Hills-Beaver Creek second-grader Eric H. Fick adds the finishing touches on the kite he designed Tuesday afternoon in the March craft class offered by Community Education.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By Sara Quam
The Luverne City Council received an update of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project at its Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

Luverne has been a member of the system for almost 11 years and just last year, the project received authorization to continue. Funding will continue to be an issue for the project that won’t reach Luverne's faucets for another 10 years.

President George W. Bush said during his recent stop in Sioux Falls, S.D., that the project is in next year's budget. But city utilities Coordinator Red Arndt hopes funding doesn't stop there.

Right now, Luverne has about $200,000 saved for payment to the system and, by the time it reaches Luverne, should have plenty in the fund. City water users shouldn't expect to see increased rates because of Lewis and Clark.

The next issue for the council to decide is how many gallons it wants designated for Luverne. It has already said it wanted to increase its allotment from 500,000 gallons a day to 750,000 gallons a day. But since first looking at those numbers, the price increase has changed because of increased Lewis and Clark memberships.

At 750,000 gallons a day, the city will owe $1.5 million, which is $785,000 more than it would cost to not increase the daily allotment. The city's portion of the costs is supplemented by 80 percent federal funding and another 10 percent from the state.

"Our increase will have to be decided on in a matter of weeks," Arndt said. The decision is up for a vote at the next council meeting April 10.

Council members indicated they leaned toward keeping the increased water allotment because in planning for the city's water needs up to 100 years in the future, industry needs may change to necessitate a larger water supply.

The cost of actual water once the city is on the system could decrease. Now the city pays $1.07 per 1,000 gallons but could end up paying 90¢ per 1,000 gallons with Lewis and Clark.

City vehicle
The city of Luverne has been investigating the benefits of leasing a vehicle for city employee use for a couple of months.

At the COW meeting Tuesday, the council narrowed options that will be voted on at an upcoming council meeting.

Last year, city employees and elected officials put about 35,000 miles on their personal vehicles and were reimbursed 32.5¢ per mile. With a leased vehicle from the state of Minnesota, the cost would drop to 24¢ per mile. The state leasing program replaces vehicles when they get past 60,000 miles.

The council is leaning toward leasing a Ford Taurus because it is able to run on 85 percent ethanol fuel.

Maintenance on the vehicle has to be done by certified dealers, which would keep some of the money local. The lease covers maintenance costs, and the city is responsible for insurance.

The council envisions the car to be used for lobbying trips to St. Paul and other city business. Employees will be asked to use the city vehicle before their own whenever possible to keep costs down.

By Lori Ehde
It isn't a big check by today's standards, but Magnolia City Council members were pleased to receive a $1,000 grant at their last meeting.

According to Magnolia Mayor Fabian Deutsch, the council received the money through the Luverne Eagles Club.

Deutsch, also an Eagles Club member, applied for money through the Jimmy Durante Children's Fund and Child Abuse Project.

Qualified projects receiving Durante funding must include aspects to help mentally or physically handicapped children.

Magnolia was one of three entities statewide to receive a Durante grant. "I'm pretty proud," Deutsch said. "I think it's darn nice."

Deutsch said he initially hoped the money could purchase playground equipment at the Magnolia City Park, but he was disappointed to learn $1,000 wouldn't go far to cover costs for current equipment.

Instead, he said the money will be used to equip the city's slow-pitch softball diamond.

"We're going to try to organize a little league," Deutsch said.

There is no structured ball diamond there now, but Deutsch said it will be located where the ball fields used to be.

He also said he hopes to stretch the grant dollars by purchasing some used equipment, in addition to new.

The ball diamond and city park are located east of the former school, which is now occupied by Pinnacle Programs Inc.

The ball field equipment is part of city park improvements already under way. Last year, the city planted 1,200 young trees around the park perimeter.

Council members are also considering putting up a park shelter house. "We're just in the pricing stage, yet" Deutsch said.

By Sara Quam
An April 2 public hearing could result in the county lifting the gravel permit moratorium after almost nine months - and just in time for gravel miners to start bidding on summer projects.

The hearing is necessary to get public comments before the Rock County Board can amend the Land Management Plan. It will likely amend the plan to include a special aggregate extraction supplement, which the board reviewed during its regular meeting Tuesday.

The April 2 hearing comes a day before the next scheduled Rock County Board meeting.

A key point to the supplement is that people building in or moving to rural Rock County will be notified that gravel extraction is a possibility.

Assistant County Attorney Glen Petersen said, "It doesn't have a lot of legal significance, but it has a lot of practical significance in letting people know what theyÕre getting into."

The aggregate extraction supplement was drafted after a March 12 Planning and Zoning meeting that addressed gravel extraction and the special challenges it faces in populated areas.

Setback requirements, hauling guidelines and population density are other issues that the supplement will address.

"It won't forbid extraction in certain areas," Petersen said. "But the gravel extractors should be aware that they may face opposition."

The moratorium that could be lifted next month was originally prompted by controversy over a request by Henning Construction to extract gravel from a rural neighborhood south of the airport.

That permit was denied, but the county feared the same circumstances could occur in the process of other permit applications.

While the permit freeze alleviated immediate controversy, the Rock County Board knew it had to reassess the balance between rural living and economic benefits of gravel mining
The board was almost willing to lift the moratorium Tuesday, but without the Land Management Plan changes formally adopted, new permits would fall under the old guidelines.

"I'd like to see the new applications fall under the new rules," Commissioner Bob Jarchow said.

Commissioner Ken Hoime, who serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said he felt comfortable with most of the LMP changes. In order to adopt those changes, the April 2 public hearing has to take place first.

So the issue in approving the new rules wasn't so much about the rules as it was about the timing with construction season fast approaching. But the board said that after public input, it's likely the LMP supplement will go into effect April 3.

Aggregate Extraction Supplement to LMP
The supplement, to be addressed at the April 2 meeting, goes through basic definitions and general goals and is available at the Land Management Office.

The policies of the supplement are to:

1.) Encourage continued use of existing mining operations, provided the operator is in compliance with all conditions imposed by County Commissioners.

2.) Encourage development of aggregate resources in areas with low residential densities to minimize conflicts between operators and homeowners.

3.) Discourage aggregate extraction in areas near towns and cities where growth is anticipated.

4.) Discourage aggregate extraction in well-head protection areas that do not comply with the Comprehensive Local Water Plan for Rock County.

5.) Discourage single-family home construction in areas with moderate to high grade aggregate deposits.

6.) Discourage new aggregate extraction in areas with high residential density.

7.) Encourage location of new sites on or near hard surfaced roads and consider the number of residents located along gravel surfaced roads intended for use as haul roads.

8.) Encourage county officials to make available to prospective home builders information concerning the proximity of gravel resources and the permitted uses and conditional uses allowed in the A-2 zone before the granting of a building permit or conditional use permit.

9.) Encourage operators to disclose periodically the amount of aggregate extracted from Rock County by conditioning permits on the disclosure of this information and/or enacting any necessary zoning control to ensure disclosure.

10.) Encourage county officials to study gravel extraction as a possible revenue source to the county and townships to offset for the costs of road and bridge construction and maintenance.

11.) Encourage operators to work with county and township officials to identify repair and maintenance responsibilities through the use of haul road agreements.

12.) Encourage use of surety bonds in order to ensure that sufficient funds are available to protect the county in the event an operator abandons a site without completing the conditions imposed by the conditional use, including reclamation.

13.) Encourage a broad cross representation of the community on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

14.) Strongly encourage a periodic evaluation of existing zoning controls for areas of possible improvement.

By Lori Ehde
If team participation is any indication, Rock County's first ever Relay For Life is shaping up to be a popular event.

During the kick-off meeting Thursday, March 15, more than 30 teams of Relay For Life walkers indicated interest in participating in the June 15 event.

The American Cancer Society had instructed local organizers to shoot for 15 teams as a goal for a first-year event.

Optimistically, they brought 25 team packets to Thursday's meeting, only to find that they hadn't brought enough.

Helen Saum, who has volunteered to organize team recruitment, said she's pleased but not necessarily surprised with the positive response.

"This area is such a committed community for supporting things," she said. "Certainly cancer has touched a lot of families in this area, so I think people want to do something about it."

The Relay for Life has become the trademark fund-raiser for the Society, the world's largest non-profit health organization committed to cancer research, education and service.

The event in Rock County will be staged on the track and field at Luverne High School.

Relay for Life involves teams of runners and walkers competing against each other to raise the most money.

Teams of individuals representing corporations, hospitals, neighborhoods and families take turns on the track with at least one team member on the track at a time.

The Relay for Life is now held nationwide, and thousands of people participate each year to help fight cancer.

The event is most noted for its luminaries that glow in memory of individuals who have died from cancer or in honor of those who have survived cancer.

Volunteers are needed to help with any part of the Rock County Relay For Life, from setting up to cleaning up.

To sign up, call co-chairs Vicki Baartman, 283-4119, or Janet Marshall, 283-4192.

It was a day for the Irish Saturday. There aren't many Irish descendents in Luverne, so the local St. Patrick's Day parades aren't often lengthy, but what they lack in numbers, they make up in spirit. Above, a spirited group, decked out in green accessories, celebrates the day in a green wagon sponsored by the Magnolia Steak House. At right, First Farmers and Merchants Bank President Mike Engesser (left) and parade marshal Pat Saum prepare for the holiday Friday by painting the traditional Irish shamrock at the intersection of Main and McKenzie streets.

Photos by Lori Ehde

Sharon Flatequal, patient accounts manager at Luverne Community Hospital, was awarded the Henry Scholten & Company Business Employee of the Year Award at a special presentation Wednesday, March 7.

Flatequal is a 20-year employee at Luverne Community Hospital.

"Her dedication and enthusiasm for her work is exceptional," said hospital CEO Gerald E. Carl, when learning of the award.

Flatequal received recognition and a monetary award for being a self-starter, coach and business office cheerleader among her fellow workers.

She was also recognized for her exceptional talent of working with deadlines while still taking the time to assist other business staff and for being a team player.

The Henry Scholten & Company Business Employee of the Year Award was established to recognize an employee of a finance department (admissions, business office, communications, finance, information systems, medical records or materials management) in the Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health System.

The award winner's work must be of exceptional quality and quantity, and the person must also exemplify excellent relationships with patients, physicians and the public.

The selection is also based on attitude, reliability, personal appearance, initiative, and attendance - a model employee.

The Henry Scholten & Company public accounting firm established the award through an endowment with the Sioux Valley Foundation.

By Lori Ehde
Rock County's first ever Relay for Life isn't until June 15, but now is the time for interested teams and corporate sponsors to commit to the cause.

The Relay for Life kickoff meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in Grace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

"We're hoping to get a lot of people to come," said co-chair Vicki Baartman. "If people are interested, we don't want to scare them away from this meeting. Just by coming, we're not going to sign them up."

The kickoff meeting will involve corporate sponsors, team captains and co-chairs to discuss the purpose and goals for the event.

Don and Betty Cashin, two local cancer survivors, have been named honorary co-chairs for the event.

The American Cancer Society suggests 15 for a first-time Relay for Life, but Baartman said local organizers hope to have 25 teams.

Cindy Arends, who is chairing corporate sponsors for the event, has already met with positive response from local businesses.

Corporate sponsors can get involved at three different levels.

-The Gold Level involves support at $1,000 or more,

-The Silver Level involves support of $750 or more, and

-The Bronze Level involves support of $500 or more.

So far, Arends said she has commitment from Luverne Community Hospital and Luverne Medical Center/Sioux Valley Physician Group at the Gold Level, and Jubilee Foods, Glen’s Food Center and Luverne Farm Store have committed support at the Bronze Level.

"We have had other smaller donations to date that are also appreciated," Arends said.

The Relay for Life has become the trademark fund-raiser for the Society, the world's largest non-profit health organization committed to cancer research, education and service.

The event in Rock County will be staged on the track and field at Luverne High School.

Relay for Life involves teams of runners and walkers competing against each other to raise the most money.

Teams of individuals representing corporations, hospitals, neighborhoods and families take turns on the track with at least one team member on the track at a time.

The Relay for Life is now held nationwide, and thousands of people participate each year to help fight cancer.

The event is most noted for its luminaries that glow in memory of individuals who have died from cancer or in honor of those who have survived cancer.

The paper sacks, containing sand and candles, are displayed around the track and are illuminated during a special lighting ceremony at dusk.

In December, local organizers mailed letters to area businesses announcing the event.

The letter also outlined several ways to get involved.

-Corporations, businesses and group sponsors are needed to donate advertising dollars to promote Relay for Life.

-Teams of eight to 10 walkers are needed to compete to raise money during the night of walking.

-People are needed who are willing to buy luminaries in memory of their loved ones who have died from cancer or to honor those who have survived cancer.

-Volunteers are needed to help with any part of this activity, from setting up to cleaning up, and to support Relay for Life by attending.

Arends can be reached at 669-2905. Baartman, 283-4119, and Janet Marshall, 283-4192, are co-chairs for Relay for Life in Rock County. Helen Saum, 283-4340, is the team recruitment chair.

By John Rittenhouse
A strong performance late in the game by Hills-Beaver Creek carried the Patriot boys to 61-48 victory over Ellsworth in the first round of the South Section 3A Basketball Tournament in Fulda Thursday.

The two Tri-County Conference foes battled to a draw at 34 in the first 23 minutes of the game. H-BC, however, picked up the pace in the final nine minutes while outscoring the Panthers 27-14 to win by 13.

The victory gave H-BC an 8-14 record heading into Saturday's quarterfinals in Luverne, where the eighth-seeded Patriots played No. 1 Southwest Christian.

Ellsworth, the tournament's ninth seed, ends the season with a 5-14 record.

Thursday's game was a tight one until H-BC took control with its late surge.

Trailing 24-20 at halftime, Ellsworth trimmed H-BC's advantage to one point three different times early in the third quarter before H-BC went on a 6-0 run capped by Matt Buck's field goal at 3:46 to open a 34-27 cushion.

Ellsworth, however, countered with a 7-0 run that ended with Curt Schilling nailing a pair of free throws with 1:43 remaining to knot the score at 34.

The score remained tied until H-BC gained a 38-34 lead with field goals by Lance Crawford and David Top in the final 35 seconds of the period.

H-BC followed its late surge in the third quarter by scoring the first six points of the fourth quarter to gain a 44-34 lead. The Panthers did trim the difference to seven points at 47-40, but H-BC outscored them 14-8 the rest of way to ice the contest.

The game started slowly with H-BC sporting a 5-0 lead five minutes into the contest. Ellsworth scored the next three points before the Patriots went on a 7-4 run capped by Top's field goal with one second left to make it a 12-7 game at periodÕs end.

H-BC expanded its lead to seven points twice in the second quarter only to watch the Panthers creep within two points (22-20) when Schilling hit a field goal with 30 seconds left. Brad Haak countered with a field goal for H-BC with 10 seconds left to make it a 24-20 game at the intermission.

"I don't think either team played really well in the first half," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "I thought we played pretty well in the second half."

Panther coach Ken Kvaale said the difference in the game was H-BC's work on the boards in the second half.

"I give them a lot of credit because they played hungry in the fourth quarter. It was a close game until the fourth quarter when they really came at us. They killed us on the offensive boards, especially in the fourth quarter," Kvaale said.

David Top and Lyle DeBoer, who netted seven and 11 points respectively in the fourth quarter, led the Patriots with 13 points each. Crawford and Matt Buck added 11 and 10 points. Buck had nine rebounds and three assists, while DeBoer added six rebounds and four assists. Haak added six rebounds for the winners.

Schilling, who had five rebounds and three steals, and Dean Moss scored 13 and 10 points respectively for Ellsworth. Travis Jenniges, and Josh Kramer snared five rebounds each. Brant Deutsch had three assists.

Box score
Ellsworth
Schilling 4 1 2-3 13, Jenniges 4 0 0-1 8, Kvaale 3 0 0-0 6, Moss 1 2 2-3 10, Chapa 0 1 0-0 3, Deutsch 0 1 0-0 3, Kramer 0 0 0-1 0, Peters 2 0 1-2 5.

Team statistics
Ellsworth: 19 of 53 field goals (36 percent), five of 12 free throws (42 percent), 26 rebounds, 16 turnovers.
H-BC: 21 of 41 field goals (51 percent), 19 of 32 free throws (59 percent), 29 rebounds, 15 turnovers.