"I think some of the seventh- and eighth-graders can help us out, too. We don’t have any pole vaulters because we don’t have the facilities to practice in that event. We’re a little thin in the hurdles with Roger DeBoer being our only returning hurdler with experience. Developing hurdlers is something we can work on."

The Patriot girls will benefit from the addition of Edgerton, too.

Goehle has a roster of 35 athletes (up from 24 last spring) to build a team from, and the list features proven and untested athletes.

"I like the quality of the older kids," he said. "They’re kids who are very good, if not great, athletes. They are very competitive. With 35 kids, we can throw some of the younger kids in with the older kids and should be able to do some things."

The roster consists of two seniors, one junior, four sophomores, seven freshmen and 21 seventh- and eighth-graders. Ten of the girls lettered for the H-BC-E program last spring, seven competed in the section meet and one advanced to state.

The Patriots did lose a pair of quality seniors from the 2002 squad in Bev Wurpts and LaDonna Sandstede.

Wurpts ran with successful 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays, and won a CC title in the 1,600-meter run. She placed second in the sub-section and fourth in the section in the 1,600.

Sandstede ran with successful 400- and 800-meter relay teams.

Erin Boeve, the team’s lone junior, has to be considered the top returnee.

Along with being a member of the CC champion 1,600-meter relay team and a member of the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams that placed third in the sub-section, Boeve is an excellent jumper.

She won CC titles in the long and triple jumps, placed second in those events at the sub-section level, and won the long jump and finished third in the triple jump at the section meet. Boeve didn’t advance to the finals at the state meet in the long jump.

Sophomore Cassi Tilstra and eighth-grader Mya Mann are two girls who experienced outstanding 2002 seasons.

Both girls were members of the 1,600-meter relay, which placed fifth in the section. They also ran with the 3,200-meter relay, which won RRC and sub-section titles, and placed second at the section meet.

Tilstra won a CC title, placed third in the sub-section and sixth in the section in the 400-meter dash. Mann placed second in the sub-section in the 800-meter run.

Other girls returning with section experience from 2002 are senior Amber Poppen, sophomore Kelly Mulder and eighth-graders Amanda Tilstra and Amanda Connors.

Poppen, a jumper-sprinter from Edgerton, advanced to the section in the high jump last season.

Mulder was a member of the 400- and 800-meter relays, and Connors ran with the 800-meter team. Amanda Tilstra placed fourth in the sub-section in the 3,200-meter run.

Freshmen Rosie Lewis and Kari Roozenboom and eighth graders Kerri Fransman and Chelsea Fink round out the returning letter winners from 2002.

Lewis is a thrower-sprinter, Roozenboom is a hurdler, Fransman runs middle distances and Fink runs sprints and middle distances.

Senior exchange student Corinna Braun and sophomores Erika Fransen and Brittany Kramer will help the Patriots this season.

Braun will run distances, and Fransen will run distances and middle distances. Goehle is unsure what events Kramer will compete in.

The coach is unsure what events freshmen Jessie Leenderts and Stacy Bush will participate in, but he lists classmates Katie McGaffee as a thrower, Rachel Kvaale as a middle distance runner and Amy Tiesler as a jumper-sprinter.

"The additional 16 seventh- and eighth-graders we have could help us down the line, too," Goehle said.

"We have great jumpers in Amber Poppen and Erin Boeve, and we should be strong in the sprints and middle distances. We’re not real deep in the sprints and middle distances, but we have some quality kids in those areas. We could have some depth in those areas in the middle of the season if the seventh- and eighth-graders are ready to move up."

By John Rittenhouse
With the addition of another team to the fold, what has been a solid track program in Hills should become even stronger in 2003.

Now that Edgerton Public as joined ranks with Hills-Beaver Creek and Ellsworth, the Patriots have strength they haven’t seen before.

They have the numbers to compete for a Sub-Section 10 championship with all the bigger schools that used numbers to their advantage in the past.

The H-BC boys’ squad, a team that placed second in the Red Rock Conference, third in the Camden Conference, Sub-Section 10 and Section 3A and seventh at the state meet has an opportunity to improve on those performances this spring.

With a 42-athlete roster, which is up from 26 boys last season, Patriot coach Tom Goehle is excited about his team’s prospects in 2003.

"We have great numbers, and our numbers cover different areas. We will be fairly well-represented in every event," he said.

The Patriots will have to replace four seniors from the 2002 team, including one irreplaceable athlete.

Brad Haak, a four-time state qualifier and a one-time state champion in the 800-meter run, has left the program after an outstanding career.

Haak’s senior season was highlighted by third- and ninth-place finishes in the 800- and 400-meter events at the state meet.

He also was a member of H-BC-E’s 3,200-meter relay team, which won sub-section and section titles before placing fourth at state. He also won sub-section titles in the 400 and 800, RRC titles in the high jump, 800 and 1,600, and CC crowns in the 400 and was a member of the 800-meter relay.

Randy Krull and Ryan Ranschau were senior throwers from the 2002 team, and Lee Walraven ran with some successful relay teams.

H-BC-E-E’s 2003 roster consists of two seniors, five juniors, 11 sophomores, six freshmen and 18 seventh- and eighth-graders that could get the chance to make an impact at the varsity level this spring. The roster features 12 returning letter winners, nine section qualifiers and four athletes that competed at the state meet last season.

"When I look at our roster, I see a lot of kids who have been to state in either football, basketball, cross country or track," Goehle said.

"I see a lot of winners. Those are the type of guys who want to compete and get to the next level. Those type of attitudes are contagious, and that will be a plus for us."

Athletes returning to the team with state experience from 2002 are senior Chris Reid, junior Lee Jackson and sophomores Tyler Bush and Greg Van Batavia.

Goehle expects a big season from Reid, who placed fifth in the 100-meter dash and sixth in the long jump one year ago.

Reid won RRC titles in those same events last season, and won CC crowns in the 200-meter dash and as a member of the 400-meter relay team.

Reid placed second in the 100 and 200 and third in the long jump at the sub-section meet, and was a member of the third-place finishing 400-meter relay team. He won section titles in the 100 and long jump, and finished third in the 200.

Jackson, a member of H-BC-E-E’s cross country team that advanced to state last season, was a key performer in relays last season. As well as competing with the 400-meter and 3,200-meter teams, he was a member of the 1,600-meter squad that placed second in the sub-section.

As well as being a member of the 1,600 and 3,200 relays, Bush placed second to Haak in the 800 at the section and sub-section meets. He placed eighth in the 800 at state, and won a CC title in that event.

Like Bush, Van Batavia ran with the H-BC-E-E cross country team last fall. He was a key member of the 3,200-meter relay team, and the 800-meter squad that placed third at the sub-section meet. He placed fourth individually at the sub-section level in the 3,200.

Junior Todd Alberty and sophomores Zach Boyum, Kale Wiertzema and Cody Scholten and freshman Devin DeBoer also competed at the section meet last season.

Wiertzema placed third in the 3,200 at the sub-section event. DeBoer and Scholten filled in positions for relay teams at the section meet.

Alberty and Boyum ran with an Edgerton relay team that competed at the section meet.

Other returning letter winners from the 2002 team include sophomores Michael Bos and Derek Haak and freshmen Roger DeBoer, John Sandbulte and Kerry Fink.

Haak and Bos are distance runners. DeBoer is the team’s top hurdler, and he runs sprints. Sandbulte and Fink run middle distances.

Goehle thinks senior Dylan Kvaale and juniors Dereck Klaassen, Brad Van Dyke and Curt Schilling will help the varsity team this spring.

Kvaale and Schilling were members of Ellsworth’s successful boys’ basketball team this winter. Goehle is unsure which events they will compete in. Klaassen is a thrower from Ellsworth. Van Dyke, a jumper-thrower, is from Edgerton.

Sophomore Jared Drenth will be a distance runner for the Patriots this spring, while Edgerton sophomores Scott Tinklenberg, Chad Spronk and Dan Buys are other potential varsity candidates.

Buys is a thrower. Goehle is unsure which events Tinklenberg and Spronk will specialize in.

Freshman Jason Martens will be a thrower for H-BC-E-E, and Aaron Aristeo will runs sprints, middle distances and jump. Goehle is unsure what the team’s 18 seventh- and eighth-graders will compete in.

"We’re going to have a diverse boys’ team," Goehle said.

By Jolene Farley
All States Realty Inc. and Keith Elbers have teamed up to open a branch office in Hills.

"Keith will be manning the office down in Hills," said All States Realty Broker Ed Elbers.

Keith currently owns and operates Elbers Auction Service and said he thought real estate sales would complement his auction service.

Keith will sell residential and commercial real estate, farms and acreages.

"We’re trying to get more personal representation for the Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen area," Keith said.

Ed Elbers, Keith’s first cousin, once removed, has been licensed for real estate sales since 1968.

Ed said he used to know everyone in town but now isn’t so familiar with the residents.

"We’d like to bring better service to the southwestern part of our county — fill in the gaps," Ed said.
"When you’ve got somebody here … It’s 10 times better."

Keith also applied for South Dakota and Iowa real estate licenses in order to allow him to sell in the tri-state area.

All States is a member of the Sioux Falls Multiple Listing Service.

By Jolene Farley
The Hills City Council signed a revised contract with Rock County Rural Water for the proposed $219,000 water improvement project at a Tuesday meeting. Dan Cook represented Rock County Rural Water at the meeting.

The council discussed financing options through Rock County Rural Water, the Exchange State Bank and Minnesota Rural Development.

Bonding fees through the bank would be roughly $3,000 and $5,000 through Rural Development.

"I don’t think as a city we should be financing this project period," said City Council member Keith Elbers.

Elbers pointed out that the city has certificates of deposit coming due that are enough to cover the project.

"If we do get an emergency, why can’t we borrow for that particular emergency?" he said. "If it’s going to get assessed anyway, why not pay ourselves for it?"

Paying for the project in lieu of financing the improvements would save the city an estimated $137,000 in interest over 20 years, according to the council.

"What he’s saying has a lot of merit, to my way of thinking," said Mayor Jim Jellema.

The larger water line would increase water pressure and capacity from 1,680,000 gallons per year to 2,940,000 gallons per year.

oThe council negotiated with Martin Township representatives on fire protection contracts.

The Hills Fire Department provides protection for 19 sections of Clinton Township and the city of Steen.

Rates were raised from $320 per section to $340 per section. Rates for the city of Steen were increased from $2,000 to $2,500.

The possibility of the Hills Fire Department taking over coverage of all of Clinton Township was discussed. The Luverne Fire Department currently covers a portion of the township.

Mayor Jim Jellema advised the representatives to contact County Administrator Kyle Oldre to evaluate what needs to be done to make the change for next year. He also suggested contacting Hills Fire Chief Doug Chapman to see if the Hills Fire Department would be willing to take on the extra area.

"If they feel they can give sufficient service …" Jellema said.

oThe council discussed the possible sale of the old Patriot Academy and barbershop building. The council is interested in selling the building. The matter will be discussed further at the next council meeting.

By Jolene Farley
FBT Sawmill and Lumber, Steen, is still buzzing along. Owner Erwin Bonestroo recently branched out into furniture making.

Bonestroo said they make almost anything. "If they bring in a picture and some measurements, we can make it."

The furniture is built solid, with an old, primitive look.

"We keep the saw marks in," he said. "We don’t do a perfect job, because that’s what they want. We’re trying to make a good quality product that looks old."

Bonestroo has taken his products to the Flea Market in Sioux Falls and will display his wares at a Children’s Hospital fund-raiser later this spring.

He is trying to grow his business slowly, because buying more equipment is expensive and he has a limited amount of wood.

Making furniture helps save on wood because it doesn’t take nearly the amount of wood as other products, such as pallet making, according to Bonestroo.

The sawmill business still gets many of its customers from Sioux County in Iowa because residents were used to having a sawmill in the area until recently, and they know what can be done with their wood.

Lumberyards sell wood but most simply don’t have the same products as sawmills.

For instance, excess branches trimmed off the trees in the Steen Park were milled at FBT Sawmill and made into a cross (to be used for Easter) for a church in Luverne.

The wood for the cross was "something you couldn’t buy," according to Erwin.

Salvaging and finding new uses for wood is a creative process. The brothers get ideas from the magazine "Country Sampler," and from other publications for their furniture.

"We see it, we make it. A lot of times we don’t even have the dimensions," Erwin said.

"I just went to the wood pile and whatever was there, I made something out of it," Erwin’s brother, Doug said. Doug works with Erwin on some of the projects.

The brothers make planters, curio cabinets, flower boxes, pie safes, tables and benches, to name a few items.

The company made a bar and some tables for a new restaurant opening in Sioux Falls that was decorating with the primitive look.

They found the massive ash logs for the top of the bar at an old farmsite in Iowa. The house and trees were being torn down so the brothers salvaged the wood from the trees.

They said basically nothing goes to waste in their business.

Even odd scraps of wood from the sawmill are saved because taxidermists mount fish or other animals on the pieces.

Bonestroo continues to search for more uses for the products created at FBT Sawmill.

Stephen J. Gits, 40, Luverne, died Saturday, July 21, 2001, at his home in Luverne.

Services were Thursday, July 26, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial was in St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery, Luverne.

Stephen Gits was born to Gordon and Barbara Gits on March 19, 1961, in Luverne. He attended school in Luverne.

Survivors include his parents; one brother, Paul Gits, Minneapolis; three sisters, Theresa Gits-Borgstrom, Brooklyn Park, Mary Reiggins, Hopkins, and Elizabeth Hackett, Kirkland, Wash.; one niece, Ashley Borgstrom; and one nephew, Lucas Reiggins.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

In honor of Music in our Schools Month, Hills Christian School students perform a concert for residents of the Tuff Memorial Home Wednesday, March 26. Students played bells and a tube instrument that makes lighter or deeper sounds, according to the size of the tubes.

Submitted photo

Periodically, this office gets inquiries about former editor and publisher Alan C. McIntosh’s famous editorial titled A "Tired American" Gets Angry.

This week, I talked to a Chicago man who asked if he could print McIntosh’s piece, and wondered if I knew the original publication date.

We always like attention for our former publisher’s glory, and we had a nice little chat.

Fred Gilman is the editor and publisher of Our Village, a twice monthly newspaper in Chicago. (It doesn’t have a Web site yet, but it’s under construction.)

He said his circulation is 16,000 and growing as he and his wife have operated the paper for about two years.

Fred says he likes his paper to be a little unique — there’s no crime reporting or the standard hard news coverage. He’d rather stick to generally interesting pieces of information.

He decided to call our newspaper this week after he and his staff met to discuss how they should cover the current war and its affects on the city of Chicago. They found their own angle, and in some of his researching, Fred came across McIntosh’s editorial and thought it would make a nice addition.

Fred said he was printing most of the editorial, leaving out the obviously dated lines. He wanted the last line of the page to say that the Tired American piece was printed May 13, 1965. He thought it was a wonderful way to illustrate how times don’t change much in some regards.

Here’s a bit of McIntosh’s editorial in case you haven’t read it:

"I am a tired American — weary of having American embassies and information centers stoned, burned and sacked by mobs operating under orders from dictators who preach "peace" and breed conflict.

I am a tired American … real tired of those who are trying to sell me the belief that America is not the greatest nation in all the world … a generous hearted nation … a nation dedicated to the policy of trying to help the ‘have nots’ achieve some of the good things that our system of free enterprise brought about.

I am an American who gets a lump in his throat when he hears the "Star Spangled Banner" and who holds back the tears when Old Glory reaches the top of the flag pole.

I am a tired American … who wants to start snapping at those phony ‘high priests’ who want us to bow down and worship their false idols and who seek to destroy the belief that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I am a tired American who thanks a merciful Lord that he was so lucky to be born an American citizen … a nation … under God … with truly mercy and justice … for all."

Some of the statements are a little past their time, like when McIntosh says he is "fed up with the mobs of scabby faced, long-haired youths and short-haired girls who claim they represent the ‘new wave’ of American …"

Fred says that, overall, the message of McIntosh stands strong for America today.

Fred, by the way, is sending this newspaper a copy of his own publication, which gives the Star Herald a little mention and credit for McIntosh’s famous editorial.

Published March 27, 2003