MINUTES OF THE HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYSEPTEMBER 9, 2003Dana Dahlquist, President of the Hills EDA called the meeting to order at 8:16 P.M. Board present: Dana Dahlquist, Jim Jellema, Keith Elbers, Linus Svoboda, and Arlen Leenderts. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, EDA Treasurer and Connie Wiertzema, EDA Secretary. Guest present: Jolene Farley-Hills Crescent. The Board approved of the August 12th minutes.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Jellema to approve payment of the August expenditures. Motion carried. The Secretary was instructed to contact Mike Kerkhove and Amy Brandt regarding their down payment and closing on Lot 1 in Block 1 of Park View Third Addition. The Board set a deadline date to close on October 9, 2003, or the $1,000 down payment will be forfeited. Elbers informed the Board of inquiries regarding whether the EDA would consider selling the Southern Hills Apartment building. The Secretary was instructed to contact the EDA’s attorney regarding selling options.No further business, meeting adjourned at 8:35 P.M. Connie J. WiertzemaEDA Secretary(10-23)

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILSEPTEMBER 9, 2003 – 6:00 P.M.The following Council members were present at the opening of the meeting: Mayor Jim Jellema, Councilmen-Linus Svoboda, Dana Dahlquist, and Keith Elbers. Councilman Arlen Leenderts arrived at approximately 6:50 P.M. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer; Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk; and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests present: Eugene and Diane Immediato; Dean Goettsch-City’s insurance agent; Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels; Del Domagala-Past President of MN Wastewater Association; Doug Chapman-Hills Fire Chief; and Jolene Farley-Hills Crescent. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to approve of the August 12th, 18th and 25th minutes. Motion carried.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Elbers to approve payment of the August expenditures with the exception to hold the M & H Hardware bill pending justification from the Hills Fire Department. General $2,425.18; Park $1,370.10; Fire $443.90; Street $1,827.74; Legion $505.34; Barbershop $0.00; Sewer $8,942.44; Garbage $818.49; Recycling $0.00; Water $11,990.46; Baseball $0.00; Softball $0.00. Dahlquist abstained. Motion carried. Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels attended the meeting to request a gaming resolution in order for the Luverne Optimist to continue with pull-tabs at Kelly’s Roadhouse Bar. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Elbers to approve of the resolution. Motion carried. Sheriff Mike Winkels presented the Council with a three-year Law Enforcement Contract. Jellema, Elbers and Svoboda attended the County’s recent meeting regarding law enforcement. Law enforcement costs for Hills for 2004’-$17,888; for 2005’-$18,645; and for 2006’-$19,493. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve of the contract. Motion carried. Eugene and Diane Immediato attended the meeting to discuss their purchase of City property located at 214 South Main. Immediato’s requested the removal of a fuel oil tank, shipping pallets, aluminum siding, and rollaway refuse container from the property. Also, confirmation that a propane tank, belonging to Kelly’s Roadhouse, may be relocated to the rear of the property in order to allow for future building additions. The Council will contact Kelly Demuth, Kelly’s Roadhouse Bar, to request written confirmation of the above mentioned items. Dean Goettsch, Exchange State Agency, attended the meeting to review the City’s municipal insurance policy. Goettsch informed the Council that city insurance rates decreased as such; auto by 3%, liability and property by 8%. The Council made no changes in the City’s policy. Councilman, Arlen Leenderts joined the meeting.The Council instructed city maintenance to extend three of the existing campsites by approximately ten feet; and to construct two or three additional sites east of the roadway at Rez Park. No additional electricity will be installed at this time. The Council instructed city maintenance to gravel the newly constructed Sixth Street and Josephine Drive. Gravel costs will not be assessed. Blacktop will be poured next summer, those costs will be assessed to the abutting property owners. Ward requested that the City Council reconsider their decision, referring to the August 12th and 18th meetings, requesting that the City pay 75% of the $212 increase for his family health insurance. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to reconsider the August 12th motion, and pay 75% of Ward’s insurance increase for health coverage for the months of October, November and December 2003. Ward’s health insurance due and payable on December 15, 2003, for health coverage effective January 1, 2004, will be reviewed later in this meeting while discussing salaries and benefits for the 2004 proposed budget. Motion carried. Ward informed the Council of eight days vacation that he will not be able to use by December 31st, and inquired whether he could be paid for those days. Svoboda confirmed that he would be paid for unused vacation time. Del Domagala, past President of MN Wastewater Association, nominated Ward for a wastewater operator’s award, in which he was selected. Domagala presented Ward with a plaque. The Council reviewed proposals for replacing light fixtures in the American Legion building. Discussion was tabled. The City Council will not evict the Post Office from the American Legion building. Elbers inquired, on behalf of Orv Sundem, regarding options for the purchase of City-owned property for relocating Orv’s bulk tank business. Mayor Jim Jellema abstained and was excused from the meeting during this discussion. Linus Svoboda as Mayor Pro-Tem presided over this discussion The City does not have property available for bulk tanks, but could offer financial support through a loan.TREASURER’S REPORT: General Checking 33,503.75General Fund CD#17947, 2.5%, 12/2/03 234,392.53General Fund CD#17760, 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,477.61Sewer Fund CD#17877, 2.5%, 10/18/03 50,441.78Fire Truck Rep. Fund CD #17710, 1.75%, 1/13/04 20,051.31Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 2,466.56Hills EDA Checking 13,990.98Southern Hills Apts. Checking 5,422.44Southern Hills CD#17554, 2.5%, 7/20/03 0.00Southern Hills CD#17759, 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,056.71EDA CD#17850, 2.5%, 5/7/05 27,617.27EDA CD#17268, 1.75%, 1/26/04 10,538.57TOTAL $423,959.51A list of delinquent utility accounts was presented to the Council. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Dahlquist to approve of the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried. The Council instructed the Clerk to give 30-days written notice to two residents regarding the removal of junk/abandoned vehicles. A thank-you card from the family of Jeanette Jellema was read. The Council reviewed a city map prepared by DeWild, Grant & Reckert, which updates and corrects the corporate limits for the City of Hills. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Elbers to approve of the corporate limits, accept the map as the final and correct map for the City of Hills, and provide the same information to the Rock County Courthouse. All in favor, motion carried. The Clerk requested the Council to review Ward’s timecard of September 1st-7th to confirm that overtime pay does not comply, due to sick leave taken during the same week. The Council agreed. The City Council meeting was recessed at 8:16 P.M. in order to open the EDA meeting, and was reopened at 8:35 P.M.Doug Chapman attended the meeting to encourage maintenance of fire hydrants on a routine basis. Chapman shared his ideas with replacing lighting in the Hills American Legion building. The Council reviewed a draft of the proposed budget for 2004. Water rates will increase $1.00 per increment. A water improvement debt charge of $4.00 per month will be added. No increase in sewer rates. No increase in garbage rates. No increase in recycling rates. Further additions to the proposed budget: $10,000 for pickup and tractor replacement; $10,000 for Legion building renovation; $5,000 for park improvements; $2,000 for mower trade-in; and $20,000 for sewer repairs.A motion was made by Dahlquist to pay the Clerk and Treasurer $500 each, in lieu of benefits, per advisement from the city’s auditor. Payment to be made during 2003. Seconded by Elbers. None opposed, motion carried. The Council also discussed salaries and benefits in order to implement those costs into the 2004 proposed budget. Motion by Svoboda that the 2004 City Clerk wage be increased 65 cents per hour. Seconded by Leenderts. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Dahlquist to pay the maximum amount of $925.00 per month for Ward’s insurance and a wage increase of 23 cents per hour. Increases to begin January 1, 2004. Seconded by Elbers. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Leenderts that the 2004 Treasurer wage be increased by $32.12 per month. Seconded by Dahlquist. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Svoboda to set other 2004 wages as such: Fire Chief $440 per year; Fire Dept. Secretary $190 per year; Fire Dept. Treasurer $190 per year; Legion maintenance $170 per month; Temporary city maintenance worker $8.25 per hour; Garbage workers $9.00 per hour. Seconded by Dahlquist. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Dahlquist to set the 2004 Mayor’s salary at $1,320 per year; and Council salaries at $1,000 per year. Seconded by Svoboda. None opposed, motion carried. City maintenance will be reminded to get outside water meters installed. Motion by Elbers to begin a new policy as of January 1, 2004, that any city utility bills that are not paid by the 15th of the month will be charged a $10.00 late fee. Avoiding a late fee will cause the account to become delinquent. Any utility accounts that are delinquent at the beginning of the following month will cause water service to be disconnected. Also, that the disconnection fee be increased to $25.00; and the reconnection fee be increased to $25.00. Prior to reconnection, the account must be paid in full, including any and all late fees and disconnection and reconnection fees. Seconded by Leenderts. None opposed, motion carried. The Truth-in-Taxation hearing is set for Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 P.M.No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(10-23)

PROBATE COURTDISTRICT COURT—COUNTY COURTPROBATE DIVISIONORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate of Caryl E. Eitreim, DeceasedTO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 10th day of November, 2003, at 9:00 O’clock A.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of the above named deceased, dated December 17, 1981, and for the appointment of Gregory A. Eitreim whose address is 11725 Champlin Drive, #211, Champlin, Minnesota 55316, as personal representative of the estate of the above named decedent in supervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, said personal representative will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the estate. Upon completion of the administration, the representative shall file a final account for the allowance and shall distribute the estate to the persons thereto entitled as ordered by the Court, and close the estate. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred.Dated: October 20, 2003 /s/Timothy K. ConnellDistrict Court Judge /s/ Douglas E. Eisma /s/Douglas E. Eisma Sandra L. VrtacnikAttorney for Petitioner Court AdministratorEisma and Eisma130 East Main, Box 625Luverne, MN 56156(507)283-4828I.D. #249269(10-23, 10-30)

When "Life in the Village" began only first names of the Villagers was used. Readers have on occasion said they would like for me to print the full name. Ray Rozeboom came by and his wife Mona would like the full name. Eilert Petersen, too, asked "Now who is Palma? She may be a relative of mine." But after doing a little research it will continue as we began. Now maybe you might need a refresher course of those who live at the Village. In no particular order we have Martha Bakken, mother of our County Commissioner; Carolyn Crawford, from Beaver Creek; Arnold Thorin, our wood working friend from Hills; Caroline Doorneweerd, from Lester, Iowa, and is the quilt maker; Signe Eggebo from Klondike area where she has a gravel pit; Bud and Ione Bush from Hills, where Bud has lived his entire life; Earl Glaser, a retired Luverne rural mail carrier; Arnold Swanson, who once sold seed corn and worked at the Ag Extension office; Einar Thorin better known as Shorty, from Hills; Erma Schubbe, a long time Hills resident and retired school teacher; Berdella DeBoer, mom of the driver wrecker when you have an accident; Vic and Fran Sandager, Hills farmers are moving in this week; Florence Biever of Beaver Creek; Alice Goettsch, mom of the insurance agent at the bank; Marcella Theis, moved from her farm west of Hills; Ruby Feucht, previously lived in the south part of Hills; Alta and Dave Olson, came from a Valley Springs farm; and Palma Sundem lived on a farm north of Hills. Now that’s the current Villagers. Will that help?A most unusual tall lovely bouquet sits in the dining room in memory of Caryl Eitreim. Caryl was just here with The Oaks group visiting. The blooms have lasted a long time. Many of us knew Caryl and we extend sincere sympathy to her family.Son Miles and daughter Linda and their families have been visiting Dave and Alta. The Olson’s have a live-in companion. Tim is one of them, driving from Trent to assist them. He’s an avid baseball and football card collector. Some are old like Joe Montana, Tony Olivia, Rod Carew or Harmon Killebrew. Remember them? He has lots more, even a few rookie cards all in a book to display. Tim has only been here but a short time but he knows us all .The Reader Theatre group came, five ladies from Luverne, Jan Brandenburg, Ruth Rodgers, Bernie Barstad, Alyce McClure and Annabelle Frakes. We want to thank them for coming.It was Bosses Day this week. Now we didn’t honor any of those in charge here, like Bonnie, Mary or Dana. Someone in charge sent us hot homemade cinnamon rolls treating us.Several Villagers went to the open house of Bethany Meadows at Brandon on Sunday. Reports were very favorable but all said they enjoyed life here at the Village.We had a disturbance at the H-BC elementary school and the law had to be called. Everyone was concerned that the children might be upset but one little girl came to day care and reported "We had a lot of men at school today. They were looking for a snake." One smart teacher.Erma’s home from Stillwater. Her daughter, Carolyn, and grandsons Nathan and Jeff, brought her and stayed the weekend. When they were ready to return home it was Nathan who begged Grandma to return with them. The Jim Crawford’s of Mountain Lake visited Carolyn. Don’t forget Trick or Treat at the Village from 6 to 8 p.m. We’re ready for you. And this is the weekend to set your clocks back to regular time. Spring ahead, fall behind.I’ll keep you posted.

Ray and Lois attended the funeral for Steven Olson in Volga, S.D., Saturday afternoon. Steven was the son of Robert and Ardith Olson, former Hills residents. John Sandager, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jim Sandager, West Des Moines, Iowa, are spending a few days here this week helping their parents, Vic and Fran, move from their farm home into Tuff Village in Hills. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson met her sister, Ruth and husband, Don Homme in Sioux Falls Thursday morning. The Hommes were en route from visiting their daughter, Gretchen, in Colorado to their home in Minnesota. Gerry Schlueter, Lake Park, spent from Saturday noon to Sunday noon visiting his mother, Luella Schlueter. Carole Lonkey, Brooklyn Center, spent from Friday until Sunday visiting her mother, Martha Lindrud. Ruben Vestlie, Sioux Falls, also was a visitor on Sunday. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson went to Marshall Thursday to Southwest State University. Wendell was one of a four-member panel to speak at a program recognizing John Zwach for his 40 years of service in government. Sunday afternoon Ray and Lois Nelson were among the many who attended the grand opening for Bethany Meadows near Brandon, S.D.Chuck and Rheta DeBoer spent last weekend in the home of David and Bonnie Fagrey in Rapid City, S.D.Don and Edyth Briggs left Sept. 28 for an extended trip to the East Coast, touring the New England states and enjoying the fall colors. They returned home Oct. 16. Vic, Fran and Jim Sandager toured Bethany Meadows at Brandon, on Saturday afternoon. A number of ladies from the area attended the open house Saturday afternoon for Jean Nelson’s 85th birthday at her home in Sioux Falls. Saturday afternoon Wendell Erickson and Cletus Nuffer motored to Volga, S.D, to attend funeral services for Steven Olson, son of Robert and Ardith Olson. Steve, 46, spent some of his younger years here when Bob was the agriculture teacher at the high school. Sunday Chuck and Rheta DeBoer attended the baptism of Grace Renae Hofman, daughter of the Rev. Seth and Susan Hofman at the United Reform Church in Sanborn, Iowa. John and Julie Carter, Camarillo, Calif., arrived Saturday to spend a week in the home of his mother, Mary Carter. Brenda Hadler, Katie and Colby, Edgerton, came Wednesday to spend overnight and Thursday in the home of her mother, Joanne Goehle. Dick and Audrey Heidenson spent a week in the Chicago, Ill., area when they attended Dick’s 60th high school reunion and also had a reunion with several grade school classmates. They returned home last Wednesday. The Van Malsen and Schouwenberg families met Sunday in the Hills American Legion Club room for a potluck dinner in honor of Pete and Florence Schouwenberg from Buena Park, Calif. They will be spending a week in the area visiting relatives. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe attended the Fall Music Festival at Dordt College in Sioux Center Iowa, Friday evening in which their granddaughter, Ashley DeWit participated. On Sunday afternoon they attended the "Life Under the Cross of Christ" concert performed by the Augustana College Choral, the University of Sioux Falls Concert Choral, the Augustana Women’s Choir and the University of Sioux Falls Women’s Choir at First Lutheran Church. Their granddaughter, Lindsey DeWit had a part in the performance.

Did you ever think how dull our lives would be if our seasons never changed? They provide us with lots of enjoyment yet cost us nothing. October is one of my favorite months. If any of you cannot get out and enjoy its beauty I found a word picture that describes it very well. It’s titled, "October" and was written by Martga H. Morrison."Fluffy clouds float across the bright blue sky and sounds of honking geese wandering southward. I rake crisp scarlet and yellow leaves in neat piles and watch two squirrels scamper back and forth from the shaggy hickory tree burying nuts in the yard. How industrious they are. I think about the food I have preserved from my garden for the coming winter, and marvel at the bright orange pumpkins standing in rows waiting to be Jack-O-Lanterns and spicy pies. A cool breeze rustles the leaves and I shiver and button my sweater. Winter is coming. Should I think of going south like the geese? My hair has streaks of gray now, a sign that I have reached October. But I cannot be sad for October is a glorious time — vibrant and colorful and full of bountiful harvests. And I have treasures of my life all around me — friends, family children, and grandchildren. My life is blessed. October here is a wonderful place to be."I think that is true of most of us who have spent our entire lives in this area. The big news this week is that everyone is in the fields harvesting their crops and no one had time to do anything special! So, the news is a bit scarce this week. Thursday afternoon visitors in the Joan Hoogeveen home were Pete and Augusta Bartels from Ripon, Calif., who are here and will be visiting other relatives and friends in this vicinity. Daylight saving time ends this week so don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour Saturday night.Lou Mayer and wife, Joy, from New Jersey visited in the Mildred Paulsen home Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They returned to their home on Monday. As they had never been in the Midwest before we did some sightseeing at the Wind Mill Farm at Lake Benton and other spots of interest in this area such as the Blue Mounds, etc. We also traveled to Lake Koronis Assembly Grounds and they enjoyed the lake country up there. The hours for the Steen Post Office have been changed. They now have been cut back to 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. This doesn’t sound like very much time to serve the Steen area patrons.Isaac Crawford, Minneapolis, son of Clair and Mary Crawford, was a Sunday afternoon visitor in the home of his grandparents, Orrin and Bernice Aukes. The Bosch family gathering was at the Brandon Steak House on Friday evening in honor of Darlene Bosch’s birthday. Those helping her celebrate were Dick and Gert Hup, Hills, Betty Boeve, Cornie Bosch, all of Luverne, and Dries and Laura May Bosch, Steen. Last week I omitted that Steven Bosch, Minneapolis, son of Dries and Laura May Bosch, had spent the weekend with them. Sorry about that. Do you ever have a day when nothing goes right? My folks used to tell me I had gotten out of the wrong side of bed. Most of us have experienced bad days I am sure. Just today I heard them say that Wednesday had been designated as "Grouch Day." Now that makes me feel better as everyone knows that misery likes company! It also made me feel better to remember that everyone has bad days. I found an article titled, "Life’s Rainy Days" and decided I would much rather call our bad days rainy days and decided to share it with you. I could not find who the author was but hope it makes you feel better. There is a disposition on the part of many people to think only of the rainy days in life, and miss all the bright sunshiny days. But there are rainy days in life — days of trouble and disappointment — no one can deny that. The person who never has any trouble, never has any real joy. But it is possible for them to become so obsessed with a fear of rainy days that they’ll lose the ability to judge the weather. It is a terrible thing to live one’s life in dread of rainy days. It is easy to make a storm out of a shower and disaster out of a mere disappointment. The rainy day people develop a terrible habit of borrowing trouble. Long before tomorrow has arrived they invade it with fears that take its terrors captive and bring them back into today, and then sit trembling before them. Very few people have ever broken under the burden of what today imposes.The best preparation for tomorrow is a calm and clear mind today. Even if tomorrow does not hold the promise of being a day packed with trouble, the best way to meet it is with the memory of today’s work well done, in a peaceful state of mind."That is good advice, I know all of us have known people who are always worrying about something. It may have happened to them or they are just concerned that it might happen. Most of us have no control of our destiny but yes, we need to meet each day with work well done, and in a peaceful state of mind.

Future archeologists will recognize us by our coffins. Tediously sifting through silt and debris, mostly junk food wrappers, left by many generations, one of them might exclaim, "Lk! Ts cskt!" (Translation: "Look! It’s a casket!") Countless decades of abbreviated text messaging on cell phones and other communication devices will have taken their toll on vowels and less essential words in our language. The archeologists will quickly determine that the casket dates back to the early 2000's, also known as The Food Gorge Age, during the reign of President George the Third. It was long before synthetic food capsules replaced actual food and the receding waters of the Atlantic revealed another continent. Upon hearing about the casket discovery, historians of the future will recall a time when appetites outweighed common sense and eating twice as much food for a few more coins seemed like a wise choice. Archeologists will know the precise age of the casket because it will measure 44 inches wide, reflecting a time when both food portions and caskets were super-sized to accommodate super-sized people. That might not be fiction, written in time for the upcoming Halloween. According to The New York Times, triple-wide coffin sales for Goliath Casket of Lynn, Ind., are off the charts. The demand for their 44-inch-wide coffins (much roomier than the standard 24-inch width) has increased 20 percent a year since they opened in the 1980s. "People are getting wider," noted the company’s owner. As a result of this new trend, we must no longer assume that the new "triple-wide" recently purchased by a friend is a mobile home in Florida. He might be referring to a much more permanent underground housing. It might be advisable to hold off buying a housewarming gift until you know for sure. If the oversized caskets are purchased now for future needs, it would seem a shame to store so much lovely, polished wood out of sight. By incorporating the attractive piece of craftsmanship into a living room setting, for example, several purposes might be served. The casket could be used as a handsome coffee table, wide enough to hold several jumbo-sized pizza boxes while you and your family eat and watch TV. As an added bonus, the container could serve as a handy storage space for ample supplies of potato chips, deep-fried pork rinds and your other favorite snacks. It would no longer be necessary to walk all the way to the kitchen, burning off who-knows-how-many calories. The combination casket and coffee table might be a perfect companion piece of furniture for a "smart sofa," now being developed at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. A couch potato’s dream, the sofa can tell who’s sitting on it (based on weight), tune the TV to favorite programs, and order that person’s favorite take-out foods. The sofa’s tiny microprocessors would also network with household appliances. When the end would come, an eventual certainty, for a person owning both a smart sofa and a casket-turned-coffee table, his ample girth could be simply rolled from one piece of furniture into the other in very little time and with minimal effort. The entire transfer might last no longer than a TV commercial. Now, that’s thoughtful.

10 years ago (1993)"Board member Joan Fagerness and Superintendent Knoll met in a joint session with representatives from Luverne to discuss options that would keep the programs in both districts alive and well. If the two programs are combined, more classes could possibly be added.Board members agreed it is important to keep H-BC’s ECFE program in operation. ‘I feel it’s important that we remain two separate entities or maybe we’ll lose some kids to the Luverne School that way,’ said Alan Harnack." 25 years ago (1978)"Monday, Rock County Auditor Charles Braa called The Crescent questioning the four year mayor term now filled by appointee Bud Bush. Braa had just received the city ballot for the Hills Council election which had been prepared and submitted by Clerk Delmer Larsen, and, where was the ballot for the mayor, he wondered. A quick check with Clerk Larsen turned up the fact that at least for the last election the mayor had been elected for a four-year term.Tuesday, former Mayor Dennis Roning cleared up any doubt that remained in the matter, ‘Prior to 1972, Hills Council members were elected to three-year terms and the mayor for two years,’ Roning told The Crescent. ‘In 1972, we voted to amend the terms to four years for both the councilmen and mayor.’ "50 years ago (1953)"Art Swanson suffered painful injuries this week when he fell 12 feet from a corn crib onto a concrete floor as the result of a board coming loose as he climbed. His face was badly cut, eyes swollen and his arm bruised, along with sprained wrists. He was advised to stay in bed for several days. Fortunately, he suffered no broken bones."75 years ago (1928)"Hilbert Brovold and Leroy Funk left for Minneapolis last Friday evening to attend the Minnesota University Homecoming Day celebration there on Saturday. They returned Sunday night to Hills, and from here Mr. Brovold left for Edgerton where he is an instructor in the high school."100 years ago (1903)"P.O. Skyberg recently informed a Crescent reporter that he had some money on hand for Martin Township, but so far our town board has failed to appoint a township treasurer to succeed P.H. Bly, who has resigned. This important question ought to receive the attention of the board at their first meeting."

Jessica Lynn Nielsen, 13, Prior Lake, died Monday, Oct. 6, 2003, at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis after a four-year battle with cancer. Services were Friday, Oct. 10, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lakeville. The Rev. Gregg Helland officiated. Burial was in Lakeville Grove Cemetery, Lakeville. Jessica Nielsen was born to Tony and Laurie Nielsen, Prior Lake, on July 9, 1990, in Minneapolis. She loved her horses. Survivors include her parents, Tony and Laurie Nielsen,, Prior Lake, one brother, Josh Nielsen; one sister, Jazzmyn Nielsen; and her grandparents, Lorraine and Bob Nerison and Norman and Vera Nielsen, all of Renner, S.D.White Funeral Home, Lakeville, was in charge of arrangements.