By Lori EhdeA 50-year-old man is in custody after law enforcement seized the makings of a meth lab from an acreage a couple miles south of Beaver Creek.Marvin James Kolsrud was arrested Thursday, June 19, when authorities executed a search warrant at his home.Rock County deputies had been previously alerted to possible meth production at the acreage, but they said an informant under investigation in South Dakota provided a solid lead that prompted the warrant.According to Rock County Deputy Jeff Wieneke, the informant said he had first-hand knowledge that Kolsrud was operating a meth lab in his attic and that he kept a loaded sawed-off shotgun in the house.Because of the weapons risk, Wieneke said the Southwest Minnesota High Risk Entry Team of roughly 10 different officers entered Kolsrud’s residence unannounced at 10:22 p.m.With law enforcement weapons drawn, Kolsrud cooperated immediately, according to Wieneke, who is a member of the Entry Team."We haven’t had many arrests like these where they’re not compliant," Wieneke said.He said Kolsrud told them where the lab was and where he kept his weapon."It went pretty smoothly. I was pretty happy about that and that nobody got hurt," Wieneke said.According to court documents, Kolsrud told law enforcement that he had "cooked a batch" of meth the previous night and intended to "cook another batch" that evening after stealing anhydrous ammonia from the elevator in Beaver Creek.He said he usually "cooks a batch" once a week, or "whenever he needs some money." Each "batch" results in 8 to 10 grams of finished meth, worth about $800.Kolsrud at one time was a trucker, but he is now reportedly unemployed.Assisting with the arrest were six Rock County Deputies, including Wieneke, one BCA agent from St. Paul, two South Dakota officers, and a deputy from Lyon County."It was a team effort," Wieneke said. "It takes a lot of people to take down a meth lab."Wieneke, who left the scene at 2:45 a.m. Friday, said from the time the search warrant was signed at 8:30 p.m. to the time the scene was cleared the following afternoon, various law enforcement were involved in the process.Friday morning, Rock County deputies donned protective suits and cleared the house of meth lab components.Among those were ephedrine, muratic acid, ammonia, lithium batteries, tinfoil, coffee filters with residue, plastic bags, drain cleaners and glass smoking devices. Also found were eight jars of various liquids consistent in appearance with liquids produced during the manufacturing process.Later Friday morning, an environmental cleanup crew from North Dakota, which requested anonymity, sorted through the items, testing contents of bottles and jars, and removing hazardous materials.The North Dakota official pointed to a 20-pound propane tank and said meth producers siphon anhydrous ammonia from tanks that farmers leave unattended in fields or from tanks at local farm elevators."Most of what you see here can be found at any hardware store," he said, holding a bottle of ephedrine pills in his hand.Wieneke said law enforcement has been working with local farmers and businesses to more closely monitor these supplies.Mike Sandager, who has been renting the acreage to Kolsrud since April, said this isn’t his tenants first brush with the law. After repeated visits by deputies responding to domestic violence in the home, Sandager said he had warned Kolsrud that another incident would result in his eviction.Outside of that, though, Sandager said Kolsrud has been a good renter, getting the acreage cleaned up and mowed, and always paying his rent on time — with cash."I know his family and I go to church with his family," Sandager said. "I guess I’m just too trusting."Kolsrud is the fifth person arrested in the Beaver Creek and Valley Springs area on drug charges in the past few years. Law enforcement speculates that low-cost rental acreages and the proximity to the South Dakota border may be common denominators.Kolsrud spent the weekend in jail and appeared Monday in Rock County District Court on felony charges of manufacturing and possessing meth.The maximum penalty for the more serious crime of manufacturing meth is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.Also home at the time of his arrest were Kolsrud’s girlfriend, Georgia Redd, and her adult son and his adult friend. No charges have been filed against them at this time.Kolsrud’s bond has been set at $20,000, and as of this writing, he remains in the Prairie Justice Center, Worthington.

By Sara StrongThis was the biggest year yet for local fund-raising efforts for Relay For Life, despite a poor economy, which some expected would drag the number down. Rock County raised $53,000 for the American Cancer Society after Friday and Saturday’s Relay For Life — far exceeding the initial $35,000 goal.Vicki Baartman, co-chaired the annual fund-raiser along with Nancy Kaczrowski.Baartman said the new location at the Luverne City Park was a natural fit for Relay for Life. "We've received overwhelmingly positive feedback from so many people who were there — team members and people who just came out for the evening. I'm sure if the City gives the OK we'll be back there next year."Baartman said that Relay For Life has been rewarding for her, personally, as well as benefiting the Cancer Society."Being involved with this event is so rewarding. To watch the survivors lap and to see all the luminaries," she said. "Cancer affects so many people. In my own family we've seen it too many times, and it just feels good to think I might be doing something to help."Counting team members and spectators, more than 1,000 people attended Relay For Life this year.For more photos see the Relay for Life photo gallery.

By John RittenhouseFifteen future Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth track athletes competed in the Hershey’s District 2 Track and Field meet in Windom Saturday.The young Patriots made a strong impression on meet officials as 10 local athletes earned the right to advance to the state meet by placing first or second at the district level.The Hershey’s Minnesota State Track and Field meet will be staged in Apple Valley Saturday.H-BC-E athletes qualifying for state are Dalton Bass, Dustin Verhey, Karic Wiertzema, Colton Bass, Andrew Scholten, Terrance Reid, Caleb Ellingson, Mya Mann, Chelsi Fink and Amanda Tilstra.Wiertzema, Colton Bass and Tilstra qualified in multiple events.Wiertzema and Bass formed one-half of the boys’ 11- to 12-year-old 400-meter relay team that placed second at the district meet. Caleb Ellingson and Andrew Scholten are the other members of the team.Wiertzema won the boys’ 11-12 softball throw and placed second in the 400-meter dash.Along with running with the relay team, Colton Bass placed first in the boys’ 11-12 100-meter dash.Tilstra placed second in the girls’ 13-14 standing long jump and 1,600-meter run.Dalton Bass advances to the state meet after placing second in the boys’ 9-10 100-meter dash.Reid placed second in the boys 11-12 softball throw, and Fink placed second in the girls 13-14 softball throw.Mann placed second in the girls’ 13-14 800-meter run, and Verhey finished second in the boys’ 11-12 800.H-BC-E athletes placed in a number of other events Saturday.Scholten was third in the boys’ 11-12 softball throw, while Cody Penning finished fifth in the boys’ 13-14 softball throw.Rayna Sandoval and Brooke Tilstra placed third and sixth respectively in the girls’ 11-12 400-meter dash.Dalton Bass finished fourth in the boys’ 9-10 400. Verhey was fourth in the boys’ 11-12 400.Reid placed fifth in the boys’ 11-12 100-meter dash. Fink was sixth in the girls’ 13-14 100, and Penning finished sixth in the boys’ 13-14 100.Mann placed third and Fink fifth in the girls’ 13-14 200-meter dash.Reid was fourth, Scholten fifth and Casey Middendorp sixth in the boys’ 11-12 200.

By John RittenhouseThe slumping Hills Thunder couldn’t snap what has grown into an eight-game losing skid in amateur baseball play.Hills dropped a six-run decision in Pipestone Wednesday, June 18, before losing a five-run game to Wilmont in Hills Sunday.The 2-10 Thunder play in Butterfield (at noon) and in Jackson (7:30 p.m.) Sunday.Wilmont 8, Hills 3The Thunder let a one-run lead slip away during Sunday’s home game with Wilmont.Although Hills was limited to a pair of hits in the game, the hosts managed to score three early runs to take a 3-2 advantage after Wilmont plated single runs in the first and the second frames to open the scoring.Hills cut Wilmont’s lead in half (2-1) when Jarud Lang walked and scored on a bases-loaded walk, drawn by Chad Rauk in the bottom of the third.The Thunder scored twice in the fourth inning to gain a 3-2 edge.Jarud Lang reached base on a fielder’s choice before Cade Lang walked to set the table for Eric Harnack, who delivered a two-run single to give the hosts their lead.Wilmont, however, outscored Hills 6-0 the rest of the way.The visitors plated five runs in the top of the fifth inning to gain a 7-3 cushion before capping the scoring with a single run in the sixth.Jarud Lang pitched all seven innings for Hills. He fanned five batters while allowing 11 hits and four walks during a losing effort.Box score AB R H BIJ.Lang 1 2 0 0E.Harnack 3 0 1 2S.Harnack 3 0 0 0Sammons 3 0 0 0Top 0 0 0 0Funke 1 0 0 0Van Maanen 2 0 0 0Jellema 1 0 1 0C.Lang 2 1 0 0Rauk 2 0 0 1Forshey 0 0 0 0C.Harnack 2 0 0 0Krenz 0 0 0 0Pipestone 10, Hills 4A 7-1 surge by the A’s late in the game led to a six-run setback for Hills June 18 in Pipestone.The Thunder led 1-0 early and the score was tied at three after four and one-half innings of play, but Pipestone outscored Hills 7-1 the rest of the way to nail down a victory.Hills opened the scoring in the top of the first when Cade Lang walked before scoring on a fielder’s choice by Eric Harnack.Pipestone moved in front 2-1 by scoring twice in the bottom of the second, but Hills tied the game in the third when Scott Harnack singled before scoring on Chris Harnack’s single.The A’s regained the lead at 3-2 in the fourth only to have Hills tie the game at three in the top of the fifth.Scott Harnack walked and scored on a single from Rauk to create a deadlock at three.Pipestone moved in front to stay when it plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth to open a 6-3 cushion.Wade Jellema reached base on an error and scored on Cade Lang’s fielder’s choice in the sixth to make it a 6-4 game before the A’s put the game away with a four-run eighth inning.Rauk tossed all eight innings and took the loss for Hills. He surrendered 12 hits and five walks and recorded five strikeouts.Chris Harnack led the Thunder at the plate with a three-hit game.Rauk, Jellema and Scott Harnack added two hits each.Box score AB R H BIJ.Lang 4 0 1 0E.Harnack 3 0 0 1S.Harnack 4 2 2 0Sammons 3 0 0 0Top 3 0 0 0Funke 0 0 0 0Van Maanen 0 0 0 0Jellema 4 1 2 0C.Lang 3 1 0 1Rauk 4 0 2 1Forshey 0 0 0 0C.Harnack 5 0 3 1Krenz 0 0 0 0

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds went 1-1 without placing at a 16-team tournament in Green Isle over the weekend.Luverne topped the host team 5-2 in Friday’s opener before falling 3-0 to St. Francis Saturday.The 9-2 Redbirds host Bancroft at noon Sunday before playing in Windom at 5 p.m. the same day.Luverne 5, GI 2The Redbirds advanced to the winner’s bracket by topping the host team by three runs in Friday’s opener.Jeff Sehr drove in two runs with a pair of doubles to lead the offense. Four Redbird pitchers combined efforts to limit Green Isle to two earned runs and six hits in seven innings.Sehr gave Luverne a 1-0 lead when he doubled home Tony Sandbulte, who reached base with a single, in the top of the first.Eric Edstrom doubled and scored on Jon Jarchow’s groundout to make it 2-0 in the second.Sandbulte walked before scoring on Sehr’s second double of the game in the third. Sehr scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to give the Redbirds a 4-0 cushion.Green Isle broke through for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth before Luverne capped the scoring with a single counter in the seventh.Terry Eernisse singled and scored the final run when Sandbulte doubled.Jarchow pitched a scoreless first inning before giving way to Travis Eernisse, who allowed two earned runs, three hits and four walks over the next four innings to pick up the win.Kyle Kruen walked one batter and surrendered two hits while pitching one-third of one inning. Edstrom allowed one hit in one and two-thirds innings to record a save.Box score AB R H BIOhme 4 0 0 0Sandbulte 2 2 2 1J.Sehr 3 1 2 2Weber 1 0 0 0Fisher 2 0 0 0M.Sehr 2 0 0 0Schneider 1 0 0 0Iveland 3 0 0 0Edstrom 2 1 1 0Jarchow 1 0 0 1Tr.Eernisse 1 0 0 0Shelton 1 0 0 0Te.Eernisse 3 1 1 0SF 3, Luverne 0The Redbirds had a six-game winning streak snapped when they were eliminated from the tournament by St. Francis Saturday.Luverne couldn’t get anything going offensively against SF, and the Redbirds were limited to one hit in the game.SF plated single runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings.Luverne’s best scoring chance came in the fourth inning.After the first 11 Redbirds to bat in the game were retired, Sehr slapped a two-out single before moving to second base when Mike Wenninger was hit by a pitch. The rally ended when the next batter struck out.Luverne had three more base runners after the fourth inning, but none advanced past base.Derek Ohme pitched all six innings and took the loss. He allowed two earned runs, five hits and fanned four batters.Box score AB R H BIOhme 2 0 0 0Sandbulte 3 0 0 0J.Sehr 3 0 1 0Wenninger 2 0 0 0M.Sehr 2 0 0 0Fisher 1 0 0 0Edstrom 3 0 0 0Weber 2 0 0 0Iveland 2 0 0 0Te.Eernisse 2 0 0 0

Luverne VFW third baseman Wyatt Cote prepares to slide safely home while the Worthington catcher tries to scoop up the ball during Monday’s baseball game in Worthington. Cote scored Luverne’s lone run in a 5-1 loss to Worthington.By John RittenhouseThe Luverne VFW baseball team was unable to even its season series with Worthington when the teams squared off in Worthington Monday.The young Cardinals put up a better fight than when they took a 23-1 pounding from the Trojans in Luverne June 3, but Luverne came up on the short end of a 5-1 decision in the end.Jared Pick, who played a key role with Luverne’s state-bound high school team when the teams met in early June, kept the Cardinals in the game with a strong pitching effort Monday.Pick limited Worthington to a pair of hits, but it wasn’t enough to put the Cards in the win column.After Pick blanked Worthington in the first two innings, the hosts broke through to score three runs in the bottom of the third.Luverne countered by scoring once in the top of the fourth, but the Cards were unable to score the rest of the way.Luverne’s Wyatt Cote reached base when he was hit by a pitch to start the fourth inning. Cote advanced to second when John Tofteland laid down a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a double by Kelsey Petersen to make it 3-1.Worthington scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to ice the game.Luverne, which slips to 2-2 in the league with the loss, was led at the plate with a two-hit effort by Petersen.The 6-8 Cardinals host Marshall tonight before playing four games at the New Ulm Tournament over the weekend. Luverne plays in Slayton Monday.Box score AB R H BIGraphenteen 3 0 0 0Nath 3 0 1 0Pick 3 0 0 0Cote 2 1 1 0Tofteland 2 0 0 0Petersen 3 0 2 1Johnson 2 0 0 0Oeding 1 0 0 0Lundgren 3 0 1 0Deutsch 2 0 0 0Boler 1 0 1 0

By John RittenhouseThree Luverne High School girls graced the All-Southwest Conference Softball roster that was released last week.Two Cardinals made the All-SWC Team. Another drew honorable mention.Senior Karen Jarchow and junior Jessy Behr made the 18-player All-SWC roster.Sophomore Natalie Domagala is one of nine players to receive honorable mention from the SWC coaches.Pipestone Area, the SWC champion and runner-up at the state tournament, led all league teams with five All-SWC selections.Seniors Stephanie and Stacy Plahn, Jody Kontz and Kelley Cunningham and junior Stacey Evans represent the Arrows on the roster.Jackson County Central placed second in the league and drew four all-conference selections.Seniors Christina Flatebo, Ashley Bezdicek, Tammy Kolander and Shelly Chozen are the Huskies on the team.Marshall picked up three all-league selections in senior Terri Klein and sophomores Hayley Martin and Gracie Henderson.Worthington matched Luverne with a pair of all-conference selections. Senior Amanda Duitsman and sophomore Brandi Schmidt are the Trojans on the team.Redwood Valley senior Amanda Jacobson and Windom junior Naomi Jacobson round out the all-league team.Pipestone senior Mindy Cunningham and junior Allison Hubers, JCC junior Danielle Stump and sophomore Hatty Rossow, Marshall junior Becca Freeman, Worthington senior Tracy Obermoller, RWV senior Rachael Bloedow and Windom junior Liz Thon join Domagala as honorable mention selections.

By John RittenhouseThe 2004 Luverne High School volleyball team will be led into battle by a new head coach when the Cardinals take the court next fall.Lori Jacobs has been tabbed the program’s new head coach after a recent meeting of the District 2184 School Board. Jacobs will replace Mary Jo Graphenteen, a 19-year coaching veteran, as the LHS head coach. District officials opted not to renew Graphenteen’s coaching contract at a spring meeting.Jacobs won’t bring a lot of coaching experience to the volleyball program, but she’s enthusiastic about the opportunity of working with the players from Luverne."This is my first coaching job, and I’m really excited about it. I’m very much looking forward to it," Jacobs said. "I’m excited about meeting the girls, working with them and, hopefully, seeing the team improve."Jacobs is a native of Madelia, and a 1999 graduate of Madelia-Truman High School.She played volleyball, basketball and softball for the M-T Jay Hawks during her high school days.Jacobs attended Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.) after high school, earning her teaching degree in May.She did not play college volleyball at Northern State.Jacobs, who learned of the coaching position at a job fair in Sioux Falls, plans to meet with Cardinal players and their parents prior to the opening day of practice Aug. 11.Jacobs, who will be assisted by Luverne’s Paula Lammert in the volleyball program, will be a second-grade teacher.

Nine athletes represented Luverne at the Hershey’s District 2 Track and Field Meet in Windom Saturday. They are (from left) Devin Nelson, Chris Ashby, Paige Olson, Sarah Schneekloth, Alyssa Stegenga, Kayla Raddle, Cody Raddle and Lexi Heitkamp. Missing is Johnny Solma.By John RittenhouseSix athletes representing Luverne came up big during the District 2 Hershey’s Track and Field meet in Windom Saturday.Sarah Schneekloth, Alyssa Stegenga, Kayla Raddle, Paige Olson, Lexi Heitkamp and Chris Ashby all earned berths in the Minnesota State Hershey’s Track and Field event for their performances in Windom Saturday.Individuals and relay teams need to place first or second at the district level to qualify for the state meet, which will be staged in Apple Valley Saturday.Luverne athletes won seven district titles in Windom.Ashby won the 100- and 200-meter dashes for boys’ division for 13- and 14-year olds. Heitkamp won the 800- and 1,600-meter runs in the girls’ 13-14 division.Stegenga won the 100 and Schneekloth took top honors in the 200 in the girls’ 11-12 division.Schneekloth, Stegenga, Raddle and Olson also took top honors in the 400-meter relay for girls in the 11-12 division.Along with advancing as members of the relay team, Olson and Schneekloth earned trips to Apple Valley by placing second in the 11-12 100-meter dash and softball throw respectively.Kayla Raddle placed third in the 800 during the district meet.Devin Nelson placed third in the boys’ 11-12 standing long jump, Cody Raddle placed third in the boys’ 9-10 200-meter dash, and Johnny Solma placed fourth in the boys 9-10 400-meter dash.