Hills-Beaver Creek guard Tyler Bush grabs a rebound before scoring during the first half of Friday’s boys’ basketball game against Westbrook-Walnut Grove in Hills. The Patriots scored 101 points during a 61-point victory over the Chargers.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys passed the century mark in scoring when they entertained Westbrook-Walnut Grove for a Red Rock Conference boys’ basketball game in Hills Friday.

In a stunning offensive performance, H-BC canned 63 percent of its field goals on the way to a 101-40 victory over the Chargers.

Eight Patriots made contributions to the scoring blitz, and five of them reached double figures in points.

Tyson Metzger and Kale Wiertzema led the charge with 23 and 20 points respectively.

Trey Van Wyhe, Jesse Leuthold and Clint Roozenboom added 19, 14 and 12 points to the winning cause.

W-WG, a team that recently played an undefeated Pipestone Area team to a near draw in the first half, sported a 3-2 lead against the Patriots early in the first quarter.

H-BC, however, bounced back to outscore the Chargers 99-37 the rest of the way to win by 61.

After falling behind by one point early, the momentum switched to H-BC’s favor for good when it put together an 11-1 run capped by Tyler Bush’ field goal at 4:55 to gain a 13-4 lead.

The Patriots outscored the Chargers 23-5 over the remainder of the period to take a 36-9 lead into the second stanza.

The situation grew worse for W-WG in the second quarter as it was outscored 26-5, which led to a 62-14 halftime deficit.

The score was 88-30 after H-BC outscored the Chargers 26-16 in third period, and the hosts surpassed the 100-point barrier when Roozenboom hit a field goal that capped scoring in the fourth quarter with 54 seconds remaining.

Besides making 45 of 72 field goals, H-BC collected 24 more rebounds (43-19) than W-WG did in the game, and forced the Chargers to turn the ball over 21 times.

Wiertzema, who had nine rebounds, and Van Wyhe recorded double-doubles with 12 assists and 10 rebounds respectively.

Bush finished the game with 14 assists and seven steals, Roozenboom had seven rebounds and five steals, and Metzger and Zach Wysong chipped in eight and six rebounds respectively.

Box score
Bush 2 1 0-2 7, Wysong 0 2 0-0 6, Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Roozenboom 6 0 0-1 12, Broesder 0 0 0-0 0, Wiertzema 7 2 0-1 20, Metzger 8 1 4-6 23, Leuthold 6 0 2-3 14, Van Wyhe 9 0 1-1 19, Spykerboer 0 0 0-2 0.

Team statistics
H-BC: 45 of 72 field goals (63 percent), seven of 15 free throws (47 percent), 43 rebounds, eight turnovers.
W-WG: 16 of 48 field goals (31 percent), three of eight free throws (38 percent), 19 rebounds, 21 turnovers.

By Lori Ehde
and Jolene Farley
A bus load of Rock County farmers and ethanol investors left Luverne at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, to see lawmakers in St. Paul about proposed cuts to ethanol subsidies.

The group wanted to let lawmakers know that rural Minnesota is taking a disproportional hit in the budget cuts, according to David Kolsrud, manager of CornerStone Cooperative.

CornerStone is the 200-plus member co-op that owns the majority of the Agri-Energy Ethanol Plant in Luverne.

"We borrowed money and made the investments, all with the understanding that the money would be there. … There are those who have loans out there, and you don’t just pull the rug out on those deals," Kolsrud said.

"When a new administration decides to pull the funding, it’s reneging on a contract, as far as I’m concerned."

In what is by far the biggest line item in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposed budget cuts, the plan would eliminate $26.8 million in payments to 13 plants.

This represents three-quarters of what the state was set to pay out in subsidies this year.

Cornerstone Cooperative shareholder Dave Willers, Beaver Creek, said he thought the meeting went well.
"I felt it was very good," Willers said. "We told them it’s not good for us to take 100 percent cuts but if it’s equal, it should be fair."

He said there will be funding cuts upfront, but the decrease in funding will be made up in later years.
"That wouldn’t be the worst thing," he said. "Then the bankers would still know what’s coming is still coming."

Current subsidies provide 20 cents per gallon of ethanol produced — up to $3 million to each plant, including Luverne’s, annually.

Producers and investors in Luverne’s Agri-Energy Ethanol plant say the proposed cuts are unfair to rural Minnesota and would set back the value-added and renewable energies movement.

"It would put a severe crimp in the value-added market," Kolsrud said.

"There’s a lot of money that has circulated throughout the community by farmers who have added value to their grain prices," Kolsrud said.

"It’s just an unfortunate situation when years worth of work can be undone by a new governor."

Hills-Beaver Creek elementary students attended a health fair at school on Thursday. Above, Rock County Deputy Evan Verbrugge talks to students about drug awareness. Students received a bag with handouts on the topics and goodies at the end of the event.

Photo by Jolene Farley

The Exchange State Bank, Hills, passed out lanyards (identification holders) to Hills-Beaver Creek students attending the boy’s basketball games on Friday, Jan. 10, or Friday, Jan. 17. Jayme Plimpton (left), Courtney Hoogendoorn, Exchange State Bank Vice-President Tim Plimpton, Santana Wysong and Taylor Vaughn all lined up for free lanyards at last Friday’s game.

Photo by Jolene Farley

You are where you live … and we’re pro-wrestling fans

It’s probably not the most popular belief, but we in Rock County are a pretty homogenous bunch.

We might enjoy noticing our unique qualities, but we mostly look alike and act alike.

That’s not a generalization that I formed, either — it’s a statistical judgment that professional demographers came up with.

There are marketing firms that research demographics and trends to find target audiences for products. I looked into what national advertisers think of us in Rock County.

According to one study, we fall mostly into a few groups: rural white, blue-collar farm families; farm owners and tenants; low-income, older rural couples; and families in isolated areas.

Those group titles don’t say much on their own, but this is how the marketing gurus generalize us:
oWe generally earn between $18,000 and $39,000 a year.

oWe cross-country ski, refinish furniture, belong to a veteran’s club, own a dog or cat, own a tractor, go hunting, add a bathroom to our homes and enter sweepstakes.

oWe watch Jeopardy!, CNN, Court TV, auto racing and pro wrestling.

oWe read Prevention, Outdoor Life, Country Living and True Story.

As much as I would like to contradict these findings, it’s probably close to the mark. We’re a predictable group, whose different sub-sects actually have very few differences.

We can take some pride in the fact that we are a true minority in the country, being similar to just about 5 percent of the population.

I’m off the market, so bring on the muu muus
I think I’ve grown into my new look: it says, "I’m comfortable eating hot dish with my husband even though I could use a salad."

We celebrated our one-year anniversary last weekend and talked about how lovely our year together has been. We even had the customary bite of our wedding cake topper that had been frozen for a year. (It tasted surprisingly fresh.)

The day after our anniversary, I got to thinking how my life hasn’t really changed much since marriage.
Everything’s pretty much the same except the fact that I’m now truly off the market.

Even before we married, we were steadily committed, so it’s not like I dated up to the moment I walked down the aisle. But being totally "off the market" has a slightly different feel, like it’s all right to leave the house without mascara and wear ill-fitting clothes, because no one will notice me anyway. I’ll just go grocery shopping after dark from now on.

Some may think my statements sound defeated or hopeless, but it’s great. Even though the experts warn us against letting ourselves go, I can’t say I’m fighting it as much as I should.

Maybe that’s what true love’s meaning really is, though: it isn’t about finding a soul mate or perfect partner. It’s a little bit about dim lighting and good hotdishes and seeing a house dress as a step up from sweatpants.

GEP sponsors fund-raiser for Palace Theatre
In a continuing effort to help save and restore the Palace Theatre, the Green Earth Players will present a 25th Anniversary fund-raiser variety show.

To honor its past 25 years of productions, the local theater troupe is trying to come up with acts from as many as possible of its past shows, using original cast members.

The emphasis will be on the musicals, according to GEP president Fred Manfred.

The show will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.

Tickets for the show will be sold at the Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne, beginning Friday, Jan. 31.

The box office hours are 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturdays

34th annual World Championship Pinochle Tournament held
Denis Schnieder, Avoca, Minn. was crowned the 34th annual World Champion Pinochle player, at George McDonald’s annual event.

This year’s runner-up honors went to veteran player Randy Scott, Hardwick.

Sioux Falls resident, Don "Pete" Peterson, took third place honors. Jim Hoh was the "Best Qualifier" for the night with a 289.

Other winners who didn’t make the final three championship table include:
4th: Gary Halvorson
5th: Alvy Boomgaarden
6th: Marv Holte
7th: Terry Finch

The team championship went to Marv Holte, Dick Kettelson and Pete Peterson, with a team score of 83 points.

The dubious distinction of last place this year went to J.R. Scott, Hardwick, with a total of 4 points.

A total of 27 players competed for the various honors.

Sundance film has Luverne connection
One of the films being shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival had the participation of one of Luverne High School graduates in its making.

The movie’s name is "Detective Fiction," and the Luverne connection is ’71 graduate, Greg Winter.

The film was written, directed, and stars a Minneapolis actor, Patrick Coyle.

Greg Winter served as the Director of Photography on the project.

One hundred, twenty films are accepted for exhibition at Sundance, out of approximately 800 that are submitted.

According to Winter, "Detective Fiction" was placed in the American Spectrum division, which means it is eligible for the Audience Award, and is considered to be in the top 32 films of the 120 accepted.

"Detective Fiction" was expected to have four showings throughout this week.

Ben Vander Kooi, a high school classmate of Winter, attended the film festival with his son, Bill.

Moving day for Tri-State
Friday and Saturday will be moving day for employees of the Tri-State division of the Continental Western Group.

According to Nadine Schoep, the department managers will be the first to move, with the phone computer system moved at noon Friday.

The company will be shut down from then until sometime on Saturday afternoon, when things are expected to be back up and running.

The move affects 110 Tri-State employees who will move from the current Tri-State building, which was built in 1974, to the now expanded building, originally built for Berkley Information Systems, a sister company to Tri-State.

The original Berkley Technology Services (BTS) building was 20,000 square feet, and is now 28,500 with the recent addition.

Of that space, the 30 BTS employees will use 5,000 square feet and Tri-State will occupy the other 23,500.

The city needs to find a new tenant for the former Tri-State building, which it now owns.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com

Dolores "Dode" Wagner, 83, Luverne, died Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Minnesota Veterans Home. Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 24 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne. Services will be Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Luverne, with Rev. Gary Klatt officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery at a later date.

Joseph Henry Clercx, 84, Jasper, formerly of Luverne, died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Services were Thursday, Jan. 23, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. Burial was in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Jasper.

Joseph Clercx was born to Peter and Margaret (Snyders) Clercx on July 20, 1918, in Larchwood, Iowa. He was baptized on July 21, 1918, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Larchwood. He was raised on the family farm southwest of Larchwood, near Klondike, Iowa. He attended country school and St. Mary’s Catholic School in Larchwood. After his graduation from high school in 1936, he worked as a carpenter. He also worked as a musician, playing his trumpet with his family in the Clercx Family Dance Band for many years throughout the area. On April 18, 1941, he entered the U.S. Army in Omaha, Neb. He served during World War II in England, Italy, Northern Ireland and North Africa. After his discharge from the service on June 11, 1945, he returned to Larchwood. He worked installing refrigeration units for Gustafson & Larson Refrigeration in Sioux Falls, S.D. In 1951 he moved to Ortonville where he worked as a car salesman.

He married Leola Rabey Wade on May 9, 1953, in Ortonville. Following their marriage they moved to Marshall and then Ihlen. In 1956 they moved to Jasper where he sold automobiles for Scheppmann Motors. In 1958 he worked for Connell Chevrolet in Luverne where he remained until retiring in 1982. During this time he also worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier from 1964 to 1983. After his retirement he obtained his real estate license and sold real estate for Quartzsite Realty in Jasper until this past year. He was admitted to Luverne Hospice Cottage on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Mr. Clercx was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, where he had served on the parish council and was also a Eucharistic minister and a trustee. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, serving as financial secretary for more than 35 years and the Oscar Iverson American Legion Post #133 in Jasper. He had served as a peer counselor for the Southwest Area Agency on Aging. He was active in the DFL Party and in 1980 attended the National Democratic Convention. He loved playing his trumpet and until recently he played with the Jasper Blowhards. His hobbies included cars, stamp collecting and coin collecting.

Survivors include his wife, Leola "Toots" Clercx, Jasper; three children, Rick (Diane) Clercx, Slayton, Jolene (Doug) Hookie, David City, Neb., and Marla Clercx, Florence, Wis.; one stepdaughter, Judy (John) Rosa, Junction City, Kan., and one stepson, David (DeAnn) Wade, Elwood, Neb., nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Al (Frances) Clercx, and Greg (Vicki) Clercx, all of Sioux Falls; and one sister-in-law, Mary Clercx, Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Mr. Clercx was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John and Frank Clercx; and two sisters, Ann Simons and Mary Agnes Kramer.

Foster-Hartquist Funeral Home, Jasper, was in charge of arrangements.

Elaine H. Smedsrud, 72, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Hills, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Friday, Jan. 3, at Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. The Rev. Scott Sailer officiated. Burial was in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Hills.

Elaine Meents was born to Adolf and Amelia (Nentwig) Meents on Oct. 7, 1930, in Varina, Iowa. As a child she moved with her family to the Newell, Iowa, area where she grew up and received her education. She then worked as a hairdresser for a funeral home and as a meat cutter.

She married Eugene Christenson in 1953 at Wagner, S.D. The couple lived in the Pickstown, S.D., area before moving to Sioux Falls. She owned and operated the Home Café and later the Main Cafe both in Sioux Falls.

She married Morris Smedsrud on March 5, 1964, in Pipestone. She continued working in Sioux Falls until they bought the Corner Café in Hills. In 1980, they moved to Sioux Falls where she worked as night manager at Rentschler’s Truck Stop Café until ill health forced her retirement.

Mrs. Smedsrud was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was currently a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.

Survivors include her husband, Morris Smedsrud, Sioux Falls; five children, Allen (Jolene) Christenson, Nunda, S.D., Paul (JoAnn) Christenson, Ed (Shelly) Smedsrud, Chloye Smedsrud, all of Sioux Falls, and Todd Christenson, and his fiancée, Josette Chaban, Vermillion, SD.; 12 grandchildren; her sister, Irene Pearson, Sioux Falls; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Smedsrud was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Ira Meents, and six sisters, Agnes Meents, Leona Meents, Marie Meents, Nova Meents, Ellen Jensen and Harriet Schnetter.

George Boom Funeral home, Sioux Falls, was in charge of arrangements.