Mary Pike, Luverne, attaches holiday trim to the front of Brown Church Antiques Friday afternoon in balmy 70-degree weather. It seemed strange to see city workmen wearing short sleeves while hanging Main Street lamp post decorations, and it was odder still to see lighted Santas and sleighs assemble on front yards with no snow. At this time last year, rural ditches were full of snow, and drifting snow over frozen ice patches made driving conditions treacherous.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Shirley Ford (left) and Louise Vegge decorate a tree Monday with pink lights and roses for their cancer awareness organization. The Carnegie was busy this week with groups and businesses decorating trees for the Festival of Trees that is ongoing through the end of December.

The Carnegie organized more special events through December to generate holiday spirit. The Sandbulte family will perform from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2; Marcella and Sandra Dowie will perform a harp and cello recital from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9; local recording artist Kristi Holler will perform from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16; Jolene and Jamie Wessels and Kate Vander Kooi will perform from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23; Marya Manfred and Betty Mann will perform Dec. 30 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Hours at the Carnegie, including the Carnegie Gift Gallery, are Tuesday through Friday 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 4 p.m. For more on the Carnegie, visit www.rockartsrock.com.

Photo by Sara Quam

By John Rittenhouse
An outstanding season recently completed by the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth football team wasn't overlooked by its peers when the 2001 All-Southwest Ridge Conference Football Team was chosen last week.

H-BC-E, which won the conference title with a 7-0 record, led all league teams by drawing six All-SRC selections.

Two more Patriots drew honorable mention from the SRC coaches, and two individuals representing the program picked up other notable awards for their efforts.

Chris Reid, who led the Patriots in rushing and scoring, picked up one of the team's six all-conference selections. The junior also was named the Back of the Year for the conference.

Dan Ellingson, the H-BC-E mentor, was named the league's Coach of the Year.

Joining Reid as selections to the 25-player All-SRC Team for H-BC-E are seniors Kevin Van Batavia, Darin DeBoer and Brad Haak, junior Jesse Leuthold and sophomore Curt Schilling.

Seventeen players drew honorable mention from the league's coaches.

H-BC-E senior Justin Van Maanen and junior Brant Deutsch were on the honorable mention list.

A 44-player SRC All-Academic Team also was announced last week, and the roster included Deutsch, Leuthold, Van Batavia, Van Maanen, seniors Ryan Ranschau Randy Krull and Lee Walraven.

Westbrook-Walnut Grove challenged H-BC-E by having five players named to the All-SRC squad.

Charger seniors Ryan Baker, Dustin Krick and Austin Scarset, and juniors Jeff Cooley and Ryan Paplow made the squad.

Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster and Lincoln HI drew four All-SRC selections each.

Seniors Josh Ihrke, Kyle Knuth, Paul Paplow and Matt Sather graced the list for SV-RL-B. Ihrke was tagged the SRCÕs Lineman of the Year.

Seniors Josh Eastman, Scott Fogelson and Jack Weber and junior Mark Pedersen made the list from LH.
Lakeview and Edgerton picked up two all-league selections each.

Edgerton seniors John Bleyenberg and Phil Tinklenberg, and Lakeview seniors Taylor Kroger and Brady Rosa graced the list.

Capping the roster are Southwest Star Concept junior Tyler Leopold and Lake Benton senior Greg Stuefen.

W-WG and SV-RL-B led the league by picking up three honorable mention selections each.

W-WG seniors Travis Kottke and Matt Olsen, and junior Chris Monson were so honored, as were SV-RL-B juniors Robby Armstrong, Corey Place and Zac Schmitz.

Lake Benton juniors Tyrel McConnell and Tony Miller, SSC seniors Kyle Galle and Jeremy Updike, Edgerton seniors Scott Brouwer and Jeremy Landhuis, Lakeview senior Jeremy Mead and sophomore Tyler Jeseritz, and LH senior Kyle Scheik round out the honorable mention selecions.

Final SRC standings: H-BC-E 7-0, W-WG 6-1, SV-RL-B 5-2, LH 4-3, Lakeview 3-4, Edgerton 2-5, SSC 1-6, LB 0-6

By Sara Quam
It might be true that the art of writing a good letter is all but lost in today's world of instant messaging. At Christmastime, though, the greeting card and personal letter take on their old roles, reconnecting family and friends.

National research by Hallmark says 76 percent of Americans participate in the holidays by sending greeting cards. Of the 6 billion cards Americans send each year, cards are sent on Christmas more than any other occasion.

Locally, people have already started buying their cards and are getting ready to write letters and enclose pictures.

Laudon's Gifts and Collectibles in Luverne is the local Hallmark supplier. The store sees much of its busiest days during the Christmas shopping season. People have slowly started to get into the Christmas spirit there, and store managers said the holiday open house had a tremendous turnout two weekends ago.

As far as stuffing those cards with family pictures, local studios are busy filling orders.

Jim Juhl of Myhre Studio, Luverne, said it's not too late to have Christmas portraits taken this time of year.

But it's something people think about almost year round. "Generally, when people get a picture taken, they consider their Christmas cards," Juhl said.

Most of Myhre's customers order about 75 prints and include them with letters or send a photo as their seasonal greeting.

Juhl said that people with children are more likely to send photos to show off their families. When there's not a growing family to update friends with, photos are taken less frequently for Christmas cards.

An atypical Christmas photo is a sports portrait, but Juhl has seen a surge of those recently. He took pictures for hockey players, many of whom ordered prints to send at Christmastime.

Michele Kruse of Portraits by Michele, Adrian, has been getting Christmas card pictures ready since May.

"The big family pictures are by far the most popular, but IÕve done wedding and engagement photos for cards, too," she said.

In the case of not being able to send photos in time for Christmas, some families send them at an alternative time of year.

Getting hands on
Luverne's Sara Oldre has expanded the art of letter writing into creating her own cards. For about five years, sheÕs made greeting cards for many occasions and joined a stamping club to exchange the end results of her efforts.

"I made all my Christmas cards last year, and I'm planning on trying to do that again," she said.

With 2-year-old Knute in tow and a second baby on the way, Oldre finds time to create her cards whenever she can.

"Sometimes it's weeks or months before I get to it, but when I do, I spend a whole day with it," she said.

Oldre layers different materials on her stamped cards - corrugated cardboard, ribbon, paper and potpourri.

She got into the hobby almost accidentally. "I just had a lot of stuff to use and put it together," Oldre said.

What to send?
The first Christmas card in America was introduced in 1875 when German immigrant Louis Prang designed a Killarney rose card with the words "Merry Christmas" on it.

Virginia Smedsrud has been helping families print their letters and cards for about 20 years at the Announcer Press.

She says some customers include a simple note of greeting and others compile a year's summary in photos or tie in the letter to the year's news events.

To put together a Christmas letter, keep a few things in mind. In general, letters should be kept to a readable length in an easy-to-read typeface.

However, handwritten letters convey a certain intimacy that computer-printed ones don't. Handwriting can be copied onto decorative, holiday paper as well as the typed version.

Some say it's fun for letter readers to get specific stories or information rather than exclusively generic greetings. A blend of both works.

Some people find it annoying to read letters that come off as bragging, so it's important to check the phrasing to make sure the letter's tone is appropriate.

Also, letter writers are advised to jot down notes on what they want included in letters before they actually write them.

By Jolene Farley
The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 left many children and young adults wondering what could be done to show support or to help the victims of the tragedies.

Many area schools came up with creative ways and programs to help students deal with the emotional aftermath of the attacks and show support for victims and their country.

"The way our kids have dealt with it shows we have really strong families here," said Adrian Elementary School Principal Russ Lofthus.

Families, school staff, churches and society have provided support for kids, helping them to deal with the events of Sept. 11, according to Lofthus.

Pastor Mike Zaske of Zion Lutheran Church was invited to talk at Adrian Elementary about the meaning of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In a monthly Adrian school newsletter, students were each asked to give $1 to Afghanistan Children's Fund to help the children in that country. This plea raised $70 to help Afghan children.

"The whole concept of patriotism has risen to the forefront," said Lofthus. Schools are more diligent about saying the Pledge of Allegiance and sponsoring other patriotic programs.

Earlier this month, Adrian students participated in "United We Sing," along with other children across the country. Students sang "God Bless America" and other patriotic songs.

The American Legion Color Guard attended the event, providing the flag ceremony. Legion member Rod Scheidt presented a patriotic program.

Adrian Elementary students recite the Pledge of Allegiance school-wide every Monday morning, and students recently took part in gathering around the flagpole to say the Pledge of Allegiance simultaneously with many other students across the country.

Adrian Elementary School also sponsored a Family Fun Night attended by more than 650 students and parents. The school hoped to provide a fun evening designed to help relieve tensions caused by the Sept. 11 attacks. The event was successful, according to Lofthus.

Hills-Beaver Creek students have also wondered how to show their support for the victims and their country.

H-BC Elementary School students began to gather spare change. Depositing money into a Vikings bank in the hall of their school, students raised $543.

Students also completed postcards through a program called "Computers for Students" with a total of 128 out of 160 students turning in booklets of postcards for the program.

Rather than using their points for technology, students used the cash option which raised another $550 to donate to the American Red Cross and the relief effort.

H-BC High School students also wondered what they could do to help. "We felt like we had to do something to support them, to help out," said Hills-Beaver Creek Industrial Arts instructor Gregg Ebert.

Two H-BC Industrial Arts classes decided they wanted to do a stained glass project and donate the proceeds to the Red Cross.

The patriotic bench, portraying the World Trade Center, the firefighters, and an eagle against a backdrop of stars and stripes, was much more advanced than any project they had tried before.

The bench is complete but plans to give the proceeds to the American Red Cross have changed. Since the Red Cross is no longer taking donations, the piece will be auctioned off, with proceeds donated to the Hills and Beaver Creek fire departments, according to Ebert.

Even though their donation didn't work out as planned, students "were happy to support people who got hurt in the World Trade Center."

At Luverne Elementary School, in addition to a patriotic assembly, students responded to President George W. Bush's request that all American children send $1 to a child in war-torn Afghanistan.

By selling red, white and blue ribbons for $1 each, the school has so far raised $680. In addition, classrooms have decided to donate money from their Make a Difference Jars to the cause as well.

The Sept. 11 attacks spurred some poignant moments at Ellsworth Public School, according to Superintendent George Berndt.

The most touching was when all the students lined up in the hall to sing "God Bless America." The moment "hit home pretty good," according to Berndt.

By Sara Quam
Rock County Board of Commissioners Tuesday decided to advance the Southwest Regional Development Commission $18,000.

The RDC has said that without the advance against future tax levies, it would dissolve.

The Rock County Board is one of six that have approved the advance. Pipestone voted the measure down, and two others were waiting for results from the rest of the counties.

The motion from Rock County's commissioners came from Wendell Erickson and was seconded by Ken Hoime. Commissioner Jane Wildung attached an amendment to the motion that the RDC would not be able to bond for money that counties would be liable for in case of non-repayment.

"I don't want to be held responsible for something I've never had a vote on. The people in my district don't support this advance of $18,000," Wildung said.

The amended motion then passed with Commissioners Bob Jarchow and Ron Boyenga voting against it.

Jarchow said he still had concerns about communication and management within the group.

Before the vote
The Rock County Board had previously tabled a vote on the advance money twice because of concerns over operations and communications within the RDC.

The county's issues with the RDC largely stem from the organization bleeding its reserves to operate Prairie Expo, which closed in August, and the air of secrecy in which it was done.

Craig Rubis, a Jackson County commissioner who serves on the RDC's Executive Board, said, "We look at it as a so-called loan against our future taxes. This is not a gift; it is cash flow for the Regional Development Commission, not Prairie Expo."

However, the advanced $18,000 from the counties that vote in favor of it will go toward paying short-term Expo debt of $81,000 and operations while it sits empty, as well as lawyer fees.

LuverneÕs Ben Vander Kooi has just signed on as the new legal counsel for the RDC. The RDC is negotiating settlements with 84 vendors that it owes money.

If the money going into the RDC is spent on outstanding bills, Rock County Attorney Don Klosterbuer wondered how staff at the RDC will be able to carry on with its regular operations and projects.

Jay Trusty, RDC director, said that if the organization can get past the Expo, other projects that actually generate money can be handled. Levy money makes up about a quarter of the RDC's budget.

The city of Worthington has its own issues with bonds and about 80 acres of land used for the Expo that the RDC has to handle.

But Rock County's concern is the state bonds of almost $6 million that it may have to pay one-ninth of.

Different state agencies have looked at the bond agreement and offered varying opinions on it.

One says that the counties would have to pay it back, and another says that as long as the building is kept for a public use, nothing will be done.

Rural Rock County resident Walter Kopp has been on the RDC board for less than a year, but he is convinced that it is a trustworthy organization.

"This is important that we have the RDC; there's no question about it. I do think they made a mistake on the Prairie Expo, but I don't think the RDC should pay the price," Kopp said.

Rubis and Trusty said the RDC is doing all it can to reduce costs in the meantime but reminded the county that it supported the efforts of the RDC in developing Prairie Expo.

Rubis said, "I haven't heard a lot of negative votes; a lot of negative comments, but not a lot of negative votes."

He pointed to a resolution of support the county passed in 1994 and 1998. Boyenga clarified that the county meant those as moral support for a project that was explained to be cost-free to the county. He said the board never wanted to be liable for state bond repayments.

What now?
The RDC will continue to operate in its usual functions of grant-writing for various community projects and use the money it has been advanced to pay off debts.

A special committee called the Blue Ribbon Task Force meets Nov. 29 to continue to generate ideas on what to do with the empty Expo building.

"Obviously, what to do with that building is our biggest challenge," Trusty said.

Trusty said he plans to start working on restricting what the Executive Board is allowed to do as far as money decisions for the RDC. It is the group that approved spending reserves on operating Expo in the absence of a director.

The fate of the RDC will probably be revealed within a year. If it dissolves or decides to sell the building, that's when the county will know what its liability is.

Even if the RDC folds, its debts can be levied for years until they are repaid.

Carol and Gerrit Kuipers, Luverne, are current presidents of the Hollyhoppers.

The Hollyhoppers are named for the Hollyhock Ballroom, Hatfield, where they began dancing 50 years ago.

When the Hollyhock Ballroom closed in 1954, the club moved to the American Legion Club in Pipestone, and in 1968, moved again to the Jasper Memorial Hall.

Lessons were given in Brown Elementary School, Pipestone, under the Adult Education program. Eventually the club moved to the Jasper Elementary School for both lessons and dances until the school closed earlier this year.

Since then, the Hollyhoppers have been meeting in Brown School for lessons and to dance every first, third and fifth Saturday night. An average dance night brings roughly three squares, or 12 couples - four per square.

Saturday's dance was accented by traditional square dance attire of long-sleeve western-style shirts on men, skirts filled out by can-cans on women.

Though some Hollyhoppers still dress up for regular meetings, most wear jeans or simple straight skirts, according to club co-presidents Gerrit and Carol Kuipers, Luverne.

"We have fun," Carol said, when asked why she joined the group 13 years ago. "It's good exercise as well as the fellowship of all the dancers. It's a friendly group."

Keith and Audrey Aanenson, Luverne, have been dancing with the Hollyhoppers for nearly 40 years.

That makes sense, since the national square dance theme is "Square dancing is friendship set to music."

Aanenson said he also likes to dance for the physical exercise. "It's the same as jogging four miles," he said of a typical club meeting. "You're wore out in the end."

More than 100 past and present Hollyhoppers showed up Saturday night at Brown Elementary School gym, Pipestone, to dance.

Frequent Hollyhopper caller Don Nugent, Trent, S.D., called the anniversary dance.
When asked why he enjoyed the pastime, he said, "You can leave your troubles at home and dance your cares away," he said.

He said square dancers always have a good time, despite the absence of alcohol. "Liquor is a big no-no," he said. "You can't square dance if you've been drinking. You can't keep up and it breaks down the square, and that's not fair to the other seven dancers."

Don and Linda Hubbling, Luverne, take a spin Saturday night in Brown Elementary School gym, Pipestone. Don, who recently underwent a lung transplant, hasn't danced since before he became ill several years ago.

By Lori Ehde
When members of the Hollyhoppers Square Dance Club get together for their monthly dance, they whirl and twirl in their own little squares of promenades and do-si-dos.

Some founding Hollyhoppers have been stepping to the cues of callers for 50 years, and a special dance Saturday marked the anniversary occasion.

More than 25 couples from the tri-state area are listed on the Hollyhoppers dance roster, about 10 of whom are from Rock County.

Hollyhopper Keith Aanenson, Luverne, has been with the club for nearly 40 years. What keeps him coming? "The friendship," he said. "People are so friendly."