Everyone has been anxiously awaiting some warm weather so they could get outdoors and catch up on their gardening, lawns, flowers and, of course, the weeds. However, our weather has been not very cooperative. It has had one pattern, dark and cloudy, showers of rain and then the wind blows which makes it very difficult to plant garden and do the other necessary things that need doing in the spring. Monday morning we awoke to bright sunshine, the wind wasn’t blowing and the temperature was nice and warm. I have been patiently waiting for just such a day so that I could get out and catch up with all of the things that need doing outdoors. Monday morning reminded me of the old song, "Oh! What A Beautiful Morning!" It was a beautiful balmy day. Do you suppose spring is here at last?Arvin and Cena Mae Tilstra left Thursday to attend the wedding of Arvin’s niece, Shawn Tilstra, at Bryan Center, Mich., on Saturday. They returned home on Sunday evening.Last Thursday’s guests in the Melvin and JoAnn Paulsen home were Herb and Jo Roos, Sioux Center, Iowa, Dorothy Mullins from California and her niece. Dorothy and JoAnn had been classmates in school and she was also JoAnn’s bridesmaid.Vacation Bible School began on Monday at Steen Reformed Church. Their theme this year is Serengeti Trek, where kids are wild about God.Don Boeve had surgery at Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne on Wednesday. Congratulations to Valerie and Cory Meinerts on the birth of a baby boy, Daniel James, born on Wednesday, June 1. There will be a free summer ragtime concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the Steen softball field. If you haven’t heard ragtime for a long time, you will want to be there. Summer swimming lessons will be Monday, June 20, through Friday, July 1. For those wishing to participate, there are forms to fill out at H-BC schools. H-BC Summer Book of the Week Club will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 22 and 29 and July 6 and 13. Forms may be filled out at school if you wish to participate. Hills Friendship Days are Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11. These are fun days for all of the family. Plan to join them. We are living in very trying times. Every day the news is very difficult to hear. We all want to do what we can to bring peace to our world but it does take time and patience. Thinking of this, I found this article, "Faith of Our Fathers" and since we will observe Father’s Day soon, I felt it would be nice to know how much the fathers of our nation went through to provide us the security and lifestyles we all enjoy.Faith of Our Fathers"Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword."What heroic pictures parade before our imaginations as we sing these thrilling words!A tiny ship in a thundering sea as great souls dare the unknown to find a land in which they will be free to worship.Farmers at a little bridge in Concord, and a shot heard round the world; the first shot in a war to establish that men have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Washington on his knees in the snows of Valley Forge, lifting his voice in prayer for his starving freezing soldiers.Covered wagons moving across deserts, fording rushing rivers, climbing over the rugged mountain passes … valiant men and women thrusting our frontiers to the setting sun. A tall, gaunt man on the battlefield at Gettysburg, speaking immortal words "… that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."A soldier in a dimly lighted dugout in France writing a poem to challenge the spirits of men: "The Torch: Be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Field."Faith! The power that has conquered the wilderness. That has built skyscrapers to pierce the clouds. That has dotted the land with schools and colleges and churches. That has said to all men, "Here is a free land in which you can reach for the stars!"That faith is victorious! We shall go marching on, for from farms and cities, from offices and factories, are coming the new champions of that faith. They are flying silver-winged planes in the sky. They are riding rumbling tanks. They are sailing ships. They are firing guns. They are telling the world that our way of life will go on. They are upholding the faith of their fathers!Wilferd Peterson

Shortly after my 40th birthday, I stumbled upon one of life’s greatest truths. "Women’s lives are divided into two distinct parts," I wrote, "a time when they wish to look pregnant and a time when they don’t." Twenty-some years later, an even greater truth has surfaced. This time it’s clear that most adults’ lives are divided into two halves — the first half when we worry about how many miles our cars will get to a gallon of fuel, and the second when we worry about how long we can get by on a cup of coffee before needing a restroom. The answer to the post-age-50 bladder control crisis was recently revealed on a British gadget and gizmo Web site. According to a posted news article at the site, a UK company, started up by a distant relative of the inventor of the toilet, has created a new handheld GPS device for locating public restrooms throughout that country. The global-positioning i-Poo apparently displays the location of 43,000 or so public restrooms in the U.K. and will give its operator the fastest walking directions to the nearest one. At first the news sounded almost too good to be true. "If however there is no public toilet within 600 meters, "the article added, "the software will also direct you to an open restaurant, pub or if after closing hours, a darkened alley." A warning flag should have gone up at this point, but reading about the GPS system overwhelmed the rational part of my brain. Clearly, GPS systems are no longer limited to luxury vehicles or golf carts at posh country clubs. A hand-held global positioning system would also allow its user to quickly locate garage sales and spectacular sales events at favorite stores. With the help of additional technological devices, we might even become "carborgs" — cyborgs that are half human and half automotive accessories. Carborgs would definitely give new meaning to words such as "shifty" and "shiftless." For example, flip-down, overhead cosmetic mirrors such as those found on car visors could be permanently attached to our foreheads. No matter what age, a woman can never be too prepared for cosmetic breakdowns. Tiny windshield wipers could be attached to our bifocal glasses. They would be perfect for life’s blinding moments — unexpected rain storms, opening a dishwasher door while the contents are still steaming hot or sitting through the final, tear-choking scene of "Beaches," when Bette Midler belts out "The Wind Beneath My Wings." Much like the messages on the dashboards of our cars ("Service in 2,000 miles" or "Check oil"), flashing messages on our handheld i-Poos could signal, "Make appointment for annual physical" or "Refill prescriptions." Inflatable air bags could be suspended from our elastic waistbands and hang over our hips for accidental falls and spills. Falling down and not being able to get up would no longer be a problem. With air bags on our hips, we would bounce right back to our standing positions. Instead of carrying a simple Walkman when we walk for exercise, we could become portable entertainment centers, complete with tape players, CDs, radios and miniature TVs. With carborgs for parents, our children would rave, "You should see my mom. She’s a ‘42 Michigan with lots of miles and her chassis could use a little work, but she’s very reliable." As noted earlier, at least one warning flag should have been raised. A closer examination of the iPoo story revealed it had been posted at midnight, April 1, 2005. What a disappointment.

The Hills High School Graduates of 1945, once again are organizing a reunion, to be held on Saturday June 25, 2005 at the Beaver Creek Country Club.The gathering starts at noon that day. There will be catered food available at reasonable costs. The emphasis this year is to extend a SPECIAL INVITATION TO THE GRADUATES/ATTENDEES FROM THE THIRTIES AND EARLY FORTIES! I need not tell you the ranks get thinner every year!It would be great to see Denny Ronning, Bob Kirsch, Sheldon Sandager and of course Ray Nelson and this is not to exclude anyone else whose name was not used. Obviously the out-of-town grads are especially invited. Do you think Irene, Dorothy and Phyllis will be there?If you wish to attend and we hope you do, please contact Everett Fikse at 507- 962-3324! Due to an agreement with the Beaver Creek Country Club please contact Ev Fikse by SUNDOWN on Friday June 17, 2005. Ev should still be up and awake!I know if old Addle Pate were still with us, he would be in attendance and there would be a NO skipping school function tolerated!! Since he still communicates with me once in awhile, usually when I am asleep, I don't want poor attendance at the June 25th gathering to have him wake me up again!SEE YOU THERE!Jim FlemingPS: Casual Dress Encouraged!

Alfred W. "Al" Knobloch, 76, Rock Rapids, Iowa, died June 2, 2005, at his home in Rock Rapids. Funeral services were Monday, June 6, at Apostolic Christian Church in Lester, Iowa, with burial at the church cemetery.Alfred William Knobloch, the son of Emil and Frieda (Doerr) Knobloch, was born December 25, 1928, at Alvord, Iowa. He grew up near Alvord and attended country school. After school he worked on area farms before joining the United States Army in 1951. He was stationed in Germany as part of the Signal Corps. Mr. Knobloch married Lucille (Lucy) Spohr on November 20, 1954, in Elgin, Ill. The couple settled near Lester, Iowa, where they farmed for 35 years. He also worked as a carpenter and part-time salesman. In 1986, following recovery from a motor vehicle accident, he retired from farming. He then worked for Lester Feed and Grain . In 1997 he and his wife moved to Rock Rapids.Mr. Knobloch was a member of Apostolic Christian Church in Lester. He was also a member of the American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, carpentry and time with his family.He is survived by his wife, Lucy; six children, Ronda (Jim) Thielen, Sioux Falls, S.D., Lola (Dan) Deragisch, Eagan, Kim (Todd) Massner, Mediapolis, Iowa, Carla Knobloch, Rock Rapids, Cameron (Tamara) Knobloch, Whittemore, Iowa, and Penny (Jim) Domnick, Morris; seventeen grandchildren; five brothers, Gilbert, Melvin, and William Knobloch, Rock Rapids, Silas Knobloch, Lester, and Clyde Knobloch, Mackinaw, Ill.; and three sisters, Libbie Den Hartog, Shelley, Ind., Naomi Knobloch, Lester, and Esther Warner, Rock Rapids. Mr. Knobloch was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Frieda, and a daughter, Pamela.Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, was in charge of arrangements.

10 years ago (1995)
Mark Lundgren resigned as head baseball coach.
After more than a year of work, Heartland Express director Deb Fick got the authority to transport passengers across state lines. The service will be useful for medical appointments.
Dan Serie’s team won the Memorial Day Scrambler at the Luverne Country Club. Team members were Serie, Eileen Reisch, Ed Sedlacek, Jeannie Wethor and Ed Coleman.25 years ago (1980)
The county board will conduct a hearing regarding the dissolution of the Magnolia School District.
Rock County commissioners are considering a plan to remodel the existing sheriff’s office and sheriff’s quarters into a joint law enforcement center. The estimated cost of the renovation is $248,000.
Sara Pursell and the NBC crew of Real People spent a day in Luverne to do a story on 100-year-old John Engebretson. He still worked every day at Rose Dell Mutual Insurance Company.
Emil Wiese retired after 32 years with Tri-State Insurance Company.50 years ago (1955)
Three miles of cookies — that is, if they were laid in a straight line one next to the other — will be baked this week in a special cookie promotion by Ben’s Bakery. The company will make 3,000 dozen cookies.
Polio vaccinations will start next week, about two weeks later than expected.75 years ago (1930)
A total of 47 students graduated from Luverne High School.
As a direct result of his affection for a dog, Otto Peters, of Anton, Iowa, is now serving a 30-day sentence without the option of paying a fine. The charge against him was not love for a canine, but for petit larceny, in that he had driven off with a highly valued Springer spaniel owned by the Great Northern agent at Hills.
As Friday is the heaviest day of the week in the amount of mail matter handled at the Luverne post office, the mail carriers will make one delivery of mail this morning and will take the rest of their one day’s vacation period tomorrow afternoon, making two half holidays in place of the full day, as authorized by the post office department.100 years ago (1905)
Extensive improvements will be made in the Central school building during the coming summer vacation. The improvements will include the installation of a steam heating plant to replace the hot air plant now in use; new hardwood floors in the various rooms, new cement floor in a part of the basement, and a board floor in that part of the basement not now in constant use.
Agent Geo. S. Bell, of the Omaha, will engage with a number of others in Rock County in raising sweet potatoes this summer.
There were 350 children attending a Decoration Day program and address by N.R. Reynolds. Each child received a flag.

By Sara QuamDingmann Funeral Home and the City of Luverne are trying to work out differences to transform the clinic into a new funeral home when the clinic is vacated in July.Sioux Valley Medical Center and Luverne Community Hospital are relocating to the new facility at the end of July.The city and owner Dan Dingmann reached a memorandum of understanding that Dingmann would occupy the clinic portion of the existing space. The memorandum was described by City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi as a preliminary document that has some legal authority, but isn’t binding.It is also vague in many respects, so just how the deal will be handled is up in the air now.Dingmann and his representatives will meet with the city next week to clear up some issues before any deal is finalized.Building Official Dan Delgehausen has been in on discussions. He said, "Who is responsible for what is in question?"The memorandum of understanding outlined a tentative deal:oDingmann was to purchase the Luverne Medical Center and have the use of the north parking lot.The city tentatively said the hospital would probably be demolished later and used as parking for Dingmann.oThe parking lots north of the Medical Center could be sold for residential development.oAs another part of the deal, Fledgling Field will be transferred to the Economic Development Authority, which will find a use for the vacant lot.Parking, interior usable space and handicap accessibility were all reasons Dingmann wants to relocate from his current historic structure on West Main Street.If the city doesn’t demolish the hospital portion of the current hospital/clinic, Dingmann wants an adequate barrier between his business and whatever is inside the neighboring building.Approximately 30 feet of space between the two buildings can be demolished, but at a cost of more than $150,000.Delgehausen said, "There’s even a dispute as to whether it’s even a part of the clinic or hospital."To demolish the hospital in its entirety would cost up to $300,000, not including site work afterward.There was talk of moving the Fire Hall to the hospital half, but the fire department has developed plans to expand at its current site instead. That expansion affects an addition at Holy Trinity Church, the Fire Hall’s neighbor. It appears that there is room for both projects on the block, and the city offered more land to the church for $30,000. After an agreement is reached between the city and Dingmann, the architect will present options for the hospital to the City Council.

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members took official action at their Thursday, May 26, meeting to put a referendum to district voters this fall."This action gives notice of the board’s intention to go out for the question this fall," said Superintendent Vince Schaefer. "Specific dollar amounts will be determined after the legislative session ends."Luverne District voters said no last fall to a $455 per pupil operating referendum that would have brought an estimated $603,995 per year to the district for up to 10 years.Residents voted no on the request for more money by a 1,876-1,760 vote.It was the first time in the history of the Luverne School District that residents said no to more money for schools.The last time voters said no to a referendum request was in 1963 when a pool was proposed as part of the west wing addition to the high school.Voters at that time said yes to the building project and no to the pool.Kindergarten questionsAt Thursday’s meeting, the board officially responded to questions posed by parents at the last meeting regarding the board’s decision to cut all day every day kindergarten.One question posed by the parents dealt with the amount of tuition suggested for the optional afternoon kindergarten program.District Finance Officer Marlene Mann said the amount was arrived at based on the cost of teachers, supplies and building maintenance."We believed it was a reasonable dollar amount," Mann said.The amount is comparable to Discovery Time Preschool, which costs $92 per month. That comes to $2.83 per hour figuring three mornings per week.The afternoon kindergarten program, based on 15 hours per week, came to $2.30 per hour or $150 per month.

By Lori EhdeM-M Distributing is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week, and Merlyn and Lynn Lopau say they’re glad to have done business all these years in Luverne."We love Luverne," Lynn said. "We think it’s a wonderful town."Lynn’s brother, John McCallum Jr, Pipestone, and the Lopaus own M-M Distributing Luverne, and there are also M-M stores in Pipestone and Slayton.Lynn’s father, the late John McCallum, started the first store in Pipestone in 1956, and in June of 1965, J-M opened in a small storefront on Main Street Luverne. "We sold rope, farm supplies and a few toys and housewares," Lynn said. M-M was named for Lynn’s mother, Majorie McCallum, and J-M was named for John McCallum and Merlyn Lopau.J-M was located in the former Les’ Foodland, now the Kaczrowski Dental Office. "I was just a teenager, Merlyn was 21, and my brother was still in college at the U of M," Lynn said. "We were really just kids. … People would come into the store and ask if they could talk to our dad."Ben Hendricks, Edgerton, was their employee at the time but was often mistaken for the one in charge because he was older. Alice Nelson, Luverne, was their other employee when they first started doing business in Luverne.In 1968, the business moved a couple of blocks south to the former International implement building. It was where the new Glen’s Food Center is now located.In 1974, a new 20,000-square-foot store was built at the current location on West Hatting Street. "It was a lot of work, but an exciting time for all of us," Lynn said. That was about the same time the McCallum family opened the Slayton location, and the owners decided to name all three stores M-M Distributing."People still call it J-M," Lynn said. "I still get mail addressed to J-M."The new store opened during a booming farming economy and at a time when people shopped at home."It was a wonderful time for these small towns," Lynn said. "There weren’t any Wal-Marts or any big box stores. … It was a whole different way of living."Merlyn said one reason the business has survived the changing economy is customer service."We’ve tried to maintain personal service," he said. "That’s our niche. People know we’ll be here to stand behind our products."That approach to doing business has paid off for the Lopaus."We have a lot of loyal customers," Merlyn said.In response to increasing competition from Worthington and Sioux Falls, M-M stores diversified their offerings.In the early years, the M-M stores dealt primarily in farm supplies, but now M-M carries sporting goods, paint, all kinds of hardware, auto supplies, housewares and health and beauty products, as well as clothing for the entire family."We specialize in work boots, work clothes and outerwear," Lynn said.In the spring the M-M greenhouse, especially, has become a mainstay for revenue. "That’s become our Christmas here," Lynn said. "Except this has been a rough spring. … People want to plant when it’s sunny."Also, a full-service, small engine repair and tire shop occupies part of a 4,000 square foot addition that was built on the south end of the store in 1980.In addition to economic challenges, the Lopaus remember computer technology being a major hurdle."There have been some pretty hairy moments when the computers crashed (in a power outage) and customers are backed up at the checkout counter," Lynn said. At times like those, they longed for the old days of price tags on merchandise, but they said they’ve come to rely on computers.Merlyn and Lynn said their employees have played a big role in the business."We’ve had a lot of really wonderful employees through the years," Lynn said. "They’ve become family to us."M-M in Luverne employs six people full-time and about 10 more part-time. Merlyn and Lynn said Manager Cliff Enninga has contributed a great deal to the business. He’s worked for M-M for 26 years and manages the greenhouse.Looking back, the Lopaus say they have no regrets for investing so much in a business in Luverne."We are proud of our town," Merlyn said. "It’s a growing place with lots to look forward to. The future is going to be good for Luverne."They have two children, Scott, Pipestone, and Beth Blake, Waseca, who grew up helping in the store.An anniversary celebration will include free ice cream on Thursday, June 9. Rock County Dairy Princess Lindsay Brands works for M-M and will be on hand to serve ice cream to customers starting at 3 p.m.Also, thousands of dollars in door prizes and cash will be given away over a two-week period starting June 6.

By Lori EhdeSchool Board members interviewed long-time Luverne High School principal Gary Fisher for the superintendent’s position Tuesday night.Fisher is one of 24 applicants interested in the job, soon to be vacated by Superintendent Vince Schaefer.The position was advertised for two weeks on four Web sites: Luverne School District, the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and EdPost Minnesota, a site for college graduates with education degrees.The deadline to apply was May 20.The School Board met for the interview Tuesday as a Committee of the Whole, and no decisions were made at that meeting.According to Board Chair Becky Walgrave, a special meeting of the board is scheduled for noon on Friday to discuss the next step. Walgrave said Fisher has the appropriate credentials for the job, which requires a superintendent’s endorsement or licensure.After six years in Luverne, Schaefer’s last day is July 1 He accepted a position in the Beresford, S.D. district.