By Jolene Farley
Internet access for every Hills-Beaver Creek classroom is one step closer following School Board action Monday.

The board approved a three-year lease through Apple Financial Services for the use of 50 computers, four printers and one server. The district will pay $19,508 per year for the use of the equipment.

"One of my goals was to put a computer in every classroom," said Superintendent Dave Deragisch. The lease program allows that goal to become a reality.

Deragisch pointed out the district usually spends more than $25,000 per year on technology purchases. The elementary school currently has 13 computers that need to be replaced and the high school library has seven computers that need to be replaced.

According to terms of the agreement, the district will be charged no interest on the lease the first year with an increase to 3.5-percent interest the second year.

The lease agreement includes Apple Care maintenance, which could save the district money on repair costs.

At the end of the lease the district has the option to purchase each piece of equipment for $1.

Two of the leased computers would be laptops, and school nurse Lois Leenderts could carry one back and forth between the elementary and the high school. The other could be used wherever needed.

The high school classrooms are internet ready, but the grade school classrooms would need a T-1 phone line connection and a server installed before teachers and students could access the Internet, according to Deragisch.

The board suggested asking Technology Coordinator Roger Jackson to install the computers over the summer, possibly with the help of a technologically savvy student.

Costs associated with internet service for the schools could be reimbursed through technology grants, according to Deragisch.

Pairing with Luverne
Superintendent Deragisch and the board continued discussion on the varsity baseball program.

The board was offered two options at an April meeting for declining numbers in the varsity baseball program.

One option was to drop to the junior varsity level, another option was to go ahead with scheduled games for the 2003 season and hope to fill the team.

The board had decided to drop to the junior varsity level.

At Monday's meeting the board decided to go with a third option. Deragisch suggested the board consider pairing with Luverne for varsity baseball.

He also suggested pairing with Luverne for gir's softball. This arrangement would equalize the number of boys' and girls’ sports currently offered by the district.

The board directed Deragisch to continue talks with the Luverne district.

In other business ...
Hills-Beaver Creek schools will begin a program to honor loyal employees or "anyone affiliated with the school in some capacity or another" for their years of service. Honorees will receive an award and a token of appreciation from the district.

Teachers Rachelle McGill, Mary Mudder, Cindy Larson, Chris Louwagie and Jodi Ackerman were tenured by the board.

Deragisch showed video of a section of pipe at the high school that frequently plugs up. The district has spent $1,200 trying, unsuccessfully, to correct the problem.

Current pipes are cemented under the existing building. The board directed Deragisch to check into the cost of installing new pipe outside of the building versus trying to clean out existing pipes.

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By Jolene Farley
A seatbelt sting on April 30 at Hills-Beaver Creek High School found only 47 of 122 people wearing their seatbelts.

That comes to 39 percent compared with the statewide average of 72-percent seatbelt usage in rural areas.

Rock County Collaborative representative Paula Anderson, with the help of High School Administrator Steve Wiertzema and students Becky Broesder and Brittney Olson, randomly stopped 71 cars Tuesday morning as they entered the Hills-Beaver Creek campus from four directions.

The 122 passengers in the vehicles were students, teachers and parents. Students wearing seatbelts were rewarded with a free beverage and entry into a drawing for prizes.

Those passengers not wearing seatbelts were reminded of the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt.

"When this idea surfaced, I was very na•ve, I thought almost everyone wore their seatbelts. It's such an easy habit," said Anderson. "Now I see that we have some serious work to do. We need to set better examples as adults and not just wear our seatbelts when we're out on the interstate."

A similar sting in Luverne found 286 people out of 573, or one-third of the people in 481 cars, wearing seatbelts.

Collaborative members and peer helpers checked all vehicles entering the Luverne High School campus at three points of entry.

Luverne Drivers Education instructor Craig Nelson reminded drivers and passengers of accident statistics.

"The impact of not wearing a seatbelt in a 30 mph crash is the same as falling head first off a three-story building," Nelson said.

Every hour someone in the United States dies simply because they did not wear a seatbelt.

Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of dying in a traffic accident by 60 percent, and traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among teen-agers.

In 2000, only 15 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds killed in car crashes were reported as wearing seatbelts.

Nelson, the Rock County Collaborative and Nobles Rock Public Health organized the Hills and Luverne stings. Local auto insurance companies, local businesses and Coca Cola donated prizes for seatbelt wearers.

Seatbelt safety checks will be repeated later this year in Hills and Luverne to determine if the safety checks changed behavior in the communities.

Hills-Beaver Creek High School prom, with the theme "Hold on to the Night," was held Saturday. Jesse Leuthold was Mikaela Marshall's escort for the evening.

Photos by Jolene Farley

Tuff Home residents Frank DeBoer and Mary Eernisse were crowned king and queen Monday during the Mother's Tea at Tuff Memorial. The tea is was one of many activities planned to celebrate Homes for the Aging Week Sunday, May 12, through Saturday, May 18. The theme for this year's celebration is "Share the Spirit: A Celebration of Age." The theme highlights the wisdom, joy and love the elderly have to share with other generations. Other king and queen candidates were Carl Smith, Ray Binford, Signe Egebo and Ruth Smith.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Edgerton to get new branch bank
A new banking option will be available to the residents of Edgerton.

First State Bank Southwest recently applied to the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce and to the Federal Reserve bank to open a branch office in Edgerton, according to the Edgerton Enterprise.

The bank currently has offices in Pipestone, Rushmore, and two locations in Worthington.

The plans call for a new building to be built at 760 Main Street, the former location of the Edgerton Meat Market.

The new bank would include a drive-up window and an ATM machine, neither of which is currently available in Edgerton.

The bank president, Alvin D. Kooiman, grew up in Edgerton and his four children attended Southwest Christian High School.

Career information now available at Rock County Library
The Rock County Library now has another tool for you to use in your search for the perfect career.

The library has the Minnesota Career Information System available to library users.

The system provides education and career information to students and adults involved in career planning.

It helps people make better career decisions by providing resources that contain accurate, comprehensive and current career information, according to Rock County Librarian Glenda Bremer.

There is also a home-use option. Library users can receive a password and explore the MCIS on-line using their home computer.

Historical Society to hold annual meeting
The Rock County Historical Society will have its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 20, in the Historical Museum.

The Historical Museum, at 123 N. Freeman is the former Masonic Lodge building, one block south of the Hinkly House.

One item on the agenda will be the election of officers. Seats currently occupied by Lee Alexander and Maurice Fitzer are up for re-election. An election for the seat of the late Jim Lewis will also be open.

Notice of the annual meeting also includes updates on the progress of the Hinkly House.

Three rooms on the second floor of the Hinkly House have been plastered and painted.

The floors are scheduled to be refinished this fall.

Both the Hinkly House and the Museum are open June 1 through Labor Day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 2-4 p.m.

Schedule for Blue Mound Writers Series announced
The Blue Mound Writers Series is gearing up for its ninth season.

The series will again be at the Blue Mounds State Park Interpretive Center, two miles north of Luverne.

The events begin at 7:00 p.m. with live musical presentations by area talent.

Luverne High School students will introduce the authors at 7:30 p.m., after the musical performances.

Featured authors will read from their work for approximately one hour, followed by a book signing.

This year's schedule is:
July 13: Philip Dacey, author of several books of poetry, including "The Deathbed Playboy." Music will be provided by Jim Groth.

July 20: Wayne Fanebust, Sioux Falls, is a lawyer and historian who has written several books detailing histories of the frontier. Music will be performed by Second Wind.

July 27: Kim Ode, columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, will discuss her collection of columns. Ashley, Carly and Dan Bearfield will provide music.

August 3: Thomas Smith, River Falls, Wisconsin, author of several books of poetry, including "The Dark Indigo Current." Music will be performed by Luverne's Chris Nowatzki.

August 10, Jim Heynen, St. Paul, will be making his third appearance at the Series. His work includes several novels for young adults and numerous collections of poetry, including his most recent "The Boys House." Music will be performed by Bill Keitel.

August 17: Bill Holm, author of "Eccentric Islands" and "The Hearts Can Be Filled Anywhere On Earth," will be making his ninth appearance at the Series in nine years. Music will be by The Prairie Dogs.

There is no charge for admission, but a state park sticker is required to get on the State Park grounds.

For more info, call (507) 283-2765.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at
tolly@star-herald.com

For every dish there is a season, just not the same one

As someone who tries not to get upset at too many things out of my control, cinnamon could be what finally sends me over the edge. It's everywhere I don't want it to be.

I don't necessarily hate it - it tastes great with a little sugar on toast, and it's necessary for a decent apple pie. However, I can't understand why it's been considered some kind of miracle ingredient and has been dumped into so many of our foods.

I can think of four things I used to enjoy that are now laden with cinnamon and off my shopping list forever.

First, I'm still bitter about the change in the recipe for Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal. It must have been about nine years ago when I sat down to eat a delicious, hearty snack of it and was met with a mouth full of cinnamon.

At first I hoped that the company made two versions of Cracklin' Oat Bran; regular and cinnamon, but they were all the same. Instead of that earthy, oat flavor, the cereal now tastes like generic cinnamon balls.

Next on the list of cinnamon sins is a little more embarrassing and happened about three years ago.

After my personal observations of the cinnamon conspiracy, I met my greatest ally in my husband.

I always thought it was nice that he enjoyed coffee as much as I did and found it slightly charming that he drank CafŽ Vienna in the evenings. He even carried it with him in case a craving came when he was away from home.

We shared many cups of the tasty drink, until we noticed a new box had a label that said "New improved taste." I guess "new" is universally understood to mean "more cinnamon."

He was more upset at this than almost any time I've witnessed him in anger.

He called General Foods to talk to whichever International Coffee person was behind the recipe change. He asked why the sweet, creamy taste was being turned into nothing more than cinnamon tea.
He also offered to buy any leftover cases of the original recipe. That wouldn't work, according the company representative, but he gave them his name and address just in case. Since that call, we've both been a little afraid that his name is on a list of fanatics under investigation. Or worse yet, that his voice will appear on one of those comedy CDs that uses audio from customer service calls.

All this trouble because of cinnamon, and it's not over yet.

After the Cracklin' Oat Bran debacle, I found a good enough backup cereal to get me by. My standard became Honey Bunches of Oats. It had a not-too-sweet sampling of grains that I truly enjoyed... that is, until I was hit by the cinnamon conspiracy again.

For about five years now, the "bunches" of oats have been sprinkled with cinnamon, which only serves to cover up the oat-y flavor I love.

And the problem goes beyond cereal. I can't even find a store-bought bran muffin that isnÕt loaded with cinnamon. I havenÕt run across a muffin with that pure taste of bran that used to be easy to find.

I'm trying to move on. I don't want to sound like an 80-year-old who says, "In my day they knew how to bake without everything tasting the same."

My husband is doing his best too. He's given General Mills and Hills Brothers versions of CafŽ Vienna a try. We also found a homemade recipe that is supposed to be identical to the General Foods one so weÕre going to experiment with that.

For all you cinnamon fans, you should know that I do realize its merit. It's just not the king of my spice cabinet. And just in case anyone feels like making me a decent bran muffin, you know where to find me.

Send Sara an e-mail

Jacob "Jake" Joseph Scheidt, 89, Adrian, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, at Arnold Memorial Nursing Home in Adrian.

Services were Wednesday, May 15, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Jacob Scheidt was born to Anton "Tony" and Frances (Kellen) Scheidt on Oct. 13, 1912, in rural Adrian. He attended St. Adrian Catholic School in Adrian for seven years and received a "pitch fork" for his graduation present.

He married Lauretta Honermann on Nov. 24, 1936, at St. Adrian Catholic Church. After their marriage the couple farmed north of Adrian for 40 years. In 1974 they retired and moved to Adrian. He lived in the Adrian community all of his life.

Mr. Scheidt was a member of St. Adrian Catholic Church where he had served as an usher and a member of the St. Joseph Society. He loved farming, carpentry and baseball.

Survivors include his wife, Lauretta Scheidt, Adrian; four sons, Joe (Elaine) Scheidt, Rod (Mary) Scheidt all of Adrian, Gene Scheidt and Steve and Deb Scheidt, all of Worthington; three daughters, Rose (Mike) Lenz, Pomeroy, Iowa, Katie (Klare) Schroeder, Rapid City, S.D., and Peg Scheidt, Carroll, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dominic (Zelda) Scheidt, Luverne, and Norbert (Shirl ey) Scheidt, Adrian; and one sister, Ann Marie (Mensen) Heitkamp.

Mr. Scheidt was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson, Craig Scheidt, and many relatives and friends.

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

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Memorial services for Linda (Umland) Holte will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 1701 Russell Boulevard, Davis, Calif.

Linda Holte, 54, Davis, formerly of Magnolia, died Thursday, May 9, 2002, after a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy.

Linda Umland was born to William and Aagot Umland, rural Magnolia, on May 24, 1947, She graduated from Magnolia High School. She majored in English education at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

She married Carlton Holte in 1969 upon graduating from St. Olaf. They lived two years in Decorah, Iowa, then moved to Davis in 1971.

She taught in the Davis School District from 1971 until her illness forced her retirement. In addition to teaching English, drama/speech and the senior writing seminar, she directed numerous plays and musicals, coordinated Steinbeck Country field trips and served as a class adviser. She was also involved professionally as a mentor teacher for the District, a review–team member for school accreditations, a reader/consultant for several state test-development projects and writing programs, and an active member of the Area 3 Writing Project and the California Association of Teachers of English.

Mrs. Holte was a member of Lutheran Church of Incarnation in Davis. Her active involvement with her church included serving as a council and committee member, a Catechetics teacher and congregation president. She was a long-time member of Children’s Home Society and belonged to the same bridge group for 30 years.

Survivors include her husband, Carlton Holte, Davis; two children, Erik Holte, San Jose, Calif., and Maren Holte, Concord, Calif.; two sisters, Carol Burtness, Solvang, Calif., and Pamela Rohr, Santa Ynez, Calif., and their families; and numerous relatives and godchildren.

An English Education Scholarship fund is being established in Linda’s memory at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Services for Everett Wharton will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, in First Baptist Church, Luverne. The Rev. Ron Moffitt will officiate. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Everett M. Wharton, 84, Luverne, died Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Everett Wharton was born to Clarence and Ruby (Snodgrass) Wharton on Aug. 24, 1917, in Miller, S.D. He attended country school near Miller.

He married Sara May Norton on March 9, 1940, in Luverne. After their marriage the couple farmed northwest of Luverne. In 1963 they moved southwest of Luverne. He started his own water business. He worked for Culligan. After his heart attack in 1997 he retired and they moved to Centennial Apartments in Luverne.

Mr. Wharton was an active member of First Baptist Church in Luverne where he had been a Sunday School teacher, deacon, trustee and usher.

Survivors include his wife, May Wharton, Luverne; one son, Robert Wharton, Kansas City, Mo.; one daughter, Virginia (John) Allen, Newman, Ga.; two brothers, Eugene Wharton, Papa, Mich., and Ervin (Lorna) Wharton, Glenwood; one sister, Eva Moerke, Hardwick; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Wharton was preceded in death by his parents.

A tree will be planted in memory of Everett Wharton by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Luverne Hospice Cottage.

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