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Luverne Community Hospital hires 'service excellence representative'

Luverne Community Hospital Service Excellence Representative Sue Sandbulte greets Gert DeBoer on her regular rounds as part of her duties to make sure patient needs are met.By Lori EhdeIn an effort to capture and retain business in a competitive health services market, hospitals are giving their patients red-carpet treatment beyond medical treatment.Luverne Community Hospital has developed a "service excellence representative" position to improve the overall hospital experience for its patients.Sue Sandbulte, who’s worked at the hospital for four years, was hired to fill the position.She said the position was developed as a public relations response to keep patients coming to Luverne, but the end result is simply better care for patients."I’m not here to take the place of doctors, nurses and staff," Sandbulte said. "But I can find out what patients’ concerns are and get the right person to address those concerns."For example, she said a patient may be concerned about how much a medical procedure might cost, so she would contact the billing department and get answers. "I can’t solve problems, but I can find people who can," Sandbulte said.Another example might be a person wondering why her procedure’s been delayed a couple hours. Rather than waiting and worrying, Sandbulte said she can find out why there’s been a delay and how much longer the wait might be.She also visits with families in waiting rooms, and can even be called in to assist a family in a medical emergency like a car accident.Often her role comes down to being a friendly face in a time of crisis. "I can offer them coffee or blankets or a phone to contact other family members," Sandbulte said. "If you can make them feel a little bit better, that’s what it’s all about."Sandbulte said her work is rewarding because people respond positively to helpful offers. "When I come and ask if there’s anything I can do, they kind of perk up when I say things like that," she said. "And there’s something about coffee that’s comforting."She said she’s also been well-received by health professionals as well."It frees up the doctors and nurses to do what they need to do," she said.On the lighter side of her job duties, Sandbulte pushes her "cookie cart" to patient rooms, offering snacks and drinks. "That’s a real good way to get into every patient’s room and visit with them and find out if they have any concerns I can help them with," she said.In addition, her duties include acting as a liaison between hospital departments, communicating with clergy, delivering newspapers, e-mails and flowers to patients, making phone calls or looking up phone numbers for patients and working with hospital volunteers.Sandbulte, who worked 12 years as a receptionist with Tri-State Insurance, and describes herself as a "people person" said her new job is perfect for her."I love it here, and I love working with people," she said. "I think being born and raised here, I’ve seen having a hospital in this community is important. Now, to be a part of it is very exciting to me."

City keeps electric workers for now

By Sara StrongWith 21 electrical projects to complete by the end of this year, the city probably won’t save money by switching in-house electrical management to Missouri River Energy Services."There are some financial advantages," City Administrator Greg LaFond said Tuesday, "But that doesn’t mean we will save money the first year."Some of those 21 projects can’t be postponed, due to the Sioux Valley hospital and clinic project. Others were going to require special contractors outside the city’s employees, and MRES can handle those contractors now. The city will pay more for more work done in town, on top of a management fee. The Luverne City Council still hasn’t finalized a contract for MRES to take over the management of three electric utility employees. If it goes through, they would no longer be employed by the city, although the city would direct their work priorities through MRES.Councilman David Hauge said, "I think it’d be a good idea to get going on this." LaFond will finish a cost comparison and bring it to the council for a vote at a future meeting.Bill Radio of MRES said the savings would come if there are times when all three workers aren’t needed in Luverne at once and could be used in other MRES projects.This year’s aggressive work schedule probably won’t allow for the employees to work out of town.LaFond said the savings will show in not hiring a new engineer to mange the utility and public works departments. That position (a combined Darrell Huiskes and Red Arndt) would cost a minimum of $100,000 considering salary and benefits.So far, concerns in the department have been about a worker three years from retirement, who doesn’t want a job change to affect his standing.Pet licenses The city pays about $6,000 annually in impound costs for dogs and cats. It may be a small budget item, but it’s one the Luverne City Council is considering revamping in order to save money.The city is generating only minor amounts of revenue through licensing dogs — $8 for spayed or neutered, or $12 otherwise.LaFond said, "Maybe you’re convinced that there are only 54 dogs in the city. I’m not."Councilman Bob Kaczrowski suggested some dog owners don’t know they are supposed to license their pets.LaFond said that the city could ask veterinarians to help inform the public, as they get pet shots or medical care, that dogs are supposed to be licensed."Is it really fair to the taxpayer who doesn’t have an animal, to have to pay for this service? It’s an inequity," LaFond said. "A taxpayer subsidy to some extent is understandable, but maybe not to this extent."The council didn’t discuss whether it will suggest that cats also be licensed.Last year, 17 cats and 17 dogs were impounded. About half of the animals in the pound are euthanized. Some of that could be avoided if the impound could notify the proper owner. However, some people abandon animals in town with the intention of the pound being forced to have them euthanized.All found animals that are turned into the pound are posted, and City Hall is the contact place for that. The pound holds animals for five business days before putting them down.

Remodeling continues on middle/high school

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members started the process of a summer remodeling project by setting April 14 as the date to receive bids from contractors.The south wing of the middle school-high school will receive a new heating and cooling system, and offices in that wing will be remodeled and updated. The plan is for the principals’ offices, currently across the hall from each other, to both be located together on the west side of the hall, along with a conference room.On the east side of the hall, student services will be located together with a shared reception area. These offices include counselor, school nurse and athletic director.At their Friday meeting, board members set bid opening for 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.Work will start this summer when school gets out.The work is a continuation of the heating and cooling renovation in the middle school-high school building that started last year.Work on the west wing was completed last year, along with updates to the hall lighting.Similar work on the north wing will be done next year.Transportation bidsThe board accepted bids on two school buses and one Suburban-type vehicle Friday.The low bid of $117,308 was submitted by Grande American Blue Bird, Anoka, for two 72-passenger buses.The district purchased the second bus from Grande American with convection heat for an additional $350.A bid of $122,947 was submitted by Hoglund Bus Co., Monticello.The board also approved the low bid of $24,973 from Nelson Dodge-GMC, Fergus Falls for a 2004 GMC Yukon XL 1500. Other bids were submitted by Papik Motors, Luverne, for a $27,530 Chevy Suburban, and by Herman Motors for a $27,300 Ford Expedition.Because the low bid was so much lower than the local bids, board members said they were obligated to go with the low bid. The district is obligated to accept the low bid, if there’s not a specific reason not to, for example, if the low bid didn’t meet specifications.Nelson-Dodge will deliver the new Yukon and drive back the 1999 Chevy Suburban trade-in. It had 190,00 miles on it.

Comprehensive Plan coming into clearer focus

By Sara StrongThe latest draft of the Comprehensive Plan makes it clear how Luverne can organize and plan its way to a successful layout, including business and residential growth.Plan consultant Rusty Fifield said, "We delved into character, clearly more than in your current Plan."The Plan process is at the draft stage now, and committee members will narrow their focus and bring concerns to a meeting for a final draft next month.Fifield said at a Comprehensive Plan meeting Tuesday, "It’s important that your zoning ordinances flow back to the Comprehensive Plan.That means that the city should follow it’s own advice when opportunities for development or redevelopment arise — and steer the appropriate developments to the right areas of town based on the Plan.One of the brainstorms to come out of the Comprehensive Plan so far, is to have a stopping point for visitors just off Interstate 90. The Chamber would be ideal for this.City Zoning Administrator Dan Delgehausen threw out the idea that a herd of bison could be located behind businesses off Highway 75 and Interstate 90. That would draw people, and make Luverne’s prairie/bison theme more visual, rather than conceptual. Drivers could see it and make unplanned stops, increasing the potential to spend money in town.Of course, it’s just an idea at this point, but the Plan committee was excited about theme ideas and business that could branch off of that.Also new out of these planning meetings is the idea of developing a campground near the existing City Park. Kniss Avenue The Plan says it "seeks to sustain and enhance the residential quality of the Kniss Avenue corridor north of Main Street."Redevelopment of the area, as homes are sold, should focus on residential uses, not converting homes to businesses.It also says the intersection of Kniss and Main should become a strong physical and visual connection with the downtown. If that occurred, then people would be attracted off Kniss and into the downtown.DowntownEven though downtown is primarily for commercial uses, parks are a part of the outskirts of downtown, the City Park, Redbird Field and Riverside Park.The parks offer a "source of attraction for the downtown. People pass through the downtown business district to gain access to these parks. Tapping into this market provides a business development opportunity."The Plan also said a trailhead between downtown and Blue Mounds State Park should be established near the Public Works Building. Presently, there is no symbol to newcomers that the path leads to the state park.The Plan raises the possibility of starting a campground adjacent to a city park.Despite access to existing parks, the downtown isn’t a green place. Buildings and parking dominate the core of downtown, but a few green features could help its overall image."Trees, plantings and other landscaping should be included in streetscape improvements," the Plan said. Municipal parking lots also provide an opportunity for bringing small green spaces into the downtown.North and south developmentsGrowth on the north and south edges of Luverne are tailored for highway business, commercial and industrial in this Plan.Fifield said that current residential properties south of Interstate 90 may need to resign themselves to the fact that businesses want to locate on Highway 75 near the interstate. "It seems to me to be a strong business area, and if you allow it go to residential, you lose that opportunity," he said.Considering the new airport project, Fifield said the area is directing the way it wants to go, even without a clear Comprehensive Plan. Development to the north of Luverne, where the new hospital and clinic will be, will be commercial. The city will try to limit commercial sprawl to businesses related to the hospital and clinic. Other businesses that may want to locate near the hospital, simply to capitalize on higher traffic counts, will be steered toward other commercial districts in town.The Plan committee doesn’t want the rest of the town vacated and shifted toward the new hospital area.The next Comprehensive Plan meeting will go over the same concepts after committee members have had time to consider options.

Selling the city

By Sara StrongThere’s already been some degree of success to the city’s marketing campaign to draw businesses to Luverne. A new Luverne Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce Web site has gotten about 150 hits, and the former Tri-State building is attracting interest."For the first time since it’s been listed, someone contacted the Realtor," Economic Development Authority Director Dan Statema said. "I expect to show it within a week."A series of ads in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader last week drew attention to Luverne, highlighting Job Opportunity Building Zones and the vacant Continental Western Group (Tri-State) building. Another ad pointed out quality of life issues such as good schools, residential lot prices and the upcoming new hospital and clinic.Together, Statema hopes the Argus Leader ads make a lasting impression on businesses to the west that thought Minnesota wasn’t a good relocation option.The Luverne City Council approved the $40,000 budget for all facets of marketing in the city, including Web site development and printing work."It may seem like $40,000 is a lot of money to spend, but all it takes is one business…" Statema said.Statema estimates that he spent $10,000 of the budget locally, and he isn’t spending the remainder of the $40,000 just yet. He’s waiting to see results from regional advertisements before spending the rest."We had a good week last week, but this is really our biggest week," Statema said.More ads are going in newspapers and other publications in Sioux City, Iowa; Omaha, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Des Moines, Iowa; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Chicago; Kansas City, Kan. Ads will also appear in the Midwest Real Estate Journal."Then we’ll hold off on ads for a while and do more direct mailing and let people use our Web site," Statema said.The new Web site is www.luverneadvantage.com.

DeBoer marks 30 years as city employee

Beaver Creek city employee Lloyd DeBoer earned the city a certificate of commendation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for his "efforts to help protect and preserve the waters of Minnesota." DeBoer makes sure the city complies with the agency’s permit program.By Jolene FarleyLloyd DeBoer marks 30 years as a city of Beaver Creek employee this year. He holds many titles."When I first started, nobody told me what my job responsibilities were," he said.Today, DeBoer doesn’t seem to mind that he is almost always on call for a variety of tasks."Everybody calls me; they kind of leave it up to me," he said. He was hired in 1974 right out of high school as a police officer for the community of 250 people. He was issued a nightstick but never given a gun. The police officer that held the position before DeBoer reportedly took the gun with him when he left town.During those days a dance hall was open in town, which meant extra traffic. If DeBoer needed backup, he recruited some of the community’s burly residents to help. DeBoer is no longer the town cop. Law enforcement services are now provided by Rock County.DeBoer is currently in charge of water and sewer, building and street maintenance.He attended classes to earn his water and sewer license from the Minnesota Department of Pollution Control.He is the city’s dog catcher, rounding up stray canines.He helps collect garbage in town in an attempt to keep garbage rates down.He became a licensed tree inspector during the Dutch Elm Disease crisis. DeBoer inspected every elm tree in town and marked 80 for removal. DeBoer enjoys the variety of his job. He also enjoys the people in the community he has gotten to know."I treat everybody like family, if I can help somebody I try to help them," he said.He is particularly attentive to the older residents in town. "I always kind of look out for the older people," DeBoer said. DeBoer has served on the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board for 10 years and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaver Creek, the Beaver Creek Fire Department and First Responders. He also coached youth baseball and basketball.DeBoer and his wife, Marilyn, have three children, Darcie, Darin and Devin."The years go by so fast," he said. "I was pretty young when I started this job right out of high school."

Lee Jackson earns award

By Jolene FarleyHills-Beaver Creek High School senior Lee Jackson received the Triple "A" award from the Minnesota State High School League. The Academics, Arts and Athletics Award was started in 1988 to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field and in the fine arts. The program elevates academic standards and creates a greater awareness of League-sponsored activities and their values. It provides member schools with the opportunity to participate in a statewide program that supports, promotes and recognizes academic and extra-curricular achievements. To be nominated a student must be a high school senior, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct and complete an application form and submit it to the appropriate person. "I have had the opportunity to work with Lee as a student in my class, an athlete on teams I have coached and also helped him with his post-secondary plans," Hills-Beaver Creek High School Counselor Dan Ellingson wrote in his letter of recommendation about Jackson to MSHSL."Lee is a truly a young man that a teacher and a coach feels privileged to have on their team or in their classroom." "Lee is involved in all aspects of school life, fine arts, and athletics. Lee is academically outstanding in his grade and school.""Outside of school, Lee is a leader in his church group, plays the piano, sells his wildlife oil and water color paintings, and he is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Yes, this is one person who has accomplished all of this in 18 short years."The Triple "A" Awards Banquet is Saturday, March 27, in Minneapolis.

A soldier returns...back in the United States

By Jolene FarleyCharles Erickson is home safe and sound in the United States after serving his country in Afghanistan. Erickson is a member of the Army Reserve 407th Civil Affairs Battalion headquartered in Arden Hills. He was called up in May. Erickson left his job as a financial analyst for Hutchinson Technology, his home in Waconia, and most important, his wife, Naomi, in the United States.Erickson, son of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson, Hills, was stationed at Gardez, Afghanistan, about 70 miles south of the country’s capital, Kabul. His group of about 100 soldiers spent a month at Fort Bragg, N.C., refreshing their weapons skills and rehearsing handling threatening situations in urban areas before shipping out. The soldiers were told immediately that they were to be stationed in Afghanistan, although Erickson said the group thought their orders might change.First impressionsErickson’s first impressions of Afghanistan were mixed."I guess it was very different," he said. "You see men with beards wearing turbans and women walking around in burkas (shrouds) … things you would actually expect to see there. But it was very unusual to actually be there and see it for yourself.""The other thing that struck me right away was how friendly the people were. Little children would wave at you, people would yell, ‘thank you.’ It was very impressive the kind of support we seemed to get there…"A job to do…Erickson was the leader of a civil affairs team of five members."We dealt with everything having to do with the Afghan population including supporting the combat operations, meeting with government officials and coordinating some of the reconstruction projects," he said.Erickson’s group was involved in eight school reconstruction projects."We also helped coordinate security for the election delegates to their constitutional convention."The comforts of home…Erickson brought with him personal hygiene basics to make his life more bearable. He packed ample amounts of shaving cream, razor blades, soap and baby wipes.What he didn’t bring that he later found he needed, he asked his family to send. Erickson and his men were allowed showers three times a week when they were at base. They were sometimes away from the base, however, for a few days at a time. We’re winningErickson said he believes the United States is winning the war on terror. He also believes that the United States’ role in the region is far from over."I think we’re getting the Afghan people involved in fighting the war on terrorism, but I think we are going to have a presence there for a few more years," he said."In spite of what you see on TV news, we are winning the war … by gaining the support of the people."War-torn countryAfghanistan was involved in a war against the Soviet Union in the 1980’s that left much of the country in ruins. "As a result of that war there were armed guerilla leaders that started fighting each other after the Russians pulled out," he said. In an effort to restore peace, the people allowed the Taliban to seize power in part of the country."It seemed to the people of Afghanistan that the Taliban could at least bring order to the country."As the Taliban became more powerful, the people were surprised by how harsh its rule became.After the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, some of the guerilla leaders helped the United States overthrow the Taliban.Some of these leaders have now disarmed, but others continue to be a problem in the region, according to Erickson.Local supportErickson was stationed in a "hotter" area in terms of enemy activity. "I find that the vast majority of people supported out presence," he said.The soldiers that Erickson has talked to that were stationed in Iraq tell the same story. "If 100 people wave at you and say ‘thank you,’ but one person shoots at you, it’s that person that shoots at you that is making the news," he said.Back to the war zoneErickson doesn’t think he’s back in the United States permanently."I think it’s likely they’ll send us back, and in the next couple of years," he said. Erickson supports President Bush’s policy in the region. "I think he’s doing a good job conducting the war," he said.Making the best of it"In spite of being away from home and being in a dangerous place, it was a lot of fun going over there and getting to meet the Afghan people," he said."I certainly had times when I realized we were in danger, but I guess when you have that, you act accordingly and take precautions when needed."

RWV ends Luverne's 11-15 season in sections semis

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys’ basketball team bowed out of the South Section 3AA Tournament Thursday in Redwood Falls.The fourth-seeded Cardinals were unable to knock off No. 1 Redwood Valley in a semifinal-round game that went to the hosts by a 68-47 tally.Luverne’s loss ended its 11-15 season. RWV advanced to the championship game with the victory, where it was upset by Pipestone in Saturday’s final at Southwest State University in Marshall.Thursday’s game between Luverne and RWV was the third time the teams met this season, and all three went to RWV in convincing fashion.RWV secured 17- and 20-point wins over the Cardinals in the regular season, and it took the finale by 21 points."Playing on RWV’s home floor made it a tough situation for us," said Cardinal coach Tom Rops. "They just shot the ball too well."RWV assumed control of the game in the first quarter, when it drained three three-point shots on the way to a 20-5 scoring advantage in the period.The hosts used a 19-13 scoring cushion in the second quarter to open a 30-18 halftime lead.Luverne trimmed the difference to 20 points (51-31) by the end of the third quarter, but RWV’s 17-16 scoring edge in the fourth quarter made it a 21-point difference at game’s end."They completely dominated us," Rops offered. "They shot the ball extremely well. We had some open looks early, but our shots wouldn’t fall."Forward Kelsey Mattison and guard Brian Busack led RWV in scoring with 16 and 11 points respectively.Junior Brandon Deragish pumped in a game-high 12 points for Luverne.Senior Josh Lange capped his career with a 10-point, four-rebound effort. Brad Herman added four rebounds to the cause. Senior Andy Stegemann and Jake Hendricks recorded three assists each.Box scorePick 1 0 0-0 2, Herman 1 0 0-0 2, Deragisch 3 2 0-0 12, Stegemann 1 0 4-5 6, M.Boelman 3 0 1-1 7, Lange 5 0 0-0 10, Graphenteen 0 1 0-0 3, Ward 0 1 0-0 3, Hendricks 0 0 1-2 1, Heronimus 0 0 1-2 1.Team statisticsLuverne: 17 of 31 field goals (55 percent), seven of 10 free throws (70 percent), 21 rebounds, seven turnovers.RWV: 23 of 43 field goals (53 percent), 17 of 22 free throws (77 percent), 20 rebounds, five turnovers.

LHS grads become All-American

By John RittenhouseThree Luverne High School graduates earned All-American status at different national track and field meets over the weekend.Lynden Reder and Amanda Aning, members of the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota-Mankato teams respectively, and Hannah Dietrich, a member of the Augsburg College program, turned in outstanding performances at meets in different parts of the country.Reder and the Gophers placed 15th as a team at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships staged at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.Reder entered the event as the nation’s 14th-ranked 35-pound weight-thrower. With a toss of 65-11, Reder surpassed his ranking by placing eighth.The Top-Eight individual finishers in national competition draw All-American recognition.Aning and the Mustangs placed eighth as a team at the NCAA Division 2 Track and Field Championships in Boston, Mass., over the weekend. It was the best finish by a University of Minnesota-Mankato team at the national level.Aning entered the event as the nation’s 10th-ranked pole vaulter. She cleared 12-0 to place sixth.Dietrich and the Augsburg women competed at the NCAA Division 3 National Indoor Track and Field Championships in White Water, Wis., over the weekend.Dietrich is a member of a distance-medley relay team that placed seventh at the attraction.

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