Excited fans of the latest sport will soon scramble for the best curbside seats on their streets. If the trend catches on, entire neighborhoods will listen for the cry, "Gentlemen, start your lawnmower engines!" The lawnmower racing season will soon begin in Britain and the United States. Across the pond the sport is headed by the British Lawn Mower Racing Association, whose motto is "Per Herbam Ad Astra" — Through Grass to the Stars. Racers in the United States follow the rules and regulations of a similar group. A spokesman for the British group told Reuters, "The sport appeals to people from all walks of life attracted to the smell of engine fumes, the spectacle of daredevil maneuvers and the honor of crossing the finishing line first." Any riding or push-type mower designed to cut domestic lawns can be raced and some engines for riding mowers are souped up to reach 50 mph. Full-size farm tractors and combines needn’t apply, thank you. Several signs should indicate whether your next-door neighbor is leading a double life as a lawnmower racer: When asked to describe your neighbor, the best comparison you can come up with is a cross between Jeff Gordon and Edward Scissorshands. You never see him mowing his lawn without a stopwatch in his hand. His lawn goes uncut for several weeks at a time. One reason is that he’s off to the races. Another reason is that racing lawnmowers are required to have their blades removed and it’s not all that easy to remove and replace the blades on a daily basis. When he does mow the lawn, it’s always in record time. Because he mows his lawn so quickly, his lawn is free of obstructions such as birdbaths, wishing wells, shrubs and lawn furniture. Actually, those objects were all reduced to shreds by the neighbor early in his lawnmower racing career. His mower is the only one on the block covered with racing numbers and sponsor decals. Small children in the neighborhood are warned to stay away from his yard. He has only one movie in his home video collection — "The Lawnmower Man." The neighbor has converted your normally quiet suburban street into a drag strip for his mower and any drive-by challengers. And then there’s the incident. Heading for a checkered flag at the finish line has become such a focus in his life that he can hardly be blamed for what happened to the unfortunate neighbor woman. While he was making his trial time laps around the backyard on a recent Saturday morning, she showed up at his back door to borrow a cup of sugar. She had inadvertently dressed that day in a black-and-white checkered muumuu. The muumuu fluttered in the breeze. From her hospital bed later in the day, the woman could hysterically recall hearing the roar of an engine, turning around and coming face-to-grill with a side-discharging, grass-mulching John Deere LT155. (The local lawn implement dealer was kind enough to contribute those technical details for the police report a couple of days later.) The woman neighbor’s most vivid memories of that morning were a threatening blur of green and yellow and the victorious "Yahoo!" of her neighbor. A mishap like that would definitely be a sign.

Saturday morning we awoke to a strong (leftover March) wind rattling the storm windows and anything else that was loose enough to move. Predictions were for high winds and dropping temperatures with a possibility of light frost Saturday night. We should be getting used to the sudden changes in our weather pattern — but it is spring. When is the weather going to cooperate and act like spring? At any rate there is a change in our landscape nearly every day. One day it looks like it would never look any different. However, the next day you might think you were on a different road, but no, it is the same one. The brown fields have all been worked up, the pastures are green and filled with cattle casually grazing. The lawns have turned green — so the next job is to check the lawnmower. The farmers are working frantically on their machinery. Some fields have been tilled, but not many. They look just like they did last fall, except the weeds are dead. However, they have been replaced by a new crop of weeds that are all doing very well. They are all in bloom and I could pick a bouquet of them as they are nice and tall with tiny leaves and clumps of white blossoms on them. I think I will wait as the tulips will soon be in bloom and my iris is looking great. The lilac blossoms are ready to pick. Now, that should inspire me to get into the garden and have a change of landscape on my yard! With scenery like this we don’t need to take a very long trip for a change of scenery as we have one every day. Saturday afternoon Mildred Keunen, Joyce Aykens and Jo Aykens attended the retirement party for Paul Aykens in Orange City, Iowa. He has served 27 years as principal of the Orange City High School. Congratulations to him. They also celebrated Paul’s birthday while there. Norma VanWyhe and daughters, Jessica and Gwen, Lester, Iowa, visited in the home of her mother, Henrietta Heunink, on Mother’s Day.Mother’s Day guests in the Orrin and Bernice Aukes home were their children, Orlie and sons Bryan and Dan, Larchwood, Iowa, Steve and Nancy Willers and daughters, Shilo and Dusty, Fairmont, Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls, Terry and Christi Aukes and sons, Logan and Dylan, Hills, and Clair and Mary Crawford, Beaver Creek. Joyce Bristow underwent surgery at the Surgical Center in Sioux Falls on Thursday. She returned to her home on Sunday. Steen Senior Citizens met last Monday in the Steen Town Hall. There were 12 present. Games and cards were played and lunch was served. Steven Bosch, son of Dries and Laura May Bosch, spent Mother’s Day weekend at their home in Steen. He arrived on Friday and returned to his home in the Cities on Sunday. Dries and Laura May were his Mother’s Day dinner guests in Luverne. Cheryl Hup and Melba Boeve attended the production of "The Monroe Crossing" at the Palace Theatre in Luverne Sunday afternoon. Others from the Steen area attending were Melvin and JoAnn Paulsen, Laura Paulson and Henry and Carol Zwaan. Malena Boeve entered Luverne Community Hospital last Sunday evening and was transferred to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center on Wednesday. She had fallen and broken her arm in several places. We wish her a speedy recovery. Mother’s Day dinner guests in the home of Greg and Michelle VanWyhe were Art and Henrietta Boeve, Glen and Ann Boeve and Matthew and Erin.Graduation exercises were Saturday for Christi Elbers, daughter of Marlin and Linda Elbers, and Erin Smith, daughter of Larry and Rhonda Smith, who graduated from Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa. There was a dinner for the graduates following the ceremony. Audrey Winters, Little Rock, Iowa, was a Saturday afternoon visitor in the home of her mother, Henrietta Heunink.Darlene Bosch underwent surgery at Luverne Community Hospital on Tuesday and was able to return to her home on Thursday.Melba Boeve was a Monday Mother’s Day evening dinner guest of her son Brian and family at the Olive Garden in Sioux Falls. Erin Bosch, daughter of Paula and Diane Bosch, Brandon, graduated from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, Saturday morning. A reception at Paul and Diane’s home followed the graduation exercises. Dries and Laura May Bosch were guests.National Music Week was observed May 7-14, 1967. That is a long time ago and I have never heard that there was a week set aside for music. I am not sure if it is still observed or not but I think it is a wonderful idea. I can’t help but wonder what has happened to our music. I have enjoyed music probably since the day I was born. I know it was when I was very young and my dad and mom would go dancing at the Ash Creek Town Hall. They would put me to sleep behind the piano and when it was time to go home my dad would wake me up and we danced the last dance before going home. The main objectives for observing National Music Week were to stimulate year-round interest in music and music education and to advance specific local music productions of permanent social and cultural values. What does music mean to you? Fun entertainment, relaxation or an emotional or intellectual experience in the concert hall? Or a chance for self expression? Your primary purpose, however, is a religious one. Music enables people to express feelings that cannot be put into words and to communicate these to others in a truly universal language. Psychologists have noted that some persons, who are entirely unmoved by other modes of religious expression, have discovered profound spiritual insights through music. Each of our friends has his own principal melody. He must be judged by that. It is not what he says or does now and then that is important. It is the melody that comes from his whole life. The harmony he may occasionally manifest may merely serve to give greater emphasis to the beauty of his life at other times. Let us hope that National Music Week will become popular and that it will be observed in many areas for we all know "Life is a song, so let’s sing it together!"

Steve and Marilyn VanWyhe, Steen, Heather VanWyhe and Jeff Beeler, Bloomington, Travis Arends, Brookings, S.D., and Cliff and Vi VanWyhe went to Kearney, Neb., Thursday to attend the graduation of Amber VanWyhe. She graduated with a degree in organizational communications. A reception followed with Amber’s friends. A week ago Saturday Don and Edyth Briggs went to Le Sueur to attend the HRAKPT meeting and supper. Dick and Audrey Heidenson returned home from spending a few days at Apple Valley in the home of their daughter, Jan Ausland and family. They attended the graduation of Jan when she received her degree in special education from Augsburg College. They also attended the Apple Valley High School production of the musical "Oklahoma."The Mark Hadler family from Edgerton and the Steve Carmany family from Tyler were Mother’s Day guests in the Goehle home. Don and Edyth Briggs drove to Sioux City, Iowa, Sunday afternoon to spend Mother’s Day with the Marj Winter family. Last Monday evening Betty Elbers attended the Middle School choir concert at Washington High School in Sioux Falls in which her granddaughter, Kelsey, participated. Mother’s Day dinner guests in the Wendell and Kathryn Erickson home were Kirsten and Pat Anderson and Nicole, Sioux Falls, and Margaret Erickson and Jose, Worthington. Vic and Fran Sandager and Mark and Karen Sandager and sons, Tom, Mankato, and Ian, Ames, Iowa, who are home from college for the summer, celebrated Mother’s Day by having dinner "out." Wednesday evening Twila Walker, Luverne, Cheryl Elbers, Valley Springs, S.D., and Betty Elbers attended the mother-daughter banquet at Steen Reformed Church. Guests on Saturday evening at Mae Top’s home were her son, Bill and Judy Top, Sibley, Iowa. Sunday evening Allan and Judy Top, Mae’s daughter, Gerry and Jim Sandstede, Luverne, and grandchildren, Kristin and Jared Van Maanen, Valley Springs, and Mike and Melissa Top and son Chanz, Sioux Falls, met for a Mother’s Day celebration. Sunday Cliff and Vi VanWyhe attended the party reception for Ashley DeWit at the home of her parents, Ron and Lex DeWit, in Sioux Falls. She is a 2003 high school graduate.Chuck and Rheta DeBoer and Rachael spent Mother’s Day in the Seth Hofman home in Melvin, Iowa. Darwin and Kim Elbers and family, Sioux Falls, Tom and Twila Walker and family, Luverne, and Cheryl Elbers and family, Valley Springs, were Sunday guests in the Wilmer and Betty Elbers home. Maggie Schubbe came Thursday from Afton to visit Erma Schubbe. Her husband Tom, and son, Thomas, came Friday and all returned home Sunday night. Jennie Vestlie, Sioux Falls, died Sunday afternoon. Funeral services were at Grace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls on Wednesday. Burial was in Flowerfield Cemetery, Hills. Jennie was 79 and the sister-in-law of Martha Lindrud.

Saturday morning we awoke to a strong (leftover March) wind rattling the storm windows and anything else that was loose enough to move. Predictions were for high winds and dropping temperatures with a possibility of light frost Saturday night. We should be getting used to the sudden changes in our weather pattern — but it is spring. When is the weather going to cooperate and act like spring? At any rate there is a change in our landscape nearly every day. One day it looks like it would never look any different. However, the next day you might think you were on a different road, but no, it is the same one. The brown fields have all been worked up, the pastures are green and filled with cattle casually grazing. The lawns have turned green — so the next job is to check the lawnmower. The farmers are working frantically on their machinery. Some fields have been tilled, but not many. They look just like they did last fall, except the weeds are dead. However, they have been replaced by a new crop of weeds that are all doing very well. They are all in bloom and I could pick a bouquet of them as they are nice and tall with tiny leaves and clumps of white blossoms on them. I think I will wait as the tulips will soon be in bloom and my iris is looking great. The lilac blossoms are ready to pick. Now, that should inspire me to get into the garden and have a change of landscape on my yard! With scenery like this we don’t need to take a very long trip for a change of scenery as we have one every day. Saturday afternoon Mildred Keunen, Joyce Aykens and Jo Aykens attended the retirement party for Paul Aykens in Orange City, Iowa. He has served 27 years as principal of the Orange City High School. Congratulations to him. They also celebrated Paul’s birthday while there. Norma VanWyhe and daughters, Jessica and Gwen, Lester, Iowa, visited in the home of her mother, Henrietta Heunink, on Mother’s Day.Mother’s Day guests in the Orrin and Bernice Aukes home were their children, Orlie and sons Bryan and Dan, Larchwood, Iowa, Steve and Nancy Willers and daughters, Shilo and Dusty, Fairmont, Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls, Terry and Christi Aukes and sons, Logan and Dylan, Hills, and Clair and Mary Crawford, Beaver Creek. Joyce Bristow underwent surgery at the Surgical Center in Sioux Falls on Thursday. She returned to her home on Sunday. Steen Senior Citizens met last Monday in the Steen Town Hall. There were 12 present. Games and cards were played and lunch was served. Steven Bosch, son of Dries and Laura May Bosch, spent Mother’s Day weekend at their home in Steen. He arrived on Friday and returned to his home in the Cities on Sunday. Dries and Laura May were his Mother’s Day dinner guests in Luverne. Cheryl Hup and Melba Boeve attended the production of "The Monroe Crossing" at the Palace Theatre in Luverne Sunday afternoon. Others from the Steen area attending were Melvin and JoAnn Paulsen, Laura Paulson and Henry and Carol Zwaan. Malena Boeve entered Luverne Community Hospital last Sunday evening and was transferred to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center on Wednesday. She had fallen and broken her arm in several places. We wish her a speedy recovery. Mother’s Day dinner guests in the home of Greg and Michelle VanWyhe were Art and Henrietta Boeve, Glen and Ann Boeve and Matthew and Erin.Graduation exercises were Saturday for Christi Elbers, daughter of Marlin and Linda Elbers, and Erin Smith, daughter of Larry and Rhonda Smith, who graduated from Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa. There was a dinner for the graduates following the ceremony. Audrey Winters, Little Rock, Iowa, was a Saturday afternoon visitor in the home of her mother, Henrietta Heunink.Darlene Bosch underwent surgery at Luverne Community Hospital on Tuesday and was able to return to her home on Thursday.Melba Boeve was a Monday Mother’s Day evening dinner guest of her son Brian and family at the Olive Garden in Sioux Falls. Erin Bosch, daughter of Paula and Diane Bosch, Brandon, graduated from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, Saturday morning. A reception at Paul and Diane’s home followed the graduation exercises. Dries and Laura May Bosch were guests.National Music Week was observed May 7-14, 1967. That is a long time ago and I have never heard that there was a week set aside for music. I am not sure if it is still observed or not but I think it is a wonderful idea. I can’t help but wonder what has happened to our music. I have enjoyed music probably since the day I was born. I know it was when I was very young and my dad and mom would go dancing at the Ash Creek Town Hall. They would put me to sleep behind the piano and when it was time to go home my dad would wake me up and we danced the last dance before going home. The main objectives for observing National Music Week were to stimulate year-round interest in music and music education and to advance specific local music productions of permanent social and cultural values. What does music mean to you? Fun entertainment, relaxation or an emotional or intellectual experience in the concert hall? Or a chance for self expression? Your primary purpose, however, is a religious one. Music enables people to express feelings that cannot be put into words and to communicate these to others in a truly universal language. Psychologists have noted that some persons, who are entirely unmoved by other modes of religious expression, have discovered profound spiritual insights through music. Each of our friends has his own principal melody. He must be judged by that. It is not what he says or does now and then that is important. It is the melody that comes from his whole life. The harmony he may occasionally manifest may merely serve to give greater emphasis to the beauty of his life at other times. Let us hope that National Music Week will become popular and that it will be observed in many areas for we all know "Life is a song, so let’s sing it together!"

Excited fans of the latest sport will soon scramble for the best curbside seats on their streets. If the trend catches on, entire neighborhoods will listen for the cry, "Gentlemen, start your lawnmower engines!" The lawnmower racing season will soon begin in Britain and the United States. Across the pond the sport is headed by the British Lawn Mower Racing Association, whose motto is "Per Herbam Ad Astra" — Through Grass to the Stars. Racers in the United States follow the rules and regulations of a similar group. A spokesman for the British group told Reuters, "The sport appeals to people from all walks of life attracted to the smell of engine fumes, the spectacle of daredevil maneuvers and the honor of crossing the finishing line first." Any riding or push-type mower designed to cut domestic lawns can be raced and some engines for riding mowers are souped up to reach 50 mph. Full-size farm tractors and combines needn’t apply, thank you. Several signs should indicate whether your next-door neighbor is leading a double life as a lawnmower racer: When asked to describe your neighbor, the best comparison you can come up with is a cross between Jeff Gordon and Edward Scissorshands. You never see him mowing his lawn without a stopwatch in his hand. His lawn goes uncut for several weeks at a time. One reason is that he’s off to the races. Another reason is that racing lawnmowers are required to have their blades removed and it’s not all that easy to remove and replace the blades on a daily basis. When he does mow the lawn, it’s always in record time. Because he mows his lawn so quickly, his lawn is free of obstructions such as birdbaths, wishing wells, shrubs and lawn furniture. Actually, those objects were all reduced to shreds by the neighbor early in his lawnmower racing career. His mower is the only one on the block covered with racing numbers and sponsor decals. Small children in the neighborhood are warned to stay away from his yard. He has only one movie in his home video collection — "The Lawnmower Man." The neighbor has converted your normally quiet suburban street into a drag strip for his mower and any drive-by challengers. And then there’s the incident. Heading for a checkered flag at the finish line has become such a focus in his life that he can hardly be blamed for what happened to the unfortunate neighbor woman. While he was making his trial time laps around the backyard on a recent Saturday morning, she showed up at his back door to borrow a cup of sugar. She had inadvertently dressed that day in a black-and-white checkered muumuu. The muumuu fluttered in the breeze. From her hospital bed later in the day, the woman could hysterically recall hearing the roar of an engine, turning around and coming face-to-grill with a side-discharging, grass-mulching John Deere LT155. (The local lawn implement dealer was kind enough to contribute those technical details for the police report a couple of days later.) The woman neighbor’s most vivid memories of that morning were a threatening blur of green and yellow and the victorious "Yahoo!" of her neighbor. A mishap like that would definitely be a sign.

Glen Thompson, 83, Springfield, Mo., brother of Evelyn Rogness, Hills, died Saturday, April 19, 2003, in his home.Memorial services were Saturday, April 26. Glen Thompson was born Oct. 9, 1920, in Wadena, Iowa. He graduated from Wadena High School. He worked on the family farm, attended a year of college and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While in the Navy he served on a merchant ship as a radioman and in China, working with Chinese guerillas until the end of the war. He married Violet Landsgaard in 1947. He graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, in 1950 with a degree in agronomy. He worked with the Iowa Farm Bureau until 1955 when he joined Metropolitan Life in the agricultural investment division. He was assistant manager in St. Joseph, Mo., Manhattan, Kan., and Edmond, Okla. He retired from Metropolitan in 1982 and moved to Clarinda, Iowa, and then to Springfield in 1998.Mr. Thompson was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield. Survivors include his wife, Violet Thompson, Springfield; one son, Bruce Thompson, Kansas City, Mo.; one daughter, Dawn (Brad) Olney; two granddaughters, Adrienne and Megan, Prairie Village, Kan.; two brothers, Floyd Thompson, Wadena, and Toby Thompson, Waterloo, Iowa; and one sister, Evelyn Rogness, Hills.

10 years ago (1993)"Friday afternoon and evening’s storm raised havoc in southwestern Minnesota as tornadoes, high winds and rain damaged area farms and homes. A machine shed was totally destroyed at the Jerry and Mary Terwee farm. Roofs were torn off barns at the Alan Harnack, Wayne Piper, Doug Bork and Bert Rozeboom farms." 25 years ago (1978)"WCCO Radio has named Vicki Bos, a student at Hills-Beaver Creek High School, one of its ‘Young Achievers’ for her ‘personal service and achievement’ in class and community."50 years ago (1953)"Reports from Japan are that Dries Elbers has started out on a successful pitching year in softball, winning four shut-out games in one week, including a no hit game."75 years ago (1928)"Plans for the re-opening of the Security State Bank of Hills were hastened by a meeting of the new stockholders held at Finke’s Hall Tuesday evening. Nearly all the new shareholders were present and heard the report of what has been accomplished by the Depositors Committee. It is now hoped to have all the necessary preliminary work finished so that the re-organized bank can open for business on June 1st or very shortly thereafter."100 years ago (1903)"The relations between the two factions of the United Lutheran Church congregation here have been somewhat strained of late years, and at a recent business meeting held in the brick church some action was taken which may result in a split and the ultimate withdrawal of the Lutheran Free Church adherents, who may erect a new church in Hills within the next two years."

H-BC School Board meet April 28Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671Minutes4-28-03The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semimonthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the library in Hills, MN. Board members present were Baker, Leuthold, Boeve, Esselink, Harnack, Larson, and DeBoer. Also in attendance was Superintendent Deragisch. Visitors to the meeting were Jil Vaughn, Nicole Fey, Amy Christensen, Sara Oldre, Cindy Larson, Diane VandenHoek, and Jolene Farley of The Crescent. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Harnack. Patriot Pride: honoring Duane Sandbulte Prom was a great success. Thank you to Teri Richard and the junior parents. The elementary report was given by Mrs. Vaughn and the high school report was given by Superintendent Deragisch. Minutes stand approved as sent out.Motion by Leuthold, second by Esselink, to allow Nicole Fey a half-time position for five years with notification of the school by February 1 of each year. A roll call vote was requested by DeBoer. Baker – yes, Leuthold – yes, Boeve – yes, Esselink – yes, Harnack – yes, Larson – yes, DeBoer – No.Motion carried. Motion by Esselink, second by Baker, and carried to allow Jeanette VandenHoek a medical leave of absence from October 10, 2003 to January 5, 2004. Motion by DeBoer, second by Esselink, and carried to set the summer board meeting schedule as follows: June 9 & 30, July 14, August 9 & 30.Motion by Larson, second by DeBoer, and carried to move the May 26 school board meeting to May 27, 2003 due to Memorial Day. Motion by Leuthold, second by Baker and carried to approve policy #414 Mandating of Child Neglect or Abuse.Motion by Esselink, second by Boeve, and carried to approve policy #506 Student Discipline. Motion by Boeve, second by Larson, and carried to approve policy #507 Corporal Punishment. Motion by Boeve, second by Leuthold, and carried for a staff development goal for 2003-2004. "A continuation to align learner outcomes and assessments in all subject areas K-12."Motion by Esselink, second by DeBoer, and carried to pass a resolution directing the administration to make recommendations for reductions in programs and positions and reasons thereof. Legislative update was given by Esselink.Discussion was held on tree removal.Dates to Remember: May 12 School Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m. May 7 Negotiations at 7:30 p.m. May 8 Bid opening a 2:00 p.m.Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.Ann Boeve, Clerk(5-15)

By Lori Ehde"This job I have... It isn’t just a job. It’s a breath of life I treasure."Those were among the final words of Glenda Schneekloth’s acceptance speech last weekend when she was named Minnesota’s Paraprofessional of the Year.Schneekloth has been a paraprofessional, formerly known as a teacher’s aide, in Luverne schools for more than 15 years. She now works primarily with special needs students in the middle school and high school setting, but she worked with some students, including 2001 grad Andrew Dooyema, from preschool to their senior year."I have always believed Glenda was a big reason for his success," Andrew’s mother, Pam Dooyema, wrote in her letter nominating Schneekloth for the award.Andrew, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, was mainstreamed into high school classes and attended a year of college. He is now employed at Luverne Community Hospital and will move into his own place soon."Andrew was more than a job to her," Dooyema wrote. "She truly cared about him and treated him like one of her own children. … She was a blessing from God. But what makes Glenda so special and rare is that she treats all the children she works with this same way."Several other special needs students wrote their own nominating letters, all noting Schneekloth’s willingness to spend extra time with them.Luverne’s Carol Svingen, who works with the special education cooperative in Pipestone, was largely responsible for coordinating Schneekloth’s nomination for the award."Glenda exhibits exemplary work and personal skills," Svingen wrote. "Her professional demeanor and her ability to work with adults and students in the school system make her not only a privilege to work with, but also an asset to the school district."As a teacher’s aide, Schneekloth said she’s used to working behind the scenes and in the back of classrooms. In that sense, she said, it’s difficult to be the center of so much attention."I have so much respect for teachers, so to find myself in this position …" Tears welled up in her eyes when asked why she thinks she earned the award."It’s probably because I was in a lot of teachers’ classrooms where I learned to do it right," Schneekloth said. "I had a lot of positive role models. I always thought of them as the presenters, and I was the reinforcer."She added that she works with and depends on other paras in a team effort toward the same goals.Not surprisingly, teachers and fellow paras wrote about how much they’ve learned from Schneekloth."… maybe the most important thing I’ve learned from her is the importance of listening," wrote special education teacher Lucinda Rofshus."Listen to staff, listen to kids and listen with your heart. Hear what the kids are saying. Take time to enjoy the little things in life — the small accomplishments that most people take for granted. … There is no one I would trust more with a child — to educate them, to love them and to teach them about life."High School Principal Gary Fisher said the students are the real winners under Schneekloth’s guidance."She is a soft-spoken woman who encourages students to reach their potential," Fisher wrote in his nominating letter."I feel that many of her students reach those levels because she shows she believes in them and cares for them. For many special needs students, all it takes is for someone to care and believe in them. Glenda sees the good in all students and makes sure they know it."These observations are the core of what Schneekloth said she tries to do every day when she comes to school."I make sure I greet them by name, and through the day I try to catch a smile," she said."Students need to know that I respect them and that I care. I want them to feel value in themselves. That’s every human’s need to find value in themselves."Schneekloth accepted her state award at a conference in Hutchinson April 25 and 26.The Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium awards its annual honor based on nominating letters.It asks for information that would demonstrate how well the candidate communicates, takes initiative, contributes to the school environment and makes a difference in lives of students.According to Svingen, once she got the process started, "It was a very easy project. … She’s so deserving."The community is invited to a local reception for Schneekloth from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the middle school-high school library. A short program will be at 3:30.