Minnesota Vikings’ owner Zygi Wilf didn’t waste any time in shaking up his team when the season came to an end for the purple and gold on New Year’s Day.I just hope he’s equally efficient discarding some of the underachieving players who helped make the 9-7 campaign another mediocre one.I wasn’t naive enough to think Coach Mike Tice would be offered a new contract after four less than stellar seasons at the helm of the Vikings’ ship. At the same time, I didn’t think he would be canned less than one hour after Sunday’s 34-10 win over Chicago.Still, Wilf made his decision with little haste, and I can’t argue with his choice to dump the head coach. Tice simply didn’t get the job done.During a press conference on Monday, Tice said he was proud of the fact that Minnesota and Seattle are the only two NFC teams to finish with a .500 or better record in each of the last three seasons.As an avid Vikings fan, I can’t remember being proud of any Minnesota team in the last three years. With 9-7, 8-8 and 9-7 records, we were no better than an average team in what has been the NFL’s weakest conference this decade.While Tice’s mediocre tenure in Minnesota will not land him in the Hall of Fame, to lay all of the blame on his lap simply isn’t fair. At some point, the players need to be called on the carpet for their lack of play-making ability on the field and their reckless indifference off it.In the wake of the "Love Boat" scandal, it was a tough time to be a Minnesota-backer. The Vikings were the laughing stock of the league, and we, as Minnesotans, were dragged into the mess with every joke cracked by comedians on the late night talk shows.So, if Wilf really wants to shake things up, it’s time to chase the riff-raff out of the Vikings’ locker room.Giving pink slips to the four players (Moe Williams, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot and Daunte Culpepper) with pending misdemeanor charges would be a good start.Williams is nothing more than a third down running back with veteran status. Replacing his name on the roster would be easy.Smoot, who played a role in arranging the ill-fated boat cruise in early October and who talks a better game than he plays (remember when Carolina’s Steve Smith burned the trash-talking cornerback time and time again during a game in late October), would be even easier to replace. I think Brian Williams made more big plays as a reserve cornerback than Smoot ever did when he was healthy.Cutting loose McKinnie as an offensive tackle, or any other members of the offensive line, wouldn’t be a big loss either. I’m kind of sick of watching the defensive ends we play run around McKinnie as if he were buried up to his hips in sand.And then there’s Culpepper, who was anointed the team’s leader when Randy Moss was traded to Oakland the year before.The problem is, there’s a big difference between having someone tell a player he is a leader and actually being one.Instead of making me forget about Randy Moss, Culpepper in his early-season performance (six touchdown passes and 12 interceptions during a 2-5 start) made me long for the return of Wade Wilson.If Wilf truly wants to field a championship team, it’s time to close the book on the Daunte Culpepper era in Minnesota. With No. 11 in line to earn a $10 million dollar bonus for just being on the roster March 1, when will there be a better time than now to let him go.I’m not saying Brad Johnson is the answer at the quarterback position, but he proved he’s more than capable to handle the job for a couple of years while a suitable replacement is found.One thing I learned from this season is that Culpepper (we went 7-2 without him) is not the franchise quarterback some people have billed him to be.Cut him loose, and use the $10 million earmarked for his roster bonus to start rebuilding a lethargic offensive line. If Wilf and the Vikings brass follow that path, we could be playing meaningful January games in as early as next year.

Well, the first group of Big Losers made it through the holidays. Many of the Big Losers lost a few pounds over the holidays, some stayed the same and a couple gained a pound or two. But there is no doubt we are all weigh (nice play on words wouldn’t you say?) better off than we were three months ago. This week all the Big Losers were weighed and measured and had their blood work done. We’ll compare those numbers to the weights and measurement taken 16 weeks ago and let you know the results in next week’s Star Herald. In addition to the new numbers will be new pictures for the before-and-after comparisons. To date, the 12 Big Losers combined have lost more than 350 pounds and hundreds of inches.As of this week, Terry Reisch is pretty much a lock to be the overall Big Loser. If you take Terry’s total weight lost combined with his percentage of weight lost, he has 72.09 points. Terry Connell is close behind with a total of 62.75 points. Rumor has it that Connell has been logging extra time on the elliptical machine in an effort to catch Reisch. You’ll just have to wait until next week for the final results.

Emily Matthiesen, 59, Luverne, died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospice Cottage. Services were Saturday, Dec. 31, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Revs. Maurice E. Hagen and Dell B. Sanderson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Emily Harms was born to Arthur and Gert (Blom) Harms on Dec. 14, 1946, in Montevideo. She graduated from Clara City High School in Clara City, and Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. She received her master’s degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. She married Lyle Matthiesen on April 9, 1979, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. After their marriage the couple farmed southeast of Magnolia. They moved to Luverne in 2001. She was a teacher at Luverne Public Schools from 1968 to the present. Mrs. Matthiesen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, the Minnesota Education Association and the National Education Association. She enjoyed reading, fancywork, baking and volunteering at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital. Survivors include her husband, Lyle Matthiesen, Luverne; one son, Jed Matthiesen, Luverne; her mother, Gert Harms, Montevideo; four stepchildren, Collette (Chuck) Springman, Sioux Falls, S.D., Kim Burton, Crooks, S.D., Jodi (Mike) Haas, Searles, and Scott Matthiesen, Champlin; eight stepgrandchildren, Nicole and Jason Scheidt, Lindsay and Alissa Springman, Trevor and Brittney Burton, and Morgan and Brock Matthiesen; one brother, Stan (Faye) Harms, Clara City; and one sister, Elaine Harms, Luverne.Mrs. Matthiesen was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Harms,A tree will be dedicated in memory of Emily Matthiesen by Sioux Valley Luverne Hospice.Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

A boy, Shawn Ryan, weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces, was born to Ryan and Kelli Lakeman, Plymouth, on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. He is the couple’s first child. Grandparents are Gerry and Sue Schlueter, Lake Park. Shawn is their first grandchild. Other grandparents are Linda and Leroy Lakeman, Felton. Shawn is the first great-grandchild of Luella Schlueter of Hills. Janine Solberg, Champlain, Ill., came to Hills Dec. 23rd to visit her parents, Ron and Jan Solberg. They went to Fosston to spend Christmas with Jan’s mother, Hattie Walz. Janine left from there to go to her home in Champlain. She teaches at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill. Carol Lonkey came from Brooklyn Center Dec. 22 to the home of her mother, Martha Lindrud. They both went to Carole’s home Friday, Dec. 23, where Martha visited until Thursday, Dec. 29, when Carole brought Martha back to Hills. Henrietta Schouwenberg returned home Thursday after spending a week visiting her daughters. In Williston, N.D., she visited Evelyn and Richard Le Clair and family, and on her return trip she spent time with Karen and Robert Visser and family at Afton. There were 15 family members present at the home of Howard Hoyme for Christmas Eve supper. They were Holly Willmer and son, Kevin, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Neal and Kathy Hoyme and Katie, Pierre, S.D.; Michael Hoyme, Pierre; Nicole Hoyme and Clint Hoffman, Bellflower; Jessica Hoyme, Milford, Iowa; and Eric and Wanda Hoyme and children, Hills.Harriet Skattum spent Christmas Eve in the home of her granddaughter, Gretchen, and her husband, Phil, Franklin, in Sioux Falls, S.D. She accompanied the Duane and Margo Edwards family, who were also present, to their home in Forestburg, S.D., and spent until Dec. 27 with them.Dan and Marie La Rock and Luke and Allison spent Christmas in the home of Dan’s parents, Jim and Beatrice La Rock, in Elk River. Also present were Dan’s brother and wife. Marilyn Nelson and the German exchange student, Christina Flory, along with the La Rock family, had their Christmas gathering Dec. 23 in the Mark and Michelle Nelson home. All the children and grandchildren of Chuck and Rheta DeBoer spent four days in their home to celebrate the holiday. They numbered 21 in all.Dennis Roning motored to Big Fork on Dec. 23 to spend until Monday, Dec. 26, in the home of Bill and Deniese Swanson. All of their children and family were also present.David and Char Kolsrud had a Christmas gathering with supper at their home in Beaver Creek on Dec. 26. Present were Andy and Stacey Bommersbach and family of Holly, Mich.; Jill Kolsrud, Charlotte, N.C.; Harland and Bonnie Kolsrud, Worthington; Mary Kelling and Jason Bloom; Kent and Paula Kolsrud and children, all of Sioux Falls, and Alice Kolsrud, Hills.All of the children of Dean Greenfield spent Christmas here with him. They are Scott Greenfield and family, Des Moines, Iowa, Troy Greenfield, Mitchell, S.D., and Leah Teveldal and family, Lamberton.

It is interesting how the moments that change our lives often happen without any planning or intention.On Dec. 23, life dealt me one such moment.It was the Friday before Christmas, my shopping was finished, my holiday plans had been made and life was about as wonderful as it gets. I didn’t need anything, I was just happy to be going into one of my favorite holidays of the year with a healthy family.All I needed to do was finish a four to five hour stint at the Tollefson Publishing offices in Luverne.Then I would be free to go on with my holiday vacation.About an hour into the morning, I started talking with Lori Ehde about a kitten she was getting her children for Christmas.I had encouraged this idea from the moment she first spoke about it in November.As a child, I always had kittens and cats around and it was wonderful. It taught me everything I know about life and death.My childhood cat, Tweedle, would have a couple litters of kittens every year. My siblings and I would fall in love with every single kitten. We would have to learn how to say goodbye when they left our lives or when one would get sick. It was sometimes hard, but that love is still so much a part of me as an adult.Those experiences are irreplaceable and I have few that are more precious.Therefore, it makes sense that I thought the young Ehde children should have a kitten of their own. Sure, they already have two house cats, but that is different than having your own kitten.So, on that fateful morning, Lori agreed to bring her new kitten into the office for visit. Things were slow -– and after all, it was a holiday Friday.When Lori’s new kitten arrived, it brought one of its brothers with it.This little furry brother was the cutest thing I had seen in years. It was about six and a half weeks old and obviously missing its mother. You could hear its piercing cry in the back of the office. It just wanted to be snuggled and loved.My mind instantly started racing. Who did I know who could love and house this perfect kitten?I called David at home to see if we could bring a kitten to my parents’ house for Christmas.He was instantly shocked – what was I talking about?After explaining the situation to him, he agreed to come to Luverne to see this "perfect" kitten for himself.While I awaited his arrival, I called my mother. She said that my little brother might be needing a kitten to get over the death of his old cat, and we both agreed that my niece (just 3 years old) needed a kitten of her own. She told me not to worry; a kitten would be welcome among the Labradors, Pomeranians and two housecats already at her house for the weekend.As far as I was concerned, it was a done deal. The kitten was coming home with me and then would go to the family member most wanting of a new friend.Little did I know that the family member who would be the most dedicated to adding a kitten to their home was arriving at my office any minute.When David walked in and saw the kitten sitting inside my purse, playing with the straps, he claims he knew it was meant to be his.I contested this idea from the beginning. No, this kitten wasn’t for us, we already have three cats, it is for someone else.No matter how many worst-case scenarios I laid out or how many problems I was sure it would cause in my already very hairy house, we were keeping this new animal.At the end of the weekend, I finally gave in.I let down my guard and opened my heart. It was instant love. This cat, who deserves to be on the cover of cat calendars and I-love-cat bumper stickers was now mine and I love it.David chose to name it Whiney Wendell, and I decided it would become Prince Wendell, the dragon slayer.Of course, those problems and scenarios I envisioned will all come true, but what can you do? Some faces are just too cute to say no to. And my husband and my Wendell both have those faces.This spring we will install the official "Crazy Cat Lady" plaque on the front of our home. With four house cats, it is a well-earned title.As for life surprising us with unplanned changes, I guess that is just what we do. We adapt to the changes, whether good or bad, and move on.Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

10 years ago (1996)"Jeff Johnson, Hills, has just had original poetry published in "A Sea of Treasures" and "Sparkles in the Sand," two treasuries of today’s poetry compiled by The National Library of Poetry. The poems are entitled "Someday" and "In Memory of John Kennedy," and the main subject of one is meeting our loved ones in Heaven.Johnson has been writing poetry for nearly four years and his favorite subjects and ideas are theology."25 years ago (1981)"January first marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for the city of Hills, and for the first time in thirty years, the mountains of numbers, facts and figures that make up the financial picture of the city will not be under the watchful eye of Bill Ehde. Bill is retiring after thirty years as the Hills city treasurer. He took over the job in 1950 from retiring P.L. Breden."50 years ago (1956)"Chuck’s Champlin Service will hold a grand opening on Saturday. Charles ‘Chuck’ Ward has been handling the station since early this fall after its purchase from the Backer Estate by Fabian Scholtes of Wilmont. Since them Chuck has become the owner and many improvements have been made."75 years ago (1931)"Just as the church bells were ringing for Christmas Eve a large number of Hills creamery trucks paraded through the streets and they had a real Santa Claus along, too. He stood on top of the cab of the leading truck ringing a bell, and in a loud voice proclaimed "Happy Christmas to You All." It was a real pretty sight, and everybody is still puzzled just how Santa was able to stand on top the cab while the car was in motion."100 years ago (1906)"John Goldberg, the lonely old widower, was in our sanctum Saturday and informed us that what he had looked forward to as a cheerless and lonely Christmas had been transformed into a very happy one by a visit from his sister Mrs. John Larson and daughter Jennie of Emmett County, Iowa. Mr. Goldberg met them at Lester Friday before Christmas."

Mary A. Reiman, 49, Iowa City, Iowa, formerly of Hills, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Services were Saturday, Dec. 31, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Iowa City.Mary Van Driel was born to Claude and Verna (Lawrence) Van Driel on March 1, 1956, in Sioux Falls, S.D. She earned a degree in fashion merchandising from Alexandria Tech Institute, Alexandria. She later earned a business degree from Worthington Community College in Worthington. She married Dale Reiman on Sept. 8, 1979, in Hills. She worked for Steve Betcher Insurance Company/American Family Insurance. She and her husband were foster parents.Mrs. Reiman was a member of PEO and University Club. She was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church. She was an Iowa Hawkeyes fan and a professional seamstress. Survivors include her parents, her husband, Dale Reiman, Iowa City; two daughters, Moriah Reiman, Coralville, Iowa, and Danielle Rieman, Philadelphia, Pa.; two sisters, Jayne (Ron) Peterson, St. Cloud, and Bette (Arthur) Krause, Colorado Springs, Colo., father and mother-in-law, Leonard and Anice Reiman, Altoona, Wis.; two brothers-in-law, James (Dianne) Reiman, Eau Claire, Wis., and Ryan (Libby) Reiman, Prescott, Ariz. and one sister-in-law, Susanne (Duane) Baron, Sauk Rapids. She is also survived by a special foster son, Jawon Perry, Iowa City. Mrs. Reiman was preceded in death by her brother, Bruce Van Driel. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Mary A. Reiman Memorial Fund, c/o Hills State Exchange Bank, HillsOn-line condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.comLensing Funeral Home, Iowa City, was in charge of arrangements.

Frank De Boer, 89, Hills, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at the Avera McKennan Hospice Unit in Sioux Falls, S.D.Services were Friday, Dec. 30, at United Reformed Church in Hills. The Rev. Doug Barnes officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.Frank De Boer was born to Charles and Maggie (Elgersma) De Boer on Sept. 30, 1916, at Primghar, Iowa. He attended school in the Sanborn, Iowa, area, graduating from the eighth grade at Sanborn Christian School. He married Berdella Vander Meulen on Feb. 20, 1940, at Ocheyedan, Iowa. They began living in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and then moved to Sanborn, Iowa, to Ocheyedan, and back to Sanborn, working for farmers and driving truck. In 1944 they began farming at Harris, Iowa, and then Lake Park, Iowa, before moving to Hills to begin a portable feed grinding business. He sold the feed grinder and worked for Hills Co-op Farm Service until retiring at age 65. The couple served as foster parents to several children. He moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in 2002.Mr. De Boer cherished his connection to the farming community, especially working and visiting with the farmers. Survivors include his wife, Berdella De Boer, Hills; seven children, Charles (Rheta) De Boer, Erwin (Faith) De Boer, all of Hills, Mary (Allen) Van Raalte, Larchwood, Iowa, Alma (Erwin) Kooistra, Rock Valley, Iowa, Burdett "Butch" De Boer, Alvord, Iowa, Mina (Marvin) Brandt, Remsen, Iowa, and Carmen (Greg) Dougherty, Valley Springs, S.D.; 23 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; one brother, William (Nelva) De Boer, Sibley, Iowa; and one brother-in-law, Ralph Weerheim, Rock Rapids. Mr. De Boer was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Geneva Weerheim. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.