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A sad farewell Town Crier to Coach Magnuson Friday, June 17, 2016 Volume 2, Issue 24 Est. 2015
Residents may experience low water pressure
Due to the Benton County CSAH 3 construction project, residents along Summit Avenue N. to Seventh Avenue and from Third Street to 11th Stree N. will experience low water pressure. The water pressure should return to normal levels in roughly six weeks. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on June 17 Criers.
Lemonade Concert, Art Fair is June 23
The 43rd annual Lemonade Concert and Art Fair will be held Sunday, June 23 on the St. Cloud State University Campus. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. with a performance by the St. Cloud Symphony. Additionally, the fair welcomes new and returning musical groups that will perform throughout the day. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on June 17 Criers.
St. Cloud VA to host telehealth demonstration
The St. Cloud VA will be hosting a telehealth demonstration to improve access to care for veterans from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, June 21 outside Building 48 on the St. Cloud VA campus. The demonstration will be housed in a van that will be parked at the northeast door of Building 48. Due to limited parking at the demonstration site, veterans are encouraged to use the interior corridor. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on June 17 Criers.
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
For Bill Magnuson, head football coach of the Sauk Rapids Storm, the year 2000 – the start of a new millen- Magnuson nium – was really a time of change and uncertainty. Sixteen years ago, he donned the green and gold and thus began a long-time association with Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. But as the old saying goes, all good things come to an end. For Magnuson and his family, the time has come to move on. Magnuson will no longer be growling encouragement during sweaty two-a-day practices or
barking encouragement to Storm players on cold October nights from the sidelines. That will soon be some other coach’s job. This year, Magnuson will wear the red, white and blue of the Pequot Lakes Patriots as he takes on the responsibilities of science teacher and assistant football coach at Pequot Lakes High School. For Magnuson, the change is bittersweet.
Why now?
There will doubtless be many in the Storm community who will wonder why he is choosing to move. But the reason for moving has to do with location. Magnuson grew up in Park Rapids and his wife is from the Oklee-Plummer area near Thief River Falls. “There has always been a Magnuson • page 2
For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Children enjoy the slide at Benton County Campgrounds. Starting from top are Kayleen Tretter, Lily Stangl, Mason Bednar and Kalen Tretter (Kayleen’s little brother). See story and additional photos on page 5.
SR Council holds hearings on growth issues by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
At the June 13 meeting of the Sauk Rapids City Council, the council held public hearings for five building projects that will take place in the city in the coming year. The first of the public hearings dealt with dumping a large amount of fill in the empty lot near 50 Eighth Street. The lot covers the area between Seventh Street and Eighth Street off North Benton Drive to the
railroad tracks at the back of the lot. Property owners are Gene and Shirley Rudolph. Landwehr Construction has been hired to move the fill. Plans for the area were originally filed in 2006 to build a retail center on the 1.82 acres of property. Many infrastructure upgrades were completed in 2006, including storm sewer, water and sewer, but the project was put on hold until recently. At that time it was determined the property needed to be raised so it was not so far below the street level of Benton
Drive. That is the reason for the request for a conditional-use permit on the property. A neighbor, Robert Aurelius of 51 Eighth Street N., voiced his concern over the dumping of fill and raising the site level. Serious flooding has occurred in the past during heavy rains. At one point, Aurelius maintained there was a foot of water in his place of business, Aura Lens Products. Storm sewers were not able to handle the flow of water from the streets on a higher elevation. City engineers seemed to
feel with the raising of the site and the drainage being directed toward a storm sewer in the center of the lot, the problem would be eliminated as the excess water would be directed to a large ditch at the back of the lot. The site would be developed in a kind of concave bowl so water would not drain toward the neighbors. Aurelius said he was still fearful and asked the council consider the situation more carefully. If more flooding ocGrowth • page 3
Fundraiser a living legacy for family of deceased son
Free legal advice available to Minnesotans living in poverty
Minnesotans with low to moderate income who need some legal advice can get free help from Volunteer Lawyers Network. Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice by phone on legal issues like bankruptcy, debtor/creditor issues, consumer issues, employment law, immigration law, criminal expungement and unemployment compensation. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on March 18.
Bednar clan has ball at Benton Campgrounds
by Mollie Rushmeyer news@thenewsleaders.com
contributed photo
One of Tanner’s sisters, Maddie Fuls (right), 13, of Sauk Rapids, runs during last year’s race showing her support for the Tanner’s Team Foundation annual fundraiser.
The sixth annual Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K Walk/Run on June 25 is not only a fundraiser for families in central Minnesota with children experiencing life-threatening Fuls illnesses but a living legacy of a local child who lost his life to Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in 2010. Tanner Fuls, son of Cindy and John Huls of Sauk Rapids, was an active, healthy and vibrant boy who was
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unexpectedly diagnosed with MDS, a form of pre-leukemia, after the family noticed bruising on his body during the summer of 2010. His treatments included chemotherapy, radiation and a bone-marrow transplant. Tanner rallied for a short time, during which he fulfilled his dreams of planting the flag on the ice before a Minnesota Wild game and meeting Brett Favre – even catching a pass from the famous football player. After developing an infection Nov. 13, 2010, and then a drop in blood pressure and vitals on Nov. 27, however, Tanner passed away at the young age of 11 years old. Legacy • back page
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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People Dale Miller of Sauk Rapids was recently hired as a client relations administrator at Laraway Financial, 1219 33rd St. S., Miller St. Cloud. Miller’s new role will be to administer client services including reporting and documentation, offer advisor support, oversee office projects and procedures, direct events and/or meetings and facilitate advisor continuing education. Jim Szustek has joined the staff at Widseth Smith Nolting with offices in Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd/Baxter, Szustek Crookston, East Grand Forks, Grand Forks and Rochester. He will work with clients in Sauk Rapids and the surrounding area. As director of electrical engineering, Szustek is responsible for overseeing the work of WSN’s team of electrical engineers, designers and engineering technicians. Szustek works with project engineers to incorporate safe and economical building electrical systems. Two Sauk Rapids students were recently named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Minnesota, Morris. They are Benjamin Simondet and Tiana Wood. Students must earn a minimum 3.66 grade-point average to qualify for this honor. Three Rice students were named to the spring dean’s honor list at Concordia College, Moorhead. They are the following: Samantha Pratt, a junior, daughter of Rhonda and Joel Pratt; Rebecca Elliott, a firstyear, daughter of Annette and John Elliott; and Hannah Voigt, a first-year, daughter of Linda and Scott Voigt. Students must earn a minimum 3.7 grade-point average to qualify for this honor. Two
Sauk
Rapids
stu-
dents were recently named to the spring dean’s honor list at Concordia College, Moorhead. They are the following: Emily Campbell, a junior, daughter of Deb and Scott Campbell; and Ashley Raduns, a sophomore, daughter of Laura Raduns and Jerrid Sandstrom. Students must earn a minimum 3.7 grade-point average to qualify for this honor. Sixteen Sauk Rapids students were recently named to the spring president’s list at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. They are the following: Shawn Becker, Hannah Brinkman, Jennifer Brocato, Alicia Clark, Deanna Clark, Alesha Doyal, Andrea Erdmann, Killian Fruth, Rachel Hannahs, Joseph Hynes, Brianna Kortuem, Tyler McLaird, Tiffany Robertson-Hall, Rose Rubenstein, Lauren Schmidt and Taylor Wolbersen. Students must earn a minimum 4.0 gradepoint average to qualify for this honor. Twenty Sauk Rapids students were recently named to the spring dean’s list at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. They are the following: Connor Besser, John Bigelow, Bridget Bjorge, Jessica Cagle, Bryce Ebnet, Dan Hall, Eric Helgeson, Blake Jarve, Cassandra Kingsbury, Gary Kirkeby, Brian Kirscht, Candice Koep, Abby Kohls, Taryn LeMieur, Gabhriel Linn, Jared Mastey, Kalie Ross, Ryan Rutar, Justin Sippel and Olivia Stockinger. Students must earn a minimum 3.5 grade-point average to qualify for this honor. Danielle Kirchner of Sauk Rapids recently graduated with a major in management from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. Abigail Mokhtary of Rice was recently named to the spring dean’s list at Wartburg College, Waverly. Students must earn a minimum 3.5 grade-point average to qualify for this honor.
Have any Achievements? Grad. from HS/College, Military Honors, Awards Submit to news@thenewsleaders.com For contact purposes only, please include first/last name and phone.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Guest columnist debuts today N e w s leader readers will notice a new columnist on the Opinion Page in today’s paper – Connor Kockler Kockler of Sauk Rapids. Kockler (pronounced Cokeler), 17, is a student at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School who has done extensive writing for school assignments on many topics. After reading the wide-ranging political and other opinions on the News-
leader Opinion Page, Kockler said he thought it would be fun to add some of his own opinions on a variety of issues. He contacted the Newsleader to find out if he could possibly write occasional guest columns, and then he submitted examples of essays he had written. They were excellent, so the Newsleader suggested he write guest columns. “Kockler is a superb writer, especially for his young age,” said Newsleader Editor Dennis Dalman. “It will be good to have columns written from a young perspective, and we
look forward to reading more of his work.” Kockler enjoys extensive reading, especially biographies and historical novels, and he has always had an almost inborn knack for writing well. He also enjoys following the political scene, nationally and internationally. In school, his favorite subjects are social studies and language. Two of his other hobbies are golfing and bicycling. Kockler, the son of Kim and Shawn Kockler, has lived in Sauk Rapids all of his life. He has one sister, Ella.
Magnuson
that bond and that relationship, along with all the other coaches I’ve had,” Magnuson said. He said he will miss the time on the field and in the locker room and hallways with the players and the Storm football families, as well as the administration and the students in his science classroom. He said they’ve been unbelievable in their support of him thoughout the years. “To say goodbye to kids you consider your sons is tough to do, but I think if we taught them well, they understand that sometimes in life these things happen, and we keep moving forward,” Magnuson said. “I challenge them to work hard and be the best they can be.”
though he admits to having a loud voice which he uses when it’s called for. “I raise my voice when I need to, but I would say I’m a lot more calm and more of a loving coach,” Magnuson said. Class sizes at Pequot Lakes range about 100 to 125 per class, whereas Sauk Rapids is about 360 per class. He says he looks forward to the opportunities the move presents. The science classes will be about the same as when he first started teaching in Windom many years ago. One of the nice things about Pequot Lakes school is that it’s a fifth-grade through 12th-grade building meaning the middle school is attached to the high school. That will allow him to see his sons during the day. “My boys can easily walk down to their dad’s classroom,” he said. “And high school kids and football players can easily drop by and talk football. There’s that opportunity, and that was another selling point.” He said he also looks forward to doing more hunting and fishing. Both of his boys like to fish and being in the midst of lake country, they will have ample opportunity to spend time together. Despite the excitement of the change and the opportunity the move to Pequot Lakes represents to Magnuson and his family, the leaving is tinged with sadness at leaving Sauk Rapids. “I would just like to say thank you to the Sauk Rapids-Rice (school) district. It’s an amazing, amazing district. And it’s only growing and getting better,” he said.
from front page little bit of a desire to get farther north, especially in the lakes and pine country,” Magnuson said. When he got the call from Pequot Lakes just before Memorial Day to interview for a job as a science teacher and coach, it was a pleasant surprise. His sons are still in elementary school, and if ever there was going to be a move, it had to be before they reached high school. “We would never try to move them once they started high school,” he said. “We thought this was probably the best opportunity we were going to have to get up north and be closer to family.” By moving to Pequot Lakes, he will be 45 minutes from Park Rapids where both he and his wife have extended family. Magnuson sees Pequot Lakes as being very similar to Sauk Rapids when he first moved here in 2000. “They have fabulous facilities, a lot of school pride, a lot of community support, and they’ve done well in a lot of athletics, but I think the thing that I am most excited about is again making a difference in young men and women’s lives,” he said.
Reflections on Sauk Rapids
Magnuson’s assistant coaches, John Rasmussen and Loren Finlayson, have been with him since he started in Sauk Rapids. “I definitely am going to miss
On coaching
Ask Magnuson about his coaching style and what makes a successful program, and he grows philosophic. What he said he is most proud of is the development of young men, he said. They are taught a lot of life skills, things like being classy and doing the right thing. Those are the skills that are important and will help these young men later in life, he explained. Those are the things he is most proud of. What kind of game plan does he prefer on the field? “I do like to run the ball, to pound the ball,” he said. “That’s hard to do in our league because there are some very good teams.” He said he likes to develop players and explain why they are running a certain play, or why keeping their head up when they block is important. He says he is not a huge yeller
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Sauk Rapids woman hired by St. Joseph police by Ben Sehnert news@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph Police Department has added a new member to its roster of patrol officers. Celeste Walz has Walz been working with the department on a part-time basis since
February, but the Sauk Rapids resident became a full-time employee on June 1 and is the only female police officer on staff. “We do have an all-women campus here, and I think it is an important piece of the police department to have a woman on the police force,” Walz explained, referring to the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. “Hopefully, I can fill that role.” The Litchfield native attended the University of North Dakota
where she graduated with a four-year business degree. After graduation, Walz pursued a career in aquatics, serving for eight years as the aquatics director at the St. Cloud YMCA. She said she had always considered law enforcement as a possible career but only began to pursue that course in 2013 when she began law-enforcement training. She had served as a security officer at St. Cloud Tech High School before being
hired by the St. Joseph Police Department in September. Walz said St. Joseph presents challenges that are unique to a college town, such as the dramatic shifts in population that correspond with the school year that give rise to very different challenges for law enforcement. On the other hand, Walz said she has enjoyed her work with the students at the College of St. Benedict in preparing for commencement week and with the
citizens of St. Joseph. “Everybody has been very welcoming and friendly to me, so I appreciate that, “Walz said. “It has been good to get to know a lot of people here. It’s a great community and still has a small-town feel that is fun to work with.” Walz has lived in the St. Cloud area for 10 years and resides with her family in Sauk Rapids.
contributed photo
Far left: This picture shows the location of the property proposed to be filled to bring it to the level of Benton Drive. photos by Dave DeMars
Above: This photo shows the condition of the lot located between Seventh and Eighth streets off Benton Drive, which developers propose to level by bringing in four to five feet of fill material. In the upper right of the photo is the building owned by Robert Aurelius, a business owner who aired concerns about filling the lot to grade level with Benton Drive. Inset: shows the condition of the ditch which the city claims will carry away the deluge of rain water and dump it into the city storm sewer system.
Growth from front page curs, it would affect his business. The ditch was overgrown with trees and bushes and did not drain properly, he said. He prefers the property not be filled and raised. The amount of fill will be between four and five feet to bring the site to grade with Benton Drive. After hearing comments from the developer and neighbors, the council closed the public hearing, then voted to follow recommendations of the planning commission and approved the CUP to allow the filling of the site. Other public hearings progressed much faster and did not elicit much public input. Consideration of on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses for Bubba’s Bar and Grill, Jimmy’s Pour House, Benton Station, Old Capital Tavern, VFW Post 6992, John Dough’s Pizza, SuperAm-
erica, and Central Minnesota Junior Hockey. No public input was forthcoming, and the council approved all the liquor and beer licenses. The third public hearing was to review the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. Pete Eckhoff, director of public works, provided the council with background data for the hearing and why the public hearing needed to be held. No public comments were forthcoming, and the council promptly approved the program. The fourth public hearing was to consider a site plan and conditional-use permit to allow a new commercial building located at 205 Second Ave. N. and a variance for a drive-through window. Todd Schultz, community development director, led the council through the background and site information. Developers wish to build a 3,200 square-foot building with a three-lane drive-through. The structure could serve as a bank, restaurant or similar commercial
building. The building is part of several lots on the block owned by the developer. Shared parking would be part of the design so large crowds for restaurant business would be parked onsite, not in the street. After hearing a concern about clearance of snow in the winter, the public hearing was closed, and the council unanimously voted to approve. The fifth public hearing was a request from Manea’s Meats to consider an expansion of its business to allow a meat-processing facility in back of the present store. They requested a portion of the alley in back of the store be vacated to allow for the expansion of the facility. Schultz explained the planning commission had not been able to consider the request or to prepare a recommendation. He suggested the council table the request until the planning commission had done its work and made recommendation. The council concurred, and put off dealing with the project until its
next meeting.
Regular agenda
In the regular agenda, the council learned of a cell company’s request to use the city right-of-way in which to place a cell tower. The FCC ruled cell companies can legally use the city right-of-way. Schultz of the planning committee raised an alarm, suggesting if it wanted to, a cell company might try to place a tower in a downtown right-of-way in the middle of a street or attach it to city light poles or antennas. The city went through a fair amount of expense to get around the problem of having poles in the right-of-way, Schultz said. He recommended adopting a moratorium until further study can be done to define the city’s legal rights on the issue. Council concurred and passed a one-year moratorium. On the consent agenda, the council unanimously dealt with the following items: • Acceptance of Great River
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• • • •
Rotary Club’s donation of the Bike Fixation Bicycle Repair Station Acceptance of donation for the SR Police Canine Program Acceptance of $500 in grant money from Central Minnesota Emergency Medical Service-Equipment Reimbursement Program Grant Approval of staff attendance at Minnesota Rural Water and Sewer Training Approval of 2016 seal-coat project to Pearson Brothers Inc. Approval of waiving Rapids River Days’ temporary-sign permit fees Approval of awarding the 2016 Eighth Street North and Third Avenue North Improvement Project.
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Friday, June 17, 2016
Rice Elementary principal reflects on past year, looks ahead by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
It’s 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning and Christina Bemboom, principal of Rice Elementary School, is relaxing a bit and catching up on work that was interrupted the last few days. The school year ended just a few days ago, and the end of the year is a whirlwind of activity. This is the end of Bemboom’s third year at the school, and it gives her time to reflect and plan for the future. Prior to taking the job, she worked as an administrator of the special education departments in Little Falls and in Princeton. Because Rice is some distance from Sauk Rapids, it’s largely an independent school.
photo by Dave DeMars
Principal Christina Bemboom makes a point about the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program at a recent City Council meeting, which she says helps emphasize inquiry-based learning and development of math and language-arts skills. That makes for both benefits and challenges. Bemboom said
she believes Rice has the best of both worlds. “We’re part of that larger Sauk Rapids-Rice School District which provides access to so many great people and resources,” she said. “But then we are also a small building, so there are things we get to explore here. And with our small staff, we really enjoy serving our students and our community.” She speaks glowingly about collaboration within the district but is even more effusive in talking about the benefits of the small staff at Rice. With only two or three sections at each grade level, teachers can work closely with one another and get to know each student on a more personal basis.
Looking back on the year
Reflecting on the year’s accomplishments, she said it seems to coalesce around a number of things: the support of the community, the ability of staff to work closely together and help one another to move forward together, and the success of the positive behavior and interventions for students. “The Path of the Storm Program really accomplished a lot this year,” she said. “It allowed us to have really solid discussions around research-based instruction.” It helped teachers provide the support students need in their daily learning activities. Bemboom also talked about the fun community events the school
planned and carried out; a recent success was the turnout for the PTA picnic, and the community barn dance that was funded with a grant. “That was very fun,” she said. “We had a really nice turnout and kids got to teach their families dances that they had learned.” Asked if there were things that didn’t turn out or that didn’t get accomplished because the school year ran out, Bemboom shook her head and shared a bit of her philosophy about education. “I look at how we move forward in education as a journey,” she said. “There are always things we would like to keep working on, and I don’t think of it so much as disappointment as Principal • back page
‘Dancing’ event to raise money for women, girls by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Six local people, including three Sartell residents, will dance for their favorite charities when “Dancing with our Stars” takes place from 5-8 p.m. Monday, June 20 on the outdoor terrace of the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud. The event, which costs $85 per person, will include a social hour, dinner and dance competition. The three Sartell residents are AnnElise Bergstrom, Luke Riordan and Jon Ruis. The others are St. Cloud residents Erin Bitzan, Steve Letnes and Melinda Saunders.
The event is sponsored by the Women’s Fund, which is one of the initiative programs of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. Each dancer will be paired with a professional dancing partner, and each couple will then dance for a charity of the guest dancer’s choice. All of the charities are ones that help women and girls improve their lives in one way or another, such as Clara’s House and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Three expert judges will judge the dancing, and 40 percent of the score will be based on the actual dancing, while 60 percent is determined by how much each dancer raised for his or her favorite charity online, in
person and on the night of the event. The winner will get $15,000 to give to the charity of choice. Second place is $10,000, third place is $5,000 and dancers in fourth through sixth place will each receive $1,000 each for their charities. To vote for your favorite dancer and/or charity, go to: communitygiving.org/wfp. In an interview with the Newsleader, Courtney Schmidt said Jeff Ringer of StudioJeff dance school in St. Cloud suggested the charity dance competition as an annual fundraiser for the Women’s Fund because he was aware other places had done it. The Women’s Fund
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committee liked the suggestion immediately and began the process of choosing locally-involved people to be contestants. The six they chose readily agreed to dance. The line-up of the dance contestants, their businesses, their charities and dance partners for “Dancing with our Stars” is as follows: • AnnElise Bergstrom of First United Methodist Church. Charity: Quiet Oaks Hospice. She will dance with Matt Boettcher. • Erin Bitzan of D.J. Bitzan Jewelers. Charity: Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. She will dance with Paul Cotton.
• Steve Letnes of Letnes Restaurant Group. Charity: Clara’s House. He will dance with Nancy Streng. • Luke Riordan of DAYTA Marketing. Charity: Big Brothers Big Sisters. He will dance with Lisa Saari. • Jon Ruis of United Way of Central Minnesota. Charity: Imagination Library. He will dance with Nicole Miller. • Melinda Sanders of Quinlivan and Hughes. Charity: Anna Marie’s Alliance. She will dance with Gustavo Pena. For more information about Dancing with our Stars, call 320253-4380.
Humorist to headline summer writing workshop The Mississippi River Creative Writing Workshop (ENG 445-545) will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, June 20-23 in the 51 Building of St. Cloud State University. Community members can register as non-degree-seeking students. Award-winning humorist Julie Schumacher is one of five writers presenting at this workshop. The workshop focuses on fiction writing, nonfiction writing and poetry. No writing experi-
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ence is required. Students will participate in writing exercises and interact informally with the writers. Schumacher earned the 2015 Thurber Prize for American Humor, named for humorist James Thurber (1894-1961), whose short stories, books and cartoons were critically acclaimed and popularly praised. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on March 18.
Call the Newsleader at 363-7741
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Friday, June 17, 2016
5
photos by Dennis Dalman
From left to right: Justin Bednar holds his son, Ryland, who was recovering from surgery to remove his adenoids as he turned 1 year old during his stay at Benton County Campgrounds; Larry Bednar, the patriarch of the Bednar clan, turns bacon to crisp it up nicely on his trusty gas grill he always brings to campsites. His wife, Ronda, can be seen in the background, making pancakes; Stacy Tretter, who lives in Hillman, prepares to toss a horseshoe at Benton County Campgrounds. In the background is her son, Kalen; Kayleen Tretter shows off the green caterpillar she found clinging to a leaf in Benton County Campgrounds.
Bednar clan has ball at beachless Benton Campgrounds by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Once upon a time, on hot summer days, people would flock to Benton Beach Campgrounds east of Rice to swim in Little Rock Lake or soak up sun on its beach. Nowadays, some people go there, look around and ask, “Where’s the beach? What happened to the beach?” Answer: There is no beach. That’s why the campground’s name is now – officially anyway – Benton County Campgrounds. About 10 years ago, the lake became so unswimmable due to algae growth, the beach was closed and a tall natural vegetative buffer was allowed to grow where there once was a beach. But isn’t the lack of a beach a disappointment? Apparently not – at least not for the extended Larry and Ronda Bednar family who think the campgrounds’ many pluses more than make up for the lack of a beach – so much so that who needs a beach? The Bednars, who hail from the Pierz and Hillman areas, love to stay at Benton County Campgrounds; they’ve been camping out there every summer for the past five or six years. On a recent weekend, 16 members of the Bednar clan and a few relatives hunkered
down on two campsites on the grounds. They arrived in two campers – a white Nomad owned by Larry and Ronda and a firetruck-red Ice Castle owned by their son, Justin, and his wife, Hayley, who brought their three young children – Mason, Jaydon and Ryland, who just turned 1. Others who came to camp were the Bednars’ daughter, Alicia, and her husband John Gunther, and their daughter Calli. Another Bednar daughter, Mindy Bednar, came with her young son, Weston. Ronda’s niece, Stacy Tretter, brought her two children, Kayleen and Kalin; and Lily Stangl of Sauk Rapids, Ronda’s great-niece. Ronda’s nephew, DJ Hoheisel, was also a guest. One more camper came along – Axel the campground mascot, a black Shih Tzu. Once at the campgrounds, the Bednar clan found their two camping spots and began to unpack and set up for a happy weekend. They put up an awning at the Nomad; they placed a large living-room-style rug under the awning; they took out a bunch of chairs; and then they relaxed for awhile as the antsy kids dashed off to the nearby playground. Mornings began with breakfast – cocoa for the kids. Larry fried more than 100 slices of bacon on his gas grill while
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wife Ronda beat up a big batch of pancakes she fried on her electric griddle. Then daughter Alicia fried a bunch of eggs after which Ronda made toast on the griddle. Then the hungry campers sat down in chairs and at the picnic table to enjoy the heaping helpings of food, along with fresh-brewed coffee and cool drinks – even a few post-breakfast Bloody Marys. “This is a very clean park,” Ronda said. “That’s just one thing we like about it. The public bathroom is always very clean, and it has showers, too.” Ronda’s sister from Rice, who stopped to visit the clan, teased them. “You call this roughing it?” she asked, as she pointed to all the creature comforts: faucet water right by the campers, a big playground a stone’s throw away, horseshoe pits, a softball field, a volleyball court, a basketball court and a fire pit. “Yes, we do know how to rough it,” Ronda said laughing. During the weekend, the children delighted in playing in the park: swinging on the big swingset, going down the spiral slide, playing beanbag
toss, flinging horseshoes and playing baseball. Ronda got a kick out of seeing several other children in the park come running with their baseball bats when the games began. Some of the children romped about in the campgrounds, exploring the natural world. Kayleen and her little friend Lily came back to the campsite, showing off to everyone a green caterpillar she’d found clinging to a leaf. All of the children’s activities were well within sight of the Bednars’ camp sites. “It’s easy to keep an eye on them,” Ronda said. “And that’s another reason we’re actually kind of glad there is no beach here. We never have to worry about the kids getting in the lake.” Everyone in the extended Bednar family agree about Benton County Campgrounds. “Oh, yes,” Ronda said. “We like it very much.”
Background
Benton County Campgrounds is a 30-acre park located 2.5 miles east of Rice just off of CR 2 on the north side of Little Rock Lake.
It contains 44 sites for RVs, with places also for tent camping. Aside from the amenities listed above, it also has electrical hook-ups, a dump station, picnic shelters for rent, a Lakeview Center for weddings and other events, an 18-hole disk golf course, lots of trees and plenty of open spaces for recreation. Firewood bundles can be purchased for $7 each, and ice is available at $2 for a fivepound bag. To stay at the campgrounds costs $20 per night for two adults, kids with parents free. Additional adults who stay at a site are charged $4 per night. Sites can also be rented weekly for $120 or monthly for $400. Pets are welcome, but they must be on a leash at all times. Check-in time is right after noon, and check-out time is right before noon. No reservations are required, and occupancy is first come, first served. For more information, call 320-393-3420 or visit www. co.benton.mn.us/Parks/Benton_Beach.php.
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6
Our View
Mass killers find legitimacy via Internet cults of death
In the days before Internet, the Orlando LGBT nightclub killer would probably have shot to death a spouse, a relative or a co-worker – one, two or maybe three murders to vent his rage. But nowadays, these Internet-savvy killers feel compelled to go “big-time,” killing as many people as possible to sate their seething hatreds. The cowardly copycats try to top the death tallies of previous killers, and that’s why they strike at crowded night clubs and company parties. Lots of human targets, easy to hit. The prevalence of hatred and violence on the Internet and other media sources fuels these haters. ISIS, which is a cult of death posing as a religion, gives aid and comfort to these raging malcontents, providing them in their twisted minds a “legitimacy” to do their evil deeds and promising them a special place in “paradise” for their vicious crimes. (Some “paradise” that must be!) The Orlando killer (we will not acknowledge him by using his name) was clearly on the path to murder and mayhem. His first wife of four months, whom he met online (go figure!), said he became abusive just weeks after the marriage. Some co-workers said he would seethe with anger, rant against other races, other religions and make homophobic jibes. He was on the FBI’s radar – twice – for possible connections to terrorist organizations. Nothing could be proven. Since he had no criminal record, he legally purchased the guns used in the massacre. Ironically, this deranged individual all along was showing symptoms of someone ready to go over the edge big time, but nobody connected the dots. And, sad to say, an intervention to get him mental help probably could not have helped prevent the horror, anyway. People like the Orlando killer are like time bombs. They can and do pop up anytime, anywhere to wreak their bloodbaths. Once upon a time, such seriously sick individuals would seethe and fester in their own towns, disconnected, alienated and tragically ignored by those who could have maybe gotten them the help they needed. Nowadays, largely because of the Internet, these people, once so isolated and alone in their mental illnesses, are finding like-minded others in the Cyber World. They’re not so alone and crazy, after all – so they think, and thus their seething hatreds become legitimized to themselves within their warped mind frames. And all too often, the new “brotherhood” they find online is the Brotherhood of Death – ISIS being just one example. It speaks volumes that the Orlando killer, in the midst of his butchery, called 911 to announce he was loyal to ISIS and then blabbering into his cell phone some adulatory nonsense about the Boston Marathon bombers. Here was a lunatic desperate to get widespread attention and “credit” for what he was in the process of doing – blasting people to death. What to do about these ticking time bombs? That may be the biggest question of our time. Five things spring to mind: • People aware of such dangerous, erratic behavior, and their threats or connections to terrorist organizations must report them. • Venues where packed crowds gather must work constantly to improve security. • Law enforcement must be well trained and up-to-date on how to deal with these killers, and in the Orlando case, the police department and other first-responders did perform with shining colors, saving many lives. • We should stop wallowing in and romanticizing violence. ISIS does that on its propaganda videos, but, not to forget, so do some video games, movies, music and other forms of “entertainment” manufactured right here in America. • Last but not least, we should stop equating Islam with ISIS the Cult of Death and with lone-wolf haters and killers.
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.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Opinion Obama’s achievements abound
To hear some people tell it, President Barack Obama is the worst president in U.S. history who has done absolutely nothing to strengthen the country and much to weaken us. What kind of cave have these people been living in? Some of that willful blindness could be changing, however. In just the past five months, Obama’s approval rating has increased by 12 points and has been at 50 percent or higher since March 1. How could anybody turn such blind eyes and deaf ears to the following accomplishments – and others – that occurred under Obama’s seven-year watch? • A national calamity was averted after the massive recession-depression that started in 2007 largely caused by Wall Street recklessness. The nation was teetering on the verge of catastrophic financial collapse. Measures proposed by Obama stopped the massive hemorrhage, saving the financial system and rescuing the automobile industry. Banks were required to pay back bail-out money. • Partly through Obama’s insistence, the Dodd-Frank laws and reforms were passed to rein in the greedy behavior of Wall Street crooks. • A renewed focus on the imminent dangers of climate change, including a historic climate-change conference in Paris at which just about every country in the world signed onto agreements to do something about overdependence on fossil fuels and resultant global warming. • Ended the stupid boycott against Cuba after 50 years of non-communication. • Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the rate of the uninsured dropped dramatically to the lowest percentage in American history. Nearly 18 million people now have insurance
Dennis Dalman Editor for the first time in their lives, taking away the terrible anxiety, stress and fear of the unknown they had to endure for so long. (Is it a perfect system? No, but it’s better than nothing, and it’s ready for ongoing improvements. Hopefully, it’s a step to a universal, one-payer system.) • About 13.7 million jobs were added during a 70-month period. Unemployment is now down to about 5 percent. • Obama pushed ahead with an agreement with Iran concerning its nuclear program. (Will it work? That’s debatable, but it’s worth a try, as long as Iran is kept to every word of the document, which gives us and the rest of the world some muscle and leverage to pressure Iran.) • Hundreds of top terrorist leaders, including the vile Osama bin Laden and ISIS goons, have been destroyed under Obama’s watch. Thousands more terrorists and wannabe terrorists, torturers, rapists and plunderers have been killed in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. • A trade deal was signed with 12 countries on the Pacific Rim, with provisions to protect workers and the environment. (Will it work? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s an accomplishment that took hard work and savvy to work out.) • Under Obama, fuel efficiency standards were doubled. • Credit card reforms were made, thanks in huge part to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created.
• The water-boarding torture methods used during the Bush Administration were stopped. • A new START Treaty with Russia was signed. • The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for women workers was passed. • The Fair Sentencing Act was passed. • Obama appointed two Supreme Court justices. • Funding was provided to prevent the layoffs of thousands of jobs for firefighters and police officers in the nation. • Federal contractors are now required to pay a minimum hourly wage of $10.10 an hour. • The budget deficit has been reduced by two-thirds in the past seven years. • A Highway Bill was passed, providing $305 billion for vital projects and creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. • New initiatives and incentives made possible rapid developments in the “Green Revolution,” making solar, wind and other forms of non-polluting power more inexpensive and more efficient than ever before. Those are just some of Obama’s achievements. Imagine what he could have accomplished if the U.S. Congress hadn’t been so stuffed with sourpuss obstructionists. To see hundreds more achievements that occurred under Obama’s seven-year watch, go online to pleasecutthecrap.com, and you will see citations backing up every one of the accomplishments. Of course, many people will view the accomplishments listed above as bad things, terrible things that will weaken the nation. But, not to forget, some of those spoilsport naysayers are the ones who would blame Obama for everything from a tornado outbreak to the lack of a cure for cancer. History will show them just how wrong they are.
Letter to the editor
Dr. Ben Carson must be obtuse – NOT!
James A. LeMieur, Sauk Rapids
There was at one time, 17 Republican candidates running for the office of president. The most respected, intelligent and highly regarded of them all was Ben Carson. If you don’t recall who he is, it’s probably because the selfdescribed “inclusive,” left-leaning media disregarded and dismissed him. He was mocked on Saturday Night Live and many of the late-night talk shows; made out to be a caricature because he is conservative and does not hide his faith.
These actions, endorsed by the progressive, liberal, Democratic party, are driven by feelings of anathema, indignation and wrath. All leading to the rampant division the Democratic Party embraces. Divide and conquer appears to be the hallmark of the current administration and a vote for a continuation of that objective would certainly qualify as “obtuse.” Ben Carson endorses Donald Trump. Ben Carson is heading Trump’s vice-presidential search committee. Ben Carson is a man of impeccable integrity who can be trusted. Do not
fall for the mainstream media tricks used on conservative candidates. Don’t be spoon-fed the tricks used on conservative candidates. Don’t be spoon-fed the talking points of liberal media types used against honest, hardworking citizens like Alan West, Sarah Palin, Condoleezza Rice, Michele Bachmann and George Bush to name a few. It’s the same boorish routine year after year. Try to look beyond the slanted media hyperbole that only diminishes conservative ideas and Donald Trump’s credibility. Ben Carson was able to, and I think you will like what he sees.
Free speech – let the best argument win Too often these days, debates in political discourse have become filled with buzzwords and little substance. News outlets and television channels air their opinions, while presenting them as facts. Is it possible for us as citizens to just find fair and unbiased information from our news sources instead of other people’s prejudices being pressed upon us? In this day and age, it’s not very likely. In the last decade, the amount of information at our fingertips has increased dramatically. Want to find the mathematical equation for escaping Earth’s orbit? It can be yours in less than 10 seconds, no rocket science required. However, this much information can sometimes be overwhelming, and we look for sources to condense it and make it easier to understand, like our nightly news broadcasts. You would expect the people on the other side of the camera would feel the same way and have a motivation to provide an essential service such as this to their viewers. The problem with this idealistic scenario, though, is people’s biases enter into the equation. When you trust someone else to evaluate a situation for you, you are trusting that person to give you their best opinion on the topic, but that’s just it, an opinion. To-
Conner Kockler Guest Writer day’s society is too trusting of opinions and what concerns me is when opinions become blurred with facts. Contrary to what many may have said to you, truth does not have a liberal or conservative bias. The truth purely has a truth bias. The only way for us to figure out the correct choice of action in our daily lives, or in international diplomacy for that matter, is to let the facts do the talking. This should be regardless of what our feelings are about them. We should not be afraid to hear other opinions, but at the same time, if you feel strongly about something, you should be able to give a good reason why. If we continue to let how people feel control debate, everyone is allowed to live in their own world of belief. This ignores focusing on how ideas and policies actually impact people in the real world, not just on
paper. But we continue to follow this path. Safe spaces, where people are prohibited from speaking contrary opinions, are becoming a growing trend on college campuses. Students must now be given “trigger warnings” before they engage in what is deemed “sensitive” material. Our colleges and universities, the places where we expect to have a strong discourse and debate of dissenting opinions, now prohibit certain speech across campus. There are some that may not know this, but the First Amendment does not protect you from being offended. The First Amendment protects all speech that does not threaten or incite immediate violence. This includes speech some deem “controversial.” If you believe your ideas are the correct ones, please defend them with facts and we can all have a civil conversation. When people say others with different views than theirs are evil or bigoted, and we need to prevent them from speaking, that is a dangerous development indeed for this country’s future. Connor Kockler is a current student at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. He enjoys writing, politics, and the news, among other interests.
Friday, June 17, 2016 Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-3634195; or, e-mail it to news@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, June 17 Burger/brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. N.W. Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. RSVP Brat/Hot Dog Sale, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Coborn’s, 1725 Pinecone Road S., Sartell and Coborn’s, 900 Cooper Ave S., St. Cloud. Family Comedy/Magic Show, ideal for children preschool through fifth grade. 3-3:45 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 253 Fifth Ave. N., Waite Park. 320253-9359. Registration required; attendance limited. Register at griver.org/events. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. Eric Genius Concert of Hope, see the world-renowned composer and concert pianist with violinist, cellist and vocalist accompaniment, 7 p.m., St. Joseph Church, 106 N. Seventh Ave., Waite Park. St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 Second Ave. S., Waite Park. 320-339-4533. stcloudsingles.net. Avon Spunktacular Days, live music by Levi Pelzer Band, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., downtown Avon. 320-217-4792. avonmnchamber.com. Saturday, June 18 Avon Spunktacular 5K/1K AU TO M O B I L E S / M OTO RC Y C L E S WANTED MOTORCYCLES: TOP CASH PAID! For Old Motorcycles! 1900-1980. DEAD OR ALIVE! 920-371-0494 (MCN) ADOPTION PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 855-390-6047 (MCN) AUTOMOBILES DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 1-800-283-0205 (MCN) DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855-752-6680 (MCN) EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED Experienced CDL-A TRUCK DRIVERS. Great pay and benefits. Driver friendly. All miles paid. Upper Midwest Region. Family run for over 75 years. Home when needed. Nice equipment. WWW. MCFGTL.COM Call now 507-437-9905 (MCN) OWNER OPERATORS wanted. Paid all miles. No touch freight. Many operating discounts. Family run business for 75 years. Many bonuses and good home
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Community Calendar
run/walk, 8 a.m. register between 7-7:45 a.m., 320-356-7334. Lady Slipper Nature Ride, 8-10 a.m., lakewobegontrail.com. Brinkman’s Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-noon, First Street and Second Avenue next to Manea’s Meats, downtown Sauk Rapids. Kids’ activities, Avon Spunktacular Days, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown Avon. 320-217-4792. avonmnchamber.com. Burger/brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. N.W. Read to Buster, a reading therapy dog for children ages 5-10. 11 a.m.-noon, Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 253 Fifth Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-253-9359. Community Meal, 11:30 a.m.12:45 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. Parade, Avon Spunktacular Days, 7 p.m., new parade route this year, downtown Avon. 320217-4792. avonmnchamber.com. Avon Spunktacular Days, live music by Stone Road, Avon Spunktacular Days, 8:30 p.m.12:30 a.m. 320-217-4792. avonmnchamber.com. Fireworks, Avon Spunktacular Days, dusk, Avon. avonmnchamber.com. Monday, June 20 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Library Camp, 12:15-1:45 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 253 Fifth Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-253-9359. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., St. Cloud Library, 1300 W. St. Germain Street. 320-529-9000.
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Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday.org. Cave Quest Vacation Bible School for children entering kindergarten to fifth grade in the fall, 6-8:30 p.m. June 20-24, Discovery Church, 700 18th Street N.W., Sauk Rapids. discoverychurchmn. com/children. Tinville Lions Club, 7 p.m., Rollie’s Rednecks and Longnecks Bar, 940 35th Ave. NE, Sauk Rapids. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph.
Tuesday, June 21 Library Camp, 12:15-1:45 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 253 Fifth Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-253-9359. 55+ Driver-improvement program (eight-hour first-time course), 5-9 p.m. June 21 and 22, Apollo High School, 1000 44th Ave N., St. Cloud. 1-888-2341294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. St. Cloud Area Genealogists meeting, 7 p.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. stearns-museum.org. Wednesday, June 22 4-H Day Camp Counselor Training, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Stearns Extension Office, 3400 First St. N. #103, St. Cloud. 320-2556169. Thursday, June 23 Rummage Sale, benefiting the junior high mission trip team to Harrisburg, Penns., Celebration Lutheran Church, June 23-25, 1500 Pinecone Road N., Sartell. Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. NE, Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 800-6042613 (MCN) ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - $99 FREE Shipping! 100 Percent Guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-800-795-9687 (MCN) LIVING WITH KNEE OR BACK PAIN? Medicare recipients may qualify to receive a pain relieving brace at little or no cost. Call now! 844-668-4578 (MCN) Viagra!! 52 Pills for Only $99.00! Your #1 trusted provider for 10 years. Insured and Guaranteed Delivery. Call today 1-888-403-7751 (MCN) Stop OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! Save up to 93%! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy service to compare prices and get $15.00 off your first prescription and FREE Shipping. 1-800-263-4059. (MCN) MISCELLANEOUS ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1-800640-8195 (MCN) A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact
Sartell. Brat sale, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Coborn’s, 110 First Street S., Sauk Rapids. Lemonade Concert/Art Fair, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S. 320-308-2205. lemonade@ stcloudstate.edu. Sauk Rapids Chamber Meeting, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. 320-251-2940. Family Farmers’ Market, 2-6 p.m., River East parking lot, CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-252-2422. Art and Story, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 253 Fifth Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-253-9359. Community Ambassador Pageant, 7 p.m., Sauk Rapids-Rice High School (Performing Arts Center), 1835 Osauka Road N.E. Friday, June 24 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnben-
7 tonhistory.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2 Rapids River Days Parade, 5 p.m., Sixth Ave., Sauk Rapids. Saturday, June 25 Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K/1K Walk/Run, 7:30 a.m., Bob Cross Park, 40 10th Ave. S., Sauk Rapids. Brinkman’s Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-noon, First Street and Second Avenue next to Manea’s Meats, downtown Sauk Rapids. Artist Trading Card Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 253 Fifth Ave. N., Waite Park. 320253-9359. Minnesota State Strongman/Woman Championships, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Municipal Park, N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. Rapids River Food Fest, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Municipal Park, N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. Girls Fastpitch Softball Tournament, noon, Bob Cross Park Softball Fields, 40 10th Ave. S., Sauk Rapids.
Gracie is a 3-year-old, spayed cat who responds to the nickname “Miss Kitty” and loves to be talked to. She can be a little shy with new people but eventually relaxes. She has been around children but was rather afraid of them. She also does not care for dogs or other cats. A home where Gracie can be an only pet would be ideal. Gracie’s adoption fee would be waived for a senior citizen or veteran. Gracie is available for viewing, visiting and adoption at PetSmart in Waite Park.
“Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!”
Tri-County Humane Society 735 8th St. NE • PO Box 701
Dogs - 16 Cats - 25 Puppies - 4 St. Cloud, MN 56302 Kittens - 13 Rabbit - 1 Guinea pigs - 2 Mice - 3 Ferret - 1 Turtle -1 www.tricountyhumanesociety.org Parakeets - 2 Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-6 p.m., Friday Noon-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
320-252-0896
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Friday, June 17, 2016
contributed photos
Left: People of all ages participate in Tanner’s Team Foundation’s 2015 adult 5K, part of a fundraiser for families in Central Minnesota with children experiencing life-threatening illnesses. Right: At the fifth annual Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K/1K fundraiser in 2015, kids ages 10 and under line up for the 1K and shake hands with mascot TJ Bear, created and worn by Tanner’s sister, Maddie Fuls.
Legacy from front page The following year, the Fuls family created the Tanner’s Team Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization, with the intent to help families struggling with the hardships of having a child with a life-threatening illness –something they knew all too well. John Fuls, founder/CEO of Tanner’s Team Foundation, said, “We set out to help just the surrounding Ccntral Minnesota counties. We are currently at 37 counties, 112 families helped through our grants since our beginning in
Principal from page 4 we are where we are on the journey and we are going to keep moving forward.” She says part of the journey involves emphasizing state standards and making sure students are prepared and are taught the skills they will need to become successful students. Critical thinking is a key part of that program and teachers work hard on
2011, and $80,000 has been disbursed to those families.” “In 2016 alone,” Fuls went on to say, “we’ve already given out 19 grants.” One thing Fuls says he’s particularly proud of is that more than 90 percent of the proceeds from this event, their major fundraiser for the year, goes right back into helping the families as he and his wife, the board of directors and all those that give back to this organization are volunteers. When applying for Tanner’s Team Foundation grants, families can expect a three- to four-day turnaround. The financial grants they typically assist with are mortgage pay-
ments, car payments, electric bills, medical bills and anything that has gone on to collection agencies. Grants are generally around $800, and families can apply every 12 months. Fuls said they run the applications by their medical professional, Dr. Heather Stefanski, the chief medical officer who also treated Tanner, to assess whether they are considered life-threatening illnesses. “It’s one way we can keep Tanner’s legacy alive,” Fuls said. “He would’ve been a senior this year, so it’s a bit of a hard year for us. But this is one way for us to pay it forward to those going through similar situations.”
The Tanner’s Team Foundation 5K (or 1K for kids) will be held Saturday, June 25, at Bob Cross Park in Sauk Rapids. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. The 1K Walk/Run (for ages 10 and under, and will earn credit for the CentraCare Blend Fit Kids Club) is at 8:30 a.m., and the adult 5K starts at 9 a.m. Awards and door prizes will be given shortly after the last finisher. Last year’s race saw more than 289 adults cross the finish line, and they hope to see even more this year in order to help even more families in the coming year. “There were so many people that helped us when we went through everything with
Tanner,” Fuls said. “We just want to give back to the families of Central Minnesota when they need it most.” The cost is $30 for adults and $15 for children. Registration can be done online before June 24 at www.tannersteam. org or by printing the registration form from the website and mailing it to: Tanner’s Team Foundation, 1706 Summit Place, Sauk Rapids, Minn. 56379. There’s also same-day registration at the event. For more information or to become a business sponsor of the event, email tannersteamfoundation@gmail.com or call 320-761-0962 or 320345-0843.
trying to move that along. The school is entering Phase III of the Sauk Rapids-Rice initiative to introduce computer technology into the learning process, she said. This new phase will affect the elementary building more than the previous phases. How can teachers keep getting better at using the technology in a meaningful way? She refers to the four C’s – increased collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking.
The emphasis is on how to apply and use the knowledge rather than just knowing it, she noted. “We are trying to do more of that,” she says, “and technology helps us do that in more and interesting ways.” School staff, she said, talks a good deal about how to embed movement opportunities into the student school day. She noted they start each day with a song or movement activity. There is also emphasis on nutrition, as well.
Looking ahead to next year
nology to help make a better learning environment a real possibility. “Technology really is a tool,” she said. “It’s a means to an end, not an end in itself.” What’s important for kids, she said, is that kids balance their lives, with technology, with outside physical activity and with face-to-face interactions with others. “That is the challenge for us as caregivers and educators – to support them in developing that balance,” she said.
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Bemboom said the staff and she are very excited about the International Baccalaureate Training Program in which Sauk Rapids has been participating. It will give them the tools to support kids to be strong and positive, to apply inquiry-based learning and support positive-behavior interventions through the Path of the Storm program. As far as technology is concerned, the goal is to use the tech-
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