By Jolene FarleyHow to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes was a pesky subject at Tuesday’s Hills City Council meeting. The council has purchased a sprayer and instructed city maintenance man Wayne Ward to become licensed to spray pesticides. Ward informed the council that he would need a commercial license instead of a general license to spray in other communities, as was discussed at a previous meeting."For us to do that is a no-no because you got to have a commercial license to do it," he said. The city or Ward would also have to be bonded and would likely incur higher insurance costs, according to Ward.The council discussed renting the equipment out, with the renter purchasing the chemicals themselves. Later in the meeting, the council addressed the topic of used tires that aren’t properly disposed, because water collects in the tires and becomes ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.Ward told the council that the city of Luverne is fining people for having old tires around their homes or businesses. Mayor Jim Jellema wondered how far the council should go in policing the spread of the mosquitoes."Are we going to go after swimming pools?" he said. Mosquitoes won’t nest in deep water but residents need to watch birdbaths where water is shallow and not moving, according to Ward. "I do think that those tires should be cleaned up," said council member Dana Dahlquist. "I think it makes good sense to get rid of something that causes problems with mosquitoes."Jellema asked, "To what extent are you going to go?"Dahlquist said, "It’s a good start, I would think." The issue was tabled until the next meeting. City Clerk Connie Wiertzema was instructed to contact the city of Luverne about its policy and penalties on used tires.The council also discussed the possibility of having a tire pickup day or adding tires to the list of items that can be disposed of on citywide cleanup day. In other business …oThe council will allow Alliance Communications to park equipment on city shop property from about June 14 to Sept. 6 while the company works in the area.Alliance Communications agrees to keep the property clean and rent a dumpster. They offered to pay rent from $200 to $250 per month. The council debated whether the road to the city shop would be damaged if the trucks or equipment were too heavy.After some reassurance that the road had several layers of seal coating, council members decided to ask $200 per month rent. oCity Auditor Matt Taubert updated the council on the 2003 audit report.The city’s finances are healthy, according to Taubert. The city was within about 3 percent of adhering to the budget the council set for 2003. "That’s very good, very good," Taubert said. oThe council discussed a proposal by the Beaver Creek Sportsmen’s Club to add two signs, one on the east side of Hills and one on the west side, directing people to the Hills Rez. Some campers are reportedly having a difficult time finding the recreation area.The group will pay for the signs if they aren’t too costly, according to Wiertzema. The club has contacted the Minnesota Department of Transportation for permission to place the signs along the highway.

By Jolene FarleyArea residents will celebrate Friendship Days in Hills and at the Beaver Creek Golf Course this weekend.Festivities begin 2 p.m. Friday at the Beaver Creek Golf Course for the four-person Best Ball Golf Tournament. Also Friday, the Country Cruisers Poker Run begins at 7 p.m. in the Jubilee parking lot in Brandon and ends in Hills. On Saturday, from 7 to 9 a.m., health screenings will be offered at the Hills American Legion Hall. The health fair offers blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, several other booths and giveaways.Also that morning, the FFA Alumni will sponsor a pancake breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Hills American Legion.The co-ed volleyball tournament starts at 9 a.m. in the Hills City Park. The Hills-Beaver Creek Girls’ Round Robin Softball Tournament also starts at 9 a.m. at the Hills softball diamond.At the Hills Rez from 9 a.m. to noon, the MinnAqua Program, sponsored by the Beaver Creek Sportsmen’s Club, teaches children and adults about lake and stream ecology while teaching them to fish. Courses include Enviroscape Watershed Model/Wonderful Watershed, Fishing Equipment and Techniques, Rods and Reels Used in Freshwater Fishing and Spin Cast Fishing. Booths featuring jewelry, woodworking and other items open at noon in the city park. Kid’s activities begin at noon in the park with a beanbag toss, inflatable games, racehorses, monster ball and jump tent sponsored by the Hills Community Club and the Hills Lions Club. The H-BC band is running the games until they close at 3 p.m.The Kid’s Tractor Pull, sponsored by Dave’s Repair, will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the park. At 1:30 p.m. in the park, the Tuff Memorial Kitchen Band performs. Mogan’s Heroes begins playing at 2 p.m. in the park. Bring your lawn chairs. Concession stands in the city park will be sponsored by the Hills Christian School and by the Hills-Beaver Creek Girl’s Softball Team at the Hills Softball Diamond. The Hills-Beaver Creek Baseball Association will serve an evening meal from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hills American Legion. The Hills Lions Club will dish up homemade ice cream at 7 p.m. on Main Street while the Spotlight Dance Team and the H-BC Danceline perform. The Kiddie Parade and parade begins at 7:30 p.m. with prizes awarded to the winning entries. A dance for all ages begins after the parade and ends at midnight at the Hills American Legion. Justin VanMaanen and Nate Fick are the disc jockeys for the event.Hills Community Club raffle tickets with various prizes are available for purchase from Community Club members. Drawings will follow the parade, but participants don’t need to be present to win.

By Jolene FarleyMany people are fascinated by their past.Tracing their roots back as far as possible and establishing connections with ancestors helps to create a sense of what their lives were like and better defines who they are today. Cathy Lykes, Seattle, Wash., and her husband, John Daughters, have spent many hours and driven countless miles exploring Cathy’s roots. In a quest for more information and to "get a flavor" for the place her grandfather grew up, the couple visited Rock County last week. Lykes’ grandfather, John Steen, lived in the county until 1927. The city of Steen is named after Lykes’ great-grandfather John Peter Steen and his brother Ole Steen. The brothers donated the land for the city of Steen.During their visit, the couple poured over property records and newspapers and visited the Rock County Museum where Lykes donated a copy of her grandfather’s diary and some historical photos.Family treeThe Steen family settled in Wisconsin first, then later moved to Rock County to homestead, according to Lykes.When her ancestors arrived in America they changed their name to Steen as was common during that time period. Immigrants often took the name of the place they originated from as their last name.Last year, Lykes and Daughters vacationed in Norway where they located the original Steen farm.John Steen, youngest son of John Peter and Lena (Clemetsen) Steen, was born in 1890 in Steen and died in 1972. He was raised by his eldest brother, Peter Steen and his wife, after his parents passed away when he was seven years old.He moved to Washington in 1927, following three other brothers who moved to the state one by one. Lykes suspects her grandfather was looking for better work, with three daughters to support. His search paid off. He eventually became the Executive Administrator for Washington Physicians Service, developing pre-paid medical plans.He worked as a consultant helping set up medical plans for many states and Puerto Rico.The diaryLykes, who has a degree in history, is interested in everyone’s past, but after enrolling in a year-long genealogy class at the University of Washington, her interest turned to studying her own family tree. "When I took the class I wasn’t quite sure what I would focus on for my project," she said. Lykes was told by her aunt, Tralice (Steen) Lewis, that her grandfather, John Steen, had kept a diary while living in Steen as a teenager.Lewis kept the diary through the years. Lykes polled family members and finally located the document at a cousin’s house. The leather-bound diary begins in 1909 when Steen is 17 years old, and has daily entries until 1910 when he turned 19 years old."It makes him out to be kind of a remarkable person," Daughters said.Lykes’ grandfather thought his journal wasn’t important."He thought it was of no consequence," she said. He told her aunt there was nothing significant in it.Lykes and the Rock County Historical Society disagree. The diary is a reflection of everyday life just after the turn of the century. "It was so much fun to discover and read," Lykes said. "I truly found out what life was like at that time." When John Steen wrote the journal, he was an active member of the Steen community, courting the town schoolteacher, manager of the Steen baseball team and earning a living by picking up hauling jobs and working for the Farmers Elevator Company, according to Lykes.His first entry on Friday, Jan. 1, 1909, is a pledge to continue his journal for one year. "I, John A. Steen, do this day resolve to start and maintain this diary for the year of 1909," he wrote.He fulfilled his pledge. He continued to write through 1910. By the end of the journal, he was working in Oto, Iowa, and had met another school- teacher, Meroe Jack. They would eventually marry.Information searchFrom Washington, Lykes used the Internet and inter-library loaning of documents for her research. She speaks highly of the Rock County Historical Society and said society volunteer Cheryl Creeger was very helpful. If Creeger came across the Steen name anywhere she would send the information to Lykes.Eventually Lykes decided it would be beneficial to visit Steen and see what she could find locally."I’ve learned a lot just seeing the area that the journal mentions, seeing the names that he mentions," she said. "We look at it kind of as an intellectual pursuit," Lykes said. "It’s really more than genealogy, it’s more the social history that really grabs us." Interested Rock County citizens can now read John Steen’s diary at the Rock County Historical Society.

By John RittenhouseThe 2004 baseball season came to an end for Zach Wysong and the Luverne High School baseball team Wednesday, June 2, in Montevideo.The Luverne Cardinals met Yellow Medicine East in Montevideo for an elimination game of the Section 3AA Baseball Tournament that night.Luverne entered the event as the defending tournament champions, but the Cardinals bowed out of the field with a 7-3 loss to the Sting in the loser’s bracket.The Cardinals sported 1-0 and 2-1 leads during the early stages of the contest.YME, however, scored six consecutive runs between the second and fifth innings to open a 7-2 cushion.Luverne plated a run in the top of the seventh before the final outs of a 13-10 season were recorded.Wysong, a Hills-Beaver Creek High School junior, ended the campaign on a sour note.Wysong went hitless in three official plate appearances against YME.

By John RittenhouseFive members of the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth/Edgerton boys’ track team extended their seasons during the Section 3A Track and Field Championships staged in Luverne Thursday.The Patriot boys earned the right to compete in three events during this weekend’s Minnesota State Class A Track and Field Championships that will be staged at the National Sports Center in Blaine based on their performances during the section event.The top two individual finishers in every event, the winning relay teams and any individual or relay team that meets the state qualifying standards that are in place for the section meet qualify for the state classic.H-BC-E-E’s five boys won a combined three section championships to earn their trips to Blaine.Junior Tyler Bush will be a busy athlete this weekend. Bush won an individual title and ran legs for a pair of section champion relay teams.Bush’s individual title came in the 800-meter run, an event he placed fifth in during last year’s state meet.Bush won the section championship for the second straight year with a time of 1:58.43 Thursday.The boys’ 3,200-meter relay team won a section championship for the third consecutive season.Todd Alberty, Kale Wiertzema, Derek Haak and Bush produced a time of 8:18.96 to win the race handily.The Patriots also took top honors in the 1,600-meter relay with an H-BC-E-E program record time of 3:31.58.Alberty, Wiertzema, Lee Jackson and Bush formed the team.The H-BC-E-E boys will compete at the state meet Friday and Saturday.Bush will run in the second heat of Friday’s preliminaries in the 800 at 5:22 p.m. The 800 finals will be at 2:27 p.m. Saturday. The 1,600-meter relay may have to make an appearance in the preliminaries at 6:38 p.m. The 1,600-meter relay finals are at 3:23 p.m. Saturday. The 3,200-meter relay is an all-finals event that will be staged at 9:58 a.m. Saturday.The Patriot boys placed eighth in the team competition at the section meet with 40.5 points.Tom LeBoutillier and Cody Scholten registered performances in the top eight without advancing to the state meet for the Patriot boys.LeBoutillier covered 19-5 1/2 to place fifth in the long jump and finished seventh in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.41.Scholten cleared 6-1 to place fourth in the high jump.The 2004 season came to an end for the H-BC-E-E girls, who scored 14 points to place 14th as a team in Luverne Thursday.The Patriots did place in the top eight in three events during the meet without qualifying for the state classic.H-BC-E-E’s best effort came during the 3,200-meter relay, when Mya Mann, Ashley and Jocelyn Bucher and Cassi Tilstra established a new H-BC school record with a time of 9:55.44.The Patriots placed third in the event, missing the state qualifying standard by 3.16 seconds.Tilstra shaved some time off her H-BC school record in the 800-meter run by placing fifth with a 2:23.9 performance.The girls’ 1,600-meter relay established a new H-BC-E-E program record by placing fifth with a time of 4:12.41.Mann, Ashley Bucher, Amanda and Cassi Tilstra formed the team.

Local government lobbying takes a 12.7 percent jumpLocal governments in Minnesota increased their lobbying dollars by more than 12 percent during 2003.According to Minnesota State Auditor Pat Anderson, local governments spent a total of $6,082,003 on lobbying activities in 2003.That adds up to a 12.7 percent increase in spending over the previous year.Sixty-one percent of reporting local governments directly employed or hired contract lobbyists in 2003.These local governments spent a total of $2.9 million on staff and contract lobbyists. This represents a 3.3 percent decrease from the amount spent in 2002.Eight of the local governments that directly employed or hired contract lobbyists reported over $100,000 in lobbying expenditures. These local governments accounted for 49.3 percent of all contract and staff lobbying in 2003.So the question is, how much taxpayer dollars should local governments spend to try to get more taxpayer dollars?I should probably point out that whatever lobbying dollars Luverne spent to convince the Minnesota legislature that Luverne is the right spot for the veterans home was certainly worthwhile.This could be your shot at the big leaguesIf you’re a big league wanabee, make your way to Dell Rapids next Monday.The Pittsburgh Pirates will be holding their annual tryout camp in Dell Rapids, on Monday, June 14.The camp will be under the direction of Hank Krause, scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates.Participants should be from age 15 to 18.All tryouts will be at the Dell Rapids City Park beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.Besides representatives from the Pirates organization, a number of scouts and college coaches will also be in attendance.Gutknecht’s staff to visit Luverne TuesdayRepresentatives from Congressman Gil Gutknecht’s office will be in Luverne on Tuesday afternoon, June 15.Cally Eckles, will visit Luverne Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the basement of the Luverne Public Library.Eckles is based out of Gutknecht’s Fairmont office and serves as a field representative for southwest Minnesota.The purpose for her visit will be to assist constituents with casework and legislative matters.Brandenburg offers reward for Starfires photosPrior to being known for his photographic skills, Jim Brandenburg was known in high school for playing in a popular local band, Steve Ellis and the Starfires.So, it may seem odd that this world class photographer has no photos of his early days as a musician.He would like to rectify that.If anyone out there has old photos of the Starfires, Jim would like to talk.He may even work out a deal to trade one of his photos for one of yours.Steve Ellis and the Starfires were popular in the area in the early ‘60s. Jim left the band in 1964.If you would like to have more information, contact Jim through Heidi Brandenburg Ross at Ravenwood Studio, 11 E. Sheridan, Ely MN 55731 or call Heidi at (218) 365-5105.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Newspaper reporters aren’t the only ones who can write storiesThe longer I write for the Star Herald, the more I believe the most compelling stories often don’t make it to print.That’s especially true of local war veterans and stories about their contributions to our nation’s freedom.For every account we publish of one veteran’s experiences, there are several more veterans with equally newsworthy stories that are never told.This week marked the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the day in which the United States and Allied forces invaded the German stronghold on France during World War II.On the 50th anniversary of D-day, I interviewed Luverne’s Brick Bowen, and that conversation at his kitchen table deeply affected my views of war and the price of freedom.The story 10 years ago began, "On June 7, 1944, 22-year-old Army Pvt. Brick Bowen sunk his combat boots into chest-deep waters just off the coast of Normandy, France, and waded into what would be some of the bloodiest fighting in history."Today, 82-year-old Bowen holds a Purple Heart for his contributions, which nearly killed him.The story was published in the June 2, 1994, Star Herald:"He suffered shrapnel wounds in his neck - dangerously close to his jugular vein - and in his left leg above the knee and in his left foot.‘When I came to I was all full of blood,’ Bowen said. He remembers looking around, seeing bodies, but nobody moving. He didn't know where he was.His unit had become separated from each other. ‘I was the only one out of the whole platoon that made it out of there that day ... They were all blown apart,’ Bowen recalled sadly. ‘There was a path, and I followed this path ...’After stumbling over dead American soldiers to get there, Bowen said he finally found a small enclave of American troops. There was a plane about to leave for an England hospital, and it had just one spot left."We’re lucky to know Bowen’s story, but he’s part of a shrinking group of World War II veterans still alive to share their stories. It’s time to start recording them …We can all be newspaper reportersRecognizing the importance of these stories to U.S. history, Congress has created the Veterans History Project.Star Herald reader Tammy Krogmann sent me literature on the project and she suggested I share the idea with other readers."Every veteran has a story to tell, no matter where you served, your rank or branch of service," the postcard reads. "Preserving the memories of wartime veterans and civilians who served in support of them was the goal of Congress when it created the Veterans History Project."Here’s how to contribute to the project.Step 1: Go to www.loc.gov/vets, or call 888-371-5848, for a memoir project kit (which includes sample questions, a registration form and instructions).Step 2: Find a veteran who served in World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam or Persian Gulf Wars and record their story.Step 3: Fill out the registration form and assemble photographs, maps, diaries, audio and videotapes you want to be preserved.Step 4: Send the kit to Veterans History Project, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., SE, Washington, D.C., 20540-4615. The Star Herald will continue to publish stories about local veterans, but this is one way we can all help current and future generations learn history from those who lived it.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds ran their record to 4-0 by posting three victories since Wednesday, June 2.The Redbirds beat Heron Lake by four runs during Luverne’s home opener June 2 before securing an eight-run home win over Worthington Friday. Luverne ended the stretch by nipping Heron Lake by two runs in Heron Lake Sunday.Luverne, which played a game in Fairmont Wednesday, June 9, travels to Milroy Friday before hosting Hadley Wednesday, June 16.Luverne 10, HL 2Jon Jarchow’s grand-slam home run in the top of the ninth inning kept the Redbirds undefeated for the season Sunday in Heron Lake.Luverne trailed 7-6 after the Lakers scored three runs in the seventh inning before adding another counter in the bottom of the eighth. The Redbirds, however, moved in front 10-7 with Jarchow’s blast and limited the Lakers to one run in the bottom of the ninth to prevail by two.Tony Sandbulte reached base on an error, Eric Edstrom singled and Brian Weber was hit by a pitch before Jarchow cleared the bases with his homer.After a scoreless first inning, both teams scored two runs in the second.Jesse Kuhlman drew a bases-loaded walk and Joel Nath stroked an RBI single to account for Luverne’s runs in the second.The Redbirds took a 4-2 lead with a sacrifice fly from Weber and a fielder’s choice by Jarchow in the top of the third, but HL countered with one run in the bottom of the frame to trail 4-3.A two-run triple by Jake Studer gave the Redbirds a 6-3 lead in the sixth before HL moved in front 7-6 during the next two innings.Luke Iveland pitched one and one-third innings of one-run ball to pick up the win in a relief role. James Fisher recorded two outs in the ninth to earn a save. Kuhlman yielded six runs in six and two-thirds innings of work as Luverne’s starting pitcher. Studer gave up one run and recorded one out in relief of Kuhlman.Box score AB R H BIStuder 4 0 1 2Sandbulte 4 2 1 0Edstrom 5 2 3 0Weber 2 2 0 1Jarchow 4 2 1 5Fisher 5 0 2 0Kuhlman 3 1 1 1Nath 5 0 2 1Iveland 2 1 1 0Luverne 9,Worthington 1The Redbirds rolled to an easy eight-run victory over the Cubs in Luverne Friday.Luverne led 8-0 after seven innings of play and maintained an eight-run margin of victory at game’s end.Mike Boen singled and scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first when Brian Weber grounded out.Edstrom delivered an RBI single and Jarchow chased home two runs with a single to give the Redbirds a 4-0 lead in the third.Weber recorded a sacrifice fly and two more runs scored on errors when the hosts scored three runs in the sixth inning to make it a 7-0 game.Boen slapped an RBI double to make it 8-0 in the seventh.Both teams scored one run in the eighth inning. Mike Wenninger singled and scored on a double by Edstrom to account for Luverne’s tally.Jarchow fanned 13 batters in a six-inning stint as the starting pitcher. He got the win. Joel Nath pitched three innings of one-run, four-strikeout ball in relief of Jarchow.Box score AB R H BIBoen 5 2 3 1Sandbulte 5 1 0 0Wenninger 4 2 2 0Weber 5 1 1 2Sehr 4 1 1 0Goebel 1 0 0 0Edstrom 4 1 3 2Jarchow 3 0 1 2Nath 2 0 0 0Fisher 3 1 1 0Iveland 4 0 0 0Luverne 8, HL 4The Redbirds raised their record to 2-0 with a four-run home win over Heron Lake Wednesday, June 2.Jeff Sehr tossed six and one-third innings of shutout ball to secure the pitching win, and his Luverne teammates scored eight runs in the first five innings to give the hurler a comfortable lead.The teams battled to a scoreless draw through two and one-half innings before Luverne broke through for a run in the bottom of the third.Boen singled and scored on a double by Sandbulte to open the scoring.Luverne proceeded to score two runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth to gain an 8-0 advantage.Jarchow and Iveland slapped RBI singles to make it a 3-0 game in the third.Fisher supplied the big blow in the fifth when he delivered a three-run triple. Edstrom singled home a run before Fisher’s bases-clearing triple. Jarchow plated Fisher with a sacrifice fly.Sehr fanned four batters, walked two and yielded one hit during his stint on the hill. Edstrom surrendered four runs in one inning of relief. Nath pitched one and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief.Box score AB R H BIBoen 5 1 2 0Sandbulte 3 0 2 1Sehr 3 1 1 0Weber 3 1 1 0Goebel 1 0 0 0Edstrom 3 2 1 1Nath 2 1 0 0Fisher 4 1 1 3Jarchow 2 1 1 2Pick 1 0 0 0Iveland 4 0 2 1

By John RittenhouseAfter experiencing two weekends full of rain-shortened and cancelled events, clear skies allowed area racers to compete at different tracks Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Rock County was well represented at Friday’s races at Rapid Speedway, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, where area drivers posted feature victories in three different classes.Adrian’s Mark DeBoer had a great night in the late model street stock class, winning the second heat race before taking the checkered flag in the feature event.Four more area drivers competed against DeBoer Friday.Former Rock County resident Darrin Korthals won the first heat race and placed second in the feature, Luverne’s Scott Overgaard placed third in the first heat and third in the feature, Luverne’s Jesse Akkerman placed fifth in the first heat and fourth in the feature, and Adrian’s Brad Klaassen placed fourth in the second heat and fifth in the feature.Ellsworth’s Greg Roemen had a good night in the sportsman class, placing third in the first heat before winning the feature title.Former Luverne resident Anthony Mann placed third in the third heat and third in the feature in the sportsman class. Kanaranzi’s Colter Deutsch finished fifth in the third heat and 12th in the feature.Deutsch experienced more success in the hobby stock competition Friday.On the eve of his wedding, Deutsch won the first heat and took top honors in the A feature.Ellsworth’s Mike Deutsch won the third heat race and placed 10th in the hobby stock A feature. Magnolia’s Josh Klay finished second in the first heat and 12th in the A feature. Luverne’s Mike Buss finished sixth in the first heat and third in the B feature.Luverne’s Josh Reisch traveled to Murray County Speedway in Slayton Friday, where he placed second in the modified feature.Saturday night drew racers to Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, and Lake County Speedway in Madison, S.D.Luverne’s Mike Steensma won the modified feature in Worthington.Adrian’s DeBoer placed fifth in the first heat and second in the street stock feature in Madison. Ellsworth’s Mike Deutsch placed second in the second heat and third in the feature in the hobby stock class.Colter Deutsch had another big night at Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, S.D., Sunday.Deutsch won the third heat race and took the checkered flag in the feature event in the hobby stock class.Magonlia’s Klay also raced in the hobby stock class at Huset’s, placing third in the third heat and 13th in the feature.Luverne’s Akkerman placed second in the second heat and fourth in the feature in the street stock division at Huset’s.