By Lori EhdeAfter months of searching, Sioux Valley Luverne Medical Center has hired a new CEO, Mark Henke.The Medical Center Advisory Board and Sioux Valley Regional Health Services made the announcement Tuesday that Henke will take over in May for retiring CEO Jerry Carl."After an extensive search process, Sioux Valley Regional Health Services is confident that we have found an excellent CEO for Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Mark Henke," said Ed Weiland, president of Sioux Valley Regional Health Services.Carl, who has served at the helm of Luverne’s hospital since 1987, announced his retirement last year but has stayed during the transition of the building project and the search for his replacement.Henke said he looks forward to starting in Luverne in May."This is a great opportunity for me and my family," he said. "I am very excited to be joining the great team at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital. The facilities and expertise here are topnotch, and I look forward to continuing the momentum of this great organization."Henke currently works as Chief Operating Officer at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa, and was previously the administrator of the Mayo Health System Clinic in Decorah. Prior to working in Decorah, Henke worked in a variety of roles within the Mayo Health System in Rochester. He holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University and is involved in various local community organizations, including president of the Decorah Rotary Club. Weiland said Henke brings a broad base of healthcare experience to the position."His experience and leadership abilities will be a great asset both to the hospital and to the community of Luverne," Weiland said.Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital that provides inpatient, acute, long-term care, and a broad scope of outpatient services. The hospital currently employs approximately 200 people, including nine family physicians and one full-time surgeon from the Sioux Valley Clinic – Luverne.

By Lori EhdeAs part of state requirements, all school districts must implement a policy and procedure for dealing with crisis situations.Luverne School District established its policy in 2001, but on Monday last week Luverne Elementary School faculty and students put their crisis plan to the test.In a mock lockdown drill, Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette announced over the school intercom that a lockdown drill had started and that teachers must implement their plans."I was pretty happy with the communication we had set up. The teachers did a wonderful job of implementing all aspects of the procedure," Gillette told School Board members at their Thursday, March 23, meeting."You don’t know where the holes are unless you start drilling."The basic procedure for lockdown is that teachers lock their doors, cover the windows on the doors, secure students in an area, take attendance, and contact the office if a student isn’t in the room (in the bathroom, for example).Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels and Rock County Emergency Management Director Kyle Oldre accompanied Gillette on a previous tour of the building."It went really well," Winkels said. "They know what they need to work on. That’s the best part of a drill; it tells you what needs attention."He said a crisis that would precipitate a lockdown would be if a mentally unstable student or parent would enter the building with a weapon or other threatening behavior.Winkels said the student shootings in the Columbine School District and others like it are good examples of the need to have a lockdown procedure in place."I think the school here is on the right track," he said.Both he and Gillette identified areas to improve in the plan. For example, substitute teachers aren’t able to secure their rooms, and some rooms, like the library, are vulnerable because they have multiple entrances and multiple windows.In other business Thursday, the board:oAccepted the low bid from Midwest Tennis and Track, Dennison, Iowa, to resurface the high school athletic track. The total base bid came in at $172,626.Work will start on the track one week after school dismisses for the summer. If the track team has members competing in the state meet, alternate practice locations will be arranged.oApproved a five-year contract with Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative for wireless Internet access. The district had been paying about $772 per month for a 1.5 mbps connection. The new contract costs $1,749 per month for a 15 mbps connection. The board agreed the faster connection will be worth the increased cost.oSet a bid date of April 19 for work on the middle school-high school building. It includes tuck pointing, roof replacement over the two small gyms and music departments, floor tile replacement in 12 rooms of the upstairs south wing, lighting in 20 rooms and four restrooms in the south wing, acoustical tile and grids in 20 rooms in the south wing and replacement tiles for the middle school/high school library.oNoted that there will be an Eagle Club Steak Fry on April 8 to benefit the School Foundation.oScheduled a special meeting to discuss a student discipline issue.oHeard from Elementary School Counselor Marie Atkinson Smeins, who presented the "Showcase" item on the agenda. She reported on her job duties and counseling groups, and she demonstrated illustrations she presents for students. Some topics she addresses with students include friendship, bullying, changing families and general character building.oHeard a report on the revised district budget, which is now at $12,368,000. Finance Officer Marlene Mann said, "Break that down and you know why the bills are at $1 million every month."In personnel matters Thursday, the board:oAccepted the resignation of Lori Oechsle as head volleyball coach, effective March 1.oApproved the final seniority and probationary list for certified staff.oApproved maternity leave requests for Amy Dulaney, elementary speech pathologist, and for Michele Brunk, middle school/high school special education teacher. Both are for 12 weeks and both are to begin this summer through approximately Sept. 30.

By Lori EhdeState Trooper Lori Martinson, Luverne, said she’s thankful to be alive after a fleeing suspect crashed into her parked squad car.Martinson assisted the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday, March 21, in pursuit of a mentally unstable motorist who was speeding south on Highway 23.Authorities pursued 45-year-old Scott Armand Renneke, who fled from a hold in a Marshall mental health facility.Renneke reportedly careened through two counties in his 1993 Buick LeSabre before the chase ended 45 miles later in a crash about three miles northeast of Pipestone.Martinson and three other law enforcement officials were positioned at the intersection of Highway 23 and 121st Street ready to deploy stop sticks in order to deflate Renneke’s tires.By this time, he had already driven around stop sticks earlier in the chase, so Martinson said they had the road covered and were parked on the shoulders waiting."We were told he was traveling at 80 mph and picking up speed," Martinson said. "When he saw our lights, he started speeding up."She said she and the other officers expected Renneke would either drive through the stop sticks, stop before hitting them or take the ditch."But I noticed the car turn toward the southbound ditch where I was standing," she said. "I then realized he was driving straight toward the deputy and myself."She and Pipestone County Deputy Todd Siemonsma were both standing outside of their vehicles, and they ran for safety just in time."I looked back and saw that the car had rammed into our parked squads," she said. "I had been standing between the two vehicles."Officers had been alerted that the suspect would "take out anyone" who got in his way."It was obvious to me that the driver made a conscious decision to turn away from the stop sticks and drive into our parked cars," she said. "I’m feeling lucky we weren’t hurt. … We figure he was going 90 to 95 mph when he hit."The only one injured at the scene was Renneke, who is still recovering in St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester.According to the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Department, charges are pending against Renneke, at least for first-degree assault and fleeing an officer.The squad cars, however, were totaled.Martinson said her squad car, valued at $25,000, was nearly new. "It only had about 18,000 miles on it."She said it’s important to emphasize that the squad cars were well off the road. "Some people think we set up an old-fashioned road block with our squad cars on the road," she said. "We were off on the shoulders out of the way." Also involved at the scene on the opposite side of the intersection were State Trooper Jon Olsen, Luverne, and Pipestone County Deputy Keith Vreeman.

By Lori EhdeA Rock County Highway Department employee made a gruesome discovery in a ditch near Beaver Creek Tuesday that turned out to be a big break in a Sioux Falls murder case.Luverne’s Keith Schmuck and Lana Henrichs were doing routine county road and ditch maintenance when they decided to pick up a bag of garbage they’d noticed earlier near Beaver Creek.That garbage turned out to be the dismembered remains of 42-year-old Sioux Falls homicide victim Darlene VanderGiesen. She was first reported missing on Feb. 3, and parts of her body were later found in a Sioux Falls landfill.After weeks of searching, authorities hadn’t recovered her entire remains.… Until Tuesday.At about 2:30 p.m. Schmuck approached what he thought was garbage in the west ditch of County Road 6. He noticed a human hand protruding from what appeared to be a blanket wrapped around the shape of a body.He called the Rock County Sheriff’s Department, who secured the area and called the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and other nearby law enforcement agencies.On closer inspection, authorities found remains of the upper torso of a female body.With the VanderGiesen case still fresh in investigators’ minds, it didn’t take long to connect the remains to the Sioux Falls case.Investigators called Schmuck’s discovery "a significant break in the case." They said without Tuesday’s happenings, they would have never had reason to broaden their investigation into Minnesota.Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels said it was satisfying to be able to assist Sioux Falls with the case."It brings some closure to some of the issues Sioux Falls had and, of course, that the family has had," Winkels said.He said that beyond finding the evidence, the casework belonged to South Dakota."When we discovered what we discovered, we immediately went into securing-the-scene mode," Winkels said."Once we established that it was a Sioux Falls case, we let their crime lab take over."Schmuck said he has mixed feelings about his involvement in the case.On one hand, he said he’s happy to have facilitated the break in the case and provided some relief for the VanderGiesen family. "I’m happy they’ll have some closure," he said.On the other hand, he’s now found himself involved in the investigation."I suppose that’s all part of being a public servant," he said. About a month ago, he said he found a car in the ditch that turned out to be stolen.Winkels agreed it’s contributed to crime in Rock County, particularly due to the proximity of the state border."The interstate is noted for transportation of illegal goods — drugs, particularly," he said. "It is convenient for criminals or anybody, really, because of easy access."Later on Tuesday, Schmuck reflected on the events of the day.He said Henrichs waited in the truck while Schmuck went to retrieve what he thought was garbage. "I told Lana ‘That’s not a bag of garbage; there’s a body in there,’ and she wouldn’t believe me," Schmuck said.When Henrichs realized he was serious, Schmuck said she made the call to police. He said garbage pickup in ditches is a routine part of his job, but he shared that this particular dumpsite had a different, "eerie" feeling from the start.He first noticed what he thought was a garbage bag about two weeks ago and has been meaning to pick it up or send someone else to get it.But every time it came to his attention, something else would come up and he’d make a mental note to get it later. "I can’t understand it," he said, "but every day I thought about it, and it bothered me."Schmuck admits it will take some time before he doesn’t look twice at garbage in a ditch."I even think about Cory (his son who works for the City of Luverne) and what he’ll find running the garbage truck."He said he’s always known it was possible he’d uncover something morbid in a garbage bag tossed in the ditch. "I guess today was the day."Schmuck is a Vietnam War veteran and said his combat background is helping him to cope with the experience.While the body remains found in Rock County solve a major part of the VanderGiesen case, authorities said the Minnesota connection will require further investigation.Daphne Wright, 42, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. She had reportedly been upset with VanderGiesen for interfering with Wright’s relationship with another woman.

By John RittenhouseA pair of Hills-Beaver Creek High School players graced the list of the 2005-06 All-Red Rock Conference Girls’ Basketball Team.One Patriot made the 20-player All-RRC roster. Another is one of 13 players to receive honorable mention.Senior guard Stacy Bush is H-BC’s representative on the All-RRC roster. Junior guard Chelsi Fink drew honorable mention.State champion Fulda and Murray County Central led all teams by drawing four and three All-RRC selections respectively.Making the team from Fulda are Kaitlyn Kramer, Laura Kramer, Sam Raddle and Sarah Raddle. MCC’s Rachel Christiansen, Danielle Gengler and Laura Beers made the squad.Adrian, Red Rock Central Southwest Star Concept and Southwest Christian picked up two all-league selections each.Brittany Bullerman and Samantha Lynn made the squad from Adrian. Linnea Henkels and Brooke DeWall represent SSC. Jenna Snyder and Kelsey Van Dyke represent SWC. Krystle Sell and Danielle Trapp represent RRC.Edgerton’s Amy Kallemeyn, Comfrey’s Allie Kelly, Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster’s Amanda Evans and Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin’s Lacey Janzen round out the all-league team.Other players to receive honorable mention are MCC’s Jenny Starken and Emily Counter, Fulda’s Nicole Gunderman,SSC’s Whitney Place and Shannon Hussong, SWC’s Katie Vis, Edgerton’s Alexa Vanden Bosch and Kelly Vander Stoep, Comfrey’s Angela Hesse, SV-RL-B’s Molly Eichenberger, ML-B-O’s Brittany Harder and Westbrook-Walnut Grove’s Malori Paplow.

By John RittenhouseTwo Hills-Beaver Creek boys received postseason honors when the 2005-06 All-Red Rock Conference Boys’ Basketball Team was announced last week.One Patriot player made the All-RRC squad. Another drew honorable mention.Aaron Esselink, a junior post, made the 18-player All-RRC roster.Jason Hup, a junior post, is one of 12 players to draw honorable mention.Edgerton and Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin led all teams by collecting three All-RRC selections each.Making the list from Edgerton are Max Zwart, Reed Van Hulzen and Derek Westenberg. ML-B-O’s Matt Myers, Lance Bartel and Dan Snyders grace the roster.Adrian, Fulda, Murray County Central and Southwest Christian drew two all-conference picks each.Adrian’s Brad Brake and Ryan Lonneman, Fulda’s John Isder and Sam Woitalewicz, MCC’s Derik Johnson and Paul Counter, and SWC’s Jordan Huisken and Brent Van Schepen cracked the list.Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster’s Lon Eichenberger, Red Rock Central’s Blake Walker and Westbrook-Walnut Grove’s Jon Kells round out the team.Other honorable mention selections include Edgerton’s Tony Fluit, Fulda’s Lucas Isder and Tim Haberman, MCC’s Chris LeTendre, SWC’s Eric Schaap, Southwest Star Concept’s Lloyd Kalfs, RRC’s Kyle Huls and Matt Moldan, SV-RL-B’s Jared Bourquin, Adrian’s Lee Stover and W-WG’s Jake Wahl.

By: Lexi MooreHill-Beaver Creek School Board members attended the Rock County and School Board Liaison Meeting on Tuesday night.Board members and Superintendent David Deragisch met with County Administrator Kyle Oldre, Sheriff Mike Winkels and County Commissioner Richard Bakken, area representative, to discuss a variety of issues.The county had three main points to
Details of the new law enforcement center that will be built in Luverne.
The Sheriff’s willingness to participate in crisis drills at the school buildings.
The potential to hire a new social worker to work in both the H-BC and Luverne school districts.H-BC representatives were eager to resolve the problems the district had this year with snow removal from county roads.The county’s response was that it had a lack of workforce this winter.Next year it hopes to hire part-time/seasonal employees who would work only when called. This would allow the county to have all of its plows on the road at the same time.Deragisch later told the school board, "They have three plows that were not even being used, because they lacked the manpower."The school also discussed the possibility of having Sheriff Winkels volunteer to teach a gun safety course.Winkels said he could do it if the school had at least 10 students involved in the class.2006-07 calendarBoard members approved the 2006-07 school calendar.The school year will begin on Sept. 5, due to the new state law that requires school to start after Labor Day.The year will end on May 29, with graduation on May 25.The district did not cut any of the current vacation days.H-BC Scholarships:School board members reviewed scholarship options available to senior students at H-BC. Applicants interested in being considered for the following scholarships must have their applications and cover letters submitted to the H-BC office by next Monday.
W.F. Finke Scholarship is awarded for participating in forensic activity, including one-act play, dinner theater or Mock Trail. The money is divided equally among all qualifying students and ranges depending on the number of applicants.
Patriot Scholarships for $500 are given to two H-BC graduates by the Patriot Partners organization.
Tom and Janet Knoll Scholarship is awarded to an H-BC senior for $300.
Beaver Creek Sportsman Club Scholarship for $200 is available to students who plan to study in the field of natural resources.
Arnold and Stella Swanson Scholarships will continue at the request of their daughter. The family awards two $1,500 scholarships to H-BC graduates.
The Bakken Family Scholarship for $600 is presented to an H-BC student who will enroll at South Dakota State University and major in agriculture or a related agriculture field.
The following H-BC Foundation Scholarships for $100 each are available: Marilyn and Duane Nelson Scholarship for a student studying Agriculture or a related field; Shorty and Lois Leenderts Scholarship for a student going into a Nursing or Medical field; Bud and Ione Bush and Mildred and Bill Moerke Scholarships are available to any 2006 H-BC graduate.

By Lexi MooreThe Beaver Creek City Council will convene today for a special meeting at 7 p.m. in the Beaver Creek Town Hall.The meeting was requested by the Springbrook Development, LLC, the group who owns the Beaver Creek Golf Course and Beaver Lodge.They requested the meeting so that the council could take action on an application for a liquor license permit the group submitted on March 14.The current liquor license expires on March 31.The group contacted Beaver Creek Mayor Al Blank and asked for another chance to present their case in favor of the city granting them the permit.During a special meeting on Tuesday, March 21, the council tabled the issue pending clarification on the delinquency status of the golf course owner’s taxes.Since then, the council has received a letter from its attorney, who contacted the Rock County Treasurer.At the meeting, the council plans to take action on the request.Mayor Blank said, "The group requested the meeting. The council will listen to what they have to say and then once and for all we will clarify things and be done with it."

By Lexi MooreOn Thursday, March 23, Hills Beaver Creek High School Future Farmers of America hosted their annual awards banquet at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills.FFA president Jason Martens presided over the event.Chris Luze, an H-BC freshman, led the students in reciting the FFA creed. Sean Geodtel gave the invocation before visitors dined on a meal prepared by the Lutheran Church Women.Following the meal, Jason Hoffman narrated a slide show titled "Résumé of the Past Year." The slide show featured photos from FFA events throughout the past year.FFA members took turns informing the audience about their individual FFA projects. They presented photos, along with detailed information about cost and profits.Next, Martens presented an $850 check to both Alpha Omega Ministries and McCrossan Boys Ranch. Members from both organizations were on hand to speak to the students and express their gratitude.Officers and FFA instructor Greg DeWandel handed out the following awards:
The Honorary Chapter Farmer Award was given to Jack Paulsen of Pioneer Seeds.Officers spoke to Paulsen about his commitment to their organization.
The Placement in Ag Award went to Ron and Lori Rentschler for doing an outstanding job of getting their son, Ryan, started in agriculture.
The Leadership Award along with a $100 check was presented by DeWandel to Jason Martens.
The Rock/Nobles Beef Association Awards were presented by Jay Bakken to Aaron Esselink and Kaitlyn Bos. Each winner received $25.
The Bert Rozeboom Member Beef Award was given to Kaitlyn Bos along with a check for $35.
FFA members were given proficiency awards for their supervised farming projects. Winners are given bronze, silver or gold certificates for their efforts.No gold certificates were awarded this year.Bronze certificates for ag business and placement were given to Blake Crawford, Grant Hoogendoorn, Zach VanWesten Stacey Bush and Tom Leuthold. Senior Mitchell Leuthold was presented with a silver certificate.Beef cow/calf production bronze certificates went to Stacey Bush and Zach VanWesten. Kaityln Bos received the silver.H-BC sophomore Zach VanWesten was awarded two more bronze certificates for sheep production and hay and foreage production. Katie McGaffee earned silver for hay and 4H production.The bronze for beef feeder production was given to Josh Teune, while Brandy Klarenbeek and Aaron Esselink each received silver.A bronze certificate for soybean production was presented to sophomore Brittany Boeve.
Freshman FFA members have several fund-raisers to earn money toward the purchase of their FFA jackets. Eric Kooistra received a plaque for being the top freshman salesperson in both frozen food and fruit sales.Sophomore Kylie Schroer and freshman Cody Penning were also recognized for their outstanding fruit sales.,li>The 2006 Star Greenhand Award went to sophomore Zach VanWesten.
The 2006 Star Chapter Farmer Award went to junior Brandi Klarenbeek.The final item of business at the event was the installation ceremony of new officers. The 2005-2006 officers handed over their responsibilities and titles to a new group of officers.The 2005-2006 FFA officers-elect are President Aaron Esselink, Vice-President Thomas Leuthold, Secretary Brittany Boeve, Treasurer Brandi Klarenbeek, Reporter Lucy Larson, Sentinel Kaitlyn Bos, Historian Steve Kruger and Parliamentarian Sean Geodtel.