Once again it is time to reflect on the Crescent news stories that impacted Hills, Beaver Creek, Steen or the surrounding area. The area saw many business related changes in the year 2000. The year will be remembered for the many enterprising attempts of residents and public officials to better their community and how residents pull together when friends, neighbors or their community need their help.
January 2000
*The public voiced opinions on the construction of a bike trail slated for nine southwest Minnesota counties. Economic benefits would include bringing more travelers to the region, fitness promotion and safety in keeping bikers off the road.
*Hills City Council members learned that Hills contractor Jeff Bass wanted to open a building supply business on Main Street.
*Hills-Beaver Creek student Aaron Aristeo won the right to compete in the state geography bee competition.
*Catherine Westphal and her 2-year-old daughter, Joanna, were injured in a two-car accident on South Dakota Highway 42, east of Sioux Falls. An 11-year-old Brandon boy died in the crash. The other vehicle was eastbound on the highway when it slid into Westphal's lane on an icy curve.
February 2000
*In a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20, the Hills City Council agreed to sell the vacant lot between the old hardware store and the Patriot Academy to Jeff Bass for $1. Bass intended to construct a wholesale lumber yard and retail hardware store at the location. A 40-by-70-foot metal building would be built on the lot. The council stipulated that Bass construct the business on the lot within two years.
*The Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning reported their findings on 13 complaints filed with the agency last year concerning the Hills-Beaver Creek school district. The education agency's determinations were largely favorable to the complainant in the case.
*The 18th annual Helge's Father and Son Pool Tournament in Beaver Creek raised $3,396 for the Hospice of Luverne Community Hospital. Sixteen father and son teams competed in the two-day event.
*Beaver Creek Fire Chief Rick Tatge presented plans to the city council for a 42-by-82-foot fire hall. At their Feb. 8 meeting, the council approved hiring Lowell Thone as building inspector on the project.
*The former Beaver Creek Rec and Bowl in downtown Beaver Creek was demolished.
March 2000
*Three Hills-Beaver Creek players cracked the roster of the 1999-2000 All-Tri County Conference Girls' Basketball Team and another drew honorable mention. Making the team for H-BC were senior guard Rachel Krull, senior wing Nichole Top and senior post Dana Sells. Darcie DeBoer, an H-BC senior, drew honorable mention.
*The Hills Economic Development Authority agreed to sell the former hardware store on Main Street to contractor Jeff Bass. The EDA voted 4-1 to pass a resolution trading the hardware store building for the American Salvage and Surplus building plus $20,000. The EDA also voted to give Bass a low interest loan to cover the $20,000. Bass will repay only $10,000 with the remaining $10,000 forgiven in $1,333 increments over seven and a half years.
*Beaver Creek and Steen had a rash of theft and vandalism reports. A majority of the incidents took place between March 13-18.
*Springbrook Road was closed due to softness of the roadbed.
April 2000
*The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board unanimously approved application to the Red-Rock Central Conference. The district was currently in the Tri-County Conference. The Tri-County play was limited to boysÕ and girlsÕ basketball, boys' and girls' track and volleyball. The Red Rock Conference offered more sports, such as cross country, baseball and golf.
*Leon Pick was named Teacher of the Year for the Hills-Beaver Creek School District. He taught English, speech, history and social studies at the high school for 33 years.
*Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members, concerned parents and students, and staff discussed the district's music program. In March of 2000, declining enrollment in the high school music program had prompted the board to schedule band class at 7:30 a.m.
May 2000
*The Patriot athletes won a combined 14 meet titles, established four meet records and set one school record at the Arrow Relays in Pipestone. The H-BC boys earned a share of the team championship and the girls placed second in Class B competition.
*The Hills City offices moved into the former Crescent building.
*Hills-Beaver Creek students improved their performance on the state's basic writing test. At H-BC 91 percent of the 26 students taking the test passed compared with a 90-percent pass rate in 1999.
*The H-BC School Board members voted unanimously to designate the street to the west of the high school as a northbound one-way street during school hours.