Being 50 years old this month leads me to a review of "rebirth" of another kind. During the morning of this past Jan. 28, the South Dakota Transplant office called to say they had a kidney from a 44-year-old woman that appeared to be a good match for me. It was the seventh time during my 24 years with kidney disease that I have gotten this sudden, unexpected phone call all transplant hopefuls live for. And each of those seven reflects a unique aspect of the complex world of organ donation.The first call came late one July night in 1981 just moments after I had turned off "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. I had been on the Hennepin County Medical Center transplant list for only 30 days. I could not believe my good luck considering that most hopefuls were waiting up to four or more years for "the call". My friend JR and I raced through the night (and a few stop signs!) from Luverne to Minneapolis. Before long, the surgeon was saying it was a "go" and so I went. Unfortunately, I lost the transplant to unknown causes exactly one month after that rebirth. My second call from a transplant center came in 1987 after six years of dialysis and four years of living in Santa Barbara, Calif. It was during the time when transplant centers provided "beepers" so we would be in direct and constant contact with them. I had left the area that day without my beeper to help a friend move his business, in a town over the mountains and out of reach of a beeper signal. So when UCLA hospital called me that morning, I was nowhere to be found. My friends, who the transplant center called looking for me, were waiting for me when I returned home that afternoon and they rushed me to Los Angeles. This time, the results of a final blood test prevented the transplant.Dialysis continued until April 1992 when, upon leaving the Santa Barbara YMCA, I received a note at the check-in desk that my landlord wanted me to call her immediately. Her news? UCLA had another kidney! Lance Armstrong never pedaled with as much intensity as I found while riding my bike home from the YMCA that day! Another rush to Los Angeles, final blood tests and before long, that year's Easter Day dawned with me under the knife receiving my second kidney transplant. When that Gift of Life finally failed nine years later, I was back living in Luverne and forced onto dialysis once again. Within 18 months, I got "the call" two times. I turned down the first offer (donated kidney was not healthy enough) and with the second possibility went through the day-long waiting process. But that final match proved inappropriate. Number six came on Jan. 4 of this year. Unfortunately, (do you see a pattern where fate plays a role?) I was visiting friends in Pennsylvania. And with time always a factor, I was too far away to be a legitimate candidate. Three-and-a-half weeks later, my seventh call arrived and with it the immediate fantasy of the freedom to eat and drink unencumbered and no more trips to Sioux Falls dialysis. But there is always a flip side to the fantasy and once again the final blood tests indicated unacceptable results. In my home, the sound of a phone ringing is never mundane.

The following is quoted from a newsletter of Campus Crusade For Christ International dated January 2004:"In the wake of Saddam Hussein’s capture, the Iraqi people no longer fear his return to power … and are now more open to considering the claims of Christ. Because of Saddam’s brutality, many have never seen the Word of God or heard the Gospel message. The Bibles you help provide will finally give them that chance.These Arabic Bibles, as well as other evangelistic literature also printed in the country, will be distributed directly to the Iraqi people by Christians who speak their language. Printing in country will help the local economy especially the local Christians, and will also mean tremendous cost savings on shipping and distribution. In fact, each Bible will cost only $2."The newsletter was written by Ed Maggard, U.S. Ministries Director.Submitted by Bert Den HerderLuverne

NOTICE OF APPLICATIONSBYEXCHANGE STATE BANK OF HILLSHILLS, MINNESOTATO ACQUIRE THROUGH MERGER ELLSWORTH STATE BANK ELLSWORTH, MINNESOTATO ESTABLISH A DETACHED FACILITY IN ELLSWORTHState Application No. 887Notice is hereby given that Exchange State Bank of Hills has made applications to the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce and to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for consent to merge with Ellsworth State Bank and to establish a detached facility by merger at the charter location of the bank in Ellsworth at 219 South Broadway, Ellsworth, Nobles County, Minnesota 56129 (DF 887). Existing business locations of the merged banks will continue to be operated. The merged bank will operate under the name "Exchange State Bank". The applications were made pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 49.33 to 49.41 and 47.51 to 47.57 plus Section 18 (c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. The applications were accepted for filing by the Minnesota Department of Commerce on February 10, 2004. This notice is being published in the Nobles County Review, Adrian, Minnesota, on February 18, 2004, March 3, 2004, and March 24, 2004 and in the Hills Crescent Newspaper, Hills, Minnesota, on February 19, 2004, March 4, 2004 and March 25, 2004. Any person, bank, or other financial institution has a right to file written communication in favor of or against the applications described above. Written comments will become a part of the public record on the applications. Written comments should be addressed to: Kevin M. Murphy, Deputy Commissioner Ronald F. Bieker, Regional DirectorMinnesota Department of Commerce Federal Deposit Insurance CorporationDivision of Financial Examinations 2345 Grand Avenue85 7th Place East, Suite 500 Suite 1500St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Kansas City, Missouri 64108For processing with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, written comments must be received by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce within fifteen (15) calendar days after the publication date in Ellsworth, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 47.54. An administrative hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Minn. Stat., Chapter 14, may be ordered at the discretion of the Commissioner to hear testimony and to take evidence in favor of or against the applications. In addition, the nonconfidential sections of the applications are available for review at the Minnesota Department of Commerce in St. Paul. For an appointment for public review or for information on copies and related charges, please telephone (651) 297-4867 during normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For processing with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, written comments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation should be submitted before processing of the application has been completed. Processing will be completed no earlier than the 30th day following the first required publication. The period may be extended by the Regional Director for good cause. The nonconfidential portion of the application file is available at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for inspection within one day following the request for such file. It may be inspected in the Corporation’s Regional Office during regular business hours. Photocopies of information in the nonconfidential portion of the applications’ file will be made available upon request. A schedule of charges for such copies can be obtained from the Regional Office: (816) 234-8000.February 16, 2004 /s/ Rodney B. BonanderRodney B. Bonander, PresidentExchange State Bank of HillsState Highway 270 & County Road 6P.O. Box 487Hills, Minnesota 56138Rock CountyMinnesota Bank Charter 794FDIC Certificate No. 08212(2-19, 3-4, 3-25)

One Villager commented, "We used to have Valentine parties in school and now we are still having Valentine parties." At our singing session Deb made a delicious white cake with lots of heart sprinkles. Then we had a tea with Fran’s help, and had a wonderful time. Tables covered with bright red tablecloths, pretty and festive. Lots of guests, delicious desserts, trivia and readings. A real tea party. Bud allowed us to enjoy the balloons and flowers he bought his girlfriend, Jodi, until just the right time for him to deliver. Flowers were also delivered here for Deb from her husband, Gary. Grace from her husband and Erma from her family. Cupid was really at work.Mary Jo Susie brought red velvet cupcakes that were so perfectly rounded and tasted so good. She told the story that while she made them she could not place the heart candies because her caramel frosting would get too hard before she got finished. So, she engaged her 22-year-old son to help and he thought it fun.That wasn’t the only party we had. The Lester Singers came bringing voices that blend into beautiful music. At the close, Elaine’s son led us in prayer. Kurt was visiting from Missouri. As usual, Sarah’s Judy brought lunch. A pizza cream cheese dessert this time.The Luverne Reader’s Theatre came and presented a program. We appreciate their coming which reminded us of the radio sponsored live broadcast of H-BC ballgames. It’s wonderful to hear because it’s so difficult for us to go there. Our thanks are to these sponsors. It’s been so cold to go out. Erwin DeBoer teased, "Look out, we’re on our way to Alaska." Here he came down the hall pushing his mom with so many clothes on we could only see her eyes. Erwin pushed her across the street to see Frank rather than load and unload his Mom and the wheelchair in his car for such a short trip.We had some excitement one evening for we sniffed a smell like something burning. Mary Jo called Stan who came and found the source to be some wiring in a light on the lower level. He clipped some wires and the smell went away.Did you know the fellow who always wanted to be a helicopter pilot? Well he learned to be one. He bought his own plane and the next step was to solo. The plane went up 1,000 feet, 2,000 feet and than 3,000 feet and soon came crashing down. The instructor, concerned over his student, ran to the plane and asked the dazed pilot, "What happened," "Well, he said, "I climbed 3,000 feet and I got a little chilly so I shut off the ceiling fan."Alice went to an 80th birthday party in Rock Rapids. Bud is currently in the hospital recovering from pneumonia. How does one look up in the dictionary how to spell when you don’t know how to spell the word?I’ll keep you posted.

It’s just what we need — another cause. This time we are being asked to stand our ground for endangered soils. Popular journals with such titles as Geotimes and Ecosystems, found on most coffee tables across our country, are busy these days interviewing Ronald Amundson, a professor of ecosystem sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. Geotimes refers to the professor as a pedologist, but you don’t need a PhD in geology to know that’s just another fancy name for a foot doctor. Here’s the dirt on endangered soils. The researchers from Berkeley say there were originally 13,129 types of soil in the U.S. A total of 508 varieties of dirt have been classified as endangered and 30-40 are considered to be extinct. Another 4,505 forms of soil are "rare," worthy of legal protection. Don’t laugh, it’s true. The scientists blame farming and urbanization for wiping out many of the soil types. The solutions are immediately obvious to anyone — we must stop all construction and farming in this country. In an earlier 1998 interview, Professor Amundson noted, "Unlike living species, undisturbed soils do not reproduce nor can they be retreated." In response we can only say, "Tell us something we don’t know." Unless we want endangered soils to disappear from under our feet like so many dodo birds and white tigers, we must treat the problem as a grave issue and fight, even if it means the end of construction and farming. (Quite ironically, many soils contain graves, but we needn’t go there right now.) By loosely following the strategies used by other activist groups, we could set up grassroots efforts to save the soils. When you think about it, grassroots and soil have a natural connection. While many wildlife activist groups encourage their members to stop buying products that advertise endangered species as ingredients, soil activists will have a much easier choice. Because both meats and plants deplete the soil, they can stop eating altogether. Letters to local senators or congresspersons, many of whom are no strangers to mud-slinging themselves, could contain veiled threats such as, "You will be treated like dirt" or "Vote this way or your name will be mud." Plain brown postage stamps, depicting the various hues of soil, could be issued by the U.S. Postal Service in an effort to remind people about the importance of dirt in our everyday lives. Select samples of endangered soils could be sent off to protective zoos where, like endangered pandas, they may or may not reproduce. Miracles do happen. Volunteer rangers could be trained to hit the dirt and guard large tracts of vulnerable soils. Armed with bulletproof vests, GPSs, compasses and field glasses, they could be on the lookout, night and day, for sinister soil poachers with their dirty tricks and dump trucks. With enough volunteers, illegal soil trading will be stopped dead in its tracks. It’s time for us to rally and defend our endangered soils, even if it means playing dirty pool.

Guess what! The sun shown all day on Sunday. I don’t know when we have had a bright sunny day. It makes an entirely different world, at least for me. On dark gloomy days I just can’t get enthused about doing much of anything — not even the things I had planned to do on a dreary day. It is a good thing we can enjoy the sunshine today as the forecast sounds like we will be receiving more snow which will be coming our way at the end of this week. We should be getting used to it by now. I am sure those who enjoy snowmobiling have had a really fun winter. Those of us whose recreation has been scooping snow from sidewalks and decks, as well as the garage platforms, didn’t find it to be much fun. However, there are better days ahead. On March 20, spring arrives! There are only a couple of weeks left in February so it won’t be long now — we had just better hang in there!Word was received here from Raymond Rozeboom and his wife, Mona, who had recently been hit by a car while walking. Ray was able to return to his home on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Mona remains hospitalized. Their address is 13261st, Andrews Apartment, Apt. 1, Seal Beach, CA 90409. They would love to hear from you. There will be a taco bar supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, in the high school commons. A freewill donation will be accepted. The supper is sponsored by the Spanish Class. The proceeds will go toward their trip to England, France and Spain in June of 2005. Henrietta Huenink, Joan Hoogeveen and Winnie Scholten attended the Christian Women’s Club meeting at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids on Monday. Laura May Bosch underwent an angioplasty to remove blockage from her leg on Thursday at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. She returned to her home on Friday. An open house bridal shower for Tara Boeve will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Steen Reformed Church. Everyone is welcome.Dean Fuerstenberg, son of Daryl and Amy Fuerstenberg, entered Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Thursday, Feb. 5, and was able to return to his home on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Early Childhood Screening will be from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 4, at the Elementary School for students whose birthdays are between March 1, 2000, and Aug. 31, 2000. If you are new in the District call the Elementary School at 673-3541. For many years we observed George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 22, and observed Pres. Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12. I, for one, think it was much better to observe each one of them separately for historical purposes, if nothing else. We hear very little about those who gave everything to and for this country. Since Lincoln’s birthday is Feb. 12, I am going to be using some of his thoughts on his thinking about the laws of this new nation. The wording is rather unfamiliar to us but I am sure we can understand the meaning of them. I quote from Abraham Lincoln: "Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping baby that prattles on her lap. Let it be taught in schools, in seminaries and colleges. Let it be written in primers, spelling books and in almanacs. Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. In short, let it become the political religion of this nation and let the old and young, the rich and poor, the grave and the gay of all sexes, tongues, colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars." Those are very strong words and I am afraid we have watered them down almost too much in our world today. I think we need more time to think about what those who established this nation founded it upon. Are we upholding this thought today!

Spring has sprung! Well, not really — we are enjoying some warmer weather alright, but Don Briggs announces he has seen his first robin — that of Sunday! What does that tell us? I think the birds are ready to come back to the north country, but I’m sure he’ll get his toes frozen in this snow. Maybe the flock is just sending out scouts to survey the conditions!Joanne Goehle, along with her daughter, Brenda Hadler of Tyler, went to Edgerton Sunday night to attend the Russell/Tyler/Ruthton high school play in which Joanne’s granddaughter, Alissa Carmany, was taking part. Dean and Peggy Goettsch attended the Valentine Tea as a guest of Alice Goettsch Saturday at Tuff Village where Alice resides. In the evening, Dean, Peggy and their children, Annette and Tony, enjoyed supper to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Matt Ebert returned to classes at the University of Minnesota Law School after spending a couple of days in the home of his parents, Gregg and Cyndi Ebert. Joanne Goehle met Steve and Leanne Carmany of Tyler Saturday along with Steve’s mother, Laurie Carmany of Colorado Springs, Colo., for lunch together in Pipestone.

10 years ago (1994)"Pattie Beyenhof, Stephanie Rollag, Angie Siegfried, Eric Croft, Brent Chapman, Sonja Rollag, Misty Van Wyhe, Jessica Nuffer and Austin Cragoe were awarded medals in the annual Science Fair." 25 years ago (1979)"The Beaver Creek Area Jaycee Chapter returned home from the 10 Outstanding Young Men convention in Minneapolis earlier this month with four division awards. The Chapter received the Founder’s Plaque for establishing the Jaycee Chapter in Adrian. An In-Chapter award was presented for signing up seven new members to the Beaver Creek chapter." 50 years ago (1954)"‘Bud’ Hoogeveen came home from the Cities for the weekend after attending a barber school for the past month."75 years ago (1929)"At a special meeting of the Rock County Commissioners on Tuesday of last week the board bought a caterpillar tractor, known as the Best 60, and is expected this week. The machine is a large one, being capable of clearing the drifts from public highways at one sweep. It is also equipped with side wings and costs $2,500."100 years ago (1904)"At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Hills Mercantile Co. Monday it was decided to immediately purchase a gasoline engine, a cleaner and a grist mill. With these improvements the company will be in a position to clean their own grain, as well as grind their own feed, which makes our farmer’s elevator plant one of the best in the country."

Services for Catherine Van Dierendonck will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, Iowa, with the Rev. Joseph Dillinger and Deacon Jeff Gallagher officiating. Burial will follow in Larchwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, with a 7 p.m. Vigil service at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. Catherine Van Dierendonck, 97, Larchwood, formerly of the Hills and Luverne areas, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Home in Sioux Falls, S.D.Catherine Helen Kerkvliet was born to Peter and Anna (Lens) Kerkvliet on March 21, 1906 in Clontarf. She grew up on the family farm and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School. She married Louis Van Dierendonck on Jan. 27, 1931, in Alvord, Iowa. They lived on farms near Larchwood and Lester, Iowa, and Hills and Luverne before moving to Larchwood in 1973. She did upholstery for 35 years. They owned and operated Van’s Upholstery out of their home in Larchwood. The Sioux City Chamber of Commerce voted her Siouxland Homemaker of the Year for 1963. Mr. Van Dierendonck died in 1992. In July 1998, she moved from Larchwood to The Inn on Westport. Mrs. Van Dierendonck served more than 25 years as a 4-H leader, teaching 76 girls in three different groups. She was elected to the Lyon County Agricultural Extension Council for six years. She was the Cancer chairman of Larchwood Township and served on the Lyon County Fair Board. She was an active member of Larchwood Women’s Club for 25 years, a charter member of St. Mary’s Women’s Catholic Order of Foresters and had more than 50 years of service in St. Mary’s Altar Society. She also found time to volunteer at Children’s Care Hospital and School in Sioux Falls. Survivors include four children, Joe (Virg) Van Dierendonck, DeWitt, Iowa, Mary Ann Bangasser, Sioux Falls, Albert (Marcene) Van Dierendonck, Los Altos, Calif., and John (Mickey) Van Dierendonck, Hampton, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; one sister, Mary (John) Herbst, Larchwood; one sister-in-law, Betty Kerkvliet, Salem, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Van Dierendonck was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Louis Van Dierendonck, eight brothers and sisters who died at birth, four brothers, John, Gerard, Francis and Charles Kerkvliet, and one sister, Dena Kerkvliet.Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.Roste Funeral Home, Larchwood, is in charge of arrangements.