The 2002 Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth track teams will be led by nine seniors this spring. Front row, left to right, are Bev Wurpts, Miranda Anderson and LaDonna Sandstede. Back row: Ryan Ranschau, Brad Haak, Kyle Braun and Lee Walraven. Missing are Paul Jess and Randy Krull.

By John Rittenhouse
An increase in the participation rate has turned the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth boys' track team into a squad to keep an eye on this year.

With a 44-athlete roster that includes 26 team members in the upper four grades, it appears the Patriots will likely thrive in a sport that relishes numbers.

"I really like our numbers," said H-BC-E coach Tom Goehle. "It really makes coaching fun. We've got a good mix of youth and experience, and these kids really know how to compete and have fun at the same time. With that combination, you're going to be successful."

While Goehle feels he will get some help from the 18 seventh- and eighth-graders as the season goes along, he's looking for big things from the 26 boys who represent the top four classes in the program.

There are seven seniors, four juniors, six sophomores and nine freshmen attending the team's pre-season practice sessions, and the group is highlighted by one defending state champion, one state qualifier and three other section qualifiers from 2001.

The Patriots do have a lot of returning talent this spring, but the team will be influenced by two top-notch performers they lost to graduation last season.

Chris Willers and Chris Fransman, who now are competing in track at difference colleges, scored a lot of points for H-BC-E last season.

Willers, an outstanding 400- and 800-meter runner, won Sub-Section 10 and Section 3A championships in the 400. He went on to earn all-state status in that event by finishing eighth at the state meet in Blaine last June.

Willers also was a member of H-BC-E's 800- and 3,200-meter relays that finished third at the section meet last season.

Fransman, who helped H-BC's 400- and 800-meter relay teams reach and place at the section meet, was one of the area's top high jumpers the past two years. He won the sub-section title in that event before earning a trip to state by placing second at the section meet. Fransman went on to place ninth in Blaine.

As good as Willers and Fransman were, two more Patriots may have turned in more impressive seasons last year.

Senior Brad Haak and junior Chris Reid, a pair of all-state performers, will form the nucleus of the 2002 team.

Haak makes such an impact on the program that his coach gives him credit for boosting the participation rate in the program.

A three-time participant in the state meet, Haak is the defending Class A champion in the 800-meter run. He also ran with H-BC-E's 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter relay teams last season and qualified for the section meet in the high jump.

"Brad is the catalyst for our boysÕ program," Goehle said. "Some kids have seen what he has done the past couple of years, and I think that has played a part in our numbers increasing. He has some definite goals that include getting back to state and lowering his 800 time. He also wants to help get a relay team to state."

Reid is an athlete blessed with sprinterÕs speed who also is one of the areaÕs best jumpers.
A member of H-BC-E's 400- and 800-meter relays last season, Reid excelled individually in the 100-meter dash (placing second in the sub-section and section meets) and the long jump (placing third in the sub-section meet and winning a section championship).

Reid ended up placing seventh in the long jump at state, but he was unable to make the finals in the 100.

H-BC-E's talent pool also includes senior Lee Walraven, sophomore Lee Jackson and freshman Tyler Bush, a trio of athletes who advanced to last year's section meet.

Walraven, who runs anything between 100 and 800 meters, helped form the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relay teams last season. He also placed third individually in the 200-meter dash at the sub-section level.

Jackson, who is coming off a strong cross country campaign, will run races between 800 and 3,200 meters. He competed in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays during the post-season last spring.

Bush, the type of runner who can compete in events between the distances of 200 and 3,200 meters, will do some jumping as well.

Bush ran with H-BC-E's 3,200-meter relay team as an eighth-grader and placed third in the 3,200-meter run at the sub-section meet.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth track teams opened the 2002 season at the Class B version of the Dan Lennon Invitational in the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, S.D., Tuesday.

Twenty-eight Patriots received the opportunity to compete on the University of South Dakota campus.

The select group of Patriots posted seven top-10 finishes during the meet, which was not a bad performance for a program that has been practicing for one week.

"This was a great practice for the rest of the season," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle. "We got a chance to compete, post some times and set some standards to improve upon."

Brad Haak proved he's ready to roll after winning the 800-meter run for the third straight season at the meet.

Haak, who is Minnesota's reigning Class A champion in the 800, won Tuesday's race with a time of 2:05.8.

Chris Reid made a bid to join Haak as a meet champion in the long jump. Reid placed second in the event with a distance of 20-5 1/2.

It looked like Reid might place in the 60-meter dash when he produced the third best time of 7.36 in the preliminaries, but a false start in the semifinals knocked him out of competition.

Haak and Reid ran legs with H-BC-E's 800-meter relay, which placed fourth with a time of 1:39.96. Lee Jackson and Tyler Bush are the other members of the squad.

Jackson placed 10th in the 800 with a 2:15.9 effort.

Cassi Tilstra turned in the strongest performance for a Patriot girl by finishing eighth in the 800 in 2:42.

Bev Wurpts placed ninth in the 800 and 10th in the 1,600 with respective 2:44.1 and 6:03 times.

The Patriots are scheduled to run at the Cardinal Quadrangular in Luverne Tuesday,

First year Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth baseball coach Jason Langland has eight seniors to build his 2002 team around. Standing, left to right, are: Justin Van Maanen, Chris Tiesler, Darin DeBoer, Shintaro Hayashi and Kevin Van Batavia. Missing are David Top, Paul Jess and Lyle DeBoer.

By John Rittenhouse
The 2002 baseball season will be made up of a lot of firsts for the Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth squad.

For the first time in the eight-year history of the program, the Patriots will be playing for a different head coach.

As well as playing for a new mentor, the 2002 Patriots will be members of a new conference for the first time.

The season of change actually began last June, when then H-BC superintendent Tom Knoll stepped down from that position to take a new post in Hayfield.

Along with an administrator, the H-BC School District lost the only head baseball coach it ever had. Knoll served as the head coach when the program began in 1995 until last spring, when a 3-11-1 campaign came to an end with an 11-1 loss to Adrian in the Section 3A Tournament.

H-BC officials found a replacement for Knoll in Ellsworth, where they hired first-year teacher Jason Langland to be their new head baseball coach.

Langland, a second-grade teacher in Ellsworth, has gained a lot of coaching experience in a short time. He was head coach of the Ellsworth volleyball team last fall, and he served as an assistant basketball coach at the school over the winter.

The new H-BC-E mentor played American Legion baseball for Sioux Valley High School in Volga, S.D, where he graduated in 1995. He went on to play two years of college baseball at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.D., where he graduated in 1999.

Langland admits he's new to the baseball scene in southwest Minnesota, but likes the idea of having a top-heavy roster that consists of eight seniors, four juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen.

"It's nice to have a big group of seniors. WeÕve only practiced outside a couple of days, and we're still in the process of getting to know each other," he said.

The new coach inherited three quality players in seniors David Top, Lyle DeBoer and Justin Van Maanen, who probably will emerge as H-BC-E's top pitchers this spring. Top also plays first base. Van Maanen and DeBoer also are infielders.

Senior catcher Darin DeBoer returns as a starter, and classmates Chris Tiesler (second base-third base) Paul Jess (infielder-outfielder) and Kevin Van Batavia (outfielder) are other experienced seniors.

Senior exchange student Shintaro Hayashi also is listed as an outfielder.

Juniors on the team include Kyle Sammons, Tyson Metzger, Clint Roozenboom and Brant Deutsch.

Deutsh is a first baseman, Sammons an infielder and Metzger a second baseman-outfielder. Roozenboom is listed as an outfielder.

Sophomore outfielder-infielder Ryan Heikes, freshman infielders Kenny Bittner and Zach Wysong and outfielder Brian Gacke, and eighth-grade infielder-outfielder Zach Jenniges round out the roster.

Along with having a new team leader, the Patriots will compete in the Red Rock Conference for the first time.

That means their annual games with Adrian, Murray County Central, Edgerton and Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster have added meaning. Other league games will be played against Red Rock Central-Westbrook-Walnut Grove.

H-BC-E opens the season in Brewster Tuesday.

By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek Superintendent Dave Deragisch is hoping to expand the list of Community Education classes available in the district.

At a March 18 meeting, Hills residents and Deragisch brainstormed on ideas for classes to offer.

The many ideas discussed included computer labs, fishing classes, card or board games, soccer league, farm marketing classes, snowmobile safety, motorcycle safety, CPR classes, driverÕs education, golf for youth, baby-sitting classes, bus to Gopher games, a health fair, girlsÕ softball, computer classes, gun safety, diet/nutrition classes, cooking classes, T-ball, bus to Canaries games, and 55 and older driving classes, according to Deragisch.

"One of the things that I need is information from people to tell us what they would like us to offer for Community Ed classes," he said.

He would like to begin new classes for both children and adults.

In the past, Community Education has offered a small number of classes, often limited to sports such as basketball, summer baseball or softball and sponsoring the ski club.

"We are just basically starting from ground zero and trying to get it built up," Deragisch said. "We are looking at expanding. We are trying to find classes people are interested in so we can expand."

Six-year Community Education board member Robert Wassenaar is involved in the process.

"We can always use more input," he said. "We are always open to new ideas."

Wassenaar said everyone is invited to the next Community Education meeting set for 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, in the high school library.

"Anyone that has an idea, weÕd be happy to hear it," he said.

Wassenaar hopes Community Education will be able to offer more bus trips. "The bus trips are one of my pets ... along with any type of continuing education. If people are looking for something, we'd be happy to oblige," he said.

Wassenaar also thinks something should be offered to keep kids occupied after school until their parents arrive home from work.

Deragisch's goal for Community Education is "to provide an opportunity for everyone from the very young to the very old, to provide them with opportunities for enrichment."

Community Education receives some funding from the state but is for the most part expected to be a fee-based, self-supporting organization, according to Deragisch.

By Jolene Farley
With few farmers left in the fields it has been, by all accounts, an average year, according to Hills Cargill Farm Service Center Manager Brad Berkhof.

He said beans yielded around 45 bushels per acre, and the corn harvest in some areas of the county was good, while in other areas, hit by high wind and hail, it was not so good. Corn yielded, on average, 80 to 100 bushels per acre.

The dry August didn't have the feared effect on soybean yields, according to Berkhof, unless the beans were planted in lighter, sandier soil.

"Overall they (farmers) are probably pretty happy with their yields," said Berkhof.

Harvest started later this year, according to Berkhof. "It was generally slower," he said. "We got started later, about two to three weeks behind."

A late start in the spring and in some areas, bean replanting because of hail, contributed to the late harvest.

Goose-necked corn also slowed some farmers down. The downed corn was more difficult for combines to pick up, according to Berkhof.

Last year, most farmers were done with harvest by the third or fourth week in October. This year, harvest is about 90-percent complete in the first full week of November.

Berkhof estimates the busy period at Cargill is drawing to a close for another season. "From this point forward most farmers will probably hold onto their grain to wait for better prices." he said.

This week's prices for corn range from $1.50 to $1.60 per bushel and for beans $3.90 to $4 per bushel.

The amount of grain on the market contributes to the price farmers receive for their crop. This fall prices are "on the low side of average," according to Berkhof.

"The majority (of farmers) kept what they could at home," he said. "Every bin or storage facility was filled up hoping the price would get better."

The market could change for better or worse after the United States Department of Agriculture releases a final crop report on Friday, Berkhof said.

Most soybeans sold to Cargill this fall will be transported by truck to a soybean processing plant in Sioux City, Neb. Most corn will be transported by rail to various destinations.

Cargill in Hills handles 6 to 8 million bushels of grain per year, according to Berkhof.

By Jolene Farley
When Bob Metzger heard his part-time employer, Jackrabbit Bus Lines, Sioux Falls, S.D., was asking for drivers to drive buses at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he jumped at the chance.

More than 800 buses were needed to transport athletes and media to and from sporting events.

By September Metzger, who drives bus when he isnÕt working as a cattle buyer, knew he would be driving one of eight buses, leased from Jackrabbit Lines to Lewis Brother Bus Lines, to Salt Lake City.

Metzger, who is a Lester, Iowa, resident, had to submit a resume and a picture and pass a background check to get the job.

Metzger's group left for Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 24, with empty buses. When they arrived at their destination, drivers attended two days of schooling and started driving on Monday, Jan. 28.

Metzger learned procedures on how to deal with protesters. "Usually they are there," he said. "but I think they were so scared of security they stayed away."

Metzger's route, which ran from 2 p.m. to midnight, was from the media center to the speed skating oval (auditorium) and back.

At the media center, giant screens projected each event as it happened, and reporters broadcast coverage to countries around the world.

Metzger said he was honored when he was chosen to transport athletes to the opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympics.

He was disappointed when he realized after arriving home that bus drivers were provided with passes, worth around $800, for opening ceremonies.

The drivers were not told the passes were behind their security badges. "We didn't find out until two weeks later," said Metzger.

Metzger said he sometimes didn't recognize the athletes as he transported them, but when he saw them on TV he recognized them.

"When they performed on TV we knew we hauled them," said Metzger.

Security was an issue at the Olympics. Those attending sporting events waited about 20 minutes to work their way through security lines.

"It was tight, very tight," said Metzger. Bus drivers were issued security passes so they didn't have to stand in security lines.

After the buses were full, sticker seals were placed on the closed doors of the bus. If a seal was broken when it arrived at its destination the bus had to be reinspected by security.

Police escorts were sandwiched between each bus when Metzger transported athletes for closing ceremonies.

Metzger said many people collected pins at the Olympics. Sponsoring companies and others offered pins for visiting tourists to purchase.

"People would buy pins, trade pins. There were pins going for $100," he said.

Metzger arrived home with a pin collection himself, including a "Driving for the Gold" pin he received from the bus company.

Salt Lake City is a very nice town, according to Metzger. Mornings he wasn't working he toured the city and appreciated the "easy driving" on the very wide and parallel streets.

"Brigham Young made the streets so you could turn an oxen and cart around in them," he said.

Tuff home residents Ruth Smith (left), Alice Goettsch and Signe Egebo color eggs on Friday with Pastor Lowell Berg in preparation for Easter. Residents enjoyed bars and a beverage while choosing a color to dye their eggs.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By Jolene Farley
I was unsure what I'd encounter when I set off on a 13-day trip to Bolivia, South America, with Mano a Mano on March 13. Story inside.

Peterson purchases law firm in Tyler
Glen Peterson, an attorney with Skewes Klosterbuer and Vajgrt, has purchased the Lee Bush law firm in Tyler.

Peterson started working for Skewes Klosterbuer and Vajgrt in August 1998.

He came to Luverne after graduating from the University of South Dakota in May 1998.

Tuesday, April 2, was Peterson's last day in Luverne.

Bush sold his law firm because he was recently appointed a district court judge by Gov. Jesse Ventura. He will replace Judge Marshall in the Marshall, Minn., seat.

Peterson will work with Bush until April 26, when Bush will be sworn in and Peterson will officially take over the practice.

Work to continue on Highway 60
The next phase of a four-lane Highway 60 will begin in a few weeks.

This year's section of four-lane upgrade will run from Heron Lake to Wilder.

The project is expected to start in May and run through November.

The total cost of the project is $14.4 million. Land acquisition costs were an additional $2.1 million.

As economy improves, bankruptcies reach new highs
The high-flying economy that came to a sudden stop a while ago caught more than a few people off guard.

After a decade of unprecedented growth and prosperity, 2001 set a new record for bankruptcies.

2001 saw nearly 1.5 million bankruptcy filings by consumers and businesses, 97% of which were personal, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Evidently, people who thought the golden '90s would last forever and overextended themselves on credit got caught with too little in savings when the rainy days of 2001 came.

For those choosing the bankruptcy route, three recommendations are:

Review your budget quarterly.
Save 10% of your after-tax earnings in a savings plan.
See a financial counselor.

It shouldn't be surprising that with the increase in bankruptcy the unemployment rate has also increased.

Non-farm employment shed a seasonally adjusted 1,300 jobs in February, the 11th loss in the past 12 months.

The biggest losses were in services and retail trade.

Peak unemployment in Minnesota came in January, at 4.9 percent, compared with 6.3 percent nationally.

Are you a friend of the Library?
If you want to help support our local library, attend the annual meeting of Friends of the Library.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m Monday, April 15, the Rock County Community Library basement.

Steve Kallin from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will speak on "Touch The Sky Prairie," one of the local Brandenburg projects.

The lost is found
A couple weeks ago Star Herald editor Lori Ehde reported on one of Rock County's recent fires, this one at the home of Harvey and Tamara Horn, Luverne.

Fortunately for the Horns, no one was hurt, and even the dog got out safely, but they noted one potential loss.

Someplace in the rubble and ashes was Tamara's wedding ring.

Tamara, who was in the hospital, recovering from the birth of their third child, had taken off her wedding ring a few weeks earlier due to swelling in her fingers.

At the time of story in the March 21 edition of the Star Herald, the wedding ring was still missing.

We are happy to report that Tamara called the Star Herald this week to say that her wedding ring has been found.

It was discovered on the floor of their bedroom in the ashes.

The family has taken up temporary residence in the City Centre Apartments.

Hey, kids, got a good fish story?
If you've got a good fish story and would like to share it, I have a writing contest for you.

The Minnesota Fishing Federation is sponsoring a writing contest for kids to share their favorite fish story.

The stories may be handwritten or typed and must be on one side of one sheet of paper.

An extra sheet may be used if you have a photo or colored picture to accompany the story.

The contest is divided into two age categories, ages 6-12 and 13-17.

Entries should be mailed to Fish Tales, P.O. Box 450, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.

All entries must be postmarked by April 20.

Publisher Roger Tollefson can be contacted by e-mail at
tolly@star-herald.com