New Yorkers aren’t laughing. In an apparent effort to enrage its residents and receive additional revenues at the same time, New York City is in the midst of what Reuters news service calls a "silly summons blitz." The so-called ticketing frenzy also serves to remind us that life can be funnier than fiction. Many of the tickets are being issued for obscure city ordinances and residents of The Big Apple must be shaking their heads in disbelief. One resident was fined $105 for sitting on a milk crate on a Bronx sidewalk, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In what could be a new way to reduce excessive tourism, a visitor to the city from Israel received a $50 ticket for taking up two seats on a subway headed for Queens. A Greenwich Village merchant had to pay a $400 fine for having too many words on his store awning. According to the New York Daily News, one woman, six months pregnant, sat down on a subway stairwell in complete exhaustion and was fined $50. Big Apple residents are suddenly aware of little known offenses, such as carrying an open bottle of water onto a bus or being a man in a playground without a child. Last, but not least, a woman in Queens was ticketed $25 for talking loudly to her neighbor, who lives in a nearby apartment. The Daily News interviewed the woman and she explained, "I couldn’t leave the food on the stove, so I opened my door and my friend opened her door and we stood in front of our apartments talking." There was no mention of whether or not a pot of simmering soup was confiscated as possible courtroom evidence in the case. However, the woman’s excuse is clearly that of a hardened criminal. The world will definitely be a better place when crate sitters, over-wordy awning owners, loud talkers and tired, pregnant women are removed from our streets. It now appears that other cities in the world hope to follow the example set by New York City. A gardener in Berlin was ticketed last month for driving his lawnmower while intoxicated. The guilty party had just finished mowing a lawn for a client when he was breath-tested by the police and fined $460. Unfortunately, he had also just finished a bottle of wine. We can only guess what behavior tipped off the police in the first place. It couldn’t have been drunk driving on a public road or speeding. He was on private property and the mower in question has a maximum speed of four miles per hour. Perhaps he left a trail of scalped flower gardens, hedges and topiaries in his wake. He might have reduced a lovely set of lawn chairs and a matching sun umbrella table to a miserable pile of shredded, plastic confetti. It might even have been the way he brandished the bottle in the air as he steered the riding mower and shouted to everyone within earshot, "Bite my clippings!" On the other hand, it might have been nothing. It’s possible similar ticketing frenzies could come to all of our towns and cities during this long, hot summer. Be careful out there.

The Hills Town fast-pitch softball team had their annual Independence Day tournament in Hills starting off on Thursday evening. Eleven teams participated. Taking first place honors was the Hills Town team. Second place winners were the Rock Rapids Merchants. Lester, Iowa, came in third place and the Beaver Creek team was the fourth place winner. The games had a late start Friday morning due to a wet diamond but the tournament was finished that night.The descendants of Theodore and Lucy Larson had their family reunion Saturday at the home of Tedd and Diane Larson. Present were Bob and Milly Larson and family, Armour, S.D; the Dolores Rempel family, Rapid City, S.D., and Oregon; the Paul Larson family and Audrey and Martin Feistner, Madison, S.D.; Ann Larson and family, Luverne; Dennis Roning, Hills, and his daughter, Deneise and Bill Swanson and their four sons and children; and the hosts, Tedd and Diane Larson and their children, Lance, Tricia and Lucy; and Hanna and Matt Harter, Rock Rapids, Iowa. More than 100 were in attendance. On July 3rd, Noreen and Gary Greve, Verona, Wis., and nephew, Art and Marjorie Vander Waal came to spend the day with her sister, Harriet Skattum. Friday all went to South Dakota to visit Harriet’s sisters at Sinai, Volga and Huron. They returned to Hills last Thursday and the visitors returned to their homes in Wisconsin. Tom and Joanne Goehle spent the Fourth in the home of Randy and Sheri Sunne attending a family gathering. Betty and Jerry Ackerman, Erma, S.C., are visiting her mother, Grace Wassenaar and other relatives and friends. Some of their children came up from Iowa to visit them and spent the day in the Wassenaar home. Robert and Twila Kirsch drove to Heron Lake to spend the Fourth with the Luke Mathias family and along with their children attended the celebration at Lake Okabena. Tim and Dana Vink and daughters, Karis, Alaina and Caley, Tulare, Calif., came to Hills to visit in the home of Dana’s parents, John and Carol VanMaanen and to attend Dana’s 20th class reunion. They will also visit his parents, Jim and Janice Vink, in Luverne before returning home on July 17. Gene and Barb Sikkink, Duluth, are spending a few days in the home of Vic and Fran Sandager. Ed and Marllis Fiscella, Green Valley, who are spending some time in Inwood, Iowa, were Sunday guests in the Sandager home. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe visited Sunday afternoon in the home of Tom and Matthew VanWyhe in Sioux Falls.Lee and Betty Sandager, Marine on the St. Croix, and Leona Goehle, Tyler, spent a few days with the Sandagers. They and Vic and Fran were Wednesday evening steak dinner guests of Sheldon and Ellie Sandager. Alicia, daughter of Mark and Karen Sandager, New York, is spending a few days with home folks. Alicia, Ian and Tom, Leona Goehle and Lee and Betty Sandager were Tuesday dinner guests of Vic and Fran Sandager. Coryn Iverson, daughter of John and Peggy Iverson, Charlotte, N.C., is spending a few days in the home of her grandparents, Wilmer and Betty Elbers. Howard and Lois Hoyme spent from Friday until Sunday at the Sandager’s ranch with Sheldon and Ellie at Herrick, S.D.Thursday evening Wilmer and Betty Elbers drove to Hull, Iowa, to have dinner with the Vander Haar relatives at the Pizza Ranch. Ron and Faith Talsma, Bellflower, Calif., are visiting this week with relatives and friends in the area.

There are times when I just don’t believe the weather forecast! It seems to me our weather is very unpredictable. It’s as if the weather has a mind of its own and about the time you make plans to do something, it changes. I guess we have to remember no matter what we plan we cannot control the weather so we have to make the best of it. For instance the 4th of July officially began at midnight on July 4th. However, at 11:30. Thursday evening, July 3, a loud crash of thunder shook the house lighting up the sky even better than our fireworks. It also continued for several hours. We can go ahead and make all of our plans we want to do, but guess who is in control! The weatherman. July 4th arrived on July 3rd as he provided his own fireworks. I guess we learned we can make all kinds of plans for campouts, picnics and family reunions but that doesn’t mean the weather will cooperate. There are very few things we are not in charge of these days but just remember the weatherman has the final say. I hope you had a happy 4th of July and the weather did not interfere too much.The 13th annual Bosch Open golf tournament was at Prairie Green Willow Run Golf Course in Sioux Falls, S.D., over the 4th of July weekend. Participants included the Dries and Laura May Bosch family and grandchildren, Cornie and Darlene Bosch family and Betty Boeve family and grandchildren, for a total of 25 participants. This year’s champs were Keith and Chad Bosch who will be hosting the event next year. It was a fun weekend for all. Joan Hoogeveen and Henrietta Huenink were guests for a Saturday morning breakfast in honor of Wayne VanWyhe’s 70th birthday. Happy Birthday to him. Steen Senior Citizens had their July meeting on Monday, July 7, at Steen Community Center. Cards and games were played and lunch was served. The Orrin Aukes family had a family gathering at the park in Worthington on Sunday as Nancy’s children were home. Those attending were Bernice and Orrin Aukes, Steen, Nancy and Steven Willers and family, Fairmont, Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls, Mary Crawford, Beaver Creek, and Linda and Dan Aukes and his friend, Amy. Allen and Donna Bodewitz, Sioux Falls, were Saturday evening visitors in the home of his mother, Henrietta Heunink. The Rev. Mark and Eva Bonnema, Federal Way, Wash., came this week to visit his mother, Micky Bonnema, who resides at Tuff Home and other relatives here. They are houseguests in the home of his sister, Ginger and Jim France, in Sioux City, Iowa. The C.A.B. Club from Steen Reformed Church will serve at The Banquet in Sioux Falls on Friday evening. Congratulations to Heather Bonnema and Patrick Cilbrit who were united in marriage on Saturday afternoon, July 5, in Des Moines, Iowa. Heather’s parents are Lowell and Glenda Bonnema.Henry Van Der Weerd underwent surgery at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Tuesday. He was able to return to his home on Thursday. Thursday Joyce Aykens, Mildred Keunen and Jo Aykens drove to Sioux City, Iowa, to visit Mark and Eva Bonnema who are guests in the Ginger and Jim France home. Lunch was served at the Noodle Zoo at Dakota Dunes. Ginger’s husband, Jim, is the manager there. Jeff Bosch and sons, Kevin and Bo, Walbridge, Ohio, arrived July 1 to visit in the home of his parents, Dries and Laura May Bosch and to participate in the Bosch Open. Arnold and Jane Bonnema’s daughter, Denise Eben, and her daughter, TyLynn, Plant City, Fla. arrived July 1 to spend two weeks visiting in the home of her parents. Paul Aykens, Orange City, Iowa, and his daughter, Andrea, Cedar Ralls, Iowa, were Wednesday callers in the home of his mother, Jo Aykens, in Steen. Those from Steen Reformed Church attending camp at Inspiration Hills this week are: Danielle Baker, Haley Larson, Megan Saarloos, Brooke Tilstra, Kyle Van Der Weerd, Whitney Wilgenburg, Sonya Elbers, Aaron Esselink, Steven Harsma, Jessica Leenderts, Kari Roozenboom, Thomas Scholten, Amanda Tilstra, Lance Van Der Weerd and Jill Weitgenant.In our world today most of us have been striving for more and more material things such as a better car, a new house, a raise in our pay check and still it seems we are never quite satisfied. As I think back to the years I was growing up which were the Depression years, it was a very different way of life than we have today. Most everything revolved around the home Why? Because there was so much work to do and so little money to do it with. If you worked away from home you earned very little. Those who went out to clean homes received a $1 a week for their labor. My father used to say, "No man is worth a $1 an hour." We were all poor and we didn’t know it as we were all in the same boat! We learned to appreciate the little things. An old Irish Proverb is "From little acorns grow great oak trees." It was encouraging sayings that kept us going such as, "Daylight will peep through a very small hole;" "Joined together even little things are strong;" "Drop by drop fills the tub;" "Little and often fills the purse;" "A little rain each day will fill the rivers to overflowing;" "The heap in the barn consists of single grains;" and "A little shrub grows into a big tree."The popular songs that we sang also reflected our way of life. I remember the words to one song that seemed to have impressed me. The title of it was "Try a Little Tenderness." The words were, "I know she is weary, women do get weary wearing the same shabby dress. But when she’s weary try a little tenderness." As we struggle with a changing of our familiar world today I think we are all a bit short of giving tenderness to others. Those of us who lived through those years learned that we can be rich, even when we are poor. It is when we make the very most of what we have, and enjoy and appreciate what we have, that we learn the value of all the little things in life. Very few of us even think about these things but we need to think more about others and the little things in life. How much happier we would all be!

10 years ago (1993)"Cargill Grain Division of Hills has taken another step to promote agriculture locally. The rural Hills business contracted with Southern Minnesota Construction Co. Inc. of Mankato to have five-tenths of the road sprayed with a newly developed product, soybean oil ‘soapstock.’ ‘It’s a new type of dust suppressant that uses products from agriculture. We were interested in giving it a try,’ said Cargill manager Jim Reiff."25 years ago (1978)"Winds gusting to 95 miles per hour, hail, heavy rain and even a possible tornado left extensive damage and a tremendous clean-up project behind them as they swept through the entire area Thursday night. The area immediately surrounding Hills was fortunate with little damage to buildings, however, several trees in Hills were downed or destroyed by the winds. In Steen, also hit hard by the storm, one tree, which almost fell on buildings owned by Ernie Hall, managed to remain standing until Friday when it was removed by Bravo Construction Co."50 years ago (1953)"Early Saturday morning around 3 a.m. one of the worst wind storms to hit the area in some 15 years struck, leaving considerable damage to buildings and trees here. A hailstorm accompanied it, doing almost total damage to some crops here. About three and one-half inches of rain fell in Hills during the short stay of the storm, which hit spasmodically. The hail hit north, west and east of town apparently, doing damage in spots only, while just across a road there was no damage from it. North of town, the Nels Kolsrud farm was pretty badly hit, while west of Hills, Norris Rye and Bennie Thompson had beautiful fields of corn badly damaged."75 years ago (1928)"The Hills kitten ball team motored to Rock Rapids last Thursday where they crossed bats with the team at that place. The game ended in a tie, and now they have to do it all over again." 100 years ago (1903)"Johann, the Austrian, is progressing finely in this country. He is now a valuable member of Boone’s cement gang and can understand anything from cuss words to the six o’clock whistle. It doesn’t seem to worry him much whether he ever discovers his relatives or not."

By Sara StrongIt’s not that Dr. Mark Bierma has had great experiences at the dentist office. But when it came time to choose a profession, working with his hands, business ownership and healthcare made a nice combination for Luverne’s newest dentist."I really enjoy working in fine detail and daily interactions with people," Bierma said. "I considered becoming a medical doctor, and doing surgery, but I had a neighbor who was a dentist. He was good at explaining the field to me and urging me to go toward it too."How Bierma came to Luverne — in a time when dentists are in demand across the country in cities of all sizes — was a lifestyle choice."It was the community that swayed my choice," Bierma said.For a couple years, the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce has been advertising at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and attending job fairs there. Chamber Director Dave Smith said he’s happy that Luverne was able to attract Bierma.Mark’s wife, Aleta, is a pediatric nurse, and they have an infant daughter, Katelyn. Aleta grew up in a smaller town and Mark has grown to enjoy country living more than the Metro area he’s been in for the past eight years."It came down to quality of life issues for my wife and me. My hobbies are hunting and fishing and camping and I didn’t want to have to drive to get to those kind of places," Bierma said.It’s costing Bierma $270,000 to take over the retiring Dr. Bill Bollinger’s practice in Luverne, not counting personal student loans. The Luverne Economic Development Authority is guaranteeing $20,000 in loan money as a measure of support from the city.Dr. David Born is a professor at the U of M School of Dentistry and said Bierma is a minority among recent grads, choosing to locate in a smaller city."It’s a bigger risk to locate in a rural area, because if things don’t work out, you have to pay to move your family and business again," Born said.Born talked about the shortage of dentists overall and said that some estimates say as much as 40 percent of vacancies in the central United States will go unfilled after retirements.There are a good number of dentists graduating from schools, but that doesn’t cover the estimated amount of retirements that will come in the next 10 years."One good thing," Born said, "is that there will be multiple opportunities for dentists after they graduate."

By Lori EhdeLuverne residents and the surrounding area now have access to up-to-the minute, accurate weather data specific to the area.KELO-TV selected Luverne Middle School to be a Weather Net site, which means the TV station will have better geographical coverage for its weather information, and Luverne finally has weather data all its own.Luverne eighth-grade Earth Sciences teacher Tom Lanoue teaches a two-week weather session that requires his students to measure and record weather data."We had an old jalopy of a system that we used to compare with measurements from around the area," Lanoue said."This way they have current data from right here in Luverne. Otherwise they’d have to call Sioux Falls, Pipestone or Worthington. The closest data we could find was a half-hour away."Lanoue said the only requirements for Luverne to participate as a Weather Net site is that it dedicates a low-functioning computer and power supply. Luverne Middle School plays only a minimal role in getting the information to KELO."It downloads itself and e-mails itself to KELO," Lanoue said. "We only need to make sure the equipment is operating."He said KELO has $800 worth of weather instruments on the middle school roof. That includes a thermometer, barometer and an electronic rain gauge."You can go the KELO Web site and click on ‘Luverne’ to see what the current conditions are here any time of day," Lanoue said.The site is located at www.keloland.com.He said the equipment also measures helpful information, such as wind speeds, wind chill, heat index and more."It really benefits the whole community."Luverne was one of 25 new communities to become KELOLAND Weather Net sites. They were selected based on dedication to the project and KELO’s need for weather sensors at certain geographical areas.Middle School Principal Stacy Gillette filled out the application for Luverne. She described the program as a great opportunity for students. "It will give them more information and it will be more official."In addition to immediate on-line information, Luverne’s weather will scroll across the bottom of the KELO television screen, and Luverne’s conditions will be announced during the early-morning weather segment.While Lanoue worked with the KELO technicians to get the process going, he said District Technology Coordinator Wade Hiller has put a good share of time into getting it up and running. In addition, he said the custodians worked to get the equipment installed on the roof.The program will be ready for students when they start school this fall.

By Lori EhdeLuverne’s Shari Kracht enjoys backyard barbecues and private space for her children to play, both indoors and out. But most of all, she enjoys the freedom of owning her own home.As the first Habitat for Humanity homeowner in the Southwest Minnesota Chapter, Kracht is reminded every day how much better life is after moving out of her low income apartment last year."How can I not be happy?" she said Tuesday.Her four-bedroom home, completed last summer, is located on the corner of Warren and Southwest Park street.Being a Habitat for Humanities family is a non-conventional route to homeownership, but Kracht said it’s a path she’d be happy to take again.In fact, she’s been instrumental in helping other families who are considering making the same move."I tell them it’s scary at first, because it’s such a big change," she said. "It’s overwhelming — all these people coming at you at once. People come from everywhere and you don’t know who they are."She said she encourages them to go through with it, because it’s worth it in the end. "Once you get into it, and you reach the midway point, you start to see the end," she said. "And when you get to the end, it’s the most wonderful thing you can imagine."Along with the wonderful aspects of homeownership, Kracht said the most important message she gets across is that a Habitat home is earned."It’s something you pay for, and once you’re in it, you’re in it for life," she said.Including taxes and insurances, Kracht is making payments of more than $300 per month, and she said she hopes to clear up the misconception that she’s getting something for nothing.She said it also bothers her to hear rumors that she’s not caring for the property. "Contrary to popular belief, it’s not wrecked or destroyed," Kracht said.According to Marie Ekdom, assistant administrator of the Southwest Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, success of the chapter and its programs hinges on public support.She said the Luverne project is a success and that Kracht has contributed to that. "Shari has done everything we want her to do as a Habitat homeowner," Ekdom said.In testimonials she offers on the process, Kracht describes a deep sense of pride in having been a part of the building process."The 500 hours of sweat equity I did willingly and with pride, knowing that I was helping build my own home," she says in her speeches."It gives you this great sense of pride. You help build it, you want to keep it nice forever, because you know how much work goes into building it."She also talks about how the process has changed her life. "I am so much happier. The children are so much happier. I feel alive again," she says. "The youngest four no longer have to be ashamed of where they live and are very happy."She also shares with others how she’s learned about generosity in others."My many thanks to the Southwestern Minnesota Habitat For Humanity and all the people who volunteer their time," she said. "This has opened my eyes to see that there are people out there who do care — people who freely volunteer their time to help others."Now she said she looks forward to volunteering her time with the Pipestone Habitat home."I’ll do anything they need help with," she said. "If I could have helped more with the Worthington home I would have."The average Habitat for Humanity home is built for about $35,000 to $40,000 with donated funds, equipment and labor.For every local home built, the national organization gives 10 percent of the total value to projects in other needy parts of the world.Pam Dobson is the Luverne contact for Habitat for Humanities.

By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board of Commissioners met in a special budget session Tuesday, and will continue to do so until it comes up with at least $500,000 of cuts for 2004.Board Chair Ron Boyenga went out on a limb and listed areas he thought could be cut: o$150,000 from the Highway Departmento$150,000 from Family Serviceso$80,000 from Extensiono$40,000 from the Library and Pool and Fitness Centero$40,000 in health insurance savingso$40,000 from various other savingsThe Board has to cut the $500,000 from the portion of the budget that isn’t required spending — about $3 million.Administrator Kyle Oldre summed up the budget situation for 2004 and 2005: The county will have less money, the same mandated spending, the same expectations from citizens and more costs from the state.Commissioner Richard Bakken said, "This isn’t just talk, it’s action."The Board is meeting in closed committee sessions to talk more specifically about cuts, which could involve personnel. Oldre said he favors buy-outs, or early retirements, instead of laying off employees. Commissioner Bob Jarchow said the initial cost of the early retirements will still save the county money in a year. Jarchow said that the whole budget problem could be looked at in a positive way, because county government will be streamlined from now on.Oldre said that looking at big line items to cut isn’t adding up to $500,000 quickly, so every small expense has to be considered for a cut in coming meetings.

By Lori EhdeKathy and Roger Fick of K&R Auto, Luverne, were the highest bidders on Luverne’s Bargain Center Friday when the building and its contents were sold in an auction.Roger Fick said there are no immediate definite plans for the 10,000-square-foot building, and he declined further comment.Roger and Carol Sorenson have owned and operated in the former Kenny’s Super Foods building since 2000.It had been vacant since 1997 when Larry Goebel quit the grocery business there.Prior to the Kenny’s building, the Bargain Center operated out of the blue building in the block currently occupied by the new Glen’s Food Center.The blue building was demolished to make way for the new grocery store, which was first Jubilee Foods until last year.Friday’s auction drew large crowds in the Bargain Center Parking lot, as inventory and equipment were liquidated in the going-out-of-business auction.Carpenter Auction Service, Lake Benton, handled the sale.