By Lori EhdeLuverne High School graduate Jennnifer Iveland is playing a big role on the front lines of the war in Iraq.Sgt. Iveland is a mental health specialist in the Army Reserve’s 785th Medical Company out of Fort Snelling.Specifically, she’s working as a stress counselor for troops in combat zones of Baghdad."We give them the opportunity to talk about their experiences and we try to help them normalize their reactions," Iveland said in an e-mail interview with the Star Herald Tuesday.In the Civil War, it was "melancholia," World War II soldiers were "shell shocked," and Vietnam veterans suffered from "post-traumatic stress disorder."Today, it’s called "combat stress," and the U.S. military and mental health professionals have learned it’s best to deal with it in the field, as close as possible to the fighting.That’s where Iveland comes in.She and three others from her company spent a week earlier this month in Sadr City, a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad where eight U.S. soldiers were killed and 52 were wounded.Iveland and her team arrived at the scene a few hours after the first casualties and began working with the group that lost four of 10 men."Seeing them suffer has been difficult," Iveland said. "Many have seen a lot of combat and been through traumatic experiences, and it can be hard to see them in such emotional pain."Iveland, who has been in Iraq since February, said working with the soldiers involved in the Sadr City ambush is the hardest thing she’s done yet."Many of the guys we talked to lost their leaders, fellow soldiers and best friends in that ambush," she said.She describes the most challenging part of her job as trying to get the word out to the different military units that Combat Stress Control resources are available."Many of the soldiers we have come in contact with did not even know that they could get help in dealing with the combat and occupational stress they were dealing with," Iveland said.From the most difficult experiences, Iveland is finding the deepest professional rewards."Seeing the changes in the soldiers from when we first meet them can be remarkable," she said. "Dealing with the soldiers who were involved with the ambush at Sadr City has been my most rewarding experience."When we left that group after spending a week at their camp, so many of them thanked us for being there, and several said they did not know how they could have made it through without us."When asked if her work is putting her in harm’s way, she said, "We are definitely in harm’s way. We are hit by mortars and rockets on a consistent basis. One rocket hit about 75 feet from our house and blew out all the front windows. Luckily no one was hurt."When she and her co-workers are not in their quarters, they carry M-16s, just in case."Any time we go out on convoys we have to be especially aware of our surroundings," she said. "We constantly scan for IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and suspicious activity."Iveland, daughter of Dan and Deb Iveland, Luverne, is a 1996 graduate of Luverne High School and has a psychology degree from Moorhead State University.While Deb speaks of her daughter’s work with pride and respect, she tries to downplay her deepest maternal worries about her daughter’s safety."It makes me so proud of Jenn being in it, but it’s a bad situation that makes her do it," Deb said.She said they communicate via e-mail once every three or four days, but if five or more days go by without word, the anxiety mounts.But they try not to let on how much they worry.Iveland told her parents how important it is to her that they’re supportive of her work there. She said a young 19-year-old in her unit shared with the group prior to departure that she was struggling with the upcoming leave, because every time she talked to her parents all they did was cry."So, I have to bite down on the insides of my cheeks to keep from crying, because I know she needs us to be strong," Deb said."With everything she’s dealing with over there, the last thing she needs to worry about is her family at home."So they pray. And the community prays.Deb said people in her church and around Luverne tell her all the time how much they’re thinking about Jenn and praying for her.She said she believes with every prayer spoken, God releases an angel."I told Jenn one time that she’s carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders," Deb said, "but it’s not just the weight of the world, it’s all those angels perched on her shoulders."She said "Pray For Our Troops" magnets are now available in Luverne at the Luverne Style Shop, Pizza Ranch and Korner Gas Stop.

By Lori EhdeThe CBS airing of "60 Minutes" was a big deal in the Dan and Deb Iveland home in Luverne Sunday.The first 10-minute segment was all about the Army Reserve’s 785th Medical Company — the one their daughter, Staff Sgt. Jenn Iveland, serves in."Jenn was one of the people miked up and interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour," Deb said Sunday. "They actually filmed her doing a presentation in Camp Victory, and the newscasters complimented her on how well she presented herself for the filming."Jenn is home now until March 4 on full-time active duty leave and watched the broadcast titled "Brain Rangers" with her parents."I thought it was a really nice piece," she said afterward. Jenn is a mental health specialist and spent the better part of last year working as a stress counselor for troops in combat zones of Baghdad.The work frequently put her in harm’s way, and she said Monday that she’s still getting used to the idea that she’s now safe.Jenn said loud noises, like a slamming door, make her jump and instinctively look for the source of possible mortar."Feeling safe is a whole new experience for me now," she said. "Not worrying about mortar coming in is a real relief."Despite, the dangers, Jenn said the work has its rewards, especially in an atmosphere where it’s so needed."We give them the opportunity to talk about their experiences and we try to help them normalize their reactions," Jenn told the Star Herald in an e-mail interview last spring.Since that story was published, she said she’s seen more appreciation for combat stress workers."Soldiers would come up to us afterward and tell us, ‘I don’t think we could have gotten through this without your support,’" Jenn said, "and a lot of them said they were at their breaking point."So, who counsels the counselors?"So many people ask us that," Jenn said. "We usually talk to each other about the soldiers we’ve seen and their treatment. … It’s hard to hear a lot of the stuff they’ve experienced."Before coming back to the States on Feb. 4, her unit spent time in Kuwait, which is relatively safe. While there, she caught up with her cousin, Mandy Iveland, who is serving with the Army National Guard. "We got to spend about an hour together," Jenn said.Jenn said long-term she plans to pursue counseling work with soldiers at a VA hospital or vet center.Meanwhile, she’s enjoying the comforts of U.S. civilian life, like shopping and eating out whenever and wherever she chooses. "It’s the little things like that that I love doing," she said.And she has a specific message to her friends and family in Luverne."I’d like to give a huge thank you to everyone for their support and prayers while I was gone," Jenn said. "I got cards, letters and care packages. … Getting mail is one of the biggest morale boosters there is over there."Deb said she prays her daughter never has to go back to Iraq. "It’s wonderful to have her home … just to not have her in that situation anymore," she said. "I know she wants us to be strong for her, but I told her one day she’ll be a mom and she’ll understand what it’s like. We only want good things to happen in their lives, and this Iraq thing didn’t qualify as that."The Star Herald published its first story about Jenn Iveland and her work with the 785th in the April 29, 2004, edition. It can be viewed this week on www.star-herald.com.The CBS airing of the "60 Minutes" segment can be read on www.CBSnews.com.

By Sara QuamJewel Stands, the 18-year-old woman accused of hijacking a bus north of Luverne, agreed in a Monday hearing to be committed for further mental evaluation.It was her first court appearance for the alleged Feb. 17 crime.Luverne attorney Ben Vander Kooi is representing Stands.Vander Kooi and Assistant Rock County Attorney Terry Vajgrt came to an agreement on the commitment evaluation.Stands was reportedly on the Jefferson Lines bus from Minneapolis to visit her grandmother in Sioux Falls. Dispatchers received a call from a passenger at about 3 p.m. saying that a passenger had a four-bladed knife and was threatening the bus driver.Several squad cars from Rock County and Minnesota State Patrol caught up with the bus just north of Luverne. The bus continued south through town at about 50 to 60 mph, with officers in front and behind.Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels said the bus came through town just minutes before school dismissal, so he took extra precautions at intersections.Officers from nearby South Dakota communities were also involved in the stop, just west of Beaver Creek on Interstate 90.Two passengers and the driver were injured.Stands will probably be charged this week with terroristic threat and assault. There is no specific charge for "hijacking."

By Lori EhdeRock and Pipestone counties are taking the fight against meth to a new level with the collaboration of schools, law enforcement and merchants.In its third meeting of the year, members of the Southwest Meth Task Force gathered in the Human Services Building in Luverne Wednesday morning.The group is using a three-pronged approach to combating meth in the two communities: community education, youth education and merchant involvement."We’ve got a big task in front of us," said Rock County Deputy Evan Verbrugge.The task force is organized through the Rock-Pipestone Collaborative, funded through the counties and administered through Rock-Nobles Community Corrections.Verbrugge heads up the community education arm of the group. Lewis Drug pharmacist Craig Hohn leads the merchant committee and Bonnie Burkett, social worker for Hills-Beaver Creek and Luverne Schools, handles the youth aspect of the Initiative.The group is chaired by Corrections Director Jon Ramlo, Worthington. But he serves as a group coordinator, guiding members Wednesday to arrive at a formal name and mission statement."This is not a law enforcement task force," Ramlo said. "It’s for the education and prevention of meth use in the area."That statement, members agreed, would serve well as the mission statement.At Wednesday’s meeting they reviewed several options for educating the public about meth. Some materials reveal ingredients used in manufacturing meth, so parents and family members can be alert to the existence of hollowed out light bulbs and ballpoint pens, for example.Others talk about physical and psychological symptoms common in meth addicts.April 5 will be the first deadline for the group’s education function. That’s the date Rock County mails out its property tax statements, and a tri-fold flyer will be inserted in that mailing.It will be produced and photocopied in the County Administrator’s Office based on a similar flyer used in Wright County.The county, schools and other agencies agree it’s important to invest time and money into meth education and prevention, because the long-term costs of addiction in terms of treatment programs, out-of-home placements and incarceration.But the intangible costs are even more damaging.Stephanie Pierce, Luverne Community Hospital, said, "There are personal costs, economic costs, socio-economic costs and psychological costs."The message, the group said, is to not start using meth. "We need to intervene at the earliest possible moment," said Rock County Commissioner Jane Wildung.

By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek Superintendent David Deragisch and several H-BC School Board members attended School Board Member Day at the Capitol in St. Paul on Monday.The group attended a Minnesota School Board Association meeting in the morning, spent the afternoon in the Capitol attempting to meet with District 22A Rep. Doug Magnus and attended the Alliance for Student Achievement Rally on the front steps of the Capitol.The purpose of the trip was to learn more about the governor’s proposed education bill released last month and to encourage the H-BC school district’s representatives to be a voice for education finance reform in rural areas.Thousands rally at the CapitolNearly 5,000 parents, students, teachers and school officials crowded the steps of the Capitol to let Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislators know public education funding must be made a priority during this legislative session.The crowd was unaffected by the cold weather, snowy lawn or strong winds. They chanted "Fund Our Schools," "Legislate to Educate" and "We are Watching" in between passionate speakers and school marching band performances."Our legislators made a promise to fully fund our schools, but the only thing they have delivered is inadequate funding, larger class sizes, teacher cuts and fewer student programs," said Ken Dragseth, chair of the Alliance for Student Achievement. "Our students do not come to school with ‘democrat’ or ‘republican’ stamped on their foreheads, they come as children."Dragseth is a former National Superintendent of the Year.Other speakers included PTA President Phill Enke, Minnesota Teacher of the Year Tom Keating, as well as a senior student and a grandmother.Tom Keating’s powerful voice complained about a lack of resources in his classroom."I hear the legislative body ask for accountability. If we as teachers need to be accountable, then stop taking the tools away from me that I need to make connections with students. I can’t teach unless I can make that connection."Hills-Beaver Creek School Board Member Ann Boeve said she was astounded by the turnout. She said, "I knew there would be a lot of people, but I never expected the buses to come."But they came. Buses lined the Capitol building and were parked four rows deep along other streets.The rally coincided with the release of Gov. Pawlenty’s Education Bill to the Minnesota legislative body. How the legislators handle this bill will determine how much funding public schools get for the next two years.H-BC board members briefed on legislationLloyd DeBoer, Matt Larson and Ann Boeve, all H-BC School Board members, attended the Minnesota School Board Association’s annual School Board Member Day at the Capitol. House and Senate Education Committee members addressed school leaders from all over Minnesota on K-12 legislative issues. Speakers included District 33B Rep. Barb Sykora, chair of the House K-12 Education Finance Committee, and District 44 Sen. Steve Kelly, chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee. Board members were also updated on legislative activities that could adversely affect their schools and their students.Gov. Pawlenty’s education proposal goes to committee this week. This could change some of the language in the bill depending on how representatives and senators react during the committees.Rep. Sykora and Sen. Kelly highlighted several changes that would be made if the bill, as it currently reads, were to pass:oIncreasing the general education formula 2-percent in each of the next two years.
Changing the formula for education finance by reducing pupil weighting.
Giving local school districts more levying authority.
Adding Q Comp, which would fundamentally change how we pay teachers.
Get Ready, Get Credit, which would mandate that sophomores take an additional standardized test. The test would determine which subject areas the students should concentrate on during their final years in high school.
Creating a statewide insurance group for educators.
Relying on local property taxes to pay for excess special education costs.A visit with Rep. Magnus doesn’t offer board members much hopeH-BC board members and Superintendent Deragisch met with Rep. Magnus following the close of the House of Representatives session late Monday afternoon.They asked tough questions about education funding, but Magnus replied education already accounts for "40 percent of the money in Minnesota’s budget."He said everyone wants more money, but with healthcare costs rising by 25 percent a year, it would be difficult to find more money for education.Deragisch explained that board members can only ask local taxpayers to foot so much of the education bill. But Rep. Magnus directed attention to nursing home and healthcare costs."I can’t come home without money for the nursing homes and salary increases for their workers," Rep. Magnus responded when Boeve asked if education was a priority for him this legislative session.Although he was asked to attend, Magnus did not join the board members at the rally.H-BC board member Larson said, "He just didn’t even attempt to make us feel like he cared."

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFHildegarde Goehle DECEDENTNotice is given that an application for informal probate of the Decedent’s will dated February 17, 1992, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), has been filed with the Registrar. The application has been granted. Notice is also given that the Registrar has informally appointed Charles F. Goehle and Linda Goehle whose addresses are: 514 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne, Minnesota 56156 and 409 N. Cedar, Luverne, Minnesota 56156, respectively, as personal representatives of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representatives or may object to the appointment of the personal representatives. Unless objections are filed with the Court (pursuant to Minn. Stat. 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders, the personal representatives have full power to administer the Estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate.Any objections to the probate of the will or appointment of the Personal Representative must be filed with this Court and will be heard by the Court after the filing of an appropriate petition and proper notice of hearing. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. 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. Connell 2/23/05Timothy K. Connell Registrar Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 2/23/05Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney for Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerSkewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt, L.L.P.120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538507 283-911156674(3-3, 3-10)

OPEN MARKET BID OPENINGNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that bids will be opened Friday, March 11, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. for the following: 1 set AB Chance Phasing Sticks (2 sticks)The phasing sticks were used as high voltage testers on a 2.4 kV electrical system and are rated to 16 kV.Submit your bid in a sealed envelope clearly marked "Phasing Sticks Bid" and deliver or mail to: City of Luverne 203 E. Main Street P O Box 659 Luverne, MN 56156Payment shall be due upon acceptance of bid.(3-3, 3-10)

NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTMinnesota Rule 7020.2000, subp. 4NOTICE OF PUPLICATIONFORLIVESTOCK FEEDLOT PERMITNotice is hereby given per Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 215, that Arends Farms, has made application to the County of Rock, for a permit to construct a feedlot with a capacity of 500 animal units or more. The proposed feedlot will be located in the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of section 26 in Vienna Township, Rock County, Minnesota.The proposed facility consists of an 101’x192’ total confinement barn to house 2400 head of swine between 55 and 300 pounds. Using 0.3 animal units per head, total animal units are 720. The building shall have an 101’x192’x8’ poured reinforced concrete pit for manure storage. The total animal unit capacity will be 720.This publication shall constitute as notice to each resident and each owner of real property within 5,000 feet of the perimeter of the proposed feedlot as required by Minnesota State Law. (3-3, 3-10)

OPEN MARKET BID OPENINGNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that bids will be opened Friday, March 11, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. for the following: Approximately 24,000 lbs. of overhead aluminum conductor wire Submit your bid in a sealed envelope clearly marked "Aluminum Conductor Wire Bid" and deliver or mail to: City of Luverne 203 E. Main Street P O Box 659Luverne, MN 56156Successful bidder is responsible for loading and hauling wire. Payment shall be due upon acceptance of bid.(3-3, 3-10)