So far, no arrests, but anyone with information
is encouraged to call Sheriff's Department at 283-5000
By Lori Ehde
August has been a busy month for the Rock County Sheriff’s Department as deputies are working on a string of burglaries, break-ins and vandalism.
Aug. 1 dawned with a report by Rock Veterinary Clinic of a burglary in which someone broke into the clinic through a lobby window and stole any cash that could be found inside.
Cash was taken from a candy box and from a floor safe that was taken outside and pried open. The safe was later found on the property.
According to clinic employee Dan Breuer, the cash loss was modest (about $450) considering the value of other items not stolen from the veterinary office.
"It definitely could have been worse, considering a vet’s office has bottles of medicine worth about $200 bottles a crack," Breuer said.
"It’s kind of interesting – we had keys in a vehicle in the garage, and they left that alone, and other than the window and the safe, they didn’t break anything or throw papers around."
Breuer said the clinic hasn’t been notified of any leads on suspects in the investigation.
The Sheriff’s Department did make progress last week, however, on a burglary at Hills Locker Service that was reported Aug. 2.
According to locker owner Tedd Larson, deputies have recovered a $425 digital scale that was stolen sometime between the business’ closing on Aug. 1 and opening on Aug. 2. In addition to the scale, between $150 and $175 was also stolen.
Larson said the scale was found Friday in a car belonging to someone from Luverne. When asked why someone would steal a scale, he speculated that such a scale could be used to measure illegal controlled substances in a private methamphetamine lab. He also added that the Hobart scale salesman had noted other reports of similar scales being stolen recently.
Larson said he was just happy to have the scale returned, and other than scratched off serial numbers, he said the equipment is not damaged.
Rock County Sheriff’s Department investigators aren’t commenting on any of the cases or the likelihood that they’re related, but given the numbers of reported thefts and vandalism this month, deputies have their work cut out for them.
On Aug. 2, Hills-Beaver Creek High School reported two windows were broken out of a school bus. Damages are estimated at $200 or more.
On Aug. 8, Deloris Dressen reported her 1988 Chevrolet Sprint, valued at about $800, had been stolen from her garage in Magnolia. The following day, it was found in Magnolia and returned to her.
On Aug. 9, Nancy Palmquist, Luverne, reported the theft of a girls’ Huffy bike, valued at about $100, from her front yard.
On Aug. 11, Chris Smook, Luverne, reported the theft of a Huffy "flat bed" chrome bike valued at $60 taken from the front yard sometime during the night.
On Aug. 14, Hills Co-op Farm Elevator reported someone had been either taking anhydrous ammonia (used in illegal production of methamphetamines) or just leaving the hose off the connections in Hills.
Also on Aug. 14, the Luverne Building Center reported that someone had broken in and stolen an undetermined amount of cash.
On Aug. 15, the city of Hills reported five streetlights had been shot out. Damage is estimated at about $300.
On Aug. 17, Luverne High School reported that someone had damaged a football blocking dummy with a knife or other sharp object. Damage is estimated at $200. It would cost $500 to replace the dummy.
On Aug. 18, Micky Sehr reported that an undetermined amount of cash had been stolen from the Redbird Field concession stand in Luverne. Further, a Coke machine, valued at roughly $2,000, was taken.
Also on Aug. 18, Patricia Melsness reported a decorative Scooby Doo house flag, valued at about $35. had been stolen.
On Aug. 19, Evie VandenBerg, reported a cell phone and its 12-volt adapter had been stolen from her vehicle, which was parked in the garage. The items, valued at about $200, were taken sometime between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Also on Aug. 19, George Lass reported someone drove a vehicle about 30 feet into his cornfield near Hardwick, causing about $100 worth of damage.
Also on Aug. 19, Kristy Groen reported someone had damaged her 1985 black Thunderbird by putting scratches and nasty words on the vehicle. Damage is estimated at about $1,600.
Also on Aug. 19, Gordon Swenson, Hardwick, reported his cell phone, valued at about $50, had been stolen from his vehicle while it was parked at Casey’s on South Highway 75. He estimated it had been taken sometime between 6 and 6:30 a.m.
On Aug. 22, Hohn Implement, Luverne, reported someone had broken through a shop window and stole an undetermined amount of cash.
Anyone with information on any of these cases is encouraged to call the Rock County Sheriff’s Department at 283-5000.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne High School tennis team opened the 2000 season at Worthington Pre-Season Invitational Tennis Tournament Tuesday.
The Cardinal girls played three matches against teams from Martin County West, Pipestone-Jasper and Worthington.
Luverne went 2-1 for the day, besting MCW and Worthington by respective 7-0 and 6-1 tallies. P-J downed LHS 6-1 in a contest that needed four tie-breakers to settle matches.
Sophomore Becky Antoine played her way to an individual championship by winning all three of her matches at No. 2 singles.
Antoine secured 5-0 and 5-1 wins against MCW’s Becky Kuehl, she topped P-J’s Abby Wiltrout 5-0 and 5-3, and downed Worthington’s Kelly Cunningham 5-1 and 5-3.
Cardinals Amanda Aning and Rachel Tofteland placed second at No. 1 and No. four singles with 2-1 records.
Luverne’s No. 1 doubles team of Chelsea Cronin and Allana Gacke, No. 2 squad of Gabe Van Dyk and Patricia Willers, and No. 3 team of Sarah Lange and Jenny Braa all finished second with 2-1 records.
Cardinal Ashley Gacke placed third at No. 3 singles with a 1-2 mark.
Luverne will play at a doubles tournament in Fairmont Friday before playing Yellow Medicine East in Pipestone Monday.

Commissioners buy time to study balance
between rural living and gravel industry
By Sara Quam
In light of recent gravel extraction controversies, the Rock County Board of Commissioners voted to hold action on new permit requests for up to one year to allow time to study gravel issues.
Effective immediately, the board passed an interim ordinance and moratorium, from a minimum of 60 days to a maximum of one year, subject to review of the county attorney. The moratorium will allow time to study how a balance between rural living and economic development can be achieved.
Tuesday’s action comes in the wake of heated public meetings this summer over a request by Henning Construction to extract gravel from a rural neighborhood south of the airport. That permit was eventually denied, but discussion since then has focused on rezoning areas to prevent future controversy.
Rock County isn’t alone in its search for this balance. The statewide issue will be discussed at the next Association of Minnesota Counties meeting, but the board felt it necessary to avoid conflict until the issue gets more study locally.

Land management
The Board also approved a new Land Management Plan, which updates information, and a Planning and Zoning Ordinance, which updates the enforcement of the ordinances.
The policy guide was reviewed and updated to respond to changes in times and conditions. The plan, available for public viewing, is divided into seven chapters: Population and Demographics, Economic Development, Housing, Climate and Physical Features, Transportation and Infrastructure and History and Recreation.
The most noticeable change to the ordinance plan is the fee schedule. Variance and conditional use hearings will increase from $250 to $500 and from $300 to $500. The hearings actually cost the county $1,075, so the fees do not account for all costs.
Those increased fees affect the gravel business and not feedlots. Land Management Office Director John Burgers said state money set aside for managing the feedlot program helps compensate for those user fees so not increasing feedlot charges is justified.
The argument can be made that agricultural businesses and gravel businesses should be charged the same for permits regardless of state aid, but Burgers said feedlots require fees for additional inspections so the scale is fair.
"I think it’s more important to spend time with inspections on site, and spend money there, than in hearings where no one shows up," Burgers said.
"We looked at where our costs are and where we’re recouping."
The new ordinance book includes guides for wind and wireless towers for the first time. Dwellings now require two acres instead of one, which makes it more suitable for septic system guidelines and roadway setbacks.

In other business Tuesday the board:
Drafted a resolution on the driver’s exam testing station to be sent to the Commissioner of Public Safety. The resolution says the state should provide the service because the county will be harmed by a test-station relocation. It says that since fees are equal statewide, testing sites should be available to all residents within a reasonable distance.
Accepted a petition asking that County State Highway 16 be paved and maintained by Rock County. The petition asks for pavement on a two-mile section that continues into Nobles County. The east-west gravel road that intersects Highway 75 two miles south of Luverne has similar traffic counts to other roads in the county, according to County Engineer Mark Sehr. He said it has been in the five-year plan to improve existing paved roads before adding more to the system. The petitioners have also approached the Nobles County Board with the petition.
Heard an update from Randy Ehlers on the flex plan in the Family Services. He said many employees have started to use the system to work 40 hours a week in fewer days, and customer service has been maintained.
He also said he is proposing legislation that would make the Department of Corrections responsible for investigating allegations of maltreatment in DOC licensed juvenile facilities.
Ehlers said the rules and regulations of those facilities are too specialized for Family Service agencies to investigate on their own. Each case takes about 40 hours of personnel time, and Ehlers said the unfunded mandate is unfair to the county to pay for.
Heard a request from Don Amos for additional work to be done on Shoneman Park’s driveway. He represented a group that wants the county to extend the parking lot and driveway so fishers can access the water with less walking. The work would involve about 300 feet. The county is also considering installing another dock for the south pond.

In cases of cardiac arrest, local ambulance crews and first responders are keenly aware that every second counts when trying to save a life.
For this reason, they’re launching a countywide fund-raising campaign to equip every Rock County community with automated external defibrillators.
A defibrillator saves lives by electrically shocking a pulseless heart back into a regular rhythm, but at $5,000 apiece, they’re not affordable for most small communities.
The Rock County Ambulance service already carries the equipment, but it sometimes can’t reach the scene of an emergency in time to use it.
"It takes us awhile to get to Hills, Steen or other parts of the county, and the first responders in these towns can be there in minutes," said EMT Troy Thone, who is heading up the local fund-raising campaign.
Rescue personnel without a defibrillator must rely on CPR to revive a pulseless heart, and manual resuscitation isn’t as effective as the electronic method.
The fund-raising campaign, "Let’s Make Rock County Heart Safe," is already in progress, and a fund is set up at First Farmers and Merchants Bank to accept donations.
"Our goal was to raise enough funds for six defibrillators," Thone said. "Hills already has one, so we have about $15,000 left to raise."
By committing to buying six defibrillators, the distributor has agreed to sell them for $3,000 each, rather than $5,000.
Thone said Cargill, as a community service, purchased a new defibrillator for Hills first responders earlier this summer and hopes other area businesses will be that supportive.
The fund-raising campaign will continue until enough money is raised to purchase defibrillators for all Rock County first responders and fire rescue crews. Equipment will be purchased as funds come in.
Rock County Ambulance Director Gary Holmgren said Hardwick will likely be next on the priority list and then perhaps Magnolia, Beaver Creek, Kenneth and Luverne.
It’s difficult to estimate how many lives will be saved by having defibrillators in every rural town, but Holmgren said the ambulance uses its defibrillators up to 14 times per year.
"I feel it’s really a big necessity, especially in Rock County," he said. "We’ve got an older population here more at risk for cardiac arrest."
Holmgren said for every minute a person’s heart isn’t beating, the chances of survival decrease by 10 percent.
So a person whose heart has stopped beating for five minutes has only a 50-percent chance of survival. For a person in cardiac arrest for six minutes, there’s a 60-percent chance of fatality.
Since defibrillators are easy for anyone to use, the American Heart Association and cardiologists around the world are pushing to make them available to the public in general – not just to health care professionals.
Some communities are putting them in police squad cars, apartment buildings, shopping malls and factories.
"All you do is apply the patches, push the button and step back," Holmgren said. "Anyone can do it."
The national survival rate for cardiac arrest victims is about 5 percent, but in Rochester, which has implemented defibrillators in all its fire departments and key public places, the survival rate is 55 percent.
Armed with those statistics, Thone said he hopes the community supports the fund drive. "We want Rock County to be heart safe," he said.
Donations can be mailed to First Farmers and Merchants Bank in care of the County Defibrillator Fund, P.O. Box 989, Luverne, MN 56156.
Funds have also been established in some of the communities. Residents are encouraged to contact their local fire chiefs for more information, or call Holmgren at Luverne Community Hospital, 283-2321.

Fund-raiser aims to put defibrillators in every town
By Lori Ehde

Two weeks worth of nail biting ended Tuesday morning as sighs of relief mingled with shocked shaking of heads once the Executive Committee of the Franklin County Democratic party announced their verdict in the contested race for county school superintendent.

Belgreen Principal Eddie Britton replaced Red Bay Principal Bobby Forsythe in the run off with top vote getter Bill Moss after the committee ruled every absentee ballot lacking a post mark to be ineligible.

Britton challenged the results of the June 6 Democratic
Primary after finishing in third place with 2,071 votes. Forsythe edged Britton by six votes on the strength of absentee ballots, finishing with 2,077. Moss won the top spot with 2,196.

Forty-five minutes before the June 8 deadline to contest the already certified election, Britton challenged the validity of the absentee ballots, claiming that “miscalculation” in counting ballots, “bribery, intimidation and other misconduct” produced “a sufficient number of illegal votes” to affect the election.

The meeting began shortly before 9 p.m. Monday night in the county courthouse in Russellville and continued past midnight. Each side had an hour to argue its’ case before the committee.

“Eddie and his lawyer presented their case and then my lawyers presented what I thought was an excellent rebuttal,” Forsythe said yesterday morning. “The committee then went into closed session and decided to throw out all of the absentee ballots that did not have a post mark.

“I asked the sub-committee if they could guarantee that no good ballots were thrown out along with questionable ones. They said they could not and I don’t understand how they decided what they did but I guess we will live with it.”
Forsythe said he had no plans to contest the decision nor will he endorse Britton or Moss. He later released an official statement thanking his supporters and disavowing any challenge.

“To my supporters and voters of this area, I wish to say ‘thank you.’ I realize just a mere thank you is inadequate to fully express the appreciation my family and I feel toward each of you for the hard work and friendship you have shown during my campaign . . . I wish the results of the hearing with the Franklin County Democratic Executive Committee had been different and I could still be your candidate for the office of Superintendent of Education. However, that is not how it turned out and after searching my heart, I feel we must accept that it is the Lord’s will and not question the outcome. I say ‘thank you’ for the opportunity of meeting and talking with each of you during the past three months of campaigning.”

Probate Judge Hal Kirby said yesterday that the June 27 run off would go ahead as scheduled but the Moss/Forsythe ballots would not be counted. A special election must now be held to determine the victor between Moss and Britton.

Executive Committee chairman Danny McDowell was in court outside the county yesterday and could not be reached for comment before press time. Britton could not be reached despite numerous attempts to contact him by phone.

One suspect in the armed robbery of TexasBank, appeared in federal court in San Angelo on Wednesday and investigators say that this suspect also gave a confession in the commission of the crime.
James Lewis McGruder, 20, of Paducah, went before the magistrate in the Federal District Court in San Angelo in connection with the robbery that occurred on Tuesday at TexasBank’s Camp Bowie Banking Center. McGruder was charged with aggravated bank robbery with a deadly weapon in the federal court, and remains in the custody of federal marshals in Lubbock today.
The female who allegedly drove McGruder and the 16-year-old juvenile suspect to the scene of the crime is now in custody at the Brown County Jail.
Prismalebrynne “Prissy” Tamar Coffee, 18, of Brownwood has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and is being held on a $100,000 bond. The case is expected to go before the 35th District Grand Jury in the next several weeks.
The juvenile male, who is from Childress, was transported to the Nolan County Juvenile Detention Center in Sweetwater. The suspect will come back to Brownwood to go before the judge in the case, and will be taken back to Sweetwater following the hearing.
The trio are suspects in the first armed robbery in over 30 years that occurred at 10:44 a.m. at Texas Bank on Highway 377. Reports indicate that McGruder and the juvenile entered the bank, the juvenile armed with a .38 caliber revolver.
One shot was reportedly fired into the ceiling and one bag with an unknown amount of cash was taken.
The two men fled on foot and were later captured by Brownwood police.
Nearby witnesses told police that a woman driving a blue car had dropped the two men off at the bank.
During the search for the two men, Coffee was taken into custody and identification of both men was found in her vehicle.

Austin Fick, 4, and his sister Jennifer Fick, 6, participated in the Rock County coloring contest.

Mr. Carry Blackburn
Mr. Carry Blackburn, 77, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Mobile. He had been a resident of Atmore for the past 25 years. He was a veteran of WWII and a member of the Baptist Church.

Survivors include a brother, Seaburn Blackburn of Atmore; his sister, Lizzette Townsend of Mobile; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held Monday, Jan. 10, at New Home Cemetery in Poarch, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Gladding Mothershed officiating.

Emma Jo Dunn
Mrs. Emma Jo Dunn, 69, died Monday, Jan. 10. 2000, in Atmore.

Mrs. Dunn is survived by two sons, Danny E. Presley of Brewton and Jack L. Presley of New Port, Va.; a daughter, Darcy Jo Rhoades of Atmore; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 12 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with the Rev. James Weber officiating. Burial will be at Steadham Cemetery. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Eubie Willard Davis
Mr. Eubie Willard Davis, 62, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Atmore. Mr. Davis was a resident of Atmore all of his life and a self-employed cook.

He is survived by a son, Joseph Thomas Davis of Pensacola; a daughter, Debby Cook and her husband, Chad, of Walnut Hill; a sister, Doris D. Benson of Mobile and three grandchildren, Randon Watson, Cord Cook and Sharley Cook all of Walnut Hill.

He is preceeded in death by his parents, Thomas Edgar and Ada M. Davis, and his brothers, George A. Davis, Carvin T. Davis, William (Bill) J. T. Davis and Alton Davis.

Pallbearers are Fred (Bubba) McGhee Jr., Michael Chavers, Johnny Davis, Thomas Davis, Randon Watson and Cord Cook.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Burl Phillips officiating. Burial will be at Mothershed Cemetery. Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Aubrey George Entrekin
Mr. Aubrey George Entrekin, 76, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at a Pensacola Hospital. Mr. Entrekin was a resident of Century for the past 70 years and attended Beulah Chapel Assembly of God Church.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Entrekin of Century; two daughters, Susan Steadham and her husband, Drew, of Century and Deborah Yuhasz and her husband, Andrew, of Molino; a brother, Daniel Entrekin of Brewton; four grandchildren, Corissa Diamond and her husband, Chad of Jay, Kimberly Steadham of Jay, Gregory Steadham of Jay and Amy Yuhasz of Molino; and two great-grandchildren, Colby and Cade Diamond of Jay.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Shelton Kindig and the Rev. Louie Pettis officiating. Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 12, between 6 and 9 p.m. at Atmore Memorial Chapel.

Floyd Hadley
Mr. Floyd Hadley, 94, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Atmore. Mr. Hadley was a resident of Brewton.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maxine Hadley of Brewton; a son, Timothy Jernigan of Brewton; a daughter, Lora Faye Jarrell of Rabon; a step-daughter, Mazie Lee of Mississippi; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan.10 at Dean Church in Rabon with Sister Helen Fretwell officiating. Burial was at Dean Cemetery.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lillie Bell Hines
Mrs. Lillie Bell Hines of Atmore, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Funeral services and survivors will be announced by Turner Funeral Chapel.

Edgar Rackard
The Rev. Edgar Rackard, 81, died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2000, in Mobile. The Rev. Rackard was retired from Alabama Dry Dock and Ship Building and was a member of New Home Church and minister of United Pentecostal Holiness Organization.

He is survived by his wife, Ruthie Mae Rackard of Atmore; two sons, Lonnie Lee and his wife, Carolyn, of Atmore and Eugene Rackard and his wife, Karen, of Chilly, Fla.; five daughters, Hazel Rolin and her husband, Ardis, Ruby Flurnoy, Dorothy McGhee and her husband, Joe Frank and Glenda Carlton, all of Atmore, and Mary Cordes and her husband , Gary, of Jasper; a brother, Bill Rackard of Atmore; three sisters, Lois Amos of Monroeville, Warnice Anderson of Pensacola and Ina Colbert of Uriah; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roger Lewis and Elder Gary Cordes officiating. Burial was at New Home Cemetery, Active pallbearers were his grandchildren, Eddie Rolin, Larry Flurnoy, Kendall McGhee, Chet McGhee, Jason Rackard, Jacob Carlton, Jared Carlton and Jonathan Rackard.

Honorary pallbearers were John Reed, Ronald Baggett, Bro. Wasdin, the Rev. Fred Gibbs, Donnie Wasdin and Ardis Rolin.