With the arrival of June, the beautiful (we hope) month in which summer arrives, we must also realize that we are on the last leg of the first half of the year. Time does fly, but speaking of flying, June is also "Fight the Filthy Fly Month." Do your part in supporting the fight against flies. June is also Cat and Kitten Month. The purpose of this occasion is to acquaint more people with the pleasures of owning a cat and to promote better cat care. Perhaps you could get a cat and let him fight the flies! Knowing me as you all do, that I am a cat lover, I would certainly go along with that idea. Judy Punt, wife of Pastor Punt who served the Steen Reformed Church for several years, and now lives in Sully, Iowa, was a supper guest in the Jo and Joyce Aykens home Friday night. The Girls’ League father-daughter cook-out will be at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 4, at Steen Reformed Church. Henry Van Der Weerd, who underwent surgery recently, was transferred to a swing bed at Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday and returned to his home on Friday.Vacation Bible School is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 7, and continues through Friday, June 11, at Steen Reformed Church. Everyone is asked to bring a sack lunch. Floyd Paulsen, son of Melvin and Joann Paulsen, Alexandria, Ind., arrived Saturday night to spend a few days visiting his parents and helping them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Henrietta Huenink, Norma Van Wyhe, Lester, Iowa, Winnie Scholten and Joan Hoogeveen attended the Memorial Day services at Valley Springs American Legion Monday morning. Julie and Jon Springman and two daughters, Forest Lake, and Carla and Joel Overlander and their two daughters, came Friday to visit in the home of their mother, Melba Boeve. They also attended a high school graduation open house for Daniel Boeve, son of Brian Boeve, in their home in Sioux Falls. The Springmans returned home on Sunday. The Overlanders returned to their home on Saturday evening. Orrin and Bernice Aukes attended the wedding of Michael Sasse, Sioux Falls, son of Dave and Janet Sasse, grandson of Otto and Gladys Van Wettering and Sawyer Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson, Sioux Falls, on Saturday at Blue Mound Banquet Center in Luverne. Daryl Fuerstenberg underwent open heart surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester on Tuesday and remains a patient there at this time. Dries and Laura May Bosch, Art and Henrietta Boeve, Glen and Ann Boeve and family, Michael and Gregg Van Wyhe and family, left Saturday for Cedar Rapids, Iowa where hey attended the wedding of their grandson, Ryan Boeve and Amy Hamilton, at Calvary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids. The reception was at the Clarion Hotel in Cedar Rapids, following the ceremony. Others attending from here were Dick and Gert Hup, Hills, and Cornie and Darleen Bosch, Luverne. They returned home on Sunday.Congratulations to Arvin and Cena Mae Tilstra who will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at Steen Reformed Church. Congratulations to Erin Boeve, daughter of Glen and Ann Boeve, who graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School on Friday. There was a graduation party in her home following the graduation exercises. Monday morning coffee guests in the Melba Boeve home were Hendrene and Arnie Veldkamp, Luverne. As most of you know, I love music and have ever since I was old enough to walk. When my dad and mother went dancing, they put me to sleep behind the piano and when they were playing the last song, my dad would wake me up and dance me to the door. Would you believe that all happened in Ash Creek?From that time on I have loved music. I played the piano and organ and sang solos at an early age for the Farm Bureau women. I still sing with the Sioux Falls Sweet Adelines. Music has always played a big role in my life. However, I have been very unhappy with TV and the radio stations for the choice of music they play. I was happy when I read this article and would like to share it with you at this time. "There is a new age in music that combines the sounds of nature, ancient musical instruments and the latest electronic techniques. It is designed to create an emotional response in listening by relaxing them and allowing them to become involved in rhythm. Most other forms of music, including jazz and even classical, are often based on an unnecessary rhythm. New-age music is a marked contrast to more contemporary music and creates a soothing atmosphere."That sounds good to me!

The following was printed in the Rose History in 1911:"The only paper ever established in the town of Hills is the Hills Crescent, which began life on Aug. 17, 1893, and which has ever since been published. F.M. Bailey and Orrie Haislet were the founders. Hills had for some time wanted a newspaper and finally inducements were offered Mr. Bailey to launch the enterprise. Mr. Bailey has told of the founding of the Crescent in the issue of that paper of Aug. 20, 1903:Mr. Bailey had at that time $95 in cash, which he at once put into a first payment on type and material, but he hadn’t enough to buy a press. It so happened that S.S. Haislet, of the Adrian Guardian, was friendly to the long gander-shanks and agreed to furnish the press if Bailey would take on his son Orrie along as a partner in the enterprise. The press was an old Ramage. It had been used by Ben Franklin, and later the Decorah Posten was printed on it when Mr. Amundson had no more money than Mr. Bailey. It was the oldest press in use in the United States, printed one page at a time, and was used for the Crescent for nearly three years. Saturday the outfit reached Hills and Mr. Bailey started on his wheel early and rode to Hills. That afternoon he rented a building, made up a dummy of the paper and hustled eight or 10 columns of ads…. Sunday Orrie Haislet arrived by team from Adrian with the press. Monday they carried the outfit from the depot…. The new firm of Bailey & Haislet couldn’t raise the $5 freight due on the outfit, but Frank Jordan came to the rescue and paid in advance for five papers for a year, and Thursday the first issue of the Hills Crescent came out. Six weeks after the founding, the junior member of the firm sold his interest to B.F. Heastand for $5, and a few months later Mr. Bailey became sole proprietor. For two months in 1895 Mr. Bailey issued a daily Crescent, and from Sept. 19, 1895, until March 4, 1896, when he sold out, the Crescent was a semi-weekly. On this date the plant was purchased by a company of Hills businessmen, of which J.R. Wright was president, and H.E. Wyum, secretary. James W. Simmons was employed to conduct the paper. On April 15, 1896, the outfit was purchased by A.C. Finke and James W. Simmons, who conducted the paper under the firm name of Finke & Simmons until the next July. Mr. Simmons then sold to his partner, and Mr. Finke conducted the paper alone until Aug. 11. On that date Olaf Nash bought a half interest, and for more than 14 years the Crescent was published by Finke & Nash. During the greater part of the time under this regime Mr. Nash had charge of the paper. He conducted it in an able manner, made many improvements, and built it up to its present high standing. Messrs. Finke & Nash sold the Crescent Sept. 1, 1910, to A.A. Hanson, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, who has maintained its former high standing." Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156. Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain," noted Benjamin Franklin, "except death and taxes." If his words are still true, funeral expenses shouldn’t catch us off guard. That seems to be the problem in Germany. Soaring funeral prices there, according to the London Evening Standard, have created a demand for cost-saving services for the dearly departed. One extraordinary plan involves sending loved ones’ bodies to Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic for disposal. (In the funeral business, it’s referred to as "corpse tourism.") The advantages of opting for such a practice are quite obvious. For starters, survivors would only have to chip in for the cost of one-way plane or train tickets. Choosing between a window seat or an aisle seat would no longer be a major decision. There would be no postcards from exotic, faraway places to make us envious — "Having a wonderful time. Wish you were here." For once and for all, we would finally get rid of the old expression, "All dressed up and no place to go." The Czech Republic or Slovakia may not represent everyone’s idea of a dream vacation, but at least they’re places. Best of all, we won’t be forced to sit down and watch the obligatory vacation videos and photographs when people return home. They won’t be back. Corpse tourism might be a perfect, upbeat solution for an industry that tends to be thought of as dreary and somewhat depressing. Funerals could become bon voyage parties with festive atmospheres. Paper streamers, confetti and noisemakers would be the rule, rather than the exception. Instead of having to open dreaded phone calls to distant relatives with, "I have terrible news," your message would be, "Great-aunt Maude is going on a long journey and we’re having a farewell party for her on Thursday!" Eventually, there will be vacation specials for the one-way travelers. Most popular will be the no-frills packages without meals, side-trips or, in fact, any amenities at all along the way. Advertising pitches for airlines and travel agencies will reflect their new clientele. "Our Road Less Traveled Vacations are wonderful for your dearly departed. Choose one of our many remote, out-of-the-way destinations –— Nove Mesto and Vahom in Slovakia or Rikytnice and Jizerou in the Czech Republic. Be one of the first to call and receive a copy of Robert Frost’s poem, ‘The Road Not Taken,’ and a very helpful pamphlet, "How to Pronounce Foreign Names", as tokens of our appreciation and, of course, sympathy." Eventually, corpse tourism, a perfect example of "out of sight, out of mind," will attract its share of status seekers. After all, how long did it take for simple trips to see the largest ball of twine in Nebraska to be replaced by more colorful vacations in Hawaii or the Caribbean? For status seekers, everything in life (and perhaps after life) is a competition. "You sent your great-uncle to Poland? How nice for you. We were going to do that, but then we finally chose a beautiful island in the South Pacific. The tropical ambience is so much nicer, wouldn’t you agree?" Prices will soar again.

10 years ago (1994)"‘Soup’s on!’Home-delivered meals are back in Beaver Creek. It’s the result of combined efforts of Pastor Sarah Richardson, volunteers from the Beaver Creek Presbyterian Church, Tuff Memorial Home, and Carol Wulf, coordinator of the Aging program in Rock County."25 years ago (1979)"Hills Stainless Steel and Equipment Co. and A.R. Wood Manufacturing Co. announce that they have signed a letter of intent for the sale of the Luverne Fire Apparatus Co. to Hills Stainless Steel and Equipment Co. Transfer of control of the business is in progress and should be completed by mid-August. Under the new ownership Luverne Fire Apparatus Co. will continue to operate in its present facility at 308 E. Maple in Luverne. "50 years ago (1954)"Vermayne Sundem received a telephone call Tuesday morning, informing him that he had won the state essay contest, sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary. Vermayne had won the county and regional previously. As a result of his efforts he receives $100 as a prize and then goes to Hibbing soon where he will receive other honors. He also earned the right to enter the national contest, which is coming up very soon."75 years ago (1929)"Miss Tilda Rossum and mother and brothers, Oscar and Lewis, attended graduation exercises in Luverne last Friday night. Miss Tilda’s niece, Miss Martha Lunde was one of the graduates from the high school." 100 years ago (1904)"The Ebenezer Church of the Evangelical Association, located on the southwest corner of Section 31, Luverne Township, which for the past 10 years has been better known as the Pleasant View Church, is one of the oldest church organizations in the western half of Rock County and possibly the first church organized in the county outside of Luverne. This splendid Christian organization began teaching the blessed gospel as early as 1872, which was about the time that many of our oldest pioneers came west and took claims in Martin, Clinton, Luverne and Beaver Creek Townships, then an apparent wilderness, with Sibley, Iowa, the nearest railroad town. Charter members of the congregation were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Nuffer, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bertuleit, Emelia Bertuleit, Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Loose, Mrs. John Loose, Mary Loose, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nurenberg Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. C. Carner."

Services for Frank Verhey will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 4, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt will officiate. Burial is in Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 3, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Frank Verhey, 84, Luverne, formerly of Beaver Creek, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne. Frank Verhey was born to Klass and Lucretia (Van Dis) Verhey on Feb. 3, 1920, in Martin Township, rural Hills. He married Elleda Brekke on June 14, 1947, in Luverne. After their marriage, the couple farmed in the Rock County and Minnehaha County, S.D. areas. In 1964, the couple moved to Beaver Creek where they owned and operated The Home Plate Café. They sold the café in 1966 when he went to work at the stockyards in Sioux Falls, S.D. He retired in 1995. The couple moved to Luverne in September 2000.Mr. Verhey was a former member of Beaver Valley Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, S.D., and a current member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. He enjoyed hobby farming and helping area farmers in the fields. He also enjoyed sitting in his garage and visiting with neighbors.Survivors include his wife, Elleda Verhey, Luverne; one daughter, Fran (Bob) Meester, Luverne; one granddaughter, Missy Meester, Sioux Falls; one brother, Cornie (LaVonne) Verhey, Beaver Creek; one sister, Plona Cupery, Beaver Creek; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Verhey was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, John Verhey, and one sister, Minnie Verhey.Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, is in charge of arrangements.

Harold "Hal" Haugejorde, 79, died on Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at Miller-Owan Hospital, Duluth, due to complications of renal failure. He was the son-in-law of the late Helga (Slieter) Untiedt.Services were Tuesday, June 1, at First Lutheran Church in Duluth. Burial was in Park Cemetery, Duluth.Hal Haugejorde was born to Harold and Anna Haugejorde on Jan. 24, 1925, in Minneota. He graduated from Minneota High School in 1942 and enrolled at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Studies were interrupted when he joined the U.S. Army. He was selected to go to Officer’s Candidate School and he became an instructor at Fort Benning, Ga. In 1945, he was routed to Special Services in Japan, first as Lieutenant in command of a series of hotels in the Armed Forces. He returned to Augustana in 1947, competing in basketball and football. He graduated in 1949 receiving the "Honor Athlete" of the year. He was inducted into the Augustana Hall of Fame in 1981. He married Beverly Slieter, formerly of Hills, on Nov. 24, 1950. He taught social studies and coached football and basketball in Jasper. He earned his master’s degree in school administration at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He served as a superintendent of public schools at Heron Lake for 13 years, at New London-Spicer or 12 years, and at Mountain Iron for five years. He retired in 1982 and moved to Duluth.Mr. Haugejorde was an enthusiastic educator and community leader. He was also an avid sports fan, golfer, reader and writer. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Duluth.Survivors include his wife, Beverly Haugejorde, Duluth; six children, Ann Beth (Michael) Bjornberg, Cynthia Haugejorde (Cidney Rattunde) all of Minneapolis, Mark Haugejorde, Tequesta, Fla., Jayne Haugejorde, Duluth, Sonja (Bill) Hurlburt, Reno Nev., and Stephanie (Ed) Kershner, San Antonio, Texas; 12 grandchildren, Anders, Nathan and Marals Bjornberg, Katie, Ian and Odin Holmes, Graham, Joseph and Gustave Hurlburt, Gretta Clint and Halle Kershner.Mr. Haugejorde was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and five sisters. Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church, 1100 East Superior Street, Duluth.Johnson-Crawford Funeral and Cremation of Duluth was in charge of arrangements.

By Sara StrongRock County and the city of Luverne are trying to build bridges, mend fences, or as one council member said, "see the light at the end of the tunnel."They met Monday to set up a plan to address joint government ventures.County commissioners named Ron Boyenga and Jane Wildung to represent them in a smaller committee to work with the city.The City Council said it wasn’t prepared to name committee representatives or future agenda items, mostly because of Administrator LaFond’s absence.LaFond became seriously ill with E. coli last week, and is hospitalized in Sioux Falls. He is still in communication with city staff, however.In a different meeting Tuesday night, the City Council appointed Mayor Glen Gust and Councilman David Hauge to the committee, since they served there in the past.Both boards agreed to tentative agenda items at the Monday meeting. Administrator Kyle Oldre said, "We have six joint contracts together. … It seems that the assessing would be a high priority. We’re both hanging in limbo and we’re not too far from having to start next year’s assessing."Other priority agenda items are law enforcement, dispatching and the pool contracts.County Attorney Don Klosterbuer said, "Assessing is the most time sensitive, because it’s a practical matter of getting work done."Mayor Glen Gust suggested the county notify the city of specific agenda items and the city can come prepared to the next joint meeting, which will be called City County Liaison.County Commissioner Jane Wildung said she hoped the future conversations would be about the contracts and services, not about managing each other’s budgets.City Councilman Bob Kaczrowski said, "What’s in the contract affects the budget, but the budget isn’t a part of the contracts."Councilman David Hauge said, "Just know that when we’re talking about contracts, that we’re thinking about budgets, and we empathize with the county in the back of our minds."Monday’s meeting served to set a tentative date for a liaison meeting June 7. Commissioner Ken Hoime said, "It looks like the same layout as before to me," meaning the elected bodies used to meet regularly in the smaller committee sessions.Klosterbuer said, "Historically, the concept of the liaison has worked."

By Lori EhdeTwo women are in custody at the Prairie Justice Center, Worthington after State Patrol officials seized more than 28 pounds of marijuana from their vehicle near Beaver Creek.Elvira Rangel Gonzalez, 37, Pipestone, and Rosa Loya Prado, 45, Evans, Colo., are awaiting their next court appearance on third-degree controlled substance charges.According to the complaint filed in Rock County District Court, Minnesota State Trooper Gary Nordseth stopped a green Dodge pickup for speeding on May 6 on Highway 23.The traffic stop actually occurred south of Beaver Creek on County Road 17.Acting on suspicious behavior by the driver and passenger, Nordseth requested permission to search the vehicle, which Prado, the driver, granted.Noticing the plastic tray insert on the right rear armrest appeared to be ajar, he removed the insert and found rectangular-shaped bundles wrapped in brown cellophane.Those bundles, 27 bricks of marijuana with a street value of roughly $30,000, were forwarded to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as evidence.The women were arrested, and when questioned, admitted they planned to sell the truck and the marijuana.If found guilty of the charges, the women face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

By Sara StrongA subcommittee of the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday to endorse a plan for a new image for the city."We just think this is a good place to start," Chamber Director Dave Smith said.The new image is lifted with permission from a Jim Brandenburg photo of prairie grasses.More than the image itself, is the theme, "Minnesota’s Prairie Playground" and accompanying signs and banners that provide a cohesive look to the city.Two signs are tentatively planned for the vacant lot on the corner of Highway 75 and Main Street, formerly known as the Britz property.The two signs will direct people from Highway 75 to Luverne’s downtown. If the plan goes through, the signs will be surrounded by native rocks and grasses and be a true bridge between Highway 75 and Main Street.Visitors typically drive past Main without knowing where the downtown business district is, and this will be a clear signal for them. Along with the signs, new banners with similar images will be placed along Highway 75 to tie in with the theme.The estimated cost of the signs and banners is about $8,000. The committee has met a few times recently to discuss a theme.Smith said, "Prairie just seemed like a natural one."Jamie Tofteland said the bison theme has served Luverne, but the city could do more to stand out. She said, "The only thing that we talked about with the buffalo, is that it’s not just Luverne that has them — the theme is all over South Dakota and a lot of places."Alex Frick said the new theme should expand on the bison mystique that the area has already established. "I do think the buffalo is still a valid concept. There’s been a lot of romance built up around them."Smith said the signs and theme are a good first step, but that all of Luverne should try to match the natural history that is already here. "As people redo their storefronts, it’d be nice to not put in ultra-modern signs and surfaces. We want to create community image," Smith said.