NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALETHE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: January 30, 2001ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $74,400.00MORTGAGOR(S): Raymond E. Winter and Margaret L. Winter, Husband and WifeMORTGAGEE: Paragon Home Lending, LLCDATE AND PLACE OF FILING: Filed February 5, 2001, Rock County Recorder, Document NO. 149296ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: Fleet National Bank, n/k/a Washington Mutual Bank, F.A. Dated: January 30, 2001, filed February 5, 2001, Document No. 149297LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:The S 35 feet of Lot 22 and all of Lot 23 in Crawford’s Addition to the Village (Now City) of Luverne COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: RockTHE AMOUNT CLAIMED TO BE DUE ON THE MORTGAGE ON THE DATE OF THE NOTICE: $73,910.62THAT all pre-foreclosure requirements have been complied with; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; PURSUANT, to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: February 8, 2005. 10:00 amPLACE OF SALE: Sheriff’s Main Office, West Side Sheriff Dept., Front Step, Luverne, MN to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursement, including attorneys fees allowed by law, subject to redemption within 6 months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s) their personal representatives or assigns. "THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 582.032 DETERMINING AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN 5 UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Dated: December 16, 2004Washington Mutual Bank, F.A.Assignee of MortgageeSHAPIRO & NORDMEYER L.L.P.BY /s/ NANCY A. NordmeyerLawrence P. ZielkeCraig M. BarbeeAttorneys for Mortgagee7300 Metro Blvd., Suite 390Edina, MN 55439-2306(952) 831-4060THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. (12-23, 12-30, 1-6, 1-13, 1-20, 1-27)

A Veteran’s Take Christmas 2004He is out there, spending this Christmas virtually homeless. He is dirty, hasn’t showered in a week or more, looks like his clothes could walk off on their own power. If you saw him on the roadside looking like this you would probably turn your head and just keep on driving. No need taking the risk of picking up someone looking like that.He sleeps wherever he can catch a wink or two, but his lifestyle doesn’t allow for much sleep these days. No clean bedding or sweet dreams. He may crash in a building or out in the open, huddled in a corner in the rain. Welcome doors don’t open when he walks by.He misses his family badly, but he knows he can’t go home. It just isn’t that easy. He hasn’t talked to his kids in months, and wonders if they even remember his face or will recognize him when he does go home. Many will never make that trip home. Some haven’t seen infants born in recent months and couldn’t even imagine the smell of a baby if their life depended on it. There are so many spouses out there raising kids on their own and working a full-time job to make ends meet.He clings to tattered photographs that he carries in his shirt pocket and prays for a letter. These are his most prized possessions. Many of these people can carry all of their current possessions on their backs. Sometimes he and his friends don’t even have soap or any of the common things, much less the finer things in life. To have a radio to listen to or even cold water and hot food would be nice. Some days it is just the air temperature that dictates everything.He chose this path for himself, and some hate him for this choice. Some say that he was not good enough for anything else. He and "his kind" have made this choice for centuries, though. It isn’t like they are high paid, and few are ever well known. But they still go.He is the American military service member. A man or a woman, they could be a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine. This Christmas there are many stationed at bases all over the world, as there are every year. But they are also there in the combat zone. This time it is the mountains of Afghanistan and the cities of Iraq. They live in constant danger, doing the most dangerous job there is.It has been this way on and off for all of our history. From the trenches of Europe, to the tundra of Siberia and the jungles of Asia they have served. They are highly qualified members of society, some of the best the United States has to offer. They are young and they are determined and they are serving us. They are the face of America.Curtis HendelAdrian

As a long-time Luverne High School sports fan, I feel compelled to comment about the boys’ basketball program. It was obvious to me watching the game against Redwood Falls last Friday that Coach Rops would be the reason the boys lost. With his constant yelling and badgering of his players, those kids didn’t know which way to turn. They were afraid to shoot the open shots because Coach Rops was yelling, "Pass, pass, pass."The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent. How can you do that when you don’t shoot the ball? Luverne had a 17-point lead halfway into the second quarter, and Coach Rops blew it by telling the boys to "Relax, slow down, stop dribbling, pass the ball."I urge the administration to do something about this coach before he blows the rest of the season for these talented, hard working kids.Richard EngstromLuverne

Christmas at the PalaceWow! What an evening! We would like to thank George McDonald for being the master of the evening and all the participants who shared their talents and time at the Christmas at the Palace. It was our pleasure to bring you this holiday tradition to the historic Palace Theatre. Also a special thanks to all who attended the concert!Blue Mound Area Theatre CommitteeDianne OssenfortLaDonna Van AartsenLorna BryanSue Sandbulte

Earlier this week as the temperature was dropping outside, the temperature in my home was dropping as well.When I woke up Monday morning, my thermostat read ERR and gave 34 as the temperature reading. I literally was almost freezing.This winter will be the first real winter for my husband and me to experience in our new home. When we went to bed on Sunday night, we assumed the cold air drafting through our room was a result of not winterizing our house. How could we have been so lazy? If only we would have put that plastic on the windows, then we would be warm.An hour after we were brave enough to leave our warm bed, we called Orv at Sundem Oil for help. He started by filling our fuel oil tank. After some amount of handy-man work, he discovered that the fan inside this giant heating mechanism was broken. So we remained in our bitterly cold home and began calling heating repair companies. Of course, on the first day of harsh winter weather we were one of many families looking for help so we would have to wait.Finally the men from Chuck’s Refrigeration in Larchwood, Iowa, arrived to save us. They quickly replaced the motor needed to make the fan work. Several hours later the temperature had risen over 35 degrees to a nice comfortable 70.During my 18-hour spell without heat I discovered that I would have given up every gift under my Christmas tree to have warm air flowing through my ducts. Shelter is something I have always taken for granted.A roof over my head has been a given throughout my life. Although I was taught to be frugal with utilities, I have always had an abundance of heat and blankets to use in the winter months. I feel so lucky that normally I do not have to worry about staying warm. Without good people like Catherine Fikse in the world, many children would go cold this winter.As my siblings and their children tear open packages this Christmas, I plan on reminding everyone how lucky we are to have the basic necessities of life. Life is much less enjoyable without shelter and heat.

Sunday afternoon Ray and Lois Nelson attended the memorial service for Arden Sween at First Lutheran Church in Tyler. Ardith Sween is Ray’s cousin.James Theis arrived in Hills Friday to spend until Jan. 3 with his mother, Marcella Theis, and sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Willard Bowne and family. Jim is a Consul at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania. Dorothy Sheetz, Sioux Falls, was a visitor Sunday in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Jil and Brad Vaughn. Sheldon and Ellie Sandager returned home Saturday night after spending since Tuesday at the ranch in Herrick, S.D.Vi Van Wyhe accompanied Steve and Marilyn Van Wyhe to Warrensburg, Mo., to attend Amber and Travis Arends’ graduation with master’s degrees from the University of Central Missouri State. Preceding the graduation exercises, Amber entertained her family and friends with a brunch. Jess Beeler and Heather Van Wyhe, Hutchinson, also attended. Don and Edyth Briggs along with Don’s daughter, Deb Wright, Luverne, attended the South Dakota Youth Concert in Sioux Falls Sunday night at Washington Pavilion. Ray and Lois Nelson attended the Holiday Pops Concert of the South Dakota Symphony orchestra at Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls last week. On Saturday they heard the Merry Tuba Christmas concert in downtown Sioux Falls. Al Berdahl is co-director of this annual tuba and baritone group numbering 112 players, some coming from neighboring communities. Sunday evening Joanne and Tom Goehle went to Edgerton to attend the Sunday School Christmas program at First Presbyterian Church in which the Hadler children had a part. They joined in the evening meal following the program. Monday Betty Elbers met her sister, Jeanette Blyenberg of Edgerton, for lunch at Luverne Pizza Ranch. Mary Carter celebrated her birthday last week with family members at a dinner in Sioux Falls. Her sister and husband from Menno, S.D., and a brother who recently moved up this way from Texas and others attended. The Goehle family Christmas celebration was Saturday at the home of Vivian Holst in Luverne. Mae Top returned to her home Friday after being a resident at Tuff Home a couple of months recuperating from a fall. Her family, the Bill Tops and children from Sibley, Iowa, Jim and Gerry Sandstede, Luverne, a grandson from Watertown, Minn., and the Jared Van Maanens from Valley Springs, S.D., were present to celebrate their Christmas. Joining them were Florence Sandstede, Merlin and Kevin Sandstede. Wilmer and Betty Elbers attended the Washington High School Christmas choir concert in Sioux Falls Friday evening. Their granddaughter, Kelsey Elbers, had a part in the program. David and Grace Hofman, Melvin, Iowa, spent last Thursday in the home of their grandparents, Chuck and Rheta DeBoer. They are the children of Seth and Susan Hofman. Colby Hadler, Edgerton, spent last Wednesday with his grandmother, Joanne Goehle. Saturday the Wilmer Elbers celebrated Christmas in their home. Present were Darwin and Kim Elbers and family, Sioux Falls, Tom and Twila Walker and family, Luverne, and Cheryl Elbers and family, Valley Springs. Betty and Jerry Ackerman arrived Saturday from Irmo, S.C., to spend Christmas with her mother, Grace Wassenaar, and other relatives and friends in the area.

I used to look forward to Sunday, especially when I was growing up. It was a very special day for family and friends. Most of us did not go away very much through the week those years so when Sunday came it was a day to visit friends and relatives or many times just go for a ride to see what the crops were doing. We were especially happy when holidays arrived, as our lives were not very exciting. Even today it seems Christmas very seldom comes. Only once a year and soon it is over — a day and a night if that is the whole of it. It seems not much more durable than the little toys that one buys on the street corner. But surely that need not and should not be the whole of Christmas. Only a single day of generosity service of a selfish year. If every gift is a token of personal thought, a friendly feeling, an unselfish interest in the joy of others, then that thought, that feeling, may remain after the gift is given. I think that makes it all worthwhile because we are thinking of others, sharing our time, our talents, our gifts and our love. If only for a little while, it makes for a lot of love shared with others and that is what I think Christmas is all about. God gave us the very greatest gift of all! That is what Christmas is. The Steen Opportunity Extension Club had their annual Christmas party at the Melba Boeve home on Tuesday where they enjoyed a Christmas luncheon together and also a gift exchange. Joan Hoogeveen, Lucy Van Wyhe, Henrietta Huenink, Winnie Scholten and Mildred Paulsen attended the Wednesday meeting of the Christian Women’s Club at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids. It began with a luncheon with the preschool from the school serenading them with Christmas music. Christmas will soon be here. The Hills-Beaver Creek schools will dismiss early on Dec. 22. There will be no school until Monday, Jan. 3. The Steen Reformed Church will hold their all church (adults only) Christmas party at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Luverne Pizza Ranch. There will be a gift exchange.Orrin and Bernice Aukes attended the children’s Christmas program at Wesley United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls Sunday evening. Their granddaughter, Taylor Telford, daughter of Lisa Telford, Sioux Falls, was in the program. Joyce and Jo Aykens attended a family gathering at the home of Ben and Elaine Korselman at Hull, Iowa, Saturday afternoon. A Christmas Eve candlelight and communion service will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, at Steen Reformed Church. Bring your white gifts, which are gifts of food and other things to share with the needy.The big event this week is Christmas which comes on Saturday so most of us will be busy with family, friends, gifts and food. It is a very special time for all of us. Christmas would mean nothing if it were not shared with someone. It is a festival which cannot be indulged in alone. The gaudy red ribbon about the simplest gift causes the gift to take on meaning which it did not possess before. Just as a single red rose may light up a room, so our word or card written in sincerity may brighten the dimmest winter day. That is why Christmas messages are sent and will continue to be sent. Humanity realizes this and that is why Christmas will go on being celebrated. It is an eternal festival as we remember the baby born in a manger, our Lord and the Savior of all mankind. Merry Christmas to all!

Australian ranchers might want to hand out riding helmets to their hired help this Christmas. It’s all because a hefty fine was recently imposed against a ranch after one of its cowboys fell off a horse and hit his head. The boss of the outfit evidently failed to warn his men that a horse can weigh half a ton and that under certain circumstances, it might bolt, roll over or rear up on its hind legs. According to the Associated Press, ranchers down under are seriously talking about requiring their cowboys to wear helmets. Presumably, the helmets will resemble those chosen by motorcyclists rather than those worn by Lance Armstrong and other bicyclists. The sleek, stream-lined look of bicycle helmets would definitely clash with the rugged image projected by leather chaps, stirrups and oversized belt buckles. We can only surmise that additional horse mishaps in Australia will lead to similar talk about saddles equipped with safety belts and side impact air bags. As is the case with a runaway horse, it might to difficult to rein in overly enthusiastic lawmakers who intend to make cowboys look like sissies. When we begin treating cowboys like car drivers and motorcyclists, and assume they can’t make safety decisions for themselves, we should expect other changes on the trail ahead. The helmet issue will only be the tip of the iceberg. For example, cowboys on their way home from a Saturday night in town might be pulled over for TUIs (trotting under the influence). Repeat offenses might lead to more serious charges of GUI (galloping under the influence), in which case the guilty party would be required to relinquish, in lieu of a horse driving license, his neck scarf, harmonica and, of course, his helmet. Speaking of driving licenses, government-issued horse riding licenses might eventually be required. However, instead of listing the driver’s weight, the horse riding license will list the driver’s weight both with and without the weight of the horse. Similarly, the height of the cowboy will be listed two ways –— standing alone and seated on horseback. Exhibition riding, much like exhibition driving, will not be treated lightly. Examples of exhibition riding would include leaping over deep ravines wider than 20 feet, rescuing damsels who aren’t in distress and would rather be left alone, or any other form of horsing around. Health and safety disclaimers, similar to those on cigarette packages, could be branded onto the flanks of Australian horses. As briefly as possible the messages could read, "Warning –— horseback riding can be hazardous to your health." While being marked with a red-hot branding iron, horses might appreciate their cowboy-owners’ attempts to be less wordy. Helmets are only the beginning. Eventually, horseback riding will be treated the same as driving a car and law enforcement officials will be on the lookout for horses with faulty equipment. "I’m sorry to pull you over, sir, but your horse’s right rear shoe appears to be loose." Repair tickets, requiring work to be done during a certain period of time, will be issued for such minor technicalities as horsetails which hang asymmetrically, and out-of-tune neighs and whinnies. The cowboys’ only acceptable response will be, "Horse feathers!"

10 years ago (1994)"Kylee Crawford, seventh-grader at Hills-Beaver Creek has taken the first step to becoming an internationally-recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Luverne 92 Lion’s Club.Heather Finke and Steve Bakken, also seventh grade students at H-BC, won second and third place honors, respectively, in the contest." 25 years ago (1979)"Two Hills men have been named to office in the Luverne Rotary Club.Frederick ‘Fritz’ Nuffer was elected president to serve during the 1980-81 year beginning July 1. He will succeed Irid Bjerk, currently serving as president.Ray Nelson was appointed secretary by the Board of Directors. He will begin his duties Jan. 2, succeeding Bill Weber who resigned the post because of business involvement out of town."50 years ago (1954)"Capt. and Mrs. M.G. Kvaas and children, Ronald, Mary and Rebecca arrived Wednesday night from Germany where Capt. Kvaas has been stationed since March 1952. They left Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday night and arrived here on Wednesday night. Their next assignment is Ft. Lewis, Wash. They have a 30-day furlough and are spending it here with Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Thompson and in Luverne with Capt. Kvaas’ mother.75 years ago (1929)"Santa Claus didn’t exactly appear in person in Hills last Monday, nevertheless a goodly portion of our citizens believe he had something to do with it, as the morning’s mail contained checks of a ten percent dividend from the late Security State Bank of Hills."100 years ago (1904)"The meeting at the State Bank Friday night with the object of securing a circulating library was well attended and the necessary steps were taken to secure from the Minnesota Public Library Commission a free circulating library. These libraries are especially designed for the use of farming communities and small villages which cannot support a local public library. "The books, which are shipped in lots of twenty-five or fifty, may be retained for six months by a village, but may also be chained oftener if desired. The necessary application has been forwarded, and W.A. Larson has been chosen as librarian."