Our Fourth of July weekend turned out to be perfect as far as the weather was concerned. Do you suppose our weatherman has finally gotten our message that when special holidays arrive we would appreciate a real nice day? It was a perfect day for picnics, and family get-togethers and also to take a couple of days to visit relatives you hadn’t seen for several years. If we didn’t get to do anything we had planned we certainly couldn’t blame it on the weatherman. However, on July 5th we had an entirely different story. Monday morning arrived bright and sunny but by noon the raindrops began falling and they continued to fall all afternoon. We were very fortunate to receive a little more than an inch of rain. It was really appreciated as the crops and gardens were beginning to need some moisture. We also have to be thankful that we didn’t receive the three or seven inches of rain that other areas received. Do you suppose our weatherman has changed his ways and listening to our desires and needs? Art and Henrietta Boeve attended a Boeve family reunion on Monday, at Hull, Iowa, State Park. There were 50 relatives who gathered to enjoy the day together. The Hills Town softball team had their annual Fourth of July Tournament Friday and Saturday in Hills. The Steen team and the team from Carmel, Iowa, couldn’t play as several ballplayers were attending family reunions at Inspiration Hills.Jo Aykens’ son, Paul, and his wife Carole, joined a tour group of 28 people and traveled to Holland. They went sightseeing in Holland, riding bicycles. They returned home Wednesday. Dries and Laura May Bosch attended the Bosch Opener Golf Tournament, in Minneapolis this year. The Bosch Opener is made up of family members. The tournament began Thursday and they returned home Sunday. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. The Steen Softball team got off to a good start this year. They won five out of six games they played at the beginning of the season. On Friday, July 9, Beaver Creek plays at Steen and on Tuesday, July 13, Steen plays at Carmel, Iowa. Hope their good luck continues.The Girls’ League of Steen Reformed Church left Tuesday morning for Lake Okoboji, Iowa, for their annual campout. They return home on Wednesday afternoon. Harold Wissink entered Luverne Community Hospital Saturday and was able to return home Thursday. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Ron VanRuler and family on the death of his brother-in-law, Ed Brands, who passed away early Monday morning. Funeral services were Wednesday.Anita (Boeve) Bosch, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, visited her parents Art and Henrietta Boeve and other family and friends Sunday. She returned home Friday. Mildred Keunen spent several days this past week visiting Ginger and Jim France, Sioux City, Iowa. Brian Dengler led the worship services at Steen Reformed Church Sunday morning. Sunday evening, the youth shared their experiences on their mission trip to Urban Ventures. Kenneth Bosch and Kari Rozeboom will attend camp at Inspiration Hills this week. This past weekend was a long weekend celebrating the Fourth of July and the founding of America. Most of us are so accustomed to all of the freedoms we have and enjoy that very seldom do we think of what this nation was like before. Personally, I think it is time for all of us to think about all the freedoms we have and appreciate them a little bit more. With all the turmoil in the world today I feel we must have faith in America. I quote, "Breathe there a man with soul so dead who never to himself has said, ‘This is my own, my native land.’ ""America … land of opportunity.America … land of dreams and hopes for millions of oppressed people throughout the whole world. America … the land where individual liberty gave to individuals the right of useful expression and achievement. America … where Henry Ford could start in a little one-room shop and build an industrial empire providing work for many people.America … where Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and Alexander Graham Bell turned ideas into wealth and enjoy the accumulations of their efforts. America … rich in natural resources used in acreages with unlimited use to future generations. America … is bulging with good things for all … for all willing to work and save and build. America … pulsing with life and opportunity. We must remember America is not great because of what government did for the people, but because of what government permitted free people to do for themselves." Lots of food for thought here. However, because of these things we have a strong free country, and it is up to us to keep it that way!

Application forms for hunting or fishing licenses in Montana now offer several options for identifying hair color. The choices include blond, black, gray, white, red, brown and, believe it or not, bald. "Bald has been a selection on Montana’s hunting and fishing applications since the 1970s," reports Reuters, "but the form was always filled out — discreetly, it seems — by a store clerk." Now that the applications can be filled out by anyone using the Internet, "bald" is suddenly being noticed. Several questions about baldness and hair color must remain unanswered, especially for Montana store clerks who are still filling out the forms. (Internet applicants will have to live with their own consciences.) The following guidelines, in the form of frequently asked questions, should be passed along to those employees: 1. What about dyed hair? White or graying hair, even though it is dyed, is still white or gray. This is why high-powered microscopes, similar to those shown on TV’s crime scene investigation shows, have been placed next to every store cash register in the state. Obtaining a sample for determining true hair follicle color under the microscope lens might pose a problem. If the applicant refuses to relinquish a strand of hair voluntarily, necessary force might be required. All employees in your store have been trained by the state to respond to this call for help — "Hair follicle alert! Hair follicle alert!" Within seconds, store employees will pin the reluctant applicant to the floor and secure a hair sample. (Note: Not even little, old ladies with purple or blue hair should be exempted from this treatment.) 2. What if customers lie about their true hair colors? This great state doesn’t take kindly to people who lie. A person who lies about hair color will very likely lie about other things, including their real weights, whether they floss their teeth daily or their involvement in local horse and cattle thefts. They will be shown no mercy in our court system. 3. What about people wearing obvious wigs or toupees? If it looks plastic, it probably is. Give any suspicious hair a surprise tug. You will immediately have your answer. 4. What about heads that have been completely shaved? Are they technically bald? If the applicant’s head is completely shiny and reflects overhead light, consider that person bald. If the head is covered with a telltale "shadow" and very faintly reveals a full hairline, hair follicle examination will reveal the applicant’s true hair color. (Refer to #1 for involuntary follicle removal.) 5. Should applicants with thinning hair, receding hairlines or bald spots all be classified as "bald?" This is why all store employees directly involved with the sale of hunting and fishing licenses in this state are required to have a strong background in geometry. Those math skills and memorized formulas will allow them to quickly calculate what percentage of a scalp’s surface is actually covered with hair. Any amount less than 20 percent would indicate serious hair loss or baldness. All calculations by store employees will be considered final. 6. Wait a minute! What if you know for certain that a fellow employee had a girlfriend take the high school math tests for him? What if that unnamed individual passed math, but with the lowest scores in the school’s history? We repeat — all calculations by store employees will be considered final. Live with it.

Robert C. Larson, 77, Armour, S.D., formerly of Hills, died Saturday, July 3, 2004, at Douglas County Memorial Hospital in Armour. Services were Wednesday, July 7, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Armour. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Armour. Robert Larson was born to Theodore and Lubbertha (Lucy) Larson on April 16, 1927, in Hills. He attended school in Hills. As a young man, he worked for area farmers near Hills.He married Mildred Eitreim on Nov. 21, 1947, in Hills. In 1949, they moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., and worked at John Morrell Co., later returning to Hills and raising mink as a hobby. On Aug. 10, 1954, they moved to Armour to begin a lifelong career as a mink farmer. Mr. Larson was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Armour. He served on the City Council and was instrumental in starting Colonial Manor Nursing Home. He belonged to various mink ranch associations. He enjoyed golfing and hunting. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Larson, Armour; four children, Beverly (Gary) Menning, Charles (JoEllen) Larson, Ronald (Jena) Larson, all of Armour, and Pamela (Ted) McMahon, Gillette, Wyo., 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Paul Larson, Ennis, Texas; and two sisters, LaVon (Robert) Campbell, Minneapolis, and Audrey (Martin) Feistner, Madison, S.D.Mr. Larson was preceded in death by his parents, twin brothers, Quinton and Delmer, and two sisters, Dolores and Charlotte. Koehn Bros. Funeral Home, Armour, was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial services in memory of Ruth K. Smith will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10, in Grace Lutheran Church Chapel, 500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne. Ruth Kathryn Smith, 87, died March 10, 2003, at Tuff Memorial Home, Hills. Ruth Searles was born to Jesse and Clara (Warne) Searles on Jan. 3, 1916, near Rock Rapids, Iowa. When she was five, she moved to a farm near Beaver Creek. She later graduated from Beaver Creek High School. She married Henry Smith on July 11, 1937. The couple lived in Adrian where they owned and operated Smith’s Bakery for 44 years. Mr. Smith died in 1983. She moved to Luverne that same year. She lived in Luverne until her health required a move to Tuff Memorial Home April 30, 2001. Survivors include three sons, Richard (Jacqueline) Smith, San Francisco, Calif., Robert (Daryl) Smith, St. Louis, Mo., and Donald Smith, Taipei, Taiwan; seven grandchildren; two brothers, James Searles, White Bear Lake, Joseph Searles, St. Paul; and two sisters, JoLoyce Holmes, Lusby, Md., Clevonne Jeka, Calumet City, Ill.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Tuff Memorial Home, Hills.

Jacob "Jake" E. Wulf, 85, Lester, Iowa, died Tuesday, June 29, 2004, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.Services were Friday, July 2, at Apostolic Christian Church in Lester, Burial was in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Alice Wulf, Lester; two sons, Harlan (Betty) Wulf, Lester, and Albert Wulf, Sioux Falls; six daughters, Madonna (Jerry) Krieger, Sioux Falls, Clara (Doug) Schock, Bloomfield, Iowa, Colleen (Tom) Dogotch, Jenell (Roy) Koehl, all of Morris, Minn., Mavis (Mike) Schmidt, Lester, and Nola (Walt) Gerst, Oakville, Iowa; 20 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Wilhelm (Leona) Wulf, Lester, and Lawrence Wulf, Larchwood, Iowa, and three sisters, Amelia Roemen, Inwood, Iowa, Mildred (Virgil) Sauder, Morris, and Leah (Dick) Doorneweerd, Beaver Creek.Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.

10 years ago (1994)"The Hills-Beaver Creek VFW team broke in the new baseball diamond in Hills Monday night when they hosted Pipestone. The H-BC Baseball Association is planning a dedication some time in July." 25 years ago (1979)"Dean H. Goettsch will become associated with the Exchange State Insurance Agency in Hills as of July 9. Dean is a fully licensed insurance agent in the state of Minnesota. Dean attended elementary school in Hills and graduated from West Lyon High School, Inwood, Iowa." 50 years ago (1954)"Dr. Don Odland, a brother-in-law of Dr. John Hermanson, Valley Springs, was in town Tuesday. He said he had hung up his shingle in Luverne." 75 years ago (1929)"The Rock County Co-operative Oil Co., will, in the near future, be housed in a new service station, one block south of the Manitou Hotel. This will be good news to the many stockholders of this concern that reside in this community. From a small beginning this co-operative company has been steadily forging ahead until today it ranks among the largest business of its kind in Rock County. Harry Schellhouse is the local manager of the Rock County Co-operative Oil Co., and every time you buy gas from him you are patronizing your own business institution." 100 years ago (1904)"Contractor Hellie and his bunch of carpenters began operations on the new school house Friday and from now on the work will be pushed with all possible haste, as only about 50 days remain before, according to contract, it must be completed. The contract was let April 23rd and more than half the time has passed with only the basement in place."

By Sara StrongWhether reading for pleasure or out of necessity, Nick Maras thinks that most people’s skills are lacking in efficiency.Maras, White Bear Lake, taught the first of two speed reading classes Saturday, when 17 people attended.Maras took a class in speed reading about 20 years ago when working on his master’s degree."I found I wasn’t a very good reader even though I had good grades. … But we had to read three to four books a week," Maras said.He had to read so much material that it was nearly impossible to fit into his schedule.When he took the class it became a sort of inspiration to continue his studies. "It became a hobby of mine," Maras said.He developed his program over the last 20 years and now reads 5,000 words per minute."It isn’t anything that’s new, but not many have been exposed to it, or know they can learn it," Maras said.The average reader takes in 250 words per minute, but by the end of the first class, can read up to 500 words a minute. By the end of the program, participants can read up to 1,800 words a minute.Maras said, "They are capable of reading double what they did without feeling like they are skimming and scanning or working too hard."The results are worth the class, Maras said. "I just think it’s a necessity that we all should learn."He taught speed reading to one Minnesota class for a semester — that class ended up with the state’s top SAT scores in reading."I think it’s something they should teach as a part of regular curriculum," Maras said.Part of what makes speed reading work, is that unnecessary words that don’t carry much meaning are eliminated. The class teaches participants to overcome obstacles to fast reading, such as re-reading certain words that the reader doesn’t understand.When readers have to concentrate more to get the message, they also retain the information better.Community Education will probably schedule another class with Maras, and is taking names of interested people to contact.

By Lori EhdeFather Thomas J. Jennings arrived in Luverne this morning to start his new duties at St. Catherine Church.He replaces Father Andy Beerman, who’s been here four years."I have substituted in your area and the people are very nice," he told the Star Herald Tuesday."The church is strong in your community, and wider church community seems to be really strong in southwest Minnesota. I look forward to experiencing that."Jennings, 59, was born in Caledonia where he attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Loretto High School. He earned a degree in philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, on the St. Mary's College campus in Winona. He completed his theological studies at the Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Winona at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Dec. 19, 1969. He returned to the Diocese to be a full-time teacher at Lourdes High School in Rochester. He was there until 1976 when he was assigned to Cotter High School in Winona, where he also served as associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He eventually was named principal for Cotter High and served as pastor for St. John Parish in Winona. While in Winona he obtained a specialist degree in education administration at Winona State University. In 1983, Father Jennings was appointed pastor for the parishes in Easton and Delavan, where he served four years. He then served as pastor for the parishes of Queen of Angels in Austin; Our Lady of Loretto in Brownsville; and Sacred Heart in Owatonna. In July 1998, he was placed on the faculty of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, where he has provided spiritual direction for seminarians and served as Director of Apostolic Works until his present assignment. Father Jennings enjoys skiing, bicycling and hiking. He also enjoys quieter pursuits, such as reading and flower gardening.Growing up in Caledonia he said he’s accustomed to the hills and valleys of southeastern Minnesota, but Jennings said he’s looking forward to the change of scenery."I love the prairie and I love the prairie weather and the ranching and farming," he said. "It’s a wonderful opportunity … It’ll be a new experience and I look forward to it."Bishop Bernard Harrington, Winona, will install Father Jennings at St. Catherine Church Sunday during 10:30 Mass.

By Lori EhdeAbout 400 people attended Sunday’s open house at Luverne’s assisted living apartments where about 30 residents will move in during the coming months.Poplar Creek Estates are built adjacent to the existing Oaks apartments across from the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home on the southwest side of Luverne.Mary Jane Brown Administrator Tony Linn said he was pleased with Sunday’s show of support."People who saw it are very happy with what they saw," Linn said. Eunice Claussen is one resident eager to move in. "It’s very nice," she said after seeing the apartments during the open house. "It’s almost to the point of being elegant."Claussen moved from her home in Hardwick to the nursing home nine months ago, but Poplar Creek will be more suited to her needs."I’ve made good friends here," she said, "but I look forward to having my own home and I’m anxious to have some of my things from home here."Linn said the open house was a nice way to showcase the apartments for future residents and for the public."The Furniture House did a really good job furnishing a couple apartments," he said. "They also put some accessories out in the commons areas, so they were helpful that way."Design Craft, Luverne, is the general contractor for the project, which started June 2003. "They’ve done a wonderful job," Linn said. "We’ve tried to use local contractors where possible for the project."Since plans for the $3.2 million project first started nearly five years ago, Good Samaritan Communities has raised $130,000 in local donations.A Sioux Falls Argus Leader story mistakenly reported earlier this week that local donations came to $3.2 million, and Linn requested that information be corrected.Also, over the past five years, the list of residents interested in occupying Poplar Creek Estates has also been growing.So far, that list includes more than 50 interested tenants (10 committed) for a complex that will offer 24 apartments — 20 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units.In the list of options for senior housing, Poplar Creek Estates will provide an arrangement that’s between The Oaks and the nursing home in terms of health and home services.For example, assisted living residents of Poplar Creek will have three meals a day, light housekeeping and laundry services provided, as well as a registered nurse to assist with medication and other light medical needs.The apartments are all on one level for handicap accessibility, with spacious bathrooms and living areas. Kitchen space, however, amounts to a microwave and dorm fridge, because residents meet in a common dining area for meals.Poplar Creek Estates are connected to The Oaks through a walkway attached to the Oaks north-side patio.The two buildings will not be joined as one, but tenants will be able to share spaces like the exercise and therapy room.To live in Poplar Creek Estates, residents must be independent enough to navigate in and out of the facility on their own — a requirement in case of fire emergencies.The typical Poplar Creek resident will rely on Rock County’s Heartland Express busing system or other transportation, so no garages are included in the plan.The building will be staffed with trained home-health aides 24 hours a day, and a registered nurse will be on site 10 to 20 hours a week and on call 24 hours a day.Rental rates vary, based on the level of services needed. The more health and housekeeping services a resident needs, the higher the rate he or she will pay.Good Samaritan Communities of Luverne has agreed to work with Rock County Family Services to utilize elderly waivers in order to make the units more affordable to a wider range of people.The name, "Poplar Creek Estates," came from the little creek that runs through the southwest part of town.Anyone interested in being placed on the list for residency can call Rhona Snyder at 283-1996 or Nancy Kaczrowski at 283-2375.