Ruth Kathryn Smith, 87, Hills, died Monday, March 10, 2003, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

A memorial service will be at a later date. The family requests no floral tributes at this time. However, donations in Ruth’s name to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills would be appreciated.

Ruth Searles was born to Jesse F. and Clara A. (Warne) Searles on Jan. 3, 1916, on the family farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Beaver Creek High School.

She married Henry Gerald Smith on July 11, 1937, on the family farm near Beaver Creek. After their marriage, the couple moved to Adrian where they owned and operated Smith’s Bakery for 44 years.
Following Mr. Smith’s death in 1983, she moved to Luverne.

Mrs. Smith was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church. She loved to bake at home and was famous for her desserts.

Survivors include three sons and their spouses, Richard (Jacqueline) Smith, San Francisco, Calif., Robert (Daryl) Smith, St. Louis, Mo., and Donald Smith and partner Marion Boyer, Taipei, Taiwan; seven grandchildren, Angie, Jeffrey, Jessica, Sara, Marcus, Jennifer and Michelle; two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Austin; four siblings, James Searles, White Bear Lake, Joseph Searles, St. Paul, JoLoyce Holmes, Lusby, Md., and Clevonne Jeka, Calumet City, Ill.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Henry, one sister, Marion Mills, and three brothers, Jack, William and Donald Searles.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Soehl, 68, Hills, died Tuesday, March 11 at Luverne Community Hospital. Visitation will be Thursday, March 13 from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home, Hills. Services will be Friday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Luverne. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Beaver Creek..

By Jolene Farley
At a Monday meeting, the Hills City Council discussed where to decrease the city’s budget if Minnesota state aid is cut by Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s plan.

The state hasn’t notified the city of specific cuts yet, but the council decided on a plan of action to follow when and if those cuts occur.

Mayor Jim Jellema suggested the city not do sewer work that was budgeted for this year. The city routinely contracts to televise (run a camera through the lines) a portion of the sewer lines for needed repairs and problems.

The contractor generally works on the sewer lines until he reaches the dollars allotted by the city.
Depending on the amount of repairs needed, the contractor could complete several blocks or only a few blocks of work each year.
"We’ve done that every year … we could probably hold back on that," said Jellema.

After some discussion, the council decided to eliminate funds budgeted for the purchase of a tractor and pickup for the city.

Jellema cautioned that the pickup is getting worn and it may or may not make it through another year.
If the state aid comes through, these items could be added back into the budget.

The council also discussed not seal coating the streets this year as an alternative money saver. The east side of town was done last year and the west side of town was budgeted for this year.

The council decided against cutting the street budget and awarded the seal coating job to Top Coat, Yankton, S.D., after reviewing bids.

Fire department budget
The council reviewed the proposed $31,425 Fire Department budget for 2004 but didn’t approve it.

The total budget for 2003 was $23,350, according to City Clerk Connie Wiertzema. The increase in the proposed 2004 budget is attributed to a $2,000 increase, from $3,000 to $5,000, in the Firemen’s Relief Fund contribution, a $700 increase in the truck replacement fund, from $2,300 to $3,000, and an increase in roof expenses from $500 to $6,000. Officials plan to replace the roof on the fire hall in 2004.
Fire department expenses are split with Martin??? Township, so the budget must be approved by the township board in addition to the Hills City Council.

One of the board members questioned why taxpayers should be asked to contribute more to the Firemen’s Relief Association fund.

A portion of the money in this fund, used to pay for the firemen’s retirement, was invested in the stock market and devalued as the stock market fell, according to the council.

Council Member Arlen Leenderts asserted that the fire department has several firemen retiring with 25 to 30 years of service and the department pays out $475 for each year of service.

"For the time spent and for what those guys put in … the time … it’s not much," said Council Member Dana Dahlquist.

"We can’t make a decision (about the budget) one way or another until we have more answers from the firemen and we see if the township goes along with it," Jellema said.

He suggested a representative from the fire department come to the next meeting with more information on the Firemen’s Relief Fund for the council.

Volleyball courts
The board agreed to donate $400 toward repairing the existing volleyball courts in the park and at the Rez and building another court.

The Lion’s Club and the Hills Community Club have already agreed to donate $400 each toward the estimated $1,200 project.

"They’d like to get a better turnout for tournaments during Friendship Days and there’s enough interest in town to start a league," Stacen Burgers said.

Burgers added that since most of the residents interested in joining a league have young children, they would like the new court to be at the park rather than the Rez.

Volunteers will dig and haul away the dirt for the new court, to be located about 200 feet southwest of the current court in the park.

The groups also want to redo the court at the Rez for use during tournaments and by campers.

The project could cost more than $1,500 if the electrical work for lighting costs more than the allotted $500, according to Burgers.

Propane tanks
The board discussed whether the city should purchase eight propane tanks instead of renting them.

The city currently contracts for 15,000 gallons of propane a year. The city could accept bids from any company without changing tanks if the low bidder wasn’t the current supplier.

"Without owning these tanks you can be looking at changing these tanks," Jellema said.

By Jolene Farley
The City of Hills is selling the Patriot Academy and barbershop property on Main Street. The council recently voted to advertise for sealed bids on the structure.

Kelly’s Roadhouse owner Kelly Demuth attended the Hills City Council meeting Monday as an interested buyer for the building, located next door to his bar.

Demuth told the council he’d like to open a café and arcade room in the space.

"There would be double doors between the bar and the café part," Demuth said, but wasn’t specific on a timetable for the project.

Demuth would also increase the amount of parking he owns if he purchases the building.

Mayor Jim Jellema informed Demuth that the city is obligated to advertise for bids on the building.

The Council added the following stipulations to the sale:

The council has the right to refuse any bids because of the intended use of the property,

The property is taxed commercial, and

Any business must be open within one year.

The bids will be opened at the April City Council meeting.

Barber Bud Hoogeveen operates his shop in the building, so the council decided to offer rental space in the Legion building to Hoogeveen for the same rent he currently pays.

Patriot Academy rented the remainder of the space until last fall when classes were moved to Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School.

By Jolene Farley
Voters passed the $400,000 levy Tuesday, ensuring that construction on the locker room and fitness center at Hills-Beaver Creek High School will move forward.

H-BC School Board members immediately canvassed the election results at a meeting after the polls closed.

"What’s ironic is this is real close to that survey we received in January," said Superintendent Dave Deragisch.

The district sent out a survey in December 2002 asking residents if they were interested in the locker room project at a cost of $400,000.

Initial cost estimates for the project without a weight room ranged from $398,144 to $439,552.

The weight room adds $113,302 to the project, handled by Group II Architects, Sioux Falls.

With 453 votes, 315 yes votes or 69.5 percent and 138 no votes or 30.5 percent, there was good participation at the polls.

"The big thing I was telling people was … vote … I don’t care how you vote, just vote," Deragisch said.
Only 12 people reportedly cast their ballots at the last Martin Township election, but on Tuesday, 109 voters showed up.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to start after bids are opened May 8, but school officials hope to set that date earlier.

Test drilling has been done at the construction sight to test the soil, according to Deragisch.

A final review of the building plans between the school board and the architect is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, and bidding information will be issued on Friday, April 4.

The vote broke down in this way: the City of Beaver Creek had 57 yes votes and 11 no votes; the City of Hills, 115 yes votes and 16 no votes; the City of Steen, 29 yes votes and 11 no votes; Springwater Township, seven yes votes and 11 no votes; Clinton Township, 18 yes votes and 13 no votes; Beaver Creek Township, 25 yes votes and 31 no votes; Martin Township, 64 yes votes and 45 no votes.

Jim Harsma and his daughter, Marisa, work their way through the Hula Hoop obstacle course Monday night during Gym Night with Dad in the Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary gym. Sponsored by H-BC Early Childhood Family Education (E.C.F.E.) 104 students and 68 dads, grandpas or uncles ate pizza and enjoyed various activities, including basketball, volleyball, jump rope, toss-n-catch, parachute, hopscotch, threw balls or rode toys.

Submitted photo

More than 80 people attended the World Day of Prayer program Friday, hosted by the Steen Reformed Church in Steen. Those attending joined many others around the world in worship with special prayers, a speaker and music. At right, Courtney Hoogendoorn, one of many providing the special music for the afternoon, sings a solo.

Submitted photo

‘Chased by the Light’ broadcast this week on PBS
On Sept. 23, 1994, Luverne native Jim Brandenburg set out on a photographic journey that resulted in the book "Chased by the Light."

Now, Twin Cities Public Television is airing a documentary of the book’s creation.

The hour-long documentary takes Brandenburg from his early days growing up on the prairie in Rock County, through his years with National Geographic.

It then focuses on his creation of "Chased by the Light," which was the result of taking one picture each day from the first day of fall to the first day of winter.

The program will air at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, and at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 16. It can be seen locally on Channel 2 on Mediacom and Channel 97 on PrairieWave.

After April 1 the documentary can be purchased at Luverne’s Brandenburg Gallery in either VHS or DVD format.

Rock River Gobblers raise money for turkey habitat
The Rock River Gobblers had a very successful seventh annual turkey banquet last Friday.

The event drew about 185 people to Sharkee’s, according to banquet chairman Dan Pick.

Between banquet tickets, auction items and other forms of donations, the event raised nearly $13,000.

Twenty-five items were auctioned this year. A new item on the auction block was a print donated by "Outdoor News."

All money raised is sent to the National Turkey Federation, which then sends funds back to its chapters help fund local projects around the country.

One of the local projects the national organization helped fund is the purchase of 153 acres from Paul Arends.

When Russ Blanford died, a percentage of his estate went to the Turkey Federation.

Arends purchased the from the Blanford estate and then resold it to the Turkey Federation, which was interested in the property for wildlife habitat.

‘Skating through TV Land’
"Skating through TV Land" will be the theme of the 12th annual Blue Mound Figure Skater’s annual ice show.

Some of the old TV shows skaters will perform include: "Petticoat Junction," "Daniel Boone," "Charlie’s Angels," "Monday Night Football" and "The Pink Panther."

According to Karen Willers, this year’s show will feature a large father-daughter number, as well as a feature performance by the 16-member Senior Synchronized Skating Team.

In past years, graduating high school seniors would each perform a feature solo performance. This year however, with seven senior girls, they will perform together due to time constraints.

The performance will start to the music of "Pomp and Circumstance" and then switch to the theme song from "Friends."

The Blue Mound Figure Skaters were originally formed in 1991 with about 35 members.

This season, 120 skaters signed up for lessons, making it the biggest year ever for the group.

The skaters range in age from 5 to 18 years old.

Their 12th annual show will be at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on March 15, in the Blue Mound Ice Arena.

‘Good Sam’ to collect items for ‘Uncle Sam’
If you would like to donate to our military personnel, the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center is coordinating that effort.

According to Nancy Kaczrowski, all you need to do is bring items in to the Mary Jane Brown Home, and they will box things up and mail them off.
--pens, pencils
--notebooks
--batteries
--books to read
--soups in packages (not cans)
--treats/candy
--bottled water
--vacuumed items
--microwave popcorn
--newspapers/magazines
--cards/letters
--Q-tips/shampoo
--washcloths/soap
--stamps for letters to send to us back home
--other items that can bring fond memories of home

If you have any questions, contact Nancy at 283-2375.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Another pointless
Pledge bill?
Gimme a break

I see our House Republicans are busy making themselves busy again.

In the true spirit of reinventing the wheel, our Rep. Doug Magnus has authored a bill that would require all students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom at least once a week.

Reciting the Pledge in the classroom is a time-honored tradition that teaches students patriotism to their country. I feel it’s an important ritual that should be continued for centuries to come.

Children need to understand the importance of honoring the flag and the freedoms it represents — freedom that was fought for by men and women who paid for it with their lives.

But it shouldn’t have to be mandated by law.

There are countless classroom traditions I feel strongly about, but I wouldn’t introduce legislation requiring schools to offer kindergarten naps or milk breaks. There are some things we should simply trust our local school boards and teachers to implement out of common sense.

I realize there are some Minnesota schools (obviously lacking this common sense) that have banned the Pledge of Allegiance due to its reference to God.

But this law wouldn’t change the rules in these districts anyway.

The proposed legislation permits schools to opt out of the pledge requirement with a simple majority vote of the local school board. It would also allow any student who objects to participating in the Pledge to be excused without penalty.

On the flip side, families in districts where the Pledge is banned need only lobby their school board members to get the rule changed.

These options at the local level already exist.

Our representatives in St. Paul don’t need to waste their time micromanaging classroom activities.

Rerun of a rerun
If this column sounds like a rerun, that’s because it is.

But so is the bill. And it doesn’t make any more sense now than it did when it was introduced last year at this time.

It’s the sort of happy, feel-good legislation that lawmakers fall all over themselves to sign on to. I just hope our new governor sees through the popularity contest that our former governor saw when he vetoed it last time around.

Our representatives need to get the message that we want them working on practical legislation that will actually help us, not on re-introducing failed bills that serve only to improve their political reputations.

If patriotism is truly the goal, I would call on our lawmakers to work instead on protecting education funding so that students can continue receiving adequate instruction on, say, the history of our great nation.

Published March 6, 2003.