By Lori EhdeA Rock County couple are in jail after a search warrant over the weekend uncovered a meth lab in their barn southwest of Hardwick.Matthew Martens, 29, and Philana Martens, 33, made their first court appearance in Luverne Wednesday on first-degree controlled substance charges.According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests stem from a search warrant executed at 7 p.m. Saturday on the couple’s rented acreage three miles south of Hardwick and four miles west of Highway 75.The makings of a methamphetamines lab were found in the barn on the acreage, along with some finished meth (not yet weighed) in powder form.According to Rock County Investigator Jeff Wieneke, remote rural properties are popular locations for meth lab setups."This is consistent with other acreages where we’ve found meth labs," Wieneke said. "It’s kind of rundown and the rent is cheap."Because law enforcement had information that there were weapons on the property, 22 officers were involved with executing the search warrant.The Rock County Sheriff’s Department and the Southwest Minnesota-Northwest Iowa High Risk Entry and Arrest Team were involved that night.In addition, several members of the Rock County Hazardous Materials Team worked late into the night cleaning up the meth lab, and the Hardwick Fire Department and Rock County Ambulance were on standby.Officers found some meth paraphernalia in the house, and two children, ages 3 and 5, were taken into protective custody.A loaded 22-caliber rifle was found in the barn.Wieneke said the arrests are the result of a series of reports from concerned citizens, information from a confidential informant and investigative work by the Sheriff’s Department."It’s been going on for about a year," he said.
