10 years ago (1994)"Two more Hills residents have expressed their interest in filling the mayor’s position for the next 10 months. John Burgers stated he would like to be considered for the position and Wendell Erickson hasn’t ruled out the area of serving as the mayor of Hills. Preston Ver Meer expressed his interest in the position last week." 25 years ago (1979)"Tom Bosch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dries Bosch, Steen, won the district free throw contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in Luverne. Tom competed in the 13-year-old group. Tom will now represent the district in the regional contest which will be in February."50 years ago (1954)"Joe Kafka, Jerome and Raymond, drove to St. Paul Saturday where they visited little Rita Kafka, who is in Gillette Hospital receiving treatment for the after-effects of polio. A special treatment has given her partial use of her paralyzed hand again, although some time will be necessary before she can move the entire arm."75 years ago (1929)"A large delegation from Hills autoed and hiked out to the Halls eighty, northwest of town, last Sunday where they enjoyed the afternoon in skiing and sliding. If an artificial extension could be put on some of the hills around here, methinks that probably a Barney Riley or a Lars Haugen might be discovered amongst the local ski enthusiasts. What do you think?"100 years ago (1904)"Mrs. N.O. Sjurson was recently granted a pension of $8 per month, which is very satisfactory. The application was made through Olaf Skyberg and much credit is due Congressman McCleary for his prompt action in the matter."

Steven Swanson, Woodbury, and Stuart Swanson, Greer, S.C., visited their mother, Opal Swanson, at Tuff Memorial Home. She is recovering from a fall.Relatives have received word that Ray and Mona Rozeboom, Hills, have been hospitalized in Long Beach, Calif. They spend the winters in California and were hit by an automobile while crossing a street on their way to church. Thursday, Joanne Goehle went to Edgerton to see her granddaughter, Katie Hadler, play basketball. Saturday morning she went to Tyler to watch her grandson, Elliot Carmany’s, game. Lee and Betty Sandager, Scandia, were weekend guests in the home of Sheldon and Ellie Sandager. Vic and Fran Sandager were additional dinner guests on Sunday. Monday noon both couples were dinner guests of Vic and Fran at their apartment in the Village. Thursday afternoon, Mary Ann Van Bemmel, Rock Valley, Iowa, had tea with her cousin, Rheta DeBoer, in Hills. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson returned home last Saturday night after a trip to Branson, Mo. They also stopped at Jefferson, Mo., to view the state capitol. Floyd and Mary Kraetsch, Luverne, were visitors at the Bob and Twila Kirsch home on Friday.Joanne Goehle attended funeral services Friday for her brother-in-law, Albert Goehle, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Chuck and Rheta DeBoer went to Melvin, Iowa, Sunday to help their grandson, David Hofman, celebrate his second birthday. He is the son of Seth and Susan Hofman. Saturday night, Joanne and Tom Goehle went to Albert Lea to watch Nikki Nester of Winona play basketball. Dick and Audrey Heidenson traveled to Apple Valley Wednesday to the home of their daughter and then all attended the Stars on Ice show at the Xcel Center in St. Paul. They returned home Thursday.Tom Van Wyhe, Sioux Falls, was general chairman of the Sioux Empire Farm Show for the Sioux Falls area Chamber of Commerce this past week. Finalizing the event Friday evening was the dinner of the Supreme Show Sale of Champions at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall. Seated at his table were his son, Matthew, Cliff and Vi Van Wyhe, Steve and Justin Van Wyhe, and friend, Dan Ponch, Sioux Falls.Thursday evening, Dick and Audrey Heidenson were dinner guests of their son, Ray and Lynn Heidenson in Sioux Falls. Sunday afternoon Ray and Lynn were guests here to watch the football game. Saturday callers at the Bob and Twila Kirsch home were Deb and Luke Mathias of Heron Lake. Capt. Charles Erickson is back at Fort Bragg, N.C., from Afghanistan while awaiting his new assignment.

The Village lives in a white world. We have so much snow. I’m sure it’s snowed a foot this past week. It’s one of the duties Stan and Ed dislike the most, removing snow from the walks in the cold weather. We were warm inside though, and enjoying an old Irving Berlin movie, "There’s No Business like Show Business." We sat and tried to identify the actors and actresses that sang and danced one Irving Berlin song after another. Do you recall Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, (I had a little trouble remembering him) Johnnie Ray, Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O’Conner (a favorite when I was young) and then the beautiful Marilyn Monroe. It was full of dazzling production numbers that proves, "There’s No Business Like Show Business."It was National Kazoo Day and I can’t believe Deb or Mary didn’t make us all play kazoos.Our new villager, Vivian Tatge, had two great days of celebration. On her birthday, son Rick and wife Lila and a little grandchild, who was so good, came for dinner. The birthday cake was homemade chocolate cupcakes with white frosting. They were delicious. Vivian lived in Tuff Home until a week ago and a party and invitations had been sent, so friends and relatives came to Tuff Home to celebrate. Cars were everywhere. Then today she served another pretty decorated cake to the Villagers, a celebration to remember.It’s also been National Puzzle Day. Deb prepared word search, trivia questions and crossword puzzles. Some are hard. How about times times Times times or tup or tahs. You have to think literally to solve these word puzzles. I gave up.Truthfully, I haven’t a thought in my head about the Village and its occupants. So, I’m relying on Ben Franklin’s wit a wisdom."Well done is better than well said.""Half wits talk much but say little.""There is no little enemy who is strong — He that can conquer his bad habits.""You can bear your own faults. Why not a fault in your wife.""Have you somewhat to do tomorrow — do it today."I’ll keep you posted.

This weekend our world tuned into a "Winter Wonderland!" We have been so lucky to not be included in any of the winter storm watches. However, it seems like our luck has run out! We have received about six inches of light fluffy white snow with temperatures remaining below zero for nearly a week. Predictions are for more snow coming, and some already has, as this weekend I think we received another six inches and believe me the drifts are getting deeper as are the piles of snow that have been removed from other areas. So far, we have lucked out as far as strong winds are concerned but if the wind decides to blow before some of this snow melts we are going to have a big problem. If this continues, our winter wonderland will turn into Winter — I wonder where our land has gone. It makes one wonder, "How many more weeks until spring. Wonder what the groundhog said? Ray and Mona Rozeboom, Hills, who winter in California, were walking when they were hit by a car last Sunday. Both were hospitalized and remain patients there. We wish them a speedy recovery. Les and Linda Hengeveld and Mildred Keunen were Sunday dinner guests at the Bill and Bertha Bosch home in Steen.Lori Scholten, who had undergone surgery last week, was able to return to her home on Saturday.Dries and Laura May Bosch, Myra Doyle, Sioux Falls, and Tom and Amy Bosch, Sioux Falls, enjoyed a 1:30 p.m. luncheon at Spezia’s in Sioux Falls on Friday. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Ann and Glen Boeve at the sudden passing of her mother, Eleanor Vandekop of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Funeral services were Tuesday afternoon at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids. Sunday afternoon visitors in the Winnie Scholten home were Martha and Roy Joengetzes of Edgerton. There was no school in Hills-Beaver Creek schools on Monday due to the inclement weather. Emma Bosch, 8-year-old daughter of Tom and Amy Bosch of Sioux Falls, was an overnight guest in the home of her grandparents, Dries and Laura May Bosch, Friday night. Saturday morning she served them their breakfast which included pancakes! Her parents were Sunday afternoon visitors in the Bosch home. Their daughter, Emma, returned home with them. Saturday evening supper guests in the Melba Boeve home were her son Brian and family, Sara, Melissa and Daniel, from Sioux Falls, in honor of Brian’s birthday. Steen Senior Citizens cancelled their February meeting, which would have been on Monday, due to the inclement weather. Hills-Beaver Creek schools had planned a late start on Monday but due to the weather conditions decided to dismiss school.Andy and Bertha Fikse, Edgerton, Bob and Arla Feikema, Luverne, and Mildred Paulsen, Steen, were Saturday evening dinner guests in the home of Gerrit and MaryAnn Van Aartsen home near Luverne. This past week we have been hearing much about political caucuses. Many names have been placed on ballots at or for political rallies of would-be candidates for governmental positions including president. It seems to me a bit early to be getting so involved as election is not until November. I am sure it is so the general public will get to recognize the names of their favorite candidate and vote for them. However, it seems to me that there is more important issues to be considered. Political economists have designated the following current concerns of life as the greatest fallacies of the 20th century. They are: oThat international friendship can be carried through gifts rather than through genuine common principles and purposes. oThat the moral character of a nation, as a whole, can be better than the moral character of its citizens as individuals. oThat anybody’s opinion as to how to run the country is as good as anybody else’s. oThat government can give things to the people without first taking them away from the people. oThat if we keep experimenting long enough we will find a substitute for an honest day’s work. oThat shorter hours and less work will produce a higher standard of living. oThat somewhere and somehow there simply must be a substitute for honest money. oThat somewhere in the depths of scientific socialism there must be a substitute for the love of one’s neighbor. oThat stealing is not stealing when the majority of the voters vote in favor of it. oThat personnel economic security, guaranteed by the government is possible without the loss of personal liberty. There are many things for all of us to think about before we go to vote in November. We must remember the freedom we have all become so accustomed to is not free. It costs all of us something. Let’s take some time to think about what we are doing to keep this nation free.

First, the good news. Those of us who are mathematically challenged may soon be protected by the legal system. The bad news is that it may be much too late to convince our grade school teachers that our math deficiencies didn’t make us complete losers in life. Many of those teachers have undoubtedly departed for that great classroom in the sky. According to a recent article in U.S. News and World Report, a lawyer in Trento, Italy, recently argued that his client, a high school girl, suffered from "irreversible psychological pathology" or "math phobia." The student faced the prospect of repeating her junior year because she failed math. In most public schools in our country, being forced to repeat the junior year might be viewed as cruel and unusual treatment. In addition to receiving a second dose of American literature, starting with the humorous, offbeat writings of the early colonists, the student would be required to take part in another magazine sales fund-raiser to cover the costs of a junior-senior prom. Worst of all, it would mean having to decorate a gymnasium with crepe paper streamers and helium-leaking balloons, a traditional responsibility of 11th graders, for a second time. An Italian regional court ruled that the student’s condition made it impossible for her to study or master math and advised the school to move her directly into her senior year. Many of us could have used a similar defense. This is a positive step for those of us who still recall the deadly "timeses," also called multiplication tables by those in the know. The truth is, I’ve been waiting for more than half a century to impress someone with my "two times" and "three times," the only timeses that really seemed to take hold. No one has ever asked me to calculate the volume of a cylinder or to determine when a train traveling 60 mph will arrive in a certain city. Had we been computers in that time before computers, our math modems would have been missing. Regardless of our shortcomings, we made it through life by either marrying someone good at math or by buying a reliable hand-held calculator. We may not be able to cut recipe ingredients by a half or double a recipe of lasagna without help, but our cooking efforts somehow turn out, thanks to helpful terms such as pinch, smidgeon and dollops. While we may use these words rather creatively, there are certain math words we may never understand. Pardon this old joke, but we may truly believe that a polygon is a dead parrot. A triangle can be any combination of relationships with three people involved. We all know that hypothesis is the oath taken by doctors. Pi is a clever word used to reflect the smaller portion of pie you should eat when you’re on a diet. Radius are the best tires for a northern climate. A diameter may be the best way to measure a dia. A prime number is a really good number, much like a prime cut of meat. A winning lottery ticket may be said to have a prime number. A tangent means suddenly going off in another direction while you’re talking about something else. Finally, "angle" is often used as an alternative spelling for "angel" by those who are spelling challenged and haven’t had their day in court.

World Championship of Pinochle crowns Thill championBrian Thill, Sioux Falls, was crowned the 35th Annual World Pinochle Champion.The tournament was at the Magnolia Steak House Tuesday night, with 21 participants vying for the coveted title.George Houtsma, Sioux Falls, and Dennis Schneider, Avoca, came in second and third.Schneider was also the defending champion.Steve Top was the best qualifier for the night with 432 points in 24 hands.Bob Frakes, Tom Klein and Tom Serie came in 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.The winning team was a group of Sioux Falls contestants that included Thill, Marv Holte and Dick Ketterling.Last place honors were awarded to Dan Serie.Luverne grad is working hard to help New England Patriots obtain victoryOne Luverne graduate is working hard to insure the New England Patriots achieve a victory in this week’s Super Bowl.After attending University of Minnesota, Morris, Monti Ossenfort received an internship with the Minnesota Vikings; from there he went to graduate school at Ohio University, followed by another internship with the Houston Texans.Coincidentally, the Houston Texans play in Reliant Stadium, where the Super Bowl will be played this year.Which brings us to this year, when Ossenfort received another internship working in the scouting department for the New England Patriots.According to his mother Dianne, the team will leave for Houston on Thursday, and hopefully return victorious on Monday.The big question is: Who gets a Super Bowl ring? Monti told his parents he’s not sure who makes the cut for the rings, but if he gets one, we’ll get a picture of it next time he’s home.What’s at the Palace?If you’re looking for a movie to see this weekend, Eddie Murphy’s "Haunted Mansion" will be playing at the Palace.The plot centers around a workaholic, (Murphy) who visits a haunted house with his family during a job interview. While there, he meets a ghost that teaches him a lesson about the importance of the family that he has neglected.Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.Cash for kidsParents: Partners in Education (P.P.I.E.) would like your help in raising money.The group has aligned themselves with the Funding Factory Recycling Company.P.P.I.E. is collecting empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges and used cell phones in exchange for cash for school programs.If you would like to help the group, save your used inkjet or laser printer cartridges, place them in an old cartridge box or plastic baggy and drop them off at the Luverne Elementary School.Last year the project raised $1,850 and the group hopes to raise even more this year.Some of the items the money will go for include technology, playground equipment and classroom needs.The Funding Factory accepts over 300 different cartridges and cell phones.If you have any questions, contact Lisa Dinger at 283-4497.Magnus meeting canceledThe economic listening session scheduled with Reps. Doug Magnus and Greg Davids, (R-Preston), originally scheduled for last Monday had to be canceled because of weather.According to Dave Smith, Chamber of Commerce executive director, the upcoming legislative session will probably prevent Magnus from rescheduling until after the legislative session is over, which could possibly be in May.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members and school administration were surprised at Thursday night’s board meeting by an announcement by Board Chairman Dan Kopp.Kopp announced midway through the meeting that he intended to resign from the board, citing his work schedule, and too many conflicting School Board meetings."I work strictly nights, and I’m scheduled to work every night there’s a School Board meeting," Kopp said. "I don’t feel just in trying to do both. … I’ve thought about it a long time, and I don’t think I’m doing justice to either."Kopp works in the maintenance department of the Agri-Energy Ethanol Plant, Luverne."I will serve as a board member until a replacement is found," he told the board Thursday.Since that meeting, Superintendent Vince Schaefer and Kopp met Monday, and Kopp said he’d worked out an arrangement with his employer to flex time around School Board meetings.Kopp and School Board members Becky Walgrave, Bill Stegemann and Cary Radisewitz were re-elected to four-year terms in November 2002.Challengers in that election were Colleen Nath, Greg Aubert, Bruce Baartman and Tim Burns.Reading RecoveryLuverne Elementary School Teachers Lisa Lundgren, Joann Gabrielson and Angela Ahrendt updated board members on the Reading Recovery Program.Reading Recovery is a one-to-one tutoring program in which teachers spend 30 minutes a day for 12 to 20 weeks with students in the lowest level of reading ability.Many of the students identified to participate in Reading Recovery are unable to meet average goals of independent reading, writing and problem solving — skills that are essential to success in all school subjects."We feel pretty good about this, and we wanted you to know about it," Ahrendt said.Students who started the program in first grade are now in seventh grade, and the school has been tracking their progress, as well as other Reading Recovering students in the past six years."Most often those who completed Reading Recovery go on to keep up in regular classroom instruction," Ahrendt said."They’re meeting average scores in Iowa Basics and MCAs, which is good, considering they were originally in the lowest percent of their class."Not all Reading Recovery students — particularly those suffering from poor home environments — experience long-term learning success, But overall, the teachers said the program has saved the school untold dollars in special needs instruction that would have been required had the students not acquired appropriate learning skills early on.On an individual basis, the teachers said it’s rewarding to see the self-confidence children gain when they’ve mastered the skills, and that ends up benefiting other areas of students lives.In other business:o Luverne School Board members renewed its contract with Mary Gehrke at Rock County Human Services to continue meeting children’s mental health needs in the district.The proposed county mental health position that would have served students in both Hills-Beaver Creek and Luverne will not materialize. oAlternative School Director Jan Olson reported 12 students attended Alternative School full time and nine attend part time in November. There are about 18 students there per day, and that December peaked at 16 full-time students per day.Olson said if attendance continues this way, the district will have to consider limiting enrollment or increasing staff time.oThe board elected new officers. Becky Walgrave is chairwoman, Bill Stegemann is vice chairman, Colleen Deutsch is clerk and Cary Radisewitz is treasurer.oThe board approved the 2004-05 school calendar year. The first day of school will be Sept. 1. and the last day will be June 2, 2005. There will be 174 student contact days and 182 contract days.oThe board heard the first reading of a new policy that will affect finances of booster clubs, parent-teacher-student organizations and parent-teacher organizations."This is significant, and there will be growing pains as we adopt this," Schaefer said, about the policy, which is intended to prevent poor management of funds."This doesn’t mean there have been abuses here, but there have been statewide, and this will allow more financial understanding and safeguards."oElementary students are collecting money in their Make A Difference Jars for paraprofessional Tracy Cornish, who has cancer. A soup supper benefit is planned from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Baptist Church.oIn personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation of paraprofessional Theresa Mohr, effective Jan. 21, approved an extended leave of absence for paraprofessional Judy Thies, approved a preliminary seniority list for licensed staff, and approved seniority lists for custodial staff, paraprofessionals, early childhood staff and alternative school.oThe next board meetings are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and Feb. 26.

By Sara Strong Before the Rock County Board of Commissioners reviews options for funding law enforcement next week, the city of Luverne is forwarding the board one more idea, making it a total of five it wants the county to consider. Luverne is trying to save money in various contracts it holds with Rock County, and Rock County is trying to stay above water, with the potential of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars on the horizon. City Administrator Greg LaFond said that county representatives have reiterated to him that Luverne is nearly half the county’s population. Acknowledging that, LaFond said that still isn’t a reason Luverne should pay half of the county’s law enforcement costs, because even without a Luverne contract, the county would have to provide the service to Luverne, even if it was at a reduced level. Some costs, such as salaries, prisoner board and health care and bailiff and matron costs, shouldn’t be considered a part of Luverne’s contract because they would exist without the contract, LaFond said.The 2004 Sheriff’s budget is $1,036,261. The city of Luverne pays a contract amount of $447,486. City taxpayers contribute $536,983 through city and county taxes. The most recent option from the city would have taxpayers contributing $294,885. LaFond said, "This addresses the population concern." He calculated Luverne’s suggested cost by considering the city should pay 47.5 percent (its proportion of the county population) of law enforcement costs, figuring the county would have some fixed costs without Luverne. Councilman Pat Baustian said that since law enforcement has been on the forefront of council discussion, he wanted to involve the council in researching how it could save money. He suggested members take a field trip to other counties of similar population. He said, "I think it would be a benefit to what we’re going through." He said it may even help the county to see how other departments operate in similar counties. Mayor Glen Gust said, "I’ll say it again, but I think it is most important that we work together. ... We just can’t trash all of these [agreements] right away."

By Lori EhdeSeven local individuals appeared in Rock County District Court Monday for their roles in selling alcohol to minors during a compliance check of area businesses.The hearing resulted in five not-guilty pleas and two guilty pleas.Twenty-one Rock County businesses were secretly tested on Dec. 26 for compliance with Minnesota’s underage drinking laws.Of those, seven businesses failed to comply and now face possible penalties for selling alcohol to someone younger than 21 years old.Appearing Monday were:oJonathon Nath at Casey's on East Main Street,oRoberta Miller at Citgo on North Highway 75,oLoretta Duffy at Luverne Lanes bowling alley,oOrvin Green at Magnolia Steak House,oJesse Johnson at Sharkee’s,oLaura Hunter at the Eagles Club andoGregory Staeffler at the Green Lantern in Hardwick.They were charged with selling to a minor, a gross misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a $3,000 fine, a year in jail or both.In a plea arrangement through the County Attorney’s Office, two individuals, Green and Nath, entered guilty pleas.In return, the state certified the charges as misdemeanors, as opposed to gross misdemeanors, as was originally charged.Green and Nath were sentenced to fines and court fees of $463, with no probation or other conditions imposed.The other five individuals entered not-guilty pleas — some requesting time for legal consultation.Assistant County Attorney Terry Vajgrt is prosecuting the charges.He said the fine levied for these individuals is adequate punishment for the crime committed."These are good, hard-working people who will no-doubt find it difficult to pay these fines," Vajgrt said.He said in cases where it’s evident that someone intended to provide alcohol to minors the County Attorney’s Office would request jail time for the offender. That wasn’t the case for these individuals, however."I really do distinguish between their conduct and that of someone who goes out and buys alcohol for minors," Vajgrt said."I’m not defending their actions in that they failed to check I.D.s, but I do not think these people intended that minors have alcohol."On the night of Dec. 26, two 20-year-old men from Yankton and Dell Rapids, S.D., attempted purchases at all Rock County businesses with liquor licenses.The minors were volunteers from a regional anti-drug, alcohol and tobacco group.The non-compliant businesses may also face civil penalties as a result of the sting. Under Luverne City Code, the stores are subject to licensing penalties that can include imposition of civil fines and suspension or revocation of liquor licenses.In a 1999 compliance check, employees at both Citgo and Casey’s (this time on South Highway 75), sold to minors. The last check in Rock County was August 2002, at which time only two businesses, Ampride Pump ’N Pak and the Beaver Creek Golf Course, sold to minors.