First-grade teacher Lundgren spends part of her day outside of the regular classroom to work one-on-one with struggling readers.

By Sara Quam
Lisa Lundgren has enjoyed the rewards of teaching during her 16 years in the profession.
She now has the award of Luverne Teacher of the Year to go along with all her personal rewards.
"ItÕs really an award that belongs to so many teachers at our school Ñ they all come to school every day and work hard to do the best job they can," she said.
A Harrisburg, S.D., native, Lundgren has taught first grade in Luverne for 13 years. For the past five years, sheÕs taught the class half days and spent the other half in Reading Recovery.
"Reading Recovery is a one-to-one program that helps children make sense of the process of learning to read," Lundgren said.
Reading Recovery is essentially a tutoring model that provides daily 30-minute lessons for beginning readers in first grade. It focuses on early intervention, identifying children before problems begin.
"I love what I do. I like the challenge of working with struggling readers. ItÕs so rewarding to see kids make sense of the process of learning to read," she said. "To see it all come together in a childÕs eyes is truly rewarding."
She started preparing for her career as a student at Augustana College where she graduated with a double major in elementary education and special education in 1984. She went on to get her masterÕs degree in curriculum and instruction in 1993. The Reading Recovery training is ongoing but was first completed in 1998.
Lundgren's specialized training is something thatÕs benefited the entire elementary school, according to Shirley Harrison, past Teacher of the Year winner and award committee member.
"SheÕs a mentor to her fellow teachers," Harrison said. "SheÕs also always looking for new ideas on how to help children really understand."
"She is so good with the reading program and just has a calm presence and gentle manner in the classroom," Harrison said.
Training for Reading Recovery is extensive and high pressure, Harrison said, because teachers have to be evaluated and must demonstrate their teaching from behind a two-way mirror to keep their accreditation.
Even though Lundgren spends part of her day outside of the regular classroom setting for Reading Recovery, she said she enjoys the things first-graders learn.
"ItÕs kind of like life," she said. "You work hard, take time to have fun and try to do whatÕs right. ItÕs not that simple, of course, but itÕs a start."
Nominations for Teacher of the Year are invited from all LEA members, and the new Teacher of the Year is decided by the past five Teachers of the Year.

Friend of education
Along with the Teacher of the Year award, Luverne Schools announced that Lila Bauer is the new Friend of Education.

By Sara Quam
Pool Commission members aren't making any recommendations on the future of the Pool and Fitness Center until the first part of next year.

At its Tuesday meeting, they looked at a draft of a letter to facility members and suggested changes. Basically, the letter will inform members of the 20-percent rate increase and give them 30 days to opt out of their contract.

As far as changing management or ownership, the commission felt it would be wise to wait until reaction from the rate increase is felt.

Pool and Fitness Center Director Darrell Huiskes suggested that the joint owners of the facility, the city of Luverne and Rock County, approve spending $110,000 from a trust fund to go toward weight room and fitness equipment.

The commission said it would be better to see what future ownership will be before extra money is spent.

Pool Commission member Laurie Ketterling said, "I think it's jumping the gun. I don't think we should put $110,000 into it just because the possibility of proposals came about."

County Commissioner Ken Hoime said that in his conversations with other facility managers, they've said customer service and program development retain and attract more members than equipment.

Damon Eisma, Pool Commission member said, "In my mind, if we do a capital expenditure, that's saying no to any other ideas."

The county and city would have to jointly approve the spending, but the commission won't recommend it at this time. The trust fund was started to go toward major expenses like new pool liners or roof work.

So far, the commission has heard opinions on all options for the facility. Some favor new management. Others would like to rid the city and county of the taxpayer contribution ($72,000 this year each) by selling it. And some people have said they'd like to keep the asset under government ownership but privately lease it.

Commission adviser Ed Bouwman said, "Whatever we do, we have to provide the best for the community, and that has two sides - saving tax money and providing a service."

After a few meetings of talking in circles Bouwman said it is time to start forming definite opinions. "Talking about employees and the future of the facility, it's easy to start worrying about being politically correct. It's a very delicate issue, and itÕs not easy to discuss, but we're not facing it."

Bouwman said that generating ideas and working with a cooperative group of employees is important if a sale or other agreement is turned down in favor of keeping the facility government-run.

The January meeting will restart discussions of whether the commission will recommend that the city and county get proposals for sale, lease or new management.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne's reputation for its strong special education department is bringing more special needs students into the district.

At the same time, the district is better equipped to recognize special needs, which is also raising the number of students in Luverne schools.

While Luverne's total student enrollment has steadily declined through the years, the number of special needs children has increased, due in part to referrals from South Dakota hospitals.

At last count, on Oct. 29, there were 182 students in Luverne who met criteria for individual education plans. That compares with 177 in December 2000.

District Psychologist Renee (Breuer) Guy updated Luverne School Board members on the status of special needs programs in the district.

"I do think people have heard about Luverne and know that Luverne is a great place to be, especially if you have children with special needs," she said.

Guy said administration requested Luverne's special education department be evaluated by the Pipestone Special Education Cooperative, of which Luverne is a member.

"We have some concerns in our department with our case loads," Guy said. "We have more children with more severe needs, and there's a concern we may not be providing the best quality program. We're doing our best, but that's why we requested the evaluation."

Child Study Coordinator Carol Svingen, Luverne, is conducting the evaluation for the co-op. She has requested detailed information from special education staff and is interviewing each staff member individually.

"I wouldn't doubt there will be some recommendations," Guy said.

Specifically, she's worried about the ratio of professional special needs teachers to students. She said Luverne's response to increasing student numbers has so far been to increase the number of teachersÕ aides.

The result has been that the teachers are spending more time managing their aides than seeing students.

For example, middle school special needs instructor Lucinda Rofshus oversees 15 students and eight aides. "We have students with a lot more special needs," she said. "I've seen a real increase in the severity of those needs."

Special needs costs are reimbursed by state and federal sources, and services for open-enrolled students are billed to home districts. Slightly more than 6 percent of Luverne's special needs students are open-enrolled here from other districts.

Guy said she didn't want to leave the board with the impression that special needs students have not been served; rather she said evaluating the department will help her determine how best to serve them.

Svingen started the evaluation late in October and will likely conclude in the first week of December. There is no charge to the Luverne district for the evaluation.

By Lori Ehde
The jury trial for Rock County Feedlot Officer John Burgers, charged on multiple counts of soliciting and accepting bribes from Global Ventures Inc., is so far scheduled for Dec. 10 in federal court.

That date may be extended, however, because the prosecution has indicated it will seek additional charges against Burgers which will allege more specific illegal acts.

Burgers, 48, of Hills, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday, Sept. 20, on charges that he accepted money from the Pipestone hog operation Global Ventures Inc. to overlook mismanagement of potentially hazardous waste.

He was placed on paid administrative leave from his duties as director of the Rock County Land Management Office pending an internal investigation of allegations contained in the indictment.

Meanwhile, Burgers' attorney has filed a motion to suppress statements Burgers made Sept. 18 to FBI Special Agent Michael Dudley.

In those statements, handwritten by Burgers, he said he received roughly $200,000 in loans from Global Ventures.

He admitted receiving loans on June 18, 1996, of $89,797.55, on Dec. 19, 1996, of $3,000, on March 26, 1997, of $103,000 and on Dec. 4, 1997, $5,000.

"I asked for these loans initially from Dave Logan, who sent me to Mike Morgan," Burgers wrote in his statement. "The loans constituted preferential treatment because I knew I could not get these loans anywhere else."

Alleged illegal activity dates back to early 1996 when Burgers learned of a potentially hazardous chemical spill being dumped at a Global Ventures hog facility.

Instead of notifying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Burgers advised Global Ventures to take care of the problem.

"...I heard rumors the bank and Global Ventures were involved in suspicious money transactions. I knew Dave Logan would see me as something of value and that he would know that I could make it tough or make it easy on Global Ventures. I expected for that reason Logan could help me get loans at Pipestone Bank," Burgers wrote.

"Dave Logan used me as his heads-up guy to tell him of potential problems."

Burgers said he always paid back or made payments on the loans, except the $5,000 loan. "I told Logan I needed $5,000 dollars. He said don't worry, we'll just get a little loan at the bank. One week later, Logan called and said the $5,000 was in my account and not to worry about the payments. I thought I would be paying the loan back later," Burgers wrote.

"Around a year later, Dave called and said Mike would meet me. Mike Morgan and I met at the Hardwick Corners. He gave me cash to pay on the $5,000 loan. Mike Morgan gave me cash two more times until the $5,000 loan was paid off."

Burgers' statement is marked by frequent expressions of remorse. "I knew at the time I should not have taken these monies. I knew these monies was for something job-related that I had done in the past for Global or for something they may want me to do in the future," he wrote.

"I took it anyway because I was in such a terrible financial position. I have never attempted to pay back the monies, nor has anyone asked me for the monies."

In filing the motion to suppress Burgers' statements, his attorney questions the "voluntariness" of his statements.

At the start of Burgers' written statement, however, he asserts, "I, John Burgers, make this statement freely and voluntarily with no threats or promises of any kind."

He also writes, "I regret very much that I got involved in the whole thing. My conscience and sleep have been very difficult ever since I received the preferential loans and the $5,000 cash. I know I did not have to make this statement, however, I wanted to clear the air and get all this off my chest."

Global Ventures was also charged with offering bribes, and both Burgers and Global Ventures entered not guilty pleas in October.

By Sara Quam
The Luverne City Council Tuesday passed a conditional use permit for Burdell and Julia Kruse to store rock materials in their backyard.

The original request comes to the council as a recommendation from the Planning Commission with specific limitations.

The Kruses, who live at 609 N. Cottage Grove, own a business that collects large boulders from area farmers' fields and then sells them for landscape decorations or other uses.

The business is set up across from the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center on Walnut Street, but their backyard is needed for extra storage.

The backyard falls in a flood plain and is next to a residential district. The actual storage space borders Dodge Street and Cottage Grove.

Some area residents complained, but the Kruses said they were willing to be accommodating in as many ways as possible, for example planting 125 trees along the property line.

The council said during its discussions that it felt the Kruse business wouldn't inhibit the residential feel of the neighborhood.

Mayor Glen Gust said, "If they are successful they might add to the employment base and certainly to the tax base."

Councilman and Planning Commission member Jim Kirchhofer said that the limitations are set because of the permit falling under "conditional use." It protects the city from having problems if any of the conditions aren't met.

Some of the conditions include:

providing off-street parking and loading space
properly anchoring the boulders to prevent flotation in the event of a flood
providing storage of other material or equipment that is readily removable in the case of a flood warning
limiting hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
displaying or storing boulders only in the northern 2 1/4 acres of the lot
properly controlling weeds
displaying the boulders in a single layer formation with no large piles
The conditional use permit will terminate effective upon change of ownership on the property or after five years, whichever happens first.

At the five-year mark, the Kruses will reapply for the conditional use permit and the conditions will be reviewed if necessary.

Since the reapplication is mostly to reassure the city, the council recommended that the future council waive the application fee when it comes due.

Luverne's Gold'n Plump now employs 250 people.

By Lori Ehde
Gold'n Plump has been in Luverne for only three years, but Friday was a day of celebration at the local plant as the corporation marked its 75th anniversary.

State and local dignitaries attended the event, which featured plant tours and a catered chicken meal.

At the start of the party, Luverne plant manager Greg Aubert provided a history of Gold'n Plump since it opened on Dec. 14, 1998.

When IBP left Luverne in January 1998, it employed 370 people, and its closing signaled a low point in morale for Luverne economic development. But Gold'n Plump offered new hope later that same year.

The company immediately spent $2 million remodeling the former IBP plant and started operating with 120 employees. Today, Gold'n Plump in Luverne employs roughly 250 people with an annual payroll of $6 million.

The Luverne plant starts with cleaned, fresh, unpacked, USDA-inspected chicken from the company's other processing facilities in Cold Spring, Minn., and Arcadia, Wis.

These products are then deboned, trimmed and packaged - plain, stuffed or marinated - in the form of ready-to-cook products for retail or food service clients.

According to information provided at Friday's party, the local plant processes about 750,000 pounds of chicken per week, about 39 million pounds per year.

The company prides itself on good employee relations. Starting pay at Gold'n Plump is $8.25 per hour with higher wages for afternoon shifts and raises after 90 days.

Employees receive a full benefits package, including paid holidays, flexible hours, medical and child care flexible spending plans, longevity recognition program, on-site leadership and skills training, bonus plan, 401(k) Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan and tuition reimbursement program.

To help employees celebrate the plant's one-year anniversary, employees who had been there for the full year received a Gold'n Plump winter jacket and individual recognition for their service. Every worker, regardless of employment time or position, received three cases of chicken breasts.

Aubert said in addition to the many of the employee paychecks spent locally, Gold'n Plump circulates $1.6 million through the local economy by doing business with local merchants.

"That doesn't include the money spent by vendors staying overnight in Luverne, eating at local restaurants and staying at local hotels," Aubert said.

Gold'n Plump early on initiated the Live in Luverne Program to provide housing assistance to employees as well as promoting growth in Luverne.

During the lunch, Gold'n Plump CEO Mike Helgeson presented a check to Luverne Mayor Glen Gust for $20,000 as part of the five-year donation to the city that was pledged when the company took ownership of the plant.

He also presented a check for $1,000 to the local Red Arrow Drive. Employee payroll deductions amounted to another $7,000 for Red Arrow. This year, the corporation pledged $1,500 and the employees have pledged nearly $9,000.

"We're happy they're here," Mayor Gust said. "They are a company that takes care of their people and their community."

Gold'n Plump was started in St. Cloud by E.M. Helgeson, Mike Helgeson's grandfather. The company is now the largest integrated chicken producer in the upper Midwest.

For more information on Gold'n Plump, see www.goldnplump.com.

By Sara Quam
Thanks to community and private support and a low-interest loan from the city of Luverne, Netbriefings has its first two employees at the new branch office.

The loan agreement met with no disagreement from residents and was signed Nov. 8. A well-attended open house followed at the new office space behind the Brandenburg Gallery.

The City Council and Luverne Economic Development Authority wholeheartedly supported the endeavor, even creating a revolving loan fund to accommodate the large loan amount - $250,000.

The Internet Webcasting company came up with more than $200,000 of its own equity.

Jeff Ernst will be the branch manager. He was employed by Gateway Computers in Sioux Falls before taking this position.

Amber Weinkauf is the marketing specialist for the office and will work on things such as press releases but will also branch into sales. Her job description will be broad since there's a small staff.

Weinkauf is a Luverne graduate who went on to get a marketing degree at Winona (Minn.) State University. She is training in St. Paul this week but will be back in Luverne soon.

"I know a lot of people in Luverne so it'll be nice to be there and see people even though I wonÕt be working directly with them," she said.

As a Webcasting company, Netbriefings streams live audio and video for corporations wanting to have meetings in different locations. The company can also archive the meetings for large companies that may have employees who need to catch up.

Netbriefings has some clients that Rock County may recognize. Embers America uses the company to archive versions of events for franchise employees to use for communications or training. In the city of St. Paul, Mayor Norm Coleman used Netbriefings' products and services to deliver the annual State of the City Address.

Most recently, Netbriefings held Web events for the chief executive of the NASDAQ stock market, U.S. Sen. John McCain and Hewlett-Packard.

Netbriefings first announced that it would locate to Luverne June 21 and started working on a loan agreement with the city of Luverne.

Final deal from the city

Amount: $250,000

Term: 120 months at $2,820 a month

Interest rate: 0% years 1 and 2 (payments deferred); 2% fixed over remaining life of the loan.

(The LEDA reasoned that because the first two years of a company's existence is so crucial, stopping interest accumulation would help ensure the business stays in Luverne.)

Payment Terms: Two years principal and interest deferred at no interest. Loan repayment beginning in the 25th month, continuing for 96 months

Collateral: Third position on accounts receivable; third position on equipment; first position on intellectual property/patent

Guarantees: Personal guarantees of $75,000

Warrants: LEDA receives 25-percent warrant coverage. In consideration for the terms of the loan, LEDA receives 62,500 warrants to purchase Netbriefings stock at $1 per share. LEDA can exercise the warrants at any point during the term of the loan, but the warrants expire 30 days after the date of pay-off of the loan.

Employment projections: Minimum expectations of five employees by the end of the first year and a target objective of 35 employees at the end of the fifth year to the 10th year.

If the company employment does not meet the minimum expectations, the interest rate will increase by 2 percent for the following year. The interest rate rise may be cumulative, such that if Netbriefings never meets its minimum annual employment expectation, the interest rate will rise to 12 percent at the end of the fifth year and remain at 12 percent until the loan is paid off.

If the company employment exceeds 35 employees, the interest rate will be reduced to 0 percent and stay at that rate as long as the company maintains 35 or more employees in Luverne.

Provided the company continues to be an employer in Luverne, an employment average will be conducted from the time the company reaches 35 employees until the end of the 10-year term. Based on the average, the company will be awarded a grant of $1,500 for each employee over the 35 mark.

If the company fails to employ the minimum expectations in Luverne, the LEDA shall have the right to declare default in the loan agreement, the balance of the loan shall become due and payable and the interest rate shall immediately rise to 12 percent until fully paid.

If the company is sold and the operation is eliminated in Luverne, the above loan default terms will apply and the company shall be liable for a penalty payment equal to 25 percent of the outstanding loan balance.

Peggy Goettsch's kindergarten class is the Luverne Elementary featured class of the week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Erica DeBoer, Alex Hylen, Debra Rogers, Julianne Anderson, Jada Hoven, Jonathan Ehde, (second row) Blake Ziegler, Joshua Haugom, Ellen Dahl, Kendall Meyer, Riley Verbrugge, Hanna Johnson, Kianna Smallfield, (third row) Michelle Lysne, Anna Tofteland, Hailey Hamann, Brent Thompson, Logan Norman, Alexis Bennett, (back row) Mrs. Cindy Reu, Miss Sara Walraven, Mrs. Peggy Goettsch. Not pictured is Jody Chanthalangsy.

These kindergarten students have been working on beginning sounds and high frequency words, they are starting a unit on families and they are learning about numbers 0-12 and hope to count to 100 by spring. Student teacher, Sara Walraven, Hills, is helping them learn, too. With Thanksgiving coming soon, they have made turkeys, painted paper blankets and have made Pilgrims and Native American puppets. "We really enjoy the recess time when we get to use the playground epuipment," Goettsch relates for her students. "School is exciting, and it is so much fun to do things with our new friends!"

Photo by Lori Ehde

An empty Minnesota Southern Railroad car derailed or "picked a switch," as railroad personnel termed it, in Adrian around noon Thursday, leaving officials wondering how to upright the car. Initially, loaders were used to push the car upright, with the hope of releasing the tension between cars enough to uncouple the disabled car. Minnesota Southern was moving railroad cars down the lines all morning with no difficulties, according to officials. The errant car decided to follow the main line rather than route onto a sideline with the other railroad cars. Terming the derailment "one of those freak things," officials are unsure why the car "picked a switch." After permits were obtained Friday morning, a crane was used to lift the car upright. Until Thursday, no derailments had occurred on the line in more than 10 years, according to a railroad official at the scene.

Photo by Jolene Farley