Grace Niessink, 91, Hills, formerly of Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Tuff Memorial HOme, Hills. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 19 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. with the family present from 7 yo 8:30 p.m. at Roste Funeral Home, Hills. Services will be Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Reformed Church of Steen with Rev. Dan Ramaker officiating. Burial will be in Eastside Cemetery, Steen.

By Jolene Fairly
Over the last three days much of the region has received one to three inches of rain. This is a weather pattern that will likely continue through August, according to meteorologist Phil Schumacher of the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, SD.

"It does look like we are entering a pattern that will produce more rain," he said.

Schumacher attributes the extended period of dry weather over the last few months to a combination of two factors.

Drought across the western plains has increased in the area causing the air in the Rocky Mountains to warm and spread over our area. Along with that came a pattern of high pressure or an upper level ridge in the upper atmosphere.

"Thunderstorms just aren't developing, or we have scattered thunderstorms," he said.

Schumacher dispelled some explanations for the lack of rain that were circulating around the area as having little impact on weather patterns.

The premise that storms and moisture tend to follow the Buffalo Ridge has some truth but in the end, the ridge has little influence.

"Actually the Buffalo Ridge can be an area were rainfall can be enhanced," he said. "It can have a small influence but it's usually not the dominant reason."

Air lofting over the ridge, in certain situations, may be enough to make clouds and thunderstorms develop, but he said it is fairly rare.

Some believe the heat created by the concrete, pavement and houses of Sioux Falls creates a warm area causing storms to scatter. Schumacher said studies on the "heat island effect," as the phenomenon is called, have been conducted in Minneapolis and on the east coast.

Sioux Falls is not considered a large city, and the heat island effect should have only a small influence, Schumacher said. He added that last year our area had a wet year and the effect didn't seem to matter.

"We'd actually have to study it to really see," he said.

Registered nurses Jean Hellerud (left) and Judy Reese visit with Tuff Home resident Bob Olson.

By Jolene Farley
Graduating from nursing school in May was the culmination of four years of hard work and learning for Jean Hellerud, Hills, and Judy Reese, Beaver Creek.

The two women, both licensed practical nurses for more than 30 years, decided in 1998 to continue their education and become registered nurses. The friends both work at the Tuff Home in Hills.

The idea to go back to college after years in the workforce started when Hellerud's daughter was going off to college.

"We started at the same time as her daughter," said Reese. "We decided to see if we could still learn."

Reese has two adult children and Hellerud has three adult children.

Hellerud and Reese began attending classes two evenings or more a week at the University of South Dakota on the Sioux Falls campus.

"The thinking and trying to study É it almost made your brain hurt when you first tried to study," said Hellerud.

Every single evening was spent studying, according to the women. They modestly attribute much of their success to their husbands who they say filled in for them around the house when needed.

"We never could have done it without our husbands," said Reese. "They were very supportive."

Composition was Reese's favorite class because it was an outlet during a difficult time in her life.

"It came at the time when I needed it most," she said. "My father died, a family member was sick. The daily journal was a good outlet."

Hellerud's favorite class was anatomy and physiology.

Oddly enough, both women earned their LPN degrees from the same institution but didn't know each other until they started working at the Tuff Home.

Reese graduated from St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Mitchell, S.D., in 1963. When Hellerud graduated in 1964 the name of the college had been changed to the Mitchell School of Practical Nursing.

Hellerud always wanted to become an RN. "I had just enough money for the LPN," she said. "You get married and have a family."

The women said their last year of class was a surprise to them. "We didn't expect it to be quite so time consuming the last year," they said.

They were forced to drive to Sioux Falls or another location five days a week the last semester.

They attended clinicals at Sioux Valley Hospital, Avera McKennan Hospital, and other facilities in the area.

Their final test, passing the state boards, became a reality for Hellerud in June and for Reese in July.

Reese and Hellerud plan to continue working at the Tuff Home. Both agree their advanced education will help them offer better care to the residents.

"We gained knowledge," said Reese.

Hellerud and Reese offer the following advice to those thinking of furthering their education.

"Go for it É you are never to old," they said.

Willing Workers 4-H club members arrange photos Tuesday for entry in the Rock County Fair under the Club Community Service Display.

By Jolene Farley
It's fair week, and the rush is on for 4-H club members to prepare projects and animals at the Rock County Fair.

This week is "crunch time" as 4-H'ers term it. Willing Workers club members in Beaver Creek have worked on various projects all week.

"All of a sudden you remember it's fair time," said club member Lindsy Sells, Beaver Creek.

Club leader Jill Willers said the amount of sleep you get during fair week depends on how projects progress.

"We take it one thing at a time," she said. "Pre-fair entry day or judging day you are trying to finish up five projects at once."

Monday was entry day for fair projects. Tuesday most club members prepared perishables such as baked goods or produce or worked with their livestock. Wednesday was entry day for livestock and perishables.

Tuesday's schedule for the Willing Workers included designing a Club Community Service Display for judging on Wednesday. Club members decided on pictures of community service projects completed during the year and decorated a display board.

Also on Tuesday, club members decided on what 4-H banner to enter in the fair. This was an easy year, as clubs were asked to enter banners from past years to commemorate 100 years of 4-H in Minnesota.

If time allowed, the Willing Workers planned to make a scarecrow for display at the fairgrounds.

Now that the fair is in full swing, kids with livestock show and care for their animals.

Every 4-H family is asked to work in the food stand and some work at the Pop Stop. Proceeds from the Pop Stop fund the 4-H Youth Exchange to other states.

The herdsmanship honors in poultry, rabbits, sheep, horse, beef, dairy or swine are awarded on Saturday for the club that demonstrates the most consistent care of their animals.

The anonymous judges look for animals that are watered, with nothing tipped over in the animal pens, no manure in the aisles by the pens and contestants who are friendly.

Although fair week is busy, most involved say they like their time at the fair.

"It makes for a long, but enjoyable week," Sells said.

Five Tuff Home residents entered their handiwork in the Rock County Fair last week. Darlene Olson (left) received a red ribbon for her zucchini bread. Bob Olson received a red ribbon for his decorative birdhouse. Lola Jensen received a red for her knit pot holder. Mary Eernisse received a red ribbon for her crocheted doily and crocheted hangers. Viola Kellenberger received a blue ribbon for her cut flowers and a red ribbon for her needlework.

Photo by Jolene Farley

What will negative sizes do for positive esteem?

Carson is 1 year old now, but I still have to hold my breath to zip some of my pre-pregnant Size 9 jeans.

So, imagine my delight last weekend when bought a Size 6. I was elated. I haven't been Size 6 since... ever, actually.

I recall sometime in the sixth grade graduating from a girls' Size 12 slim to a women's Size 7/8. Considering I can no longer get into my Size 9/10 wedding dress, a Size 6 is a foreign number in my closet.

I knew better, but I wanted to believe it. I smiled at my reflection in the dressing room mirror, and I smiled all the way to the cash register.

I'm not stupid and neither are most other female consumers, but it feels good - in a sneaky way - to have the deceptive tag on my waistband.

Designers and manufacturers obviously know this, too, and theyÕre no doubt smiling all the way to the bank.

They've figured out that happier women and women with positive self-esteem are more likely to spend money on themselves, and they're likely to spend it on the one thing that's making them smile - the tag with the tiny number on it.

It's brilliant marketing.

The only problem is what size will the real Size 3 women wear?

For the first time in my life, I shuffled through the racks last weekend and came across Size 0 clothes.

If this marketing trend gets out of hand, some of our truly skinny Size 1 women will become less than nothing - a negative figure. I wonder what that will do to self esteem.

Keep it simple when vacationing with kids
We enjoyed a little family vacation to the Twin Cities last week.

I had carefully planned an itinerary full of interesting things to do and see in between the major attractions.

We would have breakfast in the rotating Carousel Restaurant atop a St. Paul sky scraper. We would float up and down the Mississippi River on the historic Paddleford riverboat. We would take in live evening music at the Como Park and Pavilion. And, if we needed something else to do, we would bicycle around the Uptown lakes (I even researched which bike rental places accommodated baby passengers).

These would be sandwiched between stops at the St. Paul ChildrenÕs Museum, Science Museum and Omni Theater, Minnesota Zoo and, of course, the Mall of America, which offered Camp Snoopy and Underwater Adventures.

Alas, in all my planning, I forgot who was actually going on this vacation - children with simple, childlike interests.

We took in the major attractions and Jonathan, 6, loved them, but we had to get him and his baby brother out of the hotel first.

Jonathan begged to ride up and down the escalators several times each time we arrived and departed the lobby, and he was happy to swim in the hotel pool every day until his skin wrinkled to a prune-like texture.

Carson, who has just mastered walking, was thrilled to toddle up and down the endless hotel corridors, unobstructed by usual household clutter.

We had a wonderful time, minus the extraneous points of interest.

For the next family vacation, we'll check into the nearest hotel with a pool, escalator and long hallways.

Luverne to Blue Mounds to be part of Prairie Passage
The road side, from Luverne to the Blue Mounds State Park are looking quite baron now, but soon the recently-sprayed ditches will be blooming with native prairie flowers and grasses.

Thanks to the Prairie Passage Program, a partnership with Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, a wildflower corridor is being created from Mexico to the Canadian boarder.

The program is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and its purpose is to promote awareness of natural and cultural resources and encourage the protection and planting of native wildflowers and grasses along roadsides.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the prairie plants are not only beautiful, but they are strong enough to survive the extremes of bitterly cold winters and the blazing summer sun.

Many native wild flowers and grasses develop roots that reach 16 feet or more deep into the earth.

The section from Luverne to the Blue Mounds State Park will be one of the first areas of the project.

To celebrate the local piece of the project, a program is scheduled at the Interpretive Center at the Blue Mounds State Park on Saturday, August 10.

It will begin at 7 a.m. with a prairie bird hike from the Interpretive Center followed by a program and the unveiling of the Prairie Passage sign.

Jasper gets grant and loan for new fire truck
Multiple politicians announced last week that the city of Jasper will receive both a grant and a loan to purchase a new fire truck.

The funds, which came from the United States Department of Agriculture, came in the form of a $10,300 grant and a $72,000 loan.

The USDA Rural Economic Development Office makes loans and grants to utility service providers. The loan provides funds to the community to be repaid over 15 years.

Hot Dog Night gets national attention
A small Luverne notation was made in the July edition of YM, (your magazine).

On page 34 of the nationally distributed youth-oriented magazine, their calendar for July events noted that on July 11 National Hot Dog month would be celebrated with free hot dogs at Hot Dog Night in Luverne, Minn.

Camp Ripley opens up for archery hunt
Camp Ripley is preparing for its 2002 archery deer hunt. This year's application deadline is Aug. 16.

Hunters who applied for permits in 2001 have been mailed notices about this year's hunts, which are scheduled for Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 26-27.

Hunters who did not participate in the hunt last year can apply via one of the 1,800 DNRÕs computerized Electronic Licensing System (ELS), or through the internet at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

A third option is by phone at 888-665-4236.

Hunters, when applying, can choose only one of the two-day hunting periods.

A total of 4,500 permits will be issued for the two periods, or 2,250 per two day hunt.

An application fee of $6 is required, and the applicants must be 12 years old prior to Oct. 17, 2002.

The Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association is also accepting applications for a youth-only archery deer hunt set for Oct. 12-13 also at Camp Ripley.

Only 100 permits will be issued to eligible youth ages 12-17 as of Oct. 10, 2002. Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 31.

All youth must be accompanied by adult mentors, who will not be allowed to hunt or carry bows and arrows.

A random drawing will be on Sept. 9 at MDHA headquarters in Grand Rapids to select hunting participants.

The DNR coordinates the annual Camp Ripley archery deer hunt with the Department of Military Affairs, which manages the 53,000-acre military reservation.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at
tolly@star-herald.com

Christine Anne Taylor, 15, rural Adrian, died Wednesday, July 31, 2002, as a result of an automobile accident.

A memorial mass was Saturday, Aug 3, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. The Rev. Martin Schaefer officiated. Burial of the cremains was at St. Adrian Cemetery in Adrian.

Christine Taylor was born to Tim and Debra (Wiechman) Taylor on Dec. 29, 1986, in Worthington. She attended Adrian School and had completed the eighth grade.

Christine was a member of St. Adrian Catholic Church. She loved animals and small children. She enjoyed writing notes and letters, school trips; and she knew how to give great hugs. She loved her special needs classmates and teachers. She had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed teasing.

Survivors include her parents, Tim and Deb Taylor, rural Adrian; two sisters, Alexandra Taylor and Katherine Taylor, rural Adrian; paternal grandparents, Jerry and Lucille Taylor, Luverne; maternal grandparents, Carl and Beatrice Wiechman, Pine City; 10 uncles; 11 aunts; 35 cousins; and godparents, Dennis and Kate Johnson, Hendricks; and Jon Wiechman, Pine City.

Christine was preceded in death by six uncles, one aunt, and four cousins.

Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Adrian, was in charge of arrangements.

Clifford A. Smedsrud Sr., 86, Windom, formerly of the Hills area, died Saturday, July 27, 2002, in Windom Area Hospital.

Services were Wednesday, July 31, at American Lutheran Church Chapel in Windom. The Rev. Gregory Hall officiated. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery, Windom.

Clifford Smedsrud Sr. was born to Edward and Minnie (Hanson) Smedsrud on Sept. 8, 1915, in Hills. He grew up in the Hills area where he received his education. He also lived in the Rock Rapids, Iowa, area.

He married Hazel Richardson and was later divorced. He married Bonnie Simpson on Oct. 16, 1956 in Northwood, Iowa. Mrs. Smedsrud died in 1976.

He worked for many years in construction. He was a cook for a section gang on the railroad for several years while they lived in Iowa. He moved to Windom 30 years ago.

Mr. Smedsrud loved to fish. He also enjoyed playing pool and snooker and various types of card games.

Survivors include two sons, Clifford Jr. (Pat Smedsrud and Dennis (Sheila) Smedsrud, all of Windom; two daughters, Robin (Doug) Johnson, Waterloo, Iowa, and Linette Goodknight, Eldora, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gilbert (Pat) Smedsrud, Valley Springs, S.D., and Morris (Elaine) Smedsrud, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and one sister Edna (Jim) Campbell, Los Osos, Calif.
Mr. Smedsrud was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, three sons, one brother and five sisters.