By Lori Ehde

Clint Gehrke made local history last week by becoming the first Rock County participant to win top honors in the Minnesota State Fair general livestock judging contest.

By Lori Ehde

Burglars and vandals have continued their spree of thefts and break-ins in the past week, but Rock County Sheriff Ron McClure said investigators are making progress on some cases.

"We're following several leads and we're making every effort to make it a priority," McClure said Tuesday. "Everyone's got an idea who it could be, but we're just going to continue patrolling as we have been."

He said the dispatch reports point to two separate types of activity likely committed by two different groups of criminals.

He said a group juveniles is likely responsible for the vandalism, such as shooting out street lights in Hills and scratching paint on cars. "That's definitely a separate bunch," McClure said. "We presume it's kids doing that."

But he said evidence is pointing to an older group of individuals likely responsible for the middle-of-the-night burglaries.

In the case of Hills Locker Service where a stolen scale turned up in a Luverne car, McClure said investigators are now working with the County Attorney's Office on a possible charges.

"We have questioned suspects in that particular case, but no one has been arrested," McClure said.

In addition to the burglaries and vandalism reported in last week's Star Herald, the list of dispatch reports this week is equally as long:

On Aug. 19, Palace Video reported theft of cash and five CDs, valued at roughly $85.

On Aug. 24, the City of Hills reported someone had shot out two streetlights on South Central Avenue in Hills, possibly with a BB gun. Replacement value is approximately $100. (On Aug. 15 Hills reported five streetlights had been shot out.)

Also on Aug. 24, the city of Hills reported someone opened up the valve of the water tower releasing about 20,000 gallons of water.

On Aug. 27, Kyle Kreun, Luverne, reported someone broke into his 1988 Chevrolet Barretta Coupe while it was parted on the North side of Sharkee's. Taken was an 800 watt amp valued at $300, 15 CDs valued at $90, a $20 radio antenna, two headlight covers of unknown value and one CD case valued at $20. There were pry marks on the passenger door of the car, the roof of the car was damaged and the windshield was broken.

Also on Aug. 27, Mark Jacobson Inc. reported someone had broken into the rear window of a 1998 Mercury while it was parked in the driveway on the 400 block of Central Lane. The approximate cost to replace the window is $800.

Also on Aug. 27 Keith Maine, Luverne, reported someone broke a window of his 1987 Chevy Cavalier Station Wagon while it was parked on the 700 block of N. Oakley. The approximate cost to replace the window is $200.

On Aug. 28, Daniel Spreiter, Luverne, reported someone broke into a 1994 Plymouth van and stole a black leather purse, credit cards, checkbook and watch. Approximate value is $625.

McClure declined to comment on the recent cases, because he doesn't want to jeopardize the investigation.

But he said he's still encouraging the public to come forward with information. "Anything suspicious that the public sees and can help us with we appreciate," he said.

The Sheriff's Department phone number is 283-5000. The Star Herald office is also accepting tips - anonymous, if need be. The number is 283-2333.

Investors Mike Blank, Tim Lange and Rod Scholten unveiled their proposal to the anxious crowd.

Blank announced Monday that they signed the purchase agreement for the land where the golf course is proposed.

Scholten said that the speed of the project depends on how many lifetime memberships are sold. "If they are sold quickly, then we can start sooner," Scholten said. Scholten noted that the golf course will also be open to the public.

Lange said the golf course will be a great asset to the community. "It could create more jobs for the community," Lange said.

Scholten and Lange answered questions about the golf course after their presentation.

John Burgers from the Rock County Land Management Office, Matt Larson from Caldwell Bank, civil engineer Steve Kor, a representative from First National Bank of Pipestone and Glen Peterson, attorney from Skewes Klosterbuer and Vajgrt, were also on hand to help answer the questions.

Inquiries ranged from the sewage and water system at the golf course to the process for reserving the banquet hall.

One person wondered about the difficulty of the course. "It can be changed to fit all needs," Scholten said. "If one day a tournament is there and the next day a beginning golfers group is there, we can just change the difficulty." Scholten said that the difficulty can be changed by moving the pin at the beginning of the hole.

Scholten also said the course is being drawn up by his cousin in Denver, Colo., and is being overseen by the greens-keeper at the Brandon Golf Course.

There was a sign-up sheet after the meeting for the public to secure a lifetime family membership.

The window for buying lifetime memberships is three months. Scholten said if not enough memberships are sold for the golf course, members and investors will get their money back.

Planners are aiming for $250,000 to start off the project, with funds coming from membership sales and lot sales.
Brochures and handouts were available at the meeting, as well as a picture of the course layout and a draft of the clubhouse.

Questions about the golf course can be directed to Rod Scholten at 855-2292 or Mike Blank at 673-2271.

Agreement contingent on membership sales
By Katrina Vander Kooi, summer intern

More than 125 people gathered at the Beaver-Creek Community Center Tuesday night to learn more about the proposed golf course.

By John Rittenhouse

A former Rock County resident had a big night while racing at Rapid Speedway Friday.

David Kruger, who has recently moved from Ash Creek to Sioux Falls, posted a pair of wins in the late model street stock class at the track in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

After winning his heat race, Kruger went on to take the checkered flag in the feature event.

Six other area drivers competed against Kruger in the late model street stock class Friday.

Pat Connell, a former Luverne resident who now lives in Sioux Falls, placed fourth in his heat race before finishing third in the feature.

Luverne's Chad Overgaard was fourth in his heat race and fifth in the feature, Ellsworth's Mark DeBoer was third in his heat race and seventh in the feature, Hills-Beaver Creek High School graduate Darren Korthals was third in his heat race and eighth in the feature and Luverne's Jesse Akkerman was sixth in his heat race and 10th in the feature.

Steen's Pete Kracht placed fifth in his heat race during the late model street stock competition, but he was unable to finish the feature attraction.

Rural Luverne's Todd Wessels had a decent night in the 360 sprint car class at Rapid Speedway.

After placing second in his heat race, Wessels finished fifth in the feature.

Luverne's Anthony Mann placed third in his heat race and fourth in the feature in the hobby stock class in Rock Rapids.

Magnolia's Larry Kracht and Adrian's Brad Klaassen raced in the sportman's class in Rock Rapids.

Kracht was third in his heat race and 10th in the feature. Klaassen didn't compete in a heat race, but he placed 12th in the feature.

Akkerman, Kruger, Overgaard and Korthals represented the area at Hartford (S.D.) Speedway Saturday.

Akkerman raced his way to a heat victory and led the feature race with four laps to go before a flat tire led to a 13th-place performance.

Korthals, who placed third in his heat race, ended up winning the feature.

Kruger did not finish his heat race but placed eighth in the feature. Overgaard placed third in his heat race but was unable to complete the feature event.

Four Rock County drivers had good outings at a Southwest Minnesota Mud Racer Association event in Sioux Falls Saturday, Aug. 19.

Luverne's Seth Stegenga and Matt Steinhoff placed first and second respectively in the sportman's class.

Luverne's Zach Borman and Magnolia's Mike Conklin finished third and fourth respectively in the super stock class.

Two Luverne men dominated the outlaw modified class at Murray County Speedway in Slayton Friday.

Marlin Kracht posted a pair of victories after taking top honors in his heat race and the A feature.

Josh Reisch won the B feature.

Kanaranzi's Colter Deutsch was a double winner at Worthington Speedway Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Deutsch won his heat race and the feature in the pure stock class.

Luverne's Billy Cowell won a heat race in the same class.

Luverne's Brett Stegenga posted a heat win in the 360 sprint car class at Worthington.

In the late model street stock competition that night, DeBoer, Overgaard and Kruger placed second, third and fourth respectively in the feature. Overgaard won his heat race.

Fairmont tourney

The Cardinal girls traveled to Fairmont Friday to compete in the 2000 Dunham Doubles Classic

The all-doubles tournament attracted four teams, with each squad contributing two doubles teams to one of the event's three flights. The eight teams in each flight played against every team in six-game matches, and flight championships were decided by which doubles team won the most games overall.

In team competition, Fairmont won 197 games to claim the overall championship. Luverne was second (191), Springfield (102) third and Worthington (98) fourth.

Luverne doubles teams won a pair of flight championships and placed second in another due to a tie-breaker.

Luverne's Ashley Gacke and Amanda Aning won 33 games to win the Championship Flight. Allana Gacke and Patricia Willers placed fifth in the same flight with 21 wins.

Luverne's Rachel Tofteland and Becky Antoine posted 39 wins, as did a Fairmont team, in the Captain's Flight. The Fairmont squad was awarded the flight title based on a tie-breaker.

Cardinals Gabe Van Dyk and Tara Sandager placed third in the Captain's Flight with 30 wins.

Luverne's Sarah Lange and Jenny Braa registered 37 wins to take top honors in the Mr. T's Flight. Jenny Lass and Amanda Groen placed fourth in the same flight with 31 wins.

St. James tourney

Luverne took part in an all-doubles tournament in St. James Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Each team on hand fielded eight doubles squads during the event, with each team playing the others on hand in head-to-head competition.

Luverne ended up beating the host school 5-3, but the Cards dropped 5-3 decisions to Sibley East and Maple River respectively.

Luverne's No. 3 doubles team of Becky Antoine and Rachel Tofteland won all three matches to secure a tournament championship.

They topped SE's Kylie Fredin and Melissa Grosshaus by 5-0 and 5-1 tallies, they upended MR's Kala Klueinder and Abby Bedine 5-1, 1-5, 7-5, and completed the sweep with 5-0 and 6-4 wins over SJ's Heidi Wau and Jude Jackson.

Luverne's No. 4 team of Patricia Willers and Gabe Van Dyk and the No. 5 squad of Sarah Lange and Jenny Braa finished the day with 2-1 marks.

The No. 1 team of Amanda Aning and Ashley Gacke, the No. 6 team of Tara Sandager and Lexi Jauert, the No. 7 team of Amanda Groen and Jenny Lass and the No. 8 squad of Nikki Van Dyk and Andraya Gacke all posted 1-2 marks for the tournament.

Chelsea Cronin and Allana Gacke went 0-3 in the No. 2 slot.

By John Rittenhouse

The 2000 schedule created for the Luverne tennis team kept the Cardinals hopping late last week and early this week.

The Cards competed at doubles tournaments in St. James Wednesday, Aug. 23, and in Fairmont Friday, before going to Pipestone Monday to play Lac qui Parle Valley.

Luverne, 3-2 overall, will play in Redwood Falls today before hosting Sioux Falls Lincoln Tuesday.

LQPV 7, Luverne 0

LQPV is expected to be one of Section 3A's top teams in 2000, and it proved that to the Cardinals when the teams met in Pipestone Monday.

LQPV didn't lose a set while sweeping all four singles matches and three doubles tests against Luverne.

Luverne's Becky Antoine and Rachel Tofteland made bids to win sets at No. 2 and No. 4 singles before falling in tie-breakers.

Cassie Barber downed Antoine by 7-6, 6-1 scores. Carly Barber was a 6-6, 6-2 victor against Tofteland.

Grete Peterson was a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Amanda Aning at No. 1 singles, and Emily Rollins toppled Ashley Gacke by 6-0 and 6-1 tallies in the No. 3 slot.

LQPV's Jessie Rasmusson and Brooke Baldry notched 6-4 and 6-0 wins over Chelsea Cronin and Allana Gacke at No. 1 doubles, Jessica Timm and Sarah Hegua nailed down 6-0 and 6-2 victories over Gabe Van Dyk and Lexi Jauert at No. 2, and Rebecca Morland and Stephanie Skulstad handed Sarah Lange and Jenny Braa a pair of 6-2 setbacks at No. 3.

Luverne 5, Perham 1

Pitchers Robert Petersen and Wenninger limited Perham to one run and Eernisse drove in a pair of runs to highlight Luverne's four-run win in an elimination game played in Fairfax Saturday.

Petersen blanked Perham through seven innings before giving way to Wenninger, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning before yielding one run in the ninth.

Petersen earned the win.

Eernisse drove in runs in the fourth and sixth innings, after Luverne had taken a 1-0 cushion earlier in the contest.

The Redbirds opened the scoring when Nelson was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third. After moving to third base on Reisch's double, Nelson scored when Micky Sehr singled.

Irish doubled and scored on Eernisse's single to make it a 2-0 game in the fourth, and Nelson was hit by a pitch before scoring on Eernisse's single in the sixth to make the difference 3-0.

Luverne ended its scoring with a two-run eighth inning.

Mike Miller singled before scoring on Ohme's run-scoring single. Ohme scored the final run later in the frame.

Box scoreABRHBI
Ohme5121
M.Sehr4011J.Sehr5010
Irish3120Wenninger5010Petersen3000Nelson1200Reisch3010Miller1110Eernisse4022

Luverne plays Brainerd in Fairfax Friday

By John Rittenhouse

The Luverne Redbirds remained unbeaten in the Minnesota State Class C Amateur Baseball Tournament after posting a pair of weekend wins in Fairfax.

Luverne bested Perham by five runs in an elimination game Saturday. The win gave the Redbirds a berth in what now is an eight-team elimination tournament, and they got off to a good start by edging Watkins by one run Sunday.

The Redbirds are one of four unbeaten teams remaining in the double-elimination event. They will play Brainerd, another tournament unbeaten, at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Fairfax.

If the 25-12 Redbirds would win Friday, they would play again on Sunday. A loss would force them to play Saturday.

Luverne 7, Watkins 6

The Redbirds prevailed during their first test in double-elimination play by downing Watkins by one run Sunday in Fairfax.

Luverne never trailed in the game and led 7-6 before Watkins put together a five-run ninth inning that ended one run short of catching the Redbirds.

The Redbirds plated single runs in the second and fourth innings to gain a 2-0 advantage before Watkins scored its first run in the top of the fifth.

Cole Irish gave Luverne a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the second. Mike Wenninger singled and scored a fourth-inning run after T.J. Schmidt singled.

After Watkins cut the lead in half (2-1) in the top of the fifth, Luverne's Terry Eernisse delivered a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning before the Redbirds put the game away with a four-run eighth inning.

A single by Derek Ohme and walks to Micky Sehr and Irish loaded the bases in the eighth.

Wenninger drew a walk to force home Ohme, and Corey Nelson singled home Sehr and Irish. Nelson scored the final run after Jesse Reisch singled.

Schmidt tossed eight and one-third innings to pick up the pitching win. He worked eight innings of one-run ball before allowing three runs in the ninth.

Wenninger replaced Schmidt and was touched for two runs before recording the final two outs of the game and gaining a save.

Box scoreABRHBIOhme4110J.Sehr4000
M.Sehr3100Irish3211Wenninger3111Nelson4132Schmidt4011Miller0000
Reisch3011Weber1000Eernisse4111