping."

She said the state principals association is working with Pawlenty to encourage him to amend the Profiles, rather than abolish them.

The federal government’s "No Child Left Behind Act" requires standards, and she said the Profiles provide those standards necessary for districts to be eligible for federal funds.

Heard that report cards are about ready and that conferences are underway this week.

Accepted the retirement of bus driver Dale Hartz, effective Oct. 16.

Approved a medical leave of absence for paraprofessional Crystal Ellefson for approximately six weeks, starting Nov. 20.

Noted the next School Board meeting is 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, and Thanksgiving break is Nov. 27-29.

‘The Cheese Stands Alone’
"Cheesy," played by Erica Marshall (right) sings to her farm friends (from left) Lauren Christensen (child), Morgan Jacobsma (wife), Kaitlyn Van Meeteren (nurse), Baillie Williams (cat) and Clinton Jaqua (Mr. Rat) during the second- and third-grade program Friday, in the Luverne Elementary School gym. The program, directed by Beth Capistran and Seana Graber, was based on the popular children’s song, "The Cheese Stands Alone," only in this case, the cheese is befriended by the rat, and in the end, doesn’t stand alone.

Photo by Lori Ehde