Ethel Olivia Arends, 98, Luverne, died Thursday, July 22, 2004, at Hospice Cottage of Luverne. Services were Saturday, July 24, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Paul Fries officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Ethel Carlson was born to John and Mary (Miller) Carlson on July 25, 1905. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She attended country school in Springwater Township. After losing her mother at a young age, she remained on the family farm helping her father raise her siblings. She married John William Arends on March 14, 1934, in Luverne. The couple lived on the Arends family farm near Steen for 3 years before moving to their own farm in Magnolia Township where they farmed for 55 years. They retired to Luverne. They spent several winters in Scottsdale Ariz., and traveled extensively. They were one of the first couples to move to The Oaks Apartments when it opened in 1997. Mrs. Arends was a member of an extension club, Mary-Martha Circle and Bethany Ladies Aid. She loved cooking, baking and serving others. She also enjoyed gardening. Survivors include two sons, David (Diane) Arends, and Thomas (Dixie) Arends, all of Luverne, a daughter-in-law, Janice Arends, Irvine, Calif.; five grandchildren, Michael (Gabrielle) Arends, John Arends, all of Irvine, Paul (Teresa) Arends, Brian (Kim) Arends, all of Luverne, and Beth (Kent) Senf, Fairmont; six great-grandchildren, Madeleine and Mark Rodney Arends, Peyton, Colton and Cooper Arends, and Bergen Senf; and one sister, Alta Jorgenson, Mesa, Ariz. Mrs. Arends was preceded in death by her husband, John, one son, Rodney, a brother, Bill Carlson, and a sister, Minnie Brandenburg.A tree will be planted in memory of Ethel Arends by Luverne Hospice.Hartquist Funeral Home – Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

10 years ago (1994)"Tracee Lenderts was among an elite group of athletes at the Northwestern College Basketball Camp conducted July 11-14. There were 155 campers in attendance. Leenderts, the daughter of Alan and Bonnie Leenderts, Hills, collected the ninth grade champion and camp champion award in the one-on-one tournament." 25 years ago (1979)"Members of the 1942 Steen softball team were: Harvey Scholten, Arnold Wissink, Vyron Paulsen, George Goemen, Kenneth Van Voorst, Preston Heunick, John Van Malsen, Bob Helgerson, Rich Aykens, Ben Hoogeveen, Dennis Scholten, Curtis Paulsen, Archie Helgeson and S.O. Mithun."50 years ago (1954)"Hats off to the Hills Implement Co. They are ripping up some of those 50-year-old sidewalks and replacing them with new. All the walk from the front door, back along the south side to the east end of the building is being replaced. We hope the disease is contagious!"75 years ago (1929)"This is a case of a man growing younger as he grows older — none other than R.B. Hinkly, one of Luverne’s prominent citizens who was in Hills Tuesday morning, and mind you, he was on the job posting bills for a circus. Mr. Hinkly is no ‘springer’ as many of Hills old residents will remember that he was one of the parties that started the first bank here in 1893. He looks about 55, but must be a lot older and he is a granddad many times over."100 years ago (1904)"A couple of giddy young girls, still in short dresses, who claimed Rock Rapids as their home, were here Sunday afternoon in company with a pair of young men. Their actions while in town indicated that they were all heading for the lower regions, and someone should have taken them by the nape of the neck and marched them home to their mammas."

Jim and Marilyn Jellema attended the wedding Sunday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek for Jason and Bonnie Rauk. Paul and Helen Hougen will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at 3246 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa. The Hougen family lived in Hills years ago when they served the Bethlehem congregation and moved to Decorah 26 years ago. They invite their friends. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson visited Kathryn’s aunt, Alma Flisrand at Watertown, S.D., on Friday. Wilmer and Betty Elbers returned home Tuesday of last week after spending some time with their daughters, Nyla Newsome and Peg Iverson and their families in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Their granddaughter, Corrine Iverson, competed in a dance contest while there which they attended. Corrine came back to Hills with them to spend a few days here. Lexia DeWit, Sioux Falls, spent Monday visiting her parents, Cliff and Vi VanWyhe.The Vic Sandagers had their annual weekly outing at Lake Ida near Alexandria last week. Present were Vic and Fran, Daryl and Jane Schubert and family, John Sandager and family, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jim and Louisa Sandager and family, West Des Moines, Iowa, and Mark and Karen Sandager and family. The Schuberts are in Wisconsin this week attending a missionary conference. Randy and Brenda Beyer spent last week vacationing in the Black Hills while their children, Courtney, Grant and Jarid spent time with their grandparents, Jake and Kathy Hoogendorn. A deal was completed recently when the residence of Al and Judy Top was sold to Ross and Heather Metzger of Hills. Making his home there is Jim Metzger Jr. who has just graduated from Mitchell, S.D., Technical School. Welcome to Hills!Margo Skattum, Forestburg, S.D., spent Friday with her mother, Harriet Skattum. The Rev. Tim Vink and Dana and three daughters of California came Wednesday to spend until Aug. 4, in the home of her parents, John and Carol VanMaanen, and to be present at the 90th birthday celebration for her grandmother, Helen Top, which was celebrated the past weekend with all her children present. Mary Carter returned home late Sunday afternoon after spending a week in the home of her daughter, Jean and Dennis Smith at Lititz, Pa. Shirley Longnecker returned to her home in Mt. Dora, Fla., after spending since July 14 with her mother, Laura Paulsen in Hills and other relatives. She attended the Aukes family reunion along with Laura at the Pipestone City Park on July 24.

Oooh! What beautiful mornings we have been having! It looks like the weatherman and I are going to have to bury the hatchet, at least for awhile. This past week was very pleasant with the exception of a few days when the temperatures rose into the 90s on the thermometer. The forecast is for another very pleasant week with some possible showers the middle of the week. It looks like full speed ahead to catch up on the garden and flowers and the weeds that are growing up taller than I am and they are everywhere. I do not look forward to convincing them that they no longer have a home. Regardless, it has to be done! Here I go for better or for worse. It had better be for better as this is my choice land and what I am striving to achieve.Friday Beth Sakuri from Yokohama, Japan, arrived by plane in Sioux Falls. Those at the airport to meet her were her family, Mike and Judy, Amanda and Alan Bonnema, Jim and Ginger France, Sioux City, Iowa, Paul and Carole Aykens, Susan Veldkamp and Jadeyn, Orange City, Iowa, Linda Hengeveld, Valley Springs, Mildred Keunen, Jo and Joyce Aykens. They all enjoyed dinner together at the Royal Fork before returning to their homes.Belva Lumont, Sioux Falls, was a Friday afternoon caller in the Mildred Paulsen home. She is the daughter of Mildred’s cousin, Merrit Riter of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Those attending camp at Inspiration Hills this week are Jacob Bos and Justin Esselink.Sunday dinner guests in the Henrietta Huenink home were her daughter and husband, Pete and Judy Boeve, Sioux Falls. Friday evening Henrietta Boeve, Melba Boeve, Carol Zwaan and Cheryl Hup attended the Worthing Dinner Theater at Worthing, S.D. The play was titled "Love, Sex and the IRS!" It was a very amusing evening.Mildred Keunen, Jo and Joyce Aykens went to Orange City to visit in the Paul and Carole Aykens home Wednesday evening. While there, they attended the band concert at Northwestern College.Mildred Paulsen attended the local Advisory Council for Mental Health last evening at Rock County Human Services building in Luverne. Sunday dinner guests in the Joan Hoogeveen home were her family, Janice and Jerry Peters, Chandler, and Rick and Audrey DeBeer and daughters, Dana and Tracy, Tea, S.D.The Steen softball team lost their game with Doon, Iowa, Friday evening. Tuesday evening they play Lester, Iowa, at Lester. On July 30, Ellsworth plays Steen at Steen. Good luck to them!Those enjoying breakfast together Wednesday morning in Luverne in honor of Mildred Keunen’s birthday were Ginger France, Bertha and Bill Bosch and Jo and Joyce Aykens.Our world today has gotten to be so much smaller than it once was as transportation has made it possible for anyone who desires to visit anywhere in the world. Consequently, we are learning more and more about each other’s countries, governments and people. I know, I for one, have begun to appreciate the freedom we all enjoy in America much more than I used to. I also began to realize that in our world today it is going to be our responsibility to see that not only do we retain our freedom but that we can help others less fortunate than we, to obtain it for themselves. That is what we are fighting for in our world today. The freedom we all enjoy was given to us by our forefathers who gave everything, family, money and even their very lives, for those who came with them and for all of the citizens of America forever. Today we take this freedom for granted. We need to take a good look at what this freedom has done for this nation and all of us living here. Our flag is a symbol of freedom and justice throughout the world. It is the symbol for millions of people who live in slavery and are deprived of many things. It is their hope that someday they make their homes in this great land of ours. In the days of doubt and fear and uncertainty when freedom and justice were so seriously threatened it is fitting that we should pause to rededicate ourselves to the basic freedoms symbolized by our flag. These principles have sustained us throughout history. They have made it possible for us to grow in power and purpose. They have strengthened us when we faltered … given us courage when we have been afraid. United us when we were divided.We have much to be thankful for and we should all remember that it is up to us to keep this freedom alive. We cannot sit idly by and leave it to others. Each one of us should remember what makes freedom, For me, it comes down to how we treat each other individually. We need to respect each other, be willing to help each other, respect one another even though we may not agree with everything they say. We need to have concern for others and be willing to lend a helping hand, respect what we have and be willing to share.I could go on and on, but I ask you to make your own list of what you can do to preserve our individual freedom. America is bulging with good things for all. For all who are willing to work, care for others, learn to share and be faithful to our freedom that our forefathers paid such a price for. We all need to let freedom ring!

Thinking about redecorating your living room? Then consider this. When it comes to home decor perhaps we shouldn’t limit ourselves to choices such as traditional, early American or modern contemporary. What we really need is the "sports stadium concession area look," where the focal points in our living rooms are television screens and personal vending machines. Maytag SkyBox vending machines, listed at $607, have been sold since early this spring. A spokesman for Home Depot, exclusive distributor for the machines, calls them "the ultimate new addition to your family’s home entertainment zone." "It doesn’t require dollar bills or taking eyes off the TV to get your favorite beverage," he added. What’s really exciting for sports fans — as well as people with no decorating sense — is that the machines may be customized on the front and side panels with sports logos from the NFL, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, college and other sports. As a result of the new machines, couch potatoes will no longer have to walk long distances to their kitchens during commercials to retrieve beverages and snack foods. But, why stop there? Perhaps we should move the family’s beds into the living room, where everyone can eat, sleep and drink, all within viewing distance of the TV screen. It’s only a matter of time before home vending machines will take over people’s lives. The following behaviors might help us readily recognize families with vending machine dependencies: You’re invited over to their house for dinner and the menu consists of pre-packaged servings of pretzels and potato chips, cellophane-wrapped chocolate chip cookies and all the cold sodas you can drink. The only nighttime illumination in the living room is provided by the TV and the family’s vending machines. Because of their self-imposed confinements and their general lack of exposure to weather elements and the outside world, all members of the family have skin that strongly resembles unbaked pizza dough. The only member of the family with any physical strength at all is the one delegated to refill the vending machines and to carry out the empty beverage containers on a daily basis. This is most likely the same person given the unpleasant tasks of unloading the dishwasher and cleaning the house from time to time, and she’s not happy about it. The purring and humming of the personal vending machines will replace the need for pets, which require too much time away from the TV screen. Enterprising families will quit their day jobs and install coin and dollar bill slots in their living room vending machines. They will readily open their doors to friends, relatives and strangers who might be passing through their neighborhoods. When personal vending machines are taken to such an extreme, most residential areas will have to be re-zoned as residential/commercial. Students unable to study math and watch TV at the same time will acquire valuable math skills by using the coin-operated vending machines. "If soda sells for 50¢ a can, and I have $2, how many cans can I buy?" Some problems will be easier, but every vending machine purchase will become an educational opportunity. When the popularity of coin-operated, home vending machines increases, the most common question heard in American living rooms, "Where’s the remote?" will be replaced by, "Who has change for a five?"

By Lori Ehde4-H families liken county fair time to tournament time in high school basketball or harvest time for farmers."It’s when we get to show off our work," said 15-year-old Hilary Hanson. She and her sister, Diana, 13, have been busy all year working on projects and participating in 4-H meetings and community events.Besides each showing horses, the girls took on ambitious lists of 4-H work.Diana is in creative arts, food, demonstration and performing arts.Hilary, who’s in driver’s education and basketball and volleyball camps this summer, scaled back somewhat on 4-H involvement.She’s showing horses and has a colored pencil drawing in fine arts. She leaves for a national youth leadership convention this week and won’t be home until the first day of the fair.June 28, Presentation Night, was a big night for 4-H kids who had demonstrations, foods review, performing arts and software presentation.In addition to having their projects judged and performing with their horses in front of judges, the girls also take their shifts in the 4-H food stand and pick up miscellaneous responsibilities, such has helping to clean the 4-H building prior to the fair.Hilary and Diana are the youngest of four children Earl and Janet Hanson have raised in the 4-H community, and fair time has become a season in itself for them."It’s sometimes harrying to try to keep up with where everyone else is," Earl said. "They’re always busy."Throw in a wedding (their oldest daughter Andrea was married two weeks ago) and they could easily win the contest for busiest family this summer."Yes, it’s hectic," Janet said when asked what life has been like in the past week. But she quickly adds that that shouldn’t scare families away from joining 4-H."It’s as much or little as you want to put into it. … There are kids who have only one project … That’s what’s cool about it. That, and it’s a family thing."She said she grew up in 4-H but her parents didn’t get as involved, so she didn’t get to experience the program on the level her girls are now."It’s a life-teaching experience," Janet said, referring to details like recordkeeping on projects."It’s stuff you need to know as an adult."Earl referred to Fashion Revue as an example of common-sense skills 4-H kids learn. "It’s not about who has the neatest looking outfit, it’s about knowing how much you spent on it and how to care for it."Earl, who works with Blue Mound Insurance and Financial Services, said he’s not as involved with the girls’ 4-H projects as Janet has been, but he helps out where he can.For example, in horse judging, part of the competition involves opening and closing a gate without getting off the horse, so he built a wooden gate in the back yard for Diana and Hilary to practice with.The Hanson’s location on the east edge of town has been handy for their horse work.They rent barn space and pasture ground from Case Feikema, so accessing the animals amounts to crossing through the hedge in the back yard into the open country."This has been pretty neat for us," Earl said. Between the two of them, in their years of 4-H involvement, Hilary and Diana have covered a wall in one room with plaques, trophies and ribbons — evidence that they take the program seriously."4-H has been a good experience for our family," Janet said. "They’ve learned so many different things."Now, the Hansons are starting a third generation in 4-H with a granddaughter in Cloverbuds."I just believe in the program," Janet said.Despite the responsibilities and demanding fair schedule the family agrees the busy times are happy times."It’s like tournament time for basketball players," Earl said. "It’s work, but what kid wants to give that up?"See the Fair Premium Book for a complete 4-H schedule, or call the Extension Office, 283-1302, for information. Judging starts Wednesday, and all fair activities officially get underway Thursday.

By Sara StrongWith law enforcement contracts hanging by a thread, the city of Luverne asked special legal counsel to research which services it could get without a contract with the county. The Rock County Sheriff’s Department is funded half by the county, and half by the city of Luverne through a contract. The city and county had a similar relationship for dispatching services, but that contract ends at the end of the year. The city this year has disputed its contract amount, saying city taxpayers pay twice — once through the city levy, and once through the county levy. The county says that’s the case with all cities that contract for law, and that Luverne gets more services for its larger contract amount. Special counsel Chris Hood said, "All the city is trying to do here is settle terms and conditions for services at an equitable rate." After outlining a few options to the Luverne City Council, Hood said he still recommended negotiating a contract for law enforcement services with the county."I see nothing but a downside for the county to not come to the table in good faith," Hood said. Hood said the city could sue the county under a few circumstances if services weren’t adequate.If the city and county are to come to terms on a contract for joint law, and possibly reinstate the dispatch joint powers, Sept. 1 is the deadline. Even if the contract is cancelled by September, the contract would be in place until the end of 2005.Hood said, "Rolling that budget into the other contract, in my opinion, is totally inappropriate." Greg, "To the extent that the Sheriff’s Department provides services to other cities, they’d have to provide the same in Luverne."

By Lori EhdeArea residents are still repairing damages caused by the severe thunderstorm that blew through southwest Minnesota in the early morning hours of July 13.Bob and Barb Loosbrock are among dozens of property owners who turned in insurance claims over the past week.Their new home, built only a few years ago from what used to be Blue Mound Inn restaurant, now needs new siding after hail punctured golf-ball-size holes in the vinyl siding.Windows on the north side were also broken and shingles may need some work. Barb Loosbrock said she wasn’t surprised to see the damage after experiencing that 12:15 a.m. thunderstorm."That night we felt like we were sitting in the middle of the parking lot inside a file cabinet," Barb Loosbrock said."It sounded like someone was hitting the windows with a baseball bat. It was this loud, crashing sound."She said the size of the hail wasn’t as striking as the velocity it traveled with by way of 63 mph winds."Of all the years we had the restaurant out here, I can’t remember hail being that bad," she said."It wasn’t that we saw big hail, it was just so windy. It must have been like knife blades out there."If that wasn’t bad enough, she said the doorbell could be heard above the thunder and pounding hailstones."In the middle of all this, I kept hearing this strange sound, and here the doorbell was ringing," she said. "Maybe it was the wind, or maybe a short in the wiring … It was just ringing and ringing."She said the wind must have been particularly powerful on the south side of the hill leading up to their home along Highway 75.Just southwest of the little chapel, a tree was uprooted and moved a large quartzite boulder in the process, and one of the three signs advertising local churches blew over.State Farm Insurance Agent Pat Foerster didn’t say how many property damage claims his office handled, but he said Luverne residents on the northeast side saw the most damage, and that county residents in the Kanaranzi area saw the largest hail.He said property claims varied from roofs and siding to cars and trailers.Cattnach Insurance Agent Barb Anderson said crop adjusters will wait a couple more days to assess hail and wind damage to local fields."So far, there are a few fields where things are starting to die out, but a lot are looking better," she said.She said it’s typical for fields to look bad immediately following a storm, but accurate assessments are best taken 10 days after plants are damaged.

By Lori EhdeIt’s no CSI television show, but Rock County deputies used DNA testing for their own crime scene investigation to solve a burglary at Smooky’s Pizza.According to a complaint filed last week in Rock County District Court, a burglar broke into Smooky’s pizza on March 15 and got away with roughly $120 in cash.But in the process, he left behind blood from glass that cut his hand when he broke the door. This key evidence, combined with clues that the burglar was an employee, led to the arrest of 20-year-old Christopher Lee Virkus, Luverne.According to Investigator Jeff Wieneke, Smooky’s owners Richard and Brenda Latten suspected the burglar was someone familiar with the business.The cash machine wasn’t forcibly broken into — the cash was taken by somebody who knew how to operate the till. Also, a tin "Camel" cigarette can with $60 cash was also missing. The can was kept in the back of a closet, where only an employee would know where to find it.Based on recommendations from the Lattens, four Smooky’s employees were questioned as potential suspects.They all submitted DNA samples which were turned over to BCA labs in St. Paul to test for a match on the blood found on the cash register.When questioned by deputies on April 5, Virkus said he worked at Smooky’s and knew about the release lever under the drawer of the cash register. He also voluntarily submitted to a saliva sample for DNA testing.On July 2, Deputy Wieneke again questioned Virkus, who was informed his DNA matched the blood collected at the crime scene.At this time Virkus admitted to breaking into Smooky’s Pizza in the early morning hours of March 15, cutting his hand when he broke the glass door with a hammer.He said he took money from the cash register and Camel tin, and he threw the tin into a creek west of Luverne.The burglary occurred on March 15, and DNA test results weren’t back from the BCA until July 2.Wieneke said it’s not unusual for lab results to take that long."We didn’t get it all done in an hour, like on CSI Miami," he said about the crime scene television show.He said the quickest turnaround he’s seen for DNA results was two weeks, and that was for the murder investigation of Carrie Nelson, who was killed three years ago at the Blue Mounds State Park."DNA takes three months or so to get back from the BCA," he said. "We sent in four samples."In criminal investigations, the state pays for the cost of DNA testing, which is being used more often in Rock County, especially for prosecuting sexual assaults."When we start getting burglaries, we want to put a stop to them right away, and it’s hard to beat DNA for evidence," Wieneke said. "It’s something we’ll be using more frequently as technology improves."He said a simple swipe on the inside of a cheek with a sterile Q-tip is all it takes to collect DNA from a suspect. "It’s quick and painless."Charges of second and third degree burglary, both felony charges, were filed against Virkus on Wednesday, July 14.He’ll appear in Rock County District on July 26.