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H-BC high school students make up two mock trial teams

By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek Mock Trial coach Glenda Kuehl conducted tryouts for the H-BC mock trial teams this year and said never before have so many H-BC students signed up to participate in the program.This year H-BC was able to form three full mock trial teams. Although only two teams are allowed to compete in the regional competitions, the third team makes preparing for competition easier and gives Coach Kuehl plenty of alternates.Superintendent David Deragisch said he’s pleased to have so many students interested in Mock Trial. "We are so fortunate that our students want to take part in Mock Trial," he said. "It really helps them prepare for their future and makes our program better."Understanding lawThe Minnesota High School Mock Trial Program helps students gain a practical understanding of the way the American legal system functions. Students exercise their critical thinking and teamwork skills by analyzing a fictional case, reasoning one side, making an oral presentation for their side and engaging in extemporaneous argument.Teams with 8-14 members compete against other teams in their region at two local trials held in local courthouses beginning in February. The top regional teams then participate in playoff rounds. The 12 regional winners advance to a state competition held in March.During the trials, local judges and attorneys evaluate students’ performances. The students are judged on their analysis and presentation skills, not on whether they win the legal case.The Minnesota State Bar Association gives teams a new case each year along with a list of resources which can be used to research the case details. The MSBA also helps link schools with legal professionals that are interested in lending their time and expertise. This year H-BC is working with Assistant State’s Attorney Randy Sample from the Sioux Fall area.He drives to Hills on Wednesday mornings to help the students prepare their case for the upcoming competitions.

Equipment changes at New Vision lead to increased productivity

By Lexi MooreA 110-car train was added to the New Vision Co-op terminal north of Hills shortly after the company purchased the elevator last September.The old car train could accommodate only 54 cars. The addition added 7,500 feet of track.New Vision saw a need for additional grain storage space and decided to build a 500,000-bushel concrete silo at the Hills terminal.A second rail out was also added to give New Vision the ability to load two train cars at the same time. Construction over the summer was finished prior to the start of fall harvest.The additional grain being brought in prompted New Vision to purchase a new grain dryer in October. New Vision Western Area Supervision Mick Thon said, "Business was good this fall. We were never behind."

Leuning probate

PROBATE COURTDISTRICT COURT-COUNTY COURTPROBATE DIVISIONORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate of Milton H. Leuning, DeceasedTO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 24th day of January, 2005, at 9:00 O’clock A.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated March 6, 1996, and for the appointment of Barbara E. Larson, whose address is 48026 252nd Street, Garretson, South Dakota 57030, as personal representative of the estate of the above named decedent in supervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, said personal representatives will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the estate. Upon completion of the administration, the representative shall file a final account for the allowance and shall distribute the estate to the persons thereto entitled as ordered by the Court, and close the estate.Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representatives or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.Dated: December 22, 2004 /s/ Timothy K. ConnellTimothy K. ConnellDistrict Court Judge/s/ Douglas E. Eisma /s/ Sandra L. VrtacnikDouglas E. Eisma Sandra L. VrtacnikAttorney for Petitioner Court AdministratorEisma and Eisma30 East Main, Box 625Luverne, MN 56156(507) 283-4828I.D. #158343(12-30, 1-6)

Peeking in the past

10 years ago (1994)"The Hills-Beaver Creek cheer team is competing at the National Cheerleading Association’s championships in Dallas, Texas, this week. Members of the squad are Roxi Rierson, Dawn Fick, Kelly Benson, Heather Van Wyhe, Teresa Bly, Alisha Roozenboom, Alicia Sandager, Jennifer Chesley, Laressa Sandstede, Samantha Vahey and Jean Fuerstenberg. They are coached by Wendy Van Batavia and Bev Wassenaar." 25 years ago (1979)"Dear Santa Claus,I want to have a bb gun and a train, race track, football II and a remote control car. Take care of Mrs. Claus. And take care of Rudolph and the eight other reindeers and take really good care of your sleigh and bring my brother a tractor. Love, Seth Crawford"50 years ago (1954)"George Van Goor suffered painful injuries to his arm and back last Friday while helping work on a building on the Elmer Anderson farm. A scaffold broke, dumping George down about ten feet, where he landed on a 6x6 timber. Injuries consisted of a fractured wrist, dislocated elbow, and several bad bruises on his back." 75 years ago (1929)"The Old Home Town looks like a million dollars these nights — thanks to Messers. Nuffer and Lehmberg, who started the ball rolling.Are we going to stand back of them and help pay for the beautiful streamers that adorn Main Street?"100 years ago (1904)"The post office at Beaver Creek was entered and robbed last Friday night and $133 worth of stamps were taken. The office is located in the hardware store of H. Ohs & Son, who also lost several fine razors, a quantity of pearl-handled knives and numerous other articles. The robbers also broke into the depot, where they secured several dollars in small change from the money drawer. "Suspicion is attached to the Owens Colored Opera Troupe, which held down the boards at Beaver Creek Friday night. This company was also in Hills a few weeks ago, and after their departure several small articles were found missing from the opera house. But then it is doubtful if these barnstormers would undertake so big a job. Indications point to someone who is more familiar with the lay of the land."

Hills local news

Here we are in the middle of the holiday season and would you believe the weatherman has been very good to us. We have had some very cool temperatures and with a strong wind blowing, making it very uncomfortable to stay out-of-doors for any length of time. The roads have remained in very good driving condition making it possible for everyone to be with their friends and family for Christmas. I think we have been one of the very few places in the United States where the weather has been goodHere’s hoping we can remain on the good side of the weatherman at least until our New Year has been properly welcomed.How many of you remember Otto and Mamie Paulsen and their family? Last Saturday evening I received a telephone call from Mary Clair (Moser) Paulsen whose name now is Mary Klienjon who lives in Arizona for the winters. I haven’t heard from her for many years. Consequently we had about an hour visit to catch up on many and various things. She also wanted to tell me she always reads my column on the Internet. Christmas Day dinner guests in the Melvin Paulsen home were Mark Paulsen and family from Marshall, Glen Paulsen and family from Sioux Falls and Laura Paulsen from Hills. Wednesday evening, Dec. 29, an all-church Christmas party for Steen Reformed Church was at the Luverne Pizza Ranch. There was a gift exchange for adults only. Bernice and Orrin Aukes spent Christmas at the home of their daughter Mary and husband Steve Willers in Albert Lea. Darrell Bosch, Blacksburg, Va., spent Christmas at the home of his parents, Bill and Bertha Bosch in Steen. Guests in the Jo Aykens home Christmas Day were Susan Veldkamp and Paul and Carole Aykens, Orange City, Iowa. Christmas Day guests in the Henrietta Huenink home were her children and their families. Delwyn Huenink, who makes his home in Worthington, underwent knee surgery a few weeks ago but has infection in his knee now. We wish him a speedy recovery. Winnie Scholten spent Christmas at the home of Harm and Lola Loverink in Albert Lee. Jane Bonnema was admitted to Luverne Community Hospital on Tuesday. We wish her a speedy recovery. Word has been received here of a death in Yvonne Rozeboom’s family. Howard Hockel, her brother-in-law, died Friday, Dec. 17. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their family.Mildred Paulsen left on Thursday for Ogden, Iowa, where she spent Christmas in the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Carlotte Paulsen and their family. She returned home on Monday. Christmas vacation is flying by rapidly. It will soon be time to think about going back to school. School resumes on Monday, Jan. 3, 2005. It won’t be long now!However, it isn’t only the children that have to go back to their old routine, but all of us have changes to make if nothing more than the change when we write the new year down. I got to thinking about all the changes and when I saw this article by Wilma Dye, I thought it might be fun for all of us to read."As the month of January begins a new year, it begins with a sense of hope, as resolutions are made for the future, plans for improving ourselves, our lives and our world. But as we work toward making changes to reach those goals of personal self-improvement, a happier family, new friendships and a better community and world, let us not forget to include a very important part of the future, our past!When looking toward a better new year, not only do we want to put the mistakes and disappointments of the past year behind us, but remember, as we move forward, to also include our successes of the past year, as well as the joys we shared with family and friends, the accomplishments we made, both personally and professionally, and the experiences, both good and bad, that helped us grow and learn to become better people.January, a new beginning, is a month for celebrating the past as well as the future."Happy New Year!

Clinton chatter

Here we are in the middle of the holiday season and would you believe the weatherman has been very good to us. We have had some very cool temperatures and with a strong wind blowing, making it very uncomfortable to stay out-of-doors for any length of time. The roads have remained in very good driving condition making it possible for everyone to be with their friends and family for Christmas. I think we have been one of the very few places in the United States where the weather has been goodHere’s hoping we can remain on the good side of the weatherman at least until our New Year has been properly welcomed.How many of you remember Otto and Mamie Paulsen and their family? Last Saturday evening I received a telephone call from Mary Clair (Moser) Paulsen whose name now is Mary Klienjon who lives in Arizona for the winters. I haven’t heard from her for many years. Consequently we had about an hour visit to catch up on many and various things. She also wanted to tell me she always reads my column on the Internet. Christmas Day dinner guests in the Melvin Paulsen home were Mark Paulsen and family from Marshall, Glen Paulsen and family from Sioux Falls and Laura Paulsen from Hills. Wednesday evening, Dec. 29, an all-church Christmas party for Steen Reformed Church was at the Luverne Pizza Ranch. There was a gift exchange for adults only. Bernice and Orrin Aukes spent Christmas at the home of their daughter Mary and husband Steve Willers in Albert Lea. Darrell Bosch, Blacksburg, Va., spent Christmas at the home of his parents, Bill and Bertha Bosch in Steen. Guests in the Jo Aykens home Christmas Day were Susan Veldkamp and Paul and Carole Aykens, Orange City, Iowa. Christmas Day guests in the Henrietta Huenink home were her children and their families. Delwyn Huenink, who makes his home in Worthington, underwent knee surgery a few weeks ago but has infection in his knee now. We wish him a speedy recovery. Winnie Scholten spent Christmas at the home of Harm and Lola Loverink in Albert Lee. Jane Bonnema was admitted to Luverne Community Hospital on Tuesday. We wish her a speedy recovery. Word has been received here of a death in Yvonne Rozeboom’s family. Howard Hockel, her brother-in-law, died Friday, Dec. 17. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their family.Mildred Paulsen left on Thursday for Ogden, Iowa, where she spent Christmas in the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Carlotte Paulsen and their family. She returned home on Monday. Christmas vacation is flying by rapidly. It will soon be time to think about going back to school. School resumes on Monday, Jan. 3, 2005. It won’t be long now!However, it isn’t only the children that have to go back to their old routine, but all of us have changes to make if nothing more than the change when we write the new year down. I got to thinking about all the changes and when I saw this article by Wilma Dye, I thought it might be fun for all of us to read."As the month of January begins a new year, it begins with a sense of hope, as resolutions are made for the future, plans for improving ourselves, our lives and our world. But as we work toward making changes to reach those goals of personal self-improvement, a happier family, new friendships and a better community and world, let us not forget to include a very important part of the future, our past!When looking toward a better new year, not only do we want to put the mistakes and disappointments of the past year behind us, but remember, as we move forward, to also include our successes of the past year, as well as the joys we shared with family and friends, the accomplishments we made, both personally and professionally, and the experiences, both good and bad, that helped us grow and learn to become better people.January, a new beginning, is a month for celebrating the past as well as the future."Happy New Year!

Letters from the farm

Cypriot housewives came within a soup can from resembling their American counterparts last month. Just in case you’re wondering, that can would have been filled with cream of mushroom soup. Huge swarms of desert locusts reached Cyprus and other eastern Mediterranean countries in early November after the worst infestation recorded in Africa in recent history. The locusts became such a serious problem that the United Nations set up a special Web site with locust-based recipes from around the world. Essentially, the attitude of the site, which pleaded, "Send us your recipes!" was, "If you can’t beat them, eat them." As it turns out, locusts are commonly stir-fried, boiled or roasted. One Cambodian recipe suggested, "Take several dozen locust adults, preferably females, slit the abdomen lengthwise and stuff a peanut inside. Then lightly cook the locusts in a wok, adding a little oil and salt to taste." The obvious question here is not how much oil or salt is enough, but rather how to determine which locusts are female. Without identifying skirts or makeup, aren’t all locusts pretty much the same? Quite surprisingly, none of the recipes mentioned cream of mushroom soup as a perfect taste cover-up. This might be an ideal time for Cypriot homemakers to be introduced to the marvelous soup which, like glue, has been holding American hot dishes together for several generations. Whether the cream of mushroom soups are labeled as salt-free, low-fat, or chunky variety, they all look the same. When you open a can, there’s a sudden musky smell in the air and the grayish-tan condensed soup with a few unidentifiable chunks floating on the top is ready to perform a miracle or two. It’s true. Cream of mushroom soup is a miracle maker. Smothered with cream of mushroom soup and simmered long enough, any undesirable species of animal can work itself at least two links up the food chain. Lawn snails can taste like frogs, snakes can taste like chicken and venison can taste like beef. It’s why most homemakers don’t complain when their family members tramp through forests, swamps and prairies during hunting season, in quest of food for the family fires. Regardless of what game they bring back — a deer, a rabbit, a pheasant or even a raccoon that looked like a deer from a distance –— we trust in the true taste-masking magic of cream of mushroom soup. Of course, as with any wonderful idea, cream of mushroom soup is not without its critics. They will be quick to tell us that the soup is tasteless, boring, unimaginative or even unhealthy. If you’re in doubt, consider these two facts about those bad-mouthing critics. For one thing, any person who would speak derogatorily about something as pure and sweet as cream of mushroom soup will speak the same way about other taste sensations, such as hydrogenated fats or deep-fried doughnuts, dripping with buttery frosting. Secondly, you can be sure those critics have never been handed an abundance of game meats during hunting season. They have never been asked, "Honey, can you make this taste like chicken?"

Fire takes Hardwick barn, granary

By Lori EhdeThree fire departments, 10 trucks and nearly 50 fire and rescue personnel responded to a barn and granary fire Monday night in northern Rock County.Craig and Christine Lovett returned home from the Luverne Middle School-High School concert around 8:30 p.m. Monday to find their barn completely engulfed in flames.By the time fire crews arrived, the granary was also on fire.According to Dan Kindt, Hardwick fire chief, gusty winds fanned the flames, making it difficult to control the blaze."The wind didn’t help," he said. "That really fueled it."Fire departments from Hardwick, Jasper and Luverne worked on the blaze.Fire crews remained on the scene four miles north of Hardwick until about 1 a.m., Kindt said, and they went back this morning to check burning embers. "It’s still burning today," he said Tuesday afternoon. "The wind was from the right direction (blowing away from the house), so that helped."Kindt said both buildings were full of hay, and the barn housed some goats, which he speculated were destroyed in the fire.A heat lamp in the barn is the suspected cause of the fire. "When it’s all in the pile like that, it’s hard to say," Kindt said. "But we’re guessing it was electrical."

Two die in accident on I-90 Monday

By Lori EhdeTwo are dead and five others are injured following a single-vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 90 Monday.According to the Minnesota State Patrol, seven Worthington residents were traveling westbound on I-90 in a 1996 Chevy Blazer when it left the road at about 12:30 p.m. three miles east of Adrian. Killed in the accident were 43-year-old Amado Garcia Santizo and his wife, Alma Araiza Galineo, 40. He was wearing a seatbelt, and it’s unknown whether she was wearing hers. Both were dead at the scene.Their 21-month-old daughter, Susan Garcia Mazariegos, was taken to Sioux Valley with non-life-threatening injuries.The driver, 21-year-old Felipe Ramos Toledo, was taken to Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, with head injuries. He had been wearing a seatbelt.His wife, 20-year-old Marilyn Ortiz Rodriguez, was taken to Sioux Valley Hospital with a broken leg. It’s unknown whether she was wearing a seatbelt.Passenger Yarisvett Mendez Borrero, 20, also had a broken leg and was taken to Sioux Valley Hospital. It’s also unknown whether she was wearing a seatbelt.Her daughter, Yasmin Adali Lopez Mendez, unknown age, was taken to Sioux Valley with non-life-threatening injuries.Roads were frost-covered that morning, but State Patrol information didn’t indicate whether those conditions contributed to the accident.

'Hometown Greetings' welcomes newcomers

By Sara QuamNewcomers to the city of Luverne will have a warm welcome if the originators of a new program have their way.Beth Bartels and Becky Feikema approached the Economic Development Director with the idea of a new sort of "welcome wagon" for Luverne.They plan to call it Hometown Greetings and will start it in January.The idea came from a friend of the two women who works with a similar program in Tea, S.D.Bartels looked back at her moving experience to town and thought it was something she would have appreciated.Bartels said the welcome packet is a wonderful way for businesses to reach new customers. She said, "There are over 300 businesses in Luverne, and I almost can’t believe it. People don’t know the kinds of services or businesses that are right here."Feikema actually lives outside the city but said she is happy to be a part of making Luverne a more welcoming place."I’ve lived here for four years and I’m still learning new things about Luverne," Feikema said.The city of Luverne is sponsoring the program with EDA director Jill Wolf coordinating much of it. The city will share lists of newcomers through new utility hookups. Before now, people new to town had to pick up their own packet at the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce. Many people didn’t even know there was a packet or that they had to pick one up.Also, some people, even non-Luverne residents, would repeatedly pick up the packets to take advantage of coupons or discounts inside.Hometown Greetings is a welcome service to Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Director Dave Smith, who didn’t have the time to personally deliver welcome packets to new residents."We think it’s a good thing to personally call on newcomers and it’s one thing the Chamber has been lacking," Smith said.Businesses will receive letters from the Chamber and the city of Luverne about participation in the new program. As a side note to Hometown Greetings, the same people may start a newcomers club. It would meet quarterly and introduce new residents to each other and to certain highlights of the community.

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