Our April showers arrived late Sunday afternoon and continued into Sunday evening and also into Monday. The showers were very heavy. The forecast is for more showers over the next few days. The rain gauges that I heard about told us we received about two inches of rain. I know it was a heavy rain as I was driving home from Luverne. There are various ways of looking at rain. We can belabor the point that the storm was a real inconvenience for us and the damages that it might do. Or we can be glad of the benefits to the growing things of the earth, and we can enjoy the cool touch on our faces, its gentle soothing music in our ears. There are various ways of looking at the rainstorms of adversity. We can lament our misfortunes until our hearts forget the sunshine, or we can meet the challenge believing that out of the rainy day will come new growth and beauty to our lives. We need to think positive!Mildred Keunen and Jo Aykens, Steen, and Joyce Aykens, Worthington, were Sunday dinner guests in the Paul Aykens home at Orange City, Iowa, in honor of Susan Veldkamp’s birthday. Other guests included Vern and Laurie Kurtz and daughter McKenzie, also from Orange City. Bonnie Skalicky, Scottsdale, Ariz., returned to her home on Saturday afternoon after spending nine days in the home of her parents, Orrin and Bernice Aukes. Dinner guests at the home of Rich and Greta VanDer Brink in Luverne Sunday noon were Arvin and Cena Mae Tilstra, John and Carol Van Maanen, and Noralph and Bernice Barstad, all from Luverne, and Dennis and Diane Goor, Sioux Falls, S.D.Preston Huenink’s brother-in-law, Richard Bonnema, Sioux Center, Iowa, passed away this past weekend. Funeral services were Wednesday morning at Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family.A volunteer luncheon honoring the volunteers for the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center was Thursday afternoon in Luverne at the home. Those attending from Steen were Mildred Keunen, Jo Aykens and Milton Bonnema. Mildred Paulsen joined the Freedom Club at Rock Rapids, Iowa, late Saturday afternoon to attend the Gospel Music Concert at B.J. Haan Auditorium on the Dordt College campus in Sioux Center. A delicious meal was available prior to the concert.Former Steen resident Darlene (Mrs. Cornie) Bosch had knee replacement surgery last Monday at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. She was able to return to her home on Thursday. Laura May Bosch, former Steen resident and wife of Dries Bosch, had same day surgery last Monday and was able to return to her home immediately following surgery. Hills Christian School will serve a volunteer appreciation luncheon for volunteers at noon, Thursday, April 21, in Hills Christian School.Wednesday evening the junior class of Steen Reformed Church in Steen will have their annual pizza party in the Fellowship Hall. Today Is Your Great Day"The happiest man I know acts on the seeming belief that each day is the most important day in his life, that there never was and never will be another day quite so rich in possibilities for enjoyment. "For example, luncheon for him, no matter how busy the day is an event, not a hasty gulping of food between worried snatches of conversation about some crisis at the office. The fact that there may be a thousand tomorrows when luncheons can be enjoyed under more auspicious circumstances has no part in my friend’s philosophy. Today is today — this day, this hour. Luncheon now is luncheon now, hence an occasion out of which it behooves him to squeeze the last drop of relaxation and enjoyment. "So my friend makes a ceremony of it. He discuses the menu in detail with the waiter, he orders carefully, he smiles in pleasurable anticipation as he awaits his food, and then he proceeds to enjoy it slowly and with relish. The food may be simple and inexpensive — a cheese sandwich and a salad, perhaps — but this man contrives, somehow, to make it all appear an occasion of special importance. And thus it is with everything he does; he takes each hour as it comes and enjoys it. "How often have I, for one, found myself letting the ‘transient hour’ slip by, my mind foolishly anticipating another hour, much bigger and better, in some misty day ahead. How often have you, too, found yourself forgetting that today is your great day?"James D. Woolf.In the hustle and bustle of our world today, I think we would all enjoy our lives more if we took a little more time to think about what we are doing with the time.

It’s possible to know too much about cows. Professor Christine Nicol from England’s Bristol University has new research indicating that cows experience complex emotions. A popular expression, "contented as a cow", may be part of some great rural myth. According to the studies of Nicol and her colleagues, "cows have a secret mental life in which they bear grudges, nurture friendships and become excited over intellectual challenges." Perhaps we shouldn’t be all that surprised that cows are capable of swinging their moods as well as their tails. Consider, if you will, the derivation of the word "moody." When people long ago (people usually referred to by dictionary editors as Old French or Middle English) tried to come up with a word describing negative feelings, the end result was "moody." The word is clearly derived from the sound (moo) made by a cow, apparently recognized throughout history as a very emotional, complex animal. As Cliff from the old TV series "Cheers" might have noted, it’s also a little known fact that the word experts considered many other words based on barnyard animal sounds before they settled on "moody." The words possibilities included "woofdy", "meowdy" and "neighdy." However, none of those words could convey sullenness, emotion or stress. "Meowd swing" wouldn’t denote the same message as "mood swing." It’s no coincidence that human babies who cry almost nonstop during their first four months of life are said to have colic. Colic sounds like cowlick, the word used to describe hair that stands up when it should lie down and looks like it’s been licked by a cow. Crying and cows. Connect the dots. We should have noticed the complex, temperamental nature of cows when so many of them were named Bossy. When we get terribly upset about circumstances in our lives that can’t be changed we are often reminded, "You can’t cry over spilt milk," yet another link to emotional cows. In recent years cows have had unusually high expectations slapped upon them by the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA). It can’t be fun to wake up every morning knowing that you’re not going to have a moment’s peace until you have personally turned over 45 pounds of milk. Cows might bear grudges because of the disproportionate numbers of males and females in their dairy herds. When you are only one in a bevy of bovines, competing for the attention of a single bull, life must be stressful. It’s no accident that we turn to complex cows for such troublesome words such as cowardice, milksop, Milquetoast and milk-livered, all having to do with weak, timid characteristics. The next time you see a cow chewing her cud, which may be nothing more than a nervous, repetitious habit, remember that she has a secret mental life. She is capable of bearing grudges, nurturing friendships and becoming excited about intellectual challenges. Rather than aimlessly chewing her cud, the cow might prefer to be playing Trivia Pursuit with some other gals from the herd and, who knows? She might even be a bad loser.

For the past 10 years I have been a city girl. When I drove from one place to another, I never looked out for deer, raccoons or opossums because the only wildlife in town was safe and secure at the zoo. The same can be said for snakes.In the city, the only snakes I saw were locked behind the glass of an aquarium. Apparently, in the country snakes are free to roam around as they please.On Saturday I happily planned on helping my husband clean out some of our flowerbeds and remove a few posts. After all, the weather was beautiful and the yard could use some TLC.I spent several hours enjoying the sun on my back, the dirt between my toes and the sounds of the birds in the budding trees. Then, suddenly, a wicked little serpent came along and ruined my fun.I was walking barefoot across the yard to get our wheelbarrow when I looked down and saw a GIANT, nasty, slithering snake.Of course my screams and jumping sent it into a fit, so it was coiling all around, trying to get away from the crazy lady. I was able to get a good look at it, and it had to have been four feet long.I sent my husband after it with a shovel, and while he was hunting it down, he found five additional snakes in and around our shed. Five more snakes, just as big, each putting more and more fear into my body as I stood on the cement sidewalk by the house.To make things worse, he didn’t even kill them, saying something about how they help with rodents and insects.I don’t like to kill animals either, but this is different. These snakes will keep me from enjoying my yard. I will not be able to subathe, garden, play frisbee, mow, grill, hang clothes on the line or anything if there is a colony of snakes setting up their homes under my shed.I need help! I do not wish to destroy these creatures, but I need them to live somewhere else. I know that the people in my reading public have tricks for taking care of snakes. I need to hear them. PLEASE send me your old wives’ tales, your repellents, anything. I love my yard and want to enjoy it. You can email me at lexim@star-herald.com , call me at 962-3561, send me a letter or just track me down on the streets with your best snake disposal plan.I love living in the country and I love being outside, but snakes are the one thing I can't handle. I like spiders, bugs, pigs, cows and even lizards, but snakes are just too fast and long and mean to have a place in my heart.I was terrified on Saturday… terrified of my own yard. Please help me.Story ideas and comments can be sent to lexim@star-herald.com.

By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek Superintendent David Deragisch spoke to a Minnesota legislative committee on behalf of rural education.During their meeting on Monday night, Deragisch briefed H-BC School Board members on his recent trip to the Capitol.Deragisch had been asked by the Minnesota Rural Education Association to speak during a committee hearing on a policy bill that would replace sparsity aid with discretionary levies.The MREA is an association of 150 school districts located in non-metropolitan areas of Minnesota. These school districts make up about 40 percent of the state’s independent school districts.Sparsity aid is given to districts with schools in sparsely populated areas.If schools are eligible, additional revenue is given to the school by the state to meet the higher cost of operating a school with a smaller number of students.Discretionary levies rely on taxing local citizens and industry to meet the school’s needs.Deragisch’s concern is that by replacing the sparsity aid with discretionary levies H-BC "would be hitting the same people up."Currently H-BC gets transportation sparsity aid and aid based on the distance between the H-BC high school and the nearest public high school.Replacing this aid with a discretionary levy would mean more local taxes. Deragisch said he doesn’t like this solution because it hurts rural communities."We would be hurt by the discretionary levy because we do not have a big industry pool to draw from."Deragisch said he was pleased to get to voice his opinion on behalf of rural education."I thought the senators and representatives wanted to hear and understand what I had to say."School policy news:üH-BC board members approved the passing of policies 101, 104 and 204.Policy 101 reworded an item to state "school board" instead of the current wording "school district." The motion to approve the policy was made by Matt Larson, seconded by Gary Esselink.Policy 104 requires the board to review the school mission statement every five to seven years. No changes were made to the current mission statement, but it was decided it would be printed on more public documents. The motion to approve the policy was made by Lois Leuthold, seconded by Lloyd DeBoer.Policy 204 changed the mandates for printing school board minutes. Minutes of all board meetings must be given to any individual who asks for them. This must be done free of charge. The motion was made by Esselink, seconded by DeBoer.In other school news:üHills-Beaver Creek School Board members approved the 2005-2006 school calendar on Monday night.Students will return to school for the 2005-2006 school year on Sept. 1, 2005. The year will end on May 25, 2006, with graduation services on May 26.üStudent teacher Sara Cota will begin teaching in seventh- and eighth-grade English classes. Cota has been teaching in the elementary school for several months.üNow that the weather has warmed up, H-BC schools will be conducting fire drills. Minnesota schools are required to hold nine fire drills a year.As of Monday night, the H-BC High School has conducted six drills and the Elementary School has had five.üBoard members congratulated H-BC students Cassie Tilstra, Tyler Bush and Kale Wiertzema for signing letters of intent with Northwestern College in Orange City, IA.

By Lexi MooreAccording to results released this month by the Minnesota Department of Education, students at Hills-Beaver Creek performed above average on the required Basic Skills Tests.The BSTs are reading, mathematics and writing tests that students must pass to receive diplomas from public high schools in Minnesota. The reading and mathematics tests are first administered in eighth grade and the writing test in 10th grade. Students who need to re-take any of these tests can do so multiple times until they are able to pass all three tests.H-BC eighth graders performed above the Minnesota average on both the reading and mathematics tests.Of the 29 students that took both tests, 27 passed, giving H-BC a 93.10 percent passing rate compared with the state average of 84.76 percent.On the whole, Minnesota eighth graders improved their performance on the 2005 BSTs in reading and math, according to results from the MDE."Of the more than 63,500 eighth graders taking the reading BST for the first time, 85 percent met state requirements for passing, up from 81 percent in the last two years," the report stated.On the math BST, 74 percent of eighth graders passed on their first attempt compared with 71 percent in 2004 and 72 percent in 2003. All 23 H-BC 10th graders passed the writing performance BST test, giving H-BC a 100 percent passing. Of Minnesota’s 65,000 10th graders, 91 percent passed the test on their first try.Superintendent David Deragisch gave the H-BC School Board the test results during their Monday night meeting."Our students did very well again this year," he said.Board member Gary Esselink said, "Teachers and administrators should be complimented. These high scores, year after year, are hard to maintain. I feel they are doing an excellent job."Complete 2005 BST test results for all Minnesota schools can be found on the MDE Web site, http://education.state.mn.us

By Lexi MooreMembers from the Beaver Creek Sportsmen’s Club spoke to the Hills City Council on Tuesday night about plans for the Rez.The club plans to install a handicap-accessible dock at the Rez on April 22 or 23. Several organizations have agreed to fund the cost.The Lion’s Club donated $2,500, the Development Association gave $2,500 and the Sportsmen’s Club will pay $2,000 and coordinate the installation. The City of Hills will pay the remaining amount, which should be $2,000 to $2,500.Club members requested that the council consider treating the Rez with chemicals in an effort to control the current algae problem.In the past club members have applied barley straw to the pond to help with algae problems but they want to find a more successful product.Club President Arlyn Gehrke located a chemical sold on the Internet that claims to be safe for fish and not harmful to humans. The chemical would need to be applied to the pond once a week for four weeks, starting when the algae bloom.Club members reported that after the chemical is applied to the pond, the algae would float to the surface and be removed.The cost of applying the chemical to the pond is estimated to be $1,600. Council members advised the club to research what type of guarantees are offered by the company selling the product and the timing of the algae bloom.Depending on the results, the Council will consider covering the costs to treat the algae problem.In other City news:
Mayor Jim Jellema and Linus Svoboda briefed the council on their meeting with the Rock County Sheriff’s Department regarding local law enforcement contracts.Law enforcement in Hills will continue to be provided by Rock County. There will not be any changes in the amount the city has to pay for the next four years. During the fifth year, payments will increase by five percent.Both men said they were pleased with the arrangement.
The Council discussed problems with miscellaneous junk at various commercial and residential properties.The City’s ordinance states that trees, grass and shrubs must be kept clean and neat.Property and business owners who fail to comply with this ordinance will receive a notice asking them to clean up the property. If action is not taken, the city will clean the property and assess the owner’s taxes for any fees the City incurs in the process.
Council members discussed problems with unlicensed dogs within city limits.The council asked City Clerk Connie Wietzema to contact Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkles regarding the Hills ordinance on animal control.The council hopes to increase the number of dogs licensed by enforcing the city ordinance that requires dog owners to license their animals.Dog licenses can be purchased at the city office for $5, if the animal is spayed or neutered and has an updated shot record or $10, if the animal has not been fixed but has an updated shot record."We do not require dog licenses because we want to get rich off the fee. We do it to keep the town safe," said Mayor Jellema.
Council members allocated an additional $25 to Doug Boeve to cover higher gas costs for City junk day. Junk day will be May 21.
City Maintenance Manager Wayne Ward reported that he will begin flushing the city’s water pipes again. He warned that residents may have some problems with their water after he starts flushing.In addition, he reported that the city will need to bill Rock County Rural Water for the 524,300 gallons of water lost when the system was flushed last fall.

By Lori Ehde2005 will be a big year for road construction projects in Luverne and Rock County.Main Street will be torn up from one end to the other for mill and overlay work. Utility conduit for new streetlights and future technology will be buried at the same time. Blue Mound Avenue will be in the same shape, as it will be milled and overlaid from Main Street north to the city limits. The gravel road that borders the northern edge of the new hospital property will become a paved city street with curb, gutters and sidewalks. It’s now a County State Aid Highway — CSAH 37.In addition, Highway 75, between Veterans Drive and County Road 37 will be graded, and turn lanes will be added to accommodate hospital traffic.Rock County Highway Engineer Mark Sehr presented the information Tuesday during the annual road and bridge hearing at the library.He said plans for long-range may be subject to change.Five-year planOther plans for 2005 include:
CSAH 20 (the east-west blacktop that leads to the state park) from Highway 23 to Highway 75, mill and overlay
CSAH 11 (Steen blacktop) from Highway 270 to CSAH 4, mill and overlay
CSAH 20, replacement of bridge L2153 3 1/2 miles west of Highway 75
South River Road Bridge L2258, 1 mile west of CSAH 9 (near the old Boy Scout Camp) will be replaced.Total cost for the projects is estimated at $4.2 million, with bonding and federal, state and municipal state aids offsetting the cost. Total local cost this year will be about $52,000.In 2006:
Rubblizing (grinding pavement to three-inch chunks) and surfacing County Road 4 (Old Hwy 16) from County 11 (the Steen blacktop) west to County Road 6.
Replacing five township bridges — two in Clinton and one each in Martin, Beaver Creek, Springwater and Vienna.In 2007:
Grading and aggregate resurfacing County Road 17 (north of Beaver Creek) from County Road 4 to Hwy 23.
Replacing a county bridge southeast of Hills
Replacing two township bridges, one in Battle Plain and one in Vienna.In 2008:
County Road 9 will be milled and overlaid from County Road 4 near Magnolia south to County Road 8, and from the Iowa line to County Road 1 (the Ellsworth blacktop)
County 17 will be paved (to complete the work that started in 2007).
County 55 will be milled and overlaid from County Road 4 to County Road 9.In 2009:
County Road 16 (the east-west road near Schoneman Park) will be graded and paved from Highway 75 east to County Road 9.
Three county bridges will be replaced, one in Luverne Township and two in Magnolia Township.

By Lori EhdeSince Mad Cow Disease surfaced in the United States in December 2003, interest in a national animal identification system has intensified.Glenn Korman, agriculture specialist with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, presented information on the national animal identification system as part of Tuesday’s County Update meeting.Korman said the ID system at this point is only voluntary, but he encouraged participation "… to protect livestock producers, eliminate disease and protect our markets," Korman said.The system would use ear tags that are electronically scanned to identify animals and provide information about where they were raised.Korman said it would allow for rapid tracing of animals during an outbreak and limit the scope and expense of the outbreak.For example, when Mad Cow Disease surfaced in Europe, millions of animals had to be destroyed, because there was no way of knowing which herds were affected.In Washington’s Mad Cow case, it was known that 32 cows were originally part of the herd that the sick cow belonged to, but only 28 of those were eventually tracked down. "We never did find the rest of them," Korman said. From a business perspective, he said the ID system might help producers with their own record keeping while at the same time giving them an edge in the market. For example, if a major consumer, such as Tyson, wants proof of where its meat comes from, it may choose to do business only with producers who are able to provide that proof."Unless you’ve identified your animal, the packer may not want your product," Korman said. "So it’s probably a good idea to get on board."That’s one reason Rock County cattle producer Pete Bakken decided to fill out and mail in a postcard from the USDA. "If I’m participating in the national animal identification system, then I’m going to have some niche marketing. Consumers may pay more for something if they know where it came from," he said.On the down side, Bakken also said he fears the system could expose him to lawsuits over harm that comes to his animals outside of his control. But he said, "I think ultimately it’s a good idea, because you’re going to have an information trail." There are methods of animal identification already in place, including old-fashioned branding, but this would be the first uniform nationwide animal ID system for all animals of any given species."The same system used in Minnesota would be recognized worldwide," Korman said.He said the proposal is backed by the major livestock organizations, such as beef and pork.Filling out the postcard is the first step in the process called "premises registration," which simply identifies where animals exist.Participating in this stage does not mean producers are obligated to participate in the next stage – tagging the animals.Producers who send in the cards can expect about a 30-day wait before numbers are issued for their sites.The animal ID tags cost $2 to $2.75.

By Sara QuamRock County started receiving the benefits of rural water in 1980. Members then paid $1.75 per 1,000 gallons of water, just $1 less than they pay now.Office manager Glenda Schomacker said, "Just think, a 16-ounce bottle of water sells for 79 cents at your local convenience store. That’s $6,320 per 1,000 gallons."Daryl Paulsen said, "I think everybody takes water for granted." Paulsen is not only Rock County Rural Water plant operator and assistant manager, but he he uses the water in his rural Steen home.He is one of many people acknowledging Rural Water’s 25th anniversary with pride this spring. He said it was necessary back then because, depending on location, most rural residents battled either poor quality or poor quantity water.Manager Dan Cook said, "We’re reflecting on the fact that we’ve been here for 25 years and we have 680 customers along with three towns. We pump 214 million gallons per year."The cities of Hills, Steen and Magnolia also use Rural Water.Brad Skattum, livestock producer, said, "I think it’s good, clean water and it’s vitally important to have. Access to wells isn’t what it used to be. Skattum was just re-elected to another term on the Rural Water Board.He said, "When we turn on the faucet, we know it’s there and we can take it for granted."Paulsen tells the story of how he had a well and two cisterns before becoming a Rural Water user. "We bought 1,500 to 1,600 gallons for $16 and we can get 1,000 for $2.75 now," he said."We always had to watch our p’s and q’s and not allow long showers," Paulsen said. "It never failed that when we had company, the cisterns went dry."Gerald Winter has been a long-time advocate of Rock County Rural Water. He was on the Steering Committee and Water Commission, which were responsible for the organization and development of the Rock County Rural Water District. Former state representative Wendell Erickson was also a big part of the project’s start. He authored legislation that actually created Rural Water.Others on the boards at that time were Don Reker, Eldon Gradert, Jack Paulson, Henry Walraven, John Klay, Dennis Roning, Bernard Beyenhof, Arlyn Severtson, Ray Donkersloot, John Schoep and Gerald Haak.Winter wrote as part of a dedication June 21, 1980: "In January 1976, about 70 people came to a meeting at the Beaver Creek Community Hall to hear about rural water systems. This meeting eventually led to the creation of the Rock County Rural Water District.Today, as we celebrate the dedication of the newest rural water system in Minnesota, you can look with pride at what you have accomplished. Without you as the individual users, the Rock County Rural Water District would not be a reality.… As a water system user, I would like to thank all who helped make this system possible. As the chairman of the water commission, I especially would like to say ‘well done’ to the steering committee and water commission members for the time and effort you have so willingly invested. …"In 1980, the design of the system allowed for a delivery capacity of 528,000 gallons per day from the system’s four wells.Today, there are 11 wells that pumped their highest volume on July 2, 2002, with 1.122 million gallons of water.Denny Pick is another satisfied customer.He said, "I couldn’t have hogs and cattle with the water I had before."He was a later addition to the system and lives north of Magnolia."I’m happy with everything, from the billing and service to the water pressure. I couldn’t be without it," Pick said.