By Lexi MooreAs students learn new skills, they often produce work that tops that of even the most skilled teachers.Members of the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriot Millworks group took the lessons they learned last semester and produced several handcrafted furniture items.The students, under the instruction of Ray Vander Wolde, created 13 different types of wood furniture.The class used raw materials and tools in the industrial arts building to produce items including a bedroom dresser, a coffee table and a curio cabinet.Vander Wolde encouraged the students to pay attention to the small details when constructing their pieces. For example, they rounded edges, which is time-consuming but enhances the quality and value of the item.H-BC has had a Millworks program for more than a decade. In the past, the students have sold their work to area furniture stores and local residents. They have installed custom-designed kitchen cabinets and made entertainment centers.The money they make from the sales is used to fund the program and to purchase materials for the classroom. Unfortunately, when Vander Wolde met with store owners this year, they were not interested in buying the pieces. After several attempts, he decided the pieces would have to be sold at the school instead of at a retail store.Not wanting the program to face the same circumstances next year, he asked store owners what they would be interested in purchasing. They suggested the students work on gun cabinets and custom pieces.Once the decision had been made to try to sell the items in Hills, the students moved the pieces they had made into the hallway of the high school. They priced and labeled each piece of furniture with the hope that local residents will be interested in making a purchase.The furniture is priced from $50 to $580, which is low considering the quality of the materials used.This year 22 students are participating in Patriot Millworks. Some are learning woodworking for the first time, but many others have been constructing items out of wood for years.

The success of a teacher’s career is not measured in awards or salary but by the number of lives they have impacted. By those standards Cyndi Ebert’s career at Hills-Beaver Creek has been a success not only for herself but for the school district.She has taught more than 1,500 students in two subject areas during her 35-year tenure in Hills.Friday the district will celebrate Cyndi’s final day in the classroom with an open house. Although she is hesitant to leave, she said she knows it’s for the best.In 2004 her husband, Greg, retired from the district and moved into the home the couple built on Lake ??Since then she has spent her weeks living at the Morningside Manor apartments and her weekends traveling back and forth.As grandchildren continue to add up (the fifth is due March 14), she knows she will keep busy in her retirement.A Career PatriotCyndi and Greg came to Hills in 1970 without ever having stepped foot in Rock County.Not long after Cyndi graduated with a German and French degree, she and Greg met former H-BC Superintendent Dean Deragisch. He had flown to North Dakota to meet the couple and convince them that their career was meant to start at H-BC."We knew such a nice person could not be from a bad place," Cyndi said of their first interview.That fall she started as part-time employee teaching German and working in the library as an aide. Coincidently, she ended up sharing a classroom with Greg during those first years.Cyndi admits to being shocked by what? the small size of the community? when they got here, but adjusted quickly as she got to know the staff and students at H-BC.District administrators knew they had a quality educator in Cyndi and encouraged her to go back to school for an English degree."I knew I had to do it if I wanted to stay in the H-BC program. It was obvious that German was not going to be offered for long."Trials and TriumphsIn the mid-1980s, long after Cyndi had finished her English degree, she was told she would need to learn to teach via telemedia.The process involved teaching students in Luverne and Adrian using the Internet, a monitor and three cameras.At first the technique seemed impossible and Cyndi said she wasn’t enthusiastic about learning the process."I just didn’t think students could learn without having their instructor in the room with them."However, after some training and experience, she realized that a well-prepared instructor could use this method to educate students through distance learning.Her passion for the technique brought her to testify in front of the Minnesota Department of Education, who were opponents of the program.Ebert also remembers struggling with the state to keep the school district open when they wanted it to consolidate with Luverne."The people of Hills, Steen and Beaver Creek have a lot of pride in the school. I hope that always stays."Ebert said her proudest moments were when committees successfully kept the district open 10 years ago and managed to get the elementary school built in Beaver Creek.Life after the classroom"I always knew I wanted to be a teacher."So how does a life-long teacher plan to spend her days when she no longer has a classroom to call home?"I want one whole year to do whatever I want to."In addition to logging some long hours with her husband, children and grandchildren, Cyndi plans to learn how to golf.The lake the Eberts live on has an 18-hole golf course, and the challenge of learning a new activity sounds exciting to Cyndi.First and foremost, she plans to sleep in during the week. Even though H-BC asks their staff to arrive at 7:30 a.m., Cyndi is in her room by 7 a.m."There is always so much to do. I like to get here and get ready for the day."Cyndi calls Hills the only home she has had, and her eyes mist over when she talks about leaving after 35 years."This is my home," she said. "I feel I finally am growing up and moving away from home."

This month schools across America will invent creative ways of inviting children to read in celebration of "I Love to Read Month."I am a fan of reading. My love affair with books started when I was a child with Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. The word rhythms of both authors enchanted me. I checked out "Where the Sidewalk Ends" at least 50 times while I was in elementary school.They both remain among my favorite authors, and their works are well represented in my personal library.This year my husband, David, began teaching at McCrossan’s Boys Ranch in Sioux Falls. Part of their daily curriculum is DEAR time. It stands for Drop Everything And Read.The students have DEAR time both before and after lunch. They are able to read books or the newspaper – no comics, notes or magazines. When David told me about the program, I thought it sounded great and told him he should participate as well.It was not too surprising when he said that he used that time to prepare for class and watch the students. This made sense to me because he rarely reads books at home. I, however, LOVE to read at home and often wish I had a mandatory DEAR time in my daily life.It would be so nice for a bell to ring, indicating that the world had stopped so that I could have a good 20-minute block of quiet reading time.Of course, this doesn’t happen and I am lucky if I grab 15 minutes before bed to fulfill my literary soul.This week, in an effort to encourage the world to read a bit more, I am digging deep into my brain to choose my top 40 books. It would be too difficult to compare my favorite novels with my favorite children’s books, so I will give my Top 20 of each.Although I am 27 years old and have read the 20 books on my children’s book list dozens -— if not hundreds — of times, I still adore them. My mind and my creativity have them to thank. The hours my parents and teachers spent reading me those books shaped my personality.If my mother would have read me the JC Penney catalog before bed (which happens in some households), I don’t think I would be nearly the avid reader I am today. Instead, she read us every Dr. Seuss book published, including his earlier and more risqué stuff.As for adult reading, I am still working my way through the classics and find it impossible to keep up with modern literature. Therefore, my list is a combination of the stories I come back to over and over again, like "The Lord of the Flies" and "The Catcher in the Rye," and books that have changed the way I think.If there are books or authors on this list that you haven’t heard of, then head to the library and start a new adventure. Here in southwest Minnesota we should have another good month of winter. Don’t be a prisoner of the weather; let a good book take you somewhere new.Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.TOP 20 CHILDREN’S BOOKSWhere the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. SeussJames and the Giant Peach by Roald DahlThe Lorax by Dr. SeussThe Light in the Attic by Shel SilversteinWhere the Sidewalk Ends by Shel SilversteinCars and Trucks and Things that Go by Richard ScarryYertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. SeussBridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald DahlThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. LewisThe Shaggy Baggy Elephant by Kathryn JacksonThe Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinThe Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric CarleAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith ViorstFrog and Toad All Year by Arnold LobelBed Bed Bed by They Might be GiantsThe Minstrel by Bernard BensonCharlotte's Web by E. B. WhiteThe Monster at the End of this Book by Jon StoneMY TOP 20 NOVELSJitterbug Perfume by Tom RobbinsThe Catcher in the Rye by JD SalingerLord of the Flies by William GoldingFool on the Hill by Matt RuffAnimal Farm by George OrwellSlaughterhouse-Five by Kurt VonnegutStill Life with Woodpecker by Tom RobbinsNine Stories by JD SalingerSet This House in Order by Matt RuffOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken KeseyFierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom RobbinsNaked Lunch by William BurroughsTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeBreakfast of Champions by Kurt VonnegutImmortality by Milan KunderaThe Tommyknockers by Stephen KingUtopia by Thomas MoreFahrenheit 451 by Ray BradburyOn the Road by Jack Kerouac

10 years ago (1996)"Country Flowers & Crafts opened doors for business the second week of December last year — in time to provide holiday floral needs. Now they are ready to help make Valentine Day extra special.Country Flowers & Crafts, owned by Dennis and Holly Mulder, is located on the Mulder farm two miles east and one-and-three quarter miles south of Hills." 25 years ago (1981)"2nd Lieut. Jerry Randall and his fiancée, Kathy Marcinkowski, came from Montana to spend the weekend in the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Paulsen. They were en route to Annapolis, Md. Jerry will be stationed at Pensacola, Fla., in the Marines and will be taking flight training." 50 years ago (1956)"Pete Delfs bought the old blacksmith shop building in Steen recently. He plans to use it for a shed for his trucks, etc, so it looks like that will be the end of a blacksmith shop for Steen." 75 years ago (1931)"Eggs are cheap but look what they will buy at the Farmers Store — eggs are selling at a price that makes one think of the ‘Olden Days,’ but prices on groceries have been lowered considerable, too, at the Farmers Store. Just look what your eggs will buy, even at the low price of 12¢ per dozen: 3 pounds of beans for 2 dozen eggs; 2 1/2 pounds powdered sugar for 2 dozen eggs; 6 boxes matches for 2 dozen eggs; 1 box crackers for 1 1/2 dozen eggs; 4 dozen clothes pins for 1 dozen eggs; 1 pair flannel work gloves for 1 dozen eggs; 1 pair of work socks for 1 dozen eggs; 10 pounds sugar for 4 1/2 dozen eggs. We’ll sell you a sack of good guaranteed flour for two good heavy hens or springs. Not Bad! Farmers Store."100 years ago (1906)"According to the Luverne papers the new hotel, the Manitou, is to have saloon and barber shop annex, on the plea that it does not pay without these additions. As the Manitou is owned by stockholders composed of Luverne businessmen the saloon will no doubt be established. If Luverne must have saloons it would be well to follow out the suggestions offered in a recent issue of the Luverne Journal that the license be increased from $1,250 to $2,500, and the number of saloons reduced from five to two. … "

Berneta Johnson of Ethel, Wash., came Sunday to spend overnight in the home of Bob and Twila Kirsch.Stacey Bommersbach and children of Holly, Mich., have spent some time in the home of her parents, Harlan and Bonnie Kolsrud, at Worthington. Saturday afternoon she and Jordan came for a visit with Alice Kolsrud.Don and Edyth Briggs and Harriet Skattum attended the Dakota District Pipes Pipes and Drums, Robert Burns supper and program at the Oaks in Sioux Falls, S.D.Wilmer and Betty Elbers returned from South Carolina after spending several weeks and over New Year’s with their daughters, Peggy Iverson and Nyla Newsome and families.Wendell and Kathryn Erickson spent several days last week in the home of their daughter and son-in-law, Kirsten and Pat Anderson, in Sioux Falls.Last Wednesday, Rheta DeBoer met Susan Hofman in Sheldon for lunch. Susan is Rheta’s daughter. N Saturday Chuck and Rheta De Boer attended funeral services for Jessie Dykstra in Worthington.Emma Baker of Rock Rapids is spending a few days this week with her grandparents, Eldon and Karen Soehl.Wilmer and Betty Elbers attended basketball games of their grandson, Mitchell Elbers, Saturday morning in Brandon.

MINUTES OF THE HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYJANUARY 10, 2006Linus Svoboda, President of the Hills EDA, called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. with the following Board members present: Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers, Jim Jellema, Pete Hoff, and Ross Metzger. Others present: Connie Wiertzema, EDA Secretary, and Lexi Moore, Reporter-Hills Crescent.Motion by Metzger, seconded by Elbers, to approve the minutes of December 13. Motion carried.The Board approved payment of checks #1539 and #1540. Motion carried.Motion by Hoff, seconded by Elbers, to approve the transfer of $138,000 from EDA checking to a CD. Motion carried.No further business, meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.Connie J. WiertzemaEDA Secretary 2-9

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETINGOF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILJANUARY 10, 2006Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order with the following council members present: Jim Jellema, Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers, Pete Hoff, and Ross Metzger. Employees present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer; Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk; and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests: Jeff Bass-Chief for Hills Area Fire Department; Lexi Moore-Hills Crescent.Motion by Elbers, seconded by Hoff, to approve the minutes of December 13 and 14. Motion carried.Motion by Hoff, seconded by Metzger, to approve payment of the December expenditures. Motion carried.Expenditures for December: General $5,927.01; Park $1,268.05; Fire $8,022.63; Street $5,144.62; Legion $689.35; Sewer $1,427.15; Garbage $3,050.90; Recycling $1,014.80; Water $6,244.89; Baseball $12.22; Softball $22.84. Motion carried.General Checking 73,333.94General Fund CD #18924, 3.55%, 6/9/05 (prev. #18614) 251,002.85General Fund CD #19056 (prev. #188764) 4.25%, 9/15/06 122,287.95Fire Truck Replacement Fund CD #18647 cashed in May 2005 0.00Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 436.83Hills EDA Checking –Acct. #1248 690.11Southern Hills Condo Acct. #1263 0.00EDA CD #18870, 3.25%, 5/7/06 76,869.87EDA CD #19164, 2%, 3/14/06 40,300.00EDA CD #19165, 4.25%, 11/15/06 138,000.00Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger, to approve the transfer of $138,000 from EDA checking to an 11 month EDA CD #19165 at 4.25% interest. Motion carried.Discussed George Reining’s inquiry regarding the cleanup of debris from his house fire. Council agreed that all debris must be removed from the property, including the foundation.Jeff Bass informed the Council that the Fire Department has not received all their new gear, covered by the 2005 FEMA grant. Also, that there will be a cost overrun of approximately $2,200 for brackets to hang gear on the trucks. Bass inquired whether the Fire Department should apply for the 2006 FEMA grant, which could be used toward the cost of a different rescue van. The Council agreed to the application, but request that the City and Martin Township must be informed on costs relating to the application.The Council approved Ward’s request for a new tracing tape for locating utility lines.City maintenance requested that the owner of a stray dog be contacted. The fine for this third capture is $100.The Council was informed of the Federal Government’s cost increase for the drinking water service connection fee to $6.35 per connection.A proposed cost estimate will be obtained for updating the City’s map.The Council agreed to allow the U.S. Post Office storage space in the basement of the Hills American Legion building, for an additional rent of $30 per month.The following appointments will remain the same for 2006: Mayor Pro Tem-Linus Svoboda, Official newspaper-Hills Crescent, Civil Defense Director-Doug Chapman, Weed Inspector-Wayne Ward, Official bank–Exchange State Bank of Hills, Health officer–Dr. Diane Kennedy, City attorney–Doug Eisma, EDA President–Linus Svoboda, EDA Vice President–Ross Metzger, EDA Secretary–Connie Wiertzema, EDA Treasurer-Joanne Goehle.The Council approved to increase the following rental charges for the Hills American Legion building: Clubroom/Kitchen $50; and for the Auditorium/Clubroom/Kitchen $150, plus a $50 deposit. All other Legion rental charges will remain the same.The Council set the mileage reimbursement rate at 44.5 cents per mile; and set a temporary liquor license fee at $50. All other licenses and/or rental charges will remain the same per the 2005 Fee Schedule.The Council asked city maintenance to remove the snow from the end of South Anna Avenue, in order that Wysong’s can remove their camper trailer from the street.Motion by Elbers, seconded by Metzger, to approve the proposed 2006 wages as noted and presented to the Council by the wage committee members. Motion carried.The Clerk will attend the election equipment plan meeting on January 17Council discussed options for storage space for the Hills American Legion, which is currently located in an occupied rental office space.Council approved to refund a utility deposit to John and Kim Elhers.No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.Connie WiertzemaCity Clerk 2-9

By Sara QuamTerry Hoffman, who is out on bond, pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of possession of stolen property in Minnesota. Hoffman, 38, pleaded not guilty in South Dakota in February of 2005. There, the charges were seven counts of grand theft.He changed his plea in South Dakota to guilty in September 2005 to two felony grand theft. As a part of that plea, prison time was capped at 10 years and it was stated that restitution of $195,000 would be sought.Hoffman was arrested in Rock County Dec. 8, 2004, when three search warrants uncovered allegedly stolen items such as snowmobiles, a boat, a pickup, a sport utility vehicle, a camper, an all- terrain vehicle, a trailer and vehicle parts at various locations.The initial tip came Oct. 22, 2004, from Brandon, S.D., where a suspicious Chevy Tahoe of Hoffman’s was being stored at the home of his brother and sister-in-law.The alleged thefts include items from Brandon, Sioux Falls, Luverne, Marshall and Worthington.Hoffman, formerly of Luverne, is accused of stealing and reselling or reusing vehicles. He allegedly swapped titles and license plates from wrecked vehicles to cover the tracks. Also, some vehicle identification numbers were altered.The person giving the initial tip provided police with a vehicle identification number from the black 2002 Chevy Tahoe, which was researched and found to be stolen.The license plate on the Tahoe was actually from a white 1994 Chevrolet Camero registered to an insurance company in Woodbury, Minn.After that, personnel from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Brandon (S.D.) Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol and National Insurance Crime Bureau became involved in the investigation.Hoffman, who now lives in Sioux Falls, will appear in Minnehaha County court in South Dakota next week for sentencing. Now that Hoffman has been arraigned in Rock County, the next step here is to schedule a jury trial.

By Lori EhdeGene Bendix will be remembered in Luverne for his love of teaching, and his students will never forget the enthusiasm he brought to classroom."His students would always come back and say he was a good teacher," his wife, Arlene Bendix, said Tuesday."He loved what he did, he loved the kids, and he was always interjecting that into the classroom."These qualities didn’t go unnoticed by his fellow teachers, who named him Luverne’s first-ever Teacher of the Year in 1966.According to the Echo, the high school newspaper, the teacher named must be "exceptionally skillful and dedicated."That year was the 16th year of teaching in Luverne for Bendix, who taught chemistry and science. He went on to receive state recognition that year for "excellence in teaching." The write-up in the Echo found its way back to Ortonville, where Bendix grew up and graduated from high school.A front-page story in the Ortonville Independent offered a biography of sorts on Bendix.He received his bachelor’s degree from Hamline University, St. Paul, and his master’s degree in science from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion.He taught his first year in Huntley and 10 years in Renville before coming to Luverne in 1962.In 1959 and 1960, Bendix was a traveling science teacher for the National Science Foundation through Michigan State University.He was one of 20 teachers named nationally and covered a seven-state area that included 20 schools in southwest Minnesota and Iowa.Another Echo student writer offered insight on Bendix’s classroom rapport."Mr. Bendix’s nickname is ‘Geno’ to his golfing buddies," the article stated (Bendix also coached the LHS golf team). "He enjoys golfing, photography and hunting. Sunday is his favorite day. His pet peeves are students who don’t ask questions."The writer also shared a classroom experience."One science experiment he will never forget is when he was demonstrating a fire extinguisher he had made. It blew up in his face."Bendix died Monday after a 10-year decline in health following complications with knee surgery. Persistent non-malignant tumors prompted amputation – first at the knee several years ago, and then at the hip last year when tumors became cancerous.He was 80 years old.See page 8A for his complete obituary.