In recent weeks, claims have been made that Minnesota’s economy has turned around because of sound fiscal management. This is not the entire story.In 2003, the state faced a budget deficit of $4.2 billion. In 2005, the state once again faced a budget deficit. During past budget deficits, fiscally conservative governors like Al Quie and Arne Carlson used a mix of spending cuts and new revenues to fix the problem. Under Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s "no new tax" pledge he took when running for governor, state lawmakers had few options to balance the budget.In the end, the Republicans balanced the budget through spending cuts, increased fees and surcharges, and shifts and gimmicks.The result of this budget is now being felt. Spending cuts have led to double-digit property tax increases and problems for our schools. Proposing a "health impact fee" rather than a "cigarette tax" has resulted in a court finding that this is unconstitutional, and the state may even be forced to pay money back to the tobacco companies. And the shifts and gimmicks cost the state its AAA bond rating and puts off paying today’s bill until tomorrow.This does not seem like good fiscal management.Citizens are starting to see that "no new taxes" really doesn’t mean no new taxes; it means increased property taxes and fees, less educational opportunities for our kids, and word games that will only cost our state more in the long run. While it’s good news that we have a budget surplus after three consecutive years of budget deficits, it’s clear that the state needs a leader who will make the tough decisions that will provide Minnesota with long-term fiscal stability.Jim VickermanState Senator, Dist. 22

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFWALTER JOHN VAN MEETEREN DECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on Monday, January 9, 2006, at 3:30 p.m. a hearing will be held in this Court at Rock County Courthouse Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated March 17, 2003, and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of Harlan D. Van Meeteren whose address is: 47894 Drew St., Harrisburg, SD 57032 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate.Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ TIMOTHY K. CONNELLTIMOTHY K. CONNELLJudge Date/s/SANDRA L. VRTACNIKSANDRA L. /VRTACNIKCourt Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeBENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.VANDER KOOI LAW OFFICES, P.A.127 E. MainP.O. Box 746Luverne, MN 56156-0746507-283-9546Attorney I.D. No. 112124(12-22, 12-29, 05)

MINUTES OF THE HLLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYDecember 13, 2005Linus Svoboda, President of the Hills EDA called the meeting to order at 6:09 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 Jellema, seconded by Elbers to approve the minutes of November 7th. Motion carried. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Hoff to approve payment of the November expenditures. Motion carried. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Hoff to transfer the apartment/pet security deposits for unit #506 to the new owner. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Metzger to transfer $40,300 from EDA checking into a three month CD at 2% interest. These funds will be used as reimbursement to Kuntze, Bundesen, Hyink and Brandt/Kerkhove for the 10% per year new housing reimbursement planNo further business, meeting adjourned at 7:20 P.M./s/ Connie J. WiertzemaConnie J. WiertzemaEDA Secretary(12-29)

MINUTES OF THE TRUTH-IN-TAXATION AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILDECEMBER 13, 2005Mayor Jim Jellema called the Truth-in-Taxation meeting to order at 6:09 P.M. 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: Lexi Moore-Hills Crescent.No visitors were present for the Truth-in-Taxation; the Council proceeded with the regular city council meeting. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Hoff to approve the minutes of November 7th. Motion carried. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Metzger to approve payment of the November expenditures, to include bills from Orv’s Shell, and Eisma & Eisma.Expenditures for November: General $12,326.86; Park $3,183.68; Fire $2,076.60; Street $4,257.16; Legion $786.78; Sewer $3,218.56; Garbage $2,261.59; Recycling $576.70; Water $8,716.03; Baseball $102.82; Softball $39.23. Motion carried. General Checking (10,378.84)General Fund CD#18924, 3.55%, 6/9/05 (prev. #18614 246,637.06General 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 1,265.12Hills EDA Checking – Acct. #1248 120,125.62Southern Hills Condo Acct. #1263 383.60EDA CD#18870, 3.25%, 5/7/06 75,630.77Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Hoff to approve the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried. The Clerk was instructed to send a letter regarding the parking of camper trailers. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Metzger to renew the on-sale and off-sale liquor licenses for Kelly’s Roadhouse Bar. Motion carried. Christmas tree pick-up is set for the week of January 9th. Trees must be set along the curb. The Council reviewed proposals for the installation of a drop ceiling and florescent lighting in the American Legion auditorium. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Hoff to accept bids from R-B Electric and DeHaan Construction, pending the written proposals include all costs to complete the work. Motion carried.Motion by Hoff, seconded by Elbers to schedule a special meeting on Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30 P.M. to adopt the final 2006 property tax levy. The Truth-in-Taxation meeting was adjourned at 6:40 P.M. and the Council proceeded with the regular meeting. Valarie Meinerts contacted the City Office to inform the Council of her plans to open a beauty shop in her home at 512 East 4th Street.Motion by Elbers, seconded by Hoff to approve a two-year garbage and recycling contract with Town & Country Disposal to include a 3% increase per year for garbage and recycling pickup services, effective January 1, 2006. Costs for landfill services will remain the same. Motion carried. Medicare supplement (Part D) for Janis Ward becomes effective January 1, 2006. Premium costs for this supplement will decrease from $259 to $233.90 per month. Premium costs for Wayne’s group health insurance will remain the same. The Council formed a committee, consisting of Linus Svoboda and Pete Hoff, to meet with city employees regarding salaries and benefits for 2006.The Council approved to share a polling place with Martin Township, at the Hills American Legion building, for the purpose of sharing election machines. No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 7:05 P.M./s/ Connie J. WiertzemaConnie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(12-22)

Vernon Olaf Bentson, 78, Sioux Falls, S.D., died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. He was the father of Sandra Bush, Hills.Services were Tuesday, Dec. 27, at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls. Burial was in Hills of Rest Memorial Park. Survivors include four children, Charles (Roxy) Bentson, Kenny Bentson, all of Sioux Falls, Sandra (Tom) Bush, Hills, and Debra Piller, Amery, Wis.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.

The BIG holiday is behind me, and chances are I will not be opening any more presents this year. Unfortunately, the past week has been a non-stop blur of flying colored paper, sparkly ribbons and white boxes.I couldn’t produce a tally of all the items I took home from holiday parties this year, but I know I did well. It was a good Christmas for receiving. It seems everyone wanted to give me presents, and what they gave me was perfect. Now I just have to find a way to work all of the new items into my already overstocked and over packed home.As a child, I would consolidate all of my presents into one box and store the box under the tree for at least a week after the holiday. I would open the box to retrieve a new item every now and then, but for the most part I liked to keep things sitting there looking new and pretty.I don’t get to do that anymore. First, I don’t get to open many presents at my house, so I am usually hauling my loot from here to there. Second, if I did leave presents under the tree for very long, my white cat, Merlin, would probably decide he needed to tag them with his scent (trust me, I know this from experience). Finally, my husband likes things neat and tidy.Therefore, when gifts are opened, they need to be put away or find a home inside my home.From what I can see around me this problem exists in many homes. Children get new toys but rarely new toy boxes. Fathers get new tools but not workshops. Mothers get new pans and appliances but no additional space in cupboards in the kitchen.What are people to do?I hope to use the "organize-and-give-away" method.I am going to reorganize any area of the house that has been "added" to. As I reorganize, I need to throw away or give away.For instance, I was given two new pairs of shoes. Before I throw these shoes into an already overflowing shoe closet – I need to sort through my footwear and determine what NEEDS to be stored there.I am sure I can find at least two other pairs of shoes to part with.In another example, I got new towels from my mother. Before I add the towels to my bath collection, I am going to find all of my "older" towels and throw them away.As with many things I write, the actual implementation of the plan is far harder than coming up with the idea. But I think I can do it this holiday season.A toolbox I won at the Tollefson Publishing Christmas party has been testing my patience with the organize and give-away method.Up to this point in life, my toolbox has been a cardboard banana box I picked up when I moved out of the dorm and into my first apartment, some 10 years ago.The night I brought home the toolbox, I started moving tools from various junk drawers and dumping areas of my house into my toolbox.I still haven’t finished this process; in fact, the banana box with the bulk of my tools is still downstairs in the basement.For families with children, I recommend a deep cleaning of all toy areas. With each passing year, children outgrow some toys, game pieces are misplaced and other toys get duplicated.Really, how many versions of Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit does one family need?Find all items that you can part with, put them in a box and take them to Goodwill, a local church, a neighborhood daycare – just get them out of the house!The same advice can be used in women’s kitchens. If you were given a new coffee pot, then get the old one out of the house. One kitchen does not need a dozen mixing bowls – get rid of the excess.My goal is to do all of my holiday organizing before the new year begins. I am going to start piling up a nice big "spring junk day" area in my garage.If I don’t need something or if I was given a similar, newer version, the old item is gone. No exceptions.All of this is coming from a pack rat who loves to keep stuff around, any kind of stuff.In fact, I still have gift tags from the early ‘90s packed away with my holiday decorations. And my ornaments are wrapped in scraps of wrapping paper from every Christmas I have had in my adult life.I hope that everyone in the area was lucky enough to feel as blessed and loved as I did this Christmas. The presents and hassle of adding them to my life pales in comparison to the joy of spending some much needed time with my family and their pets.

10 years ago (1995)"Aric Leenderts and Matt Metzger have been named by Minnesota Basketball News to the Top 100 Players list in Minnesota.Metzger, a 6’0" senior, averaged 17.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and shot 36 percent from the three-point line. Leenderts is a 6’2" senior who averaged 20.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game one year ago."25 years ago (1980)"Students at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary are currently conducting a label collection drive that promises to bring in valuable educational equipment for the school.They hope to collect 19,250 labels before the drive ends on Feb. 20, 1981." 50 years ago (1955)"Around three or four inches of real loose snow fell here Sunday, giving this area a little more shoveling to do — and consequently making a real white Christmas this year." 75 years ago (1930)"Skating is good down at the reservoir these days. Come down and join in the fun."100 years ago (1905)"The Germans of Pleasant View celebrated Christmas by having a tree and exercises in their church Saturday evening."

Luella Schlueter spent the Christmas holiday enjoying the visit by her daughter and husband, Bonnie and Brian Olson. They traveled to Hills from St. Paul and spent the weekend with Luella. Mae Top spent Christmas Eve with her daughter Gerry Sandstede and husband, Jim, from Luverne. On Sunday, Christmas Day, Mae had dinner with son Allan and his wife Judy Top of Hills. Judy’s sister, Carol, of Granite Falls, was able to join them also.Marvin and June Albers hosted Christmas Eve in their home. Son Larry Albers of Ft. Pierre, S.D., and grandchildren, Abby Albers of Ft. Pierre, Lucinda Albers of South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., Jeremy Albers, Hills, daughter Cheryl Pavel and great-granddaughter, Cheyenne Albers, were all there. Santa paid a personal visit, and fun was had by all. Christmas Day everyone gathered at Marv and June’s for Christmas dinner, visiting and cards. Mae Top and family celebrated Christmas together on Friday, Dec. 23, in the evening by all gathering at the Hills Legion Hall. Homemade was the menu. Mae’s three children were there: daughter, Gerry and Jim Sandstede, Luverne, son, Allan and Judy Top, Hills, and son, Bill Top, Sibley, Iowa. Mae said that six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren made it also. Grandchildren are as follows, Candy Norgaard and husband, Sibley, Wade Sandstede and Kathleen, Minneapolis, Don Sandstede and Erin, Luverne, Mike and Melissa Top, Sioux Falls, S.D., Mark Top and Erin, Hills, Kris and Jared Van Maanen, Valley Springs, S.D.Great-grandchildren are as follows: Dylan and Riley Top, Carter and Brooke Norgaard, Tess Van Maanen, and Chantz Neil Top. They were also joined by Florence Sandstede, Hills, and her son, Kevin and his daughter of Sioux Falls, and Merlin Sandstede, Hills. Mae stated that there were five little ones under the age of five and by having their celebration at the Legion Hall there was lot of happy noise and plenty of room for the little ones to run and play. A very merry celebration was enjoyed by all, and Mae said that they would probably have the next celebration at the Legion Hall. It’s so handy and plenty of room. Happy Holidays, Mae!I wanted to take a little time to thank everyone who would call and supply me with news for the paper. You could always rely on certain people to call, and it was nice to get news from others, too, I want to wish everyone a Blessed Holiday and pray for a new year to bring good things to everyone. Small-town living is so wonderful! Where else does a person know the people who live next to them, wave at someone who you don’t even know, walk alone at night without fear; check on your neighbors if they don’t answer their phone? There are so many benefits to small-town living, that I could go on and on.There are downfalls also, as with anything, but the pros outweigh the cons so drastically. No matter where else I have lived, Hills is my home and I don’t ever foresee leaving here. I just pray that we always keep that "small town" atmosphere of loving and caring for each other no matter what the future may bring or how big Hills becomes. God has truly blessed all of us and our town. Thank you to everyone for your support and giving of yourselves. God Bless everyone and help to keep us "small town." Happy Holidays to everyone; may God bless us all.

PROBATE COURTDISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR ADJUDICATION OF INTESTACY, DETERMINATION OF HEIRSHIP AND APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR IN SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATIONAND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKIn Re: Estate ofFrieda Knutson, DeceasedTO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:It is Ordered and Notice is hereby given that on the 9th day of January, 2006, at 3:30 O’clock P.M., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Rock County Courthouse, Luverne, Minnesota, for the adjudication of intestacy and determination of heirship and for the appointment of Russell Knutson whose address is 1897 191st Street, Magnolia, Minnesota 56158, as administrator of the estate of the above named decedent in supervised administration, and that any objections thereto must be filed with the Court. That, if proper, and no objections are filed, said administrator will be appointed to administer the estate, to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, and sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the estate. Upon completion of the administration, the administrator shall file a final account for the allowance and shall distribute the estate to the persons thereto entitled as ordered by the Court, and close the estate. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said administrator or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred. Dated: December 13, 2005 /s/ Timothy K. ConnellTimothy K. ConnellDistrict Court Judge/s/ Douglas E. Eisma /s/ Sandra L. VrtacnikDouglas E. Eisma Sandra L. VrtacnikAttorney for Petitioner Court AdministratorEISMA AND EISMA130 East Main, Box 625Luverne, MN 56156(507)283-4828I.D. #158343