By Lexi MooreThe Beaver Creek Sportsman's Club had eight members when it was founded in 1990. Currently the non-profit club has 35 members interested in doing their part for wildlife conservation.The club membership application outlines the primary purposes of the club. First, they hope to educate the public with respect to fishing and hunting. The group focuses on preservation of wildlife habitats and fishing and hunting ethics. Secondly, they contribute to local organizations through donations. The final purpose outlined is to promote fishing and hunting to young people.Club President Arlyn Gehrke describes the club as a "group of people working with the community on outdoor projects especially geared toward younger people."Gehrke encourages more residents to get involved with the organization. Membership dues are $10 annually. Membership applications are available on the club’s Web site, www.bcsportsman.net.The group meets once a month and sponsors several annual events including a walleye tournament. The events help the BCSC raise money to support local projects. This year’s projects include making the Rez Park in Hills handicap-accessible.The group plans to blacktop around the point and install a dock that can be used for fishing. Gehrke also hopes to correct the algae problems in the Rez.The club offers an annual scholarship to a Hills-Beaver Creek student pursuing a degree in natural resources or a related field.This weekend the BCSC will host its 15th annual Wild Game Feed at the Beaver Bar in Beaver Creek.Members serve up different types of wild game, from fish and pheasant to deer and duck."This event just gets bigger and bigger every year. We have a great turnout and lots of fun," Gehrke said.There will be a raffle at 6 p.m. for a Remington 870 Shotgun and $200 in cash and prizes. Tickets for the raffle are available anytime before or during the feed. They can be purchased by contacting a BCSC member. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win.In addition to the food and raffle, the club has put together minnow races and card and dice games to keep eaters entertained. Minnow racing was such a success at last year’s wild game feed that members wanted to include it again this year.For additional information about the Beaver Creek Sportsman’s Club or about the wild game feed call Gehrke at 673-2430 or club Vice President Carl Gehrke at 673-2363.

By Lexi MooreNational Future Farmers of America Week began on Feb. 19 and will continue through Feb. 26. FFA members at Hills-Beaver Creek have planned a busy week for students in the district.FFA was founded in 1928. The goal of Future Farmers of America was to bring together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education.Since 1928, millions of agriculture students have donned the official FFA jacket and championed the FFA creed. Today the National FFA Organization remains "committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education."The 2004-05 school year will host 476,732 FFA members, ages 12-21 in 7,223 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.The H-BC chapter has forty-four students. Twelve of the 44 members are women, which is slightly less than the national average.Females make up 38 percent of the national average, but only 27 percent of the H-BC membership.Although FFA strives to teach students about agribusiness, most student members tend to live in urban and suburban areas.H-BC FFA advisor Greg DeWandel put together a schedule for FFA week that includes activities at the elementary school and the high school.High school students will participate in a variety of activities intended to get the student body more aware of the FFA organization. H-BC FFA members put together several contests for elementary students last week.Students in grades K-3 will participate in a coloring contest while students in grades 4-6 will respond to essay questions about agriculture.

By Lori EhdeThe 18-year-old woman accused of hijacking a bus last week north of Luverne will face a later court appearance while her mental health is evaluated.Jewel Anna Stands, Utica, Pa., may face felony assault charges for injuring a bus driver and two passengers with a knife Thursday afternoon, Feb. 17.She was scheduled for her first appearance in Rock County District Court Tuesday, but that hearing was canceled.Rock County Deputies and State Troopers were first alerted of the hijacking at about 3 p.m. Thursday when dispatchers received a call from a passenger.The Jefferson Lines bus was on a southbound trip from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls when Stands reportedly began acting strangely before the Pipestone stop.Shortly thereafter, she allegedly threatened the bus driver, 34-year-old Ron Peterson, Maple Grove, with an exotic, four-bladed knife. Passengers said she was demanding the driver take her to her grandmother’s house.Several squad cars caught up with the bus just north of Luverne, but the bus continued south through town at about 50 to 60 mph, with officers in front and behind.Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels said the bus came through town just minutes before school dismissal, so he took extra precautions at intersections."That’s why we wanted an escort ahead of the vehicle, and we positioned officers at the main intersections for traffic control," Winkels said.Using stop sticks to deflate the tires, authorities stopped the bus west of Beaver Creek on Interstate 90 near the South Dakota border.By this time, two passengers and the bus driver had been injured trying to subdue Stands.They were taken to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls with lacerations, and Stands was treated in Luverne Community Hospital before being booked in the Nobles County Jail.A passenger noticed that Stands’ forearms were covered with cuts that appeared to be self-inflicted, but Winkels said the cause of the new and old injuries couldn’t be determined for sure.Criminal charges are on hold while Stands is held in a Sioux Falls mental health facility.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek boys finished their second undefeated Red Rock Conference campaign in the last three years after rolling to a 78-49 win in Adrian Friday.The Patriots were expecting a tough game from the Dragons, but H-BC outscored the hosts in every quarter on the way to a 29-point win.The victory upped H-BC’s RRC record 16-0. Adrian slipped to 8-7 in the loop.H-BC’s Kale Wiertzema scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half when the Patriots opened 18-13 and 36-22 leads at the quarter breaks.Zach Wysong nailed four three-point shots and scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half, helping H-BC outscore the Dragons 42-27 to win by 29.Wiertzema charted 10 rebounds, seven steals and seven assists for the winners. Tyler Bush added 17 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and five steals to the winning cause.Adrian’s Brad Brake led all players with 24 points. Lee Stover netted 10 points for the Dragons. Casey Knips pulled down eight rebounds.Box scoreH-BCDeBoer 1 0 0-0 2, Wysong 5 4 0-0 22, Bush 6 0 5-6 17, Sandbulte 0 1 0-0 3, Wiertzema 5 1 5-5 18, Baker 3 0 0-0 6, Haak 0 0 0-0 0, Broesder 2 0 0-0 4, Hup 0 0 0-0 0, LeBoutillier 3 0 0-0 6, Martens 0 0 0-0 0, Rozeboom 0 0 0-0 0.AdrianSwayze 0 0 2-2 2, Lonneman 0 0 2-4 2, Klaassen 0 0 0-0 0, Haken 0 0 0-0 0, Tjepkes 0 1 0-0 3, Block 1 0 2-4 4, Weidert 0 0 0-0 0, Engelkes 0 0 0-0 0, Stover 1 2 2-4 10, Brake 11 0 2-2 24, Knips 2 0 0-1 4.Team statisticsH-BC: 31 of 56 field goals (55 percent), 10 of 11 free throws (91 percent), 33 rebounds, 10 turnovers.Adrian: 18 of 51 field goals (35 percent), 10 of 17 free throws (35 percent), 22 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek girls began their defense of the 2004 South Section 3A Basketball Tournament championship by nipping Ellsworth 43-42 in a quarterfinal-round game played in Luverne Saturday.The fifth-seeded Patriots, who have won six straight games, expected a tight battle from an EHS team that beat H-BC back in November and got one.Ellsworth had two opportunities to set up a potential game-winning shot in the final 13 seconds of the game, but steals by H-BC sophomore guard Kerri Fransman thwarted both chances.The win ups H-BC’s record to 17-8 heading into tonight’s semifinals in Worthington. The Patriots play No. 1 Fulda, a team it has split games with during the regular season, at 6 p.m. Ellsworth’s 14-10 season comes to an end.Saturday’s game between the Panthers and Patriots was tight from beginning to end. H-BC sported the biggest leads of the game (nine and seven points), but EHS managed to battle back into contention during both situations.Ellsworth, which trailed by four points (34-30) entering the fourth quarter, tied the game at 34 when Rosie Lewis converted a field goal with 6:23 left to play. H-BC countered with a 7-0 surge capped by Chelsi Fink’s basket at the 3:32 mark of the quarter to make it a 41-34 game.Ellsworth’s Laurel Drenth, who led all players with 19 points in the contest, trimmed H-BC’s lead to one point (43-42) with a field goal with 48 seconds left. Drenth’s basket set up an exciting finish that resulted in no points being scored.H-BC, which was two of 10 at the charity stripe in the game, missed a bonus free throw with 27.9 seconds remaining. Ellsworth came up with the rebound and moved the ball into H-BC’s side of the court when Fransman came up with a steal before being fouled with 12.4 seconds left to play.Fransman was unable to take advantage of a one-and-one free-throw situation, but she produced another big steal with six seconds left that led to Cassi Tilsra missing a one-and-one opportunity with 2.9 seconds left. Ellsworth got the ball back and called a timeout with 1.9 seconds left, but the Panthers were unable to get off a quality shot before time expired.The game was tied at two in the first quarter when H-BC went on a 13-4 run capped by a three-point shot from Fransman at the 2:16 mark of the period, which gave the Patriots a 15-6 lead. Ellsworth, however, scored the next eight points and trailed 15-14 when Brittney Kramer scored the final two points of the period with two seconds left.Ellsworth overcame a five-point deficit in the second quarter to take its first lead of the game (20-19) when Drenth converted a field goal at 3:11. H-BC regained the lead as the quarter progressed and took a 24-22 edge into the second half when Fransman made one free throw with 6.7 seconds left in the second period.Ellsworth’s Amy Timmer knotted the score at 28 with a pair of free throws at the 4:31 mark of the third quarter. H-BC, however, outscored the Panthers 6-2 the rest of the stanza to take a 34-30 cushion into the fourth quarter.Tilstra led H-BC with 15 points and eight rebounds in the game. Fransman finished with 11 points. Brittney Rozeboom and Stacy Bush added seven rebounds and five assists respectively to the winning cause.Drenth led the Panthers with eight rebounds and five assists. Rachel Kvaale snared six rebounds. Marla Groen distributed four assists.Box scoreH-BCRozeboom 4 0 0-1 8, Fransman 2 2 1-3 11, Bush 0 0 0-0 0, Feucht 0 0 0-0 0, Fink 2 0 0-0 4, Tilstra 6 0 0-1 15, Roozenboom 0 0 0-2 0, Mulder 2 0 1-2 5.EllsworthTiesler 1 0 1-3 3, Connors 0 0 0-0 0, Kvaale 2 0 0-0 4, Lr.Drenth 8 1 0-0 19, Lewis 2 0 0-3 4, Kramer 1 0 0-0 2, Timmer 2 0 2-4 6.Team statisticsH-BC: 19 of 61 field goals (31 percent), two of 10 free throws (20 percent), 33 rebounds, nine turnovers.Ellsworth: 19 of 48 field goals (40 percent), three of 10 free throws (30 percent), 31 rebounds, 16 turnovers.

Dinner guests Sunday in the home of Chuck and Rheta DeBoer were her sister and husband, George and Judy Steen, Sibley, Iowa. In the afternoon relatives and friends of Frank and Berdella DeBoer gathered at Tuff Village to celebrate their 65 years of marriage.Ian Paulsen spent Thursday with his grandparents, Jack and Pat Paulsen. The Paulsens are now living in Rock Rapids, Iowa. A week ago Friday, Wendell and Kathryn Erickson motored to Fargo, N.D., to attend the Sirloin and Saddle Club dinner at the University of North Dakota on Saturday. Kathryn’s cousin was named to the Agriculture Hall of Fame at this time. They visited Kathryn’s brother, Dr. Ernest and Ina Thorsgard, on Sunday and returned home Monday. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe visited Ron, Lexi and Ashley DeWit in Sioux Falls and also visited her brother and sister-in-law, Mervin and Donna Warner at Larchwood, Iowa, Sunday night. Jim Sandager, West Des Moines, Iowa, spent the weekend with his mother, Fran Sandager. Joanne Goehle attended funeral services Thursday, Feb. 17, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne for Hildegarde Goehle. Monday, Colby Hadler spent the day with his grandmother. On Sunday, Tom and Joanne and Katie Hadler and Shari Sunne of Valley Springs, S.D., went to Tyler to attend the high school dinner theatre. Andrew and Alyssa Carmany had parts in the play. Tub Beyenhof, a former Hills resident, underwent an angioplasty in a hospital in the Cities and is getting along OK.

How lucky can we get? The weather forecast for the weekend was for freezing drizzle and snow on Sunday. Sunday morning arrived and there was a very heavy fog. We had had some freezing drizzle during the night and there was a light coating of snow over it that made roads treacherous for those early birds who had to travel at that hour. However, by noon the fog had lifted and the sun came out for a while.That was just what we needed for in that short time the snow and even most of the ice melted. I haven’t heard the forecast for the coming week but whatever happens happens regardless if we were planning on it or not. Just remember to think positive as we are another week closer to spring!The Steen Opportunity Extension Club had their February meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the Henrietta Boeve home. Lunch was served by Bernice Aukes. February is Heart Month. Consequently the lesson for the day was titled "Tips For Your Ticker," which was presented by Winnie Scholten and Cena Mae Tilstra.Word was received here recently that Dries Bosch is a resident of Bethany Meadows Alzheimer’s Unit at Brandon, S.D. We wish him all the best.The Steen Reformed Church RCYF will attend the "Dare 2 Share" meeting on Friday. Those planning to go must have their reservations in by Thursday evening.Wayne Baker, son of Vern Baker, has joined the U.S. Marines and he left Tuesday, Feb. 23. We wish him all the best.Those attending the Hymn Psalm and Hymn Sing at Tuff Home in Hills on Tuesday afternoon were Milton Bonnema, Mildred Keunen and Jo Aykens. The World Day of Prayer will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Hills United Reformed Church. Cora Klay from Luverne will be the speaker. She and her husband have been missionaries in Ghana, Africa. All women of the church are encouraged to attend. Those attending the Christian Women’s meeting at United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids last Wednesday were Henrietta Huenink, Joan Hoogeveen, Lucy VanWyhe and Winnie Scholten. H-BC Elementary School will host a school readiness program beginning Feb. 28 at the H-BC Elementary School. The School Readiness program is a public preschool program for children 3 1/2 to 5 years of age and who are not yet in kindergarten. Contact the school for more information or call the school at 673-2541. February is the birth month of two of the greatest Americans. The dates on which they were born are now remembered and honored. We have remembered the dates of their births because they (Washington and Lincoln) will live as long as there is an American alive to recall their words and deeds. They placed principle above privilege; patriotism above politics and love of country above all personal gain. The greatest gift to a people is its great men, men whose progressive ideas sprout, bloom and bear fruit. The United States of America is exceedingly fortunate in having early in its history two men who will always inspire its sons with steadfast devotion to the common good and sympathy for their fellow men—George Washington, the aristocrat, and Abraham Lincoln, the man of the people. As great mountains loom higher and higher among the surrounding hills, so do these men rise above their contemporaries as our distance from them increases. We learned about George Washington last week so this week I will share some facts about Abraham Lincoln. One of the things that has surprised scholars about Abraham Lincoln is how, as a man of the people without the education of the schools, he should have been able to write English that is marvelous in its clarity and majesty. The Gettysburg Address and the second inaugural speech passed into the list of classics in our language. One explanation is the source from which Lincoln’s language style came. Lincoln learned his speech. As a boy and man he possessed and read the Bible until the spirit of its simple dignity passed into his own words, and phrases were fixed in his memory for effective use when he was an adult. For example, the following words were written by Lincoln and I want to share them with you today. "Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American to the lisping babe who prattles on her lap.Let it be taught in schools, in colleges and in seminaries.Let it be written in primers, spelling books and almanacs.Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls and enforced in the courts of justice. In short let it become the political religion of the nation,And let the young and old, the rich and poor,The grave and the gay of all sexes, tongues, colors and conditions, Sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars."This was written by Abraham Lincoln and expresses very well his ideas and ideals that made him so great a person!

Most of us have to be reminded that we can’t have our cake and eat it, too. However, it is now possible to eat fish and drink fish at the same time. The Dalian Fisherman’s Song Maritime Biological Brewery, based in China, plans to turn fish into wine. The brewery will clean, boil and ferment fish in its wine- making process, according to the official Xinhua news agency. If you forgive the expression, orders are already pouring in from Japan, Russia and many parts of China. Experts report that the new fish wine is both nutritious and low in alcohol. Presumably, it will taste better than the cod liver oil from our childhoods. The new business, a hybrid combining both fishing and wine making, should bring about many changes in the way we think about both industries. For example, while the wine business might have its sommeliers, wine stewards and vintners, what will fish wine makers be called? Hookers? Fishners?Wine servers at fancy restaurants might feel obligated to inquire, "Will you like that wine both chilled and gilled?"Instead of asking themselves, "Which wine shall we serve with the fish?" party hostesses will ponder, "What should we serve with the fish wine?" Canapés, hors d’oeuvres, or crackers and cheese might be perfect with grape-based wines, but the new fish varieties might call for a wedge of fresh lemon and a side serving of tartar sauce. Professional wine tasters, rarely at a loss for words, will have to consider using new expressions. "Ah, Chang 2003! That was both a good year and an unforgettable river!""What a wonderful bouquet! Do I detect the subtle hint of a lower Mississippi River catfish?"Grape wines are traditionally identified with their origins. That’s why we have wines named for the geographical regions of Bordeaux, Chablis, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Champagne and Gallo Brothers. In much the same way, fish wines could be named for their points of origin — their rivers and lakes. In addition, we could have Long John Silver whites and Red Lobster reds. Who are we to criticize this new concept until we have tried the wines created by Mrs. Paul, already famous for her fish sticks?Grape wines are also recognized by the varieties of grape used in the wine- making process. That’s why we have wine names such as pinot Gris, Riesling and chardonnay, rather than seeded, seedless, white, green, black and red. Taken one step further, someday we might see Walleye Whites sold on liquor shelves. They could be marketed with the snappy slogan, "Drink until you see the whites of their eyes!"Cold weather states, such as Minnesota, might profit with their own fish wineries. Even though their winters are too austere and nasty for most varieties of wine grapes, many of the Upper Midwest states could become the new Napa Valleys of wine making with their own Perch Blushes. Other wines, yet unnamed, could be fermented from northern pikes, bluegills and both large and small-mouthed bass. Finally, if large vats of grapes are traditionally stomped with bare feet at wine making festivities in warmer climates, why can’t we have piles of dead, rotting fish crushed with bare feet at our own festivals? It could be a real boost for tourism.

10 years ago (1995)"The Beaver Creek Sportsman’s Club sponsored its fifth annual Wild Game Feed on Saturday at the Beaver Creek Bar. Wild game lovers this year could feast on goose, bear chili and bear stew, walleye, perch, chicken gizzards, deer chili, buffalo burgers, salmon and even a touch of lutefisk. The funds from this year’s game feed were directed to the construction of new dugouts for the Beaver Creek softball diamond."25 years ago (1980)"Action is already underway to begin the improvement to County State Aid Highway (CSAH) No. 6 following action taken this week by the Rock County Board of Commissioners. In a meeting held Thursday of this week, the commissioners voted to ‘Take whatever action is necessary to regrade and resurface CSAH 6 from Beaver Creek to Hills and to resurface CSAH 6 south from Hills to the Iowa-Minnesota State Line.’ "50 years ago (1955)"The Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow in our school is Mary Ann Van Maanen. She received the highest score in a written examination which tested the homemaking knowledge and attitudes of the senior girls in the graduating class. She will be entered into the state’s competition, receive a golden award pin, and cookbooks for herself and the school."75 years ago (1930)"Spring is here! Yesterday noon Olaf Kolsrud reported seeing a flock of ducks northward bound, and sailed around in Mud Creek for a while before continuing their journey north. Gilbert Tuff said he was bothered by bees while working in the farmyard on Tuesday. Several kinds of summer birds have made their appearance. Is it spring?" 100 years ago (1905)"Henry M. Martin, one of the first settlers of Rock county, died in Mitchellville, Ia., January 1, 1905. "Mr. Martin homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 18, in Clinton township, north of the old Eau Claire farm, and up to 1895, the place was known as the old Martin farm. His son John Martin was the first white settler in Martin township, homesteading the southeast quarter of section 12, now the fine farm home of P.A. Arnett, and as a result this township (Martin) was named after him."