Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth's Zach Wysong opened the scoring in Friday's 27-0 win over Edgerton by returning this punt 77 yards for a touchdown. Wysong also hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass in the game, which served as H-BC's 2002 homecoming tilt.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth football fans had two reasons to celebrate Friday.

Not only did the Patriots run their season record to 4-0 with a 27-0 victory over Edgerton, they did it in front of a large crowd on hand for Hills-Beaver Creek High SchoolÕs homecoming game.

The Patriots, who are ranked fourth in the latest state nine-man football poll, proved they deserve that consideration while playing a gutsy Flying Dutchmen team.

Quarterback Curt Schilling threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense, and the Patriot defense recorded its first shutout of the season while limiting Edgerton to 86 total yards.

Ten penalties by the Patriots were the downside of H-BC-E's performance, but a stout defensive effort more than made up for the miscues.

"It was a great defensive effort," said Patriot coach Dan Ellingson. "We played really good base defense. Edgerton was running a lot of counter and misdirection plays, but our guys did a good job of staying home and making plays. Edgerton's two best drives of the game ended up with us intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble, so we came up with some opportunistic turnovers. We also played some really good pass coverage, which allowed our defensive lineman to get some sacks."

With Edgerton unable to dent the H-BC-E defense, the Patriot offense didn't need to play its best game to produce a victory.

The offense produced a season-low 286 total yards, but it didn't turn the ball over while recording three touchdowns in the final three quarters.

"We didn't run the ball as well as we would have liked to, so we had to pass more. We had three pass plays that covered 36 or more yards, and that helped us stretch out their defense a little bit," Ellingson said.

A big play by one of H-BC-E's special teams opened the scoring in the game.

The Patriot defense forced Edgerton to punt after it gained one first down during the Flying Dutchmen's first offensive possession of the game. Then return specialist Zach Wysong returned the punt 77 yards for a touchdown. Wysong then added his first of three extra points to give H-BC-E a 7-0 cushion at the 9:19 mark of the first quarter.

The score remained 7-0 until late in the first half, when one of two interceptions by H-BC-E's Chris Reid set up a 38-yard touchdown pass from Schilling to Tyson Metzger with 1:10 remaining in the second quarter. Wysong's extra point capped the first-half scoring while making it a 14-0 game.

The Patriots all but ended the game with a touchdown and an extra point with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

After the H-BC-E defense stopped Edgerton on downs, the Patriot offense advanced the ball down the field before it faced a fourth-down situation at the Flying Dutchmen six-yard line. H-BC-E took advantage of the situation when Schilling hooked up with a diving Wysong for a six-yard touchdown pass and a 21-0 lead.

Reid, who was limited to a season-low 98 rushing yards by Edgerton, capped the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run at the 11:22 mark of the fourth quarter. The extra-point attempt was blocked.

Ellingson gave credit to Edgerton's defense for making the Patriots work hard for their points.

"I know Edgerton only has won one game, but they have a good team. They have a lot of size, and they are really aggressive on defense. I think they played pretty well," he said.

The undefeated Patriots will play 0-4 Lincoln HI in Ivanhoe Friday.

Team statistics
H-BC-E: 121 rushing yards, 165 passing yards, 286 total yards, 11 first downs, 10 penalties for 85 yards, zero turnovers.
Edgerton: 78 rushing yards, eight passing yards, 86 total yards, four first downs, six penalties for 53 yards, four turnovers.

Individual statistics
Rushing: Reid 23-98, Schilling 2-11, Dusty Seachris 4-10. Wysong 2-2, Jesse Leuthold 1-2, Metzger 1-minus 2.
Passing: Schilling 11-17 for 165 yards.
Receiving: Metzger 3-81, Brant Deutsch 3-47, Wysong 3-25, Kyle Sammons 2-12.
Defense: Schilling 16 tackles and one fumble recovery, Cody Scholten six tackles and one sack, Deutsch seven tackles, one sack and one knocked down pass, Leuthold five tackles and one fumble recovery, Reid two interceptions.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton boys' cross country team came up one point short of winning a team championship in Slayton Tuesday.

Competing at the Murray County Central Invitational, H-BC-E-E scored 52 points, finishing one point behind Jackson County Central (51) in the final standings.

Luverne (58 points), Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin (84), Martin County West (132), Adrian (134) and Worthington (141) round out the field.

Tyler Bush and Zach Hadler set the stage for victory by placing second and fourth individually with respective 17:18 and 17:33 efforts.

Greg Van Batavia, Todd Alberty and Kale Wiertzema placed 13th, 14th and 19th with respective 18:24, 18:42 and 18:52 times to contribute to H-BC-E-E's team tally.

H-BC-E-E also fielded a complete boysÕ junior varsity team that placed second to Luverne at the meet.

Derek Haak and Kerry Fink paced the Patriots by placing fifth and ninth in 15:59 and 16:13.

Devin DeBoer (15th in 16:58), John Sandbulte (17th in 17:01) and Michael Bos (27th in 17:32) padded the team score. Jared Drenth and Justin Hinks placed 30th and 42nd in 17:52 and 22:00 without influencing the scoring.

Mya Mann and Erika Fransen placed first and second in the girls' junior varsity race with respective 19:06 and 19:11 times.

Adam Fink and Grant Hoogendoorn finished third and 12th with 6:40 and 7:44 efforts in the boys' junior high race. Rayne Sandoval placed 15th in 7:44 in the girls' junior high run.

H-BC-E-E will run at the Cardinal Autumn Invitational in Adrian Oct. 3.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots picked up their second Red Rock Conference win of the 2002 season by toppling Southwest Christian 3-1 in Edgerton Tuesday.

After splitting the first two games of the match, H-BC posted victories in Games 3 and 4 to up its season record to 5-6-3 overall.

According to Patriot coach Curt Doorneweerd, winning the match was a satisfying experience.

"The girls really played well," he said. "We beat a very good team. I was really happy with the way we played."

H-BC got off to a good start by recording a dramatic, come-from-behind victory in Game 1.

The E-Gals led 13-6 before the Patriots went on a 9-0 run to steal a 15-13 win.

SWC turned the table on H-BC in Game 2, rallying from a 12-9 deficit to outscore the Patriots 8-3 and win 17-15.

The Patriots cruised to a 15-5 win in the third game before winning another barn burner in the finale.

H-BC led most of the fourth game before SWC gained a late 14-13 edge. The Patriots then put together a 3-0 run that gave them a 16-14 win and a match victory.

Doorneweerd said H-BCÕs serving set the stage for victory.

"Our serving was the key. We had by far and away our best serving night of the year," he said.

Erin Boeve, who had 10 kills and 12 blocks, was 17 of 17 serving with three aces. Melissa Fagerness was 20 of 20 with two aces, while Jody Rentschler was 18 of 18 with four aces.

Sarah Rozeboom contributed five kills to the winning cause. Kelly Mulder and Amanda Olson recorded four and three blocks respectively. Cassi Tilstra had three kills and two blocks.

H-BC hosts Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster and Lake Benton tonight and Monday respectively.

By Jolene Farley
The search continues for a permanent pastor at United Reformed Church in Hills.

"We are still searching and we haven't found one we would care to send a letter if they are willing to consider a call at this time," said church elder Wayne Van Wyhe, Lester, one of three elders on the church's search committee.

"We want to call somebody we feel would work for our congregation and someone we feel will be willing to move from his present church," he said.

Intern Doug Barnes led the congregation of 26 families over the summer. He and his family left Hills the last Sunday in August.

Barnes replaced the Rev. Keith Davis for the summer months after Davis accepted the pastor's position in a congregation in Lynwood, Ill.

Retired Rev. Jay Wessling is leading services while the search continues. When Wessling is unable to fill in, a guest pastor from another congregation is sought, according to VanWyhe.

"We've sent out different questionnaires; some of them they let you know right away they aren't willing to move," he said.

VanWyhe is confident Hills United Reformed will find someone to lead the congregation.

"God has a man chosen for us and we'll find him," he said. "Some way he'll help us know where he is."

Hills United Reformed Church was previously known as the Hills Christian Reformed Church.

By Jolene Farley
After presenting the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board with 2002-03 budget numbers at Monday's meeting, Superintendent Dave Deragisch warned this will be a close budget year.

"It will be real tight," he said. "We have to hope for a warm winter and nothing breaking down."

The proposed budget for the 2002-03 school year is $2,926,881. Budget revenues total $2,933,277, leaving a cushion of $6,396.31 for unexpected expenses.

The 2001-02 budget was $2,697,849. Deragisch attributed this year's budget increase to salary increases for certified and non-certified staff.

Increased expenses coupled with levy totals falling below expected amounts caused the crunch.

"We were anticipating nearly $450,000 we would be able to levy for, and when I went to the (levy) meeting it was about $200,000 less than that," Deragisch said.

Last year, the district received $843,000 in levy revenue, but with recent changes made by the state Legislature, this year's total was $342,000.

Another source of revenue for the district, general state aid, is calculated on the number of students. Base revenue for each student is $4,601, weighted according to grade level. The district receives less aid for students in the elementary school than it does for students in high school.

Last year the district received $1,200,000 in general aid; this year's aid is $1,906,942.

"We'll end up OK this year. If it comes down to the end and we have to say 'no' to anything that's asked for, we can do that," Deragisch said.

"A lot of the other school districts have gone to the voters and had them approve an excess levy."

When asked by board member Ann Boeve if anything was cut from the budget that would hurt the students, Deragisch said that hadn't happened but that staff members have saved dollars where they could.

Deragisch used the example of purchasing smaller tabletop model copy machines, saving the district $8,800, rather than purchasing two industrial copy machines for the district.

He cautioned that next year the board might have to look at the possibility of eliminating a teaching position if funding sources don't improve.

"It's going to get tougher to keep things balanced," he said.

The board will meet today to ratify levy amounts.

In other financial business, Deragisch urged the School Board to consider refinancing the 1997 construction bond.

With interest rates at a 35-year low, refinancing at the current rate would save the district $85,900 after fees and fines for early payoff. The bond is due in 2005.

The board instructed Deragisch to begin shopping around for the best rate.

In other board business
Group II Architects, Sioux Falls, has requested to meet with representatives of the board with plans for the new high school locker rooms.

"They have information for us for different styles of locker rooms," Deragisch said. "We have to make a decision of what to do."

Deragisch and the board thanked Leonard (Shorty) Leenderts and sons Alan and David and daughters Kristi and Lori for establishing a perpetual scholarship in memory of Lois Leenderts, their wife and mother.

The scholarship will be awarded to students pursuing a career in nursing or agriculture.

"It's a wonderful way to honor your wife and mother," said board chair Alan Harnack.

Hills-Beaver Creek School is participating in the School Cents program at the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls.

Shoppers save receipts for purchases made in designated stores, and a portion of the purchases are donated to the school.

Last year H-BC High School received more than $800 from the program. This year any amounts earned are earmarked for the elementary school.

Log on to the Hills-Beaver Creek School Web site at www.hbcpatriots.com. School menus and activity schedules will be available on the site in a few weeks.

By Jolene Farley
Voters in Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen will decide the best candidate for the job at the general election Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In Hills, Wendell Bengtson, Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers and David McGuire filed for two four-year council seats. Jim Jellema filed for the two-year mayor seat.

In Beaver Creek, current mayor Al Blank filed for another two-year term. Burdell Willers and Arlyn Gehrke filed for two four-year council seats, and Carolyn DeBoer and Daryl Fuerstenberg filed for one two-year council seat.

In Steen, Mel Van Batavia filed for another two-year term as mayor, and Robert Sandbulte, Leonard Otkin and Brad Bosch filed for two four-year council vacancies.

King Jesse Leuthold and Queen Angie Bush greet people watching the parade.

Photos by Chantel Connell

Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School hosted an open house Monday. Student Cole Angelo, Steen, marks a check on the board for his brother and sister, Alex and Katie Angelo, and his grandmother, Juanita Hayne, Valley Springs. Also pictured is second-grade teacher Diane Vanden Hoek. The check marks were totaled at the end of the night to determine the number of people who visited the second-grade room.

Photo by Jolene Farley

'What I did on my summer vacation' and other possibilities

I just bought myself a crisp, new spiral notebook. White paper. College ruled. Wire bound. Who knows what I'll use it for, but it felt great to make the purchase.

I still get the back-to-school spirit, a feeling that builds excitement almost like Christmas. It could be brought on by the changing of the seasons as much as the start of the school year, but about this time I want to get new shoes and pick out sweaters and generally prepare for the winter ahead. It seems like we're trained to consider September, rather than January, the start of the year.

Just like in school days, I figure my wardrobe wonÕt be as cool as some of my peers. I probably won't be the teacher's (boss's) pet. I hope my friends donÕt tell my secrets. I still want a snack at 3:30 p.m. In other words, except for the notebooks, the real world isn't that different from school, no matter what the teachers say.

As for my notebook, the clear fall air and warm sun make for inspiration, and I could fill it with creative musings. The changing colors might summon my doodling talents.

Maybe, for old time's sake, I should assign myself to sit down with my new notebook and write a little essay of what I did during the summer. Or, more likely, I'll probably just make a grocery list.

"Hi Margaret, it's Sara from the Star Herald,
I was wondering É"

In my job, it seems I'm always asking people questions. One of the most pleasant sources I've had to get information from is Rock County Auditor-Treasurer Margaret Cook.

When I covered the primary elections last week, I called on her to give me numbers and comments, as usual. And, as usual, she was prompt in returning my call and clear and succinct in the information she delivered.

I couldn't help but hope that whoever replaces her is as forthcoming and pleasant as Margaret has always been with me. It's not that she favors me or thinks I'm anyone special - she treats all her constituents respectfully and with honesty.

It seems like all county roads eventually lead to the auditor-treasurer, so I call on Margaret many times throughout the year.

I'm not saying she's perfect, or that she's the only government worker I've found helpful, but she's as accommodating as the best on the list.

Obviously, she won't be returning to her post after the first of the year, because she's not running for office, but I look forward to covering fall elections with Margaret's help one last time.