Hills-Beaver Creek sophomore guard Stacy Bush drives past Fulda’s Susan Grandgeorge during Tuesday’s South Section 3A championship game at Southwest State University in Marshall. Bush hit a pair of three-point shots in the first quarter to help the Patriots stun the Raiders 46-34.By John RittenhouseThe Hills Beaver Creek girls earned a right to play for a berth in the state tournament after winning the South Section 3A Girls Basketball championship Tuesday at Southwest State University in Marshall.The fourth-seeded Patriots matched up against No. 1 Fulda, a team H-BC lost to twice in the regular season, in the title tilt.Instead of playing scared, a young H-BC squad with one starting senior dictated the tempo of the game the entire night on the way to a 46-34 victory over the Raiders.The win was H-BC’s fifth straight, and it gave the Patriots their first postseason tournament title since 1991. H-BC, 17-10 overall, will play for its first berth in a state tournament when they take on Wabasso at 8 p.m. Friday in the Section 3A championship game at SSU.Fulda entered Tuesday’s game as the two-time defending South Section 3A champions, but the Raiders were never able to get anything going against the Patriots.H-BC never trailed during the course of the game, and the Patriots iced the contest with a crucial nine-point run in the fourth quarter.Fulda used a 5-2 surge to trim what was a four-point H-BC lead to one point (29-28) in the final minutes of the third quarter.The Patriots, however, scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter and led 38-28 when Erin Boeve sank a free throw with 4:16 left to play.Fulda scored the next four points to trail 38-32, but H-BC made eight free throws in the final three minutes of the game while building a 14-point lead (46-32) at one stage of the period before settling for a 12-point victory.The game was tied at two early in the first quarter when H-BC went on a 5-0 run capped by a three-point play from Boeve to open a 7-2 cushion.Stacy Bush hit a pair of three-point shots, the last one coming with 12 seconds left in the first period, to help the Patriots extend their cushion to seven points at 15-8.Both teams went cold in the second quarter, when the squads scored a combined seven points. The Raiders sported a 5-2 scoring edge in the quarter and trailed 17-13 at the intermission.The Raiders rallied to tie the game at 19 1:35 into the third quarter, and Fulda erased a 23-19 deficit to knot the score at 23 as the period progressed. A pair of field goals from Cassi Tilstra gave the Patriots a 27-23 lead with 3:23 remaining in the third period, but Fulda’s late 5-2 surge made it a 29-28 game at period’s end.Boeve recorded a double-double for the winners by scoring 16 points and nabbing 12 rebounds. She also blocked two shots.Tilstra added 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals to the winning cause.Box scoreRozeboom 0 0 2-2 2, Fransman 0 1 2-2 5, Bush 0 2 1-2 7, Tilstra 5 0 2-4 12, Boeve 4 0 8-11 16, Olson 0 0 0-0 0, Mulder 2 0 0-0 4.Team statisticsH-BC: 14 of 36 field goals (39 percent), 15 of 21 free throws (71 percent), 28 rebounds, six turnovers.Fulda: 15 of 49 field goals (31 percent), two of seven free throws (29 percent), 26 rebounds 11 turnovers.

Luverne freshman Marc Boelman (45) corrals a rebound during Saturday’s Section 3AA basketball game against Murray County Central in Luverne. The Cardinals outrebounded the Rebels 44-19 during a 69-37 victory. Other Cardinals pictured are Jake Hendricks (20) and Jerome Willers (33).By John RittenhouseThe Luverne boys’ basketball team posted its first postseason victory in seven years when the Cardinals entertained Murray County Central for a quarterfinal-round game of the South Section 3AA Tournament Saturday in Luverne.Luverne, the tournament’s fourth-seeded team, drained 55 percent of its field goals and dominated the glass with a 44-19 rebounding advantage while coasting to a 69-37 win over the fifth-seeded Rebels.The win was Luverne’s first tournament victory since it beat Tracy-Milroy in the first round of the Section 3AA Tournament in March of 1997.The 11-14 Cardinals will face a tough test at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Redwood Falls, where they take on No. 1 seed Redwood Valley. RWV beat the Cardinals twice in Southwest Conference play this season.Luverne will need to play like it did in the second half against MCC in order to compete with Redwood Valley in the semifinals tonight.The Cardinals turned what was a competitive game into a rout by outscoring the Rebels 40-15 in the second and third quarters.Luverne led by seven points (29-22) at the intermission and extended the difference to eight points twice in the early stages of the third quarter. The Cardinals then put together a 15-8 run that ended with a field goal by Brandon Deragisch with 19 seconds left in the period to open a 15-point lead (47-32).The difference remained at 15 points (49-34) heading into the fourth quarter when the Cardinals iced the win by outscoring MCC 20-3.Luverne opened the quarter by scoring the first 11 points and led 60-34 when Dusty Antoine drained a free throw with 2:48 left to play. Luverne’s reserves outscored the Rebels 9-3 the rest of the way to make it a 32-point difference at game’s end.The game was very competitive in the first half.Luverne took a 6-0 lead in the first 40 seconds behind three-point shots made by John Tofteland and Deragisch.The Rebels trimmed the difference to one point at two different times before the quarter ended with LHS sporting a 13-11 edge.Luverne led by six points (17-11) when Jared Pick converted a field goal at the 5:44 mark of the second period, but the Rebels countered with an 11-5 spurt to knot the score at 22 with 2:05 left in the stanza.Deragisch hit a three-point shot and Andy Stegemann scored four points in the final 53 seconds of the first half during a 7-0 run that gave the Cards a 29-22 halftime advantage.Deragisch, who pulled down eight rebounds in the contest, poured in 20 points to lead the Cardinals in scoring. Scott Boelman pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Nick Heronimus led LHS with four assists and three steals. Pick added 10 points to the winning cause.Box scorePick 4 0 2-4 10, Tofteland 0 1 0-0 3, Graphenteen 1 0 0-0 2, Herman 1 0 1-2 3, Deragisch 4 3 3-3 20, Hendricks 0 0 3-4 3, Antoine 1 0 1-2 3, Stegemann 2 0 4-4 8, Willers 0 0 0-0 0, S.Boelman 3 0 1-4 7, M.Boelman 0 0 0-0 0, Heronimus 1 0 2-2 4, Lange 1 0 0-2 4, DeBoer 1 0 0-0 2, Ward 1 0 0-0 2.Team statisticsLuverne: 24 of 44 field goals (55 percent), 17 of 27 free throws (63 percent), 44 rebounds, 11 turnovers.MCC: 15 of 55 field goals (27 percent), five of 17 free throws (29 percent), 19 rebounds, 12 turnovers.

Members of the Adrian High School wrestling team gather around the trophy it earned by placing second at the Minnesota State Class AA Team Wrestling Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul over the weekend. Team members include (front, left to right) Andrea Henning, Katie Bertrand, Jenni McCann, Dawn Bullerman, Jodi Bullerman, (row two) Jordan Reker, Dillon Minor, Tony Thier, Joey Bullerman, Pete Jensen, Michal Barrie, Dusty Bullerman, Brandon Croat, coach Randy Schettler, (row three) coach Pat Dorn, Nate Engelkes, Brandon Bullerman, Tony Sauer, Trent Bullerman, Tyler Wolf, Levi Bullerman, Tyler Wolf, coach Gregg Nelson, (back row) coach Bruce Loosbrock, Cody Lutmer, Josh Winselman, Tom Slater and Cody Reverts.By John RittenhouseAdrian’s sixth appearance at the Minnesota State Wrestling Championships as a team turned into its most successful performance at the state level last weekend in St. Paul.The Dragon boys won their first two matches before falling to a mighty St. Michael-Albertville team in the Class AA Championship match, leaving AHS with state runner-up status.Adrian teams from 1981 and 1985 placed third in Class A competition, but those efforts were passed by the 2003-04 Dragons.Adrian met three state-ranked teams and defeated two of them at the Xcel Energy Center.The Dragons, who were ranked fourth in Class AA entering the event, defeated No. 3 Milaca-Faith Christian 30-27 in Thursday’s quarterfinals before besting No. 5 Stewartville 30-24 in the semifinals Friday. SM-A, the state’s top-ranked team, defended its status by upending the Dragons 32-22 in Saturday’s championship match.Adrian ends the season with a 36-6 record.SM-A 32, Adrian 22The No. 1-ranked Knights raced to an early lead and never looked back while posting a 10-point win over the Dragons in Saturday’s championship match.SM-A won the first three matches and six of the first eight to build a commanding 26-7 lead that it would never relinquish.The Knights led 13-0 when Andy Hackenmueller topped Tony Thier 9-5 at 103, Mike Thorn handed Joey Bullerman a 15-4 major decision setback at 112 and Brandon Dick pinned Brandon Croat in 17 seconds at 119.Adrian’s Michal Barrie ended SM-A’s three-match winning streak by topping Joe Grygelko 7-4 at 125, but Knight Chat Little countered with an 11-2 major decision over Pete Jensen at 130 to make it a 17-3 match.After Adrian’s Brandon Bullerman secured a 12-2 major decision against Steve Hegland at 140, SM-A received a 3-2 win from Mickey Kirk (over Dusty Bullerman) and a pin from Jake Grygelko (3:11 over Nate Engelkes) at 140 and 145 to open a 21-point lead at 26-7.Dragon Tony Sauer nipped Josh Becker 3-2 at 152, but the Knights iced the match when Chas Betts topped Cody Reverts 12-9 at 160 and Luke Vetsch bested Trent Bullerman 5-2 at 171 to make it a 32-10 difference.Adrian won the next three matches with Levi Bullerman upending John Grygelko 6-2 at 189, Cody Lutmer pinning Mark Kasper in 2:31 at 215 and Josh Winselman nipping Caleb McEachern 2-1 at heavyweight to make it a 10-point difference in the end.Match wrap-up103 (S) Hackenmueller dec. Thier.112 (S) Thorn m.d. J.Bullerman.119 (S) Dick pins Croat.125 (A) Barrie dec. Grygelko.130 (S) Little m.d. Jensen.135 (A) B.Bullerman m.d. Hegland.140 (S) Kirk dec. D.Bullerman.145 (S) Grygelko pins Engelkes.152 (A) Sauer dec. Becker.160 (S) Betts dec. Reverts.171 (S) Vetsch dec, T.Bullerman.189 (A) L.Bullerman dec. Grygelko.215 (A) Lutmer pins Kasper.275 (A) Winselman dec. McEachern.Adrian 30,Stewartville 24The Dragons used a three-match winning streak at the end of the battle to best the Tigers by six points during Friday’s semifinals.Stewartville sported a 24-18 lead after Tony Gehling nipped Trent Bullerman 3-2 at 171, but Adrian scored 12 points in the final three matches to advance to the finals.Levi Bullerman knotted the score at 24 when he pinned Ryan Ament in 1:11 at 189, and the Dragons led 27-24 when Lutmer topped Greg Reeves 6-1 at 189.The Dragons still needed a win from heavyweight Winselman to clinch the victory and the AHS senior delivered by recording an escape point with 22 seconds remaining in third period of his match against Richard Waugh.Adrian received a pin from Joey Bullerman at 112 pounds (2:27 over Zach Struckman), but the Dragons faced a 9-6 deficit after the first four matches of the event. Stewartville’s Derek Stolarzk (5-1 over Thier at 103), Cody Roeder (4-0 over Croat at 119) and Nate Chihak (4-1 over Jensen at 125) gave the Tigers a three-point lead early in the match.Barrie gave the Dragons a 12-9 lead when he pinned Nate Feltis in 1:40 at 130, but Stewartville tied the match at 12 with Cole Roeder’s 5-2 decision win over Brandon Bullerman at 135.Adrian led 15-12 when Dusty Bullerman bested Matt Lawson 6-3 at 140, but the Tigers moved in front by six points (21-15) when Mike Schmitz pinned Engelkes in 3:35 at 145 and Cody Schmitz edged Sauer 6-4 at 152.Reverts posted a 6-3 decision win over Andrew Beyer at 160 to make it a 21-18 tally before Gehling won by decision over Trent Bullerman at 171.Match wrap-up103 (S) Stolarzk dec. Thier.112 (A) J.Bullermanpins Struckman.119 (S) Roeder dec. Croat.125 (S) Chihak dec. Jensen.130 (A) Barrie pins Feltis.135 (S) Roeder dec. B.Bullerman.140 (A) D.Bullerman dec. Lawson.145 (S) Schmit pins Engelkes.152 (S) Schmitz pins Sauer.160 (A) Reverts dec. Beyer.171 (S) Gehling dec. Bullerman.189 (A) L.Bullerman pins Ament.215 (A) Lutmer dec. Reeves.275 (A) Winselman dec. Waugh.Adrian 30, M-FC 27Another late-match rally by the Dragons ended with a three-point win over the Wolves during Thursday’s quarterfinal-round match.The Dragons trailed 27-18 when M-FC’s Andy Kotsmith posted a 3:55 pin over Cody Reverts at 160 and Mitch Vedders won a 9-3 decision over Trent Bullerman at 171, but AHS scored 12 team points in the final three matches to steal the victory.Levi Bullerman ignited the rally by pinning Steven Jacobson in 1:53 at 189 before Lutmer tied the score at 27 with a 7-0 win over Andy Peterson at 215.Winselman came up big for the Dragons in the final match when he used an escape with seven seconds left in the second overtime period to edge Chris Peterson 2-1 at heavyweight.The teams exchanged wins to start the match. M-FC received a decision win from David Jacobson (10-6 over Dillon Miner at 103) and a major decision victory from Josh DeHart (13-3 over Croat at 119). Adrian countered with a pin from Joey Bullerman (2:49 over Chuck LeMee at 112) and a major decision win from Barrie (13-3 over Cody Kragt) at 125 to take a 10-6 advantage.The Wolves answered the challenge by winning the next three matches to open an 18-10 advantage. John Fradette beat Jensen by technical fall at 130, Steven Vedders beat Brandon Bullerman 13-10 at 135 and Clay Hoeck edged Dusty Bullerman 6-4 at 140 during M-FC’s surge.The Dragons bounced back to tie the match at 18 when Engelkes topped Ben Johnson 4-2 at 145 and Sauer secured a technical fall win over Axel Totzke at 152.Match wrap-up103 (M) Jacobson dec. Miner.112 (A) J.Bullerman pins LaMee.119 (M) DeHart m.d. Croat.125 (A) Barrie m.d. Kragt.130 (M) Fradette t.f. Jensen.135 (M) Vedders dec. B.Bullerman.140 (M) Hoeck dec. D.Bullerman.145 (A) Engelkes dec. Johnson.152 (A) Sauer t.f. Totzke.160 (M) Kotsmith pins Reverts.171 (M) Vedders dec. T.Bullerman.189 (A) L.Bullerman pins Jacobson.215 (A) Lutmer dec, Peterson.275 (A) Winselman dec. Peterson.

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFAvis Hazelton DECEDENTNotice is given that an application for informal probate of the Decedent’s will dated May 8, 2001, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), has been filed with the Registrar. The application has been granted. Notice is also given that the Registrar has informally appointed Judy Olson whose address is: 11991 Townline Road, Hibbing, Minnesota 55746-8533 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative. Unless objections are filed with the Court (pursuant to Minn. Stat. 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders, the personal representative has full power to administer the Estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate. Any objections to the probate of the will or appointment of the Personal Representative must be filed with this Court and will be heard by the Court after the filing of an appropriate petition and proper notice of hearing. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ Timothy K. Connell 3/4/04Timothy K. Connell Registrar Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 3/4/04Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeTerry VajgrtSkewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt, L.L.P.120 N. McKenzieP.O. Box 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538Telephone 507 283-9111Attorney License #205035(3-11, 3-18)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FARMERS UNION CO-OPERATIVE OIL COMPANY OF LUVERNE, MN — LUVERNE AND LISMORE, MNTO The Stockholders of Farmers Union Co-operative Oil Company of Luverne and Lismore, Mn.You are herby notified that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Farmers Union Co-operative Oil Company of Luverne, Minnesota, PO Box-1018, Luverne MN will be held at BLUE MOUND BANQUET & MEETING CENTER, 401 W. Hatting St. in Luverne on MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2004 AT 7:30 PM for the purpose of transacting any business that may properly come before the meeting. Election of Directors will be held and the following terms expire: Kurt Wenzel — Luverne area Doug Brake — Lismore area Jim Henning — Lismore area The following are presented for your consideration as candidates for the Directors terms: Kurt Wenzel — Luverne area Doug Brake — Lismore area Jim Henning — Lismore areaNominations will also be accepted from the floor. The evening meal will be served from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM and Dividend checks will be distributed.Dated: 3-1-04 Lloyd Hemme, Secretary(3-11, 3-18)

NOTICE OF MORTGAGEFORECLOSURE SALENOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in the conditions of that certain mortgage, dated the 15th day of April, 1999, executed by Sharon M. McClure, a single person, as mortgagor, to The First National Bank and Trust, as mortgagee, filed for record in the office of the County Recorder in and for the County of Rock, and State of Minnesota, on the 19th day of April, 1999, at 10:05 o’clock a.m., and recorded as Document No. 145420; and that thereafter the said mortgagee duly assigned the same to First National Bank of Luverne on the 20th day of November, 2000, and that said assignment was duly filed for record in the office of the County Recorder in and for the County of Rock, and State of Minnesota on the 24th day of July, 2001, at 10:40 a.m. and recorded as Document No. 150518; and that thereafter the said mortgagee duly assigned the same to Minnwest Bank Luverne on the 6th day of February, 2004, and that said assignment was duly filed for record in the office of the County Recorder in and for the County of Rock, and State of Minnesota on the 19th day of February, 2004, at 1:00 p.m. and recorded as Document No. 158135;That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; that there has been compliance with all notice provisions and conditions precedent as required by law; and that the mortgagee or assignee has elected to declare the entire sum secured by the note and mortgage to be immediately due and payable as provided in the note and mortgage; That the original principal amount secured by said mortgage was Twenty-seven Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty and no/100 ($27,960.00) DOLLARS; That there is due and claimed to be due upon said mortgage, including interest to date hereof, the sum of Twenty-eight Thousand Sixty-seven and 36/100 ($28,067.36) DOLLARS, and the amount of tax paid by the mortgagee or his assignee on the lands hereinafter described in the sum of no/100 DOLLARS; And that pursuant to the power of sale therein contained, said mortgage will be foreclosed and the tract of land lying and being in the County of Rock, State of Minnesota, described as follows, to-wit: Lot 8, Block 4, in Blue Mound First Additional to the City of Luverne, Minnesota; and the West ten (10) feet of Lot 1, Block 2, in Blue Mound Second Addition to the City of Luverne, Minnesota; will be sold by the Sheriff of said county at public auction on the 6th day of May, 2004, at 11:00 o’clock a.m. at the west side steps to the Law Enforcement Center in the City of Luverne in said county and state, to pay the debt then secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements allowed by law, subject to redemption by the mortgagor, her personal representative or assigns within six (6) months from date of sale. Dated this 2nd day of March, 2004.Minnwest Bank Luverne, Mortgagee/s/ Jeff C. BraegelmannGISLASON & HUNTER LLPAttorneys for Mortgagee2700 South BroadwayP. O. Box 458New Ulm, MN 56073-0458Phone: 507-354-3111(3-11, 3-18, 3-25, 4-1, 4-8, 4-15)

10 years ago (1994)"The Luverne Fire Department and Rescue Team swiftly squelched a potentially-deadly ammonia leak Monday afternoon in a Main Street apartment building.The team was called to 403 E. Main Street, Luverne, when workers salvaging iron from the basement of the building cut into an ammonia tank. The deadly gas sent the two workers fleeing.A woman and a two-month-old baby were in the building at the time, but they were evacuated safely."25 years ago (1979)"Someday, perhaps at a birthday party, Jessica Lynn Feikema will have an interesting story to tell. Jessica was born at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 4, in the midst of the worst winter storm of the year.Mr. and Mrs. Ron Feikema needed the help of parents and neighbors to get to the Luverne Community Hospital Saturday night."50 years ago (1954)"Construction of the new Grace Lutheran Church will start March 1, 1995, it was decided at a congregational business meeting held Tuesday evening.The new structure will be built on the property acquired by the congregation last year, located on North Kniss Avenue between Bishop and Crawford streets."75 years ago (1929)"If anyone doubts that spring really has arrived, all that is necessary for indisputable confirmation is to watch the small boys and the ‘big kids’ as they indulge in the annual spring pastime of playing marbles. They have been doing it since Saturday just about as regularly as they could find a plot of ground that was not covered with snow or water."100 years ago (1904)"Ordinarily now one expects times to be as good in a presidential year as in other years. The devoted adherents of both parties may be confident that their side will win, but the mugwump whose dealings are to be affected by low tariff, high tariff or no tariff is likely to wait and see how the cat is going to jump. There are not many of this kind of men, but heretofore there have been enough to affect business. The present year promises to be an exception to the rule. Prosperous conditions have prevailed without interruption for seven years. … Prosperity is so firmly established that not even politics can shake it. And then, most people feel certain that Roosevelt will be re-elected."

Newspapers of Rock CountyThe following was printed in the Rose History of 1911:"At the date of the publication of this volume, six weekly newspapers are published in Rock County, namely: Rock County Herald at Luverne by the estate of the late H.J. Miller, A.O. Moreaux, editor and manager; Luverne Journal by R.H. Ross, managing editor; Magnolia Advance by I.M. Cady, Beaver Creek Banner by H.H. Peters, Hills Crescent by A.A. Hanson, and Hardwick Star by W.R. Minard. Only these six journals survive out of a total of 19 that have been founded since the newspaper history of Rock County began. Of the 19, seven were county seat journals, the Herald, Gazette, Times, Democrat, News, Journal and Western Literary Journal; five were published at Beaver Creek, the Graphic, Bee, News-Letter, Magnet and Banner; one, the Crescent, at Hills, here, the Citizen, Advance and Initiator, at Magnolia; the News and Star at Hardwick; and the Pioneer at Kenneth. The period of life of these papers varied from a few weeks to 38 years. In pioneer communities of the west the establishment of the first paper was always an item of great importance. A new settlement required a champion, and not until the settlement boasted a news journal was its permanency assured. After the founding of the pioneer journal it became "our paper" to all the residents — an institution in which to take pride — and everybody assumed the duty of seeing that it was properly supported. Sentiment entered largely into the new enterprise, and it has seldom occurred that the pioneer paper did not have a long life of usefulness. Notable examples locally are the Rock County Herald, Windom Reporter, Jackson Republic, Worthington Advance and Pipestone County Star. The little settlement at Luverne was no exception to the general rule, and I find that in the spring of 1872, when the town boasted little except a determination to become greater, the people were clamoring for, and offering a bonus for a newspaper. A correspondent signing himself ‘Settler’ wrote the following, which appeared in the Jackson Republic of May 29, 1872. ‘The citizens are very anxious to have a county paper established here and there is no doubt that it would receive good support. There is a bonus offered of about $400. One gentleman offers $150 cash and will subscribe for 50 copies; many others will take from three to 10; therefore come along, Mr. Editor, and we will cordially welcome you, one and all.’ "More will follow in my next column.Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

I reached a low point in my life when Martha Stewart was found guilty of her alleged crimes. If the truth were to be known, Martha has inspired me to be a better person. Some people make fun of her because she’s so meticulous and particular. She has to use the best ingredients in cooking. She has to have the right tools. Everything must be in its place. Each project deserves her greatest effort. Frankly, I think that’s admirable. Fast, easy, and cheap may appeal to some people, but I’m not one of them. There is nothing wrong in striving to be the best you can be. If Martha has to go to prison, I will be inconsolable. Prison should be saved for someone like Dennis Kozlowski who allegedly pirated $600 million from the Tyco Corporation. If Martha’s crimes qualify her for a prison sentence, Kozlowski should face the firing squad. (I think I sense some hostility surfacing.) Back to Martha. Over the years the library has acquired a number of her cookbooks and decorating books. We also subscribe to Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids. If you use the library’s resources, you won’t need to buy them yourself. Instead you can spend your money on "the best ingredients" and "the right tools" to make a better home for you and your family. It’s a good thing. If you want to read more about Dennis Kozlowski and other (alleged) corporate pirates, you might want to try, "Pigs at the Trough." Political commentator Arianna Huffington yanks back the curtain on the unholy alliance of CEOs, politicians, lobbyists, and Wall Street bankers who have shown a brutal disregard for those in the office cubicles and on the factory floors. Corporate crooks have bilked the public out of trillions of dollars, magically making pensions disappear and walking away with astronomical payouts and absurdly lavish perks-for-life. Tyco’s Dennis Kozlowski, and the Three Horsemen of the Enron Apocalypse, Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, and Andrew Fastow, are just a few examples of a trend in corporate leadership, the rise of a callous and avaricious mind that is contrary to the values of the average American citizen. "Pigs at the Trough" presents the whole ugly picture of what’s really going on, a blistering portrait of exactly how and why the worst and the greediest are running American business and government into the ground. If you’d prefer "not to think about it" try the new book by James Patterson, "3RD DEGREE." Detective Lindsay Boxer and Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt are enjoying a quiet afternoon in San Francisco when a townhouse across the street explodes in flames. A sinister note signed "August Spies" is found at the scene of the disaster, and the body of an infant who was asleep in the house at the time of the explosion cannot be found. Soon a wave of violent incidents, all with links to political terrorism and involving "August Spies," sweeps through the city. An upcoming economic summit of the world's most powerful nations will surely be a target. And it's up to the Women's Murder Club to get to the bottom of the violence before it's too late. Delivering the breakneck pace and never-saw-it-coming plot, "3RD DEGREE" is another searing and unforgettable thriller from the nation's No. 1 best selling suspense writer.