Plans for Big Loser II are coming together nicely with two teams of eight Losers this time. Participants are Gerry Sandstede, Melissa Sterrett, Tom Sterrett, Connie VandeVelde, Kyle Oldre, Orv Green, Steve Top, Deb Scoggins, Roger Meyer, Bruce Dysthe, Carol Foster, Bev Viessman, Rick Dawson Joy Dawson Greg Burger and Phil Gorter. Big Loser II will get underway February 6 with an organizational meeting and weigh-in with blood work and measurement on Wednesday of that week. This time around, we have two married couples participating, the Dawsons and the Sterretts.As you know, Chantel and Terry Connell were on opposing teams in the first round of Big Loser and between the two of them they lost over 80 pounds. The new Connell eating habits also had an effect on one of their boys, who also dropped 12 pounds.In last week’s wrap-up story on the Big Loser, we inadvertently left out comments by Dan McGuire. His final numbers were tallied on page 7A, but in the feature story on 1B, we excluded his observations, which all participants shared."The way I lost weight was to burn off more calories than I was taking in," said McGuire, who lost 35 pounds. "The diet was the easy part." He just stayed away from fat calories and exercised at least five days a week, if not more. "The first couple of weeks are the toughest, but once the weight started to come off and the clothes started to fit better, it got easier," he said.The second round of Big Loser will be brought to you each week in the Star Herald because of our great sponsors, Sioux Valley Clinic-Luverne, Glen’s Food Center and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company. Participant sponsors are Herman Motors, Superior Caulking & Tuck Pointing, Nobles Rock Public Health, Prairie Heights Bison, Papik Motors, Minnwest Bank, Connell Car Care, Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, The Estenson Company, Kozlowski Insurance, Sudenga Communications, Sioux Valley-Luverne Hospital, Lewis Family Drug, Bruce Dysthe Construction and Latham Insurance.

I watched TV last night, Friday the 13th. First the "20/20 News" show about "Stupid in America." It told how American schools, where teachers’ unions have a monopoly on schools, are the worst in the world. Also that private schools and vouchered schools do twice as good at teaching, and cost half as much as public schools do.Then on another TV channel news show, it told how the economy looked good, but looks were deceiving. The median income of Americans went down $2000 a year each year since 2002. The average American charged $2000 more to their credit cards during the same period.Then I saw in the Star Herald how many of the city workers got a $2000 or more raise even after all the budget woes of the year before. Then I see this week about the blackmail of $32,000 fine if the teachers’ union doesn’t get a raise. All that after that much needed referendum passed. You remember how the school was having to cut classes and stuff because they were going broke. I hope all you whiners and part-timers who have to get a raise every year remember you raised the taxes on houses, many of which were paid for by people working 10 or more hours a day, six days a week, for a whole year through. Oh yeah, and their work came at them on a chain faster than most folks can think. The next time you need money, I hope you’re told here’s a quarter. Tell someone who cares.Marvin KroontjeMagnolia

A stuffed animal can calm a child in an instant. It can bring an adult to tears pretty quickly as well.Most Americans are given their first stuffed animal weeks before they are welcomed into the world. Cribs in nurseries around the world are filled with soft, plush, colorful toys.As babies leave their cribs for roomier beds, they usually insist on bringing at least a few of their critters with them.The familiar feel of a favorite stuffed animal evokes feelings of safety and security in young minds. Centuries ago, this was accomplished by allowing infants to have a special blanket.Having their blanket made them feel secure.As the stuffed animal and textile industries began churning out inexpensive and adorably fuzzy friends for children, the blankies began being replaced.Child psychologists back up this natural occurrence with a number of studies and volumes of literature. It is believed that infants and toddlers require a security object to get them through life's little bumps.Children do not naturally feel secure. They have to develop security. As they get a little older and more independent, they need to bring something into the new worlds they are exploring that will help them feel safe — a stuffed animal is perfect for the job.When these children grow up, the security object usually still plays a role in their lives. Perhaps it has moved out of the bed and onto a nearby shelf – but it is probably still around.I know that I have several of my favorite stuffed animals, the ones that came with me on my first day of school and to the doctor’s office, tucked away on a guest bed.On Monday, I had a date with my younger brother, 15, my nephew, 9, and my niece, 3. My niece was taking the other two to the Build-A-Bear Workshop.The Empire Mall in Sioux Falls recently added the franchise to its list of tenants.My niece, Miss Hannah, did not miss the new storefront, conveniently located just a few feet from the Santa display at Christmas.When she discovered the store, she decided that she was going to buy her uncle (my brother) a certificate to Build A Bear with her.She had been waiting anxiously for the day to arrive, and Monday was that big day.The experience began as the three of them each picked out the animals they wanted to create. They could choose from among 15 lifeless, limp animals thrown in barrels along one wall of the store.Without stuffing, the super soft critters seemed unlovable — almost like road kill — but that fact was lost on the younger members of my party.They were having lots of trouble deciding what species they wanted.After a bit of prompting, they made their final decisions.It would be a panda bear for the young lady, a blue monster for the boy and a monkey for the teenager.The kids brought the animals to a large machine for stuffing. Before the store clerk would seal the back zipper, she asked them to choose a small satin heart from a nearby bin. After a bit of dancing and a wish, they placed the heart inside and the back was sealed.Already, only 15 minutes after being selected, the animals were beginning to develop personalities. The Build-A-Bear creators had starting bonding with their creations almost instantly. In fact, by this time the monkey already had a name.The next step in the ‘building a bear’ process was selecting clothing and accessories from a WIDE assortment of products at the store.This is when the personalities really started to come out.Chunky the Funky Monkey ended up in a Texas Longhorn football uniform, my niece chose a pair of satin pajamas, a purse and a pink hat for her panda bear and the monster left wearing swim trunks with a patriotic theme.I have no idea if these animals will gain a permanent spot in the hearts of my young family members, but watching the experience and seeing them create potential new best friends was fascinating.It is possible that the monkey will be packed in a box of stuff marked "dorm" in a few years, or that Miss Hannah’s panda will someday be used by her children. It is also possible that they will be tossed into the giant pile of stuffed animals and forgotten forever.I sure hope not – after all, they sealed a wish inside when the teeth of the zipper closed on Monday.Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

Henry Esselink, 80, of Hills died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 19, from 2 to 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Roste Funeral Home in Hills. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen with the Rev. Dan Ramaker officiating. Burial will follow at the Hills United Reformed Cemetery in Hills.Roste Funeral Home of Hills is in charge of arrangements.A full obituary will appear in next week’s Crescent.

10 years ago (1996)"Thirty-three new applications for open enrollment were turned into the Luverne School District by parents who currently have kids in the H-BC district. The deadline was January 15.According to the Luverne Superintendent’s office, 11 students in grades K-4 filled out an application, while 22 applications were filled out for students in grades 5-12." 25 years (1981)"The Title I aides at Hills-Beaver Creek High School are Mrs. Diane Vander Wolde, Mrs. Joanne Goehle and Mrs. Carol Hoogeveen.50 years ago (1956)"A sewer collection and disposal system hearing held last Thursday evening came to a close, adjourned until a future date when it was hoped that further arrangements can be made for financing the system." 75 years ago (1931)"Three teams and about nine men started excavating the basement for Oscar Swanson’s new meat market building last Friday morning. The frost has reached to a depth of about sixteen inches, and the men were obliged to use long sharp iron wedges to break through the frozen crust."100 years ago (1906)"Two young men named Anderson recently made an assault on Merchant Ross of Valley Springs with an ax. Valley Springs seems to be bound to occupy a prominent positioning in the public eye."

Don E. Wallenberg, 87, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at Avera McKennan Hospice in Sioux Falls.Services were Friday, Jan. 13, at East Side Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Don Wallenberg was born March 26, 1918, in Rock County to George and Ragna (Bjerk) Wallenberg. He attended school in Beaver Creek and worked as a hired hand for relatives and friends in the area. On March 7, 1947, he married Leona Kasemodel. After farming near Hardwick for two years, they moved to Sioux Falls, where he worked in the curing department for John Morrell & Company for 31 years. After his retirement in 1980 he enjoyed several winters in Tempe, Ariz., and summer vacations in Northern Minnesota.Mr. Wallenberg attended East Side Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Local 304A Union and a member of the Moose Lodge. He enjoyed reading, walking, fishing and spending time with his family.He is survived by his wife; two sons, Gail (Colleen) Wallenberg, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Steven (Debra) Wallenberg, Sioux Falls; three grandchildren, Nicole (Quinn) Damgaard, Council Bluffs, Joshua Wallenberg, Omaha, Neb., and Callie Wallenberg, Sioux Falls; one great-granddaughter, Brooklyn Damgaard, Council Bluffs; and one brother, Orland (Lillian) Wallenberg, Sioux Falls.He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Raymond and Eugene, and two sisters, Rosella Kolsrud and Darlene Herrmann.Chapel Hill Funeral Home of Sioux Falls was in charge of arrangements.

Lucille M. Schaefer Ehde, 89, of Wheat Ridge, Colo., died Dec. 31, 2005, at Wheat Ridge.Lucille Elliott was born Oct. 24, 1916, in Hurley, S.D., to Raymond and Vera Elliott. She graduated from Hurley High School and earned her LPN degree at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. She married Calvin B. Schaefer at Parker. They had three children. In 1987 she married William Ehde of Hills and resided there until Mr. Ehde’s death in 2000.She is survived by two sons, Jim (Anne) Schaefer and Keith Schaefer; one daughter, Sharda (Lyle) Kratcha; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Beryl Koller.

Sharon Rae Delfs, 62, Steen, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, at Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids, Iowa.There was a memorial service Friday, Jan. 13, at Roste Funeral Home in Rock Rapids.Sharon Rae Piersal was born Nov. 29, 1943, at Helena, Mont., to Raymond and Swanhild "Swanie" (Oien) Piersal. She grew up in Baltic, S.D., where she attended school and graduated from Baltic High School in 1961. She continued her education at General Beadle College in Madison, S.D. She married Gary Delfs on April 1, 1963, at Wheaton. They lived in several communities and settled in Sioux Falls, S.D. In 1966 they moved to an acreage near Steen, where they lived for 30 years and raised their family. Mrs. Delfs later worked at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. She enjoyed collecting baskets, cooking, gardening, bird watching, playing cards and spending time with her grandchildren. Mrs. Delfs is survived by her husband; three sons, Gary Jr. (Terri) Delfs, Steen, Craig (Julie) Delfs, Madison, S.D., and Jeff (Beth) Delfs, Canton, S.D.; six grandchildren; one brother, James Piersal of Texas, and one sister, Carol Francisco of Seattle.She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Lyle.Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids was in charge of arrangements.

Lolita A. Anderson, 86, Luverne, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at the Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.Services were Monday, Jan. 16, at the United Methodist Church in Luverne with the Rev. Terry Morse officiating. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.Lolita Noll was born July 1, 1919, in Davenport, Iowa, to William and Anne (Jasper) Noll. In 1929 she moved with her family to Rock County and graduated from Beaver Creek High School in 1936.She married George Hofelmann on Aug. 18, 1940, in Springwater Township, where they lived and farmed. Mr. Hofelmann died on Oct. 17, 1975.She married Ted Anderson on Sept. 26, 1979, in Las Vegas, Nev. After their marriage, they lived in Luverne. Mrs. Anderson worked at various places in Luverne, including the Luverne Community Hospital and the Viking Inn.Mrs. Anderson was a member of the United Methodist Church in Luverne and the Luverne VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed baking, gardening, traveling, camping and fishing.She is survived by her husband; two children, Steven (Carol) Hofelmann, Carlton, Ore., and Connie (Stan) Olson, Beaver Creek; four grandchildren, Craig, Brett and Rochelle Olson, and Dana Rugg; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Vernon (Louise) Noll, Luverne; nine stepchildren, Michele (Vernon) Perkins, Worthington, Stephanie (Gary) Frackman and Barbara Wise, all of Anchorage, Alaska, Julie (Calvin) Kuipers, Mankato, James (Laura) Anderson and Wendy (Dick) Grill, all of Luverne, Daniel (Becky) Anderson, Hills, Stephen (Donna) Anderson, Linton, Utah, and Thomas (Roxie) Anderson, Oceanside, Calif.; and many stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband.Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.