By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth-Edgerton track teams helped form six-team fields at the West Lyon Invitational near Inwood, Iowa, Tuesday.The Patriot boys scored 58 points to place third in the team standings. The H-BC-E-E girls placed fifth with 49 counters. West Lyon won both team titles.H-BC-E-E’s boys recorded four meet championships, and seniors Cody Scholten and Tyler Bush helped claim three of them.Scholten cleared 5-10 to win the high jump, and Bush won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:00. Bush and Scholten also ran with the winning medley relay team, which registered a time of 3:56.7. Casey Van Midden Dorp and Jon Klaassen are other members of the team.H-BC-E-E’s John Sandbulte also won an event title by placing first in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.3.Bush and Derek Haak placed second in individual events. Bush ran the 400-meter dash in 52.5. Haak covered 1,600 meters in 5:10.Senior Cassi Tilstra won an individual event and ran legs with a pair of championship relay teams in Iowa.Tilstra took top honors in the 400 with a time of 1:01.23. She teamed up with Amanda Tilstra, Jocelyn Bucher and Mya Mann to win the 3,200-meter relay in 10:39 and joined efforts with Amanda Tilstra, Mann and Ashley Bucher to win the 1,600-meter relay in 4:23.Mann placed second in the 800 with a time of 2:41.The sprint-medley relay team of Amanda Connors, Kelly Mulder, Ashley and Jocelyn Bucher placed second in 2:04.5.Here is a look at the rest of H-BC-E-E’s top efforts from the WL Invitational.H-BC-E-E boysThird place: 800 relay (Jan Sommerling, Scholten, Klaassen and Cody Schilling), 1:39.3; 1,600 relay (Sommerling, Haak, Scholten and Sandbulte), 3:53.3.Fourth place: Sommerling, 200, 23.56; 400 relay (Kenny Gardner, Roger DeBoer, Klaassen and Van Midden Dorp), 50.9.Fifth place: Dustin Verhey, 3,200, 11:44; DeBoer, 110 hurdles, 18.31.Sixth place: Tyler Paulson, 1,600, 5:19.H-BC-E girlsThird place: Amanda DeBoer, 3,000, 13:08; distance-medley relay (Brittany Helgeson, Rosie Lewis, Connors and A.Bucher), 4:56.6.Fourth place: 800 relay (Lewis, J.Bucher, Connors and Mulder), 1:59.9; 400 relay (Kari Roozenboom, Lewis, Helgeson and Mulder), 57.6.Fifth place: Lewis, discus, 89-10.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth golf team couldn’t break into the win column when it traveled to Lakefield for a match Thursday.The Patriots were hoping to snap a four-match losing skid to start the season, but Southwest Star Concept kept H-BC-E winless by upending the Patriots 179-190.Tyler Henning led the Quasars to victory by shooting a six-over-par 42 on his home course.Travis Broesder carded a nine-over-par 45 to set the pace for H-BC-E.Tom Scholten and Grant Hoogendoorn added 48-stroke rounds to H-BC-E’s team effort, while Nick Deutsch and Jason Martens shot 49s. Adam Finke turned in a 58 without influencing the scoring.SSC posted a 200-248 win in the B match.Kenny Bittner led the Patriots with a 51. Andrew Scholten shot a 53, Sean Goedtel and Nick DeHaan turned in 72s, while Chaiden Kuehl shot a 76.The 0-5 Patriots host Southwest Christian Tuesday.

By Lexi MooreMore than 50 volunteers gathered in the activity room at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills Friday for lunch and entertainment.The event was planned as a way of thanking volunteers for their hard work and efforts throughout the year."We couldn’t do it without these volunteers," said Lou Kellenburger, Tuff Home Activities Director.Those in attendance ranged in age from nine to 92.Laura Scott, the youngest volunteer, said she enjoys singing and coloring with the residents during her weekly visits. The Scott family volunteers at Tuff Memorial Home every Tuesday morning.Entertainment during the event included the reading of "Caring is Always in Season," by Tuff resident and author Mary Francis.Norbert Peters and Judy Feucht sang "In the Garden" and led the group in singing "Jesus Loves Me" before the start of dinner.Verla Baker played the piano as volunteers dined on chicken, potatoes, homemade bread and lime or butterscotch cake.Volunteers registered for door prizes that included gift certificates to Glen’s Food Center in Luverne and homemade birdhouses.

By Lexi MooreHills-Beaver Creek School Board Member Matt Larson submitted his intent to resign at Monday night’s meeting.Larson’s tenure on the Board will come to an end on June 1. He and his family will be moving to Lake Madison on May 31."I have nothing but the best memories of Hills-Beaver Creek and being a part of the board of education," Larson read from his letter of resignation. "I appreciate the quality of education and the experience that Luke and Haley have had at H-BC."Before accepting his resignation, board members discussed the dedication and commitment Larson had shown during his time on the H-BC board."In his short tenure the locker room was built, an operating levy was passed and he attended countless safety meetings," said Superintendent David Deragisch. "He has been very dedicated. I enjoyed having you on (the board)."H-BC Elementary School Secretary Connie Olson’s resignation was also accepted by the board. Olson’s employment with the school district will end at the close of business on June 30.The board discussed the possibility of rehiring Olson as a half-time employee in the fall.In other school news:üH-BC Elementary officials have changed the doors used for dismissing students.Students who walk or ride their bikes home from school will be dismissed from door No. 1 on the north side of the building. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed from door No. 3 on the south side of the building.The change was made to avoid having non-bused students running between buses during dismissal. "We haven’t had any large problems, we just wanted to take a pro-active approach to avoid future problems," said Todd Holthaus, elementary principal.The new dismissal program was started Wednesday, April 20.üH-BC Elementary received a grant for $500 from Sioux Valley Energy’s Operation Roundup program. The money will be used to augment the summer Book of the Week club. üDeragisch said he was very pleased with the results of the mock accident at H-BC Wednesday, April 20."It is very worthwhile. It is both a good experience and learning tool for our students," Deragisch said. "I don’t think there was a dry eye from the audience during the finale in the lunchroom."He thanked the Roste Funeral Home, Erwin DeBoer and Erwin’s Towing for spending so much of their time and effort on the planning and execution of the accident. He also thanked the workers with the Rock County ambulance and sheriff’s departments.üH-BC seniors participated in their annual community service project on Friday by picking up trash in the Hills area. Students at the elementary school cleaned the ditches in Beaver Creek. The projects corresponded with Earth Day.üThe Board spent time discussing various education funding bills currently being authored in committees in the Minnesota House and Senate.Several of the bills, if passed, would mark a change in education funding in Minnesota. State officials have frozen education finances during the past three legislative sessions.Gary Esselink, H-BC’s legislative reporter, said the information coming out of the Capitol is positive."It seems there is a good realization by both houses that they can’t keep freezing funds."Upcoming dates:May is the busiest month of the school year and the school calendar is filled with important upcoming dates. Board members highlighted several during their meeting.üFifth-grade students will graduate from DARE at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, April 29, in the elementary gymnasium. üH-BC Elementary Media Center is sponsoring a book fair from May 4 through May 11.üHigh school music concert is on May 5 and the elementary concert is on May 10, both beginning at 7 p.m.üAnnual pancake supper will be Wednesday, May 11. This year there will be a pancake eating contest. All proceeds go to the H-BC-E-E track teams.üThe Rock County Intergenerational Bee’s first round is Thursday, May 12, at the Tuff Home and Village and the final round will be on Thursday, May 19, at the Luverne Senior Center.üBaccalaureate will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22.üGraduation will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27.

This week is National TV Turn-Off Week and if you don’t have kids in school, I bet you didn’t even know it. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Most of us in America are too busy putting away our Easter decorations or planning how to celebrate National BBQ month to be bothered with any holidays in between.A friend of mine, who happens to be a college professor, is one of the seven million people who participate in this anti-television event every spring. The only plus in not living on the same street as him was that I wasn’t going to have to hear about his holiday ever again.Not true.Apparently, even in the Midwest folks have heard of this absurd celebration. In fact, the officials who put together the Hills-Beaver Creek School newsletter went so far as to include the dates of the event in April’s issue.Unfortunately, as you may have gathered from reading my earlier columns, I am a TV addict. I am part of the 283 million Americans who feel they can’t take a week without their friends on the boob tube.In order to write this column, I set out to find the roots of this holiday. Just why do people feel humans need to not watch their televisions for one week in the spring? Especially since this week usually corresponds with the start of May sweeps, the NBA Playoffs, a PGA golf championship and turbulent weather forecasts. Here is what I found on the TVturnoff.org Web site.Why turn off the TV? Television cuts into family time, harms our children's ability to read and succeed in school and contributes to unhealthy lifestyles and obesity. Here are just a few of the facts:üOn average, children in the United States will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school (900 hours).üForty percent of Americans frequently or always watch television during dinner.üAs U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the kickoff of TV-Turnoff Week 2001, "We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history ... This week is about saving lives."So I guess this week is about saving the children. Though I hate to admit it, a story from my childhood backs up what the anti-television folks are saying.When I was in third grade, I watched a lot of television. I was addicted to the prime time Nick at Night lineup, I loved cartoons, I watched sports and the good people at Nickelodeon could entertain me for hours. My relationship with the television schedule was more important than anything else in my life.Unfortunately at the time, I wasn’t a stellar student in school. I didn’t read well, I couldn’t spell and I had little interest in learning.One Sunday morning my father showed me a news article about a boy who had bet his parents $500 he wouldn’t watch TV for a month.I loved the idea and proceeded to make a similar bet with my parents. Except I upped the ante, saying I could go a full year.So, for one year I took a break from television. I started reading newspapers and books, joined a softball team, took swimming lessons, was in two plays and suddenly was volunteering for science projects.The bet changed my relationship with television. I had kicked the habit.When reality television entered my life, I quickly became addicted again. Now, I have to watch my shows on Tuesday and Thursday nights.But I do encourage kids out there to give it a try. The world is a wonderful place to explore. Sometimes you just have to get up off the couch and discover it.Comments or story ideas can be emailed to lexim@star-herald.com.

10 years ago (1995)"On May 10, the Tuff Memorial Home Board of Directors will meet with architects to review plans or expansion to the home and the construction of six new apartments." 25 years ago (1980)"The Hills-Beaver Creek Patriot boys track team brought home a first place team finish from the Hesla Relays in Hull, Iowa, this week.The Pates came up with six first place finishes, four second places, three thirds, five fourths and four fifth place finishes on their way to the team victory."50 years ago (1955)"A special meeting of the Village Council was called Monday evening, on the docket, the matter of accepting the resignation of Ray Nelson as Village Clerk and appointing F.A. Nuffer to succeed him." 75 years ago (1930)"E.A. Meester, manager of the Farmers-Merchants Oil Co., of Ellsworth, and Frank J. Sell, candidate for state senator, of Adrian, were Hills callers last Monday afternoon. Mr. Sell is a very pleasant man to meet, and no doubt it will be a real race, as both of his opponents, our J.N. Jacobson and Rev. Lund, of Luverne, are going to do their level best to get on the ticket. All three are well liked and all we can say is — may the best man win." 100 years ago (1905)"The Beaver Creek Banner passed its second mile post of existence last week and its week starts out on Vol. 3 No. 1. The Banner from its very inception has been a bright newspaper, well edited and neatly printed. It has been ready to advance the interest of its town and businessmen and if Beaver Creek is not leading the procession of the smaller towns, it is through no fault of the Banner."

Ray and Lois Nelson spent last Tuesday in Freemont, Neb., and Wednesday in North Bend, Neb., visiting an Army friend and wife, Frank and Pat Minarick. Ray and Frank are two of the last four of the former 10 Army couples who used to have an annual reunion in different areas of the United States. Dean and Peggy Goettsch, Tony and Annette, spent the weekend with her mother, Helen Schoen, at Albert Lea. Together with Peggy’s brother and family and her sister and husband and family the group celebrated their Easter holiday.Jeff and Missy Bass and boys attended the 90th birthday celebration Saturday for his grandmother, Faye Bass, at Prairie Crossing in Sioux Falls. Jean Hanson, Sioux Falls, S.D., was a Sunday dinner guest at the Ray Nelson home. She then visited with friends at Tuff Village and Tuff Home. Roger and Ruth Jackson motored to Detroit Lakes last week to attend funeral services for the wife of Roger’s first cousin when they had a visit with many relatives. They went on to Bemidji to visit friends, to Park Rapids and also to Menahga, where they visited Kim Rasmussen who formerly lived in the Hills area.Lois and Ray Nelson had Tuesday lunch in Hawarden, Iowa, and visited the remodeled library, as Lois’s great aunt was a former librarian there for many years. They also looked up her aunt’s home that was recently remodeled. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the Hospice charity dinner and auction Friday evening in Luverne. Sheldon, Ellie and Fran Sandager went to Marine on the St. Croix last Wednesday and were guests in the home of Lee and Betty Sandager. Thursday they attended funeral services for Arnold Sandager at Stillwater and they returned home Friday. Friday Michelle Nester came from Winona to spend until Saturday in the home of her mother, Joanne Goehle. They, together with Brenda Hadler and Leann Carmany, attended the Hospice charity dinner and auction in Luverne Friday night. Harriet Skattum attended a bridal shower Saturday for her granddaughter, Gretchen Edwards, at the First Lutheran Church in Forestburg, S.D.Hills American Legion Auxiliary #399 recently received a letter of thanks for their cash gift of $25 in support for the Flag Pole Fund located at the new Luverne Community Hospital and Clinic. Look for our name on the displayed plaque!Wendell and Kathryn Erickson attended the Green Earth Players performance of "Arsenic and Old Lace" Saturday in Luverne. Sunday dinner guests of Fran Sandager at Tuff Village were Charlie and Dawn Sandager and family.

Our weather has had a few bad setbacks recently. However, we have escaped all of the severe storms that have been forecast for this area. Traffic has really slowed down going by my house of late. I am not sure if it is because the farmers are able to get into their fields or if the high cost of gasoline has something to do with it. However, spring is in the air. The wind doesn’t seem to be as brisk as it has been and the grass needs mowing. There are little purple violets smiling up at me in the midst of it all and my tulips are blooming. The wind has lost its cold sharp edge and it gives you a soft caress. I do believe spring is here and I like it, I love it, and I want some more of it!Several ladies from Steen attended the Christian Women’s Club meeting at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday afternoon. There was a noon luncheon followed by a program. Those attending were Lucy Van Wyhe, Winnie Scholten, Joan Hoogeveen and Henrietta Huenink. The Southwest Crisis Center will have their 9th annual Women’s Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 3, at United Methodist Church in Luverne. The Steen Opportunity Extension Club enjoyed their annual tour on Tuesday, April 19. The tour took them first to Sioux Falls where they rode the trolley to Falls Landing for lunch at the new restaurant. After lunch they enjoyed some shopping before leaving for Luverne where they went to see Betty Mann’s collection of more than 3,000 glass and ceramic shoes and her nutcracker collection before returning home.Orrin and Bernice Aukes visited Lisa Telford at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls Sunday afternoon. She had undergone back surgery and will be hospitalized for some time. There was a dinner for volunteers at Tuff Home in Hills Friday noon. Those attending from Steen were Bill and Bertha Bosch, Mildred Keunen, Jo Aykens, Milton Bonnema and Malena Boeve. Former Steen residents, Lillian Ausen and Vera Rozeboom, were here Wednesday to visit their brother, Orrin Aukes, and sister, Verla Baker, who joined them at Luverne Pizza Ranch for lunch. Congratulations to Hills-Beaver Creek boys basketball team for winning the Section 3 championship.The Women’s Ecumenical breakfast will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Fist Presbyterian Church in Luverne for a morning of Christian fellowship. Congratulations to the Hills-Beaver Creek coach, Steve Wiertzema, for being named Section 3 basketball coach of the year!In our fast-moving world of today there are so many reasons we must learn to think for ourselves.You Set Your Own ValueMan can make of himself pretty nearly what he wants to be. Though he be handicapped by poverty, and though he be deprived of friends and others who might assist him, if he has the will to do, he can attain the end toward which he sets out. At any rate, he won’t miss it far. And by reaching for the height, even though he cannot quite touch it, man improves his standards. Every man stamps his value on himself. He is the mint through which the coinage of his personal powers passes into circulation. It is seldom that others offer a higher price than he himself names. In short, man is made great or little by his own will. Doctors know that drugs do not heal. They do not give medicine because it cures, but because in some cryptic way it assists nature to affect a cure. The healing power and the growing power are within one’s self. The growing power of an individual is like the growth of a tree — it all comes from within; men grow from the inside out. The impetus, the desire to do, the push that goads one to greater and still greater effort, all come from the individual’s self. It cures, it achieves, it makes men.

Taking a cue from an increasing number of U.S. companies, many families are now outsourcing their parental responsibilities. However, rather than shipping off their children to be raised in third world countries, they are hiring coaches to come into their homes and teach their children everything from table manners to baseball pitching skills. A columnist in The Wall Street Journal recently reported that children specialists can "assist with everything from potty-training your toddler to getting your teenage daughter to agree to a passably modest prom dress." This should be wonderful news for any parent reluctant to send a daughter off into the night looking like a streetwalker. Parents who are too busy with their careers can now hire someone to teach kids to ride bikes for $60 an hour or someone else to calm down a fussy baby. Toilet training sessions begin at $185 an hour and — this is no joke — a parent coach can teach any parent how to say "no" for about $75 an hour. Outsourcing childcare can be a win-win situation. If the kids don’t turn out to be socially acceptable when they’re older, the so-called experts can always be blamed. We would have parenthood without the guilt. We would never have to ask ourselves, "Where did we go wrong?" or "Do you think this behavior could come from your side of the family?" Critics of outsourcing might wonder what will be left for parents to do with their children. With most of the parenting responsibilities delegated to paid experts, there would be little more than dressing the children and showing them off to visitors. Proponents of the plan might argue that outsourcing is not enough for truly busy parents. Why should they waste valuable time, much better spent at work, performing the mundane, often unappreciated tasks required of parents? Those tasks might be alleviated with a service offering "Rent a Kid." "Rent a Kid" would eliminate the need for maternity leaves from work and even childbirth itself. However, if a working couple should feel compelled for some strange reason to take a kid to a movie, a simple phone call to "Rent a Kid" would provide the perfect solution. After reciting a credit card number, the temporary parents would only have to specify gender, age and event-appropriate clothing. The agency might also have to know the location of the movie theater for drop-off and pick-up purposes. "Rent a Kid" services would eliminate the need to hire and feed babysitters. There would be no costly education expenses and no bills from pediatricians or orthodontists. Paying for baby teeth left under pillows and lighting increasing numbers of candles on birthday cakes would be the concerns of unfortunate parents unable to rent their own children. It will no longer be necessary to stop doing the important work you brought home from the office in order to kiss a child’s bruise, cut or scrape and make it better. You won’t find tell-tale spit-up marks on the shoulders of your power suits at work. You will never have to read the cooking directions on a box of macaroni and cheese and you won’t have to pretend to be excited about bouquets of dandelions in the spring. Your house will be cleaner and your schedule more organized than anyone else’s. All a working person really needs to project an occasional parental image is a "Rent a Kid" for use as a social prop or "‘show and tell" every once in a while.