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Newsleader Sauk Rapids-Rice
Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 Volume 2, Issue 3 Est. 2015
Town Crier Elementaries host kindergarten round-ups
Sauk Rapids-Rice elementary schools will host kindergarten round-ups this week. The event for all three elementary schools will be hosted at the high school from 6:307:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. Use door six. For more information visit www.isd47.org or call the school your child plans to attend. Registration forms should be turned in at each school’s kindergarten open house on Thursday, Feb. 4.
New program advocates minority leadership
The Jugaad Leadership Program seeks to provide Central Minnesota’s minority community with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to become effective leaders at the grassroots level. The program is accepting nominations for participation in the introductory class and self-nominations are encouraged. “Jugaad” is a Hindi and Punjabi word that means “innovation.” Innovation is found in how the program was developed for minorities by a group of local leaders whose faces reflect the area’s growing diversity. Businesses and organizations may nominate individuals to participate in the program. Those interested in participating in the program must complete an application, which is due Friday, Feb. 12. For a copy of the application and more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Jan. 22 Criers.
Bosma, Thunder unleashed on crime by Logan Gruber operations@thenewsleaders.com
Incoming Sauk Rapids police K9 Thunder was a ball of energy in the police garage last week. “He gets excited when he sees my uniform,” Officer Matt Bosma said in a Newsleader interview. Thunder is a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois cross. He was purchased through Performance Kennels in Buffalo, Minn., which will also handle the training of Thunder and Bosma. Bosma has been with the Sauk Rapids Police Department for nearly 11 years and spent his entire time as the decoy for the previous police K9, Storm. “I was the young guy and they had a bite suit, so they said ‘put this on and let’s see what happens,’” Bosma said.
He was Sgt. Brent Bukowski’s ‘decoy’ for the whole 10 years Storm was with the department. The decoy wears the bite suit or a sleeve and gets bit by the dog, helping train it. “Every time Storm saw me he thought it was time to play. I was his chew-toy,” Bosma said. When it came time to retire Storm, Bukowski told Bosma he could take over the program if he wanted to, and he applied. Bukowski did offer to handle Thunder if no one else wanted to. Sgt. Bukowski is now the head of the K9 unit, while Bosma is Thunder’s handler. The handler is the only person who ever gives orders to a K9. A decoy for Thunder is yet to be announced but may end up being officer Alex Wegner. Wegner was hired recently and is still in Bosma • page 3
photo by Logan Gruber
Thunder has been learning to obey orders from officer Matt Bosma as they get to know each other. The squad vehicle pictured here is outfitted especially for Thunder’s safety and use.
Disc golfers brave cold to raise money for food shelf by Steven Wright news@thenewsleaders.com
One of the coldest Ice Bowls in history is in the books. More than 75 participants bundled up for the 24th annual St. Cloud Ice Bowl last Saturday in St. Joseph. The 25-hole discgolf tournament at Millstream Park brought together players from all over central Minnesota who raised more than $6,000 for the St. Joseph Food Shelf.
The Ice Bowl received numerous pledges and donations from participants, friends and family, as well as local businesses. John Grether of St. Cloud has played in all 24 Ice Bowls and wasn’t deterred by the subzero temps on Saturday. “Wear synthetic,” Grether said. “Don’t wear cotton because it will get wet and you’ll freeze to death.” The Ice Bowl has a unique way of capitalizing on frigid
temperatures to help benefit local charities. A “whine tax” is instituted, which charges competitors $1 every time they complain about the cold weather. Some proactive golfers acknowledged the inevitable whining that was sure to come and tossed in a few dollars before the tournament even began. Grether said he wouldn’t be doing much fussing about the weather this year, especially since he’s experienced more
than two decades of frigid January Ice Bowls. “We had one year where it was 29 degrees below zero and 40 inches of snow,” Grether said. “You can play disc golf year-round, but not everybody comes out in the dead of winter to throw discs around in the snow.” The weather was definitely a concern for tournament-goers as temps dipped under 6 Golfers • back page
Warner weaves magic at Rice Elementary
Starting a business guide now available
The 2016 edition of A Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota is now available from the Small Business Assistance Office at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development in St. Paul. The popular guide, which is now in its 34th edition and free of charge, provides a concise summary of the major issues faced by anyone starting a business in Minnesota. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Jan. 22 Criers.
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Living with chronic illness: embrace a ‘new normal’
A presentation to offer strategies for coping with chronic conditions, sponsored by CentraCare Heart and Vascular Center, will be held from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at CentraCare Health Plaza, St. Cloud. A nominal fee is charged. Tickets may be purchased at the door, but seating is limited. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Jan. 22 Criers.
Postal Patron
photo by Dennis Dalman
Master entertainer Dennis Warner plays and sings a rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Warner and a gym-full of students enjoyed an interactive concert with sing-alongs last Monday at Rice Elementary School.
Like a pied piper, singer-songwriter Dennis Warner worked his magic at Rice Elementary School last Monday, leading delighted children in sing-along songs. “Inch by inch, row by row,” the children sang in the gymnasium. “We’re going to make this garden grow. . . ” Warner wove his spell with a combination of songs, a storybook, anecdotes and by making goofy-comical facial expressions to express what he was talking about: the act of sneezing, how huge his hair used to be, getting punched by a classmate. The kids ate it up. Between songs, Warner, who grew up in Clearwater, had
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some tough times when he was a student at a St. Cloud elementary school. He was the tallest student in his class, awkward, wore glasses, clothing sewn by his mother and was, all in all, a bit of a nerdy kid. One day, a fellow student walked up to him in the hallway and punched him in the face as hard as he could. In the principal’s office, the student said he punched him because Warner was so tall he wanted to see just how tough he was. Warner told the Rice students he is still glad he did not strike the kid back because he might have seriously hurt him. That anecdote was just one Warner told to get his message across that schools should be safe places, that every student Warner • back page
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
2
People
contributed photo
Club members involved in tie-blanket making included (from left to right, front row): Sam Morris, Ava Sand and Kylee Frisbee, all of Foley; (back row) Allie Frisbee, Kaitlyn Maehren, Shianne Morris, Skyler Morris and Emily Frisbee, all of Foley, Richelle Peacock, Sauk Rapids, Ellyana Sand, Foley, and Veronica Peacock, Sauk Rapids. The St. Pat’s 4H Club has been very busy this fall and early winter. As soon as the fair was over in August the St. Pat’s 4Hers were busy with an election of officers, brat sales at the Gilman Creamery and taking part in the Palmer Day Parade handing out Golden Plump items. The month ended with ditch cleaning. October was a bit less busy. The group held its annual Halloween party and hay ride. A great time was had by all. The November meeting was important as the Candlelight Installation of Officers was held. Installed into of-
ficer were the following: Shianne Morris, president; Sam Morris, vice president; Kaitlyn Maehren, secretary; and Emily Frisbee, treasurer. After the ceremony the group quickly got busy making Christmas cards for troops and tieblankets to donate to the benefit silent auction for Mette Kirsch held Nov. 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids. The St. Pat’s 4H Club finished 2015 with a Christmas party and caroling at Good Shepherd Nursing Home. The have lots of plans to make 2016 a year to remember.
Shanna Stark, RN, recently joined Good Shepherd as director of assisted living services in June 2015. In November, Stark com- Stark pleted the home care nurse manager certificate program presented by LeadingAge Minnesota in partnership with the Minnesota HomeCare Association. Stark completed sessions featuring clinical skills and case management, financial management and leadership, regulations and human resources, supervision, delegation and staff training.
Minn. They are the following: Sarah Plumski, bachelor’s degree in health information management; Erin Voth, summa cum laude, bachelor’s degree in nursing; Lauren Hoeschen, cum laude, bachelor’s degree in nursing; and Kristine Wainright-Tadych, master’s degree in business administration. Plumski, Voth and Wainright-Tadych are from Sauk Rapids; Hoeschen is from Rice.
Colby Kaschmitter, Sauk Rapids, was recently named to the fall dean’s list at Ridgewater College, Willmar, Minn. To qualify, a student must maintain a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Four Sauk Rapids-Rice students recently graduated from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth,
Kayla Schotl, Sauk Rapids, recently graduated with a master’s degree in occupational therapy from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn. Seventeen Sauk Rapids-Rice students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at North Dakota State University, Fargo. They and their majors are as follows: Megan Claassen, pharmaceutical sciences; Hannah Deaton, animal science; John Deaton, computer engineering; Tyler Froelich, mechanical engi-
neering; Andrew Gass, electrical engineering; Ashton Haider, pharmaceutical sciences; Corey Haller, political science; Tyler Jacobson, mechanical engineering; Blake Kerfeld, construction management; Jennifer Lukach, animal science; Nathan Maciej, university studies; Michael McConnell, dietetics; Cody Oltz, civil engineering; Aaron Peckskamp, nursing; Adam Pflipsen, criminal justice; Amanda Schubert, pharmacy; and Benjamin Varoga, pharmacy. All are from Sauk Rapids, except Haider, Lukash, Maciej, McConnell and Schubert are from Rice. Students must attain a minimum 3.5 grade-point average to qualify for this honor.
Heartland Hospice serving Minnesota North recently achieved a Level Two status within the We Honor Veterans Program for their continued care and support of the veteran population. All wars are different and provide unique experiences and often difficulties for the veterans who served in them. WHV was launched by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs to help improve the care veterans receive from hospice and palliative care providers. “I know the importance of Heartland’s initiative to better serve these United States veterans,” commented Dr. John Hamerly, medical director. “I am a veteran myself, and I believe we not only care for the mind, body and spirit of our veterans, but Heartland is a hospice provider trained to care specifically for veterans.” The We Honor Veterans program provides four levels of recognition to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to improving care for veterans. In order to reach Level Two, Heartland was tasked with building organizational capacity and providing quality care for veterans and their families. WHV also provides resources to assist hospices to achieve the next status level. To learn more about the We Honor Veterans initiative, the steps agencies have taken to receive this acknowledgement or to see where other Heartland agencies are at in the process of achieving this honor, visit www. wehonorveterans.org.
Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
ICEMAN course returns to Sauk Rapids Jan. 23 by Logan Gruber operations@thenewsleades.com
A winter-themed 5k obstacle course run will be held in Sauk Rapids once again on Saturday, Jan. 23. Granite City Speedway, 2540 Golden Spike Road N.E., will host the run, which is managed by the same group who hosts the Mudman Race and
the Graniteman Triathlon Series. Runners will encounter 15 different obstacles including snow tunnels, mounds and many others. Nearly 500 people are expected to participate and the public is welcome to join in or simply cheer from the sidelines or grandstands. For more information or to register, visit www.icemanrun. com or call 320-493-2658.
Rice City Hall has new hours
Rice City Hall has new winter hours which are now in effect, including longer hours on Monday. The hours are: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Mondays; 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; and 8 a.m.noon Fridays. City hall will be closed for Presidents’ Day, Feb. 15.
Blotter
For blotter items from Dec. 20-31, head to our website, www. thenewsleaders.com, click on Jan. 22 Blotter. If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sauk Rapids Police Department at 320-251-9451 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320-255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. Animal complaint. Second Avenue N. A caller stated a dog was observed locked in a vehicle for more than one hour. Officers responded but did not locate the vehicle described. The temperature outside at the time was 28 degrees. Jan. 2 9:56 p.m. Shots fired. Oak Ridge Park. A caller reported hearing eight to 10 loud bangs behind their residence in the park. An officer checked the area and found nothing. Jan. 3 12:28 a.m. Suspicious activity. Second Avenue N. Police observed a vehicle parked in the front of a closed business. The driver stated she simply stopped there to throw her trash away. The area was cleared. Jan. 4 6:47 a.m. Medical. Fifth Avenue N. Authorities responded to a male
who could not stand. Upon arrival, police found the man sitting in his bedroom. He was lifted into a wheel chair with the assistance of Gold Cross. He refused medical attention as he had a doctor’s appointment later in the morning. 8:27 a.m. Theft. Benton Drive S. Police responded to a theft at a local fast food chain. The manager stated sometime during the night, someone had stolen the donation box that was attached to the drive-thru window. The surveillance video was reviewed, but the suspect’s face could not be clearly seen. A copy of the video was made for authorities. No further evidence has been found at this time. Jan. 8 1:02 p.m. Suspicious activity. 10th Avenue N.E. Staff at a local business reported a vehicle in their parking lot where someone inside was sleeping. Police made contact with the driver who stated he was waiting to pick up his fiance. Jan. 9 4 p.m. Animal complaint. Welsh Court. A complainant called authorities regarding a black lab that appears to be locked in its kennel. The dog had adequate shelter and food; no action needed to be taken. 7:30 p.m. Medical. 13th Street Circle. Police responded to a female who was having a seizure. She was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital by Gold Cross.
Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc. Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon Editor: Dennis Dalman Admin. Assistant Cady Sehnert
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Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Bosma from front page training with Bosma, so he encounters Thunder all the time. Also, Bosma said, the decoy is usually a younger person as they can take more punishment. Bosma’s shift is now every Thursday and Friday night and every other weekend night. These shifts have the highest call volume and would be the most likely to need a K9 on hand. “We are available to be called out at any time though,” Bosma added. “I take the K9 unit vehicle home so I can quickly get to where we need to be, even if we aren’t on duty.” Storm was part of the Benton-Stearns SWAT team, but Thunder won’t be. The St. Cloud police department has two K9s they will use for SWAT purposes. Sgt. Bukowski remains part of the SWAT team.
Home
Bosma is originally from Hutchinson. He attended St. Cloud State University where he had planned to get a degree in communications before a fateful encounter with a Sauk Rapids police officer. “About halfway through my degree I took a class called Police Patrol Issues, given by Capt. Gapinski, who was with the Sauk Rapids police department (at the time),” Bosma said. “His class motivated me to become a police officer.” He changed his major, got his degree and then worked in Elk River at the Sherburne County Jail for three years before he was finally hired nearly 11 years ago at this department. Bosma has a wife and children. The kids are used to Thunder; they have been around K9s since they were born. Thunder has been with Bosma for more than one month now, and spends most of his time at home outside, in the kennel. The city provided a kennel and insulated dog house at Bosma’s home, so Thunder is outside except when it’s really cold.
Work
“As long as we’re not working with Thunder, the community can approach him,” Bosma said. “We want people to be comfortable around him.” Most of the time for right now, Thunder rides around in the special canine unit Chevy Tahoe. The majority of the back seat is a kennel, with a small passenger seat on the driver’s side. Thunder has plenty of space to turn around and lay down. He even has a sliding door to stick his head through into the front seat. He can see out of his side window but cannot see into the backseat passenger space. “The other day Officer
Wegner and I were searching for a missing kid,” Bosma said. “We found him and he had his dog with him. We put them in the passenger area in the back, and we thought it might be a problem but it was fine with Thunder in there . . . I’ve met K9 handlers who have dogs who rock the whole squad car anytime the lights come on or radio goes off, but so far he has been quiet. Hopefully through training that will stay.” The vehicle also has a temperature monitor on it. The display will alert the officer if the car is too hot or too cold for Thunder. And if Bosma is outside the car while Thunder is inside, the system will actually signal a pager on Bosma’s body to tell him if something is wrong with the vehicle. “It’s most important in the summer time, because if the car overheats the air conditioner will be the first thing the car computer turns off,” Bosma added. As far as Thunder’s personal needs go, Bosma said he feeds Thunder before and after the 10-hour shift. Thunder does have access to water the entire time in the vehicle’s kennel, and Bosma takes him out of the kennel nearly every hour so Thunder doesn’t have to worry about conserving water or making a mess in the kennel.
Training
As a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinoise mix, Thunder has a higher energy level and drive for tracking than a pure German Shepherd would. “To the K9, training and work are just a game,” Bosma said. “It’s just a way to get a reward or play with a toy, whether it’s finding narcotics or apprehending a suspect. Police dogs used to be angrier. They used to take dogs from pounds who were just naturally aggressive or mean, and they would teach them everything else. Policing is getting away from that . . . We just want a dog who is doing a job. He is happy to meet people, happy to get petted, and then he can turn around and do a job and then go back to being a social dog. We want the community to be comfortable.” Storm and Thunder are what are known as dual-purpose dogs. They learn both narcotics as well as apprehension. The K9s have to be certified in both subjects annually. Thunder will be trained in apprehension and obedience in February and should be certified by March. Training for narcotics takes about eight to 10 weeks starting in April, and if everything goes well he should be fully certified by sometime around June. Thunder will officially be on the job after being certified in obedience and apprehension at the end of February, but until then will continue to just observe.
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Officers give tips for safety by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
What can the general public do to help keep law-enforcement officers safer? That question was asked last Monday by the Newsleader of several area police chiefs and sheriffs, and many acknowledged at first they were at a loss for words because they are rarely if ever asked that specific question. However, after they pondered it for awhile, they came up with several safety tips, not just for officers but for the public at large. They agreed most of all on two words of advice: Be vigilant! All of the respondents also expanded the idea of safety to include many factors. Officers can obviously be endangered by deranged individuals who will run up to a police vehicle and open fire, as happened in Philadelphia two weeks ago. That trend – vicious attacks from nowhere against officers – is a growing concern, the respondents acknowledged. But, at the same time, there are other sources of danger that happen far more often, such as escalating domestic situations and roadside injuries or deaths.
The following are summaries of tips suggested by the law-enforcement respondents:
Chief Beise
Sauk Rapids Police Chief Perry Beise said it’s crucial “if you see something, say something.” Too many people, he said, brush off suspicious activity or threats as “nothing,” when, in fact, people should report them, just in case. Investigations of school shootings, for example, almost always discover one or more people heard (or had reason to suspect) the perpetrators planning the massacre or heard second-hand about them making some kind of murderous plans. “It’s so much better for us to check into these thing earlier than later, when it’s too late, obviously,” Beise said. It’s not just such catastrophic plans that should be reported, Beise noted. Anytime anybody sees or senses something amiss, they should call law enforcement immediately, just in case, so it can be checked out. “See something? Say something,” Beise advises.
mann said he wishes adults would not bad-mouth cops or use cops as “threats” to their children. “Some parents will say to kids that they’ll call the cops to have them arrested and put in jail,” he said. Such a threat, he said, can easily cause children to fear officers, to avoid them and not trust them. That doesn’t bode well for the future because all children – and adults – should work together and trust one another for the safety of the entire community. It’s a message sheriffs and police chiefs emphasize again and again.
Sheriff Heck
Rice Police Chief Ross Ha-
Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck advises when a deputy or police officer shows up because of a problem, people at the scene should calm down and help de-escalate the situation, otherwise it can very quickly get out of control. The people involved and/or bystanders should listen to the officer and convince one another to “cool it.” Domestic situations, so fraught with wild emotions, can and do lead to assaults, injuries and even deaths, Heck noted. Safety • page 5
at the scene, and an investigation began. The long process included an autopsy, toxicology testing, interviewing and forensic examinations of evidence found at the death scene. Baker’s husband had stated she used a firearm to commit suicide in their home. The sheriff’s office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension spent many hours during the next several days at the scene searching for and gathering evidence. Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said the process took a long time because all involved wanted
to be sure the evidence found at the scene was completely consistent with the eyewitness testimony given by Baker’s husband. Such evidence and subsequent tests included gun-shot residue and DNA analysis of the surfaces on the firearm. The autopsy report corroborated evidence found by the sheriff’s department and the BCA. Besides the BCSD and the BCA, those involved at the scene of the incident included the Rice Police Department, the Rice Fire Department, Gold Cross Ambulance and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
Chief Hamann
Rice woman’s death ruled suicide by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
The cause of a tragic death at a residence just south of Rice last October has officially been ruled a suicide by the Benton County Sheriff’s Department and the Anoka County Medical Examiner’s Office. At 1 p.m. Oct. 14, the sheriff’s department received a call of a gunshot wound at a residence in Rockwood Estates Mobile Home Park about two miles south of Rice. A woman there, Tammra Baker, 44, was pronounced dead
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Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Bittman comments on State of the Union experience by Logan Gruber operations@thenewsleaders.com
him in D.C.,” Bittman said. “It was a quick trip, focused on the address, though we did have time to speak about issues surrounding education and issues specific to central Minnesota.” Bittman noted he was able to meet with the majority of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, as well as a number of congress-people, both Republican and Democrat.
“A t t e n d ing the State of the Union was an amazing opportunity,” said Sauk Rapids-Rice Superintendent Bittman and Minnesota’s 2016 Superintendent of the Year Dr. Daniel Bittman in a Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader interview. Bittman attended President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan. 12 in Washington, D.C. as the guest of Sixth Congressional District Rep. Tom Emmer. “I was initially contacted by Congressman Emmer’s staff, and it was an honor to meet
Issues
President Obama spoke on several issues in regards to education during his final State of the Union address. Pre-K “The President, as well as numerous politicians have focused time and energy on kids in the early childhood environphotos Benton County Sheriff’s Department
At left: The dashboard of a truck retrieved from Mayhew Lake resembles parts of the encrusted Titanic when it was filmed on the ocean floor. The truck was found recently, 15 years after it was reported missing from Graham Township in Benton County. At right: Icicles form on parts of a truck after it was pulled from Mayhew Lake and placed in a storage lot.
ment,” Bittman said. He added he thinks there is support for mandatory pre-K in Congress, but it’s hard to tell what will get done based on other priorities for lawmakers. As far as the school district is concerned, pre-K is a part of their discussion when it comes to long-term planning. “The district does not have the facilities to accommodate all of those students should the government mandate it,” Bittman said. “In addition to building space, our district will continue to talk about how to find the qualified candidates to teach those programs, and where the resources will come from to fund them.” STEM The President also touched on the need for students to
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
When it surfaced, it looked like the metal Monster from the Black Lagoon. It smelled as bad as it looked. But it’s no wonder, after having been on the bottom of Mayhew Lake for nearly 16 years. The smelly beast was, in fact, a pickup truck which had been reported stolen in March 2000. The vehicle was pulled to the surface Jan. 15 by experts assigned by the Benton County Sheriff’s Department. The long-lost truck was spotted by a fisherman who was
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Support great teachers President Obama also said schools need to support great teachers. “We have been very for-
tunate to recruit and sustain great teachers in all areas,” Bittman said. “Part of that is providing a culture where teachers want to work in our district and community. SR-R has done this successfully by working closely with the community as well as providing strong mentorship both within and outside the school, especially for those within their first three years of teaching.” He also noted SR-R has a partnership with St. Cloud State University called the Teacher Prep Initiative. TPI provides professional development opportunities that a teacher or staff member might also have in their own school, but it also brings teachers and staff from various districts together to learn from each other and from staff and faculty at SCSU.
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have hands-on experience with the sciences in order to be career ready. STEM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) have increased in importance during the past few years. “Our district has focused on increased access and opportunity for all students,” Bittman said. “Technology plays a role in that.” An example would be the opportunity for each student to have access to an iPad, or the use of smart boards instead of the white boards or blackboards generations before might be familiar with.
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ice-fishing on Mayhew Lake. The angler and someone else had placed a camera down through the ice in an attempt to locate fish, but what they saw instead, which stunned them, was a pickup truck. The clunker was not the lunker the anglers had in mind. The fisherman then called the sheriff’s department. Deputies arrived at the scene and also used an underwater camera and sure enough: a pickup truck. It was submerged in 12 feet of water about 100 yards north of the public access and 25 yards from the west shore of the lake, the sheriff’s report stated. The next day, Jan. 4, divers from the Stearns/Benton Dive Team searched the truck and the area surrounding it. The truck was empty, and there was no evidence in or around the vehicle. A vehicle-identification number showed the truck
had been reported stolen 15 years earlier from an address in Graham Township in Benton County. The vehicle could not be removed from the lake Jan. 4 because the ice was too thin. When it was removed, a large hole in the ice resulted, and so deputies marked the area with clearly visible barrier tape, warning any anglers or others to stay clear of the hole. The sheriff’s department is advising people to beware of that site as it will take many days before the ice becomes safely thick again. Located seven miles from Rice in Benton County, Mayhew Lake is – technically anyway – a reservoir caused when the Mississippi River was dammed in 1911 downriver near Sartell, causing backed-up river water to flow into that area and also creating what is known as Little Rock Lake (a reservoir lake) just southeast of Rice.
Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Safety from page 3 Motorists, he added, should remember to slow down and change lanes if possible whenever they see a police officer’s or deputy’s car pulled over along the side of the road. Many cops and deputies (and sometimes people they’ve stopped) have been killed by passing motorists, especially if a situation escalates into the traffic lane. Such roadside dangers are a major cause of injuries and deaths to law-enforcement officials. Heck, like the other respondents, encourages people to be vigilant about their surroundings and to call law enforcement immediately if they see or hear something that does not seem quite right. Such things could include an unfamiliar vehicle repeatedly cruising a residential street, sounds of glass breaking, a child’s cries for help or unfamiliar people going in and out of residences at odd hours. The current negative attitude toward law enforcement has turned too toxic in some quarters, Heck said, and the media should not focus so much on bad cops or unruly demonstrations against them. Such attitudes can lead to more widespread erosion in lack of confidence, lack of trust and lack of respect, Heck said, and that, in turn, can lead to dangers for all officers. Bad-mouthing of cops, making derogatory remarks about them by ordinary people, also can contribute to that toxic environment, Heck added. Heck, like others interviewed, urges people to call law enforcement whenever they see or hear something amiss. “Some people don’t call because they don’t want to bother us, but we are here to be bothered,” Heck said.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com “We’d rather go to too many calls rather than go to a call when it’s too late. If the call amounts to nothing, that’s OK.” A little civility goes a long way, Heck said he believes. “We should all work together on being more civil with one another, and try to see things from another person’s point of view,” he advised. “Too often people give knee-jerk visceral reactions. Instead, we should take time to talk and listen to others.”
Sheriff Sanner
Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said people should try to remember most officers are extremely professional, highly trained men and women with high moral and ethical standards – professionals who swore an oath to protect all members of a community. “In today’s world, sadly, some view the police as nothing more than common street thugs with a badge on and a uniform,” Sanner said, adding that, in his opinion, the media, by saturation coverage of anti-cop sentiment in metro areas, adds fuel to the flames. Fortunately, the vast majority, he added, do not share that bleak view. “Those are the people who should stop being complacent and take action,” Sanner said. “The next time you see a police officer or deputy at a restaurant, café or gas station, take the time to say thank you and show your support and appreciation,” he said. “Also, when you hear someone complain about law-enforcement officers, counter that with a positive comment. It’s up to you to form public opinion and your voice matters, so be heard.” People should understand local law-enforcement officers “are your neighbors and friends. Their kids go to school with your kids; they belong to the same churches and civic groups as you do. And to para-
phrase the insurance jingle: Like a good neighbor, your police will be there.” Sanner said he would, as the county sheriff, like to thank everybody in Stearns County for their continued support because “working together, we truly do make a difference.” Sanner said he is concerned in about 10 years time, fewer people will consider law enforcement as a career simply because they will not want to get blamed or accused or smeared when what they are doing is a good, professional job of protecting the public.
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Chief Hughes
Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes said he knows of times when Sartell police officers were struggling with a suspect, clearly in danger, when others walked or drove right past without trying to help or without even calling 911. “Often times,” he said, “an officer may just need assistance in controlling the person they are struggling with to get the handcuffs on them. A bystander stepping in to help can make the difference between the suspect and/or the officer being injured. There are videos on the Internet that show people stepping in to help and you can see how quickly things change (for the better) when they do.” Another thing people can do is to report someone if that person is threatening to kill an officer via social media, email or verbally. Such threats should also be taken seriously, Hughes noted, and they should be reported whether it’s an overheard comment from a stranger or from someone who is known.
Chief Klein
As the police chief for St. Joseph, Joel Klein is all too well aware of not only “it can happen here, but it has happened here.” Twenty years ago this month, St. Joseph Police Officer Brian
Klinefelter was shot to death by a suspect after a traffic stop. Three years ago, Cold Spring Officer Tom Decker was killed while responding to a welfare-check call in a parking lot in downtown Cold Spring. “I always tell my officers when they finish a shift, ‘Make it home and stay safe.’” People must remain vigilant to their surroundings and report anything that doesn’t seem right. “Be willing to stand up for your community,” he said. Anti-cop sentiment in metro areas seems to have seeped into other areas, Klein said,
Klein which can lead to volatile reactions by some people who do not like officers. “People should get the facts before they criticize,” he said. “Sure, there’s bad people in every profession, but most people are very good. I think it’s OK to protest peacefully. That’s people’s right, but the demonstrations should be peaceful.” “It’s our community,” Klein said. “We’re all human. We all make mistakes, and we all fall, but we get back up again.” People should quit bad-mouthing cops and thank them instead, Klein suggested.
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Our View Tell legislators to squelch any more DARK Act bills Once again, big money in politics is attempting to keep people in the dark. This time it’s an attempt to keep consumers (people) oblivious as to what is in the foods we eat. Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) introduced a bill in Congress which would block any federal or state action to require labeling of foods made with geneticallyengineered ingredients. There are ongoing disagreements about the safety of genetic modifications to foods, but in the meantime, people have a right to know whether or not their foods have been modified in such a manner and it should be stated on food labels. One cause of widespread obesity in this nation is the way food manufacturers try to keep us ignorant of the appalling extent of sugar and other junk added to our foods, making many people virtual sugar addicts. Despite an encouraging, healthy trend by people who want to know exactly what is in the food they buy and eat, Pompeo’s bill completely ignores those people, tying the hands of state governments, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in their efforts to educate people about what is in their foods. Pompeo and other legislators funded by the corporate-food industry love to think the less we know, the better (the better for them, of course). That is why opponents have dubbed Pompeo’s bill the “DARK Act,” the DARK standing for “Denying Americans the Rightto-Know.” As Colin O’Neil, director of government affairs for the Center for Food Safety, put it: “Congressman Pompeo is signing away the rights of Americans to know what they are buying and feeding their families. This bill is an attack on states’ abilities to assure their citizens are informed.” Exactly. Ironically, the pushers behind this bill, including Pompeo, are calling it the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act,” an insulting euphemism worthy of George Orwell’s Big Brother, who insisted that “War” is really “Peace.” Many states have already passed laws requiring products containing genetically-altered ingredients (often called GMOs) say so on product labels. Pompeo’s bill would make it voluntary (rather than mandatory) on the part of food companies. Currently, the FDA already allows companies to voluntarily label their foods which contain GMOs. But do they do it? Of course not. The big guns in the shadows behind the DARK Act are agri-food giants, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the usual garden variety of superrich political contributors. Pompeo’s bill, this “voluntary” compliance, would be even worse, in effect nullifying state laws to require labeling. Three states (Connecticut, Maine, Vermont) have passed such laws, expected to go into effect in July 2016. Many others are expected to follow suit. Fortunately, a “rider” policy for DARK was stricken from the recent omnibus spending bill passed by Congress. However, it’s important we keep an eye on the machinations of Pompeo and other so-called “leaders” who claim they represent the people. They are likely to try again to get their pro-agribusiness DARK bill passed, by hook or crook sometime in the future. We should tell our legislators to squelch any future “DARK” bills of any sort. What we the people need is more information – not less – on our food labels. And everywhere else.
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders. Letters to the editor may be sent to news@thenewsleaders. com or P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Deadline is noon Monday. Please include your full name for publication (and address and phone number for verification only.) Letters must be 350 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for space.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Opinion Feeling dumb? Put on your thinking cap Did you ever do anything dumb? I mean really dumb. Like when you forget to put on your thinking cap – if you even have one. The other day, next-door-neighbor Marty told her husband, Richard, to go to the store to get some toilet paper. He returned an hour later with a package of paper towels. “These are paper towels, not toilet paper!” said Marty, scolding him. “Ach! How dumb are you?” He got bucky and said, “Oh, so you know everything!” Next day, last Saturday, an arctic-cold day, Marty popped over. She happened to mention the papertowel mix-up. “Marty,” I said, “whatever you do, never send Richard to the store to get a pound of bacon. He’ll come home with a dozen eggs.” We burst out laughing. But – whoops! – we shouldn’t have laughed because little did we know it was our turn to be dumb, dumber than Richard. Within the hour she and I had both lost our thinking caps, if not our minds. Since it was such a cold stuck-at-home day, I decided to make noodles with my excellent Atlas pasta-making machine. Marty agreed to help. So, as the dogs and cats watched hungry-eyed, we got to work. However, Marty and I were soon bumping into each other like two stooges because we were trying to change places. We were disoriented because we thought we must be standing on the wrong sides of the pasta machine. I was cranking, she was trying to catch the cranked-out noodles, but we were uncoordinated and awkward because either I clamped the machine
Dennis Dalman Editor backward on the edge of the table or we were just standing in the wrong places. The pets looked puzzled – even concerned – as Marty and I kept bumping into each other, but we finally figured it out. It wasn’t a butt-backwards pasta machine; it was us. Once our thinking caps were back snug on our noodle heads, all was well as the long fettucine noodles, smooth as baby skin, emerged silently while I cranked the machine and Marty gathered them in her hands to lay on the clean white dish towels. As the noodles were drying, Marty decided to call Richard to tell him the Fettucine Alfredo dinner would be ready in an hour and would he please go buy some Texas toast to have with it? I was hoping he wouldn’t come back with Minnesota lefse. At my kitchen telephone, Marty suddenly seemed discombobulated. She kept dialing the phone, then it would ring and she’d answer it. Nobody there. She’d dial again. “Richard must be trying to call here,” she said. She waited, dialed again, phone rang. “Hello? Hello?” Another busy signal. She tried again, then glanced at the caller I.D. “Dennis Dalman?!” she said, point-
ing, as if struck dumb by lightning. “It – it – it says Dennis Dalman on there. That’s you!” “What?!” I said. “That can’t be! I didn’t call me. Why would I call me?” “Well, that’s what I’d like to know,” she said. “But you didn’t call because you weren’t even near the phone.” Mmmm . . . We were stumped, until Marty figured she’d been dialing my number, not her home number. Duh! “Oh, I feel so dumb!” she sputtered. “Yes,” I said. “Today you’re even dumber than Richard was yesterday.” “Well, look who’s talking,” she scoffed. A bit later, in popped Richard holding a plastic store bag. I was relieved when, sure enough, like a marvelous magician, he pulled out of the bag a box of Texas toast. At that moment, we felt compelled (fair is fair) to fess up about our noodly confusion and attempted phone calls. “Talk about dumb!,” Richard crowed, with a cocky grin. Yes, I admit we were dumb, but it wasn’t as dumb as the time I poured bleach into a load of colored clothing. My thinking cap must have been in the wash that day. I’ve been wearing psychedelic hippy underwear ever since – groovy tie-dyed undies. I do, however, have a nice white pair left that I keep for special occasions, like visits to the doctor. Hey, quit your snickering. Didn’t you ever do anything dumb? Really dumb? C’mon, dummies, put on those thinking caps and stop and think. Then email me so I can share it with readers. I dare you, doubledare you.
What are the police supposed to do? By way of explanation, I have completed courses in gun safety sponsored by the National Rifle Association as well as graduated from the Metro Civilian Police Academy. I have an extensive background in gun handling through the military as well as a basic knowledge of police work. While I am not offering you my opinion as an expert, I do have a good working knowledge of this subject. The subject of this inquiry is, “What are the police supposed to do?” Almost daily now we are hearing of alleged police misconduct. These allegations most often refer to police shootings or other activity resulting in the death of a criminal perpetrator. In Ferguson, Mo. a young thug was killed when he attacked a police officer. The officer killed him in self-defense. In Baltimore, another criminal who was apprehended died while in police custody. In yet another case a young child waved a toy gun, incidentally altered to look real, at police and was killed. There have been reported cases of police shooting perpetrators in the back while they were trying to escape. There have also been reports of arrestees being mishandled and having died as a result. The list of allegations is long. Recently in the area where I live, a convict working on a street project escaped and was at large. The police set up a roadblock. They were heavily armed and were stopping all vehicles and searching them. What if I, being
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer impatient and possibly late for an appointment, decided not to stop and instead took off speeding away from the roadblock? What should the cops do? Who then would be responsible for any damage that ensued? I wasn’t an escaped convict so why should I be inconvenienced? I didn’t even know a convict had escaped. Well guess what? They would have probably shot me and would have been perfectly right to do so. The rules are simple. If a police officer says stop, you stop. If he says go, you go. It’s not a debate. It’s simply the law. The next rule is don’t resist arrest. If you have been taken illegally, you will be released. It will all work out. What kind of a moron would try to fight three or four armed police officers just because he was being disrespected? You are going to lose every time. Respectfully submit to the arrest and deal with it as an adult. Police officers are charged with the responsibility of enforcing the law. They didn’t make the law; they just enforce the law. If you are drunk and disorderly or stoned out of your mind, they are probably going to take you in. If you
try to run from them, you are going to lose, period. The cops don’t know why you are running. You may have just murdered your wife. You may have just kidnapped a baby. All the cops know is you are violating the law by trying to run away. Whether they outrun you, taze you or kill you, you still lose, every time. Lest you think this is an excuse for misconduct by any police officer, think again. It is not. The actual incidences of true misconduct by police, however, are minute and almost non-existent. But, when cops do break the law, they too must be held accountable just like everyone else. It is all the worse when these defenders of the law become the lawbreakers. We have courts and a legal system to deal with all lawbreakers and bad cops are no different than any other criminal. Swift and sure punishment is their just reward. Political rhetoric is never helpful to these situations. When the bad guys think they can operate with impunity, they will. Remember the cops are the good guys. When you need one, you can have no greater friend. Scarbro is retired and spends most of his free time with his grandchildren having moved from Sartell to St. Simons Island, Ga. Writing and commenting on the news of the day is a pastime. Visit his weekly blog at ronscarbro.blogspot.com for more commentary.
Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
7
Public invited to take law-enforcement survey by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Residents of Stearns and Benton counties (and counties elsewhere) are encouraged to take an online survey about the quality of service provided by the Benton County Sheriff’s Department. The survey is comprised of 15 questions, most of which ask respondents to rate services on a range of “Very Satisfied” to Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@thenewsleaders. com. Friday, Jan. 22 “Reading and Writing with Anne Frank,” an exhibit from the Anne Frank Center in New York designed for 9- to 15-year-olds, daily Jan. 22-29, Miller Center Library, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud State University. 320-308-2104. Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. ‘Chicken & Ham’ Dinner, 5-8 p.m., Sal’s Bar & Grill, 109 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Saturday, Jan. 23 Forward Thinking: Tracing the Child of Your Ancestors, 10 a.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-253-8424.
“Very Dissatisfied.” Two of the questions have sub-categories respondents can rate. One lists qualities of law enforcement, such as maintaining public order to teaching personal safety. The other asks about public interactions, ranging from courtesy to desire to be of service. There are also blank boxes throughout the survey which respondents can fill in with additional comments if they choose to do so.
Other questions concern crime in neighborhoods, crime in general in Minnesota, how law enforcement treats and cooperates with the public, crime-prevention successes, strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. Respondents are also asked what changes they would like to see in law enforcement throughout the next decade and what actions respondents are willing to support to make
those changes possible. Those who take the test are asked to include their name and address, but such personal information will not be divulged or shared with anyone, the survey states. To take the survey, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/ MSA_MASTER_PUB. There are 87 counties in Minnesota, and each has its own sheriff’s department. All of them work in partnership
stearns-museum.org. Horszowski Trio, 1:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3226 Maine Prairie Road, St. Cloud. 320292-4645. chambermusicstcloud.org. Horszowski Trio, 7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. 320-2924645. chambermusicstcloud.org.
Sauk Rapids City Council, 6 p.m., council chambers, Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. 320-258-5300. ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us.
High School, 1835 Osauka Road N.E. isd47.org.
Community Calendar
Sunday, Jan. 24 Sons of Norway Barneløpet, a children’s nordic fun ski event, 1 p.m., Riverside Park, 1800 Kilian Blvd S.E., St. Cloud. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. 763-232-4921. stcloud@mysl.org. Monday, Jan. 25 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Blood drive, 1-7 p.m., Henry’s Catering, 6774 Highway 25 N.E., Foley. Blood drive, 1-7 p.m., St. Michaels Church, 1036 CR 4, St. Cloud.
Tuesday, Jan. 26 55+ Driver Improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Life Assembly of God, 2409 Clearwater Road, St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. mnsafetycenterorg. ICAN Prevent Diabetes, 3:154:15 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 2875 10th Ave. N.E., Sauk Rapids. 320-650-3082. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, 6-8:30 p.m., CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 Centracare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-290-2155. Sauk Rapids Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., VFW, 901 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. e-clubhouse.org/sites/ saukrapidslionsmn. Kindergarten Round-up for all three elementary schools, 6:307:30 p.m., Door 6, Sauk Rapids-Rice
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Friday, Jan. 22, 2016
Golfers
Warner
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from front page
degrees below zero and close to 24 below zero with the wind chill. Cody Parsons of Sauk Rapids has been the man behind the scenes organizing the event for the past two years. He jumped in to help when long-time organizer Rick Rentz stepped down three years ago. Parsons, who has toured around the United States competing in various disc golf tournaments, also holds a position as president of the St. Cloud Disc Golf Club. Parsons works with local members of the club to maintain current disc golf courses and improve the game in central Minnesota. “It was a big feat to take over,” Parsons said. He spent the entire year leading up to this year’s Bowl planning the event and helping to raise money for the St. Joseph Food Shelf. “I love how everybody gets together and how involved they get with raising money for charity,” Parsons said. Last year’s Ice Bowl was almost 50 degrees warmer and saw a record 122 participants raise an astonishing $9,442 for local charities. “Fundraisers are a big thing for disc golfers,” Parsons said. “They like to get together, have a good time and raise some money for a good cause.” The first Ice Bowl in central Minnesota was held in 1993 at Riverside Park in St. Cloud and has since raised more than $150,000 for various local and
has a right to feel safe and secure, and kindness and cooperation should join one and all in schools and in the world at large. His songs mostly all have gentle messages, promoting peace, togetherness, harmony and kindness. The storybook he wrote is also a celebration of peace. Entitled Beads on One String, it evokes a world in which all people get along and live helpfully together no matter what the color of their skin or their religions or their disabilities. People, Warner told the students, are like beads of different shapes and colors, but they are all connected on one string. What people have in common is the most important
photo by Cori Hilsgen
Organizer Cody Parsons (standing on table) waited to give instructions while participants gathered around him at last year’s event. national charities. The Ice Bowl helps fight hunger on a national level every January and February each year, with some disc golfers playing in states with very little ice, like Florida and California. The ultimate mission of the Ice Bowl is to raise awareness of disc golf and to help combat hunger on a local and national level. Since the first Ice Bowl in 1987, more than 140,000 players across 3,200-plus events have raised more than $2.5 million for charity. Historically, the Ice Bowl has followed three simple rules: 1. Under no circumstances may an Ice Bowl be canceled or postponed because of weather conditions 2. No wimps or whiners are allowed 3. There are no excuses for not
attending. Either be there or be called out as a wimp. Parsons is already planning for next year’s Ice Bowl and invites anybody who might be interested in playing to come out and give it a try. With five different types of leagues available, there’s a fit for all different skill sets. “A person who’s never thrown a disc can come out and play and help a good cause,” Parsons said. More information, including tournament results, can be found on the “St. Cloud Ice Bowl” Facebook page. Donations to the St. Joseph Food Shelf can be made at the Church of St. Joseph, located at the corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue in St. Joseph.
thing, not their differences, he said. After reading the book, Warner sang his song, which includes all of the words in the book. At the end of program, Warner stationed himself by the door leading from the gym so he could high-five all the students, teachers and staff returning on their way back to their busy day. Warner, who still calls Clearwater his home, is a songwriter-singer-musician who visits many schools, churches and other events throughout the nation. He has recorded 10 CDs, and his book Beads on One String is now in its sixth printing. Warner, who has won many honors, has performed at many prestigious venues, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Garrison Keillor Prairie Home Companion Show.
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15 E. Minnesota St., Suite 101 • St. Joseph, Minnesota
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