The third-grade class of Rhonna Jarchow is this week's featured class of the week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Houston Williams, Perla Gonzalez, Ashlie Hess, Taylor Krull, Dylan Stokes, Desirae Beaubien, Amanda Oeltjenbruns, (middle row) Lucas Peterson, Peyton Arends, Marco Gacke, Paige Pierce, Collin Rofshus, Akua Halfmann, Joel Wohnoutka, (back row) Ms. Dawn Riebschlager (student teacher), Courtney Hemme, Kellie Tacuban, Kassi Morrison, Emily Mychackavane, Ben Fick, Alex Nowka, Mrs. Jarchow, Mrs. Barb Antoine and Derek Deutsch.

Missing in the picture is Carrie Goebel. Also not pictured are Mrs. Kirsten Eisma, who is in the room on Tuesdays and Thursdays in place of Mrs. Antoine, and Mrs. Betty Cashin, who volunteers on Wednesday mornings.

The class has been busy reading in the Accelerated Reading Program. The students have learned to choose books in their reading levels and found much success, Jarchow said. "Working With Words in the Four Block Program has been fun for all," she said. "The students use the word wall words correctly in their everyday spelling and are made accountable for those most often used words for third-graders. We continue to work on character traits that will make us better citizens."

Photo by Lori Ehde

Luverne's Sandra (left) and Marcella Dowie entertained the dining crowd at the Senior Citizens Center Thursday. The duo played seasonal classics for the audience. Sandra learned the cello out of necessity when Marcella needed an accompanying instrument for her growing talents on the harp. They play at weddings and can be seen at many community activities.

Photo by Sara Quam

By Jolene Farley
Dave Deragisch begins his duties as superintendent of Hills-Beaver Creek Schools on Jan. 1, and it's a homecoming of sorts for the Hills native and H-BC graduate.

"It's going to feel very natural," said Deragisch. "ItÕs going to be a nice transition. I know a lot of people."

Deragisch grew up in the Hills area and graduated from H-BC in 1979. His father, Dean, was principal in the H-BC district from 1958 to 1973.

After graduating from Sioux Falls College with a bachelor of arts degree in social sciences, Deragisch taught for two years in the Chandler-Lake Wilson district before returning to Hills to teach from 1986 to 1991.

He left Hills to become middle school principal in the Jackson district, and in 1993 he became middle school principal in Luverne.

Deragisch lists two things among his favorites in Luverne. "The students and the staff," he said. "They are really great people. They are fun to work with - just a wonderful group of people."

Deragisch signed a three-year contract with the H-BC district for $79,000 per year, prorated this year since he's starting in the middle of the school year.

The Luverne School Board released him from a middle school principal contract for $77,947 that expired at the end of this school year.

That salary included compensation for other duties such as middle school counselor and middle school activities director.

Deragisch earned his master's of counseling from South Dakota State University, Brookings, and his principal licensure from Mankato State University, Mankato.

Deragisch will fill the position in the H-BC district vacated by Tom Knoll after eight years. The position was filled temporarily by Darold Williams.

Deragisch and his wife, Lori, have four children, Danielle, 17, Brandon, 15, Kaitlyn, 12, and Hilary, 8, and currently reside in Luverne. They will continue attending school in Luverne, according to Deragisch.

December
Dec. 21: Pastor Keith and Laura Davis, Hills, a boy.

January
Jan. 13: Mike and Robin Spath, Hills, a girl.

February
Feb. 20: Steve and Michelle (Sonntag) Durheim, Okarche, Okla., a girl.
Feb. 24: Jeff and Tonia Swan, Hills, a girl.

March
March 1: Craig and Julie Becker, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
March 4: Michael and Robin VerMeer, Sioux Falls, S.D., a boy.
March 10: Derek and Staci Bundeson, Hills, a girl.
March 21: Rick and Robyn Wessels, Luverne, a boy.
March 26: Michael and Michelle Anderson, Waconia, a girl.

April
April 3: Rob and Holli Arp, Lake Benton, a girl.
April 4: Richard and Jolene Muller, Steen, a girl.
April 26: Jared and Tracee Brouwer, Sibley, Iowa, a boy.

May
May 3: David and Jamie Tofteland, Beaver Creek, a boy.
May 6: Mark and Becky Raymon, Valley Springs, S.D., a boy.
May 9: Shawn and Lana Hart, Letcher, S.D., a girl.
May 14: Brent and Kimberly Grengs, Steen, a boy.
May 16: Scott and Melanie Edwards, Hills, a boy.
May 17: Jeff and Karen DeBoer, Garner, Iowa, a boy.

June
June 4: Scott and Lori Ehde, Luverne, a boy.
June 17: Harlan and Lorie Kruid, Steen, a girl.
June 18: Scott and Jessica Malloy, Beaver Creek, a girl.
June 20: Sgt. Kouri and Nora Wysong, Seoul, South Korea, a boy.
June 22: Barry and Carla Helgeson, Shoreview, a boy.
June 26: Dave and Melanie Friedrichsen, Luverne, a boy.
June 27: John and Astrid Rittenhouse, Luverne, a girl.

July 6
July 3: Shane and Pamela McNath, Sioux Falls, S.D., a boy.
July 8: Kevin and Allie Rozeboom, Luverne, a girl.
July 15: Chris and Jodi Harnack, Beaver Creek, a boy.
July 18: Donald and Jessica Grems, Lester, Iowa, a boy.
July 19: Dale and Heather Steensma, Luverne, a boy.
July 27: Boyd and Danielle Vis, Beaver Creek, a girl; Nicolas and Amber Kellenberger, Steen, a girl.
July 30: Chad and Tara Sundem, Tempe, Ariz., a boy.

August
Aug. 17: Matt and Emily Metzger, Hills, a boy; Shawn and Jill Swenson, Luverne, a girl; Ivan and Jamie DeJong, Leota, a girl.
Aug. 19: Paul and Stephanie Honken, Beaver Creek, a girl.
Aug. 23: Harlan and Heather Kurrasch, Fort Benning, Ga., and Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.

September
Sept. 4: Denny and Shari Doerr, Luverne, a boy.
Sept. 7: Justin and Amber Decker, Steen, a boy.
Sept. 13: Don and Michelle Reiffenberger, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
Sept. 19: Wayne and Stacy Fuerstenberg, Steen, a girl.

October
Oct. 5: Joshua and Anna Stoltenberg, Luverne, a girl.
Oct. 12: James and Kari Kueter, Hills, a boy.
Oct. 23: Jeremy and Janel Reu, Sioux Falls, S.D., a girl.
Oct. 31: Daryl and Amy Fuerstenberg, Beaver Creek, a girl.

November
Nov. 24: Gregg and Carmen Dougherty, Valley Springs, S.D., a girl.

December
Dec. 3: Kurt and Melissa Bly, Hills, a girl.

The Hills-Beaver Creek band and choir visited Tuff Memorial HOme on Frday playing and singing holiday tunes.

Photo by Jolene Farley

The Reservoir, west of Hills, is serene on a Thursday in December. The Reservoir was built around the turn of the 20th century by the Great Northern Railroad, or the Sioux City and Northern, as it was known at the time. They needed a place to supply their locomotives with water so they took advantage of a creek running in from north of Hills which was wet most of the time. The "Rez" became a popular swimming spot and has been developed into a community park.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Avis Schroder, 70, rural Wykoff, formerly of the Kenneth area, died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001, in her home.

Memorial services for her were Saturday Dec. 1, at Chatfield Lutheran Church in Chatfield. The Rev. Christine Finsand officiated. Burial will be in Fillmore Cemetery in the spring.

Avis Sunde was born to Ingolf and Alma (Halverson) Sunde on Jan. 24, 1931, in Luverne. She graduated from Bethany Lutheran Academy, Mankato, in 1949.

She married James W. Schroder on Aug. 14, 1951, in Kenneth. They moved to rural Wykoff in 1954. She was a bookkeeper for Nelson TV and Appliance, Orlen Ross Furniture and the Gallery in the Kahler Hotel, all in Rochester.

Mrs. Schroder was a member of Chatfield Lutheran Church and the Wykoff American Legion Auxiliary. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing bridge.

Survivors include her husband, James Schroder, rural Wykoff; one son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Glenda Schroder, Pine Island; four daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and Terry Severson, Judy and Brad Beckman, all of Rochester, Vicki and Donn Schmidt, Onalaska, Wis., and Shirl and Tom Boelter, Chatfield; 12 grandchildren; two brothers, Ralph Sunde, Luverne, and David (Kay) Sunde, Preston; and one sister, Eileen (Walter) Kopp, Kenneth.

Mrs. Schroder was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

Memorials are suggested to Seasons Hospice in Rochester.

Riley Funeral Home, Chatfield, was in charge of arrangements.

By Patricia Willers
For the Star Herald
The Luverne wrestling squad had two unfortunate losses last week at a triangular in Luverne. The triangular included the teams of Madison and Pipestone-Jasper.

The Pipestone Arrows started out strong in the Cardinals' first match of the night. The Arrows won with a final score of 12-61.

The second overall match of the night finished with a final score of 19-42, the Madison Bulldogs beating the Pipestone-Jasper Arrows.

The Cardinal team showed more depth in their second match versus the Madison Bulldogs but ended on the low side as they lost with a final score of 23-48.

Pipestone 61,
Luverne 12
The Cardinal wrestlers took a hard loss against Pipestone on Thursday Dec. 20, but nevertheless had some good moments during the night. Chris Tiesler pulled in his 100th win against Pipestone as he wrestled Travis Manderscheid of Pipestone.

The Cardinals had two pins during the meet. Joel Evans pinned Paul Peterson in 1:01 at 189, and Tiesler pinned Manderscheid in 2:32 at 125.

Luverne had some tough matches versus Pipestone with Anthony Boyenga being pinned by Zach Morgan at 112 in 0:34, followed by Jesse Evans scoring on L-H-BC-EÕs Kerry Fink in a major decision at 119.

Tiesler's pin helped to build the teamÕs confidence, but unfortunately, a rough streak started with a pin by PipestoneÕs Justin Fruechte over Dustin Donth in 0:38 at 130. That was followed by Mike Evans pinning Dusty Seachris in 2:19 at 135 and Chittakorn Keophilalay pinning Justin Mann at 140 in 1:16, bringing the team score to 6-28.

Pipestone's streak continued with Ryan Bullerman winning a major decision over Canaan Petersen at 145 with a score of 5-8. Pipestone firmly kept their lead with three forfeits to Luverne at 152, 160, and 171.

At 189, Joel Evans made a last attempt at a comeback for Luverne by pinning Pipestone's Paul Peterson in 1:01. Cody Jagow at heavyweight was pinned in an intense 5:37 by Justin Olsen. Aric Uithoven ended the match for the team as Kyle Evans of Pipestone pinned him in 1:49 at 103.

Match wrap-up
103 (P) Evans pins Uithoven.
112 (P) Morgan pins Boyenga.
119 (P) Evans m.d. Fink.
125 (L) Tiesler pins Manderscheid.
130 (P) Fruechte pins Donth.
135 (P) Evans pins Seachris.
140 (P) Keophilalay pins Mann.
145 (P) Bullerman dec. Petersen.
152 (P) Smidt by forfeit.
160 (P) Quist by forfeit.
171 (P) Ilse by forfeit.
189 (L) Evans pins Peterson.
Hwt. (P) Olsen pins Jagow.

Madison 48,
Luverne 23
The Cardinals' second match of the night proved to be a better match-up as they fought hard while losing to the Bulldogs with a final score of 23-48.

The Cardinals scored pins through wrestlers heavyweight Cody Jagow, and Aric Uithoven at 103. They secured decisions by Canaan Petersen and Joel Evans at 145 and 189, respectively. Chris Tiesler also scored for the Cardinals with a strong match ending in a technical fall for Madison.

The Bulldogs started out strong with pins by Monte Wire over Anthony Boyenga at 112 in 0:42, and Paul Hansen at 119 over L-H-BC-EÕs Kerry Fink in 1:51. Tiesler's technical fall over Madison's Danny Coomes at 125 brought the team score to 5-12.

At 130, 135, and 140, Luverne lost three tough matches to Madison. Dustin Donth was pinned by Philip Downs in 1:16, Dusty Seachris was pinned in 0:34 by Jerae Wire, and Mitchell Walker pinned L-H-BC-E's Justin Mann in 0:53, bringing the overall score to 5-30.

Petersen brought up the Cardinals with a decision over Madison's Mark Poncelet at 145 with a score of 10-3, which brought the score to 8-30. The Cardinals then sadly gave up three matches to forfeit at 152, 160, and 171.

Evans helped the team out at 189 with a decision over Mike Palmquist with a score of 7-3. Jagow and Uithoven then finished strong for the Cardinals with pins over Ben Kapelle in 0:28 at heavyweight, and Chris Werer in 0:57 at 103 making the final score 23-48.

The L-H-BC-E wrestlers, with a current record of 1-4-1, will wrestle next at the Montevideo Invitational on Friday, where they hope to be competitive.

Match wrap-up
103 (L) Uithoven pins Werer.
112 (M) Wire pins Boyenga.
119 (M) Hansen pins Fink.
125 (L) Tiesler t.f. Coomes.
130 (M) Downs pins Donth.
135 (M) Wire pins Seachris.
140 (M) Walker pins Mann.
145 (L) Petersen dec. Poncelet .
152 (M) Hodne by forfeit.
160 (M) Peterson by forfeit.
171 (M) Hanson by forfeit.
189 (L) Evans dec. Palmquist.
hwt. (L) Jagow pins Kapelle

By Lori Ehde
The Rock County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to terminate the employment of John Burgers as director of the county's Land Management Office.

According to a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Burgers' employment was terminated "without good standing" effective Dec. 26.

The board's action stemmed from Burgers' Dec. 19 guilty plea in U.S. District Court to one count of mail fraud.

In a signed plea agreement submitted to the court, Burgers admitted that he abused a position of public trust with Rock County and deprived the citizens of the county the right to his honest services.

He admitted to doing so through a scheme whereby he obtained loans and funds in connection with the hog production facility, Global Ventures Inc., in exchange for preferential treatment to the facility.

Burgers admitted in court that in March 1996 he learned that debris and waste were being dumped at a hog production facility owned by Global Ventures Inc.

Instead of notifying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Burgers contacted a senior officer of GVI and advised him to take care of the problem before he contacted state officials.

A few months later, in June 1996, Burgers approached the same GVI officer and informed him he (Burgers) was in deep financial trouble and needed money.

"I heard rumors the bank and Global Ventures were involved in suspicious money transactions. I knew Dave Logan would see me as something of value and that he would know that I could make it tough or make it easy on Global Ventures," Burgers said in a written statement Sept. 18.

"I expected for that reason Logan could help me get loans at Pipestone Bank," Burgers wrote. "Dave Logan used me as his heads-up guy to tell him of potential problems."

Per the plea agreement, the court has dropped the more serious bribery charge.

Burgers faces a sentencing guideline range between six to 12 months and 24 to 30 months. His fine range is from $3,000 to $50,000. A sentencing date is expected in eight to 10 weeks.

After meeting in closed session Wednesday with legal counsel, commissioners made the decision on a 5-0 vote.

The county will not seek restitution for months Burgers was on paid administrative leave since he was indicted Sept. 20.