By Jolene Farley
I was unsure what I'd encounter when I set off on a 13-day trip to Bolivia, South America, with Mano a Mano on March 13.

The idea of a trip to Bolivia began to formulate when I interviewed Segundo and Joan (Swanson) Velasquez about Mano a Mano for the Feb. 14 issue of the Crescent.

Mano a Mano, headed by the Velasquezs, was trying to address healthcare needs in Bolivia, where many never saw a doctor or nurse in their lives.

Non-profit Mano a Mano, incorporated in 1994, began small by carrying surplus medical supplies down to Bolivia.

In 1996, Mano a Mano branched into building clinics. Then in 2000, a $2 million anonymous grant allowed Mano a Mano to plan the construction of many more clinics.

It may have been a mere courtesy, but the couple told me if I ever wanted to travel to Bolivia and see Mano a Mano in action to let them know.

I was very interested in the process of bringing medical care to people in need. I quickly signed up for the next trip, giving myself one month to make arrangements for my absence.

My agenda on the trip was to observe how Mano a Mano operates in Bolivia (for myself) and take pictures (as a volunteer) for Mano a Mano to use in future marketing materials.

My trip turned out to be an awesome, unforgettable experience. Our Bolivian hosts were wonderful and gracious, and the countryside was beautiful.

Throughout my trip I journalized some of my experiences. Following is a summary of those journal entries along with other memorable events worth sharing.

Wednesday, March 13 - I arrived in the Twin Cities last night and was given a tentative rundown by Joan and Segundo on what I will be seeing on my trip.

I am carrying an extra bag of medical supplies to Bolivia for Mano a Mano because I am under the airlineÕs two-bag limit with my personal luggage (I was kind of proud of this). Segundo and Joan tell me what specific pictures they want me to take while I am in Bolivia.

I fly out of the Twin Cities early Wednesday, March 13, with another volunteer, Sandra Peterson.
We fly to Atlanta, Ga., on Delta Airlines, meet the rest of our group in Miami, Fla., board a flight to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and then catch another short flight to our final destination Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The city of Cochabamba is aptly dubbed by tour books the "City of Eternal Spring." The weather is wonderful!

Thursday, March 14 Ð Around 2 a.m., we arrive at our hotel in Cochabamba. After some debate, our living arrangements (who sleeps where) are decided for the next few days.

We leave in seven hours for Charamoco to help outfit Mano a ManoÕs recently completed clinic.

The route to Charamoco is a steep, bumpy, narrow stone road. The countryside is green, mountainous and beautiful. Thankfully, we are able to ride fairly comfortably in two donated four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Soon after we arrive at Charamoco a dump truck pulls in filled with medical supplies that need to be unloaded, cleaned and put away in the appropriate area of the clinic.

Even though the community agreed to supply water and electrical hookups before the clinic was dedicated, water lines had not yet been dug in at Charamoco. A crew is stringing electrical wires to the building as we drive up.

Bolivia has an ongoing problem with corruption in government, according to Segundo. Resources often never make it to the people for whom they are intended.

Segundo's brother, Dr. Jose Velasquez, fearlessly tells local people they haven't upheld their part of the agreement.

Apparently Jose's words were effective; soon workmen arrive to dig the water lines.

Very quickly, Mano a Mano volunteers and community members prepare the Charamoco clinic for the dedication planned on Saturday, March 16.

Friday, March 15 Ð The Alto Buena Vista clinic is our destination today.

En route to Alto Bueno Vista we pay a surprise visit to the Chaqui Mayu-Villa Isreal clinic, which opened last fall.

Segundo and Jose are pleased that the clinic is clean and well-kept. Patient numbers have steadily increased at the clinic.

This visit provided my first opportunity to photograph actual Mano a Mano patients. In one of the exam rooms, a nurse was treating a little boy's leg wound.

Since opening, the clinic has become the economic epicenter of the community. Three buses are parked at a new bus stop near the clinic. Street shops have sprung up in previously open areas near the clinic.

We walk from the clinic to a small village. A doctor is administering vaccinations to residents on a street corner.

We drive on to Alto Buena Vista, our original destination. Alto Buena Vista, which is growing steadily, seems to spring out of the side of a mountain.

Residents are mostly street merchants, according to Segundo. They sell a variety of goods on almost every street corner in Cochabamba.

The race is on in Alto Buena Vista between electrical power for the community and the clinic opening. Workmen are running the electrical lines and are due to finish the day of the clinic dedication.

There is less work for us at Alto Buena Vista. Women from the community have completed much of the cleaning before our arrival.

The dump truck arrives loaded with medical supplies. We unload the truck and begin to clean the supplies and put them away. Many women from the community help with this process.

I make a special friend while taking pictures of local women. My subject follows me everywhere like a shadow. When I sit to eat she immediately sits next to me.

When we were ready to leave for Cochabamba, she hugs me and tells me (through a translator) that she will have all her babies at the clinic.

After we complete our work, we walk around in the community. With the help of a fluent Spanish speaker in our group, we are able to communicate with three Brazilian nuns who run a community day-care center.

They care for 70 children who otherwise would spend their days on a street corner with their street vendor parents.

On the way back to our hotel, we are told the Mano a Mano Bolivia volunteers have planned a party for us later in the evening with food and dancing ...

... My Bolivian trip story continues in next week's Crescent.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth boys' track team nearly landed its first team title of the 2002 season at the Central Lyon Relays in Rock Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday.

The Patriots turned in a strong performance that featured them winning six meet titles and scoring 65.5 points.

Unfortunately for H-BC-E, Akron-Westfield compiled 80 points to win the Class B team title.

"All in all, our boys ran fantastic. We got a lot of first- and second-place finishes," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle.

Chris Reid and Brad Haak won two individual events each to set the pace for H-BC-E.

Reid, who was second in the 200-meter dash in 24.32, won the 100 in 11.37 and took top honors in the long jump with a distance of 20-8.

Haak, who cleared 5-8 to place second in the high jump, won the 800- and 3,200-meter runs with respective 2:01.53 and 10:52.06 times.

Patriot Tyler Bush also captured a meet title in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:48.16. Bush placed second to Haak in the 800 in 2:06.4.

H-BC-E also won the boys' 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3:40.99. Bush, Lee Walraven, Reid and Haak formed the team.

Patriot Greg Van Batavia turned in a notable effort by finishing second in the 1,600 in 5:08.02.
The H-BC-E girls placed fifth in a six-team field with 44 points.

The Patriots won three events, including a record-setting performance by Cassi Tilstra. Tilstra won the 3,000-meter run with a new school standard time of 13:05.1.

Bev Wurpts won the 1,500-meter run in 5:37.76 and ran a leg with H-BC-E's winning distance medley relay team, which was timed at 4:48.21. Kelly Mulder, Danielle Fransman and Brittney Rozeboom are the other members of the team.

H-BC-E placed second in the 400-meter and sprint medley relays with respective 54.84 and 2:02.9 efforts. Melinda Feucht, Tilstra, LaDonna Sandstede and Erin Boeve formed both teams.

Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E's top-six performances from the Central Lyon Relays.

H-BC-E boys
Third place: Lee Jackson, 3,200, 11:42.26; 3,200 relay (Kale Wiertzema, Adam Sieff, Devin DeBoer and Drew Spykerboer), 10:24.01.

Fourth place: medley relay (Tyson Metzger, Sieff, Jackson and Van Batavia), 4:08.8.

Fifth place: Bush, high jump, 5-4; Wiertzema, 400, 1:00.3; 400 relay (Metzger, Van Batavia, Jackson and Walraven), 49.7.

H-BC-E girls
Third place: Rozeboom, 1,500, 5:56.24.

Fourth place: Boeve, 100, 13.34; Kari Roozenboom, 400-meter hurdles, 1:30.1.

Fifth place: Roozenboom, 100 hurdles, 19.55; 800 relay (Feucht, Mulder, Fransman and Rozeboom), 2:04.8.

By Jolene Farley
At Monday's Hills-Beaver Creek School Board meeting, Superintendent Dave Deragisch reported the school's intercom system is updated, after four years of operating with a defunct communication system.

"The staff is very excited," he said. "They haven't had a way to communicate without yelling or walking from their classrooms for a long time."

Cunningham Communications, Pipestone, installed the new system.

"For health and safety reasons we need an intercom in our school," said Deragisch at the Jan. 14 School Board meeting.

"If we had an emergency it would be nice to contact all the rooms at one time," said Chairman Alan Harnack at the same meeting.

Daily announcements are made over the newly installed speakerphones.

The old wall-mount speakers remain in the classrooms, but the new system may be too powerful to hook up to the older, outdated speakers, so the school will continue to test the speakerphone option.

Deragisch and board member Ann Boeve said they were pleased with the service provided by Cunningham.

"We are definitely going to have service with this guy," said Boeve. "If we have a problem he will be down here."

The district could be reimbursed for the cost of the system through a health and safety program but likely would not receive reimbursement until the 2003-04 school year.

In other board business:
Little Patriots Academy reported it has 36 children signed up for classes in the fall. Elementary Principal Jil Vaughn recommended to the board an afternoon session be added.

Vaughn is writing a grant to start an after-school care program in the district for children in kindergarten through sixth grades. If the district receives funding, the program would tentatively run from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"It's a very successful program in other towns," said Deragisch.

Deragisch warned that if more students didnÕt sign up for baseball, the sport could be dropped next year.

"It's really looking like the numbers could be in trouble next year," said Deragisch.

The board instructed Deragisch to come up with an exact count of interested students, including Ellsworth students and open enrollment students.

They discussed offering a seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade team if the district couldn't offer a full high school team.

By Jolene Farley
The mayor and Bill Poyton, a Mano a Mano USA volunteer, bury the cornerstone for the new clinic to be built on the cleared site. Story inside.

Spring forward
and shoot an eagle
(on camera, of course)

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour ("spring forward") before you go to bed Saturday night, because Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday.

I've always been a little intrigued by the strange concept of "saving daylight" by moving the clock, so I did a little research on the history and origin of the federal law. Following are excerpts I pulled from webexhibits.org/daylightsaving.

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but it was first advocated seriously by a London builder, William Willett, in 1907. During an early morning ride Willett was struck by the fact that the blinds of houses were closed, even though the sun was fully risen.

In his pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight" he wrote: "Everyone appreciates the long, light evenings. Everyone laments their shortage as autumn approaches; and everyone has given utterance to regret that the clear, bright light of an early morning during spring and summer months is so seldom seen or used."

Daylight saving has been used in the United States and in many European countries since World War I, when the system was adopted to conserve fuel needed to produce electric power. During World War II, the United States observed year-round Daylight Saving Time (from Feb. 2, 1942, to Sept. 30, 1945).

From 1945 to 1966, there was no federal law about Daylight Saving Time. So, states and localities were free to decide whether to observe or not to observe Daylight Saving Time and could choose when it began and ended. This, however, caused confusion - especially for the broadcasting industry and for railways, airlines, and bus companies.

Many business interests were supportive of standardization, although it became a bitter fight between the indoor and outdoor theater industries. The farmers (who start and stop with the sun), however, were opposed to such uniformity.

By 1966, Congress decided to step in and end the confusion and establish one pattern across the country. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 was signed into law on April 13, 1966, by President Lyndon Johnson. This mandated Daylight Saving Time to begin on the first Sunday of April and to end on the last Sunday of October.

So, there you have it. Replace the batteries in your smoke detector, too, this weekend while you're at it.

On eagles' wings...
For those who haven't already seen one or heard about them, Rock County seems to have been inhabited by bald eagles, something rarely seen in these parts.

It's actually not so uncommon to spot one or two passing through, but we apparently have as many as 30 of the white-headed, broad-winged birds who have decided on an extended stay.

Most of them have been seen in the area of the State Park and along the Rock River. Yes, our home is located between the park and the river, and no, I haven't been able to capture an eagle on camera (despite plenty of opportunities).

They really are striking creatures, but my attempts at photographing them result in distant tree branches with dark nodules protruding from the bark.

I'd love to publish a photograph of a Rock County bald eagle, if any of our readers happens to get a clear shot. They can be e-mailed to editor@star-herald.com, or sent or delivered to our office at 117 West Main Street.

Send Lori an e-mail

LCC opens for '02 season
For Rock County golf enthusiasts the long winter wait is over.

As of Tuesday, April 9, the Luverne Country Club is open for business.

Tuesday was a business day, according to LCC manager Sherri Thompson.

Don Cashin, Ray Hoogeveen, Jim Cinkle and Laurin Carroll were the first group of golfers off the tee, followed by Kim Arends, Patrice Hohn and Monica Dingmann.

Approximately 100 golfers took advantage of the opening day.

April 9 is a little earlier than previous years for LuverneÕs opening day. Last year the season began on April 14.

Are you ready for clean-up?
You have two more weekends to get ready for spring clean-up.

Hauling stuff out to the curb is the easy part. Going through your attic, basement or garage and figuring out what needs to be hauled away is considerably more difficult.

If you are on route one, Monday, April 22, is your day. Route two will be picked up on Tuesday, April 23, and route three, the north end, will get picked up on Wednesday, April 24.

In each case, your regular garbage will be picked up on the following day.

Some items you are not to put out for clean-up week include toxic or hazardous chemicals, clothes, books and magazines.

Any item small enough to fit in your garbage container that is not recyclable is considered "household garbage," and you must get rid of it with your weekly garbage pick-up

If your weekend finds you out back, cleaning up the yard, you will be happy to know that the tree dump started its summer hours last Saturday.

Accepted materials include tree branches, grass, leaves, and garden waste.

Hours for the tree dump are Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Lesewski says no to Senate after 10 years
After 10 years as a Minnesota senator, Arlene Lesewski has decided to end that portion of her political career.

Lesewski first ran for the Minnesota Senate in 1990 but was defeated by then incumbent Sen. Gary DeCramer, who had served since 1982.

Two years later, after redistricting, incumbent DeCramer chose not to run for re-election, and Lesewski was victorious over DFL challenger Paul Sobocinski, Wabasso.

If Lesewski were to run again, the newly realigned district in which she would be included would also include fellow Republican Dennis Frederickson, (R-New Ulm).

Lesewski, said, "Sen. Frederickson is an experienced legislator who in the past has represented a large portion of the new district. He is equally passionate about the issues that are important to rural Minnesota and will work hard to protect our interests."

Because of the recent redistricting, Lesewski's new area would not have included Rock County.

Under the redistricting plan, we are now in what will become Sen. Jim VickermanÕs district.

Although Vickerman has indicated his intentions to run for re-election, no Republican has yet announced for the Republican side of the ticket.

Some of the accomplishment Lesewski credits herself with are:

her involvement in the development of the wind farm on Buffalo Ridge;
expansion of treated water to farms and small communities in southwest Minnesota;
reducing farm property tax;
funding for Southwest State University;
a state of the art emergency response training center in Marshall; and
obtaining funds for the Lewis and Clark Water Project

Lesewski said her future plans include expanding her marketing business and looking for opportunities closer to home.

* A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

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

Albert DeJager Jr., 87, Moorhead, formerly of Rushmore, died Saturday, April 6, 2002, at Bethany Homes in Fargo, N.D.

Services were Tuesday, April 9, at First Baptist Church in Sibley, Iowa. The Rev. Dale Phelps officiated. Burial was in Sunset Rest Cemetery, Rushmore.

Albert DeJager Jr. was born to Albert Sr. and Anna (Toussaint) DeJager on March 24, 1915, in Sibley, Iowa. He attended country school in rural Worthington.

He married Vernis Johnson on Nov. 22, 1937, in Rushmore. After their marriage the couple farmed south of Rushmore. In 1996 they moved to Worthington. They moved to Moorhead in October 1997. He became a resident of The Bethany Homes in February 1999.

Mr. DeJager was a member of First Baptist Church in Sibley. He enjoyed exotic animals and fishing. He also enjoyed working in his shop repairing and rebuilding.

Survivors include his wife, Vernis DeJager, Moorhead; four daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Gregory Frey, Moorhead, Muriel and Edward Tholen, Rushmore, Marceil and Winston Edson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Carol and Johnnie Webb, Moore, Okla.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one stepgrandson; one brother, Jack (Gertrude) Toussaint, Story City, Iowa, and one sister, Bertha Frey, Worthington.

Mr. DeJager was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson, Mark Tholen, three sisters, Anna Wagner, Marie Ivers and Elizabeth Arp, and one brother, Gerrit Toussaint.

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

Lucille Irene Claussen, 89, Dell Rapids, S.D., formerly of the Rock County area, died Monday, April 1, 2002, at Avera McKennan Hospice in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Saturday, April 6, at First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, S.D. The Rev. Ray Heidenson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Lucille Strassburg was born to James and Edna (Lorenzen) Strassburg on Sept. 17, 1912, on a farm near Hardwick. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick. When she was 5 she moved with her family to a farm near Eckelson, N.D., where she attended rural school and began high school in Eckelson. The family moved to the Oriska N.D., area where she graduated from Oriska High School on May 29, 1929. She continued her education at Valley City Teachers College, Valley City, N.D., for two years and graduated with a teacherÕs certificate. In July 1931 she moved to Luverne and began teaching in a rural school near Rushmore where she taught for seven years.

She married Lorenz F. Claussen on June 14, 1939, in Luverne. Following their marriage they lived and farmed near the Hardwick and Magnolia areas and in 1954 moved to a farm west of Valley Springs, S.D., in 1954 she began teaching in Valley Springs Elementary School and taught the second and third grades. She also completed her education, graduating from Sioux Falls College on Aug. 14, 1965, with a bachelor's degree. In 1966 they moved to Brandon, S.D., where she continued to teach until her retirement in May 1978. After her retirement she continued to substitute teach in the Brandon Valley elementary schools.

Mr. Claussen died on July 9, 1970. In 1982 she began teaching full time again, teaching Chapter I math in Valley Springs. She retired after the 1995-96 school year. Mrs. Claussen was awarded an "Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America" certificate in 1975 and was included in the 1989-90 edition of "Who's Who in America Education." She moved to Orchard Hills Retirement Home in Dell Rapids, in August 2001 where she lived until Sunday, March 24, when she entered Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Mrs. Claussen was a member of First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, a member of the National and State Education Associations, the Valley Springs Legion Auxiliary, a lifetime member of the PTA, and for many years, secretary of the Lutheran Brotherhood Branch #8607.

Survivors include three sons, Lowell (Judy) Claussen, Renner S.D., Larry (Eileen) Claussen, Wayne, Neb., and Lyle (Mary) Claussen, Brookings, S.D.; six grandchildren, Cathy Reiman, Todd Claussen, Wendy Claussen, Jim Claussen, Lori Ann Claussen and Nikki Kunde; three great-grandchildren, Garret Claussen, Wyatt Reiman and Peyton Reiman; three sisters, Gladys Scott, Viola (Rudy) Lafrenz, both of Sioux Falls, Janice (Robert) Hanson, Brandon; three sisters-in-law, Viola Ladd, Luverne, Eunice Claussen, Hardwick and Delores Strassburg, Kenneth.

Mrs. Claussen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two brothers, Aldewin and Willard Strassburg.

The family requests memorials be directed to the Lucile I. Claussen Scholarship Fund.
Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Robert S. Severson, 81, Beaver Creek, died Thursday, April 4, 2002, at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne.

Services were Monday, April 8, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Daniel U. Smith Jr. officiated. Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery, Valley Springs, S.D.

Robert Severson was born to Stenno and Bertha (Bjorlie) Severson on Aug. 9, 1920, near Valley Springs where he was raised and attended school. Following his graduation he joined the U.S. Navy where he served in the South Pacific during World War II.

He married AnnaMae Gunderson on Dec. 9, 1942. He was a member of the USS group 45 LCT Flotilla 15 where he was the pharmacist mate first class. He was honorably discharged and returned to Valley Springs. They then lived and farmed south of Valley Springs before moving to Valley Springs in 1963. He worked as a carpenter until he retired.

He married Norma Jauert on July 21, 1972, in Valley Springs. Following their marriage they built a home in Beaver Creek. Mrs. Severson preceded him in death on Feb. 28, 2002.

Mr. Severson was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. While in Valley Springs he was a member of First Lutheran Church where he served in many capacities within the church. He was also a 50-year member of the Charles R. Doman American Legion Post 131 in Valley Springs and the Optimist Club. He enjoyed his morning coffee at Rauk's. He played, coached and umpired baseball for many years. He also liked playing pool, pinochle and other card and board games.

Survivors include his five children, Bob Severson Jr., Mesa, Ariz., Barb (Bob) Vanderlinde, Elk Point, S.D., Judi (Dean) Christensen, Montrose, S.D., David (Jackie) Severson, Madison, S.D., and Gayle (Bill) Stegemann, Luverne; six stepchildren, Arlyn Jauert, Burnsville, Cheryl Jauert, Brooklyn Center, Rick Jauert, Washington, D.C., Vickie Jauert (Ronald) Allen, St. Paul, Lori Klein, Florence, Ky., and Gregg (Terri) Jauert, Minneapolis; 15 grandchildren, Stacey Eide, Jenny, Mike, Shaun, Stephanie and A.J. Severson, Todd, Kari and Darci Vanderlinde, Duane, Amy and Denise Christensen, Sara, Andy and Erik Stegemann; nine great-grandchildren; four stepgrandsons, Travis and Josh Klein, and John and Jason Allen; special friend, Stella Board; one brother, Wayne Severson, Tracy, Calif.; one sister-in-law, Helen Severson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Severson was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Norma, one son, Michael, one stepson, Ron, one brother, Elvin, and one sister, Lorna Karli Voss.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church building fund or the American Legion Post in Valley Springs.

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