Lauretta Tobiason, 81, Magnolia, died Thursday, Oct. 17 at Luverne Community Hospital. Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Monday, Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Kenneth Lutheran Church, with Rev. Mike Zaske officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

James Vanden Berg, 77, rural Worthington, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002, in Worthington Regional Hospital.

Services were Monday, Oct. 7, at American Reformed Church in Worthington. The Rev. Irwin Van Leeuwen officiated. Burial with full military honors was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

James Vanden Berg was born March 4, 1925, to Teunis and Elizabeth (Nicolay) Vanden Berg in Brooten. He married Lylamae Meinerts on May 20, 1955, in Luverne.

Mr. Vanden Berg grew up and attended school in Edgerton. He served from 1944 to 1951 in the Army during World War II and the Korean War and was in the National Guard. There he served in the Signal Corps, as a heavy weapons infantryman and as a combat engineer.

He attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Ill., and Vicker's School of Hydraulics in Milwaukee, Wis. He worked for ZwartÕs Electric in Edgerton for four years. After marriage, the couple lived in Windom where he worked at Kimberly Clark for 18 years as a master electrician and as their private pilot. They moved to rural Worthington in 1971, where he farmed and worked as electrical supervisor at Campbell Soup Co. for 18 years until his retirement in 1988.

Mr. Vanden Berg was a member of American Reformed Church in Worthington.

Survivors include his wife, Lylamae Vanden Berg, Worthington; three sons, Merle Vanden Berg, Darwin Vanden Berg and Steven Vanden Berg, all of Sioux Falls, S.D.; one daughter, Shirlene (Daryl) Kruse, Worthington; two grandchildren, Justin and Dalton Kruse, Worthington; three brothers, Arthur (Arlene)
Vanden Berg, Worthington, Jacob Vanden Berg, Denver, Colo., and Lester (Beth) Vanden Berg, Edgerton; three sisters, Grace (Gerrit) Schuit, Chesley, Ontario, Canada, Henrietta (Gilbert) Elbers, Luverne, and Johanna Sankey, Holland, Mich.

Mr. Vanden Berg was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Henry and Richard.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, was in charge of arrangements.

Daryl Furstenberg
Residence: Beaver Creek

Spouse and children: Wife, Amy, Son, Dean, Daughter, Sadie.

Occupation: Insulator for New Prairie Insulation.

Education: Graduate of Hills-Beaver Creek.

Community activities and involvement: Eight years on the Beaver Creek Fire Department and Rescue Squad, member of National Wild Turkey Federation and National Rifle Association.

Qualifications for service: (No answer.)

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

If elected, I would work for a solution to the city hall/fire hall needs. The taxes being levied are also important to the residents of Beaver Creek. The taxes must not be raised any higher, if we expect a marketable community in the future.

The solution to being a viable community is having good infrastructure, quality school and citizen involvement. I believe we have that in Beaver Creek. With the voters help, I want to be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Vote Fuerstenberg for the two-year term.

Carolyn DeBoer
Residence: Beaver Creek

Spouse and children: Husband, Lyle, and children, Paul, Kristy and Bud.

Occupation: Bookkeeper at Farmers Union Co-op Oil, Luverne, for eight years.

Education: Southeast Vocational School

Community activities and involvement: Current organist and past Sunday school teacher at the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek.

Qualifications for service: Council member for the past eight years, on the ballot for the two-year term of council member.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

One of the most challenging issues facing any city council in the state of Minnesota is budgeting decisions. With the projected state deficit, local government aid (LGA) could conceivably be cut by 4 to 5 percent.

Because of the size of our community, revenue enhancements are limited. A new city building that will house a fire hall, city shop and city hall is the biggest project for our community. The council will need to stay within a realistic financial obligation strategy.

But future needs also need to be addressed. When talking with other communities who have built in the past 10 to 15 years, concerns were made that in the next three to five years they will outgrow their present building or have already done so.

The City of Beaver Creek is in the research stages of organizing a neighborhood watch. Areas of concern include: 1. Child safety Ð for those who live in the community and for those who attend the H-BC Elementary School. 2. Senior Citizen Watch Ð even for those who have lifelines. 3. Drugs Ð houses used for manufacturing, dealers who distribute. 4. Theft and vandalism.

Beaver Creek is a very good place in which to grow up, raise a family retire and everything in between. City employees have always been very conscientious and hard working. The fire department has seasoned volunteers and has added new members in the past few years. The time effort and training they all put in for the citizens of Beaver Creek are greatly appreciated.

* * *

In Steen, three candidates filed for two-four year terms.

Robert Sandbulte
Residence: Steen

Spouse and children: Wife, Lorraine, and children, Janet, Stephanie (Jason) Pyle and John.
Occupation: Rural mail carrier, Argus Leader carrier, bus driver

Education: High school

Community activities and involvement: Commander of Hills American Legion, Sunday school teacher at Steen Reformed Church.

Qualifications for service: Have served on council as city clerk since April 2002.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

I would like to see us continue to improve our parks both with new equipment and cleaning it up. We should also continue to clean up any empty lots in town.

Brad Bosch
Residence: Steen

Spouse and children: Wife, Linda, and children, Joshua, 19, and Ashley, 16.

Occupation: General manager of Midwest Livestock Services, Larchwood, Iowa.

Education: 1977 Luverne High School graduate

Community activities and involvement: Member of Reformed Church of Steen, member of church consistory, Sunday school teacher, youth sponsor, past member of education committee and active choir member.

Qualifications for service: Citizen of the community for 24 years, dedicated to preserving the quality of living this small community offers.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

To help keep Steen a clean and safe community.

Leonard Otkin
Leonard Otkin was mailed a questionnaire, and called the Crescent office to inform us he would not be responding.

The Hills Crescent sent questionnaires to Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen city council candidates, with the intent that their responses will help voters make more informed decisions in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, elections.

In Hills four candidates filed for two four-year council seats:

Wendell Bengtson
Residence: Hills

Spouse and children: Wife, Wilma; daughter, Noreen (Dan) Zarmbinski, Gaylord, MN; son, Brian (Becky) Bengson, Neago, IL.

Occupation: Retired from banking.

Education: 1949 graduate of Colo High School, Colo, Iowa.

Community activities and involvement: Presently finishing my second term on city council. Along with son-in-law, I was responsible for building a spec housing, a duplex on Church Street and a house on Summit.

Qualifications for service: Eight years on the city council, 47 years in commercial banking, the last 22 years in Hills. During such time, I have learned about fiscal responsibility. I believe that knowledge can be applied to City of Hills business.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

There is nothing famous about my face or accomplishments in life. I donÕt consider myself a "Dr. Dolittle" either Ñ just do what I can for the betterment of our very fine community.

If I put things in perspective, I see the Rock County Rural Water issue as large.

Just give people what they want and deserve, good local government. I want to be a part of providing the same.

I am confident the council has risen to the challenge of each situation that has presented itself during my two terms. I have been a part of the skills and leadership ability required to accomplish that.

We are your partners, ready to listen to critics, to suggestions and to fill requests if and when possible. All of our meetings are open and public. I see almost none of you. Communication is a key. Join us! Your presence and prayers will be appreciated.

Linus J. Svoboda
Residence: Hills, for 11 years.

Spouse and children: wife, Lisa.

Occupation: Employed by Hutchinson Technology Inc., Sioux Falls, S,D, for 17 years. I am currently a lead technician for a preventive maintenance crew. We setup, modify and maintain production equipment in a computer component manufacturing environment.

Education: Hutchinson Area Vocational Institute, hydraulics and electronics; Eden Prairie Technical Center, electronics; Southeast Technical Institute, machine tool technology.

Community activities and involvement: I take a great interest in the cityÕs management. Prior to being appointed to the council in January, I attended most of the city council meetings for the last seven years.

This year, I was involved with relocating two businesses from South Dakota to Hills, Technical Services, Inc. and Northern Plains Machine.

The last several years I have also helped the bi-annual citywide cleanup.

Qualifications for service: I am currently on the city council. When Jim Jellema was appointed to the mayorÕs position in January 2002, I accepted the appointment to fill his council position. This, along with the years of sitting in on the meetings as a spectator, has kept me current on the functions of city.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as a city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

There are presently a couple of larger challenges and opportunities facing the city. The water supply situation is before us now. This month we have a special council meeting to discuss this with concerned parties. The challenge is to determine a course of action and how to pay for it.

Another not so immediate challenge is the future of the Legion building. It is now in need of repairs and we need to gather input from the community to determine the best way to keep a community building available to all of HillsÕ citizens.

One opportunity we are currently exploring is the development of the city owned land west and south of the city apartments by the park. There is room for several lots and we are looking at developing this to attract more homeowners to Hills.

Keith Elbers
Residence: Hills

Spouse and children: Wife, Annette; son, Tyler.

Occupation: Livestock broker for Adams Dougherty Livestock Brokerage Company, for 19 years, self-employed auction company, 14 years, auctioneer for Sioux Falls Stockyards, 10 years.

Education: Graduate of Southwest Christian High School, graduate of Southwest Minnesota Technical College with degree in Ag-business, graduate of Continental School of Auctioneers, many classes of continuing education in both agriculture and auction profession.

Community activities and involvement: Member of the Hills Community Club, member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church Council, member of "In His Service" gospel quartet, volunteer for many school functions.

Qualifications for service: Served on city council in Steen, been in business for nearly 20 years.

If elected what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson? In other words, what important issues face the city?

If elected I would like the people of Hills to know that my voice would be a voice of the people of Hills. I would strive to further enhance economic development in both the business and residential aspects.

David McGuire
David McGuire was mailed a questionnaire, but at press time the Hills Crescent hadnÕt received a response.

* * *

Beaver Creek voters will elect one councilperson for a two-year term. Burdell Willers and Arlyn Gehrke filed for two four-year council seats:

By Jolene Farley
The Hills-Beaver Creek High School Wildlife Biology class braved snow and cold Wednesday to help the Topeka Shiner, an endangered species in Rock County streams.

Teacher Tom Goehle and his seven students helped plant 800 feet of riverbank with sapling willow trees to help restore critical spawning areas for the fish.

The saplings were gathered, with permission of the landowner, from trees in the area several miles south of Luverne, just east of Highway 75.

Large boulders were also placed along the banks of the Rock River to prevent sedimentation.

Goehle said this project gives his students a better understanding of taking care of our environment and things that can be done to preserve what we have.

The Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District received funds from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the stream bank stabilization project on the Rock River.

The presence of the Shiner in the Rock River and its tributaries prompted the project as a habitat protection measure.

Henning Construction, Adrian, also worked on the project, under the supervision of the USFW.

The Rock County Land Management Office warns snowmobilers of rocks in the stream channel and to use caution if riding in the area.

By Jolene Farley
At a Monday meeting, the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board approved payment of a $3,500 fee to Group II Architects, Sioux Falls, SD., to begin the process for new high school locker rooms.

The initial fee would cover three meetings with the building committee.

Those meetings would cover:

Developing a written program and designing the facility,
Preparing optional schematic design floor plans and exterior elevations,
Evaluating and comparing costs of various materials, preparing a written estimate of construction costs,
Evaluating the total project budget,
Preparing a written code analysis,
Evaluating the code impact on the existing facility and submitting the plans to the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning for review and comment.

The building committee met with representatives from the architectural firm Thursday, Oct. 3.

"I think they are going to be real workable people," said board member Ann Boeve.

"These people understand we want a quality building for the lowest dollar amount."

"WeÕre at the point were we need to find out how much itÕs (the project) going to cost," she said.

The building committee will continue to meet with the architectural firm to streamline the design of the facility, but state building codes will drive the decisions on the structure to some extent.

"You almost need an architect to work with the codes," said board member Gary Esselink.

Superintendent Dave Deragisch said he contacted local contractors about the project hoping to be able to save design fees, but the contractors werenÕt interested because of code issues.

In other financial news, the board will meet with the bonding company about refinancing the 1997 elementary school construction bond at a noon meeting Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Refinancing would save the district $71,000 to $91,000, after $27,000 in refinancing fees.

"ThereÕs costs involved, and we need to be aware of the costs," said Deragisch.

The district would not realize any savings on the refinancing until 2005.

In other business:
Luverne Rotary Club representative Al Berdahl presented the board with information on the One of a Kind Child Identification Program, a cooperative effort between Rotary Clubs International and ASFSA to educate parents and children about personal safety.

Students will be invited to an educational presentation at school on personal safety and later will be weighed, measured and digitally photographed by volunteers. Parents will be asked for written permission for their child to participate.

StudentsÕ vital statistics will be documented and returned for them to take the information home to their parents.

Parents will be encouraged to obtain a DNA sample from their children (for example, a lock of hair) and to keep the sample with the other information.

The program, for kindergarten through third grade, will be provided to the district at no cost. SchwanÕs, the Jacob Wetterling Foundation and Rotary Club will defray the cost.

"Go for it," said Boeve. "ItÕs wonderful."

Hills-Beaver Creek Wildlife Biology students place sapling willows in the ground Wednesday several miles south of Luverne, just east of Highway 75. The students braved snow and cold temperatures to help stabilize the habitat of the Topeka Shiner along the Rock River. Story inside.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Hortense Schlader, 92, Luverne, died Friday, Oct. 4, 2002, in Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Monday, Oct. 7, in St. Catherine Catholic Church, Luverne. The Rev. Andrew Beerman officiated. Burial was in St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Luverne.

Hortense T. Brandenburg was born Nov. 8, 1909, to Samuel and Mary (Hassler) Brandenburg in Mound Township, Rock County. She attended rural school in Mound Township. After her schooling she worked for Nelson Department Store in Luverne.

She married Matt Schlader on May 29, 1933, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. They owned and operated Schlader Jewelry Store in Luverne for many years.

Mrs. Schlader was a lifelong member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne and was active in the Ladies Guild. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary in Luverne. She was a charter member of the WomenÕs BPW in Luverne. She enjoyed sewing and embroidery.

Survivors include her children, Catherine (Lawrence) Gabriel, Delano, Roger Schlader, Rapid City, S.D., Stephen (Lynise) Schlader, Barrington, Ill., and Margaret McDermott, Farmington; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother, Samuel Brandenburg; and one nephew, George Brandenburg, both of Beaver Creek.

Mrs. Schlader was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Matt, in 1964, two grandchildren, three brothers, Raymond, Leo and Paul.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Change is good.
It's a nightmare now,
but it will be good

Just in time for National Newspaper Week, the Star Herald is embarking on a technological adventure, the journey for which has become somewhat of a nightmare.

The premise for our office upgrade was simple. (Always beware when the techies use the word "simple.")

It all started with a great idea to update our pagination software so the news and advertising departments could work in the same programs.

This, we reasoned, will make it easier to send our pages online to the printers, a long-held dream which will result in better reproduction.

InDesign is the much talked about improvement to both PageMaker and Quark, and the Star Herald is apparently a leader (guinea pig) in the regional weekly newspaper industry for making the switch.

So, we ordered the new software and looked forward to trying it out. The average techno-deficient word person figured the story ended there.

However ... the new software wouldn't launch on our old operating system.

So, we ordered Mac OSX, and later updated that order to OSX v.10.2 when it came out two weeks ago. At that point we felt very uptown.

We'd have the very latest pagination software clipping along on the very latest operating system.

However ... we had a few old Macintosh computers that were incompatible (too old) with the new operating system.

And ... the new operating system didn't run the old Microsoft Word program, so we upgraded Word, which didn't communicate with our old font management system (basic helvetica looks like arthritic handwriting on the screen).

So, we upgraded the font management program, which doesn't care for some of our favorite fonts, a problem we're still pulling hair out over.

Further, OSX, cleverly named "Jaguar" for its speed, also doesn't run our old Internet browsers or e-mail software. So, we upgraded those as well.

If you've called our office lately and been greeted with a cheerful, "What do you want?!" it's because we're all dealing with changes here. Lots of them. All at the same time.

Computer work stations tend to become little safe havens of familiarity in the work place. We sit down with our coffee cups and we all know what we have to do, where to find the files and what they're supposed to look like.

Now, everything's different.

Thank God the coffee pot still works the same.

Sending our pages online to the printer will eliminate two steps of reproduction, and the end result, we hope, will be a crisper, cleaner quality newspaper.

Meanwhile, I hope we don't all lose our minds, and we hope you, our readers, are forgiving of minor errors and omissions, if any, you may find in this issue.