By Lori EhdeMike Van Der Brink, rural Luverne, was honorary chairman of the 2005 Rock County Relay for Life. As a cancer survivor, his job was to serve as a spokesman for the organization that funds research for a cure. As a survivor, he was also to be an inspiration for those fighting for their lives.But shortly after Mike accepted the honor, his cancer returned in the form of a volleyball-sized tumor in his abdomen. It took nine-hour surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on June 6 and aggressive treatment to beat it back.Doctors were optimistic about the process, but Mike said he was prepared, regardless of the outcome."If it goes for the worse, I know where I’m going," he said a few days prior to surgery. "I just made Kris promise to raise Kellie a Christian so I get to see her again."The outcome of that surgery hasn’t been positive.Tests showed that it was the same aggressive cancer he’d been diagnosed with nearly five years ago. It’s called leiomyosarcoma, a cancer known for spreading quickly, and requires what Van Der Brink called "extreme chemo."In a June 2 Star Herald story, he described treatment back then as "a knock-down, drag-out battle" that he hoped he’d never have to do again.Since this summer the tumor grew back to a size even larger than the one that had been removed — and it’s accompanied by many more other tumors. His options were additional surgery and chemotherapy that would likely kill him … or, essentially, give up. He chose to live out his remaining days without pain and nausea of treatment, according to his mother, Greta Van Der Brink."He’s holding his own. … He still has a positive attitude," she said Tuesday. "He’s holding his own, but he’s lost a lot of weight and he’s pale."It’s been four weeks since he left the hospital, and at the time, doctors told his wife, Kris, that he’d likely have only weeks to live."It’s a big load for her," Greta said about Kris. "Neither one of them is working anymore, and she’s at home taking care of him."Their daughter, Kelli, almost 2, goes to day care in order to maintain some semblance of routine."We’re still praying for a miracle," Greta said.Mike returned a call to the Star Herald late on Tuesday. He said he’s at ease with eternity, but he isn’t giving up yet."I’m still fighting this," he said. "I definitely couldn’t get through it without my faith and family. … It’s helping me tremendously."He said he and Kris are planning to make a video recording of Mike for Kelli to view when she gets older. It will feature Mike reading her a book and talking to her about her future.They have also purchased jewelry together for Kelli’s 16th birthday, 18th birthday and high school graduation. She’ll receive her daddy’s wedding band on her wedding day.Paying the bills …Mike works with Northwest Airlines and Kris is a massage therapist for Luverne Community Hospital, but neither of them is working right now.Meanwhile, the bills are piling up, and friends and family have been helping out."He keeps saying how appreciative he is of the prayers and support," Greta said Tuesday. "I don’t know how they’d do it without all these benefits from the community."She said area churches and groups have had soup suppers and other fund-raisers for Mike’s benefit. "All of that really helps," Greta said.The latest effort in the works is a benefit auction that will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Hills American Legion Hall.The silent auction will start at 4 p.m., and food will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction, conducted by Yvette Van Der Brink of Van Der Brink Auction Service.‘Friendship Star,’ blue grass music and two roast hogsLuverne Farm Store donated two hogs to be roasted, and Tony Bosch will donate catering service to prepare it. A featured item on the auction will be a "Friendship Star" quilt donated by the Blue Mound Quilters Guild and numerous other donated items."We have everything from loads of gravel to angel food cake," Greta said about local generosity.To donate to the auction, call Yvette Van Der Brink at 673-2517. To have donated items picked up, call Harold Tilstra, 283-4019, or Steve Top, 920-8858.Carol Zwaan and her fellow band members will offer country blue grass music for a festive ambience."It should be an evening with some fun," Greta said.Mike grew up in Luverne and graduated from Luverne High School in 1987. He moved back to Luverne around 1999 and married Kris a few years later.A benefit auction will be Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Hills American Legion Hall. The silent auction will start at 4 p.m., and food will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction. To donate to the auction, call 673-2517. To have donated items picked up, call Harold Tilstra, 283-4019, or Steve Top, 920-8858.

By Sara QuamLuverne landlords who had tenants not paying their city bills will pay the utilities through tax assessments.The Luverne City Council approved of billing landlords, as it does annually, at its Tuesday night meeting. This year, 24 landlords will pay $5,447.44 in utilities left unpaid by their tenants, under the theory that landlords in the business make money on the property through renting it. The electric portion of the utility is not assessed to property owners because of a state law prohibiting it. They have to pay the garbage, sewer and water portions of utilities.Council member Esther Frakes said during discussion, "Wouldn’t it be considered a cost of doing business? If the landlord doesn’t pay the utility, it costs everyone in the community."After listening to landlords who attended the meeting, the Council said it will look into procedural changes in collecting utilities.City Administrator John Call said, "One of the problems for the landlords is that it can be almost two years before they get the notice."The city usually has unpaid utilities from renters who don’t pay and then move.The city goes through a collection agency if the bill isn’t paid in three months. The collection agency has a year to get the money before the unpaid charges are certified to the property taxes, which are the landlords’ responsibility. Dan Pick said he’s used collection agencies and has gotten old rent bills paid by tenants within three or four months, so the agency the city uses might not be as effective as it could be if it doesn’t get money out of people within a year.Leon Pick is also a rental property owner.He said, "I have five people that the city can’t get their money from because the agency can’t find them, but I know three of them are walking around Luverne."Because of Cold Weather Rule laws, the city can’t turn off all utilities, and when people make commitments to smaller payments, they have to allow them that flexibility.Pick said the city would be better served to require bigger utility deposits from renters who get hook-ups. He suggested a $250 deposit. Now, people pay $110 if their heat isn’t all electric.He said the business of property renting means landlords pay taxes at two-and-a-half times the standard homestead property tax. "I wish I had control of the utilities, but I don’t. I can’t shut them off if they’re late," Leon Pick said.The city does let landlords know if renters are three months behind on utilities and it does put restrictions on utility use as legally possible.Also Tuesday, the City Council certified $1,615 in unpaid utilities to various owner occupied properties. $337,500 loaned for business developmentThe City Council approved a loan to the Rock County Development Corporation for $337,500 to purchase 91 acres adjacent to Interstate 90 and contiguous to the city. The property was owned by the late Marty Mayes and is near Papik Motors. The property will be used as business development. The RCDC also contributed $50,000 to the purchase, and $12,499 toward building and site cleanup.Total cost of the 91 acres was $375,001.The terms of the loan are 0 percent interest over 33 years, with an annual payment equal to that charged by RCDC for farm rental land.The RCDC is a private group with board members Marilyn Bloemendaal, Greg Burger Tom Foster, Roger Tollefson, Don Klosterbuer and Ben Vander Kooi.In other business Tuesday, the Council approved a plan to offer incentives for dual fuel upgrades and installations in homes.This will help keep peak electric rates lower by having homes flexible in their fuels. Currently, only all-electric upgrades or installations have incentives.The old incentives for all-electric are no longer available to new installations.

By Lori EhdeA Luverne couple buried their daughter and three grandchildren during funeral services yesterday at the American Reformed Church.A Rock County Deputy knocked on the door of Jim and Frances Veldkamp Saturday night to deliver the news.Their daughter, 33-year-old Penni Damon, had been driving a van that collided with a semi-trailer truck in Jackson County.Everyone in the van had been killed, including Penni’s children, 12-year-old Mandy, 10-year-old Cody and 6-year-old Katie. Mandy would have been 13 on Tuesday.The crash remains under investigation, but accident reports say it happened at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a rural intersection on 880th Street and 590th Avenue. That’s about eight miles north of Alpha.Damon had been traveling south on 590th Avenue and the semi driver, 25-year-old Jeremy Friesen, was traveling east on 880th Street.Damon had the stop sign, and it’s unclear whether she stopped or even saw the semi.Friesen, Comfrey, was reportedly not injured, but his semi-tanker sustained extensive damage.Damon, who had married this summer, was in the process of moving to a new house near Mountain Lake. Her husband, Jacques Damon, was at the new house when the crash occurred.The tragic story traveled from the Worthington Daily Globe through the AP wire to the front page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.In the story, Luverne’s Cheryl Thacker, a friend of the Veldkamps, is quoted as describing Damon as "a bubbly, joyful person."The Star Tribune went on to quote Thacker as saying, "She always looked on the bright side. … I think her children were her passion and her life."Their obituaries, which appear on page 7A, offer insight into the lives of Damon and her children.Penni graduated from Luverne High School in 1990 and married Jimmy Vande Kieft in Valley Springs. "Penni loved her children with all her heart and cherished spending time with them," the obituary reads.Mandi was a seventh-grader at Jackson County Middle School in Lakefield. She was a Girl Scout and played the clarinet.Cody was a fifth-grader at Riverside Elementary in Jackson. He was a Boy Scout and played Little League ball.Katie was a kindergartner at Riverside Elementary in Jackson. She enjoyed playing with her Barbie dolls and visiting her grandparents.Thacker told the Star Tribune that belief in God is helping the Veldkamps get through their grief."They’re leaning heavily on their faith right now," she was quoted as saying. "They’re looking forward to seeing [Penni] and the children again in heaven one day."She told the Star Herald Wednesday morning that the Veldkamp family is also leaning on support from the community."Penni’s brother (Dan Veldkamp) told me that right now, he’s more overwhelmed by the love and compassion of the this community than he is by the tragedy itself," Thacker said. "I think he hasn’t been able to process that yet, but he said people have been so generous and supportive.Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery. Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

By Sara QuamRock County Sheriff Mike Winkels shared a compilation of city crime reports and charges with the Luverne City Council, which contracts for service with the county.Council members wondered why the number of narcotics calls and complaints are so heavy.He said, "Drug use and sales are growing nationwide and we’re all seeing it and combating it the same. A lot of it has to do with more public awareness and them making more calls."There were a number of concerned citizens at the start of the school year who reported speeding in residential zones.Winkels said that a few tickets slowed down some drivers and made parents aware of their teenage drivers’ behavior.Some citations were(2004) and so far in 2005:
DWI — (24) and 16
Seat belt — (46) and 51
Speeding — (45) and 24Some liquor violations(2004) and so far in 2005:
Minor consumption — (10) and 8
Minor possession — (6) and 1
Under 21 consumption — (30) and 10Some criminal arrests (2004) and so far in 2005:
Assault — (1) and 11
Drugs, narcotics — (20) and 16
Shoplifting — (3) and 3
Theft — (25) and 7Some parking violations(2004) and so far in 2005:
24 hour parking — (7) and 9
No parking from 1 to 6 a.m. — (2) and 5Some initial complaints (2004) and so far in 2005:
Assault — (15) and 25
Burglary — (21) and 15
Criminal sexual misconduct — (1) and 3
Drugs and narcotics — (58) and 119
Drunkenness — (5) and 5
DWI — (24) and 18
Family child abuse — (53) and 45
Shoplifting — (6) and 6
Theft/larceny — (150) and 75
Vandalism — (84) and 41In addition, there have been five personal injury accidents and 84 motor vehicle accidents with property damage so far in 2005.There have been 23 reports of vagrancy in the city of Luverne.

10 years ago (1995)
The Sioux Falls architectural firm of Baldridge and Associates has received a merit award from the South Dakota Society of the American Institute of Architects for its work on the Rock County Courthouse remodeling project.
The alley behind Minnwest Bank and Pizza Ranch was made one-way instead of two-way this week. Collisions and near misses have become too common in the alley.25 years ago (1980)
Students from Magnolia are concerned about the on-again, off-again dissolution plans. They want to know if they will go to school in Magnolia, Adrian or Luverne next year.
Harold Deuschle and Wendy Johnson filed for mayor in Luverne and Jim Harner and Bob Latham are vying for a seat on the Luverne City Council.
Lois Poppen is retiring after working as school cook for 32 years.50 years ago (1955)
The Jaycees presented four Luverne men with awards for their outstanding work for civic improvement. They were Mort B. Skewes, Ray Frick, William Busse and Dale Larson.
The 1956 Cadillac, which went on display at Schoon Motor Co., has been attracting a great deal of attention, says Warren Schoon, head of the local firm.75 years ago (1930)
Sheriff H.R. Ohs staged a surprise raid on slot machine operators late Wednesday afternoon, when he paid a visit to Hardwick and confiscated two machines, one at the Busy Bee café and the other at the Steinholt billiard hall. It is understood that the sheriff missed slot machines in at least two other business places. Some of the "kidders" intimate that the machines disappeared out of the back door at about the time the sheriff came in the front door.
An interesting assortment of relics collected by the Rock County Historical Society is on display in one of the windows of the I.I. Smith furniture store. It includes a muzzle loading rifle made in 1837; a muzzle loading pistol, two water carrying yokes, a bayonet used in the Civil War, candle molds, and a blood extractor that was used for drawing blood from a vein for the treatment of rheumatism and fever.100 years ago (1905)
Agent Geo. S. Bell, of the Omaha exhibited a sweet potato Monday that would be a prize winner in a garden show in the South. The potato weighed 13 ounces and was raised by Mr. Bell.
There appears to be a good basis for the prediction that next year Rock County will have a county fair, held on the grounds and in buildings belonging to an association of farmers and businessmen.

PROBATE COURTDISTRICT COURT—COUNTY COURTPROBATE DIVISIONORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate of Evelyn Stroeh a/k/a Evelyn J. Stroeh, DeceasedTO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 14th day of November, 2005, at 3:30 O’clock P.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated December 3, 1984, and for the appointment of Stanley Stroeh whose address is 903 N. Oakley, Luverne, Minnesota 56156, as personal representative of the estate of the above named decedent in supervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, said personal representative will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the estate. Upon completion of the administration, the representative shall file a final account for the allowance and shall distribute the estate to the persons thereto entitled as ordered by the Court, and close the estate. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.Dated: 10-25-2005 /s/ Timothy K. ConnellDistrict Court Judge/s/ Damon T. Eisma /s/Damon T. Eisma Sandra L. VrtacnikAttorney for Petitioner Court AdministratorEisma and Eisma130 East Main, Box 625Luverne, MN 56156(507)283-4828I.D. #249269(10-27, 11-3)

Rock County DAC/Good Samaritan Communities to apply for busThe Rock County Developmental Achievement Center, in coordination with the Good Samaritan Communities of Luverne, hereby provides notice that it intends to apply to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the following transportation equipment to serve elderly and persons with disabilities in the Luverne, MN area: Class 400 bus with 2 wheelchair positions and 12 seated positions. Individuals or agencies seeking to request transportation service should contact Dorothy Darveaux, 807 W. Main St., Luverne, MN 56156, (507) 283-4582. The deadline for submitting this application is November 23, 2005.

STATE OF MINNESOTA IN DISTRICT COURTCOUNTY OF ROCK FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTCITY OF LUVERNE,A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION Plaintiff,AND SUMMONSCITY OF LUVERNE VS. SOUTHWESTMINNESOTA FARMERS COOP, F/K/ALUVERNE FARMERS ELEVATOR, INC.,F/K/A FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE ELEVATOROF LUVERNE; CHICAGO ROCK ISLANDAND PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY;HAWKEYE LAND COMPANY;AND ALL OTHER PERSONS AND ENTITIESUNKNOWN AND THEIR UNKNOWN HEIRSCLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, FILE NO.INTEREST, OR LIEN IN THE REAL ESTATEDESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN, Defendants.THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED AND REQUIRED to serve on Plaintiff’s attorney a Response to the Complaint which is on file in the office of the Court Administrator of the above named Court within twenty (20) days after service of this Summon upon you, exclusive of the day of service. If you fail to do so, judgment by default will be taken against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint which involves, affects or brings in question real property situated in the County of Rock, State of Minnesota legally described as follows, to-wit:The South 50 Feet of the North 90 Feet of the East 50 Feet of the West 208 Feet of the Northeast Quarter (NE1/4) of Section Eleven (11), Township One Hundred Two (102) North, Range Forty-five (45) West of the 5th P.M., located in the City of Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota.The object of this proceeding is to Quiet Title to the real estate described above by excluding the Defendants from any interest in said real estate. Dated: October 24, 2005By: /s/ BENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.Attorney for PlaintiffBENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.LUVERNE CITY ATTORNEY127 East Main, P.O. Box 746Luverne, Minnesota 56156(507) 283-9546Attorney I.D. No. 112124(10-27, 11,3, 11-10)

By John RittenhouseAn outstanding comeback by Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth Tuesday in Cleveland propelled the Patriots into the semifinal round of the Section 2 Nine-Man Football Playoffs.Trailing by 12 points with less than 18 minutes left to play, H-BC-E rallied to score 18 unanswered points in a span of 4:10 to pull out a 34-26 victory.The win ups H-BC-E’s season record to 2-6, and it sends the Patriots to Edgerton Saturday to play the top-seeded Flying Dutchmen at 3 p.m.Cleveland, the section’s fourth seed, ends the season with a 2-7 record.It looked like Cleveland might be headed to Edgerton when it snapped a 14-14 halftime deadlock by recording a pair of touchdowns in the first 6:54 of the third quarter.The Clippers moved in front 20-14 with a 16-yard touchdown pass at the 7:43 mark of the fourth quarter, and they increased their lead to 12 points (26-14) with an 80-yard touchdown run with 5:06 remaining in the stanza.H-BC-E, however, controlled play the rest of the night.Facing a fourth-and-two situation late in the third quarter, H-BC-E received a boost in confidence when quarterback Adam Finke hooked up with Cody Rozeboom for a 34-yard pass that pushed the ball to Cleveland’s one-yard line. Jon Klaassen scored on a one-yard plunge on the next play to make it a 26-20 game with 2:17 remaining in the third period.Finke, who passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns in the contest, tossed two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to put the Patriots in front to stay.Finke and Rozeboom connected for a 34-yard touchdown pass at the 11:02 mark of the final stanza. Finke booted the extra point to give the Patriots a 27-26 edge.H-BC-E’s Kerry Fink intercepted a pass moments later, which set up a 38-yard touchdown pass from Finke to Rozeboom with 10:07 remaining in the game. When Finke added the extra point, the scoring was complete."It was great to be down by two touchdowns then come back to win," said H-BC-E coach Dan Ellingson.Klaassen, who carried the ball for 113 yards during the game, opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run at 1:31 mark of the first quarter. Finke’s extra point made it 7-0.Cleveland trimmed the difference to one point (7-6) with a 75-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the first quarter before moving in front 14-7 with a 12-yard touchdown pass and a successful two-point conversion with 3:19 remaining in the second quarter.H-BC-E tied the game at 14 when Finke tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Weston DeBerg before booting the extra point with one second left in the first half.Team statisticsH-BC: 201 rushing yards, 253 passing yards, 454 total yards, 20 first downs, 10 penalties for 90 yards, three turnovers.Cleveland: 160 rushing yards, 232 passing yards, 392 total yards, nine first downs, six penalties for 45 yards, three turnovers.Individual statisticsRushing: Klaassen 26-113, Finke 13-52, Jarid Hoogendoorn 8-30.Passing: Finke 15-29 for 253 yards.Receiving: Rozeboom 10-169, DeBerg 4-70, Devin DeBoer 1-14.Defense: Jason Martens nine tackles, Tom Leuthold six tackles, Mitchell Leuthold five tackles, Fink two interceptions and one fumble recovery.