Tess Louise, infant daughter of Jerad and Kris Van Maanen, Valley Springs, S.D., was baptized Sunday morning at services in Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Her sponsors were Justin Van Maanen and Mike Top. They were dinner guests along with the grandparents, Randy and Brenda Van Maanen and Alan and Judy Top, all of Hills; great-grandparents, Louise Stegemann, Cliff and Carrie Boom, all of Beaver Creek, and Mae Top, Hills. Also, Marv and Melissa Top and Chantz, Sioux Falls, and Pastor Lowell and Sonja Berg attended. Barry and Carla Helgeson, Amy, John and Peter, Shoreview, were in the area over the weekend visiting with friends. The adults also were in attendance at Barry’s high school reunion at Beaver Creek Golf Course.First Lt. Chris Schubbe, son of Steven and Flora Schubbe, San Diego, Calif., spent from Saturday until Monday morning with his grandmother, Erma Schubbe. He is being transferred from Maxwell Air Force Base in California to Mt. Home Air Force Base in Idaho. A time for reunionsCanadian relatives of the Opheim family came to Minnesota to be part of a reunion of Cherland relatives at a lake near the Twin Cities. Henrik Cherland from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, came first to Hills to visit his aunt, Evangeline Opheim, and cousins, Alan, Mark and Paul. Ruth Cherland Hilderman from Abbotsford, B.C., joined her brother, Rick, in Hills and they joined other family members at the resort near the Cities. More than 200 Cherland relatives came from various parts of the U.S. for the reunion. Afterward, Ruth Hilderman returned to Hills, together with her sister, Susan and her husband, Volker Griefenhagen, and their two sons, Isaac and Jacob.On July 7, Ruth Hilderman and her aunt, Evangeline Opheim, drove to Manhattan, Kan., for a two-day visit with Alicia Opheim (widow of Milton Opheim). They returned to Hills on Saturday and Ruth flew home to British Columbia on Sunday, July 11. Bonnie Olson, St. Paul, and Laurie Hynes, St. Louis Park, came Friday evening for a visit until Sunday afternoon with their mother, Luella Schlueter. Saturday morning they went to Canistota, S.D., to help decorate a Schlueter float which was entered in the parade at the annual Spot Day that afternoon. There were 24 Schlueter relatives riding the float and it took first prize in the family division. They also visited briefly with Clayton and Shirley Ziebarth. Clayton was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Assn. when George was a member and he was the chief pilot of the "Breezy" aircraft that was in the Hills parade one year. Later, there was a picnic supper at the Steve Schlueter place.Attending funeral services last Wednesday for Robert Larson, 77, at Armour, S.D., were Dennis Roning, Deneise Swanson and Scott, Paul and Mat Swanson.The H-BC high school class of 1979 had a reunion Saturday. Some members golfed in the afternoon and at 6 p.m. a dinner was served in Driver’s Restaurant at Beaver Creek Lodge. Nineteen members attended with the fartherest member, Linda Tilstra Gannon, coming from Blackduck. Lars and Cheryl (Boeve) Nielsen and children, Conner and Caitlin, returned to their home in Denmark Monday after spending two weeks in the home of her parents, Jim and Sharon Boeve. Lars was a foreign exchange student at the Mark and Karen Sandager farm. On Thursday of last week the family was entertained at supper in the Mark Sandager home. On Saturday morning Lars visited Vic and Fran Sandager. There were other get-togethers for them during the time spent here as well as celebrating Cheryl and Conner’s birthdays. Leona Goehle, Tyler, and her daughter Lorelee of California, were guests Friday afternoon in the Vic and Fran Sandager home.

10 years ago (1994)"Larry and Sherryl Knobloch, Hills, will welcome a new ‘daughter’ in August 1994, Chiaki Kubo, a Youth For Understanding International Exchange student from Japan. Kubo, who will be a student at Hills-Beaver Creek High School in Hills, will live with the Knobloch family for an academic year."25 years ago (1979)"H-BC’s marching band concluded its 1979 summer schedule with parade appearances at the Rock Valley Centennial and the Leota 4th of July celebration. The band won first place at both events."50 years ago (1954)"Weather? In plain words, it’s been hot. Sunday was a rough one, with the thermometer hitting very near the 100 mark. Monday was a little cooler and so was Tuesday. We could use a nice rain anytime now, as farmers plan to go harvesting the fine looking small grain crop."75 years ago (1929)"Quite a few of the young gentlemen of our vicinity motored to Rock Rapids Saturday evening, where they enjoyed roller skating at Island Park."100 years ago (1904)"The play, "The Noble Outcast," was given at the Hall Saturday night by members of the Ashcreek dramatic club. The acting was very well done, considering the short time some of the members have been practicing."

Robert Keith Jansma, 81, Albuquerque, N.M., formerly of Beaver Creek, died Thursday July 1, 2004.A memorial will be observed in Jasper where he will be buried next to his wife.Robert Jansma was born to Louis and Eva Jansma on March 2, 1923, in Beaver Creek. He spent 20 years on active duty in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a major after service that included extensive tours in Burma, Germany, Okinawa, Korea and Ft. Bliss, Texas. He had been a resident of Albuquerque since 1965.Survivors include three daughters, Maureen (Noel) Rozelle, Roxana Jansma all of Albuquerque, and Rita (Morey) Liebling, Sandia Park; five grandchildren, Stacy Rozelle and Richard Stacey, Albuquerque, Ryan Liebling, Los Angeles, Calif., David Liebling, Denver, Colo., and Bobby Jansma, Aurora, Colo.; one brother, Glenn Jansma, Norfolk, Neb.; and one sister, Betty Lou Paulsen, St. Cloud. Mr. Jansma was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, Jansma in 2003, and his son, Robert Jansma, in 1999.

By Sara StrongRock County’s K-9 unit, Deputy Ken Baker and dog Tarzan, made the county proud at a regional re-certification and competition event.Baker told Rock County Commissioners about the competition at their Tuesday meeting. He and Tarzan brought home a second place trophy, out of 59 units in the regional event. Baker said, "It’s accomplished through consistency and training." Out of a possible 700 points, Baker and Tarzan earned 685.5. The top score was 687.1."To achieve an award like this so early in our career is a fantastic achievement for Tarzan and me," Baker said.The K-9 unit was tested in a number of ways, including:
Article search — a person holds a small piece of evidence for 30 seconds and the dog has to find it in 12-inch high grass.
Box search — in a large area, the dog must find a person in a box, which sits among other boxes.
Obedience — the team is tested in heeling, walking control and distance control. Distance control is using voice commands from 50 feet away to control the dog.
Agility — the dog must complete obstacles in hurdles, crawling, broad jump, A-frame and catwalk.
Criminal apprehension without gunfire — the dog must not move while a decoy criminal runs; the dog must come when called even after starting a chase with a decoy; and the dog must physically apprehend a decoy.
Criminal apprehension with gunfire — a decoy fires six rounds toward the handler and the dog apprehends him.
Handler protection – a decoy physically assaults the handler and the dog must react without command."Each event demonstrates the K-9's willingness to work and to overcome obstacles that would arise in the streets," Baker said.Although Baker said he’s personally proud of the award, he said it couldn’t have been done without the other members of the Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Mike Winkels or the support of the Rock County Board of Commissioners. He said he’s also leaned on the continued expertise of his trainers in the St. Paul Police K-9 Unit.In other business Tuesday, the board:
Received an update on gravel tax collections from 2003: The Road and Bridge Fund got $20,064.61. Special Reserve Fund got $3,344.09. Townships got $10,032.32. Township revenues depended on gravel pit location.Breakdown of township revenue is: —Battle Plain, $1,869.87—Beaver Creek, $419.98 —Clinton, $421.98—Denver, $430.80—Kanaranzi, $419.98—Luverne, $2,056.19—Magnolia, $419.98 —Martin, $419.98 —Mound, $2,313.62 —Rose Dell, $419.98 —Springwater, $419.98—Vienna, $419.98.
Got an informational update on the local Veterans Affairs Office activities from 2003: —There are 942 veterans in the county who receive services through the local office —Veterans in the county received federal benefits totally $1,375,730 (for compensation, pension, education and insurance benefits) —221 veterans received care at a VA medical facility (outpatient and inpatient) —Veterans received $1,299,827 in VA medical care —In total, vets in the county received $2,675,557.

By Lori EhdeWiener dog races will steal the show at Luverne’s 42nd Annual Hot Dog Night on Main Street today.As of press time, 20 short-legged, long-bodied pooches were signed up to race during Luverne’s famed citywide grill-out.Greg Leuthold was one Chamber Board member who takes partial credit for the races, which are attracting entrants from the tri-state area."We wanted to see if we could come up with something fun and different to change things up a bit," Leuthold said.He said one of the board members recalled seeing something similar on a cable TV show. "We thought, why not try it?" Leuthold said.Race time will be 7 p.m. in front of City Hall.Orange snow fencing will line the 20-yard stretch, and each dog will be accompanied by two humans — one to hold them at the starting line, and the another at the finish line to coax them to the end.Sets of four or five dogs will race in heats, with the heat winners competing in a championship race. The prize will be a trophy, designed by Terry’s Trophies, depicting a wiener dog.There is no entry fee to participate.Another big attraction at Hot Dog Night this year will be a hot dog eating contest at Papik Motors.Hot dog eaters will sign up prior to the 6:30 start time, and a maximum of 10 will be allowed in the contest. If more are interested, names will be drawn to determine who gets to participate.According to Gretchen Papik, the plan is to time eaters for seven minutes and the one who gobbles the most hot dogs in that time is the winner."It’s our first year of doing it, so we’ll see how it goes," Papik said. "We hope we have a good turnout."There is no entry fee, and a Papik Motors Hot Dog Eating Champ t-shirt will go to the winner.Other Main Street activity tonight will include a Spotlight Dancers performance, Tae Kwon Do demonstration, mini train rides and music by Audience of One.The shaded front lawns of the Carnegie Cultural Center and Hinkly House Museum will again be the site of classic Hot Dog Night entertainment tonight.The local group, Country Grass, formerly known as Heartland Prairie Band, will play at the Carnegie from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and 4-H members will perform their annual Fashion Revue on the front steps of the Hinkly House starting at 7 p.m.Hot Dog Night in Luverne was organized 42 years ago by Chamber members as a way to express their appreciation to the community for doing business with them through the years.Merchants typically grill more than 10,000 hot dogs and serve 300 gallons of drink starting at 6 p.m.The Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 283-4061.

By Mark Remme,For the Star HeraldA new summer sport is creating a stir at the Enduro track near the Rock County Fairgrounds. The Luverne area is host to a new weekly event, which calls itself the Luverne Paintball League. Teams officially meet at 6 p.m. Mondays at the track. "It’s a national activity that has picked up steam lately," said LPL founder Chad Hess. "Among those labeled Extreme Sports, paintball (also known as splat ball) has recently passed snowboarding as the third largest in America." Hess established the league earlier this year after a long stint of his own paintball experience. "I’ve played the game for seven years before this league came about," he said. "I mainly played a lot of woods ball northeast of Luverne and then got into a league in Worthington. I decided I wanted to start my own after that experience." Hess put the word out in town and over the Web via his site, www.aimless.biz, and began to piece together a functional league. Paintball lovers from all over the area, including Luverne, Pipestone, Canby, Dell Rapids, Worthington and Hills, decided to join the venture. Teams are comprised of at least three members, although substitute players may be lined up to secure enough players each night. Each team was required to send in $150 as an activity fee, which is used to keep the field functional and for end-of-the year prizes. After being initiated into the league via the activity fee, the group of three must pick a team name. This year’s league is comprised of teams known as the Straitjackets, Zulu, Catalyst, Crazy Commandos, Pipestone Crew, The Knownames, Foothold Institution and Enigma.Consisting of eight teams, the league meets for 16 games each Monday night June 14 until July 26.Each team plays four games per night, followed by recreational scrimmages to hone their skills. Points given out during the regular season meetings dictate rankings during a playoff round robin tournament, which will be on August 7. Each game is timed with a five-minute limit, and is refereed by Chad Hess. Teams begin on opposite ends of the field next to a vacant flagpole. A flag flies at midfield, and the object of the game is to capture the flag and hang it on the opposing team’s pole before all team members are eliminated, which occurs when a player is hit once with an opposing team’s paintball. Teams achieve 10 points for eliminating each member of the opposing team, 25 points for pulling the flag, 15 points for attaining possession at the end of five minutes and 30 points for hanging the flag on the opposing team’s pole. Scattered throughout the field are inflatable obstacles, which promote shelter for the players as they move around. Known as bunkers, the teams joust for favorable positioning as they try to eliminate their opponents. Hess acquired the standard paintball equipment through National Paintball Supply, headed in New Jersey. Players enjoy comfortable equipment to keep themselves injury-free during competition. The only mandatory piece of attire is goggles for everyone who is involved with paintball. Even the fans that come to watch the games, must wear goggles, but many wear chest protectors, kneepads and other protective equipment. Paintball guns used in competition are operated by a pressurized tank secured behind the trigger.The balls fire out of the barrel at a maximum velocity of 300 feet per second, which is more than 200 miles per hour. Players are advised to fire at each other at a range no closer than 15 to 20 feet, to avoid injury. Directly above the pressurized tank is a compartment that holds the paintballs before they are shot. According to league regulation, each participant receives 480 paintballs per game. When a player is hit by a shot, a paint mark the size of a quarter is evident. Teams do not necessarily have to use different colored paintballs. Logistically, the game resembles many team sports that may be better known to the general public. "The game itself requires a lot of teamwork, communication, and planning," said Hess. "A group with better cohesiveness and preparation will be much more successful." League play is set for Mondays, but recreational paintball is open to the public on the weekends. A $30 fee is required to cover rental equipment and 500 paintballs. Recreational paintball meets on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. throughout the duration of the league’s regular season. Open games are free to attend, but players are required to purchase paint from the field.Despite achieving a successful turnout in its first season, Hess is looking to expand the league in the future. "Anyone who is interested in being a part of the league can check out our Web site or email me at chad@aimless.biz," said Hess. "Increasing the numbers in the league is definitely something we’d like to do." Until then, the original eight will battle for league supremacy throughout the summer.Hess said he plans to inflate a small bunker near pizza ranch tonight for Hog Dog Night in Luverne where he’ll be on hand to answer questions about the sport.He’ll set out a jar of paintballs, and give a free equipment rental to the person who guesses the correct number of balls in the jar.Hess can also be reached by cell phone at 227-7889.

By Lori EhdeThe June 24 resignation of Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff prompted a flurry of personnel changes in Luverne School District.In a special work session Thursday morning, July 1, Luverne School Board members and district administrators hammered out their options.Tenhoff was making $65,390, and preliminary data indicates the district would likely end up paying a new principal at least that much to come to Luverne.The proposal before School Board members at their July 22 meeting will be to operate with two principals, instead of three, and to add a half-time dean of students to pick up some slack."This was an opportunity to try this," said District Finance Officer Marlene Mann. "We’ve been talking about this for a couple of years as an option we need to look at because of declining enrollment."Current High School Principal Gary Fisher will be the 6-12 principal and current Middle School Principal Stacy Gillette will be the elementary principal for grades K-5.To keep programs for middle school identity and to help with middle school discipline, current athletic director and teacher Todd Oye may fill the role of half-time dean of students.District Finance Officer Marlene Mann said the district won’t necessarily see a cost savings by not replacing the elementary principal.Rather, she said it allows the district to hire some teachers where classes were going to be large and teachers’ schedules overloaded."For the good of the students, this is the approach they’re taking," Mann said. For example, in the English department, four teachers were going to have to teach extra classes (for extra pay) to accommodate student numbers in that area. Similarly, in social studies, three teachers would have to teach extra classes.Instead, the district would hire a full-time teacher to keep class sizes manageable overall."Not too many districts our size operate with only two principals," Fisher said. "If we can get two more middle school teachers, it’s a benefit to the students, as long as our teachers can stay up to snuff on No Child Left Behind (federal standards that Olson used to handle.)"The starting salary for teachers in Luverne is $28,463. Oye would keep his AD duties and give up half-time teaching to assume dean of students’ duties, which pays $17,360, which is what he was making for half-time teaching.Another teacher may be hired to pick up his former teaching duties, and those of middle school teacher Kathy Olson, who resigned this spring.Jan Olson has served as district curriculum coordinator and alternative school director, but in recent budget cuts, her positions were eliminated and she was moved to the classroom.Now, it appears, she’ll continue her curriculum duties, along with four hours of classroom work."In the long run, it should be a cost savings to the district, to have one less administrator," Mann said.Luverne teacher Mark Lundgren attended Thursday’s meeting and said he was encouraged by the process."I thought they did a nice job of hashing it out," he said. "It was no easy issue, and they tried to weigh all sides to figure out what’s best for the kids."The July 22 School Board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in the District Office.

By Sara StrongRecycling throughout Rock County will change immediately: glass will no longer be accepted, but magazines will.The county is removing glass from its recyclable materials because it is costly to sort and has little or no value.Doug Bos, at the Land Management Office, said, "Recycling markets have changed, and by the time you process glass and sort it, you’ve lost money."Putting glass in landfills isn’t the worst alternative, since it’s non-toxic, and there’s not as much glass on the market anymore. Glass makes up just 5 percent of what’s currently recycled.However, the local recycling changes will have a big impact on businesses that use glass bottles. Luverne Sharkee’s co-owner, Dave Halverson figures his garbage collection fees will double, to about $415 a month, with the extra glass in dumpsters."I’m sure it won’t make much difference to residential people," Halverson said, "but for businesses, it’ll add up."While glass is no longer recyclable in the county, magazines, which create more landfill waste, will be accepted at Ketterling Services, Luverne. People can’t put magazines, glossy paper or catalogs in the county recycling sheds or in their curbside pick-up bins, but they can take them to Ketterling’s.Rock County will pay Ketterling $35,000 for processing, and $12,000 for hauling recyclables from out-county sheds. The county will receive $49,800 from the state for the recycling program next year.People are reminded to recycle newsprint, white paper, corrugated cardboard, aluminum, tin and plastics Nos. 1, 2 and 3. People should also rinse items and remove lids.The current county recycling contract, approved Tuesday, is in effect through Dec. 31, 2007.

By Sara Strong The law enforcement debate between the city of Luverne and Rock County is about more than the money, or even the service.Sheriff’s Department employees are feeling the pressure, and some are looking for new jobs. Beyond that, the county worries that filling vacant positions will be difficult if the department is seen as unstable.County Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "Talking to the officers was sad. These are good contributors to the community and they are worried about their jobs and their families."Discussions on law enforcement had stalled to a certain point until a special joint committee meeting Wednesday morning. The city and county decided to continue negotiating the contract for 2005.The city of Luverne has sent numerous alternatives to the county’s budget proposal, but the county says it operates at the cost of doing business and can’t cut deals with the city.Wildung said, "I think we’re further apart than we were in February. It’s a pretty big schism, to be able to find some sort of compromise."The latest proposal from the city changed the funding formula and would mean paying $336,000 less than budgeted.County Administrator Kyle Oldre said the county can’t operate the department at its current standard without splitting the cost with Luverne, as it has since 1998."You’re not overcharged for the services," Oldre said. "And if you think you can do it cheaper — go ahead." City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "No one here has complained about services in the sheriff’s department and, as I’ve said time and again, we have no intention of creating our own department."Commissioner Ron Boyenga said the county developed a budget and the city can "take it or leave it."He said, "What you do is pick out numbers you don’t like, and you’re ignoring what’s positive for the city."The city says it shouldn’t pay for prisoner room and board and medical expenses because that’s a county obligation, outside of any contracts.The county says it isn’t required to provide for crossing guard services and other department items it picked up when the city and county departments merged. The county also pays any overages each year.Oldre pointed out that the county’s personnel expenses rose when the departments joined because the county had fewer staff than the city at that time.LaFond said, "But we have no control over our services; we’re just a revenue source."Law enforcement is just one contract the city and county share and which has been a sticking point during the mutual budget crunches.Oldre said, "Why is it that you have the attitude that ‘What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is negotiable’?"Looking aheadWildung said the city should come up with a number it can pay the county for law enforcement. Then, the county will use that figure to develop a plan for the department in that funding scenario."Maybe you can do it cheaper, and if you can, then the citizens will understand it, and I say good luck to you," Wildung said, "But there’s a lot more to running a police department than you might think."Oldre said, "If you can provide an equal or better department, do it."Rather than give the county an overall dollar amount it wants to contribute to the county Sheriff’s Department, City Attorney Ben Vander Kooi said it is important to note line items within the budget.Again, prisoner room and board is something the city doesn’t think it should pay. Vander Kooi said, "We want to preserve the concept that there are separate functions."County Attorney Don Klosterbuer said, "The contract means you are a buyer of a service, it doesn’t buy you the right to do their budget. … You aren’t going to get the same service for $336,000 less; it’s logically impossible."Vander Kooi said it is important to note what the county would have to provide because of state statutes. He said escalating costs in certain areas of the budget shouldn’t mean an automatic increase for the city’s fee.