By Lori Ehde
After nearly a year of negotiating, Luverne School District and the teachers union have reached agreement on a contract that should have been in effect at the start of the school year.

During a special noon meeting Tuesday, Luverne School Board members ratified the master contract between the district and the Luverne Education Association effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2003.

The two-year contract includes salary and benefit improvements that represent a total increase of 9.96 percent over the last contract.

As part of the agreement, starting pay for teachers increased from $25,844 to $28,643, bringing Luverne in line with the state average starting pay of $27,000.

"This makes it more attractive for hiring new staff," Superintendent Vince Schaefer said Tuesday.

According to the agreement, a change in the pay schedule in Luverne will also make it more attractive for teachers to stay long-term.

There are currently 19 step increases to reach the top of the scale, but the new agreement condenses those steps to 17.

Essentially this allows teachers to reach top pay more quickly, increasing their lifetime earnings.

LEA negotiator Doug Dooyema said the new contract is good for Luverne teachers, but he said it’s important to keep the numbers in perspective.

"Now we’re still just average," he said. "For us, the contract is good, but to attract teachers from other parts of the state, we’re still just average."

Overall, both parties are satisfied with the agreement and agree it’s good to have the contract settled.

During the last round of negotiations, Luverne teachers had requested a 12.16-percent total package increase, and the district was offering 9.75.

"The result is not totally what we wanted," Dooyema said, "but it's OK."

As part of Luverne’s new contract, teachers will have one additional Association leave day for a total of six days.

Compensation for curriculum and staff development increased from $17 per hour to $20.

The district's insurance contribution won’t change for the first year of the contract, 2001-2002. It contributes $1,862 for single and $5,286 for family. For 2002-03, the district’s insurance contribution increases to $2,106 for single and $6,100 for family.

Teachers will have one additional personal leave day for a total of three. The first and second personal day, teachers pay half of the substitute teacher pay and the day is deducted from sick leave. The third day is deducted from sick leave and the teacher pays full substitute pay.

In addition, the new contract changes severance language to exclude the word "continuous" from the statement that teachers are eligible at age 55 with 20 years of (continuous) full-time service.

Lack of deadline lengthens negotiations
Contracts are typically signed in the fall, after the legislative session is complete and after school districts know how much state funding they'll receive.

Nearly all Minnesota contracts are usually settled by year end because of a Jan. 15 deadline that if violated causes districts to lose $25 per student in state aid.

This year, with the legislative wrap-up months overdue, contract negotiations were delayed and the state approved a one-time waiver of the deadline.

Consequently Luverne joins three quarters of the districts statewide reaching a settlement on teacher contracts late into spring.

Structural balance
At that same meeting Tuesday, School Board members approved a resolution for Structural Balance, as required by the Minnesota Department of Children Families and Learning.

By law, districts must submit structurally balanced budgets to the CFL to assure the public that "expenditures will not exceed available funds as a consequence of approving a collective bargaining agreement."

Highlights of the worksheet presented to the board show the settlement will not break the district. It shows a current fund balance in the general fund of $2.4 million.

Accounting for increasing expenses and decreasing revenues in the next three years, however, that balance is predicted to dwindle to $1.3 million by 2004.

That amount includes the $800,000 set aside for technology - money that was to remain untouched and generate interest to be spent on technology.

Salaries, which are paid from the general fund, account for nearly half of the general fund expenditures - roughly $5 million by 2003. That’s figuring 99.56 full-time equivalent staff members.

Luverne's Structural Balance worksheet can be viewed on the CFL Web site at www.educ.state.mn.us.

Arbitration ruling
As a side note to the contract, an arbitrator recently ruled on the side of the district in a grievance filed by teachers as a sideline to negotiations.

Operating without a contract for much of the 2001-02 year, teachers asked for their step increases prior to the contract being settled.

Step increases for all positions total roughly $85,000 for a year, and teachers wanted access to the money they said was rightfully theirs.

The district maintained those increases would be paid out retroactively once the contract was settled.

The arbitrator, an objective representative from the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, heard both sides during a March 5 four-hour hearing.

That ruling came down on the side of the district, and step increases will be paid retroactively to July 1, 2001.

Congregate living is for seniors who can live independently but need help with some home care needs. For example, The Oaks provides one meal per day and housekeeping services.

Housing licensed under the assisted living umbrella provides more services for more dependent residents. For example, three meals a day are standard, and more health and home care services are provided.

By Lori Ehde
Fund-raising efforts are in full swing for assisted living apartments to be built in Luverne.

To meet demonstrated demand, a 24-unit assisted living facility will be built adjacent to The Oaks on property to the north of the existing apartments.

The soonest assisted living will be available in Luverne is next summer, and that's only if funding is secured.

The project is estimated to cost $3.2 million, and 75 percent of the $850,000 in equity needs to be secured before work can begin.

Studer said $500,000 has already been saved for the project, and she applied for a $250,000 Community Services grant through the Minnesota Department of Health.

Assuming the grant eventually is approved, Mary Jane Brown will still need to raise $100,000 in donations - at least that much.

"The more we can offer in equity, the lower our interest rates will be and the less rent we'll have to charge," Studer said.

She's hoping to have all funding secured by May 1 so that groundbreaking can begin July 1. The building wouldn't be ready for occupancy until the following year.

"The longer it takes us to raise funds, the longer it will take to build," Linda Studer said during a public information meeting in February. "It's an awesome task to fund-raise these kinds of dollars."

Studer is administrator of Good Samaritan Communities of Luverne and oversaw The Oaks project, which was completed four years ago.

She said Mary Jane Brown is a non-profit organization, so all donations are tax-deductible.

She said Good Samaritan Society, through resource development consultants, can offer creative options for tax-free donations.

For example, donors can consider rolling over stock options, and one local resident gave property that Mary Jane Brown was able to sell for cash.

"If one family is able to donate $250,000, we'll give them the option of having the facility named after them," Studer said.

Details and amenities
The single-story building will be connected to The Oaks through a walkway attached to The Oaks north-side patio.

The two buildings will not be joined as one, but tenants will be able to share spaces like the exercise and therapy area.

The building will be staffed with trained home-health aides 24 hours a day, and a registered nurse will be on site 20 hours a week and on call 24 hours a day.

The facility will have a full kitchen so independent meals can be prepared on site, but some meals will be brought in from the Mary Jane Brown kitchen.

The facility will offer 20 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units.

Rental costs, based on an average service package, are estimated to range from $1,700 to $2,200 per month. The more health and housekeeping services a resident needs, the higher the rent he or she will pay.

Good Samaritan Communities of Luverne is working with Rock County Family Services to utilize alternative care grants and elderly waivers in order to make the units more affordable to a wider range of people.

Luverne's project is modeled very closely after the one that recently opened in Windom. Tours of those apartments are every Tuesday, and Studer said she welcomes interested community members to ride along.

Call The Oaks at 283-1996 to reserve a seat in a van to Windom or for more information on Luverne's assisted living plans. Rhona Snyder, The Oaks housing manager, is already taking names for the assisted living waiting list.

Jane Cote's second-grade class is the Luverne Elementary featured Class of the Week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Abigail Pierce, Matthew Oehlerts, Rachel Helle, Mackenzi Zwaan, Kody Doerr, Nick Rittenhouse, Jessica Fick, (second row), Sabrinna Brown, Nathan Thompson, Ariel Reker, Hayden Bauman, Lauren Christensen, Christopher Biber, Melanie Van Meeteren, Jeremiah Voetberg, Kristen Scheidt, (third row) Taylor Wollman, Tena Meinerts, Austin VanSanten, Erin Doherty, Devin Heitkamp, Emily Spreiter, Brandon VanderZiel, Tiffany Schley (back row) Mrs. Cami McAndrews, Mrs. Judy Thies and Mrs. Cote.

Mrs. Cote's second-graders have been working on many things. They are learning all about numbers by counting pockets and working with the 100s chart, reading books like crazy to earn certificates for Accelerated Reading, and singing each and every morning while Mrs. Cote plays her guitar.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Fund-raising efforts are still underway for the assisted living facility to be built adjacent to The Oaks congregate care apartments in Luverne. To meet demonstrated demand in Luverne, a 24-unit assisted living facility will be built adjacent to The Oaks on property to the north of the existing apartments. This photo is taken from the northern edge of the property facing south. Story inside.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Arends applies for confinement barn permit
PUBLIC NOTICE
In accordance with amended Minnesota State Statutes 116.07, Subdivision 7a
I Brian Arends do hereby give notice that I have applied for an animal feedlot permit for new construction. The construction will consist of a 40' X 200' partial confinement barn to house 300 head equivalent to 210 animal units.

The feedlot will be located in the SE 1/4 of section 7 in Luverne township of Rock County.

Nearest State, County, or Township Road: County Road 11

Construction Location: 1/2 mile south of the intersection of County Road 5 and 11 on west side of road.

The Rock County Land Management Office will be conducting the permitting process.

311 West Gabrielson Road
Luverne, MN 56156
(507) 283-8862 Extension #3
(4-11)

ISD #2184 School Board meets March 14
MARCH 14, 2002
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184, ROCK COUNTY, LUVERNE, MINNESOTA.

A regular meeting of the Board of Education, ISD #2184, was held in the MS/HS Library on Thursday, March 14, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.

The following members were present: Colleen Deutsch, Dan Kopp, Cary Radisewitz, Bill Stegemann, Steve Tofteland, and Becky Walgrave. Absent: Don Bryan. Also present: Superintendent Vincent Schaefer, Marlene Mann, Gary Fisher, Jan Olson, Melody Tenhoff, Gordie Hansen, Mary Jacobson, Becky Runnoe, Tim Christensen, Tom Rops, Louise Thorson, Dale Nelson, Chris Nowatzki, and Wade Hiller.

The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Dan Kopp. Motion by Radisewitz, second by Stegemann, to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Wade Hiller, District Technology Coordinator, and Tim Christensen, Fourth Grade teacher, made a presentation to the School Board on how Mr. Christensen is using technology in his classroom.

Kara Johnston and Greg Antoine, representing the Staff Development Committee, reviewed the school calendar proposals for the 2002-03 school year. They are requesting three early release days to allow for collaboration among the staff.

Gordie Hansen, representing the Luverne Education Association, addressed the School Board.
Administrative reports were given.

Motion by Stegemann, second by Radisewitz, to approve the consent agenda which included the School Board minutes of February 28, 2002. Motion carried.

The Middle/High School HVAC Remodeling bids, which were received on March 13, were reviewed:

(Add) (Add) (Deduct) (Add)
ALT. 1 ALT. 2 ALT. 3 ALT. 4
BIDDERS BASE BID Wk Stat/Sftwr Warr/Maint Ag W.Wing Un Htrs Cor-WtRm
Midw. Mechanical $904,600. $7,400. $3,800. $7,500. $38,800.
Howe Htg/Plbg $806,800. $7,200. $3,700. $8,700. $31,000.
Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to reject all bids. Motion carried.

Marlene Mann presented information on the following projects that may be completed during the summer: replacement Ð Industrial Arts roof; hallway lighting & ceiling Ð 2nd floor; weight room; sidewalk on North side of building, blacktopping of the new bus garage lot; and MS/HS plumbing repairs.

Motion by Radisewitz, second by Walgrave, to approve the Final Seniority List and Probationary List for Certified staff. Motion carried.

Motion by Radisewitz, second by Tofteland, to accept the request by Council 65, AFSCME, AFL-CIO to negotiate the contracts for clerical, cooks, educational assistants and custodians. Motion carried.

Committee reports were given.

Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Dated: March 14, 2002
Rebecca Walgrave, Clerk
(4-11)

July
July 2: Matthew and Jill Wagner, Luverne, a boy.
July 3: Shane and Pamela McNath, Sioux Falls, S.D., a boy.
July 5: Martin and Josie LeBrun, Adrian, a girl.
July 8: David and Christine Veldhuizen, Luverne, a boy; Kevin and Allie Rozeboom, Luverne, a girl.
July 9: Ryan and Nicholle Christ, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
July 11: James and Melissa Powers, Mankato, a boy; James and Laura Buss, Sioux Falls, twin girls.
July 12: Tom and Kris Denevan, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
July 15: Bryan and Linda Hulstein, Pipestone, a girl; Chris and Jodi Harnack, Beaver Creek, a boy.
July 17: Chris and Jennifer (Ahrendt) Boelter, Kasson, twins, a boy and a girl.
July 19: Dale and Heather Steensma, Luverne, a boy.
July 20: Luncho Waliye, Luverne, a girl.
July 22: Gary and Tammy Harskamp, Rock Raids, Iowa, a boy.
July 23: Korey and Dawn Meester, Ellsworth, a girl.
July 26: Robert and Angella VanGorp, George, Iowa, a boy.
July 27: Boyd and Danielle Vis, Beaver Creek, a girl.
July 28: Dennis and Patricia Wiggins, Luverne, twins, a boy and a girl.
July 30: Chad and Tara Sundem, Tempe, Ariz., a boy.
July 31: J.B. and Lori (De Jongh) Slight, Boone, Iowa, a boy.

August
Aug. 6: LeRoy and Laura Ask, Lennox, S.D., a girl.
Aug. 11: Christine Holter and David Smedsrud, Luverne, a girl; David and Ann Thier, Rushmore, a boy.
Aug. 12: Ross and Nicole Fey, Luverne, a boy.
Aug. 14: Terry and Jennifer Blom, Honolulu, Hawaii, a girl; David and Sarah Beimers, St. Paul, a girl.
Aug. 17: Matt and Emily Metzger, Hills, a boy; Alan and Michelle Krocza, Luverne, a girl; Shawn and Jill Swenson, Luverne, a girl.
Aug. 21: Ivan and Jamie DeJong, Leota, a girl.
Aug. 22: Mark and Kristi (Moeller) Hultberg, Elk River, a boy.
Aug. 23: Harlan and Heather Kurrasch, Fort Benning, Ga., and Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
Aug. 25: Mike and Carrie Zebedee, Jackson, a girl.
Aug. 28: Stacy and Stacy Boyle, Adrian, a boy,
Aug. 26: Randy and Jody Delfs, Hardwick, a boy.

September
Sept. 4: Denny and Shari Doerr, Luverne, a boy.
Sept. 7: Robert and Brownyn Wenzel, Luverne, a boy; Justin and Amber Decker, Steen, a boy.
Sept. 8: Steve and April Wessels, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
Sept. 10: Patrick and Elizabeth Nath, Luverne, a boy.
Sept. 13: Dean and Jennifer Luettel, Adrian, a boy; Shermayne Hardick and Justin Ehlers, Luverne, a girl; Don and Michelle Reiffenberger, Sioux Fals, S.D., a girl.
Sept. 19: Wayne and Stacy Fuerstenberg, Steen, a girl.
Sept. 21: William Jay and Shala Ross, Canistota, S.D., a girl.
Sept. 23: Jamie LeBeua, Luverne, a girl.
Sept. 28: Michael and Phoebe Flom, Luverne, a girl.
Sept. 29: Brett and Tammi Miller, Luverne, a girl.
Sept. 30: Steve and Sheri Helland, St. Anthony, a boy.

October
Oct. 1: Craig and Julie Nekali, Luverne, a boy.
Oct. 5: Joshua and Anna Stoltenberg, Luverne, a girl; Steven and Keri Hansen, Hardwick, a girl.
Oct. 7: Eric and Patty Lindner, Worthington, a boy; Marceia Brown and Michael Broesder, Rock Rapids, Iowa, a girl.
Oct. 10: Jason and Karla Thorson, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
Oct. 12: James and Kari Kueter, Hills, a boy.
Oct. 16: Paul and Tracey Reyne, Rushmore, a boy.
Oct. 17: Todd and Barbara Meinerts, Luverne, a girl.
Oct. 22: Dan and Lisa Niemeyer, Hardwick, a girl.
Oct. 23: Jeremy and Janel Reu, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl; Benji and Leah Kellenberger, Rock Rapids, Iowa, a girl.
Oct. 25: Timothy Vortherms and Sara Brady, Adrian, a boy.
Oct. 28: Shawn and Kelly Kluever, Worthington, a boy.
Oct. 29: Alan and Shela Van Dam, Chandler, a boy.
Oct. 30: Mark and Shannon Madtson, Adrian, a girl.
Oct. 31: Daryl and Amy Fuerstenberg, Beaver Creek, a girl.

November
Nov. 3: Timothy and LeAnn Olson, Jackson, a boy; Tom and Kristin Loosbrock, Neenah, Wis., a girl.
Nov. 9: William and Michelle Jansma, Ellsworth, a boy; Brad and Marla Top, Valley Springs, S.D., a boy.
Nov. 10: Daniel and Jeannie Vis, Edgerton, a boy.
Nov. 11: Brad and April Cowell, Rapid City, S.D., a boy.
Nov. 15: Mark and Lynette Knips, Magnolia, a girl; Dean and Linda Meyer, Larchwood, Iowa, a boy.
Nov. 17: Joseph and Christine Hornstein, Adrian, a boy.
Nov. 22: Darwin and Kelli Siebenahler, Windsor Heights, Iowa, a boy.
Nov. 24: Gregg and Carmen Dougherty, Valley Springs, S.D., a girl.
Nov. 26: LeRoy and Jaclyn Barton, Hardwick, a girl.
Nov. 27: Roberto Cazares and Rebecca Gutierrez, Luverne, a girl.
Nov. 28: Dennis Staples and Amy Baker, Pipestone, a boy.
Nov. 29: Kimberly and Dorene Chapa, Ellsworth, a girl.
Nov. 30: John and Tonya Oberg, Woodbury, a girl.

December
Dec. 2: Kent and Beth Senf, Bloomington, Ill., a girl.
Dec. 3: Kurt and Melissa Bly, Hills, a girl.
Dec. 5: Billy and Shawna Majerus, Luverne, a girl.
Dec. 8: Paul and Lynette Schultz, Brooklyn Park, a girl.
Dec. 10: Crystal Tiesler and Branden Domeyer, Ellsworth, a girl; Mike and Karen Winter, Luverne, a boy.
Dec. 17: Brenda Magnus and Khalil Almudor, Luverne, boy.

Luverne senior Andrew Norton helped the boys' track squad win the team championship of the annual Cardinal Relays Tuesday. Norton won the long and high jump titles, and ran a leg with Luverne's winning 1,600-meter relay team during the meet.

By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne boys' track team entertained its home fans Tuesday by winning the team competition of the Cardinal Relays.

The hosts compiled 156 points to best runner-up Brandon Valley, S.D., which finished nine points off the pace with 147 counters.

It was the first time LHS won the team title at the Cardinal Relays since 1999.

"It's always exciting to win your home meet," said Cardinal coach Craig Nelson. "We had a nice team effort. We got a lot of one-two scoring punches from our boys in a lot of events, and that’s what you need to get a good team score."

Winning seven events doesn't hurt a team's cause, either.

Andrew Norton won the high jump (6-1) and triple jump (40-11) titles for the Cardinals and ran a leg for the champion 1,600-meter relay team that was timed at 3:37.88. Travis Johnson, Tyler Elbers and Tom Sandager round out the 1,600-meter squad.

Norton also placed second in the long jump with a distance of 19-6 3/4.

Sandager and Scott Goebel ran their way to victories in the 400-meter dash and 1,600-meter run with respective 53.32 and 5:00.9 times.

Cardinal Craig Bosch, who was second with a toss of 146-1 in the discus, took top honors in the shot put with a throw of 47 feet.

Luverne also won the 800-meter relay with a time of 1:36.9. Johnson, Elbers, Chris Morgan and Sandager formed the team.

Elbers (10-6 in the pole vault), Morgan (43.19 in the 300-meter hurdles) and Johnson (23.79 in the 200-meter dash) racked up second-place performances for LHS.

Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of Luverne's top-eight finishers during the Cardinal relays.

Team standings: LHS 156, BV 147, Worthington 118, Southwest Christian 101, Windom 56, Fulda 46, Jackson County Central 42, Adrian 17, Edgerton five, Westbrook-Walnut Grove-Red Rock Central two.

Individual results
Third place: Tim Rust, pole vault, 10-6; Cody Gehrke, 100, 12.13.

Fourth place: Justin Van Wyhe, long jump, 18-6; 400 relay (Van Wyhe, Rust, Gehrke and Morgan), 47.89; Goebel, 800, 2:12.22; Elbers, 200, 23.95.

Fifth place: Mark Brockberg, pole vault, 9-6; 3,200 relay (Nick Otten, Ruston Aaker, Kyle Bitterman and Jamison Tooley), 9:43.

Sixth place: Aaker, pole vault, 9-0.

Seventh place: Van Wyhe, triple jump, 36-2 3/4.

Eighth place: Tony Willers, shot, 39-2.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth track athletes traveled to South Dakota to open the outdoor portion of their 2002 schedule Thursday.

Competing in eight-team fields at the Beresford Booster Club Track Meet, both the H-BC-E boys' and girls' squads placed fifth at the event.

The meet was staged in cool temperatures, but Patriot coach Tom Goehle didn't seem disappointed by the conditions or the efforts of his athletes.

"It was a good meet. The kids ran and competed well," he said. "This will give us some times we can measure against with our upcoming meets."

The Patriot boys came away with four meet titles.

Chris Reid, who placed second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.6, won the 200-meter dash in 24.1 and took top honors in the long jump with a distance of 21-0 1/4.

Brad Haak won one individual event and ran a leg with H-BC-E's winning 3,200-meter relay team, which was timed at 8:59.62.

Tyler Bush, Lee Jackson and Greg Van Batavia teamed up in the 3,200 with Haak, who won the 800-meter run in 2:06.68.

Two second-place performances were the top efforts produced by the Patriot girls at the meet.
Erin Boeve covered 15-4 1/2 to place second in the long jump.

Amanda Connors, Melinda Feucht, LaDonna Sandstede and Cassi Tilstra finished second in the 400-meter relay with a time of 56.62.

Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E's top-six performances during the meet.

H-BC-E boys
Third place: Haak, high jump, 5-5; 400 relay (Reid, Bush, Van Batavia and Haak), 48.09.

Fourth place: 1,600 relay (Bush, Jackson, Van Batavia and Adam Sieff), 3:59.63.

Fifth place: Bush, high jump, 5-3; Jackson, 400, 58.04.

Sixth place: Kale Wiertzema, 1,600, 5:29.55; John Sandbulte, 3,200, 12:51.62.

H-BC-E girls
Third place: Boeve, 100, 13.49; 3,200 relay (Bev Wurpts, Mya Mann, Brittney Rozeboom and Tilstra), 10:48.46.

Fourth place: Rozeboom, triple jump, 28-5; medley relay (Sandstede, Feucht, Mann and Tilstra), 5:00.
Fifth place: Wurpts, 3,200, 14:02; Kelly Mulder, long jump, 13-8.

Sixth place: Sandstede, long jump, 12-11; Mulder and Tilstra cleared 4-2 to tie for sixth place in the high jump.

By John Rittenhouse
A combination of returning talent and some incoming recruits give the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth boys' golf program a positive glow as the season approaches.

The Patriots will begin the year with a 20-player roster consisting of one senior, eight juniors, four sophomores, one freshman, two eighth-graders and four seventh-graders.

The roster is highlighted by four players with post-season experience from 2001 and some new golfers who could help the team out this spring.

"There is an unknown factor with this team," said Patriot third-year coach Tim Lange. "We got some new blood on the team, and it looks like they might be able to help us. They seem to be an eager bunch of kids that have a good, competitive nature about them. We've been doing a lot of putting inside this year in practice, and they are being competitive at it. That is something I like to see."

H-BC-E is coming off a 3-6 season in 2001 that included a fourth-place finish in the Sub-Section 10 Tournament.

The Patriots did lose seniors Dean Moss and Tom Beaner from the 2001 squad.

Moss, who advanced to the section meet as a junior, turned in H-BC-E's second lowest score during the Sub-Section 10 meet last spring. Beaner also was a member of that team, recording the squadÕs sixth lowest tally.

Moss and Beaner will be missed, but members of the 2002 team will have an opportunity to improve their games like no other players before them have had.

"We'll be using the driving range at the new Beaver Creek course as soon as it opens (in early April)," Lange said. "That really should help our kids out. I don't know if these guys have had much of a chance to work on their games on a driving range before. It's something kids need to fine-tune their swings and develop a swing pattern through repetition."

Having access to a driving range will make players like sophomore Tom Janssen better.

Janssen was the lone Patriot to advance out of the sub-section field after tying with Luverne's Kelsey Anderson for the fifth and final qualifying positions at the event.

Janssen went on to shoot a 90 at the section meet, which was seven strokes away from the 83 that was needed to advance to the state meet.

Juniors Blake Brommer and Kyle Sammons also could benefit from extra practice swings.

Brommer, a section qualifier in 2000, recorded the team's third best score at last yearÕs section meet. Sammons fired H-BC-E's fifth best score at the same event.

Ben Herman, an eighth-grader who shot H-BC-E's fourth best score at the sub-section meet last spring, rounds out the returning letter winners.

Lange feels junior Clint Roozenboom and sophomore Jordan Scott, who received some varsity exposure last spring, are other candidates to make the team this year.

Juniors Dustin Bonnema and Aaron Blank and sophomores Adam Lange and Jeremy Elbers could move up to the varsity level after competing in the program last year.

New players Jeremy Tiesler, the team's lone senior, juniors Mike Herding and Dusty Seachris and freshman Travis Broesder also will receive the opportunity to play on the varsity squad.

Junior Wayne Baker, eighth-grader Nick Deutsch and seventh-graders Tom Scholten, Yancy Parrow, Chris Ahrenholtz and Adam Finke are other hopefuls with a team that is aiming to improve in 2002.

"I think we can do better than we did last year," Lange said. "A lot of it will depend on how much time these kids will be able to spend on a course trying to improve their games. As far as wins, I always like to shoot for 50 percent of our matches, and we might do even better than that."

The way things looked as of this writing, there will be no Patriot girls' team to report on this year.

Lange said problems between some of the team members last year led to them not playing the sport this year.

The Patriot coach hopes to recruit some girls to play golf for H-BC-E as the spring progresses, but he has nothing to report on that front right now.