By Lori Ehde
Luverne School Board members approved hiring two additional teachers to reduce class sizes in second and third grades.

After weeks of planning and arranging students in the two grades, the dust settled with 91 students in the second grade (23 in each of four classrooms) and 99 in the third grade (25 students in each of four classrooms).

Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff said the second grade, with some struggling students, has been borderline for needing a fifth section. And the third grade saw several families move into the district this year Ð all with third-grade children.

"We're really pushing the bubble with that group of kids," Tenhoff told board members at their Thursday, Aug. 8, meeting. "It (hiring) is something we should take a look at."

At the July 25 meeting, the board heard from Vicki Baartman, who spoke on behalf of several parents who were concerned about second-grade class sizes.

That, coupled with Tenhoff's official report on class numbers Thursday, prompted board action, following words from Superintendent Vince Schaefer.

"It seems a fact that if we can't get kids off on the right foot in the early grades, it's tough for them to make a go of it later on," he said.

"The way I see it, we really don't have much of a choice. The short of it is I'm going to recommend that we hire a second-grade teacher and a third-grade teacher."

The board approved. "I think it's a good choice," said board member Steve Tofteland. "I think it's wise at this point."

Elementary students had already been assigned to their respective teachers and the lists have been posted in the school entry.

The board action means the assignment process will start over, at least for the second and third grades.

"It will be a new parade of little feet to the window," Schaefer joked. "We just about need a new bottle of Windex every day with all the fingerprints out there."

Alternative school
Luverne's Alternative School was the "showcase" item on the board agenda Thursday.

Alternative School staff members include Nancy Swanson four days per week, Rose Toering three days a week, Gloria Perrizo two days a week and Glenda Schneekloth summer help. Luverne Curriculum Coordinator Jan Olson also serves as Alternative School director.

The average monthly attendance for 2001-02 was 33 students per month, and 168 courses were completed during the year.

The teachers reported they offer nearly all the same courses as Luverne High School offers, and the caliber of courses are similar.

Personnel
In personnel matters Thursday the board:

hired Kelly Wild as a fifth-grade teacher at a base salary of $30,212.

increased Joanne GabrielsonÕs contract from half-time to full-time. She is a half-time reading recovery teacher and she shares a first-grade class with another teacher.

hired Susan Nelson as assistant varsity volleyball coach and head junior varsity volleyball coach for a salary of $2,068.

In other business
The board accepted bids for bakery and dairy products, fuel oil and gasoline/diesel fuel for 2002-03. Contracts were awarded to Dean Foods North Central, Earth Grains and Rock County Co-op Oil.

The middle school-high school open house will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The elementary open house will be Sept. 9. The reason it's not scheduled with the middle school-high school event is to allow younger students to settle into their new surroundings before showing them off to parents and grandparents.

High School Principal Gary Fisher reported two foreign exchange students will attend classes in Luverne. They are from New Zealand and Spain.

Fisher responded to inquiries about why so many high school seniors make the A honor roll.

"Most of the required classes are taken through their junior year, so by the time they're seniors, they're taking electives - things they're interested in," Fisher said.

"They're bound to do better because they like their classes. I would be concerned if we didn't have a high percentage of seniors on the A honor roll.

There are six students attending Minnesota West Community College through Post Secondary Option this year.

Fisher requested the board make it a policy that if they're not in the top 30 percent of their class, they can't use the option.

That policy is already in place, but Minnesota West allows non-qualifiers to attend if they have letters of recommendation from high school staff.

Monday night's storm dropped nearly 1 1/2 inches of rain in Luverne, but along with the needed moisture came strong winds that caused some damage. Above, Loel Olson cleans up a downed limb.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Crews put a final layer of asphalt on Highway 75 in front of Luverne High School Friday. By Wednesday, the stripes had been painted on center lines, edges, and turn lanes, and nearly all the heavy equipment was out of town.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Grace Niessink, 91, Hills, formerly of Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Tuff Memorial HOme, Hills. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 19 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. with the family present from 7 yo 8:30 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home, Hills. Services will be Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Reformed Church of Steen with Rev. Dan Ramaker officiating. Burial will be in Eastside Cemetery, Steen.

By Jolene Fairly
Over the last three days much of the region has received one to three inches of rain. This is a weather pattern that will likely continue through August, according to meteorologist Phil Schumacher of the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, SD.

"It does look like we are entering a pattern that will produce more rain," he said.

Schumacher attributes the extended period of dry weather over the last few months to a combination of two factors.

Drought across the western plains has increased in the area causing the air in the Rocky Mountains to warm and spread over our area. Along with that came a pattern of high pressure or an upper level ridge in the upper atmosphere.

"Thunderstorms just aren't developing, or we have scattered thunderstorms," he said.

Schumacher dispelled some explanations for the lack of rain that were circulating around the area as having little impact on weather patterns.

The premise that storms and moisture tend to follow the Buffalo Ridge has some truth but in the end, the ridge has little influence.

"Actually the Buffalo Ridge can be an area were rainfall can be enhanced," he said. "It can have a small influence but it's usually not the dominant reason."

Air lofting over the ridge, in certain situations, may be enough to make clouds and thunderstorms develop, but he said it is fairly rare.

Some believe the heat created by the concrete, pavement and houses of Sioux Falls creates a warm area causing storms to scatter. Schumacher said studies on the "heat island effect," as the phenomenon is called, have been conducted in Minneapolis and on the east coast.

Sioux Falls is not considered a large city, and the heat island effect should have only a small influence, Schumacher said. He added that last year our area had a wet year and the effect didn't seem to matter.

"We'd actually have to study it to really see," he said.

Registered nurses Jean Hellerud (left) and Judy Reese visit with Tuff Home resident Bob Olson.

By Jolene Farley
Graduating from nursing school in May was the culmination of four years of hard work and learning for Jean Hellerud, Hills, and Judy Reese, Beaver Creek.

The two women, both licensed practical nurses for more than 30 years, decided in 1998 to continue their education and become registered nurses. The friends both work at the Tuff Home in Hills.

The idea to go back to college after years in the workforce started when Hellerud's daughter was going off to college.

"We started at the same time as her daughter," said Reese. "We decided to see if we could still learn."

Reese has two adult children and Hellerud has three adult children.

Hellerud and Reese began attending classes two evenings or more a week at the University of South Dakota on the Sioux Falls campus.

"The thinking and trying to study É it almost made your brain hurt when you first tried to study," said Hellerud.

Every single evening was spent studying, according to the women. They modestly attribute much of their success to their husbands who they say filled in for them around the house when needed.

"We never could have done it without our husbands," said Reese. "They were very supportive."

Composition was Reese's favorite class because it was an outlet during a difficult time in her life.

"It came at the time when I needed it most," she said. "My father died, a family member was sick. The daily journal was a good outlet."

Hellerud's favorite class was anatomy and physiology.

Oddly enough, both women earned their LPN degrees from the same institution but didn't know each other until they started working at the Tuff Home.

Reese graduated from St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Mitchell, S.D., in 1963. When Hellerud graduated in 1964 the name of the college had been changed to the Mitchell School of Practical Nursing.

Hellerud always wanted to become an RN. "I had just enough money for the LPN," she said. "You get married and have a family."

The women said their last year of class was a surprise to them. "We didn't expect it to be quite so time consuming the last year," they said.

They were forced to drive to Sioux Falls or another location five days a week the last semester.

They attended clinicals at Sioux Valley Hospital, Avera McKennan Hospital, and other facilities in the area.

Their final test, passing the state boards, became a reality for Hellerud in June and for Reese in July.

Reese and Hellerud plan to continue working at the Tuff Home. Both agree their advanced education will help them offer better care to the residents.

"We gained knowledge," said Reese.

Hellerud and Reese offer the following advice to those thinking of furthering their education.

"Go for it É you are never to old," they said.

Willing Workers 4-H club members arrange photos Tuesday for entry in the Rock County Fair under the Club Community Service Display.

By Jolene Farley
It's fair week, and the rush is on for 4-H club members to prepare projects and animals at the Rock County Fair.

This week is "crunch time" as 4-H'ers term it. Willing Workers club members in Beaver Creek have worked on various projects all week.

"All of a sudden you remember it's fair time," said club member Lindsy Sells, Beaver Creek.

Club leader Jill Willers said the amount of sleep you get during fair week depends on how projects progress.

"We take it one thing at a time," she said. "Pre-fair entry day or judging day you are trying to finish up five projects at once."

Monday was entry day for fair projects. Tuesday most club members prepared perishables such as baked goods or produce or worked with their livestock. Wednesday was entry day for livestock and perishables.

Tuesday's schedule for the Willing Workers included designing a Club Community Service Display for judging on Wednesday. Club members decided on pictures of community service projects completed during the year and decorated a display board.

Also on Tuesday, club members decided on what 4-H banner to enter in the fair. This was an easy year, as clubs were asked to enter banners from past years to commemorate 100 years of 4-H in Minnesota.

If time allowed, the Willing Workers planned to make a scarecrow for display at the fairgrounds.

Now that the fair is in full swing, kids with livestock show and care for their animals.

Every 4-H family is asked to work in the food stand and some work at the Pop Stop. Proceeds from the Pop Stop fund the 4-H Youth Exchange to other states.

The herdsmanship honors in poultry, rabbits, sheep, horse, beef, dairy or swine are awarded on Saturday for the club that demonstrates the most consistent care of their animals.

The anonymous judges look for animals that are watered, with nothing tipped over in the animal pens, no manure in the aisles by the pens and contestants who are friendly.

Although fair week is busy, most involved say they like their time at the fair.

"It makes for a long, but enjoyable week," Sells said.

Five Tuff Home residents entered their handiwork in the Rock County Fair last week. Darlene Olson (left) received a red ribbon for her zucchini bread. Bob Olson received a red ribbon for his decorative birdhouse. Lola Jensen received a red for her knit pot holder. Mary Eernisse received a red ribbon for her crocheted doily and crocheted hangers. Viola Kellenberger received a blue ribbon for her cut flowers and a red ribbon for her needlework.

Photo by Jolene Farley

What will negative sizes do for positive esteem?

Carson is 1 year old now, but I still have to hold my breath to zip some of my pre-pregnant Size 9 jeans.

So, imagine my delight last weekend when bought a Size 6. I was elated. I haven't been Size 6 since... ever, actually.

I recall sometime in the sixth grade graduating from a girls' Size 12 slim to a women's Size 7/8. Considering I can no longer get into my Size 9/10 wedding dress, a Size 6 is a foreign number in my closet.

I knew better, but I wanted to believe it. I smiled at my reflection in the dressing room mirror, and I smiled all the way to the cash register.

I'm not stupid and neither are most other female consumers, but it feels good - in a sneaky way - to have the deceptive tag on my waistband.

Designers and manufacturers obviously know this, too, and theyÕre no doubt smiling all the way to the bank.

They've figured out that happier women and women with positive self-esteem are more likely to spend money on themselves, and they're likely to spend it on the one thing that's making them smile - the tag with the tiny number on it.

It's brilliant marketing.

The only problem is what size will the real Size 3 women wear?

For the first time in my life, I shuffled through the racks last weekend and came across Size 0 clothes.

If this marketing trend gets out of hand, some of our truly skinny Size 1 women will become less than nothing - a negative figure. I wonder what that will do to self esteem.

Keep it simple when vacationing with kids
We enjoyed a little family vacation to the Twin Cities last week.

I had carefully planned an itinerary full of interesting things to do and see in between the major attractions.

We would have breakfast in the rotating Carousel Restaurant atop a St. Paul sky scraper. We would float up and down the Mississippi River on the historic Paddleford riverboat. We would take in live evening music at the Como Park and Pavilion. And, if we needed something else to do, we would bicycle around the Uptown lakes (I even researched which bike rental places accommodated baby passengers).

These would be sandwiched between stops at the St. Paul ChildrenÕs Museum, Science Museum and Omni Theater, Minnesota Zoo and, of course, the Mall of America, which offered Camp Snoopy and Underwater Adventures.

Alas, in all my planning, I forgot who was actually going on this vacation - children with simple, childlike interests.

We took in the major attractions and Jonathan, 6, loved them, but we had to get him and his baby brother out of the hotel first.

Jonathan begged to ride up and down the escalators several times each time we arrived and departed the lobby, and he was happy to swim in the hotel pool every day until his skin wrinkled to a prune-like texture.

Carson, who has just mastered walking, was thrilled to toddle up and down the endless hotel corridors, unobstructed by usual household clutter.

We had a wonderful time, minus the extraneous points of interest.

For the next family vacation, we'll check into the nearest hotel with a pool, escalator and long hallways.