April Gangestad, left, and Renee Norman lead a Luverne Community Education class on home decorating Thursday, Feb. 20, in Gangestad’s home. They are pictured on a $7 chair purchased at a thrift store. The class saw how simple principles of design can be applied without spending a lot of money.

By Sara Strong
You don’t have to hire a designer — or pay designer prices — for your home to look like it.

That’s the message from April Gangestad and Renee Norman, who hosted a Luverne Community Education class Thursday to show students key ways to decorate inexpensively, starting with what’s already in the home.

"We try to introduce various things, like sitting arrangements that don’t put people 10-feet away from each other when they’re trying to have a conversation," Gangestad said.

She and Norman don’t know it all when it comes to decorating, but being self-taught comes with a sense of pride.

Watching as many TV shows and reading as many decorating magazines as possible was a place for them to start individually. But Norman and Gangestad decided to share their hobby (and some furniture) in a sort of informal club. They share ideas and use their group of friends as a sounding board for all sorts of ideas.

During one productive gathering, they made large wire balls, wound with light strings to hang as chandeliers. It worked, and it was cheap.

"I bet in my living room, I’ve spent about $500, and some of it was stuff I got off the curb," Gangestad said.

Gangestad and her husband, Mike, have lived in their home for six years. In that time, they’ve painted all the rooms and gone through a few different styles.

Gangestad now says she knows her style better than before. "I used to hang these long shelves and cram a lot of things all over them, but I’ve come a long way," she said.

Some of the class participants said they were stuck in a rut and needed new ideas and others came to get courage to paint their walls something other than white.

Gangestad said paint doesn’t have to be permanent and shouldn’t be considered a grave decision. "These walls were white when we moved in here and now that we painted everything, nobody has died because of it."

Getting the courage to make a change can come after inspiration. Norman and Gangestad suggest reading books and magazines and browsing the internet to get ideas.

Gangestad keeps a binder full of her favorite ideas and magazine clippings. (This also saves storage space by not having to save entire magazines.) By doing that, she realized her consistent style was a warm, eclectic blend of various styles.

Norman, on the other hand, said she likes to keep her decorating simple, with just a few choice accessories. "Less is more, I think, and there’s less to dust that way too," she said.

No matter what style homeowners like, Norman and Gangestad said thinking of the practical side of things can help make design work — like the old adage, "form follows function."

Gangestad said, "You have to live before you can create. … If you have all white furniture and walls and carpet, you aren’t going to want your kids or pets in the room."

Cheap and chic
Most people know enough to shop for sale prices, but Gangestad said some of her favorite pieces have come from local discount centers.

Just for fun, Norman and Gangestad went shopping in Luverne before the class, to illustrate the treasures that could be found locally.

Class participants were surprised, for instance, at the candleholder with beaded shade and wall sconces they found at the Bargain Center. "I bet I go there at least once a week," Gangestad said.

Auctions on rainy days, rummage sales and salvage, or junk stores are also good places to snag a deal.

Rearranging furniture or borrowing from other rooms is a free way to freshen up the look of a home as well.

Gangestad said it’s also important to keep unattractive things out of sight. Group magazines in a rack instead of on top of tables, and toss remote controls and similar clutter in a small wicker basket. From there, it’ll be easier to see the real accessories of a room.

For women who still don’t know where to start with their dreams of beautifully decorated homes, Gangestad said this — husbands don’t have to know about projects until after they’re completed.

From the class…
Find a theme: it could be anything, including country, simple, modern, Oriental.

Rearranging furniture: Make a plan. It helps to use graph paper and draw to scale so you can move furniture without using a muscle. Establish a focal point where you want people to focus their attention. Don’t block the traffic patterns — allow 3 feet for pathways in and out of a room; chairs and sofas should be no more than 8 feet apart; coffee tables should be 18 inches from the sofa.

Mix living and dining: people like to gather with family and friends in one room.

Television and stereos: You do not have to have a TV in every room. Create an area for watching TV, and if you can, put the TV inside of an armoire or shelving unit. Or make it possible to move it out of the room when it’s not needed.

Changing furniture: Slipcovers, changing hardware and painting are ways to revamp furniture inexpensively. Used or thrift stores are a good way to get unique pieces. Be careful when considering purchasing an item to upholster because that can be almost as costly as new.

More resources: The library has lots of books, and the internet is full of home decorating sites.

By Lori Ehde
Fraudulent lending and other illegal activities cost the Jasper State Bank $2.7 million and forced its sale last summer, according to a federal grand jury indictment last week.

Former co-owner Keith G. Eitreim and former head teller Joyce Y. Foster were indicted Wednesday, Jan. 15, for illegal activities alleged to have taken place between July 2000 and last March.

Eitreim, 46, was charged with bank fraud, false bank entry and misapplication of bank funds.

He’s specifically accused of making $800,000 in fraudulent loans to several bank customers, creating false account entries to hide his activities and using loan collateral to buy a car.

He co-owned the Jasper State Bank with his brother-in-law David Smith until last May. Smith remains bank president and has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.

Foster, 56, faces fraud charges for allegedly padding the inventory for Wall Street Motor Co., a used-car dealership in Jasper, so it could qualify for more bank financing.

According to the indictment, filed in U.S. District Court, Minneapolis, Foster also falsified delinquent loan accounts at Eitreim’s direction.

When bank regulators discovered the financial irregularities last May, Eitreim resigned from all his bank positions and Foster was placed on administrative leave in July.

Jasper natives Chuck Hey, Sioux Falls, and Bill Sexton, Scottsdale, Ariz., reportedly formed a new bank holding company, Pipestone County Bancorp, and have purchased the bank from its former parent company, Jasper Investment Co., last June .

Pipestone County Bancorp also put $3 million in the bank to prevent its failure, according to the indictment.

Eitreim and Foster each face up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count. They were scheduled to appear in Minneapolis early this week.

By Sara Strong
Luverne’s city-owned apartments are now in private hands.

The Luverne Economic Development Authority Tuesday approved the sale to Steve Perkins, chief manager of the newly-formed Luverne Townhome Rental Properties, LLC.

Perkins will purchase the apartments, which are more accurately described as townhomes, with other family members.

As the only bidder, Perkins offered $1.45 million for the 29 units in Mounds View and Evergreen Apartments.

"We feel the offer is generous, and it’s a good cause because it puts the property back on the tax rolls," Perkins said.

He said he sees the apartments as a long-term investment and doesn’t plan on making changes in the operation of the units, nor in the rent prices.

Perkins requested the sale be finalized by the end of the month, so renters will pay March’s rent to Perkin’s group.

Before the LEDA could sell the units, it had to have a public hearing. Current residents wondered about logistical aspects of the sales, like who will refund security deposits and where they’ll send their rent checks.

Those specifics are all worked out in the sale contract and renters will get a letter outlining what they’ll need to know.

Perkins said he wouldn’t raise rent on current tenants for at least a year and said the maintenance workers and system would stay in place.

If anything, he said, the apartments will see an increase of upgrades and improvements.

The LEDA voted unanimously to approve the sale.

By Sara Strong
Ben Vander Kooi is at the Capitol today as part of Arts Advocacy Day, the same as he has for 20 years.
This year is a little different from the rest because of the state budget crisis. But just the same, he’s saying that the arts are worth the money.

He’s a team leader during Arts Advocacy Day, visiting state lawmakers to ask that arts funding doesn’t suffer more than others in fixing the budget.

"We’ll share in the pain," Vander Kooi said. "But we don’t want to be hit more than anyone else."

Vander Kooi is president of the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County (CAHRC). He’s also a life trustee and past president of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Chair of the Minnesota State Arts Board and president of Blue Mound Area Theater, Inc.

CAHRC administrates local art organizations such as the Fine Arts Association (which displays art in the Carnegie Cultural Center), the Green Earth Players and Blue Mound Area Theater.

Vander Kooi said that it’s difficult to lobby for arts funding when so much state money is having to be cut.
"Right now the arts are getting by with very little as it is," he said.

Two-thirds of the state’s arts groups are projecting deficits by the end of the year. Along with lower state funding, private and corporate donations are decreasing this year.

The state spends about $13 million a year on the arts, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s budget proposal calls for a 22 percent decrease, leaving $9 million.

Locally, that money goes toward Carnegie Cultural Center displays and Palace programs. Touring orchestras visiting Worthington or theater groups performing in Pipestone would be other arts activities Rock County people would lose access to.

Most of those programs come with grants from the state, but call for 50 percent matches.

Even though the outlook isn’t great for the state budget, Vander Kooi is looking forward to doing what he can for the arts. "We have support across party lines. And we’ve never had more than 400 [at Arts Advocacy Day] and there’s going to be more than 800 this year. Busloads are coming from all corners of the state."

Keeps money circulating
Minnesota is repeatedly named "Most Livable State in the Nation" partly because of the strength of its support for the arts.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press said, "We are recognized nationally for the exceptional quality of our 31,000 working artists and 1,600 arts organizations. In 1998, almost 9 million people attended non-profit arts events statewide; outnumbering the people who attended sports events."

The Minnesota Citizens for the Arts points out that arts strengthen the state’s economy, promote tourism and are a vital part of a complete education.

Here is some pro-arts information from MCA:

o"A vibrant arts community is critical to how corporations decide where to locate, and how people decide where to work." (Megatrends and Megatrends 2000, John Naisbitt)

o"Arts availability in a community enables local employers to attract and retain higher skilled employees." (Warren Satterlee, President and CEO, Great Plains Natural Gas Company, Fergus Falls)

oOn a promotional tour to Canada, former Gov. Jesse Ventura was asked what Minnesota has to offer to Canadian tourists. His reply was "Our theaters, our museums, our culture. We have everything New York has without the hassles."

Luverne Early Childhood Family Educator Shelley Krueger talks to a group of parents Monday morning about the importance of reading to babies early in their lives. Not only does reading prompt brain development, but it fosters healthy relationships between infants and parents. "You feel that warmth and closeness when you’re reading to your baby, and they know it, too," Krueger said. "It doesn’t take long and they come to you with a book, pulling on your leg."

Photo by Lori Ehde

Palisade Lutheran is a stereotypical little country church whose new remodeling brought it up to modern standards. Now its small congregation can comfortably age in a church that’s accessible to everyone, and focus on adding new members. Story inside.

Photo by Sara Strong

By John Rittenhouse
A penalty-plagued performance by the Luverne boys’ hockey team led to an early exit from the Section 1A Tournament Thursday.

Playing No. 7 Waseca in a preliminary-round game in Waseca Thursday, the 11th-seeded Cardinals proved to be their own worst enemies as they were whistled for 10 penalties in the game.

Waseca took advantage of the situation to net one power-play goal in what ended as a 4-1 victory for the hosts.

Waseca advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals with the win. The loss ended Luverne’s 13-9-1 season.

"We had 10 penalties, and you can’t win playoff games playing like that," said Cardinal coach Lee Chaffee. "We didn’t even have a chance to be creative, because there always seemed to be one of our players in the penalty box."

Waseca took a 2-0 lead in the first period before Luverne struck with a goal with less than one second remaining in the stanza.

Eric Lammert scored the goal with two-tenths of a second left in the period. Andy Hess received an assist for the goal.

Waseca went on to score one goal in the second and third periods to prevail by three.

Waseca outshot LHS 29-22 in the game. Cody Gehrke made 25 saves in goal for the Cards.

Norris Quam, 78, Snohomish, Wash., formerly of Luverne, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003, from heart disease.

There was a family memorial service Saturday, Feb. 22, at Bauer Funeral Chapel in Snohomish.

Norris Quam was born on June 22, 1924, near Fargo, N.D. He was adopted and brought to Underwood by his parents, Olaf and Ruth Quam in April 1925. After graduating from Underwood High School in 1942, he spent two years in the U.S. Army during World War II serving in the Philippine Islands, New Guinea and Korea.

He married Jeanne Gronner on June 29, 1947. They lived in Fergus Falls and then the Fargo-Moorhead area for many years where he was salesman in the truck parts industry. They moved from Moorhead to Starbuck in 1970 where they owned and operated the Coast-To-Coast Hardware Store. They later moved the family to Luverne where they lived for 27 years. He worked in Sioux Falls, S.D., during that time as a truck parts salesman. In 1997 they moved to Snohomish to be near their children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Jeanne, Snohomish; two sons, Ken Quam, and Gary Quam; one son-in-law, Don Jensen; two grandchildren, Cassandra Foley and Shawn Jensen, one great-grandson, Derek Foley, four sisters-in-law, Verna Johnson, Merelle Engebretson, Leila Miller and Alice Gronner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Quam was preceded in death by one daughter, Noreen Jensen.

Bauer Funeral Chapel, Snohomish, was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ basketball team served notice that it will be a force to contend with during the upcoming South Section 3A Tournament Thursday night.

Playing No. 1-seeded Adrian on the Dragons’ home floor, H-BC pulled off an upset by toppling the Dragons 58-51 in overtime.

H-BC, which will be the fifth seed for the post-season tournament, upped its Red Rock Conference record to 10-5 with the win.

Adrian, which had not lost a league game prior to Thursday, sported a 14-1 mark after the loss.
The game was a tight one from beginning to end.

H-BC led 12-11 after eight minutes of play before falling behind 25-21 at intermission.

The Patriots outscored Adrian 16-10 in the third quarter to gain a 37-35 cushion, which set the stage for an exciting finish.

H-BC led 45-44 before Adrian’s Andrea Lonneman converted a field goal with 30 seconds remaining to give the Dragons a 46-45 edge.

The Patriots missed their initial shot during their ensuing possession, but Patriot Erin Boeve grabbed the rebound and converted it into a basket with 12 seconds left to put H-BC in front 47-46.

Adrian received a break during its next possession when a loose ball ended up in the hands of Lonneman, who was fouled in the act of shooting with seven seconds remaining. Lonneman tied the game by making one of two charity shots, and Dragon Maria Gengler blocked an H-BC shot at the end of regulation play to force overtime.

The overtime session belonged to the Patriots as they outscored Adrian 11-4 without trailing in the period.
H-BC, which missed three one-and-one charity shots in the fourth quarter to keep Adrian in the game, prevailed in overtime by making seven of 10 free throws.

Erin Boeve, who had 14 rebounds and blocked six shots, scored six points in overtime and led the winners with 16 points.

Cassi Tilstra scored 14 points, passed for six assists and charted four steals for H-BC, while Melinda Feucht added six assists, three steals and 12 points.

Sarah Rozeboom, Kelly Mulder and Amanda Olson nabbed nine, eight and seven rebounds for H-BC. Rozeboom also recorded four steals.

Gengler scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Adrian.

Box score
H-BC
B.Rozeboom 0 0 0-0 0, Bush 0 0 0-0 0, Sandstede 0 0 0-0 0, Feucht 5 0 2-2 12, Tilstra 6 0 2-4 14, S.Rozeboom 2 0 2-5 6, Boeve 6 0 4-4 16, Olson 3 0 2-2 8, Mulder 1 0 0-2 2.
Adrian
Heronimus 4 0 1-3 9, Honermann 3 0 1-1 7, A.Henning 2 0 0-0 4, Cox 3 0 0-0 6, Lonneman 3 0 1-2 7, Gengler 8 0 2-4 18.

Team statistics
H-BC: 23 of 57 field goals (40 percent), 12 of 19 free throws (63 percent), 45 rebounds, 16 turnovers.
Adrian: 23 of 60 field goals (38 percent), five of 10 free throws (50 percent), 31 rebounds, 16 turnovers.