By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ basketball team evened its record at 3-3 with a thrilling victory over Edgerton Friday in Hills.The Patriots let a 13-point lead slip away during the second half only to put together a 7-0 run late in the game to pull out a 51-46 win.H-BC, which led 36-23 when Erin Boeve hit a free throw in the third quarter, fell behind 38-36 when Edgerton scored the final 11 points of the third quarter and the first four points of the fourth quarter.Three-point plays by Cassi Tilstra and Boeve gave the Patriots a 42-38 advantage, but the Flying Dutchmen countered with an 8-2 surge to sport a 44-42 advantage with three minutes remaining in the game.Boeve, who scored 29 points in the contest, put the Patriots in front to stay (47-46) when she converted a three-point play with 2:21 remaining that ignited H-BC’s late 7-0 run. Boeve added another field goal to the run, while Tilstra and Kerri Fransman chipped in one free throw each.Boeve scored the first four points of the game and Tilstra gave the Patriots a 9-4 lead at the 4:13 mark of the first quarter before EHS rallied to tie the game at 11.Boeve drained a pair of field goals in the final 1:24 of the period to give the Patriots a 15-11 lead at quarter’s end.Boeve scored the first four points of the second quarter to make it a 19-11 game, and the Patriots led by nine (26-17) when Stacy Bush dropped a three-point shot late in the second quarter.Edgerton, however, scored the last two points of the first half to trail 26-19 at the intermission.Along with leading all players in scoring, Boeve collected 16 rebounds, blocked four shots and charted three steals along with Tilstra, Brittney Rozeboom and Melinda Sandstede for H-BC. Tilstra added 10 points and four assists to the winning cause.Box scoreRozeboom 2 0 0-1 4, Fransman 0 0 1-2 1, Bush 0 1 2-4 5, Sandstede 0 0 0-0 0, Tilstra 2 0 6-9 10, Hoyme 0 0 0-0 0, Boeve 12 0 5-11 29, Olson 0 0 0-0 0, Mulder 1 0 0-0 2.Team statisticsH-BC: 18 of 47 field goals (38 percent), 14 of 27 free throws (52 percent), 43 rebounds, 10 turnovers.Edgerton: 16 of 35 field goals (46 percent), 14 of 22 free throws (64 percent), 39 rebounds, 15 turnovers.

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ basketball team let a potential Red Rock Conference win slip away when it took on Southwest Christian in Hills Monday.The Patriots controlled play in first half while opening a 13-point lead, but the E-Gals rallied to pull out a 52-50 win in overtime.After doubling SWC’s scoring output (26-13) in the first half, the Patriots lost their defensive intensity during second half that was controlled by the E-Gals."This was a very disappointing loss," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle. "We played really great defense in the first half, and then we forgot what got us there. We played poor defense and started throwing the ball around in the second half."H-BC, which limited SWC to three field goals in the first half, led 12-3 after eight minutes of play before increasing the difference to 13 points at the intermission.SWC went on an 18-6 run in the third quarter to trim the difference to one point (32-31) before tying the game at 44 late in regulation play.H-BC, which missed a potential game-winning shot at the end of the fourth quarter, never led in the overtime period while missing another last-second opportunity.Cassi Tilstra scored 15 points and Erin Boeve added 14 points for the Patriots.H-BC, 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the RRC, plays at the Albert Lea Tournament Friday and Saturday.Box scoreRozeboom 2 0 0-0 4, Bush 0 0 0-0 0, Sandstede 2 0 0-0 4, Tilstra 5 0 5-7 15, Boeve 3 0 8-8 14, Olson 3 0 1-1 7, Mulder 3 0 0-0 6.Team statisticsH-BC: 18 of 40 field goals (45 percent), 14 of 20 free throws (70 percent), 22 rebounds, 26 turnovers.SWC: 16 of 32 field goals (50 percent), 11 of 14 free throws (79 percent), 27 rebounds, 13

By John RittenhouseThe Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team regained its winning form in Edgerton Monday.Four days after losing its first game of the year to Fulda Thursday, H-BC turned things around in Edgerton by recording a 54-40 victory over the Flying Dutchmen.The Patriots, however, had to fight hard to get the win.H-BC players had to overcome cold shooting from the floor (28 percent) by playing outstanding defense in the second and third quarters, when they limited the hosts to 11 points."We were a little frustrated offensively, but we didn’t give it up defensively," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "We held them to four points in the second quarter and seven in the third quarter. That gave us a comfortable lead, and we just battled it out from there."H-BC, which was nine of 39 (23 percent) from the field in the first half, found itself trailing 15-9 after eight minutes of play before outscoring Edgerton 13-4 in the second quarter to gain a 22-19 halftime lead.The Patriots padded their lead to 12 points (38-26) by outscoring the Flying Dutchmen 38-26 in the third quarter before winning the game by 14 points in the end.Kale Wiertzma, who led H-BC with 10 rebounds and seven assists, scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Tyler Bush, who had eight rebounds and five steals, netted 11 of his 18 points in the second half.Trey Van Wyhe added 14 points to the winning effort. Travis Broesder chipped in three steals.The 5-1 Patriots will compete at the Albert Lea Tournament Friday and Saturday.Box scoreBush 5 0 8-10 18, Wysong 1 0 1-2 3, Broesder 2 0 0-0 4, Wiertzema 2 0 8-13 12, Van Wyhe 6 0 2-3 14, Spykerboer 0 0 0-0 0, LeBoutillier 1 0 1-4 3.Team statisticsH-BC: 17 of 60 field goals (28 percent), 20 of 32 free throws (63 percent), 33 rebounds, 12 turnovers.Edgerton: 16 of 47 field goals (34 percent), four of eight free throws (50 percent), 22 rebounds, 23 turnovers.

By Brenda WinterThere is a gentle way about Fran Stenberg. He seems tired but not resigned. His gray handle-bar mustache and buckhorn belt buckle might be more expected at the rodeo finals, or Sturgis maybe.But here he is leading a small group of Hills Christian School kids through the Union Gospel Mission. He calmly puts his hand on the shoulders of the wiggly kid who can’t stand in line, wait his turn or listen very long. He asks the kids who they think started the Mission 104 years ago and laughs when they answer, "You?""Nope," he laughs, "It was a drunk. A drunk who got in a fight and killed a man outside of a bar and went to jail for seven years. After he got out of jail he gave his life to Christ and wanted to open a place for people to go when they get out of jail." The children stand in awe, secretly wondering if maybe Fran ever killed anybody … probably not.This man has been the director of the Mission for 27 years, longer than anyone else. He’s seen the typical stay at the Mission extend from a night or two 20 years ago, to months at a time now. He’s seen the beds grow in number from 16 – 10 for men, six for women and children – to 86 beds today and often a dozen or more people sleep on the floor.People used to need a bed and a meal as they passed through town. Now they need drug and alcohol counseling, job training, parenting training and basic homekeeping skills. But Stenberg doesn’t approach the problems with despair, or with undue optimism. He says, "All you do is something and let the Lord do the rest."Stenberg said. "We’ve gone from offering basic services to rehabilitative services. They have more problems now and more serious problems. That’s the big change. What we do is more of a discipleship nature. We’re in their face teaching them to live a Christ-like life. We want to focus on mind, body and soul."Stenberg said the Mission offers a discipleship program that lasts a minimum of six months and can take a year or more to finish. The program requires that people try. "You can stay here five days and do nothing as long as you behave. That’s Level 1. Level 2 is for people who want to stay longer. They have to help out, look for work and we ask them to read a book. Level 3 is the Shepherd’s program. If there is nothing going on in your life and you’re not trying, the Shepherd’s program requires more of you. You can’t sleep all day."Stenberg leads the group of school children from one level of the building to another.The women’s dorm is a row of beds about 200 feet long. The men’s dorm is dark and has two rows of bunk beds. A sick man sleeps as does another man who works at night. A few women browse in the thrift shop. Older model computers are lined up in the learning center. The school children peer into a room-sized refrigerator. The lobby is warm and welcoming with angels and garland decorating the window. A Christmas cactus blooms in the north window. Not a bad place — to a visitor passing through.This all takes money. About $700,000 last year. Eighty percent of the money comes from individual donations and 20 percent comes from churches. The Mission served 65,000 meals, provided 24,000 night’s lodging and employs 15 full-time and seven part-time people.Stenberg gives the statistics to the group as he has to hundreds, maybe thousands, of other groups. The Mission needs money, it always needs money. There are needy people. There will always be needy people.He tells the kids, "Maybe that’s why you’re here today. Maybe because of this tour, when you grow up you’ll be involved in a rescue mission." He laughs, "You can have my job. I’ll wait for you."

DISTRICT COURTPROBATE DIVISIONFIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICTNOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORSSTATE OF MINNESOTACOUNTY OF ROCKESTATE OFRobert E. Latham, a/k/a Robert Latham DECEDENTIt is Ordered and Notice is given that on January 12, 2004 at 9:00 (a.m.) a hearing will be held in this Court at the Rock County Courthouse, 204 East Brown, Luverne, Minnesota, for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the will of Decedent, dated July 3, 2002 and codicil (N/A) to the will dated N/A, and separate writing (N/A) under Minn. Stat. 524.2-513 ("Will"), and for the appointment of Lisa Latham whose address is: 1121 S. Bridgeport, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57106 as personal representative of the Estate of the Decedent in a SUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the personal representative will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and do all necessary acts for the Estate. Notice is also given that (subject to Minn. Stat. 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court Administrator within four months after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. /s/ Timothy K. Connell 12/22/03Timothy K. Connell Judge Date/s/ Sandra L. Vrtacnik 12/22/03Sandra L. Vrtacnik Court Administrator DateAttorney For Personal RepresentativeDonald R. KlosterbuerSkewes, Klosterbuer & Vajgrt, L.L.P.120 N. McKenzieBox 538Luverne, MN 56156-0538Telephone 507 283-9111Attorney License #56674(12-24, 12-31)

PUBLICATION NOTICENotice is hereby given that application has been made to the Comptroller of the Currency, Western District, 1225 17th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202, for consent to merge First National Bank of Luverne, Luverne, Minnesota, into First National Bank and Trust, Pipestone, Minnesota. It is contemplated that the proposed merger will occur immediately after First National Bank in Luverne has completed a transaction pursuant to which it will sell substantially all its assets to, and its deposit liabilities will be assumed by, Minnwest Bank Luverne of Luverne, Minnesota. As a result of that transaction, it is expected that the current main office and branches of First National Bank of Luverne will continue to operate as branches of Minnwest Bank Luverne. Following the merger the current main office of First National Bank and Trust will remain the main office of First National Bank and Trust. This notice is published pursuant to 12 USC 1828(c) and 12 CFR 5. This notice will appear three times at approximately two-week intervals over a 30-day period beginning December 24, 2003 and ending January 22, 2004. Any person desiring to comment on this application may do so by submitting written comments within thirty days of the date of the first publication of this notice to: Licensing Manager, 1225 17th Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202. The public file is available for inspection in that office during regular business hours. Written requests for a copy of the public file on the application should be sent to the Licensing Manager. December 24, 2003First National Bank of Luverne, Luverne, MinnesotaFirst National Bank and Trust, Pipestone, Minnesota(12-24, 1-8, 1-22)

set for Jan. 5NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Luverne City Planning Commission that a public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers, Second Floor, in City Hall, 203 East Main Street, Luverne, Minnesota, at 5:05 p.m., Central Standard Time, on January 5, 2004, to consider an amendment to City Code Chapter 11 amending the floodplain ordinance to add reference to the Rock County Flood Insurance Rate Map, amending City Code, Section 11.40, Subd. 3 (B). A complete copy of the proposed ordinance is available in the office of the City Clerk at City Hall. All persons wishing to be heard in favor or in opposition to the proposed City Code amendment should be present at the hearing or present written comments prior thereto to the Building/Zoning Official. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s office, 203 E. Main St. (507) 449-2388.MARIANNE PERKINSCITY CLERK(12-24)

set for Jan. 5NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Luverne City Planning Commission that a public hearing will be held in the Council Chambers, Second Floor, in City Hall, 203 East Main Street, Luverne, Minnesota, at 5:10 p.m., Central Standard Time on January 5, 2004, to consider an amendment to City Code Chapter 11 by adding a new paragraph "F" to include crematories as a Conditional Use in the R-I Residential/Institutional District, amending City Code, Section 11.14, Subd. 3. A complete copy of the proposed ordinance is available in the office of the City Clerk at City Hall. All persons wishing to be heard in favor or in opposition to the proposed City Code amendment should be present at the hearing or present written comments prior thereto to the Building/Zoning Official. Anyone needing reasonable accommodations or an interpreter should contact the City Clerk’s office, 203 E. Main St. (507) 449-2388. MARIANNE PERKINSCITY CLERK(12-24)

10 years ago (1993)"In their last meeting of 1993, the Luverne school Board swiftly dealt with a variety of matters. Twila VerSteeg, Luverne, resigned from the district as of Dec. 31. She has worked in the business office for more than 20 years and will take a position with the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.Richard Baatz resigned from his custodial position for health reasons. He has worked for the district for 13 years."25 years ago (1978)"A 12-member study committee will be formed prior to Jan. 20 to consider the feasibility of joint law enforcement for Luverne and Rock County.The committee, it was decided by the county board and city council representatives Monday, will include the county sheriff, the acting city police chief, the county attorney, and city administrator, a city councilman, a county commissioner, and six lay persons, three to be appointed by the county board and three by the city council.Goals as outlined Monday will be to determine if the county and the city should share joint facilities, if a new facility should be provided for that purpose, or if existing facilities are adequate."50 years ago (1953)"Four times as many tourists used the camping facilities at Mound Springs State Park in 1953 as compared with 1949, according to Ed Mohr, caretaker. But, there were only half as many local people visiting the park as compared with 1952.His records show that there were 239 campers representing 29 states, four Canadian provinces, Panama and Sweden who visited the park last year."75 years ago (1928)"According to plans of the Rock County Health Association a nurse from state headquarters will be secured some time in February to make a thorough health survey of the schools in Luverne and in all villages in the county, the expenses of this work to be paid out of the county’s share of receipts from sale of health seals. If the sale of seals is large enough to permit, child clinics will also be conducted later in the year."100 years ago (1903)"The total assessed value of all property in Rock County is $5,334,124. On this valuation taxes amounting to $107,652 are to be raised for the year of 1903. The average rate of taxation in the county is 20.18 mills, and the highest rate is in Luverne village, where it is 42.28, and the lowest rate is in Mound Township, where it is 14.17 mills."