Name and place of residence: Tim Honermann, Adrian

Family information: Wife, Judy, and children, Trista, 17, and Tanna, 14

Occupation: Contractor-cabinet maker

Education: Adrian Public School, Pipestone Vocational
Community activities and involvement: Jaycees member, Chamber member and board member of HRA and Cemetery Association.

Qualifications for service: "I've been in business for 17 years and also have two children in school."

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as school board member? In other words, if elected, what issues will be important to you?

"What I would like to accomplish if elected school board member would include good quality teaching, make sure kids are getting proper education to prepare them for college or careers when they graduate É also try to run the school with the funds that are available."

Name and place of residence: Colleen Nath, Luverne

Family information: Husband, Dan, and children, Matthew, 13, Rachel, 11, and Benjamin, 9

Occupation: Office manager at Luverne Family Chiropractic

Education: Graduate of Cottonwood County High School and Granite Falls Vocational Technical Institute.

Community activities and involvement: Music Boosters assistant treasurer, member of St. Catherine Church, St. Catherine women's auxiliary and church choir.

Qualifications for service: Concerned parent, communication skills, concern for the school system and the community and business understanding.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as school board member? In other words, if elected, what issues will be important to you?

"My family has been in Luverne for only a few years, but we very much enjoy the school system and used it as a deciding factor when moving here. I think, as a new person coming into the school board, there would be a learning period to achieve a level of understanding on the issues that are being faced. The current board members have done a fine job, and I, myself, would like to become involved in the future educational needs of my children. I think I can bring a new set of opinions to the board as well as a caring attitude. I know I have a lot to learn, and I am up for the challenge."

Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton sophomore Tyler Bush approaches the finish of Saturday's Class A cross country race in Northfield. Bush placed 15th overall to lead the Patriot boys to a sixth-place effort as a team.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton's first appearance as a team at the Minnesota State Class A Cross Country Championships in Northfield has to be considered a big success.

With one Patriot boy running his way onto the All-State roster and a sixth-place finish as a team, H-BC-E-E can be proud of its performance during the fall classic staged on the campus of St. Olaf College.

“We finished sixth as a team out of 16 teams, and we were 19 points out of third place,” said Patriot coach Tom Goehle. “I’m extremely proud of our guys for placing sixth. You always want to finisher higher, but we could have easily have done worse and dropped out of the Top Ten.”

Goehle had a good idea that Staples-Motley and St. Cloud Cathedral, teams that finished first and second in the Class A standings with 77 and 127 points respectively would finish one and two. After offering that, he added that places three through 10 would be up for grabs.

Goehle’s foresight proved to be fairly accurate as 52 points separated the teams that placed third through 10th.
H-BC-E-E’s 191-point total was 19 counters behind La Crescent, which finished third with 172 counters. Perham (180) and Eveleth-Gilbert (185) bested the Patriots by 11 and six points respectively.

H-BC-E-E edged Blue Earth Area 191-192 for sixth place. Warroad (202), Canby-Minneota-Lincoln HI (213) and Plainview (224) round out the Top Ten.

Along with leading his team to a sixth-place finish, sophomore Tyler Bush became the second H-BC-E-E runner to earn all-state status during the course of the race in as many years.

Bush, the Patriots' top performer all season, placed 15th individually out of 159 runners. The Top 25 finishers in the race make the All-State Class A Team.

Brad Haak placed 14th at the state meet last year to become the first Patriots to make the all-state team.

Since H-BC-E-E was competing as a team, Bush’s adjusted place (which is the place an individual finished compared with all other members of 16 teams involved in the varsity race) was ninth.
Senior Zach Hadler, sophomore Kale Wiertzema, junior Todd Alberty and sophomore Greg Van Batavia made contributions to H-BC-E-E's team tally.

Hadler’s adjusted place was 33rd in 18:08. Wiertzema (43rd in 18:20), Alberty (51st in 18:27) and Van Batavia (55th in 18:29) impacted the scoring with their adjusted finishes.

Overall, Hadler, Wiertzema, Alberty and Van Batavia finished 60th, 76th, 87th and 92nd respectively.
Junior Lee Jackson and sophomore Derek Haak ran without influencing the scoring.

Jackson, who ran an 18:40, finished 66th in the adjusted standings and 108th overall. Haak, who ran a 19:47, finished 104th in the adjusted standings and 150th overall.

Considering all of his runners, with the exception of Halder, will be back next year, one would think Goehle would be looking forward to the 2003 season.

The coach, however, has a different take on the situation.

“Right now we're spending most of our time being thankful for making it to state this year instead of looking ahead to next season,” he said.

“There is a lot of time between now and next season, and we can put next year on the backburner for now. Besides, just because you were good one year doesn't necessarily mean you will have one the next year. The potential his there, but it will take a lot of hard work to get back to state.”

Here is a look at the final Class A boys' team standings.

Standings: S-M 77, SCC 127, La Crescent 172, Perham 180, E-G 185, H-BC-E-E 191, BEA 192, Warroad 202, C-M-LH 213, Plainview 224, Annandale 235, Minnehaha Academy 260, East Grand Forks 266, United South Central 283, Mayer Lutheran 350, Duluth Marshall 350.

Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth junior quarterback Curt Schilling pitches the ball to a runner during Saturday's Section 2 Nine-Man championship game against Nicollet in Hills. Nicollet scored 24 unanswered points and fought off a late rally by the Patriots to post a 31-20 win.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth's attempt to repeat as the Section 2 Nine-Man football champion came up short during the section championship game played in Hills Saturday.

Entertaining Nicollet, the state's third-ranked team, No. 4-ranked H-BC-E expected to be in a tight battle for the right to represent the section in the state tournament.

The game was tight for three quarters, but a 24-0 scoring run by the undefeated Raiders during the second and fourth quarters led to a 31-20 victory in the end.

Nicollet, 11-0 overall, moves into the state quarterfinals on Saturday. The Raiders host Chokio-Alberta-Herman-Norcross. H-BC-E’s 9-1 season is complete.

Like many big games, Saturday’s was decided by field position and turnovers.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, they came up on the short end of the stick in both areas. H-BC-E turned the ball over four times in the game (three fumbles and one interception). The Raiders didn't score any points off the turnovers, but they did benefit from the field position that resulted from the miscues.

“We just turned the ball over too many times,” said Patriot coach Dan Ellingson. “We lost two fumbles and one interception in the first half alone. If we hadn't turned the ball over, we might have been on top at halftime.”
Instead, the Patriots trailed 16-7 at the intermission.

Neither team could generate much offense early in the game as the first three offensive series turned into three-and-out possessions.

Nicollet received the third punt of the game, taking over on the 50-yard line at the 7:43 mark of the first quarter.

The Raiders advanced the ball 28 yards in seven plays before running back Tony Hulke scored at the end of a 22-yard run on the eighth play. Mattias Hellblom added the extra point for Nicollet, making it a 7-0 game with 4:08 left in the opening period.

The teams exchanged punts as the first quarter progressed, and H-BC-E took over on the 50 following the boot by Nicollet.

On the third play of the ensuing series, Patriot senior tailback Chris Reid broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run. Zach Wysong added the extra point to knot the score at seven with four seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Nicollet scored nine unanswered points to gain a 16-7 advantage by halftime, but the situation could have been worse for H-BC-E if not for some big stops produced by the Patriot defense.

After forcing Nicollet to punt four plays after Reid’s touchdown, H-BC-E fumbled on the third play of its next possession and Raider Mike Rosin recovered the loose ball on the Patriot 17. Hellblom missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt four plays later.

H-BC-E fumbled on the first play of its ensuing possession and Raider Paul Nourie recovered on the Patriot 23. The outstanding field position was squandered once again as Reid picked off a pass in the end zone two plays later.

The Patriots ended up paying a price for giving the Raiders excellent field position too many times. After forcing the Patriots to punt four plays after Reid's interception, Nicollet’s J.J. Hornung blocked the kick, and the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety. The play gave Nicollet a 9-7 edge at the 5:37 mark of the second quarter.

Nicollet forced the Patriots to punt late in the first half, giving the Raiders the ball on H-BC-E's 44 with 52 seconds remaining. Five plays later, Nourie tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jamie Wagner. Hellblom's extra point made it 16-7 with 14 seconds left in the half.

Neither team could get anything going offensively to start the third quarter, but the Raiders did get some good field position when they gained possession of the ball on the H-BC-E 41 after a punt by the Patriots with 1:20 remaining. Nicollet covered 41 yards in seven plays with Wagner scoring on a six-yard run with 11:00 left in the fourth quarter. A Nourie-to-Rosin conversion pass made the tally 24-7.

H-BC-E lost the ball on downs at its own 46-yard line five plays into its next possession, setting up a five-play drive by the Raiders. Wagner, who hauled in a 42-yard pass on the third play of the possession, capped the march with a two-yard touchdown run with 7:06 left to play. Hellblom added the extra point to make it a 31-7 difference.

To H-BC-E's credit, the Patriots didn't give up.

The Patriots mounted a 65-yard scoring drive that was capped by a two-yard run by Dusty Seachris with 4:39 remaining. A conversion pass fell incomplete, leaving the Raiders sporting a 31-13 cushion.

Seachris recovered a fumble on the Raider 32 during the first play of Nicollet's next possession, and Patriot quarterback Curt Schilling hooked up with Tyson Metzger for a 32-yard touchdown pass on first down. An extra point by Wysong made it a 31-20 game with 4:24 left to play.

H-BC-E got the ball back on its own 26 with 2:29 left, but the possession ended on downs when a fourth-and-seven pass fell incomplete one minute later.

Nicollet was able to run the remaining 1:29 off the clock to ice an 11-point win.

Although the Patriots came up short, Ellingson was proud of the way his team rallied late in the game, and with its play throughout the season.

“We got two quick scores at the end, but we still were two scores down. Being four scores down is too much to overcome,” he said. “We would have liked things to turn out differently Saturday, but our kids had an undefeated regular season, which is something they really can be proud of. They weren't expected to go undefeated during the regular season, but they did it.”

Team statistics
H-BC-E: 143 rushing yards, 118 passing yards, 261 total yards, eight first downs, four penalties for 20 yards, four turnovers.
Nicollet: 154 rushing yards, 81 passing yards, 235 total yards, 10 first downs, four penalties for 25 yards, two turnovers.

Individual statistics
Rushing: Reid 16-78, Jesse Leuthold 6-26, Wysong 2-34, Schilling 2-7, Seachris 1-2.
Passing: Schilling 9-24 for 118 yards.
Receiving: Metzger 4-52, Wysong 2-58, Brant Deutsch 1-13, Leuthold 1-minus 5.
Defense: Schilling 14 tackles and one fumble recovery, Reid three tackles and one interception, Leuthold eight tackles, Cody Scholten eight tackles, Pat Nelson three tackles and one sack, Seachris one fumble recovery.

Name and place of residence: Tim Burns, Luverne

Family information: Wife, Julie, and children, Molly, 23, Tony, 19, and Rob, 15

Occupation: Twenty-three years with Prudential Financial in sales and service.

Education: Luverne High School diploma, bachelor's degree in elementary education and art education, insurance courses and designation of LUTCF and CLTC.

Community activities and involvement: Member of St. Catherine Church, Knights of Columbus and Luverne Baseball Association; foundation board member of Southwest State University; and coach, supporter and referee for Luverne youth athletics (soccer, baseball, basketball and football).

Qualifications for service: Parent of two Luverne graduates and a present ninth-grader, seven years of teaching at the elementary and high school level (three of them in Luverne) and four years of experience as a Luverne City Council member.

If elected, what should voters expect you to accomplish during your term as school board member? In other words, if elected, what issues will be important to you?

"If I am elected, I plan to continue to support the Luverne School District and its tradition of academic and athletic excellence. I will work to prioritize spending where it will directly affect students Ñ in the classroom. This should include textbooks, classroom resources, class size and staff. I believe that class size is important at all levels, not just at the elementary level. I am aware that early education is important, but letÕs not forget that students are in school for 12 years and that the high school years are very important to our students' futures.

"I would like to see more parents attend school board meetings, parent-teacher conferences and open houses. I will encourage communication between the school board members, administrators, teachers, parents and students. I would like to see our school facilities used to benefit students. We should not have to jump through hoops to use the facilities we are paying for.

"At a time when we are uncertain how the state will help fund local education, I believe that we should not implement programs that are not required by the state."

'We'll release that information after your money is spent'

Sioux Valley's plans to build a new Luverne Community Hospital is great news for the hospital, for its patients and for the community as a whole. It'll mean more jobs, a stronger tax base and another reason for new families to come to Luverne and shop here, eat here, buy gas here - and maybe even move here.

Why then, has it been such a secret?

Unofficially, it's been common knowledge. Coffee shop regulars have been speculating for months where the new hospital will be built - north or south of town.

Unofficially, it's been hashed over by select local public officials - not at public meetings - to determine if tax dollars might be available.

We're not outright suggesting Minnesota Open Meeting Laws have been violated.

As a community newspaper, we're used to weighing the importance of the public's right to know against the importance of protecting delicate land negotiations.

As news organizations go, we've been patient.

Every time we'd hear an update from the coffee shops, we'd check with those in the know. Every time we'd get the same response: “We're just not ready to release that information yet.”

Last week, we started getting unofficial updates from public officials on what's beginning to sound like very official business - involving our tax dollars.

There's been very concrete discussion on the possibility of the county and city purchasing the former hospital building. There's also been very concrete discussion on the city and/or county providing financial support for Sioux Valley to build a new hospital.

While concrete dollar amounts have even been specified, that discussion hasn't appeared on the agenda of one single public meeting.

Finally this week, we saw a press release.

At this point, as taxpayers, we feel as if someone borrowed our checkbooks and later gave us a receipt for something we had no idea we were paying for.

We're all happy about the hospital news, and most of us are happy to support it with our tax dollars (if informed fairly). But we're not happy about the shopping experience.

When such huge sums of money are offered to businesses - even if it's an important part of our infrastructure, like a hospital - citizens have a right to know at least a part of what's happening.

When other businesses were interested in locating to Luverne, the Economic Development Authority made clear intentions and updated people throughout the negotiations process. Somehow, the hospital deal has gone around that.

That may be all right for the hospital, but our city (and county) officials should be on the side of the constituents they truly represent.

For people who are actually interested in what business deals their leaders are making with their money, they can hear the same answer this paper gets: “We just aren't ready to release that yet.”

How to sign up for “Do Not Call”
The Minnesota Department of Commerce has announced how you can register for the “Do Not Call” list.

The Do Not Call list makes it illegal for telemarketers to call any residential phone number that has been registered.

The automated system will allow you to register up to three phone numbers with a single call.

The statewide, toll-free, Do Not Call registration number is 800-921-4110.

Internet registration will also be available through the Department of Commerce Web site: www.commerce.state.mn,us

According to Commerce Commissioner Jim Bernstein, there are roughly 2.2 million residential phone lines in Minnesota. Bernstein said he would not be surprised if half those numbers are eventually registered on the Do Not Call list.

The Do Not Call list was established by the 2002 legislature and signed into law by Governor Ventura.

Although registration started on Monday, Nov. 4, the law does not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2003.

Violators can be fined up to $1,000 for calling people on the list, but the law does not include non-profit groups, political parties or businesses with a prior relationship with the customer.

On the first day of the sign-up, 189,339 Minnesotans signed up for the service, nearly 10 percent of the state’s residential phone customers.

Wisconsin, which started its “no call list” in September, has had more than 720,000 people sign up. and the Web site is still getting 5,000 hits every day.

Nearly 30 states have enacted similar laws, and congress is considering passing a federal law.

Chamber plans Bridal Expo
A new date has been set for the third annual Bridal/Prom Expo.

The event will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19,. at Sharkee's in Luverne. Deadline for vendors to sign up is Dec. 2nd.

The cost for vendors to participate is $75.

If you have further questions, contact the Luverne Chamber of Commerce at 507-283-4061.

Ag update set for November 26th
The annual Rock County Ag Update will be from 1:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26, p.m. at the Blue Mound Banquet Hall and Meeting Center.

Along with the usual programs that have dealt with taxes, land rents, genetically modified grain issues and marketing, this year will also emphasize the 2002 farm program.

Roger Carlson, Rock County Farm Service Agency, will give a brief overview of the Farm Program and will also discuss what landlords and producers need to do to sign up.

Fraser Norton and Eric Hartman will give updates on the changes in the program and will discuss income and estate tax issues, as well as several farm management and marketing strategies.

The 2003 Ag Resource Guide, which covers a variety of topics such as personal and real estate taxes, commodity marketing, land rental rates, custom rates, crop budget projections, will be available at the meeting.

The annual event is organized by the Rock County office of the University of Minnesota Extension Service and is sponsored by the three Luverne banks.

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

Donald B. Phillips, Ypsilanti, Mich., formerly of Luverne, died Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002, in Ypsilanti.

Services were in Ann Arbor, Mich., last week. The family will gather for worship in Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, at the 10:45 a.m. service, Sunday, Nov. 10. Burial services in Maplewood Cemetery will be 12:30 p.m., following the service.

Donald Phillips was born to Ben and Rosie Phillips, on Sept. 4, 1942, in Luverne. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1960. He attended Concordia College, Moorhead, and North Dakota State University, receiving his B.A. and M.S. degrees in chemistry in 1964 and 1966, respectively.

He married Eunice Wangberg on Aug. 14, 1966. The couple moved to Elizabethtown, Ky., where he began his teaching career at Elizabethtown Community College. Three years later, he returned to graduate school at the University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., and received an Ed.D in science education in 1972. In 1972, he took a position as assistant professor of chemistry at Eastern Michigan University, where he received the rank of full professor.

Dr. Phillips' professional expertise was in the field of chemistry for future elementary school teachers. Hundreds of area school children have enjoyed participating in his Chemistry 101 course at E.M.U. He received the National Science Teachers - Gustav Ohaus Award in 1982 for Innovations in College Science Teaching. That same year he was a finalist for the Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in teaching at E.M.U.

Dr. Phillips was well known for organizing chemical magic shows and “Saturday Morning at the Lab” programs for the community. His hobbies included woodworking, listening to music, and searching family history.

Survivors include his wife, Eunice Phillips, Ypsilanti; and two sons, Timothy Phillips, and Dan Phillips.

Mr. Phillips was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Luverne Dollars for Scholars, Trinity Lutheran Church Meditation Garden or the E.M.U. Chemistry Department Scholarship Fund.

Nie Funeral Home Inc., Ann Arbor, was in charge of arrangements.

Frances E. Kuhl, 97, Hills, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.

Services were Wednesday, Nov . 6, at United Methodist Church in Lester, Iowa. Mr. Don Nelson officiated. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lester.

Frances Elsie Popma was born to Leonard and Clara (Spinden) Popma on July 21, 1905, in Lakota, N.D. When she was seven, she moved to Doon, Iowa, to live with her grandparents. She grew up in Doon, attended country school and became a member of the Congregational Church. After her education she worked for area families and did housekeeping.

She married George Kuhl on Aug. 29, 1923, in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Following their marriage the couple farmed in the Sioux Center, Iowa, and Doon areas. In 1953 they moved to Hardwick where they farmed for the next eight years before moving to a farm near Cambridge in 1961. They retired from farming in 1965 and moved to Cambridge. In 1971, they moved to Hills. Mr. Kuhl died on Dec. 9, 1981. She became a resident of Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in 1999.

Mrs. Kuhl was a member of United Methodist Church in Lester. She enjoyed playing bingo, cards, crocheting and gardening.

Survivors include four children, Carl (Ruby) Kuhl, Minneapolis, Leo (Margaret) Kuhl, Madison, S.D., Darlene (Arend) Folkens, Lester, and Clara Ann (Ron) Olson, Steen; seven grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and one brother-in-law, Raymond DeJager, Hull, Iowa.

Mrs. Kuhl was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two infant sons, George and Melvin, an infant great-grandson, Jas VerMeer, a half-brother, Russell Popma, and a half-sister, Elsie DeJager.

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