Emergency crews responded to an explosion at Cor-Tech Manufacturing Wednesday afternoon. Luverne's Nicholas Mann was killed in the accident.

The current Berkley Information Services building will expand by 8,500 feet to accommodate roughly 100 Tri-State employees who will vacate their current 30,000 square-foot building. W.R. Berkley Corp., which owns the Tri-State Building, will will donate it to the City of Luverne in exchange for new space at BIS. Tri-State has become Continental Western Group and BIS is now known as Berkley Technology Services.

By Lori Ehde
Tri-State Insurance, a company that's been in Luverne for nearly 100 years, is staying in Luverne after all. Story inside.

Drivers on County Road 4 use extreme caution and don't feed the animals! An elephant has taken refuge in the middle of Jim Moser's corn field while a grove further north is home to two giraffes. The safari animales were reportedly made by the Hills-Beaver Creek High School Industrial Arts class.

Photo by Jolene Farley

County collects hazardous waste
A lot of hazardous material has left the county recently thanks to the Hazardous Waste collection program of the Rock County Land Management Office.

The collection was held on Monday, July 15 at the Hills city shop and again on Wed., July 17, at the Rock County transfer station.

According to Doug Bos of the LMO, 101 households brought hazardous materials to the transfer station and 25 households used the Hills facility.

A total of 6,320 pounds of material were collected at the two sites. 5,400 pounds of that was paint, and 720 pounds of what they call lab pac, which are mostly acids, bases and adhesives.

The latex paints will get recycled into other products, including chalking as well as other paint.

The oil base paints are sent to a burn for energy facility.

The lab pac materials are sent to a special incinerator facility.

Hinkly House is looking for visitors
The road construction that surrounded the Hinkly House is now gone, and they would like you to stop in for a visit.

During the month of August, after the county fair is over, members of the County Canines 4-H club will be in 1890's costumes to give tours of the historic home, including the recently restored rooms on the second floor.

One project completed earlier in July was the video taping and narration of the rooms on the second floor and the basement.

With the video taping, handicapped visitors can now view the two other floors with out leaving the main floor.

Big Buddies to hold golf scrambler Aug. 19
The 5th annual golf outing and fundraiser for the Big Buddies program has been set for Monday, August 19.

The format will again be a four-person scrambler.

Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the tournament start at 5:30 p.m.

Following the tournament, will be a social hour at 7 p.m. with dinner at 8 p.m. and awards presentation at 8:30 p.m.

You can register for dinner, golf or both.

If you would like more information, contact Julie Wynia at 507-283-8685, ext. 4.

Passport fees take a significant hike
If you have been planning to visit England, China or some other over seas locale, the cost of the passport you will be needing is taking a major bump.

Effective Aug. 19, 2002, the fees for a first time adult customer will increase from $60 to $85.

The fee for minors will increase from $40 to $70 and an adult renewal will go from $40 to $55.

Expedited service will increase from $35 to $60.

With routine processing, passports are received within 6 weeks. The expedited service will get your passport in 2 weeks.

I applied for my first passport on Sept. 9, 1993. The cost was $10.

There are over 5,000 designated passport application acceptance facilities across the U.S.

Luverne is one of 760 facilities in Seattle's 11 state region.

According to the State Department, the reason for the increase is to insure that the true cost of providing consular services to Americans are recovered, this includes services to Americans provided at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, as well as the passport application process at home.

In Rock County you can apply for your passport at the Auditor/TreasurerÕs office in the Rock County Court House.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at
tolly@star-herald.com

Theodore Hamann, 84, Luverne, died Thursday, July 25, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Sunday, July 28, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt officiated.

Theodore Hamann was born to John and Wilhelmina (Priest) Hamann on April 12, 1918, in Springwater Township, Rock County. He attended country school district #20. He became a member of St. John Lutheran Church in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army from June 11, 1942, until Jan. 9, 1946, as chief of gun station. He served in the South Pacific Theatre and in the occupation of Japan. After his discharge he returned to Springwater Township to farm with his brothers.

He married Dorothea Goehle on Feb. 10, 1963. After their marriage they moved to Luverne. He then worked in the construction industry. He worked for Arnie Molberg of Luverne and later for Gil Haugen in Sioux Falls, S.D. In October 1996, his health began to fail and he went on kidney dialysis. He moved to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne in July 2001.

Mr. Hamann enjoyed woodworking, especially making his own grandfather clocks. He also loved fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothea Hamann, Luverne, and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Hamann was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Henry, Hugo, Elmer, Robert and Lawrence Hamann;, three sisters, Nora Kemerling, Erma Steffen and Pearl Tuff.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Golda Mae Behr, 91, Steen, died Saturday, July 27, 2002, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Tuesday, July 30, at Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls. Burial was in Hills of Rest Memorial Park.

Golda Erwin was born to William and Azubah Erwin on May 19, 1911, in Worthington.

She married Edwin Behr on Aug. 22, 1930. After their marriage they lived in Kimbrae, Fulda and Worthington. The couple then moved to Ellsworth where they farmed. In 1953 they moved to a farm in Lowry until 1956. They sold their farm in 1956 and purchased a filling station in Lowry. The couple later lived in Benson and Pennock. In Pennock they took a position at Earl B. Olson's chicken farm. She worked at GTA Produce Co. In 1961 they moved to Garretson, S.D., and built a new house. She worked at Fecker's Produce in Pipestone. She also worked at Milbank Cheese Factory. They sold their home in Garretson and bought a home in Steen where she lived at the time of her death.

Mrs. Behr enjoyed crocheting afghans and other crafts. She collected cups and saucers, salt and pepper shakers, lighters and pens and pencils. She had 250 porcelain dolls.

Survivors include four sons and five daughters, Marriann Sudenga, Sioux Falls, Frances (Donald) Johnson, Tea, S.D., Lyland (Sonna) Behr, Luverne, Lavern Behr and Carolyn (Lennie) Garvick, all of Steen, Clifford (Helen) Behr, Ottertail, Barbara (Don) Bryant, Pierre, S.D., Phyllis (Charles) Danielson, Sioux Falls, and Ronald (Nelva) Behr, Hills; 24 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; 40 stepgrandchildren; 79 stepgreat-grandchildren; 36 stepgreat-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Ollie (Marvena) Erwin, Worthington.

Mrs. Behr was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother, one sister, one son, two grandsons, one great-granddaughter, and one great-great-grandson.

Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

Gregory Scott Snyders, 41, Savage, died Friday, July 26, 2002, at his home after a 3 and one-half-year battle with melanoma skin cancer.

Services were Tuesday, July 30, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Dell B. Sanderson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.

Gregory Snyders was born to Robert and Patricia (Carpenter) Snyders on Sept. 5, 1960, in Morris. He grew up in Larchwood, Iowa, and Canton, S.D. He worked for W.W. Grainger.

He married Deb Hamann on Oct. 5, 1985, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne.

Mr. Snyders was an avid golfer and hunter.

Survivors include his wife, Deb Snyders, and two daughters, Rachel Snyders, 11, and Caitlyn Snyders, 8, all of Savage; his mother, Patricia Snyders, Sioux Falls, S.D.; four siblings and their spouses, Rick (Lori) Snyders, Lisa (Andy) Snyders, Scott Snyders and Holly (Mason) James, all of Sioux Falls; and his special camping buddies, Terry and Roni Hamann, Bloomington.

Mr. Snyders was preceded in death by his father and an infant brother, Christopher.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

William (Bill) August Sieve, 90, Wilmont, died Thursday, July 23, 2002, at Worthington Regional Hospital, Worthington.

Services were Saturday, July 27, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, in Wilmont. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Wilmont.

William Sieve was born to Clemens and Catherine (Roesner) Sieve on April 17, 1912, in Wilmont. He grew up and attended country school and Our Lady Good Counsel Church School in Wilmont. After he completed his education he worked as a hired man for area farmers until he began farming for himself.

He married Mildred Schweitzer on Feb. 12, 1945, at Ellsworth. After their marriage they purchased a farm west of Wilmont where he still lived.

Mr. Sieve was a member of Our Lady Catholic Church all of his life and a charter member of Knights of Columbus. He also served on the Larkin Township Board for many years. He enjoyed farming, bowling, dancing and visiting with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Sieve, Wilmont; two daughters, Mary (Rod) Scheidt, Adrian, and Colleen (Clyde) Starner, Higginsville, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Kim (Dan) Brown, Jennifer Scheidt, Natalie Scheidt, Minneapolis, Saundra (Scott) Snobl, Canby, Casey Scheidt, Eden Prairie, Andy (Nita) Starner, Carita (Paul) Trent, and Joe Starner, Higginsville; five great-grandchildren, Preston Snobl, Nicole, Hayley and Rachel Starner and Brooke Trent; and two brothers, Clem Sieve, Wilmont, and Carl Sieve, Alexandria.

Mr. Sieve was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson, Craig Scheidt, six brothers, George, Louie, August, Leonard, Larry and Vic, two sisters, Rose Heinrich and Chris Yates.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Wilmont, was in charge of arrangements.

By Lori Ehde
Tri-State Insurance, a company that's been in Luverne for nearly 100 years, is staying in Luverne after all.

Now known as Continental Western Group Tri-State Region, it was about to move to Sioux Falls following reorganization of its parent company, W.R. Berkley Corp., Greenwich, Conn.

After four years of informing his employees of corporate downsizing and leaving Luverne, regional manager Curt Bloemendaal, was glad to deliver good news last week.

"It was very, very positive ... There was applause," he said of Friday's employee reaction. "It was a fun announcement to make."

The city of Luverne had been unsuccessful in its efforts to keep Continental Western Group in Luverne, but when Berkley Corporation announced last fall that Berkley Information Services would also leave Luverne, efforts resumed to keep those jobs in town.

CWG and BIS generated a combined annual payroll of more than $5 million, and the loss would have been a major setback to the local economy.

Now known as Berkley Technology Services, about half its employees have already moved to a Sioux Falls office, which it is sub-leasing from CWG.

Those 30 BTS employees will remain in Sioux Falls, and 30 will end up staying in the Luverne office, which Berkley Corp. has been leasing from the city of Luverne.

"I think it's wonderful," said BTS president Joel Christensen. "It's great for the employees, and it's great for Luverne. There was a lot of joy."

Goal is to complete BTS addition by Jan. 1
The announcement followed signatures on letter of intent Thursday, July 25, by W.R. Berkley executives and the Rock County Development Corporation.

RCDC, a private organization of local business representatives, initiated negotiations, led primarily by Chairman Greg Burger and Vice Chairman Don Klosterbuer.

Local developer Virgil Christensen, who built the BTS building, assisted in the process.

In a special meeting Wednesday, the public body of Luverne Economic Development Authority approved RCDC's recommendation, putting the wheels in motion for construction.

The 10-year lease on the BTS building was due to expire in December 2004, but according to Wednesday's agreement, Berkley Corp. will sign another 10-year lease on the building contingent on the following conditions:

LEDA will add 8,500 square feet to the existing 20,000-square-foot BTS structure.
CWG employees will move into the BTS building. There are about 100 CWG employees, including 20 who will move back to the Luverne location from Sioux Falls.
Berkley Corp. will donate the vacated Tri-State building to the city. The 30,000-square-foot building is worth roughly $1 million.
The agreement was signed contingent on the City CouncilÕs approval of $700,000 in financing at their Aug. 13 meeting.

"It's a neat deal. I'm excited about it," said City Administrator Matt Hylen.

"They're getting a good deal, but weÕre going to get a good deal. The tax payers are getting a good deal."

The city still owes about $900,000 on the current BTS building. Hylen said lease payments on the building will cover those costs in addition to maintenance on the 33,000-square-foot Tri-State building.

Berkley will make lease payments of $10,000 per month, and at the end of 10 years will have the opportunity to purchase the building for $650,000 or extend the lease for five years at $10,000 per month.

The Tri-State property generated nearly $47,000 for local tax coffers last year.

Ideally, Hylen said, the city will recruit another business to occupy the building, or, he said, there'd be an option to have several smaller businesses occupy the office space.

Border city legislation, which allows tax breaks to new businesses in Minnesota border towns, did not apply in this deal, but the LEDA leaders hope it will work to attract new businesses to the vacated Tri-State building.

Hylen said negotiations have been "fast and furious," in the past three months, since the Sioux Falls lease is up Jan. 1, and no arrangements were in place for new office space.

According to Berkley spokesman Gene Ballard, the corporation had been evaluating the situation and ended up doing what would retain the most workforce.

"We have a high-quality group of people, and keeping them was always our preference if we could get the building situation figured out," Ballard said, "We were very happy we could find a way to make that happen."

Last year at this time BTS had 114 employees and CWG listed 147, including traveling employees and those in Sioux Falls.

The expanded BTS building will house fewer than 130 people in the combined workforce.

Ballard said one of the company goals was to put all the Berkley employees under one roof, and this accomplishes that, plus allows space for additional employees.

"The property casualty business has been growing steadily in the past 12 to 18 months, particularly in commercial lines," Ballard said.

The construction schedule will be "aggressive," Hylen said, with the goal to get exterior work done before winter, and the interior completed early next year.