By John Rittenhouse
Summer vacation has been anything but relaxing for one Hills-Beaver Creek High School junior-to-be.

Instead of kicking back on the beach or hanging out with friends on long summer days, Steen’s Erin Boeve spent most of her time honing her skills as a volleyball and basketball player.

Her hard work was put to a test during a two-week span in late June and early July when she traveled to Utah and Arkansas to take part different competitions involving both sports.

"It’s been a pretty busy summer," Boeve said from her home Saturday morning. "It was for the better."

Actually, the volleyball part of Boeve's preparation has been on her schedule since late winter.

She earned a roster spot on a Junior Olympic team out of Marshall in February and spent a good part of March and April traveling to Marshall or Minneota three days a week for practice.

Boeve was tested when the volleyball commitment overlapped with a track season that ended with her winning a section long jump title and advancing to the state.

Juggling volleyball practices along with track workouts and meets were tough, but Boeve seemed to adapt to a demanding schedule without having to sacrifice her overall performance in track.

"It was tough there for a while. There were some days when I went from track practice after school to volleyball practice at night. I would get home around 11:30 at night, do my homework, and get up and go to school the next day," she said.

The success Boeve's volleyball team experienced ended up making the long spring days bearable.

In March the Marshall Area team placed second in a tournament to put it in the top-four to advance to a national qualifying event. When the team won the national-qualifier in the Twin Cities in April, Boeve and her teammates earned a trip to the Junior Olympic Nationals in Salt Lake City, Utah, in late June.

The Marshall team was one of 64 squads that competed in Salt Lake City. Almost all 50 states were represented at the Junior Olympic Nationals. The event also attracted some international teams.

Boeve’s squad matched up pretty well with the competition during the four-day, three-match-a-day attraction. In the end, the Marshall Area team placed 13th out of 64 teams.

Boeve returned home on July 4, and she barely had time to catch her breath before leaving for Jonesboro, Ark., with seven of her schoolmates for a Team Basketball Camp two days later.

Unlike the volleyball team, for which Boeve was the lone H-BC representative, the basketball team was made up of friends and schoolmates.

Jody Rentschler, Sarah and Brittney Rozeboom, Amanda Olson, Cassi Tilstra, Melinda Feucht and Kelly Mulder joined Boeve and H-BC coach Tom Goehle in Jonesboro for a four-day event that ran from July 7-10.

The H-BC team played two games during the first and last days of the camp, and four games on Days 2 and 3. The Patriots compiled a 3-9 record overall.

"We won three of 12 games, but all of the games were decided by four to six points," Boeve pointed out.

After returning home late last week, Boeve was ready to set out on a less demanding adventure with her family.

"We're going to Clear Lake, Iowa, for a week today," Boeve said Saturday. "We'll do some fishing, riding jet skies and some other things. I'm looking for a little relaxation."

She better rest up in a hurry. H-BC volleyball practice is set to begin Aug. 12, which is less than one month away.

Erwin Bonestroo, rural Steen, cuts a rough log on his sawmill. Bonestroo began his business FBT Sawmill and Lumber three months ago. A former livestock barn houses the mill and equipment.

By Jolene Farley
Erwin Bonestroo said he formed the idea for his business, FBT Sawmill and Lumber, when he tried to figure out what to do with a log that was given to him and how to cut it up.

"When I got that log I started looking into it," he said. Bonestroo, rural Steen, thought for a few months.

"The next thing you know, I found a one-year-old Wood Mizer (a sawmill)."

That purchase three months ago was the beginning of Bonestroo's business.

"It's been going good, but to say you're making a ton of money, that's not possible yet," he said.

Bonestroo and his brother, Doug, of Hull, Iowa, attended a training session on how to use the sawmill in March. The manufacturer of the Wood Mizer offered the training in Indianapolis, Ind.

If a customer needs a special cut of lumber, such as a 2-by-4 board that actually measures 2-by-4 instead of the 1 3/4-inch by 3 3/4-inch lumber that passes for a 2-by-4 in most lumber yards, Bonestroo can oblige.

Trees that are cut down can be cut into lumber to make furniture or cabinets, according to Bonestroo.

"They can bring a favorite tree along, and I can cut it up into boards to whatever dimensions they want," he said.

Although the wood must be dried before it can be used, many craftsmen are willing to wait for quality wood.

Bonestroo hopes to eventually invest in a kiln to cut drying time for the wood down from more than a year to about six weeks.

The wood and by-products produced by the mill have numerous uses.

Larger scraps from milling the trees are sold as firewood for woodburners. Smaller scraps are sold as firewood for campfires.

Bonestroo also cuts lumber for a customer who makes pallets.

Most of Bonestroo's customers are currently from Sioux County in Iowa. He knows it will take time to build his business and he has some ideas on how to proceed.

"I want to custom cut logs for customers and start building some things for myself," he said.

"One of my other goals would be to start making grade wood," he said. "Right now I just have rough cut green lumber."

Bonestroo said he typically accepts trees if anyone wants to get rid of them and will sometimes pay a modest fee, depending on the quality of the lumber.

Bonestroo is planning an open house for FBT Sawmill and Lumber later this year. He has invited a woodcarver who makes sculptures out of logs.

He can be reached at 855-2385 or on his cell phone 920-9933.

Lindsy and Lee Sells, Beaver Creek, earned many ribbons through the years entering projects in the Rock County Fair. The books on the table contain detailed records on their entries.

By Jolene Farley
Teen-agers Lindsy and Lee Sells, Beaver Creek, have nothing but good things to say about their experiences in the Beaver Creek Willing Workers 4-H Club.

The Minnesota House of Representatives agrees with the Sells on the value of 4-H clubs in Minnesota and recently passed a resolution marking the 100-year anniversary of 4-H clubs in the state.

At the beginning of the 20th century, 4-H clubs provided practical education in agriculture, manual arts and homemaking. 4-H continues to offer youth between the ages of 5 and 19 years old an education, or "learning by doing."

In 1902, T.A. Erickson began the first school fair in Minnesota for students. Boys exhibited crops and girls exhibited baking and sewing items.

The phrase "4-H Club" was first used in 1918. By the late 1900s, 6.4-million youths were involved in 4-H nationwide, including one out of four young people in Minnesota.

For Lindsy and Lee, joining a 4-H club was a family tradition. Members of Spencer's family were actively involved in Rock County 4-H. The Sells family has a scrapbook from the 1940s, filled with news clippings and ribbons made by Spencer's sister, Gwendolyn Sells.

Lindsy, 17, has been a member of the Willing Workers since she was in the third grade.

The Sells live north of Beaver Creek. Spencer and Pam Sells, Lindsy and Lee's parents, grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa and raise cattle and hogs.

Lindsy said she enjoys the leadership skills 4-H helps cultivate. She also likes the friendly competition and fellowship among competitors at the fair.

"É the people during the fair when everyone's together É just joking around. Being able to work together. Striving to do a better job, to beat other people," she said.

After Lindsy leaves to attend college, she wants to continue entering projects in the fair.

"I'd still like to come back for even one project because it's fun," she said. "You get to see everyone again."

Lee Sells, 16, plans to enter his swine and beef in the Rock County Fair this year. Other projects he has completed for the fair include a dart board frame and a barstool.

Lee works as a youth counselor at the 4-H camp on Lake Shetek and has held various officer positions in the Rock County Federation and the Willing Workers club.

The Willing Workers Club, the second oldest club in Rock County, has 28 members from 16 different families, according to club leader Jill Willers.

The club meets every third Monday at the Beaver Creek Community Hall. Meetings are usually started with project demonstrations. A favorite demonstration for club members this year was a lesson on flag etiquette.

The Willing Workers Club has completed many community pride projects such as planting planters in Beaver Creek, participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program and planting the Hospice garden in Luverne.

Traditional club projects fall in the areas of food, creative arts, photography or livestock projects such as dairy, goats, pets, swine, rabbits, poultry and horse.

Many county, cluster, state and national activities are also available for 4-Hers, according Willers. Throughout the years, Willing Workers Club members were involved in just about every activity available to a 4-Her.

"As a 4-H leader for seven years, it has been exciting to see how much fun some of the members have had and how their experience has helped them grow from children to young adults," said Willers.

Karic Wiertzema and Travis Helgeson fish in the culvert by Wiertzema's house Monday. The fish weren't biting very well, according to Wiertzema.

Photo by Jolene Farley

Some of my closest friends are people I haven't even met. They live in an imaginary land, and I know all the details of their lives.

No, I'm not crazy. I'm just a typical soap opera fan, specifically of "The Young and the Restless."

I get a little embarrassed talking about taping five episodes a week, but at least I can fast-forward through the commercials.

If I am going to admit to being a fan of any soap opera, I'm least embarrassed to say it's "The Young and the Restless." I consider it the classiest of the soaps.

It doesn't have back-from-the-dead plot lines or characters possessed by the devil or mystical powers. You won't find aliens landing on my soap opera. Y&R (as we pros call it) is simply about rich, dysfunctional people living their lives in Genoa City, Wis.

There are no truly evil characters or pure heroes. Characters have depth and complexities rarely seen on daytime TV...and I know because I used to watch the entire CBS line-up.

I don't even mind that the show is still called "The Young and the Restless," even though most characters are old and well rested.

Still, it's a soap opera. Things aren't that close to reality. While watching Y&R with my husband, weÕve developed terms like "soap stare" and "young logic" that describe certain typical soap opera conduct.

"Soap logic" refers to instances when characters do whatever isn't reasonable. It's when they keep the wrong things secret or talk loudly about private issues in popular, crowded restaurants.

The "soap stare" term refers to the vacant look actors leave on their faces when it's time for the scene to break. They leave questions unanswered and sentences unfinished to build tension. Many times, dialogue will go from Monday to Friday with numerous "stares" before a conversation is completed.

It's not all mockery though. Trivial as it may sound, I've learned many lessons from "The Young and the Restless":

Don't become sexually involved with spouseÕs family members or close friends
Don't listen in on phone conversations because the listener usually draws the wrong conclusions
Don't send children off to boarding school, because it ages them at least 10 years in one season
Don't divorce and remarry the same person more than twice
Don't drift off into vivid flashbacks while in conversation with someone. It's embarrassing answering the question, "Where were you just now?"

Even if I don't learn that much from watching "The Young and the Restless," at least I have a stable group of characters to watch. I know that if Katherine Chancellor and Victor Newman can still fit the mold, I can always be close to living young and a little restless.

Farmers Market starts today
The 2002 Farmers Market begins today and will be open from 5 to7 p.m. every Thursday.

This year, the market will be in the parking lot south of Jubilee Foods, Luverne.

If you have any questions, contact Kim Vander Poel at (507) 669-6604 or April Hubbling at (507) 348-9805.

DAC to hold open house, show off renovation
The Rock County DAC's renovation project is almost completed, and they want to show it off.

An open house has been set for next Sunday, July 21, from noon to 3 p.m.

The primary improvements to the facility include:
Accessible bathrooms
Correction of various code violations
A new larger accessible meeting room
New medication room/office
New porch
2nd legal exit
disability changing room
new laundry room
A new and much improved exterior appearance

The new laundry room is now being used as a new work site where they do commercial laundry for local businesses.

Gutknecht and Andreasen file for Congress
As was expected, the two endorsed candidates for the Democrat and Republican Parties have filed for 1st District for the United States Congress.

Republican Gil Gutknecht, the incumbent, was first elected to congress in 1994.

Steve Andreasen will be Gutknecht challenger in the 1st District.

Andreasen, a Rochester resident, was a national security official in the Clinton, Bush Sr., and Reagan administrations.

Andreasen currently works as a national security consultant and is writing a book on nuclear weapons, arms control and missile defense policy.

McLeod becomes PrairieWave Communications, Inc.
McLeod USA, who purchased DTG, a few years ago has decided to sell off its local and long distance telephone operations and cable TV operations in South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa to PrairieWave Communications Inc.

According to a letter sent out to their customers, the change in ownership is expected to take place in late August or early September, 2002.

Neither the phone services or cable service are expected to be affected by the switch in ownership.

The PrairieWave name and logo is expected to start to appear on all company correspondence, informational materials, vehicles, advertising, and your monthly statements.

Ever wonder what those words mean?
When someone's condition is reported on TV or in the newspaper, do you ever wonder what that means?

New guidelines recently set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has determined five one-word condition reports are to be used in the future.

Undetermined Ð the patient is awaiting physician assessment.
Good Ð vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
Fair Ð Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
Serious Ð Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.
Critical Ð Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.

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

Martha Richter, age 77 of Ellsworth, MN, died Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth. Arrangements are pending with the Dingmann Funeral Home in Adrian.

Henry C. Mulder, 76, Rock Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, July 12, 2002, at his home in Rock Rapids, Iowa, from a long battle with cancer.

Services were Tuesday, July 16, at First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids. The Rev. Dan Haggar officiated. Burial was in Sioux Center Community Cemetery in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Henry Mulder was born to Charlie D. and Maggie (Toering) Mulder on Oct. 17, 1925, in Lebanon, Iowa.

He grew up on the family farm near Alton, Iowa, and worked for seven years on a neighbor's farm.

He married Garlene De Boom on Dec. 12, 1947, in Sioux Center. They lived in Sioux Center where he worked for another farmer for six years until they began farming on their own.

In 1956, they moved to a farm near Rock Rapids where they continued to farm. He retired and moved to Rock Rapids in 1988.

Mr. Mulder was an active member of First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids where he served as deacon and elder. He also served on the Farm Bureau, Allison Township and ASCS boards, as well as being a Crow's Seed Corn dealer for 35 years.

Survivors include his wife, Garlene Mulder, Rock Rapids; two daughters and four sons and their spouses; Cheryl (Le Roy) Hackrott, Sioux Falls, S.D., Duane (Helen) Mulder, Sioux Center; Dennis (Holly) Mulder, Steen, James Mulder, St. Joseph, Mo., Linda (John) Meyer, Sewartville; Gary (Robyn) Mulder, Holland, Mich.; 19 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Tillie Vanden Brink, Sioux Center, and two brothers, Harry Mulder, Sioux Center, and Charles Mulder, Ireton, Iowa.

Mr. Mulder was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Robert Dean, one brother, Dick C. Mulder and one sister Siena Mulder.

Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, was in charge of arrangements.

Herbert "Hobie" Wieneke, 83, Adrian, died Thursday, June 13, 2002 at his home.

Services were held on Saturday, June 15, at St. Adrian Catholic Church in Adrian. Father Gerald Kosse & Father Frank Klein officiated. Burial was at St. Anthony Cemetery, in Lismore.

Herbert was born January 2, 1919, in Lismore, to Herman and Josephine (Geistkemper) Wieneke. Herb attended country school in Lismore Township; and St. Anthony Catholic School. He then attended technical school in Chicago, where he learned small engine repair, a trade he still enjoyed up until his death.
Herb married Frances Klein on April 23, 1946, in Adrian. After their marriage, the couple farmed in Lismore Township. In 1979, they retired and moved to Adrian.

He was a former member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Lismore; a current member of St. Adrian Catholic Church, in Adrian; and the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Herb is survived by his wife, Frances Wieneke, Adrian; six children and their spouses, Emily & Ron Goebel, Luverne; Kathy & Mike Sangwin, Laurens, IA; Eileen & Gary Henning, Adrian; Stan Wieneke, Adrian; Verna & Paul Taylor, Wilbur, WA; and Rita & Duane Boltjes, Adrian; sixteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren; brother, Vincent (Marge) Wieneke, Lismore; and two sisters, Rosalia Haffield, Worthington; and Mary Ann (Cletus) Spieker, rural Lismore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, LeRoy, in 1976; six brothers, Ed, Clarence, Bernard, Alfred, Donald, & Cletus; and two sisters, Bernice Cook & Alma Madison.

Lynch Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.