By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys track team turned in an impressive performance during the outdoor opener at Cardinal field Tuesday.Hosting the annual Cardinal Quadrangular, the LHS boys took advantage of some perfect weather conditions (little wind and warm temperatures) to post seven event victories and finish second in six events during the meet.Tony Willers and Mike Kunstle experienced outstanding days for the Cardinals.Willers won the shot put and discus titles with tosses of 41-0 and 124-5.Kunstle won the triple jump with a distance of 38-5 1/2 and took top honors in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.86.Kunstle, who placed second in the 100-meter dash in 11.58, ran a leg with Luverne’s champion 400-meter relay team. Ben Uphoff, Chris Ashby and Jordan Siebenahler teamed up with Kunstle to win the event in 46.57.Uphoff and Jake Hendricks also posted wins for LHS.Uphoff cleared the 300-meter hurdles in 44.06 to place first. Hendricks covered 400 meters in 51.91.Ashby, Siebenahler and Otten placed second during individual running events.Siebenahler ran 200 meters in 24.29, Ashby cleared the 300-meter hurdles in 45.13 and Otten scampered 800 meters in 2:10.83.Luverne’s Michael Nelson placed second in the pole vault after clearing 10-6.The Cards received second- and third-place performances from the 1,600- and 800-meter relays, which recorded respective 3:39.29 and 1:37.1 times.Ruston Aaker, Scott Goebel, Tom Ward and Otten ran the 1,600. Kunstle, Goebel, Otten and Hendricks teamed up in the 800.Luverne will compete at the Brandon Valley (S.D.) Relays Saturday before hosting the Cardinal Relays Tuesday.Here is a look at the rest of Luverne’s individual finishers during the Cardinal Quadrangular.Third place: Matt Rosin, discus, 112-1; Uphoff, 110-hurdles, 18.42; Ashby, 100, 11.59; Goebel, 400, 54.49; Thomas Pinkal, 1,600, 5:07; Ryan Wynia, pole vault, 10-0; Pinkal, 3,200, 11:16.79.Fourth place: Craig Rogers, shot, 37-9; Aaker, 400, 56.29; Ward, 800, 2:13.5; Steve Schneiderman, 3,200, 11:31.7.Fifth place: Mitch Bauman, discus, 97-5; Rosin, shot, 37-6; Ryan Jacobsma, 200, 25.97.Sixth place: Aaker, high jump, 5-6.Seventh place: Ward, high jump, 5-4; Schneiderman, 1,600, 5:16; Matt Stensland-Bos, pole vault, 7-6.Eighth place: Tyler Williams, discus, 90-0; Jared Roemen, shot, 34-0.

By Lori EhdeThe future looks bright for Rock County’s Developmental Achievement Center in Luverne. Just four years ago, the local employer of disabled adults completed a major remodeling and expansion that allowed for improved working space. Next month, the DAC will complete work on a 2,300-square-foot residential home for four disabled adults: and this spring a similar home is planned near the new hospital.DAC director Dorothy Darveaux offered a tour to County Commissioners of the first home nearing completion just west of the DAC work site.This house is designed for wheelchair accessibility, with extra wide doors, low-placed light switches, specialized door handles, a roll-in accessible shower and a kitchen designed for wheelchair users.A private patio deck views a shaded yard on the northeast side, and a whirlpool Jacuzzi tub will be part of physical therapy for occupants.A 26-by-30 garage will accommodate two vehicles for the individuals living there.Key to independenceThe house is built for four people.Two residents moving in April 15 are currently employed at the DAC work site, and they would be able to either walk or use wheelchairs to get between locations when the weather is favorable.For disabled adults who need accessible housing, the development of such housing options is key if they wish to live and work in Luverne."This may give people with physical challenges the opportunity to be gainfully employed in this community," Darveaux said, adding that for others, the home simply offers more independence."Certain individuals may be able to live semi-independently but require personal care supports such as help getting in and out of bed, meal preparation, specialized medical services in the home, and personal hygiene assistance cares."While it’s handy for DAC workers to live in the house, it’s not built exclusively for DAC workers.The home’s future occupants may or may not work at DAC. Two of the home’s future residents currently live in Rock County. One person will move from a nursing home placement to this less restrictive placement and another individual will be moving from a family home. The accessible home will be staffed 24 hours a day by direct support health professionals to help with medical needs and all basic living needs.Persons with disabilities may work in other jobs around town and not just in the DAC sheltered workshop jobs. Many Luverne businesses currently employ persons with disabilities as either individuals or as part of DAC enclaves. For persons with barriers to both independent living and independent employment, local services may provide first-time independence from living with either their parents or other family members. At the same time, local services support those family members who may have cared for their adult family member at home and who now are in need of a residential service to help them with long-term care.Reinvesting in the communityThe $170,000 home was funded mostly through DAC cash reserves and through donations set aside specifically for this project."We saved, and we sat on the property purchased for several years; now we’re investing that money back into the community," Darveaux said Friday.According to Brenda Meyer, regional director of Habilitative Services Inc., the community benefits more ways than one from the housing venture."This house alone will employ 16 to 20 people making a minimum of $8.50 per hour," she said."It’s amazing how this all brings dollars into the community."She said DAC took the initiative in building the house, but HSI will manage the services. It will hire the staff and oversee the needs of the individuals living in the house."DAC will essentially become our landlord," Meyer said. "It will be a landlord-tenant relationship."HSI currently manages four other homes in Luverne for adults with developmental disabilities, but the new housing is licensed specifically for adult foster care.Meyer said, "It’s for people with adult-onset phsyical and/or mental disability caused by accident, illness or disease."A model statewideThe Rock County DAC’s foray into home building is putting Luverne on the map among statewide HSI professionals and Day Treatment and Habilitation (DT and H) professionals.Many communities provide housing for disabled adults, typically retrofitting existing housing.Rock County DAC is now custom-building homes for disabled adults."This is new to DT&H people," Darveaux said. "The state is watching us very closely to see how this works out for us. We’re becoming a role model in this area."She said there isn’t much incentive for developers to build homes for disabled adults"But we have incentive to build clientele," Darveaux said. "It’s a logical diversification for the DAC to invest in quality accessible housing."The second DAC house breaks ground this spring near the new hospital. That one will be custom-built for three young men in town who have outgrown the house that served them in boyhood."They have high medical needs, and the house will have a nurses’ station built right into it," Darveaux said. "It’s being built to meet their special needs."Because physical therapy plays a big role in meeting their medical needs, the house will be a bit larger than the west-side home to accommodate for large muscle development and exercise room therapies.Dale McClure is the general contractor for both houses.County Commissioner Ron Boyenga praised Darveaux and the DAC for their efforts to improve housing for disabled adults."I give a lot of credit to Dorothy," he said after Friday’s tour. "She’s done a tremendous job on this."Darveaux said it’s satisfying to create something that will benefit so many people."It’s exciting work, and it’s very gratifying to see it come to fruition," she said.

By Lori EhdeLuverne Schools may cut funding for all day every day kindergarten, but there are creative ways for students to continue the curriculum beyond the state-funded half-time program.During a work session earlier this month, staff and administration considered their options."The general consensus seems to be if we aren’t able to have all day every day kindergarten due to financial restrictions, the next-best option would be every day, half day option," said Superintendent Vince Schaefer.He and Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette and District Finance Officer Marlene Mann presented preliminary information to board members at their meeting Tuesday night.They looked at districts in Willmar and Montevideo that used every day half day programs supplemented with half-day fee-based programs.For example, students attend regular kindergarten in the morning and Kinder Plus or an enrichment program in the afternoon. The afternoon classes are optional and cost parents roughly $1,500 per year.When Willmar started the program four years ago, 60 percent of parents chose the Kinder Plus option. Now, 90 percent of the kindergartners attend the afternoon program.According to Tuesday’s discussion, Luverne’s tuition would likely be paid to Community Education with that money then directed to the general fund to pay kindergarten teachers.The plan would be that kindergarten teachers would continue into the afternoon, reinforcing the morning curriculum.ReactionBoard member Cary Radisewitz said, "Philosophically I struggle with the idea of parents having to come up with money for kindergarten. I remember how much money I had when my kids were that age."Board member Vicki Baartman said, "I wonder – and this is just a question – if we as a district should consider putting this off one more year to see what happens with the referendum in the fall."Mann said, "We’ve funded all day every day kindergarten for five years, and we’ve continued to make cuts in other programs through the years. … Kindergarten isn’t the only issue we need to fund through a referendum."Schaefer told board members they’ll have a difficult decision on their hands."Fiscal responsibility is one thing and educational responsibility is another," he said. "We have to look at money in one hand and education value in the other and somehow balance the two."BackgroundLuverne Schools started funding all day every day kindergarten five years ago with the understanding that the legislature would soon take over the costs."Back then, the legislature was making noise, at least verbally, about funding all day every day kindergarten," Schaefer said.The decision cost the district $120,000 per year, but the reasoning was that stellar education in the early years would save the district money long-term in special education costs. But since then, the state not only hasn’t funded kindergarten, it’s frozen all education spending for the past three years.Meanwhile School Board members have had to make difficult funding cuts to other programs in the district while all day every day kindergarten continued to drain $120,000 per year from the general fund.No action was taken Tuesday night, but board member Colleen Deutsch asked about the possibility of scheduling a community meeting on the subject."This is huge, and it affects so many people," she said. "I just wouldn’t feel comfortable making a decision about this without getting community input."The board will also consider surveys, mailings and information on the district Web site, www.isd2184.net.Other options if all day every day kindergarten is cut would beohalf day every day in the morning,ohalf day every day in the afternoon andoall day every other day.Gillette said she’ll survey this year’s kindergarten parents on those options and ask for other feedback as well."I’m hoping to get information back next week, so I’ll get it to you when I get it," she said.She said she spoke to teachers about the issue this week. "With additional state standards … they’re concerned," she said. "With cutbacks in kindergarten plus cutbacks in title (Title I aides) things are going to be affected."Schaefer said he welcomes comments and questions from the public, and he encourages district residents to also call their representatives on the board.

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members accepted bids Tuesday for remodeling the middle school and high school administrative offices.Contracts were awarded to the following low bidders:oJans Corporation, Sioux Falls, will serve as general contractors for $81,700. Their alternate bid for storage cabinets in the reception area was $1,300.oMidwestern Mechanical Inc., Sioux Falls, will complete the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work for $58,390.oFulda Electric, Brandon, will do the electrical and lighting work for $19,950.Work on the project, which includes updated flooring and lighting in those office areas, will begin as soon as school is dismissed this spring.The total cost of $159,915 was budgeted in the capital improvements fund.Virtual Rally todaySuperintendent Vince Schaefer is encouraging school staff and district residents to participate in a Virtual Rally today online.From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. public education supporters can contact lawmakers urging them to secure adquate funding for education.oCall Gov. Tim Pawlenty at (651) 296-3391oCall House leader Steve Sviggum at (651) 296-2273oCall Senate leader Dean Johnson at (651) 296-3826.For more information, go to the Web site www.AllianceForStudentAchievement.org or call the Luverne District office at 283-8088.Showcase on elementary counselorFor the board’s showcase agenda item, Elementary Counselor Marie Atkinson Smeins presented information on her work with students.She said there’s an increased focus on bullying and helping students establish healthy relationships and self esteem in order to respond appropriately.Her small counseling groups continue to address friendship, anger management, ADD and ADHD, study skills and changing families.Individual counseling sessions focus on issues such as family changes, friendship, behaviors, attitude, anger management, alcohol abuse in the home, death, etc.She’ll be a presenter at the Minnesota School Counselors Association meeting May 1-3 in St. Cloud. She’ll present information on wellness, stress and organization.In personnel matters Tuesday, the boardoApproved the final seniority and probationary list for certified staffoApproved Jerrod Gertsema as long-term substitute for Jill Wagner for the remainder of the school year. It’s a half-time position.oApproved a maternity leave request for paraprofessional Angela Fick starting around May 2 for the remainder of the school year.oAccepted the retirement of Steve Kollman, elementary physical education teacher, effective June 3.oAccepted the resignation of paraprofessional Rosemary Moerke, effective April 8.oApproved Sarah Johnson as volunteer softball coach for grades 9-12.In other business Tuesday, the boardoHeard from Spanish students Erin Hoiland and Becca Sandager about a June 14-28 trip to Spain.Five sophomores, two juniors and two seniors in Lori Gladis’ Spanish class will go. They’ll take in the sights and culture of locations such as Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Granada and Sevilla.oHeard from Principal Gary Fisher about preliminary staffing in the middle school and high school.He said class schedules are coming together for next year. The middle school staffing schedule will be similar to this year’s, but the high school set-up is more complicated.oSet a bid date of 2 p.m. on April 26 to receive bids for roofing repair over the middle school-high school library and ag shop areas. Work won’t begin until after July, so the costs will affect next year’s budget.oHeard that Inflatable Gym Night will be April 15.oHeard that Kindergarten Roundup will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in an open house format. A formal orientation will be scheduled with parents in August.

By Sara QuamWhile the outside of the new Sioux Valley hospital and clinic has looked almost the same for a few months, what’s inside has taken shape.Down to the open, well-lit, and plum-accented décor, the hospital and clinic look much like they will when the doors open for business in July.At one time, 146 workers were on the site. Now, there are about 45.Superintendent for the job, Steve Nothdurft of Henry Carlson Company, Sioux Falls, said work has gone smoothly. Typical snags — like the slow delivery of Swedish vinyl flooring and touch-ups on drywall work — didn’t slow the project down."This has been a good one," Nothdurft said. "And I’ve done it all — from Wal-Marts to Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls and a lot of other work for Sioux Valley."Nothdurft said the next month will be filled with ceiling tile installation, electrical work, cleaning and carpeting.The new hospital will open July 29, and the clinic will open Aug. 1. Planning for the move started one year ago and will continue until it’s final.Lois Hamilton is Chief Nursing Officer and serves on the building committee. She has worked with planners and the superintendent on the patient care areas."Overall, the privacy and satisfaction of patients will improve," Hamilton said.Some of the highlights to the new hospital and clinic campus, which will be called Sioux Valley Luverne Medical Center, are:oThere will be a larger emergency department with private exam rooms.oA chapel room for friends and families of patients. Hamilton said, "The location of the chapel by the ER waiting room is ideal."oA hospice room that is comfortably decorated with cherry wood. "It’s very important for people to have that option, and it’s set in a quiet corner of the hospital," Hamilton said.oFour spacious and comfortable birthing rooms, where mother, father and child will remain after the delivery. They are decorated and designed to feel home-like, with whirlpool tubs."All patient rooms are designed for comfort and privacy," Hamilton said. "Visitors are unable to see patients from the hallways when they walk by. All the rooms have their own showers."oA much larger and more private therapy area, which will include massage, speech, occupational, physical and cardiac rehabilitation.oA healing garden outside the inpatient area of the hospital, is being developed by the Master Gardeners.oTwo operating room suites in the hospital.o25 inpatient beds, and seven private outpatient rooms in the hospital.oTwo special care or intensive care rooms.o36 exam rooms in the clinic.oFour special procedure rooms in the clinic.oRadiology will have a new in-house CT service. Mobile units will still be used for MRIs.oA dining room/cafeteria area that opens to an outdoor patio eating area with a view.Both the hospital and clinic are accessed through the main entrance on the south. The main waiting room, next to the gift shop, offers spacious seating areas and even has a fireplace.Technology is changing and the space is planned for that. X-rays, for example, will go to a new, "filmless" system to save on developing costs and to make it faster and easier to retrieve files via computer for diagnosing.The registration area is also designed to be paperless. That transition could happen as soon as a year from now, and patients wouldn’t have to repeat information between the hospital and clinic."We’ve always seen ourselves as a team and work very well together," Hamilton said. The $17.8 million facility will more than double the space of the current hospital and clinic.Hamilton said hospital and clinic staff and physicians — but most important — the people served, will benefit from the change. "This is an exciting time for the community, and we appreciate all the support we have received," she said. "I am sure they will enjoy the benefits of this new facility. They will be able to be taken care of close to home and not have to travel to obtain the technology and comfort they deserve."

10 years ago (1995)
Fraser Norton, Hills, began duties as Rock County’s new Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
More than 300 county, city and school employees signed up for a fitness challenge to earn points and receive prizes for their efforts to exercise and eat better.
Luverne graduates Mark Schoeneman and Micky Sehr helped the South Dakota State University baseball team get off to a nice start.25 years ago (1980)
Rock County Republicans endorsed Wendell Erickson to seek another term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Jim Fellows to challenge State Senator Marion "Mike" Menning.
Census forms arrive in Rock County mailboxes this week. Gregg Gropel, chairman of the complete count committee, said the Luverne Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will distribute pamphlets on the Census.50 years ago (1955)
Warren E. Schoon won the Luverne mayoral election on a write-in campaign over Harold Van Roekel.
Ground breaking ceremonies for the new Grace Lutheran Church on North Kniss Avenue were Sunday.
All parent permission cards for the polio vaccine inoculations must be turned in to teachers, it was announced by Dr. A.C. Martin.75 years ago (1930)
The first of two style revues by Creeger & Co. was presented last evening at the Palace Theatre between the first and second motion picture programs, and much favorable comment was made by the generous-sized audience.
Manager M.R. Mosby, of the Recreation Alleys, is hosting the second Southwestern Minnesota bowling tournament, which will last nine days in Luverne. Bowlers from Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota were invited.
The Snook Grocery Store was robbed by a man with a gun, who made off with $150.100 years ago (1905)
More than 200 of the farmers gathered for a Rock County Breeders’ association.
Sheriff Black and Chief of Police McDowell "were given a merry chase" when they arrested girls, age 18 and 14, from Sioux Falls, who ran from officers. The two had left their homes to be with their boyfriends.
Nelson Brothers Department Store advertised a 42-inch top, 12 foot extension ash dining room table with turned legs for $7.50.

By John RittenhouseA pair of Luverne High School boys won event titles during the first track meet of the season Saturday.A small group of Cardinals traveled to Vermillion, S.D., to compete in the U.S TC Midwest Track and Field Meet in the Dakota Dome over the weekend.Although the Cardinals sent a small band of athletes to the meet, LHS coach Craig Nelson said he was pleased with the way his kids performed."I think the kids that went down there did extremely well," he said. "We got our first meet under our belts. We received some good efforts and I was pleased with the results."It was a great day for Scott Goebel and Nick Otten, who won the 500- and 800-meter runs with 1:13.85 and 2:13.12 efforts respectively.Goebel and Otten also ran legs with Luverne’s 800- and 1,600-meter relays, which placed fourth with 1:41.44 and 3:57.8 times. Ben Uphoff and Chris Ashby are the other members of the team.Uphoff, Thomas Pinkal, and Michael Nelson turned in strong individual efforts. Uphoff placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles (10.44), Pinkal second in the 3,000-meter run (10:38.99) and fifth in the 1,500-meter run (4:45.02), and Nelson cleared 10-0 to place fifth in the pole vault.Ashby placed sixth in the 60-meter dash (no time was available), Matt Rosin finished seventh in the shot put (41-5), C.J. Xaisongkham ninth in the 400-meter dash (1:03.16) and Jon May 10th in the 1,500 (5:24.89).Kayla Raddle led the LHS girls by placing second in the 3,000- and third in the 500-meter runs with respective 12:48.77 and 1:32.08 times.Erin Hoiland covered 14-4 1/2 to place third in the long jump, and she ran a leg with Luverne’s 800-meter relay team that placed fifth in 2:01.51. Morgan Bosshart, Abby Elbers and Rachel Nath are other members of that team.Elbers placed fifth in the long jump (13-11 1/2), Katie Schneiderman fifth in the 1,500-meter run (5:57.22), Kelsey Dooyema sixth in the 1,500 (6:03.58) and Jessica Willers 10th in the 60-meter hurdles (10.66).

By John RittenhouseThree Luverne High School seniors helped form the 2005 All-Southwest Conference Boys Hockey roster.Forwards Matt Reverts and Nick Otten made the all-conference team.Goalie Brad Van Santen drew honorable mention from the league’s coaches.Worthington led all teams with four all-conference selections. Seniors Josh Miller, Shane Frickie and Ben Clark, and junior Jason Johnson made the team for the Trojans.Marshall and Windom picked up three all-conference picks each.Marshall seniors Ryan Serreyn, Jesse Smallfield and Mitch Maki cracked the roster. Windom senior Will Schwalbach and juniors Cody Fast and Kody Johnson round out the team.Other honorable mention selections include Worthington junior Nate Peterson, Marshall senior Dayton Schweiger and junior Cory Krogen, and Windom sophomore Pontus Malm.

By John RittenhouseFour Luverne High School seniors drew postseason honors from the Southwest Conference boys basketball coaches.Guard Brandon Deragisch is one of 10 players named to the All-SWC Boys Basketball team.Deragisch also drew honorable mention when the Associated Press released its 2005 All-State Team March 15.Classmates John Tofteland, Jared Pick and Brad Herman drew honorable mention selections from the league’s coaches.Pipestone, Redwood Valley, Marshall and Worthington landed two players each on the all-conference roster.Marshall seniors Mike Kaiser and Zach Bruns, RWV seniors Bryan Busack and Kelsey Mattison, Pipestone seniors David Steenstra and Tim Stotz, and Worthington seniors Jay Scheidt and Joe Klumper made the squad.Windom junior Mike Nesseth rounds out the roster.Other players to draw honorable mention include Marshall senior Nick Gjorvad and Jackson County Central junior Jordan Kocak.