16 March 2005

Rock County delinquent tax notice

NOTICE OF DELINQUENT TAXESState of Minnesota District CourtCounty of Rock 5th Judicial District TO: ALL PERSONS WITH A LEGAL INTEREST IN THE PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING DELINQUENT TAX LIST A list of real property in Rock County on which delinquent property taxes and penalties are due has been filed with the District Court Administrator of Rock County. This list is published to inform all persons that the listed property is subject to forfeiture because of delinquent taxes. The property owner, taxpayer, or other interested person must either pay the tax and penalty, plus interest and costs, or file a written objection with the district court administrator. The objection must be filed by April 13, 2005, stating the reason why the tax or penalty is not due on the property. If no objection is filed, a court judgment will be entered against the property for the unpaid tax, penalty, interest and costs. For property under court judgment, the period of redemption begins on May 9, 2005, and ends three to five years later, depending on the type of property and where it is located. The period of redemption means the time within which taxes must be paid to avoid losing the property through forfeiture. To avoid forfeiture, taxes on property located within a township must be paid by May 9, 2010. Taxes must also be paid by May 9, 2010, if the property is one of the following types in a city: (1) residential homestead, (2) farm homestead (3) private cabins, (4) resorts in operation for not more than 250 days a year, including resorts occupied by the owner. Payment of tax by May 9, 2008, is necessary to avoid forfeiture of any property in a city that is not described in the preceding sentence.To determine how much interest and costs must be added to pay the tax in full, contact the Rock County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office, Rock County Courthouse, 204 East Brown St., PO Box 509, Luverne, Minnesota 56156-0509. The telephone number is (507) 283-5060./s/ Sandra L. VrtacnikSandra VrtacnikDistrict Court Administrator5th Judicial DistrictDated: 2-1-2005AFFIDAVIT BY AUDITORState of Minnesota ss.County of RockGloria F. Rolfs, being duly sworn, deposes and says that she is the Auditor/Treasurer of the County of Rock; that she has examined the foregoing list and knows the contents thereof; and that the same is true and correct./s/ Gloria F. RolfsGloria F. RolfsSubscribed and sworn to before me this 3rd day of March, 2005./s/ Carol A. WeberNotary PublicLIST OF REAL PROPERTY for ROCK COUNTY, State of MinnesotaOn which taxes remain delinquent on the firstMonday in January, A.D. 2005Total Tax andName of Owner Description Year PenaltyTOWN OF BATTLE PLAINCalvin C. & Maryann 01-0113-000 SECT- 19 2003 301.84Morrison TWP- 104 RNG- 44 5 A 2004 298.68 LYING IN W855’ OF S1100’ OF SW1/4 ACRES 5.00TOWN OF BEAVER CREEKAleta Beverly Cynthia 02-0305-200 SECT- 35 2004 15.96Boland TWP-102 RNG-47 PART OF OUTLOT 5 & ALL OF OUTLOT 6 IN AUDITOR’S OUTLOTSACRES 1.07TOWN OF CLINTONMarilyn M. Blattner 03-0212-000 2004 31.92 VILLAGE OF ASHCREEK LOTS 1 THRU 3 BLOCK 2Marilyn Louise Sheehan 03-0216-000 2002 208.36 VILLAGE OF ASHCREEK 2003 199.24 LOTS 5 & 6 Block 4 2004 186.96Rudolph Winter 03-0222-000 2000 168.40 VILLAGE OF ASHCREEK 2001 181.60 KITTERMAN’S ADDITION 2004 230.28 SOUTH 177.3’ OF LOT 1 Darrell & Alberta Kremin 03-0223-000 2004 200.20O-Pauline J Heck VILLAGE OF ASHCREEK KITTERMAN’S ADDITION LOT 2TOWN OF DENVERSteven De Splinter 04-0028-000 SECT- 06 2002 623.80 TWP- 104 RNG-45 E380’ OF 2003 672.20S350’ OF N1613’ OF E1/2 2004 701.80 OF NE1/4 LESS .14 ACRES CSAH #11 (85) ACRES 3.05Z Craig & Christine M 04-0049-100 SECT- 03 2004 496.10Lovett TWP- 104 RNG- 45 31.46 A IN W53.2 RODS OF S96.12 RODS OF SW1/4INCLUDES RR R/W ACRES 31.46James Wm Broomfield 04-0143-000 SECT-29 2004 133.10 TWP- 104 RNG- 45 7.80 A BLDG SITE IN E640’ OF N546’ OF N1/2 OF NE1/4 ACRES 7.80Steven Gregory Smith 04-0169-000 SECT- 36 1999 199.20 TWP- 104 RNG- 45 S551’ 2000 347.44 OF E336’ OF SE1/4 2001 295.00 LESS .21 A CSAH #19 ACRES 4.25 TOWN OF MARTINRyan T & Sarah R 08-0244-000 SECT- 15 2004 8.80Peterson TWP- 101 RNG- 47 NORTH 2.20 ACRES OF GOV LOT 1 ACRES 2.20TOWN OF ROSE DELLRobert E & Diane C 10-0242-000 SECT- 01 2001 298.20Erickson TWP- 104 RNG- 47 N461’ 2002 238.80A-Robert C. Erickson OF W463.8’ OF E1084’ OF 2003 276.20 NW1/4 LESS .18 ACRESHWY #269 ACRES 4.90TOWN OF SPRINGWATERGolden Enterprises 11-0082-000 SECT- 12 2001 2,159.40 TWP- 103 RNG- 47 E 1/2 2002 1,602.80 OF NE1/4 2003 1,864.60 ACRES 80.00 2004 2,109.80Golden Enterprises 11-0083-000 SECT- 12 2001 2,447.60 TWP- 103 RNG- 47 SE1/4 2002 1,950.40 ACRES 160.00 2003 2,379.40 2004 3,033.80Golden Enterprises 11-0084-000 SECT- 12 2001 2,108.80 TWP- 103 RNG- 47 SW1/4 2002 1,444.40 LESS 2.60 ACRES 2003 1,660.00 HWY #23 2004 1,907.40 ACRES 160.00TOWN OF VIENNACentex Home Equity 12-0019-000 SECT- 11 2003 274.00CO LLC TWP- 103 RNG- 44 2004 259.60 E541’ OF N483’ OF S1416’ SE1/4 LESS .19 A CSAH #3 ACRES 6.00 SHERIFF’S SALE RIGHT TO REDEEM 2-16-05CITY OF BEAVER CREEKMark Nagel 13-0049-000 2004 523.60 ORIGINAL PLAT N 8’ OF LOT 17 & ALL OF LOT 18 BLOCK 7Wendell & Jana Faber 13-0088-000 2002 333.40 ORIGINAL PLAT 2003 322.40 W 50’ OF LOTS 1 & 2 2004 354.20 BLOCK 17Gerrit L & Carol A Kuipers 13-0145-000 LOT- 013 2004 212.04 BLOK- 003 SPRING BROOK ADDIITONSpringbrook Dev Group LLC 13-0153-000 LOT- 000 2004 17,952.72 BLOK- 004 SPRING BROOK ADDITION (CLUB HOUSE & COURSE)Springbrook Dev. Group LLC 13-0154-000 LOT- 000 2004 736.44 BLOK 005 SPRING BROOK ADDITIONSpringbrook Dev Group LLC 13-0155-000 LOT- 000 2004 38.76 BLOK 006 SPRING BROOK ADDITIONCITY OF HARDWICKFerlin & Kim Vander Poel 14-0017-000 2004 98.04O-Peter G Arend III & AUDITOR’S OUTLOTS Bonnie Ann Arend 26-104-45 OUTLOT 8Jeannie Robart 14-0067-000 2002 147.94 ORIGINAL PLAT 2003 226.60 LOTS 13 THRU 17 2004 212.04 BLOCK 3Alan Hoover 14-0095-000 2004 83.60 ROSS’S ADDITION S 75’ OF LOT 32Renae R Roberts 14-0100-000 2004 110.00 ROSS’S SECOND ADDITION W1/2 OF LOT 11 & ALL OF LOTS 12 THRU 14 BLOCK 1Delano R Slagel 14-0121-000 2004 36.48 HOUG’S ADDITION LOTS 7 THRU 10 BLOCK 1Delano R Slagel 14-0137-100 2004 912.00 HALVERSON’S ADDITION LOTS 1 THRU 3 BLOCK 4Scott & Tracey Anderson 14-0139-000 LOT- 001 2004 139.70 BLOK- 001 KENNEDY’S ADDITION (IN RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 1 & 2) CITY OF HILLSGreen Tree Loan Company 15-0051-000 2004 279.40 ORIGINAL PLAT N1/2 OF LOT 11 & ALL LOT 12 & S1/2 OF LOT 13 BLOCK 2Douglas A Scheerhorn 15-0076-000 2004 323.40O-JP Morgan Chase Bank ORIGINAL PLAT LOTS 1 & 2 BLOCK 8Select Portfolio Servicing 15-0088-000 2001 604.00 ORIGINAL PLAT 2002 461.00 LOTS 6 & 7 2003 410.40 BLOCK 10 2004 486.20 SHERIFF’S SALE RIGHT TO REDEEM 6-30-2005Terrance Michael Metzler 15-0136-000 2004 576.40 F.C. FINKE’S ADDITION S 36’ OF LOT 4 & ALL LOT 5 & N1/2 OF LOT 6 BLOCK 17CITY OF JASPERRock County Coop Oil Co 16-0062-100 2004 174.96 RR LEASE #545094CITY OF MAGNOLIABrian & Rebecca Beaner 18-0092-200 2002 16.60 KLEINE’S ADDITION 2004 6.60 OUTLOT A – E50’ OF W150’ OF OUTLOT A & N67’ OF E50’ OF W150’ OF TRACTS OF OUTLOT A LYING N OF RR R/WSara Ochda Mendoza Guerra 18-0092-300 2003 491.08 KLEINE’S ADDITION 2004 20.52 E100’ OF W250’ OF OUTLOT A & N67’ OF E100’ OF W250’ OF TRACT 5 OF OUTLOT A LYING N OF RR R/WJessica O’Daniel 18-0106-000 2004 330.00 GUTZLER’S ADDITION LOTS 1 THRU 3 BLOCK 2CITY OF STEENDouglas & Jayne Moe 19-0013-000 SECT- 29 2004 235.40 TWP- 101 RNG- 45 W108’ OF E372’ OF S150’ & W198’ OF E462’ OF N510’ OF S660’ OF SW1/4 ACRES 2.69 Randy & Kathy Marshall 19-0073-000 2001 478.60 ORIGINAL 2002 406.00 BLOCK 10 2003 388.40 2004 385.00Randy & Kathy Marshall 19-0102-000 2001 23.20 DRIES BOSCH ADDITION 2002 18.80 LOTS 1 & 2 2003 16.60 BLOCK 10 2004 6.60Randy & Kathryn Marshall 19-0103-000 LOT- 003 2001 16.60 BLOK- 010 2002 14.40 DRIES BOSCH ADDITION 2003 14.40 2004 4.40Randy & Kathryn Marshall 19-0104-100 LOT- 006 2001 16.60 BLOK- 010 2002 14.40 DRIES BOSCH ADDITION 2003 14.40 & RR R/W IN S44’ OF E26 2004 4.40 1/2’ OF W122.5’ OF N1/2 OF NE 1/4 SEC32 TWP101 RNG45Rock County Coop Oil 19-0106-000 SECT-32 2004 253.08 TWP- 101 RNG-45 PRT OF ABAND ILLINOIS CENTRAL GULF RR R/W IN NE1/4 OF NW1/4 DESC AS: FROM A PT WHERE A LN= W/ORIG MAIN TRACK ON ORIG N LN OF 200’ R/W INTERSECTS W/ SLY EXTOF E LN OF 60’ WIDE DAKOTAST, SELY ALG 50 LN 50’ TO POB, SELY 50’, SWLY AT RTANG 200’ TO S LN OF 200’ R/W, NWLY AT RT ANG ALG S R/W 50’ TO A PT. NELY ATRT ANG 200’ TO POBACRES .23CITY OF LUVERNEZachary R & Jolene M 20-0096-000 2003 718.40Borman AUDITOR’S OUTLOTS 2004 730.40O-Thomas L & Janet F 10-102-45 TRACT 152’Wienk X 80’ IN OUTLOT 13 DESC IN DEED #79723Joseph Allen Smith Sr 20-0111-000 2001 266.30 AUDITOR’S OUTLOTS 2002 716.80 10-102-45 TRACT 80’ X 176’ 2003 323.50 IN OUTLOTS 20 & 21Charlotte Ann Green Et Al 20-0123-000 2004 249.70 AUDITOR’S OUTLOTS 11-102-45 W 50’ OF E 342’ OF N 138’ OF OUTLOT 1Susie Kelderman Et Al 20-0126-000 2004 380.76 AUDITOR’S OUTLOTS 11-102-45 W 60’ OF E 134’ OF N 167’ OF OUTLOT 2James A & Idella N Remme 20-0211-000 LOT- 010 2002 604.00 BLOK- 001 2003 520.40 AUDITOR’S PLAT #2 2004 545.60William H & Terry R 20-0231-100 2004 451.00Bullis AUDITOR’S PLAT #3 N 76’ OF LOT 14 SUBD OF OUTLOT 17Harvey Milo Horn 20-0251-000 2004 49.02 BARCK, ADAMS & HOWE’S ADDITION S 72’ OF E 74’ OF LOT 5 BLOCK 2Gregory R Winter & 20-0554-000 2004 621.50A-Raymond E Winter CRAWFORD’S ADDITION S 35’ OF LOT 22 & ALL LOT 23 (RAYMOND E WINTER INTEREST-LIFE ESTATE WITH REM INT IN GREGORY R WINTER & NANCY A BROWNE)Tim & Pamela L Christensen 20-0580-000 LOT- 003 2003 639.20 BLOK- 004 DAVIS ADDITION 2004 1,291.40Ardyth Gass 20-0659-000 LOT- 004 2003 233.30 BLOK- 006 2004 470.80 GREENVALE ADDITIONSusan A Erwin 20-1040-000 2004 188.10 KREPS & CLARK ADDITION I & W 48 1/2’ OF LOT 2 BLOCK 1Patricia Anderson 20-1078-000 2002 436.80 ORIGINAL PLAT 2003 370.80 N 60’ OF LOTS 8 & 9 2004 369.60 BLOCK 3Cindy Adamson 20-1104-000 2002 326.80 ORIGINAL PLAT 2003 282.80 LOTS 8 & 9 2004 283.80 BLOCK 7Joseph M Reif 20-1106-000 2004 332.20 ORIGINAL PLAT N1/2 OF LOTS 10 & 11 BLOCK 7Lava Flow Interactive LLC 20-1125-000 LOT- 015 2004 442.32 BLOK- 008 ORIGINAL PLATJames M & Patricia A 20-1271-000 2004 499.32Johnson RANDALL & HOLBERT’S ADDITION N 41’ OF W 78.6’ OF LOT 8 BLOCK 2Bill & Terry Bullis 20-1278-000 2001 167.32O-Thomas M & Judy K LOT- 003 BLOK- 003 2002 158.20Gott RANDALL & HOLBERT’S 2003 217.48 ADDITION 2004 198.36Ruth E Steinfeldt 20-1422-000 2001 138.70 VAN EPS & VARY’S 2002 260.80 ADDITION 2003 227.80S1/2 OF LOT 1 2004 226.60 BLOCK 20Thomas D & 20-1669-000 2002 964.80Roberta L Serie WARREN & KNISS’ 2003 821.80ADDITION 2004 871.20 W 72’ OF S 150’ & TRACT 20’ X 27’ DES. IN DEED #65240 BLOCK 14Joy Herreid Vineyard 20-1684-000 2004 455.40Dawson WARREN AND KNISS’ ADDITIONE 73’ OF LOTS 1 & 2 BLOCK 16Joy Herreid Vineyard 20-1684-100 2004 434.34Dawson WARREN AND KNISS’ ADDITIONW 40 1/2’ OF E 113 1/2’ OFLOTS 1 & 2BLOCK 16Thomas B Rager 20-1785-000 LOT- 005 2004 308.00 BLOK- 005 WESTVIEW ADDITIONMark Matthew Zimmer & 20-1851-000 SECT- 14 2004 1,475.16O-The First National Bank & TWP- 102 RNG- 45 PART OFTrust NW1/4 LYING W OF RR DEED #83336 & #93645 & #93791 (EXC. 23 A FOR ROAD R/W)ACRES 2.12 (3-17, 3-24)

16 March 2005
Williamson probate

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFPERRY J. WILLIAMSON DECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on Monday, April 4, 2005, at 9:00 (a.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated December 11, 1985, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of Peggy Slobe whose address is: 1015 28th Avenue, Rock Valley, IA 51247 and Robert Williamson whose address is: 25533 488th, Garretson, SD 57030 as personal representatives of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representatives will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ TIMOTHY K. CONNELLTIMOTHY K. CONNELLJudge Date/s/ SANDRA L. VRTACNIKSANDRA L. VRTACNIKCourt Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativesBENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.VANDER KOOI LAW OFFICES, P.A.127 E. MainP.O. Box 746Luverne, MN 56156-0746507-283-9546Attorney I.D. No. 112124(3-17, 3-24)

16 March 2005
Gravel permit hearings set for March 28

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGConditional Use Permit for Gravel ExtractionPursuant to the Rock County Zoning Ordinance, notice is hereby given by the Rock County Planning Commission that a public hearing will be held at the Rock County Family Service Center located at 2 Roundwind Road in Luverne, MN at 8:10 p.m. on Monday, March 28th, 2005. The purpose of this hearing is to hear public comments on the following conditional use permits for gravel extraction and a hot mix plant: Buffalo Bituminous Hot Mix Plant Located in the SE 1/4 of Section 15 in Luverne TownshipRupp Construction Gravel Extraction Located in the NW 1/4 of Section 33 in Battle Plain Township Pronk Ready Mix Gravel Extraction Located in the NW1/4 of Section 28 in Battle Plain Township Pronk Ready Mix Gravel Extraction W60 acres of NE 1/4 and the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 and the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 10 in Battle Plain Township Pronk Ready Mix Gravel Extraction Located in the SE 1/4 of Section 3 in Battle Plain TownshipPronk Ready Mix Gravel Extraction Located in the SW 1/4 of Section 16 in Battle Plain TownshipZoning AdministratorEric Hartman(3-17, 3-24)

16 March 2005
Arends Farms feedlot hearing set for March 28

NOTICE of PUBLIC MEETINGNotice is hereby given that on Monday, March 28, 2005, at 8:00 p.m. the Rock County Planning and Zoning board will hold a public meeting to hear input on the proposed construction of an animal feedlot by Arends Farms. The public meeting will be held at the Rock County Family Services Building located at 2 Roundwind, Luverne, MN.The feedlot would be located in the SE 1/4 of Section 26 in Vienna Township T103N R44W. Persons attending the meeting will be given an opportunity to speak either in favor of or in opposition to the application. This is per Minnesota Rules part 4410.4300. Subpart 29, item B.(3-17, 3-24)

16 March 2005
HRA insurance bids due April 12

INVITATION FOR INSURANCE BIDSThe Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Luverne, MN, is requesting bids for Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Property Insurance, Commercial/Comprehensive General Liability, and Non-owned Automobile. Coverage will be for a one-year period, effective May 1, 2005. Bids will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2005.For proposal information, specifications, and bid formats, please contact the HRA of Luverne, 216 N. McKenzie, Luverne, MN 56156. Telephone: 507-283-4922(3-17)

16 March 2005
To the Editor:

As I see it the smoking issue is a choice of freedoms. If people want to smoke OK, and if not, OK, but I do not think a city government should say that you can or cannot. That would be their choice. Why should a bar be different than any other business? If we make it non-smoking, make the whole town non-smoking. And if everyone thinks that non-smoking is the way to go, why are there no non-smoking bars around? There must be money to be made the way it sounds. So to me, why not let the issue be? Everyone knows what they are getting into if they work there or if they stop by for a drink. Also, most have a non-smoking area that is available for people. My next question would be are all of the city’s properties like buildings, trucks, cars, parks and all equipment smoke free? If not, maybe we should take care of that first, then let other business owners make their decisions as they see fit. Rod DahlagerLuverne

16 March 2005
To the Editor:

I have watched roughly 40 high school basketball games per year since I graduated from high school in 2001. Over the course of those 200 or so games I have seen some players and fans do things they regret. Players are young kids and can let their emotions get in the way which leads to them doing something they regret. Fans can be obnoxious and scream at the opposing team, coaches, and refs but that is part of the game. I am not saying it is right, but it happens. But when a coach retaliates and actually sends a profane slur back at the crowd, something has to be done. And that is exactly what happened Saturday evening at Southwest Minnesota State University in the 3AA Sub-section final that featured Pipestone Area versus Luverne. During the first half of the game which was one of great magnitude and showcased two bitter, long-time rivals vying for a chance to continue their season and get one game closer to the state tournament, Luverne Coach Tom Rops was heckled by some Pipestone Area fans. He then turned to the crowd and said "Kiss my A**!" If this is acceptable and nothing is done about it then what kind of message is this sending to his younger children who witnessed it, his team and most importantly his profession. That is what bothered me the most, he is supposed to be a professional and he should definitely act like one. When you are at the helm you are placed on a pedestal. Whether you like it or not it is a responsibility you assume when taking a coaching job. I don’t know if Coach Rops is aware of this, but I am going to go out on a limb and say that he probably knows that and should probably think twice before doing something so childish, immature and unprofessional. That whole scene, to me, took away any respect that I formerly had for the Luverne basketball team, and that isn’t fair to the players. A coach needs to be able to ignore the fans and do his job, and someone needs to teach Coach Rops that exact principle. TJ Newgard Pipestone

16 March 2005
To the Editor:

We would like to congratulate the skaters on their wonderful performance. They were great. We do have one complaint. We don’t think it is fair for the skaters’ families to save all the bleachers with their blankets.We got there extra early and no place to sit and nobody there. If they want the public to come they better adopt the policy, first come, first sit.Judy and Dale HawesLuverne

16 March 2005
To the editor:

It is 11:49 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, and I just returned home after watching the Luverne boys basketball team defeat a fine Benson team. There has not been so much excitement in the Luverne High School and in the community of Luverne for quite some time. The fan support at that game was huge. When was the last time you heard such an EXPLOSION of noise from a Luverne fan section when Brandon Deragisch hit a three-pointer followed by a foul. What excitement! I would like to give some highly overdue PRAISE to Coach Tom Rops on his accomplishments with this team! He has had his share of criticism by some members of this community, and from members of other communities. This is the way I see it: Many think that winning is something that just happens. That is just not true; it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to that sport to be successful. The greatest basketball coach of all times, John Wooden, writes in the book "Coach Wooden, One-On-One," "The competition was not so much against other teams as it was against ourselves — making us better. I knew if we improved, we would win more games, but winning was always the by-product of improvement. ... If we won, great — frosting on the cake. But at no time did I consider winning to be the cake. Winning has always been the frosting that made the cake a little tastier." I think that not only has Coach Rops gotten better over the years, I think we need to thank him for allowing these young men to improve and grow. Together as a team they have improved and winning was a by-product of that improvement. We are going to STATE! Again, we are going to STATE! Can you believe it! If we win, great — frosting on the cake. If we lose, that's OK — Coach Rops, you have given us a great cake! Terry Althoff Luverne teacher and former coach

16 March 2005
From the sidelines

We're lucky to have coach RopsFor a man who has led his school’s team to its first state basketball tournament in 22 years, Luverne coach Tom Rops has endured his share of criticism this season.It started with a Star Herald letter to the editor from a disgruntled Luverne High School fan who blamed the coach for a loss to Redwood Valley in December. It continues with a letter to the editor from a Pipestone Arrow backer, which appears on the editorial page of this week’s Star Herald. The Pipestone fan takes exception to an exchange between Rops and Arrow supporters during the South Section 3A championship game in Marshall March 5.Although Mr. Rops is a big boy who can stand up for himself, I’d like to offer my support to a man I respect as a coach and a person.Many see the LHS mentor as a gruff, abrasive man because his voice echoes in the gym, but I’ve seen a different side of his personality.Yeah, one of Tom’s noticeable characteristics is being what I call a high-strung individual. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. He displays his coaching passion through his emotions, and it’s geared toward turning his players into the best possible team they can be.What the casual fans don’t see is Rops’ lighter side, which I’m subjected to every time I conduct a post-game interview in his coaching office.Win or lose, he graciously takes the time to give me everything I need to do my job. I’ve seen him interacting with his family members many times before or after our interviews. He strikes me as a great father and husband who doesn’t let what happened on the court influence his mood when it comes to his family. In fact, the coach always has something nice to say to my curious son, Nick, who likes to sit in on some of our post-game discussions on occasion.To be honest, I didn’t see the December home game against Redwood Valley. Looking back at the game story in our records, it appears the Cardinals let a 17-point lead slip away during the course of the game.According to one LHS fan, the loss was a result of poor coaching technique. Rops, claimed the fan, disrupted Luverne’s momentum by yelling at his players and telling them to slow down the pace of the game.It seems to me controlling the tempo of the game has been the key to Luverne’s success during the postseason. And, whatever happened on that December night in Luverne, I’m sure all of the blame can’t rest on the shoulders of the coach. Remember Rops is the leader of 16-, 17- and 18-year-old boys, not men. How a teenager reacts to certain situations is an unpredictable prospect at best. And, to challenge the ability of the coach to that end is nothing short of absurd.As for the point made by the Pipestone fan, I can’t condone Rops’ response. After talking to the coach about the issue, I understand why he said what he did.It appears the Arrow fans sitting right behind the LHS bench were letting coach Rops and the Cardinal players know that they were there in a not-so-friendly manner. They went as far as to question the coach’s decisions (among saying other not-so-kind things that Rops didn’t want to share with me) and belittle some of the Cardinal players during time-outs. Rops simply took enough of their harassment. Regrettably, he made a bad decision in letting the fans badgering him know how he felt about it.Although I wish he would have handled the Pipestone situation differently, one bad decision made in the heat of battle will not change my opinion of Tom Rops. He deserves a lot of credit for the great job he has done with the 2004-05 LHS team, and we’re lucky to have him as the head coach of our basketball program.

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