By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek boys recorded their eighth-straight Red Rock Conference basketball victory when they hosted Fulda for a league clash Thursday in Hills.With senior Kale Wiertzema leading the way with a 28-point performance, the Patriots broke open what was a close game most of the night to secure a 76-57 win.Fulda scored the game’s first three points before H-BC reeled off seven straight counters capped by a free throw from Wiertzema at the 5:29 mark of the opening quarter to give the hosts a 7-3 lead.Fulda battled back to take a 15-13 edge late in period, but Wiertzema converted a layup with five seconds remaining to knot the score at 15.The score was tied at 19 in the fourth quarter when H-BC put together a 15-4 run capped by Zach Wysong’s half-court, three-point shot at the buzzer that gave the Patriots a 34-23 halftime advantage.Wysong, who scored 14 points for H-BC, gave the Patriots a 13-point lead (36-23) with a field goal early in the third quarter, but the Raiders rallied to trim the difference to seven points (36-29) as the period progressed, before falling behind 50-40 at period’s end.The Raiders sliced H-BC’s lead to seven points (52-45) in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but H-BC outscored Fulda 24-12 the rest of the night to prevail by 19 points.Wiertzema, who had five rebounds, scored 11 points when H-BC put the game away in the fourth quarter.Tyler Bush scored 15 points and led H-BC with 11 assists and eight rebounds. Tom LeBoutiller and Cody Rozeboom charted five rebounds and three steals respectively for the H-BC.Box scoreWysong 4 2 0-0 14, Rozeboom 4 0 1-3 9, Bush 5 0 5-5 15, Wiertzema 6 2 10-19 28, Baker 0 0 1-2 1, Broesder 1 1 2-2 7, LeBoutillier 1 0 0-0 2.Team statisticsH-BC: 26 of 55 field goals (47 percent), 19 of 31 free throws (61 percent), 28 rebounds, 10 turnovers.Fulda: 22 of 46 field goals (48 percent), seven of 13 free throws (54 percent), 28 rebounds, 12 turnovers.

Douglas A. Hall, 54, Carthage, S.D., formerly of the Steen area, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005, at his brother’s residence in Montrose, S.D.Services were Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Willoughby Funeral Home in Howard, S.D. Burial was in Pleasantview Cemetery, Carthage.Survivors include two sons, James (Vicky) Hall, Lennox, S.D., and Alan Hall, Colton, S.D.; a special friend, Mary Hall, Huron, S.D.; his mother, Dorothy Hall, Sioux Falls, S.D.; two granddaughters; two brothers, Virgil Hall, Sioux Falls, and Leon (Lori) Hall, Montrose; three sisters, Karen (Tom) Niichel, Osage, Iowa, Glo (Dave) Dammer, Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Doris Hall, Sioux Falls; and several nieces and nephews.

10 years ago (1995)"Through the efforts of members of the Luverne Lions Club — Marcel Reisch, Duane Duerr and Alex Frick — Leonard "Shorty" Leenderts and Orrin O. Fixsen, Hills, will have a new Lions Club! The organizational meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at the Exchange State Bank of Hills." 25 years ago (1980)"It was a big night for the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriot fans who traveled to Worthington Community College for the special ‘Hills-Beaver Creek Night’ Saturday, Jan. 26, at the school. The special event was scheduled at WCC to honor the four Hills-Beaver Creek athletes and graduates now playing college basketball for WCC. The four are Darwin Tilstra, Jeff Huber, Harlan Van Wyhe and Howard Van Wyhe. All are former stand out performers at H-BC. … "50 years ago (1955)"Mrs. C.B. Sjolseth received a phone call Thursday morning from their son Dick, who had just arrived in New York from Germany. He went by train from there to Ft. Sheridan, Ill., where he was discharged from the Army. He arrived in Sioux Falls, Tuesday night. He will leave Monday for Northfield where he will again resume his studies at St. Olaf College."75 years ago (1930)"The girls and boys basketball teams have been having a rather strenuous schedule this past week, or so which seems to have changed the luck for both teams. The girls have suffered two defeats since our last game at home and they feel that it’s time to have a treat. Edgerton’s floor is nothing to brag about, at least we didn’t think so, and with only about half of the regular team, it seems we did rather well.The boys have changed their minds about defeat, too, and feel it’s not a good policy to have two teams who are losers. They played a marvelous game of ball at Edgerton and we wish to congratulate them and also the coach. …Let’s not forget this: ‘Faithful and true hearted, let us boast for our Hills High!’ "100 years ago (1905)"According to the financial statement of Rock county, as published in the Rock County Herald last week, $516.52 was spent among the six newspapers of the county, as follows: Rock County Herald $460.93; Magnolia Advance $18.98; Hills Crescent $12.25; Hardwick News $11.75; Beaver Creek Banner $11.11; Luverne Journal $1.50."

Jim and Max Lorence, Minneapolis, spent last Saturday visiting Evelyn Rogness. Saturday, Bob and Barbara Dikers, Odeboldt, Iowa, Patty Teager and Marg Winter, Sioux City, Iowa, came to spend the day in the home of Don and Edyth Briggs to help Edyth celebrate her birthday. Last Saturday afternoon, Betty Elbers visited in the home of Arnold and Hendrene Veldkamp in Luverne and later visited in the Ron and Joyce Groeneweg home in Sioux City. Neil Hoyme and his wife, Kathy, and girls, Katie and Jessica, left Sunday for their home in Pierre, S.D., after spending the weekend in the home of his father, Howard Hoyme. On Saturday evening they, along with the Eric Hoyme family, prepared and served dinner as they gathered to celebrate Howard on his 81st birthday which was Monday, Jan. 24. Wendell and Kathryn Erickson and Cletus and Patty Nuffer attended the torsk dinner Friday night in Sioux Falls sponsored by the Sons of Norway.Last Friday evening the Wilmer Elbers visited Arvin and Cena Tilstra in Steen. On Monday afternoon Betty and Jean Van Malsen, and son Kevin, visited at the home of Susie (Van Malsen) Johnson in Humboldt, S.D. Cliff and Vi VanWyhe visited Sunday in the Tom and Matthew VanWyhe home and the Ron DeWit home in Sioux Falls.

Well, we lucked out one more time! The forecast for the latter part of last week was very scary. Predictions were for freezing drizzle, snow and strong winds. What more could there be?Fortunately we received very little snow, some freezing drizzle and high winds. I think it was about 9 p.m. Friday when the strong winds began blowing at top speed and soon Steen and the surrounding area were without electricity. Believe me, I didn’t envy whoever had to go out into the storm to repair whatever had happened!I am not sure just what time the electricity came back on, but when I woke up in the night for the first time, my lights were on in the kitchen and also my dining room. We can be thankful the outage didn’t last too long. When one thought about all of the severe storms that raged across our nation that night, we have a lot to be thankful for. We’ve been so fortunate all winter to escape lots of snow. Here it is January that has only one more week to be with us. February is a short month, so when I think about it I think we need to "think Spring!"Gilbert and Henrietta Elbers, Luverne, Larry and Joan Moeller, Letcher, S.D., and Arvin and Cena Mae Tilstra enjoyed a potluck dinner supplied by them with Elizabeth Elbers at the Tuff Home in Hills.The Steen Opportunity Extension Club met Tuesday afternoon at the home of Lucille Schouwenburg. The lesson on crafts was presented by Henrietta Boeve and Lucille Schouwenburg. Lunch was served by Winnie Scholten. Henrietta Huenink was a Sunday afternoon visitor at the home of her son and daughter-in-law. Kenneth and Gwen Bodewitz, at Valley Springs, S.D.A film, "A Purpose Driven Life," was shown at Steen Reformed Church Sunday evening. They will have a study on this during the Lenten season. JoAnn Paulsen, who underwent knee replacement surgery at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, has been transferred to the Luverne Community Hospital swing bed unit on Friday. Word was received recently of the death of Doug Hall, whose family lived in Steen when he was growing up. His father was Ernie Hall, who had a feed grinder which he drove to the farmers to grind their feed. Many in the Steen area will remember the Hall family and were surprised to hear of Doug Hall’s death. His obituary is published elsewhere in the Crescent. Ever since that fateful day in September when the Twin Towers were destroyed in New York, I have had many different feelings. Most of them are positive. I am so grateful that our president closed all of the airports that day or I think our entire nation would have been destroyed in one way or another. I am very disappointed in our nation’s citizens who are condemning the war and have said many other derogatory statements about the entire situation. I think it is time for the citizens of our great nation to think back to this nation’s beginning and what it cost those who fought for our freedom giving us all of the freedom we have today. I just hope we can continue to protect this freedom and be good examples for those who wish to be freed. When I read this article, "America On Its Knees," which was written prior to this present time, I felt we should share these thoughts coming from times very similar to what we are going through as a nation today. I hope you agree with me.America On Its KneesOur Father in heaven:We pray that you save us from ourselves.The world that you have made for us, to live in peace, we have made into an armed camp. We live in fear of war to come. We are afraid of ‘the terror that flies by night, the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness, the destruction that wastes at noonday.’We have turned from you to go our selfish way. We have broken your commandments and denied your truth. We have left your altars to serve the false gods of money and pleasure and power. Forgive us and help us.Now darkness gathers around us and we are confused in all our counsels. Losing faith in you, we lose faith in ourselves.Inspire us with wisdom, all of us of every color, race, and creed, to use our wealth, our strength, to help our brother, instead of destroying him. Help us to do your will as it is done in heaven, and to be worthy of your promise of peace on earth.Fill us with new faith, new strength, and new courage, that we may win the Battle for Peace. Be swift to save us, dear God, before the darkness falls.Amen.From "The Battle for Peace."An address by Conrad N. Hilton

Feel like something is missing from your life? Perhaps your parents should have preserved your umbilical cord in a block of clear acrylic resin. It could have been used as a paperweight or a personal seal. As a matter of fact, you could be admiring it right now. No leftover parts from early childhood go wasted in South Korea, according to a recent Reuters story. Keeping babies’ umbilical cords for posterity and making calligraphy brushes from their babies’ hair have both been long traditions in that country. Quite interestingly, the Reuters story failed to mention possible uses for baby teeth, the babyhood leftovers to which we do pay the most attention. In the Confucian society of South Korea, where family values are highly prized, other proud parents think nothing about paying 80,000 or 100,000 won ($76 or $96) to have umbilical cords gold-plated. Presumably the fancier gold-plated cords make great conversation pieces when entertaining guests and other topics appear to be winding down. The preservation of umbilical cords is a difficult concept for many of us to grasp in our throwaway culture. We’re not all that emotionally attached to no-longer-needed body parts. When we bake holiday turkeys, for example, it’s easy to discard the less desirable necks, gizzards and other vital organs with little or no remorse. We share a common mantra — if you’re not going to use it, lose it. Personally, saving and classifying umbilical cords would have only complicated the jumble of baby books, photo albums and elementary school drawings we attempted to organize and save for our daughters. The baby books were prime examples of projects gone wrong. Although our first daughter had a nearly complete baby book with first steps, first teeth and first perfect days of toilet training carefully recorded, the books for the other three girls were relatively dismal. Their books contained hastily scribbled notes, amounting to little more than, "Came home from hospital ... first tooth ... first college interview." The quality of the baby books declined as our lives became busier with the addition of each child. Photo albums for each of the girls also varied in quality, depending upon their birth order. While the first daughter had countless photos with clever captions written beneath them in her album, the other girls had shoeboxes overflowing with loose photos and good intentions. There simply wasn’t enough time to do everything. Immediately after the birth of our first daughter in Duluth, I met a mother who saved umbilical cords. In fact, it was one of the first things she told me. Shortly after I was wheeled from the delivery room to what would be my regular hospital room for five days, I got to know her rather well. Within a few minutes she had me cranking up her bed, adjusting her tangled bedding and opening the room window "just a crack." As she rambled on non-stop about the importance of preserving umbilical cords, I assumed her recent delivery must have been much more difficult than mine. I was still hobbling around the room, making my less fortunate roommate comfortable, when a nurse glared at me from the doorway. "What are you doing out of bed?" she demanded. As it turned out, my roommate had her baby 10 days earlier. Because she had become delusional with postpartum stress, she would be transferred shortly to the fourth floor, the psychiatric unit. I suddenly understood her preoccupation with umbilical cords. She, of all people, would have appreciated the Reuters story from South Korea.

By Shane PalmquistThe girls hockey team played two last week getting a tie Saturday and losing in New Ulm Tuesday. This week two conference games await the girls, tonight at Windom and Tuesday hosting to Worthington.NEW ULM 6, LUVERNE 1Cardinal girls hockey traveled to New Ulm Tuesday hoping to keep their recent good luck rolling but a road block stood in their way and Luverne was crushed 6-1. New Ulm came out shooting and playing great defense, out-shooting Luverne 16-2 in the first period and 22 shots to four in the second.The Cardinals couldn’t get the puck into their own zone, and after two periods found themselves shut out trailing 6-0. Luverne did manage to get on the board and avoid the complete shutout as senior standout Natalie Domagala registered Luverne’s only goal. Goalie Sarah Schneekloth stopped 42 of 48 shots for Luverne.LUVERNE 6, ST. PETER 6It took an extra session of skating Saturday for the girls hockey team, and a winner still couldn’t be decided as the girls skated to a 6-6 tie at Blue Mound Arena. Coach Dave Siebeanahler said, "We just got outskated and we ran out of gas toward the end of the game."Sarah Schneekloth stopped an impressive 57 of 63 shots. During some point in the second period, Her goalie stick broke, and she was forced to use it regardless. Broken stick and all she turned away 15 of 17 shots in the second. Luverne had only 19 shots on goal all game, but converted six of them.Natalie Domagala continued her scoring spree, like she has been doing all season long. Domagala put five scores on the board for the home team and teammate Sadie Dietrich scored the other goal, but was more in the giving mode recording two assists. The game went back and forth with St. Peter matching Luverne goal for goal. That was until a goal by Dietrich put Luverne up 4-3. With 45 seconds left in the second period Domagala took a pass off the stick of Dietrich and went high glove side to close out the second period with Luverne up 5-3.A very physical third period by both teams and Luverne having trouble clearing the puck out of its zone gave St. Peter what it needed to get three third-period goals and put the game into overtime.The game-tying goal by St. Peter was a power play goal, the only power play of the game as Luverne registered the only penalty of the game.

Last Saturday the Adrian Dragon wrestling squad traveled to Owatonna to participate in the Federated Duals. The Duals consist of two pools with the best records out of each pool matching up at the end of the night in a championship dual. The Dragons won the Silver pool by defeating all four teams in it. The championship dual featured the Adrian Dragons and one of the best teams in class AAA, the Owatonna Huskies.The first dual of the day was against the Buffalo Bison. The Dragons won 12 of 14 weight classes, losing one of the matches to a state-ranked opponent. Buffalo started the dual with a 10-5 decision at 103. Tony Thier started a string of eight-straight victories for the Dragons with a 14-8 decision. Joey Bullerman followed by pinning his opponent in 2:30. Zach Reker wrestled 125 for the Dragons. Reker handled his opponent but was unable to win by fall, earning the 7-2 decision, giving the Dragons a 12-3 lead. Brandon Croat controlled Danny Maghrak and earned a 9-0 major decision at 130 pounds. Buffalo forfeited to Andy Heitkamp at 135 pounds, leading into the 140 pound match between Brandon Bullerman and Tyler Reiss. Bullerman, battling the flu, was able to jump out to a 6-2 lead, earning a 9-8 decision. At 145 pounds, Dusty Bullerman took down Ray Heinkel three times before pinning him in 1:28. Tony Sauer earned a last-second takedown to major decision his opponent by a score of 18-10, giving the Dragons a 35-2 lead (Buffalo lost a team point after the 140 pound match). At 160 pounds, Nate Engelkes wrestled another state ranked opponent. Engelkes fought hard but lost a close decision by a score of 6-4. The Dragons ended the dual in style by pinning the final four Buffalo wrestlers in the first period. At 171, Cody Reverts forced Jesse Klingelhoets over, earning the fall in 1:07. Levi Bullerman followed by earning a 24 second fall over his opponent. Will Lutmer earned two takedowns before earning the fall in 1:02 at 215 pounds. In the final match of the dual, Cody Lutmer finished off Justin Franke in 1:25, giving the Dragons the 59-5 victory.Adrian vs. NREHGThe No. 2-ranked Dragons squared off against the No. 5-ranked New Richland-Ellendale-Heartland-Geneva squad. NREHG jumped out to a quick lead, 4-0, as they won the 103 pound match by major decision. Adrian was able to bounce back and win the next three matches as Joey Bullerman won by fall, Tony Thier by decision, and Zach Reker finished off the winning streak by accepting a forfeit, giving Adrian a 15-4 lead. At 130 pounds, NREHG pulled out a squeaker by a score of 3-1. Brandon Bullerman cradled his opponent and got the pin in 20 seconds, extending the Dragon lead to 14 (21-7). Andy Heitkamp took the mat for the Dragons at 140 pounds. Andy wrestled tough, but lost by decision. Dusty Bullerman, Tony Sauer, and Nate Engelkes sealed the deal for the Dragons as they won by technical fall (4:33), and two falls (1:52 and 3:45) respectively. NREHG was able to squeak out another decision at 171 pounds, making the team score 38-13. In one of the feature matches of the day, No. 1-ranked Levi Bullerman squared off against No. 1-ranked Nick Christiensen. Bullerman was on the offensive the whole match but was unable to earn the winning takedown in regulation, forcing OT. In OT, Levi shot a hard double and earned a takedown on the edge of the mat to end the match. NREHG finished the dual by catching both of its Dragon opponents and earning falls, making the team final 41-25.Adrian vs. HutchinsonThe third round of the Duals matched up the Dragons of Adrian against the Tigers of Hutchinson. Stephen Loosbrock jump-started the Dragons by earning a major decision by a score of 8-0. He was followed by a string of falls at 112, 119, 125, and 130. Joey Bullerman, Tony Thier, and Brandon Croat all pinned their opponents in the first period, while Zach Reker won by fall in 3:35. Hutchinson gained one of its two victories at 135, making the score 28-3. Brandon Bullerman won his third match of the day by tech falling Jamie Larson in 3:58. At 145 pounds, Dusty Bullerman won the fastest fall trophy in the tournament by pinning Josh Wendlend in 12 seconds. Tony Sauer also pinned his opponent at 152 pounds, making the Dragons’ lead 45-3. Nate Engelkes won his second match of the day as he decisioned Josh Ellis 4-0 at 160. Cody Reverts pinned his Tiger opponent in 3:09 seconds giving the Dragons a 54-3 advantage. Levi Bullerman received a forfeit at 189 pounds, while Will Lutmer wasted little time with Derek Wertz as he pinned him in 15 seconds. Hutch won its second match of the day at HWT as Mike May earned a close 2-1 decision over Cody Lutmer, making the team final 66-6. Adrian vs. Coon RapidsIn the fourth dual of the day, Adrian faced the #8 ranked Coon Rapids Cardinals. Adrian won the dual by a score of 54-19. Stephen Loosbrock earned his second victory on the day as he pinned Kyle Anderson in 3:38. At 112 pounds, Joey Bullerman earned his fourth fall of the day as he earned the fall in 34 seconds. Tony Thier won his fourth match of the day by decision 9-5 at 119. The Cardinals forfeited to Zach Reker at 125 pounds making the team score 21-0. Coon Rapids sent out three ranked wrestlers at 130, 135, and 140 pounds. The Cardinals won the 130 and 135 pound matches by fall and the 140 pound match by decision, making the team score 21-16. Adrian countered by winning the next six matches. Dusty Bullerman won the 145 pound match by fall in 3:36. At 152 pounds, Tony Sauer was able to escape in double OT to win by a score of 2-1. The Dragons’ Nate Engelkes and Cody Reverts received forfeits at 160 and 171 pounds. Levi Bullerman earned his fourth victory of the day as he pinned Nick Creamier in 46 seconds. At 215 pounds, the Cardinals forfeited to Will Lutmer, giving the Dragons a 54-16 lead going into heavyweight. At heavyweight, Glen Kruger wrestled well but gave up a late takedown and three near fall points at the end of the match to lose by a score of 9-4, making the final score 54-19, Dragons. History was made in the dual as Dusty Bullerman and Levi Bullerman both broke the Adrian individual career win record that was held by Pat Dorn. Dusty and Levi both finished the dual with 162 career victories.Adrian vs. OwatonnaThe Owatonna Huskies jumped out to a 31-0 lead, winning two close matches that could have gone either way. Dusty Bullerman got the first victory for the Dragons at 145 pounds. Bullerman fell behind 2-0, but battled back to take the lead by a score of 5-4. Dusty forced over Tyler Grunwald and earned the fall in 5:08, putting the Dragons on the board. At 152 pounds, Tony Sauer put four more points on the board for the Dragons as he earned a major decision over Brad Uher by a score of 19-7. Owatonna countered by getting a major decision of their own at 160 pounds, giving them a 35-10 lead. Cody Reverts controlled his opponent at 171 pounds, earning a 4-3 decision. At 189 pounds, Levi Bullerman squared off against Russell Smith, another No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state. Bullerman stayed in good position, but was unable to come away with the win, as Smith won the match up between two of the best wrestlers in the nation by a score of 7-4. Will Lutmer earned numerous takedowns in the 215 pound bout, as he defeated the No. 8-ranked wrestler in class AAA by a score of 11-6. At heavyweight, Cody Lutmer scored two takedowns and an escape on his way to a 5-3 decision over the very physical Kyle Schweisthal, making the final score 38-19.Dusty Bullerman and Tony Sauer were the only Dragon wrestlers to go undefeated in the Duals. Dusty was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the event as he went 5-0 on the day. Bullerman had 4 falls and one technical fall on his way to his 163rd career victory.* * *Ideas for pull graphics:New AHS Wrestling Record Set - Two senior wrestlers had a record setting night at the Federated Duals. The record was set 21 years ago by current assistant coach, Pat Dorn.Dusty Bullerman and Levi Bullerman both broke the record by earning their 162 career wins in the Coon Rapids dual. Both wrestlers have never wrestled a B-squad match, competing at the varsity level since seventh grade. Both wrestlers have the chance to extend the record to over 180 wins by the end of the season.

By Shane PalmquistA light schedule for the boys hockey team seemed to be just what was needed as the only game they played, they won beating up on Sleepy Eye.LUVERNE 10, SLEEPY EYE 3Three power-play goals and a hat trick by senior forward Matt Reverts pushed Luverne past host Sleepy Eye Tuesday night. Nick Otten and Jordan Siebenahler got involved in the scoring fun as well netting two goals apiece with both of Otten’s goals coming with the man advantage.Luverne came out and struck first as Reverts scored off a rebound to put Luverne up 1-0. On the first power play of the game, Otten scored off a pass from Chris Fitzer to make it 2-0 Luverne. Still in the first period Siebenahler scored with an assist from Tim Drost. Sleepy Eye tried to make a game of it, crawling back to get within one at 3-2 but Luverne piled it on after that in the second getting three goals from Otten, Siebenahler, and Nathan Boler to go up 6-2 after two. The visiting Cardinals showed no sign of letting up in the third and built an 8-2 lead off a power play from Reverts assisted from Siebenahler. Sleepy Eye managed to get one more goal to bring the score to 8-3. Luverne put the game away when Boler passed up to Dylan Anderson who scored his only goal of the night. To top off the night with 45 seconds left in the game Reverts got his third goal giving him the hat trick and leading the Cardinals to victory. Brad Van Santen in goal for Luverne stopped 27 of 30 shots for Luverne.