Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 10

Contact our regional staff Conine Olson: Minnehaha County. 331-2311 Randy Hascall: Lincoln County. 331-2320 Metafile Brandert: Minnesota and Iowa, 977-3926 Peter Harriman: Roving reporter, 575-3615 James Smorada: Correspondents coordinator, 331-2376 Sioux Falls, South Dakota SOUTH DAKOTA AND THE Argus Leader EGION 2B Saturday Jan. 19, 2002 DELL RAPIDS Writer inspired by mother's death US MiNfCSO I Watertowrl vv lEIIsworth AFB(- 1 Maraii "-'Plefre Marshall P-U iCarthage- Rapid City--, I Pell Rapids L-v Chamber an MjtcTieiraotSL -ISpringfielrA If i Sioux' Cltv 0WA IN TODAY'S HEADLINES If you have a news tip, call the Argus tipline today and let us know about news happening in your town. Call 800-530 NEWS, ext.

376. Messages must include a contact name, address and phone number. 5, i--v Grief process shapes publication of woman's sixty poems of hope BY JILL CALUSON Argus Leader Cynthia Watts turned her grief from the death of her mother into words she believes can help others. Her book of poetry, "God's Ribbons, Messages of Hope," begins with "The Week the Angels Came," written about the last week of her mother's life. Lillian Kjenstad Watts died Oct 10, 1999, six months after learning she had ovarian cancer.

Speaking of the angels that visited her mother in the final week, Watts writes, "We walked among them that sweet week with knowledge they were here. The difference was, we took the time were still enough to hear." It was the second poem the Dell Rapids resident had written. She wrote the first as minor back problems forced her to lay down in a car, awaiting her husband's return. She writes that she saw the words in her mind. She wrote down that first poem and shared it with her husband.

Within minutes, the words to "The Week the Angels Came" became clear to her, and Watts started writing again. Two days later, she left them at Our Savior's Lutheran Church for the Rev. Don Lehmann to read. Within a short time, he was reading them to the mourners assembled at the funeral of a woman who'd given birth to five daughters. Watts calls that "the beginning of the most beautiful journey I have ever taken in my life." She wrote the 60 poems collected in "God's Ribbons" over three weeks.

Additional poems aimed at children were held for a later book. Watts says her mother taught her how to Cynthia Watts WHO: Cynthia Watts of Dell Rapids, author of "God's Ribbons, Messages of Hope." FAMILY: Husband, Ron Friedbauer; two daughters; four grandchildren. PROFESSION: Director, Sioux Falls Promise, which provides access to mentoring, teaching, protecting, nurturing and service experiences for young people. BOOK SIGNINGS: 1:30 to 3 p.m. today, Gustaf's Greenery, Minnesota Avenue and 19th Street; 1 p.m.

Feb. 9, Barnes Noble. AVAILABLE AT: Gustaf's Greenery, Crossroads Book Music, Barnes Noble and Zandbroz Variety in Sioux Falls and Timeless Treasures in Dell Rapids. Order them directly from Watts for $18 a copy by calling 428-3996. Her e-mail address is CWribbonaol.com.

DONATION: Watts is giving 300 copies of her book to The Banquet for families who come there. Southern Baptist father, Watts grew up attend ing Our Savior's Lutheran. She now is a mem ber of Peace Lutheran in Sioux Falls, but wher her back problems kept her from traveling tc Sioux Falls, she began attending the Unitec Methodist Church two blocks from her home "I was met with incredible warmth and kind ness that helped support my efforts, cominf to the point that I published this book anc made it a reality," Watts says. That kind of warmth had always surround ed her from childhood, she says. "My mother was a caring, warm, very gen erous person of very little means, but she gav( from her heart tremendous amounts of low and caring to everyone," she says.

"It's a beau tiful legacy. Reach Jill Callkton at 331-2307 orjcalllsoearglaleader.con 'Jl i I Cynthia Walls Cynthia Watts of Dell Rapids has written "God's Ribbons, Messages of Hope," poetry about the last week of her mother's life. overcome adversity with a smile, strength of character and a zest for living. "She never once complained about her illness," Watts says. "Her only complaint, if there was any, was that she couldn't bowl anymore." Sioux Valley Hospice and her family helped Lillian Watts remain in her own home at 15th Street and Willow Avenue.

"All of this miraculous activity with that final week of angels happened in this modest little home," Watts says. The daughter of a Lutheran mother and Congressman critiques 2001 with hometown crowd FORDYCE, Neb. Car accident kills 2 Yankton residents Two South Dakota residents were killed Thursday in a two-car collision in northeast Nebraska. The Cedar County sheriffs department said a vehicle driven by Timothy Nebel, 49, of Yankton collided with a vehicle two miles north of Fordyce at the junction of Highways 12 and 14A. Nebel and a passenger in his car, 17-month-old Gerrett Schaf-fer of Yankton, were pronounced dead at the scene, Sheriff Larry Koranda said.

Another passenger in Nebel's vehicle and the other driver were taken to a nearby hospital. WARNER Janklow OKs grant for a piece of pie Gov. Bill Janklow has approved an $80,000 state grant for a new fire hall in Warner. But in a conference call Thursday with the town's mayor and fire chief, Janklow said the grant has one condition. The deal is I'm going to give you this grant.

(But) for the rest of my life, if Warner knows I'm coming through town you've got to find a woman who's over 60 years old to bake me a peach pie." Pies baked by younger cooks aren't as good, he said. CARTHAGE New post office expected for town Carthage is on track for a new post office to replace one that burned down last summer. A modular building is expected to be shipped sometime before spring, said Postmaster John Willis. The old post office burned last June when a storm blew down a tree limb and it hit a power line. Since the storm, the post office has been operating out of an auditorium across the street.

SPRINGFIELD Bon Homme may face lawsuit over moving grades The Bon Homme School Board has been told that the district might be sued over its plan to move grades six through eight out of Springfield. "Five patrons have hired an attorney, and they wish to have six through eight brought back to Springfield, so we're kind of waiting to see there," said Superintendent Dallas Preheim. George Genant, one of the people considering suing, said he is considering legal action because of the board's decision to house only kindergarten through fifth grade at schools in Springfield and Tabor. He said grades kindergarten through eighth grade should stay in one place. Last year, voters in the Bon Homme School District turned down two opt-out attempts meant to help deal with a $400,000 budget shortfall next year.

The board decided to eliminate three grade levels at the two schools, cut 25 percent of activity funding and eliminate one elementary principal position. ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE Police blame two deaths on drag race Two men from Ellsworth Air Force Base were killed in a two-vehicle accident in Rapid City that police say happened during a drag race. Johnal Respicio, 19, and Christopher Veresh, 21, were killed at 8 p.m. Thursday night. According to the Rapid City Police Department, Veresh lost control of his 2000 Toyota Celica, struck a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup and hit a retaining wall in the 1 100 block of Mount Rushmore Road.

Another passenger in the Toyota, 19-year-old Daniel Neild, was critically injured and transported to Rapid City Hospital. The occupants of the Ranger received minor injuries. stalling passage of a new farm bill. The House approved its version, but the measure lost steam in the Senate. "Farm bills always have been bipartisan," Latham said.

"The day he (Daschle) decides he wants to write a farm bill instead of playing politics, well have a farm bill." Hawarden cattle feeder Glenn Gregg worries about conforming to strict Environmental Protection Agency rules and preserving the Iowa livestock industry. He asked whether producers could enter into cost-share agreements with the state Natural Resources said the United States spent $6( billion related to the terroris attacks. Additional spending fron the war in Afghanistan also wil cast a dark cloud on the deficit. Responding to other concerns Latham said a utility industry deregulation bill would not resolved in the 2002 session. Residents also asked about pre scription drug programs foi senior citizens and Social Security funds.

Latham said congressiona action on the drug program ha! been delayed because of the attacks. Reach reporter Melanle Brandert at 977-3926 or mbrandereargialeader.com Department. Latham replied that $1.2 billion is placed into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, with $600,000 of that money set aside for cattle producers. "No one wants pollution in creeks and streams," he said. "Some parts of the regulations are not rational." Paul Clousing, assistant city manager, asked about the status of the federal budget.

Latham said the nation had paid $625 million of debt since 1997. But the country will face another deficit because of the economic downturn. But it won't be as large. The fourth-term congressman Latham faults Daschle for the lack of farm bill BY MELANIE BRANDERT Argus Leader SIOUX CENTER, Iowa The way residents and leaders operate has changed since Sept. 11, U.S.

Rep. Tom Latham of Iowa told constituents in two meetings Friday in Sioux Center and Le Mars. "It caused a lot of people to question their previous priorities and maybe look at the value of freedom and democracy and value of human life," he said. Latham also noted federal lawmakers' achievements last year, including the passage of the tax bill and the education bill Bush signed last week. The education bill won't really affect successful schools but could help those that struggle.

"The whole idea behind that is local control and getting dollars into a classroom to help educate kids," he said. Latham criticized Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle for Jf 11 I smmmf cm ii FIRSTljHi) Listed below are ads appearing in our Classified section for the first day. For a complete listing please see our Classified section. To place an ad in the Classified section please call 331-2345. BUYING toy cars, tractors trucks from OAK FILE cabinet, 4 drawer, 3 yrs old, $125; 331-0642 '86 OLDS Ciera Wagon, 176,000 mi, runs great, V6, $500ofter 940O0B1; 594-6712 '84 OLDS Firenza.

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