A Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System semi-trailer slid off an icy Interstate 90 Friday at 7:30 a.m. between Luverne and Beaver Creek. The driver was treated and released from Luverne Community Hospital. The semi was used as a mobile CT scanning facility that traveled to hospital outlets in the area. Luverne’s hospital used the unit on Fridays and Tuesdays. Appointments in Luverne won’t need to be changed because a replacement unit is ready for use.

Luverne Community Hospital Administrator Jerry Carl said the CT scanner itself is worth about $500,000. All the contents of the trailer will likely have to be replaced for a total cost of nearly $1 million. Carl said the Luverne hospital is in the process of analyzing its use of the mobile unit and is looking into ways of setting up a permanent scanner within the hospital.

Photo by Sara Quam

Edward Sundem, 90, Hills, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., after having surgery.

Funeral services were Friday, Dec. 7, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. The Rev. Lowell Berg officiated. Burial was in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Hills.

George Edward Sundem was born to Halvor and Mary (Pederson) Sundem on April 14, 1911, near Hills. He attended country school near Hills. After his education he began farming near Hills until 1951. Along with farming he did trucking, sold pigs and Pride seed corn.

He married Rose Nelson on June 3, 1957, in Hills. They lived in Dell Rapids, S.D. Mrs. Sundem died in November 1971. He moved to Hills in July 1977. He married Hannah (Jelle) Forest on Oct. 15, 1977, in Sioux Falls. They lived in Hills. Mrs. Sundem died on Sept. 16, 1999. He moved to Lyon Manor Nursing Home in Rock Rapids, Iowa, in January 1997. He moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills on March 18, 1997.

Survivors include one sister-in-law, Palma Sundem, Hills; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Sundem was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, two brothers, Henry and Elmer, and five sisters, Anne Thomas, Tina Erickson, Mollie Beck, Minnie Odde and an infant sister, Alice.

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

By John Rittenhouse
Football teammates this fall turned into basketball rivals Thursday night in Hills.

Less than three weeks after playing their final football game during a 10-1 season, athletes from Hills-Beaver Creek and Ellsworth high schools renewed their friendly rivalry on the hard court.

The way things turned out, H-BC's boys gained bragging rights for the first part of the regular season after topping the visiting Panthers 77-63.

Ellsworth will have a chance to avenge the loss when they host H-BC in the regular season finale Feb. 25.

Thursday's game, which was the season opener for both teams, featured good and bad moments for both teams. In the end, H-BC outscored the Panthers 41-31 in the second half to win by a comfortable 14-point margin.

"We straightened things out at halftime," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "They were playing a box-and-one defense that gave us some trouble in the first half. We were a little more patient and found the open spots against their zone in the second half."

H-BC turned a 36-32 halftime lead into a 53-44 advantage by outscoring EHS 17-12 in the third period.

Patriot Brad Haak, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, netted nine of his points in the third period.

With Matt Buck scoring nine of his 20 points and David Top adding seven of his 12 counters, H-BC outscored the Panthers 24-19 in the fourth quarter to win by 14.

Both teams had their moments in the first half.

H-BC scored the first 14 points of the game and led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter, but EllsworthÕs Curt Schilling scored 14 of his game-high 30 points during the second quarter to help the Panthers climb to within two points of H-BC before trailing by four points at the intermission.

Lyle DeBoer matched Buck's 20-point, four-assist effort for H-BC. Justin Van Maanen had five rebounds and three assists for the winners.

Schilling had a double-double for EHS by collecting 10 rebounds to go along with his 30 points. Dylan Kvaale chipped in 11 points for the Panthers.

Box score
Ellsworth
Schilling 6 3 9-13 30, Jenniges 1 0 0-0 2, Jannsen 1 1 0-0 5, Kvaale 1 0 9-10 11, Deutsch 3 0 1-2 7, Brommer 0 2 0-0 6, Herman 1 0 0-0 2.

H-BC
Metzger 0 0 0-0 0, D.DeBoer 2 1 0-3 7, Van Maanen 0 0 0-0 0, Haak 7 0 4-9 18, Leuthold 0 0 0-0 0, L.DeBoer 4 4 0-0 20, Van Wyhe 0 0 0-0 0, Top 5 0 2-4 12, Buck 6 1 5-11 20.

Team statistics
Ellsworth: 19 of 56 field goals (34 percent), 19 of 25 free throws (76 percent), 27 rebounds, 14 turnovers.

H-BC: 30 of 63 field goals (48 percent), 11 of 27 free throws (41 percent), 35 rebounds, 13 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
Two Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes are expected to make an impact for the Luverne-H-BC-Ellsworth wrestling squad this winter.

H-BC-E junior Dusty Seachris and eighth-grader Kerry Fink are program veterans, and Cardinal coach Dave Duffy expects both athletes to help his team at the varsity level.

Fink is a returning letter winner from the 2000-01 team, which placed sixth in the Southwest Conference with a 1-5 mark, and he capped the season with a 2-16-1 record after dropping a 39-28 decision to Montevideo in the first round of the Section 3AA Team Tournament.

Fink was a member of the L-H-BC-E section squad, and he went 0-2 at 103 pounds during the section individual tournament.

Coach Duffy said Fink will wrestle at 112 or 119 pounds this season.

Seachris, who had lettered for the Cardinals in the past, left the team for personal reasons early last winter.

Seachris will compete at 135 or 140 pounds for L-H-BC-E in 2001-02.

Coach Duffy feels the Cardinals should be able to improve last year's 2-16-1 mark, a record that was influenced by the team having to give up 18 to 24 points in forfeits during each match.

L-H-BC-E may have to forfeit at 160 and 171 this year, but making up 12 points is more reasonable than trying to overcome 24 forfeit points.

Chris Tiesler, a two-time state qualifier, is one of the teamÕs leaders. He won a section title at 119 last year before going 2-2 at state without placing. Tiesler is the team's lone senior.

Juniors Joel Evans and Canaan Petersen placed fourth at 140 and 189 pounds during last year's section meet, and they join Tiesler as team leaders.

Junior Cody Jagow, sophomores Justin Mann and Dustin Donth and freshman Ruston Aaker round out the returning letter winners.

L-H-BC-E opens the season at the Flandreau Tournament Saturday.

By John Rittenhouse
Two Hills-Beaver Creek High School seniors were recognized for their performances as members of the H-BC-Ellsworth football team this fall.

Brad Haak, an end-defensive back, made the 2001 Minnesota Nine-Man Football All-State Team.

Chris Reid, a running back-defensive back, received honorable mention recognition.

Haak made the all-state team as a defensive back.

He joins a squad consisting of Verndale defensive back Jordan Hinkle and Underwood defensive back Ben Aakre, Stephen-Argyle linebacker Ryan St. Germain, Fergus Falls Hillcrest Lutheran Academy linebacker Nick Hansen, Tower-Sudan linebacker Lucas Stellmach, Cromwell linemen Darren Dahl and Chris Lind and S-A lineman Mitchell Benson.

Haak also earned all-state status by placing 15th at the Minnesota State Class A Cross Country Championships in Northfield in early November.

Hills-Beaver Creek eighth-grader Kerry Fink (left) roughs up Fulda-Murray County Central's Jacob Nolt during Tuesday's wrestling duel in Luverne. Fink pinned Nolt in 3:13 to help the L-H-BC-Ellsworth wrestling team battle the Rebels to a draw at 36.

By John Rittenhouse
A pair of Hills-Beaver Creek High School athletes had good outings as members of the Luverne-H-BC-Ellsworth wrestling squad.

The Cardinal wrestling team opened the 2001-02 season by competing at the Flandreau (S.D.) Tournament Saturday before hosting Fulda-Murray County Central for a duel in Luverne Tuesday.

H-BC grapplers Kerry Fink and Dusty Seachris competed at both events.

Seachris had a good day at the Flandreau Tournament.

L-H-BC-E's 135-pounder went 2-2 and placed fourth in his weight class.

Seachris opened the event by getting pinned by Flandreau’s Joe Lange in 4:32 before bouncing back to post 8-1 and 3-2 wins over Sioux Valley’s Burton Moe and Deuel’s Jon Toering in the consolation bracket.

Howard's Luke Ruml pinned Seachris in 1:57 during the third-place match to end his 2-2 day.

Fink went 1-2 without placing at 112 pounds in Flandreau.

Fink opened the event by nipping Howard's Tim Reisch 7-5 in overtime before losing by fall to Flandreau's Ryan Reed in 42 seconds.

When Fink was pinned by Jordan Christensen in 44 seconds in the consolation bracket, his 1-2 day was over. Christensen was wrestling unattached.

With the wins notched by Fink and Seachris providing team points, the Cardinals tallied 50 counters to cap an eight-team field. Howard won the team title with 169 points.

Both Fink and Seachris were in action during Tuesday's Parents' Night match against F-MCC in Luverne, which ended with the teams battling to a draw at 36.

Fink helped L-H-BC-E’s cause by pinning Jacob Nolt in 3:13 during the 119-pound match.

Rebel Ryan Olsem pinned Seachris in 2:48 of the 145-pound match.

The Cardinal wrestlers will compete in Windom tonight, at the Jackson County Central Tournament Saturday, and at Harrisburg, S.D., Tuesday.

By Jolene Farley
Hills residents Dale and Sue Bartels began a new Christmas tradition several years ago and plan to continue the tradition for many Christmases to come.

"We just decided, well, maybe we should do something for someone else," said Sue. So, the Bartelses began volunteering at the Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls on Christmas Day. The MissionÕs main goal is to "keep the people off the streets," according to Sue.

Sue and Dale have worked every Christmas, along with Sue's sister, Barb Top, from Sioux Center, Iowa. The three mainstays round up three or four more volunteers, usually relatives, to work serving the noon meal.

More than 40 volunteers arrive at the Mission about 9 or 9:30 a.m. Christmas morning to set up tables and decorate. When guests begin arriving, children are asked their names, ages and sizes. Volunteers then select clothes in the appropriate size and wrap the articles, adding a tag with the child's name on the items.

Each adult visitor receives a sweatshirt, two pairs of socks, gloves and a stocking cap, according to Sue.

A chapel service is given before the more than 400 guests sit down to eat their dinner. "They sit and we (volunteers) serve," Sue said.

"To see their faces, these little kids and adults, just to get a good meal," said Sue. "Most of them are very thankful. They really appreciate the things you give them."

After the children are finished with their meals, they are taken into a room filled with donated toys. "We take the kids through and help them select toys. That's the fun part," said Sue.

Before volunteering at the Mission, Dale and Sue celebrated Christmas the usual way, with their family. They still have family celebrations, but they also make time for volunteering at the Mission.

"We just plan around it," said Sue. "We have parties on different days. We still spend Christmas evening at my motherÕs and attend the Christmas Eve services at church."

The Bartelses are thankful for their family, their health, their church and good friends. "We figure, basically, most of our life we didn't have much for problems," said Sue. "It makes you appreciate what you do have when you see people who donÕt have anything."

Sue, who is a delegate to the Mission from the Reformed Church of Steen, has become so dedicated to the Mission that she joined the Mission Auxiliary and currently holds the office of second vice president.

The Auxiliary is involved, among other duties, in the actual fund-raising for the Union Gospel Mission. Money hasnÕt been coming in the last few months as well as expected, according to Sue.

She speculates many sent money to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks rather than giving locally.

"We all work together to plan things," she said. "We try to get churches involved and interested in the Mission."

Sue stresses individuals are also welcome to volunteer at the Mission by calling 605-334-6732.

By Jolene Farley
The Southwest Area Agency on Aging hosted a meeting in Luverne Thursday, Nov. 29, to seek advice on ways to better serve seniors in Rock County and southwest Minnesota.

Seniors, their families and service providers were invited to offer suggestions on ways to fill gaps in service.

Though sparsely attended, organizers say the meeting accomplished its purpose.

"I think it went well," said Robin Weiss, Program Development Specialist with the Southwest Area Agency on Aging, "We identified many issues."

The most important issue is information and education, according to Weiss. Enhancing the volunteer network in Rock County is also a priority, as well as caregiver training and in-home respite, which provides caregivers a break from caring for an elderly or disabled loved one.

A 2001 legislative mandate designed to rebalance the long-term care system in Minnesota requires each county to submit a plan to improve services for seniors in their area by the end of 2001.

Rock County submitted a County Gaps Analysis on Oct. 15 to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The service development plan, detailing how to fill gaps identified by the Analysis, is due on Dec. 31, 2001.

The reports shape policies and will be used to help state officials target $10 million in grants to improve services in the state, according to information from the Southwest Area Agency on Aging.

The Agency is under contract with Rock County and eight other southwest Minnesota counties to complete the required reports.

The objective is to help more seniors remain in their homes and to ease the return home for seniors now temporarily living in the nursing home.

"I would stress they (seniors) need to be informed," Weiss said. "Seniors tend not to call the Senior Linkage Line early enough." Weiss stresses there are options available. Seniors do not have to wait until they are in a "crisis mode" before they call.

"They come to us in a state of panic. For example, they wait until someone breaks a hip rather than hire home health care." The goal is to avoid situations like that, Weiss said.

Mary Jane Brown Administrator Linda Studer said she thought overall the meeting went well.

"I think they have a good plan for starting. There are so many things to be done, but they cannot all be done at once because of time commitments," she said.

"The plan will need to be completed over a period of time with things prioritized," Studer said.

She agrees educating seniors about services available is a definite priority in Rock County.

Rock County seniors can call the Senior Linkage Line (statewide) at 1-800-333-2433 for information regarding resources in Rock County or information about senior concerns or issues.

Unfortunately, many of the solutions outlined at the meeting cannot be implemented without adequate funding by the state, Weiss said.

Staffing is another pertinent issue to address before any programs are established.

By Jolene Farley
The holiday season, a time to share with those less fortunate, is drawing near.

In Rock County, SHARE, Sharing Hearts Are Reaching Everyone, is working to provide a link between the generous and the needy.

Last year, SHARE provided 141 families (161 adults and 189 children) with groceries, clothing and toys. An undetermined number of people obtained goods from the tables of items set aside for last-minute requests.

Volunteering for SHARE is a rewarding experience, according to those who help with the program. Many volunteers collect goods, while others help sort and distribute the donated goods.

One of the many organizations that helps collect donations for SHARE is the Luverne Lions Club. Club member Oscar Helle, Luverne, collected food for the program outside LuverneÕs grocery stores last year.

He said it was rewarding "just to help people ... people who have need ... some of those less fortunate."

Eldon Gradert, Luverne, has helped for the last three years. He said many shoppers buy extra groceries and throw them in the basket for SHARE. "You are always happy to get what you get," he said.

Luverne resident Alyce McClure, a Retired Senior Volunteer Program member, sorted clothing donations for SHARE last year and is eager to help again this year. "I enjoy doing things for other people," she said. "It's interesting to see all the things they (SHARE) get."

Recipients of the donations remain anonymous to the volunteers, according to McClure. Most of the volunteers know only the age of the family members, the sizes they wear, and whether they are male or female. She stressed the fact there are no income guidelines for SHARE recipients.

Organizers hope to make this another successful year for SHARE. Many individuals, churches, organizations and businesses in Rock County help SHARE further its cause through their donations.

Items needed for SHARE are unwrapped new or used clothing (seasonal only), toys and household items. Cash donations are also accepted.

Donations may be dropped off at the Luverne Armory from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

Cash donations may be mailed to SHARE, PO Box 792, Luverne, MN 56156.

This year's distribution of collected goods will be from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, at the Luverne Armory.