Corey Andrew Henning, 19, Northome, formerly of the Rock County area, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Mizpah.

Services were Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Northome School in Northome with the Rev. Jim Lyons officiating.

Corey Henning was born to Eugene and Jean (Lewis) Henning on Feb. 23, 1982, in Luverne. He attended grades 1 through 5 in Magnolia. He graduated from Northome High School in 2000. He currently attended Northwest Technical College in Wadena, studying electrical construction.

Corey was active in Boy Scouts. He had been an altar server at St. Michael's Catholic Church. He played drums in pep band. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and driving his Trans-Am.

Survivors include his parents; his brother, Nicholas Henning, St. Paul; grandparents, Norb and Carol Henning, Adrian; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Corey was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ted and Margaret Lewis.

Cease Family Funeral Home, Blackduck, was in charge of arrangements.

Vernon "Pete" Pedersen, 72, Luverne, died unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001, in his home.

A memorial service was Wednesday, Oct. 4, in Bethany Lutheran Church, Luverne. The Rev. Paul Fries officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne.

"Pete" Pedersen was born to Lars and Mary Pedersen on April 25, 1929, in Estelline, S.D., where he was raised and attended school. Following his education he helped on the farm.

He married Marlene Newell on Sept. 19, 1954, in Olivet, S.D. Following their marriage they made their home in Yankton, S.D., before moving to Luverne in 1956. He began working at Mohr Signs in Luverne. He also worked at Luverne Fire Apparatus where he built fire trucks. Later, he worked for Sweetman Construction until his retirement in 1993. On Jan. 28, 1995, Mrs. Pedersen preceded him in death. He continued living in his home in Luverne.

Mr. Pedersen was a volunteer fireman for Luverne Fire Department for more than 20 years. He was also a member of the Eagles Club in Luverne. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and the outdoors.

Survivors include three children, Kathleen Pedersen, Sun Lake, Ariz., Karen (Bruce) Petersen, Brandon, S.D., and Scott Pedersen, Sioux Falls, S.D; four grandchildren, Erin Pedersen, Christopher Miller, Nicholas Petersen, Danielle Petersen; one brother, Donald Giles, Hamilton, Mont; and four sisters, Viola Knudtson, Canby, Bev Ross, Brookings S.D., Joyce Peters, Monument, Colo., and Hazel Bouren, Highmore, S.D.

Mr. Pedersen was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marlene, and one sister, Leona Davis.
Engebretson Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.

Nellie (Rowland) Onken, 83, Rushmore, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001, at Arnold Memorial Nursing Home in Adrian.

Services were Tuesday, Oct. 2, at First Presbyterian Church in Rushmore. The Rev. Glen Pearson officiated. Burial was at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Rushmore.

Nellie Breeman was born to Isaac and Kommertje (Van Rij) Breeman on Nov. 23, 1917, in Boyden, Iowa. She was raised and attended school in the Rock Rapids, Iowa, area.

She married Bert Rowland on March 15, 1939, in Rock Rapids. After their marriage the couple lived a short time near Ellsworth before moving to a farm three miles south of Rushmore. Mr. Rowland died Sept. 11, 1961.

She married Harm Onken on Dec. 6, 1965, in Rushmore. Mr. Onken died on Sept. 15, 1968. She moved to Rushmore in 1977. She worked as a waitress at Rushmore CafŽ for about 35 years. She also worked at the Coliseum in Worthington.

Mrs. Onken was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Rushmore, the Rushmore Booster Club and Dodge Center American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking, flowers, gardening, dancing, music and was an avid Twins fan.

Survivors include one son, Loren Rowland, Rushmore; one daughter and son-in-law, Audrey and Thomas Erwin, Dodge Center; six grandchildren, Jeanette (Corey) Pruka, Stacy Erwin, Kevin Erwin and his fiancŽe, Michele Wencl, Casey Erwin, Cynthia Rowland and her special friend, Daniel Dischner, and Chandra Rowland; Nellie's special friend, Larry Summerfield, Worthington; three sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Onken was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, one brother, Ike Breeman Jr., two sisters, Pauline VerMeer and Cora Brommer, and a daughter-in-law, Arleen Rowland.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, was in charge of arrangements.

By John Rittenhouse
Luverne players captured three Southwest Conference championships during the annual SWC Tennis Tournament played in Redwood Falls Thursday.

Cardinals won two of the four singles titles and secured one of three doubles championships during a successful appearance at the annual league attraction.

Becky Antoine and Rachel Tofteland won titles at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. Luverne's No. 1 doubles team of Patricia Willers and Gabe Van Dyk also came out on top of the pack.

Antoine posted 6-1 and 6-0 victories over Worthington's Nadine Wolf before posting 6-4 and 6-1 wins against Redwood Valley's Linda Gano in the finals.

Tofteland upended MarshallÕs Diana Naatz 6-4, 6-2 before downing RWV's Lisa Goodthunder 7-6 (the tie-breaker was 9-7 in favor of Tofteland), 6-3 in the title tilt.

Willers and Van Dyk recorded a pair of 6-2 wins over RWV's Olivia Schoffman and Amanda Malecek before besting Pipestone-Jasper's Steph and Stacy Plahn by 7-6 (the tie-breaker was 7-5 in favor of the Cards) and 6-4 tallies.

Luverne's Amanda Aning placed second at No. 1 singles, and the No. 2 doubles team of Sarah Lange and Jenny Braa also finished second.

Aning topped P-J's Cassandra Van Vliet 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 before falling by 7-5 and 6-3 tallies to Marshall's Kari Markell.

Lange and Braa beat Marshall's Ellie Ahmann and Grace Henderson by a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 tally before falling in a 3-6, 7-5, 3-6 loss to RWV's Karissa Rothmeier and Kristen Malecha in the finals.

Luverne's No. 3 doubles team of Amanda Groen and Lexi Jauert placed fourth at No. 3 doubles with a 1-2 record. Kalina Vander Poel lost her lone match at No. 4 singles.

President George W. Bush addressed the nation live on television Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Following is the text of his speech.

Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors.

Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.

These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world.

And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and itÕs prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C., to help with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow.

Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. IÕve directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened.

And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me."

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace.
America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.

None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night and God bless America.

The tuba section of the Luverne marching band came out strong during the field competition.

By Lori Ehde
Luverne Middle School Principal Dave Deragisch signed a contract Tuesday with the Hills-Beaver Creek School District for the superintendent position there starting in January.

He'll fill the position vacated by Tom Knoll, who left the district this spring after eight years at the helm.

Deragisch's contract was signed for $79,000 per year and will be prorated this year since he's starting in January, in the middle of the school year.

Considering he grew up in Hills area (graduating from H-BC in 1979), and considering it's a career advancement with an increase in salary, accepting the position is a homecoming of sorts for Deragisch.

"I taught there for five years, and my dad (Dean) was principal there from 1958 to 1973," he said Tuesday. "This is a chance for me to become a superintendent without having to move my family. It was an opportunity I couldn't resist."

Deragisch also said an uncertain future in Luverne made the decision easier.

"I'd been told on more than one occasion that the job I have now will be different next year," he said. "There will be either more duties or more grade levels."

Deragisch told his Middle School staff Monday morning he would decide that night on H-BC's offer.

That afternoon, teachers and support staff called an emergency meeting to discuss the impact of Deragisch's departure on the district.

Many were quick to praise Deragisch's one-on-one rapport with students, but Chris Nowatzki, who conducted the meeting, said the district's concerns go beyond Deragisch.

"We're looking at the position," said Nowatzki, who serves as the teachers' rights chairman on the Luverne Education Association.

He reminded the nearly 100 teachers and support staff assembled in the Little Theatre that last spring, the board had considered not filling the elementary principal's position when Melody Tenhoff indicated she might leave the district.

The board at that time entertained the notion of moving Deragisch to elementary principal and he and High School Principal Gary Fisher would absorb the middle school principal duties.

"Our current administrators aren't going to embrace more work. Who of us will?" Nowatzki said Monday.

"They say the ball is in Dave's court, but they threw it to him. We may be jumping the gun here because we don't know that they're cutting the position. But that discussion is why Dave was looking [to leave] in the first place."

Teachers say many students - especially at the middle school level - are falling through the cracks as it is, and they fear the loss of a middle school principal will jeopardize students at a vulnerable age.

"I just feel like we are going 10 years backward," said middle school teacher Mary Jo Graphenteen.

At Monday's meeting, teachers and staff were encouraged to get involved with public process and to solicit community involvement.

"We need to be a more integral part of the decision-making process, especially where it affects us," said middle school teacher Elizabeth Petersen.

"We have to start going to the School Board to make them accountable as a group for decisions that are made or not made.

"...The public needs to start looking at the agenda and coming to the meetings and being more vigilant."

Luverne Superintendent Vince Schaefer didn't attend Monday's meeting, but he acknowledged discussion last spring about reducing administrative time to save money.

"They are jumping to conclusions about decisions that have not been made," Schaefer said Monday.

"We have time to plan. Dave will be here through Dec. 31. I would welcome opportunities for input from staff, and a variety of options will be entertained."

He said Deragisch left on his own accord. "As a superintendent it's pretty hard for me to stand in the way of anyone wanting to better themselves," he said.

"A lot of us have had opportunities and have had to make decisions. He's been good for our school and our community... But he's got a nice package there. If that's what he wants to do, I don't begrudge him going."

Deragisch's contract in Luverne isn't due to expire until the end of this school year. He has been with Luverne since July 1993 and currently earns $77,947.

That salary includes compensation for other duties such as middle school counselor and middle school activities director.

Deragisch declined to comment on whether his children will attend school in Hills-Beaver Creek, but he said they will continue to live in Luverne.

Luverne School Board members have verbally indicated they will release Deragisch from his contract but will formally consider his resignation at their Oct. 11 meeting.

By Lori Ehde
Fledgling Field once again found its way on the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting agenda.

Dan Dingmann of Dingmann Funeral Home appeared on behalf of Cornerstone Construction Tuesday to request the property on Highway 75 be rezoned from R1 to R2.

After a lengthy and controversial public debate over the past year, the City Council denied Cornerstone's request for a conditional use permit for construction of a funeral home in the R1 zone.

What opened the door to so much discussion was confusion over whether a funeral home should be considered a home or a business. Ultimately, it was decided funeral homes will not be allowed in R1 (residential areas) even with a conditional use permit.

Having purchased the property with intent to build a funeral home for Dingmann, Gary Verkinnes of Cornerstone Construction, St. Cloud, is headed back to the drawing board.

He had stated earlier that he will develop the property, whether it's a funeral home or residential housing. But their next step will be to request the property be rezoned to R2, which allows funeral homes as a conditional use.

Dingmann wants to move his operation to the new location because he needs more space, and he would rather not ruin the historic appeal of the original Holm house on West Main Street.

As it turns out, there was little discussion on Dingmann's request Tuesday, because by law, the Planning Commission can formally consider requests made only by the property owner.

Dingmann said he thought Verkinnes had already notified the commission in writing, but he would return at a future meeting.

Before the commission moved to the next item on the agenda, council member Dave Hauge, who attended the meeting, attempted to prevent the zoning request from appearing on a future agenda.

"The council has already acted on this, and it would be a great waste of time to go down this road again," Hauge said, saying that was also the consensus of the council.

"The end decision has been made. I think we should respect the work of all these people."

New Planning and Zoning member Dan Serie told Hauge that it's not the place of the commission to decide which requests it will or will not hear.

"I'm fairly new, but as I understand, we can't deny anybody the right to come before us with a zoning request," Serie said.

Once Verkinnes formally requests rezoning, the process will begin for public hearings, and the Planning and Zoning Commission will either deny the request or recommend it to the City Council for approval.

Back yard boulders
What generated far more discussion at Tuesday's Planning and Zoning meeting was a conditional use application by Burdell and Julia Kruse to store granite boulders in their backyard.

The Kruses, who live at 609 N. Cottage Grove, recently purchased the 7.5 acre grassy waterway on the west of town.

They operate a business that collects large boulders from area farmers who want them removed from their fields, and they sell them primarily to out-of-state clients for landscape decorations or other uses.

Their business is set up on Walnut Street near Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, but they need temporary storage for the boulders, and they want to use their expanded backyard for that purpose.

The area in question borders the south side of Dodge Street (west of the school bus garages) and the backyards of residents on Cottage Grove.

When residents received notice of Tuesday's meeting, the agenda mentioned the conditional use was requested for sand, gravel and other materials. That's because that's the closest zoning category the commission could find to describe the boulders.

When they found out it wasn't a construction operation going on in their backyards, many felt more comfortable about the Kruses' request, but they still were uneasy about their views being altered by the rows of large rocks in the grass.

After hearing residents' concerns, the commission decided to explore several conditions that would be agreeable to both the Kruses and their neighbors.

The conditions likely to be placed on the permit are that it include boulders only (not construction materials), hours of operation may be restricted to normal business hours, the amount of space may be restricted to the northern third of the property, and the permit be set to expire after a given number of years.

The commission tabled action on the request Tuesday, so these restrictions could be explored.

The Kruses asked the commission act quickly, because with farmers in the field for harvest, now is the time they'd like to build their inventory.

By Sara Quam
The Rock County Pool Commission heard informal proposals Tuesday from companies that are interested in pairing with the Pool and Fitness Center in management or services.

The proposals weren't as much plans or offers as they were hypothetical discussion.

First, Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System representatives addressed the board and essentially said that member rates could remain the same if memberships increased.

Increasing memberships would mean a different marketing approach and more wellness programs set in a family-friendly atmosphere. Motivation and education are key to retention of members, from pre-natal to geriatric clients.

Mark Ossenfort, owner of MC Fitness in Worthington, said his approach would be different from the hospital's in the way he would aggressively market and upgrade the facility.

Sioux Valley
Local hospital administrator Jerry Carl was one who spoke on Sioux Valley;s behalf. "I like being able to share our thoughts and ideas, but IÕm certainly not an expert on running a fitness center."

The pairing of Sioux Valley and the Fitness Center would make sense for the hospital because it needs more space for things like rehabilitation, and the Fitness Center needs to manage costs and increase users.

Cal Hansen, director of the fitness center's wellness program in Sioux Falls took over that program eight years ago and increased its membership to almost 11,000.

If Sioux Valley entered into an agreement, the county and city of Luverne would likely remain co-owners, but taxpayer subsidy would probably reduce.

Hansen said in his experience as wellness director that making a facility friendly to everyone, including children, is necessary. He said many new members feel intimidated and need guidance and thatÕs where Sioux ValleyÕs resources of health professionals could help.

"We have everything from programs for grandma and grandpa to the babies who aren't born yet and let me tell you, they all work out together side by side and love it," Hansen said.

"You need it busy all day long, more than just from 4 to 7 p.m.," he said.

Tammy Loosbrock, director of physical therapy at Luverne Community Hospital, said her staff is eager to help with more programming, ranging from pre-natal fitness programs for increased speed for athletes and massage therapy.

She said, "We're very hungry for space. It would be nice to have an off-site rehab center for outpatients. We're bumping shoulders over there now."

Focusing on wellness rather than fitness is a trend she sees as growing. Sioux Valley said that creating a center that makes members comfortable and motivated for their health would benefit Rock County.

Ossenfort
Similar to Sioux Valley, Ossenfort said his agreement with the city and county would be in the form of a lease management agreement. He said he is confident that the taxpayer subsidy could be eliminated in about three years even with membership rates staying at the same price.

He said he'd do that by working with a team of trainers who would orient new members to equipment and work on an ongoing basis for a fee on top of the membership rates. He said rates might not remain quite as low for the duration of his management, but that any increase would come with major updates.

Even without raising rates, though, Ossenfort said he would initially invest in more equipment that would include heart rate monitors. The equipment would be increased and updated treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines, TVs and VCRs over three years.

He said the professional fitness staff, with four-year degrees in training, would be new hires because his current staff doesnÕt have the time to share work with Luverne.

The increased services is what Ossenfort felt he could offer to members that would be above and beyond what they now have. He even envisioned a smoothie bar in the future and even a 4,000 square foot expansion.

Like Sioux Valley, Ossenfort said he would incorporate family friendly services for children and people who have children.

He said the pool part of the Fitness Center is a tremendous attraction and he would allow MC Fitness members to get cross-memberships so they could use the pool and draw more traffic into Luverne. Luverne members could also use Worthington's club.

Although Ossenfort's facility now offers physical therapy, he said he is willing to let Sioux Valley continue in the relationship it now has with the Fitness Center to use it as a supplement to its hospital work. He wouldnÕt bring in his own physical therapists as competition.

"We would like to continue the current working relationship with the hospital and if possible in future, expand it," he said.

Similar to Sioux Valley's wellness approach, Ossenfort said that he considers his programs lifestyle management. "The facility needs to be fun and entertaining. We can develop all the different age groups to be involved at the facility."

He said the average age of his members is about 40 but that he worked with a 90-year-old woman to get her stable enough to stay out of a nursing home. MC Fitness also has athletic programs for fourth grade to middle-school age students who participate in classes and off-season sports.

Ossenfort added that he wants the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center to remain open to people of all income levels and accessible to those who didn't picture themselves as Fitness Center members before.