By Lori EhdeWhat on earth are we here for?Answers to that question are at the core of a spiritual renewal campaign making its way across the country.Thousands of communities in the past year have participated in the "40 Days of Purpose" campaign, and now it’s coming to Luverne.Based on the best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life," the campaign studies truths about God’s purposes for people.The book, written by Pastor Rick Warren, has exceeded a record-breaking 12 million copies since its release last year.In Luverne, the 40-day campaign will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in the Palace Theatre.The American Reformed Church is leading the local 40 Days of Purpose, and Pastor Dave Sikkema said he hopes the whole community can benefit."Hopefully we can enrich people’s spiritual lives and encourage them in spiritual development and growth," Sikkema said."The hope is that people will find purpose for their lives and see God’s joy and peace in daily living."The church is arranging for roughly 30 local homes to host weekly meetings. The public can join any of these groups to participate in the campaign, which ends on March 13.To sign up or for information, call 283-3674 or 920-9270. There is no cost to participate.

By Sara Quam Rock County’s 2004 Employee of the Year was described as friendly, hard working, dedicated and talented. Deb Den Herder accepted the honor by saying, "All employees of Rock County are very deserving, so thank you for this award." Den Herder works in many capacities for the University of Minnesota Extension Service in its Luverne branch office. She works with the Rock and Pipestone County Collaborative, local 4-H programming and even does the Rock County Ag Newsletter, which has received regional recognition for quality. Den Herder has worked for Rock County since 1988. One of Den Herder’s nomination letters said, "Deb is committed to her work and more importantly she is committed to serving county citizens and helping people." Worthington Regional Extension Director Holli Arp said, "She willingly takes on new responsibility and adds practical contributions to the team in order to implement projects successfully. ... Deb seeks out relevant information to provide to citizens. A variety of questions come into the Extension Office and Deb handles them with ease." Arp also pointed out that Den Herder continues her passionate support of 4-H even though her children are grown. Arp said, "I am honored to work with such a respectable and talented individual." Rock County 4-H program coordinator Nancy Sandager also nominated Den Herder for Employee of the Year. Sandager wrote, "She is the first person members of the community have contact with when they call or come in the door, and her welcoming manner is one of the best public relations assets Rock County could have." Den Herder was also nominated by four others, who called her a "stabilizing force" in the changing Extension offices, "extremely helpful," "patient and kind" and an "excellent resource." Other nominees for Employee of the Year were Sherri Kitchenmaster of the Land Records Office, Lee Hamann of the Highway Department, and Wendy DeLaRosa-Gacke of Family Services.

By Sara Quam The Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved a request to add 79.4 acres to Pheasants Forever’s public land. Leroy Lorenzen in southeast Rose Dell Township is selling the land to Pheasants Forever, which now has more than 1,000 acres in Rock County. The land is designated for preserving and developing wildlife habitat, for public hunting, trapping or for other recreational activities like bird watching. Chuck Van Wyhe represented the local Pheasants Forever chapter at the meeting. He said, "Our goal in Pheasants Forever is to have one piece of land in every township to be preserved for future generations." Commissioner Richard Bakken voted against the land acquisition because he thinks hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can cooperate with farmers and ranchers to use private land, without taking it out of production. "I would like to see a cooperative effort. But this I’m 100 percent against. ... I think there’s a problem this is just masking," Bakken said. He said he allows hunters on his land, but knows other land owners who have had bad experiences and don’t allow hunting anymore. Van Wyhe said, "This is for public access because it’s getting harder and harder to get permission. ... One bad hunter can ruin it for a hundred good ones." Non-local hunters and people who don’t know which landowners to contact in order to get permission to hunt are frequent users of public land, Van Wyhe said. "There are times you can’t locate the landowner to get permission to hunt," he said. Taxes on the Lorenzen land for 2004 were $566. The land will be turned over to the Department of Natural Resources through Pheasants Forever. The DNR will make an estimated payment in lieu of taxes of $945. Payments in lieu of taxes are given to taxing entities, such as the school district and county, in the same proportion in which property taxes would have been. Winter driving improvements Commissioners Tuesday gave County Engineer Mark Sehr approval to solicit estimates for new equipment parts that could improve driving conditions on county roads. Sehr estimated that the equipment would cost about $12,000. The new features on the trucks will use a salty brine that is applied to snow-packed or icy roads. Because it is wet, it will stick to the surface better than loose salt and sand, which often blow away or are shifted by vehicles on the road. The state has used this system for a few years. Sehr said the new method may reduce sand use in the county.

By Sara Quam Coming out of a closed meeting, the Rock County Board of Commissioners said it won’t cash a law enforcement payment check from the city of Luverne. Commissioners said they feared if they cashed the check, it would imply agreeing with the payment amount, which is $126,000 short. The county budgeted $669,000 for a law enforcement payment from the city of Luverne to fulfill the contract through 2005. The city has disagreed with how the county is charging for dispatch and law enforcement services in one lump sum, when they used to be in separate agreements. Rock County Attorney Don Klosterbuer said, "Where do they get off saying to the county what its cost of law enforcement is?" The county will give Luverne until Feb. 15 to further explain its payment. The city said its payment, approved at last week’s council meeting, included $499,447 for law enforcement and $43,500 for a "good faith" dispatch payment. Dispatch was previously a joint powers agreement, formed long before city and county merged law enforcement departments. The city terminated that joint powers agreement, but within the existing law enforcement contract, dispatching services is outlined as a part of the county’s service for payment. The contract for law enforcement is renewed annually automatically, unless terminated, which the city has done effective Dec. 31, 2005. The city said the county was wrong in "rolling over" dispatch costs to the contract for law enforcement, but the county said the two can’t operate or be funded independently. Klosterbuer said, "I don’t know how they make a ‘good faith’ payment— under what document or what authority."Commissioner Jane Wildung said she wondered if the "good faith" payment meant an implied reinstatement of the dispatch joint powers. "There’s the whole philosophical problem from the beginning," Wildung said. The county sees the city’s check as an installment payment on the full contract amount, and that is why Board members are seeking further clarification by Feb. 15. A portion of the County Board meeting was closed to discuss possible litigation against the city of Luverne. In another law enforcement matter, commissioners tabled action adopting a special Citizens’ Law Enforcement Study Committee.

By Lori EhdeSince the walls went up at the new Sioux Valley hospital and clinic campus last fall, passing motorists haven’t seen much construction activity on the site.But inside the walls, the building has been humming with construction activity.Steve Nothdurft is superintendent for general contractor Henry Carlson Company, Sioux Falls.He’s been leading tours for groups of hospital employees in the past week as the interior rooms are taking shape.For example:oAdministrative offices are all carpeted and the clinic carpeting is nearly complete.oKitchen equipment is installed.oCeiling grid is installed in the south half of the hospital and ceiling tiles are going in.oSheetrock is up in most of the building.oCabinets are installed in about 60 percent of the building — in business offices, clinic, surgery, rehab and administration.oPainting will start soon, starting in the OB and nursery areas of the hospital.oPermanent heat and air handling system will be activated in half the building next week."We’re cruising right along," Nothdurft said.He said he’ll be ready to turn over the building to Sioux Valley on June 8, but that won’t officially happen until July 8, because of water and street access issues.He said the new water tower is scheduled to be painted and filled by June 1, and that will allow the building’s sprinkler system to be operable.Another issue that may affect the move-in date is road work on the intersection of Highway 75 and 131st Street on the north side of the hospital.Nothdurft said the hospital needs to have two entrances accessible in order to be open. That roadwork is scheduled for completion by July 15.Meanwhile, hospital physicians and staff are eager to move in.Lois Hamilton, director of nursing, said touring the facility makes it hard to wait for move-in day."We are so cramped where we are now," she said last week. "It’ll be so nice for the patients and employees to be in the new facility."Registered Nurse Mary O’Toole Hemme is director of surgery for the hospital, and she especially enjoyed touring what will be the new operating rooms."I was impressed," she said. "There will be so much more room, more space. We’re so cramped where we are now."She said patients have received good care in the current facility, but technology has played a role in the need for more space."We have new equipment now, too, and that takes up space," she said. "It will be a lot more efficient flow for patients and staff."At groundbreaking, the hospital work was estimated to last until late 2005, but with a mild winter and very few glitches, that date was moved to summer 2005. The $17.8 million complex going up north of the Veterans Addition will have more than 93,000 square feet of space, more than doubling the space of the current landlocked hospital and clinic.

10 years ago (1995)
To comply with gender equity in sports offerings, the Luverne High School announced plans to add fast-pitch softball as an option.
Robert De Yong, Luverne, discovered a bit of history when he remodeled his house at 304 South Donaldson. There was an 1885 issue of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that had an article about Frank James, the "notorious bandit." The newspaper had been placed inside the home’s walls as insulation. 25 years ago (1980)
Stan Soutar was the new chairman of the County Board of Commissioners.
Seven girls competed for the County Pork Queen title: Darcy Burmeister, Janelle Severtson, Terri Birkeland, Nila Hanson, LaDonna Cleveringa, Barbara Willers and Shelly Seeman.50 years ago (1955)
149 Rock County individuals and business firms would pay more than $200 each in personal property taxes
Magnolia and Beaver Creek planned March of Dimes benefits to raise money for polio research.
Robin Hood flour was $3.98 for 50 pounds; country sausage was 39¢ per pound, and dog food was $2.69 for 25 pounds at Kenny’s Super Value.75 years ago (1930)
Luverne Telephone Exchange was one of a few under investigation for excessive earnings, and was ordered to show cause why rates couldn’t be reduced.
"H.O. Bakken, of Beaver Creek township, owns a cow that should be entitled to the record for prolificacy, for she has given birth to six calves within two years, and all but one are living."100 years ago (1905)
"Farmers near the Mounds report that on several occasions a pack of wolves has been seen running about the fields. As many as seven have been counted in one drove, which is the largest that has been seen in this section for many years."
The Luverne Automobile company plans to have 10 machines completed by April 1.

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 OFBeatrice B. Boyenga, a/k/a Beatrice BoyengaIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on February 7, 2005, at 9:00 a.m. a hearing will be held in this Court at the Rock County Courthouse, 204 East Brown, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated May 8, 2002, 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 Paul M. Boyenga whose address is: 1924 41st Street, Ellsworth, Minnesota 56129 as personal representative 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 representative 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 representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred./s/ Timothy K. Connell 1/14/05Timothy K. Connell Judge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 1/14/05Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerSkewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt, L.L.P.120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538507 283-911156674(1-20, 1-27)

Law Library 9:00 A.M.Rock County Courthouse January 4, 2005County Administrator Oldre called the County Board meeting to order with the following individuals present: Commissioner Wildung, Commissioner Hoime, Commissioner Bakken, Commissioner Boyenga and Commissioner Jarchow. First item of business was the selection of a County Board chair; Commissioner Hoime was nominated by Commissioner Wildung. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to cease nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Commissioner Hoime; motion was declared carried on a voice vote. The meeting was turned over to Chair Hoime. The Chair requested nominations for Vice Chair and Commissioner Jarchow nominated Commissioner Wildung. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Bakken, to cease nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Commissioner Wildung; motion was declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Bakken, seconded Jarchow, to approve the January 3, 2005, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to approve the December 21, 2004, County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Hoime, to approve items on the consent agenda, declared carried on a voice vote. 1. Resolution No. 01-05, Housekeeping Resolution2. Audit Engagement Letter – Larson & Allen3. Chamber dues - $500.00Land Management Assistant Director Doug Bos, Engineer Mark Sehr, and Bill Ketterling, of Ketterling Sanitation, Inc. discussed the MSW contract with Lyon County Regional Landfill. Lyon County is requesting a commitment of MSW tonnage from the member counties; no action was taken at this time. Gloria Rolfs, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims and per diems of $1,400.00; motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to pay the claims & per diems, declared carried on a unanimous vote. A complete listing of the claims is available by request at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office. General $ 61,594.62Ditch .00LEC .00Road & Bridge 569,562.37Welfare 124,133.23Landfill 7,728.78Rural Water 8,344.50TOTAL $771,363.50Motion by Jarchow, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the fund balance report, declared carried on a voice vote.Motion by Bakken, seconded Boyenga, to approve a solid waste abatement on parcel #08-0262-000 located in the SE 1/4 of 25-101-47 for $42.00, declared carried on a voice vote.The Auditor/Treasurer informed the County Board of a transfer of $600,000 from a money market fund to a 12-month certificate of deposit; funds had been in the money market account for an extended period of time and determined it should be moved to a designated reserve account. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to authorize a 50% payment to the Library Fund on or before January 15th, declared carried on a voice vote.Randy Ehlers, Family Services Director, and Diane Holmberg, Fiscal Supervisor II requested to fill a financial worker position by March 1, 2005; after discussion, motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize the additional Financial Worker position, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to approve the Deputy Union contract effective January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2007, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was informed of a Jasper Ambulance Open House on January 14th at 12:00 noon and that all Commissioners were invited to attend. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to authorize a $7,400.00 furniture purchase in the Administrator’s office, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board reviewed a Transient Merchant ordinance; motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to approve the Transient Merchant ordinance, declared carried on a voice vote. The County Board was in receipt of a request from the special Law Enforcement Study Committee recently formed by the City of Luverne, requesting to identify 2005 objectives prior to January 11, 2005. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Wildung, directing the County Attorney to send a letter to the council and staff reiterating that the 2005 Law Enforcement contract is still in place and that is the county’s position for law enforcement, declared carried on a voice vote. Motion by Boyenga, seconded by Jarchow, to table the action requesting the county to participate in the Special Law Enforcement Study Committee until the next meeting, declared carried on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Wildung voting nay. The County Board discussed the status of the Pool & Fitness Center; motion by Wildung, seconded by Bakken, to authorize a payment to the City of Luverne for 1/4 of the amount budgeted $14,210.00 with a letter stating the acceptance of the check binds the city to the last offer from the county, declared carried on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Boyenga voting nay. The County Board was informed Rural Development Commissioner Orientation seminar on Saturday, January 15, 2005.The County Board reviewed the listing of Boards & Committees for 2005 and specifically discussed the City of Luverne/Rock County Liaison Committee and wanted to determine the intent before the appointment was made; motion by Wildung, seconded by Boyenga, to authorize all other board & committee appointments, declared carried on a voice vote. BOARDS & COMMITTEES 2005Extension Committee: Ken Hoime, Richard Bakken, Janice Schei, Pam Sells, Mark Dahl, Lisa Heronimus, Greg Uithoven, Leonard Leenderts.E911 Committee: Ron Boyenga, Mike Winkels, Terri Ebert, Don Deutsch, Kyle Oldre, Gary Holmgren, Doug Chapman, Luverne City Council Rep.GIS Committee: Eric Hartman, Arlyn Gehrke, Tom Houselog, Ed Kraayenhof, Mike Winkels, Kyle Oldre, Greg LaFond, Lon Remme, Connie Wiertzema, Dave Deragisch.Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee: Mike Winkels, Dan Nath, Mark Sehr, Eric Hartman, Arlyn Gehrke, Ken Hoime, Bonnie Frederickson, Louis Loger, Sharil Kirschman-Rollag, Kyle Oldre.Judicial Ditch Advisory Board: Ken Hoime, Richard Bakken, Eugene Peterson, Arnold Wenzel, Roger Brockberg, Stan Williamson.Law Library Committee: Richard Bakken, Tim Connell, Damon Eisma.Nobles/Rock Public Health Board: Bob Jarchow, Richard Bakken, Dorothy Dorn.Nobles/Rock Public Health Advisory Committee: Jane Wildung, Emily Crabtree, Deb Vander Kooi.Planning & Zoning Committee: Ken Hoime, Paul Doherty, Allen Boeve, Stan Wlliamson, Marvin Fick, Virgil Schoolmeester, Gawaine Diekevers, Spencer Sells, Tim Anderson, Denise Severtson (non-voting member), Eric Hartman (non-voting member), Terry Vajgrt (non-voting member.Private Industry Council/Workforce Center: Bob Jarchow, vacant.Regional EMS Board: Gary Holmgren.Rock/Nobles Community Corrections Executive Board: Ken Hoime, Jane Wildung.Rock/Nobles Community Corrections Advisory: Ken Hoime, Jane Wildung, Don Klosterbuer, Randy Ehlers, Mike Winkels. Rock County Community Library: Richard Bakken, Dolly Remme, Marilyn Nelson.Rock County Community Pool & Fitness Center: Ken Hoime, Lois Nelson, Linda Bakken, Kraig Rust. Rock County Rural Water: Ron Boyenga, Dave Wynia, Gerald Winter, Dianna Schwartz, Brad Skattum, Dave Esselink, Cliff Schilling. Senior Citizen Advisory: Jane Wildung, Karen Hoime, Alyce McClure, Bonnie Hengeveld, Jennelle Loger, George Bonnema, Sam Polzin, Rhona Snyders, Carol Wulf (staff), SWCD/Rock County Liaison, Richard Bakken, Jane Wildung, Don Reker, Alan Leuthold. Southwestern Mental Health Local Advisory Committee: Mildred Paulsen, Marya Manfred, Scott Johnson.Southwestern Mental Health Center: Ron Boyenga, Jane Wildung, Damon Eisma.SWMN Tourism: Dave Smith.The County Board discussed the 2005 County Board Retreat and determined that it will be scheduled at the next meeting. With no further business to come before the County Board, meeting was declared adjourned.Ken Hoime, Chairman of the BoardATTEST:Kyle J. Oldre, Clerk to the Board(1-20)

CITY OF KENNETH SUMMARY OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING USE AND RATE REGULATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIESNOTE: This is only a summary and the full text of the ordinance is posted and available in the Kenneth Community Center or from the City Clerk. You may also have the full ordinance mailed to you upon request to the City Clerk. ARTICLE I: DefinitionsProvides definitions for various words used in the ordinance.ARTICLE II: Control by the City Provides that the City controls and oversees the public sewer system. ARTICLE III: Use of Public Sewers RequiredMandates that all properties within 300 feet of a sewer connect to the system within 60 days.ARTICLE IV: Private Wastewater DisposalProvides rules for sewer system for locations not served by the current system and provides requirements for service when/if the system is extended to the area.ARTICLE V: Building Sewers and Connections DesignProvides permit requirements and rules for hooking up to the system. ARTICLE VI: Use of Public Wastewater Treatment FacilitiesProvides requirements for use of the system and discharges into it.ARTICLE VII: Provides that no one is to damage public facilities and indicates penalties therefore. ARTICLE VIII: Powers and Authority of InspectorsGives inspectors the right to enter premises and inspect connections and the system itself. ARTICLE IX: The Sewer Service Charge SystemDeclares that charges will be assessed for use of the system and establishes accounts for the funds. ARTICLE X: Violations, Penalties and RemediesDeclares the Penalties for violating the Ordinance. ARTICLE XI: ValidityEstablishes an effective date and declares prior inconsistent ordinances void. APPENDIX A: Determination of Sewer Service Charges (Metered)Provides a system for establishing and calculating metered sewer rates. The ordinance was adopted by the City Council of Kenneth the 13th day of January, 2005./s/ Del GangestadMayor Attest:/s/ Del SchelhaasCity Clerk(1-20)