Dawn Sandager came to the Village on a visit and said, " You know I read Life in the Village and it sounds like such fun I think I’ll move in." Well this week there has been no excitement to write about or I’m forgetful. First of all, Carolyn went to Austin to visit Jill and so no Sunday night card game with Clair Crawford. Clair comes to visit his Mom but he entertains us with a game of Hearts. Mondays are reserved for Joan Berdahl. Dennis Roning comes, too, to play "Whist." Arnold S., Erma, Ione, Carolyn or Ruby whoever is available shorten their day by playing a game and they tell me about the whist champion who played long ago. Maybe with the shades down, for card playing was frowned on. You’re welcome anytime. We could use a volunteer bingo caller on Friday afternoon, though.Ione took a little trip. Not an exciting one for she went with family members to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to visit a brother who is not well and to Avoca, Iowa, to a funeral of her sister, Mabel Lorenzen. Mabel has always lived 200 miles away but we knew she was there although visits were far between we knew she was there and could talk on the phone or get a letter to learn of her happenings.The Bushes, too, have been busy. They finally decided to clean out the house. Clean out they’re doing. Boxing three floors of more than 50 years of collection. Junk they haven’t looked at in years and Ione doesn’t want to get rid of it.The pumpkins on our patio are still in tact but one of Caroline’s deer is missing. What fun is it to steal a deer? Caregiver Jason broke his finger at football practice and had to have surgery to correct it. He says no pain but he wears a big brace until it mends. The Bible Study this week was on Martin Luther. Bud’s mother always said it was good luck if a cat came to your house. Well, we have seen a big black cat around the Village. A cat may be good luck but I’m not sure about a black one. We watched a steady stream of visitors go to the bazaar across the street and wondered who won the raffle tickets. We had the first snowfall of the winter and Ed put the shovels in our entry in anticipation of the next storm. Snow puts me in the holiday spirit. Our chat is short for Clair got me off schedule and I forgot to write my news.I’ll keep you posted.

Ray and Lois Nelson attended the Veterans Day dinner at Luverne Senior Dining Tuesday noon. Following, they attended the Veterans Day program at Minnesota Veterans Home. Fran and Karen Sandager returned home last Monday afternoon from Colorado Springs, Colo., where they were guests of John and Joanne Sandager. They attended the baptism of Tatianna and David Mucer’s daughter, Isabella Christina. Howard Vis hosted a belated 80th birthday dinner Saturday for his mother, Louise Vis, at the Hills American Legion club room. A brother and sister-in-law from Sioux Center, Iowa, were present. Louise lives in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Karen Gaugler motored to Fargo, N.D., Friday for a visit with her friend, Jodi Rouse. Faith DeBoer and her brother, Bill Kroon, attended the Bill Gaither concert at the Arena Friday night in Sioux Falls. Don and Edyth Briggs motored to Brookings, S.D., Saturday where Don attended the meeting of the South Dakota York Rite College. Saturday morning visitors at the Ray Nelson home were Dave and Nancy Anderson, Dell Rapids, S.D. Nancy is Lois’ niece. Merlin Garlid returned to his home at Center City Sunday after spending a few days in the home of his daughter, Nancy and Mike Sandager. While here he also attended the school play, "Murder Mysteries," in Luverne in which Becca had a part. Wilmer and Betty Elbers attended the Washington High School band concert in Sioux Falls Monday evening. Their granddaughter, Kelsey Elbers, daughter of Darwin and Kim Elbers, was one of the flute players. Marvin and June Albers returned home after spending 10 days at their son Terry’s Pheasant Lodge at Roscoe, S.D. They report good hunting with all the hunters getting their limit. Two young men have recently new living quarters in Hills. Scott Hansel is getting settled in the former Schubbe residence and Matt Boeve has moved from the country into the former residence of Steve and Joan Fagerness. Thursday night Ray and Lois Nelson attended the Augustana Band Concert at Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science. Faith DeBoer cared for her grandchildren last week. Her grandson, son of Pam McNath, Centerville, S.D., spent Thursday with her and on Saturday Kendra and brothers, Kody and Kadin, children of Shari Doerr, were here. Friday evening Wilmer and Betty Elbers and Jim and Sharon Boeve enjoyed dinner together at the Intermission Café in Rock Rapids. The couples share the same wedding date which they celebrated.

10 years ago (1993)"It may be time to spend money in Beaver Creek.Costly improvements are needed for the city’s lift stations and ponds. Figures have inched toward the $250,000 mark, though exact costs have been released at this time."25 years ago (1978)"H-BC football coach Dale Huber is the 1978 District Coach of the Year, Huber was selected to the position Monday evening at the coaches district meeting in Magnolia. He was elected by popular vote from a field of 11 possible candidates in District 8."50 years ago (1953)"Beware of your electric fountain heating elements, Fred Paulsen put one in his hog fountain the other day. A day or so later he came into the hog house and found four hogs had been electrocuted that night by a short in the element."75 years ago (1928)"All interested in volleyball are asked to meet in the auditorium tonight, and see what can be done toward organizing teams and getting started."100 years ago (1903)"There are a number of parents in Hills who are somewhat careless about their children attending school. All children must attend the public school 60 days during the year, and if they do not, parents are subject to a fine. If parents and guardians have any good reason why their children cannot attend school, they should so advise the school board."

William Carl Weber Jr., 82, Luverne, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003, in Luverne Community Hospital. Services were Sunday, Nov. 9, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Rev. Gary Klatt officiated. Burial was in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Steen. William Weber Jr. was born to William Sr. and Augusta (Sorensen) Weber on Aug. 19, 1921, in Clinton Township, rural Luverne. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947. He married Esther Kitchenmaster on Nov. 28, 1948, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. After their marriage, the couple farmed southwest of Luverne in Clinton Township. They moved to Luverne in 1982. He retired in 1984. Mr. Weber was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne where he served in various offices. Survivors include his wife, Esther Weber, Luverne; two sons, Charles (Shirley) Weber, rural Luverne, and Bill (Barb) Weber, Luverne; six grandchildren, Beverly (Kai Herklotz) Weber, Beki Weber, Lynette Weber, Christina Weber, Brian Weber and Will Weber; and a sister-in-law, Ella Weber, Luverne. Mr. Weber was preceded in death by his parents, an infant grandchild, and one brother, Harold Weber. Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Operation Christmas Child Shoe BoxSeveral organizations in Luverne are participating in Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box.Operation Christmas Shoe Box gives people the opportunity to collect items for kids around the world who might not otherwise get a Christmas present.The program is a project of Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham.In Rock County, the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home, The Oaks, American Reformed Church, Christian Reformed Church, New Life Celebration, Steen Reformed Church and the Kenneth/Adrian Lutheran Churches are participating in the project.If you would like to participate, here are the items they would like you to collect for your box.--Toys: small cars, dolls, stuffed animals, yo-yos, balls, jump ropes--School supplies: pens, pencils, markers, tablets, coloring books--Hygiene items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, combs, soap--Other: hard candy, mints, gum, socks, sunglasses, hair clips, watches--Do not include:chocolate, liquids such as shampoo, breakable items such as mirrors.If your church is not one of the participants, you can pick up a shoe box from Nancy Kaczrowski at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home or call her at 283-2375Luverne is in the Upper Midwest region, for the project, which consists of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.Last year Operation Christmas Child collected 180,435 shoe boxes in the Upper Midwest Region, and these boxes were then sent to children in Estonia, Kazakhastan, Tajikistan, Angola, Armenia, Romania, Belarus, Ukraine, Bosnia, Rwanda, Moldova, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic, Lithuania, Macedonia, and South Africa.In 2002, the program collected over 6 million shoe boxes worldwide and distributed them to children in about 95 countries.Cub Scouts double their food shelf collectionThe recent Cub Scout food shelf drive was a big success, collecting 1,097 pounds of food and 36 pairs of old eye glasses.That more than doubles the amount of food collected during their drive last year.According to local leader, Patti Aubert, 19 local Cub Scouts participated.Highway 60 is finally openThose that find themselves making a trek to the Twin Cities on a regular basis, will be happy to hear the last four-lane segment of Highway 60 is completed.This segment, which was the Heron Lake bypass, makes Highway 60 from Worthington to Windom all four-lane.The Heron Lake project was 8.4 miles long and cost $14 million.The project has been under construction since September 2001.The Windom to Wilder section was constructed in 1994; the Worthington to Brewster piece was completed in 1997; and Brewster to Heron Lake was done in 2001.Blood Drive set for Nov. 13If you would like to donate some life-giving blood, the Community Blood Bank Bloodmobile will have a blood drive in Luverne on Thursday, Nov. 13.The drive will be at the Luverne Community Hospital from noon to 6 p.m.If you would like to make an appointment, contact the Luverne Community Hospital at 283-2321, ext. 224.Want to send a Christmas greeting to a soldier?If anyone would like to send a greeting to one of the deployed soldiers from our local unit, you can do so by sending it toAny SoldierPSC 41, Box 9000APO AE 09464If you have a specific soldier you would like to get your greeting to just insert their name in place of "any soldier."If you have any questions about reaching them, contact John Swanson, Battery A, I-125 Field Artillery, 507-283-4403.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

By Jolene FarleyThe race for three open seats on the Hills-Beaver Creek school board ended Tuesday when the polls closed. Gary Esselink, Ann Boeve, Lloyd DeBoer and Stuart Leuthold vied for the four-year seats on the school board.Gary Esselink, with 157 votes, Ann Boeve with 150 votes and Lloyd DeBoer, with 129 votes, will fill the seats.In a close race, Stuart Leuthold received 124 votes.The Hills polling place had 114 voters, while the Beaver Creek polling place had 61 voters. Steen had 33 voters.School officials were pleased with voter turnout."When you look at it, we had over 200 voters," said H-BC Superintendent Dave Deragisch."I’m very pleased with the amount of voters."Esselink, Boeve and DeBoer are currently serving on the H-BC school board.Their new terms begin Jan. 1, 2004.

By Jolene FarleyLife in Beaver Creek is back to normal after the arrest of jail escapee Jason Lee Heasley the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 29. Heasley was caught hiding, unarmed, under a blanket in the crawl space of a Sioux Falls home. Law enforcement reported he had a bundle of cash and drugs with him when captured. Investigators are unsure if Heasley was at this location during his entire time on the run, but Beaver Creek citizens and school officials weren’t taking chances.The school had been on lockdown status since receiving a phone call around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 that 29-year-old Heasley, who has a son attending the school, was potentially headed to Beaver Creek.Heasley, considered armed and dangerous, faces drug and burglary charges. He escaped from a Beadle County jail Thursday, Oct. 9.A citizen’s tip to law enforcement led to Heasley’s apprehension. The citizen called while following a vehicle they thought Heasley was in. Officers believe Heasley left the car and walked a couple of blocks to a friend’s house. Investigators later found a meth lab in the trunk of the vehicle Heasley had been in. Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary principal Todd Holthaus was notified by Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels about 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, of Heasley’s capture. Holthaus said citizens and school officials are relieved that life has returned to normal."We waited with the kids," Holthaus said. "We had them follow the routine in the morning, in the afternoon students were allowed to have normal recess outside."

By Lori EhdeLuverne’s Warren Herreid now has his World War II medals nearly 60 years after completing his service in the 103rd Infantry Division.He’s glad he bothered with the paperwork to finally receive them, and he’s encouraging all veterans of all wars to send for the medals that are due to them."Even though it makes very little difference to me, personally at this point in my life," Herreid said, "when I’m gone, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren might want to know what Grandpa did in the war."During Herreid’s service in WWII, he fought in historic blood baths, such as Rhine Land and the Battle of the Bulge. He was a communications specialist.When the war ended and it was time to go home, few soldiers were interested in medals. "At the time, no one had the time to get their medals," Herreid said. "We knew we were authorized, and it was in your discharge papers what medals you were eligible for, so most people said, ‘I want to go home.’"The military simply documented their services and discharged them with a tiny gold lapel pin, a flying eagle, that signified they’d been honorably discharged.For a long time, that tiny "ruptured duck," as the soldiers affectionately referred to it, was all they needed for recognition."It signified that you had been in the service and served your country," Herreid said."World War II veterans were very fortunate. The citizens treated you with respect. By being a veteran, there were a lot of benefits helping us to get caught up in the civilian world."There were some perks for available jobs. For example, veterans got extra points in job selection for government positions.Also, the GI Bill, among other perks, helped veterans go to college.Box full of hardwareAmong the boxful of medals Herreid earned during his 21 years of total service, he values a few above the others.The Bronze Star, for example, is given to servicemen for heroic acts in combat. The Combat Infantryman’s Badge is to the infantryman as the Silver Wings are to the pilot. "It says, ‘You were there and did that,’" Herreid said.Also special is his Bronze Star, which is given for valor under enemy gunfire.At one point, Herreid received minor shrapnel injuries while repairing a communication line under artillery fire between his battalion and headquarters.When the medic started filling out paperwork to award him a Purple Heart, he declined."Having many friends and comrades who suffered serious wounds, lost limbs and even their lives in battle … With my minor Band-Aid wound, I couldn’t in good conscience accept this prestigious medal," Herreid said."Those, like my good friend, John Gordon Johnson, who honestly earned this award with their sacrifices are the true heroes of the war."He doesn’t like the fact that people can buy medals from magazines, flea markets and gun shows with no documentation. "I think it is special to receive the awards from the U.S. Government and the service branch they served in," Herreid said.To obtain service medals, veterans need to send a request in writing, asking that their medals be issued to them. Families of deceased veterans can request medals on behalf of their loved ones.Along with letters of requests, writers need to send copies of both sides of discharge papers.The address is:National Personnel Record Center-Entitlement to Awards Division9700 Page Blvd.St. Louis, Mo, 63132Servicemen and families of deceased veterans who need to locate copies of discharge papers can request those by writing to:National Personnel Record Center9700 Page Ave.St. Louis, Mo., 63132-5100Herreid encourages all veterans to take steps to get their medals. "I think they should do it. It’s free, and the government would like to have you do it," Herreid said.He said it’s an important step in preserving family histories."So many veterans say it doesn’t mean much to them now in their later life, but the point here is that it isn’t for them," Herreid said. "It’s for their families and those who follow. It’s a heritage thing."In addition to applying for their medals, Herreid encourages veterans to share their war experiences with those close to them."Make sure you tell your story. It will mean something to them and their grandchildren," he said.

By Lori EhdeRock County Rural Water users can rest easy knowing the water their families are drinking is healthy."Our water quality is steadily improving," said Dan Cook, director of Rock County’s Rural Water system. In a Wellhead Protection Plan required by the Minnesota Department of Health, RCRW recently wrapped up a study of its drinking water sources.Since 1997, Rural Water and the Rock County Land Management Office have observed water draining into the drinking water supply management area several miles south of Luverne.Roughly 100 residents and landowners — including five small feedlot operators — live on Rock River and its tributaries. The primary area of concern is the 4,604-acre wellfield south of Luverne.Rural Water staff tested tributaries draining into the area for contaminants, such as chemicals and nitrates.The good news is they didn’t find levels that the Department of Health would consider a threat. That means, in essence, the first goal of the Wellhead Protection Plan — to maintain or achieve quality groundwater — is already done."We’ve really already achieved that goal," Cook said, "and we’re looking to send that message to everyone else in the county … that everything’s in order."This peace of mind is important in an area that gets its drinking water from shallow aquifers that are vulnerable to contamination.Cook said those water sources weren’t always in such good shape. It’s taken years of education and better farming practices to clean up the water draining into Rock County’s drinking water."There was a time when people thought if it’s good to put 10 pounds of nitrogen per acre, then it must be better to do 30 parts per acre, and we’ll get a heck of a crop," Cook said."In the past 10 years, we’ve seen some significant cleanup of our ground water."He attributed that success to the Rock County Land Management Office and its work with local feedlot operators and crop producers.Most all hog and cattle feedlots are operating within specifications of local ordinances and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency laws.Also, crop farmers are finding that practices that help the environment, such as no-till or low-tilling, contour farming and waterways, also help their long-term profits.By preventing water contaminants while at the same time instilling practices that helps to clean ground water before it filters to drinking water, Rock County’s drinking water sources are safer than ever.With the Department of Health’s Wellhead Protection Plan complete, the next step, Cook said is to continue monitoring water quality and preventing future contamination.For example, he said it’s common practice for Rural Water staff to test tributaries following a rain to check ground water for contaminants.If a particular tributary immediately downstream from a hog operation tests high for pollutants, that feedlot owner can be immediately notified so the contamination can be stopped.Much of this continuing Wellhead Protection work involves educating and getting the public involved.Assistant Land Management Director Doug Bos worked on Rock County’s feedlot plan, and is also involved with the Wellhead Protection Plan.He said establishing safe drinking water for area residents has been the driving force behind both projects."In Rock County, our well-fields are somewhat shallow, and they’re located only 40 to 70 feet below the ground surface, which is not a whole lot of soil to provide filtering for ground water," Bos said.In addition, he said there are sandy spots in the county which make the well-fields particularly vulnerable to contamination, because sandy soils allow water to run through more quickly, with less filtering heavier soils. The cleaning process isn’t as thorough."It’s a learning process and educational process for all agricultural producers and residents in these well-head protection areas," Bos said. "What they do can directly affect these aquifers."