To the Editor:A great Norwegian girl is looking for a host family for the coming school year. She is Inger S., age 17, very athletic; loves long jumping, was in Scouts. She is from southern Norway, Mandal, in Vest Agder, where her father is a doctor and her mother is a nurse. She has an older sister and younger brother. Contact phone 1-800-522-4678 and ask for McKenzie.Rosa Tofteland Johnson Luverne

To the Editor:A great Norwegian girl is looking for a host family for the coming school year. She is Inger S., age 17, very athletic; loves long jumping, was in Scouts. She is from southern Norway, Mandal, in Vest Agder, where her father is a doctor and her mother is a nurse. She has an older sister and younger brother. Contact phone 1-800-522-4678 and ask for McKenzie.Rosa Tofteland Johnson Luverne

The state’s largest small business advocacy group, National Federation of Independent Business, would like to thank Rep. Doug Magnus for his support of legislation to revise the Joint and Several Liability law. The revision of joint and several liability is one of the most critical tort reforms of all and his vote went a long way toward restoring fairness in our system. This revision will change the standard of fault from 16 percent to 51 percent or more for a party to be forced to pay all the damages in personal injury suits or other tort claims. In our view, it is extremely unfair to force someone who is as little as 16 percent at fault to pay an entire award, which in some cases may cause significant financial strain on these parties or even bankrupt them. Thanks to Rep. Magnus’s vote only those who are 51 percent or more at fault will now be forced to pay the whole award. We also appreciate the fact that he was willing to make the necessary procedural votes to get this bill to the governor’s desk. Thanks to his efforts we have taken a big step toward combating lawsuit abuse in our state and have addressed a great inequity in our system of jurisprudence.Mike HickeySt. PaulState Director

Over the past few weeks, there have been a lot of negative comments about certain law enforcement officials in our community. This letter is not by any stretch of the imagination saying that these complaints are not warranted or real. I don’t know the facts behind the stories. I will be the first to say that our civil rights must be protected. I have personally never had a problem with any of the law enforcement in our area. I have, however, been given assistance a time or two.The purpose of this letter is to say thank you. Thank you to all the peacekeepers in our community.These people, more often than not, have a thankless job. The pay isn’t that great and the hours are absolutely lousy. They never know what they will be facing when they pull a car over or respond to a domestic call. People, when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, do things they wouldn’t normally do. And these people can be dangerous. The families of the officers pray that the phone doesn’t ring from the time they leave for work until the time they come home. Nobody likes getting tickets. I know I don’t. But I have a family. And I am grateful that these people are out there protecting them. Again, to everyone who works in the field of law enforcement, thank you. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated.Tom HarmsLuverne

We would like to thank the city publicly for the beautiful park they have created where our family home used to stand. The play equipment and landscaping in the picnic area at Evergreen Park are outstanding. Al would be particularly pleased to see the many trees that were preserved as well as his old windmill turning silently in the breeze. Our families have been back to enjoy the park, to create wonderful new memories to add to the innumerable ones we have of Evergreen Farm. A special thank you to Darrell Huiskes for shepherding the project. It is a job well done. Thank you very much. Karen Christensen Kullnat Joel Christensen Marge Christensen

Some family legends seem to last forever. After many years, my relatives are still chuckling about one young couple, who headed for their newly carpeted bedroom at the end of a long workday. The husband settled into bed first. Instead of joining him, his young bride, who later related the story, began picking up conspicuous pieces of white, fluffy stuff from the dark blue carpeting. Her search seemed to go on indefinitely as she bent down here and there, picking up the lint balls as if they were so many strawberries. Her impatient groom finally blurted out, "What’s the deal, are you giving up sex for lint?" It now appears the nameless, young woman (who may or may not have been my sister-in-law) chose the handpicking lint method over standard vacuuming for a good reason. She must have foreseen a recent vacuum cleaner study at the University of Nebraska. According to Time magazine, researchers at the school decided to figure out why so many women patients at their clinic complained of angina (heart disease-related chest pain) while vacuuming. In addition to finding that vacuuming is "indeed a taxing task" — a no-brainer for anyone who has ever vacuumed — the researchers recommend that women with heart disease use self-propelled upright cleaners. Their solution is easier said than done. It’s not human nature to trade in any household appliance before its time. As in any long lasting relationship based on unconditional loyalty, we fail to see the gradual changes brought about by time. Many homemakers use clothes washers without final spin cycles, clothes dryers that sound like cement mixers and toasters that char bread slices beyond recognition. To further complicate matters, a good number of appliance owners live with appliance revivalists, who religiously believe that all appliances have life after death. According to their beliefs, no appliance should be thrown out before its time. Another used electrical cord, an on-off switch from another broken-down appliance and limitless amounts of electrical tape are all they need to keep the faith. After years of tinkering done to their systems, some appliances barely resemble their original factory designs. They gradually evolve into mechanized mutants. Another problem with the University of Nebraska study is that many women don’t know if they have heart disease. They’re too busy vacuuming or operating other household appliances to make an appointment to find out. An alternate solution might be the one used when we planned to carpet the living room of a farmhouse. After scattering brown carpet samples on the dirt driveway, we came up with a perfect match. As a result, dirt tracked in from the outside couldn’t be seen and risking a heart attack while vacuuming became less of a threat. Actually, any solution would be better than being found on the living room floor in an unflattering pose with a vacuum cleaner handle still clenched in one hand and a dust rag in another. It would be much more satisfying to meet one’s end while biting into a large wedge of chocolate fudge, surrounded by dust bunnies. Before the dust settles on the Nebraska study, we might want to think twice before we do any more vacuuming.

The weatherman has been treating us very well this week. We have had some hot and sultry days but when evening comes, a cool breeze blows up from one direction or another and we have had absolutely perfect weather for sleeping. Every morning I am awakened by a chorus of birds singing their hearts out to welcome me to a new morning. Don’t ask me what kind of birds they are, but they sing beautifully. As I have lived on a farm all of my life with large groves of trees which housed many and various kinds of birds, I paid very little attention to them as they were always there. I hardly know one kind of bird from another. I know a robin when I see it and a cardinal because they are red and I think that is the end of my knowledge. I love to hear them sing but I don’t appreciate it when they want to build a nest in the roof of my deck. I am also very happy that they like to eat worms, but when the robins started pulling my onions out this spring I really didn’t appreciate that either. I hope you are living where you can hear the birds in the early morning. If we would all wake up as good-natured as they are what a wonderful world it would be. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Henrietta Huenink and her family on the passing of her mother, Dena Korthals. Funeral services were in Steen Reformed Church Friday afternoon with burial in Eastside Cemetery. Family members coming from a distance were Christina Pierce, Sioux City, Iowa, Evelyn Veenker, Lake Park, Iowa, Margaret Harberts and husband, Orville, George, Iowa. the Rev. Edward Korthals and his wife, Thelma, Buffalo, Frederick Korthals and his wife, Bonnie, Worthington, Maurice Korthals and his wife, Ruth, Omaha, Neb., and Dorothy Sides, Friendsville Tenn. Also surviving are 44 grandchildren, 92 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchildren. Last week I reported Evelyn Tilstra had gone home from the hospital. That is an error as she is still a patient at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. Sorry about that. Mildred Paulsen attended a four county local Advisory Board meeting Monday evening at the Family Services building in Luverne.Our deepest sympathy goes out to GaWaine Deikevers and his family whose nephew, Trevor Tedejman, was killed in an automobile accident on Monday. Congratulations to Ken Van Batavia, son of Marlin and Minnie VanBatavia, and Rebecca Groen who were united in marriage Saturday afternoon at Steen Reformed Church. Darrell Bosch and his daughter, Robin, Blacksburg, Va., came Sunday to visit in the home of his parents, Bill and Bertha Bosch. They plan to return to their home on Tuesday.Shirley (Paulsen) Longnecker, Mt. Dora, Fla., arrived by plane on Wednesday in Sioux Falls to visit her mother, Laura Paulsen, Hills, and her brother, Melvin and wife, JoAnn Paulsen and other relatives in the area and to attend her class reunion on Saturday. On Thursday, Melvin and JoAnn Paulsen, Laura Paulsen and Shirley Longnecker met their sister, Donna May Randall, Long Prairie, and Glen and Marla Paulsen and family, Sioux Falls, at the Luverne Pizza Ranch for dinner. Friday Melvin and Joann Paulsen, Laura Paulsen and Shirley Longnecker met Donna Mae Randall at Worthington at the Travelodge for a time of visiting and dinner. Shirley Longnecker joined three of her classmates of 1955 and others from the classes of ‘53, ’54 and ’55 Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn in Sioux Falls. Shirley left for her home in Mt. Dora, Fla., on Tuesday. Dries Bosch was hospitalized Thursday afternoon at Luverne Hospital. After being treated for dehydration he was able to return home on Saturday afternoon. Pete and Judy Boeve, Sioux Falls, were Sunday evening supper guests in the home of her mother, Henrietta Huenink.A Thursday morning brunch was at the Dries and Laura May Bosch home. Those attending were Shirley Longnecker, Mt. Dora, Cena Mae Tilstra, Darlene Bosch, Anna Elbers, all from Luverne, JoAnn Paulsen, Gert Hup, Hills, Henrietta Boeve and Melba Boeve. Cena Mae Tilstra and Jean Jacobson Tilstra met Shirley Longnecker at the Country Kitchen where they enjoyed lunch together on Saturday. The last few weeks I have been on the serious side so this week I thought we would stay on the lighter side.As we grow older it becomes even more difficult to change our lives, and lifestyles have certainly changed in the last few years. Everything is computers and push button machines. Since technology was never my favorite subject I am having a difficult time adjusting. Most of the changes we cannot do much about as it does and will affect everyone of us as the years go by. But it is better to laugh about it as to cry. I would like to share these words of wisdom with you. It is later than you think; everything is farther away now than it used to be. It’s twice as far to the corner — and they added a hill.I’ve given up running for the bus; it leaves faster than it used to.It seems to me they are making steps steeper than in the old days and have you noticed the smaller print they use in the newspapers?There is no sense asking anyone to read aloud … everyone speaks in such a low voice I can scarcely hear them. Material in dresses is so skimpy, especially around the hips. It’s all but impossible to reach my shoelaces. Even people are changing; they are much younger than they used to be when I was their age. On the other hand, people who are my age are much older than I.I ran into an old classmate the other day and she had aged so much she didn’t remember me. I got to thinking about the poor thing while I was combing my hair this morning and I glanced into the mirror at my reflection and confound it, they don’t make mirrors like they used to either!These words of wisdom was only signed "Anonymous!" Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

The 50-year reunion of the class of 1953 from Hills High School was celebrated Saturday, July 19, along with classes 1952 and 1954. A delicious assortment of appetizers preceding the banquet which was in the home of Bonnie (Moser) and David Stavig in Sioux Falls, S.D.Bev (Ruud) Simpson, of Sioux Falls, mistress of ceremonies and key person in charge, opened the dinner with prayer. Nine ’53 graduates, four ’54 graduates, eight ’52 graduates, along with most of their mates, and one each ‘58 and ’50 graduates were in attendance. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson and Jean Hanson, former teachers, were present and honored. Visitors last Wednesday of Martha Lindrud were Karen and Kristin Vestlie of Texas along with Richard, Kaylyn and Ruben Vestlie, Sioux Falls. Dick and Audrey Heidenson returned home Thursday after a one and one-half week vacation. They traveled to Arlington Heights, Ill., to visit friends at their former home and attend services at their former church. After being home three days they went to Battle Lake to visit their son, Steve and Deb, at their resort. Also joining them were the Rev. Ray and Deb Heidenson, Brandon, S.D., and their daughter, Jan and Mark Austad, Apple Valley. The grandchildren are spending this week at the resort. Gregg and Cyndi Ebert returned home Thursday from a trip to the East and South. They drove to Columbia, S.C., to visit their son, Todd and wife Ellie. Then went to Chapel Hill, N.C., to attend a niece’s wedding and lastly to Washington, D.C., where they picked up their son Matt and his belongings and brought him to Hills. Matt will be attending law school at the University of Minnesota this fall. Shirley (Paulsen) Longnecker, Mt. Dora, Fla., came to visit her mother, Laura Paulsen, Wednesday, July 16, and returned home July 22.Michelle and Nikki Nester came from Winona Thursday to spend until Monday in the home of Joanne Goehle. Leanne, Elliot and Allison Carmany were Thursday visitors. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe attended the outdoor wedding at Tuthill Park in Sioux Falls on Saturday morning for their daughter Amber VanWyhe and Travis Arends. The reception immediately followed at C.J. Callaways in Sioux Falls. Jane Schubert, Clair and Isaac, Tanzania, Africa, arrived Wednesday to spend some time in the home of her parents, Vic and Fran Sandager, and other relatives. Thursday, Mark and Karen Sandager, Ian and Tom, and Eva Cragoe, Beaver Creek, were evening guests in the Sandager home helping Jane celebrate her birthday. Joanne Goehle, Michele, Nikki and Pat Nester; Leanne, Allison, Andrew and Elliot Carmany, Tyler; Brenda, Katie and Colby Hadler, Winona, along with other family members from Luverne and California were evening dinner guests at Vivian Holst’s in Luverne.On July 18 Mel and Jo Paulsen, Laura Paulsen and Shirley Longnecker met Donna Randall, Long Prairie, for a noon luncheon in Worthington. Saturday Don and Edyth Briggs motored to New Ulm to attend the Heritage Festival. Several of Amber VanWyhe’s college friends of Kearney, Neb., were overnight guests Friday evening in the home of Cliff and Vi VanWyhe.Bonnie Olson, St. Paul, spent from Thursday to Saturday in the home of her mother, Luella Schlueter. Friday evening Chuck and Rheta DeBoer met her sister and husband and two cousins in Rock Rapids to enjoy a meal at the Pizza Ranch.Don and Edyth Briggs attended the 100th birthday party for Marie Hensch at Tuff Village on Sunday. Grandsons, Pat Nester, Winona, and Andrew Carmany, Tyler, were at Joanne Goehle’s home from Monday until Thursday. Capt. Charles Erickson is in Afghanistan in the Civil Affairs Division. He is the son of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson. This is the address for: Charles Erickson, Log Cell South, PRT: Gardez, APO AE 09354.Donna (Paulsen) Randall, Long Prairie, met Laura Paulsen, Hills, Glen, Marla, Grant and Morgan Paulsen, Sioux Falls, Mel and Jo Paulsen, Steen, and Shirley Longnecker, Mt. Dora, Fla., at the Pizza Ranch in Luverne for dinner on July 17. Mary Herr, Chicago, Ill., returned to her home Tuesday after spending a few days with her mother, Opal Swanson, and other relatives. Saturday, Joanne Goehle, Michele, Pat and Nikki Nester; Leanne, Carmany, Elliot, Allison and Andrew; Brenda and Colby Hadler attended the Goehle family reunion at the lake home of Charles and Carol Goehle in Lake Benton.Clair Schubert is attending Bible School with his cousin, Molly Sandager, this week in West Des Moines, Iowa.Ten Luther Leaguers from Bethlehem Lutheran congregation attended the Luther League Convention in Atlanta, Ga. The group with their advisers, Deb and Larry Haak, left Wednesday and returned Sunday night. Those going were Ashley and Stacey Bush, Brianna Boeve, Derek Haak, Jessica and Jason Martens, Katie McGaffee, Jody Rentschler, Ashley Sundem and Jessica Wassenaar.

10 years ago (1993)"The city of Steen continues to improve itself for the residents. The city purchased the old ball stand which was at the ball diamond but not in use, as a new one was built last summer. Monday they moved it down near the booster (lift) station. They will put their generator in the old club house to have it a little more convenient in case the electricity would go off during a storm." 25 years ago (1978)"The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriot Marching Band completed their summer season Saturday with an eighth-place finish at the Minneapolis Aquatennial Grande Day Parade, the band’s second performance in that parade in as many years.Another highlight of a month filled with highlights for the H-BC band was last Wednesday when they received a telegram informing them that they had been chosen as the winners of the 1978 Toast of Cherryland Award for their performance at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Mich."50 years ago (1953)"The members of School District 39 had a picnic on Wednesday, July 8, at the school grounds. More than 50 were in attendance, the second, third and fourth generations of one of the founders were present. A short talk on the changes and progress of times was given by Supt. V.M. Barrett. Mrs. H. Opheim read the original records of the organization of this district. Proceedings were begun in 1877. Seventy-five years ago on March 27, 1870, the site was chosen and the schoolhouse built before the Great Northern tracks were laid past this ground. The records show the cost of the first schoolhouse to be $186.97, which is still in use on a neighboring farm. Members of the first school board were F.B Myrick, Clerk, Ole Severtson, director, and W.H. Doran, treasurer. The first teacher received $8 per month. School was in session during the spring and summer months. The school building now on the grounds was erected in 1918 at a cost of $3,845. In the afternoon kittenball by young and old was the grand finale.75 years ago (1928)"Mrs. Marit Sjolseth is having the city water installed in her home, and when that job is completed workmen will begin connecting up the Chris B. Sjolseth home. So far, 31 are now "hooked up" and enjoying the city water. Everybody finds it is the most convenient, and cheaper than a well. Besides, it costs so little to use it for sprinkling the lawn and garden, even though the village dads should decide to install meters."100 years ago (1903)"Last Thursday evening about 7:30 everybody in town was badly scared by a sharp lightning, accompanied by a terrific crash of thunder. Quite a number of persons saw the shingles and bricks flying off the roof of the O.H. Wyum residence now occupied by W.F. Finke, and immediately there was a general stampede for that place to see if any one was injured, but luckily enough Mrs. Finke escaped unharmed. The chimney was demolished, the roof ripped up to some extent and the house was filled with soot. As there was no storm or threatening clouds at the time of the crash it proved very startling."