Can’t you imagine the tremendous job of downsizing your home to apartment living? It’s often done in stages. We bring on the initial visit what we really need and then keep going back to get more. At present we’re giving Alice a bad time. She’s in the process of getting ready for an auction. Every time her family takes her to her home in Larchwood, she comes back with a chair, an armload of clothes and lots of little treasures she’s sure she can’t be without. We have been fortunate to receive lots of garden produce but we’ve no pan to cook them in so Alice, on her last trip home, brought us a big canner just right for sweet corn. She didn’t forget me either. I sew lots of fabric together to make quilt tops for Lutheran World Relief. This makes linty clothes so Alice solved that by bringing me those big aprons of yesterday that cover wonderfully. No more threads to be picked from shirts or slacks. Great.As you know we’re going through old Crescents helping Erma with her museum scrapbooks. This is so time consuming for we have to read all the time and then share with the others what we learned. Here’s an interesting quote from the Crescent regarding 1899."The people of Hills were surprised and deeply grieved last Thursday afternoon when the news came over the wire that F.C. Hills, after whom our town was named, had died at his home in Sioux City, Iowa, at 2 p.m., his death being caused by a grievous mistake in eating breakfast food mixed with arsenic for the purpose of poisoning rats.Fredrick C. Hills was born at Bethersden, England, Jan. 23, 1842, and came to America with his parents in 1849. He received a good academic education. He remained on a farm in New York until the age of 15 when he served an apprenticeship at the carriage trimmer’s trade. In 1862, when the Civil War broke out, Mr. Hills enlisted as a volunteer and after serving for three months was discharged for physical disability.In March 1864, he came west to Sioux City. Mr. Hills soon won his way to the front as a successful railroad man, and in 1889 when the Sioux and Northern Railroad Co. was organized, he accepted the position of president and general manager ... It was during his reign as president that the Sioux City and Northern was built from Sioux City to Garretson S.D., and when the new station, now known as Hills, was located the farmers adjoining the station were given the privilege of naming it.Oslo was agreed upon, but it was soon learned that there was already a town by this name in the state. In the meantime, the railroad officials had named it Anderson after Goodmund Anderson who was taking a good deal of interest in the new town. This, however, displeased some and a new meeting was called and the town renamed Hills after Fredrick Clark Hills."The piano man is here. Dave and Alta’s son Miles is visiting. How we enjoy his noon hour concerts. On one occasion he had a couple silly words for Sioux City Sue."Her hair is greenHer eyes are redI wouldn’t change youFor Uncle Fred."Or how about"Her hair is redHer eyes are greenShe’s the darnest messI’ve ever seen."The Olson’s have an attendant occasion. One is Evie Kephart who brought her young son Harlan Kurrasch to meet us. He had just returned from spending two months on the streets of Iraq. He will return to Fort Benning, Ga., until his discharge in December.Emil Feucht has moved to the Tuff Home for he is in need of more care. We’ll miss his jokes and tootsie rolls but we’ll see him often and am glad he’ll get good care to help him get better.I’ll keep you posted.

Much can change in three days — even divorce laws. The New Straits Times, a daily newspaper in Kuala Lumpur, reported on July 28 that Malaysian Muslim men could divorce their wives through text messages on mobile telephones. Short messaging service was viewed as just another form of serving written notice, according to a religious court, and the effects of such a ruling seemed perfect for a column. If a Malaysian Muslim husband keeps getting busy signals when he tries to reach out and divorce somebody, I reasoned, he can still rely on the traditional method of driving home, standing in front of her and declaring "I divorce you" three times. In many cases, those may not be the three little words a woman wants to hear. "I love you" or even "Where’s the remote?" would be preferable in most cases. Getting a divorce in Malaysia may be easier said than dialed. Several things might go wrong when a mobile phone is used for a proclamation of divorce. For starters, the divorce message could be speed dialed incorrectly with a single key and the bad news might be received by an employer or a mother-in-law, who was never fond of the mis-dialer in the first place. Hasty decisions might be regretted later. Text messages, which can be relayed instantly, may not allow divisive issues to be thought out completely. Too much starch in a shirt collar may be irritating at work, but normally it’s something that can be forgotten on the way home. Incomplete calls would also create problems. A phone battery may give out or the words could be half-transmitted when the caller drives through one of those dreaded "no service available" zones. A message reading, "I wish to di...," would confuse any wife. He may wish to die, dine with her or he may wish to divulge some secret to her. To make matters worse, she can’t return his call. In order to keep her marriage intact, a wife might take several precautions to avoid divorce. She could replace her husband’s charged phone battery with a dead one while he’s sleeping or in the shower. If she’s not comfortable with replacing batteries, she might inexplicably lose or misplace the phone while it’s in the house. The phone service could be disrupted if she innocently misplaces the bill from the phone company. Last, but not least, she could simply refuse to answer the phone when her husband is away. With this scenario, no news is good news. Because of universal restrictions regarding the use of cell phones, a Malaysian Muslim wife might relax and not fear receiving a divorce message when her husband is doing any of the following activities — taking a plane trip, walking near certain medical equipment in hospitals, fueling a car at a gas station, or standing near a blasting site. An ideal husband would be unable to send a divorce message if he would do all of those things on a regular basis. Of course, if a husband isn’t the type to divorce by phone, there’s still the possibility he might simply say, "I divorce you," three times when he comes home. Even that method can’t be foolproof. What if the wife has a habit of "tuning out" her husband when he speaks? What if she’s hard of hearing and thinks she hears, "I adore you?" On July 31, the Malaysian government overturned the religious court’s ruling and the Muslim men in that country now have one less divorce option. It might be easier to stay married.

Would you believe that I couldn’t find one thing to complain about our weather this week? We have had some warm, even hot, days but by evening a cool breeze would blow up and we never knew from which direction it would come. However, it really didn’t matter to me, just so it cooled down enough so we could get a good nights rest. We certainly have not had to worry about our air conditioning so far, just open the windows and a cool breath of fresh air took care of the thermostat. I just hope it continues. I really don’t care how hot the days are, just so it cools down at night. It really surprises me that the temperatures cool down into the low 60s every night and I am not complaining one bit. It just leaves me utterly confused as I am definitely not ready for fall! In fact, I am still having a hard time realizing it is summer. I have so many things I had hoped to get accomplished this summer, but time waits for no one. I had just better get on the ball and hope to catch up. The Art and Henrietta Boeve family spent this past week vacationing at Clear Lake, Iowa. Those enjoying the week together were Gregg and Anita Bosch, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Chad, Sheri and Mickayla Bosch, Ryan Bosch and friend, Amy, all from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Glen, Ann and Tara Boeve and friend Deric, Little Rock, Iowa, Matt and friend Andrea, from South Dakota, and Gary, Michelle and Riley VanWyhe, Rock Rapids, Iowa. Aaron was unable to be with them as he was with the group that went on the mission trip to Guatemala. Needless to say, a good time was had by all!Congratulations to Lance Van Der Weerd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Van Der Weerd, who graduated from the Mayo School of Health Related Sciences, Friday, Aug. 8, with a degree in radiology technologist.Robert and Dorothy Mulder, Firth, Neb., were weekend guests in the Henrietta Huenink home. Dorothy was Preston’s sister. Bernice Aukes and some of her family spent the weekend camping at Beaver Creek Valley State Park near Caledonia. Those enjoying the weekend together were Bernice Aukes, Mary Crawford, Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls, Steve and Nancy Willers, and Shilo, Fairmont, and Tim and Tess Lynn, Houston. They returned home on Sunday. There will be an open house in honor of Pete and Jane De Boer’s 50th wedding anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Fellowship Hall of Steen Reformed Church. Joyce and Jo Aykens were Saturday afternoon visitors in the home of Paul and Carole Aykens in Orange City, Iowa, to visit with their daughter, Andrea Aykens, Cedar Falls. Her sister, Susan Veldkamp and daughter from Orange City joined them for the afternoon. Melba Boeve spent the weekend in the home of her daughter, Carla and John Overlander at their lake cottage near New London. Sunday, Melba and her granddaughters, Krysta and Megan enjoyed a tour of the Clemmens Gardens at St. Cloud which were beautiful. En route home Melba visited with Jessie Boeve at Edgebrook Nursing Home in Edgerton. She also visited with Bill and Janet Blyenburg who also make their home in Edgerton. Steven Bosch, Minneapolis arrived on Monday at the home of his parents, Dries and Laura May Bosch, where he will spend several days. Laura May was hospitalized for an angiogram on Tuesday. She planned to return home on Wednesday. Good luck to her. Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker returned home Sunday evening after spending about a week visiting Karen’s mother in Wisconsin. Steen Reformed Church had a special congregational meeting Monday evening for discussion and approval of the recommendation that the parking lot in front of the church be hard-surfaced. The recommendation passed 58 to 3 in favor of the project. Word was received here this morning that Evelyn Tilstra passed away Tuesday morning at Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family. Monday dinner guest in the Dries and Laura May Bosch home was their grandson, Eric Bosch, from Sioux Falls. Marlin and Linda Elbers, Kristi, Stacy, Jeremy and Sonya Elbers spent this past week vacationing in Branson, Mo. For many years we have been hearing that we are living in "one world." With our transportation systems making travel so easily available it definitely shortens the distance between all of our nations. Many of us have even visited several foreign countries. However, because they are so easily accessible it doesn’t mean that every country is alike. Each and every one have their own way of doing things, their own priorities, their own form of government and educational systems. Even though our transportation system allows us to visit these different countries we do not or cannot understand their way of life. However, we can still become good neighbors or as in Bible times they were called "Good Samaritans." We can try to understand their ways and help them to understand ours. The following suggestions for being a Good Neighbor (or a Good Samaritan) were written by William Arthur Ward and I think we could apply any and all of them right here in our own United States as well. It is titled, "I will be a Good Samaritan."I will be sensitive to the needs of my fellowman and look for ways to befriend him. I will be aware of man’s suffering, get involved in his struggle and comfort him in his sorrow.I will withhold judgment of my brother, and attempt to understand his thinking, his attitudes and his behavior. I will forgive those who have injured me. I will forgive, I will forgive even those who have hurt those I love. I will not close my eyes or pass on the other side whenever there is need of my service, my friendship or my presence. I will lift someone’s spirits by giving them much needed gifts of a word of hope and encouragement. I will remember to be grateful to those who have been Good Samaritans to me in the past, and who keep me from falling into the ditches of discouragement, depression and defeat.I will be a Good Samaritan for the inner joy of serving, and because helping others is what the Golden Rule is all about. I will realize that my neighbor is anyone — and that my brother is everyone. I will feel so much joy, experience, so much growth, and receive such a blessing as a Good Neighbor today that I will be a Good Neighbor again tomorrow."Perhaps we could try to follow these suggestions and I will bet every person in the world would be happy that you cared.

The fifth annual Berkhof Bash was in Sioux Falls, July 31 through Aug. 3. Many activities were enjoyed including golfing, shopping and attending the Catfish Bay show, etc. Orv and Bonnie Sundem’s children were all home for the event including Charise Kneip, Scottsdale, Ariz., Chad, Tara, Cole and Carson, Sundem, Gilbert, Ariz., and Aric and Amy Sundem, Maple Grove. From the Sioux Falls area was the mother, Esther Berkhof, Don and Luann Berkhof, Callan and Cody Berkhof, Chris, Dawn and Sierra Haage, Dee and Lee Brooks, Leah Brooks and Nikki, Paul and Jordan Scott. From a distance were Arlon and Tara Berkhof, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brett and Rachel Berkhof, Chicago, Ill., Gary and Marilyn Berkhof, Gilbert, Ariz., Mike and Marsha Farmer, Caledonia, Mich., aunt and uncle, Jake and Marian DeJong, Sioux Center, Iowa, Mitchell Hoffman, St. James, along with Orv and Bonnie Sundem and Ashley. Ray and Lois Nelson spent Tuesday afternoon at the Sioux Empire Fair. While there they heard an Air Force Combo and the 70-voice Sioux Empire youth choir perform. Janine Solberg came from Champaign, Ill., on July 31 to visit her parents, Ron and Jan Solberg, and to attend her 10th high school class reunion. The class of 1993 met at the park Saturday afternoon and had their dinner Saturday evening at the Magnolia Steak House in Luverne. On Sunday, Ron, Jan and Janine drove to Wheaton to visit her grandmother, Hattie Walz, and on Monday they went to Fosston to see grandparents, Orville and Violet Solberg. Jan then went to Minneapolis to visit a friend and from there returned to Champlain where she has a job on campus while also taking classes. Ron and Jan returned to Hills late Monday night. Harriet Skattum returned home last Monday after spending the weekend in the home of her daughter, Margo and Dewayne Edwards, at Forestburg, S.D., and while there, attended a wedding of friends. Vicki Nelson, Mankato, spent the weekend with parents, Ray and Lois. Friday they attended the 36th concert of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux Falls. The final two concerts of the 2003 summer season were in McKennan and Terrace Park on the following Sunday. Lorraine Draper, Pipestone, came Wednesday, July 29, to take her mother, Loretta Boysen, to Watertown, S.D., where they attended funeral services for Loretta’s brother, Warren Johnson, 81. Wednesday evening, Betty Elbers traveled to Edgerton to visit her mother, Jessie Boeve, at the Edgebrook Health Center. The Sandager families enjoyed their annual week’s vacation last week at Lake Ida. Those present were John Sandager and Gaer and Leif, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Jim and Louisa Sandager, Philip and Molly, West Des Moines, Iowa; Jane Schubert, Clare and Isaac, Tanzania, Africa; Mark and Karen Sandager, Ian and Tom; and Vic and Fran Sandager. Also, a double cousin reunion was at Pilgrim Point with 150 in attendance. Guests during the week in the home of Evelyn Rogness were her nephew, Brian and Barb Thompson, James, Dawn, Jessica and Deniese, Wadena, Iowa, on Wednesday and her niece, Lynn Edruno and daughter, Brianna, San Gabriel, Calif., on Friday. Bernita Johnson, Russell, spent the weekend in the home of Bob and Twila Kirsch and together attended the wedding on Saturday of Chris and Jill Wulf at Ellsworth. Don and Edyth Briggs motored to Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday to attend the wedding of Edyth’s niece. They returned to Hills on Sunday. Saturday, Betty and Wilmer Elbers attended the wedding of Daniel Lee Ten Napel and Latricia Veldkamp at First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. She is the daughter of Ardean and Lori Veldkamp, former residents of Steen, and now living in Luverne. Riley Lentz, Windom, spent the weekend in the home of her grandparents, Bob and Twila Kirsch. Sheldon and Ellie Sandager, the Charles, Mike and Gene Sandager families, were at Lake Ida over the weekend to join other Sandager families. Harriet Skattum and Lois Hoyme attended the Sioux Valley Nurses’ Alumni meeting Saturday at the hospital in Sioux Falls and also at the Westward Ho Country Club. Krista, daughter of Anna and Mike Gilman, Eden Prairie, is spending this week in the home of her grandparents, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson. Thursday, Elliot and Allison Carmany, Tyler, came to visit grandmother, Joanne Goehle, and on Saturday Leanne and Andrew came and all returned home Saturday night. Margaret Baker has been hospitalized at Luverne Community Hospital. Friday Cari Skogberg, on the Augustana College faculty, visited her aunt, Shirley Olson. Saturday another niece, Sue Olson and children, Karin, Kallie and Aaron, Madison, Minn., were visitors. Home town special to former residentIn a recent Crescent was a letter to the editor from Cynthia Olmstead, nee Sundal, from Carbondale, Ill. Cynthia recalled as a girl growing up in Hills, the things she did. Her father, T.T. (Tom) Sundal, owned and operated the drug store in Hills. She said she was interested in making a trip to Hills to see the "old home town" if she were able. Bob Kirsch thoughtfully decided to respond to her and tell how the town had changed. This past week Bob got a response from Cynthia. She is 93 years old and had a friend write the letter from her dictation. We thought some of the "Oldies" still would like to share her thoughts and I quote, "I am one of those fortunate people who don’t seem to have anything special wrong with their bodies. I have been very bad about going to Hills as my husband liked to spend his time in semi-wild country. I had the good fortune to live in France a year and another in Mexico as well as times in many European countries. My husband, John, died in 1997, and I moved to a retirement home in this town. I had a very good life with my husband who was a mathematician at the University of Minnesota. I enjoyed hearing from you, to get the information about Hills. Give my regards to people who knew me."Cynthia Olmsted2950 Westridge Place #222, Carbondale, Ill. 62901

Dale Knoll, 83, Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at Luverne Community Hospital. Services were Thursday, Aug. 14, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt officiated. Burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.Dale Merle Knoll was born to Percy and Frances (Maynard) Knoll on June 30, 1920, in Correll. He graduated from Correll High School in 1938. He attended Mankato State Teachers College where he earned a bachelor of science degree in education. For two months preceding his graduation in July 1942 he taught at the high school in Madison, Minn. After college graduation, his first full teaching position was in Hendricks, where he taught until he entered the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served his country during World War II in the South Pacific until 1946. He returned to Hendricks to finish out the school year. He taught and coached at Truman High School for 16 years until 1962. During that time he worked on his master’s degree in high school guidance counseling. Upon completion of his master’s degree in July 1962, he accepted a position as counselor at Luverne High School where he worked until his retirement in 1984. He married Helen Jane Chesley on Sept. 12, 1942. They had one son, Tom. They joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman where he was confirmed as an adult. Mrs. Knoll died in February 1958.He married Margie Wood on June 14, 1959, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont. They had three children, Timothy, Amy and Beth. Mr. Knoll was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. He loved sports as evidenced by his interest in basketball and baseball in high school and college. At Mankato State he served as a co-captain on the basketball team in 1941 and 1942. He played basketball and baseball on independent teams when he lived in Truman. He enjoyed coaching all sports in Truman and in Luverne he continued his coaching tradition as head coach of boys’ and girls’ golf and assistant coach in other sports. In his retirement he faithfully followed the many Minnesota sports teams. He also loved playing golf and was a long-time member of Luverne Country Club. Gardening, woodworking, cards, especially bridge, were favorite pastimes. He also gave bridge lessons through community education. Survivors include his wife, Margie Knoll, Luverne; two sons, Tom (Janet) Knoll, Woodbury, and Tim (Sharon) Knoll, Brandon, S.D.; two daughters, Amy (Sidney) Fitch, Spencer, Iowa, and Beth (Joshua) Fleming, Las Vegas, Nev.; nine grandchildren, Christopher and Samantha Knoll, Lindsey, Brittany and Payton Knoll, Kyle and Madison Fitch, and Bailey and Rieley Fleming; two brothers, his twin brother, Dean (Evelyn) Knoll, Litchfield, and Merle (Lucille) Knoll, Osakis; two sisters, Peggy (Harold) Welsh, Pensacola, Fla., and Patricia (Gerald) O’Connor, Spicer; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Knoll was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Helen Jane, and a sister, Carol White.Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne was in charge of arrangements.

By Lori EhdeU.S. Sen. Mark Dayton was in Luverne Wednesday to award a long-overdue Purple Heart to Luverne resident Anthony Dispanet.Dispanet is a Vietnam veteran who was injured in 1968 when enemy fire hit an ammunition supply near the M.A.S.H. unit where he worked as a medic."We’re a better nation for what you did," Dayton said during a small ceremony in the Dispanet home Wednesday. "It was an act of courage and compassion, and it redefines patriotism. … You acted to save lives without regard to your own life and safety. This is the ultimate definition of an American hero."Dispanet told the Star Herald prior to the ceremony that his minor wound didn’t warrant a Purple Heart. He did say the whole process rekindled 35-year-old memories, and on Wednesday he was overcome with emotion.Through tears, he accepted the award on behalf of those who didn’t come home from Vietnam. "I think they gave me some of their courage," Dispanet said.Dispanet was assigned to C Company Medical Battalion attached to the 1st Calvary at Camp Evans, located just 11 miles south of the demilitarized zone. When an enemy mortar hit the stored ammunition, the resulting explosions and fire took 13 hours to extinguish. Dispanet immediately began treating the numerous injured soldiers who had suffered shrapnel wounds and burns. He didn't realize until everyone had been cared for that he, too, had been hit by shrapnel."When the dust settled and it was all over, I noticed there was a small laceration on my leg," Dispanet said Tuesday. "To be honest, I can’t even remember which leg."He said he’s known since discharge that he’s been eligible for the Purple Heart, but he’s never felt that worthy of it."Looking back, it was quite insignificant compared with a lot of others who were injured," Dispanet said. "But it was considered a wound incurred in a hostile situation."His brother Jim, San Antonio, Tex., encouraged him to get the medal, and ended up making many of the arrangements.Dispanet said the medal serves more as a reminder of what he’s been through, than as a reward for bravery. "It dredges up lots of memories and thoughts of what happened back then with the fellas I was with," he said Tuesday.While the shrapnel injury was insignificant to his long-term health, Dispanet was diagnosed in December 2000 with multiple myeloma. The plasma cell cancer has been linked to the herbicide Agent Orange that was used to clear fields in Vietnam during the war.After a stem-cell transplant, the cancer went into remission, but Dispanet recently discovered the illness has returned.Dispanet and his wife, Barb, have a son Anthony (Ace), a daughter-in-law, Shannon, and a 3-year-old grandson, Amos, who is named after Tony's dad. His brothers are Tim, Luverne, and James, San Antonio, Tex.‘Put Mark to Work For You’ at ethanol plantDayton was also in Luverne this week as part of his "Put Mark to Work For You" program.On Tuesday, he helped staff at the Agri-Energy Ethanol Plant with some daily tasks, such as weighing trucks, fixing plant equipment, testing ethanol samples and loading feed trucks."It gets me out of the office and out of a suit," Dayton said, when asked about the point of his work visits. "It’s a great educational experience for me."He said working along side his constituents gives him a chance to engage in meaningful conversation on timely concerns."I’m a real good dishwasher," he said. "If I go and wash dishes with staff in a school kitchen, I might get a sense of the issues affecting that school and its students and employees."He said he prefers to help with simple tasks that don’t require special skills."That setting lends itself more to sharing information," Dayton said. "Some might be more likely to ask questions in that setting that they may not feel comfortable asking in a room full of people."In the past several months of the program, Dayton has worked on a farm, in a veterans home kitchen, on a construction site, in a school classroom, and on a Habitat home.

By Sara StrongDiane Sherwood, Luverne, hopes her idea to raise money for Sept. 11 rescue workers and volunteers will become a nationwide fund-raiser.She’s planned a motorcycle run at 1 p.m. (CDT) Sept. 13 that will start locally at the Howling Dog Saloon. But so far, people from South Dakota, Maine, Colorado and Tennessee have shown an interest in organizing their own fund-raisers that will coincide with the one started in Luverne."It really shows unity when we can all start at the same time, same day," Sherwood said.Sherwood wanted to spearhead a fund-raiser because since the 2001 attacks in New York City, money has slowed in getting to the people who need it."We want to keep the word out so people don’t forget," Sherwood said.The chronic health problems — especially lung and breathing trouble which Ground Zero workers endure — have cost people physically and financially."Some people have lost their homes, they can’t work," Sherwood said.The burning buildings and rubble contained many pollutants and the dust itself was breathed in following the World Trade Centers’ destruction.Sherwood hopes people will notice the reflection of the burning towers shown in the sunglasses reflection in the Remember Rally logo.All funds raised will go directly to people needing the money through Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Tuesday’s Children, an organization providing counseling for children who lost a parent on 9-11."The response has been great so far," Sherwood said. "People have heard about it and come up to me and ask for fliers to show all their friends."Registration starts this week and can be handled through at www.rememberrally.com or info@rememberrally.com.

By Jolene FarleyThree Rock County residents are recovering from injuries they received in a two-vehicle accident northwest of Hills Thursday.A 1998 Buick Park Avenue driven by Sherryl Knobloch, 55, of rural Hills, and a 1994 Chevrolet pickup driven by Ryan Burgers, 25, Luverne, collided at a blind, unmarked intersection about 4 1/2 miles northwest of Hills.Chris Louwagie, 28, Luverne, was a passenger in Burger’s vehicle.After the collision, Burgers walked to the Marlin DeNoble’s farm about a half mile away from the scene, and DeNoble called officials, according to Burgers.The Rock County Sheriff’s Department responded at 7:46 a.m. to the intersection of 30th Avenue and 51st Street. The Hills Fire Department, Rock County Ambulance, Avera McKennan Careflight, Sioux Valley Trauma I and the Minnesota Highway Patrol also responded. Knobloch was airlifted to Avera McKennan Hospital and Louwagie was airlifted to Sioux Valley Hospital, both in Sioux Falls.Burgers was transported by ground ambulance to Avera McKennan Hospital.Burgers said Monday that doctors anticipate he’ll be released from the hospital Wednesday or today. He had a bleeding spleen and is "stiff and sore." Knobloch has been moved to a private hospital room from the Intensive Care Unit. Doctors may release her by the end of the week to recover at home, according to her daughter-in-law, Amy Knobloch.Her injuries include a stabilized fracture in her neck, a punctured lung, broken ribs, cuts on her eyelid and head, and bruises and scrapes. Knobloch will wear a neck brace for eight to 12 weeks instead of having surgery for the fracture in her neck, according to Amy. Louwagie, a teacher in the Hills-Beaver Creek School district, is still in the Intensive Care Unit at Sioux Valley Hospital, according to his wife, Laura. "He has chest and back injuries," she said from the hospital waiting room."He is able to move all his limbs, and his condition is improving daily." Burgers said he was impressed with the way rescue workers responded to the accident. "I think the Hills Fire Department did an outstanding job," he said from his hospital bed Monday. "They were there quickly and they did a very good job."

By Sara StrongThe first meeting for the new Comprehensive Plan for the city of Luverne is Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the Luverne Elementary School Commons.Even though a cross-section of local representatives sit on a Comprehensive Task Force, the general public is asked to take part.Rusty Fifield is Luverne’s lead consultant for this project. He said, "Luverne residents are really local planning experts. Everyone carries beliefs, concerns and aspirations for the community."The Hoisington Koegler Group is contracted with the city to do the Comprehensive Plan, as it did in 1994. It is a Minneapolis-based planning and urban design firm, specializing in community planning.The Plan involves more than a guide for land use. It also provides a blueprint for public actions and investments, such as adequate streets and utilities, parks and trails, and the city’s role in attracting new businesses.Some of the questions the Comprehensive Plan will address are:oWhat should Luverne be like in 10 years?oHow important is the creation of new jobs to the future?oWhat steps are important to preserving the quality of existing neighborhoods?oWhat things define the quality of life in Luverne?oHow can the community realize the most benefits from the construction of a new hospital and the redevelopment of the existing hospital site?Comprehensive Plans are supposed be used in daily decisions at City Hall, which is why an effective Plan could make for a better city.The local Comprehensive Plan Task Force will be at the meetings to steer the planning process. They won’t write the actual plan, but will review and evaluate information prepared by the consultants. Fifield urges people to not be complacent or believe that their thoughts do not matter."The public workshops provide a way to listen and learn about the community," Fifield said. "Unless people help us to understand what they want for the future, we have to use our own judgment."The Task Force will try to ensure that the Plan meets the needs of Luverne.Members of the Task Force are:oBruce BaartmanoPatrick BaustianoKaris GustoJim HarneroDavid HaugeoWilliam KetterlingoWayne RobinsonoPat SaumoDavid SmithoBart ThielbaroAmy VerSteegThe plan will be completed in the next six months.