By Lori EhdeIn the face of rising health costs and health insurance premiums, finding solutions on an individual level seems impossible.But Sioux Valley executives were in Luverne last week to share information on trends and issues in healthcare and to offer a few ideas for curbing the problems.Ray Trankle, public affairs vice president for Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health Systems, described trends in healthcare as brewing up the "perfect storm" for driving up the costs of healthcare.He said the rising cost of pharmaceuticals, physician shortages and advances in technology are all contributing to higher health care costs.But two other factors – an aging population and increased use of healthcare among all ages – is combining with the other three factors to create a crisis in today’s healthcare."Millions of baby boomers will be accessing healthcare … and at the same time there will be fewer physicians," Trankle said."Even if we filled every medical school in every state, in 20 years there still won’t be enough doctors, and that’s going to drive costs."He said that’s especially the case, considering rising consumer demand for healthcare."The sheer utilization of healthcare – not age-related – is increasing dramatically," Trankle said. "And most of it is for things that aren’t emergencies."He said people who have met their deductibles figure if they have access to healthcare, they’ll use it, because somebody else is paying for it.Also, weekend acute care clinics are crowded with patients who have ailments that could be treated by their regular physicians during a weekday office visit. Trankle also used the example of the parent of a boy who bumps his head while falling off his bike. The doctor may recommend the parents observe the boy for signs of concussion, but the parents, if they’re insured, may demand an MRI."With this approach, it may appear as though somebody else is paying for it, but everyone pays for it in the end with higher healthcare premiums," Trankle said.He said people need to start taking more responsibility for their health and for their healthcare and realize that they are paying for it, even if insurance pays the bill.He said health savings accounts encourage consumers to make wiser healthcare choices. HSAs are pre-tax accounts that members draw from to pay medical expenses. Insureds need to have access to high deductible plans to participate in HSAs. Because they don’t need to be spent down like flex accounts, the tendency is to spend it wisely. Beyond smart healthcare choices, Trankle said people need to also be smart about their personal health."It’s how we care for ourselves that dictates a high percentage of what we consume," he said."We need to eat healthier, exercise more, don’t smoke and get regular screenings, because if we don’t, we’re going to end up accessing that healthcare more often." He especially stressed not smoking. "Smoking is horrible for a person and their family," he said, adding that children with health problems are often linked to parents who smoke.MedicareTrankle said under-funded Medicare is putting additional strain on the healthcare system. As healthcare costs rise, government officials in charge of the Medicare program have put a cap on the amount of money it will reimburse providers for each procedure or visit, regardless of the actual costs."If Medicare would step up and pay what it said it would pay, it would have a tremendous impact on healthcare costs," he said, adding that shortages in Medicare funding are often made up by paying consumers and insurance companies."The next time you see your Washington senator or Congressman, you ask them what they’re doing about Medicare," Ray said.Trankle’s presentation was part of a "Leadership Luncheon" Monday at Luverne Community Hospital.He and two other Sioux Valley executives met with members of the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Board with the idea that this group would share information with other community members.Chamber Director Dave Smith said he’d explore opportunities for Ray to present the information to a broader community group at another date.

By Sara QuamSix-year-old Bailey Herman, Luverne, is recovering from a dog injury that required plastic surgery last week.Wednesday, April 20, Bailey was with his dad, Joel, visiting relatives Don and Barb Gonnerman who own the dog. Don wasn’t home at the time but said the injury wasn’t a bite. He described it as a deep scratch from the dog’s paw, based on what the Gonnermans’ 10-year-old saw and told them. Joel was just a few feet from Bailey and the almost 200-pound Saint Bernard but didn’t see the incident.He just heard Bailey yell out, "Dad," and turned to see his son lying on the ground, his face covered in blood.Joel said, "It was a dog he’s probably seen 50 other times in his life, so he knew him." Kellie Herman, Bailey’s mom, said the injury over his cheek, nose and eye scared her and her husband.Joel said, "Blood was just squirting out of his eye and all I could think of was getting him to the hospital."Once in Sioux Falls, Bailey was in surgery for 2 1/2 hours.Kellie said, "Bailey doesn’t remember it happening. He told people at the hospital that his mom was a scaredy cat because of my reaction when I first saw his face," Kellie said."He can see and open his eye now. He looks good compared to what he did. His eyelid was ripped and just hanging there and I was worried about him not being able to see."Joel said it was lucky that the dog didn’t harm Bailey’s eyeball. Now Bailey is recovering at home with help from antibiotics, salve and eye drops. A tube inside his eye gland, draining through his nose, will stay there for eight weeks.He has a follow-up appointment with the surgeon Wednesday, and he’ll find out when he can go back to school.Barb Gonnerman has had the dog for seven years and doesn’t plan to put it to sleep."It’s been hard for everybody," Kellie said. "We don’t even know if we’re going to keep our own dog [a boxer] yet. He is great with our kids, but you never know."Joel said, "Dogs are still dogs."The Hermans said they are thankful for the many calls and well wishes they’ve received since Bailey was hurt.

By Lori EhdeAs opening date approaches for Sioux Valley’s new hospital and clinic in Luverne, it’s getting easier to put details on the timeline.During a lunch meeting Monday with Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Board, Sioux Valley Hospital executive Stan Knobloch provided some details.oMay 16: Road construction will start at the intersection of Highway 75 and 131st Street (the former township road that borders the north side of the hospital property). It’s an eight-week project that will involve grading the hill on Highway 75 for a safer intersection, adding a turn lane and putting pavement, curb and gutter on 131st Street.If weather cooperates, the road work will be complete on July 15.oJune 1: The new water tower on the northern edge of the property will be done. The 300,000-gallon, 175-foot-high structure will bring water not only to the hospital but to northern city neighborhoods where water pressure has been poor. It will bear the logo of the city of Luverne on one side and Sioux Valley on the other. oJuly 10: Public open house. Details will be released later.oJuly 29: Official move-in day. Some administrative offices will be able to move prior to this date.Knobloch said the whole front part of the hospital is done — with cabinets, paint and carpeting complete in the reception, business and medical areas.Work is still underway in the inpatient wing, which will be complete about mid-May.Work in the emergency room, radiology and labor and delivery rooms will be complete about mid-June.The $17.8 million, 95,000-square-foot facility will more than double the space of the current hospital and clinic.The hospital will be called "Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital," and the clinic will be called "Sioux Valley Clinic Luverne."

By Sara QuamFor the first time, Luverne will be one of the sites for a paint ball tournament as a part of the Northern Plains Ultimate Crown.The Luverne City Council approved a lease agreement with Chad Hess, Aimless Enterprises. Hess will pay for the use of baseball field, plus $100 deposit, July 9 through 11 and provided proof of proper insurance.A group of local paint-ball enthusiasts meets at the Rock County Fairgrounds Saturdays, but will use the city diamonds for the tournament because the fairgrounds are booked for enduro races.Hess said the tournament will draw more than 150 people from South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota. The competition is one of six in the region.Council member Pat Baustian said, "I would like to recognize you for taking this initiative. Thank you for bringing the number of people to town that you are. It’s good for the city — good for hotels and the food industry."Hess said the paint balls are environmentally safe and shouldn’t leave marks on the field because they are made from a food-grade dye and gelatin. They wash away in water.The activities will be contained within a netted area so the public can watch.City marketing viewedThe KELO-TV advertising campaign featuring the city of Luverne began getting airtime this week.The CBS affiliate in Sioux Falls, S.D., gave the city a tape of the ads, which the Council watched Tuesday. The ads have five slight variations based on private sponsorships of the commercials.Council member Esther Frakes, who also serves on the Luverne Economic Development Commission said, "We think this will be a positive thing for the community." The commercials feature the state park, hospital facility, quality school district, housing developments, Pool and Fitness Center and Job Opportunity Building Zones.Financial honorFor the 10th consecutive year Finance Officer Barb Berghorst received recognition for Excellence in Financial Reporting based on the city audit.City Administrator Greg La Fond said, "This is not something that every city receives automatically or without a great deal of effort."Berghorst also gave credit to staff in City Hall, particularly to accountant Candy Reese.

By Lori EhdeThe Pepsi machine is to blame for a fire that broke out Sunday afternoon at Cozy Rest Motel, Luverne, along South Highway 75.A passerby first reported the machine on fire, and then a neighbor reported the motel was burning."My daughter and I drove up and saw the flames shooting out," said motel owner Judy Hensley. "It scared us to death."She said they had just been out of town and returned as the fire department arrived."They were unrolling their hoses and trying to get water on it," Hensley said. "It seemed like it took forever, because we could see the flames spreading across the building."She said the interior rooms smell like smoke, but the damage was mostly limited to the exterior of the building. "Another five or 10 minutes and it could have been a real disaster," Hensley said. She said the motel is booked this weekend for a wedding, so she’s hoping the insurance work and cleanup go smoothly this week."We’re starting our busy season, and we’re getting ready to plant our flowers, so the timing’s not so good," she said.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton track teams helped form six-team fields at the West Lyon Invitational near Inwood, Iowa, Tuesday.The Patriot boys scored 58 points to place third in the team standings. The H-BC-E-E girls placed fifth with 49 counters. West Lyon won both team titles.H-BC-E-E’s boys recorded four meet championships, and seniors Cody Scholten and Tyler Bush helped claim three of them.Scholten cleared 5-10 to win the high jump, and Bush won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:00. Bush and Scholten also ran with the winning medley relay team, which registered a time of 3:56.7. Casey Van Midden Dorp and Jon Klaassen are other members of the team.H-BC-E-E’s John Sandbulte also won an event title by placing first in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.3.Bush and Derek Haak placed second in individual events. Bush ran the 400-meter dash in 52.5. Haak covered 1,600 meters in 5:10.Senior Cassi Tilstra won an individual event and ran legs with a pair of championship relay teams in Iowa.Tilstra took top honors in the 400 with a time of 1:01.23. She teamed up with Amanda Tilstra, Jocelyn Bucher and Mya Mann to win the 3,200-meter relay in 10:39 and joined efforts with Amanda Tilstra, Mann and Ashley Bucher to win the 1,600-meter relay in 4:23.Mann placed second in the 800 with a time of 2:41.The sprint-medley relay team of Amanda Connors, Kelly Mulder, Ashley and Jocelyn Bucher placed second in 2:04.5.Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E-E’s top efforts from the WL Invitational.H-BC-E-E boysThird place: 800 relay (Jan Sommerling, Scholten, Klaassen and Cody Schilling), 1:39.3; 1,600 relay (Sommerling, Haak, Scholten and Sandbulte), 3:53.3.Fourth place: Sommerling, 200, 23.56; 400 relay (Kenny Gardner, Roger DeBoer, Klaassen and Van Midden Dorp), 50.9.Fifth place: Dustin Verhey, 3,200, 11:44; DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 18.31.Sixth place: Tyler Paulson, 1,600, 5:19.H-BC-E girlsThird place: Amanda DeBoer, 3,000, 13:08; distance-medley relay (Brittany Helgeson, Rosie Lewis, Connors and A.Bucher), 4:56.6.Fourth place: 800 relay (Lewis, J.Bucher, Connors and Mulder), 1:59.9; 400 relay (Kari Roozenboom, Lewis, Helgeson and Mulder), 57.6.Fifth place: Lewis, discus, 89-10.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth golf team couldn’t break into the win column when it traveled to Lakefield for a match Thursday.The Patriots were hoping to snap a four-match losing skid to start the season, but Southwest Star Concept kept H-BC-E winless by upending the Patriots 179-190.Tyler Henning led the Quasars to victory by shooting a six-over-par 42 on his home course.Travis Broesder carded a nine-over-par 45 to set the pace for H-BC-E.Tom Scholten and Grant Hoogendoorn added 48-stroke rounds to H-BC-E’s team effort, while Nick Deutsch and Jason Martens shot 49s. Adam Finke turned in a 58 without influencing the scoring.SSC posted a 200-248 win in the B match.Kenny Bittner led the Patriots with a 51. Andrew Scholten shot a 53, Sean Goedtel and Nick DeHaan turned in 72s, while Chaiden Kuehl shot a 76.The 0-5 Patriots host Southwest Christian Tuesday.

By Lexi MooreMore than 50 volunteers gathered in the activity room at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills Friday for lunch and entertainment.The event was planned as a way of thanking volunteers for their hard work and efforts throughout the year."We couldn’t do it without these volunteers," said Lou Kellenburger, Tuff Home Activities Director.Those in attendance ranged in age from nine to 92.Laura Scott, the youngest volunteer, said she enjoys singing and coloring with the residents during her weekly visits. The Scott family volunteers at Tuff Memorial Home every Tuesday morning.Entertainment during the event included the reading of "Caring is Always in Season," by Tuff resident and author Mary Francis.Norbert Peters and Judy Feucht sang "In the Garden" and led the group in singing "Jesus Loves Me" before the start of dinner.Verla Baker played the piano as volunteers dined on chicken, potatoes, homemade bread and lime or butterscotch cake.Volunteers registered for door prizes that included gift certificates to Glen’s Food Center in Luverne and homemade birdhouses.

By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek School Board Member Matt Larson submitted his intent to resign at Monday night’s meeting.Larson’s tenure on the Board will come to an end on June 1. He and his family will be moving to Lake Madison on May 31."I have nothing but the best memories of Hills-Beaver Creek and being a part of the board of education," Larson read from his letter of resignation. "I appreciate the quality of education and the experience that Luke and Haley have had at H-BC."Before accepting his resignation, board members discussed the dedication and commitment Larson had shown during his time on the H-BC board."In his short tenure the locker room was built, an operating levy was passed and he attended countless safety meetings," said Superintendent David Deragisch. "He has been very dedicated. I enjoyed having you on (the board)."H-BC Elementary School Secretary Connie Olson’s resignation was also accepted by the board. Olson’s employment with the school district will end at the close of business on June 30.The board discussed the possibility of rehiring Olson as a half-time employee in the fall.In other school news:üH-BC Elementary officials have changed the doors used for dismissing students.Students who walk or ride their bikes home from school will be dismissed from door No. 1 on the north side of the building. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed from door No. 3 on the south side of the building.The change was made to avoid having non-bused students running between buses during dismissal. "We haven’t had any large problems, we just wanted to take a pro-active approach to avoid future problems," said Todd Holthaus, elementary principal.The new dismissal program was started Wednesday, April 20.üH-BC Elementary received a grant for $500 from Sioux Valley Energy’s Operation Roundup program. The money will be used to augment the summer Book of the Week club. üDeragisch said he was very pleased with the results of the mock accident at H-BC Wednesday, April 20."It is very worthwhile. It is both a good experience and learning tool for our students," Deragisch said. "I don’t think there was a dry eye from the audience during the finale in the lunchroom."He thanked the Roste Funeral Home, Erwin DeBoer and Erwin’s Towing for spending so much of their time and effort on the planning and execution of the accident. He also thanked the workers with the Rock County ambulance and sheriff’s departments.üH-BC seniors participated in their annual community service project on Friday by picking up trash in the Hills area. Students at the elementary school cleaned the ditches in Beaver Creek. The projects corresponded with Earth Day.üThe Board spent time discussing various education funding bills currently being authored in committees in the Minnesota House and Senate.Several of the bills, if passed, would mark a change in education funding in Minnesota. State officials have frozen education finances during the past three legislative sessions.Gary Esselink, H-BC’s legislative reporter, said the information coming out of the Capitol is positive."It seems there is a good realization by both houses that they can’t keep freezing funds."Upcoming dates:May is the busiest month of the school year and the school calendar is filled with important upcoming dates. Board members highlighted several during their meeting.üFifth-grade students will graduate from DARE at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, April 29, in the elementary gymnasium. üH-BC Elementary Media Center is sponsoring a book fair from May 4 through May 11.üHigh school music concert is on May 5 and the elementary concert is on May 10, both beginning at 7 p.m.üAnnual pancake supper will be Wednesday, May 11. This year there will be a pancake eating contest. All proceeds go to the H-BC-E-E track teams.üThe Rock County Intergenerational Bee’s first round is Thursday, May 12, at the Tuff Home and Village and the final round will be on Thursday, May 19, at the Luverne Senior Center.üBaccalaureate will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22.üGraduation will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27.