By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members approved a new program aimed at addressing needs of high-achieving students.The elementary school has received $2,500 from several organizations in donations to launch Math Olympiads, an enrichment program for the 2003-04 year.Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff shared information with the board during a Tuesday night meeting.She made reference to the fact that Future Images, a program for gifted and talented students, was discontinued several years ago due to funding cuts.Math Olympiads will be one way to challenge these same types of students."This isn’t seen as a replacement for that program," Tenhoff said. "It’s just a way to better serve these high achieving kids."The program will be available to about 30 students in grades 3-5 who will be selected based on teacher recommendations and test scores.Board member Bill Stegemann asked if special programs were in place for students on the other end of the pendulum who are struggling with learning."There’s already a lot of money being spent on low-achieving students, through Title I monies and special education funding," Tenhoff said.Students participate competitively in Math Olympiads on-line. There is no travel involved.The donated money will be used primarily to support time invested by two teachers, Pam Christensen and Jennifer Engesser.Tenhoff said she’s excited about the opportunity to nurture gifted minds, and she hopes money will be available in future years to continue the program."High-end learning kids learn differently and can really use that different mode to challenge them," she said.In personnel matters Tuesday, the boardoHired Linda Limesand as long-term substitute for Stacey Lihs, middle school English teacheroHired Nick Nafziger as head boys’ hockey coachoHired Jesse Gladis as eighth-grade boys’ basketball coachoAccepted the resignation of Gordie Hansen as eighth-grade boys’ basketball coachoAccepted the resignation of Christy Reisch, media center paraprofessional.In other business Tuesday, the board:oReviewed the revised 2003-04 budget. District Finance Officer Marlene Mann reported that another 20 students had left the district since the June census. This represents a $100,000 per year loss to the district in per-pupil aid.oConducted its capital outlay hearing, during which time it reviewed buildings and grounds improvements scheduled for the next several years.One large line-item scheduled for 2004-05 is resurfacing the track on Cardinal Field at an estimated cost of $120,000.oNoted the next board meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 and Dec. 22.

By Sara StrongThe Rock County Pool and Fitness Center could change management with a proposal on its way from Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System.Although the city and county would have to approve it, the possibility presents opportunities.City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "What do we have to lose, really?"Subsidies to the Pool and Fitness Center have increased over the years, to $68,598.Sioux Valley’s preliminary communications about the facility indicate it would take care of marketing, with a goal of increasing membership to 1,200. It now has about 830, including tanning.Programs under its direction would also change, to have a family focus, and a total health and wellness angle.If the management proposal is accepted, it would be for two years. That way, if it doesn’t work for the county and city, the current model of management can be reinstated.Also new for the Pool and Fitness Center is more savings in the cleaning contract. The last contract was with Lisa Arndt for $15,000. The newest cleaning providers have tentatively set a price at $8,500, but that isn’t finalized yet.

By Sara StrongThe Rock County Pool and Fitness Center could change management with a proposal on its way from Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System.Although the city and county would have to approve it, the possibility presents opportunities.City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "What do we have to lose, really?"Subsidies to the Pool and Fitness Center have increased over the years, to $68,598.Sioux Valley’s preliminary communications about the facility indicate it would take care of marketing, with a goal of increasing membership to 1,200. It now has about 830, including tanning.Programs under its direction would also change, to have a family focus, and a total health and wellness angle.If the management proposal is accepted, it would be for two years. That way, if it doesn’t work for the county and city, the current model of management can be reinstated.Also new for the Pool and Fitness Center is more savings in the cleaning contract. The last contract was with Lisa Arndt for $15,000. The newest cleaning providers have tentatively set a price at $8,500, but that isn’t finalized yet.

By Sara StrongThe Luverne City Council approved a preliminary plat for the new Luverne Community Hospital and Clinic Tuesday, to the satisfaction of most parties involved.Resident Parnell Thorson, who objected to the previous hospital layouts said, "For us, as residents, we should thank the city administrator for being a go between for us."Mayor Glen Gust said, "I can’t express how important it is for everyone to work together for the betterment of Rock County and the city of Luverne."The final plat still has to go through the Planning Commission and the City Council for final approval.Neighborhood meetingSioux Valley, city of Luverne and county representatives met with northern city residents Thursday, Oct. 23, in an effort to explain how traffic will change with the new hospital and clinic in their back yards.A number of Veterans Drive residents have been outspoken about the access that will take some hospital and clinic traffic through their neighborhood.Jeff Stearns said to Sioux Valley representatives, "We’re not upset you’re coming, we’re thrilled, but there are concerns here."Steve Perkins spoke as a property owner on Veterans Drive. He said, "First, we should be happy we’re getting the hospital. … It’s the largest investment ever made in the community, public or private."Perkins pointed out that Sioux Valley wanted to locate south of Interstate 90, near Pamida, but many groups within the city lobbied for the northern location. "[The Veterans Drive access] has been the only complaint about the hospital," Perkins said.The main issues for the residents at the meeting were:oThe project was far along before the neighborhood was involved, or informed that Veterans Drive was the access plan. Even without the city formally approving the plat, dirt work was started in September.oAlthough current plans don’t make Veterans Drive the main access point for the hospital, traffic counts will increase on the narrow street. Residents are worried about decreased privacy, property values and safety.Perkins said safety concerns are the same all over town, including residential areas where children play by the current hospital and clinic. Veterans Drive will not be the primary road to the new Luverne Community Hospital and Clinic, but that was the thought up to about a month ago. New plans call for Veterans Drive to merge with a new driveway to be constructed off of Highway 75. Veterans Drive will no longer be accessible directly from Highway 75. Counterpoints to the citizen concerns were:oSioux Valley is designing buffers and elevations to minimize parking lot and vehicle lights on residents.oIt will advertise and tell patients to use 131st Street or Highway 75 for their access to the hospital, minimizing traffic through Veterans Drive. It will also tell its more than 200 employees to not use Veterans Drive. Also, people aren’t expected to even want to drive through the narrow, curving street to get to the hospital and clinic. Road signs won’t direct drivers to use Veterans Drive.Actual current traffic counts were performed by the Rock County Highway Department Oct. 20 and 21. Counters were placed at four locations on Veterans Drive, from Highway 75 to Blue Mound Avenue. The average daily traffic for that section of roadway was 386. Sioux Valley estimated that its traffic would cause an additional 87 vehicles to pass through Veterans Drive daily. The current measures will likely reduce that.Another development to ease traffic through Veterans Drive is the city’s intention to extend East Christensen Drive to the parking lot on the east side of the property. If the city includes that in the Sioux Valley Drive construction, it will cost about $90,000 to $100,000.Hospital employees and patients will be told not to use this road, either. It’s expected that only very north Luverne residents will even want to use Christensen and Veterans Drives.Without those traffic reducing measures, it was expected that an additional 4.4 cars per hour would use Veterans Drive.Luverne City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "Given where we’re at today, we’re trying to solve these problems. … It’s unfortunate that we didn’t all sit down and discuss this together earlier."Sioux Valley designed the new hospital and clinic to face where it was told the entrance would be. Now it says that completely changing the access would mean decreased visibility to its patients.Some of the residents didn’t buy into that. They said that a due east access off of Highway 75 (further north) would be just as convenient for patients, and would keep them happy by not involving Veterans Drive at all.Now, the compromise appears to have pleased all parties, even though Veterans Drive still connects to the hospital entrance.

By Sara StrongCity Administrator Greg LaFond called the council’s budget "responsible" and anticipates the city will be able to handle the next few years’ tight budgets. Among the long-term decisions the Luverne City Council made earlier this year, was to not fill the Public Works Director position.Now, with the former Utilities Coordinator employed on a consultant basis, the city will start a search for a new joint Utilities and Public Works Director soon.The position will require an electrical or civil engineering degree, with a background in municipalities preferred.The Council is also refilling the accountant position, which was part of the lay-offs earlier this year. LaFond said that changing the Pool and Fitness Center management to include more City Hall work is one reason to reinstate the position.Also, he said, the city is only saving $12,000 in the general fund by not having the accountant. The rest of the salary and benefit package is paid for through enterprise funds that don’t come from the property tax levy.An extra financial worker will help city staff closely track expenses in all departments, which LaFond has set as a priority. He said the accountant could eventually save the city money.As discussed at the previous council meeting, councilmen Tuesday passed a motion to request proposals for a new city attorney. They can all be rejected, but the council will have the opportunity to review proposals from area law firms.Councilman David Hauge brought the issue up, and made the motion for the request for proposals (RFPs). Hauge said that some work has been on hold in the attorney’s office and that city business is being slowed.City attorney since 1980, Don Klosterbuer said he wasn’t aware of any complaints against his office, and considered the year a productive one for the city: Darrell Huiskes’ early retirement; severance package for former administrator Matt Hylen; work on the hospital project, and his associate, Jeff Haubrich, serving as interim city administrator.Klosterbuer said at Tuesday’s meeting, that Oct. 3 he received a list of five projects the city was waiting for, and completed or addressed those by the Oct. 14 meeting where his office was discussed. Some of the projects were on hold because of information he still needed from City Hall.The item of city attorney RFPs wasn’t on the agenda at the October meeting and Klosterbuer was surprised that it was brought to the table. He said that in the past, any projects falling behind schedule were called to his attention and that he appreciated that type of communication.Doing business with the countyTuesday, Nov. 4, city of Luverne and county representatives will meet to discuss some joint issues. At this Tuesday’s meeting, the agenda contained items that could have affected the county.Councilman Bob Kaczrowski said, "Maybe we should wait until after the next county liaison meeting before we start making resolutions."The issues involving the county on the agenda were all tabled:oAdvertising for bids to Privatize the refuse and recycling contract. If that were done, the county Transfer Station would be greatly affected. More than 80 percent of its business is from Luverne.oRequesting proposals for new assessment services. The city currently contracts with the county for assessment services at $35,000 per year. Administrator Greg LaFond wanted to negotiate that price lower, but the county said it charges what its costs are to do the property assessments.

By Jolene FarleyAfter becoming ill in September, I was skeptical, to say the least, when my doctor ordered the blood test for West Nile Virus. The test, used to determine if West Nile antibodies are present in blood, isn’t done until 10 days after onset of symptoms and the results usually aren’t available for two weeks after the blood draw. At 30 weeks into my pregnancy, I understood my doctor’s concerns. I knew I had been sick with unexplained symptoms, but I considered a diagnosis of West Nile Virus farfetched.Even after the call that my test results were positive, I didn’t immediately accept my diagnosis. I continued to hope that the results were a false positive. I had heard that happened sometimes. Part of what baffled me was that I was much less active this year than other years. I didn’t spend as much time outdoors because the summer heat was exhausting and compounded my allergies. I also didn’t remember a mosquito bite. I did kill two mosquitoes in my car, but I don’t recall itching a bite. My doctor’s office offered little information about the test (other than the results) or the virus. A nurse told me that the neonatologist said West Nile doesn’t cross the placenta, yet my doctor delivered another baby with a rash. The mother had contracted West Nile just before delivery.I surfed the internet hoping for some clues on what to expect from West Nile Virus during pregnancy. I found nothing.Finally, I called the Minnesota Department of Health. It quickly became apparent the MDH didn’t have an over abundance of information either. The man on the line asked me to help them. He said officials were establishing a West Nile Registry and my information could be important.I asked him what the odds were of a false positive test result. He said test results aren’t questioned if the test was done at a state laboratory. My test was completed at the South Dakota State lab. So much for my false positive hopes.Last year, there were only four reported cases of West Nile involving pregnancies in the whole United States, this year there are 45. I am the only case in Minnesota.I am feeling better myself, but I worry periodically about my unborn child. We won’t know anything about the health of my child for certain until after she is born.After delivery, we will provide samples of blood, placenta, and breast milk to the MDH. If the baby tests positive and was infected in the womb, we will provide information about the baby’s health at one month, six months and one year following birth. I am fine with sharing this information. They aren’t asking for invasive procedures for my baby and me, just samples and questions. In some respects, I consider myself lucky.My symptoms included a sore throat, severe fatigue and a rash. Many West Nile victims complain of intense headaches and fever. I was sick for about a week, some West Nile victims are ill much longer.Lets pray I can continue to consider myself lucky after the baby is born.It is unfortunate this incident occurred during my pregnancy, adding … worry, worry, worry … to my already long, hormone-induced range of emotions.

By Jolene FarleyEarlier this month six members of the Hills Senior Citizens dined out for a final farewell meeting. The group had, in recent years, dwindled in numbers, according to President Mae Top. At a regular meeting in September, the group decided to disband."Fourteen years ago, when I moved to town there were 38 people, now we’re down to eight," she said. Top doesn’t recall any new members, except one, during her years with the group.When local resident Edna Lien passed away, she left the group some money to use for their activities. "She wanted us to use it, and we did use it," Top said.The balance of the group’s funds, between $3,000 and $4,000, will be donated to the Hills Fire Department at a November meeting, according to Top.She said younger women work, and with so many other activities available the group didn’t have much success recruiting new members. The group used to meet twice a month, but about a year ago, meetings were changed to once a month. Members gathered to play cards, play bingo and to socialize. Men used to join, but recently all members were women.Top at "not quite 80 yet" is one of the younger ones in the group. Serving as president and secretary for the group, she tracked volunteer hours and turned them in to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Worthington. This aspect of the group will continue. She will turn in individual volunteer hours to be credited for Rock County. She quilts at church, provides nail care at Tuff Memorial Home, and visits the sick.Top said she’ll miss the companionship of the group. "I will miss getting with the group of people and an afternoon out," she said.Former member Laura Paulsen said she enjoyed the group before she took time off when her husband entered the nursing home."We had lots of fun. We played bingo and had lunch," she said."We started out at about 40 and it dwindled down to just a few."The oldest member of the group, Martha Lindrud, 87, will also miss the meetings."It’s going to be different," she said. Lindrud, who joined in 1989, a year after moving to town, is one of the remaining members. "We met at the Legion Hall the second and fourth Tuesday of every month," she said. "Things have a way of disappearing."

By Jolene FarleyThe Hills-Beaver Creek School Board approved employee contracts giving a 4.5-percent wage increase per year over the next three years for all non-certified employees except bus drivers at a Monday meeting. Superintendent Dave Deragisch recommended a three-year versus two-year contract, so that contract negotiations for non-certified staff are on alternating years from certified staff negotiations. Bus drivers receive a $2.50 increase per route, or $5 a day. Bus drivers also receive a 4.5-percent increase for all other driving. The position of business manager was added to the fifth step of the pay scale, up from the fourth step. All benefits for non-certified employees will be according to the Hills-Beaver Creek policy book. The change rectifies inconsistencies between the groups. Lockdown statusElementary Principal Todd Holthous updated the board on the lockdown at the elementary school. Lockdown status continued as of Monday with all exterior doors locked. Students aren’t allowed outdoors for recess or allowed to walk home alone after school is dismissed.School officials started the security precautions on Wednesday, Oct. 15, in response to notification from law enforcement that Jason Lee Heasley could be headed toward the Beaver Creek School looking for his child. Heasley, considered armed and dangerous and missing from the jail in Huron, S.D., is facing drug and burglary charges. "You let your guard down for 20 minutes and he could be in and out," Holthaus said. A doorbell was installed at the front entrance to the school, so visitors could ring the bell if they needed to enter the building. Special education billDeragisch recommended the board pay in full 2001-02 and 2002-03 special education bills to the Luverne School District. The bills stems from students that open enrolled to the Luverne district. The student’s home district is required to reimburse the district were the student open enrolls for special education and other costs. The total amount due for these years is $103,799. The H-BC district made a partial payment of $20,000 in June. This year’s school budget included $87,000 earmarked for these bills.The board discussed the remaining amount due of $55,864 for the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 school years. "There is still some dispute over what we should actually pay," Deragisch said.The billing system for those years wasn’t as clear as the undisputed years, according to Deragisch. Amounts are now billed by the state.The board decided to offer $30,000 to the Luverne district for payment in full of the disputed amounts.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth football team locked up a berth in the Section 2 Nine-Man Playoff championship game by defeating Cedar Mountain-Comfrey 35-32 in Hills Saturday.The Patriots compiled 412 rushing yards and scored five rushing touchdowns in the contest to run their season record to 7-3.The victory allows H-BC-E to host the section title tilt 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Hills.The second-seeded Patriots face No. 5 Southwest United, which nipped No. 1 Nicollet 9-6 with a late field goal in Nicollet Saturday, in the championship game.It was H-BC-E’s ability to move the ball on the ground that lifted it over the Cougars Saturday.Running back Zach Wysong ran the ball for 280 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Travis Broesder added two rushing touchdowns to help the Patriots win their third straight game."We hoped we could run the ball entering the game, but we didn’t think we could be that successful," said H-BC-E coach Dan Ellingson. "Our offensive line (Cody Scholten, Jason Martens and Kenny Bittner) did a great job. We had a lot of rushing yards, but it was because of our offensive line. We were confident in going for first downs during fourth-and-one and fourth-and-two situations because we knew they couldn’t stop us."Although the game was close, H-BC-E seemed to be in control the entire way.The Patriots never trailed in the contest, and they were able to answer every challenge CM-C offered.Both teams turned the ball over four times in the game, and the game started with each team turning the ball over once.H-BC-E’s Kerry Fink ended C-CM’s first possession when he recovered a fumble on the Patriot five-yard line, and it set up a 95-yard, 15-play touchdown march.Wysong capped the advance with a five-yard touchdown run at the 3:54 mark of the opening quarter. Wysong booted the first of five straight extra points after the touchdown to make it a 7-0 game.The H-BC-E defense stopped CM-C on downs on the Patriot 43-yard line late in the first quarter.H-BC-E’s offense took the field and marched 57 yards in seven plays with Broesder scoring on an eight-yard run at the 11:09 mark of the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.The teams proceeded to exchange possessions before the Cougars tied the game at 14 with two touchdowns in a 2:05 span of the second period.After taking over on its own 49 when H-BC-E punted, CM-C mounted a five-play, 51-yard drive that ended with quarterback Andrew Larsen throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass to Darren Tighe. The run for a two-point conversion failed, leaving the Patriots sporting a 14-6 lead at the 6:10 mark of the second period.Cougar defender Cameron Maurer came up with a big play moments later when he intercepted a pitch from Broesder and ran the ball to the H-BC-E 19.Larsen scored on a two-yard run four plays later, and a Larsen-to-David Krenz conversion pass tied the game at 14 with 4:05 remaining in the first half.H-BC-E was able to regain the lead (21-14) before the first half was complete.Wysong capped a five-play, 56-yard drive with a 37-yard run with 1:07 left in the second period.CM-C ran seven more offensive plays before the first half was complete, but no points came from the possession.The teams produced a combined five turnovers in the first 4:22 of the third quarterThe final turnover of the series was an H-BC-E fumble that was recovered by Comfrey’s Chris Mathiowetz on the Cougar 14-yard line.The CM-C offense then advanced the ball 86 yards in nine plays with Larsen tossing a five-yard touchdown pass to Brent Kopischke at the 4:23 mark of the third quarter. The run for a conversion failed, leaving H-BC-E sporting a 21-20 edge.H-BC-E answered CM-C’s score by producing a touchdown on the third play of its next possession.Wysong raced 56 yards for six points with 2:59 remaining in the third quarter to make it a 28-20 game.CM-C, however, trimmed the difference to two points (28-26) when Larsen fielded the ensuing kick and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown 11 seconds later.The Cougars tried to run for a two-point conversion after the return, but the attempt came up short.The Patriots produced what proved to be the game-winning points with their next offensive possession.H-BC-E moved the ball 65 yards in 12 plays with Broesder capping the drive with a two-yard touchdown run at the 10:00 mark of the fourth quarter to make the difference 35-26.The teams exchanged possessions as the fourth quarter progressed, with CM-C taking over on its own 43 after fielding a punt with 5:07 left to play.From there the Cougars put together an 11-play, 57-yard drive that ended with Larsen throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Krenz with 2:39 remaining to make it a 35-32 game. Again, CM-C’s run for a two-point conversion failed.H-BC-E fielded the ensuing kick on the CM-C 45-yard line, and proceeded to run the remaining time off the clock without turning the ball over.When the game was complete, Ellingson had some nice things to say about the Cougars."CM-C was a good team, and it was a good thing we had the chance to scout them, because some of their offensive formations could have given us problems if we were not prepared for them," Ellingson said. "They have some really good athletes who made some great plays."H-BC-E will get the chance to win the rubber game of a three-game series when it hosts SU Saturday.The Patriots beat SU 12-0 Sept. 6 in Hills, and SU bested H-BC-E 29-6 in Brewster Oct. 10."SU is a quick team with a great running back in Anthony Johnson," Ellingson said. "The key for us will be to not make mistakes. We can’t turn the ball over. Our special teams need to play at a high level, too."Team statisticsH-BC-E: 412 rushing yards, 37 passing yards, 449 total yards, 21 first downs, six penalties for 50 yards, four turnovers.CM-C: 125 rushing yards, 235 passing yards, 360 total yards, 19 first downs, one penalty for five yards, four turnovers.Individual statisticsRushing: Wysong 37-280, Tom LeBoutillier 18-118, Broesder 5-8, Greg Van Batavia 1-4, Blake Hanisch 1-2.Passing: Broesder 4-7 for 37 yards.Receiving: Wysong 2-26, Hanisch 1-8, Van Batavia 1-3.Defense: Van Batavia 11 tackles, Scholten 11 tackles and one interception, Jon Klaassen eight tackles and one sack, LeBoutillier seven tackles and one sack, Wysong six tackles and one interception, Fink five tackles and two fumble recoveries.