By Lori Ehde
The Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne is wrapping up its mold abatement project, and the wheels of justice are already in motion to sue the parties responsible.

The problem was discovered in the summer of 1998 when staff noticed dark spots behind the wallpaper in residents' rooms.

The mold was blamed on a faulty heating and cooling system that allowed moisture to condense around windows between Sheetrock and wallpaper.

To rectify the problem, all exterior walls of the building had to be stripped to clear existing mold, and Sheetrock and wall covering were replaced. At the same time, ductwork was replaced with a higher capacity system, about twice the size of the original air handling system.

In the end, the project cost nearly $6 million for a structure that cost $7.2 million to build in 1992.

Adding to the expense of the project was the reduced number of residents. Having to limit occupancy to 75 residents instead of the capacity 85, added up to $344,000 in lost revenues for the home.

The lawsuit, litigated by the Attorney General's Office, names the architect designer, contractor and air system consultant as responsible parties.

Group II Architects and Carr Construction, both of Marshall, and Johnson Controls, Sioux Falls, S.D., are specifically named in the suit.

The suit is scheduled for trial in May of 2002 in Ramsey County.

"It's a complex piece of litigation, and there will be extensive discovery on the case," McGill said. "Three parties need to take depositions."

At the time the mold was discovered, State Engineer Patrick Ferrin reportedly blamed project engineers and architects who scaled back on the heating and cooling system in the home to spend more on a "fancy" exterior. Ferrin said he tried to call attention to the design defects as the home was under construction, but he wasnÕt taken seriously.

Mold abatement work began in March of 1999 and is nearly complete.

On a positive note, Luverne Vets Home Administrator Pam Barrows said the work was completed with little inconvenience to residents and staff.

"I think it went very well," she said Wednesday. "The workers on site (from Design Craft) were very good to work with and were very considerate of the residents. In fact, they made friends with the residents, and the residents enjoyed what they could watch."

By Sara Quam
Homeowners using gas heat may feel like they're better off burning money this year.

Some homes saw their bills double in a month, but local gas providers aren't the ones getting rich off this cold winter. Wholesale prices have increased more than 300 percent in the last 12 months and 58 percent just since December 2000.

Even though homeowners are feeling a financial crunch, not many have applied for fuel assistance. Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council can help pay some heating bills for qualified people.

Gerrie Adamson, local SMOC representative, said she thinks most people who may benefit from it, aren't aware of the program and just haven't applied.

Guidelines for qualifications are set up by gross wages for three months: one person can make $4,364; a family of two can make $5,707; a family of five can make $9,735.

Qualifying families cannot have more than $25,000 in assets, not counting the home and some transportation.

Adamson is in her SMOC office at 319 E. Lincoln from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays and can be reached at 283-2454.

The state also offers further information about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program at 1-800-657-3805.

Customers who are having difficulties paying their heating bills can apply for assistance there. Financial assistance is paid in a lump sum directly to the utility.

Why so high?
Recent wholesale natural gas price increases can point to several factors including limited supplies, reduced storage, greater industrial usage and winters colder than in recent years.

Because natural gas prices were relatively low during the late 1980s and early '90s, a number of electric energy utilities built new generation facilities that use natural gas rather than coal to take advantage of those low prices.

The utilities have now increased the overall demand for natural gas, even though natural gas usage by residential customers has declined during the same period of time.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission generally prohibits energy companies from shutting off a customerÕs heat from October 15 through April 15 due to non-payment of bills.

The Senate Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities Committee will schedule another hearing on the issue. It's expected that legislation will be introduced to provide additional financial assistance to help consumers.

By Jolene Farley
The Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen area Cub Scout Pack 314 and the newly formed Boy Scout Pack 280 are looking for members.

The Cub Scout pack currently has nine members, and the Scoutmaster for both groups is Frank LaBadie, Beaver Creek.

The groups meet the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the Hills Legion Hall.

The pack is learning how to start campfires, and Scouts are working on badges and crafts.

The troops are also making posters for the Scout-O-Rama to be held in Luverne April 7. All troops in the Minnikota district gather at the Scout-O-Rama to show what they accomplished throughout the year.

Current Cub Scout Pack 314 members are Dallas Kroon, Tomas Jensen, Leland Jensen, Tyller Kracht, Kyle Harsma, Steven Harsma, Michael Hofer, Grant Hoogendorn and Justin LaBadie.

For more information, or to join call Frank LaBadie at 673-2496.

By John Rittenhouse

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys snapped a two-game losing skid when they dismantled Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 70-52 in Hills Thursday.

A balanced H-BC offense featured five players reaching double figures in scoring for a Patriot basketball team that posted its first win in 2001.

Even more impressive than H-BC's offensive output was its effort on the boards. The Patriots outrebounded the Knights 32-17, and that was the key to victory in the mind of H-BC coach Steve Wiertzema.

"We rebounded really well," he said. "We had 19 offensive rebounds, and that was the difference in the game."

The game was a tight one in the first half, but H-BC took control in the second half by outscoring the Knights 42-23.

R-T-R, which led 16-14 after eight minutes of play, had a 29-28 halftime lead erased when H-BC went on an 18-6 scoring spree in the third quarter to gain a 46-35 advantage.

The Patriots increased the difference to 18 points in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Knights 24-17.

Brad Haak and Lance Crawford led H-BC's second-half assault on the Knights.

Haak, who had eight rebounds and three assists in the game, netted eight of his 12 points in the second half. Crawford tossed in seven of his team-high 13 points in the third and fourth quarters.

Matt Buck had 12 points and eight rebounds for the winners, while Lyle DeBoer chipped in 11 points and four steals.

Chris Fransman added 10 points and Darin DeBoer four assists to the winning cause.

Box score
D.DeBoer 0 0 0-1 0, Van Batavia 0 0 1-2 1, Van Maanen 0 0 0-2 0, Fransman 0 2 4-6 10, Haak 3 0 6-12 12, L.DeBoer 4 0 3-4 11, Van Wyhe 0 0 2-2 2, Top 1 1 4-8 9, Crawford 6 0 1-2 13, Buck 6 0 0-2 12.

Team statistics
H-BC 23 of 59 field goals (39 percent), 21 of 41 free throws (51 percent), 32 rebounds, 12 turnovers.
R-T-R: 20 of 45 field goals (44 percent), eight of 15 free throws (53 percent), 17 rebounds, 21turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek made a bid to knock off one of the top teams in the Red Rock Conference when it hosted Fulda in a girls' basketball game played in Hills Monday.

H-BC rallied from what was an 11-point deficit in the first half to knot the score at 34 early in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders outscored the Patriots 7-4 the rest of the way to post a 41-38 win.

After Becky Broesder, who led H-BC with 12 points, gave the Patriots a 4-2 lead with a field goal early in the first quarter, the Raiders put together a 13-2 run to move in front 15-6 before Jody DeNoble scored for H-BC at the buzzer to make it a 15-8 game at period's end.

Fulda increased its lead to 11 points (19-8) early in the second quarter before H-BC went on an 8-0 run capped by Jody Rentschler's field goal with 3:00 remaining to make the difference 19-16. The Raiders ended the period with a 7-2 spurt to take a 26-18 advantage at the intermission.

The third quarter belonged to the Patriots as they trimmed Fulda's lead to four points three times, with the last occasion coming when Shanna Tilstra made a shot at the buzzer to make it a 34-30 difference.

Field goals by Erin Boeve and Jamie Arp in the first 2:30 of the fourth quarter knotted the score at 34, and the Patriots trailed by one (39-38) when Boeve drained two free throws with 16 seconds left.

Fulda, however, received a pair of free throws by Erin Oakland with 14 seconds remaining to make it a 41-38 game, and the score remained that way when Tilstra's potential game-tying three-point shot drew iron with three seconds left.

Boeve finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Brittney Olson and Broesder had five and four assists respectively for H-BC.

Box score
Olson 1 0 0-0 2, Sandstede 0 0 0-0 0, Rentschler 2 0 0-0 4, Tilstra 2 0 2-2 6, Broesder 6 0 0-1 12, DeNobel 1 0 0-0 2, Boeve 3 0 4-10 10, DeHaan 0 0 0-0 0, Arp 1 0 0-0 2.

Team statistics
H-BC: 15 of 46 field goals (33 percent), sic of 13 free throws (46 percent), 22 rebounds, 13 turnovers.
Fulda: 15 of 39 field goals (38 percent), nine of 15 free throws (60 percent), 24 rebounds, 18 turnovers.

In the early 1990s, character education became a term teachers examined. Now, a speaker touting the benefits of character education is coming to Luverne to deliver a message of its importance to parents.

Hal Urban will speak to teachers and give a public presentation at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, in the Elementary School Commons.

Urban said the speech, "Raising Good Kids - 4 Suggestions," is ideal for parents, but it can be applied to any member of the community.

"I have concerns about young people's character, and that's why I'm doing this," Urban said.

He said the old notion of becoming what you are exposed to rings true. "Children are bombarded with garbage.
… violence, sex, rampant materialism, bad language."

Urban teaches high school psychology and government and also teaches part-time at the University of San Francisco. His awards range from "Most Supportive Professor" to "National Educator of the Year."

He travels across the country and around the globe to speak on character development. His trip to Luverne will be his first to Minnesota.

Character education in schools isn't something that teachers lecture about in a separate course - it's a principle integrated into curriculum of all grade levels. To Urban, good character has roots in everything from good manners to genuine kindness.

There have been hundreds of books in recent years published on the principles of character education. Urban’s is one that has stood out. "Life's Greatest Lessons - 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know" was first printed in 1992, updated in 1997, and the third edition was recently released.

Hal Urban's presentation, at 7 p.m. Monday in the Luverne Elementary Commons is targeted toward parents. The book that gained Urban notoriety, "Life's Greatest Lessons - 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know," will be available for sale.

Some chapter titles from "Life's Greatest Lessons":
-Success is more than making money.
-Life is hard and not always fair.
-Life is also fun and incredibly funny.
-Being thankful is a habit — the best one you'll ever have.
-Honesty is still the best policy.
-Goals are dreams with deadlines.
-There is no substitute for hard work.
-Successful people don't find time — they make time.
-The body needs nutrition and exercise — so does the mind and the spirit.
-Essential #1 is being a good person.

Florida boy asks for state information for school project

To the editor:
My name is Jeff Wooley and I go to Callahan Middle School in Callahan, Fla. In my 7th grade class we are doing a state fair project and I chose your fabulous state.

I would greatly appreciate it if your readers could send me anything that has to do with your state. I would like them to send me postcards of the state, maps, brochures, sport teams, information on historic sites, statistics, autographed sports cards or items, information on wildlife and the animals, water from a lake with a label to describe it, or anything else that would be helpful for my project.
I will also send a thank you letter to anyone who sends me any useful items. If anybody has pictures of snow or waterfalls I would also be very grateful. My address is Jeff Wooley, Mavericks Team, 1645 Old Dixie Hwy., Callahan, FL 32011.

Jeff Wooley
Callahan, Fla.

Survey on field's fate is welcome

To the Editor:
We're pleased that the public can vote on the use of Fledgling Field by marking Yes or No on the back of their utility bills.

We see how busy the tennis courts are in the summer. We hear parents cheering for their children at the soccer fields on Blue Mound Avenue. We know many supported and worked so that our town could have an ice arena. We walk over to the park area across from the peaceful little lake of the Vets Home with grandchildren. ThereÕs even a semi shelter with picnic tables. Our church team uses the ball diamonds across from the large east park. Both are very well maintained.

We appreciate all this and we hope we keep the choice of two fine funeral homes also.

Bernie and Jeanette Top
Luverne

By Lori Ehde
Luverne will stage its own version of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life June 15 and 16.

The Relay for Life has become the trademark fund-raiser for the Society, the world’s largest non-profit health organization committed to cancer research, education and service.

Cindy Arends, who is serving as corporate sponsor chair of the local event, is one of the organizers who felt it was important that Rock County has its own Relay for Life.

"I was impressed by what I saw in Pipestone last summer when they had their first Relay for Life," Arends said. "It affected me, because my dad died of cancer 13 years ago."

That September, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and died in December.

"I had no idea this was in my future when I first inquired about Relay for Life last summer, but now it means even more to me," Arends said.

Most volunteers, like Arends, get involved for similar personal reasons.

Relay for Life involves teams of runners and walkers competing against each other to raise the most money.

Teams of individuals representing corporations, hospitals, neighborhoods and families take turns on the track with at least one team member on the track at a time.

The Relay for Life is now held nationwide, and thousands of people participate each year to help fight cancer.
The event is most noted for its luminaries that glow in memory of individuals who have died from cancer, or in honor of those who have survived cancer.

The paper sacks, containing sand and candles, are displayed around the track and are illuminated during a special lighting ceremony at dusk.

March 8 will be the official kickoff of Rock County’s Relay for Life. That meeting will involve corporate sponsors, team captains and co-chairs to discuss the purpose and goals for the event.

Don and Betty Cashin, two local cancer survivors, have been named honorary co-chairs for the event.
In December, local organizers mailed letters to area businesses announcing the event.

The letter also outlined several ways to get involved.

• Corporations, businesses and group sponsors are needed to donate advertising dollars to promote Relay for Life.
• Teams of eight to 10 walkers are needed to compete to raise money during the night of walking.
• People are needed who are willing to buy luminaries in memory of their loved ones who have died from cancer or to honor those who have survived cancer.
• Volunteers are needed to help with any part of this activity, from setting up to cleaning up and to support Relay for Life by attending.

Arends can be reached at 669-2905. Vicki Baartman, 283-4119, and Janet Marshall, 283-4192, are co-chairs for Relay for Life in Rock County. Helen Saum, 283-4340, is team recruitment chair.