By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys' basketball team played its first league game as a member of the Red Rock Conference Friday in Hills.

Hosting Fulda, a squad predicted to be one of the leagueÕs best this winter, H-BC made a statement by recording a 47-46 victory.

The Patriots didn't have their best offensive performance of the season, but hard work on defense and keeping things close on the boards carried them to a one-point win.

"We played all right," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "We didn't shoot the ball quite as well as we would have liked, but we played hard, we played good defense and we kept them off the boards."

A rough night at the charity stripe (10 of 24) nearly cost the Patriots the win late in the game.

H-BC never trailed in the fourth quarter, but two missed free throws by the Patriots gave the Raiders a chance to erase a 47-46 deficit late in the game. Fulda, however, missed a shot at the buzzer that would have changed the outcome of the game.

The Patriots opened a 15-8 lead in the first quarter before Fulda pulled to within two points (25-23) of the hosts by outscoring them 15-10 in the second quarter.

H-BC increased its lead to four points (39-35) in the third quarter before winning by one point in the end.

Brad Haak and Matt Buck tossed in 13 points each to lead the Patriots, while David Top added 11 counters.

Top had five rebounds and four assists, Buck had four assists and Haak led the way with six rebounds. Jesse Leuthold added five rebounds to the winning cause.

Box score
D.DeBoer 2 0 2-3 6, Van Maanen 0 1 0-0 3, Haak 5 0 3-9 13, Leuthold 0 0 1-2 1, L.DeBoer 0 0 0-1 0, Top 1 2 3-7 11, Buck 6 0 1-2 13.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 49 field goals (35 percent), 10 of 24 free throws (42 percent), 24 rebounds, six turnovers.
Fulda: 17 of 49 field goals (35 percent), six of nine free throws (67 percent), 29 rebounds, nine turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek girls were unable to start the basketball season with three straight wins when they squared off against Central Lyon in Hills Saturday.

In a foul-filled game that resulted in the teams shooting a combined 68 free throws, the visiting Lions put an end to H-BCÕs two-game winning streak by toppling the Patriots 42-36.

A poor shooting night led to H-BCÕs impending doom.

The Patriots made 20 percent (nine of 46) of their field goals in the game, and that fact was overshadowed by 43-percent shooting (16 of 37) from the charity stripe.

CL scored the game's first five points and H-BC was never able to get any closer than three points before the first period came to an end with the visitors sporting a 14-8 lead.

A 10-3 surge capped by two free throws from Becky Broesder gave the Patriots a brief 18-17 edge with 1:05 remaining in the first half, but the Lions tied the game at 18 by halftime.

CL outscored the Patriots 11-2 in the first 4:00 of the third quarter to gain a 29-20 lead it would never relinquish.

H-BC trailed by five points (31-26) when Jody Rentschler converted a field goal with 36 seconds left in the third quarter and faced a four-point (40-36) deficit when Brittney Olson drained a free throw with 18 seconds left in the game, but that was close as the Patriots would come to catching the Lions.

Erin Boeve had an 18-rebound, nine-point, five-steal performance for H-BC. Becky Broesder added nine rebounds and four assists.

Box score
B.Rozeboom 1 0, 0-2 2, B.Olson 1 0 2-3 4, Feucht 0 0 0-0 0, Rentschler 2 0 0-2 4, Tilstra 3 0 0-4 6, Broesder 0 0 3-8 3, S.Rozeboom 1 0 4-4 6, DeNoble 0 0 2-6 2, Boeve 2 0 5-8 9, A.Olson 0 0 0-0 0.

Team statistics
H-BC: nine of 46 field goals (20 percent), 16 of 37 free throws (43 percent), 40 rebounds, 18 turnovers.
CL: 12 of 44 field goals (27 percent), 17 of 31 free throws (55 percent), 34 rebounds, 19 turnovers.

By Jolene Farley
The Steen Women's Ministries is collecting donations of baby items for the Center of Hope Ministry in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Center of Hope is making mother and baby baskets for mothers struggling in various ways, such as single parenting, financial difficulties, bad choices and relationship concerns.

The Center of Hope, opened in November 2000, is a Christian outreach ministry whose motto is "meeting needs and sowing seeds of the gospel."

The new mother/baby basket program, slated to begin in mid-January, asks nursing staff at the Sioux Falls hospitals to disperse coupons to new mothers (at their discretion) that can be redeemed at the Center of Hope for the baskets.

Baskets include a crib-size quilt, a receiving blanket, bibs, booties, a "onesie" T-shirt, baby soap or wash, washcloths, baby lotion, diapers, woman's lotion, and a book about Jesus and children.

"It has been going well," said Center of Hope director Fred Wilgenburg. "WeÕve been getting a lot of donations."

Wilgenburg and his wife, Amy, and daughters, Whitney, 9, Siera, 7, and Jenna, 4, are members of Steen Reformed Church.

Steen Reformed Church has been very supportive, according to Wilgenburg. The church ladies have made several adult quilts to be given away by the Center as Christmas gifts. They have also donated used jackets and knitted stocking caps and mittens.

The more than 40 women involved in the Steen Women's Ministries have made the basket program their Christmas project. The women each brought items to their Christmas meeting on Dec. 10, and a donation box has been placed near the entryway for parish or non-parish support of the project.

Two other churches, First Reformed Church of Boyden, Iowa, and First Reformed Church of Volga, S.D., have joined Steen Reformed Church in collecting donations.

By Jolene Farley
By next summer the Minnesota Genealogical Society hopes to have a directory of every cemetery in Minnesota, broken down by county and detailing whom to contact for information on who is buried in each plot.

The directory would compile all information in one place, making genealogical research much easier for family members and others.

Researchers would know who to contact to find out if they have an ancestor buried in a particular region of Minnesota by looking up the county in the directory.

The task of collecting all the needed information began last summer with volunteers from around the state dividing up counties.

After seeing a request for volunteers online, Genealogical Society member Marcia Paulsen, Montrose, agreed to compile the information for Rock, Pipestone, Nobles, Martin, Jackson, Cottonwood, Murray and Watonwan counties, all located in southwest Minnesota.

Paulsen spent her vacation collecting information on these counties. Since her hometown is Round Lake, she was particularly interested in Nobles County and Jackson County.

Paulsen had previously completed several "transcriptions" of cemeteries in these counties. A transcription (an official genealogical term) is to gather information on who is buried in the plots. The information must be submitted to the State Historical Society for publication.

Of her eight counties, Rock County has the least amount of previous genealogical work done, according to Paulsen.

Many counties sent teams out in the 1970s and '80s to cemeteries to record those buried in the plots located throughout the county. That extensive research was never done in Rock County, according to Paulsen.

Paulsen was able to locate 25 cemeteries in Rock County from a list prepared as a Work in Progress Administration project in the 1930s, sponsored by the Roosevelt administration during the Depression.

Although Rock County has lagged behind other counties, Paulsen's visit last summer spurred Rock County Historical Society volunteers Betty Mann and Naidine Aanenson to start some investigating of their own.

"We are trying to do some investigating, but it takes a lot of time," said Mann. "We hope to continue this in the spring when the weather gets a little warmer."

Mann and Aanenson have contacted some churches asking for a listing of people buried in their cemetery.

Mann is particularly interested in Rose Dell Cemetery, located northwest of Luverne, and completed the listing of names from the headstones in the cemetery.

"So many of them were children. I would like to pursue this further to see if there was an epidemic at that particular time or if the adult stones are simply missing."

If Mann and Aanenson are successful in transcribing all the cemeteries in Rock County, the Rock County Historical Society will be listed as the contact in the directory.

As many as 20 Minnesota counties currently have no volunteers working on gathering the information. Only one county has presented all the needed information to the State Historical Society.

Paulsen asks anyone with any information, such as books detailing who is buried in any cemeteries, to contact the Rock County Historical Society.

"There are many cemeteries across the state that are abandoned," said Paulsen. "The church is gone and the township or a neighbor takes care of it."

Volunteers realize that some cemeteries may be private burial plots with all family members of the deceased long gone.

This makes the chance of tracking down any genealogical information unlikely, but they want to ensure the information they are able to find is on file with the Rock County Historical Society and the Minnesota Genealogical Society.

By Jolene Farley
At the Hills City Council public hearing on the proposed 2002 city budget residents expressed concern over increases in some areas.

The total budget for 2001 was $147,533 with a proposed budget for 2002 of $172,277. The jump for the year 2002 budget was 16.8 percent.

The 2001 property taxes were $24,104 with proposed property taxes for 2002 of $49,204. This reflects a change of 103.4 percent.

These amounts compare the portion of the budget levied in property taxes in the city of Hills for 2001 with the property taxes the City proposes to collect in 2002.

The sharp increase caused concern among residents attending the meeting. The council pointed out many residential properties actually had a tax decrease due to the restructured tax system in Minnesota.

Also, council members pointed out the city budget decreased from 1999 to 2000 by $29,000.

Seal coating work for the streets and camera and sewer work in the sewer system are the main reasons for the increase this year, according to the council.

"You don't levy for it every year because you aren't doing it every year," said Mayor George Langford.

Seal coating was done in 1999 at a cost of $57,200. Seal-coating is done in alternating sections of town about every five years.

Resident Erwin DeBoer questioned why the city sewer system wasn't self-supporting after noting the amount needed for sewer work in 2002.

"We are trying to get it up to the point where it takes care of itself again," said council member Jim Jellema.

The council increased rates this year but chose a gradual increase over a few years versus a sharp increase in one year.

"By spending the extra money, it has been cutting down the flow into the ponds," said Langford. The cost of the camera work and repairs is $5,000 per city block. The city plans to have the work done on five blocks in 2002.

When the cameras locate leaks in the sewer system, they are sealed up, reducing the amount of silt that seeps into the system and is carried to the ponds, according to Langford. The pond, though still operating fine, is past its life expectancy.

The next topic was $15,000 budgeted for work on the American Legion Hall. "I feel it's a building worth saving," said Langford.

"We are better off to keep 'piecemealing' and get along with what we have. Better than hitting the taxpayers with a $300,000 to $400,000 bill (to build new)," agreed council member Jim Jellema.

Mayor Langford pointed out that with rental money the city receives from the Post Office, Keith Elbers, and special events they are close to breaking even.

In other business:
Mayor Langford announced his intention to move to Luverne after his house in Hills sells. He told the council he hopes to remain on as mayor as long as possible. Langford has two years remaining on his three-year term.

Prairie Fire Internet Tech. wants to install high-speed wireless Internet equipment on the water tower. The towers send signals six to 10 miles out, depending on the lay of the land. The company would offer broad band Internet service to private customers, businesses and possibly the school.

Nick Wysong approached the council about setting up an ice skating rink. The council decided it needed to clarify that the city will have no responsibility for the project.

Christmas tree pickup will be the week of Jan. 7.

Construction progresses Monday on the Beaver Creek Golf Course entertainment facility, slated to open next spring. Amenities in the facility will include a 300-person banquet hall with a built-in stage area and a bar and restaurant seating 70 people.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Dr. Bill Juhl, Ph.D., 77, Hot Springs, Ark., formerly of Luverne, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, at St. Joe Hospital.

Burial was at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, El Dorado, Ark.

Bill Juhl was born to Ernst and Mary (Dugan) Juhl on June 30, 1924, in Luverne. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was a retired chemical engineer for Monsanto.

Dr. Juhl was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal (St. Mary's Episcopal, El Dorado, Ark.) He was on the board of the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech Universities.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Juhl, Hot Springs; two daughters, Mary Beth Juhl, Fayetteville, Ark., and Janet Juhl, Houston, Texas; one brother, Dr. Robert Juhl, Florida; and two sisters, Beth May, Nevada, and Nancy Christensen, South Dakota.

Dr. Juhl was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be made to South Arkansas Art Center, El Dorado.

Hot Springs Funeral Home, Hot Springs, was in charge of arrangements.

Evelyn Lorraine Herrmann, 83, Luverne, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, at Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.

Services were Monday, Dec. 10, at United Methodist Church in Luverne. The Rev. Bart Fletcher officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Evelyn Bock was born to Charles and Bertha (Krohn) Bock on Aug. 2, 1918, in Hardwick. She attended country school near Hardwick and school in Luverne.

She married Arthur Herrmann on April 21, 1935, in Centerville, S.D. The couple lived in Luverne all of their lives.

Mrs. Herrmann was a member of United Methodist Church in Luverne. She enjoyed playing cards, baking and visiting with friends.

Survivors include three daughters and two sons-in-law, Sandra and Ron Knapp, Grand Junction, Colo., Barbara and Bob Loosbrock, Luverne, and Peggy Herrmann, Burnsville; five grandchildren, Wendy, Kevin, Mike, Kelly and Amy; and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Herrmann was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Arthur Herrmann, and five sisters, Hilda Gruis, Ella Snook, Elma Gruis, Emma Ladd and Twilah Inglett.

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

Pearl Louise Tuff, 80, Luverne, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, at the Hospice Cottage in Luverne.

Services were Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. The Revs. Maurice E. Hagen and Dell B. Sanderson officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Pearl Tuff was born to John and Minnie (Priest) Hamann on April 8, 1921, in Springwater Township, Rock County, where she was raised and attended country school. She graduated from Magnolia High School in 1938. Following her education she worked on the family farm.

She married Howard Tuff on Sept. 20, 1952, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Following their marriage they lived in Luverne until 1960 when they moved to Pipestone. They moved back to Luverne in 1965. She was a homemaker. She continued to live in her home until Nov. 30, 2001, when she entered Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Mrs. Tuff was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne where she was active in church circles, served in many offices, altar guild. lesson leader and taught Sunday School. She enjoyed her garden, cooking, sewing, crocheting and listening to birds.

Survivors include her husband, Howard Tuff, Luverne; one son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Pam Tuff, Apple Valley; one daughter, Marilyn Tuff, Eden Prairie; two grandsons, Adam and Sean Tuff; one brother, Ted (Dorothea) Hamann, Luverne; two sisters-in-law, Loretta Hamann, Luverne, and Ruby Garrow, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Tuff was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Henry, Hugo, Elmer, Robert and Lawrence Hamann, and two sisters, Nora Kemerling and Erna Steffen.

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