By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School teachers Amy Christensen and Nicole Fey were present at the School Board meeting Tuesday to report on the search for a language arts program.

The district has a curriculum guide which dictates textbooks are evaluated every so often. The current language arts textbooks were published in 1996.

Christensen and Fey will be present at the next meeting with a proposal and price for the curriculum chosen by the elementary teachers.

Teachers in both the elementary and high school have been working on a plan listing all curriculum taught by teachers in each grade.

This information would ensure teachers were not duplicating curriculum and would make it easier for teachers to transition to different grades. The teacher could look at the plan and know exactly what the kids were taught in other grades.

"Nothing is connected," said Superintendent Dave Deragisch. "We have no vision of one to the next (grade). That’s what we need to get done."

The information could be compiled in a binder for each grade level to use.

In other business:
The board adopted Attachment 99, a state program that requires the district to review health and safety hazards and implement plans and programs to manage them.

"We need Attachment 99 to be approved so we can continue to apply for health and safety funds," said Deragisch.

The board approved running new pipe to the kitchen in the high school building. A plumber was called to unclog pipes two times in the last two weeks. The board approved a bid from Hansel Plumbing for $2,984 to replace the lines.

The board accepted the resignation of Little Patriot Academy teacher Angie Blasmo. Blasmo and her husband are relocating to Wyoming.

"There will be people who will be disappointed because I’ve heard nothing but good comments," said board chair Alan Harnack.

The former home of Luverne's Al and Marge Christensen on North Blue Mound Avenue was moved Thursday, May 23, to it's new location 27 miles away to an acreage near Rushmore. It's pictured here navigating the curves along the east side of Blue Mounds State Park on County Road 8. The house was sold Thursday, Feb. 28, to the highest bidder for $22,000. Scot and Cherry Schnoor, Rushmore, are the new owners and plan to restore the house to its original historic specifications. The Luverne Economic Development Authority purchased the property in the mid-1990s for the purpose of subdividing lots in the Evergreen Addition, which has grown around the acreage.

Al and Marge lived in the house since they were married in 1945. Al grew up in the house since his father, Jasper Christensen, purchased it in 1924. At that time Al was 9 years old, and the nearest cluster of residential homes was on Barck Street, which aligns with Roundwind Avenue between Human Services and Tri-State Insurance. Al died in October 2000, and Marge has since moved to Sioux Falls.

Photo by Lori Ehde

Kindergarten fans judge circus by snow cones and swords

Considering I'm not a big fan of the circus, it's significant that I attended two in the past few weeks. We went to the El Riad Shrine Circus in Sioux Falls last month and a lso to the traveling outfit that stopped at the Armory last week.

Both versions offered free tickets to kids at school, but that's where the similarities ended.

The Shriners put on a fantastic three-ring show in the Arena, which was viewed by a sold-ou t crowd with a median age of 7.

The three-hour event featured glittering trapeze artists, dancing elephants, bicycling bears, hilarious clowns and the whole shebang.

Luverne's version last week featured three rows of sparsely-filled folding chairs circ l i ng a single ring in the middle of the floor in the National Guard Armory.

The hour-long show included limited acrobatics, magic stunts, an unpainted clown, a handful of pigeons and ducks.

The adults in the crowd eyed each other with raised brows. N o o ne actually said it, but our looks translated to something like, "We paid $9.50 for this? It's a good thing the kids had free tickets."

I'm glad the big people kept their comments to themselves, because the little people had a ball. The clown selec t ed v ol unteer children from the audience to hoola hoop with him, and he played practical jokes at their expense - to their delight.

They shrieked with laughter when the bumbling chef couldn't keep up with his pans twirling on poles. And broken eggs f rom a faile d juggling act appealed to their grade-school sense of humor.

It sure wasn't the Shrine Circus, but in their minds it was a class act. They left with smiles on their faces, cotton candy stuck on their fingers and cheeks and balloons and other ci r cus paraphernalia in hand to prove they'd been there.

It struck me how, despite our best efforts, kids really are easy to please.

While we were at the Shrine Circus in Sioux Falls, I noticed how many of the quality acts were wasted on Jonathan and his c ousi ns. Once they had lighted circus swords, it seemed nothing could top the entertainment of a rousing fencing match among themselves and the good-sported hot-dog guy that wondered into their battle zone.

As far as a kindergartner is concerned, the sno w con es t asted as sweet in the Armory as they did in the Arena, and pretty girls in sparkling costumes are just as fun to watch with pigeons as they are with dancing elephants.

The lesson in all this? Don't judge a circus by its number of rings, bu t rather b y its ability to captivate audience members - as undiscriminating as they may be.

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By John Rittenhouse
Nineteen members of the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth track program earned berths in the Section 3A Track and Field Championships with their performances during Thursday's Sub-Section 10 meet in Luverne.

Ten Patriot girls and nine boys will be competing at todayÕs section event, which begins at 4 p.m. in Pipestone.

The top-four relays and top-four finishers in individual events at the sub-section level qualify for the Section meet.

H-BC-E will be represented in 10 events in the boys' and girls' competitions.

The Patriots placed third in the boys' team competition and fourth on the girls' side in Luverne.

Luverne and Southwest Christian led the boys' field with 206 and 134 points respectively, while H-BC-E compiled 119.5. Pipestone-Jasper (117), Murray County Central (70.5) and Edgerton ((24) round out the boys' teams.

P-J took top honors with 191 points in the girls' team competition. Luverne (180), MCC (112), H-BC-E (91), Edgerton (46) and SWC (43) capped the field.

Senior Brad Haak helped the Patriot boys land three meet championships.

Haak won the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run with respective 50.97 and 2:01.97 times.

Haak, Lee Jackson, Greg Van Batavia and Tyler Bush won the 3,200-meter relay and established a new sub-section meet record with a time of 8:16.59.

The boys' 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays also qualified for section competition.

The 1,600-meter squad of Jackson, Lee Walraven, Tyson Metzger and Bush placed second with a time of 3:47.73.

The 400- and 800-meter squads finished third with respective 46.77 and 1:39.84 efforts.

Chris Reid, Metzger, Jackson and Jesse Leuthold ran the 400. Metzger, Walraven, Van Batavia and Leuthold formed the 800-meter team.

Reid and Bush placed second during individual events.

Reid, who was third in the long jump with a distance of 19-9, placed second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes with respective 11.43 and 23.0 efforts.

Bush came in second to Haak with a time of 2:03.86 in the 800.

Patriot Kale Wiertzema qualified for the section meet by placing third in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:03.74.

Leuthold and Van Batavia will advance to Pipestone by placing fourth in the 100 and 3,200 with respective 11.75 and 11:10.72 performances.

The Patriots girls won a meet championship in the 3,200-meter relay.

Mya Mann, Cassi Tilstra, Brittney Rozeboom and Bev Wurpts captured H-BC-EÕs lone title with a time of 10:17.5.

The girls' 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays also qualified for the section meet.

The 400-meter team of LaDonna Sandstede, Kelly Mulder, Melinda Feucht and Erin Boeve placed third with a time of 54.75, and Wurpts, Boeve, Mann and Tilstra came in third in the 1,600 in 4:23.17.

Amanda Connors, Feucht, Sandstede and Mulder placed fourth in the 800 in 2:00.03.

Boeve came up with a pair of second-place finishes and Wurpts and Mann recorded one each in individual events.

Boeve finished second in the long and triple jumps with distances of 15-7 and 32-9. Mann ran 800 meters in 2:32.71. Wurpts was timed at 5:40.72 in 1,600.

Cassi Tilstra qualified for the section meet by finishing third in the 400-meter dash in 1:02.99, and Amanda Tilstra made it in the 3,200-meter run after finishing fourth in 13:10.22.

Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-EÕs top-eight finishers during the sub-section meet.

H-BC-E boys
Sixth place: Roger DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 20.05; Adam Sieff, 300 hurdles, 51.7; Cody Scholten, pole vault, 8-6.
Seventh place: Lee Farrell, 300 hurdles, 54.68; Scholten, high jump, 5-2; Kerry Fink, triple jump, 32-2.
Eighth place: Walraven, 200, 24.97; Fink, 800, 2:27.21; Derek Haak, 3,200, 12:09.63; Sieff, 110 hurdles, 20.76; R.DeBoer, 300 hurdles, 56.08; Devin DeBoer, triple jump, 31-9.

H-BC-E girls
Fifth place: Kari Roozenboom, 100 hurdles, 18.63; Rozeboom, pole vault, 6-0.
Seventh place: Kerri Fransman, 3,200, 13:43.06; Feucht, 300 hurdles, 5.06; Rozeboom, high jump, 4-2; C.Tilstra, pole vault, 5-0.
Eighth place: Chelsea Fink, 400, 1:09.24; Roozenboom, high jump, 4-0; Mulder, long jump, 13-3; Sandstede, triple jump, 29-10; Rosie Lewis, discus, 83-0.

Alfred "Mike" Bahn, 84, Hardwick, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, in his home.

Services were Thursday, May 16, at St. John Lutheran Church in Trosky. Burial was in Luverne Memorial Gardens, rural Luverne.

Alfred Bahn was born to Ernest and Mary (Scharna) Bahn on March 28, 1918, in Springwater Township, Rock County. He was raised on a farm in Denver Township where he attended country school. Upon completion of his education he worked for various farmers in the Hardwick area.

He married Ivernia Brinkmeyer on Dec. 8, 1943, at St. James Lutheran Church in Holland. Following their marriage they lived on a farm in Denver Township. In 1953 they moved to a different farm in Denver Township. They later purchased the farm and lived there since that time except for one year. In 1970 they bought the Arrow Motel in Pipestone which they operated for several years. During that time he continued to farm until his retirement in 1983. Mrs. Bahn preceded him in death on Jan. 4, 1997. After her death he continued to live on the farm.

Mr. Bahn was lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Trosky where he had been baptized ad confirmed. In his younger years he taught himself to play guitar and for a time he had a small band, "The Country Old-Timers," which performed in the late '60s and early '70s in the local area. He also enjoyed raising horses and he and his sons participated in parades and horse shows in the mid- to late 1950s. He enjoyed fishing and dancing.

Survivors include three sons, Alan (Georgia) Bahn, Pipestone, Ronald (Carol) Bahn, Elkhorn, Neb., and Dale (Roxy) Bahn, Center City; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Bahn was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ivernia, three brothers, William, Herman and Harry Bahn, and three sisters, Katie Bahn, Emma Loger and Minnie Meister.

Hartquist Funeral Chapel, Pipestone, was in charge of arrangements.

By Jolene Farley
A Memorial Day service in Hills Monday honored veterans who defended their country. Hills American Legion Post 399 sponsored the program.

The program began on a patriotic note with the Hills-Beaver Creek High School band playing traditional songs and the Color Guard presenting the colors.

Jessica Martens, Angie Sjaarda and Heather Albers sang the "Star Spangled Banner." Pastor Daniel Ramaker gave the invocation followed by Angie Martinez, winner of the 2002 Sertoma Club Heritage essay contest, who read her essay.

Retired Col. James B. Fleming, a 1946 Hills High School graduate, spoke on events he experienced about Memorial Day and items related to it.

"Over time, the community of Hills provided hundreds of men and women to serve the country during times of war and crisis," Fleming said in his address.

"It has been fortunate in the fact that, to the best of my knowledge, only Bob Schlotfeldt died in combat during the Korean War. Others were wounded and prisoners of war but no other combat deaths."

He spoke on his own personal Memorial Day memories.

"I must say the most emotional (for him) Memorial Day occurred in Washington, D.C. in 1984. That was the Memorial Day President Reagan officially dedicated the Vietnam Memorial Wall," he said.

"The most riveting part of the parade was the last unit in the parade. It really wasn't a unit but rather four or five hundred Vietnam veterans wearing their jungle uniforms with their medals. Most were marching without assistance, a few had canes, some in wheelchairs and a few with crutches. However, they all made the four-mile parade!

"I will tell you there wasn't a dry eye anywhere in the huge crowd that had gathered to see the parade and the Vietnam vets received a standing ovation throughout the length of the parade."

Fleming ended his address by thanking the audience for inviting him to speak.

"This day will rank right behind Memorial Day 1984," he said. "I salute you!"

After Pastor Ramaker gave the benediction, Legion members solemnly gathered outside the Legion hall to march the two blocks to Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery.

At the cemetery, Pastor Ramaker led the gathering in prayer. Commander Robert Sandbulte honored deceased members of the American Legion and Auxiliary members by reading their names. A wreath was laid near the veterans memorial in their memory.

The veterans memorial reads, "This memorial is dedicated in grateful tribute to veterans of all wars who served in defense of our country."

Legion members fired their guns in salute. To end the service, "Taps" was played by Shannon Tilstra. People slowly dispersed contemplating the sacrifices made for their country.

By Jolene Fairly
A 41-year-old Valley Springs man was killed and his 9-year-old daughter injured Wednesday, May 22, in a motorcycle accident east of Valley Springs, SD, in Rock County.

Ronald Matthaei was driving westbound toward Valley Springs when he dropped onto the gravel shoulder of County Road 4 and lost control of his motorcycle, according to Rock County Deputy Sheriff Kurt Kester.

He wasn’t wearing a helmet and was thrown from the motorcycle. The motorcycle landed in the ditch and his daughter was pinned underneath it. She was wearing a helmet.

A wind gust could have contributed to the accident, according to Kester.

A motorist who witnessed the accident called 911 from a nearby farm. Rescuers were notified at 8:52 p.m.

The girl was conscious when she was airlifted to Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.

American Legion Post No. 399 sponsored Memorial Day services in Hills Monday. Retired Col. Jim Fleming, a Hills High School graduate, was the speaker for the event. Above, Legion members solemnly march through Hills, followed by community members, to the cemetery for the memorial service. Story inside.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Margaret S. Loger, 74, Luverne, died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Wednesday, May 29, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. The Rev. John Pehrson officiated. Burial was in Ebenezer State Line Cemetery in Kanaranzi Township.

Margaret Anderson was born to Henry and Ida (Kirkeby) Anderson on April 29, 1928, in Lily, S.D. She attended country school near Wallace, S.D. After her schooling she lived and worked in Watertown, S.D.

She married Edwin Loger on Sept. 30, 1947, at State Line Presbyterian parsonage. They made their home in Luverne all of their married lives. She worked at Worthmore Produce until starting their family. After raising her family she worked at A.R. Wood Manufacturing and GlenÕs Food Center in the bakery and deli departments.

Mrs. Loger was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. She enjoyed painting, quilting, crafts, gardening, canning and music.

Survivors include her husband, Edwin Loger, Luverne; five children, Keith (Karen) Loger, Austin, Diane (Gary) Korthals, Schuyler, Neb., Denis Loger, Luverne, Gary Loger, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Sheila (Mike Pleasants) Loger, St. Paul; five grandchildren, Shane Korthals, Jason Loger, Derek Korthals, Kari Loger and Megan Loger; and one sister, Ruby Gall, Rapid City, S.D.

Mrs. Loger was preceded in death by her parents, two sons, Curtis and Eugene, one grandson, Brent Korthals, and one brother, Alfred Anderson.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.