By Sara QuamLuverne now has an archery hunting area within the city limits.The ordinance amending city code to allow limited archery hunting was approved Tuesday night by the Luverne City Council.The archery area is south of the dam, across from the Boy Scouts camp area. It is between the dam and Interstate 90, bordered by the riverbed on the west. The 34.5-acre tract of land was purchased by the local Pheasants Forever chapter from Mike and Karen Mensen. The land was mostly in CRP, with some untillable wooded areas.Local governments will be paid payments in lieu of taxes now that it is turned over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as owners.The council said it would allow archery hunting in the Aquatic Management Area (similar to the more common Wildlife Management Areas) because archery hunting is close-range, usually from an elevated stand. The council felt that risk of injury to the public was minimal.The archery area was an idea started by a donation of land to Pheasants Forever by Margaret Keen. In order to get access to that donated land, Pheasants Forever purchased the Mensen property within the city limits. In other business Tuesday the council:
Introduced an ordinance that would allow the sale of city-owned property on East Main Street, formerly known as the Dunkle property.The appraised value is $21,200 and Marvin Cleppe has offered the city that amount in order to build a home and shop on that parcel. The building he intends to have constructed would be easily converted to some other business if he wanted to sell it later.The council only introduced this ordinance Tuesday and will adopt it at a later meeting. This delay in action will allow for public comment, if any, because it is the sale of public land. Cleppe will also have to be granted a conditional use permit because it is in the Downtown Zone.
Decided to be listed as the applicant for the Palace Theatre restoration grant with the Minnesota State Historical Society. Because the city is the actual owner of the building, administrator John Call is signing the application instead of Blue Mound Area Theater, the theater’s managing board. BMAT has plans to replace seating at a cost of nearly $100,000. The city of Luverne is matching any Historical Society grant up to $100,000, which BMAT says it will repay.

By Sara QuamThe City of Luverne signed a lease for Minnesota West Community and Technical College to use about 2,000 square feet of the former hospital on East Luverne Street.The cost of the first year of the lease is nothing, but Minnesota West is committing to five years in the building.Minnesota West also signed the lease Tuesday.Minnesota West will start paying for a building lease in its second year in the building, $6 per foot, or $11,688.The cost for the second and third years will remain steady, but will increase to $9 per square foot in the fourth and fifth years.There is an option built into the lease for an additional five years at $9 per foot.Minnesota West will likely add square footage to what it’s actually using of the hospital space, too. Lease detailsMinnesota West will pay for its electric usage and will provide its own property and liability insurance. The city will be responsible for janitorial duties, trash removal, common areas (areas that will be shared by the new city hall relocation to the hospital), snow removal and maintenance.The city will also complete the construction and remodeling necessary for Minnesota West to use the building.The city is providing, at its expense, telecommunications requirements of the college as well.Related to the building projectTuesday, the Luverne City Council approved a contract for services with Okie Honken Construction to manage the hospital remodeling project for both the city hall and Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Honken will prepare specifications, get quotes from contractors, and supervise construction and remodeling work. The work will also include roof repairs to make the existing roof last about five more years.Honken Construction will be paid $40 per hour and 7 percent of the gross contract price of contractors who perform work in the building. It’s not uncommon for construction managers to be paid 10 percent of the gross contract costs.

By Sara QuamAdult bookstores, dance clubs and theaters won’t be able to operate in rural Rock County.With no current regulation of adult-oriented businesses, Rock County Commissioners got ahead of anyone wanting to open that type of establishment Tuesday.They imposed a temporary ban on "adult use" businesses in order to give the Planning and Zoning Committee time to research how the permanent ordinance should be written.If the ordinance isn’t passed within a year, the temporary ban becomes void. The ordinance is effective only in unincorporated areas of the county. City governments have control over their municipal ordinances.The county action, which was passed unanimously by commissioners, wasn’t prompted by anything specific.While there wasn’t a permit request for a business of an adult nature, commissioners heard rumors that someone might be interested.Commissioner Ken Hoime said, "It could happen. We don’t know."County Attorney Don Klosterbuer did some research to find what other counties have defined as "adult" and presented that to the board as a starting point.Klosterbuer said, "In zoning, you always want to try to stay ahead of a crisis."The ban on permits and time for a study will give the board a thorough, permanent adult ordinance to pass.Klosterbuer said, "The board was concerned that the current ordinance did not address adult uses in any manner. They felt it important that there be a study and investigation, including public hearings, to determine to what extent these business activities should be regulated within the county."Commissioner Richard Bakken said he hoped cities in the county would make sure they were prepared to face business requests as well. "I would like to see that the cities get notified too," Bakken said. What is ‘adult’?Adult uses will be more clearly defined in Rock County. Commissioners received some general definitions of what their future adult ordinance will cover:Adult uses generally include adult bookstores, theaters, movie rentals, adult mini-motion picture theaters, adult massage parlors, steam room and bathhouses, adult companionship establishments, adult conversation parlors, adult health or sport clubs, adult cabarets, adult novelty businesses, adult motion picture arcades, adult modeling studios, adult hotels or motels, adult body painting studios, and other premises, enterprises, establishments, businesses, or places open to some or all members of the public, at or in which there is an emphasis on the presentation, display, depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas which are capable of being seen by members of the public."Specified anatomical areas" and "specified sexual activities" will be clearly defined within the ordinance.

By Sara QuamAdult bookstores, dance clubs and theaters won’t be able to operate in rural Rock County.With no current regulation of adult-oriented businesses, Rock County Commissioners got ahead of anyone wanting to open that type of establishment Tuesday.They imposed a temporary ban on "adult use" businesses in order to give the Planning and Zoning Committee time to research how the permanent ordinance should be written.If the ordinance isn’t passed within a year, the temporary ban becomes void. The ordinance is effective only in unincorporated areas of the county. City governments have control over their municipal ordinances.The county action, which was passed unanimously by commissioners, wasn’t prompted by anything specific.While there wasn’t a permit request for a business of an adult nature, commissioners heard rumors that someone might be interested.Commissioner Ken Hoime said, "It could happen. We don’t know."County Attorney Don Klosterbuer did some research to find what other counties have defined as "adult" and presented that to the board as a starting point.Klosterbuer said, "In zoning, you always want to try to stay ahead of a crisis."The ban on permits and time for a study will give the board a thorough, permanent adult ordinance to pass.Klosterbuer said, "The board was concerned that the current ordinance did not address adult uses in any manner. They felt it important that there be a study and investigation, including public hearings, to determine to what extent these business activities should be regulated within the county."Commissioner Richard Bakken said he hoped cities in the county would make sure they were prepared to face business requests as well. "I would like to see that the cities get notified too," Bakken said. What is ‘adult’?Adult uses will be more clearly defined in Rock County. Commissioners received some general definitions of what their future adult ordinance will cover:Adult uses generally include adult bookstores, theaters, movie rentals, adult mini-motion picture theaters, adult massage parlors, steam room and bathhouses, adult companionship establishments, adult conversation parlors, adult health or sport clubs, adult cabarets, adult novelty businesses, adult motion picture arcades, adult modeling studios, adult hotels or motels, adult body painting studios, and other premises, enterprises, establishments, businesses, or places open to some or all members of the public, at or in which there is an emphasis on the presentation, display, depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas which are capable of being seen by members of the public."Specified anatomical areas" and "specified sexual activities" will be clearly defined within the ordinance.

By Lexi MooreEvery year the Minnesota State Fair recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more in size. This year Orrin Aukes’ farm has been added to the list of Minnesota Century Farms.In 1906, Dick Aukes, Orrin’s grandfather, purchased the farm from Henry and Bertha Trepp for $10,400. He built the home that still is used on the property and began milking cows.The land is located just south of Highway 270 and east of 90th Street near Steen.In 1913, Orrin’s father, Dick, purchased the farm from his father for $9,600.Dick and his wife, Laura, raised 10 children — five boys and five girls — on the farm. Orrin said he remembers having to help build some of the outlying barns and notes that in those days farms were self-sufficient."Every farm had milk cows, chickens, some pigs and a big ol’ garden," he said. "You had to produce everything you needed to survive."In 1962 Orrin’s father, Dick, was injured in a car accident just east of the farm. He was unable to recover from the injuries, leaving the operations and ownership of the farm to his wife, Laura.In 1974, after Laura died, the farm was left to all 10 children. Not long after, Orrin took ownership. He purchased the land from his siblings for $21,000. His nephew, Melvin Paulsen, purchased another section of the land.Orrin and his wife, Bernice, moved into the home on the property and quickly began making updates.The house had electricity but didn’t have hot water, and the plumbing was limited. There was one sink in the kitchen that ran cold water and a bathtub in the bathroom. Water for baths had to be heated on the stove.They added the comforts of a water heater and installed a sink and toilet in the bathroom. Milking operations continued as the couple raised their five children. He said the family enjoyed the location of the farm and often spent time at events in Steen and Hills.Orrin said that money was tight when they were paying on the mortgage. "We spent our time raising babies and milking, that’s how we paid for our home."He speaks often and highly of his children’s loyalty to the family and farm. His youngest son, Jeff, still spends a good deal of time at home and helps maintain the property in addition to his other jobs."Our children are good to us," he said. "I wouldn’t doubt it if one of them will own it someday."In October the couple will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, and there aren’t any signs of them leaving the farm anytime soon. Country living is all either has known, and it is where they intend to stay.Their daughter, Mary Crawford, helped them fill out the paperwork to qualify as a Century Farm Family and is in the process of planning a possible trip to the Minnesota State Fair so that the family can be recognized. If they don’t make it to the fair, they intend to hang their commemorative sign and frame the certificate to be displayed proudly in the 100-year-old home that has raised 15 Aukes children.

Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671Minutes7-17-06The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semimonthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the library in Hills. Board members present were Leuthold, DeBoer, Harnack, Boeve, Esselink, Fransman and Baker. Superintendent Deragisch and Principal Holthaus were also in attendance. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Esselink.Visitors to the meeting were recognized by the chairman. The only visitor was Lexi Moore of The Crescent. Motion by Fransman, second by Boeve, and carried to approve the agenda with the addition of 4.11 – approval of Little Patriot Handbook. Patriot Pride: Lyntausha Kuehl for having one of her poems published. Elementary report was given by Mr. Holthaus. High School report was presented by Superintendent Deragisch. The minutes of the last meeting were approved as sent out.Motion by Leuthold, second by Boeve, and carried to approve the bills.Motion by Harnack, second by Baker, and carried to approve the request for fixed bids on fuel oil and LP gas to be opened at the August 14 board meeting.Motion by Boeve, second by DeBoer, and carried to cooperate with ISD #2184 for milk and bread bids. Motion by Boeve, second by Leuthold, and carried to approve the Elementary Handbook. Motion by Harnack, second by Boeve and carried to approve the High School Handbook.Motion by DeBoer, second by Fransman, and carried to approve the Staff Handbook. Motion by Baker, second by Leuthold, and carried to approve Attachment 99.Motion by DeBoer, second by Harnack, and carried to approve Policy #521 – Student Disability Nondiscrimination.Motion by Fransman, second by Boeve, and carried to approve Policy #522 – Student Sex Nondiscrimination.Motion by Leuthold, second by DeBoer, and carried to approve Little Patriot Academy Handbook.Discussion was held on the attendance to the MSBA Summer Convention August 16 – 18.The Buildings and Grounds Committee update was given concerning the bleachers removal and stage work. Volunteers are needed for bleacher removal on Wednesday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Personnel Committee gave an update on Patriot Pride for Excellence.Dates to Remember: August 14 School board mtg. 7:30 p.m. August 28 School Walk Through 6:30 p.m. School Board mtg. 7:30 p.m. August 29 Teacher WorkshopAgenda items for next meeting: Fuel and LP gas bid openingsMeeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.Lloyd DeBoer, Clerk(8-24)

By Lexi MooreAll jobs come with some kind of perk, and if it’s a good job it comes with several perks.For instance, employees working for major corporations tend to get free promotional material. It might be a free shirt or pen or maybe even tickets to an event the corporation is sponsoring. Employees of smaller businesses usually come out with flexible vacation and family time.Nearly two years ago when I took my job at Tollefson Publishing, the company that prints the Crescent, Star Herald and Announcer, I was aware of some of the perks I would be getting.In fact, the perks are what made it easy to decide to take the job in the first place.Due to my part-time status at the paper, I knew the hours I would have to spend behind a desk in an office would be few. I was also aware that this would keep me at home for the majority of the week. Yes, I would have to do writing, meet with residents for interviews and answer phones calls, but the job gives me the luxury of doing that from the comforts of my house.Another obvious perk was getting to mix and mingle with the people of the community. As a new-comer to an area where everyone seems to know everyone else, I figured working for the paper would be a great avenue for learning names, stories and faces of those around me. So far, it has worked. I have many more people to meet, but I would not know as many around here if it weren’t for my job.Months into being employed by Tollefson, I started to notice a pretty big additional perk, one that hadn’t played into my decision to take the job.It came by way of an area called the "snack court." Nearly every Thursday when I arrive at work there is a sweet aroma wandering through the halls. Sometimes I can smell hints of chocolate or berries but most of the time it just smells sweet.Co-workers continue to arrive throughout the early hours of the workday. Inevitably around 9:30 someone says, "So what did Gayle bring in today?"Gayle Beers, the Tollefson typesetter, is like the grandmother everyone wants, and apparently long ago she started the unofficial tradition of filling the staff with homemade treats.The curious or hungry employee finds the pan containing the goodies and opens it, giving every nose in the building a better idea of what sugary treasure is awaiting them.I sit about 10 feet from the food court, which gives my nose an extra strong smell and my ears a chance to hear the "oohs" and "aahs" of happy co-workers.It is rare that we ever see a baked good more than once. Gayle usually makes something, takes the compliments with a smile on her face and moves on to a new recipe the next week … unless it is someone’s favorite. In those instances, I believe she takes notes, because once you say, "That is so good, and it has got to be my favorite," it somehow makes a return appearance around that employee’s birthday.I am a big fan of an ice cream cake Gayle makes using ice cream sandwiches, and without ever having to ask, it has somehow appeared at the food court for both my 27th and 28th birthdays.As the typesetter, Gayle is in charge of typing the "Cooking with the Crescent" column in this paper. But in fact she does much more than just type the recipes. She actually selects them week after week, and often it is from those very recipes that she draws her inspirations for our Thursday snacks.Her grandmotherly instincts are so acute that she knows the likes and dislikes of the employees at the paper. For instance, she takes the time to make special portions for those of us who do not like the crunch of nuts in our baked goods. And if coconut is called for, she is sure to inform those who favor it and those who dislike it. She evens thinks of the dieters by often including fruit in recipes. After all, a few sugar-coated berries and some whipped cream cover two food groups.Gayle’s treats are definitely a perk of working at the paper. Not many offices have their own resident Betty Crocker, who without complaint or request manages to put sugary smiles on the faces of those around her every week. Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Lexi Moore at mailto:lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

10 years ago (1996)"Hills will begin its mandatory curbside recycling program on the first of September — the first pickup date will be Sept. 11. Beaver Creek will begin shortly after that, with a proposed kickoff date set for Oct. 1."25 years ago (1981)"At the Senior Citizen’s Day at the Rock County Fair at Luverne, announcement was made of the Outstanding Senior Citizen of Rock County for 1981. Honors went to Juliet Braa of Hills and Art Anderson of Luverne."50 years ago (1956)"Bob Wissink and his gang felt the effects of the steel strike having to wait until more bins arrived in Michigan for them. They left Friday morning after being home for about two weeks. Bob had a chance to play a few ballgames in Steen while home." 75 years ago (1931)"The Rock County Fair closed last week with a blaze of glory. The exhibits at the fair surprised everybody, as many thought the drought and Depression would put a damper on everything, but such was not the case …Did you see the one-half ton hog and the bull that weighed better than a ton? …Hills was fortunate in that three of her citizens were chosen the winning team in the Farmer’s Judging Contest: they are Morten Kolsrud, Joseph Thorin and Carl Ruud. These gents will compete at the Minnesota State Fair."100 years ago (1906)"If Hills is to have a successful fair this fall it is none too soon for the businessmen to start the ball rolling. With the experience of last year as a guide and a balance in the treasury there should be no difficulty in getting every businessman in town harnessed up on some kind of committee and filled with enthusiasm. Most of the decorating material used the Fourth has been preserved and can be used to make the old town look its best at a nominal outlay. What we want to do at this time is to get busy."

Gerrit James Sikma, 82, Hull, Iowa, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006, at Pleasant Care Center in Hull. He was the father of Janet Bonestroo, Steen. Funeral services were Friday, Aug. 18, at First Reformed Church in Hull. The Revs. John Boender and Marinus Harberts officiated. Burial was at Hope Cemetery in Hull. Gerrit Sikma was born to Harry and Jeanette (Riemersma) Sikma on Sept. 5, 1923, at Ocheyedan, Iowa. He was raised in Ocheyedan where he attended a country school. He married Albertha Statema on Oct. 13, 1948, in Ireton, Iowa. They farmed at Ireton for a short time and then he served in the U.S. Army. The couple made their home in Sibley, Iowa, where he drove a Standard Oil truck. He was recalled into the military and they moved to Fort Sill, Okla. After his discharge they moved to Hull where he again drove a Standard Oil truck. Later he worked at Gerb’s Hardware for many years. He also worked at K&O Manufacturing, both in Hull. In retirement he had a variety of part-time jobs. Mrs. Sikma died Nov. 29, 2003, in Rock Valley, Iowa.He married Gerdena Dokter Bomgaars on June 22, 2004, in Hull where they lived. He moved to Pleasant Acres on July 11.Mr. Sikma was a member of First Reformed Church in Hull and a former long-time member of First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. He also was a member of Wegman-Koele American Legion Post in Hull. He enjoyed fishing and camping. Survivors include his wife, Gerdena Sikma, Hull; one son, Gary (Eloise) Sikma, Sioux Falls, S.D.; two daughters, Janet (Erwin) Bonestroo, Steen, and Lois (Joseph "Ted") Salazar, Hull; 11 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; six brothers, John (Dorothy) Sikma, Bigelow, Harold (Marjorie) Sikma, Pella, Iowa, Bill (Evelyn) Sikma, Byron Center, Mich., Roger (Harriet) Sikma, Allendale, Mich., Robert (Cheryl) Sikma, Dakota Dunes, S.D., and Rodrick (Ruth) Sikma, North Pole, Alaska; two brothers-in-law, Mike Harberts, Phoenix, Ariz., and Clarence (Beulah) Statema, Rock Valley ; and four sisters-in-law, Geneva (Bill) Burggraaf, Rock Valley, Priscilla (Otto) Huizenga, Orange City, Iowa, Joan Statema, Ireton, and Iola Statema, Zeeland, Mich.He is also survived by Gerdena’s family.You may express your sympathy at oolman.com.Oolman Funeral Homes Hull, was in charge of arrangements.