By Lori Ehde
A 37-year-old Hardwick man appeared in Rock County District Court last week on charges that he stole from the American Legion gaming accounts.

Dan "Cue Ball" Kern, also known as "Cue Ball," faces two counts of theft after a winter investigation revealed a $7,000 shortage in the pull tab fund at his bar and restaurant, the Green Lantern in Hardwick.

According to the complaint filed March 14 in Rock County District Court, local law enforcement executed a search warrant of the Green Lantern with the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

The agents and local officers found on Dec. 3, 2001, gambling and bar proceeds co-mingled.

When questioned, Kern said the games had been played, but instead of depositing money into the Hardwick American Legion gambling account, he had used the money to repay personal debt.

Kern acknowledged involvement in personal gambling and reportedly said he used proceeds from pull tab games to pay down personal debt resulting from gambling.

He said this had been going on for a year or more.

During that search warrant execution, agents seized money, completed pull tab games and pull tab games in play.

According to court documents, they also seized football boards and other items used for illegal gambling.

Kern estimated he owed the Legion around $3,800, but an audit by the Gambling Control Board identified $7,189 of gambling proceeds he had illegally retained.

On Jan. 8, Kern heard his Miranda rights and agreed to answer questions.

According to the complaint, Kern said he "got caught up in gambling and had trouble making ends meet."

Instead of depositing pull tab proceeds into the American Legion gaming accounts, he put it into the barÕs business account or forwarded it to a bookie in order to satisfy personal gambling debts.

His felony theft charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

Kern has already been ordered in conciliation court to pay the Hardwick American Legion $6,222.60 in a Jan. 8 ruling.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne Community Hospital and Luverne Medical Center are in the infant stages of a study to determine whether or not a renovation is feasible.

Despite declining inpatient hospital stays, Luverne medical facilities have been providing increasing outpatient and specialty services.

"We've done a good business, and we want to make sure we have the right facilities to deliver those services," said Gerald Carl, hospital administrator.

He said Luverne is seeing increasing numbers of patients utilizing services such as physical therapy, outpatient infusion, chemotherapy, respiratory care, laboratory services and more.

"This change of service structure is being addressed in the physical assessment of the buildings," Carl said. "Our building just isn't well suited for these services."

He added that Luverne's inpatient rooms are outdated, lacking amenities such as personal showers that have become standards in most hospitals.

Luverne Community Hospital Advisory Board is working with Sioux Valley on an architectural study of the hospital and clinic campus.

"The architectural study is to determine if the present hospital and clinic buildings can be renovated," Carl said.

"If the study shows a renovation isn't feasible, alternatives will be reviewed."

Carl couldn't be specific about what those alternatives might be, but an area to the north of the hospital was recently rezoned from residential to residential-institutional to allow for an expansion or building project, if necessary.

Neither the hospital nor Sioux Valley has requested that rezoning. It's simply a decision the city made for the purpose of keeping options for growth open in that neighborhood.

Regardless, Carl said the hospital and clinic have a bright future in Luverne. "Luverne is really a shining star as far as the (Sioux Valley) system is concerned," he said.

Sioux Valley Regional Health Services, a division of Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System, has retained interim architectural services of Spitznagel Inc.

The Sioux Falls firm has done previous work on the Luverne Hospital and on Sioux Valley Hospital.

Carl said the need for more and better space speaks well for LuverneÕs medical facilities.

"We have a good complement of doctors. The hospitalÕs been busy. Not all communities can say that," Carl said.

"We are adding a doctor this summer, and we have specialists that come this way from Sioux Falls. There are more who would like to come, but we just don't have the facilities here for that."

Carl said there was no specific timetable for the architectural study.

"We want to talk to all parties involved, and whatever we do, we need to make sure everyone's on the same page," he said. "It's very clear something needs to be done."

Loel Olson's fifth-grade class is the Luverne Elementary School featured class of the week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Sarah Schneekloth, Skyler Kruger, Alex Wiese, Matt Christensen, Austin Lee, Matthew Jacobsma, Jessica Dorhout, Maleeka Sandager, Caitlyn Deutsch, Amanda Ericksen, (second row) Erin Ernst, April Norman, Tanner Skattum, Dakota Steensma, Andrew Henderson, Melanie Baloun, Devin Nelson, (back row) Mr. Olson, Carrie Bauer, Brittany Liebhard, Ashley Hanson, Sam Dooyema, Micah Hewitt, Steven Walker and Wyatt Sprecher. Not pictured are Kaylee Smook and BriAnna Thode.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Luverne Community Hospital is studying the feasibility of renovating its campus to meet demand for more and varied services. Story inside.

Government issues keep this paper busy

For two consecutive weeks, we've printed front page articles concerning government fines or pending lawsuits. It's not good news, but it's worth printing.

The city of Luverne is fighting its fines totaling $56,000 because of an electrical accident. Beyond what OSHA fined the city in that case, Luverne has to be concerned about civil action from the unfortunate young man who lost part of an arm and his dominant hand.

The county's lawsuit stemming from feedlot and building permits also has a dollar sign attached. The final judgement is a long time away but the plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages with open-ended dollar amounts.

We don't report on every lawsuit or fine that occurs in the county, but we certainly try to keep taxpayers informed of what their government bodies are accused of, and what those accusations mean in a financial sense.

Cleanliness next to Godliness?
After countless meetings covering the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center's financial troubles, membership lags and future dilemmas, I've heard one constant praise of the facility: it's clean.

No one says the Pool and Fitness Center isn't well kept, but it seems like other aspects of it should be of more interest to members, employees and governing boards. Actual services, training for new members, special classes and cost of membership should be of more concern than a buffed countertop.

I've been in other fitness centers that were as clean or cleaner and it wasn't an advertising point for them. Cleanliness should be a given, not a special treat in any fitness facility, publicly or privately owned.

And no matter what the management or ownership, our members will demand a high standard.

Armory/daycare/senior meals
I've also been covering the future of the armory in Luverne. The federal government, local guardsmen and state representatives all agree that the present armory is defunct.

If a new facility is built for the local guard unit, the school, county, and city have to chip in for 12 1/2 percent of the costs. That sounds reasonable enough. But I wonder if it's the best use of local dollars to pair community functions with military needs.

A new senior center would take seniors from their well-located site. A county busing headquarters seems like an odd couple to an armory.

And if the city, school and county don't want to pay the $100,000 for a daycare in the basement of the City Centre Apartments, why would anyone support spending just as much to stick the same toddlers in a guard unit?

I'm sure safety would be handled more than appropriately. But a better use of local dollars might be to spend them on individual projects rather than hang on the coattails of the armory project.

Send Sara an e-mail

Services for Amanda Burmeister are at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne with the Rev. Gary Klatt officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Amanda Alvena Burmeister, 97, Hills, died Monday, April 1, 2002, at Tuff Memorial Nursing Home in Hills.

Amanda Paulsen was the firstborn twin to Theodore and Alvena (Martin) Paulsen on Jan. 22, 1905, in Sweet Township, Pipestone County, where she was raised and attended country school. She was baptized on Oct. 29, 1905, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pipestone. Following her education she worked as a housekeeper for her Uncle Henry Paulsen. She was confirmed at St. PaulÕs Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pipestone on May 13, 1923.

She married Gustav Burmeister on Jan. 14, 1925, in her parents' home in Pipestone. Following their marriage they lived and farmed the Burmeister homestead with Gus's brother, Peter, for a short time. They moved to Pipestone when her husband became ill. She nursed him back to good health, and she also worked as an egg candler.

In 1930 they moved to Luverne where they purchased 15 acres just inside the city limits located along Blue Mound Ave. They also rented a quarter section of farmland. In 1955 she sold Watkins Products for a short time and in 1957 she worked as a clerk at Creegers in Luverne. She worked for Storaker's Drug Store for a short time and then began working for Bot's Drug Store where she worked until she retired at the age of 75. Mr. Burmeister died on Nov. 13, 1963. In 1966 she sold her home and purchased an apartment house in Luverne where she lived for 31 years. She moved into the Heritage Home in Luverne where she lived until it closed. She then moved to Sunrise Village in Jasper, and in July 1999 she moved to Tuff Memorial Nursing Home in Hills.

Mrs. Burmeister was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne where she belonged to Women's Society, a circle and Bible study groups. She also served as treasurer of the Women's Society for two years and worked on the funeral committee for five years. She belonged to the project compassion group through the church. She enjoyed doing volunteer work in the community. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed canning, cooking and baking. She liked playing cards and belonged to several card clubs.

Survivors include two sons, Richard (Betty) Burmeister, Luverne, and Wayne (Doloris) Burmeister, Slayton; three daughters, Elaine (Peter) Jensen, New Hope, Arlene (Eugene) Mann, Luverne, and Darlene (Walter) Johnson, Brooklyn Park; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Clara Russell, New Richland, and Rose Groth, Fort Collins, Colo.; and two sisters-in-law, Gladys Paulsen, Pipestone, and Gertrude Paulsen, Jasper.

Mrs. Burmeister was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gustav, two brothers, Theodore Paulsen and Alfred Paulsen, and five sisters, Frieda Paulsen, Ann Voss, Minnie Rust, Alvina Watts, and Arlene Schwartz.

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

Vivian Elizabeth Dorn, 74, Luverne, died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Saturday, March 23, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. The Rev. Andrew Beerman officiated. Burial was in St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery, Luverne.

Vivian Bruns was born to Henry and Catherine (Schlicte) Bruns on Aug. 21, 1927, in Wilmont Township near Lismore. She attended St. Killian School and high school in Lismore. Following her education she worked for the Adrian Hospital as a cook for several years.

She married Raymond Dorn on Jan. 27, 1948, at St. Killian Catholic Church. For a time they farmed near Adrian and then moved to Luverne in 1952 where they farmed for many years. She entered Palisades Nursing Home in Garretson, S.D., in 1995. She transferred to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne on Feb. 1, 2001.

Mrs. Dorn was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne where she was active in the church circles. She was a leader in the Rock County Extension Club and was a leader for Springwater Hustlers 4-H Club for many years. She was Rock County 4-H Mother of the Year and also Rock County Mother of the Year. She took care of the Springwater Township Cemetery. She loved to dance, cook, garden, raise flowers and work with livestock on the farm.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Dorn, Luverne; four daughters, Colette (Gary) Peterson, Sioux Falls, S.D., Carol (Tom) Foster, Luverne, Colleen Hemme and friend, Butch, Sleepy Eye, Kristy Monger, Pipestone; one son, Mark Dorn, and friend Kari, Luverne; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Norbert Bruns, Wilmont, Vincent (Marie) Bruns, Lubbock, Texas, and Willie (Sue) Bruns, Redlands, Calif.; and six sisters, Coletta (Vincent) Tennessen, Fulda, Viola LeBrun, Worthington, Audrey (Clarence) Kellen, Adrian, Alverna (Joseph) Leach, Melrose, and Irma (John) Schuerger, Cypress, Calif.

Mrs. Dorn was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Mary Ann, and one sister, Marie Henning.

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

Doc Swenson, 75, Luverne, died Sunday, April 7 at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne. Services will be Wednesday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 9 from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Engebretson Funeral Home.

Mildred Meyer, 87, Luverne, died Saturday, April 6 at Parkview Manor Nursing Home, Ellsworth. Services will be Tuesday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Luverne, with Fr. Andrew Beerman officiating. A private burial will follow. Visitation will be Monday, April 8 form 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home.