10 years ago (1995)"The Hills Christian School has a few new faces this year. In fact, the entire teaching staff is new.Wendel Buys, Heidi Christoffels and Winnie Leiter are all new to the private school this year." 25 years ago (1980)"More than 280 people were on hand at the Hills-Beaver Creek gym this week for the annual meeting of the Hills Cooperative Farm Service. The two new directors elected for terms of three years each were Dan Siegfried and Wayne Van Wyhe." 50 years ago (1955)"Rock County elected 4-H officers at a regular monthly meeting on Oct. 25 in the Luverne Armory. The county meetings are made up of club officers, adult and junior leaders from all the 4-H clubs in the county.The following officers were elected: Keith Lemke, president; Twila Kraetsch, vice president; Carol Umland, secretary; Marianna Juhl, treasurer; Helen Pederson, reporter; Art Goembel and Virginia Railsbeck, junior leaders; Mrs. Ervan Sherwood, Mrs. James Ask, Thorwald Hansen and John Arends, adult leaders." 75 years ago (1930)"Acting just as unconcerned as though he were giving us a local item, A.T. Sexe dropped in at the Crescent office and informed us that he had been granted a patent on a re-railing device.The device is used when a box car or coach runs off the track, and all that is necessary is to fasten it to the rail, hook on the power and the wheels after coming in contact with the re-railer are pulled squarely back onto the track.The wonderful part is that Mr. Sexe is seventy-two years old, an age when most men are ready to retire ."100 years ago (1905)"Tom Rovang called at the Crescent office Monday and informed the corn department that his two corn pickers, John and Lewis Larson of Primghar, Iowa, each picked and cribbed 125 bushel of corn in nine hours one day last week. This is certainly a record."

Michael "Skippy" Van Der Brink, 37, Luverne, died Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Luverne. Services were Wednesday, Nov. 2, at American Reformed Church in Luverne. The Rev. David Sikkema officiated. Burial was at Eastside Cemetery in Steen.Michael John Van Der Brink was born to Richard and Greta (Bosch) Van Der Brink on Sept. 9, 1968, in Luverne. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1987 and later attended Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, S.D. He worked for Continental Airlines for three years and Northwest Airlines for 10 years as a lead in the baggage claim. He married Kristin Jacques on Dec. 2, 2000, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne.Mr. Van Der Brink was a member of American Reformed Church. He was also a member of the Beaver Valley Lutheran "slow pitch" softball team. He served as Honorary Chairman for Relay for Life. He enjoyed riding his dirt bike, boating, hunting, traveling and playing with his dogs. Michael loved spending time with his family and especially spending time with his daughter, Kellie, and his wife, Kris.Survivors include his wife, Kristin Van Der Brink; one daughter, Kellie Van Der Brink; and parents, Richard and Greta Van Der Brink, all of Luverne; two brothers, Steve (Yvette) Van Der Brink, Hardwick, and Jeff (Elizabeth) Van Der Brink, Hartley, Iowa; one sister, Nancy (Lyndon) Drenth, Ellsworth; six nieces and nephews, Jared, Derek and Abby Drenth, Emily and Johnathon Van Der Brink, and Christian Tello; mother- and father-in-law, Russell and Linda Jacques, Prior Lake; brother-in-law, Ryan Jacques, Prior Lake; special cousin, Tory Bosch; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Mr. Van Der Brink was preceded in death by his grandparents and his sister-in-law, Kellie Jacques.Rose Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Arnold "Carnie" Swanson, 93, Hills, died Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005, at his home at Tuff Village in Hills. Services were Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. The Rev. Lowell Berg officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Arnold Swanson was born to Carl Gustav and Ellen Marie (Carlson) Swanson on April 15, 1912, on a farm near Valley Springs, S.D. He graduated from Valley Springs High School in 1929. He married Stella Scholten on June 24, 1936, at the Swanson farm near Valley Springs. They farmed in the Rowena/Valley Springs area until 1946 when they moved to a farm near Hills. They farmed in the Hills area until 1961 when he accepted a position as Rock County bin site and compliance supervisor for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation office in Luverne. He retired from the ASC in 1974. He was then elected to the Rock County ASC Committee and served three terms. He sold Pioneer seed corn until retirement in 1983. Mr. Swanson was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where he served as a trustee. He loved to travel, having visited all 50 states and several foreign countries.Survivors include a daughter, Joan (Segundo) Velasquez. Mendota Heights; one sister, Margaret Scholten, Brandon; two sisters-in-law, Iola Swanson, Sioux Falls, S.D., Elsie Scholten, El Cajon, Calif.; one brother-in-law, Richard Scholten, Pipestone; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. Swanson was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Stella; one brother, Walter; and two sisters, Armyda Hermansen and Althea Schmidt. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Dick J. Moser, 74, Sioux Falls, S.D, formerly of the Hills area, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2005, at Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital in Luverne.Services were Saturday, Oct. 29, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. Dick Moser was born to Dick Sr. and Violet (Holland) Moser on Aug. 1, 1931. He grew up in the Lester, Iowa, and Hills area. He moved to Hills in 1947 and graduated from Hills High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1954. He returned home and farmed with his dad. He married Rosemary Viereck on Jan. 11, 1958, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Larchwood, Iowa. They lived on the farm until 1983 when they moved to Sioux Falls. After a stroke in October 1988 he continued to live at home until March 2001 when he moved to Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. Mr. Moser was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and American Legion. His hobby was farming and feeding cattle.Survivors include his wife, Rosemary, Sioux Falls; two sons, Jerald (Lynn) Moser and Stephen Moser, all of Sioux Falls; three daughters, Lori (Nick) Boschee, Leann (Lee) Bell, and Shannon Moser, all of Sioux Falls; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Moser, Larchwood, and Dr. Charles Moser, St. Paul; and two sisters, Verlys Crockett, Denver, Colo., and Bonnie Stavig, Sioux Falls. Mr. Moser was preceded in death by his parents, aunts and uncles. Heritage Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.Mr. Moser’s online obituary and register book may be seen at www.consolingmemories.com

By Lori EhdeLeroy Lindblom has been introducing her as his eventual replacement as manager of Farmers Union Co-op Oil in Luverne.Connie Doering is technically a trainee, but she brings more than 23 years of co-op experience to the business.Doering started in Luverne on Oct. 1 after leaving her four-year job in the recovery department at First Financial Bank in Sioux Falls."I was their top collector, but it wasn’t my love," Doering said. "This is what I love – the ag community, and the co-op is what I enjoy doing,"Prior to her bank job, she worked at a co-op near Huron, S.D., for 23 years and said she wanted to get back into the co-op environment.It didn’t take long for Doering to feel at home in Luverne."Since coming here, I’ve felt very welcome. Luverne is an awesome town," she said. "It’s an ag community, and to be able to work with ag people from here to Lismore is a lot of fun."She praised Lindblom and the staff for building a strong co-op."I have awesome employees," she said. "That’s what makes the job – the people. … And the board of directors here does a good job steering the company."Lindblom has managed Farmers Union Co-op Oil for 39 years and saw the business through the merger of Farmers Union and Rock County Co-op Oil three years ago.The combined co-op now boasts roughly 2,000 member owners and employs 33 people, mostly full-time.That number includes five office staff and employees in Lismore and in the fertilizer plant.Lindblom said he’s optimistic the co-op will do well under Doering’s management. "I think this is a good fit," he said.Doering said she looks forward to her relationship with Farmers Union."Farmers Union has grown into a co-op that serves its people by expanding into the products its customers need," she said."Leroy has done an awesome job building this company."Lindblom said he doesn’t have specific plans for retirement, except that it will happen after Jan. 1 next year.Doering has a grown daughter, Natalie, who lives in Fargo, N.D., with her husband, Paul Bilstad.

By Lori EhdeMike Van Der Brink, rural Luverne, was honorary chairman of the 2005 Rock County Relay for Life. As a cancer survivor, his job was to serve as a spokesman for the organization that funds research for a cure. As a survivor, he was also to be an inspiration for those fighting for their lives.But shortly after Mike accepted the honor, his cancer returned in the form of a volleyball-sized tumor in his abdomen. It took nine-hour surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on June 6 and aggressive treatment to beat it back.Doctors were optimistic about the process, but Mike said he was prepared, regardless of the outcome."If it goes for the worse, I know where I’m going," he said a few days prior to surgery. "I just made Kris promise to raise Kellie a Christian so I get to see her again."The outcome of that surgery hasn’t been positive.Tests showed that it was the same aggressive cancer he’d been diagnosed with nearly five years ago. It’s called leiomyosarcoma, a cancer known for spreading quickly, and requires what Van Der Brink called "extreme chemo."In a June 2 Star Herald story, he described treatment back then as "a knock-down, drag-out battle" that he hoped he’d never have to do again.Since this summer the tumor grew back to a size even larger than the one that had been removed — and it’s accompanied by many more other tumors. His options were additional surgery and chemotherapy that would likely kill him … or, essentially, give up. He chose to live out his remaining days without pain and nausea of treatment, according to his mother, Greta Van Der Brink."He’s holding his own. … He still has a positive attitude," she said Tuesday. "He’s holding his own, but he’s lost a lot of weight and he’s pale."It’s been four weeks since he left the hospital, and at the time, doctors told his wife, Kris, that he’d likely have only weeks to live."It’s a big load for her," Greta said about Kris. "Neither one of them is working anymore, and she’s at home taking care of him."Their daughter, Kelli, almost 2, goes to day care in order to maintain some semblance of routine."We’re still praying for a miracle," Greta said.Mike returned a call to the Star Herald late on Tuesday. He said he’s at ease with eternity, but he isn’t giving up yet."I’m still fighting this," he said. "I definitely couldn’t get through it without my faith and family. … It’s helping me tremendously."He said he and Kris are planning to make a video recording of Mike for Kelli to view when she gets older. It will feature Mike reading her a book and talking to her about her future.They have also purchased jewelry together for Kelli’s 16th birthday, 18th birthday and high school graduation. She’ll receive her daddy’s wedding band on her wedding day.Paying the bills …Mike works with Northwest Airlines and Kris is a massage therapist for Luverne Community Hospital, but neither of them is working right now.Meanwhile, the bills are piling up, and friends and family have been helping out."He keeps saying how appreciative he is of the prayers and support," Greta said Tuesday. "I don’t know how they’d do it without all these benefits from the community."She said area churches and groups have had soup suppers and other fund-raisers for Mike’s benefit. "All of that really helps," Greta said.The latest effort in the works is a benefit auction that will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Hills American Legion Hall.The silent auction will start at 4 p.m., and food will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction, conducted by Yvette Van Der Brink of Van Der Brink Auction Service.‘Friendship Star,’ blue grass music and two roast hogsLuverne Farm Store donated two hogs to be roasted, and Tony Bosch will donate catering service to prepare it. A featured item on the auction will be a "Friendship Star" quilt donated by the Blue Mound Quilters Guild and numerous other donated items."We have everything from loads of gravel to angel food cake," Greta said about local generosity.To donate to the auction, call Yvette Van Der Brink at 673-2517. To have donated items picked up, call Harold Tilstra, 283-4019, or Steve Top, 920-8858.Carol Zwaan and her fellow band members will offer country blue grass music for a festive ambience."It should be an evening with some fun," Greta said.Mike grew up in Luverne and graduated from Luverne High School in 1987. He moved back to Luverne around 1999 and married Kris a few years later.A benefit auction will be Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Hills American Legion Hall. The silent auction will start at 4 p.m., and food will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction. To donate to the auction, call 673-2517. To have donated items picked up, call Harold Tilstra, 283-4019, or Steve Top, 920-8858.

By Sara QuamLuverne landlords who had tenants not paying their city bills will pay the utilities through tax assessments.The Luverne City Council approved of billing landlords, as it does annually, at its Tuesday night meeting. This year, 24 landlords will pay $5,447.44 in utilities left unpaid by their tenants, under the theory that landlords in the business make money on the property through renting it. The electric portion of the utility is not assessed to property owners because of a state law prohibiting it. They have to pay the garbage, sewer and water portions of utilities.Council member Esther Frakes said during discussion, "Wouldn’t it be considered a cost of doing business? If the landlord doesn’t pay the utility, it costs everyone in the community."After listening to landlords who attended the meeting, the Council said it will look into procedural changes in collecting utilities.City Administrator John Call said, "One of the problems for the landlords is that it can be almost two years before they get the notice."The city usually has unpaid utilities from renters who don’t pay and then move.The city goes through a collection agency if the bill isn’t paid in three months. The collection agency has a year to get the money before the unpaid charges are certified to the property taxes, which are the landlords’ responsibility. Dan Pick said he’s used collection agencies and has gotten old rent bills paid by tenants within three or four months, so the agency the city uses might not be as effective as it could be if it doesn’t get money out of people within a year.Leon Pick is also a rental property owner.He said, "I have five people that the city can’t get their money from because the agency can’t find them, but I know three of them are walking around Luverne."Because of Cold Weather Rule laws, the city can’t turn off all utilities, and when people make commitments to smaller payments, they have to allow them that flexibility.Pick said the city would be better served to require bigger utility deposits from renters who get hook-ups. He suggested a $250 deposit. Now, people pay $110 if their heat isn’t all electric.He said the business of property renting means landlords pay taxes at two-and-a-half times the standard homestead property tax. "I wish I had control of the utilities, but I don’t. I can’t shut them off if they’re late," Leon Pick said.The city does let landlords know if renters are three months behind on utilities and it does put restrictions on utility use as legally possible.Also Tuesday, the City Council certified $1,615 in unpaid utilities to various owner occupied properties. $337,500 loaned for business developmentThe City Council approved a loan to the Rock County Development Corporation for $337,500 to purchase 91 acres adjacent to Interstate 90 and contiguous to the city. The property was owned by the late Marty Mayes and is near Papik Motors. The property will be used as business development. The RCDC also contributed $50,000 to the purchase, and $12,499 toward building and site cleanup.Total cost of the 91 acres was $375,001.The terms of the loan are 0 percent interest over 33 years, with an annual payment equal to that charged by RCDC for farm rental land.The RCDC is a private group with board members Marilyn Bloemendaal, Greg Burger Tom Foster, Roger Tollefson, Don Klosterbuer and Ben Vander Kooi.In other business Tuesday, the Council approved a plan to offer incentives for dual fuel upgrades and installations in homes.This will help keep peak electric rates lower by having homes flexible in their fuels. Currently, only all-electric upgrades or installations have incentives.The old incentives for all-electric are no longer available to new installations.

By Lori EhdeA Luverne couple buried their daughter and three grandchildren during funeral services yesterday at the American Reformed Church.A Rock County Deputy knocked on the door of Jim and Frances Veldkamp Saturday night to deliver the news.Their daughter, 33-year-old Penni Damon, had been driving a van that collided with a semi-trailer truck in Jackson County.Everyone in the van had been killed, including Penni’s children, 12-year-old Mandy, 10-year-old Cody and 6-year-old Katie. Mandy would have been 13 on Tuesday.The crash remains under investigation, but accident reports say it happened at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a rural intersection on 880th Street and 590th Avenue. That’s about eight miles north of Alpha.Damon had been traveling south on 590th Avenue and the semi driver, 25-year-old Jeremy Friesen, was traveling east on 880th Street.Damon had the stop sign, and it’s unclear whether she stopped or even saw the semi.Friesen, Comfrey, was reportedly not injured, but his semi-tanker sustained extensive damage.Damon, who had married this summer, was in the process of moving to a new house near Mountain Lake. Her husband, Jacques Damon, was at the new house when the crash occurred.The tragic story traveled from the Worthington Daily Globe through the AP wire to the front page of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.In the story, Luverne’s Cheryl Thacker, a friend of the Veldkamps, is quoted as describing Damon as "a bubbly, joyful person."The Star Tribune went on to quote Thacker as saying, "She always looked on the bright side. … I think her children were her passion and her life."Their obituaries, which appear on page 7A, offer insight into the lives of Damon and her children.Penni graduated from Luverne High School in 1990 and married Jimmy Vande Kieft in Valley Springs. "Penni loved her children with all her heart and cherished spending time with them," the obituary reads.Mandi was a seventh-grader at Jackson County Middle School in Lakefield. She was a Girl Scout and played the clarinet.Cody was a fifth-grader at Riverside Elementary in Jackson. He was a Boy Scout and played Little League ball.Katie was a kindergartner at Riverside Elementary in Jackson. She enjoyed playing with her Barbie dolls and visiting her grandparents.Thacker told the Star Tribune that belief in God is helping the Veldkamps get through their grief."They’re leaning heavily on their faith right now," she was quoted as saying. "They’re looking forward to seeing [Penni] and the children again in heaven one day."She told the Star Herald Wednesday morning that the Veldkamp family is also leaning on support from the community."Penni’s brother (Dan Veldkamp) told me that right now, he’s more overwhelmed by the love and compassion of the this community than he is by the tragedy itself," Thacker said. "I think he hasn’t been able to process that yet, but he said people have been so generous and supportive.Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery. Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

By Sara QuamRock County Sheriff Mike Winkels shared a compilation of city crime reports and charges with the Luverne City Council, which contracts for service with the county.Council members wondered why the number of narcotics calls and complaints are so heavy.He said, "Drug use and sales are growing nationwide and we’re all seeing it and combating it the same. A lot of it has to do with more public awareness and them making more calls."There were a number of concerned citizens at the start of the school year who reported speeding in residential zones.Winkels said that a few tickets slowed down some drivers and made parents aware of their teenage drivers’ behavior.Some citations were(2004) and so far in 2005:
DWI — (24) and 16
Seat belt — (46) and 51
Speeding — (45) and 24Some liquor violations(2004) and so far in 2005:
Minor consumption — (10) and 8
Minor possession — (6) and 1
Under 21 consumption — (30) and 10Some criminal arrests (2004) and so far in 2005:
Assault — (1) and 11
Drugs, narcotics — (20) and 16
Shoplifting — (3) and 3
Theft — (25) and 7Some parking violations(2004) and so far in 2005:
24 hour parking — (7) and 9
No parking from 1 to 6 a.m. — (2) and 5Some initial complaints (2004) and so far in 2005:
Assault — (15) and 25
Burglary — (21) and 15
Criminal sexual misconduct — (1) and 3
Drugs and narcotics — (58) and 119
Drunkenness — (5) and 5
DWI — (24) and 18
Family child abuse — (53) and 45
Shoplifting — (6) and 6
Theft/larceny — (150) and 75
Vandalism — (84) and 41In addition, there have been five personal injury accidents and 84 motor vehicle accidents with property damage so far in 2005.There have been 23 reports of vagrancy in the city of Luverne.