By Sara Quam
The Luverne City Council Tuesday finalized plans to grant the Economic Development Authority $250,000 for a revolving loan fund from the hospital sale revenue.

The fund will likely be put to its first use in a $250,000 loan to Netbriefings as part of a deal to have the Internet Webcasting firm locate in Luverne.

The money paid back from that loan could then be used for other economic development projects.

City staff is working on a plan that could give the LEDA more money for the revolving loan fund at a later time.

Sale of the hospital generated about $4.5 million, of which the council set aside $3 million.

The council's previous discussions have indicated it wanted to invest the money back into the community rather than have the fund sit, unused.

In other business Tuesday:
The council approved plans to create a turning lane on Dodge Street near the Luverne Schools. A parking lane will be eliminated for the project.

Councilman Keith Erickson said, "Right now it takes one car that wants to turn left to back up traffic."

The project will involve 550 feet between Donaldson Street and Highway 75.

The council also approved several budget amendments. They were: $6,000 increase due to unanticipated revenues after the insurance settlement for spring flooding, $1,200 increase for finishing the Red Bird Field backstop, $15,100 adjustment to complete the skate park, and $2,066 for the library to reflect a Rock County Collaborative grant.

By Sara Quam
It was two months ago that all state government buildings raised their flags just half-staff in honor of Carrie Nelson. At that same time, friends, family and acquaintances wore orange ribbons in her name.

Investigators are among those who haven't forgotten the 20-year-old woman murdered May 20 while working at Blue Mounds State Park.

Clyde Menning of the Rock County Sheriff's Department is the lead investigator for the case. But county law enforcement isn't alone in the investigation. Fourteen state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators, numerous Department of Natural Resources workers, State Patrol officers, along with Rock County deputies, have put in time with the investigation.

Menning said, "The BCA is still giving the case as much time as possible."

Still key to solving the murder is information on the watch found at the scene of the beating. Investigators think the watch was worn by the person responsible for the robbery and murder.

The digital watch face bears the logo "Field Ranger" and is silver. The watchband is tan with brown leather accents.

Anyone with knowledge of a person wearing a watch matching this description is asked to call the tip line at (507) 283-1301.

The reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder has been increased to $15,000.

Menning said the watch hasn't generated as many tips as the department had originally hoped, but the case isn't cold yet.

"There have been numerous law enforcement personnel from other departments to help track down leads," he said. "The Minnehaha Sheriff's Department and Sioux Falls Police have been helpful in giving us information."

The state crime lab also got involved when evidence needed to be processed.

Menning said, "We continue to try to collect evidence and follow leads."

Menning said the Field Ranger watch is an inexpensive one that could have been purchased at any of a number of discount retailers.

"If anyone has additional information, give us a call, because we haven't got this solved yet," Menning said.

Monday night meant it was time for cleanup in preparation for the fair at the Rock County fairgrounds. Members of the Luverne Fire Department power-clean the display buildings.

Photo by Sara Quam

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills Thunder were backed against a wall during the second round of the Gopher League Playoffs Wednesday night in Pipestone.

After dropping their playoff opener to Wilmont in Luverne Tuesday, Hills needed to beat second-seeded Hadley in last nightÕs second round to keep its season alive.

A win over Hadley would send the 2-15 Thunder into Sunday's round of play. A loss ends their season.

Hills came up on the short end of a 6-1 tally during TuesdayÕs playoff opener against Wilmont in Luverne.

Fifth-seeded Wilmont scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and never lost the lead to the sixth-ranked Thunder.

Hills did plate a run in the top of the fifth to trim Wilmont's cushion to a pair of counters (3-1), but Wilmont scored three runs in its final two at bats to prevail by five.

Wilmont scored once in the seventh to make it a 4-1 game before capping the scoring with a two-run eighth inning.

Hills' lone run was of the unearned variety in the top of the fifth.

Chad Rauk reached base on an error before scoring on Matt FunkeÕs run-scoring double.

Rauk pitched all eight innings to take the loss for the Thunder. He walked six batters and struck out five.

Cade Lang led Hills at the plate by going two-for-four.

Funke and Chris Putnam went one-for-four and one-for-three respectively. Both of their hits were doubles.

By Jolene Farley
Superintendent Tom Knoll informed Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members Monday evening that costs are more than anticipated for the locker room addition to the high school.

"It really is not quite enough ($200,000) to do it in the proper measure," said Knoll. "It is really the board's call."

Group II Architects, Sioux Falls, provided a rough cost estimate to the district for no fee.

The board voted unanimously at the March 12 meeting to retain the services of Group II Architects for the project.

Knoll said, "The funding mechanism is the key to doing this." He suggested the board invite the financing group Ehlers and Associates to make a presentation to the board on obtaining an additional $200,000 in financing.

Minnesota statute doesn't allow school districts to obtain direct financing from lending institutions, according to Williams.

Plumbing costs added tremendously to the cost of the project, according to Knoll.

The question board members must decide is "Will it jeopardize the districtÕs fund balance?," said board member Dave Roozenboom.

After much discussion it was decided to table the issue until all board members are present. Ann Boeve and Lois Leuthold were absent.

Knoll also advised the board that they should try to negotiate lower architectural fees for the project.

Fees are currently set at 12 percent of total construction costs, not including reimbursable expenses. Twelve percent of a $200,000 project would be $24,000, and of a $400,000 project $48,000.

"We could buy a teacher for that," said Knoll.

At a Feb. 26 board meeting, Knoll advised the board not to go over the $200,000 mark for the project. At the time, both the board and Knoll thought the amount would be adequate to build a 2,000-square-foot locker room.

At the same meeting, board member Gary Esselink made the motion that $200,000 was the maximum amount the district could spend on the locker room project. The motion carried.

The board hoped private donations and money from the city of Hills would also help finance the project.

By Jolene Farley
Daryl Williams, Dell Rapids, brings plenty of experience to the job of interim superintendent for the Hills-Beaver Creek School District.

Williams is filling in until a replacement is found for Tom Knoll, who is leaving the district for a superintendent job in Hayfield, Minn.

Williams began his career as a teacher and then became principal in the Franklin, S.D., school district in 1966. He landed the job of Ellsworth superintendent in 1970 at the age of 27.

"I have worked in districts the size of Ellsworth with 400 students, to Willmar with 4,600 students," Williams said.

Williams also worked in private industry for four and one-half years for two-way radio and cellular phone company E.F. Johnson Company.

When Williams heard there was an opening for interim superintendent at H-BC, he contacted the district. He had been waiting for an opening within driving distance of Dell Rapids, S.D. "Being 40 miles away and having been a superintendent as recently as July 2000, I thought I could help out," said Williams.

He doesn't anticipate any difficulties with his new job. Williams says the job of an interim superintendent is to "keep the ship afloat" until a new superintendent is found. He said the Hills-Beaver Creek district has good people to rely on and support him.

In addition to his duties as interim superintendent, Williams plans to continue working for the consulting firm Midwest Management Resources, which helps school districts, counties and churches with studies, construction management and policy development.

Williams and his wife, Dianne, recently moved to Dell Rapids, where more of his family also lives. They have two adult children, Darrin, an accountant with Ernst and Young of New York, and Kelli, a fifth grade teacher.

By Jolene Farley
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board was updated on the superintendent search at their board meeting Monday evening.

Both Superintendent Tom Knoll and Interim Superintendent Daryl Williams attended the meeting.

Williams asked who the board wanted involved in the permanent superintendent hiring process - community members or just the board.

"I feel for a superintendent it should be the board," said board president Roland Crawford.

"Sometimes you can get too many people involved in the process," Crawford said.

Williams suggested all board members, instead of a committee, be involved in the interviewing process for the candidates.

He was concerned about the timeline of the interviews because they could fall during September or October during the busy harvest season.

But board member Gary Esselink mentioned that board elections are coming up later in the fall. "At least two, maybe three board members may be out, and we may have to acclimate new members," Esselink said.

The position will be advertised in some trade publications and the Argus Leader. In addition, letters announcing the vacancy will be sent to about 100 school districts.

The board hopes to have a new superintendent hired by Jan. 1, 2002, at the latest.

Board members Esselink and Harnack offered a special thanks to Superintendent Tom Knoll for his years of service. "A lot of us feel if it wasn't for the fact he was here, we wouldn't be here," Esselink said.

In other business the board:
Filed for the four Hills-Beaver Creek School Board openings, each a four-year term, begins Aug. 28 and closes Sept. 11.
oFormer Hills-Beaver Creek elementary teacher Chris Louwagie may fill the secondary learning disability position vacated by Angie Wegner, according to Knoll. LouwagieÕs contract for elementary teacher was not renewed this year because of funding issues.
Even though Louwagie is not licensed for special education, a variance could be obtained because the district advertised extensively but was unable to fill the opening.

Workmen place this bell, salvaged from the original Steen Reformed Church, on its new bell tower. When Steen Reformed decided to replace the old church, built in 1914, the congregation wanted to keep as many items from the old church as possible so the bell was saved. The bell is one of the last projects to be completed on the new construction that began in 1993. Brick will be added around the base of the tower, up to the first level, and a roof matching the church roof will be added.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By John Rittenhouse
Rock County drivers experienced a lot of success during last weekend's races at tracks throughout the area.

Local talent produced a total of five feature victories and six heat wins while competing at four different tracks Friday through Sunday.

Area drivers had a big night Friday at Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa, where they posted two feature titles and four heat victories.

Ellsworth's Mark DeBoer and Darren Korthals, a Hills-Beaver Creek High School graduate who now lives in Rock Rapids, led the way by winning three races in the late model street stock competition.

DeBoer won his heat race before taking the checkered flag in the feature event. Korthals, who was fourth in the feature, also posted a heat victory.

Luverne's Chad Overgaard also mixed it up in the late model street stock class at Rapid Speedway, placing second behind DeBoer in the feature.

Local talent posted two more wins in the hobby stock class in Rock Rapids.

Steen's Tammy Kracht raced her way to victory in the B feature, while Magnolia's Larry Kracht won a heat race.

Luverne's Anthony Mann finished fourth in the hobby stock feature race.

Luverne's Scott Overgaard registered a heat victory in the sportsman class before placing sixth in the feature race at Rapid Speedway.

Adrian's Brad Klaassen, who also drove in the sportsman competition, placed second in the feature race.

Rural Luverne's Todd Wessels raced his way to a fifth-place finish during the 360 sprint car feature race at the Iowa track.

Luverne;s Josh Reisch was a double champion as an outlaw modified competitor at two different tracks over the weekend.

Reisch won the feature race in his class at Murray County Speedway in Slayton Friday, and he claimed the feature title in his class at Worthington Speedway Sunday.

Worthington Speedway was a place for success for two area sportsman class drivers Sunday.

Kanaranzi's Colter Deutsch posted heat and feature wins in his class. Luverne's Josh Klay was second in the feature and third in his heat race in the same class.

Scott Overgaard also competed in Worthington Sunday, placing second in his heat race and fifth in the late model street stock feature.

Chad Overgaard spent his Sunday evening at Huset's Speedway. He posted a heat win and finished third in the feature race at the track near Brandon, S.D.