By John RittenhouseThe Luverne tennis team split non-conference matches against area foes.The Cardinals swept a seven-point match against Martin County West in Sherburn Thursday. Brandon Valley spoiled Luverne’s home debut Monday by edging the Cardinals in a one-point decision.Luverne, 4-2 overall, plays in Redwood Falls for the Southwest Conference championship today before participating in the St. James Tournament Saturday. Luverne hosts Worthington for a non-conference clash Tuesday.BV 4, Luverne 3The visiting Lynx threw a wrench in Luverne’s plans to win its home opener Monday by nipping the Cardinals by one point.BV split the singles tests with the Cards and took two of three doubles battles to win the match."We need to be more patient and wait for the right time to be aggressive," said LHS coach Greg Antoine. "We need to be ready when the ball comes to us, and we need to work on putting away shots when we have the opportunity."Dusty Antoine and David Nelson won at No. 1 and No. 3 singles respectively for LHS. Antoine notched 6-2 and 6-3 wins over Tom Engebretson. Nelson posted 6-2 and 5-3 victories over Ian Blue.Luverne’s No. 1 doubles team of Brandon Deragisch and Nick Heronimus won a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 decision from Camden Nettestad and Bryan Wehrkamp.BV received singles wins from Matt Hubble (5-7, 6-2, 6-4 over Derek Boeve) and Logan Soper (6-3 and 6-1 over Erik Stegemann) at No. 2 and No. 4.Dustin Eggen and Blake Kluenenburg won a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6 in the tie-breaker) match from Zach Sanderson and Weston Sawtelle at No. 2 doubles. Nick Nelson and Dan Rolph prevailed by 6-4 and 6-2 scores over Matt Kreuch and Jamie Vickery at No. 3.Luverne 7, MCW 0The Cardinals capped a five-match road stretch to start the 2005 season by sweeping a seven-point match from the Mavericks in Sherburn Thursday.Luverne, which received forfeits from MCW at No. 4 singles and No. 3 doubles, won the five matches settled on the court in straight sets."Our serving percentage was good today," said Cardinal coach Antoine. "We created a lot of opportunities to finish off points, then we followed through and won the point."Dusty Antoine (6-3 and 6-1 over Chris Kuehl), Boeve (6-1 and 6-3 over Mike Lundquist) and Nelson (6-0 and 6-1 over Nate Janssen) notched wins at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles respectively.Luverne’s Deragisch and Heronimus handed Lucas Schwager and Nate Schieber 6-2 and 6-3 setbacks at No. 1 doubles. Playing together for the first time at No. 2 doubles, Luverne’s Sanderson and Sawtelle posted 6-0 and 6-2 wins over Ben Jellema and Jordan Schwager.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton track teams expanded their schedules by entering a meet with little warning Thursday.After having the Central Lyon Relays washed out April 12, and finding out the event would be rescheduled on a date H-BC-E-E already had filled, the Patriots were looking for an extra opportunity to compete. They found the opportunity in the annual Cardinal Relays in Luverne, an event that was rained out April 12 and rescheduled Thursday.Competing in eight-team fields, the H-BC-E-E squads placed fifth. The girls tallied 64 points and the boys scored 63.5 counters.The girls’ 3,200-meter relay team secured the lone meet title for H-BC-E-E by winning the event with a time of 10:31.1. Amanda Tilstra, Mya Mann, Rayna Sandoval and Cassi Tilstra formed the team.The Patriot girls placed second in the 800- and 1,600-meter relays with respective 1:55.39 and 4:21.31 times. Amanda Connors, Kelly Mulder, Mann and Cassi Tilstra ran the 800. Mann, Amanda Connors, Amanda and Cassie Tilstra formed the 1,600-meter team.H-BC-E-E athletes placed second in two individual events and one relay to highlight the appearance at the meet for the Patriot boys.Cody Schilling cleared 6-0 to placed second in the high jump. John Sandbulte covered 36-10 1/4 to finish second in the triple jump.The 800-meter relay placed second with a time of 1:36.85. Jan Sommerling, Cody Scholten, Kale Wiertzema and Tyler Bush formed the team.Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E-E’s point-producers during the Cardinal Relays.H-BC-E-E girlsThird place: Sandoval, 3,200, 13:18.23.Fourth place: 400 relay (Rosie Lewis, Brittney Helgeson, Kari Roozenboom and Mulder), 57.64; A.Tilstra, 400, 1:07.03; Lewis, shot, 29-7.Fifth place: Lewis, discus, 90-8; Roozenboom, triple jump, 29-11 1/2.Sixth place: Roozenboom, 110 hurdles, 18.79; Mulder, discus, 29-1; A.Tilstra, triple jump, 29-5 1/5.H-BC-E-E boysThird place: 1,600 relay (Sommerling, Wiertzema, Jon Klaassen and Bush); Cody Schilling, triple jump, 36-10.Fourth place: 400 relay (Roger DeBoer, Sandbulte, Klaassen and Schilling), 48.75; Sandbulte, 300 hurdles, 46.33; Schilling, high jump, 5-6.Fifth place: 3,200 relay (Wiertzema, Derek Haak, Sommerling and Bush), 9:15.7; Scholten, 200, 24.76.Sixth place: DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 18.89.Eighth place: Haak, 3,200, 11:44.79; Sandbulte, long jump, 16-8 3/4.

By John RittenhouseThe Adrian golf team ran its record to 3-1 with a 187-244 home win over Southwest Christian Thursday.Playing their first match of the season at the Adrian Area Country Club, the Dragons produced a season-low stroke total during a 57-shot victory.Jim Gaddes and Kelly Banck led the Dragons by shooting meet-low 10-over-par 46s.Jessica and Brittany Loosbrock contributed 47- and 48-stroke rounds to the winning effort. Dawn Bullerman and Jenni McCann shot respective 51- and 54-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.Ashley Prins led SWC with a 54.The 3-1 Dragons host MCC today before playing a triangular meet in Lakefield Monday.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne girls golf team raised its record to 4-0 after recording three wins since last Thursday.The Cards posted a league win in Pipestone Thursday before besting Hull Western Christian and Worthington in Luverne Monday and Tuesday respectively.Luverne plays in Sanborn today and in Windom Monday before hosting Marshall Tuesday.Luverne 181,Worthington 194The Cards recorded their second Southwest Conference win of the season after besting the Trojans by 13 strokes in Luverne Tuesday.Luverne’s Nikki Van Dyk and Worthington’s Erin Schlichte shot 44s, but Van Dyk earned medalist honors based on her performance on the handicap holes.Jessica Klein shot a 45, while Alyssa Klein and Brittany Boeve added 46-stroke efforts to the team tally.Lindsey Severtson and Kayla Tweet turned in 52- and 61-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.Luverne 189, HWC 216The Cardinals rolled to a non-conference victory when they entertained Hull Western Christian at the Luverne Country Club Monday.With Boeve leading the way by shooting a 10-over-par 46, the LHS Cards strolled to a 27-shot win.Along with Boeve’s medal-earning effort, Alyssa Klein and Van Dyk added 47-stroke rounds to the winning effort. Jessica Klein chipped in a 49.Severtson and Tweet shot 50- and 58-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.Kari Krikke led HWC with a 50.Luverne 185, Pipestone 218The Cardinals opened Southwest Conference play by notching a 33-stroke home win over the Arrows Thursday.Solid rounds turned in by Jessica Klein, Boeve and Alyssa Klein led LHS to victory. Jessica Klein secured medalist honors by shooting an eight-over-par 44. Boeve and Alyssa Klein finished one stroke off the pace with 45s.Van Dyk added a 51-stroke round to the winning team tally. Severtson and Tweet shot 60- and 63-stroke rounds without influencing the scoring.Stacy Oye paced the Arrows with a 52.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne girls won the team championship of the Cardinal Relays for the third consecutive year Thursday.Staging the event two days after it was rained out on April 12, the Cardinals compiled 153 points to best second place Windom (134) by 19 counters in the final standings.Five meet titles carried the Cardinals to victory in the team standings, and Lexi Heitkamp played a role in three of the wins.Heitkamp, who won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:28.9, saved her biggest effort in the 800-meter run. Heitkamp won the event and set a new meet record by covering the distance in 2:26.46.The LHS freshman also ran a leg with the 1,600-meter relay, which recorded the winning time of 4:20.5. Victoria Arends, Stephanie Hendricks and Maggie Kuhlman round out the team.Kayla Raddle and Abby Elbers joined Heitkamp as individual event winners from LHS. Raddle ran 3,200 meters in 14:01. Elbers covered 15-5 1/2 in the long jump.Arends and Erin Hoiland made bids to win event titles before finishing second in the end. Arends cleared the 300-meter hurdles in 50.29. Hoiland recorded a distance of 15-1 1/2 in the long jump.Luverne’s 400-meter relay team consisting of Morgan Bosshart, Elbers, Brittany Mulder and Nicole Willers placed second with a time of 55.94.Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of Luverne’s point-earners during the Cardinal Relays.Girls’ standings: Luverne 153, Windom 134, West Lyon 100, Worthington 95, Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton 64, Southwest Christian 56, Westbrook-Walnut Grove-Red Rock Central 53, Adrian 39.Individual effortsThird place: Arends, 100 hurdles, 17.81; Natalie Willers, shot, 30-1 1/2.Fourth place: Hoiland, 100, 14.22; Kuhlman, 100 hurdles, 18:04;800 relay (Hoiland, Elbers, Mulder, Nc.Willers), 1:58.32; Heitkamp, high jump, 4-8; Mulder, pole vault, 8-0.Fifth place: 3,200 relay (Katie Schneiderman, Tara Muck, Kelsey Dooyema and Raddle), 11:01.6; Hendricks, 400, 14.29; Amanda Kannas, 1,600, 6:06.84; Kelsey Dooyema, 3,200, 14:01; Nt.Willers, discus, 91-9.Sixth place: Kannas, 800, 2:51.61; Schniederman, 1,600, 6:06.91;Jenny Broomfield, pole vault, 7-0.Seventh place: Hendricks, 400, 1:08.65; Kuhlman, 300 hurdles, 53.48; Mulder, 200, 29.21.Eighth-place: Jessica Willers, 100 hurdles, 19.16; Amy Herman, 400, 1:09.44; Elbers, 200, 29.32; LaRae Kor, shot, 27-3; Kannas, high jump, 4-4; Lexi Peterson, pole vault, 6-0.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne baseball team got off to a strong start in Southwest Conference play by sweeping a league double-header from Redwood Valley at Redbird Field Thursday.A two-homer effort by Brad Herman carried the Cardinals to a five-run victory in Game 1. Ben Nath and Zach Wysong combined efforts to drive in five runs to highlight a three-run victory in the finale.The sweep left the Cards with a 2-1 record.Luverne 8, RWV 3Herman drove in four runs with his two homers to set the stage for Luverne’s five-run victory in the opener.Trailing 3-2 after one and one-half innings of play, Herman belted a two-run homer to cap a four-run outburst in the bottom of the second to give the Cards a 6-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.Herman capped the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, when he drilled a line drive that sailed over the left-field fence after Wysong reached base on an error earlier in the inning.The Cards took a 2-1 lead when Wyatt Cote delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the first.RWV regained the lead at 3-2 in the top of the second, but Luverne’s four-run effort in the bottom of the second put the Cards in front to stay.Wysong slapped a two-run double before scoring on Herman’s first homer, a towering fly ball that cleared the left-field fence by a couple of feet, to account for the two runs.Jared Pick worked the first five innings on the mound to notch the win. He allowed three runs (one was earned) four hits and one walk during a three-strikeout effort. Herman pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He walked two batters, fanned two batters and surrendered one hit.Box score AB R H BIPick 4 2 2 0Graphenteen 1 2 0 0Wysong 4 2 1 2Herman 3 2 2 4Cote 3 0 1 2Boelman 3 0 1 0Tofteland 2 0 1 0Nath 3 0 0 0Petersen 2 0 0 0Richters 1 0 0 0Luverne 9, RWV 6The Cardinals scored four runs in the top half of the first inning and never lost the lead during Thursday’s second game.Nath, who drove in three runs and recorded three hits in the game, delivered a two-run single to cap the four-run first inning. Wysong, who added two hits and two RBIs to the winning cause, and Marc Boelman contributed run-scoring singles to the opening rally.After RWV cut Luverne’s lead in half (4-2) in the bottom of the first, Wysong and Herman slapped RBI singles in the top of the second as Cards increased their lead to four runs at 6-2.The score was 6-3 when the both teams scored one run in the fifth inning and two in the seventh to keep the difference at three runs when the game was complete.Nath capped his three-RBI performance with a run-scoring single in the fifth.Herman walked and scored on a passed ball and John Tofteland slapped an RBI single in the seventh inning for LHS.J.T. Bruynes tossed the first four and two-thirds innings to pick up the win. He fanned four batters and allowed four runs and five hits. Wysong pitched the final two and one-third innings to gain a save. He recorded four strikeouts while allowing three hits and two runs.Box score AB R H BIPick 3 2 0 0Graphenteen 4 1 0 0Wysong 4 2 2 2Herman 3 2 2 1Cote 2 0 0 0Lundgren 1 1 0 0Boelman 2 1 1 1Deutsch 1 0 0 1Tofteland 4 0 2 1Nath 4 0 3 3Boler 2 0 0 0Johnson 1 0 0 0Petersen 1 0 0 0

By Lori EhdeElementary Principal Stacy Gillette told School Board members at their Thursday, April 14, meeting that Luverne students had performed well on Basic Standards Tests."I’m happy to say that we have improved in all of our Basic Standards Tests," Gillette said.She said 98 percent of Luverne’s students passed the writing test (up from 92 last year), 91 percent passed the reading test (up from 86 percent last year) and 89 percent passed the math test (up from 85 percent last year).Sophomores take the writing test, and eighth-graders take the reading and math tests.Students with independent education programs (IEPs) can be exempt from the Basic Standards Tests. But all students must take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Tests, which count for the Adequate Yearly Progress, a measurement of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.Gillette said students are taking the MCAs this week in third, fifth, seventh, 10th and 11th grades.Students in fourth, sixth and eighth grades are taking pilot tests to practice.New testing technologyGillette also brought to the board’s attention Thursday new testing software that may replace the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in schools.Produced by the Northwest Evaluation Association, it’s a computer program that tests students in math, reading and language skills, and provides instant results on outcomes.Gillette said it’s an effective tool for measuring student progress because it adjusts according to how the student performs. "If they get a question right, then the next one is more difficult," Gillette said. "High-achieving students will be challenged by these tests, and those students who are frustrated by other tests will also be able to achieve."She said the program can be effective for testing students who are new to the district to see where they’re at in 10th-grade math, for example, or first-grade reading.Also, she said it’s effective for districts to compare their progress to local, state and national averages, and it allows students to test quarterly to chart progress."It pinpoints what areas your students need to work on," Gillette said, adding that it’s effective for one-on-one measurement as well. "Student progress reports can be printed for parents at conference time."Despite the possibility for quarterly testing, students never see the same question twice because the program draws from a database of thousands of questions, which are updated every two years.They were first released three years ago, and now more than 230 schools already use the system.Gillette presented the program to the board only for their information.In other business Thursday …Music Boosters President Alex Miller told the board about a successful fund-raiser for band and choir chairs.The community was invited to purchase chairs at $68 each, with plaques being placed on each chair to recognize the donor.Miller said the fund-raiser resulted in more than $1,900 in contributions. "That’s quite a few people who came forward to say they’d be willing to purchase a chair," he said.While this was an independent effort by the Music Boosters, Miller said the group would work more closely with the School Foundation on future fund-raising efforts.Board member Cary Radisewitz thanked Miller and the Booster Club for their efforts.

By Lori EhdeLoyal and Peggy Erickson, Jasper, both have chronic lung disease, and two years ago Loyal ended up in nursing home care.But he’s back home again, and with help from electronic home health care, he gets the daily medical supervision he needs.It’s called "telehealth," and it’s transforming people’s lives, according to the Ericksons."I would never be able to have him at home," Peggy Erickson said about her husband.Telehealth is making inroads in southwest Minnesota as a way for health care professionals to monitor patients in the comfort of their homes.Good Samaritan Home Health Care started telehealth in Windom in 2001, and representatives will be in Luverne April 25 to introduce the concept here.The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday in the Mary Jane Home Good Samaritan Center, Luverne. The presentation will be part of the MJB Family Council meeting, but the public is welcome to attend.Telehealth is easy-to-use technology installed in homes to measures heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, weight and blood sugar, among other things."It allows us to see them more often than if we went to visit them in person," said Joyce Doughty, home care director for Good Samaritan Society.Further, she said, the technology prevents untold emergency visits, because frequent checkups detect problems early."We pick up early pneumonia so we can get them started on antibiotics instead of having them end up in the hospital," Doughty said.She said it’s too early to measure success with data, but she said telehealth is saving thousands in nursing home costs.She said five former nursing home patients in southwest Minnesota started using telehealth and have so far saved a combined 2 1/2 years in nursing home costs.One patient in the previous year had been hospitalized 11 times, but in six months at home on telehealth, there was just one hospitalization.Doughty said telehealth is not intended to be an emergency system like Lifeline, but she said it at least helps people identify the real emergencies."The nice thing is they can call us when they’re not feeling well, and we can tell them over the phone if they really do need to go to the doctor."That’s what the Ericksons like about telehealth."You’re not spending time in the doctor’s office for minor aches and pains," Peggy said, "and they have more time to deal with serious problems."She said it’s hard to know whether a small symptom is important enough to warrant a doctor visit."If he has a rash, I can put the camera right up to where it is, and they can see it," Peggy said. "There have been times when I would have had to run him in if we didn’t have the equipment to decipher what’s going on."The Ericksons have had the equipment in their home for 1 1/2 years and are among the first patients in Pipestone County to use it. Telehealth has been recently installed in homes in Pipestone, Edgerton and Jasper, and Doughty said she’s introducing the concept now in Rock County.Rock County has for many years had a successful home health care system, and Doughty said telehealth isn’t meant to replace personal in-home visits. Rather, it’s meant to supplement it.The home health nurse uses a provider station to collect information from the home stations, which can be simple monitors or videos.The machines can pick up data at any time, but the video consults are scheduled."Because they know their patients so well, our nurses are able to pick up on things just by looking at them through the video," Doughty said. "If they look pale, or tired, or if they’ve been wearing the same dress for a week — they may ask more questions or suggest a doctor visit."The equipment also allows patients to take their own vital signs to personally track their health.For more information on telehealth, call Good Samaritan Home Health Care at 1-800-870-3885.

By Sara QuamThe Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday voted to spend $10,000 more on an architectural study to determine the feasibility and cost of remodeling the Law Enforcement Center.The Board first paid $2,500 for an initial needs assessment.Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "I think the next step is to find out potential ways to fulfill those needs."Space isn’t the only concern for the current Law Enforcement Center. Making the workspaces useful and effective among department members is a priority.The useable square footage is about 7,500. The Board said the next study will help determine actual costs to remodel the space to be more efficient, and also look at costs of building new.A rough estimate of remodeling is $1.75 million.If remodeled, the county would add a new garage and secure entry.Commissioner Bob Jarchow said, "We have to consider the usefulness of a three-story structure versus a new, one-story. Are we going to pay money to find out what we already know? … But the process is probably as important as the end result."Commissioner Richard Bakken said, "If we decide to bond for this, we have to show we did our research on both ends of it. … If we don’t do due diligence, people will be upset."Wildung said, "If it turns out that the Law Enforcement Center isn’t useable for anything, we have to make that determination through studies to show justification."Sheriff Mike Winkels said the location is ideal for the office. He said, "I’m at the courthouse all the time, more than the rest of [the office]." He said a location further from the courthouse would still be workable, though.Wildung said, "If we end up with a building next to the courthouse that can’t be used for anything, we have to face that, too."Using bonds to borrow for special projectsIf the Board decides to use bonding to pay for a new Law Enforcement Center, using an old or new building, it gets more complicated than just paying for a project outright.One option that would make it possible for the county to bond is to pass a capital improvement plan (CIP).Passing a five-year CIP would require a public hearing.County Administrator Kyle Oldre said to the commissioners. "The question is, does the County Board want to use this tool?"Bakken said, "I like that it forces you to project forward and stops you from voting on things on the spur of the moment when something looks good."If the County Board develops a CIP and wants to finance projects by bond, another public hearing is required. If 5 percent of voters sign a petition, the bond goes to a reverse referendum on a countywide ballot.The Department of Employment and Economic Development also reviews the bond to ensure the county has considered alternatives to bonding.The bonding capability is based on taxable market value of the county, which means the county could bond for up to $462,626 per year.In other business Tuesday, the board:oApproved a $60,000 loan to Rural Energy Marketing. Loren and Russell Forrest, for the proposed corn stover fuel project.The Forrests are applying for a grant that will have a better chance if they get commitments from local people and entities.The county’s loan is contingent on personal guarantees.oWas introduced to Jessica Buus, a new financial worker in Rock County Family Services.oLearned that there has been an increase in out-of-home placements recently. There are 23 local children living out of their families’ homes now. Two juveniles will be admitted into treatment centers for mental health issues. Even though there is a recent increase, it is still less of a problem than it was a few years ago when Family Services drastically went over budget on out-of-home placements. Family Services Director Randy Ehlers said there is no one particular trend or reason for the out-of-home placements.