By Jolene Farley
The Tuff Village Assisted Living facilities' original eight one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units are on course for Aug. 1 completion, according to Bonnie Hengeveld, Tuff Home assistant administrator and manager of Tuff Village.

General contractor Design Craft, Luverne, extended a July 1 expected completion date to Aug. 1 because of recent heavy rain.

Aside from this recent setback, the project had been on schedule. "It has gone really well," Hengeveld said. "Design Craft has been very good to work with."

She said interest in the project exceeded everyone's expectations. Consequently, the Tuff Memorial Board voted last week to finish seven more units in space in the lower level, bringing the total to 19 units.

The additional units will not be completed until after the original apartments are done. There are currently 39 people on the waiting list for the facility.

Tuff Village will carry an Assisted Living Home Care Providers License. Licensure requires registered nurse program supervision, 24-hour supervision of residents, three meals a day plus snacks, socialization programs and transportation.

Services not required for a license but still offered are: weekly housekeeping, on-site mail delivery, weekly linen service, beauty salon/barber shop and secured entrances. Residents also can utilize the exercise area, large commons area and rent one of six garages.

Tuff Village has set the rate for a one-bedroom unit at $1,375 per month and the rate for a two-bedroom unit at $1,575 per month with an extra $50 for a garage. A $400 fee is charged for an additional occupant.

Rental fees include utilities, cable TV and computer access and maintenance of apartments.

A stay in the Tuff nursing home in a single room with a minimum amount of care is $75.92 per day.

"We would really like people to know if they do not have their own personal resources, Tuff Village is available to everyone regardless of ability to pay," said Hengeveld.

The administration is currently developing a contract with Rock County Family Services to help potential residents with funding their stay at Tuff Village.

Rock County Family Services has "allotted a certain amount of money to help people with housing needs," according to Hengeveld.

Lola Jensen will be one of two Tuff Home residents who will move into Tuff Village when it officially opens. She moved into the Tuff Home in December because her son, Bob Jensen, worried about her living alone, according to Lola.

Jensen is happy to move into Tuff Village. She stresses everyone was wonderful to her at Tuff Memorial Home, but she said, "I like the idea I can do what I want to. It will be nice to have people for coffee or ice cream. There won't be anything for Bob to worry about."

Tuff Village is an attractive option for those who no longer wish to or are unable to maintain their own homes, those who are beginning to need supportive services and for those who desire companionship and fellowship for meals and daily activities.

By Jolene Farley
Scores released last week by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning show Hills-Beaver Creek and Hills Christian School students scoring among the top 10 schools in Minnesota this year on the reading portion of the eighth-grade Basic Standards Tests.

Twenty-three Hills Beaver Creek students and three Hills Christian School students took the test this year from the same "site," according to Dan Ellingson, District Testing Coordinator.

The Hills-Beaver Creek site had 92 percent of students receive a passing score on the math portion of the test and 85 percent on the reading portion of the test. Across the state an average of 72 percent of students who took the test passed.

The average score for H-BC and Hills Christian students on the math portion of the test was 88 percent and on the reading portion 85 percent. A score of 75 percent is passing.

Ten percent of the H-BC students taking the Basic Standards Test were special education students. No students with limited English proficiency took the test from the H-BC site.

"When you have a small number of students, one or two students can make a big jump (in the scores)," said Ellingson. "To have a proper sampling you have to combine different years."

Last year, 80 percent of Hills-Beaver Creek students passed the math portion and 84 percent passed the reading portion of the test.

Although higher scores cannot be pinpointed to one thing, parent involvement, students working hard, and teachers all help improve testing, according to Ellingson.

This year students utilized practice tests provided on the CFL website.

Students are notified when the test will be administered, and parents are invited to an informational meeting.
Basic Standards testing was implemented in 1996 to ensure students did not graduate from high school without learning the basic skills needed to live in today's world.

Almost every public school student takes the tests, in addition to high school students who have not yet passed.

Reading and math tests are administered in the eighth grade; the written composition test is given in the 10th grade. Students are allowed to retake the tests if they do not pass.

All Hills-Beaver Creek seniors except one have passed and are on track to graduate.

Patty Vanden Hoek, officer in charge, raises the American flag Tuesday morning as part of her job at the Steen Post Office.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth baseball team opened the 2001 season by playing a double-header in Edgerton Tuesday.

The Patriots rolled to an 8-0 win in the opener before battling the Flying Dutchmen to a draw at five in Game 2. The game was called due to darkness after seven innings of play.

A solid pitching performance by Lyle DeBoer and timely hitting late in the game set the stage for an eight-run H-BC-E victory in the opener.

DeBoer tossed six innings of shutout ball in the tilt, limiting Edgerton to one walk and four hits while fanning seven batters.

The Patriot offense ended a scoreless draw by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning before putting the game away with six runs in the fifth.

Darin DeBoer singled home a run and Lyle DeBoer scored on a throwing effort when H-BC-E opened the scoring in the fourth.

Lyle DeBoer and David Top delivered two-run singles to highlight the six-run uprising in the sixth. Justin Van Maanen, who led the Patriots with three hits in the opener, added a run-scoring single in the sixth.

A late rally by the Patriots carried them to a draw at five in the nightcap.

Trailing Edgerton 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning in a scheduled six-inning game, H-BC-E erupted for four runs to knot the score at five. The game was declared over due to darkness when neither team could produce a run in the seventh inning.

Van Maanen, David Top and Matt Buck slapped consecutive singles to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth. After two outs were recorded, Tyson Metzger singled home two runs, Kevin Van Batavia singled home another and Paul Jess received credit for an RBI with a fielderÕs choice.

Jess gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead with a two-out, one-run single in the bottom of the second, but Edgerton moved in front 5-1 by scoring once in the third and twice in the fifth and sixth frames.

Top tossed all seven innings for H-BC-E. He yielded seven hits and two walks while striking out five batters. Buck and Van Batavia led the Patriots offensively with three and two hits respectively.

The 1-0-1 Patriots play a road double-header against Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster tomorrow before hosting Adrian and Murray County Central Monday and Tuesday respectively.

By Lori Ehde
The story behind this year's round of eighth-grade standard testing is that most area schools improved math and reading scores slightly over last year's results.

In Luverne, 85 percent passed the math portion of the test, and 86 percent passed the reading exam. That compares to the state average of 72 and 79 percent, respectively.

As far as educators are concerned, this slow, steady improvement is exactly the result they're looking for, according to Luverne Curriculum Coordinator Jan Olson.

"I'm very pleased with these scores. We can be very proud of our students and staff," Olson said. "We've improved in both areas. In reading, our scores have gone up consistently each year."

Since eighth grade basic standards tests were implemented in 1996, Luverne has improved from 56 percent of its students passing the reading test to 86 percent this year.

Math results have been up and down through the years, but overall, Olson said the trend points to improvement. In 1996, 74 percent of Luverne students passed the math test, and 85 percent passed this year.

A passing score in each category is 75.

Almost every public school eighth-grader takes the test, in addition to high school students who haven't passed yet.

This year 121 eighth-graders took the test in Luverne. Of those, five students received perfect scores in reading, and two had perfect marks in math.

Eight percent of those who took the reading test were special needs students, and 9 percent of the math students were special needs students.

To receive a Minnesota high school diploma, students are required to pass the basic standards test. They have until their senior year to pass it.

This year, 22 ninth-graders, six 10th-graders and seven 11th-graders also took the test in Luverne.

According to Olson, all of this year's Luverne seniors have passed the test and are on course for graduation.

She said there is only one 11th-grader and two 10th-graders who still need to pass the test to qualify for graduation.

"It's comforting to me that most of our students are on track," Olson said.

She credited the school's remediation program and classroom teachers for testing success. Remediation is offered before and after school for students in grades 8 through 11 who have not yet passed the test.

This year, 35 students enrolled in the program to prepare for the tests.

Olson also credited Luverne's teachers for positive test results. "Our standards for reading are non-fiction, and the whole test is non-fiction reading," Olson said.

"I just think our teachers are more aware of the test requirements, and they're accountable to that to some extent."

In math, she said an independent consultant who read the state results commented on the success of Luverne's math program.

"This woman said a lot of districts in the state would like to know how we're consistently keeping our math scores up," she said.

Olson said she uses results from the Minnesota eighth-grade basic standards tests to gauge curriculum direction.

"I look at these scores as an indicator of whether we're concentrating on the right areas," she said.

By Lori Ehde
The Blue Mound Woodcarvers are enjoying a resurgence of interest in wood carving.

Their membership has climbed to 36, and they're working with a group of 13 new students.

What's the point? To learn the art of wood carving, of course.

Accomplished wood carvers take pride in the unique form of artistry and the opportunities it presents.

"In every block of wood there's a figure or an animal or a design just waiting to come out," said Mark Wieneke, president of the Blue Mound Woodcarvers.

"Some of these guys have really done some great work."

The Blue Mound Woodcarvers Inc. is a chapter of the Minnesota Woodcarvers. The local chapter was founded on May 12, 1986.

The group meets at 7:30 p.m. every third Monday of the month in the basement of the Carnegie Cultural Center.

The club periodically hosts guest instructors to speak on specific wood carving methods, such as wood burning, chip carving and relief carving.

Classes are offered to the public in February and March.

The Blue Mound Wood Carvers are the sponsoring organization for Arts in the Park, a major highlight of Luverne's annual Buffalo Days celebration.

The Woodcarvers started the event 14 years ago with 27 crafters displaying their wares in booths. The second year attracted 80 vendors, and since then the event has become so popular, many are turned away, according to Jim Viland.

This year, he said, 130 vendors will be present, and so far, three-quarters of them have already signed up for the June celebration.

By Lori Ehde
Few major construction projects are completed without hitting a bump or two along the way.

The new high school gym project in Adrian has encountered its first bump - and it's a big one.

Adrian School Board members learned at a recent meeting that the site for the new gym is located directly over a city storm sewer and water main.

The current site, located north of the existing high school, is occupied by playground space. But for the gym project to continue, an arrangement with the city of Adrian will be necessary to reroute those water and sewer lines.

Cost estimates for such an arrangement have been pegged at around $16,000, but another meeting between the Adrian School Board and the Adrian City Council will be set in the coming weeks.

According to Adrian Superintendent LeRoy Domagala, it's not the sort of bump in the road that will halt the project; it's just something that will have to be worked out between the School Board and City Council.

The first bids for the project have come in for the precast walls at $400,000. Board members had estimated that part of the project would cost around $310,000.

The board has until June 15 to accept or reject the bids.

With a 66-percent show of voter support, the $2.6-million Adrian gym bond passed in December.

Construction will start in September 2001, and completion is expected a year after construction begins.

The facility will include a new high school gym, multipurpose room and community fitness center.
The current gym will be used for plays, concerts and grade school sports.

ItÕs estimated that the 20-year bond will increase property taxes on a $100,000 home by $104.

Plans specifically include:

oCompetition-level gym designed for two sections of physical education and bleacher seating for 800,
oTwo varsity locker rooms with an office, toilet and shower facilities,
oAdditional uniform storage and laundry facilities,
oFitness and weight training room with an area for aerobics and adjacent toilets,
oOffice/dressing and shower room for visiting referees, staff and coaches,
oMultipurpose room large enough to accommodate wrestling mats and physical education programs,
oLobby space with a concession/ticket stand,
oPupil rest rooms as required by assembly space and occupancy codes.

Huiskes said the water didnÕt get as high as during the 1993 flood, and the southwest part of town was protected by dams that were constructed northwest of town three years ago, so damage was limited.
Cleaning the parks will be a big project. "We did get the bathrooms cleaned out and disinfected. It's a mess. There's mud everywhere."

The baseball and softball diamonds have drains but those valves canÕt be opened until the river recedes. Park equipment, buildings and other surfaces will be cleaned by city crews.

River Road was one of the hardest hit, and that was being rebuilt as soon as Tuesday. It leads to the Karen and Mike Mensen residence and their River Road Evergreens business.

Karen said there was some damage to trees and an outbuilding but none to their home. "Here we sit like an island and it didn't get to the house. It's happened before, but we've lived here a long time, and if we really had to worry, we would've been gone."

The water on their property made quite a mess, though. "It leaves behind mud, cornstalks and just muck," she said.

On a bright note, Karen said small seedlings were buried in water and she feared they would be destroyed or washed away. But she noticed the seedlings were still there and perking up more than she expected.

She said watching other Midwest flood damage stories on the news puts her problems in perspective. "For us it's a nuisance more than anything - a little extra work and cleaning, but we'll survive."

The city of Luverne is asking for volunteers to help the city clean up damage left by flood waters. Pinnacle Programs and the Nobles Rock County Jail will likely be called on first, but a list of volunteers would be helpful.

Interested volunteers can leave their names and phone numbers with City Hall at 449-2388.

M-M manager Merlyn Lopau said the store was well-stocked but sold out and is now restocked in those appliances. "People called me at home before midnight Sunday, and we were selling through Monday."

The Rock River crested Monday between noon and 12:30 p.m. and continued to spill over until the early evening. With 3.5 inches of snow and rain falling in Luverne over the weekend and a wet winter, the stage was set for flooding.

Areas around Rock County received ample precipitation as well. Marshall got 4.06 inches, Sioux Falls got 3.81 and Pipestone reported 3.05.

The Rock River taking over ground isn't a typical scene most springs, so Monday, it drew crowds of water watchers who drove down Main Street/County Road 4 to check out the damage.

They saw both sides of the road turn into what looked like lake country with waves splashing onto shoulders of the otherwise bone-dry roadside.
Five county roads had to be closed because of water. All but one of the closed roads were open to travel by Tuesday. County Road 15 was still closed but opened Wednesday. It caused county crews the most hassle because of the length of damage.

The roads that were damaged require roadbed and shoulder fixing and regraveling because the water carries a lot of it away. Along with taking gravel, the floodwater brings cornstalks into ditches and roadways, which the county later cleans up.

And although the Rock River caused the biggest stir, almost every watershed in the county overflowed - from Beaver Creek to Split Rock Creek.

Within the city limits, the park, including baseball and softball diamonds, were underwater.

The aftermath of any flood is difficult to face, according to Luverne Public Works director Darrell Huiskes. "Trying to do this along with spring pick-up is difficult," he said.

The annual "junk days" will cost more this year as the curbside refuse collected rain and snow over the weekend. The water-logged garbage weighs more, and the city is charged per pound by the county landfill.