New snow Tuesday morning gives a different perspective to our landscape … I hope you can take the time to appreciate the form and texture of grasses, twigs, and matured flower heads, etc. That is the reason I didn’t encourage pruning earlier … you’d just be looking at a mound of stumps or less … for the next five months! Amaryllis bulbs are offered for sale this time of year, and they make an excellent gift plant. My father-in-law didn’t have an appreciation for houseplants, but the amaryllis was a plant he enjoyed because of the drama they gave in the growing process. Bulbs are normally dormant when you purchase them. We sell them potted so you don’t have to mess with that. If you buy the bulb unpotted, you need to select a pot that is one inch larger than the diameter of the bulb. Plant the bulb so that its widest part is at soil level … so after planting, half of the bulb will be visible above the soil. Water the soil lightly and set the pot in a warm place. Light is not an issue until the bulb begins to grow … but then it is a really big issue! When either flower buds or leaves begin to emerge from the bulb, you need to place the pot in very bright light … preferably in a sunny window. If the light is not bright enough, the bud stem will stretch and lean toward the light.Once the new growth begins, keep the soil uniformly moist … like a cake is moist … too wet will cause the roots to rot. The drama comes from how quickly the plant develops and comes into bloom. Flowers may precede the leaves, come at the same time, or come after the leaves have emerged … there is no set pattern. The size of the bulb will determine the number of flower stems and the number of flowers per stem. Our bulbs are the largest available and frequently produce two or three flower stems. When the flowers are finished, cut the flower stalk down to the bulb, but do not cut off the leaves. During the next several months, those leaves are building the flower buds in the bulb for the next season, much the same as our tulip and daffodil bulbs do in the spring. Therefore, it is important to use a plant food in the water you give the amaryllis and to keep it in bright light to insure blooms for the next year. After danger of frost in the spring, you can plant the bulb out in the garden, in a not-so-visible place, but don’t forget to dig it and replant it before frost in the fall!

I’m no June Cleaver, but bake sale makes me officially grown upI love being a mother, but I’ve always tried not to let it define me.By that, I mean I’ve resisted the urge to brag non-stop about my children’s accomplishments (though I’m quite sure they’re smarter and better-looking than any other children I know), I don’t drive a minivan (though I could use one) and I still socialize occasionally with grownups (outside of soccer and little league).But last week — Wednesday night in particular — was a defining moment in my life. I was in charge of a school bake sale, and every time I heard myself say it, I giggled. A bake sale, to me, was something that June Cleaver took charge of while wearing a tailored house dress and ruffled apron.It was something I never thought I’d find myself a part of, much less in charge of.But the fourth-grade accelerated reading program needed money, and at a parent meeting I found my hand in the air to help.A few weeks later, I found myself in my kitchen surrounded by pots and pans, ingredients and baking utensils that I hadn’t used in years – some of them ever. Suffice it to say I was not June Cleaver. My ratty old U of M sweatshirt was spattered with batter, and my bare feet were tracking through sticky spills on the linoleum.Because I had ventured so deeply into unchartered waters, I was a bit tense, especially when the kids ventured into my work space. They, of course, weren’t happy to learn that the fuss in the kitchen was for an end result they wouldn’t get to enjoy.But, despite my insecurities, there was something comforting about all the domestication. Did all this mean I’d finally grown up? As a little girl, I somehow imagined this to be a quintessential scene in my grown-up life — commandeering the kitchen and all its components. Of course, I also imagined myself running the country … but there’s still time for that.If nothing else, I can say I’m a better person for the learning experience.oI learned that a can of evaporated milk should be discarded if it’s been collecting dust for a decade.oI learned it’s good to review ingredient lists before starting. The boys and I made a trip to town for necessary items such as brown sugar, light syrup … and, of course, evaporated milk.oI learned that next time my children’s causes need a bake sale, I’ll write a check. For all my efforts in the kitchen, I figured my contributions would net a whopping $10 for the reading program.There’s still time to ‘play grown-up’The second night of our bake sale is tonight, and even if you’re not June Cleaver, you can still pretend you are.Bring your quarters to our table, which is set up just inside the elementary school front doors. If you buy enough stuff to spread on a dinner plate, you can set it out for dessert and feel very grown-up.

When it comes to blind luck, I’ve always considered myself to be fairly fortunate.I’m still waiting for the day when my numbers come up in the lottery, but I’ve won more than my fair share of football and baseball pools to keep me content.My greatest triumph came as a little league baseball player in my hometown of Breckenridge.At the end of every season, the league’s coaches pulled names out of a hat and awarded a prize to the individual whose name appeared on the piece of paper.Some of the prizes were great (a lightly used bat, or a brand new ball), and others were gag prizes (cracked bats and tainted balls).The grand prize, however, was something every one of us there coveted. It was a whole watermelon.In my six years as a member of the little league, I’m proud to say I landed the watermelon once. It was a test of will to navigate the streets of Breckenridge on a bike while toting a watermelon that probably was half my size at the time, but I completed the trek without mishap.My triumph was a victory for all, as I shared the melon with some of my closest friends and family members. Looking back at the experience, it was a day of great fortune that I’ll never forget.In light of some recent events, I’m beginning to think my luck has run out. After consecutive weekends taking part in games involving playing cards, I write this column as a beaten man.I was all fired up when Tollefson Publishing manager Rick Petersen came up with what I thought was his greatest suggestion two weeks ago.With Adrian playing a playoff game in Springfield on a Friday night, and the state cross country meet being staged some two hours away in Northfield the next day, my plate was full for the weekend. When Rick said I should consider staying at Jackpot Junction near Morton after the Adrian game instead of driving back to Luverne, then driving all the way to Northfield the next day, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.So, before Adrian took the field against Sprinfield, I talked business with Dragon coach Randy Strand. I revealed my plans for after the game and then shared some strategy with the coach. I told him to run the ball a lot on offense in order to keep the clock moving. That would lead to a quicker game, and I could find a position at the blackjack tables in the casino a little earlier than I anticipated.The game lasted a little longer than the average high school football game, but I was playing cards shortly after 10 p.m. That proved to be a bad thing. After a couple of early wins (I should have quit when I doubled my original $20), I found myself in a $40 hole.At that point, I retired to the snack lounge. The short-order grill was open, so I purchased a quick meal while telling myself it’s a lot cheaper being in this particular part of the casino.I returned to my room after my snack, knowing the Timberwolves were playing a late game on ESPN. I had no intention of staying there. After watching the Minnesota team fall in overtime, I returned to the casino and proceeded to lose $40 more before leaving with my tail between my legs shortly after 2 a.m.After sulking about my misfortune on the way to Northfield the next day, the outstanding performances turned in by our area runners re-energized me.Their efforts gave me hope, and I decided to enter my first Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament last weekend.The problem is, I know little or nothing about poker. Still, I threw my hat in the ring, thinking I could shock the field and win the tournament.After receiving no decent cards to play during the first four hands, my imagination ran wild when I found a pair of aces in my stable during the fifth hand of the event. After watching the table leaders exchange chips for the first four rounds, I decided to join them in a raising war until all of my chips were pushed into the center of the table.I was thinking, with one more ace, the pot would be mine. That ace never came, and I ended up bowing out of the tournament with the table’s third best hand of that particular deal.With those experiences being shared, I’m proud to say there will be no more poker tournaments for me. I’m cured.When it comes to playing cards, I now know I’ll never win the watermelon.

Contrary to an article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is not "fatally crippled." Last week the House and Senate Conference committee approved $17.5 million for the Lewis and Clark project. The Lewis and Clark Board of Directors had asked the United States Congress for $35 million for the 2006 budget for their share of construction on the project. The budget is developed in Washington, D.C., by each of the branches of the government preparing a proposed budget. None of these budgets took our number; the Senate had us in for $20 million and the House for $15 million, and they compromised on $17.5 million. So even though we are very, very disappointed in what we received in the budget and it is half of what we ask for, we still received a large sum of money. The states of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota are all 100 percent behind the project with them being either paid in full or on an accelerated payment schedule. Considering what is all happening in the world that the United States is involved with (i.e. the war in Iraq, hurricanes), we were lucky to come away with anything. The folks in Washington know Lewis and Clark is a very important and worthwhile project. Right now Lewis and Clark has two construction companies installing pipe, bids were let for some of next year’s construction last month and another project will be bid later this month for the installation of more pipe. A third well was recently drilled and two more are on the tap for this summer. Design is well underway on the treatment plant. We are putting pipe in the ground and we will continue to receive federal funding. If the federal funding does not increase, we may need to look at supplemental funding options, but either way the project will be built.The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System is and always will be a future water supply for the region, and something for our kids’ and grandkids’ future. Red Arndt, Luverne’s representative on Lewis and Clark Board

By Lori EhdeTwo rural Hills men appeared Monday in Rock County District Court on controlled substance charges after authorities found a meth lab in their home Saturday.Authorities arrested 50-year-old Donald Frederick Wilson and 45-year-old Darwin Gene Otten after searching their home in the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 12.According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Department, the High Risk Entry Team was used to force entry to the home, which is located in Section 17 of Martin Township."We had knowledge of a 9 millimeter handgun on the property," Rock County Investigator Jeff Wieneke said. He said that’s why the entry team was used to execute the search warrant, and that’s why they did so at night. "Darkness provides more protection for the entry team," Wieneke said.In addition to recovering the handgun, a long list of items used to manufacture meth were also seized, mostly in a shop and corn crib on the premises.The list includes, for example, starter fluid, paint stripper, acetone, pseudoephedrine, glass jars, rubber gloves, coffee filters, lithium batteries, drain opener, anhydrous ammonia tanks, a hot grill, a bong and miscellaneous containers with colored, layered mixtures.Ten officers serve on the Southern Minnesota, Northern Iowa High Risk Entry Team. Nine additional officers assisted with the arrest, including highway patrol officers.Wieneke said only a small amount of meth was actually recovered at Wilson’s place, but he said that’s becoming typical."When people cook around here, they usually don’t produce more than 6 or 8 grams of finished product," he said.He said new laws have made it more difficult for meth cookers to get large enough quantities of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth production.But he added that meth users locally are increasingly buying from dealers who get their product from Mexico.On Monday, Wilson was charged with first degree controlled substance crime for manufacturing meth and fifth-degree controlled substance crime for possessing meth.Otten was charged with two first-degree controlled substance crimes — one for attempted manufacture of meth and one for conspiracy to produce meth (for possessing the precursors to produce meth). He was also charged with fifth-degree controlled substance crime for possessing methAs of Tuesday, they were still in custody at the Prairie Justice Center, Worthington. Wilson is being held on a $20,000 bond and Otten has a bond of $5,000.Ordinance requires owners to clean upThe two men were living on a rented acreage owned by Charlie Sandager, Hills.Dawn Sandager said she’s not surprised about the meth lab, and had in fact been in contact with law enforcement about suspicious activity there."We’d see traffic in and out of there — for three to five minutes at a time," she said. "We’ve had suspicions about what was going on."She described Wilson as a nice man who has rented the property since the early 1990s, but this was the fourth search warrant executed on the property since 2000. Three were for controlled substance crimes and one for stolen property.Saturday’s search was the first to produce an active meth lab, and the Sandagers, as owners, are responsible for the costs of cleaning up the toxic waste, according to a new county meth ordinance.Nobles Rock Public Health Sanitarian Jason Kloss said clean-up costs can range from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the size of house, extent of contamination and length of time meth was manufactured there.Kloss will assess the site on Thursday to advise the Sandagers on the clean-up process."All I know is we’re responsible," Dawn Sandager said Tuesday. The meth products and ingredients were removed after the arrest, but a sampling on Thursday will determine the extent of further cleanup necessary.The Sandagers may need to hire an environmental cleanup company to conduct testing on the property.If enough volatile chemicals and meth residue are found, then they’ll have to proceed with ripping out all absorbent surfaces (furniture, carpet, etc., washing the walls with a chemical-soap mixture and repainting the interior. A meth lab was seized on a rental acreage near Hardwick earlier this year, and that home was recently burned because the owners determined the house wasn’t worth the cost of restoring it.

By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek band students Jessica Penning and Rebecca Crawford will spend their Saturday mornings until spring practicing with the elite Sioux Empire Youth Orchestra in Sioux Falls.The orchestra will celebrate its 30th anniversary this season.The group is comprised of orchestra students from the region who improve their musical talents by rehearsing and performing challenging music with peers who have a common interest in orchestral music.The orchestra accepts students ages 6 to 22 years old. Musicians are accepted into the program following auditions or conductors’ approval.Conductors place the students in one of five groups that will best accommodate the individual musical abilities and interests.The five groups are Prelude, Symphonia, Philharmonia, Brass/Wind Ensemble and the Youth Symphony Orchestra.H-BC students Jessica and Rebecca were placed in both the Brass/Wind Ensemble and the Youth Symphony Orchestra.Jessica, a senior who lives outside of Beaver Creek, began playing the flute in fifth grade because it was the instrument no one else wanted to play. She discovered early on that making music was just as interesting as listening to it."As I grew older and learned more about music," Jessica said. "I realized that music helps calm the soul and that I love teaching others the art of music."Her talents grew as she did and helped her earn the prestigious position of first flute in the youth orchestra. Although this will be her fourth season playing with the group, she has had to audition every year.Jessica will major in music education at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, next fall.This will be the first season H-BC sophomore Rebecca will play with the orchestra. She began playing an instrument when she was in eighth grade.She will be playing the alto and tenor saxophones with the youth orchestra this season. She also knows how to play the trumpet.Jessica convinced Rebecca to audition for the orchestra because it would be fun and help her improve at band by playing more difficult material."I wanted to have an enjoyable band experience."The experience must be enjoyable because the girls are on the road to Sioux Falls by 8:15 a.m. on Saturday mornings for rehearsal.This Saturday, Nov. 19, their rehearsal with the brass/wind ensemble will be open to the public. Music lovers interested in attending can arrive at the Augustana Humanities Building at 9 a.m.The orchestra will have five performances this season. Tickets can be purchased the day of the concert at the ticket counter. The "Night in Vienna Gala" in March require an advance ticket purchase.The girls said they are excited to be working on music for their winter concert featuring the Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Brass/Wind Ensemble. They will be playing "Fingal’s Cave" by Mendelssohn, "Gabriel’s Obor" from the film, "The Mission," by Ennio Morricone, "Kol Nidrei, Agagio fur Violoncello," by Bruch, and "Suite Algerienne" by Saens.Both Patriot musicians will have solos in the performance.Jessica encourages residents to come to the winter concert to hear what an orchestra is all about."Mark your calendars," she said, "because this is a great chance to see many young musicians who have a love of music and enjoy playing."SIDEBARSioux Empire Youth Orchestra PerformancesJan. 8, 2006Winter Concert featuring Youth Symphony Orchestra and Brass/Wind EnsembleKresge Recital Hall Augustana College at 4 p.m.Freeman Academy, 7 p.m.March 4, 2006Sioux Empire Youth Orchestra- Youth Symphony Orchestra GalaNight in ViennaHoliday Inn City CenterHave a ball and raise fundsfor Sioux Empire Youth Orchestra.Holiday Inn City Centre, 6:00 -10:00 p.m.April 9, 2006All-Orchestra Showcase ConcertBrandon Performing Arts Center at 4 p.m.May 14, 2006Youth Symphony and Wind/Brass EnsembleSpring ConcertKresge Recital HallAugustana College at 4 p.m.

By Lexi MooreJamie Arp, who grew up attending Hills-Beaver Creek schools while living in Hills, was awarded the Air Force’s Levitow Honor Graduate Award on Sept. 29 at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.This award is presented to the top professional military education graduate from Air Force Airman Leadership Schools for outstanding leadership and scholastic achievement.The Levitow Honor Award was created to honor Sergeant John L. Levitow, an AC-47 gunship loadmaster who became the lowest ranking Airman ever to receive the Medal of Honor for exceptional heroism during wartime.Arp joined the Air Force in 2001 and has been stationed at the Air Force base in Mountain Home since 2001. She spent three months in Iraq during the summer of 2004.Her parents, Ron and Betty Arp, live outside of Steen and were unable to attend the ceremony.Jamie will be stationed in Korea for the next year.

Next week the Crescent will be delivered or mailed to all residents in the reading area for free.Why?Well, long ago the folks at Tollefson Publishing decided to start sending this special issue of both the Crescent and the Star Herald to thank current readers and show non-readers what they are missing.Last year for this issue I was still new and didn’t understand the importance such an issue presents to me as the editor of the paper.Next week almost three times as many people as in a normal week will see the front of the Crescent. I can’t expect all of them to open it and read, but I am pretty sure they will at least glance at the front.If you are reading this column, you are probably a subscriber or a loyal online reader – meaning you already know how much I enjoy my job and how thrilled I am to be covering the happenings of my hometown and surroundings.Next week I need to convince people who have never read any of my stories or laughed at my columns to make reading the Crescent a part of their week. My goal is to produce a paper so interesting and fun that they’ll want to get the paper the next week and the week following.To do this, I have asked many people to help me pack the pages of the Crescent with columns, ideas, advertising and news stories.This week I want to thank those people. They are making my job easier and your paper better.I feel the Crescent is a good newspaper and I want to see it stay around for years to come. Without the help of these generous contributors and advertisers, that will not be possible. So, as I get closer to my Thanksgiving holiday, I am thankful for you, my readers, all of those individuals who submit items for publishing and those advertisers that have stayed with the Crescent through all of its changes.Maybe next week, as a team, we can present a stellar product that homes can’t be without.Be thankful this yearThanksgiving is always a time to pause and reflect on the things and people we are thankful for.As we fight off the crowds in the baking aisle, drive over the hills toward our Thanksgiving meals and cuddle on the couch with some home movies, don’t forget to think about all of the soldiers and families affected by our country’s various military activities.Another group of folks to think about while counting your blessings are all of the Americans whose lives have been flipped upside down by natural disasters.In addition, pause and send some warm thoughts to the orphans, parents and citizens in Pakistan who are still homeless because of a terrible earthquake that destroyed their lives just weeks before facing the same harsh weather we face in Minnesota.Steen and Beaver Creek Thanksgiving newsThis year Cheryl Pavel will be putting together the Thanksgiving news of the area. I encourage families from Beaver Creek, Steen and Hills to call her with your holiday plans.Normally, Cheryl covers the local news in the Hills area, but during the holidays she is welcoming news from families of Beaver Creek and Steen as well.Call her before or after Thanksgiving weekend with news of your travels, meals and parties. Her number in Hills is 962-3344. Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.

MINUTES OF THE HILLS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NOVEMBER 7, 2005Linus Svoboda, President of the Hills EDA, called the meeting to order at 6:43 P.M. with the following Board members present: Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers, Jim Jellema, and Pete Hoff. Board member absent: Ross Metzger. Others present: Connie Wiertzema, EDA Secretary; Joanne Goehle, EDA Treasurer; and Lexi Moore, Reporter-Hills Crescent. Motion by Jellema, seconded by Elbers to approve the minutes of October 11th. Motion carried. Motion by Elbers seconded by Hoff to approve payment of the October expenditures. Motion carried. The Board agreed that no cash adjustments are necessary regarding the LP contract between the EDA and Southern Hills Condo Association. Motion by Jellema, seconded by Elbers to transfer the security deposits for unit #500 ($502.52), and for unit #502 ($500.84) to the new owner. No further business, meeting adjourned at 6:50 P.M./s/ Connie J. WiertzemaConnie J. WiertzemaEDA Secretary(11-17)