By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners received a feedlot inventory update at its Tuesday meeting, and the results hold steady with what previous inspections have shown — few feedlots have environmental problems.Land Management Director Eric Hartman said, "We’re expecting that to continue."Many of the feedlots inspected in the total inventory process are open feedlots, or pastures, making the high marks notable, Hartman said.He expects the more than 600 Rock County feedlots to be through the inventory process in 13 months.Last year, the Board of Water and Soil Resources and local staff were able to work through the winter because of mild weather. This year may be different, but the end completion date is still a goal.To help producers who have to make changes, the county is matching a portion of a grant that will bring an engineer to the LMO for two years. The engineer option is open to the county because of a state grant that would allow a regional engineer to be housed out of Rock County for two years. The local cost would be mostly "in kind" costs of about $34,000 that would come from providing a work area, telephone and vehicle for the engineer.The two-year grant allows most of the engineer’s time to be dedicated to working with feedlot owners in Rock County who have to make changes based on the Level III inventories. Some that have to come into compliance have to do so because of changed regulations since their original permit.Some highlights from the quarterly feedlot report are:o365 sites have been visitedo80 percent have no environmental concernsoSeven active sites have basin and runoff concernsoGrand total cost for the county is $54,018.81.Auditing changesNot only does the county have to change its accounting practices, but how it gets audited is changing for the first time since Rock County was formed.The state is no longer Rock County’s auditor. It was selected among 20 other counties to contract for private auditing instead of using state auditors.That means the county has to advertise for an auditing firm and hope that a private agency wants to take on Minnesota auditing laws. In the past, the county had a good, longstanding relationship with its supervising state auditor, and employees could call with very specific questions and get them answered immediately. Rock County obviously hopes that level of service will continue.The county doesn’t know what to expect for cost through a private auditor, but auditing a county is time consuming. In the past, four state auditors worked 10 to 15 days to complete the audits.On the in-house accounting side, things are changing too.The new financial reporting system is called Governmental Accounting Standards and Board and the county should be finished with changing to its standards by the end of the year. Rock County Auditor-Treasurer Gloria Rolfs said, "It’s just one of those things that comes with the job."She said the changes involve specific ways of recording accounts, and their actual code numbers are different. Rolfs said that making the changes won’t be difficult, as much as they are time consuming.GASBY training is ongoing in the county and at the regional level.Domestic violence The Southwest Crisis Center is using the Rock County Courthouse lawn to display the names of domestic violence fatalities in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.Crisis Center director Raevette Loonan said her caseload has stayed steady, but funding was cut 37 percent this year. She said her team of volunteers is valuable to keep services available to people in crisis.She told the board some of her duties this year:oAssisting nine women and children to safe houses.oHelping 28 victims file for protection orders against their abusers.Loonan and volunteers are on call 24 hours a day in case of a crisis. Loonan covers the region through a special hotline, and is periodically on call for that as well.Change in recorder The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday formally appointed Jere Ohme to the recorder position, after he resigned.The resignation means he left the position as an elected person, and is now a county employee, appointed by the board. The board successfully changed the position from elected to appointed this year, through state legislation.

By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners received a feedlot inventory update at its Tuesday meeting, and the results hold steady with what previous inspections have shown — few feedlots have environmental problems.Land Management Director Eric Hartman said, "We’re expecting that to continue."Many of the feedlots inspected in the total inventory process are open feedlots, or pastures, making the high marks notable, Hartman said.He expects the more than 600 Rock County feedlots to be through the inventory process in 13 months.Last year, the Board of Water and Soil Resources and local staff were able to work through the winter because of mild weather. This year may be different, but the end completion date is still a goal.To help producers who have to make changes, the county is matching a portion of a grant that will bring an engineer to the LMO for two years. The engineer option is open to the county because of a state grant that would allow a regional engineer to be housed out of Rock County for two years. The local cost would be mostly "in kind" costs of about $34,000 that would come from providing a work area, telephone and vehicle for the engineer.The two-year grant allows most of the engineer’s time to be dedicated to working with feedlot owners in Rock County who have to make changes based on the Level III inventories. Some that have to come into compliance have to do so because of changed regulations since their original permit.Some highlights from the quarterly feedlot report are:o365 sites have been visitedo80 percent have no environmental concernsoSeven active sites have basin and runoff concernsoGrand total cost for the county is $54,018.81.Auditing changesNot only does the county have to change its accounting practices, but how it gets audited is changing for the first time since Rock County was formed.The state is no longer Rock County’s auditor. It was selected among 20 other counties to contract for private auditing instead of using state auditors.That means the county has to advertise for an auditing firm and hope that a private agency wants to take on Minnesota auditing laws. In the past, the county had a good, longstanding relationship with its supervising state auditor, and employees could call with very specific questions and get them answered immediately. Rock County obviously hopes that level of service will continue.The county doesn’t know what to expect for cost through a private auditor, but auditing a county is time consuming. In the past, four state auditors worked 10 to 15 days to complete the audits.On the in-house accounting side, things are changing too.The new financial reporting system is called Governmental Accounting Standards and Board and the county should be finished with changing to its standards by the end of the year. Rock County Auditor-Treasurer Gloria Rolfs said, "It’s just one of those things that comes with the job."She said the changes involve specific ways of recording accounts, and their actual code numbers are different. Rolfs said that making the changes won’t be difficult, as much as they are time consuming.GASBY training is ongoing in the county and at the regional level.Domestic violence The Southwest Crisis Center is using the Rock County Courthouse lawn to display the names of domestic violence fatalities in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.Crisis Center director Raevette Loonan said her caseload has stayed steady, but funding was cut 37 percent this year. She said her team of volunteers is valuable to keep services available to people in crisis.She told the board some of her duties this year:oAssisting nine women and children to safe houses.oHelping 28 victims file for protection orders against their abusers.Loonan and volunteers are on call 24 hours a day in case of a crisis. Loonan covers the region through a special hotline, and is periodically on call for that as well.Change in recorder The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday formally appointed Jere Ohme to the recorder position, after he resigned.The resignation means he left the position as an elected person, and is now a county employee, appointed by the board. The board successfully changed the position from elected to appointed this year, through state legislation.

By Sara StrongTwo musicians, who first learned their scales in Luverne, will perform at the Palace Theatre Sunday. Brother and sister, Jim Emery and Jyl (Emery) Dunavan, are a part of Selah Porter, a group featuring eclectic music — ranging from roots folk and bluegrass to gospel and country-fused rock.Jim, Bloomington, is a 1986 graduate of Luverne and says people can expect a "good variety" from the show. He said, "We have our leanings toward traditional country, but that’s not where we stay."The performance will include original music and some favorites, including a Beatles cover. There will be some a cappella numbers, and even a reggae song.Jyl said, "Our defining point is really our harmonies."Jyl, a 1983 Luverne grad, learned much of her love of music from then teacher, Dolly Talbert. She also took piano lessons from Janice Fick."I actually had to ask for the piano lessons because my sisters never practiced and my parents weren’t sure if I should take them," Jyl said.She now gives private voice and piano lessons, as she home schools her own children. In the band she plays keyboards, fiddle, and whatever else may suit her fancy. She has recorded two projects, her most recent of which is "On My Heart," released this summer.Jim and Jyl have sung together since they were old enough to speak. "Jyl and I were both putting a lot of our energy into music from the time we were in junior high," Jim said. "Jyl was at the piano singing most of the time, and I was in my room with an electric guitar and a stack of records. It took us another decade or so to understand how much common ground we have." Jim plays acoustic and electric guitar and is a contributing songwriter to Selah Porter.Jyl said, "It is a joy to be able to perform in my hometown where my roots grow deep. My interest in music was first born and fostered as a child. … I remember Dad singing while he was just doing his chores, and we always kept busy singing on car rides."Jim’s wife, Kathy Emery, plays bass guitar and saxophone and does lead and harmonizing vocals.Jyl’s husband, Dean Dunavan, is a percussionist/drummer and vocalist.Local people may remember the Emery’s parents, Buster and Ardella, who now live in Arkansas.Tickets for Selah Porter can be purchased by calling the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County at 283-8294, or by stopping by the Carnegie. Tickets will also be available the day of show at the Palace Theatre Box Office beginning at 1 p.m. The show starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Child and senior tickets are available at a price of $4 in advance and $6 at the door.

By Lori EhdeA Luverne second-grader is recuperating home this week after being struck by a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am Sunday in the crosswalk at Main Street and Highway 75.According to the accident report, 7-year-old Cole Walgrave was at the southwest corner of the intersection on his inline skates and crossed Highway 75 to the east when the light turned green.At that time, shortly after 5 p.m., 17-year-old Jesse Dean Lafrenz made a left-hand turn from Main Street south on Highway 75, striking Cole in the crosswalk.According to an eye witness at the scene, Lafrenz was distracted by activity behind him and kept driving."He didn’t even realize he had hit someone," said Cole Walgrave’s father, Tim Walgrave.A witness reportedly hollered and flagged down Lafrenz who eventually stopped."Cole told me he didn’t even see the car, and next thing he knew he was laying up against the curb," Tim said.Cole was treated at Luverne Community Hospital and evaluated at Sioux Valley in Sioux Falls. Doctors discovered a fracture in his lower pelvis near the tail bone, and Tim said as of Tuesday Cole couldn’t put weight on his legs without pain.It will likely be next week before he can consider returning to Luverne Elementary School where he is a second-grader."He can’t even move one leg now," Tim said, adding that the whole ordeal will likely teach Cole a new respect for caution at crosswalks."I think he’ll remember that for a long time," Tim said. "We all take for granted when the light turns green we can just go."Lafrenz was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian.

By Sara StrongThe Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce hopes that a couple of maneuvers will save some money and serve its members.The Chamber office is moving into the Brandenburg Gallery, which it currently owns and operates, by Nov. 1.The gallery will remain where it is, with the addition of the Chamber offices. Its appearance will stay much the same as it is now.The Brandenburg Prairie Foundation is purchasing the gallery, which Chamber director Dave Smith said makes sense for the Foundation."They have the educational pieces in place, with the Touch the Sky Prairie, and they can take it from here," Smith said.The Chamber will operate the gallery, earning a management fee that is still under negotiation.A private party is working on using the current Chamber space for a new business, possibly an ice cream and gift shop.The Chamber is clearly in need of the cash from the management fee. Like most organizations and businesses, the gallery and Chamber itself have suffered through a couple years of a down-turned economy.Smith said, "We figured that by sharing assets, we’d be able to better serve the gallery and the Chamber of Commerce."The Blues on the Rocks festival last summer, for example, lost $10,000 for the Chamber and the city of Luverne is discontinuing its annual $19,000 contribution because of its own tight budget.The Luverne Economic Development Authority voted Tuesday to put a moratorium on the Chamber’s loan payments to the city for a year. Smith said this will give the Chamber a chance to rethink its operations and save the $220 per month payments. While the Chamber doesn’t make payments on the $16,000 it still owes, it will still earn interest.The Chamber will have fewer employees while it manages the gallery. It won’t have to pay rent for two offices anymore, either. The current Chamber office is rented from the Blue Mound Area Theatre Board, which operates the Palace Theatre. With Chamber staff located at the gallery, Smith said the hours will be expanded. It currently isn’t open until 10 a.m. and is closed Mondays. With the new arrangement it will be open during regular business hours and part-time help will keep the doors open on Saturdays."We’ll be able to do a lot better job with visitors," Smith said. He said some visitors would pull off the interstate because of the Brandenburg Gallery billboards and wouldn’t visit the Chamber office. Now, visitors will be able to access general Luverne area information while they’re in the gallery.Even though the gallery itself hasn’t been running a profit for the last two years, Smith said it’s been important as a draw to the community. Shoppers may not always buy large ticket items every time they’re in the gallery, but they are eating in town, fueling their cars and maybe staying the night.Another option to help the struggling Chamber of Commerce is to find sponsorships for community events that the Chamber currently runs alone, such as Buffalo Days or Hot Dog Night.In other economic development news:oThe LEDA Tuesday voted to pay the guarantee it had on a loan to Scott and Nancy Vande Weerd, former owners of Image Wear.The company declared bankruptcy and after assets were sold, the remaining portion that Luverne owed was $5,289.

By Sara StrongThe future Luverne Community Hospital and Clinic entrance could be further to the north, pleasing Veterans Drive residents, if the state gives approval.The Minnesota Department of Transportation has to give final approval, because the driveway is proposed to be off of Highway 75 instead of Veterans Drive, which the city has jurisdiction over.The access point will be 300 feet further to the north than the original plan. The actual facility site will be the same.Residents met with city representatives Wednesday, Oct. 1, to show their disapproval of plans to take hospital and clinic traffic through their neighborhood. They also expressed their distrust in the city.Residents got word that MnDOT said it wouldn’t allow a hospital driveway directly off of Highway 75. They now say they question whether MnDOT was consulted.Veterans Drive residents said that moving the hospital entrance off their street is good for the city in general because it won’t have to pay for the street work on the 28-foot road.It’s narrower than most thoroughfares and wouldn’t leave room for street parking.Residents were personally concerned about their own properties, and the 500 to 750 extra vehicles that would pass through each day.MnDOT will decide on the change sometime this week.

By Lori EhdeThe city of Luverne rumbled for a solid 15 minutes Saturday afternoon when a parade of 750 motorcycles cruised through town on the bike rally to remember Randy Scott.Scott, 55, Hardwick, was killed Aug. 16 when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with a Cadillac driven by Congressman Bill Janklow, who sped through a stop sign at a rural intersection in Moody County, S.D.While former South Dakota Governor Janklow, is left with legal and political ramifications of the accident, all Randy Scott’s family and friends have are their memories.Appropriately, his memory was honored Saturday with a motorcycle rally that drew more than 1,000 people from several states in the region.Howling Dog Saloon Manager Jodi (Kunkel) Christy, along with Randy’s mother Marcella Scott, organized the event."It worked out great," Marcella said Tuesday. "Everyone was so respectful, and it all worked out so well."She rode as a motorcycle passenger to the first few stops on the rally with Randy’s friend Terry Johnson, who was with Randy when the crash happened.He said he was pleased by Saturday’s show of support, but it offers little comfort to those who miss Randy."It makes me feel good that so many came out for this, but it makes me miss him even more," Johnson said. "The reason we had the rally is that Randy’s gone. I would rather that Randy would have been with me on some other ride for charity."The weather on Saturday was unseasonably warm and sunny, however, and Johnson described the day as a "joyful" event."It was a good trip," he said. "I appreciate everyone showing up to support us. People came from very far away."Participants convened at the Howling Dog Saloon 1:30 p.m. and motored north on Highway 75 and then east on Main Street out of town past the Luverne City Park.Motorcycles lead the way, but they were trailed by a chartered bus and various vintage automobiles and other vehicles.A major stop along the rally route was the accident scene near Trent, S.D, where participants placed flowers at the base of a utility pole with Randy’s name on it.Using a deputy's squad car microphone and PA system, Marcella said a prayer and then led the crowd in singing "Amazing Grace."Family members gathered at the actual spot where Scott's body came to rest after the accident. A tell-tale clearing still remains in the soybean field near the roadway.A new South Dakota "Think!" sign marks the spot, as similar signs along roadways do for other traffic victims.Motorcycles and automobiles lined the rural roadway for a quarter mile during the ceremony, and local deputies helped the rally on its way afterward.Stops along the way included the Kenneth Bar in Kenneth, Green Lantern in Hardwick, Tree House in Trosky, the Silver Bullet in Sherman, S.D., the Corner Bar in Valley Springs, S.D. and then back to the Howling Dog in Luverne for food and entertainment.The Howling Dog was an ideal sponsor for the event, since it used to be Scotty’s Bar and Grill. For 11 years, Randy’s parents, Marcella and the late Earl Scott owned the bar.Manager Jody Christy and other organizers were caught off guard by the numbers of people who showed up. They printed 150 "remember" T-shirts, but those were gone early and dozens more have been ordered."It looked like Sturgis," Christy said. "Especially in Kenneth. There were motorcycles on both sides of the street and down the middle."Even those who weren’t riding in the rally showed their support. "Farmers and their families out in the country were sitting out there on their lawn chairs like it was a parade," Christy said. "It was incredible. It was really neat."T-shirt sales, a silent auction and donations at the rally yielded $3,300 for a Dollars For Scholars memorial in Randy’s name.The Buckin’ Gator bar in Rapid City, S.D., organized a simultaneous bike rally for Randy Saturday drawing 200 people and additional donations.With national political attention focused on Janklow, who pleaded not-guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges, Christy said it’s important that Randy isn’t forgotten."We really succeeded that day with it being his day," she said. "It was all about him."

By Lori EhdeBefore 1983, there were no public hunting grounds in Rock County and no wildlife habitat reserves. Not surprisingly, those were also the days before the Pheasants Forever chapter in Rock County.Since the chapter organized 20 years ago, the group has grown to include 200 members, acquired more than 900 acres of Pheasants Forever Land and now operates with a $10,000 budget.During their Oct. 11 banquet, Pheasants Forever members will observe their 20th anniversary with special engraved guns that will be raffled.They’ll also no doubt reflect on their early days as a chapter.According to one founding member, Clyde Menning, interest in forming a local Pheasants Forever group was inspired partly from disappointment with existing conservation groups at the time."The money we were raising here for Ducks Unlimited … nothing was being returned to Rock County," Menning said.After attending a Lyon County Pheasants Forever Banquet, Menning called the Pheasants Forever CEO Jeff Finden about starting a group in Rock County.Menning, Dean DeBooy and the late Harvey and Ramona Ball met with Finden in Country Kitchen one summer day in 1983 and decided to organize a chapter.Their first banquet in September 1984 attracted 100 members."We decided that this new Pheasants Forever group had more to offer than other conservation groups because all the money raised stayed local," Menning said.Further he said, it was an opportunity to develop wildlife habitat."That was the main purpose of starting the chapter," Menning said. "There was no public hunting ground in Rock County at the time. It was all about improving the environment."Habitat Chairman Chuck Van Wyhe said the group’s efforts have paid off, especially since the federal soil bank program was expiring in the mid-1980s, and many land owners were tilling habitat areas for row crops."Back then, the pheasant population was dwindling in Rock County," Van Wyhe said. "Those were some pretty lean years for pheasant hunting."While the intent of setting aside ground for Pheasants Forever is to boost pheasant populations, Van Wyhe said everyone benefits from improvements to ground, air and water quality."It benefits not only pheasants, but any type of wildlife that can utilize this ground we’re developing," he said."And it’s forever. It would take a legislative act to change it. Even if our group dissolves or if there’s a law someday banning hunting, the habitat will stay."As local Pheasants Forever land is acquired, the State of Minnesota makes payments to Rock County’s tax coffers in lieu of property taxes. The money is paid from a state trust fed primarily by sales of lottery tickets and conservation license plates."In most cases, the money to Rock County has been more than when the land wasn’t in Pheasants Forever," Van Wyhe said.Russ Blanford donationThis philosophy of improving local habitat appeals to non-Pheasants Forever members as well.When rural Luverne’s Russell Blanford died this summer, he bequeathed $80,000 to the local chapter to purchase 153 acres of prime river bottom land for public hunting."He left part of him that will be remembered by people and kids forever," Van Wyhe said. "He told us he was going to remember us in his will, but I was surprised when we got the donation."Blanford owned 300 acres of pastures, fields and river land, and he gave Pheasants Forever the money to buy part of the land — almost a quarter section — from his beneficiaries.The land is located south of I-90. To get there, travelers on Highway 75 from Luverne would turn east on County Road 16 (a blacktop) just south of Schoneman Park, for one-half mile, and then travel one mile north toward I-90.Rock County’s Pheasant’s Forever chapter was able to expand the Blanford’s donation to $208,000 through a $104,000 matching grant from the Minnesota Critical Habitat License Plate fund and through $24,000 from the Rock County Chapters of Pheasants Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation.The land will be managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and will likely be open for public hunting in 2004.Rock County Pheasants Forever chairmen since 1983 include Clyde Menning, Lonnie Van Klei, Steve Heitkamp, Ivan Kooiker and current chair, Jeff Wienke.Corporate sponsors Country Kitchen, Hardwick State Bank, Exchange State Bank in Hills and Tony Bosch of Jubilee Foods have supported the group from its beginning. There are a total of 37 corporate sponsors currently supporting Rock County Pheasants Forever.

By Jolene FarleyA benefit for Chris Louwagie and his family is planned from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at the Pizza Ranch in Luverne. The benefit, sponsored by the Hills-Beaver Creek Education Association, will include a pizza buffet with 20 percent of the proceeds donated by the Pizza Ranch to the Louwagie family and a free will offering. Louwagie, a Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School teacher, was injured in a car accident northwest of Hills Thursday, July 31.Proceeds will help him and his family (wife Laura and son Jonah) with medical bills from the accident. Louwagie is recovering at home from his injuries but hopes to return to work in January.