By Lori Ehde
The Rock County Sheriff's Department is investigating a string of burglaries this spring that have disturbing similarities: many involve break-ins at residences, often when owners and their families are at home.

Investigator Clyde Menning said he has no suspects yet, but he had firm advice for residents.

"Lock your doors," he said Tuesday. "It's very important that people take that step."

He said anyone who encounters a burglary in progress should call 911 immediately.

"Give as good of information as possible," Menning said.

He said to immediately write down any identifying characteristics of the perpetrator to help aid in an arrest later on.

Above all, he said, don't confront a burglar if at all possible.

Although more burglaries were reported over the weekend, following are those reported as of Friday.

oDwayne Christensen, Luverne, reported a burglary on April 6 that occurred sometime between 9 p.m. on April 5 and 6:45 a.m. April 6. Someone broke into their residence and took cash and a purse.

oKevin Aaker, Luverne, reported a theft sometime between 3:30 and 8 a.m. on April 6. Someone took a yellow Panasonic Portable CD player valued at $200, one CD to cassette adapter valued at $15, one CD valued at $20, and one tan Gap purse valued at $30 from a vehicle parked in his driveway.

oTim Cowell, Luverne, reported a burglary sometime between 10:30 p.m. on April 5 and 7 a.m. on April 6. Someone came into his residence and took a purse with cash, credit cards and other items. The purse was located by a mail person in another part of town. Also missing was a pair of Bushnell binoculars valued at $35.

oBrenda Johnson, Luverne, reported a vandalism on April 9. Someone broke the glass pane out of a front window of her residence. Value is approximately $80.

oLoopy's reported a burglary on April 9. Someone broke into the store between 5:30 p.m. on April 7 and 8:45 a.m. April 9 and took an undisclosed amount of money.

oPat Arntson, Luverne, reported a burglary on April 9. Sometime between 3:15 and 9:30 a.m. someone went into the house and took a wallet from the kitchen. Value is unknown.

oMary McLaughlin, Luverne, reported a burglary on April 9. Someone broke into her house on April 6. Some credit cards were taken.

oDesign Craft, Luverne, reported a theft on April 11. Someone stole a Hitachi Slide Compound Saw valued at $499.

oJim Sonntag, Luverne, reported a burglary on April 12. Someone entered his home during the night and took an undisclosed amount of cash.

oDonald Kruger, Luverne, reported a burglary on April 12. Someone broke into his home during the day and took several items, including cash and a handgun.

oMichael Worlie, Luverne, reported a theft on April 12. Someone took his 2-wheel, fold-up aluminum Huffy Micro scooter from his front yard between March 29 and April 3. The scooter is valued at $90.

Last summer the Rock County Sheriff's Department investigated a string of burglaries that were much harder to solve, because they were apparently carried out by several unrelated parties.

Menning said if one of these spring cases is solved, it's likely that suspect is responsible for all the cases.

"I think if we get it figured out, it'll be one group of people that's responsible," he said.

By Lori Ehde
In 1976, Ruth Pickett responded to a help wanted ad placed by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

The job duties were to match willing volunteers with local organizations that needed volunteers.

The position appealed to her because the 20 hours per week were flexible, which meshed well with raising her young son, Joel.

In the 25 years since then, Pickett has come to love the job and the people she grew to know.

"The people were just so interesting, and you got to know so many different ones - wonderful people," she said from her Centennial Apartment home Tuesday.

"You'd meet so many older people - of course they're not so old to me now, because I'm as old as they are - and I learned a lot from them. Some are really generous with their time and so willing to help."

Citing ailing health, Pickett has decided to retire from her work with RSVP. She'll celebrate with an open house from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, in Luverne Pizza Ranch.

"I didn't really want to quit, but my health isn't so good anymore," said Pickett, who will be 72 in June. "I loved my work so. It's hard to give it up."

Pickett said she now plans to join the ranks of volunteers. She already does some work with St. John Lutheran Church, and she will help with the greeting card recycling program at Senior Dining.

Most of all, she said she'll miss the people, both the volunteers and her co-workers.

"I've had good co-workers to work with," she said. "They're so friendly and congenial."

By Lori Ehde
During a painful work session last week, Luverne School Board and administration reviewed possible cuts to balance the budget of more than $400,000 the district is spending over revenues this year.

The proposed cuts don't take into account Gov. Jesse Ventura's threat of no new money for K-12 education next year.

No matter how the budget axe falls, the cuts will mean quality staff will lose their jobs and students will lose valuable programs.

What about the available $1.5 million?
The district has a $1.5 million operating fund balance. This includes the general fund, transportation, food service and community education.

These dollars are used for cash flowing monthly expenses.

In light of that much available cash, it's hard to understand the need to trim $400,000 at all - particularly from the perspective of teachers who may lose their jobs.

"This is $1.5 million extra money the taxpayers have given them," said Luverne High School guidance counselor Craig Nelson.

Nelson, past president of the teachers' union, said it's better to tap into some of the reserves than to lose important programs.

"Nobody feels we have programs that aren't necessary for children," he said.

From the board's perspective, it's true that there's a $1.5 million fund balance in the district's coffers. But that doesn't mean that money is necessarily up for grabs.

"Most of us wouldn't keep a zero balance in our checking accounts," said District Financial Officer Marlene Mann. "It's a $10 million budget, and you need to keep some money in there for cash flow."

Superintendent Vince Schaefer pointed out that the cuts are being proposed as a direct result of this year's budget.

"Expenditures should equal revenue; otherwise it's deficit spending," Schaefer said. "We're trying to be proactive and prevent going broke."

$630,000 for operating reserves
Of the $1.5 million that was on the books at the start of the school year, the largest and most controversial balance is in the general fund earmarked for operating reserve. In July, that came to $630,000.

"The board has always said we should keep about three months worth of operating capital in reserve," Mann said. "Now it's down to less than one month at the end of this year."

After this year's deficit spending, that balance will be about $200,000.

$336,000 for severance pay for retiring staff
There are eight Luverne staff members eligible to retire who are currently on staff.

If they were to all retire, and assuming roughly $25,000 each for first-year severance packages, the $336,000 severance reserve would be depleted by $200,000.

In addition, 10 people retired between 1998 and 2000 who will continue to receive insurance benefits through 2010.

"It's like we've already bought our stuff, and we've got it on a credit card, and we have to pay it off," Mann said.

Teachers and staff agree it's important to plan for these expenses, but Nelson pointed out that retirements also can mean a savings for the district.

This would be especially true in the case where a retiree leaves at the top of the pay scale ($52,000) and is replaced by someone at the bottom of the scale ($25,000).

"That money's always replenished," Nelson said. "Ultimately it can be used as general fund money."

$328,000 in the transportation fund
The balance in the transportation fund is partially from depreciation aid when the state funded transportation vehicles separately.

The dollars are used for transportation salaries, benefits, vehicle maintenance and to provide for insurance, fuel and vehicle replacement.

In the past couple of years, the balance has grown, because the district hasn't been forced to replace expensive vehicles.

But looming on the horizon - probably as early as next year - will be the purchase of a $50,000 special needs bus.

Also, threatening that fund balance is projected $3 per gallon fuel costs for next year.

"If we spend that balance down, these costs would have to be covered out of the general fund balance," Mann said.

$164,000 in the food service fund
Schaefer and Mann said the food service balance has grown through the years under good management of Food Service Director Lorraine Becker.

Kitchen improvements are anticipated to take about $70,000 out of that fund next year, but the remainder is designated for food service expenses.

"That's money that cannot be transferred out," Mann said.

Community Ed, staff development and grad standards
Remaining areas of Luverne's budget that showed balances at the start of this school year are Community Education, staff development and graduation standards.

The $30,000 grad standards balance will be depleted by the end of this year.

The staff development fund shows a balance of more than $39,000, and Community Education had nearly $39,000 at the start of the year.

Good management or crying wolf?
Of the $1.5 million that appeared in Luverne's fund balance at the start of the school year, Mann said an estimated $450,000 will be gone after this year's deficit spending.

The shortfall this year is due in part to high heating costs, snow removal, all day every day kindergarten, an extra third grade teacher who was needed for a larger class and contract settlements.

In addition, the district lost nearly $100,000 from the reduction of 20 students since the start of the school year.

Nelson said he has a hard time taking the funding woes seriously considering Luverne's budget history.

"As teachers and parents we find it difficult to accept that we'll have a deficit when we've never had one," Nelson said.

"I wish before they made cuts that they'd wait and see. Then, if they need to dip into the surplus, then do it. It's like the boy that cried wolf. Every two years we hear about the district going broke and it never happens."

Eugene Marshall gets in on the treasure hunt with his kids Ethan (left) and Erica Saturday morning at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan's Easter egg hunt. In each plastic shell was a piece of candy with a Bible verse. Children who opened eggs containing the passage from John 3:16 won special prizes. According to MJB community relations coordinator Brenda Plimpton, 1,200 eggs were prepared for event, and most of the children managed to collect five to seven eggs.

Photo by Lori Ehde

By Lori Ehde
Sandra Dowie, Luverne, suffered a heart attack two years ago. Since then, her doctor put her on a low-sodium diet, instructing her to avoid products with more than 350 milligrams of sodium.

"Did you know your average can of Campbell's soup can have more than 1,000 milligrams?" Dowie said. "It's really hard to buy anything with less than 350 milligrams of sodium. People need to read their labels."

In her search for special groceries, Dowie has leaned heavily on The Little Buying Club on the Prairie, which allows her to purchase otherwise costly "health foods" in bulk at a reasonable price.

Dowie started the Little Buying Club on the Prairie in Luverne several years ago with a couple other local families, and today the club boasts more than 30 members who have joined for various reasons.

To learn their reasons is a study in healthy living. Some simply feel better knowing they're eating food that's chemical-free. For others, their health depends on it.

Luverne's Cheryl Mahaffay suffers muscle aches, sinus congestion and headaches from several common food ingredients.

"I have been eliminating wheat, corn, dairy and sugar for about six months now and have lost 20 pounds and feel much healthier," Mahaffay said.

She said the Buying Club has helped her do this. "It is difficult to find food without these ingredients in the typical grocery store," she said, "but by poring over the thousands of items in our Blooming Prairie catalog I can do this."

She said local grocers have accommodated her where possible, but by pooling orders with other members in the Buying Club she has more options.

Members meet every four weeks to place their orders and share thoughts about previous orders theyÕve tried.

"You don't have to come to the meetings to order," Dowie said, "but I like to come just to see what people are ordering and to get ideas."

For example at their last meeting, Monday, April 2, members compared notes on nitrate-free hotdogs and low-sodium potato chips.

Dowie said she'd be interested in ordering a case of the chips, if anyone else wanted to share in half or part of the case.

A popular item that day was organically-grown raisins. Buying Club members say raisins are the worst fruit to buy on the regular market because most grapes are grown with pesticides and herbicides, and when they're dried down, those chemicals are concentrated in the raisins.

"I cringe at the thought of what the average person consumes in the way of food additives and pesticide residues," Mahaffay said.

Purchasing health food through the club is cheaper than buying it individually on the shelf, but many members say the savings is only part of why they joined.

"I feel it is a small price to pay to eat unadulterated foods as much as possible," Mahaffay said.

Orders are placed through Blooming Prairie Natural Foods in Minneapolis, and to receive shipping discounts, the club must place bulk orders totaling $700 or more.

"We never have any trouble meeting that quota," Dowie said.

Blooming Prairie offers organic fruits and vegetables, juices and dairy products, dairy substitutes, soy foods, baked goods, some meat products and more.

Buying Club members are excited about the prospect of a local grower who has committed to supplying members with organically-grown produce.

Alex Miller of Sorella Farms north of Hardwick will plant standard vegetables, such as sweet corn, potatoes, carrots, etc., and he will also take special orders for other produce.
For local buyers, that will mean a reliable source of locally, naturally-grown produce. "WeÕre really excited about it," Dowie said.

She added that she hopes to improve local buying options by someday stocking a sampling of natural foods in a store front at the Sunrise Motel, which she and her husband own and manage.

"That way, you could come in and buy one jar, instead of a whole case, if you're interested in trying a product," Dowie said.

For more information on the Little Buying Club on the Prairie, Mahaffay can be reached at 283-9716, Dowie can be reached at the motel, 283-2347, and Sandy Winter can be reached at 283-2966.

Patty Nelson's sixth-grade music students demonstrate for their parents what they learned during a 14-week segment that also satisfied the state graduation standard in the area of artistic creativity and performance. During that time, students were introduced to the guitar and other classroom instruments. In her introduction, Nelson told parents how important music is in the development of young people, and she shared with them information from Don Campbell's "Mozart Effect."

Photo by Lori Ehde

Hills resident Etta DeJongh examines her flower garden Monday morning to see if her bachelor buttons were growing yet this spring. Etta planted the flowers in honor of her mother, Minnie Fikse, and she hopes they survived the long winter.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By Jolene Farley
Senior citizens in Rock County may soon have more options when they reach the point they can no longer be independent and care for themselves.

Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center hosted three focus meetings at The Oaks last Thursday, intended to collect input from the community to determine if there is a senior housing need in the area.

The meetings were led by Linda Studer, Mary Jane Brown Home administrator, Rhona Snyder, The Oaks housing manager, and Brenda Plimpton, MJB community relations coordinator.

Senior groups discussed what current residents like about The Oaks and what they would change if more units, either congregate or assisted living, were built.

In general current tenants seem pleased with the facility, but many expressed a wish that the "hominess" of the facility not be sacrificed.

Staff sees a lot of the residents "aging in place" or not wanting to move, and if other care services could be offered residents wouldnÕt have to move.

This provides incentive for units to be designed as versatile as possible, with the ability to switch from congregate to assisted or vice versa if the need was higher in the other area.

Snyder stressed the popularity of the two-bedroom units at The Oaks. It was mentioned that assisted living units would need to be large because people needing more care generally need more medical devices.

The next step for Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center is completing a market study in Rock County.

If results of the study favor construction, a plan will be submitted to the committee for review.

"Good Samaritan doesn't add facilities unless there is a need in the community," said Plimpton.

Caregivers hope to add both congregate units and assisted living units in Rock County in the near future.

Congregate living facilities like The Oaks are designed for seniors over the age of 62, and while guidelines vary from facility to facility, they usually offer 24-hour emergency call service, provide at least one meal per day, and offer weekly housekeeping and linen services. Units generally have full cooking facilities and offer laundry facilities for those able to do laundry themselves.

Assisted living facilities offer a higher level of care. Designed for seniors over 62 years, units can be full apartments or suites without cooking facilities. Staff is on duty 24 hours to assist with basic personal care and to administer medication or remind patients to take their medication. Three meals per day are offered along with light housekeeping, linen service and laundry service.

Home Health Care services are allowing more seniors to remain in their homes longer. Rock County Home Health, Windom Home Health, Luverne Community Hospital and Hospice are currently the only home health care providers in Rock County, according to Studer.

Nursing homes have become the end-of-life housing option. Rock County nursing homes include Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center and the Minnesota Veterans Nursing Home in Luverne and Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

The only congregate facility open in Rock County is The Oaks which is operated by the Good Samaritan Society. Tuff Assisted Living Apartments in Hills are tentatively slated to open in July.

Open since December 1999, The Oaks congregate facility currently has 38 people on its waiting list, with all of its 10 2-bedroom and 10 1-bedroom deluxe and eight 1-bedroom apartments full, according to Snyder.

Paving the way in assisted living in Rock County is Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Groundbreaking ceremonies were Sept. 13, 2000, for the Tuff Assisted Living Apartments. These units are located across the road east of the Tuff Home.

Construction has continued throughout the winter on eight one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments.

"Interest has exceeded our expectations," said Bonnie Hengeveld, assistant administrator and manager of Tuff Assisted Living Apartments. "Our board is reviewing completing seven more apartments."

The original floor plan left space in the lower level of the building for expansion in the future, but with 39 on a waiting list Hengeveld thinks more units could be used now.

"It is really important we work together as a county to meet senior needs," said Hengeveld. "After all, they are the ones who got us where we are."

One thing is certain: The opening of new facilities will mean more choices for elderly Rock County residents as they live longer, more independent lives.

The H-BC-E boys also have a lot of returning talent from the 2000 season.

Goehle lists 15 boys in grades nine-12 who should make an impact at the varsity level this season, along with some talented junior high athletes.

Six Patriots return to the team with section experience from last spring, and two of those boys advanced to the state meet.

Last season, H-BC lost five boys to graduation from a team that placed second at the sub-section meet and fifth at the section event.

Ellsworth, a team that finished seventh at the sub-section level, lost a pair of seniors to graduation.

Ryan Behr and Steve Bakken were a pair of senior sprinters who enjoyed outstanding senior seasons.

Behr was a member of H-BC's sub-section champion 400- and 800-meter relays. The 800-meter relay, which set a new sub-section record, went on to place second at the section meet.

Behr also won a sub-section title and placed third at the section meet in the 200-meter dash.
Bakken, who was second to Behr in the 200 at the sub-section level, also was a member of H-BC's 400- and 800-meter relays.

Chris Nelson and Andy Tofteland were solid middle distance runners for H-BC during their senior seasons. They formed one-half of H-BC's 3,200-meter relay, which placed third at the sub-section meet and second at the section attraction.

Tofteland also ran with H-BC's 1,600-meter relay, which finished third in the sub-section without placing at the section level. Tofteland was an individual qualifier for the section meet after placing fourth in the sub-section in the 400-meter dash.

Nathan Fodness was a senior thrower who didnÕt advance past the sub-section level for H-BC last year.

Ellsworth's key loss to graduation was senior exchange student Stephan Gaertner, who was the lone Panther boy to advance to the section meet after finishing fourth in the sub-section long jump. Gaertner didn't make the finals in the long jump at the section event.

Alex Diogenes, another exchange student, was Ellsworth's other senior in 2000.

Considering what they accomplished last season, junior Brad Haak and senior Chris Willers have to be considered leaders of the H-BC-E boys' team in 2001.

Haak emerged as one of the state's top 800-meter runners as a sophomore.

He won the sub-section title and placed second in the section to advance to the state meet in Blaine, where he placed fifth in the Class A field.

Haak also ran with H-BC's 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays last season.

Willers, who was a member of the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relays in 2000, developed into H-BC's top long sprinter last spring.

He won the sub-section title in the 400-meter dash and earned a trip to state after placing second in the section during that event. Willers did not make the finals in the 400 at state.

Willers is expected to run races between 200 and 800 meters this season. He also may throw the shot.

Goehle expects Chris Fransman and Vlad Pastushenko, who round out the 2001 senior members of the team, to play key roles for the squad.

Fransman is a talented high jumper who also runs sprints.

The owner of H-BC's high jump standard, Fransman won the sub-section title in that event and placed fourth in the 100-meter dash at the sub-section meet. He also was a member of H-BC's 400- and 800-meter relays. Fransman was fourth in the high jump at the section meet.

Pastushenko, an exchange student, has displayed a lot of potential in the pre-season.

Goehle says he is an excellent long and triple jumper who also can run sprints.

Junior Matt Buck, sophomore Chris Reid and eighth-grader Tyler Bush return to the team after qualifying for the section meet in 2000.

Buck, an athlete who can run races up to 800 meters as well as throw the shot put, placed third in the sub-section in the triple jump last season. He also ran with H-BC's 1,600-meter relay at the sub-section meet before being replaced by Willers at the section event.

Reid and Bush, who ran with H-BC's 400- and 1,600-meter relays respectively, placed in individual events at the section meet. Reid, who was third in the 100-meter dash during the sub-section meet, placed sixth in that event at the section level. Bush was second in the sub-section and eighth in the section in the 1,600-meter run.

Bush is expected to run 800s and 1,600s in 2001. Reid will run sprints and long jump.

Five more juniors are expected to help the H-BC-E varsity team this spring.

Nathan Fick is a quality distance runner, while Randy Krull, Lee Walraven and Ryan Ranschau are expected to be throwers. Walraven also will run sprints.

Jeremy Tiesler, a jumper, rounds out the junior members of the team.

Pat Nelson joins Reid as the sophomore members of the H-BC-E team. Nelson will be a thrower.

Freshman members of the squad include Lee Jackson, Cayd Boltjes and Derek Klaassen.

Klaassen is a thrower, Boltjes a sprinter and Jackson can run races between 200 and 3,200 meters.

Like the girls, Goehle expects some seventh- and eighth-graders to step up and help what should be a good H-BC-E varsity boys' team.

"We're really looking forward to get the season under way," Goehle said. "We'll be as strong as we've ever been in covering every event on both the boys' and girls' sides. We've always been competitive as teams, but we feel we're even more competitive with Ellsworth joining us. The kids would like to do well throughout the year, and they also have set the goal of getting some individuals and relays to the state meet."