By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys' basketball team won a border battle by besting West Lyon (Iowa) High School 81-44 in a game played in Hills Saturday.

Three Patriots scored 20 or more points for an H-BC team that outscored the Lions in every quarter.

David Top and Matt Buck led the charge for H-BC by netting 20 points each.

Top, who had three steals, canned six of nine shots in the game. Buck had eight rebounds and three assists.

The Patriots had a slim 21-18 lead after 18 minutes of playing before extending the advantage to 11 points (37-26) at the intermission.

H-BC put the game away by outscoring the Lions 44-18 in the second half.

The difference was 20 points (57-37) after three quarters of play. A 24-7 scoring run in the fourth quarter gave H-BC a 37-point win.

Brad Haak played a strong game that featured him recording a double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds. He also had three steals.

The 8-5 Patriots, who have won five straight games since the beginning of the month, host Southwest Star Concept tonight before playing a road tilt against Westbrook-Walnut Grove Tuesday.

Box score
Metzger 1 0 0-0 2, D.DeBoer 1 0 0-0 2, Roozenboom 1 0 0-0 2, Van Maanen 0 0 0-0 0, Haak 6 0 6-6 18, Leuthold 3 0 1-1 7, L.DeBoer 2 0 4-6 8, Van Wyhe 1 0 0-0 2, Top 4 2 6-7 20, Buck 9 0 2-3 20, Krull 0 0 0-0 0.

Team statistics
H-BC: 30 of 69 field goals (44 percent), 19 of 23 free throws (83 percent), 46 rebounds, 14 turnovers.

WL: 15 of 44 field goals (34 percent), nine of 25 free throws (36 percent), 19 rebounds, 16 turnovers.

A Health Fair at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary on Jan.16 provided students with many valuable health tips. "Bac," the giant bacteria character, helped students develop food safety skills and better hand washing to fight germs. Students were also invited to become members of the safety patrol. The "Fight Bac" inflatable costume (pictured with H-BC students) was on loan to the Extension Office from the Food and Drug Administration.

Submitted photo

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek girls' basketball team continued to pick up steam by posting a 68-39 victory over Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster in Round Lake Tuesday.

The Patriots outscored the hosts in every quarter and ended up winning their fourth straight game by a comfortable, 29-point margin.

According to H-BC coach Tom Goehle, his charges are coming close to putting everything together.

"We shot the ball really well, we did a good job of pushing the ball up the floor, and we played good defense at times. We're getting closer to piecing together a complete game. The more consistent we become, the better we will be," he said.

Strong performances from Erin Boeve have become a common occurrence for H-BC.

Boeve had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against the Raiders. She also blocked seven shots.

Boeve tossed in nine points when the Patriots gained 16-5 and 33-14 leads at the first two quarter breaks.

Sarah Rozeboom, who netted a season-high 14 points, registered 10 points in the second half. Her scoring led the Patriots to a 22-point cushion (53-31) after three quarters before winning by 29 in the end.

The Patriots received a 10-point, four-steal, four-assist effort from Becky Broesder. Cassi Tilstra and Brittney Olson added seven and four assists to the winning cause.

H-BC, winner of four straight games, takes a 9-5 record into tomorrow's home game against Red Rock Central. The Patriots host Pipestone-Jasper Tuesday.

Box score
B.Rozeboom 2 0 2-2 6, Olson 2 0 0-0 4, Rentschler 4 0 0-0 8, Tilstra 4 0 0-0 8, Broesder 5 0 0-0 10, Rozeboom 7 0 0-0 14, DeNoble 1 0 0-2 2, Boeve 6 0 4-5 16.

Team statistics
H-BC: 31 of 62 field goals (50 percent), six of nine free throws (67 percent).
SV-RL-B: 17 of 48 field goals (35 percent), five of 12 free throws (42 percent).

By John Rittenhouse
The Adrian wrestling team continued to roll over some opponents while raising its record to 16-3 overall for the season.

The Dragons beat some top-notch competition while going 4-0 to win the Federated Duals in Owatonna Saturday. Adrian locked up the Red Rock Conference championship by overpowering Fulda-Murray County Central by 41 points in Adrian Tuesday.

Adrian takes a 13-match winning streak into a triangular in Canby tonight. The Dragons wrestle at the Kasson-Mantorville Tournament Saturday before wrestling a match in Luverne Tuesday.

Adrian 53, F-MCC 12
The Dragons clinched their first outright RRC championship when they coasted to a 41-point home win over the Rebels Tuesday.

Adrian opened a 26-3 lead by winning five of the first six matches of the duel and ended up taking 10 of the 13 bouts in the lopsided victory.

The early run featured pins by Eric Kunkel (1:35 over Ben Kremer at 125), Tyler Wolf (:32 over Eric Zins at 140) and Nate Bullerman (3:11 over Tyson Meyeraan at 145), and major decision victories from Dusty Bullerman (17-4 over Nick Henning at 130) and Lance Bullerman (12-2 over Ryan Olsen at 152).

F-MCC, which received a 7-6 win from Wade Behr over Chris Kruger at 135, made it 26-6 when Dean Paulzine nipped Trent Bullerman 5-4 in two overtimes at 160.

Adrian, however, won five of the next six matches to ice the victory.

The late surge consisted of pins by Levi Bullerman (2:35 over Matt Witzel at 171), Tyler Bullerman (1:46 over Matt Kautz at 189), Josh Winselman (1:39 over Nick Steinmetz) and Cody Reverts (;29 over Jacob Nolt at 119), and Brandon BullermanÕs 10-3 decision win over Lauren Clarke at 112.

Rebel Luke Giese pinned Brandon Croat at 1:14 of the 103-pound match.

Match wrap-up
125 (A) Kunkel pins Kremer.
130 (A) D.Bullerman m.d. Henning.
135 (F) Behr dec. Kruger.
140 (A) Wolf pins Zins.
145 (A) N.Bullerman pins Meyeraan.
152 (A) La.Bullerman m.d. Olsen.
160 (F) Paulzine dec. Tr.Bullerman.
171 (A) Lv.Bullerman pins Witzel.
189 (Ty.Bullerman pins Kautz.
275 (A) Winselman pins Steinmetz.
103 (F) Giese pins Croat.
112 (A) B.Bullerman dec. Clarke.
119 (A) Reverts pins Nolt.

Owatonna tourney
The Dragon boys shocked the field by winning the Federated Duals championship in Owatonna Saturday.

Adrian went 4-0 overall for the day and beat three teams that were ranked in Class A or AAA while extending their longest winning streak of the season to 12 straight wins.

Adrian opened the event by posting a 54-12 win over Le Center before upending three straight state-ranked opponents.

The Dragons met Medford, the state's top-ranked Class A team, and secured a 31-22 win. Cambridge-Isanti, ranked seventh in Class AAA, was upended by a 29-23 margin by the Dragons in the third round. Adrian completed its title run by besting Owatonna, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A and 24th in the nation, by a 27-25 tally in the finals.

Three Dragons boasted 4-0 records at tournament's end.

Tyler Bullerman turned in an outstanding performance by recording consecutive pins over Le Center's Brian Struck (:44), Medford's Jeremy Kaplanin (:32), CIÕs Dejon Brunell (:54) and OwatonnaÕs Dan Sorenson (3:06) at 171 and 189.

Lance Bullerman went 4-0 at 152 and 160. He received a forfeit against Le Center, won a 9-4 decision from Medford's Scott Balzer and recorded pins over C-I's Nick Henderson (:56) and Owatonna's Brady Pettis (3:16).

Levi Bullerman went 4-0 at 160 and 171. He pinned Le Center's Kyle Blaschko in 36 seconds, recorded 9-7 and 11-5 decision wins over Medford's Steve Maas and Owatonna's Eric Seykora respectively, and notched a 13-1 major decision win over C-IÕs Lee Molitor.

AdrianÕs Brandon Bullerman (103), Eric Kunkel (119) and Dusty Bullerman (125 and 130) all went 3-1, while Cody Reverts (112) and Trent Bullerman (145 and 152) went 2-2. Pete Jensen was 1-1 at 125 and 130. Chris Kruger was 1-2 at 130 and 135, and Nate Bullerman (140) and Josh Winselman (heavyweight) went 1-3. Adam Voss was 0-2 at 135, Tyler Wolf 0-1 at 145 and Brandon Schettler 0-3 at 189.

Match wrap-ups
Adrian 54, Le Center 12
103 (L) Grasser dec. B.Bullerman.
112 (A) Reverts pins Wetzel.
119 (A) Kunkel pins Doherty.
125 (A) D.Bullerman pins Krenick.
130 (A) Kruger by forfeit.
135 (L) Hunt dec. Voss.
140 (A) N.Bullerman by forfeit.
145 (A) Tr.Bullerman by forfeit.
152 (A) La.Bullerman by forfeit.
160 (A) Lv.Bullerman pins
Blaschko.
171 (A) Ty.Bullerman pins Struck.
189 (L) Miller dec. Schettler.
275 (L) Stocker dec. Winselman.

Adrian 31, Medford 22
103 (A) B.Bullerman dec. Simmons.
112 (A) Reverts dec. Kavitz.
119 (A) Kunkel pins Barta.
125 (M) Bredenuehl pins Jensen.
130 (A) D.Bullerman m.d. Yule.
135 (M) Yule dec. Kruger.
140 (M) Reinhard m.d. N.Bullerman.
145 (M) Kuhlman pins Wolf.
152 (M) Glende dec. Tr.Bullerman.
160 (A) La.Bullerman dec. Balzer.
171 (A) Lv.Bullerman dec. Maas.
189 (A) Ty.Bullerman pins Kaplan.
275 (A) Winselman dec. Hansen.

Adrian 29, C-I 23
103 (A) B.Bullerman m.d. Graham.
112 (C) Carl dec. Reverts.
119 (A) Kunkel pins Sjodin.
125 (C) Fiedler dec. D.Bullerman.
130 (C) Johnson m.d. Kruger.
135 (C) Molitor dec. Voss.
140 (C) Hasser dec. N.Bullerman.
145 (A) Tr.Bullerman dec. DÕAigl.
152 (A) La.Bullerman
pins Henderson.
160 (A) Lv.Bullerman m.d. Molitor.
171 (A) Ty.Bullerman pins Brunell.
189 (C) Becker m.d. Schettler.
275 (C) Balos dec. Winselman.

Adrian 27, Owatonna 25
103 (A) B.Bullerman dec. Meger.
112 (O) Meger m.d. Reverts.
119 (O) Prince dec. Kunkel.
125 (A) D.Bullerman dec. Erler.
130 (A) Jensen by injury default.
135 (O) Johnson dec. Slater.
140 (O) Butler dec. N.Bullerman.
145 (O) Busho dec. Tr.Bullerman.
152 (A) La.Bullerman pins Pettis.
160 (A) Lv.Bullerman dec. Seykora.
171 (A) Ty.Bullerman
pins Sorensen.
189 (O) Sorensen t.f. Schettler.
275 (O) Cassen m.d. Winselman.

By Jolene Farley
Twenty-two-year nursing veteran Lois Leenderts thoroughly enjoys the job she has worked at for four years as Hills-Beaver Creek school nurse. She said variety is the best part of her job.

Leenderts is responsible for the medical care of students at both H-BC Elementary and High School.

She performs hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings on students. She administers vaccinations, passes out prescribed medications and takes care of students who become ill during the school day.

Leenderts also maintains health records on all students. She teaches a fifth grade unit on self-esteem, delicately handles puberty talks for the fourth, fifth and sixth grades and teaches a CPR class at the high school.

Her first day on the job was a learning experience, Leenderts recalls. She received no orientation and wasn't sure what she was getting into. After a few uncertain days, Leenderts said she began to love her job.

"The kids, kindergarten through 12, they all have so much to offer," she said. "Everybody is unique; everybody has their own special quality."

Leenderts' days are on a set schedule now, which is a different setting from Luverne Community Hospital where she occasionally works as an evening nurse.

"I pretty much know the plan of the day here, where at the hospital things can change in a minute," Leenderts said. She adds there are good points about both positions.

Asthma is one of the most serious health issues in schools today, according to Leenderts. "I'm not sure if it's getting worse or if we are more aware of the effects and how serious it is for them (students)."

Luckily, she's had only one serious asthma incident with a student.

Leederts finds the number of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder kids on medication fluctuates greatly. She said behavior modification techniques and setting limits helps kids progress, making it possible to wean them off medications for the disorder.

She stresses the school and parents must work together. "It is really helpful when they get that (structure) at home," she said.

Treating high school students is different from treating grade school students, Leenderts said. High school students are allowed to decide if they should call their parents and leave school or stay in school and "tough it out" when they are ill.

Leenderts thinks this helps prepare students for the workforce after they graduate. She said "real world" workers don't sit in the "sick bay." They stay at their jobs and work or they go home.

Leenderts offers the following advice to parents: "Take the time to listen to your children," she said. "The years go so fast. They have a lot of things to share, whether it's how they are feeling or what's going on in their lives. Listen, because that affects what goes on here."

Leenderts said she sees emotional issues manifested in physical symptoms in children. Students are trying to deal with concerns, and it might show up as a headache or a stomach ache.

She said she feels fortunate parents at Hill-Beaver Creek are involved and know what is going on with their children.

Leenderts and her husband, Arlen, have three children, Greg, 21, Tonya, 17, and Jessie, 13.

By Jolene Farley
Working out of her home, Jamie Tofteland began her flower business, Prairie Smoke Floral, in June.

Jamie and her husband, David, purchased an acreage south of Beaver Creek. "We both pretty much grew up in the area, and we moved back this past February," said Tofteland.

Tofteland creates fresh, dried, or silk designs for any occasion. Prairie Smoke Floral did its first floral design for a wedding last summer.

Tofteland earned a horticulture degree and while taking a floral culture course, she enjoyed the subject so much she decided to specialize in that area.

"I like working with customers, and I love working with flowers, fresh, silk and dried," she said. "I like decorating; that kind of ties in."

Tofteland has been in the floral industry for four years. After graduation, she worked at Gustaf's Greenery, Sioux Falls, S.D., and later managed a small floral shop called "The Brick House" in Salem, S.D.

Tofteland creates designs for weddings, birthdays, holidays or any occasion.

She takes orders by phone at 673-2487. If she's not home, messages are returned promptly.

"I give free estimates and consultations," she said. "I will be more than happy to help them (customers) out."

Prairie Winds Floral will offer a pre-book Valentine's Day promotion for orders placed up to a week before Feb. 14.

"I don't keep them (fresh flowers) on hand, but if someone does need them I am willing to get what they want or need, no matter if it's one or a dozen," she said.

Tofteland offers a variety of floral designs. The traditional look and the Martha Stewart look are always popular, she said.

Most brides prefer fresh over silk arrangements, she said. "They (brides) will ask about silk, but in the long run, they will stay with the fresh," she said.

Some brides want their mothers to carry a bouquet similar to what bridesmaids hold. She said a recent trend in wedding bouquets is small metal vases from the Victorian era called the "tusk muss."

"They are a nice little keepsake," she said.

Tofteland has no preference in the kind of flowers she works with, but admits roses will last longer than tulips. If a wedding bouquet is made with tulips, it needs to be placed in water whenever it is not carried.

Florists have developed a freeze drying method of preserving fresh floral bouquets forever, according to Tofteland. She will refer anyone interested in the procedure to the Sioux Falls company that can help.

Prairie Smoke also rents silk arrangements. If Tofteland doesn't have a specific color on hand she will order it. Renting is an easy way to work down the cost of a wedding or event, and she said she is willing to work with any budget specified to design the perfect event.

The Toftelands have a son, Brayden, 8 months.

By Lori Ehde
A representative of the Pipestone hog operation Global Ventures Inc. appeared in U.S. District Court Tuesday on behalf of the company to plead guilty to one count of mail fraud.

In doing so, the company admits to engaging in a scheme to receive preferential treatment from former Rock County feedlot officer John Burgers.

Burgers pleaded guilty on Dec. 19 to the same mail fraud charge stemming from his solicitation and receipt of bribes from GVI officers Dave Logan and Michael Morgan.

Burgers admitted in court that in March 1996 he learned that debris and waste were being dumped at a hog production facility owned by Global Ventures Inc.

Instead of notifying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Burgers contacted Logan and advised him to take care of the problem before he contacted state officials.

A few months later, in June 1996, Burgers approached Logan and informed him he (Burgers) was in deep financial trouble and needed money.

"I heard rumors the bank and Global Ventures were involved in suspicious money transactions. I knew Dave Logan would see me as something of value and that he would know that I could make it tough or make it easy on Global Ventures," Burgers said in a written statement Sept. 18.

"I expected for that reason Logan could help me get loans at Pipestone Bank," Burgers wrote. "Dave Logan used me as his heads-up guy to tell him of potential problems."

Burgers' employment with Rock County was terminated in December.

Global decided to enter the plea after being advised by its attorney that the company was legally responsible for the acts of former company officials.

"The individuals responsible for this action are no longer involved with Global," Global president Bob Taubert said in a statement released Tuesday.

"It is important for Global, its customers, suppliers and employees that we put this matter behind us and move on with our business."

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Global agrees to pay $250,000 in fines and donations to Pipestone and Rock counties for environmental protection.

The agreement also states, among other things, that Logan "will have no role in the future of Global Ventures."

All other charges against Global Ventures have been dropped. The actual settlement will be determined by Judge Michael David, based on federal sentencing guidelines.

"We sincerely apologize for the conduct of these two former company officials," Taubert said.

Global Ventures named a new management team in September. In addition to Taubert who's been employed there since 1996, Jerry Bauman, a founding shareholder in 1993, was named vice president and Steve Perkins, a Global owner since 1997, became secretary/treasurer.

The company employs 65 people and raises roughly 175,000 pigs a year, marketing an additional 550,000 hogs for area farmers.

By Sara Strong
About 15 Rock County residents attended Tuesday's Board of Commissioners meeting to voice concerns about some of the board’s recent decisions.

Harold Fick and Stan Gyberg spoke on behalf of the group, whose main worry was about the position of auditor/treasurer.

At a recent County Board meeting, commissioners asked local legislative representatives to carry a bill that would allow Rock County the option of appointing the auditor/treasurer and recorder rather than leave them as elected positions.

The state bill would allow the board to pass a resolution making the offices appointed.

But Gyberg said taking an elected office - that's accountable solely to the public - and making it a position that's accountable to administration is dangerous.

"I don't think the auditor should be under the thumb of the County Board," he said. "That's a concentration of power, and I would worry about the influence of the board over the auditor."

Gyberg further reasoned that banks can’t have their own auditor because of conflict of interest.

Commissioner Ron Boyenga said that the state auditor would continue to examine the county's financial condition whether the auditor/treasurer is appointed or elected.

And, Boyenga said, if board members are appointing inadequate people to the job, "we're elected, too, and we can be voted off at an election."

If the legislation does pass, there is a system of recalling the appointed people if the public feels the board acted wrongly.

The board reasoned that the move toward appointments is appropriate because the positions have changed so much in recent years with advances in technology. As of now, anyone can run for the offices; no specific, minimal qualifications are required to file for election.

Commissioner Bob Jarchow said, "What we're looking at is updating a statute that's 100 years old. The job has changed a lot in just the last 20 years."

Jarchow said moving to an appointed position would happen after the current people resign or retire.

Fick said people could easily get the impression that staying on the good side of board members and county administration can get the job as auditor/treasurer or recorder.

In fact, Fick said, Auditor/Treasurer Margaret Cook not getting a pay raise this year appears to be related to her not supporting the move to make the position appointed.

The board said it set salaries based on performance and cost of living increases.

Boyenga said some investment recommendations made to Cook were not acted on and could have earned about $20,000 more for the county. If an appointed person was told to handle money a certain way, he or she would have to.

Fick and Gyberg said that was their point precisely - the auditor/treasurer shouldn't feel accountable to the board for job security or pay raises.

Of the 87 counties in Minnesota, 20 have requested legislation similar to Rock County's.

Cook said she doesn't support the move to make elected positions appointed but admits, "I can see both sides of it."

She said she generally thinks of elected people as being accountable to all of the public, whereas appointed people may feel more accountable to their administrators.

Cook was elected treasurer in 1978 and took on the combined office of auditor and treasurer in the mid-1990s.

Her job includes overseeing many things including elections, vital records, passports, bond reports to the state, collecting taxes and settlements.

She admits that sometimes her investment decisions don't get the highest possible returns for the county. But after spending much time searching for interest rates, she said sometimes a percentage point difference is all she can come up with.

"I don't have that luxury of just being able to look at investments," Cook said.

She said that even if the county ends up appointing people with heavy financial backgrounds to her position, state laws change every year, and reporting and recording standards will always be a part of continuing training.

Lawrence Mike Steiner, 87, Luverne, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2002, at Parkview Manor in Ellsworth.

Services were Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Revs. Dell Sanderson and Maurice Hagen officiated.

Lawrence Steiner was born to Lawrence and Julia (Hafner) Steiner Sr. on Nov. 1, 1914, in Parkston, S.D. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church in Parkston. He attended school in Parkston. He worked for various farmers in the Parkston area before moving to Rock County in the fall of 1935.

He married Ida Johnson on March 4, 1942, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Luverne. He farmed in the Rock County area for many years during which time they purchased and lived on the family farm until moving to Luverne on Jan. 1, 1995.

Mr. Steiner was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne.

Survivors include three daughters, Carol Jean Beck, Granite Falls, Judy (Allan) Top, Hills, and Irene (Glenn) Crooks, Mounds View; five grandchildren, Michael (Melissa) Top, Mark Top, Kristen (Jared) VanMaanen, and Jason and Kimary Crooks; one stepgreat-grandchild, Chantz Neil; one brother, Alphonse (Helen) Steiner, Parkston; and two sisters, Mary Welch, Mitchell, S.D., and Marcella (Everett) Southworth, Bullhead City, Ariz.

Mr. Steiner was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ida, on Jan. 19, 1998, an infant son, Lawrence, one son-in-law, and three brothers-in-law.

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