By Jolene Farley
Steen resident Mark Hoogendoorn died Friday in a farming accident in a field four miles west of Garretson, S.D.

Hoogendoorn, 40, was working alone between a four-wheel drive tractor and an implement when he was trapped between the two machines and killed early Friday evening.

Hoogendoorn, who farmed several fields in the area, was found Saturday morning by a neighbor.

A call came in at 9 a.m. to the Minnehaha County Sheriff's office, and deputies and Garretson Fire and Rescue responded.

Hoogendoorn had apparently finished planting the field and as he prepared to move his equipment he was pinned and died, according to reports.

The Rev. Dan Ramaker officiated at a service at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Steen Reformed Church.

"We ask why ... not because we question God, but because we search for purpose and meaning," said Ramaker. "For when life has purpose and meaning, it is easier to accept and to cope with tragedies."

Surviving are two sons, Jarid and Grant, and a daughter, Courtney. Hoogendoorn was the son of Jacob and Kathy (Vis) Hoogendoorn, Hills. He was a 1980 graduate of Hills-Beaver Creek High School.

By Sara Strong
Rock County, the County Commissioners and Bob Jarchow have responded to the suit filed against them by Glenn, Mabel and Loren Overgaard.

The defendants are accused of conspiring to help Chad and Scott Overgaard wrongfully obtain a hog feedlot permit. Chad and Scott Overgaard and their business, Overgaard Pork, are also named as defendants but have not yet responded to the suit.

Through attorney Scott Anderson, Rock County, the commissioners and Jarchow claim the lawsuit should be dismissed and that defendants "recover judgment for their costs and disbursements, together with whatever other relief this Court deems just and equitable."

Glenn, Mabel and Loren Overgaard filed a lawsuit in March claiming the defendants didn't act according to law when permits for a feedlot were granted. And beyond that, that they falsified records, acted with conflicts of interest, engaged in inappropriate conduct and aided in polluting the plaintiffs’ land, air and water.

Two sides
The plaintiffs are relatives of Chad and Scott Overgaard, who constructed a hog feedlot near Glenn Overgaard's and Loren Overgaard’s property in the spring of 2001.

John Burgers, individually and in his official capacity for the county, is also named as a defendant. He has not formally responded to the suit either, but as a feedlot officer and Land Management Director, he was instrumental in issuing permits.

Before the permits were issued Glenn Overgaard attended public meetings raising objections to the feedlot.
One of the claims his suit makes is that Burgers used intimidation tactics to prevent him from questioning the permitting process.

Glenn, Mabel and Loren Overgaard also claim that Jarchow backed up a false claim that the feedlot was existing. The suit says Jarchow "conspired to fabricate the existence of a prior feedlot in order to avoid the legal requirement associated with new animal feedlots …"

Jarchow's response to that is that the "allegations are a sham and false, impertinent and scandalous, and are brought for an improper purpose."

The lawsuit also says property owners and residents within 5,000 feet of the proposed hog feedlot weren't properly notified and that the setback requirements weren't followed.

The response from the defendants is that Glenn Overgaard was notified but refused to sign for it. The defendants also say the state requirement for setbacks is in place.

As a part of the suit, the plaintiffs point out Burgers' past crimes of bribery and mail fraud related to a different hog operation.

The law suit says "The county participated in the enterprise by actions taken by Burgers and Jarchow arbitrarily exercising their authority under color of state law to violate federal criminal laws and to promote the enterprise of illegally developing and furtherance of hog feedlots …"

The response to that is "These answering defendants affirmatively state that at no time relevant to any proceedings in this matter did these defendants have notice or knowledge of any of the alleged illegal or improper conduct by co-defendant Burgers; and further affirmatively state and allege that the allegations that these defendants took part in an illegal racketeering enterprise are not only false, but absurdly false, and that plaintiffs’ allegations in the complaint relating to alleged conduct by co-defendant Burgers … demonstrates the scandalous and impertinent nature of the allegations …"

The original lawsuit was filed March 19 in U.S. District Court, Minneapolis.

Myrna Nelson (front), Mary Akkerman and Brenda Goembel use the new access ramp at the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center for the first time Tuesday.

By Lori Ehde
For many swimmers at the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center, getting into the water just got easier.

A long-awaited access ramp was installed in the north corner of the shallow end Monday.

The 15-foot-long ramp has stable stainless steel rails and enters the water at a gentle decline toward the deep end of the pool.

For elderly swimmers, those with disabilities and physical therapy patients, the ramp has been high on their wish list for several years.

"This is what we've been waiting for so long," said Mary Akkerman, who helps adults with disabilities toward independent living.

She and her clients entered the pool Monday with amazed smiles on their faces. Previously, they had to use a chair lift on the south side of the pool to access the water.

Akkerman strongly advocates the water for any kind of therapy. "I had knee surgery a year ago, and my recovery was faster because of being in the water."

According to Pool and Fitness Center Manager Carol Wessels the hospital sends roughly 10 patients a week to the pool for physical therapy two to three hours a day.

She said the ramp is referred to as a handicap access ramp, but it has already been appreciated by all kinds of swimmers.

"The other group that will benefit is parents with small children," Wessels said. "It's really hard to get in and out of the water with a child in your arms."

Luverne's access ramp cost $6,624.30. It was purchased with a gift from Luverne Community Hospital and Luverne Community Health Care Foundation, which equally shared the cost.

Wessels said the facility has been exploring the possibility of a ramp for some time, but she said to do it right was always too cost prohibitive.

"With a one-size-fits-all ramp, you have a real problem with algae, which becomes a concern for disease," Wessels said.

"With this one, everything is fabricated for this pool ... It doesn't interfere with our circulation system."

Cathy Rust's kindergarten class is the featured Luverne Elementary Class of the Week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Spencer Oeltjenbruns, Brianna Duerr, Josh Slieter, Brooke VanWettering, Aimee Moss, Cody Hess, (second row) Ashley Cooper, Mariah Boomgaarden, Jonny Vajgrt, Paige Baker, Autumn Schmitt, Dalton Jacobsma, Kristen Reisdorfer, (third row) Shane Conklin, Bailey Stratton, Blake Stegenga, Gunnar Olson, Tara Sudenga, Kenny Casazza, Victoria Kalass, Terry Swenson, (back) Ms. Rust and Mrs. Nyla Sohl.

Ms. Rust's kindergarteners have been learning many new words and are reading a lot of books and writing in their journals. In math they are measuring, and they are very excited about their music program next Friday.

Photo by Lori Ehde

The Habitat for Humanity home is quickly progressing in Luverne. The walls and roof are up and the interior layout is taking shape as volunteers work Saturdays on the home. Above is Bill Paulsen and Joe Podzimek, who finish framing a room. Inset is Dallis Frakes going over construction plans.

The four-bedroom home on the corner of Southwest Park and Warren streets is slated to be ready for Kracht to occupy by July.

Photos by Sara Quam

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth track teams were able to participate in a meet after losing one over the weekend.

The disappointment of having a performance cancelled in Sturgis, S.D., Saturday was erased after some solid performances at the Arrow Relays in Pipestone Tuesday.

H-BC-EÕs boys compiled 98 points to place third out of eight teams in Class B competition.

The Patriot girls scored 67 points to place fourth as a team.

H-BC-E won a combined eight meet titles Tuesday, and six of them came from the boys.

Patriot Chris Reid won the 100-meter dash (11.41) and the long jump (20-8) along with running a leg for H-BC-EÕs winning 1,600-meter relay team that was timed at 3:36.74. Tyler Bush, Lee Walraven and Brad Haak are the other team members.

H-BC-E also won the medley and 3,200-meter relays with respective 3:47.56 and 8:31.72 times.

Tyson Metzger, Greg Van Batavia, Lee Jackson and Haak teamed up in the medley. Jackson, Van Batavia, Bush and Haak ran the 3,200.

Bush also won the 800-meter run in 2:06.06.

Haak and Jesse Leuthold placed second in the high jump (5-8) and 200-meter dash (24.24) respectively.

The 800-meter relay team of Trevor Boltjes, Metzger, Walraven and Leuthold placed second in 1:41.13.

The H-BC-E girls won a pair of events and placed second in four others while finishing fourth as a team.

Erin Boeve covered 15-8 to win the long jump, while LaDonna Sandstede, Boeve, Cassi Tilstra and Bev Wurpts took top honors in the medley relay with a time of 4:39.06.

Wurpts placed second in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:47.71, while Amanda Tilstra came in second in the 3,200-meter run in 13:47.41.

H-BC-E also placed second in the girls' 400- and 3,200-meter relays with times of 54.74 and 10:39.98.

Melinda Feucht, Cassi Tilstra, Sandstede and Boeve ran the 400. Mya Mann, Brittney Rozeboom, Boeve and Cassi Tilstra ran the 3,200.

The Patriot teams will compete at the Dakota Relays in Sioux Falls tomorrow and Saturday before returning to Pipestone for the Frisbee Relays Tuesday.

Here is a look at the team standings and the rest of H-BC-EÕs top-six finishers from the Arrow Relays.

Class B boys' standings: Southwest Christian 130, Fulda 112, H-BC-E 98, Elkton 67, Baltic 63, Adrian 55, Lincoln HI 42, Edgerton 20.

Class B girls' standings: Fulda 143, Elkton 82, Baltic 73, H-BC-E 67, SWC 57, Edgerton 56, Adrian 52, LH 38

H-BC-E boys
Third place: Bush, triple jump, 37-7.
Fourth place: Van Batavia, 400, 58.53.
Fifth place: Kale Wiertzema, 3,200, 11:30.8; Roger DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 21.31.

H-BC-E girls
Fourth place: Feucht, 300 hurdles, 58.25; 1,600 relay (Rozeboom, Danielle Fransman, Amanda Laqua and Wurpts), 4:44.53.
Fifth place: Laqua, 110 hurdles, 20.81; 800 relay (Sandstede, Feucht, Fransman and Kelly Mulder), 1:59.92.
Sixth place: C.Tilstra, high jump, 4-4; Mann, 400, 1:07.18; Mann, 200, 29.83.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth boys' golf team had a two-match winning streak snapped when it took on Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster in a match played in Lake Park, Iowa, Thursday.

Cold and windy conditions took a toll on all the players, but the Raiders withstood the challenge a little better than the Patriots did as they came away with a 206-220 win.

A disqualification of an H-BC-E player led to SV-RL-BÕs Jason Colby becoming the meet's medalist.

Patriot Tom Janssen shot what appeared to be a nine-over-par 45 to lead all scorers, but it was discovered Janssen played the wrong ball during the final two holes. The mistake led to a disqualification, which gave Colby the medalist honor with his 48.

Kyle Sammons led the Patriots with a 51, while Blake Brommer, Jordan Scott and Dusty Seachris round out the team scoring for H-BC-E with 55-, 57- and 58-stroke tallies.

Nick Deutsch shot a 60 without contributing to the team effort.

SV-RL-B had an incomplete B team, but H-BC-E had six B-teamers play nine holes of golf.

Ben Herman led the lot with a 54. Dusty Bonnema, Jeremy Tiesler, Travis Broesder and Tom Scholten all shot 56s, while Jeremy Elbers turned in a 61.

The 2-2 Patriots play Westbrook-Walnut Grove in Westbrook tomorrow.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth Patriots gained some revenge for an early-season baseball loss Monday in Hills.

Hosting Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster-Southwest Star Concept in a Red Rock Conference tilt, the Patriots were hungry for a victory after what happened during a meeting between the teams in Brewster April 9.

H-BC-E took an 18-12 lead into the bottom half of the seventh inning that day, but the hosts rallied to score seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a 19-18 win.

There were no such late-inning heroics during Monday's game in Hills.

The game was tied at three after two innings of play before H-BC-E gained control of the contest by outscoring the visitors 4-2 the rest of the way while posting a 7-5 win.

The victory was H-BC-E's second straight, and it evened the Patriots' season and conference record at 3-3.

The Patriots host Red Rock Central-Westbrook-Walnut Grove today before playing road games in Pipestone tomorrow and Slayton Tuesday.

H-BC-E took control of the game by scoring three runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth to open a 7-3 cushion.

Kevin Van Batavia tripled home a run, Justin Van Maanen slapped an RBI double and Darin DeBoer added an RBI single to H-BC-EÕs three-run rally in the fourth that gave it a 6-3 cushion.

Chris Tiesler tripled and scored when Zach Wysong capped a four-for-four day at the plate with an RBI single to make it a 7-3 game in the fifth.

SV-RL-B-SSC scored two times in the top of the sixth to trim the difference to two runs before being blanked in the seventh.

David Top, who had three hits for the winners, gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the first.

SV-RL-B-SSC scored three times in the top of the second before the Patriots rallied to tie the game at three with two runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Lyle DeBoer chased home one run when a ball he put in play was booted by the SV-RL-B-SSC shortstop. Van Maanen, who also had three hits in the game, sent home the tying run with a fielder's choice.

Lyle DeBoer pitched all seven innings to pick up the win.

By Jolene Farley
The weight of deciding who would fill two vacancies on the Beaver Creek City Council fell on the two remaining council members Tuesday.

The resignations of Arnold Brondsema and Julie Buysse forced Jeff Dysthe and Carolyn DeBoer to appoint two new members to serve on the council until the end of 2002.

Before votes were cast, Mayor Al Blank explained the voting process and the length of the terms for those appointed.

Daryl Fuerstenberg, Jane Blank, Burdell Willers and Arlyn Gehrke volunteered to fill the vacancies.

Dysthe and DeBoer both voted for Arlyn Gehrke, while Jane Blank and Burdell Willers each received one vote.

Dysthe and DeBoer voted four more times, each time for Blank and Willers.

With a tie vote that didn't look like it would be broken soon, the council decided to make the final decision at the next council meeting on Tuesday, May 14. Gehrke will also be voting on the appointment.

According to City Clerk Kathy Reu, Mayor Al Blank was advised that, by statute, he could not vote to break the tie. Because Blank is his daughter-in-law, there was a clear conflict of interest.

In elections this fall, voters will elect a mayor, two four-year council members and one council member to complete the two years remaining of Buysse's three-year term.