By Lori Ehde
True Value owners Mark and Beth Novotny are sifting through what remains of their store after an early morning fire destroyed part of the building and most of the inventory Friday.

"I still can't believe it," Beth said Tuesday. "I don't know when you really do realize it. I think it's starting to sink in."

Deputy State Fire Marshall Steve Kellen ruled arson as the cause of the fire, which he suspects was set to disguise a burglary.

The company safe, along with more than $1,200 in it, turned up missing when smoke cleared, and pry marks were found on a west door.

More than 40 firefighters from Luverne, Hardwick and Beaver Creek battled the blaze that was first reported at 3:30 a.m. Friday.

Luverne Fire Chief Kurt Kester said the fire was mostly contained by 9 a.m., but he didn't leave the scene until after noon later that day. No one was injured.

Kester said the fire itself was contained to the back room, but "heat and smoke, of course, is what did the damage to the rest of the building," he said.

The back one-fourth of the building is a total loss, but the Novotnys and insurance adjusters are working through the tedious process of assessing damage throughout the store.

"We can show them where the stereos used to be, but you can't even tell it's a stereo from the heat melting it," Beth said. "There's a teeny little blob where this big TV once was."

She said this process is time consuming, but all future plans hinge on the outcome.

They're considering temporarily relocating in the former Jubilee Foods building downtown, but Beth said arrangements would need to be made to heat the building, which now has no furnace.

They said it's too soon to comment on where they'll be long-term.

Because of environmental concerns, cleanup won't be as simple as bulldozing and starting over.

Beth said at least three separate environmental agents will need to be present when cleanup begins to properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Kester said rising heat caused spray paint canisters to explode in the retail area.

"At times we'd hear this pop, pop, pop," Kester said, adding that paint wasn't the only potential hazard to firefighters.

"You look at your average hardware store, and God knows what's in there for chemicals and explosive material, between all the glues, cleaning solvents and fertilizers."

Kester said even more than the threat of explosions, he was concerned about the roof caving in on firefighters inside.

"I was just about to pull them out, and they finally got it under control," Kester said. "I had one guy stationed on a ladder, just to watch the roof."

He said now, when he looks up from inside the building, he can see the rafters are heat warped.

"If this had happened two weeks ago when we had all that snow on the roof, it would have collapsed just from the extra weight of the snow," Kester said.

Firefighters first gained access to the blaze by breaking the front store windows, but the high heat forced them to retreat.

Damage is so far estimated at more than $600,000 on the building and contents destroyed at a time when shelves and storerooms were overstocked for holiday sales.

A new freight shipment worth about $8,000 had just come in Thursday night. That includes 1,200 gallons of paint.

Mark and Beth have owned the Luverne True Value for six years and employ seven people full- and part-time. They said the company and area True Value store owners have been supportive, as have been community members.

"We really do appreciate the support," she said. "We're very thankful for all the acts of kindness - right down to a single kind word. It really does help carry you through."

The Novotnys have store records backed up on computer, but she said it's unknown if the hard drive information will be accessible.

"We're sending the computer hard drives to a company that supposedly can retrieve information off computers that have been in a fire," she said, "but the backup tapes looked kind of melted and stuck together."

The stolen safe weighed about 250 pounds, so investigators assume at least two people were involved in the burglary.

The Novotnys aren't strangers to crime. Just three years ago, burglars stole True Value's safe and caused roughly $2,000 in damage.

A $2,500 reward is offered by the Minnesota chapter of International Arson Investigators for information leading to the identification of persons responsible for Friday's fire. The arson hotline is 1-800-723-2020.

Kellen said he's doing everything he can to solve the case promptly for a community riddled with unsolved crimes.

"This one we've got to try to solve really bad," he said Monday, referring to the unsolved murder of Carrie Nelson this summer. "We can't let this stuff go on."

The fifth-grade class of Cloyce Smith and Michelle Johnson are the Luverne Elementary featured class of the week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Missy Olson, Abby Elbers, Kayla Raddle, Casey Smook, Andrew MIller, Courtney Swenson, Alanna Huston, (second row) Matt Van Grootheest, Amanda Ganun, Nicole Baker, Chad DeSplinter, Jake Stoltenberg, Mark VonHoltum, Katelyn Brands, Dalton Heller, (back) Mrs. Smith, Matt Fodness, Taylor Van Santen, Zack Olson, Skyler Hoiland, Brent Dinger, Shane Oehlerts, Steven Ehlers, Sara McClure, Lindsey VonAllmen and Ms. Johnson.

The class has been working hard on learning about polygons. "They are increasingly experiencing success in achieving their Accelerated Reading points," Johnson said. "The class is also humming with excitement with the holiday season approaching."

Photo by Lori Ehde

A Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System semi-trailer slid off an icy Interstate 90 Friday at 7:30 a.m. between Luverne and Beaver Creek. The driver was treated and released from Luverne Community Hospital. The semi was used as a mobile CT scanning facility that traveled to hospital outlets in the area. Luverne’s hospital used the unit on Fridays and Tuesdays. Appointments in Luverne won’t need to be changed because a replacement unit is ready for use.

Luverne Community Hospital Administrator Jerry Carl said the CT scanner itself is worth about $500,000. All the contents of the trailer will likely have to be replaced for a total cost of nearly $1 million. Carl said the Luverne hospital is in the process of analyzing its use of the mobile unit and is looking into ways of setting up a permanent scanner within the hospital.

Photo by Sara Quam

Edward Sundem, 90, Hills, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., after having surgery.

Funeral services were Friday, Dec. 7, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. The Rev. Lowell Berg officiated. Burial was in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Hills.

George Edward Sundem was born to Halvor and Mary (Pederson) Sundem on April 14, 1911, near Hills. He attended country school near Hills. After his education he began farming near Hills until 1951. Along with farming he did trucking, sold pigs and Pride seed corn.

He married Rose Nelson on June 3, 1957, in Hills. They lived in Dell Rapids, S.D. Mrs. Sundem died in November 1971. He moved to Hills in July 1977. He married Hannah (Jelle) Forest on Oct. 15, 1977, in Sioux Falls. They lived in Hills. Mrs. Sundem died on Sept. 16, 1999. He moved to Lyon Manor Nursing Home in Rock Rapids, Iowa, in January 1997. He moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills on March 18, 1997.

Survivors include one sister-in-law, Palma Sundem, Hills; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Sundem was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, two brothers, Henry and Elmer, and five sisters, Anne Thomas, Tina Erickson, Mollie Beck, Minnie Odde and an infant sister, Alice.

Roste Funeral Home, Hills, was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
Football teammates this fall turned into basketball rivals Thursday night in Hills.

Less than three weeks after playing their final football game during a 10-1 season, athletes from Hills-Beaver Creek and Ellsworth high schools renewed their friendly rivalry on the hard court.

The way things turned out, H-BC's boys gained bragging rights for the first part of the regular season after topping the visiting Panthers 77-63.

Ellsworth will have a chance to avenge the loss when they host H-BC in the regular season finale Feb. 25.

Thursday's game, which was the season opener for both teams, featured good and bad moments for both teams. In the end, H-BC outscored the Panthers 41-31 in the second half to win by a comfortable 14-point margin.

"We straightened things out at halftime," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "They were playing a box-and-one defense that gave us some trouble in the first half. We were a little more patient and found the open spots against their zone in the second half."

H-BC turned a 36-32 halftime lead into a 53-44 advantage by outscoring EHS 17-12 in the third period.

Patriot Brad Haak, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, netted nine of his points in the third period.

With Matt Buck scoring nine of his 20 points and David Top adding seven of his 12 counters, H-BC outscored the Panthers 24-19 in the fourth quarter to win by 14.

Both teams had their moments in the first half.

H-BC scored the first 14 points of the game and led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter, but EllsworthÕs Curt Schilling scored 14 of his game-high 30 points during the second quarter to help the Panthers climb to within two points of H-BC before trailing by four points at the intermission.

Lyle DeBoer matched Buck's 20-point, four-assist effort for H-BC. Justin Van Maanen had five rebounds and three assists for the winners.

Schilling had a double-double for EHS by collecting 10 rebounds to go along with his 30 points. Dylan Kvaale chipped in 11 points for the Panthers.

Box score
Ellsworth
Schilling 6 3 9-13 30, Jenniges 1 0 0-0 2, Jannsen 1 1 0-0 5, Kvaale 1 0 9-10 11, Deutsch 3 0 1-2 7, Brommer 0 2 0-0 6, Herman 1 0 0-0 2.

H-BC
Metzger 0 0 0-0 0, D.DeBoer 2 1 0-3 7, Van Maanen 0 0 0-0 0, Haak 7 0 4-9 18, Leuthold 0 0 0-0 0, L.DeBoer 4 4 0-0 20, Van Wyhe 0 0 0-0 0, Top 5 0 2-4 12, Buck 6 1 5-11 20.

Team statistics
Ellsworth: 19 of 56 field goals (34 percent), 19 of 25 free throws (76 percent), 27 rebounds, 14 turnovers.

H-BC: 30 of 63 field goals (48 percent), 11 of 27 free throws (41 percent), 35 rebounds, 13 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
Two Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes are expected to make an impact for the Luverne-H-BC-Ellsworth wrestling squad this winter.

H-BC-E junior Dusty Seachris and eighth-grader Kerry Fink are program veterans, and Cardinal coach Dave Duffy expects both athletes to help his team at the varsity level.

Fink is a returning letter winner from the 2000-01 team, which placed sixth in the Southwest Conference with a 1-5 mark, and he capped the season with a 2-16-1 record after dropping a 39-28 decision to Montevideo in the first round of the Section 3AA Team Tournament.

Fink was a member of the L-H-BC-E section squad, and he went 0-2 at 103 pounds during the section individual tournament.

Coach Duffy said Fink will wrestle at 112 or 119 pounds this season.

Seachris, who had lettered for the Cardinals in the past, left the team for personal reasons early last winter.

Seachris will compete at 135 or 140 pounds for L-H-BC-E in 2001-02.

Coach Duffy feels the Cardinals should be able to improve last year's 2-16-1 mark, a record that was influenced by the team having to give up 18 to 24 points in forfeits during each match.

L-H-BC-E may have to forfeit at 160 and 171 this year, but making up 12 points is more reasonable than trying to overcome 24 forfeit points.

Chris Tiesler, a two-time state qualifier, is one of the teamÕs leaders. He won a section title at 119 last year before going 2-2 at state without placing. Tiesler is the team's lone senior.

Juniors Joel Evans and Canaan Petersen placed fourth at 140 and 189 pounds during last year's section meet, and they join Tiesler as team leaders.

Junior Cody Jagow, sophomores Justin Mann and Dustin Donth and freshman Ruston Aaker round out the returning letter winners.

L-H-BC-E opens the season at the Flandreau Tournament Saturday.

By John Rittenhouse
Two Hills-Beaver Creek High School seniors were recognized for their performances as members of the H-BC-Ellsworth football team this fall.

Brad Haak, an end-defensive back, made the 2001 Minnesota Nine-Man Football All-State Team.

Chris Reid, a running back-defensive back, received honorable mention recognition.

Haak made the all-state team as a defensive back.

He joins a squad consisting of Verndale defensive back Jordan Hinkle and Underwood defensive back Ben Aakre, Stephen-Argyle linebacker Ryan St. Germain, Fergus Falls Hillcrest Lutheran Academy linebacker Nick Hansen, Tower-Sudan linebacker Lucas Stellmach, Cromwell linemen Darren Dahl and Chris Lind and S-A lineman Mitchell Benson.

Haak also earned all-state status by placing 15th at the Minnesota State Class A Cross Country Championships in Northfield in early November.

Hills-Beaver Creek eighth-grader Kerry Fink (left) roughs up Fulda-Murray County Central's Jacob Nolt during Tuesday's wrestling duel in Luverne. Fink pinned Nolt in 3:13 to help the L-H-BC-Ellsworth wrestling team battle the Rebels to a draw at 36.

By John Rittenhouse
A pair of Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes had good outings as members of the Luverne-H-BC-Ellsworth wrestling squad.

The Cardinal wrestling team opened the 2001-02 season by competing at the Flandreau (S.D.) Tournament Saturday before hosting Fulda-Murray County Central for a duel in Luverne Tuesday.

H-BC grapplers Kerry Fink and Dusty Seachris competed at both events.

Seachris had a good day at the Flandreau Tournament.

L-H-BC-E's 135-pounder went 2-2 and placed fourth in his weight class.

Seachris opened the event by getting pinned by Flandreau’s Joe Lange in 4:32 before bouncing back to post 8-1 and 3-2 wins over Sioux Valley’s Burton Moe and Deuel’s Jon Toering in the consolation bracket.

Howard's Luke Ruml pinned Seachris in 1:57 during the third-place match to end his 2-2 day.

Fink went 1-2 without placing at 112 pounds in Flandreau.

Fink opened the event by nipping Howard's Tim Reisch 7-5 in overtime before losing by fall to Flandreau's Ryan Reed in 42 seconds.

When Fink was pinned by Jordan Christensen in 44 seconds in the consolation bracket, his 1-2 day was over. Christensen was wrestling unattached.

With the wins notched by Fink and Seachris providing team points, the Cardinals tallied 50 counters to cap an eight-team field. Howard won the team title with 169 points.

Both Fink and Seachris were in action during Tuesday's Parents' Night match against F-MCC in Luverne, which ended with the teams battling to a draw at 36.

Fink helped L-H-BC-E’s cause by pinning Jacob Nolt in 3:13 during the 119-pound match.

Rebel Ryan Olsem pinned Seachris in 2:48 of the 145-pound match.

The Cardinal wrestlers will compete in Windom tonight, at the Jackson County Central Tournament Saturday, and at Harrisburg, S.D., Tuesday.

By Jolene Farley
Hills residents Dale and Sue Bartels began a new Christmas tradition several years ago and plan to continue the tradition for many Christmases to come.

"We just decided, well, maybe we should do something for someone else," said Sue. So, the Bartelses began volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls on Christmas Day. The MissionÕs main goal is to "keep the people off the streets," according to Sue.

Sue and Dale have worked every Christmas, along with Sue's sister, Barb Top, from Sioux Center, Iowa. The three mainstays round up three or four more volunteers, usually relatives, to work serving the noon meal.

More than 40 volunteers arrive at the Mission about 9 or 9:30 a.m. Christmas morning to set up tables and decorate. When guests begin arriving, children are asked their names, ages and sizes. Volunteers then select clothes in the appropriate size and wrap the articles, adding a tag with the child's name on the items.

Each adult visitor receives a sweatshirt, two pairs of socks, gloves and a stocking cap, according to Sue.

A chapel service is given before the more than 400 guests sit down to eat their dinner. "They sit and we (volunteers) serve," Sue said.

"To see their faces, these little kids and adults, just to get a good meal," said Sue. "Most of them are very thankful. They really appreciate the things you give them."

After the children are finished with their meals, they are taken into a room filled with donated toys. "We take the kids through and help them select toys. That's the fun part," said Sue.

Before volunteering at the Mission, Dale and Sue celebrated Christmas the usual way, with their family. They still have family celebrations, but they also make time for volunteering at the Mission.

"We just plan around it," said Sue. "We have parties on different days. We still spend Christmas evening at my motherÕs and attend the Christmas Eve services at church."

The Bartelses are thankful for their family, their health, their church and good friends. "We figure, basically, most of our life we didn't have much for problems," said Sue. "It makes you appreciate what you do have when you see people who donÕt have anything."

Sue, who is a delegate to the Mission from the Reformed Church of Steen, has become so dedicated to the Mission that she joined the Mission Auxiliary and currently holds the office of second vice president.

The Auxiliary is involved, among other duties, in the actual fund-raising for the Union Gospel Mission. Money hasnÕt been coming in the last few months as well as expected, according to Sue.

She speculates many sent money to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks rather than giving locally.

"We all work together to plan things," she said. "We try to get churches involved and interested in the Mission."

Sue stresses individuals are also welcome to volunteer at the Mission by calling 605-334-6732.