By John Rittenhouse
The Adrian girls’ basketball team started the 2002-03 season in promising fashion by securing a pair of non-conference victories.

The Dragons toppled Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster by 22 points in Round Lake Tuesday, Nov. 26 before besting Southwest Star Concept by 22 points in Adrian Tuesday.

Adrian will try to extend its winning streak by hosting Edgerton tonight, Pipestone Monday and Southwest Christian Tuesday.

Adrian 51, SSC 29
A big fourth quarter carried the Dragons to a 22-point win in their home opener against the Quasars Tuesday.

With Kylie Heronimus netting seven of her 11 points and Maria Gengler adding six of her 12 points, Adrian turned a five-point (27-22) advantage heading into the fourth quarter into a comfortable win by outscoring SSC 24-5 in the final eight minutes.

The game was tight through three quarters of play.

Adrian led 10-9 at the end of the first period, but the Quasars knotted the score at 17 at the intermission.

The Dragons moved in front 27-22 in the third quarter before icing the contest with their late-game domination.

Andrea Lonneman led the Dragons with 15 points. Gengler snared a team-high 12 rebounds. Sarah Kruger passed for five assists.

Box score
S.Henning 0 0 0-1 0, Heronimus 5 0 1-4 11, Honermann 2 0 0-0 4, Henning 1 0 0-0 2, Kruger 0 0 2-3 2, Cox 1 0 1-2 3, Lonneman 6 0 3-5 15, Gengler 5 0 2-2 12, A.Henning 0 0 0-2 0, Mulder 1 0 0-0 2.

Team statistics
Adrian: 21 of 60 field goals (35 percent), nine of 19 free throws (19 percent), 32 rebounds, 13 turnovers.
SSC: 11 of 50 field goals (22 percent), seven of 13 free throws (54 percent), 28 rebounds, 23 turnovers.

Adrian 56, SV-RL-B 37
The inside play of Adrian’s Andrea Lonneman and Maria Gengler paved the way to a 19-point, season-opening win over the Raiders in Round Lake Tuesday, Nov. 26.

Lonneman and Gengler, who led AHS with seven rebounds each, scored a combined 39 points in the contest.

After falling behind 9-7 in the first quarter, Gengler netted seven of her 13 points when Adrian outscored SV-RL-B 16-9 in the second period to give the Dragons a 23-18 halftime cushion.

Lonneman burned the nets for 21 of her 26 points in the second half, when AHS put the game away by outscoring the Raiders 33-19.

"We didn’t play good basketball until a four-minute span of the third quarter," said Dragon coach Randy Strand. "We had five straight steals that we converted into 13 points. That spread the difference for us."

Jenna Honermann contributed five assists and five steals to the winning cause. Ashley Cox and Sarah Kruger contributed six rebounds and five steals respectively.

Box score
Henning 0 0 2-2 2, Honermann 2 0 1-2 5, Kruger 0 0 2-6 2, Cox 3 0 0-0 6, Lonneman 10 0 6-8 26, Gengler 6 0 1-3 13, Wolf 1 0 0-2 2.

Team statistics
Adrian: 22 of 53 field goals (42 percent), 12 of 23 free throws (52 percent), 34 rebounds, 19 turnovers.
SV-RL-B: eight of 41 field goals (20 percent), 19 of 33 free throws (58 percent), 18 rebounds, 22 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek gymnastics team experienced a successful start to the 2002-03 season by posing a win over West Central in Sioux Falls Tuesday.

Cardinal athletes won three individual events to set the stage for a 112.7-107.05 win over WC.

Callen Bosshart, who was the all-around champion with 29.8 points, won the floor exercises with an 8.4 effort.

Bosshart also placed second on the vault (8.4), fourth on the bars (7.0) and tied for fourth place on the beam (6.0).

Danielle Cook and Amanda Dooyema also won individual events for L-H-BC.

Cook, who was third on the beam with a 7.2, won the vault with an 8.6 tally.

Dooyema, who was third on the floor with a 7.5, won the bars title with an 8.1.

Cardinal Brittany Mulder, who finished fifth all around with 24.2 points, tied for third place on the vault with a 7.9.

L-H-BC’s Brittany Boeve tied for second place on the beam with a 6.2 score.

The 1-0 Cards host Marshall tonight and Pipestone Thursday.

Individual results
Floor: Bosshart, 8.4; Dooyema, 7.5; Cook, 6.9; Boeve, 6.05; Mulder 5.5.
Beam: Boeve, 6.2; Bosshart, 6.0; Dooyema, 5.85; Mulder, 4.8.
Bars: Dooyema, 8.1; Cook, 7.2; Bosshart, 7.0; Mulder, 6.0.
Vault: Cook, 8.6; Bosshart, 8.4; Mulder, 7.9; Boeve, 7.8; Victoria Arends, 7.1

Ellsworth senior guard Jenna Groen scored her 1,000th career point during a Nov. 26 home game against Southwest Christian. Groen is the first EHS girl to reach the 1,000-point milestone.

By John Rittenhouse
History was made during a Nov. 26 girls’ basketball game between Ellsworth and Southwest Christian in Ellsworth.

Jenna Groen, a senior guard for the EHS squad, made school history when she became the first Panther girl to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career.

Groen, a three-year starter for the Panthers, needed 13 points heading into tilt to reach the plateau.

According to Panther coach Dean Schnaible, a layup midway through the third quarter etched Groen’s name into EHS history.

"She got it in the middle of the third quarter," Schnaible said. "She becomes the first female to score 1,000 points in Ellsworth school history."

Groen’s historic hoop came during a dramatic rally for EHS.

Trailing 29-17 at halftime, Ellsworth bounced back to outscore SWC 42-14 in the second half to win the game 59-43.

Groen, who led the Panthers with 24 points, struck for 10 counters in the fourth quarter.

She was awarded a game ball that was signed by the coaching staff and her teammates to mark the occasion.

Luverne junior defenseman Steven Berghorst pokes the puck away from Mankato East’s Taylor Sorgatz during a boys’ hockey game played at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Tuesday, Nov. 26. The Cardinals beat the Cougars 4-2 in the first game of the season for both teams.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne boys’ hockey team racked up a pair of wins to open the 2002-03 season last week.

The Cardinals nipped Mankato East by two goals at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Tuesday, Nov. 26. LHS then recorded a one-goal win against Minneapolis Edison in Minneapolis Saturday.

Luverne, 2-0 overall, hosts Fairmont tonight.

Luverne 1, Edison 0
A solid defensive effort anchored by senior goalie Cody Gehrke set the stage for Saturday’s win over Minneapolis Edison in Minneapolis.

Gehrke blanked the hosts while stopping 26 shots. According to Cardinal coach Lee Chaffee, the net-minder received a lot of help from his defenders.

"Cody played very well — as you would expect in a 1-0 game, there was a lot of defense involved. Our defensive coverage was good. Every once in a while we got a little bit sloppy, but we did the job," he said.

The lone goal of the game came in the second period when Cardinal Dan Park found the net after being set up by Andy Hess and Gregg Fuerstenberg.

Edison sported a 26-24 advantage in shots on goal in the game.

Luverne 4, ME 2
The Cardinal boys enjoyed a successful start to the season when they toppled Mankato East by two goals at the Blue Mound Ice Arena Tuesday, Nov. 26.

A three-point performance by senior Eric Lammert set the pace offensively for LHS. A solid goal-tending effort by Gehrke also played a key role in the win.

The teams skated to a scoreless draw in the first period before scoring a combined four goals in the second period.

Matt Reverts gave the Cards a 1-0 lead when he scored after being set up by Lammert at the 7:58 mark of the second stanza, but the Cougars knotted the game at one when Chad Hager found the net with 4:31 remaining in the period.

Luverne took the lead for good by scoring twice in a 21-second span late in the second period.

Lammert put the Cards in front 2-1 after being assisted by Reverts. Tony Smedsrud drilled a slap shot into the net at 1:17 to make it a 3-1 game. Lammert and Chris Morgan received assists for Smedsrud’s tally.

ME made it a one-goal difference when Cody Drysdale scored 1:27 into the third period, but Luverne’s Hess got the goal back with an unassisted effort with 3:53 remaining.

Gehrke stopped 32 of 34 shots in net for the Cards. Luverne had 26 shots on goal.

By Lori Ehde
Five local men appeared in Rock County District Court Monday on drug charges stemming from Nov. 26 arrests.

A 17-year-old girl faces drug charges in juvenile proceedings.

Arrested were 39-year-old Gregory Lynn Wade, 35-year-old Tony Tyler Tate, 48-year-old Oliver Eugene Crawford, 18-year-old Gregory Charles Stratton, Dustin James Kruger (who will be 19 next week) and 17-year-old Noi Chitmany.

All are from Luverne.

According to Rock County Investigator Clyde Menning, the arrests were the result of a 10-week investigation of the local methamphetamine market.

"We had put an awful lot of work into achieving what we accomplished that day, and it was very gratifying," Menning said. "Obviously it’s one of the largest investigations we’ve done here, short of homicides, and it was quite intense at times."

The arrest involved 20 officers, 11 of which were Rock County personnel, eight from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and one Minnesota State Patrol officer.

Menning said warrants were issued for simultaneous arrests to prevent any of the suspects from fleeing. "There was no significance to the date we picked," he said. "It had been going on for 10 weeks and it was time to wrap it up."

He said the arrests went smoothly, despite one of the defendants, Wade, claiming he was injured in the process.

"He’s got some old injuries and when we made the arrests, of course we ordered everyone to the floor," Menning said, "and he started complaining right away that he was hurt."

The Sheriff’s Department had been monitoring local drug activity for several months, but officers were able to step up investigations with help from a BCA confidential informant, who was in Luverne for 10 weeks.

In a local motel room, the informant made several videotaped exchanges with local dealers resulting in the purchase of roughly 66 grams of methamphetamines for a total of about $7,700.

Based on that evidence, warrants were obtained for the arrest of Wade, Tate, Crawford, Stratton, Kruger and Chitmany.

Those warrants were executed simultaneously Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 26. All but Kruger were arrested that day, and Kruger was arrested Thanksgiving day, Nov. 28.

Charged Monday
The five men appeared for their first court hearing Monday, when they were formally charged and bail was set.

Wade was charged with first-degree controlled substance crime for selling 11.2 grams of meth Nov. 3, and he was charged with fifth-degree controlled substance crime for participating in the sale of 10.7 grams of marijuana.

His bail was set at $50,000.

Tate was charged with first- and second-degree controlled substance crime for selling a total of 13.6 grams of meth on four separate dates in October. His bail was set at $35,000.

Crawford was charged with first-degree aiding and abedding a controlled substance crime for assisting Wade in the sale and delivery of 11.2 grams of meth. He was charged with third-degree attempting to commit a controlled substance crime for discussing the sale of meth and accepting $560 over a period of time to secure the sale of meth.

Crawford was also charged with fifth-degree controlled substance crime for selling 10.7 grams of marijuana. His bail was set at $50,000.

Stratton was charged with two counts of first-degree controlled substance crime and one count of second-degree for selling a total of 21 grams of meth on Nov. 2 and Nov. 5. His bail was set at $25,000.

Kruger was charged with second-degree aiding and abetting a controlled substance crime for driving Stratton to and from what he knew to be a sale of controlled substance. His bail was set at $5,000.

Chitmany was charged in juvenile proceedings with two counts of sale of methamphetamines.

Sentence guidelines for first-degree controlled substance crime, the most serious of the felony charges, call for more than seven years in prison.

Bail is determined by a number of factors, including likeliness of a defendant to flee the area and prior criminal records. Crawford, incidentally, is standing trial today for his role in the Harvey’s Trading post burglary with Luverne’s Scott Wentler, who has already been convicted.

Kruger has posted bail, but the rest are currently held in the Nobles County Jail, Worthington, pending their next hearing.

For defendants to post bail, they typically pay 10 percent up front through the services of a bondsman.

A battle won in an ongoing war on drugs
When asked if he felt last week’s arrests made a worthwhile dent in Rock County’s drug problem, Menning said it’s bound to help.

"Time will tell on that. We felt comfortable — with the number we arrested — that it was a success," he said. "…. I can’t speculate what it will be six months from now. The parents of Rock County need to be very vigilant about what’s going on in their homes."

Assistant County Attorney Terry Vajgrt said he is pleased with the outcome of the investigation.

"I think we made significant progress in addressing the problem," Vajgrt said. "Through community policing, good investigating and aggressive criminal prosecution, we plan on making Rock County a dangerous place to sell drugs."

Not at easy as it may seem
Menning said he’s just glad to have wrapped up the investigation.

"The whole process has been underway for six months, but we’ve been waiting for something like this to occur for a long time," Menning said.

He said despite what television police dramas portray, it’s difficult to arrange for a successful confidential informant such as the one that was used to broker the local sales.

"It’s quite rare," Menning said. "It’s very difficult to get someone with as much knowledge and experience as we need to infiltrate these groups and to gain their confidence. It may be a very long time before we can arrange for that again."

Menning said last week’s arrests were gratifying for the whole law enforcement department.

"The officers worked very long and very hard on this, and they’re the ones who deserve a pat on the back," he said. "It was team effort by everyone here at the Law Enforcement Center."

Lila Bauer, founder of the local group Parents: The Anti-Drug and Violence Task Force, said she is happy about the arrests, and encourages continued awareness in the community.

Bauer and other concerned parents started the group in September to educate parents on the warning signs of drug use and to raise community awareness about the problem.

When asked if those efforts contributed to last week’s arrests, both Menning and Vajgrt said awareness is a good idea, but that the investigation had begun long before the group organized.

"I know it’s been difficult for law enforcement to remain silent when asked what they’re doing to address the local drug problem," Vajgrt said.

"They’ve certainly been called to task over the last several months."

Luverne’s American Reformed Church senior youth will present the theatre production of "The Christmas Shoes" during Winterfest weekend. The musical illustrates the meaning of Christmas by telling a family’s touching holiday story. Taylor Pedersen, kneeling, wants to buy shoes for his sick mother, played by Lindsey Van De Berg so she can have beautiful shoes to wear when she goes to heaven. In trying to make his mother happy, he impacts a stranger who doesn’t have much of the Christmas spirit. Also pictured above, is Chris Thacker, who plays the boy’s father. The play is directed by senior youth members, Gabrielle Van Dyk, Lindsay Hup and Melissa Boeve. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, immediately following the parade Saturday, and at 7 p.m. Sunday. All performances are at the church. Performances are free, but dinner will be served at 6 p.m. prior to the shows on Friday and Sunday. Call 283-4549 for dinner reservations. Photo by Sara Strong.

By Lori Ehde
Tuesday night’s dusting of snow came just in time for this weekend’s sixth annual Winterfest activities in Luverne.

According to Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Director Dave Smith, the weekend is shaping up to be everything has been in previous years, with a mild forecast to go with it.

"I guess they’re saying temperatures in the 20s, so barring rain or snow or sleet or any of that, it should be pretty night for everyone to come out and watch the parade," Smith said.

He reminds parade goers that the route will again loop north on Blue Mound Avenue after its eastward trek down Main Street.

It will come back west on Luverne Street so people in the hospital, Blue Mound Towers and Hospice Cottage can see the lighted floats from their windows.

Parking is allowed on Luverne Street and adjoining side streets, so people who don’t want to brave the cold can view the parade from their vehicles.

New this year is a street race called the "D-Light-Full 5K Run" that will bring runners through participating lighted neighborhoods.

Registration begins at 5 p.m. at the American Legion on Main Street, and the race begins at 6 p.m. Runners can call 283-2098.

Also new this year will be the Blue Mound Area Theatre group’s Winterfest movie at the Palace Theatre, Jack Frost, which will start Saturday night after the parade. Matinee shows will be at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday as well.

Following is a list of events planned for the weekend. That information also appears on the back page of this week’s Announcer.

The Chamber organizes the weekend’s events, but Smith said the work is done by countless other people to make Winterfest worthwhile.

"This is really a community event," he said. "There are 23 different groups and organizations involved in this (not counting parade entries and other event participants). It speaks highly of the community that they come together for this."

Schedule of events:
Friday, Dec. 6
Story Hour at 10 a.m. at the Library
Cribbage tournament at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagles Club
Dinner Theater, "The Christmas Shoes," at 6 p.m. at the American Reformed Church
Open swim from 6 to 8:45 p.m. at the Rock County Community Pool and Fitness Center
D-Light-Full 5K Run — registration begins at 5 p.m. at the American Legion. Race begins at 6 p.m.
Middle School dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the commons.

Saturday Dec. 7
Craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the high school gym.
Free shuttle from school to downtown merchants from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Luverne Elementary School
Santa’s Workshop from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the elementary commons
Holiday bake sale and soup and dessert luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Senior Center
"Jack Frost" movie at 1 p.m. the Palace Theatre.
Artists’ Christmas at the Coffey Haus from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Open Swim at the Rock County Community Pool and Fitness Center from 1 to 8:45 p.m.
Parade of Lights begins at 7 p.m. downtown Luverne.
"Christmas Shoes" at the American Reformed Church after the parade.
Festival of Trees at the Carnegie Cultural Center. Enjoy hot cider after the parade.

Sunday, Dec. 8
Parade of Homes from 1 to 5 p.m. starting at the Carnegie Cultural Center.
"Jack Frost" movie at 1 p.m. the Palace Theatre.
Open swim at the Rock County Community Pool and Fitness Center from 1 to 8:45 p.m.
Dinner Theatre ,"Christmas Shoes," at 6 p.m. at the American Reformed Church.
Hospice tree lighting at 7 p.m. at The Cottage.

Edward McCardell, 72, Wild Rose, Wis., formerly of Magnolia, died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, in his home following a long battle with cancer.

Services were Monday, Dec. 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wautoma, Wis. Burial was in St. Joseph Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Edward McCardell was born to Martin and Theresa (Reiter) McCardell on Jan. 17, 1930, in Nobles County. He graduated from Magnolia High School in Magnolia.

He married Phyllis Frey on Nov. 21, 1953, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Chicago, Ill. He received both his undergraduate and Juris Doctorate degrees from Loyola University, Chicago. He was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean Conflict. He worked and was a business owner in the printing, paperboard and packaging industries.

Mr. McCardell was a longtime member of MENSA, Wild Rose Lions Club and Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis McCardell, Wild Rose; six sons, Mark (Sandra) McCardell, Santee, Calif., Michael (Amy) McCardell, Durango, Colo., Matthew (Pamela) McCardell, Phoenix, Ariz., Martin (Michelle) McCardell, Madison, Wis., Edward McCardell (fiancée Tammie Lippert) Manawa, Wis., and Sean (Amy) McCardell, Stevens Point, Wis.; four daughters, Mae (Thomas) Lauritzen, Wild Rose, Maureen (Gary) Nelson, Bayfield, Wis., Marianne (Donald) DeMeuse, Frisco, Texas, and Julie (Brent) Kubik, Nashotah, Wis.; 15 grandchildren, Lisa (Ty) Lamb, Kelly Lauritzen, Emily (Brian) Pittsley, Molly (Tim) Post, Laura (Igor) Ivashko, Jill (Doug) White, Jennifer, Ryan, Madison, Sean, Kegan, Katherine, Jack, Colin and Dylan McCardell; two great-grandchildren, Caleb Richards and Ethan Post; three brothers, Eugene McCardell, Joseph (Mary) McCardell, and Richard (Patricia) McCardell; six sisters, Ruth Delate, Kathryn (Joseph) Crnkovich, Teresa McCardell, Rose Anne (Clem) DeAmicis, Delores McCardell and Carolyn Lambert; three sisters-in-law, Louise (Robert) Sutton, Mildred (Donald) Cheval, and Alice (Michael) Bartello, in addition to many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mr. McCardell was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Phillip and Genevieve Frey, two brothers, Thomas McCardell and William McCardell; two sisters, Mary McCardell and Margaret Sides; two brothers-in-law, Edward Delate and Jerry Lambert, and one sister-in-law Ceal McCardell.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be given to the American Cancer Society or St. Agnes Hospital Hospice Hope. Donations will be used for memorial masses.

Holly Funeral Home, Wild Rose, was in charge of arrangements.

Shirley Jean Maxwell, 72, Luverne, died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Monday, Dec 2, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. The Rev. John Pehrson and lay pastor Dan Smith officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Shirley Roemeling was born to Siebo and Frida (Heiden) Roemeling on May 29, 1930, in Springwater Township, Rock County. She attended school in Luverne.

She married Hugh Maxwell on Aug. 31, 1947. After their marriage they lived in Luverne for 10 years until moving to Madison, S.D. They moved back to Luverne in the early 90s. She moved to Centennial Apartments after Mr. Maxwell died in 1993. She moved to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in May 2002.

Mrs. Maxwell was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Madison, S.D.

Survivors include six children, Cynthia (David) Wehrli, Lansdale, Pa., Robert (Karen) Maxwell, Madison, S.D., Jane (Randy) James, Shoreham, N.Y., Wendy (Ed) Keever, The Colony, Texas, David (Beth) Maxwell, Hope, Ark., and Janet Leon, Reno, Nev.; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Lois Olson, Luverne, and Sharon Wegleitner, Williston, N.D.

Mrs. Maxwell was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1993, and seven brothers.

A tree will be planted in memory of Shirley Maxwell by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

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

With poinsettia sales in full bloom, Wally’s Nursery, rural Hills, continues to stock a supply of the various colored plants. Thanksgiving weekend sales were brisk, not only in poinsettias but also in Christmas trees and wreathes, according to partner Delwyn Walraven. For customers interested in giving poinsettias as a gifts, Wally’s Nursery offers bows and wrappers in different colors.

Photo by Jolene Farley