Versteeg applies for feedlot permit
PUBLIC NOTICE
In Accordance with amended
Minnesota State Statutes 116.07, Subdivision 7a

I Harold Versteeg do hereby give notice that I have applied for an animal feedlot permit for constructing an expansion to my existing feedlot. The construction will consist of a 51' X 160' total confinement barn to house 1000 head equivalent to 300 animal units.

The feedlot is located in the NW 1/4 of section 32 in Battle Plain Township of Rock County.

Nearest State, County or Township road: County Road 7

Construction Location: From the intersection of County roads 7 and 2, 2 1/2 miles west on county road 7, on the south side of the road

The Rock County Land Management Office will be conducting the Permitting Process:

311 West Gabrielson Road
Luverne, MN 56156
(507) 283-8862 Extension #3
(4-11)

Severson probate
DISTRICT COURT
PROBATE DIVISION
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION OF INTESTACY, DETERMINATION OF HEIRSHIP, APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF ROCK
ESTATE OF
ROBERT S. SEVERSON, SR.
DECEDENT
It is Ordered and Notice is given that on Monday, May 6, 2002 at 9:00 (a.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at Rock County Courthouse Luverne, Minnesota, for the adjudication of intestacy and determination of heirship of the Decedent, and for the appointment of Gayle Stegemann whose address is: 117 E. Barck Avenue, Luverne, MN 56156 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the Petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate.

Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred.

/s/ TIMOTHY K. CONNELL
TIMOTHY K. CONNELL
Judge Date
/s/ SANDRA L. VRTACNIK
SANDRA L. VRTACNIK
Court Administrator Date
Attorney For Personal Representative
BENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.
VANDER KOOI LAW OFFICES, P.A.
127 E. Main
P.O. Box 746
Luverne, MN 56156-0746
507-283-9546
Attorney I.D. No. 112124
(4-11, 4-18)

Karla Osterday's third-grade class is this week's Luverne Elementary featured class of the week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Jessica Brands, Austin Eeten, Austen Klosterbuer, Brittney Buss, Dayton Kern, Dustin DenHartog, Emily VanDerBrink, (second row) BG Xaisongkham, Adam Gruis, Ben Nath, Cody Gaddis, Salinda Fletcher, Alyssa Frakes, Morgan Sommers, Josh VanVeldhuizen, (back row) Mrs. Osterday, Zach Cowell, Thomas Lingen, Josh Ganun, Joey Slieter, Jessica Rome and Gretchen Schneekloth.

Mrs. Osterday's third-graders had their Accelerated Reading party for third quarter. They played board games and had doughnuts with milk for milk break. In math they are multiplying and dividing, and they just finished their weaving project for art class. At the end of April they will take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Mike Graff (front as Oliver), Dan Nath and Colleen Nath play some of the central roles in the play 'Oliver' being performed by the Green Earth Players next weekend. Story inside.

By Lori Ehde
The odds were not in their favor, but Hardwick's Cliff and Gladys Anderson are the lucky winners of a $30,000 sports car from Royal River Casino, Flandreau, S.D.

Their number was drawn from a barrel containing more than 50,000 other tickets Thursday, April 11.

"It's never happened to me to win that big of a prize," Gladys said Tuesday.

The casino had been offering a spring promotion during the month of March that gave a free chance at the car to everyone who came through the door that month.

"There were people who came in three times a day. I know people in Flandreau with 200 tickets in there," Cliff said. "The first number pulled out of there was ours."

He and Gladys had accumulated a combined 18 tickets for their odds.

The promotion required winners be present to collect the prize, so the casino was filled to capacity on the day of the drawing.

"That place was so packed we couldnÕt even get to the car at the time of the drawing," Gladys said. "We almost needed security to get through the crowd. They were yelling and cheering, 'We have a winner! They're coming.'"

Amid the commotion, the Andersons basked in the front seat of their 2002 electric green Ford Mustang convertible. "We blew the horn and whooped and hollered," Cliff said. "We celebrated a little."

And then, the couple promptly sold the car back to Flandreau Motors for $25,000. "Uncle Sam got $9,000 of it," Cliff said. "But we're happy."

When asked what the couple intends to do with their new-found wealth, they didn't have specific plans.

"We just bought a house in Hardwick, so that money will come in handy," Cliff said.

By Lori Ehde
After trimming travel agents' commissions to 5 percent last year, many airlines have now decided to cut commissions altogether.

Delta Airlines initiated the measure March 14 and most airlines since then have followed suit, forcing travel agents to increase upfront fees to travelers.

In Luverne, that means Great Planes and Roundwind travel agencies are now charging $25 per airline passenger - $10 more than the previous $15 fee.

In the past month, staff at these agencies have been monitoring the effect on their business.

"I hate to charge a higher fee - I feel so bad doing it - but people are saying we'd rather pay a little more for the service we get," Sue Hoffman of Great Planes Travel said.

Stacy Mente at Roundwind is finding the same customer loyalty. "People tell us the fee is well worth the service," she said.

"Just last week I had someone tell me, 'Man, I'm so glad we paid to have you do it, because I couldn't have gotten home last night if we hadn't had you do it."

Both agents realize they're bound to lose some business from the higher up-front fee, but they're responding by working harder to give travelers what the Internet can't: service.

"We're trying to really hit the service end of it," Mente said. "I can save them money on a rental car because I have options to work with. And it's not just cars, hotels and airfare. If they go to Vegas and want to see Siegfried and Roy, I can book that for them."

Hoffman said these are things travel agents have done for years. The difference now is that they need to market these services so clients see the value in paying the upfront fee.

"I've given it a lot of thought, and what I've found affects us worse is the Internet. A lot of people are using the Internet to buy their airline tickets," Hoffman said. "But that was happening regardless of the commission cuts."

SheÕs also quick to point out that travel agents also have access to the Internet, and they're constantly surfing for the best deal for their clients.

Both Mente and Hoffman say they're grateful for loyal patronage.

"Actually, we've found that it's not affecting us the way we thought it might," Hoffman said of the commission cuts. "People have been really supportive."

By Sara Strong
Green Earth Players cast and crew of "Oliver!" are working their way through the last week of rehearsals. In the final days before the curtains part, they polish costumes, staging and elocution.
During this time they are also reminded that the long rehearsals that gave them direction also made them close as a team.

Led by Sioux Falls director, John Beranek, this production may be slightly unique in that some participants came with those bonds already formed.

For example, three generations of the Van Aartsen family took on roles for "Oliver!"

Darrel Van Aartsen, his father, Gerrit, and son, Mark, all have roles in the play. Darrel's sister, Peg Gacke, her daughter, Andraya, and son, Landon, will also share the stage with the family.

Darrel said their time backstage was spent just as closely with other cast members as with each other, even though it was a nice experience for the family.

Many other parent and child teams and sibling sets help make up the cast. Lynette Stensland and Dan, Nathan and Matt Stensland-Bos; Martha, Gretchen and Kaia Nowatzki; Tyler and Alex Moran; and Audra and Alyssa Novotny are just some of the other family members that take part in the production.

Co-workers also help complete the players as in the case of Grace Lutheran Church's two pastors, Maurice Hagen and Dell Sanderson, who play less than savory characters.

Regardless of the relationships behind the scenes, the audience will be impressed by what they see on stage as area talents perform in Luverne.

Just ask the director. Beranek said that even though a lot of the cast was made up of theater novices, "It'll be a heck of a show."

He said, "The most amazing thing to me is to go from the beginning when they think they can't perform to when I know they can and they realize they can. It's a fun process."

Beranek said that "Oliver!" shouldn't be thought of as a childrenÕs show with so many parents working beside their children on and off stage.

"I'm thrilled at the network of support this show has," Beranek said. Costumes, sets and music have gotten enough attention from the crew and volunteers that he can put his focus where he is most needed - the performances.

When people see the show, Beranek said they should give credit where it's due. "Whatever people like about the play, Leona [Hoek] deserves as much credit as me. She is a gem an absolute jewel. I think she'd play 24 hours a day if she thought someone would be singing and dancing to it."

Keeping close to cast and crew helps make the performances, Beranek said. "I'm a real strong believer in character development and to do that we have to get to know each other."

It's ironic that a story of orphans in London is played so believably by a cast of family and friends in a small Minnesota town.

About Oliver
"Oliver!" is the musical version of the classic novel, "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens. Lionel Bart reputedly had never read the somber tale when he decided to make a musical out of it.

At first he planned a rock-and-roll version but changed his mind. His finished show retained the most important parts of Dickens' plot, but to make it a musical comedy, two villains became funnier, the gang of child-thieves became lovable, and London became less alcohol-and-drug-ridden.

In the play, Oliver Twist, Mike Graff is a young orphan living in a workhouse. The famous scene where he dares to ask for more food is what prompts the overseer to sell him. He then meets Nancy, played by Chelsea Cronin, who recognizes the goodness in Oliver. While on the streets of London, he is falsely arrested and taken into the respectable home of Mr. Brownlow, played by Dan Nath.

Nancy hopes Oliver will have the kind of life that can never be hers. A critical point in the play comes when the evil Bill Sykes, whom Nancy loves despite his ill treatment, fears that Oliver knows too much about their criminal activities. He wants the child recaptured, and she is torn between her love for Oliver and her love for Bill, played by Kevin Aaker.

The decision Nancy makes produces the musical's conclusion.

'Oliver' has one of the biggest cast and crew of any GEP production.

Crew members are: John Beranek, Tammy Makram, Fred Manfred, Dianne Ossenfort, Gerald Harsma, Jim Harsma, Noreen Woodle, Linda Dummer, Leona Walhos-Hoek, Renee Richardson, Bonnie Johannsen, Cheryl Nath, Terri Ebert, Jo Wulf and Kathy Deuschle.

Cast members are: Mike Graff, Matt Stensland-Bos, Dell Sanderson, Chelsea Cronin, Kevin Aaker, Maurice Hagen, Martha Nowatzki, Dan Stensland-Bos, Phil Voigt, Fran Bohlke, Carolyn Drenth, Andraya Gacke, Marlene Wassenaar, Cindy Baldwin, Colleen Nath, Dan Nath, Eric Ranschau, Gerrit Van Aartsen, Darrel Van Aartsen, Audra Novotny, Theresa Graff, Peg Gacke, Julia Lovett, Annie Jo Uithoven, Lynette Stensland, Linda Iverson, Traci Carlson, Zachary Sanderson, Gretchen Nowatzki, Stephan Harsma, Kaia Nowatzki, Matt Blomgren, Danielle Powell, Mason Makram, Brittany Sandager, Alex Moran, Carrie Jo Bauer, Tyler Moran, Amber Deutsch, Mark Van Aartsen, Kristin Harsma, Nathan Stensland-Bos, Matt Nath, Mitch Bauman, Landon Gacke, Hayden Bauman, Stephanie Van Wyhe, Chase Hoffman, Hilary Deragisch, Blade Fry, Hannah Baartman, Shane Kramer, Alyssa Novotny, Dustin Deutsch, Abby Elbers, Ben Nath, Alex Lovett, Ian Connor, Cheryl Nath, Rachel Nath, Kyle Harsma, Sydney Bosshart, Diana Hanson, Gabrielle Luethje, Hailey Stulen and Caitlyn Deutsch.

To go
WHAT- "Oliver" the musical
WHEN- 8 p.m. Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, April 19, 20, 25 and 26 (no show Saturday, April 27). Sunday shows start at 2 p.m. April 21 and 28.
WHERE- Luverne High School Little Theater
HOW- Tickets are on sale starting April 12. Call the box office at 283-8294 or stop by the Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. (Season ticket holders can purchase from 1 to 9 p.m. April 11.)

By Sara Strong
The latest land acquisition of Pheasants Forever puts 153 more acres in a permanent state of wildlife management by the Department of Natural Resources.

This purchase, which hasn't quite been finalized, is part of a growing number of acres that the organization has contributed.

Even though hunters are some of the most active Pheasants Forever members, that's not the only use for the land. By turning the land over to the DNR, it becomes public for other outdoor activities like photography, bird watching or hiking. Hunting would take place on the land only about three to four months of the year.

When acquired as public land, it is taken out of agricultural production but not completely off the county credits. The DNR makes payments in lieu of taxes that are close to what the land would have been worth if it were privately owned.

For example, the land Pheasants Forever is working on purchasing now earns the county $2,100 in property taxes. The state will make a $2,065 payment to the county in place of those taxes.

Townships and the Rock County Board must give permission for sales to go through and, have so far, been unanimous in favor of Pheasants Forever.

Local Pheasants Forever president Jeff Wieneke said, "We use money that we raise locally to purchase land that is not ideal for agricultural use and restore it to habitat that is beneficial to a wide range of wildlife. This also benefits, conservationists, farmers and all concerned with the environment."

Perry Loegering, area wildlife manager for the DNR, said that land taken out of production privately may not have the long-term impact that public land does.

"Things can change when ownership changes, and the private owners might not be as consistent," Loegering said.

The upcoming purchase is large enough to be a habitat area on its own. "By having a site like this we can impact the pheasant population. They have small home ranges and don't travel far, so the woody cover and food plots will help them survive the winter."

This particular area in Springwater Township is near natural springs and on the watershed. A benefit to the county in this case is that agricultural chemicals won't be a risk for entering the water supply.

Once the land is in the DNR's hands, it is returned to a natural prairie state, which helps control the spread of noxious weeds without using chemicals.

Now and forever
To date, Rock County Pheasants Forever has completed 1,286 acres of food plots, 103 acres of tree plantings, 367 acres of nesting cover and 613.4 acres of land acquisitions. The combined projects have cost almost $300,000.

The organization has 150 members with an additional 75 members in the Ringnecks youth program.

New in 2002 for Pheasants Forever is a grain wagon purchase. The Rock County chapter purchased the grain wagon that will be filled with corn so people can feed wildlife during harsh winters. In years past, the group rented or borrowed the wagon. Corn from feed plots is used to furnish the wagon.

PF rotates food plots among different crops to avoid using herbicides or other means of chemically helping a crop.

Even though the DNR manages the land, local members plant trees, remove fences and clean the areas.
When Pheasants Forever purchases land, it's often through the cooperation of different groups. PF has received matching funds from the state through the Prairie Heritage Fund and the Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Match Program. The Rock River Gobblers, a chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, has donated money for land acquisitions along the Rock River.

PF's upcoming acquisition was partially funded by Minnesota Habitat Fund, which is funded by state PF chapters that donate money for land purchases throughout the state.

The large local organization with lots of buying power didn't start out that way. Formed in 1984, it started to raise money at banquets to buy trees and food. These projects were done on private land, and there was no guarantee they could be used by the public. Rock County PF made its first land acquisition, 40 acres, from Duane Mulder in 1992 at a cost of $15,000. The largest land acquisition came in 1993 from Lawrence Willers, which was 291 acres.

Wieneke said, "The support from our members and the public has been terrific since the Willers acquisition. [WeÕve] since dedicated our efforts to creating more wildlife management areas."

That goal of creating more public land that benefits wildlife has been central to the organization since its founding. Prior to Pheasants Forever, Rock County had no wildlife management areas.

Habitat chairman Chuck Van Wyhe said he is proud of the organizationÕs commitment to pass hunting down as a tradition. He hopes that diversified prairie plots around the county help all types of habitat for generations to enjoy.

Members pay annual dues of $21. The monthly meetings deal with planning and goals for the organization and are usually announced on community calendars.

Major fund-raisers for PF are the banquets that include raffles, a live action, drawings and a sit-down dinner.

By Sara Strong
The Luverne City Council discussed a possible way to ensure cleanup after residential fires Tuesday.

The council tabled a resolution that would allow the city to hold 25 percent of an individual's insurance claim after a fire. The city would hold that settlement money in an escrow account and return it to property owners after the fire damage was repaired or removed.

State law allows this to be done. City Administrator Matt Hylen said it is a way to prevent taxpayers from having to pay for the city to clean up property damaged in fires if it is neglected long enough to become tax forfeited.

Mayor Glen Gust said that other ordinances the city has in place for blighted property should cover those circumstances without interfering with private insurance settlements.

Gust said that in 26 years of serving on the fire department, he couldn't think of an instance where a property damaged by fire wasn't dealt with in timely fashion by the owner.

"That the government would take 25 percent is an outrage to me," Gust said. "It just doesn't sit well."

Councilman David Hauge said the ordinance would send the wrong message to residents. He said, "Should government say 'We don't trust the citizens of Luverne?'"

Hauge said the private arrangement homeowners have with their insurance companies shouldn't be intruded upon by cities.

"It's kind of touchy for the government to step in at a time of tragedy," Hauge said.

Gust said that even though the property owners would get their money back, 25 percent of the settlement is too much to keep from people who need it to get their life back after a fire.

No one's memory could recall a situation where this ordinance would have been useful in the past. The council will bring the issue back on the table for discussion and vote.

If passed, the state Commissioner of Commerce would be notified of the ordinance. All insurance companies would be informed that clients from Luverne would know to include that in their policies.

Settling differences
During the council meeting, Hauge brought up what he perceived to be declining morale within the council and among city staff.

"There's too much bitterness, there's too much rancor, there's too many people who feel they haven't been recognized for what they've done," Hauge said.

He said he wanted to bring up the issue at a meeting to make his feelings clear. "This is something I believe deeply, and it's something that has to be addressed," Hauge said.

The problem he perceives is elected representatives airing personnel issues in public and creating an unprofessional image of the elected council members.

Hauge said, "I definitely would like to see more trust between the mayor and the management team."

Keith Erickson said he understands that his job is to govern and that city staff should be allowed to do their day-to-day jobs.

Hauge said, "It's easy to stand on the outside and criticize, but it's a little different when you're trying to lead and trying to do what's right."

He, Gust and Councilman Tom Martius are new to the council, elected a year ago.

Erickson, who's served on the council for more than 11 years, said the past year has been more "tumultuous" than heÕs experienced before. But, he said, strong wills on the staff side and elected side mean both are taking their jobs seriously.

Gust said, "Everyone who works for the city does a great job, they do. But with three new members, it's not going to be business as usual. My goal is moving the city of Luverne forward, period."

The council acknowledged having differences with staff, without naming names or being specific. Council members said they were committed to working together on those differences in a way that shows integrity.

In other business the council:
Learned that the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center is trying a new program for parents. Starting April 15 and continuing through the end of May, staff will offer childcare from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for adults who want to keep children with them as they use the facility.

The basic childcare service will cost $1.50 per child per hour, with each additional child costing 50¢ more an hour. A separate room will house the children as parents use the pool, weight room or cardiovascular equipment.

Contributed $150 to the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council. Past City Councils have also made the donation.

By Sara Strong
An attempt to sell the city's apartments got some attention from would-be owners, but none saw enough potential to submit bids.

The 29 units in Mounds View and Evergreen Apartments will stay in the Luverne Economic Development AuthorityÕs hands for now.

Fifteen interested parties got the bid specifications from the city. LEDA director Tony Chladek followed up with them and found that they didn't see enough profit potential to give ownership a try.

The LEDA hasn't met to discuss what it might do next, but Chladek speculated that it might pay off more debt before re-advertising for bids.

Tenants gathered at a February LEDA meeting to protest the possibility of a sale. They worried that rent might increase and that maintenance and upkeep could become a lower priority to new owners.

Because of those concerns the LEDA asked that potential bidders address those issues.

The apartments weren't intended to be a permanent part of the city's operations. They were built on the north end of town in the early '90s when interest rates were higher, making it difficult for private parties to build.

At that time, the Minnesota Veterans Home was about to open, and a housing study indicated rental availability was a concern.

When the properties were constructed, some real estate brokers and private contractors worried that the apartments would take too much away from the private sector.

Though the demand for the units existed, and still exists, building and owning them apparently was not and is not a profitable venture.