By Lori Ehde
Rock County Hall of Fame member James Russell Wiggins died Sunday at his home in Brooklin, Maine.

Though he served a brief stint as ambassador to the United Nations, he was best known as a journalist and editor. During his 22 years at the Washington Post, Wiggins is credited with building the paper into a national voice.

His last 30 years were spent running a weekly newspaper in Maine, the Ellsworth American.

He was 96 years old and had been coming to work daily until July, when congestive heart failure confined him to his home.

The Rock County Hall of Fame honors Rock County natives who have gained national recognition.

Wiggins returned to Luverne in 1992 during the town's 125th celebration when the first wave of Hall of Fame members were inducted.

During his acceptance speech, Wiggins attributed his many accomplishments in the wider arenas of the state, the nation, the United Nations and beyond to what he learned during his early years.

His start at the Luverne High School Echo led him eventually to the Washington Post and a stint as ambassador to the United Nations before he retired to own and edit a weekly newspaper in Maine.

Throughout his long career he accumulated an impressive list of honors, awards and degrees for his work. He published a book entitled "Freedom or Secrecy" and was asked to contribute to other books. His resume takes several pages.

But when he accepted the Rock County Hall of Fame award in 1992, he didn't take it simply as another well-deserved trophy for the shelves in his den.

His eloquent acceptance speech in a sense returned the award to the people of Rock County.

He praised Rock County as a unique spot with fertile acres and a society with particular virtues that nurtured him. He expressed gratitude to the people of Rock County for providing a place where he and the other six recipients will be remembered.

Wiggins had high praise for the schools he attended. He said Ethel Gower, who was head of the English department at Luverne High School, was typical of his fine instructors. He said his education in the early 1920s would be the envy of any modern school, and he doubts it has been equaled since.

In fact, his formal education stopped after Luverne High School.

Wiggins was first hired at the Rock County Star by owners W.E.E. Green, a local architect, and J.B. Jensen. Wiggins worked in advertising and was a reporter. Jensen and Green sold the paper to him in 1925. He was 22 years old.

While he wrote and edited the Star, his talents were noticed outside the area.

He sold the Star in 1930 and went to the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch. Then he went to Washington as a correspondent for the Press. He returned to St. Paul as editor. After the war he went to the New York Times, and in 1947 he went to the Washington Post as managing editor where he stayed until he retired in 1968.

He was at the Post during many world-changing times. During his 1992 visit to Luverne, he recalled the McCarthy hearings. Wiggins characterized the Wisconsin senator as a "curious man," saying he was careless making accusations and was amazed at the reactions to them.

Wiggins said his 1957 book "Freedom or Secrecy" dealt with the federal government's classification of millions of documents as restricted, confidential, secret, top secret and most secret. All information seemed to be classified, in someone's opinion.

Wiggins worked with the American Society of News Editors, to which he belonged, to change the classification policy.

Wiggins commented on the changes he had seen in his years.

"For the first time in half a century we're free from the threat of nuclear war. No one could have imagined, at the time of Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech, the war on which we embarked," he said in 1992.

Secretary of Defense William Cohen, former congressman and senator from Maine, issued a statement earlier this week after Wiggins' death.

"Of all the people I've known in more than 30 years of public service, Russ Wiggins had the greatest amount of intellectual curiosity and the most energetic interest in finding new ways to think about public issues," Cohen said.

"With his silver hair, spectacles and calm demeanor, Mr. Wiggins radiated a sense of goodwill and serious purpose. As a writer and speaker, he displayed a gift for classical rhetoric."

According to the Washington Post, Wiggins addressed a meeting of Maine officials in 1984 on questions facing the nation. His conclusion summarized the focus of his life:

"Americans will be tempted, in the years ahead, to sacrifice the principles that have made their country what it is. It will seem appropriate and convenient to meet the demands of the crisis by bending a little here and giving a little there. It is an inclination that will have to be resisted at the first trespass upon our freedoms, or other invasions of individuals rights will come swiftly upon us."

When Wiggins retired to Maine he bought a small newspaper, the Ellsworth American. "I intended to look in on it every week or so, but it didn't turn out that way. Newspapers are a jealous mistress," he said.

Although Wiggins' life had been largely lived outside Rock County, he always kept ties to his home.

Wiggins' parents, James and Edith (Binford) Wiggins, and his brother, Lester, continued to live in Luverne. They are all buried in Maplewood Cemetery.

Editor's note: Much of the information in this story came from the July 1992 story Carole Olson wrote for the Star Herald during Luverne's 125th celebration.

By Lori Ehde
For 15 years, the SHARE program has been the link between the generous and the needy at Christmastime.

SHARE, Sharing Hearts Are Helping Everyone, is the appropriately-named program that collects donations and distributes them to families who could use gifts and food during the holidays.

Last year, SHARE provided 129 families, consisting of 199 children and 139 adults, with groceries, cash, clothing and toys. On top of that, an undetermined number of people received clothing and other items from tables set aside for last-minute requests.

This is the 16th year of SHARE, and for 13 of those years, Del Brakke has contributed her time and efforts to the program. "I think from the time I became involved, I knew it was worthwhile," she said,

At one time, the equivalent of SHARE was operated out of Family Services. "I like the fact that it was opened up to other people. Even if families arenÕt on public assistance, they still may be struggling," Brakke said. "I felt really good about that."

Brakke said the response from Rock County churches, organizations and families has kept the program strong. "Some churches or groups bring in quilts, and those are wonderful," Brakke said. "The families appreciate them so much. It just makes you feel so good."

She said that organizing groups to sort all the donated items can be a little daunting. "It always comes together. You wonder if it will, but it always does," Brakke said.

The families that benefit from the SHARE program don't take the gifts for granted. "We've had situations where people received and their circumstances changed and they donate or volunteer," Brakke said.

With administration costs of the program being virtually non-existent, Brakke is glad that donations "go where they're supposed to go."

Brakke stepped down from the board of directors but hasnÕt cut ties to the group. "It really feels good to help the families."

How to donate:
Drop off unwrapped items at the Luverne Armory from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Prior approval is required for donations of large household items or large appliances.
For cash donations, mail to SHARE, PO Box 792, Luverne, MN 56156.

How to receive:
Call 283-2810 or 283-9743 to get a form that is due by Dec. 1. Families will need to provide their names and addresses as well as family needs and household information such as the sex, age and size of family members. All information about recipients is kept confidential. Distribution day is Dec. 11.

Since Delwood's closed its doors three years ago, the city of Hardwick has been without a local gas station.

As of Oct. 1, Hardwick resident Dan Kindt has been filling that need. He opened the Hardwick Gas Stop one block east of the Hardwick Grain Company along the south side of County Road 7.

"Business has been better than what we thought it would be," Kindt said. "The people in Hardwick have been really good about using it."

It's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week Ð self service only. There is no building on the lot. The gas and diesel pumps operate by credit card - accepting VISA, MasterCard, Discover and Cenex cards.

"It amazes me how many people get gas between 7 at night and 7 in the morning," he said, adding that credit card gas pumping was new for many Hardwick residents.

Kindt said the city of Hardwick had been looking for a way to get a gas station in town for the past few years. Since he drives truck for Rock County Co-Op Oil, he was a natural fit for Hardwick Gas Stop.

"It's not a get-rich-quick deal," he said, "but I've lived in Hardwick my whole life, and if that's what it takes to get gas here I'm willing to do it."

Kindt owns the station, but in order to have the Cenex designation, the business must be operated through Rock County Co-Op Oil.

The sign near the pumps reads, "Hardwick Gas Stop, Dan Kindt, Owner, Rock County Co-Op Oil, Site #2."

By Sara Quam

The Christmas spirit has already blossomed in the hearts of some Rock County residents, starting the season of giving a little early.

This year, 4 million children are expected to receive shoe boxes full of small presents through Operation Christmas Child. The organization grows each year as it sends gifts to youth in any number of needy countries.

One of the ways Rock County has been able to participate in Operation Christmas Child is through First Baptist Church, Luverne.

This year it gathered 154 boxes that were brought to Sioux Falls Monday, shipped to Minneapolis and, from there, will go to destinations around the globe.
Don Spease, First Baptist's care group coordinator, said the small gifts mean so much to the children who receive them.

"To these kids, Christmas is just another day to survive," Spease said.

The international program was started by Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, and has steadily increased its reach by almost doubling the number of boxes sent in two years.

Spease said video footage of children opening their shoeboxes of goodies is a moving sight. Most of the children are from Latin America, eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

This year distribution will be specifically made in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iran and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip along with almost 50 other countries. Often, the families who receive are recovering from natural disasters.

Other area churches also gave to the organization and the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center helped First Baptist's contributions increase by bringing in 45 boxes.

MJB residents and staff spent three days assembling the gift collections, including some homemade crocheted items.

Activities director Janice Fick said, "They were really excited to give back."
Chaplain Martha Fick said, "It was a real, hands-on project that they could participate in. It was a heartwarming experience for staff and residents É really beautiful."

Fick said that residents who lived through the Great Depression could relate to the children benefiting from the packages.

"It was very real to them. One woman shared the story that if an aunt hadnÕt sent them a few things one year, they wouldn't have had a Christmas. É A few tears were shed and it was a touching experience."

In the process of shipping the shoe boxes, Operation Christmas Child organizers put in a short explanation of the meaning of Christmas.

Although some of the children receiving packages arenÕt Christian, Fick said, "It's important to share God's love anywhere. We have so much and we can give."

Rock County's youth detention facility could be one of the most misunderstood businesses around. Pinnacle Programs and Praxis, both in the former Magnolia school, are about education and reformation Ñ just a little different than may be expected.

Pinnacle is the boys-only, live-in program made up of boys sent by corrections departments in various counties and states. Praxis is a day-only school in which both male and female students from the area are sent by schools that feel students need additional attention, usually because of behavioral problems.

Right now, things are going well for the facility, for Pinnacle in particular. Rebecca Dreesen, group leader, said, "We're filled to capacity [at 22] and we're considering increasing the license to allow up to 35."

After employee Sharon Smidstra was convicted in November 1999 of sexual crimes against residents, there was a slip in enrollment.

Smidstra is now serving time for those crimes, and Dreesen said the initial enrollment loss has been more than made up for. Pinnacle has re-established itself as a quality facility that has learned from its mistakes. Dreesen said the Smidstra problems, if nothing else, have taught staff how to better see signs of trouble.

Dreesen credits the strong usage of the program to a skilled staff consisting of fully-accredited teachers, counselors and a recreational therapist. Anger management and chemical dependency are regular parts of the curriculum.

The facility itself isn't what many may remember as Magnolia Public School. Carpeting, paint and remodeling have changed the look and feel into residential, rather than institutional.

Many of the Pinnacle residents are sent because of crimes that courts deem justification for removal from their homes. Dreesen said theft, truancy and vandalism are the main offenses that residents have committed. And because Pinnacle is a non-secure facility, it wouldn't handle felons or severely violent offenders.

"They're not bad kids," Dreesen said. "We have some with behavior problems, but others go out and work in the community."

Blue Mound Inn, Luverne, has been a steady employer of Pinnacle boys, who also help at various events like Arts in the Park during Buffalo Days. Any work that the youth don't get paid for is considered community service, which most have been sentenced to serve. The Blue Mound Woodcarvers just requested some help from the boys, and the boys also volunteer at places such as the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.

Other times, the Green Earth Players have performed a dress rehearsal at Pinnacle and church groups or senior citizens have visited for socials. Isolation is not a part of the programming.

A home in the middle of nowhere
Having to drive a distance to reach even a bus depot is a benefit to the program, Dreesen said. "I think it's a big plus. We haven't had anyone run for a year, and where are they going to go?"

With many of the students coming from Omaha or St. Paul, Dreesen said they may enjoy country life differently than our own Rock County residents do.

"One helped a farmer do castrations, and he just thought that was the most amazing thing. Another boy helps the neighbors shovel their snow. It's new to them," Dreesen said.

More than anything, Pinnacle tries to provide a stable life for its residents. Strict schedules and rules fill the boys' days, and any outside work or activities are considered a reward for following the regimen.

Mark Raymon, line supervisor and trainer, works with the residents all day as they go about their activities and classes. He also tries to work with them on physical challenges like rope climbing to instill self-trust, self-esteem and motivation in the students.

Friday he took a group to a hockey game in Sioux Falls and said itÕs fun to relate to them outside the usual environment. "It's fun to see the changes in them," Raymon said.

"Some of their family lives haven't been the best," Dreesen said. "Some call this their home and donÕt want to leave."

Even when they leave, some have kept in contact with the program facilitators. "We just had a student who was discharged five months ago who called Saturday to check in with us," Dreesen said. "And we ran into another one when we were at a conference in Omaha."

Those strong ties, Dreesen said, are formed because of good staff and administration team efforts.

Pinnacle and Praxis employ about 35 people.

The Rock County Board forwarded a liability claim to its insurance company Tuesday for crop damage resulting from county weed spraying.

Howard Van Wyhe, Beaver Creek, requested reimbursement of $645 for crop damage (150 bushels of soybeans at $4.30 a bushel).

The damage was actually caused by cattle that ate hay from a ditch that had been sprayed. When the cattle digested the hay, their waste products transferred the chemical to the ground where the beans were later planted.

The highway department had advertised, countywide, in the newspaper, shopper and on radio that hay on Rock County roadways shouldnÕt be harvested for 30 days after spraying.

The county will continue to advertise spraying schedules and haying recommendations next year to prevent similar problems.

1999 audit
The Board also heard a favorable audit report from Roger Albertson, state auditor for the region.

Last year the county reserves lost more than would have been ideal but still has 10 months of operating costs in the general fund reserves. On the other end, welfare has less than a month in reserves.

Albertson found no gaping problems in the figures presented by the county and said overall, Rock County looks better than most counties in the region.

"You're not in financial stress. There are some ups and downs, but that's common," Albertson said.

Cost estimates range between $80,000 and $100,000 to renovate the basement locker rooms in the Hills-Beaver Creek High School, according to Superintendent Tom Knoll.

Representatives from the architect firm Spitznagel's visited the sight and offered Knoll estimates for construction plans.

Costs to construct a 5,780 square feet addition with locker rooms and a community fitness center off the south side of the gym would be approximately $500,000, according to Knoll. Construction costs break down to about $89 per sqare foot.

"We have a fund balance, but I don't recommend you proceed with a $500,000 project," Knoll said. Knoll recommended that the board not deplete the district's general fund for the project.

Other board members seemed to agree that the figure is high, even with financial contributions from the city of Hills.

"I agree this figure is too much. If the figures aren't there we need to look at other options with less square footage," said board member Ann Boeve. " We need to visit with the city again to see what they are willing to contribute."

Band Trip
In other school business Monday night, Dawn Griepp represented the Music Parents Association with a request for music students to travel the first week of April. Possible destinations include Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Denver, or Winnipeg. The MPA is collecting cost estimates for each destination.

Griepp said students would attend a show and not perform or the seven band members not in choir would join for the trip and the choir would perform. Band instruments would be left home to decrease travel and insurance costs.

The board encouraged Griepp and the MPA to incorporate both a performance and a musical educational experience into the trip.

"I would rather see them perform," said Rollie Crawford. "Tours are for showing off talent."

Technology
The server at the elementary school was struck by lightning the last week in October. The new server under consideration would increase Internet sites at the school. The district will receive some insurance reimbursement.

Boiler repair
A motion passed to update the high school boiler during the summer of 2001 after the board reviews quotes.

Conferences
Attendance at secondary conferences was 85%. All but one family attended elementary conferences.

Hills Council members reviewed figures concerning tax assessor contracts at their meeting Tuesday evening.

Rock County officials submitted a contract for $4,780, which City Clerk Connie Wiertzema said didnÕt match up with a verbal quote of $4,561.

The council tabled the issue until the next meeting while Wiertzema contacts Rock County officials about the change in the contract.

Community fitness center
Superintendent Tom Knoll updated the council on the locker and fitness room project.

Knoll asked the council what amount the city was willing to contribute toward the project. He said a community fitness center with locker rooms would be a $500,000-plus project
.
"We could just build on 2,400 square feet of locker room for $200,000 and be done with the issue," said Knoll," but our athletes would use a fitness center."

Knoll said the district has the option to levy taxpayers for Americans With Disability dollars in next year's levy.

The district has used only $100,000 of the $300,000 allowed for bathroom construction. Some of these ADA dollars could possibly be used for construction.

The district could also levy for lease payments, according to Knoll. If the city were to fund the addition, the school could lease the facility back from the city.

Council members instructed Wiertzema to invite their legal counsel to the next meeting about contributing to the project.

"We need things in town to keep people here or to bring people here," said Mayor George Langford.

In other news, a building permit could not be issued for the Tuff Home Assisted Living Apartments until annexation is complete.

According to Wiertzema, the information is waiting for state approval. Councilman Dana Dahlquist stated that the Tuff Home needs to finalize its loan by Jan. 1, and that cannot be done without the permit. He plans to contact the state.

The liquor license for KellyÕs Roadhouse Bar was renewed.

A motion passed to accept election results.

The council discussed snow removal. A notice will be published informing residents of their responsibilities.

According to statute, if a vehicle is unlicensed or not used, it is an abandoned vehicle and must be garaged or hauled away, according to Mayor George Langford. Wiertzema was instructed to send letters to some Hills residents concerning this issue.

In Economic Development Authority news, American Salvage remains open for business. Owners plan to allow more merchandise to be sold before they close the store.

Councilman Jim Jellema has a prospective renter for the building. The council authorized him to offer rent of $250 per month not including utilities.

Hills-Beaver Creek School invited grandparents to eat lunch with their grandchildren on Tuesday as part of their American Education Week celebration. Sierra Wilgenburg (left) and her grandmother, Sue Bartels, enjoy the tasty meal served by the school.