By Sara Quam
Luverne students who enjoy pop and the money it generates will still have access to it for now.

The proposal to restrict soft drink sales in schools was defeated by the Senate Education Committee last week. With a 26-6 vote, the bill's chances were squashed by lawmakers.

It called for an end to the sale of pop on school grounds during the day, and Luverne Student Council President Abbey Franken is glad the bill all but died.

"We get all our money from pop. That would've really hurt us," Franken said.

Soda sales generated about $8,000 for Luverne schools last year. Franken said the school council discussed the bill but took a "wait and see" approach.

Although financial reasons dominated most schoolsÕ opposition to the bill, Franken said it's also one of personal choice. "Without pop, all we have to drink is water."

Luverne Superintendent Vince Schaefer agreed. "Whatever we do with our pop or any other soft drink is up to us." He said state legislators have more important issues to discuss than soda machines, and their votes reflected that.

Critics of the bill said it was an issue of local control and personal choices and responsibility. If schools needed the money and parents and their children thought it was fine to drink pop, the state shouldn't interfere.

Supporters of the bill said it is a public health issue that goes beyond the boundaries of local control and personal choice.

Supporters said beverage companies shouldn't have a stronghold on schools looking for additional revenues.

Others said dental problems and calcium deficiencies would be greatly reduced with less pop available to students.

The Minnesota School Boards Association and the Minnesota Soft Drink Association were major adversaries of the bill, and the only major group in favor of it was the Minnesota Dental Association.

Coca-Cola Co., which has an exclusive contract with Luverne Schools, announced that it is changing its marketing in schools by adding healthier drinks.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek opened the South Section 3A Girls' Basketball Tournament by coasting to a 56-27 victory over Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster in Hills Thursday.

The seventh-seeded Patriots dominated play throughout the contest, earning a shot at No. 2 Southwest Christian in the tournament's quarterfinals (see related story elsewhere in the sports section).

SV-RL-B, which entered the tournament as the 10th seed, couldnÕt answer an early H-BC challenge that set the tone for the game.

H-BC scored the game's first six points and led by 11 ponts three times in the first quarter before Jody DeNoble drained a field goal with 31 seconds left to make it a 20-7 difference at the break.

Things didn't get any better for the Raiders in the second quarter, when H-BC went on a 15-4 scoring run to open a 35-11 halftime lead.

Senior Shanna Tilstra, who led H-BC with 19 points and four assists, helped the Patriots build a 24-point halftime cushion by scoring seven points in both the first and second stanzas.

H-BC iced the game by outscoring SV-RL-B 13-8 in the third quarter to make it a 29-point (48-19) difference.

Both teams scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

H-BC, which was aided by 26 turnovers by the Raiders, received 10 points and nine rebounds from Erin Boeve. LaDonna Sandstede contributed four steals to the cause for the 11-12 Patriots.

Box score
C.Tilstra 1 0 0-0 2, Olson 0 0 2-3 2, Sandstede 2 0 3-4 7, Rentschler 0 0 0-2 0, S.Tilstra 3 3 4-5 19, Broesder 3 0 0-0 6, DeNoble 2 0 0-0 4, Boeve 4 0 2-2 10, DeHaan 0 0 0-0 0, Arp 1 0 0-0 2.

Team statistics
H-BC: 21 of 64 field goals (33 percent), 11 of 15 free throws (73 percent), 33 rebounds, 14 turnovers.
SV-RL-B: 10 of 44 field goals (23 percent), seven of 15 free throws (47 percent), 27 rebounds, 26 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek put a scare into two-time defending state champion Southwest Christian before succumbing to a late Eagle rally during a quarterfinal-round game of the South Section 3A Boys' Basketball Tournament in Luverne Saturday.

H-BC, the tournament's eighth seed, gave SWC all it could handle during the first three and one-half quarters of play.

The No. 1 Eagles rose to the challenge late in the game by putting together a 14-2 run that secured a 52-42 victory for the favorites.

"Our kids really played well," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema.

"We played well defensively, and we rebounded well. I couldn't ask any more from our kids in that respect. SWC went 10 of 12 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, and Jeff Schaap scored 10 points for them in the fourth quarter. They went to their experienced player, and he carried them through the fourth quarter."

The 10-point difference at game's end was not indicative of how tight the contest was.

SWC led 13-12 after eight minutes of play, but H-BC countered with a 10-8 scoring edge in the second quarter to gain a 22-21 halftime edge.

The Patriots led 35-32 at the end of the third quarter before their 8-15 campaign came to an end when SWC outscored them 20-7 in the final eight minutes of play.

H-BC sported a 40-38 lead late in the game before SWC's 14-2 run settled the issue.

According to Wiertzema, H-BC's inability to cash in on its free throws (six of 21 overall) proved to be the difference in the game.

"It was the killer. We were two of 14 from the line in the first half," he said.

David Top netted 11 points for H-BC, while Lance Crawford led the way with 10 rebounds. Matt Buck charted five assists and three steals. Lyle DeBoer added four assists.

Box score
D.DeBoer 1 0 1-2 3, Haak 2 0 2-7 6, L.DeBoer 2 0 0-1 4, Van Wyhe 3 0 0-0 6, Top 2 2 1-6 11, Crawford 2 0 2-4 6, Buck 3 0 0-1 6.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 34 field goals (50 percent), six of 21 free throws (28 percent), 26 rebounds, 20 turnovers.
SWC: 19 of 44 field goals (43 percent), 11 of 18 free throws (61 percent), 20 rebounds, 11 turnovers.

By Jolene Farley
On June 13, Hills-Beaver Creek sixth-grader Adam Finke will leave his home for the experience of a lifetime.

Adam was chosen as one of 15 People to People Middle School Student Ambassadors for the Sioux Falls Area. As an ambassador, he will visit Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland over a period of three weeks.

When asked if he is nervous about leaving his rural Luverne home and his parents, Jon and Sherri, he said, "maybe a little." Adam has flown once before to Disney World in Florida, but this will be a much longer flight.

The People to People delegation leaves the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and flies to New York where they join two other United States delegations, bringing their group up to 45 kids. From there they travel to Madrid, Spain.

Finke and the other delegates will learn about the government, economy and culture of Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland.

They'll learn through activities such as briefing at embassies and ministries, discussions with industry and trade officials, site visits to the headquarters of international organizations, and meetings with youth clubs.

They receive an overview of the cultural heritage of each country during visits to major historical sites and performances of ethnic music and dance.

The itinerary includes visits to Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Granada, Seville and Barcelona, Spain; Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland; Freiburg, Germany; and Paris, France.

The Alps is on top of Adam's list of things to see on the trip, but he is also excited about touring the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. He hopes to meet some visiting dignitaries.

"I thought it would be fun and a good experience," he said about the trip. He hopes to learn more about different cultures and how people live in different countries.

Adam will visit host families in each country who will include him in their everyday activities.

Each Student Ambassador is selected on the basis of recommendations, including school references and personal interviews with members of a screening committee in their local community.

Adam was notified in October he was chosen as an Ambassador. He is not sure who recommended him for the program.

Monthly orientation meetings to study countries the delegates will visit began in December. A report on a different country is due at each meeting, according to Adam. Delegates are trained on how to write in journals, so they can record their experiences.

Jon and Sherri Finke are trying to raise the $5,000 needed for Adam's trip. Sherri's employer, Cargill AgHorizons, has agreed to donate, and Sherri said they will approach a few more businesses but plan to pay the majority of the expense themselves. The $5,000 fee covers airfare and meals.

Young Americans have served as Student Ambassadors since 1963. Many former Student Ambassadors have pursued international careers in business, law, government service, and teaching, according to Pamela Leib, Junior High Delegation Leader for the Sioux Falls Area.

Alumni of the program have said their overseas experience and the maturity and world awareness they gained provide a competitive advantage for university acceptance as well as a new appreciation for life in America.

Outstanding Student Ambassadors are also eligible to apply for future service as interns.

The Student Ambassador program is operated under the auspices of People to People International, a nonpolitical, private-sector organization founded by President Eisenhower in 1956 to further international goodwill and understanding.

An international network of People to People chapters in nearly 60 American cities and 35 countries assists program administrators in arranging home stays and educational activities.

Students can obtain high school and university credit through participation in the program and may be eligible for grants.

By John Rittenhouse
The basketball season has been over for more than two weeks at Hills-Beaver Creek High School, but that didn't keep a large crowd from showing up at the school for a benefit game Monday night.

In what has become an annual event at the school, H-BC faculty members entertained the KELO-TV Almost Stars in a game to benefit the Patriot Partners organization.

The teams played in front of a crowd that nearly filled the grandstands on the south side of the gym as well as the stage on the north side of the gym.

According to Ann Boeve, one of the Patriot Partners in charge of the event, the support for the game was overwhelming.

"It was very well-received. There had to be 500 to 600 people there. You never really know how something like this will go, but I think it must have been the right time of year because people were looking for something to do," she said.

The Patriot Partners plan to use the $1,280 they raised to pad the high school locker room fund. New locker rooms are on the community's wish list, and events like these, along with the $200,000 the H-BC School District will donate to the project, could make the project a reality.

The night started with a Burger King Whopper Feed from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

With Sioux Falls radio personality Ben Davis providing pre-game music as well as doing the game's play-by-play announcing, the contest tipped off around 7:30, after the national anthem was sung by the H-BC Elementary School Singers Edition.

When the first half was complete, with the Almost Stars sporting a slim lead, the H-BC Elementary School Cheerleaders and H-BC Dance Line provided entertainment throughout the intermission.

H-BC's junior parents and After Prom Committee sold concessions throughout the game, which ended in a deadlock when the faculty members staged a second-half rally.

By Jolene Farley
Dave Crawford, Beaver Creek, has always been fond of animals, particularly dogs. Crawford turned his love of dogs into a business when he opened Midwest Canine in 1995 at his home in rural Beaver Creek.

"Training is something I have always been interested in," said Crawford, originally from Slayton. "So when I was done with school I went out to the West Virginia Canine College before I moved back here." Crawford attended college for animal science.

Midwest Canine offers dog boarding for up to eight dogs, but Crawford hopes to expand his boarding capacity next summer and also add an indoor training facility. Boarding costs for one day currently run $6 for a small dog and $7 for a big dog.

He also toys with the idea of opening boarding kennels in different towns. Midwest Canine boards dogs from all over the area.

He loves repeat customers. "The dogs are like one of your own," said Crawford. "It is like you have a pet but it goes home with someone else at the end of the week."

Midwest Canine offers dog obedience classes at the Rock County Veterinary Clinic for adult dogs and puppies. Adult dog classes are offered on Mondays and cost $45. Puppy classes are offered on Saturdays and cost $38.50.

Since turnout for the obedience class was double what Crawford expected, new classes will be offered periodically throughout the year.

He hopes to eventually add an agility class, where dogs are taught to weave around poles, run through tunnels and other fun things. His customers have expressed interest, and he says it is a great confidence builder for dogs.

Four years ago, Midwest Canine began training hunting dogs. It usually takes about two months to train a dog to hunt, according to Crawford. Costs run about $325 per month.

Before adopting a dog Crawford suggests sitting down to list what you want in a dog. "A lot of people pick the wrong breed," he said. "They see a cute little puppy and buy it right away."

A good breeder should be able to help evaluate a litter for the best puppy for prospective owners. Crawford recommends what he calls the "middle child" - not the meek, submissive puppy or the one jumping all over but the one in the middle.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is not socializing their dogs at a young age to the things they will be exposed to, according to Crawford.

Crawford works alone, except for a part-time helper during the summer. Business was brisk last year, so he anticipates needing more part-time help this summer.

In addition to boarding and training, Midwest Canine also raises German shepherds imported from Germany.

Crawford and his wife, Lisa, have two children, twins Andrew and Amanda.

By Lori Ehde
A sure sign of spring is the posting of spring road weight restrictions.

According to Rock County Highway Engineer Mark Sehr, this week marks the beginning of the thaw cycle when restricted weights are most important.

"Spring is a critical period for roads, because the soils and aggregate materials are weak while frost leaves the ground," Sehr said in a statement released by the highway department this week.

During the spring, pavement layers are saturated with trapped water and weakened by thawing base soil.

The weight restrictions apply to all licensed vehicles, including semi tractor trailers and grain trucks.

Non-licensed vehicles, mostly vehicles used as "implements of husbandry," are exempt from regulations or weight limits.

According to Sehr, grain carts, gravity-flow grain wagons and manure "honey wagons" tend to be the biggest culprits for local county roads.

This is because the weight is distributed on only one or two axles, while many commercial vehicles, such as semis, distribute the weight over several axles.

In general, Sehr said most drivers respect the weight restrictions. "Ninety-eight percent are good about it, but it only takes one or two bad ones to damage a road," he said.

Minnesota State Patrol officers carry scales with them to periodically check for overweight vehicles.

In Minnesota, about 97 percent of county roads are subject to spring load restrictions, which can extend their life by about 10 percent.

The time frame for spring load restriction - always eight weeks - is determined by the Minnesota Department of Transportation .

The start date is determined by a thawing index and a three-day forecast.

Road crews have started repairing frost heaves on county gravel roads, but so far Sehr said local hard-surface roads haven't started showing damage from spring thaw.

Road construction slated for this year:
Major county road construction projects this year will include Lincoln Street in Luverne and County Road 2 in the northern part of the county.

Both roads will be totally reconstructed.

Lincoln Street (a county highway) will be reconstructed from Cedar Street east to Blue Mound Avenue.

County Road 2 work will be from County Road 7 (the east-west Hardwick road) north almost to Edgerton.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will work on Highway 75 from Luverne south to the Iowa border.

In addition, Rock County is planning to overlay 17 miles of road. This includes:
oCounty Road 6 (the north-south road between Hills and Beaver Creek) from County Road 4 (Old Highway 16) south to Hills.

oCounty Road 5 (which enters Luverne from the west by the bus garages), from Highway 23 west to the South Dakota border.

oCounty Road 7 (east-west road through Hardwick) from Highway 75 west to the South Dakota border.

Hills-Beaver Creek second-grader Eric H. Fick adds the finishing touches on the kite he designed Tuesday afternoon in the March craft class offered by Community Education.

Photo by Jolene Farley

By Sara Quam
The Luverne City Council received an update of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project at its Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting.

Luverne has been a member of the system for almost 11 years and just last year, the project received authorization to continue. Funding will continue to be an issue for the project that won’t reach Luverne's faucets for another 10 years.

President George W. Bush said during his recent stop in Sioux Falls, S.D., that the project is in next year's budget. But city utilities Coordinator Red Arndt hopes funding doesn't stop there.

Right now, Luverne has about $200,000 saved for payment to the system and, by the time it reaches Luverne, should have plenty in the fund. City water users shouldn't expect to see increased rates because of Lewis and Clark.

The next issue for the council to decide is how many gallons it wants designated for Luverne. It has already said it wanted to increase its allotment from 500,000 gallons a day to 750,000 gallons a day. But since first looking at those numbers, the price increase has changed because of increased Lewis and Clark memberships.

At 750,000 gallons a day, the city will owe $1.5 million, which is $785,000 more than it would cost to not increase the daily allotment. The city's portion of the costs is supplemented by 80 percent federal funding and another 10 percent from the state.

"Our increase will have to be decided on in a matter of weeks," Arndt said. The decision is up for a vote at the next council meeting April 10.

Council members indicated they leaned toward keeping the increased water allotment because in planning for the city's water needs up to 100 years in the future, industry needs may change to necessitate a larger water supply.

The cost of actual water once the city is on the system could decrease. Now the city pays $1.07 per 1,000 gallons but could end up paying 90¢ per 1,000 gallons with Lewis and Clark.

City vehicle
The city of Luverne has been investigating the benefits of leasing a vehicle for city employee use for a couple of months.

At the COW meeting Tuesday, the council narrowed options that will be voted on at an upcoming council meeting.

Last year, city employees and elected officials put about 35,000 miles on their personal vehicles and were reimbursed 32.5¢ per mile. With a leased vehicle from the state of Minnesota, the cost would drop to 24¢ per mile. The state leasing program replaces vehicles when they get past 60,000 miles.

The council is leaning toward leasing a Ford Taurus because it is able to run on 85 percent ethanol fuel.

Maintenance on the vehicle has to be done by certified dealers, which would keep some of the money local. The lease covers maintenance costs, and the city is responsible for insurance.

The council envisions the car to be used for lobbying trips to St. Paul and other city business. Employees will be asked to use the city vehicle before their own whenever possible to keep costs down.