A friend of mine was telling me about a powerful object lesson his pastor had used a couple of Sundays ago. As the pastor talked, he opened a new jar of Folgers instant coffee. Everyone saw him open it, but it made no real impression.Later in his message he proceeded to take whole coffee beans and placed them in a hand grinder. He slowly ground the coffee beans in front of the congregation. Before long the smell of the freshly ground coffee began to fill the room. Pew by pew the aroma began to move through the sanctuary, until all 800 people in the congregation could smell and almost taste the coffee. The difference in the impact to the sense made by the instant coffee, which could only be seen by the congregation, and the fresh ground coffee, which could be seen, smelled and even tasted was striking. The pastor went on to talk about the lives of the members of the congregation and the impact that they were making in their homes, community and work places. I have been thinking a lot about that object lesson. The Bible states, "Our lives are a fragrance present by Christ to God. But his fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and those perishing" (2 Cor. 2:15 NLT). As a Christian I am to reflect the nature of Jesus wherever I go. In some ways I take the fragrance of Christ with me. To have the fragrance of Christ I must know Him and must spend time with Him. Having grown up and worked in rural America, I know that one can quickly take on the aroma of one’s environment. While working as an agronomist I had a dairy farmer stop by the fertilizer plant to pick up herbicide. Even with my back turned, I knew who it was before I saw him, because the smell of dairy preceded him to the counter. Much to my surprise he commented that he could tell that a hog farmer had recently been in the office "because you can always smell hog people." And he was right. We do take on the aroma of the environment around us. The same is true in the spiritual sense. If I want to have the "aroma" of Jesus in my life, I need to spend time in His presence. How about you? Are you spending time in His presence?

I’ve been a bird-lover all my life. We had pet parakeets at home all through grade school, high school, and even when I was in college. I had a pet bird in my first apartment and in my first house. We’ve had pet birds at the library off and on for years. I’ve loved them all. Donna Dahlberg taught me how to rescue sick and wounded birds. My successes were always temporary. We saved a wounded pigeon once at the old library and when we released him into yard, he flew out into the street and got run over by a car. That was disheartening. I have porcelain and crystal birds all over the house. I have bird statues in the garden, including the traditional pink flamingo. We have five birdbaths in the yard (a heated one for winter) three birdhouses, and many bird feeders. The highlight of my life is seeing a cardinal on the deck. Lately, I’ve had some bird concerns … serious concerns. For example, I went out to the flowerbed one day to water my football mums. As I approached the area, I spied a baby blackbird about four feet away. I began sprinkling the mums with my red watering can. Suddenly and without warning, the feathered beast came running toward me with his head down, wings out, and mouth open. He screeched and I thought he was going to attack me. I was paralyzed with fear. Then, he stopped and stood there, staring at me with his mouth open. In retrospect, I believe he thought I was his mother and I had a tasty worm for him in my beak. Very unusual behavior, indeed. A couple days later as I was walking home from work, I happened to look up and there were two turkey buzzards circling over my head. I thought, "What am I? Dead?" It’s not as if they were three feet above my head, they were circling above the trees, but still it was rather disconcerting. The very next morning, I got my parrot Barkley out of his cage for breakfast. Normally he gets bird food, two sunflower seeds, and some human food. I was excited because I had leftover crappies broiled with butter and lemon pepper, plus a piece of baked potato and a small spear of steamed asparagus for him. What did he do? He got mad and bit me because I forgot to give him his two sunflower seeds. I think you can see a pattern forming. If you’re sitting out on the deck reading a hot summer novel, keep an eye out for unusual bird behavior and let me know if you see anything alarming. New on the shelf this week is "Captive of My Desires," by Johanna Lindsey. Devastated by her

This week, I am going to pick up where I left off on the irrigating (watering) paragraph. I am amused when people call in and tell me that their tomato plants are 10 feet tall with no blossoms or fruit set.Upon questioning them, I’m told that they are faithfully watering and feeding the plants, and then I get to tell them that they have the happiest tomatoes in the county. The plants are putting out lush growth and feel no need to try to reproduce themselves … They’re just so happy to be growing. Life is good!Add a little stress into this scenario, and those same plants will bloom up a storm. Yes, you can be too good to your tomatoes. Once you have fruit set, you can start that faithful watering and feeding and you’ll be rewarded with the best fruit you could ask for. Prior to fruit set, that tender loving care will get you a plant that is fat and lazy! Another tip for growing good tomatoes is adding a thick layer of mulch out two feet around the base of the plants. Grass clippings work well for me. The mulch helps retain moisture and eliminates the need to weed around the base of the plant. Tomatoes have roots close to the surface of the soil, so if you get in there hoeing the weeds, you’re also chopping off roots … not a good plan.Also, keeping the soil moisture uniform, you greatly reduce the chance of the fruit developing blossom end rot. Every variety of tomato plants we sell is blight resistant … not meaning blight proof. Our summer weather is the perfect recipe for blight developing, so the resistance helps, but you may get to battle anyway. We sell several sprays that do a great job of eliminating blight if you apply the spray before it’s too late and if you do a thorough job with spray coverage … top and under sides of the foliage. Blight most often shows up as yellow spots on the lower leaves … the leaf color progresses to total yellow and dies. The blight rapidly moves up to higher foliage and will eventually kill the entire plant. Without foliage to shade them, the tomatoes sunburn. While talking tomato varieties, I also want you to know that there are two classifications of tomatoes … determinate plants produce one main large crop and then die … indeterminate plants produce over the entire season. The advantage of determinate is to people who want to can or process the fruit. You get most of it in one shot and are done. Those of us who like them for fresh eating would choose an indeterminate variety for an extended harvest season.The right variety, a "full sun" location, ample water and feed after fruit set, mulch and a watchful eye for blight … there’s your recipe for success with tomatoes. And yes, I’ve picked my first ripe tomatoes of the summer … they’re great!

The more I learn about Luverne wrestling coach Craig Schneider, the more I admire him.When Luverne Activities Director Todd Oye told me he felt fortunate to find an enthusiastic young man fresh out of college to take charge of the wrestling program last summer, I was intrigued.After watching this young man handle his duties last year, I now believe the Luverne school system made a great choice when they hired Schneider as a teacher-coach. He has a tireless work ethic and holds high standards for his athletes on and off the mat.In Schneider, LHS found a man who truly is committed to making the wrestling program better.The Wisconsin native took the job knowing that sagging participation numbers were working against the wrestling program, so he set out to do something about it.Instead of leaving the responsibilities of conducting the Blue Mound Wrestling Club (Luverne’s youth wrestling program) to others, Schneider decided it would be best to play a more involved role in developing the future of his program.So, along with the help of assistant coach Brad Petersen and former LHS wrestler Jeremy Kopp, Schneider is now in charge of coaching a youth program he plans to turn into a feeder system for high school teams in years to come.The decision to take control of the BMWC forced Schneider to sacrifice the few free nights he has off during the wrestling season, but he feels that’s a fair exchange.Besides, if he had any more free time, Schneider would spend it working on the other projects he has created to benefit the wrestling program anyway.Some of his projects include making a team poster that was on display in area businesses and creating a wrestling Christmas card he sent to families with children competing in the wrestling program.Of all his projects, my personal favorite is the wrestling Web site he created that can be found on the school’s Web site (www.isd2184.net).I can’t imagine all the hours Schneider and 2006-06 team members Kelsey Petersen and Chris Klay put into creating this site, but I do know anyone who has wrestled at LHS in the past will enjoy taking a look at it.Along with describing Schneider’s goals for the program, the site includes career and individual accomplishments compiled by every wrestler and coach in the history of LHS wrestling.Three things grabbed my interest when I pored over the site.I didn’t know current LHS girls’ hockey coach Dave Siebenahler was a wrestler in high school, and that the overall big loser of Big Loser II, Kyle Oldre, won 11 matches during his career. Something I also found interesting was the fact that Tom Serie, Luverne’s first individual state qualifier in 1961, compiled a 12-15 record as head coach of the program during the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons.If you think wrestling is out of Schneider’s mind now that summer vacation is here for the students, think again.Along with opening the weight room for athletes three nights each week during the summer, Schneider will introduce the Eagle Extreme Wrestling Camp in the high school practice room one week from today.Since February Schneider has been working on this project, which brings some members of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling program to Luverne.The UW-La Crosse has a strong wrestling program that has produced nine national champions and 55 All-Americans in the past, and some of the current program members will be teaching skills and techniques to local kids June 29-July 1.The Eagle wrestlers will work with students in kindergarten through fifth grade from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on June 29 and 30, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on July 1. Students in grades 6 through 12 will take the mat from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the 29th and 30th, and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on July 1.Along with teaching the kids wrestling fundamentals, the Eagles will reinforce some of the beliefs Schneider has instilled into his program and will remain in his teachings for years to come."I don’t care if our kids become state champions or not. I’m more interested in them achieving the three goals of our program, which are to succeed academically, to grow to become better people individually, and to become the best wrestlers they can be," he said.That type of thinking leads me to believe LHS officials did the right thing in bringing Schneider to this community, and the Cardinal wrestlers are lucky to have such a virtuous leader.

Like many of you, I celebrated Father’s Day Sunday. All of my kids passed through the house at one time or another over the weekend and wished me the customary happy Father’s Day. Our son and his family spent Saturday and Sunday with us. Maybe it was because it was Father’s Day, but for the first time I looked at my son in his role as a father more than as my son.I watched as he parented his young son. I suppose some of his parenting skills come from the way he was raised and some may be in spite of the way he was raised.In Sioux Valley’s full-page advertisement in another newspaper for Father’s Day, the headline was "Daddy’s Little Helper." The ad featured a dad and his young son working on the kitchen sink. The young son was playing a version of keep away with the pipe wrench that his dad needed to fix the plumbing. The subhead said, "It may take a little longer this way, but it’s worth it. Happy Father’s Day."In retrospect, I wished I had taken the extra time back when my son was young. Watching my son raise his son, I think he wishes I would have taken the extra time as well, and he isn’t going to make that mistake with his son.Over the years I’ve received all the traditional Father’s Day gifts — ties, golf balls, socks and shirts. I have used or worn them all and really appreciated them, but watching my son being a dad is about as cool a gift as there is.

After reading the June 15 Star Herald about Rozeboom’s allegations against Deputy Ken Baker, it ticked me off. Every time someone gets in trouble with the law, they make stupid statements against that officer. I don’t believe one word of it. It’s a bunch of bull! Maybe the Rozebooms don’t realize that it is illegal to drink and drive or maybe the Rozebooms thinks they are much better than other people, and that the cops should turn their heads. They are no better than the rest of us who have gotten DWI’s.I got a DWI years ago, but I never made allegations against that officer who arrested me. I took it like a man. Maybe they should, too. I don’t know how old his wife is, but she should have known that she can’t drive while under the influence. Yes, we all have done it. As for Baker supposedly following the Rozebooms around, they should quit flipping him off. All they’re doing is aggravating the situation. As for getting a ticket for disorderly conduct, they deserved it. As for parking on the wrong side of the street, we have a city ordinance about parking on the wrong side of the road. I have a feeling they’re making these allegations against Baker because she got busted for DWI.Officer Baker is a very good cop! He’s just doing his job. What do the Rozebooms want him to do? Nothing?I don’t understand people. They bitch about the cops not doing their jobs, then when something like this happens they bitch because the cops picked up the wrong person. So they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.Gary ShamattLuverne

The following letter was written by Dylan Bosch, son of Don and Janette Bosch, of Dows, Iowa. Dylan is the grandson of Mona (Bosch) Rozeboom (Ray) of Hills. Dylan left the Des Moines, Iowa, airport on Friday, June 2. He flew to Los Angeles where he met with other Peace Corps volunteers before flying on to Mongolia for a 27-month stay.Hello All,This is to let you know quickly that I am safe and well in the airport in Seoul. The flight we just got off was a real marathon, but the Korean airline was pretty fantastic. We had a variety of movies and TV shows to choose from, video games to play, so it wasn’t terribly brutal. It was hard to get any sleep and I have a sort of hovering feeling right now that I can’t shake. I have a feeling the next couple of days are going to be pretty uncomfortable getting used to the time change, all the flying and the stress of the whole deal. I’m feeling very well and the group is really comforting to have around. In an hour we will board the flight to Ulaanbaatar which will be in the air for only a few hours. We’re on Korean Air again, so it should be pretty comfortable. They serve free wine also, which is helpful (in moderation, of course). When we get to Ulaanbaatar we will meet with a number of current volunteers, as well as the Peace Corps Mongolia staff and the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia. From the airport we have a short bus ride to the ger camp where we’ll stay for a couple of days. I think they will give us all of our Peace Corps issue items then, and I hope they just let us crash for a couple of days. From there we go to Darkan City for a few more days of orientation and other business. From Darkan City I should be able to e-mail again, so perhaps in a few days you’ll hear more from me. I think everyone here is really excited about what we’re doing, but still there are so many uncertainties. We’re all looking forward to getting on the ground in Mongolia and getting more concrete information about what we’ll be doing. We’re all safe and one group of us is already in the air on the way to Ulaanbaatar. I enjoyed the short notes and even though I won’t be able to check up on them regularly, you should still send them on. I should get ready to board soon, so I’ll say good-bye for now and you’ll hear from me soon (probably). I love you all and miss you. Take care of yourselves. I’ll do the same.DylanNote: Letter sent to Hills Crescent by Janette Bosch, Dylan’s mother, Dows, Iowa.

Some might say I am stubborn, but I prefer to think of myself as a determined individual.When I make up my mind that I want something, chances are I will get what I want the way I want it or I will accomplish whatever it is I have decided to do.My determination is usually reserved for important matters, not for frivolous things or circumstances.For instance, perhaps the greatest example has to do with my family’s dog, Digger.As a freshman in high school I began wanting my family to get a new dog. It had been several years since Hector, our cocker spaniel, had died and I thought the time had come for a new puppy.That fall I began reading the Sunday classified section aloud to my mother and father. I made sure to read the "pets" section extra loud, highlighting the free dogs.They didn’t bite that fall, so for Christmas I asked for only one thing — a dog.Santa came and went and yet there were no new members added to our family. By spring they had grown tired of my asking. My father, ever the planner, told me that I could have a dog if I prepared for one.He informed me that in addition to food, a dog would need a place to live. If I could, without his help or money, build or buy a place for this dog to live, than perhaps my wishes would be granted.Of course, he should have known that such a demand would not put an end to my desires. I saw it as the opening I had been waiting for all along. I immediately got started on a plan.I saved my babysitting money that summer — I didn’t buy treats at my softball games; I didn’t buy a new swimsuit. I saved.By fall I had acquired a pretty decent amount of cash and I intended to use it. When school started I approached my good friend Chris Olson about making me a doghouse in his woodworking class.I knew he was a skilled craftsman and would keep the process within my budget.Unfortunately, the project took the backseat to his school projects so the doghouse wasn’t finished as the holidays approached. Again, I asked for a dog and none arrived.In the spring, construction began on one of the greatest and biggest doghouses I had ever seen. When the school year ended, Chris had received his A and my doghouse had been placed in a nice shady spot in my backyard.Hah! I informed my parents that now they would have to at least start thinking about the idea of getting the family a dog.I had dedicated nearly a year to my pursuit, never wavering from what I wanted and ever sure that eventually I would prevail.In June, at a company picnic, my mother’s co-worker arrived with a miniature Pomeranian puppy. Apparently, the tiny little fluff ball’s tail was too short to be sold to anyone interested in breeding her, making her a reject within the litter.I instantly bonded; this little thing was no bigger than a Wiffle ball and fluffier than any animal I had ever touched. She spent the afternoon digging holes in the dirt at the park. I recruited my younger siblings and together we begged and pleaded to bring her home for a "test drive."Lucky for us, she was unmistakably adorable and had won over my parents’ affections as well.Off we went with smiles on our faces, for we knew that anytime an animal had come home with our family for a "test" they had stayed the distance, making themselves a permanent member of our family.The little dog kept digging, but did little growing. Clearly a miniature Pomeranian was a small dog, and the HUGE doghouse became unnecessary. This little cutie wasn’t going to be living outside; she had plenty of laps to sleep on and dedicated all of her time to our family.Through her years she remained loyal to all of my siblings and my parents. Her life was devoted to my mother, whom she followed and defended with the vigor of the world’s best-trained watchdog.She commanded attention from everyone, always yipping, always prancing and always making me proud of my own determination. I knew my family needed her, and she made all of my efforts worthwhile, even if the doghouse was never used.In part, she is responsible for all of my accomplishments and achievements. In her life, I saw that if I worked hard and really focused, I could do or get anything. It simply takes determination and persistence.On Friday, Digger decided she had helped me learn enough lessons and made a speedy exit from our world.She now rests at the top of a hill overlooking the scenic Lake Oahe in central South Dakota. As a dog for my family, she was perfect and will long be remembered.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)"Jack Paulsen realizes there is no amount of golfing skills which can help a person hit a hole-in-one.So he’ll settle for a little luck. …The ball bounced in Paulsen’s favor on Saturday, as he hit a hole-in-one in Rock Rapid’s eighth hole.The hole is a 176-yard par three, and a straight shot from tee box to green, according to Paulsen."25 years ago (1981)"Competing for the title of Rock County Beef Princess are Joan Olson of Steen, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Olson; Laura DeBoer of Luverne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James DeBoer; Beth Nuffer of Hills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Nuffer and Peggy Cragoe of Hardwick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Cragoe." 50 years ago (1956)"According to the contractor, work is progressing ahead of schedule on the new addition to our school, and unless unforeseen difficulties arise, the building will be entirely completed about a month ahead of the promised completion date which is September 1."75 years ago (1931)"Nels Kolsrud and family visited Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Hoem near Holland last Sunday. They report that a hard windstorm struck that vicinity last Thursday night, blowing down trees and barns. The corn was also damaged considerably."100 years ago (1906)"Emil Helgeson and Misses Clara Brictson and Ida Helgeson drove to Sioux Falls last Wednesday and while returning home a bolt came loose allowing the tongue to drop on the heels of one of the horses. The team ran about a mile at a lively clip but were stopped before any damage was done."