By Lori Ehde
The Elementary School Library was a busy place Wednesday when Luverne second-graders came in from the noon recess.

Wednesday marked the first day of the Bookin' Buddies reading program, and 41 students paired up with local volunteer adults to delve into a 45-minute reading session of their favorite material.

Bookin' Buddies was started through Rock County's Big Buddies program to provide children one-on-one mentorship with adults.

The idea was inspired by a similar program in the Twin Cities called the Power Lunch program involving Supreme Court justices.

In addition to positive mentorship, students receive critical reading experience, according to Julie Wynia, Big Buddies program coordinator.

"A lot of kids in the second grade are just starting to read," she said. "Research has shown that now is the time to hit them with this sort of thing. The more you make it fun, the more enjoyable it is for them, and the more they'll want to read later in life."

She said 70 adults have volunteered to read during their noon hour on Wednesdays. That includes those who have agreed to do it every week, and those who have agreed to do it on a part-time basis.

Volunteers include working professionals, retired seniors and stay-at-home parents.

Wynia said she was pleased with volunteer response. "I thought we'd try to get enough volunteers to read to one second-grade classroom, but we have enough for two," she said. Second-graders involved so far are those in Cathy Rust's and Carol Goehle's classes.

"In the fall, we hope to get all classrooms filled."

She said part of the reason for the volunteer positive response may be the structure of the program.

"It's a set period of time, and it's not in the evening, so it doesn't take away from family time," Wynia said.

The same students and readers are matched for the duration of the program, which will continue until mid-May.

Librarian Lorna Schoeneman helps partners choose appropriate books, but volunteers can also bring their own favorites along.

Interested volunteer readers can call Wynia at 283-8685, ext. 4.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek slipped to 0-2 in the Tri-County Conference boys' basketball race when it received a 59-50 setback at Edgerton Public School Friday.

The Flying Dutchmen opened a four-point lead by halftime and fought off all H-BC challenges in the second half to win by nine points.

The game was a tight one throughout, but H-BC had trouble putting the ball in the basket on a consistent basis in a game that was decided by shooting efficiency.

"We're just not shooting the ball very well right now," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "We shot 31 percent from the floor and 44 percent from the line. You can work as hard as you want, but you still have to get some baskets now and then."

H-BC played through its shooting woes while battling the flying Dutchmen to a draw at 13 in the first quarter, but Edgerton opened a 29-25 lead by halftime and led by four (38-34) entering the fourth quarter.

The Flying Dutchmen outscored the Patriots 21-16 in the fourth quarter.

Darin and Lyle DeBoer turned in solid performances for H-BC. Darin DeBoer netted a team-high 14 points and registered three assists. Lyle DeBoer canned four three-point shots for 12 counters. He also charted six rebounds and three assists.

Matt Buck led H-BC with 11 rebounds. Lance Crawford and Brad Haak collected six caroms each.

Box score
D.DeBoer 2 3 3-3 14, Fransman 0 0 1-2 1, Haak 3 0 1-6 7, L.DeBoer 0 4 0-0 12, Top 0 0 3-5 3, Crawford 2 0 0-2 4, Buck 3 1 0-0 9.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 55 field goals (31 percent), eight of 18 free throws (44 percent), 34 rebounds, 17 turnovers.
Edgerton: 22 of 54 field goals (41 percent), five of eight free throws (63 percent), 20 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

The chances of Hills-Beaver Creek capturing a Tri-County Conference girls' basketball title were damaged Thursday night.

The Patriots traveled to Ellsworth for what was an important league game for both teams.

When Ellsworth came out on top of a low-scoring, 32-28 decision, H-BC's hopes of securing a league crown were dismantled.

With the loss, the Patriots slip to 2-2 in the league. They trail both Ellsworth (2-0) and Southwest Christian (3-0) in the league standings.

H-BC does have one game remaining with each team above them in the standings, but the leaders have yet to play each other, so catching both schools is basically impossible.

H-BC played well enough to beat Ellsworth defensively, but it couldn't get the job done on the offensive side of the court as the Patriots were limited to 25-percent shooting from the floor.

"I thought both teams played well defensively. In all honesty, neither team played well offensively. In large part, the reason for that was the play of the defenses," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle.

H-BC led 6-4 at the end of the first quarter before falling behind 17-14 by halftime.

The Patriots used an 8-6 scoring edge to trim the difference to one point (23-22) by the end of the third quarter, but Ellsworth's 9-6 scoring advantage in the final eight minutes of play gave the Panthers a four-point win.

Erin Boeve scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Patriots. Shanna Tilstra and Becky Broesder picked up six rebounds each.

Box score
H-BC
C.Tilstra 0 0 2-2 2, Olson 1 0 0-0 2, Sandstede 0 0 0-0 0, Rentschler 1 0 1-2 3, S.Tilstra 1 0 0-0 2, Broesder 1 0 1-5 3, DeNoble 1 0 0-0 2, Boeve 3 0 2-2 8, DeHaan 2 0 0-0 4, Arp 1 0 0-0 2.

Team statistics
H-BC: 11 of 44 field goals (25 percent), six of 11 free throws (55 percent), 35 rebounds, 22 turnovers.
Ellsworth: 13 of 47 field goals (28 percent), six of 15 free throws (40 percent), 36 rebounds, 15 turnovers.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne will stage its own version of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life June 15 and 16.

The Relay for Life has become the trademark fund-raiser for the Society, the world's largest non-profit health organization committed to cancer research, education and service.

Cindy Arends, who is serving as corporate sponsor chair of the local event, is one of the organizers who felt it was important that Rock County has its own Relay for Life.

"I was impressed by what I saw in Pipestone last summer when they had their first Relay for Life," Arends said. "It affected me, because my dad died of cancer 13 years ago."

That September, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and died in December.

"I had no idea this was in my future when I first inquired about Relay for Life last summer, but now it means even more to me," Arends said.

Most volunteers, like Arends, get involved for similar personal reasons.

Relay for Life involves teams of runners and walkers competing against each other to raise the most money.

Teams of individuals representing corporations, hospitals, neighborhoods and families take turns on the track with at least one team member on the track at a time.

The Relay for Life is now held nationwide, and thousands of people participate each year to help fight cancer.

The event is most noted for its luminaries that glow in memory of individuals who have died from cancer, or in honor of those who have survived cancer.

The paper sacks, containing sand and candles, are displayed around the track and are illuminated during a special lighting ceremony at dusk.

March 8 will be the official kickoff of Rock County's Relay for Life. That meeting will involve corporate sponsors, team captains and co-chairs to discuss the purpose and goals for the event.

Don and Betty Cashin, two local cancer survivors, have been named honorary co-chairs for the event.

In December, local organizers mailed letters to area businesses announcing the event.

The letter also outlined several ways to get involved.

oCorporations, businesses and group sponsors are needed to donate advertising dollars to promote Relay for Life.

oTeams of eight to 10 walkers are needed to compete to raise money during the night of walking.

oPeople are needed who are willing to buy luminaries in memory of their loved ones who have died from cancer or to honor those who have survived cancer.

oVolunteers are needed to help with any part of this activity, from setting up to cleaning up and to support Relay for Life by attending.

Arends can be reached at 669-2905. Vicki Baartman, 283-4119, and Janet Marshall, 283-4192, are co-chairs for Relay for Life in Rock County. Helen Saum, 283-4340, is team recruitment chair.

By John Rittenhouse
A Hills-Beaver Creek student returned to the wrestling mat for the first time since early December when the Luverne-H-BC-Ellsworth squad traveled to Worthington for a Southwest Conference match Thursday.

Kerry Fink, an H-BC seventh-grader, wrestled for the first time since breaking a bone in his arm during a Dec. 5 match in Fulda.

Fink took over the 103-pound weight class for the Cardinals against the Trojans, where he was pinned by Trojan Anthony Kunkel in 4:33.

The Cards and Trojans competed in a match that featured six lead changes before Worthington prevailed by a 45-29 count.

The loss left L-H-BC-E with a 0-3 SWC mark and a 1-7-1 record overall.

L-H-BC-E hosts a team tournament Saturday before wrestling in Tracy Tuesday.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek High School seventh-grader Kerry Fink played a role in helping the Luverne-Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth wrestling team pick up its first Southwest Conference win of the season in Marshall Saturday.

Fink, L-H-BC-E's 103-pounder, won his match during what turned out to be a 43-30 Cardinal victory over the Tigers.

Fink opened the duel by recording a 14-8 decision victory over Marshall's Nate Boerboom.

The 3-0 lead provided by Fink's win set the stage for L-H-BC-E's first SWC victory in four tries.

The Cardinals were scheduled to wrestle in Adrian Tuesday, but that match was postponed. L-H-BC-E will take a 2-12-1 record into a home match against Redwood Valley tomorrow.

By John Rittenhouse
Windom's one-two front court punch of Nicole Maras and Megan Wendorff proved to be a strong combination when Hills-Beaver Creek traveled to Windom for a non-conference girls' basketball game Thursday.

With Maras and Wendorff netting a combined 39 points, the stage was set for a 62-47 win for the home-standing Eagles.

"We had trouble handling their inside game," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle. "They are a big, physical team."

Maras and Wendorf make up most of Windom’s inside bulk. Maras burned the nets for a game-high 22 points, and Wendorff chipped in 17.

The Eagles led 18-12 and 31-23 at the first two quarter breaks before going on a 13-8 run in the third quarter to make it a 44-31 difference.

Windom's 18-16 scoring edge in the fourth quarter made it a 15-point difference in the end.

Erin Boeve's double-double consisting of 14 points and 11 rebounds was the highlight of the game for H-BC.

Shanna Tilstra had 11 points and three assists for a Patriot team that played with Windom most of the night.

"We hung around most of the game," Goehle said. "The game never got totally away from us, but we couldn't get much closer than six or eight points."

H-BC had two games postponed due to the winter storm that hit the area Monday and Tuesday.

Monday's home game against Russell-Tyler-Ruthton will be played Monday, Feb. 12. Tuesday's home game against Faith Christian is tentatively rescheduled for Saturday.

Box score
C.Tilstra 1 0 0-0 2, Olson 1 0 0-1 2, Sandstede 3 0 1-2 7, Rentschler 0 0 2-2 2, S.Tilstra 4 1 0-0 11, Broesder 1 0 2-3 4, DeNoble 0 0 0-0 0, Boeve 5 0 4-8 14, DeHaan 0 0 0-0 0, Arp 1 0 3-4 5.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 40 field goals (43 percent), 12 of 20 free throws (60 percent), 22 rebounds, 14 turnovers.
Windom: 26 of 62 field goals (42 percent), 10 of 16 free throws (63 percent), 31 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
The stage has been set for the fourth annual Rock County Sportsman's Show that takes place in Luverne High School Saturday, Feb. 10.

The event, which attracted 1,000 people last winter and has a goal to bring in 1,500 more individuals this year, will run from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m.

Nearly 60 exhibitors have made commitments to attend the 2001 version of the event, with the products and services offered being on display throughout the day.

Boats, campers and RVs will be on display outside the facility. There also will be indoor exhibits.

Nearly five hours of youth and adult seminars are on slate in the elementary school gym.

Main attractions for this year's show will be Gary Allen, a professional Missouri River fishing guide from Chamberlain, S.D., and Judd Cooney, a nationally recognized bow hunter from Pagosa Springs, Co.

Allen will round out the seminar schedule by offering tips and fishing tactics for the Missouri River from 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Allen also will have an exhibit booth on hand for the event.

Cooney, a man with Rock County ties, will put on two different seminars during the day.

A 1956 Luverne High School graduate, Cooney is an active outdoor writer and photographer who was inducted into the Rock County Hall of Fame in 2000.

He runs an elk and white tail deer hunting service.

After Cooney's appearance at the Rock County Sportman's Show, he will fly to Las Vegas, where he'll be inducted into the National Bow Hunter's Hall of Fame.

Cooney's first seminar will address wild turkey hunting, and it will run from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Cooney will offer an elk and white tail deer hunting seminar from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Lon Hohenstein, Monty Gall and Dustin Kjelden will offer different seminars during the day.

Hohenstein's talk of ice fishing techniques opens the seminar slate from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Gall will offer a plug fishing for walleye seminar from 12:30 to 1 p.m, which will be followed by Kjelden's lake fishing seminar from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m.

Nearly $2,000 worth of raffle prizes will be given away starting at 4 p.m.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each during the day, and ticket holders need not be present to claim their prizes.

Along with all the seminars and exhibits, different Rock County community organizations will offer different food options during the show.

Tickets to attend the event will be $2, with children 5 and under admitted free.

All proceeds from the event will go to Big Buddies of Rock County, Hills-Beaver Creek-Steen Baseball Association, Patriot Partners, Steen Community Park Committee and the Hills Lions Club.

By Jolene Farley
Spencer and Pam Sells, Beaver Creek, have been selected as the 2001 Rock County Farm Family of the Year by the Rock County extension committee.

This annual award honors families for their contributions to agriculture and their community.

Members of the Rock County extension committee, which is comprised of six elected officials, two commissioners and an administrator, and winners of the award for the past three years submitted the names of 12 Rock County families they felt deserved the award this year. The extension committee then voted on the nominees.

The Sells were soon notified they were the recipients of the award. "It's a nice honor," Pam said. "It's nice to be selected."

Spencer added, "You write down all you are involved in, and it's surprising. Sometimes you don't see it all."

The program goals include: demonstrating appreciation of agricultural families living in Minnesota; fostering appreciation for local extension education programs and the land grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach; communicating the importance and role of agriculture to the citizens of Minnesota; and supporting the exchange, learning and challenge of information, ideas, resources and assumptions related to agriculture.

The selection of the Sells as Rock County Farm Family of the Year seems to fall in line with these goals. "They are top class. They richly deserve it," said extension educator Fraser Norton. "They were runners up last year. I was really pleased to see they got it this year."

Spencer, Pam and their two children, Lindsy and Lee, currently live on the farm north of Beaver Creek where Spencer grew up. They operate a corn and soybean farm and produce alfalfa. They feed out cattle and finish 6,000 hogs per year.

When asked about the future of farming, Spencer said, "It is pretty uncertain right now. The strong dollar doesn't help exports. With several years of excellent crop yields, a new president, and Starlink I am not sure how it will shake out."

"Most farms have tried to specialize and raise a few more of something. Right or wrong that is just the way it is," Spencer said.

Spencer and Pam are both directors of the Rock County Pork Producers Association, members of the Luverne Music Boosters and are active in church activities.

Spencer is a director of the Rock County Corn and Soybean Growers Association and a member of the Rock County Fair Board. He also serves on the Luverne Public School agriculture committee.

Pam is a family and consumer science teacher in Adrian, and serves as the secretary of the Rock County extension committee. The whole family is active in 4-H.

The Sells also participated in Communicating For Agriculture, a program that matches farmers from other countries with United States farmers. The farmers stay in the United States for six to nine months learning more about our farming operations.

The Sells and other honorees will be recognized at a banquet on March 1 at the University of Minnesota.