By Sara Quam
Nan Karr Kaufenberg is still a grieving mother, but she's also an artist.

Kaufenberg is the mother of murder victim Carrie Nelson and is one of the featured local artists this month at the Carnegie Cultural Center.

Two of her prints, marked with Carrie's favorite color, orange, are on display.

"I don't think I could have made it a couple months ago," Kaufenberg said. "It was nice to be able to put it up in the art center now that a few more months have gone by."

"Remembering Carrie" is a linoleum block print that was inspired by a picture of Carrie on Minnesota's north shore, one of her favorite places. The scene is black and white, and Carrie stands out in orange.

Kaufenberg placed an orange ribbon in the corner of the frame. "It's the one I wore to the funeral," she said.

The other print on display was intended for Carrie. "I just finished the orange poppies that she wanted for her apartment in September. 'Remembering Carrie' was just finished a few weeks ago."

Kaufenberg said the little memorials she's made for Carrie and her family have been a little therapeutic.

"It was hard to do, but it helped. Our family and friends loved it and I'm not selling it, but I'm giving prints to some people," Kaufenberg said.

Since Carrie's death in May, Kaufenberg said she's taken life day by day and will never be the same.

"We really want the investigators to get the right phone call and find who did this."

She acknowledges that the circumstances of Carrie's death have put a different spin on what would be devastating to any parent. "It's so hard to lose a child that it doesnÕt matter if it's public or not. It changes you totally."

Kaufenberg now lives on a farm near Madison, S.D., but still feels ties to Rock County.

Carrie is a Luverne graduate so the family set up a Carrie Christine Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund through Dollars for Scholars.

Carrie Nelson, 20, was killed while working at Blue Mounds State Park, and local investigators and from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension continue to seek tips at 283-1301.

By Sara Quam
Rock County Rural Water and the city of Luverne are still committed to the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, even though its water won't reach the area until 2011.

RCRW Monday night passed a resolution recommending to the county that it stay with the project that will cost $440,000 for its share of the water service.

The Monday meeting was a result of the board needing to spend more than was first anticipated. But even with a slightly higher cost, the board voted to support the project. The cost figure uses 2001 dollars and could increase by the time the water reaches the county.

RCRW manager Dan Cook and Lewis and Clark director Pam Bonrud presented the Rock County Board of Commissioners a progress report at last weekÕs County Board meeting.

They noted that most recently, Lewis and Clark has been testing sites south of Vermillion, S.D., for future well sites. The test sites will give crews ideas on how to construct and pump from the wells.

Bonrud said, "We should let people know that a lot is going on with the project, but it's quiet work right now."

Lewis and Clark's mission is to provide the region, including 22 communities and rural water systems, better quality water and a larger quantity of water.

Luverne has been on board since the beginning, and RCRW joined shortly after. The project, which received federal authorization last year, has been in the works since 1990.

With federal authorization, projects have usually continued to be funded. However, after the events of Sept. 11 and changing national priorities, the County Board questioned whether funding can be counted on.

"All I can tell you is what history shows," Bonrud said. She said federal funding of projects with authorization has continued through different administrations and changing times in the past. She said the project may not get the full amount requested but that losing funding is unlikely.

The $2 million in appropriations promised by President Bush is still waiting to be passed but is still in the language.

Rather than seeing Sept. 11 as a threat to reducing projects like Lewis and Clark, Bonrud said it will continue to get support. "This sort of infrastructure is important to the federal government and ties in with stimulating the economy," Bonrud said.

Ideally, Lewis and Clark would like $12 million in 2003. Local financial support has come in small increments on monthly water bills, and the city of Luverne doesn't see rates increasing. RCRW said a maximum of $5 a month from its customers would cover the project over 40 years. However, it is hoping to dip into reserves or use other sources of loans to defer those costs.

RCRW is allotted an additional 300,000 gallons a day from Lewis and Clark, and Luverne increased its allotment to 750,000 gallons a day, or half of what it expects to use at high capacity.

Part of what makes Lewis and Clark an attractive offer is the cost, which is at or below what the systems can provide on their own. Other positive aspects are the water itself, which is softer than what this area already has, and the decreased risk of pollution.

By Lori Ehde
Cal Saarloos, Luverne, is referred to lately as "a walking miracle," since he survived what easily could have been a fatal accident Friday.

"The good Lord was with him," his wife, Betty, said Tuesday. "That's all I can say."

Shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, Cal Saarloos parked his Ford pickup alongside the family van on Highway 75 about a mile south of Luverne where it ran out of gas that morning.

With his hazard lights flashing, he had just started pouring gas in the van's tank when an International grain truck hit his pickup from behind, catapulting Saarloos through the air.

He was airlifted to McKennan Hospital and was held overnight for observation. He'd suffered a concussion, but doctors released him later the next day under orders to rest.

"I feel like a man given a second chance," Cal said from his home Wednesday.

"I'm just thankful for all the wonderful help I had at the scene of the accident."

He received stitches on the top of his head and on a puncture wound under a knee. Otherwise he's scraped and bruised and generally sore.

Their 17-year-old daughter, Jennifer, had been waiting in the van and was the first one to find her father when the dust settled.

"I automatically assumed he was dead," Jennifer said. "He was covered with blood, and he wasn't responding."

She said people are speculating how far her dad was thrown in the air, but she said she didn't see that part.

"I all of sudden saw the truck fly into the ditch. People say the only way he could have survived is if he went over the grain truck," she said.

In retrospect, she knows she's also lucky to be alive. She had been waiting outside between the pickup and the van, but since it was chilly that morning, her dad told her to wait in the van.

That turned out to be a lifesaving suggestion, since the van was sideswiped during the accident, possibly by the pickup being towed by the grain truck.

"That night, I didn't sleep at all," she said. "I kept thinking about the accident."

Though he's under doctor's orders to take it easy, that's easier said than done for a farmer in the middle of harvest season.

"I have to yell at him to rest, but it's hard to keep him down," Betty said.

She said their 15-year-old son, Jeremiah, has handled much of the duties, with extra help from uncles and cousins.

According to the Minnesota Highway Patrol, the grain truck and pickup it was towing are owned by Van Berkel Farms, Hull, Iowa.

It was driven by Todd DeJong, also of Hull. He was treated and released at Luverne Community Hospital.

Jennifer said her dad's pickup was highly visible on a flat stretch of road.

Phyllis Schaefer's first-grade class is the featured Luverne Elementary classroom of the week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Matthew Sterrett, Lucas Dohlmann, Cassandra Liebhard, Kellsie Cowell, Isaac Petersen, Sara Ramirez, (row two) Caleb Dressen, Jonathan Solma, Kelly Sandager, Dustin Deutsch, Victor Phommaracksa, Skyler Wenninger, (back row) Brett Heronimus, Taylor Stratton, Jacob Conger, Katie Kooiker, Caitria Sweeney and Nicholas Buss. Mrs. Schaefer's class is excited about learning how to read and write stories. "We read every night to our parents and enjoy sharing what we have read to our classmates." It has been a busy month for these first-graders, with field trips to the fire station and flower shop. Mr. McGruff also visited school and talked to the class about the McGruff houses and ways to be safe. They are off to a great start in first grade.

Photo by Lori Ehde

A grain truck was towing a pickup when it hit Cal Saarloos' pickup from behind in an accident south of Luverne on Highway 75 Friday. Saarloos was in the bed of the pickup at the time of impact and was thrown from the vehicle.

Photo by Lori Ehde

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek has drawn the fourth seed for the upcoming Sub-Section 10 (of Section 3A) Volleyball Tournament.

The Patriots will open tournament play Friday, Oct. 26, in the Luverne Elementary School gym. H-BC faces No. 5 Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster, a team it beat 3-1 in Round Lake Sept. 27, in the tournament's quarterfinals.

The H-BC match will follow a clash involving No. 1 Southwest Christian on the 26th. Southwest will take on the winner of a match between No. 8 Ellsworth and No. 9 Faith Christian that will be played in Ellsworth at 7 p.m. Monday.

The SWC quarterfinal round match begins at 6 p.m. with the H-BC-SV-RL-B clash to follow.

Quarterfinal-round matches in the tournament's lower bracket will be played in the Luverne High School gym on Oct. 26.

No. 2 Fulda meets No. 7 Adrian at 6 p.m., with No. 3 Edgerton playing No. 6 Southwest Star Concept after the first match.

The tournament's quarterfinals will be played in Luverne Elementary School on Oct. 30.

No site has been announced for the finals, which will be played Nov. 1.

By Jolene Farley
Kayla Vis has operated a day care in her rural Beaver Creek home for six years. She currently cares for 12 children, watching anywhere from five to eight children at a time.

Being a day-care provider takes unlimited energy. Vis simultaneously puts on shoes and coats, pushes kids on the swing, keeps a watchful eye on the active children and handles anything else that comes up.

"You do not get a break when you do day care," said Vis. "If you think you are going to sit down, then that’s not the job for you."

Vis started doing day care to be home with her children. She and her husband, Steve, have three children, Kyle, 9, Zack, 5, and Dalton, 2.

She begins her day at 6 a.m., and her last child leaves at 6 p.m. on most days. Open Monday through Friday, she will watch kids ages 1 year and older. Vis charges $1.75 per hour per child.

Vis doesn't charge a guaranteed fee each week, even if the kids are not at her house. "If they go to Grandma's I don't care; that's fine," she said. "That’s good for them."

Vis really enjoys working with the kids. "They've got some interesting stories if you've got a minute to listen. Sometimes they are pretty funny."

She said the most hectic time of her day is right before lunch, when the kids are hungry and tired. "There is a certain order and routine you have to have," she said. "It's like any other job. Some days you have your bad days."

Vis is unsure if there is a day care shortage in the area, but parents continue to call to see if she has openings.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek assured itself of a winning record during its first year of volleyball competition as a member of the Red Rock Conference.

With a spectacular come-from-behind, 3-2 victory in Fulda Thursday, the Patriots improved their RRC record to 6-4 with one league match left to be played.

The victory, however, didn't come easily.

The Patriots found themselves in a 2-0 hole when the Raiders took the first two games of the match.

Instead of giving up, H-BC turned up the heat on the hosts and outscored them 45-25 while winning the final three games.

A change in the mental approach to the match proved to be the key to victory for H-BC.

"In the first two games we just didn't play very smart volleyball. In the last three games we started to read their defense and take what they were giving us. We played smarter volleyball in the last three games," said Patriot coach Nicole Fey.

The Raiders had their way with the Patriots while rolling to a 15-5 win in Game 1, but H-BC showed signs of regrouping while opening an 11-2 lead in Game 2.

Fulda, however, dominated play while putting together a 13-0 run that gave the hosts a 15-11 win and a 2-0 lead in games.

H-BC trailed early in the third game before rallying to knot the score at 11. At that point the Patriots went on a 4-1 run that clinched a 15-12 victory, which set the stage for a complete comeback.

The Patriots controlled play while securing a 15-8 victory in Game 4.

H-BC dominated the Raiders while opening a 10-0 lead in the fifth game, which ended with the Patriots winning 15-5 in the end.

Tonya Leenderts completed all 35 serves she attempted in the match and scored 26 points for the winners.

LaDonna Sandstede recorded 19 set assists for H-BC while Erin Boeve led the Patriots with 31 kills and 17 digs.

By John Rittenhouse
What has been an outstanding 2001 football season for the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth Patriots became even more impressive Friday in Westbrook.

Taking on the defending Minnesota State nine-man football champion Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers, H-BC-E put another big feather in its hat by recording a 7-6 win.

The victory assured the Patriots of at least a share of the Southwest Ridge Conference championship. A win during last nightÕs regular season finale against Lakeview in Hills would clinch the crown outright for the Patriots.

Even more important than the league implications, the win in Westbrook moved the Patriots closer to the No. 1 seed for the Section 1 Playoffs. If the Patriots beat Lakeview last night, the No. 1 seed, and the first-round bye that goes along with it, would be theirs.

"It was a huge win for us," said Patriot coach Dan Ellingson, the mentor of a team that moved up into the fifth position on the latest Minnesota State Nine-Man football poll.

"It assured us of at least a share of the conference championship, and it was even more important for us in the terms of section seedings. We could get the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and not have to play until the section semifinals Oct. 27."

There was nothing easy about beating the defending state champion Chargers on their home field Friday.

The teams battled to a scoreless draw in the first half before H-BC-E drew first blood by scoring seven points in the third quarter. W-WG found the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but a failed two-point conversion attempt clinched the win for the Patriots.

Although the first half was scoreless, Ellingson said the momentum favored the Patriots after a sequence of possessions in the second quarter.

W-WG was making a bid to open the scoring when it advanced the ball inside the H-BC-E 10-yard line. On fourth-and-goal from the three, the Chargers tried a play-action pass with the W-WG quarterback passing to a running back in the flat. Just as the ball touched the intended receiver's hands, Patriot linebacker Jesse Leuthold delivered a hit that jarred the ball loose and the pass fell incomplete.

Pinned deep in their own territory, the Patriot offense came up with an important series that featured it moving the ball from its own three to the W-WG 35. The drive ended with the Chargers intercepting a pass on their own 11, but that didn't seem to bother Ellingson.

"Those two series were big turning points in the game," Ellingson said. "First we stop them with a goal-line stand, then weÕre able to march the ball downfield instead of giving them good field position. They were in control of the game at that point. Then we were able to establish control of the game."

The first of three important interceptions produced by the Patriot defense helped the H-BC-E offense break the scoreless deadlock in the third quarter.

Chris Reid intercepted the pass on the W-WG 40, which set up a scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Lyle DeBoer. Tyler Bush booted the important extra point to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

The score remained 7-0 until there were less than five minutes left to play in the fourth quarter. W-WG broke through with a two-yard touchdown run with 4:30 left to play, but a pass for a two-point conversion was picked off by Patriot Brad Haak, preserving H-BC-E's 7-6 edge.

H-BC-E had to punt to W-WG as the fourth quarter progressed, and the Chargers picked up a first down by completing a third-and-12 pass. W-WGÕs final opportunity to pull in front ended moments later, when Patriot lineman Kyle Braun deflected a pass that was intercepted by DeBoer with 1:00 left to play. The Patriot offense ran the remaining time off the clock.

"Our defense really played well," Ellingson said. "All three of the interceptions we came up with were big ones."

Team statistics
H-BC-E: 170 rushing yards, zero passing yards, 170 total yards, 11 first downs, three penalties for 17 yards, two turnovers.

W-WG: 111 rushing yards, 166 passing yards, 277 total yards, 14 first downs, four penalties for 25 yards, three turnovers.

Individual statistics
Rushing: Reid 19-71, DeBoer 17-87, Kevin Van Batavia 1-6, Chris Tiesler 2-5, David Top 2-1.

Passing: Top 0-3 for zero yards.

Defense: Curt Schilling 12 tackles, Leuthold 10 tackles, DeBoer six tackles, one sack, one interception, two knocked down passes, Reid six tackles and one interception, Brant Deutsch six tackles, Haak five tackles and one interception.