MINUTES OF THE HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYJuly 11, 2006Linus Svoboda, President of the Hills EDA, called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with the following board members present: Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers, Ross Metzger, Jim Jellema, and Pete Hoff. Others present: Connie Wiertzema, EDA Secretary; Joanne Goehle, EDA Treasurer; and Lexi Moore, Hills Crescent. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Jellema to approve the minutes of June 13th. Motion carried. Motion by Jellema, seconded by Metzger to approve payment to Chuck & Sandra Kuntze for 1/10th reimbursement toward their housing lot. Motion carried. No further business, meeting adjourned at 7:02 P.M./s/ Connie J. WiertzemaConnie J. WiertzemaEDA Secretary(8-10)

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILJULY 11, 2006Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order at 6:05 P.M. with the following council members present: Jim Jellema, Pete Hoff, Ross Metzger, and Linus Svoboda. Councilman Keith Elbers arrived at approximately 6:30 P.M. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer; and Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk. Guests: Tom Houselog-Rock County Land Records Director; and Lexi Moore-Hills Crescent.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to approve the minutes of June 13th. Motion carried. Tom Houselog presented the Council with cost increase information for renewing the assessment contract. Rock County is proposing a five-percent-per-year contract increase for years 2007, 2008 and 2009 due to increases in labor, insurance and fuel. The City Council will review the information and make a decision at their August meeting. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to approve the June expenditures: General $9,359.94; Park $3,497.62; Fire $3,730.26; Street $23,792.54; Legion $5,905.87; Sewer $1,769.14; Garbage $5,448.07; Recycling $1,101.64; Water $8,183.82; Baseball $65.94; Softball $255.43; Law Enforcement $9,746.50. Also, to include R-B Electric’s bill for $34.00; matching FEMA grant funds of $2,023.50; and $1,000 to AB Excavation for dozing ditches in Park View 2nd & 3rd Additions. Motion carried. General Checking 29,155.28General Fund CD#18924, 3.55%, 6/9/05 (prev. #18614) 205,445.94General Fund CD#19056 (prev. #188764) 4.25%, 9/15/06 124,865.21Fire Truck Replacement CD#19200, 4.150%, 12/9/06 3,000.00Hills EDA Security Deposit Account (to EDA Checking) .04Hills EDA Checking – Acct. #1248 5,748.53EDA CD#18870, 3.25%, 5/7/06 78,108.74EDA CD#19293 (prev. CD#19164) 4.5%, 2/14/07 35,713.74EDA CD#19165, 4.25%, 11/15/06 138,000.00#2 Fire Truck Replacement CD#19385, 4.5%, 3/24/07 5,000.00General Fund CD#19445, 1.5%, 7/9/06 50,000.00Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to transfer funds from general fund CD#19445 to general checking for seal coating expenses; and to approve the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried. Svoboda requested that the City disk and level the ditch at the SW corner of Elizabeth Avenue and Seventh Street; and seed grass in those areas where ditch work was done. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to approve Sally Van Wyhe’s building permit request for a patio. Motion carried.Motion by Metzger, seconded by Svoboda to approve Jon and Vicki Virkus’ building permit request for a deck. Motion carried. Tabled discussion regarding the replacement of a water heater in the Fire Hall. Tabled discussion on the proposed ATV/golf cart ordinance.Motion by Metzger, seconded by Elbers, to increase the rental deposit for the Hills American Legion to be $500 for rentals involving alcohol. The building must be inspected prior to the return of such deposit. The Clerk was instructed to send letters to two separate parties requesting that any and all fowl be removed from their properties, and outside the city limits. The City’s auditor will be contacted regarding correspondence from the State Auditor’s office; and a copy of the same correspondence will be forwarded to the Fire Department for their information. The City will obtain cost estimates to extend the roof and replace the window frames on the softball field concession stand.No further business, meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(8-10)

Russell Ripley, 79, Luverne, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, at Tuff Memorial Nursing Home in Hills from cancer. Funeral services were Wednesday, Aug. 8, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. The Rev. Terry Morse officiated. Burial with military honors was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.Russell Ripley was born to Clifford and Katherine (Willoughby) Ripley on April 17, 1927, in Hardwick. He received his education in Luverne. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947 as an aviation electrical specialist during World War II. He married Eunice Carlson on Jan. 20, 1946, in Bakersfield, Calif. After his time in the service he moved his family to Worthington. He signed with the Blue Jays to help build Thule Air Base in Greenland and saved his wages to pay for his first business venture, The Ripley Oil Direct Service Truck Stop located at the west end of Luverne. The family moved to Luverne, and Ripley Oil Company became RIPCO. It grew to more than 36 gasoline stations and truck stops located in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.Over the next 55 years his business ventures included his Red Carpet Auto Stores, Go Kart tracks and Eagle Transportation which included gas, fuel oil, grain and produce trucking. He owned and operated a nightclub in Sioux Falls, S.D., and a Luverne teen center, The Cue. He also was active buying and selling commercial and residential properties in various areas of the neighboring states. At the time of his death, he and Eunice, his wife and business partner, were still operating R&M convenience and gas store in Sioux Falls. For 55 years they kept true to their motto, "We have the cheapest gas in town." In fact, in 2005 RIPCO in South Dakota made the national news as having the cheapest gas in the nation.Survivors include his wife, Eunice Ripley, Luverne; nine children, Cathy Groth, Plymouth, Robyn (Dennis) Nowka, Randy (Judy) Ripley, all of Luverne, Paulette Ripley, Denver, Colo., Vicky (Ray) Atwood, Sioux Falls, Sally Ripley, St. Paul, Russell Ripley, Cologne, Kim Ripley, Golden Valley, and Lisa Ripley (Tom Lahr), Whitewood, S.D.; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother, Lester (Lucille) Ripley, Luverne; and a sister-in-law, Joni Ripley, Houston, Texas.Mr. Ripley was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Myrl and Rodney, and two sisters, Bernice and Marcella.A tree will be planted in memory of Russell by Hospice of Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital.Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial services for Milton Anderson will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. Visitation with the family will follow the service. Milton C. "Mick" Anderson, 92, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Hills, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, in Sioux Falls. Milton Anderson was born to Carl and Lillie (Nelson) Anderson on Jan. 10, 1914, in Rowena, S.D. He was raised in Sioux Falls. As a young man he worked on area farms and was involved in the CCC program in the 1930s. He married Ellen Harvey in 1933. The family lived in Valley Springs, S.D. He was activated in the U.S. Army in 1941. He served overseas during World War II. He received his honorable discharge in 1945. He then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D.He married Evelyn Solem on June 22, 1947. He taught farm education to U.S. military veterans in North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1957 the family moved to Germany where he earned his Master’s Degree. He taught math and science in Germany, Ethiopia, Holland, Turkey and the Azores for 22 years. They returned to the U.S. in 1979 and lived in Hills. After three years they joined the Peace Corps and moved to Sierra Leone. In addition to teaching agriculture to the communities he taught at a teachers’ college. At the same time, Mrs. Anderson started a home economics department. Together, the couple supported more than 20 schoolgirls with educational funding. After returning to the U.S. he studied nursing, taking an LPN course. After his eyesight began to diminish, the couple moved to Clear Lake, S.D., and then to Sioux Falls in 1997. Mr. Anderson was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills and the American Legion. He began running and bicycling at the age of 55. He also enjoyed scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and snow skiing. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Anderson, Sioux Falls; two sons, Gale (Avis) Anderson, Pierre, S.D., and Dwayne (Mary) Anderson, Sioux Falls; one daughter, Juanita Anderson, Seattle, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Delbert Anderson, Medford, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Anderson was preceded in death by three brothers, Orville, Chester and Glenn.Memorials may be directed to Good Samaritan Village or the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills.Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, is in charge of arrangements. For obituary and on-line registry, visit www.millerfh.com

My experiences at county fairs are relatively limited. As a child I attended the Hall County Fair in Nebraska. The county had a population of well over 60,000 — making for a pretty big event.Most years my mother would have a booth at this fair, giving her children hours and hours of time to explore the exhibit hall, run amuck on the midway, take in the concerts and, best of all, enjoy the food.For the life of me, I can’t remember ever viewing any of the livestock or farming projects while we were there. I vaguely recall a petting zoo located on the other side of the fairgrounds, but for some reason I never wandered over there.After I moved to South Dakota, my attendance at county fairs dropped to zero. To my knowledge, Lake County doesn’t even have a fair. If they do, I was never privy to it.I once ventured to Huron for the South Dakota State Fair — now that was an experience. Lots of animals, ribbons, rides, booths and ways to spend a small fortune in less than three hours. Everything was very expensive.In Texas, a trip to the state fair in Dallas was anything but a pleasurable experience. The place was crazy crowded. You couldn’t even move unless you were a part of a sea of people thousands deep.I remember seeing the Busch Beer horses and a great display on how milk is produced. They even had a pretend cow that kids could milk. The rides, although spectacular by fair standards, were impossible to reach. Their lines curled in and around midway games like giant snakes. The food was delicious, though expensive. It is where I first saw fried Twinkies and Snickers bars.After moving to Rock County in the fall of 2005, David and I didn’t even think about going to a fair, until July of 2006 when the folks at Tollefson Publishing informed me that I would have to work at their fair booth.I was instantly excited. A county fair — the idea seemed magical and, based on my 4-H reporting, this was going to be a fair just like that on "Charlotte’s Web," not like the big commercial fairs I had attended in the past.The excitement was warranted. Last year’s fair was great! I took my niece and nephew around to see the animals. Hannah even got to hold baby chickens. We spent a good deal of money riding rides, playing games and eating.This year David and I went a step further. When the day came around to enter items into the open class fair competition, we did it. Perhaps it was the thought of winning a ribbon for the first time in well over a decade or maybe it was the idea of getting the $5 prize for grand champion.The Wednesday before the fair David went to his garden and picked the biggest zucchini he could find, the shiniest green peppers his plants could produce and a very strange-looking squash. He also pored over our hundreds of digital photos to find three he felt worthy of submitting as entries.Together we marched into the floral building, not knowing what to expect or what to do. We were greeted by a group of very sweet ladies. I don’t know if my husband was flirting with them (I stopped recognizing that quality in him long ago) or if they were smitten with a young man who was that excited about gardening. There was lots of giggling and bragging about garden tips.I largely kept my mouth shut. After all, this was his deal. He planted the seeds, nursed the seedlings and made sure the garden survived the drought. I just watched and waited with hungry breath.His smile grew bigger the more he learned about the process. He was convinced that he had several winners among his submissions and that next year he could take every category. I could detect a bit of frustration in his voice over not bringing a sample of his rhubarb or some of the apples from our apple tree.The next day when I took a break from my stint at the Tollefson fair booth, I wandered over to the floral hall to see how he had done. The purple ribbons were not attached to our entries, but we did get some ribbons – and that was good enough for our first try.On Friday night we brought the niece and nephew to the fair, just like last year. Even though they were a year older, they still loved walking around the barns, petting the animals as we went. It is a bit magical to be that close to the farm animals.The kids had a great time on the giant slide, won a few cheap prizes and hit the 4-H food booth, the mini donut hut and the ice cream barn before we headed to our car.Even then the youngest among us was not ready to leave. She wanted to say goodbye to the sheep and the bunnies. I agreed. Who knows how long it will be before we get a chance to touch some livestock again.Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

10 years ago (1996)"Some local athletes are using their athletic talents for Christian ministry.Tara Boeve, Monica Bork, Andy Anderson, Tom Goehle and Matt Addington have spent the last week and a half playing basketball in Singapore using the sport as a way to spread the gospel."25 years ago (1981)"Steve Wiertzema and wife Connie moved to Hills Friday. Steve is the new business teacher at H-BC ,replacing Dick Rasmussen. They moved here from Elbow Lake. Steve taught business at neighboring Barrett.Steve’s hometown is Worthington and Connie hails from Fulda. … Steve will also be assistant football coach and assistant basketball coach." 50 years ago (1956)"Big changes can be expected in the Hills Telephone Co. as announcement reached us this week of plans to go to a dial system which will go into use Sept. 1, 1958. Mr. and Mrs. Sid Hammer, owners of the company, made this known to the Crescent this week.This changeover will probably start this fall, as cable is installed, preparatory to the erection of a completely new system."75 years ago (1931)"The entire Beaver Creek band will hold a joint concert with the Hills band on Main Street in Hills, and will be under the direction of Mr. H.L. Nowka of Sioux Falls. There will be close to 60 musicians in this combined band. Don’t miss hearing them." 100 years ago (1906)"A number of Hillsites witnessed the game of ball Sunday between Steen and Pleasant View on the latter’s diamond that resulted in a victory of 2-12 in favor of Steen. Pleasant View was short one or two of its best men while Steen had three of the defunct Ash Creek team, which is given as a good reason for the decisive victory."

Sacrifice of the KingdomGreat treasure demands great sacrifice, according to a pair of parables recorded in Matt. 13:44-46.In the first of these, Jesus says: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then, in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."Put yourself in that situation for a minute. You’re walking across a field — perhaps taking a shortcut home; perhaps just enjoying the sights and sounds of the season. Seeing something out of place, you stoop, brush away some dirt — and your eyes shine with the glint of gold! Ancient, buried treasure! But there’s a problem: you don’t own that field. We can understand the man’s solution. He sells everything to raise the money to purchase the field, understanding that the treasure this land conceals is worth far more than the sacrifice demanded by the purchase. That, said Jesus, is the Kingdom of Heaven. It demands everything — all that we have, all that we know, all that we love. For the sake of serving our Savior, we might be required to forsake father and mother, or perhaps to go without a husband or wife. It might demand that we turn our backs on lucrative job offers, live in modest houses, or settle in neighborhoods that make us less than comfortable. But for those who respond with a no-holds-barred faith, the reward is unimaginable. The God who made heaven and earth is the One who promises your reward — and His blessing is without limit! Then comes this second parable. Jesus says: "Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Pretty similar idea, isn’t it? The kingdom demands our all, but it promises an unimaginable treasure. Wrong. Read the parable again. The Kingdom of heaven is like — a pearl? No! The Kingdom of heaven is like the merchant. Jesus — the Master of the surprise ending — has turned the tables. The Kingdom of heaven itself is seeking treasure — and you are that treasure! You are the pearl! And having found that pearl of great price — having found those whom the Father chose from the start (Eph. 1:4) — the Kingdom of heaven went and sold everything in order to obtain it. In its desire for that great treasure, it was willing to sacrifice even the beloved Son (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10). In the person of the Son, it was willing to sell its claim to heaven’s glory (Php. 2:6-8). It sold everything — in order to redeem the members of the Kingdom of heaven. How much did God love His people? Enough to consider them a priceless pearl, worth the ultimate sacrifice. Now He asks us: how much does the Kingdom of heaven mean to you?

There was quite a stir at Donatello’s Café downtown Thursday morning as Eugene and Dianne Immediato were taking down the café sign and moving out. The reason — well, the café has been sold. The buyers are Brenda and Paul Scott from near Valley Springs, S.D. We met Brenda, who was busying herself getting used to the routine. She said they would not be open on Sundays, so they can have a day off. Otherwise, the service will go on as usual. We thank Eugene and Dianne for bringing us a café and wish the Immediatos the best as they take on new ventures or whatever, and we welcome the Scotts and wish them the best in operating a much-needed café in Hills. The café is now known as the Hidden Hills Café.James Thies spent time here recently with his mother, Marcella, when she received a pacemaker. Jim is no longer in the Embassy in Romania but is now assigned to the State Department in Washington, D.C., for at least two years. Wilmer and Betty Elbers purchased a home at Iverson Crossing near Brandon, S.D., and will move there by Sept. 1st. Harriet Skattum and her daughter, Margo Edwards of Forestburg, S.D., flew to Shelby Township, Mich., on Thursday July 27, to visit Harriet’s ailing sister Jean and her husband Emery Larson. They returned to their homes Monday, July 31. While there they attended the 60th wedding anniversary of the couple. Berneta Johnson, Ethel, Wash., spent from Thursday until Sunday with Bob and Twila Kirsch and visited with relatives and friends in the area. Sunday guests in the home of Martha Lindrud were Craig and Carla Nelson and two daughters, Courtney and Callie of Newman Grove, Neb. Brian and Bonnie Olson, St. Paul, spent Saturday and Sunday with Bonnie’s mother, Luella Schlueter. The Charlie and Mike Sandager families were Sunday dinner guests in the home of their parents, Sheldon and Ellie Sandager. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the 100th anniversary of Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo, N.D., over the weekend. This is the school from which Kathryn graduated. On their way up to Fargo they stopped in Watertown, S.D., to visit her aunt, Alma Flisrand, on Friday morning. Milton Anderson, 92, a former Hills resident, passed away Friday in Sioux Falls. A memorial service for him will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Aug. 15.Wilmer and Betty Elbers met Dick and Afton Kroon of Salt Lake City, Utah, for lunch Thursday morning at the Hidden Hills Café.The David Leenderts triplets, Donavon, Danette and Drew, celebrated their third birthdays on Saturday Aug. 5, along with family members.Madison and Tony Elbers of Sioux Falls, along with their grandmother, Betty Elbers, took in the Rock County Fair Thursday.

There is a television show on Discovery Channel that we have started watching called "Dirty Jobs." It is about a guy who goes all around tackling the world’s dirtiest and stinkiest occupations — everything from plumbing nightmares to jet airplane fuel tank repair to hog farms. The hog farm episode really caught my attention. The man was given the task of taking pigs from a confinement building and sorting them into an outdoor pen. Not sure why, didn’t catch that part. My fascination was with the piglet’s reaction to the whole deal. It was, quite naturally, freaking out at being carried by a human, but once put down outside, it kept up its tirade in full voice and flopped around on the ground like it had forgotten how to walk. I asked my other half, Doug, a wealth of farming and sqat (manure) related knowledge, what this behavior was all about. He replied the young pig was reacting to being outside for the first time and, more importantly, responding to the texture of the ground beneath its feet. It had never felt anything but the grated floor of the confinement building. I had never looked at the perspective of surfaces before and it got me to thinking…A doe and her fawn live in the trees just down the road from our farm. I have witnessed this fawn on numerous occasions actually dancing on the highway, running across, back and leaping in the air like a three-year-old in a new pair of tennis shoes. I would think that mother deer would put the fear of God into their offspring with horror stories of uncles and cousins meeting premature death and dismemberment on roads. Enough so they would be frightened of all roads and only cross when necessary to get food or water, but that was not the case with this tiny fawn. And why don’t deer find a section of ground with food, water, and shelter and never cross a road? Anyway…I associated the fawn to the piglet in the TV show. Only instead of being startled at the feel of a different surface beneath its feet, it took delight and skipped with sheer joy. I have known children like this. Our daughter, Abby, has never been frightened by anything in her life. She hit the ground running and has never backed down from an exploration of her world. It made her a bit of a handful at times but you had to admire her fortitude. I see the same trait now in Abby’s firstborn, our grandson Gage. At fourteen months, he is quite the thrill-seeking little guy and I liken him to that fawn waltzing on the hard surface road just for the pure escapade of a different texture. I snicker to myself as Abby and her husband, Eric, struggle with Gage’s climbing abilities, full-voice tantrums and adventurous nature. I don’t have much trouble with him myself as, having raised his mother, I have seen 90 percent of it and have learned the subtle tricks necessary to avoid, stifle and deal with behaviors that go with a spirited child. What goes around definitely comes around. Look for the dancing fawn in a difficult person you know. Don’t close the gate on understanding; you reap only what you sow. Story ideas and/or comments can be e-mailed to Nancy at Nancy861@msn.com or call me at 962-3411