DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OF CATHERINE JOANN ROZEBOOM DECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on Monday, January 5, 2004 at 9:00 (a.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at the Rock County Courthouse Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated April 17, 2003 and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of Chad Spelbring whose address is: 1501 S. Comet, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ TIMOTHY K. CONNELLTIMOTHY K. CONNELLJudge Date/s/ SANDRA L. VRTACNIKSANDRA L. VRTACNIKCourt Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeBENJAMIN VANDER KOOI, JR.VANDER KOOI LAW OFFICES, P.A.127 E. MainP. O. Box 746Luverne, MN 56156-0746507-283-9546Attorney I.D. No. 112124(11-27, 12-4)

OCTOBER 28, 2003MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2184, ROCK COUNTY, LUVERNE, MINNESOTA.A regular meeting of the Board of Education, ISD #2184, was held in the MS/HS Media Center on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. The following members were present: Don Bryan, Colleen Deutsch, Dan Kopp, Bill Stegemann, Steve Tofteland, and Becky Walgrave. Absent: Cary Radisewitz. Also present: Superintendent Vince Schaefer, Marlene Mann, Melody Tenhoff, and Lori Ehde, Rock County Star Herald. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dan Kopp. Mr. Schaefer gave announcements. Motion by Stegemann, second by Bryan, to approve the agenda. Motion unanimously carried. Administrative reports were given.Motion by Stegemann, second by Deutsch, to approve the school board minutes of October 9, 2003. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Bryan, second by Walgrave, to receive the Student Activity Report showing the balances as of September 30, 2003. Motion unanimously carried. Marlene Mann reviewed the District bills. Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to approve payment of these bills in the amount of $879,570.27. Motion unanimously carried. Marlene Mann conducted the Capital Outlay hearing reviewing proposed building, grounds, and equipment expenditures for the next five years. It was noted that this is not a concrete proposal, these projects are continuously reviewed for priority. Motion by Stegemann, second by Deutsch, to approve the Capital Outlay as presented. Motion unanimously carried.Marlene Mann reviewed the 2003-04 revised budget. It was noted that the School District has lost 20 students since school began. Motion by Walgrave, second by Bryan, to approve the revised 2003-04 budget with expenditures in the amount of $11,979,447. and revenues in the amount of $11,657,216. Motion unanimously carried. Melody Tenhoff reviewed the proposed math enrichment program for the elementary school to service approximately 30 students in grades 3 through 5 who are the highest achieving students. The funding for this has been secured through several organizations. Motion by Deutsch, second by Walgrave, to give approval for this program with no district money allotted. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Tofteland, to approve hiring Linda Limesand as the long term substitute for Stacey Lihs during her maternity leave. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Bryan, second by Deutsch, to accept the resignation of Christy Reisch, Media Center Paraprofessional, effective October 22, 2003. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Deutsch, second by Bryan, to accept the resignation of Gordie Hansen as 8th Grade Boys Basketball coach. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Deutsch, to approve hiring Jesse Gladis as 8th Grade Boys Basketball coach. Motion unanimously carried. Motion by Stegemann, second by Deutsch, to approve hiring Nick Nafziger as Head Boys Hockey Coach. Motion unanimously carried. No committee reports were given.The upcoming meeting dates were reviewed.Motion by Walgrave, second by Deutsch, to adjourn the meeting. Motion unanimously carried.Dated: October 28, 2003William Stegemann, Clerk

Be thankful for snail mail andfor glasses half fullI'm looking forward to the holidays, if for no other reason but to get the mail.It's the time of year when our rural mailbox holds the promise of something handwritten and personal. We look forward to the brightly-colored envelopes with seasonal stamps that stand out among the usual bulk-rate, white rectangular business envelopes.It occurred to me last month that one of the few remaining bright spots of birthdays at my age is getting birthday greetings the old-fashioned way.I received a small handful of cards in a delightful array of colored envelopes, with my name and address (the rural route that?s becoming a numbered street) penned on the front delivered by the mailman in our tin mailbox at the end of the driveway.I was reminded again that progress doesn?t always take the form of technology. Not to discount thoughtful correspondence that reaches me via e-mail, there?s really nothing like getting a "hard-copy" message to hold on to.My countertop was decorated with birthday cards propped up on their folded edges, and holiday snail mail will similarly decorate a designated wall in the kitchen as it arrives.A person can't do that with an e-mail, even if it's printed on 8 1/2 by 11 paper, even if it's on colored paper. It just doesn't have the same warming effect.I suppose this is the reason Hallmark continues developing its greeting card market, much in the same way newspapers can count on hard-copy subscriptions.As handy as cyber communication is, we simply can't prop our computer screens on the kitchen table or hang them on the front of the fridge.Be thankful... even if you have to look for reasonsI've never met Carman Oldre and I may never know her, but I was touched by her observations of life in Afghanistan where she's stationed with the Army. (See her information on this page).She's a classic example of the "glass-is-half-full" philosophy we should all consider adopting at Thanksgiving.She lives and works north of Kabul, in an impoverished area whose people have been at war for 23 years and have been left with nothing."This past year I have experienced sorrow, fear, exhaustion and disappointment," she writes. "The frailty of life looks me in the eye every day."Rather than see the hopelessness of the situation, Carman recognizes the joy of making small, important improvements where she's able. And for that she?s thankful.How about this for attitude: She has to walk three blocks on ice and cold to use the port-a-john, but she's thankful for toilet paper when it's available.There's a lot of hurt in the world...everybody hurts. Some people have bigger hurts than others.For people with "glasses half empty," these hurts can ruin the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas. With really nothing to be thankful for, why celebrate, right?I guess my response to this is simple: If you're looking for reasons to be thankful this year, read Carman's letter.Then, look a little harder.

It has been said that a woman?s home is a reflection of her personality. It tells people who she is and what she cares about. The home reveals the fundamental qualities of her soul. For men, it is a place to drop their underwear on the floor. For the past five years every single wall in our house was beige, a color that is NOT a reflection of my soul. Still, I refused to let the wall color suffocate my personality and I decorated the rooms in a manner that reflected my true self. Six months ago I decided to get the interior of the house painted. I deliberated at length. I brought home hundreds of paint samples. Its difficult and time-consuming to uncover all of the aspects of your personality and determine which of those aspects should be reflected in each room. It?s a very strenuous process. In the end, I figured it all out with a little help from my painter (Lisa). She observed and revealed some bolder aspects of my personality of which I was not aware. I?ve known myself for 52 years and I am Whispering Wind and Baby?s Breath. She knew me for 10 minutes and saw Baked Terracotta and Vintage Claret. It?s scary. As the painting progressed, I have to admit, I had a little identity crisis going on. The second day into the project I came home on my lunch hour and walked through the house to view my newly-revealed personality. I returned to my pickup, flipped down the vanity mirror, and asked the age-old question, "Who am I?" Since then I have "found my self" and as I walk through the house and view the rooms, I can truthfully say that I am far more interesting than I thought. If you decide to paint your house, stop by the library to get some ideas. Whether you?re Whispering Wind of Baked Terracotta, you?ll find lots of guidance here. There are also some fabulous sites on the Internet to help you make your choices. We can also provide you with excellent choices in new fiction this week. "Some Kind of Miracle" by Iris Dart. Cousins Dahlia and Sunny Gordon were best friends growing up, bound by a shared love for making music that was as pure, powerful, and radiant as the California sunshine. They promised they would stick together all the way to the top. But a darkness was already descending on Sunny, one that would ultimately plunge her into a nightmare of solitude and schizophrenia. After long years of fruitless struggle, Dahlia still dreams of making it in the Los Angeles music business. A lucky break has brought a composition she and Sunny wrote long ago to the attention of a powerful Hollywood producer. Dahlia must find her cousin in order to secure the rights to the song that will win her fame and fortune. But Sunny Gordon now inhabits a place of madness and despair, and her obstinate refusal to sign a contract infuriates Dahlia and strengthens her resolve. Dahlia will do anything to get what she wants ? even if it means moving her tragically damaged cousin, demons and all, into her own home. Yet selfish motives and greed are leading Dahlia somewhere she never imagined she'd go. For the first time since she was a girl she will have to put someone else's needs before her own, and her life will be unexpectedly transformed in the process. And sometimes, even when real life reaches its cruelest and lowest ebb, miracles do happen. The library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and open regular hours on Friday and Saturday.

Rock County?s CapitalThis article appeared in the Rock County Herald on July 4, 1884:An outline pen sketch of Luverne, and its surroundings, its advantages and its prospects as they appear to a visitor.The Land of Plenty, a pamphlet lately issued by the Chicago St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha railroad company, contains the following in relation to Luverne which will convey to the distant reader an idea of the impression which our beautiful town produces on all who visit it. An attempt to give the distant reader a word picture that will convey to him a correct idea of Luverne, its beauty of location, its thrift and enterprise, and in general, the numerous points of advantage and superiority which have won for the town to distinction it enjoys of being one of the very best and most flourishing in southwestern Minnesota, would signally fail of doing justice to the subject. All who visit Luverne for the first time are invariably surprised at the growth it has already attained, the amount of business it transacts and the superior excellence alike of its business houses, its residences and its public buildings. The place must be seen to be fully appreciated. The corporate limits of the town embrace about 220 acres of land lying on a gentle slope to the south and east and the entire plat, which terminates on the east at the banks of the river, overlooks the magnificent valley of the Rock to the northeast and south and its natural beauty is heightened by fine groves of timber which skirt the stream and form a delightful pleasure resort at the foot of Main Street. West of the town the surface rises gradually from the river, and to the north the view is obstructed by the rugged outlines of the celebrated Blue Mounds, whose craggy heights rise perpendicularly from the valley, about three miles distant but so distinctly visible that they seem but a short walk away. Located at the junction of the main line of the Chicago St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha road from St. Paul to Sioux Falls with a line of the same road running down the valley, surrounded by some of the richest farming lands in the west, possessed of the advantages of excellent water power, and enjoying a profitable trade from a radius of from 15 to 20 miles, Luverne possesses advantages as a railroad and business center, together with advantages for manufacturing industries and opportunities for profitable business investments, which no town in southern Minnesota can surpass. Its growth has been of that gradual, substantial and permanent character which bespeaks stability and insures its future prosperity, and the town has already won prestige among Minnesota towns which excites the envy of its neighbors and the pardonable pride of its citizens. The ordinary lines of business are well represented. The corporation has built two school houses ? one at a cost of $11,000. There are four church edifices. The people are public spirited, and the lively business air of the place would do credit to a much larger town. Every visitor will be richly repaid by a visit to the Blue Mounds, an immense formation of jasper stone which forms a prominent object of interest in plain view from the town. A view from the Mounds is entrancing. At the base of these "Picture Rocks" the fertile valley of the Rock River stretches away to the banks of the stream, and as far as the eye can discern in either direction, a scene of unparallel beauty is presented. North and south the gently sloping valley, dotted with farm houses and groves of timber is visible to a distance of nearly 15 miles in either direction, and away to the west and east the view comprehends a stretch of fertile rolling prairies whose grandeur and picturesque beauty have few counterparts in all the far-famed West.(It should be borne in mind that the new railroad concerning which information is given elsewhere in this issue, has been projected since the above article was written. ? Ed)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.

Like beauty, chocolate has much to do with the eye of its beholder. Based on taste alone, chocolate is readily accepted by millions of people from all walks of life. We don?t have to be reminded that it?s a vegetable (a cocoa bean is a vegetable, isn?t it?) or that its countless devotees consider it to be a basic food group. Many of us were understandably pleased, but not surprised, when researchers at the University of Cologne, Germany, recently announced that three ounces of dark chocolate a day for two weeks lowers high blood pressure in adults. That pleasure soon turned to downright smugness when The Week magazine also revealed that Italian and Scottish researchers found that chocolate significantly raises levels of antioxidants, "chemicals that mop up heart-damaging molecules called free radicals." What should trouble any chocolate lover, however, is the news that came out of Paris, site of the European Chocolate Trade Fair earlier this month. Apparently, Europe?s chocolate makers are now using words to describe their products that are normally reserved for fine wines. The words tossed around the fair included fermentation, fragrance, bouquet and palate. "Wine and chocolate terms are getting closer and closer," a French "chocolatier" told Reuters. "In chocolate as in wine you can find different flavors depending on the soil in which the cocoa beans were grown, how much rain they received and the fermentation process." This is more information than chocolate lovers need to know. We can?t adequately put into words why we even love people in our lives, so we most certainly can?t be expected to explain our love for chocolate with words normally reserved for vintage wines. We only know we love it. Using descriptive adjectives tends to take the fun out of chocolate and it also cuts into chocolate eating time. There is an element of danger in treating chocolate like wine, another product attributed with addictive powers. All sorts of problems could arise when chocolate becomes more than a comfort food or a daily staple in our diets. From the masses of chocolate lovers ? basically gregarious, happy, outgoing people ? chocolate elitists will surely arise and they will nibble, as opposed to gorge, on tiny pieces of chocolate with their pinky fingers extended. They will utter statements such as, "This Belgian chocolate is long on the palate" or "A bit musty and mushroomy, wouldn?t you say?" Because of its addictive attributes, chocolate will no longer be available to people of all ages. Some over-zealous government agency, such as ATFC (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Chocolate) will subject us to random breathalyser tests as we step from our cars or as we walk down sidewalks. "Sorry, lady, but you register at a four-candy bar level. You will have to come down to the station with us." As the addictive qualities and weight issues associated with chocolate become government concerns, prohibition could be a definite possibility. Few of us would be ready for a world where huge batches of chocolate are mixed in bathtubs and banned chocolate is sold behind the peep-holed alley doors of "melt-easies." At the very least, the consumption of chocolate will be banned in public places. Because of these reasons and many more, comparing chocolate with wine should be discouraged.

A veteran?s take of ?Holiday Cheer?As another holiday season approaches in our little corner of the world, we look forward to the warmth and love of family that comes with it. Food and family, gifts and reunions will fill our lives very soon. In this time we should try to put politics and opinions aside to think of those who will miss the holiday season this year.In 2003, we have more members of our community who have gone to serve their country in this latest war. They are doing their part to keep all of our families safe. The greatest cost is to them, their families, spouses, and children. The history of the United States is filled with holidays like this. Holidays with empty seats at the table and children that cannot understand why dad or mom is not there for them. Our servicemen have gone to all the corners of the globe to defend freedom and liberate countless people. They have given precious time out of their lives to protect their country.The war on terror is a new war against a new and more dangerous enemy than we have ever faced. This enemy fades in and out like a shadow on a cloudy day and loves to target civilians. The targets they like don?t have defenses and are filled with the sounds of children. This enemy is vicious and ruthless and just a handful of them can wreak havoc and bring fear to our country. The current crop of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are an all volunteer group, well equipped and trained, and very proud of their mission and how they are accomplishing it. During a recent interview with one of the survivors of the downed Chinook helicopter, the interviewer seemed to try to lead the soldier to make critical remarks about this war. She was obviously shocked when the young man pledged his support and spoke only of getting back to his platoon, his military family. He was a picture of this generation. The question has been asked when our servicemen have showed their character, "Where are they getting these guys?"As families gather and dinners are cooked this year we must realize that our safe holiday dinner, warm houses, and free lives come from one place only. Our freedoms are brought to us courtesy of those that have spent a holiday in the desert or the Argonne Forest, the Chosin Reservoir or the Mekong Delta. We owe everything to the men and women of the military, past and present. We also owe the parents, spouses, and children who watched them go to serve and defend their country.As you give thanks and prayers for your families and blessings this holiday season, take time to include in your prayers all who have allowed us to live this life we enjoy. They are one of our greatest blessings.Curtis M. Hendel

By John RittenhouseThe Adrian Dragons were not overlooked when the 2003 All-Little Sioux Conference roster was released last week.Adrian, which placed second in the league with a 6-1 record, drew five All-LSC selections.Senior offensive and defensive lineman Josh Winselman, senior running back-defensive tackle Trent Bullerman, junior quarterback-cornerback Levi Bullerman, junior fullback-linebacker Tony Sauer and junior receiver-cornerback Brett Block made the all-league team for AHS.Adrian senior Brandon Wolf and junior Casey Knips made the LSC?s All-Academic Team.League champion Russell-Tyler-Ruthton led all teams with seven all-conference selections.Sophomore Kyle Minett, seniors Joel Wiering, Scott Staniszewski, Nathan Blegen and Joe Wichern and juniors Adam Lingen and Ramsey Gravley made the team for the Knights.Minett was named the LSC Most Valuable Player of the year.Fulda drew four all-league selections in seniors Paul Clausen and Aaron Crowley, junior Jeremy Crowley and sophomore Tim Haberuan.Canby, Minneota and Dawson-Boyd drew three all-league selections each.Canby seniors Dave Monke, Joe Miller and Adam Hulzebos made the team. Minneota seniors Jason Stripling and Ben Derynck and junior Steffan Sticklestead graced the roster. D-B seniors Tim Cariveau, Justin Wager and Dan Prestholdt represent the Blackjacks on the roster.Ortonville senior Ryley Sammon caps the All-LSC roster.R-T-R?s Kent Mikkelsen and Steve Borchert were named the LSC Coach and Assistant Coach of the year respectively.

By John RittenhouseThe Luverne girls? hockey team let a two-goal advantage slip away during Friday?s season-opening game in New Ulm.Luverne junior Natalie Domagala netted a pair of unassisted goals in the first 4:03 of the game to give the Cardinals an early lead.The Eagles, however, used a four-point performance from Tiffany Hoffman to edge LHS 5-3 in the end.New Ulm rallied to tie the game at two before the first period was complete and took a 3-2 lead when Hoffman scored her second goal of the game after being set up by Jocelyn Janni with 10:00 left in the second period.Luverne bounced back to tie the game at three when Chessa Ossefoort scored after being set up by Sadie Dietrich with 3:00 left in the second stanza, but New Ulm?s Liz Bode netted an unassisted goal one minute later to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead they wouldn?t relinquish.New Ulm received an insurance goal from Angie Sieffert with 4:35 left in the third period. Hoffman and Danielle Bode received assists for the game?s final goal.The Cardinals started the game on a promising note as Domagala found the net with unassisted goals at the 15:54 and 12:57 marks of the first period.Hoffman scored an unassisted goal at 11:57 before setting up a goal by Danielle Bode that tied the game at two with 7:00 remaining in the opening period.Although New Ulm outshot the Cards 40-26 in the contest, LHS coach Dave Siebenahler was happy with the way his girls played in the opener."I think we played very well," he said. "This probably was a game we should have won."Sara Schneekloth minded the net for LHS. She stopped 35 of 40 shots in her first varsity start.Luverne hosts Marshall for its Southwest Conference opener Dec. 4.