By John Rittenhouse
Hills-Beaver Creek recorded its second consecutive boys' basketball win by upending Minneota 69-58 in Hills Tuesday.

The home-standing Patriots opened a big lead in the first eight minutes of play and made it stand up while posting an 11-point victory.

H-BC now has won two straight games after starting the campaign with a 0-3 mark.

The Patriots will try to extend their winning streak when they host Southwest Christian and Central Lyon tomorrow and Monday respectively.

A solid first quarter proved to be the difference for H-BC against the Vikings.

The Patriots raced to a 22-9 cushion in the first eight minutes of play. Minneota played the hosts evenly the rest of the game but never did overcome H-BC's solid start.

"We got off to a great start," said Patriot coach Steve Wiertzema. "We were up 22-9, and we were really playing well. We played evenly the rest of the way."

Minneota trimmed H-BC's lead to 11 points (41-30) by halftime, but the difference remained at 11 points when the third (56-47) and fourth quarters (69-58) were complete.

Matt Buck, who led the Patriots with nine rebounds and 24 points, tossed in 17 points in the first half.

Lance Crawford, who added five rebounds, netted seven of his nine points to lead H-BC in scoring during the second half.

Chris Fransman added 13 points and three steals to the winning cause.

Lyle DeBoer contributed five rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Brad Haak chipped in six assists and five steals.

Box score
D.DeBoer 0 0 0-1 0, Van Batavia 1 0 0-0 2, Van Maanen 1 0 0-0 2, Fransman 5 1 0-0 13, Haak 2 0 3-7 7, L.DeBoer 2 0 0-0 4, Van Wyhe 1 0 0-0 2, Top 2 0 2-2 6, Crawford 4 0 1-1 9, Buck 9 1 3-7 24.

Team statistics
H-BC: 29 of 57 field goals (51 percent), nine of 18 free throws (50 percent), 31 rebounds, 30 turnovers.
Minneota: 24 of 62 (39 percent), 10 of 16 free throws (63 percent), 22 rebounds, 27 turnovers.

Miranda Jurczewsky (left) and Brent VandenBussche enjoy playing outside during a break from harsh winter weather Thursday, Dec. 7. It was sunny that day, and temperatures were tolerable. Both children are cared for at the Lois Shaffer day care in Beaver Creek.

Township road signs are an increasingly important issue in rural Rock County with all surrounding counties having similar signage in place.

The only factor that has so far prevented the county from completing the signs is cost - about $70,000 for the project.

The issue was addressed at a joint townships and county board meeting Friday, Dec. 8, with an informal tally resulting in an almost even split among those in favor of, against or undecided about signs.

Terri Ebert, Rock County Sheriff Department dispatcher, said that in her opinion, it's a necessary expenditure.

Ebert said one cause for the need is that without rural addresses, US West doesn't give the sheriff's office updates on its new customers' locations.

Just Tuesday, that situation came into play when a woman called 911 and the only information dispatchers received on their computer system was her telephone number. They received no location and no name, which would have helped dispatchers get help to her. In this case, the woman could tell the dispatcher where she was, but not all people who call 911 are able to do that.

"We have the computers and the capability; we just need the addresses," Ebert said. "We try to have directions ready, but the old system that went by those directions is obsolete."

If the county goes ahead with the signing project, rural route addresses would become street addresses with house numbers, and the dispatch mapping system would correspond with those.

Emergency crews responding to the dispatches now follow directions by a plat map with information on township, section numbers and other directions to the location. But in cases of newly located residents or children who can't say where they are, that system may not work.

"We don't want to be playing games when it's people's lives," Ebert said.

Dispatchers aren't the only personnel looking forward to an organized numbering system to roads. Delivery companies, service workers and people trying to find a business or residence in rural areas usually find road signs more helpful than not.

A matter of cost
Township board members who said they weren't interested in the project indicated they either thought it was unnecessary or too costly.

For those who thought it was a matter of cost, they learned most other counties have split the cost with townships. With almost 540 signs needed within the county, the cost to townships would be almost $5,000 each, which the county would likely pay for initially and then get reimbursed for.

County Engineer Mark Sehr has mapped a tentative numbering system that will match Pipestone and Nobles counties. He said he chose to use numbers instead of named roads because they are easier to follow as a driver and because signs with names are more likely to be vandalized or stolen.

The dollar amount townships may be asked to pay is the estimate if the signs are done this year. That could increase with each year the project is postponed.

The county would pay all the costs for the computer mapping system, but it is uncertain who would be responsible for maintenance.

The meeting with the townships was for information only, and no decisions were made. The county wants input from the townships, although their approval is not needed to go forward with signing the roads.

Hills-Beaver Creek students in grades K-6 perform the song "Sing of Christmas Time" Thursday for their Christmas program, "A Rainbow Christmas." Jodi Ackerman is the vocal director.

The Hills-Beaver Creek bus drivers are a dedicated group. They transport area students to and from school in all kinds of weather.

Recently, winter weather has added stress to their jobs. "The cold weather is worse," said bus driver John Tilstra. There were plenty of places the plows hadn't been over yet when he started his afternoon bus route Tuesday, according to Tilstra.

He was quick to say other drivers on the road were usually cautious. He said it has been several years since he has had to report a driver.

The Hills-Beaver Creek School provided the following rules for bus safety.
School Bus Safety
Getting children to and from school safely each day is serious business. Every year, thousands of children are injured in school busÐrelated accidents. Many of these accidents can be prevented if children know and follow these rules for bus safety:

-"Rushing" roulette. When children are late for the bus, they concentrate more on getting aboard than on safety. Too often, accidents result. Set your morning routine so that your child arrives at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is due.

-Stay in the "safe zone." Bus drivers have blind spots because of bus design, and many children have been injured because the bus driver simply didn't see them. Tell your children to always stay in the "safe zone" - at least 10 feet in front of the bus.

-Save the horseplay. Bus stops are not playgrounds. Goofing around while waiting for the bus, especially if the play extends into the street, can be deadly. Make sure your children understand the danger.

-One at a time. Every child wants to get a "good" seat, but it's important for children to take their time entering the bus, lining up in single file and not trying to push their way through a swarm.

-No distractions. Children may think that bus rules - no shouting, no throwing things, no horseplay - are just to keep them in line, but there are serious safety issues involved. They should understand the importance of never distracting the bus driver.

-Stay put. Children are so eager to leave the bus that they often start for the front before the bus has stopped. Let them know that they should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before leaving their seats.

-Cut the ties. Clothing with drawstrings can be a real danger because loose strings can get caught on bus handrails. To be safe, remove drawstrings from your children's jackets and look for backpacks that don't have drawstrings.

-Heads up. A dropped book can turn into a serious accident if the bus driver doesn't see it. Tell your children to let the bus driver know immediately if they drop something while getting on or off the bus.

-The inside story. As tempting as it might be to wave through an open window on a sunny day, children need to understand the importance of keeping their hands, arms and heads inside the bus.

-Getting there. Figure out the safest route to and from the bus stop and walk it with your children a few times. Make sure they cross streets only at crosswalks or corners, never darting out between parked cars, and that they always look both ways before crossing.

It takes only a few minutes to review these bus safety tips with your children. Please, make the time.

With annexation complete, the Hills City Council was able to approve a building permit for the Tuff Memorial Assisted Living Facility at its meeting Tuesday night.

Necessary documentation was finally received from the state of Minnesota. Council member Dana Dahlquist abstained from the vote since he also serves as Tuff Home Administrator.

The council also approved a building permit for the Hills-Beaver Creek School District bus barn in Hills.

Community fitness center
City Attorney Doug Eisma and H-BC Superintendent Tom Knoll were present Tuesday to update the council on the status of a community fitness center project.

"We want to conduct a public meeting before we allocate any money," Knoll said, speaking for the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board.

Eisma suggested several possible funding sources for the council and School Board to pursue.

Among others, he suggested approaching Rock County for funding. "A lot of communities are starting to wake up and say education and fitness are forever. Twenty years ago you wouldn't see a joint venture between a school, city and county," said Eisma.

Since the building would be on school property, Eisma recommended ownership of the building eventually revert to the school district if the city became involved in the project.

"The city wouldn't have an asset when the dust settles, but that is not your purpose," Eisma said to the council. "It would benefit the community."

In other business:
•The council reviewed bids to refinish the wood floors in the Legion building. The project was awarded to the lowest bidder Reed Forster who bid $2,220.

•No concerned taxpayers attended the Truth in Taxation meeting which was called to order at 6 p.m. The council scheduled a hearing to adopt the city’s levy at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in City Hall. This year's levy is $24,104, a decrease of 16.6% over last year’s levy of $28,104.

•Christmas tree pickup was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 22.

•The council opened bids for the road grader and '57 Chevrolet fire truck. Jeff Williams, Canton, S.D., was the high bidder on both vehicles. The council passed separate motions to accept the high bids. Williams bid $2204 for the road grader and $1511 for the fire truck.

Residents to vote on gym bond next month
When district residents voted on the elementary school bond in December 1998, they were also asked to vote on construction of a new $2 million gym. It was narrowly rejected by a vote of 502 to 466.

That issue will again appear on a ballot on Dec. 19. This time, voters will be asked to support a $2.62 million bond for a gymnasium and multipurpose room at the high school.

Improvements are needed to provide space for physical education, athletic and community recreation activities.

According to reports from the Department of Children Families and Learning, AdrianÕs current gymnasium is outdated and ranks among the bottom 10 percent of physical education, athletic and community recreation spaces in the state.
Plans call for new construction to include:

oCompetition-level gym designed for two sections of physical education and bleacher seating for 800,

oTwo varsity locker rooms with an office, toilet and shower facilities,

oAdditional uniform storage and laundry facilities,

oFitness and weight training room with an area for aerobics and adjacent toilets,

oOffice/dressing and shower room for visiting referees, staff and coaches,

oMulitpurpose room large enough to accommodate wrestling mats and physical education programs,

oLobby space with a concession/ticket stand,

oPupil rest rooms as required by assembly space and occupancy codes.

Since the bond was so narrowly defeated in 1998, supporters are optimistic it will pass this ti

The annual Festival of Trees kicks off Christmas at the Carnegie with 32 creatively decorated Christmas trees in the Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne. Each tree is decorated by a different local organization, family or group of individuals. The tradition was started more than five years ago when Charlie Braa filled the Carnegie with his own decorated trees Ð each with its own theme. Braa, the long-time Rock County auditor, died in 1996, but his tradition of Carnegie trees lives on.

* * * * *
Christmas at the Carnegie wouldn't be complete without the traditional family tree in memory of Charlie Braa. This year, his tree follows a tea party theme of gingerbread men, teapots, teacups and saucers. Pictured are his daughter, Kathe Stearns, and her daughter, Addie Stearns.

Charlie's widow, Luella Braa, connects homemade gingerbread men with hooks. Charlie's sister, Jan Baustian, made 130 gingerbread men and two dozen miniature gingerbread men (about an inch tall) in her own kitchen from applesauce and cinnamon.

Charlie's granddaughter, Addie Stearns, helped make the teapots, which started with large round ornaments adorned with polymer clay for a base, handle, spout and lid. The tree sports more than 48 of the handmade teapots. The project was a family affair, according to Kathe. "Charlie never had a traditional tree," she said. "Every year we do something different. He would be proud of us. We get together right after Christmas and decide what we're going to do the next year. Then we buy everything on clearance."

Another of Charlie's daughters, Karen Vogel, Rapid City, S.D., came up with the teapot idea and made hers and sent them home. Their sister, Carla Sirorine, even sent a few from her home in Missouri.

Students and staff at Adrian Elementary School are settled into their new classrooms and offices since construction was completed this fall.

"I think the people are just really amazed that this really happened, that they have this new school," Adrian Elementary Principal Russ Lofthus said Monday. "I don't think people realized how nice it was going to be. They're very proud of what they have here."

In December 1998, taxpayers in the Adrian School District said "yes" to a $4.9 million bond referendum for improvements to the district's elementary school facilities. It passed easily with a vote of 637 to 374.

"The reason it was so successful is that we had so many people in the community get involved in the process who took a real interest in it and got the information out to the public," Lofthus told the Star Herald after it passed.

Prior to construction, the early childhood special education, kindergarten and first-grade classes met in the high school, and grades 2-6 met in the elementary building.

Students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade are all now in the newly improved elementary building, and sixth-graders moved to what is now the middle school wing of the high school.

Lofthus said it's nice that all elementary students are now together, rather than in two separate buildings. AdrianÕs elementary enrollment has been holding steady, with three sections per grade. There are 320 students in grades K-5.

Renovations to parts of the 1954 building included adding 10 classrooms to the north and east sides plus a media center, art and music classrooms, a cafeteria and a full-service kitchen.

Construction also included new kindergarten and preschool rooms and new elementary office areas.

The 1912 elementary building, although charming with high ceilings, ornate woodwork and squeaking floors, will be demolished during Christmas break. The work was approved as part of the of the bond.

Lofthus said community members had a chance to salvage woodwork, doors, mop boards and other pieces of the old school during an auction earlier this year. "So they could save a piece of the past," he said.

The building didn't meet current fire safety codes nor was it accessible to people with mobility handicaps. The three-story building has bathrooms only in the basement and the electrical system cannot begin to meet the demands of computers.