By Katrina Vander Kooi
It was a beautiful summer day. The sun was out, the sky was clear, and everyone surrounding the newly sidewalked building smiled with exhilarated anticipation.

Sunday was the first day of worship in the newly remodeled First Presbyterian Church, Luverne.

"It was exciting," said the Rev. John Pehrson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. "There were a few bugs, but I think everything went really well."

Some people came a half hour early to examine the new church, just as a child would get up early on Christmas morning to open presents. The church was almost full with 233 attending; full capacity is 260.

To build a church
The $1.2-million renovation started in 1998, when the congregation voted in favor of it.

There were several reasons for renovation. First, the church needed to be made accessible to all people. Second, there were a few deferred maintenance issues that needed to be addressed, and third, the sanctuary needed to be turned around for better flow of traffic.

The Presbytery then approved a loan that the church needed to fund the construction. After that, a committee was formed to work on the design of the new building and oversee the construction process. The group was called the Master's Building Team.

Jane Wildung leads the Master's Building Team.

"We were formed to do a research project to see how much we could get done using $1 million," Wildung said. "We visited churches and talked with the architects."

The planning process went through many drafts, but finally, a plausible draft was set, and construction began in May 2000.

"Last Sunday was a blessed relief and a happy occasion for everyone," Wildung said.

God's living room
Walking into the church, the brilliance of the stained glass window immediately hits observers. The window, installed in the back of the sanctuary when the church was first built more than 40 years ago, is now the focal point of the front of the sanctuary.

"We designed the chancel to highlight the cross," Wildung said.

Simple white walls contrast with the colorful stained glass windows and the burgundy, lavender, and pale blue banners. The dark wood warms the sanctuary and invites worshipers to feel at home.

In the sermon, Pehrson referred to it as "God's living room."

The chancel is open, and every piece on it is easily moveable. "It's to accommodate and encourage various presentation styles," Pehrson said.

There is more lighting, and the pews are angled instead of straight.

The construction added an elevator that stops at all floors, more classrooms, a multi-purpose room, additional storage, a drive-up on the west side, and an office complex .

At the moment, the sanctuary is the only place that is finished. The construction company, Mills Construction, Brookings, S.D., is contracted to have the church fully completed by Aug. 27.

By Lori Ehde
In most local events, such as in next week's Rock County Fair, the work gets done by planners and doers.

In the case of Vernon and Ida Reverts, Ida's the planner and Vernon's the doer. Together they have nearly 70 years of experience with Rock County Fairs.

He'd rather be a doer
Vernon has been on the Rock County Fair Board since 1967 when his children started in 4-H. He describes himself as a doer rather than a planner.

"I'd rather have someone else be the boss and tell me what to do," he said. "There's always work to do."

Scott Beers, Fair Board treasurer, said Vernon is always willing and ready to work.

"He's always ready with his equipment. He's always there to work nights, and he's always there to help," Beers said. "He's very reliable."

Beers said Vernon has been a strong, silent force behind the scenes. "He's one of these guys who doesn't say much, but when he talks, people listen," Beers said.

He said Vernon was instrumental in moving the livestock wash racks to their current location, which has proven to be a good idea.

At 75 years old, Vernon has contributed a great deal to the fair's progress through the decades, but he's quick to give credit to others on the board, particularly Beers, Ron Fick and Dean Greenfield.

"They're an excellent group of people," he said.

She's a good planner
Ida, as a complement to her husband, is an accomplished planner. She perfected her management skills running the 4-H eat stand for more than 20 years.

Now, she organizes open class competition in the Floral Hall.

Every year, she makes sure the paperwork and display areas are ready for the hundreds of entries that flood the Floral Hall on judging day.

"She really does a good job, and it's a big job," said Vernice Jauert, who heads up the floral division with her daughter, Lynette.

"Ida's there from the very start to the very end. She's there when the doors close every night."

Ida said entry day is most challenging. Similar to the days she organized incoming pies at the eat stand, she now accepts and organizes all the entries prior to judging, which often doesn't conclude until after 11 p.m.

Under Ida's guidance, open class entries increased from about 800 in 1990 to more than 1,200 in 1999.

Phyllis Siebenahler said the success of the open competition has hinged largely on Reverts' efforts.

"I think it's operated really well," said Siebenahler, who heads up the fruits and vegetables competition with Becky Husen.

Siebenahler said entry day runs smoothly because Reverts has everything ready.

"I think Ida has done really well," Siebenahler said. "She puts a lot of work into it. There aren't many people willing to take time with that kind of work."

Saving Floral Hall has been a good idea
Ida credits the new interest in open class to a number of things, including the remodeled Floral Hall.

Prior to 1990, the building was moved from the current 4-H eat stand location, and the east door was closed off, providing more interior wall space for exhibits.

The building received overall repairs, including new windows and woodwork in the dome and new wood on the center pedestal where flowers are displayed.

The Floral Hall, which the board had considered tearing down, is the only building remaining from the original fairgrounds campus.

New ideas spark more interest in open class
With a mere $400 stipend for all her efforts, it isn't the money that keeps Ida returning to her post year after year.

"I enjoy the challenge of it," she said. "I always look forward to finding new ideas."

SheÕs added a wood category that includes such things as furniture, doll houses and bird houses. Gift baskets have joined the baked goods and fruit categories. The tallest corn stalk has been a popular newcomer, as has the bucket of flowers.

"When people make requests for categories, we try to add it," she said. "You try to make it a little bit better every year."

Last year, schnapps was added to the home brewing category, and this year homemade liquors will join the list.

Also new this year, Red Star Yeast will award prizes to winning baked goods that contain yeast.

Ida said flowers and arts and crafts still see the most entries every year.

She and Vernon travel to area county fairs, and she also relies on input from her co-workers and the Fair Board.

"We've got excellent help," Ida said. "The Fair Board is super cooperative, and I've got some very good superintendents and volunteers who have had very good suggestions."

Entry day is Wednesday, Aug. 1, for open class competition. Entries will be accepted between noon and 7 p.m. Judging starts at 7:30.

By Katrina Vander Kooi
Sue Gruis has received comments from visitors around the United States about the Coffey Haus, and now the shop has been promoted in a travel book.

The book is titled "Tastes of Minnesota" and was written by Donna Tabbert Long. It includes restaurants and cafes from around Minnesota as well as recipes from some of the places featured.

"Donna and her husband were here during the all-school reunion." Gruis said. "She came in and talked to me about the book."

Gruis was surprised at the honor. "I never thought anything like that would happen."

Here is a section from "Tastes of Minnesota" by Donna Tabbert Long:

"Bright, friendly, and casual, a stop at the Coffey Haus is worth a trip for anyone who loves a well-made sandwich, a cool glass of ginger peach iced tea, and a slice of pecan pie, hot out of the oven.
The small storefront, across the street from the Palace Theatre, belies the spacious step-back-in-time room that awaits: black and whiteÐchecked floor, high tin ceiling, and shelves with a collection of tea kettles and teapots. Glass jar lamps filled with coffee beans sit atop the green-tableclothed tables."

The section goes on to talk about the food and desserts at the restaurant and gives the address and number for the establishment.

Gruis' shop has also been featured in many other articles, including one in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. The article focused on Blue Mounds State Park, and listed the Coffey Haus "as a pleasant place for lunch." Gruis became aware of this article when a customer from the Twin Cities pointed it out as his reason for stopping.

Sue Gruis' dream became a reality when she started the restaurant almost five years ago. "It's someplace for everyone to come and feel at home," Gruis said.

She remembers many stories about customers stopping by. "A couple came in a few years ago and danced in our open area. They were engaged and were just passing through. Last summer, the woman and one of her friends came back and told me how they got married. We made a connection, and that was a special thing," Gruis said.

Gruis feels the atmosphere of the cafŽ could not be complete without the customers, and employees. "They all make it work." The Coffey Haus is located on 11 East Main across from the Palace Theatre.

By Sara Quam
Rock County's contract with the University of Minnesota Extension Service is requiring the county to pay more or face cutting staff or losing the service altogether.

So the board voted Tuesday to keep the staff it has and come up with the money to pay a bigger share of extension educators' salaries.

The board has protested the increase to the U of M in the form of a letter. The new plan will require all counties to pay 40 percent of the educators' salaries. Rock County now pays 25.78 percent, or about $32,000 annually.

The Extension Office has a job opening and will fill it rather than cut back on staff. It employs the equivalent of 2.4 staff people, and in order to not increase the county's budget, would have to cut it to 1.8.

Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "My concern if we have two full-time people is that we'll be able to do what we need to be doing."

The Extension Office has been very active in helping the Rock County Collaborative set goals and implement programs whose long-term goal is to save the county money in Family Service use. "You think of the bang for your buck," Wildung said.

The extension issue wouldnÕt be such a problem if the county wasn't faced with levy limits. It expects to hear that levy limits will be set for Rock County at about 3 percent. The extension budget increases will likely eat up that increase.

Without agreeing to the new fee structure, the county would have lost the extension educators altogether. Commissioner Wendell Erickson said, "I can't believe that we as a county would pull out of extension totally. The role of extension has been broadened over the years."

Law Enforcement Center
The Rock County Board received a letter from the Minnesota State Historical Society reminding them of a grant that will expire.

The Historical Society has already extended the grant of up to $35,000 that is set aside for the Law Enforcement Center building repairs.

The Historical Society said that it will refuse the grant if it doesnÕt hear of its intended use by the county before Aug. 15.

The Building Committee is meeting to look at options to repair some of the building without taking away from its historical designation.

Tuff contracts
The Rock County Board approved contracts with Tuff Village to provide assisted living services to residents.

Bonnie Hengeveld presented the board with a history of the Village's activities.

It started in 1994 when the Tuff Home commissioned a financial feasibility study on building and operating an assisted living facility, which provides more care than congregate living facilities.

After the feasibility study, the home did a housing survey to determine a need and decided to build.

Hengeveld said affordability is a big issue and that residents will mostly pay for their stay on their own. Those who qualify will receive state assistance.

All the required licensure is in place for the Village. It can provide three meals a day, two snacks, 24-hour supervision, registered nurse evaluations with follow-ups and daily housekeeping and monitoring.

The facility is designed for residents' comfort and includes wheel-in showers and spaces under sinks for those who are wheel-chair bound.

It originally was intended to have 12 apartments filled for the Aug. 1 move-in. But that has expanded to 18 with only one vacant apartment left. Three residents signed up with deposits paid are from outside Rock County.

Staff is hired and ready to start. Some people moving in will be transitioned into the nursing home when their needs exceed what the Village can accommodate. Those younger than 55 cannot apply to live there.

By Sara Quam
The Luverne City Council Tuesday finalized plans to grant the Economic Development Authority $250,000 for a revolving loan fund from the hospital sale revenue.

The fund will likely be put to its first use in a $250,000 loan to Netbriefings as part of a deal to have the Internet Webcasting firm locate in Luverne.

The money paid back from that loan could then be used for other economic development projects.

City staff is working on a plan that could give the LEDA more money for the revolving loan fund at a later time.

Sale of the hospital generated about $4.5 million, of which the council set aside $3 million.

The council's previous discussions have indicated it wanted to invest the money back into the community rather than have the fund sit, unused.

In other business Tuesday:
The council approved plans to create a turning lane on Dodge Street near the Luverne Schools. A parking lane will be eliminated for the project.

Councilman Keith Erickson said, "Right now it takes one car that wants to turn left to back up traffic."

The project will involve 550 feet between Donaldson Street and Highway 75.

The council also approved several budget amendments. They were: $6,000 increase due to unanticipated revenues after the insurance settlement for spring flooding, $1,200 increase for finishing the Red Bird Field backstop, $15,100 adjustment to complete the skate park, and $2,066 for the library to reflect a Rock County Collaborative grant.

By Sara Quam
It was two months ago that all state government buildings raised their flags just half-staff in honor of Carrie Nelson. At that same time, friends, family and acquaintances wore orange ribbons in her name.

Investigators are among those who haven't forgotten the 20-year-old woman murdered May 20 while working at Blue Mounds State Park.

Clyde Menning of the Rock County Sheriff's Department is the lead investigator for the case. But county law enforcement isn't alone in the investigation. Fourteen state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators, numerous Department of Natural Resources workers, State Patrol officers, along with Rock County deputies, have put in time with the investigation.

Menning said, "The BCA is still giving the case as much time as possible."

Still key to solving the murder is information on the watch found at the scene of the beating. Investigators think the watch was worn by the person responsible for the robbery and murder.

The digital watch face bears the logo "Field Ranger" and is silver. The watchband is tan with brown leather accents.

Anyone with knowledge of a person wearing a watch matching this description is asked to call the tip line at (507) 283-1301.

The reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder has been increased to $15,000.

Menning said the watch hasn't generated as many tips as the department had originally hoped, but the case isn't cold yet.

"There have been numerous law enforcement personnel from other departments to help track down leads," he said. "The Minnehaha Sheriff's Department and Sioux Falls Police have been helpful in giving us information."

The state crime lab also got involved when evidence needed to be processed.

Menning said, "We continue to try to collect evidence and follow leads."

Menning said the Field Ranger watch is an inexpensive one that could have been purchased at any of a number of discount retailers.

"If anyone has additional information, give us a call, because we haven't got this solved yet," Menning said.

Monday night meant it was time for cleanup in preparation for the fair at the Rock County fairgrounds. Members of the Luverne Fire Department power-clean the display buildings.

Photo by Sara Quam

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills Thunder were backed against a wall during the second round of the Gopher League Playoffs Wednesday night in Pipestone.

After dropping their playoff opener to Wilmont in Luverne Tuesday, Hills needed to beat second-seeded Hadley in last nightÕs second round to keep its season alive.

A win over Hadley would send the 2-15 Thunder into Sunday's round of play. A loss ends their season.

Hills came up on the short end of a 6-1 tally during TuesdayÕs playoff opener against Wilmont in Luverne.

Fifth-seeded Wilmont scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and never lost the lead to the sixth-ranked Thunder.

Hills did plate a run in the top of the fifth to trim Wilmont's cushion to a pair of counters (3-1), but Wilmont scored three runs in its final two at bats to prevail by five.

Wilmont scored once in the seventh to make it a 4-1 game before capping the scoring with a two-run eighth inning.

Hills' lone run was of the unearned variety in the top of the fifth.

Chad Rauk reached base on an error before scoring on Matt FunkeÕs run-scoring double.

Rauk pitched all eight innings to take the loss for the Thunder. He walked six batters and struck out five.

Cade Lang led Hills at the plate by going two-for-four.

Funke and Chris Putnam went one-for-four and one-for-three respectively. Both of their hits were doubles.

By Jolene Farley
Superintendent Tom Knoll informed Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members Monday evening that costs are more than anticipated for the locker room addition to the high school.

"It really is not quite enough ($200,000) to do it in the proper measure," said Knoll. "It is really the board's call."

Group II Architects, Sioux Falls, provided a rough cost estimate to the district for no fee.

The board voted unanimously at the March 12 meeting to retain the services of Group II Architects for the project.

Knoll said, "The funding mechanism is the key to doing this." He suggested the board invite the financing group Ehlers and Associates to make a presentation to the board on obtaining an additional $200,000 in financing.

Minnesota statute doesn't allow school districts to obtain direct financing from lending institutions, according to Williams.

Plumbing costs added tremendously to the cost of the project, according to Knoll.

The question board members must decide is "Will it jeopardize the districtÕs fund balance?," said board member Dave Roozenboom.

After much discussion it was decided to table the issue until all board members are present. Ann Boeve and Lois Leuthold were absent.

Knoll also advised the board that they should try to negotiate lower architectural fees for the project.

Fees are currently set at 12 percent of total construction costs, not including reimbursable expenses. Twelve percent of a $200,000 project would be $24,000, and of a $400,000 project $48,000.

"We could buy a teacher for that," said Knoll.

At a Feb. 26 board meeting, Knoll advised the board not to go over the $200,000 mark for the project. At the time, both the board and Knoll thought the amount would be adequate to build a 2,000-square-foot locker room.

At the same meeting, board member Gary Esselink made the motion that $200,000 was the maximum amount the district could spend on the locker room project. The motion carried.

The board hoped private donations and money from the city of Hills would also help finance the project.