Big changes await students entering sixth grade at Hills-Beaver Creek High School this fall.
School board members supported the administrators’ recommendation to move to an education structure where students will now follow an eight-period day with electives.
“It seems like a big thing,” said board member Tim Bosch at the May 9 meeting. “It’s just a few more teachers with more responsibility on them (students) to get to the right place.”
Previously the sixth grade was a self-contained classroom with a typical elementary classroom schedule.
When the district moved the sixth grade from the elementary school in Beaver Creek to the high school in Hills seven years ago, it remained as a self-contained classroom with one teacher responsible for all lesson subjects.
This fall the sixth-graders’ schedules will include an eight-period day where they’ll move to a different classroom each hour. They will participate in various electives.
The seventh- and eighth-grade students in the building already operate under the middle school model.
Moving the sixth-graders to a similar schedule made cohesive sense, according to discussion at the May 9 meeting.
“I think it’s better for them because they are the only class that doesn’t do it,” said board member Harley Fransman.
To assist with the upcoming transition, H-BC’s current fifth-grade students visited the high school recently. The current sixth-grade students provided tours and introduced the younger students to the features in the high school building.
High School Principal Andrew Kellenberger explained their new schedule, which will use bells to signify the move to a different classroom, something they didn’t experience at the elementary school.
“I think it (the middle school model) will be a good thing,” he said.
The sixth-grade classrooms will be located near each other in the high school building’s north side.
Kellenberger said the fifth-graders’ biggest fears involve getting lost within the building and finding the right classroom.
These are similar fears the sixth-grade students experienced entering the seventh grade and the current middle school model.
However, within a week, students became familiar and comfortable with the new schedule.
 
In other business, the board:
•supported adding two minutes to the 2022-23 school day to allow more fluent student transitioning during the day. The high school day will be from 8 a.m. to 3:07 p.m. and the elementary will be from 8:15 a.m. to 3:17 p.m.
•accepted the resignation of Graham Sudenga as Spanish teacher/special needs paraprofessional at the end of the 2021-22 school year and Nicole Morey as early childhood special education teacher/paraprofessional effective this summer.

My mom is quiet, reserved and a bit on the shy side.
Lots of folks like crowds and gatherings and spectacles. Mom doesn’t. Which is why it was a bit of a challenge to throw her a proper 80th birthday party.
Her idea of a good time is reading a book in her sunroom or maybe mowing the lawn.
So, we decided to have several smaller gatherings. The first was a breakfast tea party at my sister Sarah’s house with all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren age 7 and younger.
There were 10 of them.
The party’s highlight was a handmade card from Kingston, 7, which read, “Grandma, I would never see you if you weren’t alive.” Making sure he was out of the room, Mom laughed until she cried.
This party also included three baby ducks and a swimming pool, which delighted the guests immensely.
Lunch was to be a women’s lunch with daughters and granddaughters while “the dads” watched the youngsters at a park. A last-minute realization that the lunch venue closed at noon resulted in near disaster. But two granddaughters, ages 34 and 28, rose to the challenge and in less than two hours created a delicious and beautiful lunch which was enjoyed by a dozen women under the gazebo in the Sanford Healing Garden. It turned out to be the perfect setting.
The afternoon was spent playing corn hole with one son, six grandsons and one grandson-in-law at my brother Mike’s house.
The highlight of this party was creating a drone photo of Grandma standing in the giant “80” pattern her grandson Jordan mowed on the lawn for the occasion.
A final hurrah was The Big Party at my sister Lori’s house, where the entire group of 34 descendants gathered for burgers on the grill, a salad bar and, of course, birthday cake.
My sister placed no limit on the amount of purple decorations that can be arranged in one garage. It was spectacular.
In the middle of all of this commotion sat my mom. Quiet as usual. She squeezed little ones as they jumped onto and off her lap. She smiled when we sang “Happy Birthday,” looking relieved when the song was over.
And then she served 33 slices of birthday cake to her husband and kids and grandkids and great-grandkids without really saying a whole lot.
Because my mom is quiet, reserved and a little on the shy side.
Happy 80th birthday, Mom. We love you.

So what’s in a name? The name parents pick to bless, or in some cases curse, their new baby with can be a daunting task.
As you may know, my name is Rick, but that is not my legal name. I have no problem with Rick. After 60-plus years, it kind of grows on you.
My legal name is where the curse part comes into play. I have even checked into changing my legal name to Rick. After considering the expense and hurdles one has to jump through to change their legal name, I decided to stick with the one Mom and Dad supposedly blessed me with.
The name parents choose for the children may be in honor of a family member or a tribute to their family heritage.
When I think back to how Mary and I came up with names, I draw a blank. Our firstborn is Nathan, but I’m not sure where that one came from. Second born is Emily. Again, I have no clue as to why. And the third Peterson child was named Jenna. I think that was the name of one of the characters on the popular TV show, “Dallas,” at the time.
So why all this name stuff? Well, because the Social Security Administration released the 2021 list of the most popular boys’ and girls’ names that Minnesota parents chose to name their babies last year.
In the interest of gender fairness, I flipped a coin to see which gender I list first, and the girls won the coin flip.
Top five girls’ names are:
# 1 Charlotte
# 2 Olivia
# 3 Evelyn
# 4 Emma
# 5 Nora
For the boys, the top five names are:
# 1 Oliver
# 2 Henry
# 3 Theodore
# 4 Liam
# 5 Owen
The Social Security Administration began compiling the baby name lists in 1997, with names dating back to 1880.
At the time of a child’s birth, parents supply the name to the agency when applying for a child’s Social Security card, so the agency has become America’s database for the most popular baby names.

For many caregivers, stress is a constant companion. One effective way to reduce caregiver stress and reduce burnout is to write in a journal. Getting your thoughts down on paper and out of your head is therapeutic.  Studies have found that journaling improves health and well-being.
Chronic stress is devastating on your physical and mental health. Take a few minutes out of your busy day and try to write down your thoughts.
Some suggestions you could do to help you stay as healthy as possible while you care for your older adult are as follows:
•Keep a gratitude list as it helps shift your perspective and see that the world is not negative all the time. Make a list of things you are grateful for every day and keep adding to the list.  When you are feeling negative or discouraged, read through your list to get a dose of positivity.
•Track your accomplishments, as caregiving involves many thankless tasks and exhausting battles.  When you are feeling down, review that list to remind yourself of the things you have achieved.
•Give yourself wise advice by writing the struggle down using the third person.  By doing this, you can distance yourself from what is happening and focus on the facts.  This changes your perspective and helps you to reach an objective solution.
•When you are in a negative mood, it can be difficult to remember how to get out of it.  Make a list of things that give you joy,  activities that relax you, or music that boosts your mood.  When you are feeling down, take out that list and do one of those things that bring you joy.
•Spend more time in nature.  This is one of the best ways to refresh your senses and relax your mind.  If you are not able to be outside on a regular basis, write about spending time in one of your favorite outdoor locations.  Describe your surroundings, the landscape, and how it makes you feel, and then imagine that you are there.
A.C.E. of SW MN  offers caregiver respite to relieve caregivers for a short period of time to run errands, socialize or just step away to get a break.
We also have a caregiver support group that meets the fourth Tuesday of every month. It is a safe place for caregivers to meet and develop a mutual support system. Please call 507-283-5064 for more information.
As we celebrate Older Americans month, please remember to support these amazing folks who have given so much to our communities.

Dispatch report
May 6
•Complainant on E. Lincoln Street reported several mailboxes damaged by a motor vehicle.
May 7
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue and Veterans Drive reported debris in the roadway.
•Complainant on 200th Avenue and 181st Street, Kenneth, reported a suspicious person walking on gravel roads.
May 8
•Complainant on E. Barck Avenue reported subject refusing to leave.
•Pipestone County sheriff in Jasper requested assistance in locating subject.
•Complainant on N. East Park Street and Brown Street reported a person walking with wheelbarrow filled with personal belongings.
•Complainant on W. 1st Street, Hardwick, reported trespassing on property.
•Metro Communications in Minnehaha County requested assistance.
May 9
•Complainant on N. Spring Street reported harassing communications.
•Complainant on N. Freeman Avenue reported disorderly at location.
•Complainant on N. Linden Street reported a parking violation.
•Complainant on Gabrielson Road reported a suspicious vehicle in the area.
•Complainant on County Road 4 reported motorist assist.
May 10
•Complainant on W. Warren Street and S. West Park Street reported they found used needles on sidewalk at location.
•Complainant on W. Dodge Street and N. Kniss Avenue reported a tow truck at location.
•Complainant on 111th Street, Luverne, reported a lost license plate.
•Complainant on S. Second Street, Beaver Creek, reported power outage.
May 11
•Deputy on S. Kniss Avenue reported a suspicious vehicle.
•Marshall police department requested to speak to a deputy.
•Complainant reported a fugitive with a justice warrant.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported harassment via cell phone.
•Complainant reported a tornado watch for Rock County.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported traffic issues.
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75, mile marker 23, Luverne, reported a broken windshield due to a gravel truck.
•Complainant reported her husband is harassing her.
•Complainant on Interstate 90, mile marker, 1, Beaver Creek, reported vehicle parts and guardrail in the roadway.
May 12
•Complainant on U.S. Highway 75, mile marker 21, Hardwick, reported a pickup hauling scrap.
•Complainant on 31st  and 140th Avenue, Ash Creek, reported a pedestrian walking.
•A severe thunderstorm warning was issued.
•Request for baseball teams to seek shelter due to weather.
•Report of a semitrailer tipped over on highway.
•Dispatch notified the state park of weather.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, between mile marker 12 and 13, Luverne, reported a rollover.
•Deputy reported a boat in field on 60th Avenue and 61st Street, Hills.
•Complainant on Cherry Drive reported a street light down.
•Complainant on State Street and Brook Street, Magnolia, reported a power line down.
•Complainant reported city of Beaver Creek reported power outage.
•Complainant on W. Main Street reported a power line down in the alley at location.
•Complainant on S. West Park Street reported a downed tree at location.
•Complainant on Crawford and Estey streets reported tree down in road.
•Assistance from another agency was requested on Interstate 90, mile marker 11, Luverne.
May 13
•Complainant on N. Cedar Street reported an open door.
•A driving complaint was reported on N. Estey Street.
•Complainant on 20th Avenue, Valley Springs, South Dakota, reported a parking issue.
•Complainant at the softball diamonds, west of school, reported a parking issue.
•Complainant reported a transient westbound of Adrian.
•Complainant on County Road 5, west of 50th Avenue, Beaver Creek, reported a parking issue.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported property damage at location.
•Complainant on N. Donaldson Street reported theft at location.
•Assistance from another department was provided in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
•A warrant was issued in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
•Sioux Falls Police Department requested information on W. Mead Court.
•Complainant on S. West Park Street filed a report.
•Complainant on Highway 75 and 141st Street, Luverne, reported a wrong way driver.
•Complainant on 211th Street, between Highway 23 and 50th Avenue, reported possible trespassing.
•Complainant on Edgehill Street reported hazmat dumped into water at location.
 In addition, officers responded to 5 motor vehicle accidents, 1 deer accident, 2 escorts, 9 ambulance runs, 5 paper services, 5 animal complaints, 23 burn permits, 2 background checks, 1 vehicle impound, 2 alarms, 8 drug court tests, 5 purchase and carry permits, 1 stalled vehicle, 16 traffic stops, 12 abandoned 911 calls, 1 test, 5 welfare checks, 1 OFP and 2 follow-ups.

There is an empty lot in Beaver Creek where the 125-foot-tall wooden grain elevator once stood.
Demolition crews have been chipping away at the iconic landmark for the past several weeks, and construction will start soon on a new commodities office and truck scale being built in its place.
“Everything is in good shape, and we are still on schedule to be operational for harvest,” said New Vision Cooperative CEO Matt Ashton. “Everyone is excited to see the finished product.”
The elevator hadn’t been used for active grain storage for over a decade (only for its office and scale) and was taken down for safety and efficiency reasons, Ashton said earlier this year.
“We want to reinvest in Beaver Creek to serve our customers long-term,” Ashton said. “It’s important to upgrade that facility to help our membership there.”
The new 16-by-24-foot building will have an office, bathroom and utility room, plus a break room for customers and employees.
The new 11-by-75-foot in-ground truck scale will be easier for customers to access with grain.
The office and scale estimated to cost $400,000, joins the three existing bins (built 15 to 20 years ago) with a total grain storage capacity of 1.1 million bushels.
Ashton said the new technology at the bins will allow one person to run the three bins – the pits, legs and conveyer, and there’s a grain probe at the scale to improve efficiencies.
The previous grain sampling process involved a coffee can scoop from the pit that’s tested for weight, moisture and quality.
If there’s spoiled grain, it was discovered as the grain went into the bin, too late to isolate it.
Ashton said New Vision in Beaver Creek typically accommodates 50,000 to 70,000 bushels of grain per day during harvest.
“We hope with the new scale we’ll be able to see more traffic,” Ashton said. “We want to be able to better serve our customers.”
A crane and wrecking ball moved on site in March and slowly started the demolition process that wrapped up last week. Some stored soybeans at the base were not salvageable due to demolition debris.
According to local historians, the town’s original elevator burned down in 1970 and was replaced by the one that was just taken down.
 
New Vision to remove 1980s grain bins in Hills
Meanwhile, New Vision also took down four steel grain bins in Hills.
Ashton said the bins, built in 1984 and 1989, were last used for the 2020 harvest.
“It was labor intensive – took a lot of people to unload and clean the bins each year,” he said.
“They needed repairs, and the recommendation was to close that part of our business in Hills.
The four steel bins had a combined grain storage capacity of 600,000 bushels.
All grain now runs through the New Vision terminal north of Hills. It has a 5-million-bushel capacity and accepts grain year-round.
The bin site property in Hills will be planted to grass and eventually offered for sale.

Once a year, Luverne Pizza Ranch employee Dawn Cope throws pizza dough in the air.
“We generally hand-spread the dough,” said Ranch owner Lila Bauer.
But on the days when the Luverne Elementary kindergarten classes visit, Cope is encouraged to spin the pizza dough in the air and catch the stretched dough in her hands before it hits the ground.
Giggles erupted from the last of the four classes to visit the Luverne Pizza Ranch on Wednesday, May 11.
They stared raptly at Cope, while each held personalized-sized pizza pans.
The annual field trips, which began almost 30 years ago, allow students to add toppings to their own little pizzas and carry them into the kitchen to be placed in the oven. They later eat their own creations.
While the pizzas bake, Bauer reads a story called “Hi, Pizza Man!” and encourages students to say the book title to the Pizza Ranch’s own pizza man, Kevin Elbers, when he delivers pizza to their homes.
The trips to Luverne Pizza Ranch are part of the kindergarten classes’ regular spring field trip schedule, which included a visit to the Rock County Library Monday.

Open House
A retirement open house for Theresa Graff will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at Take 16 Event Center in Luverne.
 
A retirement open house for Dennis Moritz will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 26, in the New Student Commons of the Luverne High School (use the parking lot on the school’s south side).
 
A retirement open house for Don Bryan will be from 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the Luverne branch of Security Savings Bank. Refreshments will be served.
 
Card shower
Anita Johnson will celebrate her 80th birthday on Thursday, May 26. Greetings may be sent to her at 410 S. Fairview Drive, Luverne, MN 56156.

LSS meals at Generations
 
New Location: 105 S. Estey Street, Luverne
Monday, May 23: Chicken chow mein, brown rice, Oriental vegetables, mandarin oranges.
Tuesday, May 24: Meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, bread, dessert.
Activities: 12:30 p.m. Pinochle; 12:30 p.m. Rumbi Kub.
Wednesday, May 25: Creamy chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, bread, warm fruit crisp.
Thursday, May 26: Pork loin, candied yams, broccoli, bread, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church.
Friday, May 27: Cheese ravioli, romaine salad with dressing, fresh apple, bread, dessert.
Half-Price Day sponsored by American Reformed Church.
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 to arrange to pick up a dinner or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.