If what recently happened in New Zealand is any indication, the way we resolve conflicts may soon change. According to Reuters news services, a $112,000 dispute between two telecommunications companies in that country was settled out of court in a most unusual way — a best-of-three arm-wrestling match. The chief executives of the two companies rolled up their sleeves and arm wrestled in an attempt to save legal expenses. "Sure, losing hurts," the defeated chief executive told Reuters, "but not nearly as much as paying lawyers bills." On a larger scale, arm wrestling could be a much more cost-effective way for our own country to settle courtroom disputes, elections and even international conflicts. In the long run, it may change the way we select our political leaders. The changes in our judicial system would be immediately obvious. Courtroom bailiffs, after setting the scene with their traditional cries of "Oyez, oyez, oyez!", would admonish plaintiffs and defendants in the courtroom, "Roll up your sleeves and keep your elbows on the tables." The judges-turned-referees would exchange their stately, black robes for black-and-white striped referee shirts. With several tables set up in the same courtroom and a referee assigned to each table, many cases could be settled at the same time, significantly reducing the long lists of cases waiting to be tried. A judicial system based on strong handgrips and upper arm strength would give new meaning to the expression, "the long arm of the law. " The arm wrestling approach to dispute resolution could extend beyond the walls of the courtroom and into local, state and national elections. Instead of running as traditional Republicans, Democrats and Independents, candidates would run for office as heavyweights, welterweights and lightweights. Brawn would replace brains, which already have been in painfully short supply in many elections. Instead of wearing three-piece suits and engaging in dreary political debates in New Hampshire, oil-coated presidential candidates would show their stuff at glitzy body-building contests held in Las Vegas. In an interesting twist, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura may have been a wave of the future. Eventually, wars and summit meetings could be replaced with arm wrestling contest between world leaders. It would no longer be necessary to spend countless billions of dollars on military efforts. The greatest expenditures would be for liniments and medications for pulled arm and shoulder muscles. The international playing fields would be leveled with one arm wrestler representing each country. It might be possible for the president of a tiny country to take on the world’s giants as armaments are replaced with simple human arms. It would be a great day for underdogs. In our own country, the right to bear arms would be second in importance to the right to bare arms and wrestle. We would finally be able to tell people, complaining about their problems, "Get a grip" — and really mean it.

Services for Darlene Ennenga will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at Engebretson Funeral Home in Luverne. The Rev. Mark Mumme will officiate. Burial is in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

Darlene Ennenga, 72, Luverne, died in Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D., on Sunday, July 22.

Darlene Vanderlinde was born to Hilko and Mary (Noske) Vanderlinde on Aug. 10, 1928, in Sioux Falls, S.D. She graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls. Following her education, she worked at MorrellÕs and then at Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator.

She married Herbert Ennenga on Jan. 18, 1950, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. Following their marriage they lived in Luverne and then moved to various farms in the local area. In 1970 they moved to Magnolia where she worked at Magnolia Steak House for many years. She entered Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne in October 1999. She was transferred to Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne on January 2000 to be with her husband. Mr. Ennenga died on Jan. 3, 2001. She entered Avera McKennan Hospital on May 21.

Mrs. Ennenga enjoyed singing and spending holidays and special occasions with her family.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Carla Ennenga, Magnolia; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lori and Jeffrey Wollman, Luverne, and Susan and Paul DePrez, Lucan; nine grandchildren, Rachel Ennenga and fiancŽ, Joe Schaffran, Elizabeth Ennenga, Emily DePrez, Amanda DePrez, Karley DePrez, McKenzie DePrez, Matthew DePrez, Taylor Wollman and Aaron Wollman; and one sister, Marie Whitney, Sioux Falls.

Mrs. Ennenga was preceded in death by her husband, three brothers, and five sisters.
Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Russell E. Cattnach, 87, Luverne, died Wednesday, July 18, 2001, in Luverne Community Hospital.

Services were Saturday, July 21, in United Methodist Church, Luverne. The Rev. Burton Blair officiated. Burial was in Old Woodlawn Cemetery, Pipestone.

Russell Cattnach was born to Jesse and Katie (Slack) Cattnach on Sept. 9, 1913, in Woonsocket, S.D., where he was raised. He attended the Sioux Falls School for the Deaf until the 9th grade. Following his education he worked for various farmers in the area. In 1942 he moved with his parents to Walla Walla, Wash., where he worked for a lumber company driving a CAT. When he retired in 1988 he moved to Luverne to be closer to his family He moved to Parkview Manor Nursing Home, Ellsworth, in June 2001. He entered Luverne Community Hospital on July 12.

Mr. Cattnach enjoyed playing pool and shuffleboard.

Survivors include one brother, Lyle Cattnach, Ravensdale, Wash.; one sister, Fern Keeton, Anderson, Calif.; one sister-in-law, Marian Cattnach, Luverne; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Cattnach was preceded in death by two brothers, Wallace and Lynn Cattnach, and one sister, Margaret Holmgren.

Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Irene Esther Barstad, 59, rural Luverne, died Saturday, July 21, 2001, at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Wednesday, July 25, at Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sioux Falls. The Rev. Richard Todden officiated. Burial was in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Steen.

Irene Kitchenmaster was born to Wesley and Alma (Funck) Kitchenmaster on Feb. 28, 1942, in Luverne. She attended elementary school in Steen. She graduated from Hills High School in 1960. After graduation she worked at A.R. Wood Manufacturing Co. in Luverne.

She married Noralf Barstad on July 7, 1963, in Luverne. After their marriage the couple lived on the family farm southeast of Luverne. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Barstad attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sioux Falls. She was active in Rock County extension clubs and Bible Study Fellowship in Sioux Falls.

Survivors include her husband, Noralf Barstad, rural Luverne; one son, Matt Barstad, Spencer, Iowa; her father, Wesley Kitchenmaster, and his wife, Mary, Luverne; one brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Mary Kitchenmaster, North Mankato; one brother-in-law, David Gehrke, Beaver Creek; aunts; uncles; cousins; and many friends.

Mrs. Barstad was preceded in death by her mother, Alma Kitchenmaster, and one sister, Lucille Gehrke.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Verlyn Junior Arp, 78, Hills, formerly of Beaver Creek, died Sunday, July 22, 2001, at Avera McKennan Hospice in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Services were Wednesday, July 25, at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. Burial was in Beaver Creek Cemetery, Beaver Creek.

Verlyn Arp was born to William and Blenda (Hass) Arp on Sept. 11, 1922, in Lyon County, Iowa. As a child they moved to a farm near Edgerton where he attended country school. Following his education he helped on the farm.

He married Luetta Scott on Aug. 16, 1942, in Luverne. Following their marriage they farmed near Jasper for two years. In 1944 he entered the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Arkansas and Japan. He returned from the service in 1946 and they moved to a farm near Hardwick. In 1951 they moved to Beaver Creek where he worked for A.R. Wood Manufacturing Co. in Luverne and was also manager of the Municipal Liquor Store in Beaver Creek until 1962. They then purchased the Phillips 66 station and cafŽ which they operated until 1975. He also was a rural mail carrier during this time. In 1978 he retired from the Post Office. Mrs. Arp preceded him in death on March 22, 1998. He continued to live in Beaver Creek until the spring of 2000 when he entered Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. On July 21 he entered Avera McKennan Hospital.
Mr. Arp was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. He was a lifetime member of the Luverne V.F.W., Rural Letter Carrier Association, and was a member of the volunteer fire department for 25 years. He loved to fish and play cards.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Roxy Arp, Valley Springs, S.D., and Jerry and Becky Arp, Sioux Falls; one daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Rodney Hadler, Hills; 13 grandchildren, Brad, Danette, Mark, Tracy, Kelly, Rob, Jodi, Nathan, Dustin, Jessica, Rebecca and Lee; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Arp was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Luetta, and one son, William.
Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys upped their Red Rock Conference basketball record to 5-2 with a 69-51 win over Red Rock Central in Lamberton Friday.

Brad Haak and David Top led a Patriot offense that connected on 50 percent of its field goals in the game.

Haak, who snared eight rebounds and came up with four steals in the game, netted a season-high 26 points to lead the Patriots in scoring. He was 10 of 18 shooting from the floor.

Top, who had three assists, never missed a shot in the game while netting 15 points. He was seven of seven from the field and one of one at the line.

With Haak and Top setting the pace, H-BC took control of the game in the second half by outscoring the Falcons 29-16.

H-BC turned a five-point halftime cushion into an 11-point (52-41) advantage by the end of the third quarter.

The Patriots outscored the hosts 17-10 in the final eight minutes of play to win by 18.

H-BC sported 21-17 and 40-35 advantages at the first two quarter breaks.

Matt Buck contributed 11 points, nine rebounds and five steals to the winning cause. Darin DeBoer added three assists.

The Patriots outrebounded the Falcons 35-12 in the game.

Box score
Metzger 0 0 0-0 0, D.DeBoer 1 0 0-0 2, Roozenboom 0 0 0-0 0, Van Maanen 0 0 1-2 1, Haak 10 0 6-9 26, Leuthold 2 0 1-2 5, L.DeBoer 3 1 0-0 9, Van Wyhe 0 0 0-0 0, Top 7 0 1-1 15, Buck 3 0 5-7 11, Krull 0 0 0-0 0.

Team statistics
H-BC: 27 of 54 field goals (50 percent), 14 of 21 free throws (67 percent), 35 rebounds, 19 turnovers.
RRC: 16 of 47 field goals (34 percent), 15 of 21 free throws (71 percent), 12 rebounds, 18 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek girls' basketball team earned the right to play another night after winning the rubber game of a three-tilt season series against Southwest Christian Saturday in Worthington.

Taking on the sixth-seeded E-Gals in the quarterfinal-round of the South Section 3A Girls' Basketball Tournament, the third-seeded Patriots overcame an early deficit to post a 44-43 victory.

The game was tight from beginning to end, and it was decided by the fact that H-BC turned the ball over 14 fewer times than SWC did (25-11) throughout the contest.

"We did a good job of limiting our number of turnovers, which I thought ended up being the difference in the game," said Patriot coach Tom Goehle. "It was a great game. We were really aggressive defensively, and we played well overall."

The rubber game of the season series also proved to be the most entertaining one between the two long-time rivals.

H-BC secured a comfortable 43-33 win in the season's first meeting in Edgerton Dec. 6. SWC evened the score by toppling the Patriots 51-31 in Hills Feb. 7.

Neither team had a double-figure lead in SaturdayÕs tournament game.

SWC got off to a good start by taking a 14-11 lead in the first quarter, but the Patriots went on an 11-4 scoring run to gain a 22-18 halftime advantage.

The Patriots increased their lead to six points (34-28) by the end of the third period, and led by four to nine points during most of the fourth quarter.

SWC, which made three three-pointers in the final 1:30, found itself trailing by two points before Jody Rentschler canned a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to play to make it a 44-40 game.

Another three by the E-Gals made it a 44-43 difference, and SWC got the ball back when H-BC missed a pair of charity shots with 1.6 seconds remaining. SWC, however, never did get off a shot before the final horn sounded.

Post Erin Boeve led the Patriots to victory with a 16-point, 12-rebound, five-blocked shot and four-steal performance.

Senior wing Becky Broesder also came up big for the winners, scoring 11 points, coming down with six rebounds and recording three steals and three assists.

Cassi Tilstra had four steals and three assists for H-BC, and Brittney Rozeboom chipped in three steals.

Box score
B.Rozeboom 1 0 0-0 2, B.Olson 1 0 0-0 2, Rentschler 1 0 2-2 4, Tilstra 2 0 1-4 5, Broesder 4 0 3-4 11, S.Rozeboom 0 0 0-0 0, DeNoble 1 0 2-3 4, Boeve 7 0 2-4 16.

Team statistics
H-BC: 17 of 53 field goals (32 percent), 10 of 18 free throws (56 percent), 27 rebounds, 11 turnovers.
SWC: 17 of 43 field goals (40 percent), two of eight free throws (25 percent), 31 rebounds, 25 turnovers.

By John Rittenhouse
The Hills Thunder was unable to break into the win column in amateur baseball when they entertained the Pipestone A's in Hills Sunday.

The Thunder played Pipestone to a draw at three through four innings of play, but the A's outscored Hills 8-0 over the final five innings to secure an 11-3 win.

The teams exchanged single runs in the first, second and fourth innings of a game that had the look of being a close contest at that point.

Pipestone, however, blanked Hills over the final five innings while plating two runs in the fourth inning and six in the ninth to win by eight.

Jarud Lange, who went the distance on the mound and took the loss for Hills, tied the game at one in the bottom of the first when he singled and scored on a single by Matt Funke.

Hills knotted the score at two in the bottom of the second when Chris Harnack reached base on a fielder's choice before scoring on a single by Eric Harnack.

Chris Harnack doubled in the fourth and tied the score at three when he raced home on a single by Lang.

Lang, who led the Thunder with three hits, yielded 13 hits and three walks during a nine-inning stint on the hill. He recorded seven strikeouts.

Funke and Chris Harnack slapped two hits each at the plate.

The 0-3 Thunder host Wilmont at 4 p.m. Saturday. A hog roast will take place during the game. Hills travels to Hadley Sunday for a 2 p.m. tilt.