By John RittenhouseZach Wysong had a busy week as a member of the Luverne High School baseball team.The Cardinals played five games in a five-day span, and Wysong was on the field in all of them.Luverne lost a Southwest Conference doubleheader to the Jackson County Central Huskies in Jackson Thursday. Luverne went 0-2 in the Lac qui Parle Valley Tournament near Madison Saturday. The Cardinals snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Windom in Luverne Monday.Wysong, an H-BC junior, slapped one hit, scored two runs and pitched one scoreless inning during a 9-5 win over Windom Monday.He singled and scored one of two runs Luverne plated in the bottom of the third to knot the score at three. Wysong reached base on an error and scored one of six runs in the fifth inning that settled the issue.Wysong allowed one walk when he was asked to pitch the seventh inning in relief of Adam Kurtz.The H-BC athlete was 4-7 at the plate with two RBIs and he scored two runs during Saturday’s tournament near Madison.Luverne lost a 5-2 game to Renville County West in the opener before falling 10-8 to LQPV in the finale.Wysong, who had two hits at the plate, drove in both of Luverne’s runs in the loss to RCW.He gave the Cards a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and tied the game at two with a run-scoring single in the fifth.Wysong was 2-3 at the dish and scored two runs in the two-run loss to LQPV.He singled and scored Luverne’s second run of the game in the sixth. Wysong walked and scored during a six-run rally in the seventh that fell two runs short of tying the gameWysong hit safely in both games and pitched five innings of solid ball during Thursday’s doubleheader in Jackson.The Huskies won both ends of the twin bill by 5-4 tallies.Wysong, who was 1-4 at the plate in the opener, gave the Cards a 3-1 lead when he reached base on an error, stole second, and scored on an error in the top of the fourth inning.JCC, however, scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth and went on to nip the Cardinals by one run.Wysong had two hits and four trips to the plate during the second game, when he logged five innings on the mound as the starting pitcher.He left the hill with Luverne sporting a 4-2 lead, but JCC rallied to score three runs in the top of the seventh to win by one.Wysong singled in the middle of a one-run rally in the third inning that tied the score at two.He also knocked home the first run of a two-run fifth inning with a double.The 9-7 Cardinals play single games in Pipestone today and in Fairmont Tuesday.

By Jolene FarleyCapt. Charles Erickson was awarded a Bronze Star medal for his "exceptionally meritorious service" while serving his country in Afghanistan. Erickson, son of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson, Hills, is a member of the Army Reserve 407th Civil Affairs Battalion headquartered in Arden Hills. Last summer, he left his wife, Naomi, and his job as a financial analyst for Hutchinson Technology in the United States. Erickson was stationed at Gardez, Afghanistan, about 70 miles south of the country’s capital, Kabul.Erickson received his Bronze Star at an award ceremony Sunday, May 2, at the Reserve Training Center, Arden Hills. His Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Marcia Hines presented the medal. The following is the letter Erickson received with his Bronze Star: "Capt. Charles P. Erickson distinguished himself through exceptionally meritorious service while serving as the Team Leader of Civil Affairs Team Alpha Twelve of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Gardez, Afghanistan, while deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Erickson distinguished himself as an asset to the war on terrorism by his using his strengths in civil affairs planning, coordination and incredible ability to conduct intelligence analysis. As Civil Affairs Team Leader, Erickson took sole responsibility for the development of the civil affairs planning for the eight districts of Paktia Province. He planned, submitted and managed more than 11 Civil Affairs projects worth more than $850,000. Many of those projects were in extremely remote areas where U.S. presence is rarely identified. Erickson also developed a computerized methodology for assessing project bids. This algorithm is the new standard for all Civil Affairs Teams throughout Afghanistan and could, potentially, be the new standard for all bidding analysis for all Civil Affairs Teams worldwide. Erickson also provided expertise in analysis of rocket launch sites. This intelligence product provided an edge to reconnaissance patrols to prevent future deadly rocket attacks on the Provincial Reconstruction Team. Another significant contribution was the novel civil affairs database that Erickson built. This database provided such a strategic advantage to the Provincial Reconstruction Team that its total economic impact has yet to be realized. The products of this aggressive computing endeavor yielded a platform to submit country development projects to multiple agencies. It included pictures and linking ability to the section of the provincial government or shura that requested the project. He conducted long-range missions under dangerous conditions over several days to extremely remote areas of Southeastern Afghanistan, including operations in Azra District of Logar Province, and the Pakistani Border. Erickson also took his team into Zormat, an Al Qaeda infested zone, to support Operation WARRIOR SWEEP. In this area, he conduced civil-military operations, including participating in raids conducted by Special Forces and the Afghan National Army. Erickson also led a Cooperative Medical Assistance program with Kuchi nomads, which treated more than 300 people and nearly 20,000 animals. As pay agent, Erickson used his organizational skills to manage more than $19,000 in government purchases to maintain not only his Civil Affairs Team, but the Provincial Reconstruction Team as well. Erickson served in a combat zone with honor and distinguished himself as the most well read officer on Afghanistan history and culture in the entire Provincial Reconstruction Team. His brilliant intellectual contributions and genuine concern, not only for the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, but also for the welfare of the population makes this officer an outstanding candidate for the bronze star. His performance of duty in a combat zone reflects great credit upon himself, Combined/Joint Task Force-180, and United States Central Command.

By Jolene FarleyRock County Assessors Tom Houselog and Mark Hovland attended the Hills City Council meeting Tuesday for the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting. The half-hour Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting ran concurrent with the council meeting. The council would have temporarily adjourned the city council meeting if a citizen arrived to protest a tax valuation.Houselog and Hovland recapped sales and tax valuation statistics for the council during the half-hour.Houselog told the council that valuations were raised an average of 1.5 percent in Hills. Agricultural land increased 9.6 percent, a typical increase for agricultural land countywide. Hovland informed the council that homes with a current tax valuation of $35,000 or less had no increase.On houses assessed between $35,000 and $60,000, there was a 4 percent increase in valuation. Hills had six home sales in this category.Houses assessed between $60,000 to $80,000 were increased 2 percent and houses assessed at more than $80,000 received no increase.In other council business:oThe council was informed that a Hills Fire Department truck had been used to fill a rural resident’s swimming pool with water."The fire department shouldn’t be allowing that," Mayor Jim Jellema said. Although the city will be reimbursed for the water, the council was concerned about liability issues and the use of city equipment for non-city business.oThe council talked about the construction of the basketball courts at the city park. After some discussion, they decided that Jim Jellema would work with Steve Wiertzema to purchase two hoops for the court. Wiertzema has already obtained a few bids for the hoops. The council is leaning toward purchasing adjustable height poles for the court, at a cost of more than $3,000 each, so younger children will be able to make baskets when they play.oCity employee Wayne Ward was instructed by the council to become licensed to spray for mosquitoes. Ward said he has two tests to take before he can apply for his license.

By Jolene FarleyThe Hills-Beaver Creek school board didn’t vote on $117,750 in proposed cuts for the district next year at a Monday meeting.The issue was tabled pending a meeting of the finance committee to clarify which cuts or fee increases are permanent and which are temporary. "How do we know what’s more permanent rather than year to year?" board member Gary Esselink asked.Board member Ann Boeve agreed that determining changes that are short-term versus long-term is important. The $117,750 in cuts or fee increases is in response to a projected $150,000 budget shortfall for next year.Requisitions and computer spending are areas that can only be cut short term, according to Deragisch. Office staff is another area that will have an eventual increase. Some cuts or fee increases will be permanent, but some are merely band-aids, according to Deragisch.The finance committee meeting is set for Wednesday, May 19.In other board business:oDeragisch informed the board that health insurance premiums for the district increased 2 percent for next year. He was notified of the increase at a recent insurance meeting. "This is the meeting you drive up there sweating blood droplets," Deragisch said.The district participates in an insurance pool. The pool spreads risk and costs over all the schools that participate so if the district has a high claim year, premiums don’t skyrocket."There could be a year that that pool is going to save us," Deragisch said. oDeragisch asked the board to allow retiring teachers eligible for severance pay to rollover their money into a Variable Employee Benefit Account. The five or six eligible employees could draw from their VEBA accounts tax free for medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance.This is good for the district, because matching payroll taxes don’t have to be paid on the severance amount, according to Deragisch. oThe board voted to discontinue sharing a speech therapist with the Ellsworth district and to reduce speech therapist Jil Vaughn to halftime. Deragisch said he received notice from Ellsworth that they needed a speech therapist for more than halftime. The H-BC district can add more time to a position but cannot reduce a position after June 30.Vaughn will maintain her place on the seniority list when another position opens up.

By Lori EhdeThe tornado that hit eastern Rock County Sunday was assigned an F1 rating — the weakest on a scale of F1 to F5 — by the National Weather Service.But what it lacked in strength it made up for in character, according to Greg Harmon, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls."This was, from our view, a pretty unusual event," said Harmon, who hasn’t seen a tornado like this one in 30 years with the National Weather Service.He said conditions involved in producing Sunday’s tornado are more typical of what is seen in the higher altitudes of Colorado."For high-based thunderstorms to produce this tornado like they did is pretty unusual," Harmon said. "The bottom of the thunderclouds were much higher than usual — about 8,000 feet. It’s usually at 3,000 or 4,000 feet where we get tornado weather."As a result, he said, the tornado was much taller and more visible to so many people from such a great distance.Photogenic twisterFreshly tilled fields and dry conditions provided plenty of loose material that also gave the twister remarkable visibility.A typical tornado in the Midwest occurs with thunderstorms that produce rain, but with no moisture, Sunday’s otherwise weak system was able to sustain itself longer in an already arid environment."It had free access to all the ingredients it needed to keep going," said Todd Heitkamp, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service.Several residents near the storm supplied local media with quality digital images of the funnel cloud.Leah Van Meeteren, for example, watched the twister form near her farm eight miles northeast of Luverne."I was looking up into the clouds, and I could see a hole in the middle that looked like it was right above our place," she said. "As it moved to the northeast, it started picking up dirt. … It was really cool to watch."Started east of Luverne, ended near LismoreHeitkamp and Harmon spent Tuesday morning tracking the path of the twister with Rock County Emergency Management Coordinator Kyle Oldre.Based on reports, the funnel cloud formed just northeast of the Blue Mounds State Park shortly after 8 p.m. and traveled about 10 miles per hour to the east. It was last sighted near Lismore where it dissipated about 8:25 p.m.The F1 rating was determined by the amount and extent of damage it caused. In this case, wind speeds likely reached about 100 miles per hour.The only report of structural damage Sunday came from the Brad Scott farm southwest of Kenneth. His home received minor damage, with some shingles removed and some windows and gutters broken. But a less sturdy storage shed and silos were destroyed.Steel from the silos was scattered for about a mile off of Scott’s homestead. Inside the large storage barn, a grain truck lifted up and landed on lumber stored inside. "I saw that some debris was blowing around and it was an accelerating wind," he said. Once downstairs, though, he said he didn’t hear much commotion, and wasn’t concerned about finding damage. When he left the basement, however, he saw the tornado leaving his property to the east. "It wasn’t the usual funnel; it just looked like a big swirling circle of dirt. It didn’t even sound like much was happening."Because the twister was so weak, it didn’t cut a clear path on the ground, so its direction was established based on reports by residents and weather spotters.Little warningThe unusual start to Sunday’s funnel cloud caught weather forecasters off guard."This tornado didn’t form in the typical way tornados are formed," Heitkamp said. "Did they issue the warning after the fact? Yes. But that was only because we were gathering reports and trying to determine where it was going."Oldre said residents should have been aware of stormy weather and alert to the possibility of a tornado, since TV and radio broadcasts had issued thunderstorm watches and warnings three hours prior.As emergency management coordinator, Oldre said he witnessed troubling behavior among residents when the Luverne sirens sounded."Everyone was out in the streets looking around," he said. "When the sirens go off, it means seek shelter immediately. … Stay inside when you are inside. The reason is, you don’t know what’s going on behind you when you’re looking off to the east."Worse yet, Oldre said he heard reports of residents driving to get close to the storm for photos or driving from their homes to outrun the tornado.He said the worst possible place to be during a tornado is in a vehicle.On the other hand, he said some residents in their homes were concerned that they didn’t hear the sirens over the usual indoor sounds of televisions and appliances."They’re outdoor sirens. … It is not intended to be heard by people inside," Oldre clarified. "They were intended to be outdoor warning signals to residents who may not have heard weather warnings on TV or radio."Heitkamp and Harmon encouraged residents to brush up on their tornado drills, because there may be more systems like Sunday’s this summer."As long as it stays dry like it is, we’re likely to see these weak, brief tornados with other squalls of thunderstorms," Harmon said.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGConditional Use PermitPursuant 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 Community Room located at 2 Roundwind Road in Luverne, MN at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2004. The purpose of the hearing is to rule on the applications for Conditional Use Permits for meteorological towers for the following individuals: Seawest Windpower, Inc. NE 1/4 of section 28, Denver Township T104N, R45W, Rock County, MinnesotaSeawest Windpower, Inc. SE 1/4 of section 9, Denver Township, T104N, R45W, Rock County, MinnesotaZoning AdministratorEric Hartman(5-13, 5-20)

Public NoticeClose Proximity Property Owners and Local Officials of the Rock County Planning and Zoning CommissionNotice is hereby given that the Rock County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 24, 2004 at the Rock County Family Services Center located at 2 Roundwind Road in Luverne, Minnesota at 8:00 p.m. to act on the following conditional use permit application:Conditional Use: Expansion of an existing feedlot presently at 1450 Animal Units to an expanded capacity of 1523 Animal Units. Legal Description: NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 7 of Denver Township, T104N, R45W, Rock County.Facility Name: New Horizon Farms, L.L.P.The existing feedlot consists of: -a 81’ x 750’ total confinement barn with a 81’ x 750’ x 6.5’ poured concrete pit to house 3214 head of swine breeding stock, -a 61’ x 572’ total confinement barn with a 61’ x 572’ x 2’ poured concrete pit to house 484 head of swine breeding stock.The expansion shall consist of: -a 61’ x 102’ total confinement barn with a 61’ x 102’ x 2’ poured concrete pit to house 110 head of swine breeding stock. The described property is zoned as A-2, General Agriculture. All persons interested may appear and be heard at said time and place, or submit views in writing or by representative. Date: May 13, 2004By Order of the Rock County Planning and Zoning CommissionEric Hartman, Zoning Administrator 311 W. Gabrielson RoadLuverne, MN 56156507-283-8862(5-13, 5-20)

Public NoticeClose Proximity Property Owners and Local Officials of the Rock County Planning and Zoning CommissionNotice is hereby given that the Rock County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 24, 2004 at the Rock County Family Services Center located at 2 Roundwind Road in Luverne, Minnesota at 8:00 pm. to act on the following conditional use permit application:Conditional Use: Expansion of an existing feedlot presently at 1202 Animal Units to an expanded capacity of 1258 Animal Units. Legal Description: SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 13 of Rose Dell Township, T104N, R46W, Rock County. Facility Name: New Horizon Farms, L.L.P.The existing feedlot consists of: -a 60’ x 742’ total confinement barn with a 60’ x 742’ x 6.5’ poured concrete pit to house 2655 head of swine breeding stock,-a 60’ x 460’ total confinement barn with a 60’ x 186’ x 2’ poured concrete pit and a 60’ x 274’ x 6.5’ poured concrete pit to house 424 head of swine breeding stock. The expansion shall consist of: -a 60’ x 62’ total confinement barn with a 60’ x 62’ x 2’ poured concrete pit to house 66 head of swine breeding stock.The described property is zoned as A-2, General Agriculture. All persons interested may appear and be heard at said time and place, or submit views in writing or by representative. Date: May 13, 2004By Order of the Rock County Planning and Zoning CommissionEric Hartman, Zoning Administrator311 W. Gabrielson RoadLuverne, MN 56156507-283-8862(5-13, 5-20)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALENOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:DATE OF MORTGAGE: January 26, 2002ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $50,000.00MORTGAGOR(S):Warren V. Reichelt, and Mary F. Hayes ReicheltMORTGAGEE: Guaranty Home Equity Corporation d/b/a GB Home EquityDATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING:Recorded: March 7, 2002Rock County RecorderDocument #: 152391LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SECTION 12 IN TOWNSHIP 101 NORTH OF RANGE 47 WEST OF THE 5TH P.M., ROCK COUNTY, MINNESOTA, THENCE GOING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SAID SECTION 583 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, THENCE GOING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SAID SECTION 408 FEET, THENCE GOING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION 532 FEET PARALLEL TO THE WEST SIDE OF SAID SECTION, THENCE GOING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION 532 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, ROCK COUNTY, MINNESOTA.COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: RockAMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $51,100.86.THAT all pre-foreclosure requirements have been complied with; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: July 1, 2004 10:00 A.M.PLACE OF SALE: Sheriff’s Main Office Courthouse Steps, West Entrance Luverne, MNto pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys fees allowed by law, subject to redemption within 6 months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns.Mortgagor(s) released from financial obligation:NONETHIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.Dated: May 13, 2004Guaranty Home Equity Corporation d/b/a GB Home Equity MortgageeWilford & GeskeAttorneys for MortgageeLawrence A. WilfordJames A. Geske7650 Currell Boulevard, Suite 300Woodbury, Minnesota 55125(651) 209-3300File ID: 03244 (5-13, 5-20, 5-27, 6-3, 6-10, 6-17)