Richard Christian Arp, 83, Luverne, died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004, at Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. Memorial services were Monday, Oct. 4, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Paul Fries officiated. Richard Arp was born to Otto and Martha (Kohlscheen) Arp on March 3, 1921, on a farm near Hardwick. He was raised and received his education in Hardwick. Upon his completion of country school he worked construction in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. He married Ruth Ann Kadinger on Oct. 7, 1950, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Following their marriage they made their home in Luverne. He worked at various jobs until 1952 when he and a partner bought Adrian Concrete Products in Adrian. He operated the business until he sold it in the fall of 1976. He then began selling farm pole barns until his retirement in 1981. He and his wife enjoyed their retirement years living for more than 20 years in the Harlingen, Texas, area during the winter months. Mrs. Arp died on Feb. 9, 2004. He moved to Palisade Manor in Garretson, S.D. In August he moved to Minnesota Veterans Home.Mr. Arp was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. He was a long-time member of Luverne Country Club where he was an avid golfer. He also enjoyed fishing. Survivors include four children, Sandy Smith and Becky (Doug) Eeten, Luverne, Randy (Deb) Arp, Lakewood, Colo., and Ron (Betty) Arp, Hills; eight grandchildren, Andy and Nick Smith, Ryan and Ricky Arp, Jamie and Jessica Arp and Austin and Katelyn Eeten; and three sisters, Ella Vonderharr, Madison, Minn., Emma Stammen, Cabot, Pa., and Marjorie Gundvaldson, Brookings, S.D. Mr. Arp was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ruth Arp, one brother, Herbert Arp, and two sisters, Dora Erickson and Minnie Carstensen.In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association.Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Oct. 3-9 is National 4-H week. 4-H has been around Minnesota for 102 years and it is still going strong. Many of you do not know what 4-H is all about. 4-H is a program that gets children involved through youth leadership. It also helps build confidence through many activities.When most people think about 4-H, the first thing that comes to mind is "cows and cooking." 4-H is about so much more than just "cows and cooking."4-H has programs for every type of kid. Some examples of projects are photography, arts and crafts and clothing. If there isn’t an area that you are interested in, the self-determined project is for you. The self-determined project is when you make a project that adapts to your interests. District retreats and YELLO are opportunities to meet new kids from the area and across the state. In Rock County 4-H there are eight clubs. Fun Adventures is an after school program that gets kids familiar with different project areas. These are conducted in Luverne Elementary School. Day camps and project days also get kids involved. If you have animals and pets, you can also become involved with livestock. You can become as involved as you want. 4-H helps you grow. Conference judging helps you for job interviews later on in life. For more information about 4-H call the Rock County Extension office at 283-1302.Jerome WillersLHS SeniorMinnesota State 4-H Ambassador

Congratulations to Rachael Hoff who was crowned queen Thursday night at the Brandon Valley High School for the 2004-2005 school year. She is the daughter of Doug and Lois Hoff, who are residents of the Brandon Valley school district. The king crowned was Jason Funky. Pete Hoff, Hills, attended the ceremonies for his granddaughter. Erma Schubbe left Saturday for the Cities area to visit the Tom Schubbe family and the Paul Rendall family and especially to attend the 90th birthday party for her sister, Renza Hall Anderson at her apartment. Erma returned to Hills Monday. Joanne and Tom Goehle went to Tyler on Monday for Andrew Carmany’s football game. They also attended coronation and the talent program at RTR High School that evening. Alyssa and Andrew Carmany took part in the talent show. Carol and John VanMaanen, along with her cousins, Al and Marlene Top of Edgerton, returned home after spending a week vacationing in the Lake of the Ozarks area in central Missouri.Fran Sandager and her daughter, Jane Schubert, and Claire and Isaac returned to Hills Monday after spending several days with Jim and Louisa Sandager and children in West Des Moines, Iowa. They were joined there by John Sandager of Colorado Springs, Colo. The occasion was Jim’s birthday and the highlight of the stay was their attendance at the performance of Yo-Yo, a world-wide Chinese cellist who was on a world tour. Joanne Goehle spent Tuesday afternoon visiting Mark and Colby Hadler in Edgerton. They, along with Brenda Hadler, attended Katie’s volleyball game at the high school. Patrick and Kirsten Anderson, Sioux Falls, were guests Wednesday evening at supper in the home of her parents, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson, in honor of Kristen’s birthday. Tom and Melissa Carter came last Thursday from Lake Havasu City, Ariz., to spend until this week Tuesday visiting his mother, Mary Carter. The children of Frank DeBoer gathered at Tuff Village Friday to honor him on his 88th birthday. The children of Robert Kirsch spent the weekend in Hills to help their father celebrate his 80th birthday. Those attending were Barb and Ron Koch, Bismarck, N.D.; Joel and Susan Aukes, Fargo, N.D.; Becky, John and Amanda Fallenstein, Eugene, Ore.; Brian Kirsch, Valley Springs, S.D.; Barry Kirsch, Riverside, Iowa; Deb, Luke, Dylan and Alison Mathias, Heron Lake; Cindy and Ted Pohlman, Jessica, Riley and Breann and friend Todd Runge, Lakefield. On Saturday they were joined by relatives and friends at the Fellowship Hall of Bethlehem Church. Joanne Goehle and Brenda Hadler went to Winona on Saturday afternoon. They attended Patrick Nester’s confirmation on Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church. They returned home on Sunday evening. Marcella Theis was admitted to Luverne Community Hospital on Sept. 25. She is still a patient at the hospital and is undergoing more tests.

Friday night Jack Frost put in his first appearance of the season and left us with a light frost. In looking at my garden I don’t think the frost was heavy enough to damage much of the remaining garden produce. In fact, most of my tomatoes were not covered and they don’t seem to have been hurt. As I looked around the yard, I could not find anything there either so I think we have lucked out for a few more days before Old Man Winter says, "Enough is enough!" and sends us the winter weather he has been keeping for us. Personally, I love the fall season. The flowers, leaves, fields, streams and trees are all at the height of their beauty and the air is just cool enough to keep you comfortable while continuing to get everything ready for winter. However, we must remember time is running out! One of these days we will find the ground white with snow. Believe me, I am not anxious for that day!Bonnie (Aukes) Skalicky and Fred Wenginger, Scottsdale, Ariz., came Wednesday, Sept. 22, to visit her parents, Orrin and Bernice Aukes, and other relatives and friends and also to attend the wedding of Erin Crawford and Michael Brandt on Saturday, Oct. 2. They returned to their home on Saturday, Oct. 9.Gary and Carlotte Paulsen, Ogden, Iowa, were Thursday noon and afternoon guests in the home of his mother, Mildred Paulsen. They enjoyed dinner together at Brandon while Mildred’s car was being serviced. In the afternoon they attended their grandson’s football game. They returned to their home that night.Henrietta Huenink attended the baptism of her great-grandson, the son of Shawn and Heather VanWyhe, at the Sunday morning service at Lester Reformed Church in Lester. They named him Jac Allen. Dinner was served following the service at the Wayne and Norma VanWyhe home. Winnie Scholten and Mildred Paulsen joined the Freedom Club in Rock Rapids, Iowa, to attend the Olde Towne Dinner Theatre in Worthing, S.D., Thursday evening. The play was titled "A Bad Year for Tomatoes."The Steen Senior Citizens had their October meeting on Monday afternoon at the Steen Community Building. Cornie and Darlene Bosch, Luverne, served the lunch Mildred Paulsen and Lee Alexander, Luverne, left Friday morning for Park Rapids where they attended the Minnesota Conference United Methodist Women annual meeting which was in recognition of 135 years of service as United Methodist women. They returned home Saturday evening. Orrin and Bernice Aukes attended the wedding of their granddaughter, Erin Crawford, daughter of Mary and Clair Crawford of Beaver Creek, on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the park in Brandon. The reception was at the Brandon Country Club. Winnie Scholten and Clint Patten attended a wedding for a friend Saturday afternoon at the Walton League near Brandon. Raising a family has always been a very difficult task. No two children are alike. I found this article titled, "A Child’s Bill of Rights" and liked what I read so decided to share it with you. And I quote: "Parents have been bombarded with advice and criticism on bringing up their children until many of them are sick of the subject. They are said to give too many privileges and rights. They are said to give too much privilege and indulgence and too little discipline. Some people say American children are just plain spoiled. However, there is a world of difference between privileges and rights. Observing a child’s rights builds up his self-respect and respect of others. If a child is treated with integrity in his own home with courtesy and consideration, these are the standards toward which he will grow. Following are 10 articles titled ‘A Child’s Bill of Rights.’oHis right to have his confidence kept when he has given it in faith.oHis personal pride in being given common courtesy.oHis right to have his questions and opinions treated seriously.oHis right to reasonable freedom in the selection of friends. oHis right to his own possessions. oHis right to mental and physical privacy.oHis right to have his choice respected when he has been asked to make one. oHis right to a promise being kept.oHis right to share in family joys and sorrows.oHis right to firm guidance in matters he is too inexperienced to figure out himself." These are the 10 suggestions to help you as you are leading and guiding your children toward a secure and happy future. Good luck!

The outsourcing of American jobs isn’t a laughing matter, and the latest news about this growing trend is literally hitting us below our belts. Yes, we’re talking about fast food. It’s one thing to try to communicate with a stranger in Mexico about questionable charges on your credit card or with someone else in New Delhi, India, about your computer problems. The situation is much more serious now that fast food restaurants, icons of our culture and symbols of all that is good and right about our country, are outsourcing their drive-through orders. According to the International Herald Tribune-New York Times, three McDonald’s restaurants in Missouri, Minnesota and Massachusetts recently began outsourcing their drive-through orders to a call center in Colorado Springs, Colo. With the new system, a Big Mac order shouted into a microphone is typed into a computer in Colorado and a digital photo of the customer’s car is taken in order to reduce errors. The order is then clicked back to the originating restaurant’s kitchen, which has the order ready in less time (30 seconds on the average) and with fewer mistakes. Really! Of course, it’s only a matter of time before other fast food restaurants jump on the bandwagon and decide to outsource their customers’ orders to remote third world countries, where a burger and fries would cost approximately a month’s wages. The following situations will indicate if such a change has taken place at your favorite drive-through window: To begin with, you order a Big Mac and french fries but land up with an order of sushi or a bowl of wonton soup. The voice taking your order yawns, "Good morning!" and it’s 7 p.m. where you live. You order a milkshake and the mechanized voice asks, "Would you like chopsticks with that?" Your order for several all-beef burgers is met with an audible gasp in New Delhi. In an ironic twist of your mother’s advice, "Eat everything on your plate because there are starving people in India," your fast food order is taken by someone very possibly starving in India. After you have placed your order, the voice on the other end of the intercom advises, "Please pull ahead to the first window. The total for your order is 10,040 pesos." Ordering fast food with outsourcing may save time, but it now requires three people — you, the order taker and a translator. The winter wind chill temperature outside your car at the drive-through window is 80 degrees below zero and your car is dwarfed by towering snow banks. When you roll down your car window to place an order, your eyelids begin to freeze shut. However, the voice from South America on the intercom greets you with, "Good afternoon! How are you enjoying this beautiful summer day?" Finally, you can’t understand what the order-taker is saying. All you can hear are garbled sounds. Wait a minute, that’s already happening!

10 years ago (1994)"Tedd Larson, rural Hills, was taken by ambulance to the Luverne Community Hospital late Sunday afternoon following an accident while he was breaking a horse. The Luverne Ambulance was called to the scene. It is suspected the horse’s hoof severed Larson’s chin. There were no broken bones as a result of the accident. Larson received more than 100 stitches in his chin."25 years ago (1979)"The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriot Marching Band received the 1st place trophy in their classification at the 29th annual Tri-State Marching Band competition last Saturday at Luverne. A total of 25 bands competed in the morning parade and at the afternoon field competition."50 years ago (1954)"About 6,000 persons braved the drizzling rain to watch the Tri-State Band Festival at Luverne Saturday. Because of the weather, the scheduled maneuvers at the fairgrounds had to be eliminated and bands were judged as they maneuvered while parading through the streets.Hills High School Band received a second place in the Class CC band section." 75 years ago (1929)"Mr. Jochims, proprietor of the Palace Theatre, Luverne, invites all to come and see Clark and Bess Robbins Stock Co., and to attend the Vitaphone pictures. The distance from Hills to Luverne is only 14 miles since the new road was made two years ago, and it makes an ideal drive in the evening. Matinee every Sunday afternoon."100 years ago (1904)"Let everyone turn out tomorrow (Friday) afternoon and see the opening of the football season in Hills, when our husky eleven will go up against the strong Rock Rapids militia team. There will be something doing. Admission 25¢."

By John RittenhouseHills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth fullback Tom LeBoutiller played a homecoming game to remember Friday in Hills.LeBoutillier, a senior, scored on touchdown runs of three, 64 and 46 yards and hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass to lift H-BC-E to a 34-14 victory over Lincoln HI-Lake Benton.Along with his four-touchdown effort, LeBoutillier compiled a total of 194 offensive yards to help the Patriots snap a two-game losing streak.LeBoutillier also recorded nine tackles, three sacks and recovered one fumble to lead a solid defensive performance for H-BC-E."Our defense kept us in the game," said Patriot coach Dan Ellingson. "We had some really good individual performances on defense, and that made us stand out. We needed a game like this from our seniors. They really came through."LeBoutillier made his presence known early and often during the game.LH-LB was running its fifth offensive play of the game when LeBoutiller forced a fumble in the process of sacking the quarterback.Patriot Chris Nuffer recovered the fumble on the LH-LB 34-yard line, setting up a seven-play drive capped by LeBoutillier’s three-yard run at the 7:10 mark of the opening quarter. Adam Finke added the extra point to make it 7-0.After H-BC-E’s defense stopped LH-LB on downs as the first quarter progressed, LeBoutillier hauled in a screen pass from quarterback Cody Schilling on the first play of the second quarter and raced 40 yards to a touchdown.When Finke booted the extra point, the Patriots sported a 14-0 lead that would stand up until the third quarter.The Patriots drew first blood in the second half.H-BC-E received the ball to start the third quarter and came up with a big play during a third-and-13 situation early in the possession.Making his first varsity start at quarterback, Schilling hooked up with Cody Rozeboom for a 32-yard pass and a clutch first down. Moments later, Kerry Fink scored on a 47-yard run to give the hosts a 20-0 advantage.LH-LB made a bid to get back into the game when Rebel quarterback Josh Prosch tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Cody Plueger to trim H-BC-E’s lead to 14 points (20-6), but LeBoutillier crushed the visitor’s hopes of a comeback in the fourth quarter.LeBoutillier, who carried the ball eight times for 154 yards in the game, scored on runs of 64 and 46 yards in the final 12 minutes of play. Fink carried in a two-point conversion after LeBoutillier’s first score of the fourth quarter, helping the Patriots open a 34-6 lead.LH-LB capped the scoring when Prosch scored on a two-yard run late in the game.Ellingson was proud of the way Schilling handled himself as a quarterback during his initial varsity start. Schilling completed seven of 10 passes for 124 yards."For his first start, Cody did fine. It was kind of nice that we only had to throw 10 passes in the game. We were able to choose when and what passes we would throw, and it really worked out well for us," he said.The Patriots will play Lakeview, a team that H-BC-E beat 32-12 in Cottonwood during the first week of the season, in Ellsworth Friday. The contest against the 1-4 Lakers will serve as Ellsworth’s Homecoming game."We beat them earlier in the season, but things are different now," Ellingson said. "They have all of their players back now, and we do not."Team statisticsH-BC-E: 259 rushing yards, 124 passing yards, 383 total yards, nine first downs, three penalties for 25 yards, zero turnovers.LH-LB: 175 rushing yards, 95 passing yards, 270 total yards, nine first downs, zero penalties, three turnovers.Individual statisticsRushing: LeBoutillier 8-154, Fink 16-91, Schilling 2-3, Rozeboom 3-6, Jon Klaassen 1-6, Finke 2-minus 1.Passing: Schilling 7-10 for 124 yards.Receiving: Rozeboom 3-41, Klaassen 1-6, LeBoutillier 1-40, Fink 1-13, Nuffer 1-24.Defense: LeBoutillier nine tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery, Cody Scholten 10 tackles, Nuffer five tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt, Brian Gacke 10 tackles, Fink one interception.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth girls’ cross country team took top honors during the Patriot Invitational staged at the Beaver Creek Golf Course Monday.Of three complete teams competing at the varsity level, H-BC-E led the field with 22 points. West Lyon and Worthington placed second and third with respective 44- and 54-point efforts.H-BC-E’s five varsity runners placed ninth or better during the race.Cassi Tilsra led the way by finishing third in 16:13.Mya Mann, Amanda Tilstra and Ashley Bucher placed fourth, fifth and sixth with respective 17:14, 17:15 and 17:20 efforts.Rayna Sandoval finished ninth in 17:36.H-BC-E’s boys scored 67 points to finish second behind Southwest Christian (22 points) in varsity competition. Murray County Central (78), Worthington (81) and WL (93) capped the field.Tyler Bush won the individual title for the Patriots with a time of 16:30.Kale Wiertzema (sixth in 17:19), Derek Haak (14th in 18:47), John Sandbulte (20th in 20:11) and Grant Hoogendoorn (28th in 21:34) capped the scoring for the Patriots.Adrian attended the meet and competed in the junior high and junior varsity events. Here is a look at the rest of the individual efforts turned in by H-BC-E and Adrian athletes during the Patriot Invitational.Junior varsity boysH-BC-E: Dustin Verhey, third, 10:54; Tyler Paulson, fifth, 11:07; Brent Kramer, eighth, 11:31; Jared Drenth, 18th, 12:23.Adrian: Jarod Boltjes, first, 10:46; Aaron Mormann, second, 10:52; Brad Brake, fourth, 11:05; Bryce Antelope, sixth, 11:20; Jack Albertson, seventh, 11:28; Dustin Lonneman, ninth, 11:32; Eldon Vasellaar, 23rd, 14:04; Trent Lutmer, 24th, 14:10. Adrian won the team competition with 15 points.Junior varsity girlsH-BC-E: Jill Weitgenant, first, 12:43; Amanda Connors, third, 12:59; Brittney Rozeboom, eighth, 14:45.Junior high boysH-BC-E: Cody Penning, sixth, 5:57; Andrew Hoyme, 13th, 6:09; Luke Tiesler, 17th, 6:18; Tom Nolte, 18th, 6:25; Alex Angelo, 21st, 6:37; Tyler Kruid, 28th, 6:57; Derek Drenth, 28th, 6:57; Sam Luze, 29th, 6:59; B.J. Kruse, 32nd, 7:41. H-BC-E placed second as a team with 55 points.Adrian: Nathan Reyne, first, 5:32; Ross Wieneke, second, 5:42; Michael Graff, fourth, 5:53; Zach Runia, fifth, 5:56; Kyle Henning, eighth, 5:58; Jordan Pater, 11th, 6:06; Nick Kellen, 19th, 6:29; Huston Heitkamp, 20th, 6:35; David Bird, 27th, 6:54; Nick McCann, 31st, 7:26. Adrian placed first as a team with 17 points.Junior high girlsH-BC-E: Courtney Hoogendoorn, ninth, 7:19; Brooke Tilstra, 14th, 7:37.Adrian: Hailee Heitkamp, first, 6:06; Anna Sauer, seventh, 6:55; Alissa Sauer, 13th, 7:27; Samantha Vaselaar, 16th, 8:32.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek volleyball team snapped a three-match losing skid with a come-from-behind victory over Luverne in Hills Monday.The situation didn’t look good for the Patriots when they lost the first two games to the Cardinals.H-BC, however, bounced back to outscore Luverne 65-52 the rest of the night to take the final three games in a thrilling, five-game match.The Patriots appeared on the verge of being swept by LHS when they fell behind 9-3 in Game 3, but the hosts battled back to knot the score at 15 when Cassi Tilstra delivered a service point.After taking a 19-17 lead when senior Kelly Mulder came up with a block at the net, H-BC let its first lead of the game slip away when Luverne mounted a 5-1 run to take a 22-20 lead.H-BC, however, broke Luverne’s serve before senior Brittney Rozeboom served a four-point run to give the Patriots a 25-22 win.The momentum H-BC gained by winning Game 3 carried into the fourth game, when the Patriots raced to a 6-1 lead with Kari Roozenboom capping the run with an ace serve.A kill by Mulder extended H-BC’s lead to eight points (17-9) as the game progressed, but Luverne countered with an 11-6 spurt to trail 23-20 late in the game. The Patriots regained their poise and closed out a 25-21 victory when Mulder delivered a kill.Rozenboom served H-BC to a 3-0 lead it would never relinquish in the fifth game.Luverne trimmed the difference to one point (5-4) and trailed by two (9-7) as the game progressed, but H-BC ended the game with a 6-2 run capped by Melinda Feucht’s service point to notch a 15-9 victory.Feucht gave the Patriots 3-1 and 9-7 leads with a service point and a kill respectively in Game 1. Luverne, however, rallied to score 16 of the game’s final 23 points to secure a 25-16 win.A service point by Rooozenboom gave H-BC a 6-1 lead in the second game, and the Patriots extended the difference to seven points (13-6) when Rozeboom delivered a service point.Luverne then rallied with a 19-7 run to win the game by a 25-20 margin.Mulder led the winners with 19 kills and nine blocks, while Tilstra charted seven kills, seven blocks and was 16 of 16 serving with two aces. Rozeboom completed all 12 of her serves in the match. Roozenboom, who had four kills, was 14 of 15 serving with four aces.