Since Delwood's closed its doors three years ago, the city of Hardwick has been without a local gas station.

As of Oct. 1, Hardwick resident Dan Kindt has been filling that need. He opened the Hardwick Gas Stop one block east of the Hardwick Grain Company along the south side of County Road 7.

"Business has been better than what we thought it would be," Kindt said. "The people in Hardwick have been really good about using it."

It's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week Ð self service only. There is no building on the lot. The gas and diesel pumps operate by credit card - accepting VISA, MasterCard, Discover and Cenex cards.

"It amazes me how many people get gas between 7 at night and 7 in the morning," he said, adding that credit card gas pumping was new for many Hardwick residents.

Kindt said the city of Hardwick had been looking for a way to get a gas station in town for the past few years. Since he drives truck for Rock County Co-Op Oil, he was a natural fit for Hardwick Gas Stop.

"It's not a get-rich-quick deal," he said, "but I've lived in Hardwick my whole life, and if that's what it takes to get gas here I'm willing to do it."

Kindt owns the station, but in order to have the Cenex designation, the business must be operated through Rock County Co-Op Oil.

The sign near the pumps reads, "Hardwick Gas Stop, Dan Kindt, Owner, Rock County Co-Op Oil, Site #2."

By Sara Quam

The Christmas spirit has already blossomed in the hearts of some Rock County residents, starting the season of giving a little early.

This year, 4 million children are expected to receive shoe boxes full of small presents through Operation Christmas Child. The organization grows each year as it sends gifts to youth in any number of needy countries.

One of the ways Rock County has been able to participate in Operation Christmas Child is through First Baptist Church, Luverne.

This year it gathered 154 boxes that were brought to Sioux Falls Monday, shipped to Minneapolis and, from there, will go to destinations around the globe.
Don Spease, First Baptist's care group coordinator, said the small gifts mean so much to the children who receive them.

"To these kids, Christmas is just another day to survive," Spease said.

The international program was started by Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, and has steadily increased its reach by almost doubling the number of boxes sent in two years.

Spease said video footage of children opening their shoeboxes of goodies is a moving sight. Most of the children are from Latin America, eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

This year distribution will be specifically made in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iran and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip along with almost 50 other countries. Often, the families who receive are recovering from natural disasters.

Other area churches also gave to the organization and the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center helped First Baptist's contributions increase by bringing in 45 boxes.

MJB residents and staff spent three days assembling the gift collections, including some homemade crocheted items.

Activities director Janice Fick said, "They were really excited to give back."
Chaplain Martha Fick said, "It was a real, hands-on project that they could participate in. It was a heartwarming experience for staff and residents É really beautiful."

Fick said that residents who lived through the Great Depression could relate to the children benefiting from the packages.

"It was very real to them. One woman shared the story that if an aunt hadnÕt sent them a few things one year, they wouldn't have had a Christmas. É A few tears were shed and it was a touching experience."

In the process of shipping the shoe boxes, Operation Christmas Child organizers put in a short explanation of the meaning of Christmas.

Although some of the children receiving packages arenÕt Christian, Fick said, "It's important to share God's love anywhere. We have so much and we can give."

Rock County's youth detention facility could be one of the most misunderstood businesses around. Pinnacle Programs and Praxis, both in the former Magnolia school, are about education and reformation Ñ just a little different than may be expected.

Pinnacle is the boys-only, live-in program made up of boys sent by corrections departments in various counties and states. Praxis is a day-only school in which both male and female students from the area are sent by schools that feel students need additional attention, usually because of behavioral problems.

Right now, things are going well for the facility, for Pinnacle in particular. Rebecca Dreesen, group leader, said, "We're filled to capacity [at 22] and we're considering increasing the license to allow up to 35."

After employee Sharon Smidstra was convicted in November 1999 of sexual crimes against residents, there was a slip in enrollment.

Smidstra is now serving time for those crimes, and Dreesen said the initial enrollment loss has been more than made up for. Pinnacle has re-established itself as a quality facility that has learned from its mistakes. Dreesen said the Smidstra problems, if nothing else, have taught staff how to better see signs of trouble.

Dreesen credits the strong usage of the program to a skilled staff consisting of fully-accredited teachers, counselors and a recreational therapist. Anger management and chemical dependency are regular parts of the curriculum.

The facility itself isn't what many may remember as Magnolia Public School. Carpeting, paint and remodeling have changed the look and feel into residential, rather than institutional.

Many of the Pinnacle residents are sent because of crimes that courts deem justification for removal from their homes. Dreesen said theft, truancy and vandalism are the main offenses that residents have committed. And because Pinnacle is a non-secure facility, it wouldn't handle felons or severely violent offenders.

"They're not bad kids," Dreesen said. "We have some with behavior problems, but others go out and work in the community."

Blue Mound Inn, Luverne, has been a steady employer of Pinnacle boys, who also help at various events like Arts in the Park during Buffalo Days. Any work that the youth don't get paid for is considered community service, which most have been sentenced to serve. The Blue Mound Woodcarvers just requested some help from the boys, and the boys also volunteer at places such as the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.

Other times, the Green Earth Players have performed a dress rehearsal at Pinnacle and church groups or senior citizens have visited for socials. Isolation is not a part of the programming.

A home in the middle of nowhere
Having to drive a distance to reach even a bus depot is a benefit to the program, Dreesen said. "I think it's a big plus. We haven't had anyone run for a year, and where are they going to go?"

With many of the students coming from Omaha or St. Paul, Dreesen said they may enjoy country life differently than our own Rock County residents do.

"One helped a farmer do castrations, and he just thought that was the most amazing thing. Another boy helps the neighbors shovel their snow. It's new to them," Dreesen said.

More than anything, Pinnacle tries to provide a stable life for its residents. Strict schedules and rules fill the boys' days, and any outside work or activities are considered a reward for following the regimen.

Mark Raymon, line supervisor and trainer, works with the residents all day as they go about their activities and classes. He also tries to work with them on physical challenges like rope climbing to instill self-trust, self-esteem and motivation in the students.

Friday he took a group to a hockey game in Sioux Falls and said itÕs fun to relate to them outside the usual environment. "It's fun to see the changes in them," Raymon said.

"Some of their family lives haven't been the best," Dreesen said. "Some call this their home and donÕt want to leave."

Even when they leave, some have kept in contact with the program facilitators. "We just had a student who was discharged five months ago who called Saturday to check in with us," Dreesen said. "And we ran into another one when we were at a conference in Omaha."

Those strong ties, Dreesen said, are formed because of good staff and administration team efforts.

Pinnacle and Praxis employ about 35 people.

The Rock County Board forwarded a liability claim to its insurance company Tuesday for crop damage resulting from county weed spraying.

Howard Van Wyhe, Beaver Creek, requested reimbursement of $645 for crop damage (150 bushels of soybeans at $4.30 a bushel).

The damage was actually caused by cattle that ate hay from a ditch that had been sprayed. When the cattle digested the hay, their waste products transferred the chemical to the ground where the beans were later planted.

The highway department had advertised, countywide, in the newspaper, shopper and on radio that hay on Rock County roadways shouldnÕt be harvested for 30 days after spraying.

The county will continue to advertise spraying schedules and haying recommendations next year to prevent similar problems.

1999 audit
The Board also heard a favorable audit report from Roger Albertson, state auditor for the region.

Last year the county reserves lost more than would have been ideal but still has 10 months of operating costs in the general fund reserves. On the other end, welfare has less than a month in reserves.

Albertson found no gaping problems in the figures presented by the county and said overall, Rock County looks better than most counties in the region.

"You're not in financial stress. There are some ups and downs, but that's common," Albertson said.

Cost estimates range between $80,000 and $100,000 to renovate the basement locker rooms in the Hills-Beaver Creek High School, according to Superintendent Tom Knoll.

Representatives from the architect firm Spitznagel's visited the sight and offered Knoll estimates for construction plans.

Costs to construct a 5,780 square feet addition with locker rooms and a community fitness center off the south side of the gym would be approximately $500,000, according to Knoll. Construction costs break down to about $89 per sqare foot.

"We have a fund balance, but I don't recommend you proceed with a $500,000 project," Knoll said. Knoll recommended that the board not deplete the district's general fund for the project.

Other board members seemed to agree that the figure is high, even with financial contributions from the city of Hills.

"I agree this figure is too much. If the figures aren't there we need to look at other options with less square footage," said board member Ann Boeve. " We need to visit with the city again to see what they are willing to contribute."

Band Trip
In other school business Monday night, Dawn Griepp represented the Music Parents Association with a request for music students to travel the first week of April. Possible destinations include Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Denver, or Winnipeg. The MPA is collecting cost estimates for each destination.

Griepp said students would attend a show and not perform or the seven band members not in choir would join for the trip and the choir would perform. Band instruments would be left home to decrease travel and insurance costs.

The board encouraged Griepp and the MPA to incorporate both a performance and a musical educational experience into the trip.

"I would rather see them perform," said Rollie Crawford. "Tours are for showing off talent."

Technology
The server at the elementary school was struck by lightning the last week in October. The new server under consideration would increase Internet sites at the school. The district will receive some insurance reimbursement.

Boiler repair
A motion passed to update the high school boiler during the summer of 2001 after the board reviews quotes.

Conferences
Attendance at secondary conferences was 85%. All but one family attended elementary conferences.

Hills Council members reviewed figures concerning tax assessor contracts at their meeting Tuesday evening.

Rock County officials submitted a contract for $4,780, which City Clerk Connie Wiertzema said didnÕt match up with a verbal quote of $4,561.

The council tabled the issue until the next meeting while Wiertzema contacts Rock County officials about the change in the contract.

Community fitness center
Superintendent Tom Knoll updated the council on the locker and fitness room project.

Knoll asked the council what amount the city was willing to contribute toward the project. He said a community fitness center with locker rooms would be a $500,000-plus project
.
"We could just build on 2,400 square feet of locker room for $200,000 and be done with the issue," said Knoll," but our athletes would use a fitness center."

Knoll said the district has the option to levy taxpayers for Americans With Disability dollars in next year's levy.

The district has used only $100,000 of the $300,000 allowed for bathroom construction. Some of these ADA dollars could possibly be used for construction.

The district could also levy for lease payments, according to Knoll. If the city were to fund the addition, the school could lease the facility back from the city.

Council members instructed Wiertzema to invite their legal counsel to the next meeting about contributing to the project.

"We need things in town to keep people here or to bring people here," said Mayor George Langford.

In other news, a building permit could not be issued for the Tuff Home Assisted Living Apartments until annexation is complete.

According to Wiertzema, the information is waiting for state approval. Councilman Dana Dahlquist stated that the Tuff Home needs to finalize its loan by Jan. 1, and that cannot be done without the permit. He plans to contact the state.

The liquor license for KellyÕs Roadhouse Bar was renewed.

A motion passed to accept election results.

The council discussed snow removal. A notice will be published informing residents of their responsibilities.

According to statute, if a vehicle is unlicensed or not used, it is an abandoned vehicle and must be garaged or hauled away, according to Mayor George Langford. Wiertzema was instructed to send letters to some Hills residents concerning this issue.

In Economic Development Authority news, American Salvage remains open for business. Owners plan to allow more merchandise to be sold before they close the store.

Councilman Jim Jellema has a prospective renter for the building. The council authorized him to offer rent of $250 per month not including utilities.

Hills-Beaver Creek School invited grandparents to eat lunch with their grandchildren on Tuesday as part of their American Education Week celebration. Sierra Wilgenburg (left) and her grandmother, Sue Bartels, enjoy the tasty meal served by the school.

By John Rittenhouse

A Rock County athlete could help take the Augustana College volleyball team to an event it has never been to before.

Tara Boeve, a 1999 Hills-Beaver Creek High School graduate, and the rest of the Viking spikers are gearing up for the NCAA Division 2 North Central Region Volleyball Tournament they will host at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls today through Saturday.

Augustana is the No. 1 seed for the eight-team, single elimination tournament, and a pair of wins would send the team to the Elite Eight National Tournament for the first time in school history.

Boeve, a starting middle blocker for the Vikings, hopes this could be the year Augustana makes it to the Elite Eight.

The Vikings have made it to the regional tournament for the past five years and seven times in school history, but the closest they came to advancing to the national event was making it to the regional championship game once and losing that match.

"We have five seniors on the team this year, so we really should do well," Boeve said. "They have come close (to winning the regional) before, and this is their chance to do it. It will be tough because any team involved has a good chance to win it. If we play at the top of our game, we'll have as good a chance as anyone to win our region."

The tournament opens tonight with No. 3 University of Nebraska-Omaha taking on No. 6 Moorhead State University at 6 p.m. The winner of that match plays No. 2 South Dakota State University at 6 p.m. Friday. No. 3 University of Northern Colorado plays No. 4 North Dakota State University at 7:30 p.m. tonight, and the winner takes on Augustana at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The championship match is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.

Kim Suedbeck-Marcil, head coach of the nationally sixth-ranked Vikings, agrees with Boeve that any team involved could win the region title.

"All of these teams are pretty evenly matched. This region has five of the nationÕs top 16 ranked teams, and four of the nation's top 10 ranked teams. It will be an interesting tournament," Suedbeck-Marcil stated.

If the Vikings do make it to the Elite Eight, Boeve will be part of the reason why.

The former H-BC Patriot was recruited as a middle hitter, but she spent a good share of her freshman season playing as an outside hitter for the Vikings.

Boeve was asked to play the middle blocker position this season, and her coach said she made a successful transition.

"Tara's natural position is middle hitter, but she played as an outside hitter for three-quarters of the matches last year. After her freshman year, we decided to move her to a middle blocker position. She has done a tremendous job in the front row, blocking-wise in particular. She's definitely become an impact player. We thought she could make an impact as a middle blocker, and she has," Suedbeck-Marcil said.

Boeve has registered 75 total blocks this season, eight being solo blocks and 65 of the assisted-block variety. She also has recorded 125 kills and 19 digs.

In her two-year college career, Boeve has 99 total blocks (84 assisted blocks and 15 solo blocks), 248 kills and 43 digs.

Boeve said moving from the outside position to the middle position has improved her statistical output.

"It is a little different than last year, but I do like it better. I'm more comfortable now," she said.

Fate hampered Boeve's position transition early in the year.

During a September pre-season tournament in Denver, Colo., Boeve landed on the foot of a player while returning to the floor at the end of a leap. What she thought was a sprained ankle was determined to be a slight fracture, which put Boeve on crutches for two-plus weeks and off the court for more than one month.
"She missed about six weeks of our season," Suedbeck-Marcil said. "That's a lot of time off in this sport. Volleyball is a sport in which players progress by getting more and more reps (repetitions), and her ankle injury hurt her in that way. As far as being over the injury, sheÕs getting there."

Boeve said the ankle still is sore, but she claims the mental aspect of the setback is what hurts the most right now.

"I missed the rest of our pre-season tournaments and most of the first half of our conference schedule. It's hard now because most players are peaking at this time of the season, and I'm just getting to that level now," she said.

Even with a sore ankle, Boeve will be expected to make some contributions at the net for the Vikings at the Elmen Center tomorrow and Saturday. If Augustana College is to qualify for the Elite Eight for the first time, a total team effort will be required to win the regional.

Annually the South Dakota Junior Chamber of Commerce selects and honors Ten Outstanding Young South Dakotans. The award spotlights outstanding individuals who use their talents to their fullest potential.

Nominated by the Hartford Jaycees, Patty Reker Toben, formerly of Beaver Creek, is among the 2000 award recipients.

Patricia lives with her husband, Brad, in Brandon. She grew up in Beaver Creek with her parents, Dale and Nyla Reker, and her brother, Troy.

Patricia graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelorÕs degree in music education and has been bringing music into the lives of children for the past seven years.

"I am pretty excited. It is an honor," Patty said when contacted. "I am dedicated to students' needs."

She has worked in the West Central School System where for the last two years she has directed 168 students in elementary and middle school band.

Patty gives freely of her time to help young children become their best, as both musicians and community members, through private lessons and church-related activities.

The students she touches take pride in their achievements as ensembles and celebrate victories as individuals.

"I find nothing more satisfying than knowing that I'm teaching children expression, as well as organization and accountability, through music," Patty writes. "Watching them grow and mature is wonderful, and there is nothing I would rather do with my life!"

Patricia is a member of the Augustana University Community Band. In the past she has performed in the South Dakota Symphony, Sioux Falls Municipal Band, Sioux City Symphony, Sioux City Municipal Band, Yankton Area Summer Band, Vermillion Arts Council Summer Musical and Bloomington Community Band.

The award ceremony will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Roncalli Center on Mount Marty Campus, Yankton. To order tickets or for more information call 605-256-6246 or 605-996-6308.