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On Second Thought

My favorite quote is by Charles Swindoll on attitude. He writes, "Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it."At the Tollfeson Publishing we’ve seen some unexpected changes in the past year, and I’m proud to say our attitudes are in the right place.Our advertising director, graphic designer, copy editor, Hills Crescent editor and Star Herald sports editor all made career changes in the course of a few months.While we’ve missed these key players, I’m proud to say we’ve embraced the changes as opportunities to explore new directions.The positive approach has a lot to do with our new people: oMark Haugen at the sports desk, oEsther Frakes at the copy desk, oChristine Mann in advertising sales, and oLexi Moore halftime at the Crescent helm and half-time in graphic design.They’re a stellar crew and we’re lucky to have them on board.With their enthusiasm, a remaining core of talented experience, plus an ambitious newspaper consultant on board, we’re looking at all kinds of ways to improve. Our goal is to be a better business in the community and present a better product to our readers and advertisers.Our Star Herald sports readers will notice the biggest changes. In addition to presenting his own writing style and page design, Mark will add a new dimension to that section with a weekly column and a new format for bowling and pool league results.In the news department the changes will be more subtle, but still noticeable.oThe B Section now leads with a feature story or photo package. Those soft-news items take a lot of work, and we’re proud of the end result, so we’re giving them more visibility.oThe inside pages of the A Section will showcase contributing local writers on a more regular basis. We’ll be hearing from our public officials on city, county and school on timely topics in their own words with their own little mug shots attached to the write-ups.This won’t replace our already popular columnists, such as librarian Glenda Bremer, historian Betty Mann and On the Rock pastor columns. It also won’t replace our regular news coverage of local government.oThe Opinion Page will lead with weekly editorials, in addition to usual columns Sara and I take turns writing. Our writers will work on the editorials together, and the goal is to both encourage dialog and stimulate thought processes, or, as with this week’s editorial, to advocate positive activity in the community.As always, we welcome input from all our readers on ideas for editorials, or better yet, original letters to the editor.oRemember When will have shorter entries from old newspapers and more of them, with an emphasis on including more local names that appeared in the news back then. Along those same lines, Mark is planning to introduce a sports version of Remember When in his pages.oThe Dining and Entertainment Page that used to appear only in the Announcer now also appears in the Star Herald, as does the Dial-A-Specialist listing. These advertisers make our Star Herald pages more newsworthy, and in turn, their placement on our news pages adds value to their messages.We’re still the same business that’s brought you news for the past 130 years, but stay tuned for exciting new reasons to keep reading.

Amending group insurance program

ORDINANCE NO. 267, THIRD SERIESAN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAM, AMENDING SECTION 2.37, SUBD. 1, AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 2 AND SECTION 2.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PENALTY PROVISIONSWHEREAS, to not conflict with provisions of the City’s Personnel Policy, an amendment is needed in Subdivision 1 of Section 2.37 deleting the last sentence relating to City provided group insurance for elected officials.NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Luverne, Minnesota, does hereby ordain: SECTION 1. That Section 2.37, Subd 1, be amended in its entirety to read as follows: Subd. 1. The salary of the Mayor shall be $5,100.00 per year and for each alderman $4,200.00 per year. Salaries shall be paid in conjunction with the regular City payroll for administrative personnel and shall include such deductions and withholdings as are required or authorized by law. SEC. 2. This ordinance shall take full force and effect seven (7) days after its publication. (11-18)

Utility easement changes ordinance

ORDINANCE NO. 266, THIRD SERIESAN ORDINANCE RELATING TO UTILITY EASEMENT CHANGES AS PROVIDED FOR IN CITY CODE CHAPTER 12.10, SUBD 4 (B)THE CITY OF LUVERNE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN:SECTION 1. In compliance with City Code Chapter 12.10, Subd. 4 (B), and with concurrence of the Planning Commission relative to electric utility easements, the City Council hereby:1. Vacates a portion of a perpetual utility easement for the purpose of clearing, trenching, laying, constructing, maintaining, replacing, and repairing electric light, power, telephone cables, lines, conduits, water and sewer lines, cable television lines, natural gas lines, and other appurtenances for the said City on property owned by Gregory T. and Patricia A. Aubert, legally described as follows:Lot four (4) and the North Ten (10) Feet of Lot Five (5) in Block One in Siebenahler Addition to the City of Luverne, Rock County, MinnesotaMore particularly, that portion of the easement lies on Lot 4 and the N. 10 ft. of Lot 5, is rectangular in shape (approximately 5 ft x 29 ft.), is located 6 ft. west of Phyleon Drive along the lot line of Lots 4 and 5, and was reserved for installation of an electrical transformer. This portion of the easement is no longer necessary.SEC. 2. This ordinance shall take full force and effect seven (7) days after its publication. (11-18)

Mortgage foreclosure sale set for Jan. 14

NOTICE OF MORTAGE FORECLOSURE SALETHE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage:DATE OF MORTGAGE: August 1, 2001MORTGAGORS: Don W. Voeltz and Nicolle Voeltz, husband and wife. MORTGAEE: Home Federal Savings Bank.DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded August 2, 2001, Rock County Recorder, Document No. 150660. ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: Suntrust Mortgage, Inc., Dated: August 1, 2001, Recorded: August 2, 2001, Document No. 150661. And thereafter assigned to: Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation, Dated: October 27, 2004, Recorded: November 3, 2004, Document No. 160075.LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:Borrowers: DON W. VOELTZ NICOLLE VOELTZProperty Address: 815 E RAILROAD AVE Steen, MN 56173A tract of land lying and being in the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 32, Township 101 North of Range 45 West, of the 5th P.M., Rock County, Minnesota, described as follows:Commencing at the Northwest corner of the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 as the point of beginning; thence Easterly along the North line of said S 1/2 of NE 1/4 1488 feet; thence Southerly and parallel with the West line of said NE 1/4 288 feet; thence Easterly and parallel with the North line of said section 14 feet; thence Southerly and parallel with the West line of said NE 1/4 52 feet; thence Westerly and parallel with the North line of said section 82.5 feet; thence in a Northwesterly direction 173.5 feet, more or less, to a point 1266 feet East of the West line of said NE 1/4 and 313.5 feet South of the North line of said S 1/2 of said quarter; thence Northerly along a line parallel with the West line of said NE 1/4 290.5 feet; thence Westerly on a line parallel with the North line of said Section 1266 feet, more or less, to a point on the West line of said NE 1/4; thence Northerly along the West line of said NE 1/4 23 feet to the point of beginning.COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: RockORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $47,603.00AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $48,612.05That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof;PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows:DATE AND TIME OF SALE: JANUARY 14, 2005 AT 10:00 AMPLACE OF SALE: Sheriff’s Office, West Entrance, Law Enforcement Center, 213 East Luverne Street, Luverne, MN to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns.MORTGAGOR (S) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE: None"THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED."Dated: November 5, 2004.Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation Mortgagee/Assignee of MortgageeUSSET & WEINGARDEN P.L.L.P.BY: /s/ Paul A. Weingarden Paul A. Weingarden Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #120 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 30-3465 1996411864THIS IS A COMMUNICATON FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.11-18, 11-25, 12-2, 12-9, 12-16, 12-23)

Mark My Words

A guy has to make certain sacrifices when he gets married, and for me they were my golf clubs and my shotgun (and some might say my sanity.)It's not that my wife asked me to give them up. It's just that life gets in the way of having all the fun I want sometimes. Things like work and kids make you prioritize what you're going to do with your free time. Much of my spare time now is spent reading, writing, gardening and running, all pretty time-consuming hobbies as well.So while many of you have been out downing pheasants and plunking deer this fall, I've been doing those other things. But that doesn't mean I and others don't enjoy reading about your hunting exploits and seeing the fruits (or rather meats) of your labor.With that in mind, I encourage you hunters to send us pictures of your successful hunts. Tell us where, when and with what you tamed the wild beast and we'll share it with the readers.As a kid growing up on a farm outside of Canton, S.D., I was seldom without at least a .22 in tow. Rabbits, gophers and birds were aplenty in our groves and pasture, and the creek running through it made it a good enough wildlife environment for my buddy and me to run a trap line.The occasional mink, muskrat or skunk was stupid enough to stumble into one of our sets. The fur company in Canton rewarded us with a couple bucks or a five spot even.This was all fine and good until my friend's cat proved to be too curious and not smart enough to keep its foot out of one of our traps. I remember the tears in Travis' eyes as we extricated his cat.It put a quick end to our years-long hobby, especially when his older sister learned of her cat's misfortune. And that darn cat limped around on three legs for several more years to continually remind us of our amateur trapping skills.Now I stick to fishing, and if a cat is stupid enough to dive into the water and bite on my hook, then he deserves what he gets. At least I won't feel as guilty about that one.

Wilmina Winterswyk

Wilmina Winterswyk, 86, Luverne, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne. Services were Wednesday, Nov. 17, at Luverne Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. The Rev. George Koopmans officiated. Burial was at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley, Iowa.Wilmina Van Maanen was born to Arie and Jennie (De Vries) Van Maanen on May 4, 1918, in Rock Valley. She completed country school. After her education she helped women on nearby farms with housework and daily chores. She married Richard Stegenga on Jan. 30, 1941, in Rock Valley. Following their marriage they lived on a farm south of Rock Valley. In 1956 the family moved to a farm south of Luverne. The couple retired in 1974 and moved to Luverne. Mr. Stegenga died in April 1975. She married Henry Winterswyk in 1977 at Luverne Christian Reformed Church. They enjoyed traveling together. Mr. Winterswyk died in December 2000. She moved to The Oaks apartments for a short time. She then moved to Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne. Mrs. Winterswyk was a member of Luverne Christian Reformed Church. She was active in Ladies Aid and the Christian School Circle. She enjoyed hosting family and friends in her home. She is also remembered as someone who was always working on projects, playing her organ at home and singing along.Survivors include three children, Arlan (Susanne) Stegenga, Austin, Robert (Sheila) Stegenga, Luverne, and Jan (Arlan) De Yong, Anchorage, Alaska; a daughter-in-law, Darlene Stegenga, Corson, S.D.; three stepchildren, Gertrude Teune, Steen, Johanna Klarenbeek, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Arlen Pap, North Richland Hills, Texas; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-children; numerous stepgrandchildren; stepgreat-grandchildren; and stepgreat-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gerrit (Joann) Van Maanen, Rock Valley, and John (Marvis) Van Maanen, Lakewood, Calif.; three sisters, Henrietta (Herman) Kempema, Arta Kempema, and Margaret (Delbert) Kuiken, all of Rock Valley; and a sister-in-law, Gertrude Vander Ploeg, Sioux Center, Iowa.Mrs. Winterswyk was preceded in death by her husbands, Richard and Henry, and one son, Pierre Stegenga, an infant daughter, and a grandson, Nathan. Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Grace Slieter

Services for Grace Slieter are at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills with the Rev. Lowell Berg officiating. Burial will follow at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Hills. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service and sharing time at Roste Funeral Home in Hills. Grace Marie Slieter, 98, Hills, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Grace Schipper was born to Ulfred and Tillie Schipper on March 27, 1906, in rural Valley Springs, S.D. She moved with her family in 1921 to Larchwood, Iowa. She graduated from Larchwood High School. She received her teaching certificate from Northern State Teachers College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She taught for five years in Larchwood Township Schools. She married Ben J. Slieter on Aug. 17, 1930, in Sioux Falls, S.D. After their marriage they settled and farmed by Steen before moving to a farm in the Beaver Creek area in 1958. Mr. Slieter died May 13, 1961. That year she moved to Hills where she worked at Tuff Memorial Home for 19 years. For several years following she assisted the elderly in their homes. She moved to an apartment in Luverne and moved to Tuff Memorial Home in 1995. Mrs. Slieter was very active in women’s organizations at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was involved with 4-H and extension leadership in Rock County. Survivors include two daughters, Janet Burkholder, Pipestone, and Bonnie (Harlan) Kolsrud, Worthington; a daughter-in-law, Norma Salquist, West Fargo, N.D.; 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Slieter was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ben, one son, Gordon, one son-in-law, Bill, and four brothers, John, Henry, Jacob and Fred. Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

Annabelle (Bonnie) Hilger

Annabelle (Bonnie) Hilger, 90, Luverne, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne. Services were Wednesday, Nov. 17, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Luverne. The Rev. Judi Wiley officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Bonnie Martin was born to Henry and Daisy (Patterson) Martin on Feb. 18, 1914, in Canton, Ill. She attended and completed the 11th grade in Luverne. She married Daniel V. Turner on July 16, 1932, in Canton, S.D. Mr. Turner owned and operated the Luverne Announcer. In 1941 the family moved to Huntington Beach, Calif.She married Myron C. (Shorty) Hilger in 1947 in Las Vegas, Nev. They returned to Luverne to make their home. Mr. Hilger was in the accounting business and later went to work for Luverne Savings and Loan, serving as president for many years. Mr. Hilger died in 1997. She worked at Nelson Bros. Variety Store for many years and also did bookkeeping for McClure Electric. Mrs. Hilger was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Luverne. She enjoyed music, playing the piano and organ and singing with her sisters. She also enjoyed bridge club, knitting and traveling with her husband. Survivors include one daughter, Joyce (Bill) Sexton; grandchildren Jim (Georgeanna) Sexton, Jane (Rob) Andre, Tom Sexton, Jennifer (Jeffrey) Ornburg, Martha (Mark) Anderson and Chris Sexton; great-grandchildren Will Sexton, Aubrey Sexton, William Ornburg, Tommy Ornburg and Ella Rae Anderson; a son-in-law Dale L. Haggard; sisters-in-law Patty Martin, Helen Hilger Walker, Helen Hilger; nieces Ruth Hommen, Bette (Cleve) Tucker, Barbara (Ed) Ganey, Nancy Quinnette, Julie (Ernst) Fry, Joan Mc Guire; and nephews John Martin, Bill Martin, Bryce Davis, Bob (Cathy) Davis, David Davis and Vance Derigo. Mrs. Hilger was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Sonia (Sunny) Rae Haggard, Daniel Turner, her husband, M.C. Hilger, an infant grandson, John H. Haggard, three brothers, Richard, Raymond and Don Martin, three sisters, Jessie Roberts, Eva Davis and Joyce Derigo, two nephews, Richard L. Davis and Douglas W. Martin, and one niece, Nancy Hilger. A tree will be dedicated in memory of Bonnie Hilger by Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Peeking in the Past

10 years ago (1994)"Fifth- and sixth-grade students at H-BC Elementary are taking charge. While it’s not a takeover of the school, a select group of students will aid in solving some of the "tiffs" that occur on the playground, in the lunch line or at the drinking fountain, for instance.H-BC Principal said the 12 students were selected through a written application on why they would like to be a peer mediator. Students selected for the group include Jana Hup, Tom Sandager, Lee Walraven, Tricia Willers, Brittney Olson, Stacey Elbers, Tarah Sandager, Joshua Bosch, Tony Nath, Derek Ehde and Amy Rozeboom." 25 years ago (1979)"Leona Kinsey was named postmaster at Beaver Creek this week. The Beaver Creek post office has been served by an interim postmaster for the past several weeks. …She has served in the postal service for more than 21 years, with assignments to the Luverne, Magnolia and Kenneth post offices during that time."50 years ago (1954)"Miss Josephine Ward of Hills, has been elected to McCall’s Pattern Teen Fashion Board for the year 1954-1955. As a member of the board, she will act in an advisory capacity to McCall’s pattern design department, offering suggestions and preferences for teen, junior and misses’ fashions."75 years ago (1929)"If the fellows who are drinking moonshine would only get into the habit of going to the Hills creamery and buy a gallon of buttermilk, they would feel 100 percent better the following morning."100 years ago (1904)"In the special election held Tuesday the proposition to incorporate Hills as a village carried by a large majority. There were 65 votes cast, of which 53 were in favor of incorporation and 12 against it. The Crescent, in common with a large majority of our citizens, is naturally pleased over the result and believes the action of Tuesday is a stride forward. Hills was qualified to incorporate as early as 1894, but the fear of a licensed saloon subdued all efforts in that direction at that time. In 1999 a petition was prepared and a vote was had on the project, but the fear of a saloon again caused many to vote against it, and the election of Nov. 30, 1899, resulted in a tie vote, there being 30 for to 30 against. The fear of a saloon is again in evidence, but there are odds of 10 to 1 that the question of license would meet with overwhelming defeat."

Hills Local News

Camilla Astrup Bourquin, Howick, South Africa, Ntongi Astrup Murphy and husband, Richard, Fox River Grove, Ill., were guests of Ray and Lois Nelson last week Wednesday through Saturday. Camilla is a retired nurse presently working with Hospice and HIV-Aids patients among the native population. She has been visiting her son Ryan, who is a background design artist in New York City. Camilla and Ntongi are Ray’s nieces. Mary Carter attended her daughter’s birthday gathering Saturday evening. Marilyn and her husband, Alf Metzger, along with Mary, Joni and Todd Bunde, their four children, Stacey Carter and also Lucas Metzger, who has been attending college and now living in Sioux Falls, were present when the group went out to eat. Betty Elbers attended the quartet festival Friday and Saturday evenings in Sioux Falls. June Albers’ sisters, Gladys Macleo, Brainerd, and Fern Becker, Fergus Falls, visited her from Thursday until Saturday. Vi Van Wyhe was among others who attended the 90th birthday open house Sunday at Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Center in Luverne for Wesley Kitchenmaster. The four children and their families of Luella Schlueter came to attend her 90th birthday open house Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Other relatives and friends came from Minnetonka, George, Iowa, Marion, S.D., and Sioux Falls. Her children returned to their homes Sunday. Ray and Lois Nelson attended the National Lutheran Choir concert at Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, S.D., a week ago. Fran Sandager accompanied Sheldon and Ellie Sandager to St. Paul to attend the funeral of Merle Muckala. He was 85 and the husband of Marie Sandager Muckala. Others attending were John, Mike and Charlie Sandager.Lyle and Dorothy Bos attended the wedding Saturday of their grandson Brian Kroon and Amy Winkels at George, Iowa. Brian is the son of Bill and Lila Kroon. Others attending were Bob and Lora Sayler and family, Sioux Falls, and Doug and Lois Boeve and family. The couple will make their home in Rock Rapids, Iowa.Mark and Karen Sandager attended the wedding Saturday of Grant Crawford and Julie Dechain. Fran and John Sandager attended their reception. Card of ThanksThanks to all who came and helped me celebrate my 90th birthday. Thanks for the many lovely cards and well wishes. Also thanks to my children for hosting the event. It will be a day I’ll always remember.Luella Schlueter

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