By John RittenhouseThe Luverne gymnastics team participated in three different events in a five-day span that started last Friday.The Cardinals beat West Central in Luverne’s 2003-04 home opener Friday before placing second at the Fairmont Invitational Saturday. The Cardinals entertained Pipestone for a non-conference match Tuesday, besting the Arrows by 14.15 points.Luverne, 5-1 overall, will compete at the Martin County West Invitational in Welcome Saturday.Luverne 129.05,Pipestone 115.9The Cardinals beat the Arrows for the second time this season when the teams squared off in Luverne Tuesday.Luverne athletes won three of four event titles and a Cardinal captured the all-around title during the meet.The night was a good one for Callen Bosshart, an LHS senior who won the vault (9.05), floor (8.6) and all-around (33.15) crowns. Bosshart also placed second on the bars and third on the beam with respective 8.0 and 7.5 efforts.Luverne’s Amanda Dooyema, who was second on the floor with an 8.35, won the bars with an 8.45.Brittany Mulder had a good night for the Cards that consisted of placing second all-around (31.6), third on the vault (8.85), third on the floor (8.15) and fourth on the bars (7.75).Luverne’s Brittany Boeve placed second on the beam with a 7.6, Morgan Bosshart finished second on the vault with an 8.9, and Courtney Fodness fourth on the beam with a 7.1.Fairmont inviteThe Cardinals placed second in a six-team field at the Fairmont Invitational Saturday.Luverne compiled 129.05 points, placing second behind Martin County West (133.85).New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (120.75),Fairmont (120), Marshall (118.2) and St. James (112.7) round out the field.Callen Bosshart and Dooyema led the Cardinals to their second-place finish by winning individual titles.Bosshart, who won the all-around title with 33.5 points, took top honors on the vault with a 9.2. Dooyema won the beam competition with an 8.7.Marshall’s Jessica Dolan won the floor title with an 8.7. Fairmont’s Erica Swift emerged as the bar champion with her 8.7.Individual resultsVault: C.Bosshart 9.2, Morgan Bosshart 8.7, Brittany Mulder 8.65, Brittany Boeve 8.55, Victoria Arends 8.45.Beam: Dooyema 8.7, C.Bosshart 7.65, Boeve 7.4, Mulder 7.2, Courtney Fodness 6.5.Floor: C.Bosshart 8.5, Mulder 8.15, Dooyema 7.9, M.Bosshart 7.65, Arends 6.6.Bars: C.Bosshart 8..15, Dooyema 7.8, Mulder 7.65, M.Bosshart 7.65, Fodness 7.0.Luverne 128.5,WC 105.8The Cardinals dominated Friday’s home opener against West Central.Luverne athletes captured the top 4 positions in all four individual events during a 13.5-point victory over WC.Dooyema set the stage for victory by winning three individual titles. She claimed the bars (8.45), floor (8.6) and beam (7.95) titles.Callen Bosshart, the overall champion with 32.75 points, won the vault with an 8.95. Bosshart also placed second on the bars (7.9) and beam (7.65) and finished third on the floor (8.25).Mulder, who placed second all-around with 31.8 points, placed second on the floor (8.5), third on the bars (7.45) and fourth on the vault (8.45).Luverne’s Morgan Bosshart shared second place with Victoria Arends (8.6s) on the vault. Boeve placed fourth on the beam (7.2), Arends fourth on the floor (7.4) and Fodness fourth on the bars (7.15).Individual resultsBars: Dooyema 8.45, C.Bosshart 7.9, Mulder 7.45, Fodness 7.15, M.Bosshart 7.05.Beam: Dooyema 7.95, C.Bosshart 7.65, Mulder 7.4, Boeve 7.2, Fodness 6.1.Floor: Dooyema 8.6, Mulder 8.5, C.Bosshart 8.25, Arends 7.4, M.Bosshart 7.25.Vault: C.Bosshart 8.95, Arends 8.6, M.Bosshart 8.6, Mulder 8.45, Boeve 8.3.

Hills-Beaver Creek’s Trey Van Whye (left) and Kale Wiertzema (right) trap an Adrian player during Thursday’s boys’ basketball game in Adrian. Van Wyhe and Wiertzema led the Patriots with seven rebounds each during a 68-65 home loss to Southwest Christian Saturday.By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team slipped two games behind the leaders in Red Rock Conference play after dropping a 68-65 decision to Southwest Christian in Hills Saturday.H-BC, the defending RRC champion, stands at 3-2 in league play after falling to the Eagles by three points.SWC (5-0) and Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin (4-0) are unbeaten in RRC play.Saturday’s game against SWC, a team the Patriots beat twice last season, was competitive from beginning to end.The Eagles led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter and increased the difference to four points (31-27) by outscoring the Patriots 17-15 in the second period.The Patriots used an 18-17 scoring edge to whittle the difference to three points (48-45) by the end of the third quarter.SWC led by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter before H-BC used a late rally to pull within one point of the Eagles late in the game. SWC, however, drained a pair of late free throws to win the game by three points.Kale Wiertzema, Tyler Bush and Zach Wysong shot the ball well for the Patriots.Wiertzema made five of six two-point shots and led H-BC with 25 counters, while Bush made all six of his two-point shots and scored 17 points. Wysong buried three of five three-point shots during a 12-point performance.Wiertzema, who led the Patriots with six assists, shared the team lead in rebounding with Trey Van Wyhe with seven caroms each.Bush added six rebounds and three assists to the cause. Tom LeBoutillier led the Patriots with three steals.Box scoreBush 6 0 5-8 17, Wysong 1 3 1-3 12, Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Broesder 0 0 0-2 0, Wiertzema 5 1 12-17 25, Van Wyhe 3 0 3-4 9, Spykerboer 0 0 2-2 2, LeBoutillier 0 0 0-0 0.Team statisticsH-BC: 19 of 46 field goals (41 percent), 23 of 36 free throws (64 percent), 25 rebounds, nine turnovers.SWC: 23 of 50 field goals (46 percent), 11 of 15 free throws (73 percent), 29 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek girls recorded their first basketball win of 2004 in Round Lake Friday.A double-double performance by senior Erin Boeve helped the Patriots improve their Red Rock Conference record to 3-4 with a 52-40 victory over Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster.Boeve, who had 19 points and 12 rebounds in the game, inched closer to an impressive milestone.By collecting eight more caroms, Boeve will reach the 1,000-rebound plateau for her career. Boeve will go for her 1,000th-rebound when the 6-5 Patriots host Comfrey tonight, or when they travel to Mountain Lake Tuesday.H-BC needed everything Boeve and the Patriots could generate to beat the Raiders Friday.SV-RL-B sported a 10-9 edge after eight minutes of play before H-BC moved in front 28-24 at halftime.The Patriots proceeded to outscore SV-RL-B by four points (12-8) in the third and fourth quarters to win by 12."It was a pretty tight game the whole way," said H-BC coach Tom Goehle. "We shot the ball very well. On the disappointing side, we did not protect the basketball very well, and we didn’t play well defensively. It was nice to get a win, but there still are some things we need to work on."Cassi Tilstra turned in a 10-point, five-steal, four-assist effort for H-BC. Amanda Olson added seven rebounds to the winning cause.Box scoreRozeboom 1 0 2-4 4, Bush 1 0 0-0 2, Sandstede 1 1 0-0 5, Tilstra 5 0 0-4 10, Hoyme 0 0 0-0 0, Boeve 6 0 7-10 19, Olson 3 0 0-0 6, Mulder 2 0 0-3 4, Fransman 0 0 2-2 2.Team statisticsH-BC: 20 of 38 field goals (52 percent), 11 of 23 free throws (48 percent), 28 rebounds, 22 turnovers.SV-RL-B: 17 of 32 field goals (53 percent), six of 19 free throws (32 percent), 26 rebounds, 22 turnovers.

Hills-Beaver Creek junior guard Zach Wysong lets go of a shot over Adrian’s Kyle Knips during Thursday’s boys’ basketball game in Adrian. Wysong hit three three-point shots and scored 17 points to lead the Patriots to a 53-48 come-from-behind victory over the Dragons.By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek boys overcame a one-point first quarter to post a Red Rock Conference basketball victory in Adrian Thursday.After falling behind 15-1 in the first minutes of play, the Patriots rallied to outscore the Dragons 52-33 the rest of the night while securing a 53-48 victory.Although the situation changed as the game progressed, H-BC appeared to be in trouble when Adrian rolled to a 14-point lead in the first quarter.AHS senior guard Brandon Wolf, who led all players with 20 points along with charting five assists in the game, scored the game’s first eight points by hitting two of his six three-point shots in the contest and another field goal in the first 1:30.H-BC’s Kale Wiertzema, who had seven rebounds and five assists for the Patriots, made a free throw moments later to make it 8-1.Adrian, however, countered with a 7-0 run capped by Kyle Knips’ field goal at the 3:30 mark that ended the scoring in the first quarter.H-BC climbed back into the game by outscoring AHS 16-7 in the second quarter to trail 22-17 at the intermission.After trimming the difference to 10 points twice early in the stanza, H-BC trailed by five (19-14) when Wiertzema hit a shot with 58 seconds left. Zach Wysong, who led the Patriots with 17 points, drained a three-point shot at the buzzer to bring the Patriots within five points after trailing by eight.Wiertzema scored the first two points of the third quarter to make it a 22-19 game, but Adrian countered with an 8-2 run capped by a three from Wolf at the 5:05 mark to make it a 29-21 game.The Patriots controlled play the rest of the third quarter by mounting a 16-2 run that ended with a Wiertzema field goal with 46 seconds remaining to take a 37-31 lead that was trimmed to four points (37-33) by period’s end.Adrian managed to tie the game three different times (37-37, 40-40 and 42-42) in the first 3:27 of the fourth quarter, but H-BC’s 6-0 spurt, which ended with a field goal by Tyler Bush with 2:16 remaining, gave the Patriots a 48-42 lead.Wolf nailed a pair of threes to trim the difference to three points (48-45 and 51-48) twice in the final two minutes, but Bush sank a pair of charity shots with 31 seconds remaining to ice the win for H-BC.Trey Van Wyhe led H-BC with 13 rebounds in the game. Kyle and Casey Knips collected 11 and 10 rebounds respectively for AHS.Box scoreH-BCBush 2 1 2-2 9, Wysong 3 3 2-2 17, Broesder 1 1 0-0 5, Wiertzema 5 0 2-5 12, Van Wyhe 3 0 2-5 8, Spykerboer 0 0 0-0 0, LeBoutillier 0 0 2-2 2.AdrianWolf 1 6 0-0 20, Block 3 0 3-4 9, Weidert 0 0 0-0 0, K.Knips 3 0 0-1 6, Brake 2 0 0-2 4, Stover 0 0 0-0 0, C.Knips 4 0 1-2 9.Team statisticsH-BC: 19 of 48 field goals (40 percent), 10 of 16 free throws (63 percent), 30 rebounds, nine turnovers.Adrian: 19 of 54 field goals (35 percent), four of nine free throws (44 percent), 30 rebounds, eight turnovers.

County’s petroleum products bid set for Feb. 13NOTICE TO SUPPLIERSPetroleum ProductsSealed proposals will be received until 11:00 A.M. on February 13, 2004 by Mark Sehr, Rock County Highway Engineer. The proposals are for the purchase of petroleum products beginning February 2004 through February 2005. The items included will be for unleaded premium gasoline, unleaded ethanol gasoline and diesel fuel #1 and #2 as required by the County of Rock for gasoline and diesel vehicles. Fuel will be dispensed into individual vehicles at the successful bidder’s station. Proposals shall be submitted on forms furnished, upon request, by the Rock County Highway Department in sealed envelopes marked "Bids for Fuel." Proposals will be opened and read publicly at the Rock County Highway Building in Luverne, Minnesota immediately following the hour set for receiving bids. The Rock County Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any defects or technicalities. The County Board of Commissioners will award or reject bids at the February 17th board meeting. Mark R. SehrRock County Highway Engineer(1-15, 1-22)

10 years ago (1994)"Once a kernel of corn leaves the field and enters the market, there’s no telling what it will become. Corn is used in making countless products ranging from diapers to beer.But thanks to a recent EPA ruling that will require a higher blend of ethanol in gasoline, more corn will be put into production for fuel.Eugene (Pucky) Sandager, Tom Arends and other local corn producers recently toured Minnesota’s largest ethanol-producing plant in Marshall. The plant is owned by Minnesota Corn Producers, a large co-op of corn growers."25 years ago (1979)"The tragedy in Guyana, South America, has increased both interest and anxiety about cults. Local clergy members are concerned about the challenge that cults present to long standing churches. Of particular worry is the threat that the cults pose to young members of the churches.… Norman Olsen, Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, sees cults as a commentary on the ‘religious blight of our time.’ He added that cults should make us look at ourselves to set our own lives in order."50 years ago (1954)"Perhaps we can all take a lesson from Scott Creeger when it comes to generosity and the simple faith of a six-year-old boy. Scott paid a visit to the Luverne hospital the other day and handed D.D. Garris, hospital superintendent, a fruit jar.The jar was filled with pennies. ‘I’ve saved this money for the hospital,’ Scott told Mr. Garris, ‘and you can spend it for the hospital any way you see fit.’ The jar contained 220 pennies."75 years ago (1929)"That a trifle more than fifty percent of the total taxes levied for Luverne in 1927 was for school purposes is disclosed by compilation made this week by County Auditor Ray Koehn. The levy for 1927 was used because its collection has just been completed and the further fact that that year’s taxes are nearer normal than those of 1928."100 years ago (1904)"The output of cigars made in Luverne was greater last year than ever before, not withstanding that there was a marked falling off in demand at a season when the demand is ordinarily the best. "Cigar manufacturers report to the internal revenue officers at the beginning of each year the number of stamps used in the past twelve months and the reports of E.L. Dobell and Roy Webber, the proprietors of the two factories in Luverne, show a large total, the combined number exceeding 400,000."

There aren’t many days I dislike my job here at the Star Herald … especially when I see what else is out there, particularly in science.I almost started down the path of working in science, but I think it’s best I went into the writing business after seeing the list of some really bad scientific jobs, published by Popular Science. These jobs aren’t just a little bad — they are unbearably bad. They are unpleasant, even gross. But life is gross, and we know more about it because of scientists who study things we don’t think we’ll ever need to know. The world is a better place because of these scientists, although most of us wouldn’t apply for their jobs, even if we were on the verge of homelessness. I would gladly sacrifice the advanced degree or noble title for the likelihood that I’ll never have one of these jobs. …
Flatus odor judge. This is the study of people’s … you know. Subjects in this study ate pinto beans and their episodes of flatulence were inhaled and also chemically analyzed. The worst component in the flatus was hydrogen sulfide, which is good to know. The real purpose of the study was to get a window into gastrointestinal health. See? It’s worth studying.
Dysentery stool analyzer. Techlab is a company that tests the effectiveness of test kits that analyze loose stool from sick people. Apparently employees have a good sense of humor about the whole thing, with a motto: "Techlab: #1 in the #2 business."
Animal sperm extractor. This is to study fertility in various barnyard species. It’s an important field, but it ain’t pretty. There are four ways to extract the sperm, which I won’t elaborate on right now.
Brazil mosquito researcher. Scientists with this title study malaria and a particular Brazilian mosquito that spreads it. The researcher sets himself up in a netting tent with a gap at the bottom. The mosquitoes fly in and get trapped inside, where the researcher sacrifices his skin to science. When one lands on him, he draws it into a tube and puts it into a container, up to 500 in three hours. The risk is contracting malaria if one bites on.The scientists used to shave a guinea pig’s belly and let mosquitoes feed on it, but anti-cruelty protocols make it easier for them to show a little skin themselves.
Hot zone superintendent. These people clean Petri dishes and air filters that contain Ebola and anthrax when scientists work around an outbreak.oIsolation chamber tester. NASA has to study the psychological challenges astronauts face in long missions. One compared it to a car trip on a family vacation, except it’s one that lasts for months, and there are no rest stops. Crews in space recycle urine to turn into drinking water, which isn’t nearly as bad as being in such close quarters with people you don’t necessarily like.
Metric system advocate. They envision a future in which we’ll all buy decagrams of hamburger and buy liters of gas.
Fish counter. Mostly retirees, these people sit for eight-hour shifts and click a button for each fish they see. There are a couple different buttons for different breeds of fish just to keep them excited about their job.… Maybe it’s good that science wasn’t a part of my career choice. I can still say that I’m excited (and rarely disgusted) about my job. I don’t even need various clickers to get me through a long County Board meeting.

Who does he think he is — God?Jesus’ critics say He was a great, moral teacher but He never claimed to be God. They argue that His followers created the legend of His deity after He was gone. That charge raises several questions: What did Jesus say about Himself? What difference does it make if He said He was God? What alternatives remain about His identity if He was not God?A person who declares himself God reduces the options as to what he truly is. If he’s not God only two alternatives are possible. First, he could be nuts, a lunatic. Many people in insane asylums and a few on the street claim deity, but their lives and character soon reveal otherwise. Jesus’ life and character, however, support His claim. Second, He could be a deceiver, a deliberate liar. Religious charlatans are common, but they’re eventually exposed as frauds. Jesus’ miracles, good deeds, and sacrificial life argue that He was genuine. But did He say He was God? The gospels record three kinds of evidence that reveal Jesus’ belief in His deity. First, He directly said so. Consider John 8:58: "Before Abraham was born, I am!" This alleges more than prior existence — "I am" was the special name God gave to identify Himself when talking to Moses in Exodus 3:14. Those who heard Jesus use it thought He was claiming deity because they took up rocks to stone Him — the punishment for blasphemy. He also admitted His deity in Luke 22:70 during His trial for His life, "They all asked, ‘Are you then the son of God?’ He replied, ‘You are right in saying I am.’ "Second, He said and did several things to equate himself with God. For instance, in John 5:17-18 He presumed a special relationship, "He was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." He also modified God’s law. "You have heard that it was said … , But I tell you. … " (Matthew 5:21-22); and, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35). Furthermore, He declared Himself the only way to God in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He even forgave sins, "Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ " (Luke 7:48), and He claimed to be the final judge in eternity, "The Father … has entrusted all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22).Third, He accepted others’ statements of His deity including their worship, "When they saw him, they worshipped him" (Matthew 28:17); their prayer, "You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it" (John 14:14); and their direct admission of His deity, "Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’ " (Matthew 14:33). Jesus saw Himself as deity, the one through whom God entered the human race and through whom God spoke and acted. Could He be wrong? That’s highly unlikely given the evidence of His miracles and resurrection. We can be sure of one thing — He did see Himself as God, and if He was not, He was no great, moral teacher. He left us only three options: He was either a raving lunatic, a devious liar, or the Lord of the universe. Whoever we each believe He is sets the path of our life and eternity.

There are lots of new books by your favorite authors on the shelf this week. Come in, check them out, and don’t forget to sign up for "Chase the Chill" adult reading club. There will be prizes. "Emma’s Secret," by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Paula O'Neill, beloved granddaughter of Emma Harte and the guardian of her vast business empire, believes that everything Emma left to the family is secure. However, beneath the surface, sibling rivalry and discontent flare. Linnet and Tessa, her daughters, are as different as two women can be. Into this volatile mix walks Evan Hughes, a young American fashion designer who is looking for Emma Harte. But Emma has been dead for 30 years. Troubled by Evan's presence, Paula turns to her grandmother's recently discovered wartime diaries to find the truth, and Emma comes vividly back to life.The decades fall away. It is London in 1940: the Blitz. Emma, working hard under war-time conditions, is also holding her family together as bombs drop, sirens wail, and her sons go off to war. While she struggles with grief, her indomitable will and strength come to the fore. As the pages unfurl, Paula discovers the secret Emma took to the grave to protect others, a secret whose repercussions inevitably change lives and may shake a dynasty to its very foundations. "The Sight of the Stars," by Belva Plain. Dressed in a brand-new suit, with $150 in his pocket, Adam Arnring says good-bye to his family and boards a train for the fabled West. The year is 1907. Adam is 19-years-old, a young man with stars in his eyes who has always dreamed of a future in the great open spaces of America. He lands a job in a small department store in a booming Texas town. Here he meets a woman who excites him beyond all measure. The exquisite, untouchable Emma Rothirsch lives in a world whose doors are firmly closed to him. But Adam is a man willing to take great risks to get what he wants. One is Emma. The other is to build a lasting business enterprise that will live on through his children and grandchildren. But just when Adam’s dreams are within reach, fate intervenes. Tragedy strikes from the trenches of World War I, setting in motion a series of events that echo down through the years. The owner of a prospering department store and the head of a growing family, Adam succumbs to a moment of weakness that culminates in an unforgivable act of betrayal. And now, as another generation prepares to take its rightful place in the family’s legendary empire, the tenuous threads of the Arnrings‚ past begins to unravel. "Crown Jewel," by Fern Michaels. Ricky Lam had it all — a thriving film career, the adoration of countless fans, and a cocaine and alcohol problem that was about to destroy him. Luckily, he also had a business manager — his straight-arrow older brother Philip — who strong-armed him into an addiction clinic. Not even the passage of 15 years, Ricky's rehabilitation, and worldly success for both men can mend the rift that erupted between the brothers during those dark days. Now all that remains is a business relationship, although Ricky yearns for more. When tragedy strikes, erasing Ricky's dreams of winning Philip's forgiveness, Ricky resets his priorities. He turns his back on Hollywood, invites his two illegitimate sons into his life, hoping to become a real father to them, and dedicates himself to his brother's dream — the construction of a unique resort in South Carolina called the Crown Jewel. When Ricky steps into his brother's shoes he encounters unsettling surprises and contradictions, as well as an amazing woman, who leads him to the mystery at the center of his brother's life. As Ricky attempts to discover the brother he loved but never truly knew, he must settle a grave injustice committed decades ago, even if it means risking his fame, his fortune, and his life. The library will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.