By Sara Strong
The Rock County Pool Commission Tuesday voted to recommend a second round of requests for proposals to lease, purchase or manage the Pool and Fitness Center.

The request for proposals earlier this year got no feedback, but Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System asked for an extension to submit a proposal after the deadline.

The Commission hopes this new round of advertising will get more response.

The Rock County Board of Commissioners and the Luverne City Council, as joint owners of the facility, will act on the recommendation.

Luverne City Administrator Matt Hylen objected to advertising again for RFPs because he said the process has dragged on long enough, and interested parties either backed out or missed the deadline.

He said employee morale is slipping because they see their jobs are in question. Hylen said, "It's hard to run a staff with their futures in jeopardy."

Indoor water park?
As the Pool Commission continues exploring options for selling or leasing the facility, it - at the same meeting - discussed a major expansion project in the future.

Pool and Fitness Center Director Darrell Huiskes and Manager Carol Wessels proposed an indoor water park project to the Commission, which as a body said it supported the project as a concept.

The added water park would be a zero-depth to 4-foot-deep pool with slides and would be open year round. The regular pool, open for lap swimming, aerobics and swimming lessons, would still be a part of the facility.

Any sincere planning for the Pool and Fitness Center expansion is on hold until the new round of RFPs are returned, if at all.

The Commission favors the project, because profits from it could make the Pool and Fitness Center self supporting and will no longer require annual county and city contributions.

A preliminary estimate has the county and city each contributing $85,000 in 2003 to the Pool and Fitness Center's budget. Their contribution in 2002 was $72,118.

The Commission directed Huiskes and Wessels to research options to fund the $1.3 million project, but didn't commit to it.

The Commission discussed the possibility of bonding for that amount and putting it to a vote for public approval.

Huiskes said he was very confident that an expansion would allow a $100,000 payback annually after the first full year of operation.

Area outdoor water parks are busy with a steady stream of customers when they're open three months of the year. With Luverne's pool open year-round, its typical 75 users a day could be multiplied and so could the cash flow.

Huiskes said, "The only thing we can offer now is water."

Water parks and added equipment in water are increasingly popular in public and hotel pools.

Huiskes reminded the commission that the priority on pool surveys sent out in 2001 was a child-friendly water park.

Currently, 40 percent of the pool users are from outside the county, so Huiskes said a water park might draw even more traffic to Luverne and be a benefit to the entire community.

Just admission to the water park, Wild Water West in Sioux Falls, S.D., is $45 for a family of four. Visitors usually spend more by purchasing concessions.

In other budget discussion Tuesday, the Commission also decided to recommend $30,000 in new fitness equipment purchases in 2003; increased allotment to a capital improvement fund, that could help if an addition is added, to $15,000; and increased advertising budget to $7,500 to increase use by advertising monthly specials, child care availability or other features of the Pool and Fitness Center.

By John Rittenhouse
All signs indicate there will be a big field for the Rock County Fair's Enduro Race Saturday.

A mainstay in the fair's grandstand lineup for a number of years, the Enduro Race always turns into one of the festival's top attractions.

Local participation in the race seems to draw a lot of families, friends and neighbors of the drivers to the track, and that should be the case on Saturday.

According to Burdette Braun, who had compiled 40 entries as of Tuesday, more than one-half of the pre-registered cars belong to Rock County drivers.

With more entries expected before Saturday's race, Braun believes the field will be expanded.

"There's still time to get more entries this week, and if drivers bring a car before the gates close at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and the car passes our specs, we'll take them," he said.

As of Monday, the 2001 Enduro Race champion had not registered a car for Saturday's competition. Luverne's Nick Mann completed 200 laps before the race's two-hour time limit elapsed last summer, giving him his first Rock County Fair title.

Rock Rapids, Iowa, driver Terry Dieren, who finished second to Mann last season, will be back on the track.

Two Rock County drivers and another from nearby Edgerton who placed in the top-10 last season have pre-registered for Saturday's race.

Luverne's Travis Van Santen and Magnolia's Jason DeBeer, who placed fourth and seventh respectively in 2001, are back in the field. So is Edgerton's Owen Tinklenberg, who placed fifth in last year's event.

Other Luverne drivers who have pre-registered for Saturday’s race include Brian Remme, Perry Schneekloth, Chad Oye, Josh Sandbulte, Josh DeKam, Brian Boll, Greg Vande Velde, Adam Kinsinger, Brent Schepel, Brian Schneekloth and Shane Hoya.

Hills will be represented by Matt Hoffenkamp, Beaver Creek by Matt Sandbulte and Hardwick's Mark Brockberg has thrown his hat into the ring.

The 2002 version of the event is sponsored by the Rock County Corn and Soybean Growers Association, and Agri-Energy. Race time is 7 p.m.

By John Rittenhouse
Luverne’s Grace Miller may be bruised, but she remains unbowed.

Never mind the fact that a foul ball hit the 81-year-old Miller in the face at a Minnesota Twins-Toronto Blue Jays' baseball game in Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis Sunday.

In the mind of Miller, it was a freak accident that just happened. And she insists the incident didn’t taint the memorable time she had taking in her first Twins game at the Metrodome.

"It was very exciting for me," Miller said. "I'm a really big sports fan. I've been a Twins' fan for a long time, and I enjoy watching the Vikings, too. My son (Terry Severson, of Rochester) was bringing me to my first Twins game in the Metrodome Sunday, and I was very excited."

Miller and her son were two of 30,554 fans to entered the Dome on Sunday to see if the Twins could sweep a three-game series with the Blue Jays.

They took their seats, four rows behind the home team's dugout located on the third-base line of the field. They were treated early to a 1-0 Twins’ lead when Corey Koskie delivered an RBI double in the home half of the first inning.

The Twins were batting in the bottom of the fourth when fate pulled an ugly trick on Miller.

With Minnesota's All-Star catcher at the plate, left-handed hitting A.J. Pierzynski lined a foul ball that caught Miller flush on her left cheek.

"Pierzynski hit a foul ball, and it happened to come our way. Neither I or my son saw the ball coming, and it glanced into my left cheek," Miller recalled.

Metrodome medical personnel quickly reached the scene, and they carried Miller by stretcher to an emergency area in the Dome's concourse.

"They put an ice pack and a bandage on my face. They wanted me to go to an area hospital for x-rays, but I didn’t see the need. I could tell there were no broken bones, and I told them I wanted to go back down and watch the game. I only missed one inning," she said.

Miller ended up being showered with gifts and applause when she bravely returned to her seat.

The security escort who walked with Miller down the steps to her seat stopped a vendor and told him to give Miller a Twins’ visor. The vendor did.

As she worked her way down the steps toward her seat, she received a standing ovation offered by a large number of fans who recognized her return to the area.

Since she was unable to recover the ball that struck her on the cheek, Miller was given a ball autographed by Twins' designated hitter David Ortiz, and another one from a little girl in Miller's seating area who thought she deserved it.

Miller was touched by the gifts she received, and was tickled by the fact that the Twins went on to win the game by a 4-0 margin.

"I was very lucky and thankful things turned out the way they did," she said. "The ball could have hit me on the temple, or it could have broken my glasses and shattered into my eye. I was very fortunate, and they treated me very well.

"I won't let this incident stop me from going back to another game in the Dome. I really would like to go up there and see the Vikings, too."

Rock County recreational trail bids set for Aug. 15
ROCK COUNTY, MN
MULTI-PURPOSE RECREATIONAL TRAIL
CLOSING DATE Ñ AUGUST 15, 2002
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed bids will be received until 1:00 P.M. on Thursday August 15, 2002 by Mark Sehr, County Engineer, at the Rock County Highway Building, 1120 North Blue Mound Ave., Luverne, MN 56156 on behalf of the Commissioner of Transportation as agent for said County for construction of the county project listed below. Proposals will be opened and read publicly by the Commissioner of Transportation or his representative at the Rock County Highway Building, Luverne, MN immediately after the hour set for receiving bids. Bids will be awarded on August 20, at the regular Board of Commissioners Meeting.

Minimum wage rates to be paid by the Contractors have been predetermined and are subject to the Work Hours Act of 1962, P.L. 87-581 and implementing regulations.

READ CAREFULLY THE WAGE SCALES AND DIVISION A OF THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS THEY AFFECT THIS/THESE PROJECT/PROJECTS.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation hereby notifies all bidders: in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Act), as amended and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Subtitle A Part 21, Non-discrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation, it will affirmatively assure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded maximum opportunity to participate and/or to submit bids in response to this invitation, and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, disability, age, religion, sex or national origin in consideration for an award.

in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, and Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 230 Subpart A-Equal Employment Opportunity on Federal and Federal-Aid Construction Contracts (including supportive services), it will affirmatively assure increased participation of minority groups and disadvantaged persons and women in all phases of the highway construction industry, and that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be provided to all persons without regard to their race, color, disability, age, religion, sex or national origin;

in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363.03 Unfair discriminatory Practices, it will affirmatively assure that on any project constructed pursuant to this advertisement equal employment opportunity will be offered to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation or age;

in accordance with the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minnesota Statute 363.073 Certificate of Compliance for Public Contracts, and 363.074 Rules for Certificates of Compliance, it will assure that appropriate parties to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement possess valid Certificates of Compliance.

If you are not a current holder of a compliance certificate issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and intend to bid on any job in this advertisement you must contact the Department of Human Rights immediately for assistance in obtaining a certificate.

The following notice from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights applies to all contractors:

"It is hereby agreed between the parties that Minnesota Statute, section 363.073 and Minnesota Rules parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 are incorporated into any contract between these parties based on this specification or any modification of it. A copy of Minnesota Statute 363.073 and Minnesota Rules, parts 5000.3400 to 5000.3600 is available upon request from the contracting agency."

"It is hereby agreed between the parties that this agency will require affirmative action requirements be met by contractors in relation to Minnesota Statute 363.073 and Minnesota Rules 5000.3600. Failure by a contractor to implement an affirmative action plan or make a good faith effort shall result in revocation of its certificate or revocation of the contract (Minnesota Statute 363.073, Subd. 2 and 3)."

"Signs:" A Sign Of Things To Come?

Signs
Rated PG-13
Kent's Grade: A
Kent's Grade: B-

The Plot:
Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) is a preacher who has lost his faith following the accidental death of
his wife. The whole scarred family, son Morgan (Rory Culkin), daughter Bo (Abigail Breslin) and
brother Merrill (Joaquin Pheonix) cope as best they can on the family farm.

But their grieving is interrupted when mysterious crop circles appear in the corn fields, slowly
pointing toward a conclusion no one can believe. Graham and his family prepare for the worst. But
often times, a gaze into the face of death brings about a new beginning.

Kent's Take:
"Signs" is "Close Encounters Of The 21st Century Kind" and is a signature M. Night Shyamalan
("6th Sense," "Unbreakable") film. Having written, produced and directed the movie, there is very
little that was not under his control, and it shows. Like writer Michael Crichton, Shyamalan is a
master of "What if?

What if crop circles weren't a hoax but instead an alien road map? What if we found ourselves
among aliens? What if E.T. bites?

Masterfully written, Shyamalan gives us a perfect balance of tense drama and cunningly disarming
humor. Like classic horror films such as "The Birds," "The Exorcist" and "Jaws" we are startled by
dramatic music, frightened from within and showered with bone chilling scares that expertly build
tension. Shyamalan skillfully toys with us from the very opening to the closing climax and
intelligently forgoes an ending twist for a more straight-forward sincere conclusion.

Gibson and Pheonix are at their best with moving performances that slowly draw you into their
minds, yet temporarily shut you out from their secrets. Culkin and especially Breslin are naturals in
front of the camera and round out a distressed family in desperate need of hope.

Having left the church, turning his back on God, Graham refuses to pray or be called "Father". Two
types of people are discussed throughout the film, realists and spiritualists. Graham calls himself a
realist since his wife's death, but throughout the movie he is given signs that he will inevitably have
to confront his wife's death, his own withdrawal from his family - and God.

"Signs" succeeds where so many other horror/ thriller films fail by teasing us, forcing us to use our
own imaginations to frighten ourselves. Then turning the tables, he shows us a chilling tidbit and
finally drops the horror right in our lap! This ingenious escalation systematically "one-ups" the
previous act, immersing us in tension as Graham confronts his inner demons while defending his
family from real ones.

"Signs" is a very scary movie with several kinds and levels of fright. That's the inevitable result of
great writing, directing and acting. I truly hope "Signs" is a sign of things to come from M. Night
Shyamalan.

CAROL'S Take:
The great looking "Signs" aims high. But the story, like its hero, suffers from internal struggles that
are almost crippling. The movie shifts restlessly between being a sci-fi thriller and taking a trip into
the mind of a troubled preacher. The layering of these two themes holds a lot of promise.

Unfortunately, they never mesh, and an alien invasion is relegated to being the background for a
man's spiritual collapse.

Questions surrounding otherworldly goings-on need to remain disturbing. Instead, any mystery in
"Signs" is diluted by the perfunctory manner in which such questions are dismissed. Over and over,
carefully built suspense is tossed aside by a story that divides its loyalties. It's okay that Graham
doesn't care what's going on. It's unfair that the audience can't afford to either.

"Signs" is bolstered by excellent performances. Phoenix is predictably good. Culkin and Breslin are
great creating characters that are much more than just window dressing.

Gibson works hard, but doesn't quite work. Part of the problem may be in the writing. Although
Graham grows crops, we have no sense that he's a farmer. Although he's left the church, we can't
believe he was once a man of the cloth. The ambiguity he experiences should be his alone, not
shared by the viewer.

For a movie so determined to be taken seriously, "Signs" is absolutely loaded with humor. It is one
of the things that the movie does best. And, it's not just the kind that offers relief from frightening
doings. It is an amusing look at characters who are scared too silly to maintain pretenses among
themselves.

© 2002 Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc.
Movie reviews by Carol Hemphill and Kent Tentschert
reelworld@timesnewspapers.com

S.P. 67-090-01, Minnesota Project No. TEA 6701(201), Multi-Purpose Recreational Trail, Length 1.522 miles, located along CSAH No. 18 between Luverne and CSAH No. 8. The major items of work are: 4,781 Cu. Yd. of Common Excavation; 3,077 Cu. Yd. Common Borrow; 2,618 Ton of Aggregate Base, Class 5; 1,040 Ton of Type LV 3 Wearing Course Mixture (B) 84 Lin. Ft. of 18" CS Pipe Culvert; 78 Lin. Ft. of 36" CS Pipe Culvert; 6 Each 36" GS Pipe Aprons; 30 Lin. Ft. of 35" Span CS Pipe Culvert; 66 Lin. Ft. of 64" Span CS Pipe Culvert; 2 Each 35" Span GS Pipe Apron; 6 Each 64" Span GS Pipe Apron; 6 Each 18" GS Safety Aprons (3148); 5 Each Install Bench; 1 Lump Sum Traffic Control; 220 Lin. Ft. of Silt Fence, Type Heavy Duty, Maintained; 3 Acre of Seeding; 150 Pounds of Seed Mixture 50B; 6 Ton of Mulch Material, Type 1; 3 Acre of Disk Anchoring; and 900 Pounds of Commercial Fertilizer, Analysis 6-24-24.

S.P. 67-090-02, Minnesota Project No. TEA 6701(142), Multi-Purpose Recreational Trail, Length 0.948 Miles, located along CSAH No. 8 between a point 590 Feet East of T.H. 75 to a point 3,223 Feet East of T.H. 75. The major items of work are: 1,774 Cu. Yd. of Common Excavation; 6,335 Cu. Yd. of Common Borrow; 1,631 Ton of Aggregate Base, Class 5; 677 Ton of Type LV 3 Wearing Course Mixture (B); 118 Lin. F. of 18" CS Pipe Culvert; 882 Lin. Ft. of 18" CP Pipe Culvert; 8 Each of 18" GS Pipe Aprons; 2 Each of 18" GS Safety Aprons (3148); 4 Each Construct Drainage Structure; 1 Lump Sum Traffic Control; 3 Acres of Seeding; 6 Ton of Mulch Material, Type 1; 3 Acres of Disk Anchoring; and 900 Pounds of Commercial Fertilizer, Analysis 6-24-24.

S.P. 67-090-03, Minnesota Project No. TEAX 6702(253), Multi-Purpose Recreational Trail, Length 2.27 Miles, located in Blue Mound State Park between a point 3,223 Feet East of TH 75 to the Lower Lake. The major items of work are: 0.5 Acre of Clearing and Grubbing; 8, 951 Cu. Yd. of Common Excavation; 9,648 Cu. Yd. of Common Borrow; 2,262 Ton of Aggregate Surfacing, Class 2; 2,832 Ton of Aggregate Base, Class 5; 49 Lin. Ft. of 18" CS Pipe Culvert; 4 Each of 18" GS Pipe Aprons; 900 Lin. Ft. of Silt Fence, Type Heavy Duty, Maintained; 7 Acres of Seeding; 14 Ton of Mulch Material, Type 1; 7 Acres of Disk Anchoring; and 2,076 Pounds of Common Fertilizer, Analysis 6-24-24.

The non-refundable cost for Plan/Proposal (all three Plans are on one Proposal) will be $35.00.
Plans, Specifications and Proposal may be examined and obtained at the office of the Rock County Highway Engineer, 1120 North Blue Mound Ave., P.O. Box 808, Luverne, MN 56156-0808.

All bids shall be made on Proposal Forms furnished by the Engineer and must be accompanied by a certified check or corporate surety bond drawn in favor of the Rock County Treasurer in the amount as designated on the Proposal Form.

Sealed bids shall be clearly marked "Project No. SP 67-090-01 Etc.".

The Board of Rock County Commissioners reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any defects therein.

Rock County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Mark R. Sehr, P.E.
Rock County Highway Engineer
(7-18, 7-25, 8-1)

Willing Worker Samantha Raski prepares the groiund of a stall for her yearling colt, Thunder.

By Lori Ehde
The Rock County Fair is officially in progress, and it offers all the usual family entertainment in addition to some new attractions.

Fair Board Treasurer Isaac DeBoer said he expects big crowds at this year's event.

"I think people are traveling less [because of terrorism], and I think people look forward to spending some quiet time with their families at the fair."

He said the new attraction to keep an eye on this year is the amateur talent contest tonight at 7 p.m.

The event drew 25 entries in three categories, so he anticipates a big crowd. Pre-teens will perform first, followed by the teen division.

Before the open class competes, Rock County Deputy Ken Baker and the law enforcement dog, Tarzan, will present a demonstration on what the dog can do for the Sheriff's Department.

Prizes are awarded in each category, and winners are eligible to compete at the Minnesota State Fair.

Also new at the fair this year will be Kory and the Fireflies performing Friday night in the grandstand. The regional band takes the place of Johnny Holm, who has performed at the Rock County fair in recent years.

The band will start at 9 p.m.

In light of the national observance of 4-H's 100th anniversary, DeBoer said local clubs have several special things planned, including old-fashioned games Saturday afternoon and Ag Olympics.

Free family entertainment will be provided by singer Jennifer Johnson, Lake Benton, who will take the stage for the Senior Citizens program at 2 p.m. Friday.

She'll also perform at 5 and 7 p.m. later that day under the tent near the Floral Hall and 4-H food stand.

DeBoer said the fair will offer all the usual popular attractions, such as midway rides starting at 6 p.m. tonight, and enduro races at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

See the front page of this week's Announcer for a complete schedule and all Rock County Fair details.

By Lori Ehde
It was a busy 48 hours for local law enforcement officers who made two drug arrests Thursday and Friday.

In the early morning hours of Friday, July 26, officers executed a search warrant at the rural Hills residence of 49-year-old Donald Frederick Wilson.

At about 1:30 a.m., 12 members of the regional Emergency Entry Team entered Wilson's home. They were accompanied by seven Rock County deputies, three Minnehaha County deputies, two highway patrolmen and two South Dakota Drug Enforcement Agency officers.

According to Rock County Sheriff Ron McClure, the warrant didn't yield a substantial seizure of drugs, but all the evidence of a methamphetamine lab was there, including paint thinners, lithium batteries and drug paraphernalia.

Wilson, who has a history of drug-related offenses, was arrested for conspiracy to manufacture meth, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also in the home but not arrested were Wilson's wife and adolescent son.

McClure said the search warrant was prompted by numerous tips to Rock County and Sioux Falls law enforcement of suspected meth production in Wilson's home.

In another drug arrest Thursday night, July 25, 42-year-old Kevin Dale Smiens, Luverne, is in custody in the Nobles County Jail, Worthington.

He was pulled over at 6:30 p.m. in Luverne on a moving violation when officers found 3 grams of meth in his 1992 blue Chevy Beretta.

Also found in his possession were large quantities of Suphedrine, a cold medicine that contains pseudoephedrine, which is commonly used in the manufacture of meth.

McClure said drug arrests like these two and investigations into countless other suspected cases are keeping his office busy.

"I really want to commend my staff - including the dispatchers," McClure said. "They put in a lot of hours. The guys really pull together and do a good job."

The Rock County Sheriff’s Department continues to seek local support in its drug control efforts.

"We do work with other agencies in Sioux Falls and Iowa, but if you see something out in the county that's abnormal, let us know," he said.

For example, if there's suddenly traffic on a dead-end road, or if there's activity at an abandoned farmhouse, residents should call the Sheriff’s Department at 283-5000.

"It may be nothing, but you never know," McClure said. "The more eyes we have out there watching, the better our chances are of catching them."

By Lori Ehde
Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church for Luverne's Nicholas Jay Mann, who was killed in a welding accident Wednesday.

Mann, 26, was killed when a tire he was working on at Cor-Tech Manufacturing, Luverne, exploded.

The force of the explosion sent the rim careening through the roof of the shop, delivering a fatal blow to Mann's head on the way.

He was pronounced dead when emergency crews arrived at the shop shortly after the 911 call at 1:55 p.m.

Also injured in the accident was John Teune, Steen, who was treated and released at Luverne Community Hospital.

Luverne's Corey Stratton opened Cor-Tech Manufacturing nearly 10 years ago on Gabrielson Drive. The business set out to repair farm equipment and custom manufacturer parts for people and businesses.

Cor-Tech, which now employs eight people, has a reputation for manufacturing unique equipment for specialized industries.

For example, Cor-Tech designs and manufactures the City of Luverne's trailers that are used to collect residential recyclables.

Engebretson Funeral Home is handling arrangements for the Mann family.

Visitation will be at the church two hours prior to the service.

Burial will follow the funeral service in Maplewood Cemetery.