While getting my feet wet here, one of the first things that pops out to me is not just the talent of the kids at the various schools we cover but the quality of the coaching.I’m not just kissing up when I say that. There are some places where the coaches just roll out the balls for practice, let the kids go at it and cash their checks at the end of the month. Here, even with some of the teams with poorer records, the coaches seem really into it.If you wanted to see some kids who were really into it, you should’ve seen the Hills-Beaver Creek vs. Ellsworth game on Saturday night. H-BC racked up 27 points in the first quarter.Those guys were going 100 miles per hour. That’s usually a good thing, unless you’re the opposing team or the guy with a manual-focus camera who is often challenged just to get good pictures at a tortoise race.It was one of those games I stumble into sometimes where I find myself watching and enjoying, forgetting I’m holding the camera. Then some kid goes flying through the air, leaps up for a dunk or dives at a ball and I finally remember: "Wow, that would’ve been a good picture if I’d been taking one!"RESCHEDULED:We haven’t had a snowflake yet, but the athletic schedule is already getting adjusted. Note these date changes:Luverne gymnastics, scheduled for Dec. 14, has been rescheduled to Dec. 21.Luverne boys hockey, scheduled for Dec. 27-29 at Worthington Tournament, has been rescheduled to Dec. 29-31.Luverne boys basketball, scheduled for Feb. 12 at Marshall, has been moved up to Feb. 8.MAKING HIS MARK:Freshman Curt Schilling of Adrian leads the Northwestern College men’s basketball team of Orange City with 15.1 points per game. The Red Raiders are ranked No. 4 in the most recent NAIA Division II poll.CROOKED REF:I saw something I hadn’t seen before at the H-BC vs. Central Lyon game last week. The referee needed three attempts to toss the opening jump ball. He had trouble getting it straight, but finally succeeded.FROM THE E-MAIL BAG:"I had to laugh at your article this week about the Vikings, but I was also a bit offended. I know a lot of people in the area love the Vikings and I know some of them don’t blame Tice for their downfall. I personally blame the players; as you said, they are getting paid big money to do their job. Just think how great our sermons on Sunday morning would be if our pastors got paid millions to work there one day a week … the whole world would be saved! Just my thoughts, keep up the good work."Not a problem, I offend myself sometimes.Feel free to email me at markh@star-herald.com. I won’t include your name, as long as you’re nice like this lady was.But if you get on my case too bad, I’m going to start naming names! Just kidding.

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on June 17, 1884:THE SEMI-WEEKLY HERALDThe First Issue Will Appear Tuesday Evening, July 8thIn accordance with its promise made sometime ago, the HERALD will begin, on Tuesday, July 8, the publication of a semi-weekly issue, which we hope by industrious effort to make a permanent institution, valuable in many respects to the public, and ultimately remunerative to the publisher. The Semi-Weekly, in respect to the subscription list, will have no connection with the WEEKLY HERALD, and will be sent only to those who subscribe for it. The subscription price will be $1 per year. The WEEKLY HERALD will appear at the usual time, and will contain the greater part of the local matter published in the Semi-Weekly of the current week. The price of the weekly, however, will be reduced, after July 1, to $1.50 per year if paid in advance, and those who have pre-paid their subscriptions since April 1, will be credited accordingly. For the present the rates for standing advertisements in both issues will be the same as for the Weekly. For local notices rates will be charged for each issue. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

Choose to see the good in people, despite the risk of hurt and betrayalTerry Hoffman’s arrest is a big news story around the region (see news), but it’s particularly troubling to those close to him, especially considering the alleged activity dates back so far and the list of stolen items is so long.The Terry Hoffman we had come to know grew up in a close family in a supportive community. Many know him as a conscientious father, a generous volunteer (in Luverne hockey and baseball programs, for example) and as a loyal friend.Most of us didn’t know and never saw the Terry Hoffman who could be involved with stolen property, and that’s why his criminal charges are so unnerving. How could we not know?The underlying theme of the story unfolding in Luverne is that a lot of people are feeling hurt and betrayed, which is unfortunate, but I also worry about the broader, long-term effect of abusing personal trust.It has a way of eroding our faith in humanity, or at least our faith in home-town goodness. We’d like to believe we can trust the boy who was born and raised in Luverne, because secrets don’t survive amid such life-long familiarity.Certainly this isn’t the only case involving the arrest of presumably decent, small-town people. Even priests, for instance, have been arrested for molesting alter boys.But with each scrolling TV news ticker, the danger is that we’re less likely to accept goodness at face value — that we’ll wonder what darkness lurks on the other side of a good-looking front.… And what a sad result at a time of year when we should be celebrating peace, joy and love.As with most things, life’s what we make it, and we have a choice in how we’ll respond to this, too.The natural tendency would be cynicism and mistrust, but I would advocate — to balance this tendency — that we respond with a stronger commitment to recognizing goodness in humankind.We’ll run the risk of getting hurt again, but that’s still a better choice than living angry and suspicious.Life’s too short for that.I still believe in the good people of this town, and I choose to believe most people are good at heart.That, my friends, isn’t just a warm holiday idea, it’s an approach we’d all do well to live by.

Christmas is ComingWe are in Advent, moving toward the Christmas season. Christmas is coming! The time when we begin to start feeling a little nervous. Nervous about how much we have to do and how much time there is left to do it. Nervous about the people we are bound to run into during the Christmas season as families gather. A time when we receive cards from everyone — from long-lost relatives. It is the season when we spend like we are rich. Party like we are young. Smile like we have no cares. Christmas comes! I confess that I feel at times like a pastor friend of mine who told of the time going to Christmas Eve services and his young children asking him on the way, "Dad, are you going to let us enjoy this Christmas or are you going to try to explain it to everybody?" At times it does seem that in our efforts to capture the true spirit of Christmas, we dampen so much of the joy that is there. But perhaps understanding joy is where it begins. One particular story that I read recently illustrates it so well. In "An Autobiography: Act I," Moss Hart describes a particular Christmas Eve at the turn of the century when he was 10 and his family was living in New York City. Because of their poverty he was surprised when one night his father said, "Let’s go downtown." They set out on a walk, down to 149th Street where push carts full of toys were lined up for shoppers. Moss knew his dad was going to try to buy him a Christmas present, but he also knew that his dad had very little money. He figured his dad had about 75¢ in his pocket. They walked by all these cars. Hart said that he saw all sorts of toys he wanted. But, after his father would ask the price the two of them would move quietly to the next cart, his father putting his hand into his pocket and fingering the coins. So it went from one cart to another. Nothing the youngster wanted could be purchased for what his father had been able to save. This is how Moss Hart remembered his feeling that night — "As I looked up at him and I saw a look of despair and disappointment in his eyes, that brought me closer to him than I had ever been in my life. I wanted to throw my arms around him and say: It doesn’t matter … I understand … this is better than a chemistry set or a printing press … I love you.""But, instead we stood shivering beside each other for a moment, then turned away from the last two push carts and started silently back home. I don’t know why the words remained choked up within me. I didn’t even take his hand on the way home nor did he take mine. We were not on that basis. Nor did I ever tell him how close I felt that night — that for a little while the concrete wall between father and son had crumbled away and I knew that we were two lonely people struggling to reach each other."Christmas, it seems, is more about that joy than the frivolity with which we surround ourselves. It is about each of us struggling to reach for significance in our lives, to be a part of and to touch God, who does not want us to be hurt. A God who must watch us at war with ourselves and others, but comes to us nonetheless, with a message of love, joy and peace. That’s why it seems so remarkable to me that when God comes to speak God’s Word to us, that word becomes a child. This child who is announced by singing, not by thunder. A child born by lamplight on a silent night rather than a word which shakes mountains, a word that becomes a child, which can be received and cannot hurt us. A word which does not make us afraid.My prayer is that this season will be one filled with the joy of HIM. That you will go to your church to sing the songs of his praise and joy to our world. That you will hold the candle and be light to the world. That you will worship and bow down. That you will not only know joy, but bring joy wherever your life may find you. Christmas comes!

© 2004 Carole R. Achterhof Forgetfulness is a human condition. Even though Dorothy Parker contended, "Women and elephants never forget," we all do it. With the hectic schedules of today it’s easy to forget appointments, where we parked the car or even that last batch of cookies, now burned to a crisp in the oven. However, if you will pardon the expression, forgetting to have a baby seems like an inconceivable idea. Last month a 57-year-old woman from New York became the oldest American ever to give birth to twins. According to the media, the woman, a motivational speaker, said she had always wanted children, but "her career kept her too busy." In other words, she forgot. She apparently forgot to put that particular activity, giving birth, on her list of things to do. In her defense, it should be noted that forgetting to have babies appears to be a growing trend in our country. Much has changed since 50 years ago, when people would joke about young women going off to college to receive their "Mrs. degrees". Many of those young women, Mrs. degrees or even bachelors’ degrees in hand, would settle down in suburbia, raise their families and put any possibility of a career on a back burner. Now it’s increasingly common for young women to place their careers first. It’s as though they first want to succeed in the workplace, travel the world, and own the best clothing, cars and houses. It’s only when they reach 50 or 55 that they begin asking themselves, "Now what am I forgetting? Oh, yes! I was going to have a baby!" The mother in New York brushes off suggestions that it might be unwise to have children so late in life. "What you lack in energy," she said, "you make up for in wisdom." That may sound good on paper, but trying to catch a naked toddler as he races out the door, or turning 63 and sending a first-grader off to school in the early morning with 35 freshly baked cupcakes might require more than wisdom. In all fairness perhaps we should explore the advantages of becoming a first time, menopausal mother. For starters, if women would put off having their first children until they are eligible for retirement, they could look fantastic in a two-piece bikini on any public beach for at least five decades. In the delivery room, while in the throes of labor, they could turn to their husbands and scream, "I’ll never go through this again!", and mean it. They wouldn’t have to worry about friends and neighbors asking, "When are you going to have another baby?", because those people will still be in shock over the first bundle of joy. Baby showers and golden anniversaries could be combined activities, a real plus for people who dislike stringing up crepe paper streamers and inflating balloons. The new parents wouldn’t have to worry about grandparents spoiling their child. Think about it. As the new baby’s teeth would grow in at the same time the new parents are losing theirs, it would be possible to buy baby food by the case lots at any discount warehouse store. Imagine the savings! Last but not least, if the timing is right, Medicare might pick up the expenses.

The following information was published on the Internet, and it’s the perfect response to a letter to the editor that appeared in the Nov. 24 Star Herald:Where was God on 9/11? Are you thinking, "Where was God on 9/11 when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked?" Well, I know where God was on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, and He was very busy!He was discouraging people from taking those four flights. Together they could accommodate more than 1,000 passengers, yet there were only 266 aboard. He was on the four flights giving the terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the people who was called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes mentioned that passengers were panicked, nor was there any screaming in the background. And on one of the flights, God gave strength to the passengers to overcome the hijackers.God was also busy creating obstacles to prevent people who worked in the World Trade Center from getting to work on time. The workday had begun, more than 50,000 people worked in the two towers, yet only 20,000 were at their desks. On that beautiful morning God created scores of unexpected traffic delays, subway delays, and commuter train delays. A path train packed with commuters was stopped at a signal just short of the World Trade Center and was able to return to Jersey City. And far more meetings were scheduled elsewhere than was usual.God held up each of the two mighty towers for a half hour so that the people on the lower floors could get out. And when He finally let go, He caused the towers to fall inward rather than to topple over, which would have killed so many more people. The foundations of six surrounding buildings were demolished by the fall of the towers, but God held them up for many hours until all the occupants were safely evacuated.And when the World Trade Center and Pentagon buildings were down, my God picked up almost 3,500 of His children and carried them to their home for all eternity. He also sat down and cried that 19 of His children could have so much hate in their hearts, that they did not choose Him, but another god that doesn’t exist, and now they are lost forever.He sent people trained in dealing with earthly disasters to save those that were injured. And He sent in thousands of others to help in any way that was needed. And He brought people together across the world in a way that moved thousands to tears and hundreds of thousands to prayer—and caused millions to turn to the one true living God.He still isn’t finished. Every day He comforts those who lost loved ones. He is encouraging others to reach out to those who don’t know Him or believe in Him. He is giving the leaders of our great nation the strength and conviction to do the right thing, to follow His will.So if you’re asking, "Where was God on 9/11?" He was everywhere! And, in fact, he is everywhere today and every day. Without a doubt, this was the worst catastrophe most of us have ever seen. I can’t imagine getting through such a difficult time as 9/11 or ANY difficult time without God at my side.Without God, life would be hopeless.Shirley TopLuverne

Hills Beaver Creek Dist. 671 Minutes11-22-04The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semimonthly meeting at 7:30 pm in the library in Hills.Board members present were Leuthold, Larson, Esselink, Larson, Harnack, and Baker. Absent were Boeve and DeBoer. Superintendent Deragisch and Principal Holthaus were also in attendance.The meeting was called to order by Chairman Harnack.Motion by Esselink, second by Baker, and carried to approve the agenda.Chairman Harnack recognized as the visitors to the meeting. Visitors were Lexi Moore of The Crescent, Kyle Oldre, Richard Bakken and Mike Winkels. Kyle Oldre explained what impact there would be if the City of Luverne and Rock County would dissolve their joint law agreement.Patriot Pride: 38 students were on the A Honor Roll, 50 students on the B Honor Roll for a total of 88 students or 60% of the student body were on the Honor Roll.152 people came for Grandparent’s Day. American Education week was a great week.Elementary 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.The City of Hills has offered to give the school a storage building as long as we would insure the building and provide upkeep on the property. Motion by Larson, second by Esselink, and carried to accept the City of Hills’ offer to let us use the building.Motion by Leuthold, second by Larson, and carried to accept the student teacher from Dakota State University to work in our 6th grade class.An update was given on the audit.The MREA video on the Alliance for Student Achievement will be viewed at a later date.Motion by Esselink, second by Leuthold, and carried to change the time of the December 13 meeting from 7:30 pm to 8:15 pm to work around the band concert.Agenda items for next meeting: preliminary audit reportDates to Remember:December 13 8:15 pm School Bd meetingDecember 13 7:00 pm band concertMeeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.Lois Leuthold, Acting Clerk(12-16)

Joanne Goehle and Tom attended Zachary Hadler’s basketball game Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon at Worthington. Zach attends Minnesota West at Worthington.Betty Elbers attended the Selah concert at Sioux Center, Iowa, Wednesday evening. Last Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Ernest Thorsgard and wife of Thief River Falls stopped at the home of his sister and were overnight guests of Wendell and Kathryn Erickson. Don Briggs participated in the Merry Christmas tuba concerts performed Saturday in Sioux Falls. Al Berdahl was the conductor of the three concerts. Joanne Goehle went to Tyler Sunday and then to Brookings, S.D., to attend Allison Carmany’s dance recital. Thursday evening Wilmer and Betty Elbers attended the band concert in Brandon, S.D., where their grandson, Mitchell Elbers, participated in the jazz and band groups. Friday evening Dick and Audrey Heidenson and Wendell and Kathryn Erickson motored to Pipestone to attend the Opland Singers annual Christmas program. Brenda Hadler and Colby and Joanne Goehle attended the basketball game in Sioux Falls Thursday evening when Zach Hadler was playing in the Sioux Valley junior varsity game with the Blue Jays. Friday night Chuck and Rheta DeBoer attended the Christmas concert at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the Symphony concert given at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls Sunday afternoonBetty Elbers attended the Gaither Homecoming Christmas concert in Omaha, Neb., Friday evening. Fran Sandager and Leona Goehle, Tyler, returned home Friday after spending five days on the big island. On their return they visited Chris Goehle at Ft. Thompson, Ky. Joanne Goehle attended the Christmas program Sunday night at the First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. She returned home Monday. Cliff and Vi Van Wyhe met other family members in Sioux Falls Friday evening to celebrate Lexia De Wit’s birthday for dinner and spent the evening at her home. Last weekend Cletus and Patty Nuffer and Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the lutefisk and meatball supper at First Lutheran Church in Worthington. Dinner guests Sunday evening in the home of Wilmer and Betty Elbers were Josephine Feucht of Pipestone and Gwen Nelson, Sioux Falls. Friday evening Cliff and Vi Van Wyhe attended the concert at Dordt College in Sioux Center. The title was "A Light in the Darkness" performed by the ensemble and choral groups. Ashley De Wit, their granddaughter, had a part in the program.

Sunday morning blew in with very strong and very cold winds which had been predicted. I for one did not appreciate them. They continued to blow all of Sunday and Monday morning. However, they were predicting the temperatures would be warming up, and believe me, I am ready for that. With the wind that strong my house felt like I had forgotten to shut the windows, so I checked but no, they were closed! The winds were so cold even the leaves were huddled up against my deck and they also flew into my garage to get out of the cold wind. I had just cleaned my deck so I really didn’t appreciate their coming. I’m hoping they will leave soon with the wind so I won’t have to sweep them up again. All I could think about was this old poem that I learned many years ago. It began with, "The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow and what will the poor robin do then?" I don’t think the robins need to worry as I think they have gone to other winter homes. At this time the wind is still blowing and who knows what the weatherman has in store for us this time of year. We just have to hope for the best! The Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School Council and peer helpers will hold a roller skating party on Friday, Dec. 17, at the elementary gym. Those attending are to bring their own skates. If anyone has an extra pair of skates that are not being used, bring them also. Admission will be $1 per student. Orrin and Bernice Aukes and Mildred Paulsen joined the Friendship Club from United Methodist Church in Luverne Sunday noon for their Christmas dinner at Luverne Pizza Ranch. Their club meeting followed at the church. Melba Boeve, Betty Elbers, Carol Hoogeveen and Doris Blom joined a tour group that took them to Omaha, Neb., on Friday where they attended a concert by the Gaithers Friday evening. They returned home on Saturday. Mildred Keunen, Mary Jo Suzie and her mother, Millie Richals, Joyce and Jo Aykens attended the Singing Christmas Tree Concert at First Assembly of God Church in Sioux Falls on Saturday. Sunday afternoon guests in the Orrin Aukes home helped Orin to celebrate his birthday. Guests were Brian and Dan and Amy Fopma, Lisa Telford and daughter, Taylor Telford, all from Sioux Falls, and Jeff Aukes and friend Sheila Sarutski.The Little Patriot Academy will present their preschool Christmas program at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, at the elementary school. The public is invited to attend.There was a Psalm and Hymn Sing at Tuff Home in Hills on Wednesday. Those taking part from Steen were Mildred Keunen, Malena Boeve and Jo Aykens.Steen Reformed Church will present their Sunday School Christmas program a 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the church. Everyone is welcome.Christmas is rapidly approaching! There will be no school Dec. 23 through Jan. 2. There will be an early dismissal on Wednesday, Dec. 22. School will resume on Jan. 3. Happy Holidays to all of the students, teachers, custodians and office personnel.Christmas is definitely in the air. Streets and homes are all beautifully decorated with lights and other things such as nativity scenes and, of course, Santa Claus. Christmas music fills the air. For a better description I am going to share with you these words about "Christmas Magic" written by Sylvia J. Green."Christmas Magic fills the air,With people shopping everywhere. With holiday songs being sung, And tinseled trees neatly strung. This and the scene of Bethlehem, Have People singing ‘Amen.’ For in a manger meek and mild, Lies a little babe, mankind’s child; A gift sent from the Father above, Teaching us His meaning of loveO’er all the world this scene takes place.No matter what religion or race,For be it Santa or the son of man,A Holy Merry Christmas is His plan.