Rock County's youth detention facility could be one of the most misunderstood businesses around. Pinnacle Programs and Praxis, both in the former Magnolia school, are about education and reformation Ñ just a little different than may be expected.

Pinnacle is the boys-only, live-in program made up of boys sent by corrections departments in various counties and states. Praxis is a day-only school in which both male and female students from the area are sent by schools that feel students need additional attention, usually because of behavioral problems.

Right now, things are going well for the facility, for Pinnacle in particular. Rebecca Dreesen, group leader, said, "We're filled to capacity [at 22] and we're considering increasing the license to allow up to 35."

After employee Sharon Smidstra was convicted in November 1999 of sexual crimes against residents, there was a slip in enrollment.

Smidstra is now serving time for those crimes, and Dreesen said the initial enrollment loss has been more than made up for. Pinnacle has re-established itself as a quality facility that has learned from its mistakes. Dreesen said the Smidstra problems, if nothing else, have taught staff how to better see signs of trouble.

Dreesen credits the strong usage of the program to a skilled staff consisting of fully-accredited teachers, counselors and a recreational therapist. Anger management and chemical dependency are regular parts of the curriculum.

The facility itself isn't what many may remember as Magnolia Public School. Carpeting, paint and remodeling have changed the look and feel into residential, rather than institutional.

Many of the Pinnacle residents are sent because of crimes that courts deem justification for removal from their homes. Dreesen said theft, truancy and vandalism are the main offenses that residents have committed. And because Pinnacle is a non-secure facility, it wouldn't handle felons or severely violent offenders.

"They're not bad kids," Dreesen said. "We have some with behavior problems, but others go out and work in the community."

Blue Mound Inn, Luverne, has been a steady employer of Pinnacle boys, who also help at various events like Arts in the Park during Buffalo Days. Any work that the youth don't get paid for is considered community service, which most have been sentenced to serve. The Blue Mound Woodcarvers just requested some help from the boys, and the boys also volunteer at places such as the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.

Other times, the Green Earth Players have performed a dress rehearsal at Pinnacle and church groups or senior citizens have visited for socials. Isolation is not a part of the programming.

A home in the middle of nowhere
Having to drive a distance to reach even a bus depot is a benefit to the program, Dreesen said. "I think it's a big plus. We haven't had anyone run for a year, and where are they going to go?"

With many of the students coming from Omaha or St. Paul, Dreesen said they may enjoy country life differently than our own Rock County residents do.

"One helped a farmer do castrations, and he just thought that was the most amazing thing. Another boy helps the neighbors shovel their snow. It's new to them," Dreesen said.

More than anything, Pinnacle tries to provide a stable life for its residents. Strict schedules and rules fill the boys' days, and any outside work or activities are considered a reward for following the regimen.

Mark Raymon, line supervisor and trainer, works with the residents all day as they go about their activities and classes. He also tries to work with them on physical challenges like rope climbing to instill self-trust, self-esteem and motivation in the students.

Friday he took a group to a hockey game in Sioux Falls and said itÕs fun to relate to them outside the usual environment. "It's fun to see the changes in them," Raymon said.

"Some of their family lives haven't been the best," Dreesen said. "Some call this their home and donÕt want to leave."

Even when they leave, some have kept in contact with the program facilitators. "We just had a student who was discharged five months ago who called Saturday to check in with us," Dreesen said. "And we ran into another one when we were at a conference in Omaha."

Those strong ties, Dreesen said, are formed because of good staff and administration team efforts.

Pinnacle and Praxis employ about 35 people.

The Rock County Board forwarded a liability claim to its insurance company Tuesday for crop damage resulting from county weed spraying.

Howard Van Wyhe, Beaver Creek, requested reimbursement of $645 for crop damage (150 bushels of soybeans at $4.30 a bushel).

The damage was actually caused by cattle that ate hay from a ditch that had been sprayed. When the cattle digested the hay, their waste products transferred the chemical to the ground where the beans were later planted.

The highway department had advertised, countywide, in the newspaper, shopper and on radio that hay on Rock County roadways shouldnÕt be harvested for 30 days after spraying.

The county will continue to advertise spraying schedules and haying recommendations next year to prevent similar problems.

1999 audit
The Board also heard a favorable audit report from Roger Albertson, state auditor for the region.

Last year the county reserves lost more than would have been ideal but still has 10 months of operating costs in the general fund reserves. On the other end, welfare has less than a month in reserves.

Albertson found no gaping problems in the figures presented by the county and said overall, Rock County looks better than most counties in the region.

"You're not in financial stress. There are some ups and downs, but that's common," Albertson said.

Cost estimates range between $80,000 and $100,000 to renovate the basement locker rooms in the Hills-Beaver Creek High School, according to Superintendent Tom Knoll.

Representatives from the architect firm Spitznagel's visited the sight and offered Knoll estimates for construction plans.

Costs to construct a 5,780 square feet addition with locker rooms and a community fitness center off the south side of the gym would be approximately $500,000, according to Knoll. Construction costs break down to about $89 per sqare foot.

"We have a fund balance, but I don't recommend you proceed with a $500,000 project," Knoll said. Knoll recommended that the board not deplete the district's general fund for the project.

Other board members seemed to agree that the figure is high, even with financial contributions from the city of Hills.

"I agree this figure is too much. If the figures aren't there we need to look at other options with less square footage," said board member Ann Boeve. " We need to visit with the city again to see what they are willing to contribute."

Band Trip
In other school business Monday night, Dawn Griepp represented the Music Parents Association with a request for music students to travel the first week of April. Possible destinations include Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Denver, or Winnipeg. The MPA is collecting cost estimates for each destination.

Griepp said students would attend a show and not perform or the seven band members not in choir would join for the trip and the choir would perform. Band instruments would be left home to decrease travel and insurance costs.

The board encouraged Griepp and the MPA to incorporate both a performance and a musical educational experience into the trip.

"I would rather see them perform," said Rollie Crawford. "Tours are for showing off talent."

Technology
The server at the elementary school was struck by lightning the last week in October. The new server under consideration would increase Internet sites at the school. The district will receive some insurance reimbursement.

Boiler repair
A motion passed to update the high school boiler during the summer of 2001 after the board reviews quotes.

Conferences
Attendance at secondary conferences was 85%. All but one family attended elementary conferences.

Hills Council members reviewed figures concerning tax assessor contracts at their meeting Tuesday evening.

Rock County officials submitted a contract for $4,780, which City Clerk Connie Wiertzema said didnÕt match up with a verbal quote of $4,561.

The council tabled the issue until the next meeting while Wiertzema contacts Rock County officials about the change in the contract.

Community fitness center
Superintendent Tom Knoll updated the council on the locker and fitness room project.

Knoll asked the council what amount the city was willing to contribute toward the project. He said a community fitness center with locker rooms would be a $500,000-plus project
.
"We could just build on 2,400 square feet of locker room for $200,000 and be done with the issue," said Knoll," but our athletes would use a fitness center."

Knoll said the district has the option to levy taxpayers for Americans With Disability dollars in next year's levy.

The district has used only $100,000 of the $300,000 allowed for bathroom construction. Some of these ADA dollars could possibly be used for construction.

The district could also levy for lease payments, according to Knoll. If the city were to fund the addition, the school could lease the facility back from the city.

Council members instructed Wiertzema to invite their legal counsel to the next meeting about contributing to the project.

"We need things in town to keep people here or to bring people here," said Mayor George Langford.

In other news, a building permit could not be issued for the Tuff Home Assisted Living Apartments until annexation is complete.

According to Wiertzema, the information is waiting for state approval. Councilman Dana Dahlquist stated that the Tuff Home needs to finalize its loan by Jan. 1, and that cannot be done without the permit. He plans to contact the state.

The liquor license for KellyÕs Roadhouse Bar was renewed.

A motion passed to accept election results.

The council discussed snow removal. A notice will be published informing residents of their responsibilities.

According to statute, if a vehicle is unlicensed or not used, it is an abandoned vehicle and must be garaged or hauled away, according to Mayor George Langford. Wiertzema was instructed to send letters to some Hills residents concerning this issue.

In Economic Development Authority news, American Salvage remains open for business. Owners plan to allow more merchandise to be sold before they close the store.

Councilman Jim Jellema has a prospective renter for the building. The council authorized him to offer rent of $250 per month not including utilities.

Hills-Beaver Creek School invited grandparents to eat lunch with their grandchildren on Tuesday as part of their American Education Week celebration. Sierra Wilgenburg (left) and her grandmother, Sue Bartels, enjoy the tasty meal served by the school.

By John Rittenhouse

A Rock County athlete could help take the Augustana College volleyball team to an event it has never been to before.

Tara Boeve, a 1999 Hills-Beaver Creek High School graduate, and the rest of the Viking spikers are gearing up for the NCAA Division 2 North Central Region Volleyball Tournament they will host at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls today through Saturday.

Augustana is the No. 1 seed for the eight-team, single elimination tournament, and a pair of wins would send the team to the Elite Eight National Tournament for the first time in school history.

Boeve, a starting middle blocker for the Vikings, hopes this could be the year Augustana makes it to the Elite Eight.

The Vikings have made it to the regional tournament for the past five years and seven times in school history, but the closest they came to advancing to the national event was making it to the regional championship game once and losing that match.

"We have five seniors on the team this year, so we really should do well," Boeve said. "They have come close (to winning the regional) before, and this is their chance to do it. It will be tough because any team involved has a good chance to win it. If we play at the top of our game, we'll have as good a chance as anyone to win our region."

The tournament opens tonight with No. 3 University of Nebraska-Omaha taking on No. 6 Moorhead State University at 6 p.m. The winner of that match plays No. 2 South Dakota State University at 6 p.m. Friday. No. 3 University of Northern Colorado plays No. 4 North Dakota State University at 7:30 p.m. tonight, and the winner takes on Augustana at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

The championship match is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.

Kim Suedbeck-Marcil, head coach of the nationally sixth-ranked Vikings, agrees with Boeve that any team involved could win the region title.

"All of these teams are pretty evenly matched. This region has five of the nationÕs top 16 ranked teams, and four of the nation's top 10 ranked teams. It will be an interesting tournament," Suedbeck-Marcil stated.

If the Vikings do make it to the Elite Eight, Boeve will be part of the reason why.

The former H-BC Patriot was recruited as a middle hitter, but she spent a good share of her freshman season playing as an outside hitter for the Vikings.

Boeve was asked to play the middle blocker position this season, and her coach said she made a successful transition.

"Tara's natural position is middle hitter, but she played as an outside hitter for three-quarters of the matches last year. After her freshman year, we decided to move her to a middle blocker position. She has done a tremendous job in the front row, blocking-wise in particular. She's definitely become an impact player. We thought she could make an impact as a middle blocker, and she has," Suedbeck-Marcil said.

Boeve has registered 75 total blocks this season, eight being solo blocks and 65 of the assisted-block variety. She also has recorded 125 kills and 19 digs.

In her two-year college career, Boeve has 99 total blocks (84 assisted blocks and 15 solo blocks), 248 kills and 43 digs.

Boeve said moving from the outside position to the middle position has improved her statistical output.

"It is a little different than last year, but I do like it better. I'm more comfortable now," she said.

Fate hampered Boeve's position transition early in the year.

During a September pre-season tournament in Denver, Colo., Boeve landed on the foot of a player while returning to the floor at the end of a leap. What she thought was a sprained ankle was determined to be a slight fracture, which put Boeve on crutches for two-plus weeks and off the court for more than one month.
"She missed about six weeks of our season," Suedbeck-Marcil said. "That's a lot of time off in this sport. Volleyball is a sport in which players progress by getting more and more reps (repetitions), and her ankle injury hurt her in that way. As far as being over the injury, sheÕs getting there."

Boeve said the ankle still is sore, but she claims the mental aspect of the setback is what hurts the most right now.

"I missed the rest of our pre-season tournaments and most of the first half of our conference schedule. It's hard now because most players are peaking at this time of the season, and I'm just getting to that level now," she said.

Even with a sore ankle, Boeve will be expected to make some contributions at the net for the Vikings at the Elmen Center tomorrow and Saturday. If Augustana College is to qualify for the Elite Eight for the first time, a total team effort will be required to win the regional.

Annually the South Dakota Junior Chamber of Commerce selects and honors Ten Outstanding Young South Dakotans. The award spotlights outstanding individuals who use their talents to their fullest potential.

Nominated by the Hartford Jaycees, Patty Reker Toben, formerly of Beaver Creek, is among the 2000 award recipients.

Patricia lives with her husband, Brad, in Brandon. She grew up in Beaver Creek with her parents, Dale and Nyla Reker, and her brother, Troy.

Patricia graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelorÕs degree in music education and has been bringing music into the lives of children for the past seven years.

"I am pretty excited. It is an honor," Patty said when contacted. "I am dedicated to students' needs."

She has worked in the West Central School System where for the last two years she has directed 168 students in elementary and middle school band.

Patty gives freely of her time to help young children become their best, as both musicians and community members, through private lessons and church-related activities.

The students she touches take pride in their achievements as ensembles and celebrate victories as individuals.

"I find nothing more satisfying than knowing that I'm teaching children expression, as well as organization and accountability, through music," Patty writes. "Watching them grow and mature is wonderful, and there is nothing I would rather do with my life!"

Patricia is a member of the Augustana University Community Band. In the past she has performed in the South Dakota Symphony, Sioux Falls Municipal Band, Sioux City Symphony, Sioux City Municipal Band, Yankton Area Summer Band, Vermillion Arts Council Summer Musical and Bloomington Community Band.

The award ceremony will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Roncalli Center on Mount Marty Campus, Yankton. To order tickets or for more information call 605-256-6246 or 605-996-6308.

Members of the cast and crew of "The Purple Fan" have been rehearsing for the fall play since mid-September. Pictured are (in front, from left) Brent Van Aartsen, Barry Hoogland, (second row) Emily Brandel, Melissa Boeve, Lexi Jauert, Allana Gacke, Laura Vogt, Danielle Deragisch, Jocelyn Alschlager, Ashley Gacke, Katie Kannenberg, Hannah Breyfogle, (third row) Daniel Amborn, Katie Jauert, Kyle Bitterman, Katie Walgrave, Cara Wynia, Jamison Tooley, (last row, standing) Sarah Foerster, Austin Hoiland, Matt Hamann, Ali Ceynowa, Morgan Rider, Sandra Willers, Dawn Holtrop, Darren Fransen, director Carol Ceynowa and Dustin Donth.

Performances of "The Purple Fan" will be Nov. 16, 17 and 18 in the Luverne High School theater. The play is set thousands of years ago in China. The story is about a beggar, My Ling, who uncovers a magical purple fan and a ghost named Quen. My Ling is the only one who can see the playful ghost, and she realizes the purple fan is the only way to find the princess who has been lost for several years. The beggar sets off to find the princess, because the emperor has offered great riches to the one who locates his daughter. Along the way she encounters many obstacles and adventures.

"I chose this play because of the artistic challenge," Ceynowa was quoted as saying in the school paper, the Echo. "This is a senior college play that I was given no dance or music for, so I have artistic reign over all of it. It's like being given a picture that has only one third of the lines drawn and you get to complete it the way you think it would be."

By Lori Ehde
New Luverne Teacher of the Year Bill Thompson loves his job for the same reason his students love his classes.

"It's all hands-on work, and we get to be creative," he said Monday. "The technology is always changing, and it's a challenge to come up with new projects. It's never boring as some lecture-based classes. It's creating, and we do such a wide variety of projects."

Since fall 1992 Thompson has taught high school graphic arts and seventh-grade technology education.

In graphic arts, students learn screen printing, desktop publishing and offset printing. Seventh-grade technology education includes problem solving projects such as bridge building, mousetrap-powered cars, CO2 dragsters, drafting and screen printing.

Thompson was honored Monday by his peers in the Luverne Education Association as the 2001 Teacher of the Year.

"It means a lot coming from your peers," he said. "It's nice to be recognized and noticed."

Thompson's peers had nice things to say about him in their nominations.

"He has turned around that Industrial Tech program in his years here," said Joel Swanson, last year's Teacher of the Year. "He is a positive influence on our kids and in our community."

Dennis Moritz had this to say about Thompson: "Bill does a fantastic job as a teacher here at Luverne. His graphic arts program more than prepares students for the world of work. He is very innovative in his teaching methods, organized and is very patient."

An unsigned nomination read, "His students have a great deal of respect for him and take pride in the projects and assignments he provides for them."

Another one, unsigned, said, "Bill spends more of his own time trying to meet the demands of his students along with many of the staff. He does this with the most professional manner and willingness. His attitude is remarkable, always a smile on his face. He brings credibility and accountability to all of his programs. He has and will continue to go the extra mile."

Thompson said he appreciates the recognition, but he said the district has been good to him, too.

"If you have a good program, the Luverne School District supports the program you have, whether its science or industrial technology," he said, pointing out that when his program needs new equipment, the administration has been generous in allowing it.

"This is a good school and a good area. We're from the Twin Cities and people ask us why we came here. It's because it's a great school system and a positive, progressive community."

Thompson said the job itself has its own rewards.

"Many of the students do well here because of the hands-on nature of the courses and that they create personalized projects. Some of the kids that struggle in other areas find that they can succeed here because learning can be fun, too," he said.

"It's not just a class for fun. It's a class where they learn possible career choices and computer-based skills as well. The computer and related technology has pretty much revolutionized the printing industry and how we teach."

The industrial tech and graphic arts program used to suffer from low student participation. "My first year here, I had probably 45-50 high school kids in my classes. In recent years, it's been well over 100 students. Sometimes students who register late don't get in."

Thompson said part of the appeal may be the finished, personalized products the students get to take with them, such as graduation announcements, thank-you cards and business cards.

T-shirts are also popular projects, especially those designed for Luverne athletic teams.

Thompson said much of what he's learned about students and teaching has come from current and recently retired teachers in Luverne. "All the veteran teachers who have retired in the last few years have really been helpful," he said.

Nominations for Teacher of the Year are invited from all LEA members, and the new Teacher of the Year is decided by the past five Teachers of the Year.

Last year, Joel Swanson was so honored, in 1999 it was Terry Althoff, in 1998 Shirley Harrison, in 1997 Russ Schneider and in 1996 Louise Berg.

This is the fifth year Thompson has been nominated for the award.