Since 1994, the Blue Mound Quilters have donated one of their prized personal works to Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. This year, the women outdid themselves with a king-size "Sunny Lanes" patterned quilt. It's 101 by 101 inches and required more than 600 hours of volunteer labor and about $125 worth of donated material. As usual, Millie Lais performed the quilting, this time using three different free-hand styles - stippling, meandering and medallion. Dorothey Texel completed the binding, and nearly all the club members contributed work on the quilt in one way or another. They started the project in September and just completed it last month. "We're really proud of this one," Texel said. The quilt is one of the premier auction items at the annual Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction each spring, typically raising more than $1,200 each year.

Club members pictured are (from left) Jennie Boelman, Roni Van Hulzen, Joyce Fluit, Mary Akkerman, Mildred Lais, Eloise Wohlford, Marguerite Smith, (back row) Terri Fries, Carol Svingen, Barb Fegan, Debi Scholten, Verla Fick, Bonnie Kirchhofer, Brenda Zylstra, Pat Kiebach, Dorothey Texel, Ardath Schmidt, Elaine Mann, Arlene Bendix and Jan Johansen. Not pictured are Mary Crawford, Darlene Fick, Betty Elbers and Jill Willers.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Cronberg probate
DISTRICT COURT
PROBATE DIVISION
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF ROCK
ESTATE OF
Lucille E. Cronberg, a/k/a Lucile E. Cronberg, and as Lucile Cronberg
DECEDENT
Notice is given that an application for informal probate of the Decedent's will dated Sept. 13, 1967, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), has been filed with the Registrar. The application has been granted.

Notice is also given that the Registrar has informally appointed John Cronberg whose address is: Rural Route 1, Box 115, Luverne, Minnesota 56156 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative. Unless objections are filed with the Court (pursuant to Minn. Stat. 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders, the personal representative has full power to administer the Estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate.

Any objections to the probate of the will or appointment of the Personal Representative must be filed with this Court and will be heard by the Court after the filing of an appropriate petition and proper notice of hearing.

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 1/15/02
Timothy K. Connell
Registrar Date
/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 1/15/02
Sandra L. Vrtacnik
Court Administrator Date
Attorney For Personal Representative
Terry Vajgrt
Skewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt, L.L.P.
120 N. McKenzie
P. O. Box 538
Luverne, MN 56156-0538
Telephone 507 283-9111
Attorney License #205035
(1-17, 1-24)

Mortgage foreclosure sale set for Feb. 7
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:
DATE OF MORTGAGE: 09/26/2000
MORTGAGOR (S): Michael E. Ladd and Gracia I. Ladd, husband and wife.

MORTGAGEE: Associates Financial Services Company, Inc.

DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded October 03, 2000, Rock County Recorder, Document No. 148628.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot 4 in Block 5 in Kniss Park Addition to the Village (now City) of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota.

COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Rock

ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $61,471.27

AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTAGEE: $67,913.28

That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;

PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows:

DATE AND TIME OF SALE: Thursday, February 07, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE OF SALE:

Front Steps of Rock County Law Enforcement Center, City of Luverne
to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys' fees allowed by law subject to redemption within 6 months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns.

MORTGAGOR(S) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE: NONE
THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGORÕS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 582.032 DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN 5 UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.
Dated: November 30, 2001

Associates Financial Services Company, Inc.
Mortgagee
Peterson, Fram & Bergman, P.A.
By: Steven H. Bruns
Attorneys for:
Associates Financial Services Company, Inc.
Mortgagee
50 E. 5th St., Suite 300
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 291-8955
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
(12-13, 12-20, 12-27, 1-3-2002, 1-10, 1-17)

Proposed City street improvements hearing
set for Jan. 22

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Luverne will meet in the Council Chambers of City Hall (second floor of the Municipal Building located at 203 East Main Street) at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2002, to consider making an improvement on (1) Freeman Street between the North line of Lincoln Street to the South line of Luverne Street and between the North line of Luverne Street to the South line of Dodge Street and between the North line of Dodge Street to the South line of Barck Avenue; (2) Estey Street between the North line of Main Street to the South line of Luverne Street and between the North line of Luverne Street to the South line of Dodge Street and between the North line of Dodge Street to the South line of Barck Avenue; (3) Bishop Street between the East line of Kniss Avenue to the West line of Freeman Street; (4) Crawford Street between the East line of Kniss Avenue to the West line of Estey Street; (5) Brown Street between the East line of Kniss Avenue to the West line of Cedar Street by removing the curb, intakes, bituminous surfacing, street pavement, and curb stops and installing new curb & gutter, overlay, intakes, curb stops, asphalt, and other related work: (6) gravel alley in Block 7 of Kniss Park Addition by bituminous surfacing; and (7) gravel alley in Crawford's Addition by bituminous surfacing, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 429.011 to 429.111.

The estimated cost of the improvement is $1,178,000.00. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessment will be available at the hearing. Such persons as desire to be heard with reference to the proposed improvement will be heard at this meeting.

/s/ Matthew L. Hylen
Matthew L. Hylen, City Administrator
(1-10, 1-17)

Mortgage foreclosure sale set for March 12
01-21149
8042047715
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
THE RIGHT TO VERFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:

DATE OF MORTGAGE: November 24, 1999

ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $57,531.00

MORTGAGOR (S): Danny R. Kephart and Evelyn Kephart, Husband and Wife

MORTGAGEE: EquiCredit Corporation of Mn., n/k/a NationsCredit Financial Services Corporation
DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: recorded December 3, 1999, Rock County Recorder, Document No. 146866

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: The East 74.4 feet of Lot 2 in Block 1, Auditor's Plat no. 1 to the City of Luverne

COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Rock

AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $68,858.21

THAT all pre-foreclosure requirements have been complied with; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;

PURSUANT, to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows:

DATE AND TIME OF SALE: March 12 2002 10:00 A.M.

PLACE OF SALE: Sheriff's Main Office, West Side Sheriff Dept., Front Step, Luverne, MN
to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys fees allowed by law, subject to redemption within six months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s) their personal representatives or assigns.

"THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 582.032 DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN 5 UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.

Dated: January 10, 2002

NATIONSCREDIT FINANCIAL SERVICES
CORPORATION
Mortgagee
SHAPIRO & NORDMEYER, L.L.P.
BY /s/ Nancy A. Nordmeyer
Lawrence P. Zielke
Beth W. Asmussen
Attorneys for Mortgagee
7300 Metro Blvd., Suite 390
Edina, MN 55439-2305
(952) 831-4060
THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
(1-17, 1-24, 1-31, 2-7, 2-14, 2-21)

By Sara Quam
The Rock County Board of Commissioners at its Tuesday meeting gave Sheriff Ron McClure the nod to pursue getting a dog to join the Sheriff's Department.

Cost of a general patrol dog is about $24,000, at last estimate. The cost will be deferred by money from Pipestone veterinarian Gordon Spronk, who pled guilty to making false statements to a federally-insured bank. As part of the plea agreement, he is paying $500,000 to area government bodies, and part of Rock CountyÕs portion is going toward the dog.

The officer who takes in the dog as his working partner and family pet has a large undertaking, but two officers have said they are seriously interested.

The officer who takes the German shepherd has to miss three months of work for training with the dog. That missed time would have to be made up by other officers covering shifts.

The training could begin as early as March.

Newly elected board chair Jane Wildung said, "Hopefully it'll be a benefit to the work you do and serve the county well."

McClure said he looks forward to the dog becoming a part of the department but said sweeping changes won't likely result. "It's a helpful tool, especially for car searches," he said. "We feel the dog will really help us."

New committee
The Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District and the County Board are forming a joint committee to reassess needs that may have come up since the district's formation in 1996.

With John Burgers no longer filling the title of Land Management Director, the joint committee will start looking to fill that position.

The office keeps track of how the staff's time is spent so the committee will have an accurate job description when it comes time to advertise for the director.

By Lori Ehde
A noon luncheon Friday brought local business owners, lenders and community leaders together with organizations that exist to improve small-town economic development.

Attendees heard presentations by the Southwest Minnesota Foundation, Prairieland Economic Development Corporation and Southwest Regional Development Corporation.

All three entities are similar in that they serve as "gap lenders" for small businesses. This means they help come up with the difference between a business owner's equity and private financing.

"We're not here to compete with local lenders," said SWMN Foundation's Berny Berger. "We're here to work with them to bring it together."

The organizations are also similar in that they often serve as administrators of government grants and loans. The Southwest Minnesota Foundation, for example, lends money on behalf of the USDA and Department of Trade and Economic Development.

The hour-long meeting at the Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Center, Luverne, was facilitated by the Luverne Economic Development Corporation and Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce.

"One of the best ways to develop an economy is to focus on the people who help make it happen," said LEDA director Tony Chladek at the start of the meeting.

"Some of the best ways to generate ideas is to get together like this."

Small business owner Annie Opitz, Luverne, attended Friday's luncheon. "It was a great turnout," she said. "It was nice to see all the newer, younger business owners from around town there."

Opitz started Quality Printing with her husband, Mark, two years ago.

She said they leaned heavily on start-up help from the Prairieland EDC and the Southwest Minnesota Foundation.

"That's how we did most of our loans," she said. "Anne Petersen (of Prairieland EDC) went to the bank with us and helped us with our business plan. We couldn't have done it without her."

After startup, Quality Printing continued to look to Petersen for information on how to keep their business afloat. "She had ideas on ways to get new customers and different things to look at to expand our customer base," Opitz said.

Stacy Mente, manager of Roundwind Travel, said she attended Friday out of curiosity.

"If we ever want to expand, I wanted to find out what help was available," she said. "It was very good information ... I never knew they did half the stuff they do."

Chladek said he hoped to have more "information clearinghouse" meetings like Friday's in the future.

"My goal Friday was to educate the public that there are other tools out there for small businesses besides the city and local lenders," Chladek said.

Future meetings, he said, may be staged merely to get local businesses and potential business owners together for idea exchanges.

Phone numbers and addresses for the Southwest Minnesota Foundation, Prairieland Economic Development Corporation and Southwest Regional Development Corporation can be accessed by calling Chladek at the Luverne EDA Office, 449-5033.

By Lori Ehde
The Luverne High School junior charged with stabbing a girl has been expelled for the remainder of the school year, according to action taken at a special School Board meeting Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Seventeen-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Smook, Luverne, was charged Jan. 4 in Rock County District Court with two counts of second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of fifth degree assault.

According to school weapons policy, Smook was initially suspended for five days, and the Wednesday meeting was scheduled.

Present at the meeting were Luverne School Board members and school attorney Don Klosterbuer. Smook and her parents did not attend the meeting on advice of her legal counsel.

Superintendent Vince Schaefer said the school weapons policy states that after the five-day suspension, it's up to the board whether or not the student can remain in school.

But he said there wasn't much hesitation in deciding to expel, in this case. "It's gotten to the point with violence in schools that I think 95 percent of situations will go that route," Schaefer said.

He said the board also discussed what its approach should be to the alleged harassment and bullying that precipitated the stabbing.

"Things happen for a reason," Schaefer said. "We need to get down to what the reason was here."

He wasn't specific, but he said there may be penalties imposed on students accused of harassing and bullying Smook.

"We're interviewing students and parents, trying to get to the bottom of this," Schaefer said.

The board and administration urges students and parents to alert the school of conflicts before things get violent.

"If you don't tell me, how do I know how to help you?" High School Principal Gary Fisher said Tuesday.

He said he frequently squashes minor disputes among students, and if he'd known about this one, there's a chance the stabbing may have been prevented.

"It's better to call me and get it off your chest than to stay home and be mad about it," he said, directing the comment at both students and parents.

He said he's not going to be able help in all cases, but it's always best to let him or another school staff member know.

Smook appeared in Rock County District Court Monday and entered a plea of not guilty.

According to the Rock County Attorney's Office, entering a not guilty plea on a first appearance is quite common, because it allows time for attorneys to review reports and discuss matters with clients.

Smook will take classes at Minnesota West Community and Technical College through the Post Secondary Option at Luverne High School.

Shirley Harrison's kindergarten class is the featured class of the week this week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Jennifer Kruse, Brandon Balsavage, Kurdt Kramer, Hailey Sommers, Jonathan Reisch, Jeffrey Morrison, (second row), Kenda Blomgren, Dalton Meester, MaKenna Hadler, Andrew Jelken, Tyler Wessels, Kelsey VanderPoel, Dominick Brien, (back) Jim Vink (foster grandparent), Nicole Thode, Brooke Theilbar, Cassondra Brands, Christopher Hoogland, Amanda Williams, Cole Walgrave, Bryan Stanley, Bob Ginthendu/Rogers and Mrs. Harrison.

The students are busy working on letters and their sounds, as well as sight words, according to Harrison. They are involved in interactive writing so they may begin to write on their own soon. They are reading Jan Brett's books this month and plan to act out the story, "The Mitten." They are finishing up a unit on counting and collecting and will begin working with shapes and patterns, even doing a little paper quilting. Books on friendship are being read, as they are learning the qualities of a good friend and how to be one.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek girls' basketball team opened the 2002 portion of its schedule by posting a trilling 44-42 win over Southwest Star Concept in Okabena Thursday.

Trailing 39-30 with 4:30 left to play, the Patriots needed a big rally down the stretch to pull out a win and got one.

H-BC, which outscored the Quasars 16-10 for the period, went on a 14-3 run in the second half of the fourth quarter to post a two-point win.

The rally came against an SSC team that made 63 percent of its field goals in the game.

"It wasn't a pretty game for us by any means, but we survived a night in which they shot the ball really well," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle.

"We hung around and were able to pick it up a notch when we had to in the fourth quarter. It always doesn't work out that way."

Erin Boeve and Becky Broesder, who led the Patriots with 16 and 10 points respectively, came up big down the stretch.

Boeve capped a 10-point second half with a field goal that gave the Patriots a 43-42 lead. Broesder added a free throw in the final minute to make it a two-point difference in the end.

SSC led 7-6 after eight minutes of play before boasting four-point advantages (22-18 and 32-28) at the next two quarter breaks.

Boeve had 10 rebounds and seven steals to go along with her 16 points.

Cassi Tilstra added four assists and four steals to the winning cause.

Box score
B.Rozeboom 2 1 0-0 7, Olson 0 0 0-0 0, Rentschler 2 0 1-2 5, Tilstra 1 0 0-0 2, Broesder 4 0 2-4 10, S.Rozeboom 1 0 0-0 2, DeNoble 0 0 2-2 2, Boeve 7 0 2-4 16.

Team statistics
H-BC: 18 of 57 field goals (32 percent), seven of 12 free throws (58 percent), 33 rebounds, 10 turnovers.
SSC: 17 of 27 field goals (63 percent), seven of 16 free throws (44 percent), 33 rebounds, 26 turnovers.

Donald "Paul" Slagel, 75, Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Magnolia, died at home Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001.
Services were Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at All Saints Catholic Church in Mesa. Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, St. Paul.

"Paul" Slagel was born to Clarence and Jessie Slagel on April 22, 1926, in Magnolia. He graduated from Magnolia High School and spent his career as a construction superintendent. He joined the U.S. Navy on April 17, 1944, and served aboard the USS Catskill during World War II.

He married Mary Ann Berning on Sept. 15, 1947. In 1951 they moved to Bloomington, to Faribault in 1973, and then to Mesa in 1982.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Slagel, Mesa; six children, Randy (Gloria) Slagel, Farmington, Tom (Pam) Slagel, Gilbert, Ariz., Kathy (Glenn) Myers, Lakeville, Russ Slagel, Chisago, Therese (Rick) Hoelzer, Mesa, and Kristi (Emery) Maher, Dennison; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Pat Wachter, St. Paul, and Thelma (Carl) Sherer, Eagan.

Mr. Slagel was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marilyn Nelson.