By John RittenhouseThe Adrian baseball team enjoyed a successful start to the season by routing Minneota 9-0 in Adrian Tuesday.AHS pitchers David Hoffer and John Archer tossed a combined seven-hit shutout to lead the team defensively.Freshman Glen Kruger drove in three runs with three hits at the plate, which includes a two-run homer in the third inning.It was the pitching efforts of Hoffer and Archer that commanded the attention of AHS coach Kevin Nowotny.Hoffer tossed four innings of three-hit, six-strikeout ball to pick up the win. Archer yielded four hits and fanned two batters while working two innings of relief."Our pitching was really solid," said AHS coach Nowotny. "That’s what really pleased me."Adrian scored two runs in the second, third and fifth innings before plating three runs in the sixth.Kruger singled and scored the first run in the second when Will Lutmer doubled. Brent Tjepkes singled home Lutmer.Levi Bullerman singled with two outs in the third before Kruger lifted a two-run homer over the right-field fence to make it 4-0 in the third.Cody Kontz was hit by a pitch in the fifth before scoring on Brandon Diekmann’s RBI single. Nick Weidert singled home Diekmann to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.Matt Meyer singled and scored the first run of the three-run sixth when Diekmann singled. Bullerman singled home Diekmann before scoring on an RBI single by Kruger.Diekmann, Bullerman and Tjepkes slapped two hits each for the Dragons, who host Jackson County Central today before traveling to Lamberton for the Red Rock Conference opener Tuesday.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton track team got its first taste of outdoor competition during the Cardinal Quadrangular in Luverne Tuesday.The Patriots recorded a combined three event victories and six second-place performances during the meet.Cody Scholten and Tyler Bush posted wins for the H-BC-E-E boys.Scholten cleared 6-0 in the high jump. Bush ran 800 meters in 2:06.96.The boys finished second in the 400-, 800- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 52.42, 1:35.64 and 9:14.41 times.John Sandbulte, Tyler Paulsen, Bush and Brent Kramer ran the 3,200. Jan Sommerling, Roger DeBoer, Jon Klaassen and Cody Schilling teamed up in the 400. Sommerling, Bush, Kale Wiertzema and Scholten joined forces in the 800.H-BC-E-E’s 1,600-meter relay consisting of Sommerling, Klaassen, Scholten and Schilling placed sixth in 4:01.97.The girls’ 3,200-meter relay team recorded a meet title with a time of 10:25.55. Amanda Tilstra, Ashley Bucher, Cassi Tilstra and Mya Mann formed the team.Cassi Tilstra placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:27.88, and Rosie Lewis finished second in the shot put with a toss of 33-6.The 400-meter relay team of Lewis, Mulder, Mann and Cassi Tilstra finished second in 53.77.H-BC-E-E’s 800- and 1,600-meter relay finished fourth with respective 2:01.09 and 4:59.43 efforts.Lewis, Ashley Bucher, Brittany Helgeson and Kelly Mulder ran the 800. Jocelyn Bucher, Amanda Tilstra, Lewis and Tyra Hinrichs teamed up in the 1,600.The H-BC-E-E squads compete at the Central Lyon Relays Tuesday.Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E-E’s individual efforts at the Cardinal Quadrangular.H-BC-E-E boysThird place: Sandbulte, 300 hurdles, 46.49.Fourth place: Schilling, high jump, 5-6; triple jump, Sandbulte, 35-6 1/4; DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 18.42.Fifth place: Schilling, triple jump, 35-5 3/4; Klaassen, 100, 12.25; Wiertzema, 800, 2:18.5.Sixth place: Derek Haak, 800, 2:19.01; Sandbulte, 3,200, 12:51.69.Seventh place: Klaassen, shot, 34-6; DeBoer, 300 hurdles, 52.41.Eighth place: DeBoer, high jump, 5-4.H-BC-E-E girlsThird place: Mulder, shot, 29-3; J.Bucher, 1,600, 6:08; Mann, 800, 2:35.39.Fourth place: Lewis, discus, 87-5; A.Tilstra, 1,600, 6:09.Fifth place: Cassandra Duncan, high jump, 4-6; A.Bucher, triple jump, 29-5 1/2; Rayna Sandoval, 400, 1:10.49.Sixth place: A.Tilstra, triple jump, 29-5; A.Bucher, 800, 2:44.44.Seventh place: J.Bucher, 300 hurdles, 56.59; Sandoval, 800, 2:47.83.Eighth place: Mulder, discus, 80-11.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne girls track team secured four event titles during the annual Cardinal Quadrangular in Luverne Tuesday.Perfect weather with little wind and warm temperatures greeted the athletes for the outdoor opener for LHS.Luverne took advantage of the situation by winning four events and placing second in five events during the meet.Erin Hoiland, Maggie Kuhlman, Lexi Heitkamp and Katie Schneiderman all won individual events for LHS.Heitkamp ran 800 meters in 2:33.99 and Schneiderman covered 3,200 meters in 14:22 to produce their wins.Kuhlman cleared the 300-meters in 50.42 for her win, while Hoiland registered the winning distance of 14-8 in the long jump.Heitkamp, Victoria Arends, Kayla Raddle and Brittany Mulder placed second in individual events for LHS.Heitkamp cleared 5-0 on the high jump, Arends placed second in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles with respective 17.4 and 50.47, Raddle ran 1,600 meters in 6.02 and Mulder cleared 7-0 in the pole vault.Luverne placed second in the 800-meter relay with a time of 1:56.47. Mulder, Abby Elbers, Morgan Bosshart and Nicole Willers formed the team.The Cardinals placed third in the 400-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays with respective 54.6, 4:42.9 and 10:48.63 efforts.Cassie Pap, Willers, Bosshat and Hoiland ran the 400. Heitkamp, Tara Muck, Raddle and Kelsey Dooyema teamed up in the 1,600. Amanda Kannas, Dooyema, Raddle and Heitkamp joined forces in the 3,200.Luverne will compete at the Brandon Valley (S.D.) Relays Saturday before hosting the Cardinal Relays Tuesday.Here is a look at the rest of Luverne’s individual results during the Cardinal Quadrangular.Third place: Hoiland, 100, 13.63.Fourth place: Kuhlman, high jump, 4-8; Pap, long jump, 14-1 1/2; Kuhlman, 100 hurdles, 17.73; Stephanie Hendricks, 100, 13.79; Mulder, 200, 28.82.Fifth place: Jessica Willers, 100 hurdles, 18.72; Schniederman, pole vault, 6-6; J.Willers, 300 hurdles, 55.97.Sixth place: LaRae Kor, discus, 82-11; Amy Herman, 100, 14.23; Kannas, 1,600, 6:19; Jenny Broomfield, pole vault, 6-6; Rachel Nath, 300 hurdles, 56.06.Seventh place: Natalie Willers, discus, 81-8; Kannas, high jump, 4-4; Pap, triple jump, 29-4 1/4; Kor, shot, 28-3; Muck, 400, 1:14.47; Elbers, 200, 29.29.Eighth place: Raddle, high jump, 4-4; Kuhlman, triple jump, 29-3; Elbers, long jump, 13-3; Alyssa Stegenga, 100, 14.33; Brittney Schmuck, 400, 1:15.1.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Cardinals opened the 2005 baseball season by dropping a 5-4 decision to Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in Tracy Tuesday.Luverne surrendered three runs in the first three innings of the game and was unable to overcome the early deficit.According to LHS coach Mike Wenninger, the game was a typical opener with a lot of mistakes."We gave a lot of things away," he said. "Hopefully, the mistakes are fixable."The Cardinals dug themselves a 3-0 hole before plating an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning.Senior Jared Pick singled and moved to third when Zach Wysong singled. Wysong ended up getting involved in a run-down between first and second base, opening the door for Pick to race home with the team’s first run of the season.T-M-B answered the challenge by scoring once in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-1 game, but the Cards scored twice in the top of the fifth to trim the difference to one run at 4-3.Singles by John Tofteland and Dustin Richters set the table for the Cards in the fifth. Tofteland scored when Nath bounced out to third base, but Richters was thrown out at third base as the play progressed. J.T. Bruynes reached base on an error, moved into scoring position when Pick singled and trotted home when Wysong delivered an RBI single.The Panthers scored once in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 5-3 before Luverne capped the scoring by plating a counter in the sixth.Kelsey Petersen reached base on an error, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and scored the final run when Nath singled.Bruynes tossed the first two innings and took the loss after allowing one run. Brad Herman yielded three runs in the next two innings, and Wyatt Cote was charged with one run after tossing one-third of one frame. Pick pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings.The 0-1 Cardinals host Windom for the Southwest Conference opener Tuesday.Box score AB R H BILundgren 2 0 0 0Bruynes 1 1 0 0Pick 4 1 2 0Wysong 4 0 2 1Herman 3 0 0 0Cote 3 0 1 0Graphenteen 2 0 0 0Petersen 1 1 0 0Tofteland 3 1 1 0Richters 3 0 1 0Nath 3 0 1 0

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne softball team experienced a promising start to the season after posting an 8-7 win over Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster-Southwest United in Brewster Tuesday.The Cardinals opened an 8-3 lead after 2 1/2 innings of play and thwarted a late rally by the hosts to secure a one-run victory.For a team that won seven games in 2004 and lost a number of close contests, coming out on top of a tight battle was a welcome sight for LHS coach Steve Semmens."For the first game, it wasn’t too bad. We didn’t hit the ball exceptionally well, and we made some mistakes we shouldn’t have," he said. "For the first game, we’ll take it."Luverne took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Jessa Dahl slapping a two-run single and Sarah Ailts adding an RBI single, but SV-RL-B-SU battled back in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at three.The Cards scored two runs in the second inning and three in the third to open a five-run (8-3) advantage.Ailts, who had three hits and three RBIs in the game, and Tori Snyder singled home runs in the third for LHS.Dahl capped a four-RBI game with a two-run single in the third. Ailts added another run-scoring single before the inning was complete.SV-RL-B-SU scored one run in the fifth inning and added three more counters in the bottom of the seventh before Luverne recorded the final out of the game.Sarah Wynia went the distance on the hill to pick up the win. She fanned 10 batters and walked nine.Natalie Domagala led the Cards at the plate with four hits.Luverne plays in Edgerton Friday.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys track team turned in an impressive performance during the outdoor opener at Cardinal field Tuesday.Hosting the annual Cardinal Quadrangular, the LHS boys took advantage of some perfect weather conditions (little wind and warm temperatures) to post seven event victories and finish second in six events during the meet.Tony Willers and Mike Kunstle experienced outstanding days for the Cardinals.Willers won the shot put and discus titles with tosses of 41-0 and 124-5.Kunstle won the triple jump with a distance of 38-5 1/2 and took top honors in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.86.Kunstle, who placed second in the 100-meter dash in 11.58, ran a leg with Luverne’s champion 400-meter relay team. Ben Uphoff, Chris Ashby and Jordan Siebenahler teamed up with Kunstle to win the event in 46.57.Uphoff and Jake Hendricks also posted wins for LHS.Uphoff cleared the 300-meter hurdles in 44.06 to place first. Hendricks covered 400 meters in 51.91.Ashby, Siebenahler and Otten placed second during individual running events.Siebenahler ran 200 meters in 24.29, Ashby cleared the 300-meter hurdles in 45.13 and Otten scampered 800 meters in 2:10.83.Luverne’s Michael Nelson placed second in the pole vault after clearing 10-6.The Cards received second- and third-place performances from the 1,600- and 800-meter relays, which recorded respective 3:39.29 and 1:37.1 times.Ruston Aaker, Scott Goebel, Tom Ward and Otten ran the 1,600. Kunstle, Goebel, Otten and Hendricks teamed up in the 800.Luverne will compete at the Brandon Valley (S.D.) Relays Saturday before hosting the Cardinal Relays Tuesday.Here is a look at the rest of Luverne’s individual finishers during the Cardinal Quadrangular.Third place: Matt Rosin, discus, 112-1; Uphoff, 110-hurdles, 18.42; Ashby, 100, 11.59; Goebel, 400, 54.49; Thomas Pinkal, 1,600, 5:07; Ryan Wynia, pole vault, 10-0; Pinkal, 3,200, 11:16.79.Fourth place: Craig Rogers, shot, 37-9; Aaker, 400, 56.29; Ward, 800, 2:13.5; Steve Schneiderman, 3,200, 11:31.7.Fifth place: Mitch Bauman, discus, 97-5; Rosin, shot, 37-6; Ryan Jacobsma, 200, 25.97.Sixth place: Aaker, high jump, 5-6.Seventh place: Ward, high jump, 5-4; Schneiderman, 1,600, 5:16; Matt Stensland-Bos, pole vault, 7-6.Eighth place: Tyler Williams, discus, 90-0; Jared Roemen, shot, 34-0.

By Lori EhdeThe future looks bright for Rock County’s Developmental Achievement Center in Luverne. Just four years ago, the local employer of disabled adults completed a major remodeling and expansion that allowed for improved working space. Next month, the DAC will complete work on a 2,300-square-foot residential home for four disabled adults: and this spring a similar home is planned near the new hospital.DAC director Dorothy Darveaux offered a tour to County Commissioners of the first home nearing completion just west of the DAC work site.This house is designed for wheelchair accessibility, with extra wide doors, low-placed light switches, specialized door handles, a roll-in accessible shower and a kitchen designed for wheelchair users.A private patio deck views a shaded yard on the northeast side, and a whirlpool Jacuzzi tub will be part of physical therapy for occupants.A 26-by-30 garage will accommodate two vehicles for the individuals living there.Key to independenceThe house is built for four people.Two residents moving in April 15 are currently employed at the DAC work site, and they would be able to either walk or use wheelchairs to get between locations when the weather is favorable.For disabled adults who need accessible housing, the development of such housing options is key if they wish to live and work in Luverne."This may give people with physical challenges the opportunity to be gainfully employed in this community," Darveaux said, adding that for others, the home simply offers more independence."Certain individuals may be able to live semi-independently but require personal care supports such as help getting in and out of bed, meal preparation, specialized medical services in the home, and personal hygiene assistance cares."While it’s handy for DAC workers to live in the house, it’s not built exclusively for DAC workers.The home’s future occupants may or may not work at DAC. Two of the home’s future residents currently live in Rock County. One person will move from a nursing home placement to this less restrictive placement and another individual will be moving from a family home. The accessible home will be staffed 24 hours a day by direct support health professionals to help with medical needs and all basic living needs.Persons with disabilities may work in other jobs around town and not just in the DAC sheltered workshop jobs. Many Luverne businesses currently employ persons with disabilities as either individuals or as part of DAC enclaves. For persons with barriers to both independent living and independent employment, local services may provide first-time independence from living with either their parents or other family members. At the same time, local services support those family members who may have cared for their adult family member at home and who now are in need of a residential service to help them with long-term care.Reinvesting in the communityThe $170,000 home was funded mostly through DAC cash reserves and through donations set aside specifically for this project."We saved, and we sat on the property purchased for several years; now we’re investing that money back into the community," Darveaux said Friday.According to Brenda Meyer, regional director of Habilitative Services Inc., the community benefits more ways than one from the housing venture."This house alone will employ 16 to 20 people making a minimum of $8.50 per hour," she said."It’s amazing how this all brings dollars into the community."She said DAC took the initiative in building the house, but HSI will manage the services. It will hire the staff and oversee the needs of the individuals living in the house."DAC will essentially become our landlord," Meyer said. "It will be a landlord-tenant relationship."HSI currently manages four other homes in Luverne for adults with developmental disabilities, but the new housing is licensed specifically for adult foster care.Meyer said, "It’s for people with adult-onset phsyical and/or mental disability caused by accident, illness or disease."A model statewideThe Rock County DAC’s foray into home building is putting Luverne on the map among statewide HSI professionals and Day Treatment and Habilitation (DT and H) professionals.Many communities provide housing for disabled adults, typically retrofitting existing housing.Rock County DAC is now custom-building homes for disabled adults."This is new to DT&H people," Darveaux said. "The state is watching us very closely to see how this works out for us. We’re becoming a role model in this area."She said there isn’t much incentive for developers to build homes for disabled adults"But we have incentive to build clientele," Darveaux said. "It’s a logical diversification for the DAC to invest in quality accessible housing."The second DAC house breaks ground this spring near the new hospital. That one will be custom-built for three young men in town who have outgrown the house that served them in boyhood."They have high medical needs, and the house will have a nurses’ station built right into it," Darveaux said. "It’s being built to meet their special needs."Because physical therapy plays a big role in meeting their medical needs, the house will be a bit larger than the west-side home to accommodate for large muscle development and exercise room therapies.Dale McClure is the general contractor for both houses.County Commissioner Ron Boyenga praised Darveaux and the DAC for their efforts to improve housing for disabled adults."I give a lot of credit to Dorothy," he said after Friday’s tour. "She’s done a tremendous job on this."Darveaux said it’s satisfying to create something that will benefit so many people."It’s exciting work, and it’s very gratifying to see it come to fruition," she said.

By Lori EhdeLuverne Schools may cut funding for all day every day kindergarten, but there are creative ways for students to continue the curriculum beyond the state-funded half-time program.During a work session earlier this month, staff and administration considered their options."The general consensus seems to be if we aren’t able to have all day every day kindergarten due to financial restrictions, the next-best option would be every day, half day option," said Superintendent Vince Schaefer.He and Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette and District Finance Officer Marlene Mann presented preliminary information to board members at their meeting Tuesday night.They looked at districts in Willmar and Montevideo that used every day half day programs supplemented with half-day fee-based programs.For example, students attend regular kindergarten in the morning and Kinder Plus or an enrichment program in the afternoon. The afternoon classes are optional and cost parents roughly $1,500 per year.When Willmar started the program four years ago, 60 percent of parents chose the Kinder Plus option. Now, 90 percent of the kindergartners attend the afternoon program.According to Tuesday’s discussion, Luverne’s tuition would likely be paid to Community Education with that money then directed to the general fund to pay kindergarten teachers.The plan would be that kindergarten teachers would continue into the afternoon, reinforcing the morning curriculum.ReactionBoard member Cary Radisewitz said, "Philosophically I struggle with the idea of parents having to come up with money for kindergarten. I remember how much money I had when my kids were that age."Board member Vicki Baartman said, "I wonder – and this is just a question – if we as a district should consider putting this off one more year to see what happens with the referendum in the fall."Mann said, "We’ve funded all day every day kindergarten for five years, and we’ve continued to make cuts in other programs through the years. … Kindergarten isn’t the only issue we need to fund through a referendum."Schaefer told board members they’ll have a difficult decision on their hands."Fiscal responsibility is one thing and educational responsibility is another," he said. "We have to look at money in one hand and education value in the other and somehow balance the two."BackgroundLuverne Schools started funding all day every day kindergarten five years ago with the understanding that the legislature would soon take over the costs."Back then, the legislature was making noise, at least verbally, about funding all day every day kindergarten," Schaefer said.The decision cost the district $120,000 per year, but the reasoning was that stellar education in the early years would save the district money long-term in special education costs. But since then, the state not only hasn’t funded kindergarten, it’s frozen all education spending for the past three years.Meanwhile School Board members have had to make difficult funding cuts to other programs in the district while all day every day kindergarten continued to drain $120,000 per year from the general fund.No action was taken Tuesday night, but board member Colleen Deutsch asked about the possibility of scheduling a community meeting on the subject."This is huge, and it affects so many people," she said. "I just wouldn’t feel comfortable making a decision about this without getting community input."The board will also consider surveys, mailings and information on the district Web site, www.isd2184.net.Other options if all day every day kindergarten is cut would beohalf day every day in the morning,ohalf day every day in the afternoon andoall day every other day.Gillette said she’ll survey this year’s kindergarten parents on those options and ask for other feedback as well."I’m hoping to get information back next week, so I’ll get it to you when I get it," she said.She said she spoke to teachers about the issue this week. "With additional state standards … they’re concerned," she said. "With cutbacks in kindergarten plus cutbacks in title (Title I aides) things are going to be affected."Schaefer said he welcomes comments and questions from the public, and he encourages district residents to also call their representatives on the board.

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members accepted bids Tuesday for remodeling the middle school and high school administrative offices.Contracts were awarded to the following low bidders:oJans Corporation, Sioux Falls, will serve as general contractors for $81,700. Their alternate bid for storage cabinets in the reception area was $1,300.oMidwestern Mechanical Inc., Sioux Falls, will complete the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work for $58,390.oFulda Electric, Brandon, will do the electrical and lighting work for $19,950.Work on the project, which includes updated flooring and lighting in those office areas, will begin as soon as school is dismissed this spring.The total cost of $159,915 was budgeted in the capital improvements fund.Virtual Rally todaySuperintendent Vince Schaefer is encouraging school staff and district residents to participate in a Virtual Rally today online.From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. public education supporters can contact lawmakers urging them to secure adquate funding for education.oCall Gov. Tim Pawlenty at (651) 296-3391oCall House leader Steve Sviggum at (651) 296-2273oCall Senate leader Dean Johnson at (651) 296-3826.For more information, go to the Web site www.AllianceForStudentAchievement.org or call the Luverne District office at 283-8088.Showcase on elementary counselorFor the board’s showcase agenda item, Elementary Counselor Marie Atkinson Smeins presented information on her work with students.She said there’s an increased focus on bullying and helping students establish healthy relationships and self esteem in order to respond appropriately.Her small counseling groups continue to address friendship, anger management, ADD and ADHD, study skills and changing families.Individual counseling sessions focus on issues such as family changes, friendship, behaviors, attitude, anger management, alcohol abuse in the home, death, etc.She’ll be a presenter at the Minnesota School Counselors Association meeting May 1-3 in St. Cloud. She’ll present information on wellness, stress and organization.In personnel matters Tuesday, the boardoApproved the final seniority and probationary list for certified staffoApproved Jerrod Gertsema as long-term substitute for Jill Wagner for the remainder of the school year. It’s a half-time position.oApproved a maternity leave request for paraprofessional Angela Fick starting around May 2 for the remainder of the school year.oAccepted the retirement of Steve Kollman, elementary physical education teacher, effective June 3.oAccepted the resignation of paraprofessional Rosemary Moerke, effective April 8.oApproved Sarah Johnson as volunteer softball coach for grades 9-12.In other business Tuesday, the boardoHeard from Spanish students Erin Hoiland and Becca Sandager about a June 14-28 trip to Spain.Five sophomores, two juniors and two seniors in Lori Gladis’ Spanish class will go. They’ll take in the sights and culture of locations such as Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Granada and Sevilla.oHeard from Principal Gary Fisher about preliminary staffing in the middle school and high school.He said class schedules are coming together for next year. The middle school staffing schedule will be similar to this year’s, but the high school set-up is more complicated.oSet a bid date of 2 p.m. on April 26 to receive bids for roofing repair over the middle school-high school library and ag shop areas. Work won’t begin until after July, so the costs will affect next year’s budget.oHeard that Inflatable Gym Night will be April 15.oHeard that Kindergarten Roundup will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in an open house format. A formal orientation will be scheduled with parents in August.