By Jolene Farley and Lexi MooreOn Nov. 2, residents of Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen will be asked to vote for public officials to fill the 2004-2008 term. Hills residents will be asked to elect two council members and the mayor. Jim Jellema has re-filed for the mayor position. Dana Dahlquist will be on the ballot for re-election for her seat on the Hills City Council. The council seat vacated by Ross Metzger this summer will be held Arlen Leenderts throughout the remainder of the year. No other candidates filed to fill this seat therefore a write-in candidate will have the option to decline the position.In Beaver Creek, Al Blank re-filed for mayor and Carolyn DeBoer refilled for city council.In Steen there are two open seats on the city council and three candidates seeking to fill them. The Hills Crescent sent questionnaires to the Steen city Council candidates in an effort to help voters make an informed decision. Marlin ElbersResidence: SteenSpouse and Children: Wife, Linda, and four childrenOccupation: EngineerEducation: Graduate of Hills-Beaver Creek High SchoolCommunity Activities and Involvement: Candidate did not provide an answerQualifications for Service: Life-long Steen resident, served as councilman the past 12 yearsIf elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson?"Minnesota cities, especially small cities, are being challenged because of reduced funding and state aid. We need to make good use of our resources to continue providing the needed services for the citizens. We also need to work to keep the city attractive to new people by emphasizing our good location, providing services and keeping the town clean. We also need to be open to new ideas and concerns of the people.Scott KesslerResidence: SteenOccupation: Activity Director at Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, MNEducation: Associate degree in business administration from Southeast Techical Institute.Community activities and involvement: Commander of Hills American legion Post #399, Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 1 in Sioux Falls, Vice-President of the West Central Activity Professionals Association — Region 5, Praise Team singer at the Luverne United Methodist Church, participant in the Steen Music in the Park and other events sponsored by the Steen Reformed Church.Qualifications for Service: Resident of Steen since 2003, business degree, served in the United States Navy from 1990-1993, enjoy helping others, willing to get the job done, and have worked with the elderly the past five years in various nursing homes in North Carolina, Iowa and now Minnesota.If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as city councilperson?Help plan a city-wide rummage sale with other residents of the community, clean-up of Main Street, community activities throughout the year, senior citizens potluck/games to be held at City Hall on the fourth Friday of each month, increase the population of the city by encouraging people to live in a small town atmosphere, ask residents what important issues they may have regarding the city of Steen.Rodney ScholtenThe Hills Crescent sent candidate Scholten a questionnaire but did not receive a response.

By Lexi MooreLast year, Tomasz Bezak left his native Poland for 10 months of school in America to practice his English skills and learn more about the American way of life. Tomasz grew up with his family in a small community in Poland, so he hasn’t had any problems adjusting to life in Hills. He arrived at the home of Merle and Robie Horsman in August, just in time for a family vacation to the Black Hills. He said he enjoyed the South Dakota scenery and the weather during that trip.The hardest part about his transition to life in America has been adjusting to the language. Although Tomasz can speak and understand fluent English, he said Americans often speak too quickly. Tomasz said he was happy to find cable television and a Playstation at his new home in Hills, and he’s looking forward to playing with a new soccer team. He said teenage boys in Poland enjoy many of the same activities as those in America.This is the first time Merle and Robie Horsman have participated in a foreign exchange program and said they’re pleased with the experience. "It is just like having another son around the house," she said. Their three children are enjoying the new addition to the family, and the entire family is working hard to show Tomasz what American culture is about. Because Halloween is not celebrated in Poland, the Horsemans want him to get the full experience while he is here. Another cultural difference is driving age. Drivers must be 18 to get a permit in Poland, so Tomasz plans to get some early practice while he is in America.

By Lexi MooreSeveral residents of the Hills-Beaver Creek school district attended Monday’s H-BC Operating Levy Referendum Meeting in the high school gymnasium. The meeting included presentations by Melissa Stirn from Ehlers & Associates and by H-BC Superintendent Dave Deragisch. It was intended to inform and answer questions residents have about the proposed referendum.Deragisch focused on the needs of the H-BC school district and the tough decisions that would need to be made if the operating levy does not pass.The school district has recognized a need for some major expenses in the future. These include the replacement of at least two buses, repairs to the high school boiler and chimney. These expenditures total almost $150,000. The proposed referendum will " … raise approximately $199,875 per year for 10 years," Deragisch said. Of that total the state of Minnesota will contribute an estimated $106,882 or 53.47 percent.If the proposed referendum fails, Deragisch said repercussions would be severe. "The face of the school we know and love will change," he said. "The programs and staff that many of you know and appreciate could be cut and/or eliminated." Some potential consequences would be longer bus routes, loss of technology in the classrooms, reduction in offered classes, increased class size, loss of staff positions, elimination of many school programs and major increases to school fees.Stirn discussed Minnesota property tax refund programs that apply to Minnesota residents that may increase if the referendum levy passes.The Minnesota property tax refund, Circuit Breaker, is available to all owners of residential and agricultural homestead property.The refund on agricultural property is based on the taxes paid on the house, garage and one acre.A similar credit is available to renters, based on estimated rent attributed to property taxes. The refund is based on total property taxes and income. "For 2003 taxes, the annual adjusted gross income must be less than $83,390 for homeowners and $44,990 for renters," Stirn said.The maximum refund received is $1,560 for homeowners and $1,280 for renters. Stirn emphasized that, if residents pay additional taxes associated with a referendum levy, their refund may increase by as much as 80 percent of the additional taxes.The Targeted Homeowners’ Property Tax Refund is available for all homestead properties with a gross property tax increase of at least 12 percent and $100 over the prior year’s taxes. This refund is especially beneficial in the first year of a new referendum because many property owners will qualify due to the relatively large tax increase.To determine eligibility and refund amounts for either refund, taxpayers should fill out state tax form M1-PR. If residents have additional questions regarding tax refunds and the proposed operating levy, they can call 1-800-552-1171 and ask to speak with someone on the Education Team.

Don’t miss the scarecrow festivalIf you haven’t driven by the north end of town recently, a trip through the Minnesota Veterans Home drive is worth your time.The Minnesota Veterans Home 8th Annual Scarecrow Festival entrees will be on display until November 1st.This year the annual contest had 34 entries competing for prizes in four different categories.This year’s winners in the four categories were:
Residents and Family of MVHFirst: Harveen Gluf, granddaughter of Clara AndersonSecond: Red Wing ResidentsThird: Green Wing Residents
Staff EntriesFirst: Shirley Connor and Mary RustSecond: MVH office staffThird: Pam Barrows, Sandy Klingenberg, Karen Amdahl
Community EntreesFirst: Glen’s Food CenterSecond: Barb SandhurstThird: Luverne American Legion
Youth EntreesFirst: Tim Christensen’s 4th grade classSecond: Craig and Anne Stegenga familyThird: Ian ConnorChamber looks for new Christmas LanesThe Luverne Winterfest Committee is hoping that past Christmas Lane participants will again be joining the line-up, but they would like to encourage new neighborhoods to start the tradition.Last year’s winner was "Angel Avenue," presented the homes along Highway 75, from Main Street to the high school.Other neighborhoods that participate included: "Penguins on Parade" — Oakland and Lindale Avenues; "Star-Spangled Cardinal Corners" — South Fairview Drive; "View of the Trees of the North" — Northview Drive; "Peace Angel Lane" — North Elm; "Carol Street Carolers" — Carol Street; Frosty's Families" — Victory and Memorial Circles; "Crystal Circle" — Cashin Drive; "Candy Cane Lane" — Phyleon Drive; "Red Ribbon Lane" — North Cedar.This year’s theme is Traditions of Christmas.Hunters may now donate venison to food shelvesUnder an agreement reached by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, deer hunters may now donate their extra venison to the needy.If you would like to participate in the program, here are some of the rules.
Hunters must legally harvest and register the deer at a DNR check station prior to making the donation.
To donate a deer, hunters must work through an approved processor. A list of processors has been posted on the venison donation page of the KNR Web site.
Hunters will be responsible for paying for processing the deer; program cooperators may provide financial assistance
Only meat processors that are approved by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture may participate in the program; food banks can only accept venison processed from approved processors.
Hunters or cooperating hunting groups must contact local food banks to learn if they accept venison, if they would be willing to pick it up after it has been frozen, and how they would like it packaged.
Hunters who drop off a field-dressed deer for donation will be asked to complete a short donation form available at approved meat processors.
Hunters will be responsible to pay for the processing and give the processor information on how to contact the food shelf when the meat is ready.According to Lou Cornicelli, big game program coordinator, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, the DNR is working with cooperating groups to establish a long-term funding source that would offset the cost of processing deer that are donated to the program.Star Herald needs your recipesThe Rock County Star Herald is working on our annual recipe book and we need your recipes.Go through your family favorites and share them with the rest of us.We want a wide variety of your favorites, whether they are something you traditionally serve during the holidays, or whether they’re family everyday favorites.Main dishes, deserts, salads or sides, we would love to help you share them with the rest of our readers.The book will be published on Nov. 18, but the deadline for submitting recipes is Monday, Nov. 1.Just drop them off at the Star Herald office at 117 W. Main St. or mail them to P.O. Box 837, Luverne.Thanks.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Who are you voting for?The elections are this Tuesday. That marks the day that all the political advertising ends for two more years. It is also the day that all Americans are invited to use their Constitutional right to vote. We have the unique privilege in this country to be a part of the process of selecting our leaders. This right is for all Americans. The question that everyone is asking is, "Who will we vote for?" My thoughts today aren’t to promote one candidate or another. I raise the question of who you are voting for not to ask which candidates you like but to ask who’s agenda and concerns you are representing.If you go to the poll as a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you go to represent a party and its values and agenda. You may go to the polls as a member of a union, voting to represent the union and its values and agenda. Some will go to the polls as members of organizations like AARP or the NRA, casting their votes for their organizations’ values and agenda. Many others will go to vote for an issue or a philosophy. Others vote for or against a candidate, or as many say, " … the lesser of two evils."As a Christian, I believe that I go to the polls to represent the one I claim to belong to, Jesus Christ. Some of you reading this may be saying to yourselves, "Hold on here, preacher. Haven’t you heard of separation of church and state?" Yes, I have. I may be a Christian and a preacher, but I am still an American with the right to free speech, free religion and the right to vote. If I call myself Christian, then I am declaring that I belong to and strive to act like Christ. If one is a Christian, should he not be one 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Or do we leave our faith out of business life? Should Christians leave their faith out of their recreation and hobbies? Should Christians leave their faith out of their politics? I don’t think we should. If God is to have a say in these elections, is it not through the voice of those who claim to belong to him?I plan to vote on the value of my faith. I plan to vote for the individuals who I believe conduct themselves with proper character. I plan to take my faith, not just my politics, into the voting booth with me. I encourage all those who read this article to get out and vote. Vote your values. Vote your beliefs. But before you vote, ask yourself, "Who am I voting for?"

There may finally be a good excuse for carrying around extra weight. As it turns out, by donating our waist products (as opposed to waste products) we may possibly advance medical science and benefit most of mankind. Scientists from the International Fat Applied Technology Society, a real group according to several news sources, met recently in Pittsburgh to discuss an exciting possibility — fat might be a good source of stem cells. Although human studies of the cells might not begin for another five years, hopes are high that fat-derived stem cells will treat a wide variety of serious health problems. The president of the society notes that the group "is trying to make fat do good." That’s a noble mission and it will change the way we identify medical donors on the street. Until now, the only accurate way to determine whether or not a complete stranger was a medical donor was to push him into an alley, knock him down, take his wallet and read his driver’s license. We have been much too polite to ask directly. That system, although seriously flawed, will soon change when six out of every 10 Americans, the number that’s classified as overweight, will look like potential donors. Sharing one’s fat through liposuction in order to make this world a better place would be somewhat similar to donating blood or having long tresses lopped off so that wigs can be made for less fortunate, hairless people in third world countries. In all three cases — fat, blood and hair — with a healthy diet and a robust appetite, those donated items will grow back quickly. The same can’t be said for donors who decide to give up organs they already have two of, such as lungs or kidneys. Their sacrifices are great, but with luck they will still to able to rely upon spare duplicate parts for their own survival. (That’s not true of one man I heard about in the early 60s, who donated a kidney to his brother at a university hospital. Unfortunately, mistakes had been made and his donated kidney was his only one.) What would really be heroic, and extremely foolish, would be donating a body part you only have one of, such as a heart, brain or complete liver, while you’re still alive and healthy. A surplus fat donation program might be the only instance when people will stand in line to give with everything they have. In fact, they might be willing to pay to donate. It would be a win-win situation. Donors would lose measurable inches of fat from their bodies and medical researchers would be able to work with and live off the fat of the land. Researchers would talk with pride about their largest contributors. The term "fat cats" would take on a new meaning. Instead of being held in disdain for the extra weight they carry around, donors of surplus fat would be revered as heroes. "The Wind Beneath My Wings," a popular song about personal heroes, could be rewritten as "The Fat Beneath My Wings." Singers with extended vocabularies would sing about "The Adipose Tissue Beneath My Wings." There’s better than a fat chance that we will eventually see wordy, super-sized T-shirts on the streets reading, "I’m proud to be a fat-derived stem cell donor." Unfortunately for underweight people, the shirts won’t be available in their smaller sizes.

Our library bird, Spike, got sick last Thursday night and died on Friday. We all prayed for him (as did our mothers) but I guess his time had come. Barb and April and I were with him at the end, so he didn’t die alone. He was a good bird and liked to tell anybody who would listen what a "pretty bird" he was. Meg, a friend of Barb’s, donated Spike to us in 1992 when we opened the new library. We adopted him when he was just two years old. Pet cockatiels normally live between 10 and 14 years. Spike was almost 15. He lived a good life and he loved his library patrons, especially children and teenagers. His primary activity each day was luring people over to pet him. When a "worthy" library patron came up to his cage, Spike would bow his head down trying to get a head rub. Some people were not deemed worthy. Those poor unfortunate souls were lured in and Spike would try to bite them, a very smart bird. The loving husband and I buried Spike in our backyard. We put him in a nice box and included his favorite toy. I’ve been a bird owner for most of my life, so I’ve always had a bird cemetery. I’ve buried 11 birds in the past 40 years; some were at-home birds and some were library birds. There were Dipper, Perky, Happy, Nemo, Woodstock, Studs, Victer Newman, Beatrice Finger, Vladamir, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and now Spike. Each one was just as painful as the next. We will not be accepting any library pets until further notice. We need a time to recover from our loss. Parents: If you have a child who was particularly fond of Spike and looked forward to visiting him at the library, perhaps you could explain what happened. I can’t talk about it without a box of tissues at hand. On a brighter note, we retrieved the Christmas books from storage and put them on the shelf next to the new fiction and nonfiction. I know it’s early, but Christmas takes preparation. You can find decorating tips, recipes, Christmas crafts and songs, party ideas, etc. The new Christmas books are also starting to roll in. On the fiction shelf this week, we have "Northern Lights," by Nora Roberts. As a Baltimore cop, Nate Burke watched his partner die on the street — and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepts the job as Chief of Police in the tiny, remote Alaskan village of Lunacy. Aside from sorting out a run-in between a couple of motor vehicles and a moose, he finds his first weeks on the job are relatively quiet. Just as he wonders whether this has been a big mistake, an unexpected kiss on New Year's Eve lifts his spirit and convinces him to stay just a little longer. Meg Galloway, born and raised in Lunacy, is used to being alone. She was a young girl when her father disappeared, and she has learned to be independent, flying her small plane, living on the outskirts of town with just her huskies for company. After her New Year's kiss with the Chief of Police, there’s something about Nate's sad eyes that gets under her skin and warms her frozen heart. Now things in Lunacy are heating up. Years ago, on one of the majestic mountains shadowing the town, a crime occurred that is unsolved to this day — and Nate suspects that a killer still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface. And his discovery will threaten the new life — and the new love — that he has finally found for himself.

First Brick Rural SchoolThe following appeared in the Rock County Herald on Aug. 21, 1908:A Fine Brick School House will be built in dist. no. 1."Oldest School District in the County Will Build First Brick School House to be Erected in the Rural Districts — Contract Awarded for Sand-Lime Brick Structure — Work Now BegunThe first brick school building to be erected in a rural district in Rock County is now being built by school district No. 1, one and a half miles south of Ashcreek. The building is to be constructed of white sand-lime brick, the product of the Luverne Pressed Brick company, and the ground dimensions will be 24x42 feet. The plans for the building were drawn by Architect W.E.E. Greene, who also has been awarded the contract for its construction, which was begun last week. As indicated by the number, the district is the oldest in the county, and it seems fitting, therefore, that it should take the lead in the construction of the most modern and substantial school building that can be built. The building will certainly be a credit to the district and to the enterprise and progressiveness of its people. 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.

Just like the "swing" votes we hear talked about on national news, it’s up in the air which candidate is favored for city of Luverne offices. So, local turnout is that much more important this year. With the presidential election at issue, I have faith that next week’s election gets a high turnout.Although the national and state elections are fun to watch and keep us guessing who the winners will be, this paper focuses on things of importance in Rock County. And there are important issues on this ballot.This one will include the option of allowing Sunday liquor licenses, a school referendum, and potential changes in local leadership. The last city of Luverne election was all but determined on candidates’ opinions on whether a funeral home should be built on Fledgling Field. There were new Luverne City Council members and a new sheriff elected in 2000. Also in 2000, people voted against funding a remodeling project for the Law Enforcement Center.This year the issue of joint police and sheriff’s department has been hotly debated and could determine how people vote for city candidates.This paper has put out both sides of that issue for months, and the candidates’ views on it were outlined in last week’s paper for readers to consider.The Sunday liquor issue doesn’t seem to have gotten much attention but deserves thought on the voters’ part. The school referendum has a lot of support, but it’s true that renters and property owners will have to pay if it’s passed. Whichever choice you make at the polls is up to you, and I won’t try to sway your vote. (I’ve already got in enough trouble sticking to the news.) What matters is showing up.As Annabelle Frakes rightly states in her letter to the editor this week, "Consider voting a responsibility and please study the issues, listen to the candidates, make an informed decision and cast your ballot on Nov. 2."