Thanks to caring, concerned turkey farmers in England, some holiday birds are heading toward serving platters with smiles on their little beaks. According to Reuters news services, "Britain?s farming union has released a chill-out album to help turkeys keep calm in the understandably stressful run-up to Christmas." At least 300 turkey farmers in that country have been playing recordings of Gregorian chants, whale calls and rustling forests to their birds during the past few weeks. Less stressed turkeys under the influence of music and relaxing sounds apparently make less gobbling noises and they don?t flutter around like proverbial chickens with their heads cut off. The only gobbling the turkeys do involves poultry feed. As a result, they put on more weight which means more profits for the farmers. Although British farmers believe the principal reason for stress among turkeys has something to do with the "crash and bang of farmyard life," it?s possible the reasons for turkey stress run much deeper and include the following: For example, it must be difficult to listen to people standing outside your pen as they speculate about your dressed-out weight and you don?t even own a suit. It must be stressful to have a person point at your legs and say, "Look at the size of the drumsticks on that one!" Turkey stress comes from watching your friends head for the open road in a truck and never receiving a single postcard from them during their travels. It can?t be easy to see one too many farm employees wearing mean-spirited t-shirts reading, "You can?t soar with eagles when you work with turkeys!" Stress can be the only reaction when you?re constantly hearing critical human comments, such as, "What a turkey!" or "I?ve heard turkeys are so dumb they drown if they?re left outdoors during a rain storm!" There are understandable fears among turkeys at this time of year. Turkey phobias include: "Sidedishphobia", which is the fear of having to share the spotlight and your final moments on this planet with heaping bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry relish. "Stuffingphobia" is a fear induced by nightmares where you?re lying spread-eagle on a kitchen table with a large bowl of a bread mixture (someone calls it "dressing") next to you. Seconds before you snap awake in a cold sweat, you think, "They?re going to put that WHERE?" Another reason for turkey trauma is the fear of being basted or glazed. There?s also the fear based on knowing that you?re the biggest turkey in the flock lately and that big turkeys have a way of disappearing. When you?re a turkey, size matters. Turkeys must also live with the growing suspicion that humans are mentally picturing them well-browned and decorated with sprigs of parsley. Although the British farming union didn?t plan to announce the number one turkey-soothing track until Christmas, we can only guess it includes sentimental favorites such as, "The Turkey Trot", "Turkey in the Straw" and "Five Fat Turkeys."

Going home for the holidaysWhen I think of going home for the holidays, I remember the warm times we spent around the kitchen table full of food, holiday treats mom had made, a glittering tree in the living room with many packages waiting for eager fingers to tear away paper; laughter and frolicking plus throwing the ribbons and bows all over the floor. In the midst of the fun and family, never did it occur to me family meant spending the holidays with one parent at one home and the other parent at their home. My holiday at home was then, and this is now, and family means spending holidays sometimes with multiple families. Census officials estimate that only 69 percent of U.S. children live in a two-parent family (the two-parent count includes stepparents). In other words, millions of children will cope with divorce and stepfamily adjustments by the time they are 18. Unfortunately in our corner of the world, Rock County, children of divorce are not exempt from these statistics. Too many times we see families in our community and churches who go through divorce situations leaving the kids wondering what is going on with my family? To ease some of these fears "Helping children cope with Divorce" is a specifically designed curriculum created for children 6-11 years old. The author, Jenni Douglas Duncan, created this program from her own divorce situation. She found herself a newly divorced mom with children 5, 9 and 12. During the time of shock from when the word divorce was mentioned, the children experienced changes of homes, schools, and even eating patterns. From her experience, she has created a program especially for children helping them to cope with the effects of a divorce. In an effort to respond to a call of help from several local parents, a Children of Divorce program is going to run starting Jan. 8, at United Methodist Church in Luverne. COD is an 8-week course support program for children, which provides a safe place where children can deal with the issues that are affecting them. The kids will have arts and crafts, games, story time and supper is provided. If you want to make a difference for a child going through a divorce situation, give either Tammy or myself a call. Tammy Moeller Community Parish Nurse(507) 920-7653 or (507) 283-9077Diaconal Minister, Kristi Franken(507) 283-9732

SHARE completed another successful year of distribution of new toys, clothes, groceries, and used items to 148 families in Rock County. As the Armory is being remodeled this year, Sharkee's graciously offered their space so that the SHARE program could continue distribution for the 19th year. One hundred eighty children and 187 adults received items that were purchased from local merchants to help make their holidays a bit bright. The community, including local students, was again very generous with donations of cash, new and used items, and volunteering their time and talents. The Lions, Lions 92, and RSVP helped organized the party room at Sharkee's with tables of used items. The boys from Pinnacle helped move heavy boxes and carry tables to locations needed for distribution. On the day of distribution, 15 businessmen and volunteers from the community helped recipients carry out their groceries, toys, and clothes. SHARE is truly a community effort that fits the name "Sharing Hearts Are Reaching Everyone".SHARE Board of DirectorsNancy KaczrowskiSHARE president

Hilda H. Marking, 104, Hills, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, at Tuff Memorial Nursing Home in Hills.Services were Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. The Rev. John Strunk officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Hilda Peterson was born to Olaf and Chirsti Neilsen) Peterson on Nov. 8, 1899, in Ruthven, Iowa. She grew up in Ruthven and attended school there. She worked in Estherville, Iowa, and later in Luverne and Magnolia. She worked at the Luverne Style Shop. She married Elwood Cruse in 1917. She later married Oscar Marking in 1959. Mrs. Marking was a member of Magnolia Methodist Church and a past Eastern Star member. She enjoyed sewing, crafts and baking. Survivors include one son, John E. Cruse, Des Moines, Iowa; two daughters, Mary Otterson, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Arlene Loeschen Mesa, Ariz.; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.Mrs. Marking was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, Oscar Marking and Elwood Cruse, six brothers and five sisters. Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Thanks to caring, concerned turkey farmers in England, some holiday birds are heading toward serving platters with smiles on their little beaks. According to Reuters news services, "Britain?s farming union has released a chill-out album to help turkeys keep calm in the understandably stressful run-up to Christmas." At least 300 turkey farmers in that country have been playing recordings of Gregorian chants, whale calls and rustling forests to their birds during the past few weeks. Less stressed turkeys under the influence of music and relaxing sounds apparently make less gobbling noises and they don?t flutter around like proverbial chickens with their heads cut off. The only gobbling the turkeys do involves poultry feed. As a result, they put on more weight which means more profits for the farmers. Although British farmers believe the principal reason for stress among turkeys has something to do with the "crash and bang of farmyard life," it?s possible the reasons for turkey stress run much deeper and include the following: For example, it must be difficult to listen to people standing outside your pen as they speculate about your dressed-out weight and you don?t even own a suit. It must be stressful to have a person point at your legs and say, "Look at the size of the drumsticks on that one!" Turkey stress comes from watching your friends head for the open road in a truck and never receiving a single postcard from them during their travels. It can?t be easy to see one too many farm employees wearing mean-spirited t-shirts reading, "You can?t soar with eagles when you work with turkeys!" Stress can be the only reaction when you?re constantly hearing critical human comments, such as, "What a turkey!" or "I?ve heard turkeys are so dumb they drown if they?re left outdoors during a rain storm!" There are understandable fears among turkeys at this time of year. Turkey phobias include: "Sidedishphobia", which is the fear of having to share the spotlight and your final moments on this planet with heaping bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry relish. "Stuffingphobia" is a fear induced by nightmares where you?re lying spread-eagle on a kitchen table with a large bowl of a bread mixture (someone calls it "dressing") next to you. Seconds before you snap awake in a cold sweat, you think, "They?re going to put that WHERE?" Another reason for turkey trauma is the fear of being basted or glazed. There?s also the fear based on knowing that you?re the biggest turkey in the flock lately and that big turkeys have a way of disappearing. When you?re a turkey, size matters. Turkeys must also live with the growing suspicion that humans are mentally picturing them well-browned and decorated with sprigs of parsley. Although the British farming union didn?t plan to announce the number one turkey-soothing track until Christmas, we can only guess it includes sentimental favorites such as, "The Turkey Trot", "Turkey in the Straw" and "Five Fat Turkeys."

10 years ago (1993)"The Board of Directors of the Beaver Creek Lumber Yard recognized Elden Reyelts? 27 years of dedicated service on the Board of Directors on Nov. 29. Other board members are Jim Vanden Burg, Rick Tatge, Dave Gehrke, Vern Harnack, Don Soehl and Gary Aukes."25 years ago (1978)"Doug Chapman is the new chief of the Hills Fire Department.Chapman, who was elected at the Fire Departments? annual meeting last week, will replace current chief, Ed Demuth."50 years ago (1953)"The Hills Volunteer Fire Department had its annual meeting last Thursday night, re-electing its chief, Bert Berghorst to that office again for the ensuing year. Albert Nuffer was elected assistant chief to replace R.S. James, while William Ehde was re-elected to the office of secretary-treasurer. The same officers will head the relief organization for next year. Directors are. C.B. Sjolseth, F.A Nuffer and Merle Clemetson." 75 years ago (1928)"As a result of the outcome of the annual election Tuesday of last week at Beaver Creek, a contest over the office of trustee seemed eminent.A total of 87 votes were cast in the election, and in the contest for trustee, Jas. Vopat received 43 votes and Ed Lensch 42, according to the certification of the election board said the Rock County Herald. Following the usual custom, the Village Council met Thursday evening of last week to canvas the returns. The ballots were dumped out of the ballot box; the election board?s report read; Mr. Vopat and the other successful candidates, as certified by the board, were declared elected and the Council adjourned.Clerk Louis Jansma and Ludvig Larson were the last to leave the room and before they did so they happened to glance in the ballot box and found a ballot folded up, close to the inside edge of the box. This Ballot proved to be a vote for Mr. Lensch. If this vote was counted before, it would make the vote a tie between Mr. Vopat and Mr. Lensch, and the Messrs. Jansma and Larson took the stand that it had not been counted." 100 years ago (1903)"It has been this writer?s experience the past 15 years that on average the farmers who are obliged to sell their grain early are about as fortunate as to prices as those who are in a position to hold it. Take it one year with another, a farmer is nothing ahead by holding his grain. Especially is this true of barley, which usually brings us a better price in July and August than later in the season. The year 1903 will go down in history as one of the years the farmers lost by holding on."

Thursday night Ray and Lois Nelson and Al and Joan Berdahl attended the Augustana College Community Band and Augustana College Band Christmas concerts in Sioux Falls. Lois and Al are members of the former group. Jim and Marj Roning and Tanya Johnson and Zach, Jasper, visited over the weekend with the Joel Boehlkes in their home in New Ulm. They attended "St. Nickolas Day" Dec. 6. That evening they attended the program, "Christmas in Christ Chapel" at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. New residents in Hills the past couple of months are Debbie Counts and two boys, Joe, 18, and Tony, 15, who moved here from Brandon, S.D. Debbie is Amy Gaugler?s sister. She works at the Sioux Falls Mail Order Pharmacy and part time at East Side Sunshine Grocery where Joe is also employed. They live in the former Jean Hanson home on Anna Ave. which she now owns.Last Sunday Stan Nelson, Lois Nelson and Al Berdahl provided brass trio Christmas music at Tuff Village for the Hospice Tree Lighting Program. Ed Kolberg is a new resident here. He is retired and purchased the former Edna Lien home and ground to the east where he is having a large workshop constructed which he will use for his own hobbies and personal use. Ed formerly lived in Tea, S.D. There are four grown children. Al and Judy Top have purchased the home vacated by Kurt and Melissa Bly and family who were transferred to Kyle, Texas, where Kurt works with U.P.S.Kouri and Nora Wysong and two children, Jax and Zander, are getting settled in the Solberg rental home on North Second St. Last week Ray and Lois Nelson attended the Augustana Vesper Service at First Lutheran Church and South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert at Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, Sunday afternoon.Bob and Marvie Pedersen, Tyler, spent Sunday in the home of their daughter, Dawn and Charlie Sandager. Dorothy Sheetz, Sioux Falls, visited Sunday in the home of her daughter, Jil and Derek Vaughn, and attended the Sunday School program at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and also attended Taylor?s piano recital. Monday Ray and Lois Nelson attended the funeral of Orville Severtson in Pipestone. Orville was the former Veterans Service Officer in Pipestone. Friday night, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson and Dick and Audrey Heidenson motored to Pipestone to hear the Al Opland Singers present their winter concert. Chuck and Rheta DeBoer attended the Christmas concert Friday night at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Mary Carter and granddaughter, Stacy, met Stacy?s friend, Jessie, and her mother from Brookings, S.D., to have dinner out in Sioux Falls in honor of Mary?s birthday. The Merry Christmas Tubas played three concerts in Sioux Falls Saturday. Don Briggs, a member, played his baritone while Al Berdahl was the director. There were 105 players from various places performing. Ray and Lois attended the Saturday afternoon Acoustic Christmas Concert at Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls.Dick Heidenson and grandson, Lee Heidenson, drove to Apple Valley Saturday to stay with Dick?s daughter and then attended a sport business place that had a large TV screen where they watched the Vikings-Bears football game. They returned home Sunday.There was a memorial service for Benola Pettingill, Denver, Colo., at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids on Saturday afternoon. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery for family: Bonnie and Doug Slothower, Denver, Terry Pettingill and Jon, Marsha and son, Chess, of California and other relatives. Benola was a sister to Vi VanWyhe, Hills. There was a potluck dinner at the Rosco Pettingill home in Rock Rapids on Sunday noon.

Christmas is everywhere at the Village. It seems Villagers want to top the decorations of Thanksgiving. They have a beautiful homemade stocking ready for Santa to fill. Wreaths and sprays, decorated trees, nativity, fabric wreaths; and Santa?s in all forms. As well as scenes depicting the real meaning of Christmas. Friends and our churches have brought poinsettias and goodie boxes. Shorty and Arnold have blooms left over from last year still bright and growing. The foods, too, are traditional of the approaching holiday, are in evidence. We made sugar cutouts one afternoon with frosting and colored sugars on camels, saints and stars. Some we?ve saved for the Christmas Tea we are having on the 21st of December and some were served at the lighting of the tree lighting ceremony. Fruit is plentiful with the gift of oranges from Myna and Ezra Knoblock. The music has taken on a jingle bell sound for on Wednesdays we?re singing carols and songs we sang when in school. "Up On The Housetop," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." We?re enjoying the season.One day I met Stan in the hall and he said that he was placing a plunger in every bathroom apartment and he had placed ours just around the corner. When I rounded the corner I thought what is that thing. It was a foot high, brown in color and reminded me of an old-fashioned round table leg full of scrolls but on picking it up it was not heavy but light plastic, not wood. This was the plunger Stan talked of. I couldn?t help laughing. This was so fancy and I wondered how you?d ever clean the contraption. Go shopping and look at this helpful, necessary item. It would make a great gag gift. I?m still laughing and wondered when we can throw the old one away.The peer council members of H-BC were here helping with bingo. Cassie Tilstra did the calling, while Stacy Bush, Tom LeBoutillier and Melinda Feucht helped us to hear the numbers and assist out arthritic hands.Currently, Bud is in the hospital. He?s being tested as to why he continues to not feel well. Everyone asks about him and wishes he be well soon.The Lester Apostolic Carolers came right after supper and we were unprepared for their early arrival but we did enjoy it. Karoline?s daughter Linda, and Judy, Sarah?s daughter, brought treats. The second Friday of the month is always special for that?s when they come to sing.Carolyn had a great Sunday. In the morning, her boys took her to her own church, Presbyterian in Beaver Creek, then out to dinner and at 2:30 p.m. a party here at the Village. Family and friends were served an angel food lemon cake and ice cream. After supper, a game of Hearts. She was tired and went to bed. A great holiday.Ed?s been busy with snow. We have lots and getting it off the patio takes extra work. We watch the weather so we?re not out in the storm following a doctor?s appointment.We had no school, the snowmobiles were out in full force. We had a tenant meeting and other usual activities.I?ll keep you posted.

Many of us remember the popular song, "I?m Dreaming of a White Christmas." Last week we received about six inches of snow, which remains on the ground, and this weekend we received even more. I think we are going to be too tired to dream after we have finished scooping out driveways and making paths where we need to go. Personally, I have other things that I would prefer to do. We are all happy when we can put those lawnmowers away for the season. However, when I was scooping snow I decided I would rather mow the lawn. At least you didn?t have to do it again the very next day! When the wind blows after you have finished making your pathways and getting the garage door open, the wind blows it all back again, making it a little deeper each time it blows. As I was coming to the conclusion this is a hopeless cause, I got to thinking about all of the other things that have been so marvelously improved through the years and began to wonder with all of the technology and other know-how we have in our world today, why don?t they learn to control the tiny little snowflakes and the strong winds? Couldn?t they make a spray for the snow like we put on our hair so it wouldn?t blow? I don?t appreciate a lot of our technology. For one thing, I don?t want to go to the moon but I would really like to get out of my driveway after a snowstorm. Now, let?s start thinking about how we could make that happen. Just think of the time we could save and could be doing something we really enjoyed. Helping Orrin Aukes celebrate his birthday Sunday afternoon at his home were his children and their families, Orlie and Linda Aukes and sons, Brian and Dan, Hills, Terry and Christy Aukes and sons, Logan and Dylan, Larchwood, Iowa, Clair and Mary Crawford, Beaver Creek, and Lisa and Taylor Telford, Sioux Falls. His birthday was Friday, Dec. 12. A belated Happy Birthday to him. Steen Reformed Church Sunday School?s Christmas Program is at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, in the church.Nelson Bonnema?s cataract surgery was postponed due to the weather. He was rescheduled to have it done this Tuesday at Luverne Community Hospital. There will be a Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, at Steen Reformed Church. Bring your white gifts with you. They can be gifts of canned food or boxes of food wrapped in white paper with gold ribbon. The ribbons are available on the table in the entryway of the church. Mildred Keunen, Mary Jo Suzie and her mother, Millie Richraz, Larchwood, and Joyce and Joy Aykens attended the Singing Christmas Tree Concert at First Assembly of God Church in Sioux Falls on Sunday. Those of us living in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District remember voting for renovation of the locker rooms at the school. They are now completed. There will be an open house for the new locker rooms from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Barbecues, chips and coffee will be served. There will be no school in the Hills-Beaver Creek schools beginning Dec. 22 until Jan. 5, 2004, when school resumes.Pastor Dan and Karen Ramaker had a parsonage open house for their congregation of Steen Reformed Church on Friday afternoon and evening. Dries and Laura May Bosch and Melba Boeve were among those from the Steen area who attended the concert, "Christmas at the Palace," in Luverne Friday evening. The Junior High and High School music department will present their Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Saturday following the locker room open house. The concert was previously postponed due to the weather.Everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas. We are all shopping, baking, decorating and putting Christmas cards in the mail. I could go on and on as it is a busy time of the year. I found this article written by Carl Tom Buck, titled "What Christmas Is," that I would like to share with you. "Christmas is a gift of love wrapped in human flesh and tied securely with the strong promises of God. Christmas is angelic music in the form of carols and oration with a celestial descent. Christmas is "Glory to God" "Good News to Man" and "Joy to the World."Christmas is "Peace of Earth," for those who accept and live in unity with God?s will. Christmas is a man on duty tending sheep or machine who receives the upward call and stops to worship.Christmas is a tall green tree which serves as a festive altar for any household which discovers the true meaning behind it all. Christmas is a ringing bell calling a distraught humanity to gladness and hope. Christmas is a glowing hearth gently placed in the winter of man?s loneliness. Christmas is an altar to which man can bring his heartache for comfort, his lostness for guidance, his sin for forgiveness. Christmas is the sparkle of anticipation and the steady light of faith in the eyes of a little child as he hears the old, old story. Christmas is a shining Star of Hope in the sky of all mankind. Christmas is more than words can tell, for it is a matter for the heart to receive, believe and understand." Let us remember this is the true meaning of Christmas.