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City, Dingmann working out clinic building details

By Sara QuamDingmann Funeral Home and the City of Luverne are trying to work out differences to transform the clinic into a new funeral home when the clinic is vacated in July.Sioux Valley Medical Center and Luverne Community Hospital are relocating to the new facility at the end of July.The city and owner Dan Dingmann reached a memorandum of understanding that Dingmann would occupy the clinic portion of the existing space. The memorandum was described by City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi as a preliminary document that has some legal authority, but isn’t binding.It is also vague in many respects, so just how the deal will be handled is up in the air now.Dingmann and his representatives will meet with the city next week to clear up some issues before any deal is finalized.Building Official Dan Delgehausen has been in on discussions. He said, "Who is responsible for what is in question?"The memorandum of understanding outlined a tentative deal:oDingmann was to purchase the Luverne Medical Center and have the use of the north parking lot.The city tentatively said the hospital would probably be demolished later and used as parking for Dingmann.oThe parking lots north of the Medical Center could be sold for residential development.oAs another part of the deal, Fledgling Field will be transferred to the Economic Development Authority, which will find a use for the vacant lot.Parking, interior usable space and handicap accessibility were all reasons Dingmann wants to relocate from his current historic structure on West Main Street.If the city doesn’t demolish the hospital portion of the current hospital/clinic, Dingmann wants an adequate barrier between his business and whatever is inside the neighboring building.Approximately 30 feet of space between the two buildings can be demolished, but at a cost of more than $150,000.Delgehausen said, "There’s even a dispute as to whether it’s even a part of the clinic or hospital."To demolish the hospital in its entirety would cost up to $300,000, not including site work afterward.There was talk of moving the Fire Hall to the hospital half, but the fire department has developed plans to expand at its current site instead. That expansion affects an addition at Holy Trinity Church, the Fire Hall’s neighbor. It appears that there is room for both projects on the block, and the city offered more land to the church for $30,000. After an agreement is reached between the city and Dingmann, the architect will present options for the hospital to the City Council.

District to try again for referendum vote

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members took official action at their Thursday, May 26, meeting to put a referendum to district voters this fall."This action gives notice of the board’s intention to go out for the question this fall," said Superintendent Vince Schaefer. "Specific dollar amounts will be determined after the legislative session ends."Luverne District voters said no last fall to a $455 per pupil operating referendum that would have brought an estimated $603,995 per year to the district for up to 10 years.Residents voted no on the request for more money by a 1,876-1,760 vote.It was the first time in the history of the Luverne School District that residents said no to more money for schools.The last time voters said no to a referendum request was in 1963 when a pool was proposed as part of the west wing addition to the high school.Voters at that time said yes to the building project and no to the pool.Kindergarten questionsAt Thursday’s meeting, the board officially responded to questions posed by parents at the last meeting regarding the board’s decision to cut all day every day kindergarten.One question posed by the parents dealt with the amount of tuition suggested for the optional afternoon kindergarten program.District Finance Officer Marlene Mann said the amount was arrived at based on the cost of teachers, supplies and building maintenance."We believed it was a reasonable dollar amount," Mann said.The amount is comparable to Discovery Time Preschool, which costs $92 per month. That comes to $2.83 per hour figuring three mornings per week.The afternoon kindergarten program, based on 15 hours per week, came to $2.30 per hour or $150 per month.

M-M celebrating 40th anniversary

By Lori EhdeM-M Distributing is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week, and Merlyn and Lynn Lopau say they’re glad to have done business all these years in Luverne."We love Luverne," Lynn said. "We think it’s a wonderful town."Lynn’s brother, John McCallum Jr, Pipestone, and the Lopaus own M-M Distributing Luverne, and there are also M-M stores in Pipestone and Slayton.Lynn’s father, the late John McCallum, started the first store in Pipestone in 1956, and in June of 1965, J-M opened in a small storefront on Main Street Luverne. "We sold rope, farm supplies and a few toys and housewares," Lynn said. M-M was named for Lynn’s mother, Majorie McCallum, and J-M was named for John McCallum and Merlyn Lopau.J-M was located in the former Les’ Foodland, now the Kaczrowski Dental Office. "I was just a teenager, Merlyn was 21, and my brother was still in college at the U of M," Lynn said. "We were really just kids. … People would come into the store and ask if they could talk to our dad."Ben Hendricks, Edgerton, was their employee at the time but was often mistaken for the one in charge because he was older. Alice Nelson, Luverne, was their other employee when they first started doing business in Luverne.In 1968, the business moved a couple of blocks south to the former International implement building. It was where the new Glen’s Food Center is now located.In 1974, a new 20,000-square-foot store was built at the current location on West Hatting Street. "It was a lot of work, but an exciting time for all of us," Lynn said. That was about the same time the McCallum family opened the Slayton location, and the owners decided to name all three stores M-M Distributing."People still call it J-M," Lynn said. "I still get mail addressed to J-M."The new store opened during a booming farming economy and at a time when people shopped at home."It was a wonderful time for these small towns," Lynn said. "There weren’t any Wal-Marts or any big box stores. … It was a whole different way of living."Merlyn said one reason the business has survived the changing economy is customer service."We’ve tried to maintain personal service," he said. "That’s our niche. People know we’ll be here to stand behind our products."That approach to doing business has paid off for the Lopaus."We have a lot of loyal customers," Merlyn said.In response to increasing competition from Worthington and Sioux Falls, M-M stores diversified their offerings.In the early years, the M-M stores dealt primarily in farm supplies, but now M-M carries sporting goods, paint, all kinds of hardware, auto supplies, housewares and health and beauty products, as well as clothing for the entire family."We specialize in work boots, work clothes and outerwear," Lynn said.In the spring the M-M greenhouse, especially, has become a mainstay for revenue. "That’s become our Christmas here," Lynn said. "Except this has been a rough spring. … People want to plant when it’s sunny."Also, a full-service, small engine repair and tire shop occupies part of a 4,000 square foot addition that was built on the south end of the store in 1980.In addition to economic challenges, the Lopaus remember computer technology being a major hurdle."There have been some pretty hairy moments when the computers crashed (in a power outage) and customers are backed up at the checkout counter," Lynn said. At times like those, they longed for the old days of price tags on merchandise, but they said they’ve come to rely on computers.Merlyn and Lynn said their employees have played a big role in the business."We’ve had a lot of really wonderful employees through the years," Lynn said. "They’ve become family to us."M-M in Luverne employs six people full-time and about 10 more part-time. Merlyn and Lynn said Manager Cliff Enninga has contributed a great deal to the business. He’s worked for M-M for 26 years and manages the greenhouse.Looking back, the Lopaus say they have no regrets for investing so much in a business in Luverne."We are proud of our town," Merlyn said. "It’s a growing place with lots to look forward to. The future is going to be good for Luverne."They have two children, Scott, Pipestone, and Beth Blake, Waseca, who grew up helping in the store.An anniversary celebration will include free ice cream on Thursday, June 9. Rock County Dairy Princess Lindsay Brands works for M-M and will be on hand to serve ice cream to customers starting at 3 p.m.Also, thousands of dollars in door prizes and cash will be given away over a two-week period starting June 6.

Principal applies for sup't. job

By Lori EhdeSchool Board members interviewed long-time Luverne High School principal Gary Fisher for the superintendent’s position Tuesday night.Fisher is one of 24 applicants interested in the job, soon to be vacated by Superintendent Vince Schaefer.The position was advertised for two weeks on four Web sites: Luverne School District, the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and EdPost Minnesota, a site for college graduates with education degrees.The deadline to apply was May 20.The School Board met for the interview Tuesday as a Committee of the Whole, and no decisions were made at that meeting.According to Board Chair Becky Walgrave, a special meeting of the board is scheduled for noon on Friday to discuss the next step. Walgrave said Fisher has the appropriate credentials for the job, which requires a superintendent’s endorsement or licensure.After six years in Luverne, Schaefer’s last day is July 1 He accepted a position in the Beresford, S.D. district.

Commitee in place to hire administrator

By Sara QuamMayor Andy Steensma will appoint a committee of six local people to help in the hiring process of a new Luverne city administrator.The committee is named. They are: Steensma, Council member Esther Frakes, Steve Perkins, Connie Connell, Dave Smith and Barb Berghorst.Before a new administrator is found, another committee — consisting of department heads, city clerk, finance officer and Mayor Steensma — will oversee city operations as an administration group.That committee will meet as often as necessary to help operations of the city continue without an administrator. Most decisions come before the City Council anyway, but the administrator takes care of day-to-day work and research which is brought to the Council. Administrators also work with staff more regularly and bring other ideas or recommendations to the Council.The Worthington City Administrator has offered to answer questions or offer background advice to this committee.In 1992, a similar method was used during the interim between administrators.The Council hasn’t officially approved this committee concept but plans to do so in the form of an ordinance next week.The hiring committeeThe six-member hiring committee will meet to establish a system of finding the new administrator. It will also weed through resumes and applications before finalists are brought before the Council.Committee members will review the job description, qualifications and a city profile.Next week the City Council will see current job description and qualification list along with recommended changes brought up by city staff. Council members were also asked to formulate job descriptions and ideal qualifications to help the process along, The Council will compare what it wants to what city staff sees as important.The community profile that is being developed will outline strengths of the city, challenges it faces and goals it wants to accomplish.The job description, personal qualifications and community profile are all included in packets applicants receive after responding to job advertisements.

Buffalo Days set for weekend

By Lori EhdeLuverne’s annual Buffalo Days celebration is this weekend, and Chamber Director Dave Smith said everything is ready.He said the weekend will offer all the classic Buffalo Days events, with a few improvements."This year for Arts in the Park we made a real concerted effort to make sure the crafts there are hand-made," Smith said.He said in the past few years, more and more vendors were bringing commercially-produced crafts for resale."Some were doing a bit of both, commercial and hand-made crafts," he said. "These were flea-market type things, and we wanted to get away from that. This year everything is hand-made."As a result, 45 new vendors will make an appearance at Arts in the Park, and they’re offering new and unique arts and crafts, Smith said.There are a total of 103 booth spaces spoken for at the event.Also new in the park, Smith said, will be the food vendor setup. Prompted by growing evergreens crowding out booth space, the food booth setup this year will be a horse-shoe shape with picnic tables in the middle.Instead of the food vendors lining the northern edge of the park, they’ll start at the park entrance, line up to the east, and then circle south at the ball diamond and then return to the west.Arts in the Park opens at 10 a.m. and features all-day activities, including the world-renowned Buffalo Chip Throwing Contest, which starts at 2 p.m.The Buffalo Days Parade on Main Street also starts at 10 a.m.

Patriots extend track season Thursday

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton teams opened postseason competition at the Sub-Section 10 Track and Field Championships in Slayton Thursday.The Patriot boys compiled 85 points and placed fifth in a seven-team field. H-BC-E-E’s girls placed sixth out of seven teams with 60 counters.H-BC-E-E will be represented well at today’s Section 3A meet in Redwood Falls. Ten boys and eight girls will compete.Seven Patriot boys earned automatic berths into section competition by placing third or better in Slayton. Three more boys will advance to the section meet as at-large qualifiers based on their performances compared with the results turned in by the athletes from the other three sub-sections that form Section 3A.Seven H-BC-E-E girls drew automatic invitations to the section meet. One more will compete after locking up at-large entry.The Patriot boys won a pair of sub-section event titles. Cody Scholten took top honors in the high jump after clearing 6-0. The 1,600-meter relay team of Jan Sommerling, John Sandbulte, Kale Wiertzema and Tyler Bush placed first with a time of 3:30.92.H-BC-E-E’s 400- and 800-meter relays qualified for the section event by placing second and third with respective 45.46 and 1:37.47 times. Sommerlng, Scholten, Wiertzema and Bush ran the 400. Sommerling, Scholten, Cody Schilling and Bush teamed up in the 800.Wiertzema (second in the 400 in 52.15), Bush (second in the 800 in 1:58.74), Schilling (second in the triple jump with a distance of 38-7 1/2) and Derek Haak (third in the 800 in 2:10.47) also locked up automatic berths in the section field.Casey Van Midden Dorp and the 3,200-meter relay team consisting of Haak, Sandbulte, Tyler Paulsen and Brent Kramer earned at-large entries into section competition. Van Midden Dorp placed sixth in the 100-meter dash in 11.9. The relay finished fifth in 9:18.22.The Patriot girls placed second in three events at the sub-section meet.Rosie Lewis, who tossed the shot 33-1 to place third, produced a distance of 98-0 to finish second in the discus.Cassi Tilstra finished second in the 400-meter dash in 1:00.2 and ran a leg with the second-place finishing 1,600-meter relay, which recorded a time of 4:14.12. Amanda Tilstra, Jocelyn Bucher and Mya Mann round out the 1,600-meter team.The 400- and 3,200-meter relays locked up automatic trips to Redwood Falls by placing third with respective 53.68 and 10:11.08 efforts. Kelly Mulder, Mann, Amanda Connors and Lewis teamed up in the 400. Cassi and Amanda Tilstra, Ashley Bucher and Mann joined forces in the 3,200.Amanda DeBoer and the 800-meter relay team of Connors, Lewis, Mulder and Jocelyn Bucher earned at-large entries to the section meet. DeBoer placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:58.79. The relay placed fifth in 1:57.03.Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of H-BC-E-E’s point-producing performances during the sub-section meet.Boys standings: Luverne 142, Fulda 127.5, Southwest Christian 113, Murray County Central 86, H-BC-E-E 85, Pipestone 79, Adrian 54.5Girls standings: Pipestone 183, Luverne 122.5, MCC 108, SWC 86, Fulda 76.5, H-BC-E-E 60, Adrian 57.H-BC-E-E boysFifth place: Dustin Verhey, 3,200, 11:12.47.Sixth place: Roger DeBoer, long jump, 18-6 1/2.Seventh place: Van Midden Dorp, long jump, 18-5 1/2; DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 18.51; Paulsen, 3,200, 11:31.38.Eighth place: DeBoer, 100, 12.13.H-BC-E-E girlsSeventh place: J.Bucher, 800, 2:40.37; A.Bucher, 400, 1:06.44; Kari Roozenboom, 100 hurdles, 18.09.Eighth place: Connors, 400, 1:06.46; Rayna Sandoval, 3,200, 13:32.06; Connors, long jump, 14-9.

Wysong, Cards dodge elimination

By John RittenhouseZach Wysong and the Luverne Cardinal baseball team survived the first three rounds of the Section 3A Tournament this week.The Cardinals went 1-1 in Pipestone Tuesday, beating Murray County Central before falling to Pipestone.Luverne played an elimination game in Windom Tuesday, topping Renville County West by two runs.Wysong went 2-3 at the plate and scored a run for Luverne during a 4-2 win over RCW in Windom Tuesday.Wysong experienced some ups and downs during Saturday’s second game against Pipestone.He took the pitching loss during a 15-7 setback after yielding seven runs (four were earned) during a three and one-third inning stint on the mound as the starting pitcher.Wysong went 1-1 at the plate, scoring two runs and reaching base four times after being walked once and hit by pitches twice.The H-BC athlete went 2-4 at the plate during a 13-5 victory over MCC during the tournament opener Saturday in Pipestone.Wysong doubled and scored one of his two runs in the game during the seventh inning.Luverne played an elimination game against Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in Milroy Wednesday.

Foster care brings local family joy

By Sara QuamThere are 11,300 children in the state of Minnesota who need foster care. Of those, 11 are in foster care in Rock County now. That doesn’t count children who are being cared for by relatives other than their parents. Rock County now has 12 licensed foster families who are available for local children. Three of those are recently licensed and filled the need before Family Services had to scramble.Jodi VandenBosch, Steen, is one of the local foster parents. She and her husband, Bruce, have done foster care since September 1998.She said, "I knew at an early age that I wanted to work with children."After having three of their own children, the VandenBosches decided to open their home to more.Now they are in the process of adopting siblings, ages 3 and 4, whom they’ve had as foster children since last fall.Jodi has also been inspired to go back to school and is now a social work intern at Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls."I’d like to continue working on the adoption end of things," Jodi said. "Then I can come home and be on the foster care end again."Even though she’s been inspired by foster care, she said it takes a lot of work and heart."Don’t do it if you aren’t willing to be 100 percent committed to being a foster parent," Jodi said. "People do it for different reasons, but you have to have a complete desire to do it."The children who end up in foster care often have difficulties of varying degrees and levels. … So it takes understanding, too."Lots of times, foster kids have to grow up before they should. They’ve all had traumas in their life or they wouldn’t be there," Jodi said.She said she likes to see kids be kids and learn to have fun and grow into themselves while in her family’s home. She wants them to play, ride bike and make friends.Her approach to being a foster parent is to treat the children as a part of her family."If they’re going to live in our home, they’ll be a part of the family. They get all the benefits and all the … chores even. Sometimes a whole family unit is a foreign concept to them — to follow household rules or check in at a certain time is different," she said.The VandenBosches have had 18 foster children, and each time, Jodi felt like they bonded."I hope they continue a relationship with us. I hope they think of coming over for holidays," she said.One foster daughter grew up to have two children of her own, and Jodi enjoyed helping her with her children by babysitting on weekends."There’s always a sense of sadness when they leave," Jodi said. "Sometimes it hits you later because you’re busy getting their things together or reorganizing after they leave, but it’s always hard. …"I just want to say to them that ‘I have no idea who I am to you, but if you ever need anything, I’m here for you.’"Part of what Jodi enjoys about foster parenting is seeing her children learn lessons."There are a lot of teachable moments for my own kids," Jodi said.They can see that bad choices, such as using drugs or becoming a parent as a teenager, have consequences. And they see that they are lucky to have good parents themselves.Bruce and Jodi VandenBosch are considering starting a foster parent support network. There would be a meeting to do training, or just talk and get ideas from other foster families. If interested in joining or being a presenter, call Jodi at 227-0930.

Friendship Days registration deadlines are this week

By: Lexi MooreHills Friendship Days is less than two weeks away and registration deadlines for many of the activities are this week.The annual celebration will be June 10 and 11. Residents interested in participating in the following activities are encouraged to register by the posted deadlines to ensure organizers have enough time to plan the events.The four- person best ball golf tournament will be at 2 p.m. on June 10 at the Beaver Creek Golf Course. Registration for the golf tournament ends today and is limited to 10 teams. BCGC members and nonmembers can register by calling Amanda Rozeboom at 962-3341.Registration for the coed sand volleyball tournament, the 3-on-3 basketball tournament and the stroke screening ends on June 6.Teams interested in playing in the sand volleyball tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, can call Rozeboom. There is a $30 registration fee for each team.Students who have just completed grades 7 through 12 can call Missy Bass at 962-3733 to sign up for the 3-on-3 tournament. The games will be played to 15 points by ones or last a maximum of 20 minutes.Stroke Screening is offered in conjunction with the Health Fair on Saturday morning. There is a $40 cost each for the carotid, aortic and arterial tests. If residents wish to have all three tests, the cost is $99. A bone density test is available for $25. Contact Bonnie Leenderts at 962-3318.Registration for the Friendship Days Parade and Kiddie Parade will end on June 9. The parades mark the culmination of the two-day celebration. Awards are given to participants following the parade. The Kiddie Parade will head down Main Street starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. Children can enter their floats, decorated bikes, wagons or even come on roller-skates.The Friendship Days parade is open to all residents. To register for either parade, call Lisa Durst at 962-3389.

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