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FFA honors achievements, elects officers

By Lexi MooreLast Thursday Hills-Beaver Creek Future Farmers of America hosted its annual awards banquet at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills.FFA president Robert Baker presided over the event.Brittany Boeve, an H-BC freshman, led the students in reciting the FFA creed. Chelsi Fink gave the invocation before ushers began escorting visitors to the buffet-style meal that had been prepared by the Lutheran Church Women."On behalf of the FFA, I would like to thank the Bethlehem Lutheran women for serving an excellent meal," said Baker.Following the meal, FFA Vice-President Melinda Feucht narrated a slideshow entitled "Resumé of the Past Year." The slideshow featured photos from FFA events starting in the spring of 2004.After the slideshow, FFA members took turns informing the audience about their individual projects throughout the past year. These included raising calves, sheep, baling hay, growing corn, working at the Beaver Creek Golf Course and building houses in Sioux Falls.Next, Treasurer Jason Martens gave an $850 check to both Alpha Omega Ministries and McCrossan Boys Ranch.Officers and FFA instructor Greg DeWandel handed out the following awards:oThe Honorary Chapter Farmer Award was given to Tony Bosch of Jubilee Foods. "Because of his commitment, in friendship and brotherhood, to helping the FFA program," said DeWandel. "he is a useful citizen in our democracy."oThe Placement in Ag Awards went to Vernon and Joyce Fick and to Pete and Trudy Teune for helping their sons, Randy Fick and John Teune, get started in farming.oFFA members were given proficiency awards for their supervised farming projects. Winners are given bronze, silver or gold plaques for their efforts. Gold plaque winners were as follows; Adam Fink for soybean production, Katie McGaffee for forage production, Kilee Baker for sheep production, Chris Nuffer for beef cow/calf production, Michael Bos for ag-business placement, Tom Leuthold for corn production and Cody Rozeboom for beef feeder production.oFreshman FFA members have several fund-raisers to earn money toward the purchase of the FFA jackets. Lucy Larson received a plaque for being the top freshman salesperson.Plaques were given to individuals who had the greatest number of fruit sales during the FFA fall fruit fund-raiser. Chris Nuffer had the most sales, followed by Katie McGaffee and Sean Goedtel.oThe 2005 Star Greenhand Award went to sophomore Aaron Esselink. The 2005 Star Chapter Farmer award went to junior Mitchell Leuthold.oThe Leadership Award was presented to Robert Baker by Lyle Rollag of Rock County Corn and Soybean Growers. Baker received a $200 check and a plaque.oThe Rock/Nobles Beef Association Award was presented by Nathan Braun and Jay Bakken to Cody Rozeboom and Chris Nuffer. Each winner received $25.oThe Bert Rozeboom Member Beef Award was given to Chris Nuffer along with a check for $25.The ceremony ended with the installation of new officers. 2004-2005 officers handed over their responsibilities and titles to a new group of officers.The 2005-2006 FFA officers-elect are President Jason Martens, Vice-President Jason Hup, Secretary Stacy Bush, Treasurer Brandi Klarenbeek, Reporter Katie McGaffee, Sentinel Kaitlyn Bos, Historian Andy Blank and Parliamentarian Mitchell Leuthold.

H-BC School Board meets March 14

Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671Minutes3-14-05The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semimonthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the library in Hills. Board members present were DeBoer, Larson, Boeve, Leuthold, Harnack, and Baker. Esselink was absent. Superintendent Deragisch and Principal Holthaus were also in attendance. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Harnack. The addendum to the agenda will be: 6.3b. resignation of girls basketball coach.Motion by DeBoer, second by Larson, and carried to approve the agenda. Visitors to the meeting were recognized by the chairman. Lexi Moore of The Crescent and Haley Larson were the visitors. Patriot Pride: Girls and boys basketball teams Junior high musicians Lexi Moore Tyler Bush – 1000 pints Kale Wiertzema – MN All-Star Game Steve Wiertzema – Coach of the YearElementary report was given by Mr. Holthaus. High School report was presented by Superintendent Deragisch.The minutes of the last meeting were approved as sent out.Motion by DeBoer, second by Leuthold and carried to approve the bills. Motion by Boeve, second by Baker, and carried to accept with regrets the resignation of Emily Walgrave as elementary teacher. The board thanks Mrs. Walgrave for her many years of dedicated service to the district.Motion by Larson, second by Boeve, and carried to accept the resignation of Tom Goehle as Head Girls Basketball Coach with thanks for his years of fine service in this area.Legislative update was given by Superintendent Deragisch. A slide show of the Day at the Capital was presented.Dates to Remember: March 28 School Board Mtg. 7:30 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.Ann Boeve, Clerk(4-7)

Peeking in the past

10 years ago (1995)"Marie Walraven has been elected president of the Hills Development Corporation Board of Directors. Joining Walraven on the board are Wilmer Elbers, vice president, Ron Feucht, secretary, and Rodney Bonander, treasurer." 25 years ago (1980)"Peggy Elbers, a senior at Hills-Beaver Creek and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Elbers of Hills, was selected this week to the Worthington Globe all-area basketball team.The 5-11 senior was named to the fifth team by the staff of sports writers at the Globe. Peggy ranked as the leading scorer for the Pates this year and was the third highest scorer in the Tri-County Conference with 14.8 points per game."50 years ago (1955)"The Hills Legion Auxiliary voted at their last meeting to send a representative to Girls’ State again this year. Elected as delegate was Miss Frances Haan with Miss Donna Hengeveld as the alternate. Girls chosen for this honor must be juniors in high school and are required to be in the upper third in their class scholastically. 75 years ago (1930)"The Village Council passed an ordinance at its meeting Tuesday night which will bar all hog pens from the village in the future. The keeping of hogs in town has been a continual source of complaint and neighborhood discord, as well as a regular menace to public health, and the village dads simply solved the problem by removing the source. We understand the present hog owners will be given until May 1st, 1930, to dispose of their porkers." 100 years ago (1905)"The play ‘A Fight for a Million’ or ‘Puddin’ Dudley’ given by the Luverne Dramatic Co., at the Opera House Saturday evening drew out a fair sized audience, who thoroughly enjoyed this laughable farce comedy. The cast of this play is made up of Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman, two professional show people, and Editor Osborn and wife of the Luverne Journal and Mr. Thompson also of the Journal. Mr. Osborn followed the stage for 9 or 10 years, and all who saw him play the role of old ‘Puddin’ Head Dudley’ will not question it for a minute. He was easily the star in this play, and if ‘Eck’ was as good at ‘slinging’ editorials as he is on the stage he would drive the rest of us all to the woods. The play was good, and far above the average play given in towns the size of Hills."

At home in Hills

It has been more than seven months since I moved to Hills and nearly six months since I began my job as the editor and reporter for the Hills Crescent.Generally, when I reach an anniversary or a milestone in life I like to take time to reflect on what I have done and plan for what I hope to do in the future. My life in Hills is vastly different than I had imagined when I agreed to purchase a house I had found on the Internet last August.For starters, last Thursday evening I spent two hours in the basement of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church celebrating the Hills-Beaver Creek Future Farmers of America with at least 90 other local residents.During the event my husband commented, "We would have never done anything like this before."I agreed with his statement. We are not related to any of the FFA students, nor do we have much interest in cattle or swine prices, yet we were both thoroughly entertained.As I scanned the roomful of people, I recognized many of their faces, knew most of their names, count a good percentage of them as business acquaintances and consider many to be potential friends.My position at the paper has given me the opportunity to sit in the same room as many of our community leaders and youngsters. Suddenly the achievements and follies of these strangers are very important to me — not only because I am responsible for recording the history of the area, but because I care what happens to these people.For example, when I saw the tears on the faces of the boys after the basketball team suffered its final loss during the playoffs, my heart hurt for them. I would have done anything to change the momentum of that final quarter.Without this job I would probably still be a nameless face occasionally seen around town. Instead, I am recognized immediately when I enter a room with my camera.Taking the good with the bad …However, at this anniversary time, some negatives are worth mentioning. Situations I had hoped to leave behind when I left Texas have been replaced with new nuisances. Here are a few examples…oI no longer have to consider cockroaches a part of my extended family, but I now come into contact with at least 40 Asian beetles a day. oLeaves in Texas fall year round. Some drop in the fall, just as they do here, others fall at the end of the summer when temperatures have risen so high that trees can no longer support foliage. My husband and I, well, mainly David, were constantly raking leaves. I assured him that would not be the case here and I was right. However, I didn’t know about the cornhusks that would be flying through our yard throughout the fall and winter months.oThe sounds of traffic, sirens, neighbors, police, news and hospital helicopters are not a problem in Hills. However, the four wheelers, dirt bikes and tractors do wake us up on occasion.oBy far the hardest change has been adjusting to a Saturday morning garbage pickup. We have probably managed to miss 30 percent of our garbage days. It just never occurs to us to get the garbage curbside on Friday night.In Texas garbage day was mid-week allowing even the most forgetful residents to drag the bin out to the curb on their way to work.

Hills local news

Mae Thompson, Postville, Iowa, died Monday, March 21. Her funeral was Friday, March 25, at Marion Lutheran Church in Postville. She was the sister-in-law of Evelyn Rogness. Funeral services for Gertrude DeBoer, 88, Corsica, S.D., were last week. She was a sister of Dorothy Bos. Two sisters from Edgerton, one sister from Luverne, and Dorothy and Lyle attended the funeral.John Sandager, Colorado Springs, Colo., and John and Louisa Sandager, West Des Moines, Iowa, and Philip and Mollie spent Easter with their mother and grandmother, Fran Sandager. Tom Sandager was home from college and, along with his parents, Mark and Karen Sandager, joined the group out for supper on Easter Sunday. Erma Schubbe returned home last Monday after spending over Easter with the Tom Schubbe and Paul Randall families in the Twin Cities area. Harriet Skattum returned home after spending Easter with her daughter and husband, Margo and Dewayne Edwards, and family in Forestburg, S.D.Guests last week Saturday and Sunday in the Dick and Audrey Heidenson home were their son, Steve, Battle Lake, and their daughter, Jan and her husband Mark Ausland and girls, Apple Valley. They came to help Dick celebrate his 80th birthday. Some of the group went bowling and on Saturday night they went out for dinner. Sunday they enjoyed an Easter potluck dinner at the home of Ray and Lynn Heidenson of Brandon, S.D. The group numbered 14. Betty Elbers attended the YMCA basketball tournament in Sioux Falls Friday evening. Her grandson, Mitchell Elbers, Sioux Falls, took part in the games. Eric and Amy Gaugler have moved to Hensler, N.D., where he was transferred. Jesse and Karen Gaugler and Leanne are spending this week in Bismarck, N.D., while Jesse is attending classes in the Army Reserve.Dan and Marie LaRock, Luke and Alison, spent the weekend in Edina where they attended the wedding of his brother, Steve. Dan was best man. Marie was a bridesmaid and Luke was the ring bearer. Wilmer and Betty Elbers were Sunday supper guests in the Vern and Ruth Verbrugge home in Worthington and all later attended a music concert of quartets and singing groups at First Reformed Church in Worthington.

Clinton chatter

Spring has arrived! At least that is what the calendar said. One has to wonder if anyone ever has said, "Spring is here to stay? We have one or even several of those nice spring-like days and then Old Man Winter decides that is enough of that and comes blowing in. There are times when I am sure it is here to stay. For instance, the other morning when I opened the outside door and the screen door was filled with Asian beetles. (I used to call them ladybugs.) They do look alike but their dispositions are exactly the opposite! However, they are here, regardless if it is spring. The best thing we can do is get some insect spray. Don’t forget to enjoy the spring-like weather and think Spring!Steen Senior Citizens had their April meeting on Monday afternoon at the community building. Cards and games were played. Bill and Bertha Bosch served lunch. Former Steen resident Dries Bosch is now a resident at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. Melba Boeve joined the Prime Timers in Luverne who attended the Lowe Family concert at Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls Friday afternoon. Mildred Paulsen joined the Freedom Club in Rock Rapids Friday evening to attend the same concert. The Lowe Family is from Branson, Mo. Orrin and Bernice Aukes attended the wedding of their grandson Dan Aukes and Amy Fopma on Saturday, April 2, at Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Dan is the son of Orlie and Linda Aukes, Hills, and Amy is from Grinnell, Iowa. Congratulations to them. An open house bridal shower for Jody Rentschler (bride-to-be of Trey Van Wyhe) will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16, in the Friendship Hall of Steen Reformed Church.Bonnie Skalicky. Scottsdale, Ariz., came to attend the wedding of Dan Aukes and Amy Fopma. She spent the week visiting her parents, Orrin and Bernice Aukes, in Steen. Don Schouwenburg was able to return to his home on Friday following heart bypass surgery at Avera McKennan Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Dorothy Bos on the death of her sister, Gertrude DeBoer, who passed away on Saturday, March 26. Do you ever have a day when nothing goes right? I am sure we have all experienced that. I found this article "One of Those Days" and want to share it with you. We all know misery likes company!"Ever have one of those days when things don’t seem to go (or come) your way? Each of us has his or her fair share every now and then. The problem is that most of the time it is hard for us to cope with ‘those days.’ What force or philosophy can best be used to get the most out of these less-than-satisfactory situations? One method in particular is illustrated by what Henry Ward Beecher once said: Good-humor makes all things tolerable. And he makes a good point. When we look for the humor in situations, when we see something positive in every experience, we can learn to overcome our pessimism and negative feelings. We can control the situation instead of letting it control us." We just have to remember we are all in this together so let us try to make the best of a bad situation.

Letters from the farm

It’s easy to relate to one of the many convicted criminals in California. Under the state’s "three strikes" law, Santos Reyes has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for lying on his driver’s license application. Unlike many of us, he didn’t falsify his weight — he tried to use his cousin’s name instead of his own. Weights tend to be a murky area on driver’s licenses. It’s no coincidence that when reports go out over the television about criminals-at-large their descriptions usually are "six-foot-one, 180 pounds." How is it that hardened criminals, unable to make wise choices throughout their lives, should all have ideal weights? Could they possibly be lying? Except for age and height, all other facts on driver’s licenses can be matters of fiction and creativity. Age and height are the only statistics that can’t be easily altered with colored contact lenses, hair dye or slenderizing vertical stripes in a person’s wardrobe. The weight listed on my original driving learner’s permit in 1957 was 130 pounds and it hasn’t changed. Although many years have gone by since then, my weight has miraculously stayed the same through childbirths, countless holiday dinners and my own per capita consumption of 3.5 cheesecakes. Changing the weight listed on a driver’s license to what it should be is a low priority on my list of things to do. Arguably, the world has already seen too many changes. One of the criteria for hiring people in the driver’s license bureaus appears to be the ability to keep a straight face when told blatant lies about body weights. Actually, the driver’s license employees seem considerably less concerned with true body weights than the airlines people. Even though 61 percent of Americans are overweight and 26 percent are classified as obese, airplane seats are getting narrower. Southwest Airline’s coach seats, for example, measure 17 1/4 inches wide, according to USA Today. Most airlines are requiring people over 300 pounds to purchase two seats. The obvious question is how they will determine how much each of us weighs. Are they going to check our driver’s licenses, are they going to take our word for it, or are they going to use scales? A worst case scenario would have us trying to unsuccessfully wedge into a seat, only having to be pried out with a crowbar and escorted off the plane. Perhaps the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) people will do the weighing. After all, they already have us stripping down to the bare essentials in front of complete strangers. They already have us at their mercy. "Hey, Pete! Got one here that needs weighing! He’s a big one!" Another shout. "OK. Send him on through." A respectful, yet fearful, hush descends upon the other passengers waiting in line." Step on the scale, sir." "Is he too heavy?" "Lessee. Yup. This is definitely a two-seater! Would you believe 310 pounds?" If the current seat-narrowing trend continues on the airlines, the only people able to fly in our country will be passengers with eating disorders or a few unfortunates, who are unable to gain weight because of their high metabolic rates. The good news about the airlines’ 300-pound limit is that several of them will be offering second seats at children’s prices or with double frequent flyer miles. Of course, those perks might only be available after they’ve gone through the embarrassing business of prying us from our seats with crowbars.

Remember when

10 years ago (1995)
Tom Schmitz announced Monday that he’ll leave Blue Mounds State Park.
Jim Sonntag has opened a Lutheran Brotherhood agency in Luverne. He will operate the agency out of his home.
Minnesota Veterans Home resident, Leo Hansen, turned 103 this week.25 years ago (1980)
The March tax settlement prepared by the Rock County Treasurer’s Office shows an increase of $34,473.23 over the same collection period last year.
Blue Mounds State Park started a $7,000 chlorination project that officials hope will clean up the park’s contaminated water so it is drinkable this year.
Colleen Siebenahler for eight years has bottle fed orphan lambs that other producers don’t have the time or desire to feed. She feeds them every two hours.
Merle Cook was elected president of the Luverne Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Hardwick residents are getting ready to vote on a new addition for the Hardwick school.
P.D. Stephenson, of Dave’s Market, announced this week the completion of the installation of new frozen food cabinets to meet the ever-growing demand for frozen food products.75 years ago (1930)
A two-man crew, under the direction of County Engineer Julius Brown, this week completed the task of erecting more than one hundred traffic signs on state aid roads, calling attention to the proximity of school houses, cross roads, curves and side roads. It took the two men about four days to do the work.
The Quartzite Quarries is at present working quite a large crew of men at the quarry plant, which accounts for the frequent explosive rumblings distinctly heard in this city.
A Holstein cow owned by Theo. Olson, of Kenneth, produced 74.1 pounds of butterfat during the month, and this is the highest record made by any cow this year.100 years ago (1905)
Luverne’s first general election under its organization as a city was quiet. There was only one ticket in the field, and 142 votes were cast. E.A. Brown was elected mayor.
The Magnolia town board made a contract with the Hewitt Bridge Company for a 50-foot bridge to be placed across Elk Slough at the Fred Kerney place, the price being $975.

Titan Farms feedlot hearing set for April 18

NOTICE of PUBLIC MEETINGNotice is hereby given that on Monday, April 18, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. the Rock County Planning and Zoning Board will hold a public meeting to hear input on the proposed construction of an animal feedlot by Titan Farms.The public meeting will be held at the Rock County Family Services Building located at 2 Roundwind Road, Luverne, MN.The feedlot would be located in the NW 1/4 of Section 33 in Luverne Township.Persons attending the meeting will be given an opportunity to speak either in favor of or in opposition to the application.This is per Minnesota Rules part 4410.4300. Subpart 29, item B. (4-7, 4-14)

Sandbulte feedlot hearing set for April 18

Public NoticeClose Proximity Owners and Local Officials of the Rock County Planning and Zoning Commission.Notice is hereby given that the Rock County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 18, 2005, at the Rock County Family Services Center located at 2 Roundwind Road in Luverne, Minnesota at 7:15 p.m. to act on the following Conditional Use Permit application.Conditional Use: Expansion of an existing feedlot presently at 443 Animal Units to an expanded capacity of 750 Animal Units within 1/4 mile of an existing dwelling. Legal Description: The NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 6 of Mound Township, T103N, R45W, Rock County. Facility Owner and Operator: Gerald SandbulteThe existing facility consists of a 125’ x 220’ open lot without runoff controls holding 100 head of slaughter cattle (100 animal units), a 65’ x 220’ open lot without runoff controls holding 100 head of slaughter cattle and 70 head of feeder cattle (150 animal units), a 150’ x 150’ open lot without runoff controls holding 100 stock cows (100 animal units), a 32’ x 12’ total confinement barn with a 32’ x 12’ x 2’ poured concrete pit and a 12’ x 12’ x 8’ poured concrete pit housing 160 head of finishing swine (48 animal units), and a 20’ x 44’ partial confinement barn with a 32’ x 44’ open lot with runoff controls housing 150 head of finishing swine (45 animal units), for a total of 443 animal units. The proposed expansion shall consist of a 100’ x 330’ open lot with runoff controls to hold 400 head of slaughter cattle (400 animal units). The 32’ x 12’ total confinement barn with poured concrete pits shall be abandoned and the 20’ x 44’ partial confinement barn with 32’ x 44’ open lot with runoff controls shall also be abandoned. The total animal units after expansion shall be 750 animal units. The described property is zoned as A-2, General Agriculture. All persons interested may appear and be heard at said time and place, or submit views in writing or by representative. Date: April 7, 2005By Order of the Rock County Planning and Zoning CommissionEric Hartman, Zoning Administrator311 W. Gabrielson RoadLuverne, MN 56156507-283-8862(4-7, 4-14)

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