By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ basketball team nearly recorded its second straight trophy win in Red Rock Conference play Monday in Hills.

Four days after defeating league unbeaten Adrian in Adrian Thursday, the Patriots hosted the RRC’s second-place team in Fulda Monday.

H-BC was in a position to stage another upset when it opened a six-point lead over the Raiders in the third quarter, but Fulda rallied to outscore the Patriots 20-9 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 52-42 victory.

The loss snapped a season-long, five-game winning streak put together by the Patriots. H-BC ends the regular season with a 14-9 record and a 10-6 mark in conference play.

H-BC opens the South Section 3A Tournament as the event’s No. 5 seed. The Patriots take on No. 4 Red Rock Central, a team that beat H-BC 59-48 in Lamberton Jan. 25, in Saturday’s quarterfinals in Worthington. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

The Patriots lost an opportunity to enter Saturday’s game with a load of confidence if they could have kept their lead against Fulda Monday.

H-BC led 29-23 when Erin Boeve scored the first four points of the third quarter and Amanda Olson drained a pair of free throws at the 4:00 mark. Fulda, however, ended the period with a 9-4 surge capped by a field goal with 10 seconds remaining to trail by one (33-32) entering the fourth quarter.

The Raiders opened the fourth quarter with a full-court press that helped them move in front 41-35 midway through the period.

H-BC trimmed the difference to one point (41-40) when Melinda Feucht drained a field goal with 2:33 remaining, and it trailed 43-42 when Cassi Tilstra sank a pair of free throws with 2:25 left to play. Things slipped away from H-BC at that point as Fulda scored the game’s final nine points to win by 10.

“We usually do well against the press, but we didn’t handle it very well in the fourth quarter,” said H-BC coach Tom Goehle. “We haven’t seen a press in a while, and it showed.”

The game’s first half was a tight one.

Fulda sported a pair of three-point leads in the first quarter before H-BC moved in front 11-10 with a field goal from Feucht with 1:31 remaining.

The Raiders tied the game at 11 before the quarter was complete, and the score was knotted at 13 in the second quarter when Olson made a pair of field goals to give H-BC a 17-13 lead at the 6:01 mark of the period. Fulda rallied to tie the game at 23 before the first half was complete.

Boeve and Tilstra scored 14 and 10 points respectively to lead H-BC.

Boeve charted 13 rebounds and blocked four shots, while Tilstra recorded eight rebounds and eight assists. Feucht chipped in five assists.

Box score
B.Rozeboom 0 0 0-0 0, Feucht 2 0 1-2 5, Sandstede 1 0 0-0 2, Tilstra 4 0 2-2 10, S.Rozeboom 2 0 –12 5, Boeve 6 0 2-6 14, Olson 2 0 2-2 6, Mulder 0 0 0-0 0.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 46 field goals (37 percent), eight of 13 free throws (62 percent), 40 rebounds, 21 turnovers.
Fulda: 14 of 56 field goals (25 percent), 19 of 26 free throws (73 percent), 30 rebounds, nine turnovers.

By Sara Strong
The Land Management programs that Rock County is so proud of could be on the line.

The state funnels money to Rock County to administer local feedlot permits and inspections, and $49,000 could be lost.

Beyond that, the entire office could lose $98,000 in other environmental programs such as well protection and monitoring and the tree planting program.

The County Board’s issue is this: Should it pay for programs that it used to get paid by the state to provide? Meanwhile, counties that didn’t help the state provide environmental services aren’t losing out.

If the county doesn’t decide to take on the cost of these programs itself, the state would make it up to some extent.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would handle all feedlot permits, for instance.

Local producers would rather work with local inspectors, but besides that, the MPCA doesn’t have the staff to inspect feedlot or issue permits in a timely fashion.

Commissioner Jane Wildung said, "What we’re talking about is quality of service to producers, who will end up waiting for inspections."

Commissioner Richard Bakken said the county is constantly worried about water supplies and is even a part of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System for backup needs. He said the local permitting and feedlot inspections keep the water safe for the entire county.

He said, "Look at how far we’ve come in the last 10 years. I don’t want to give it up."

Not all counties are able to permit outside of MPCA like Rock County is. If the county took on the total cost of the program, it could be considered "bailing out" the state, according to Administrator Kyle Oldre.

Counties that don’t do the legwork for the MPCA (in the way of inspections) aren’t in jeopardy of losing anything. But counties with active Land Management Offices are.

Level III inventory
Considering program cutbacks and the strain they’ll put on the county, Rock County Attorney Don Klosterbuer has been in contact with the Assistant U.S. District Attorney Henry Shea. Shea worked on the plea agreement that is helping to fund the total feedlot inspections.

The Level III inventories are about one-fifth complete and with other state money being lost, the county is in a bind to finish the inventories without a higher price tag.

The county’s responsibility in the Level III costs comes to $23,348.37 as of the last report.

Bakken said, "It’s in the county’s favor that no huge infractions were found to this point, so maybe they’ll be willing to postpone us having to complete this."

The Level III funding comes mostly from Global Ventures owner David Logan, who paid $160,000 to cover the inspections as part of a plea agreement.

About $130,000 went to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for actually conducting inspections. (BOWSR’s funds are also on the program cutting board.)

Global Ventures, Pipestone, was involved in fraud and bribery crimes that were connected to the former Rock County Land Management Director.

To remove suspicion of inappropriate handling of Rock County’s feedlot program, all livestock facilities are going through the Level III inventory.

Klosterbuer said that it’s probably in the county’s favor that it wasn’t a part of any crimes and wasn’t named as a defendant in any of the related trials.

The U.S. District Attorney’s Office has asked that the county compile a complete cost summary of the inventories to this point, along with a summary of findings.

By Jolene Farley
Hills-Beaver Creek High School students audition next week for a dinner theater production planned for Thursday, April 10, and Friday, April 11, at Drivers Restaurant and Banquet Center at the Beaver Creek golf course.

For the last several years, students participated in one-act play competitions, traveling around the region.
This year, director Ben Davis and school administrators decided it would be fun to try something different.
"We talked about it for a number of years," Davis said. "It’s always been my philosophy that theater isn’t a competition sport."

"You put your heart and soul into it. The theater experience is a very individual experience," he said.

Davis, who directed students for several years in the one-act competition, has narrowed his choice of plays down to two comedies, both with a diverse cast and about 45 minutes long.

For the past three years, one-act play students performed for friends and relatives one time during competition week. Parents brought desserts to serve after the usually well-attended performance.

Davis said dinner theater production was a logical next step.

Students will rehearse the play for five weeks before the April show date. Davis hopes to have 25 practices under his belt before the curtain goes up.

He directs the students alone, except for the help of a student stage manager.

Davis hopes more students will become involved with the dinner theater than were involved with one-act play in previous years, because the dinner theater production will offer more parts than one-acts.

Timing for more student involvement is probably better too. One-act play practices and competition conflicted with sports schedules for some students. With the dinner theater moved to April, there shouldn’t be as many conflicting schedules.

Davis is excited to use the Beaver Creek Club House for the production. In the past, students were forced to practice in the Hills Legion or different areas of the school because of limited gym space.

Drivers can hold 300 people (sit down) for each performance. Davis will consider the show a success with two shows with 100 tickets sold.

A two-meat buffet, tentatively priced at about $15 a plate with theater tickets included, will be served for guests before the play begins.

To order tickets, call the golf course at 507-673-0011.

Aaron Berghorst and Preston Vanden Bosch, both of Steen, ride their snowmobiles in the Steen City Park Monday. Hills-Beaver Creek Schools had no school because of the President’s Day holiday. The boys, happy to see the significant snow accumulation Friday, said they rode their sleds all weekend.

Photo by Jolene Farley

John Hanson trims the trees in the Steen City Park on Monday. He’s the owner of Hanson Design and Construction, Steen, a landscape construction and arboriculture service. Hanson said it is best to trim trees before they bud, while they are dormant, so he checks all the trees in the park during the winter and completes any needed work before the first part of April.

Photo by Jolene Farley

I wish I felt I could say something meaningful about the state budget situation.

Most people and agencies and entities I deal with are worried about cuts at the state level. (The rest of the economy isn’t in a great spot, either.)

To avoid that feeling of hopelessness, it’s probably best to keep as active as possible — on the local level where voices aren’t lost in a sea of similar tones.

Our local elected and appointed people always respect input from the public and seem to truly consider it when making final decisions.

Some things to think about locally are:

oSelling the Luverne Economic Development Authority apartments, the Mounds View and Evergreen units. The city built them at a time when private investors weren’t able to. Now, it’s feasible to be privately owned. Attend the public hearing to review the proposal at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25.

oThe hospital issue. Should the city and county be involved, or to what extent with Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System in its possible new hospital project? Sioux Valley has said any construction plans hinge on having the current campus off its hands. There are non-public meetings going on with the hospital and elected boards in non-quorum numbers. Usually that just means that some details are worked out before a true and final decision is made. Maybe they’d appreciate your opinion on the hospital (and possible ownership of a vacant old hospital building) now rather than later.

oThe Comprehensive Plan is being reconsidered by the Luverne Planning Commission. Commission members are reviewing the publication and making suggested changes informally.

The Comprehensive Plan outlines zoning ordinances including junk vehicle, signing, yard setback requirements and parking regulations. The plan guides the overall future of city planning, and would include a general opinion on what should happen to property along Highway 75.

The public is invited to review the Comprehensive Plan available at Luverne City Hall and to attend a public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in Council Chambers.

oEmpty buildings. Downtown Luverne has a few open storefronts and the former Continental Western and Exsito buildings are still waiting for new owners. Ideas on possible occupants or how to draw the right one are welcomed at City Hall.

How do you think the state should save money
Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau recently announced a new page on the Minnesota Department of Transportation Web site that allows taxpayers to submit their ideas for reducing expenses and creating greater efficiencies at the agency.

The Lt. Governor, who also serves as the Commissioner of Transportation, wants to get the taxpayers and the department employees involved in the budget-reduction process.

According to Molnau, she plans to review all of the suggestions submitted on the Mn/DOT Web site.

A similar suggestion box has been set up at the Department of Finance to receive ideas on ways to help reduce the state’s budget deficit.

Some of the ideas already submitted include:
Reducing lighting on state highways
Charging tolls on some highways
Closing or selling some rest areas

Do you have a century farm?
The Minnesota State Fair is again looking for candidates for their Century Farm program.

Qualifications for the Century Farm status include:
The farm must be at least 100 years old according to authentic land record
The farm must have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years (continuous residence on the farm is not required)
The farm must be at least 50 acres.

Since 1976, a total of 7,709 farms have been designated Century Farms.

Those qualifying receive a certificate signed by the president of the Minnesota State Fair as well as Gov. Tim Pawlenty, along with an outdoor sign signifying Century Farm recognitions.

If you think you qualify, applications are available by writing Century Farms, Minnesota State Fair, 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul, MN 5108.

Applications are also available at the county extension office or at Minnesota Farm Bureau offices.

Deadline for application is June 1,

Gutknecht opens office in Fairmont
Our new congressman, Gil Gutknecht, is moving a little closer to Rock County.

In addition to his district office in his hometown of Rochester, Gutknecht has now opened a second office in downtown Fairmont.

Gutknecht said, “With offices in Rochester and Fairmont, 95-percent of the people in the first Congressional District will be within and hour’s drive.” Unfortunately, Luverne is in the other 5 percent, at approximately 90 miles from Fairmont.

If you would like to Contact the Congressman’s Rochester office by phone, that number is 507-252-9841.

Girl Scouts had a good cookie year
America continues to have a love affair with Girl Scout cookies.

Since 1995 sales of the cookies are up more than 28 percent in the Minn-Ia-Kota area.

In 2002, Girl Scouts across America sold more than 217,562,732 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

America’s favorite cookies are Thin Mint, followed by Carmel Delights.

Don’t Forget Prudence
If your Sunday afternoon is open, don’t miss the Prudence Johnson concert at the Palace Theatre this Sunday.

Tickets are only $12 for adults, compared the $22 that people pay in the Twin Cities to see her.

Students and senior citizens are $10.

After the concert, a performing artist reception and CD signing will be held at Carnegie Cultural Center.

While you are there, you can see the wood carving display by the Blue Mound Woodcarves Club.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Carnegie Cultural Center.

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

William “Bill” Cox, 73, Worthington, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington.

Services were Monday, Feb. 17, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington. The Rev. Gerald Kosse officiated. Burial was Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in St. Paul.

William Cox was born to John and Anna (Loonan) Cox on Aug. 27, 1929, in Lismore. He attended St. Adrian’s Catholic School. He served his country during the Korean War from Nov. 15, 1951, and received his honorable discharge on Nov. 4, 1953.

He married Marie Koehne on Dec. 26, 1955, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Lismore. He farmed until 1989. He also was a custodian at the Adrian Elementary School. He retired from the school in 1996 and moved to Worthington in 1999.

Mr. Cox was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the St. Joseph Society. He was interested in all types of sports. As a young person he played baseball, basketball and softball. He loved to travel. He also collected toy trucks and tractors.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Cox, Worthington; seven children and their spouses, Vickie (Joel) Stokka, Kristi (Al) Fikse, all of Walker, Steven (June) Cox, Bill Cox, all of New Prague, Lori (Bruce) Spidel, Worthington, Jeff (Pam) Cox, and Ron (Patricia) Cox, all of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 17 grandchildren, Joy and Elizabeth Stokka, Jaclyn, Matthew, Steven and Patricia Cox, Jason and Chris Spidel, Melissa (Kevin) Geiger, Joann and John Gonzales, Lissann Cox, Amber, Stephanie, Samantha and Dustin Cox and Nicole Fikse; one great-grandchild, Tatiana Geiger; and two sisters, Lenora Watry, Adrian, and Rose Klein, Springfield, Mo.

Mr. Cox was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, James, Thomas, Robert and Wilfred Cox, one grandchild, Tyler Fikse, and one sister, Betty Steinhoff.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, was in charge of arrangements.