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Newsleader Sauk Rapids-Rice
Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 Volume 2, Issue 39 Est. 2015
Town Crier Candidate forum set Oct. 10 at CSB
The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement, and the League of Women Voters of St. Cloud Area, are co-sponsoring a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10 in Room 204 at the Gorecki Center at the College of St. Benedict. This forum will feature candidates running for the Minnesota Senate, and House of Representatives in Legislative District 13, all of whom have been invited to participate: Senate District 13: Michelle Fischbach and Michael Willemsen. House District 13A: Jeff Howe and Anne Buckvold. House District 13B: Tim O’Driscoll and Matthew Crouse. The event is free and open to the public. There will be an opportunity for voters to register to vote in advance before and after the forum.
Abounding Joy to host ‘Harvest of Joy’ festival
Join Abounding Joy Lutheran Church as they celebrate the Harvest of Joy Fall Festival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Highlights include handcrafted items, door prizes, baked goods, children’s activities and a silent auction. Lunch will be served. All proceeds go toward the Youth Education Scholarship Fund. Abounding Joy is located at 6000 CR 120, St. Cloud. For more information, visit aboundingjoylcmc. org.
SRR Homecoming Parade promotes school pride photo by Mindy Peterson
Students from the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District display their school pride and celebrate diversity by carrying handheld banners. They were part of the 2016 Community Homecoming Parade Sept. 30 near the middle school that took place just hours before the homecoming football game against the Tech Tigers at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School Football Stadium.
Newsleaders to publish responses to questionnaires Starting with today’s editions of the Newsleaders newspapers, readers will see responses from questionnaires sent to all candidates for local political offices in our readership cities. The responses will also be published online at the Newsleaders’ website once they have been in the newspapers. That way, readers can read them online anytime they like as they appear online cumulatively
right up until Nov. 8 – Election Day. Some candidates, such as those running unopposed, may not have returned questionnaire responses. Any candidate who did not receive a questionnaire for one reason or another should contact the Newsleaders to request one. Call 320-3637741 or email editor@thenewsleaders.com. See inside for the individual candidate questionnaires.
Health-care professionals to celebrate Mass on Oct. 9 by Cori Hilsgen news@the newsleaders.com
A Catholic Mass honoring physicians, other health-care professionals and medical workers will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 at the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph. The Mass is for health-care workers of all faiths. Family and friends are also invited to attend the event. St. Cloud Diocesan Bishop
Donald Kettler will offer a special blessing for the hands of health workers, recognizing the work performed by those in the medical field. The St. Benedict’s Monastery Schola will lead the music. According to the St. Cloud Diocese’s website, the “White” Mass celebrates the unique contributions health-care workers make to the medical field. The name of the Mass originated from the white coat usually worn by those in the medical
Does your dog love getting attention and giving affection? CentraCare Health needs animal-assisted therapy volunteers to visit Hospice patients in their home, patients at CentraCare Health Plaza or St. Cloud Hospital. Visits have been shown to reduce anxiety, reduce pain, improve deep breathing and improve emotional and mental well-being. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Oct. 7 Criers.
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
photo courtesy of Bobby Vee website
Insurance Advisors See inside for our Salute to Firefighters!
field. The Mass is a chance for workers to be recognized for their commitment to their chosen profession to help heal, to celebrate health and to receive a blessing from the bishop. The College of St. Benedict Director of Campus Ministry Sister Sharon Nohner said for years the college has hosted a “Red” Mass during which they recognize and give a special blessing for those who work in the legal profession.
“It raised the question as to why we had not had a White Mass blessing for those who work in health care in our diocese seeing as the Sisters of St. Benedict have done so much in establishing the Catholic health-care system in our area and beyond,” Nohner said. Bret Reuter, director of mission and spiritual care at St. Cloud Hospital, said in a press release that health care is sacred and soulful work. Mass • page 7
Teen Idol: The Bobby Vee Story set Oct.1-30 at History Theatre
CentraCare seeks dog-assisted therapy volunteers
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Postal Patron
The musical, Teen Idol: The Bobby Vee Story, will be performed from Oct. 1-30 at the History Theatre in St. Paul. It follows the life story of local resident Bobby Vee, (pictured in a 1960s photo) was written by Bob Beverage in collaboration with Vee’s sons, Jeff and Tommy Vee, and is directed by Ron Peluso.
A musical about Bobby Vee will be performed now through Oct. 30 at the History Theatre in St. Paul. Teen Idol: The Bobby Vee Story was written by Bob Beverage in collaboration with Vee’s sons, Jeff and Tommy Vee, and is directed by Ron Peluso. George Maurer, who has been Vee’s musical arranger for many years, provides musical direction and arrangements for the production. The production follows the life of 15-year-old Bobby Velline who charmed audiences at the Winter Dance Party in Moorhead on Feb. 3, 1959, when local talent was asked to fill in after Buddy
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Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were killed that same day in a plane crash. Vee, as he became known by, became a teen idol appearing on American Bandstand with Dick Clark, as well as grew to be an international star entertaining audiences with Top 40 hits. From 1959-70, he produced 38 Top 100 hits, including many certified as gold records. From his first hit single, “Suzie Baby,” in Minneapolis, Vee’s musical journey included performances with pop stars like Little Anthony and The Imperials, Ronnie and The Ronnettes, Dion and Del Shannon. The musical honors many of those Vee • page 7
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Friday, Oct. 7, 2016
Two candidates vie for Sauk Rapids mayoral seat Two Sauk Rapids residents will vie for the mayoral seat come this November. They are Kurt Hunstiger and Guy Konietzko. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Kurt Hunstiger
Name: Kurt Hunstiger, married to wife Ruth with two children – Michael and Emillee. Please give a brief biographical background: I have lived in Sauk Rapids for 34 years and
have been serving the residents of Sauk Rapids for 22 years in various positions, including city council, planning commission, joint planning board, HRA Board and numerous related commit-
tees. Please give highlights of your education, jobs you’ve held, memberships, honors received, special skills and knowledge: I have worked in financial services in the St. Cloud area for 35 years. I am currently a vice president/ wealth advisor for Bremer Trust/ Wealth Management in St. Cloud. I am a certified financial planner and a chartered mutual-fund counselor. Why are you qualified to serve the City of Sauk Rapids? I not only have a history of civic engagement, my extensive experience in private business makes me a well-rounded candidate to serve as Sauk Rapids mayor. I am ready to put those years of experience to use and take the city in a direction of positive growth and a healthy professional environment. My proven leadership and my strong interest in serving the residents of Sauk Rapids make me a great candidate for mayor. What are the biggest challenges as Sauk Rapids continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? We need to be fiscally responsible to our residents while providing the necessary services in a cost-effective manner. This includes providing for adequate police and fire protection, water and sewer utilities, good road-
ways and park amenities. As the city grows and becomes a destination for shopping, dining and parks, we will attract new residents and businesses creating more jobs in the city. Which programs and services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? If we were to suffer an economic downturn like we have in the past, we would need to work together with all of the city staff/ department heads to determine where/what services or programs could be reduced or eliminated. It would be premature to make those decisions now. It would need to be a joint effort shared by all the city departments. What are your thoughts about the school district and city joining forces using primarily sales-tax revenue for the athletic fieldhouse at the high school? Are there other amenities possible through partnerships, either private-public ones or with the school district? The voters of Sauk Rapids approved using the sales-tax revenue for various potential projects, including fieldhouses in the last election. I think we should have serious discussions jointly with the school board and move forward with building the fieldhouse. We have done joint projects with the
Correction An unnamed reader of a few lines from a Native American poem at the Sept. 25 community memorial service in St. Joseph for Jacob
Wetterling was a man, not a woman. The Newsleader regrets the error, which appeared in a story about the service in the Sept. 30 Newsleader.
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Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 school board in the past. I have served on committees that have drafted joint agreements that included discussion of details. There have been good major downtown developments in recent years. Is there a danger of too much development there, causing density and traffic problems? The development that has taken place in the downtown area of Sauk Rapids was planned with the construction of the new bridge many years ago. We knew that growth would continue with the construction of the new bridge and upgraded roadways. The roadways were designed to handle the growth of the community for many years into the future. What are Sauk Rapids’ greatest strengths? What are its weaknesses? How would you improve the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses? We have sufficient police and fire coverage that we review staffing annually, good streets which we try to upgrade at least one every year and excellent parks. We also have a strong school district. We need to make sure we have an adequate supply of new residential housing lots to attract new families to the city and allow current residents more options if they choose to build a new home and stay in Sauk Rapids. We need additional industrial property to allow our current businesses to expand and to attract new businesses to the city, potentially creating new jobs. Are taxes in Sauk Rapids too high, too low or just about right? If you think taxes are too high, how could they be reduced? Taxes are a balancing act we do every year during the budgeting process. We try to decide where we can best spend the tax dollars in the most cost-effective way and still provide all the necessary services. I think we have
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com done a very good job in the past controlling our taxes yet providing the needed services. Every decision we make re- Hunstiger garding any of these services directly impacts the taxes we pass on to the residents. We do a very good job of planning/budgeting for the future with our long-term capital plans. Some neighborhood residents in the city have expressed fears about safety because of multiple thefts and burglaries. What can be done to lessen those fears and ensure residents remain safe and secure? The current city council has been addressing those concerns during the past year by adding additional police officers. We have also increased the police presence in those areas of concern. We are budgeting additional officers in 2017 and will continually access what we need for adequate staffing in the future. Are the ways to further enhance the Mississippi River at Sauk Rapids as a recreational and aesthetic shoreline resource for both residents and visitors? I feel we have done a great job upgrading our river parks. Using the sales-tax revenues during the past years, we have done many upgrades and more have been planned for the future. Feel free to add any other ideas you may have. I would like to schedule city-planning sessions to gather input from the residents on what they feel we can do more of, better or differently working together. In addition, sessions should be held with city staff/boards/commissions to discuss future staffing and planning to ensure each department is providing adequate service to the
city. By working closely with city staff/ community development/ HRA, we will make sure the city is being proactive in Konietzko recruiting new businesses and working with local businesses as they expand. Discussions with city staff need to be held to ensure our residential and industrial/commercial developments remain beneficial and cost-effective for both the city and the developers. Thank you for the opportunity to share my views of the city.
Guy Konietzko
Name (and family information, if you wish): Guy Konietzko. I’m responsible for new business development at GeoComm Inc. in St. Cloud. My primary mission is working with emergency responders (police, fire and EMS at local, county and state level) to improve pre-planning, response and incident command through mapping and automation. Please give highlights of your education, jobs you’ve held, memberships, honors received, special skills and knowledge: • Education: Bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in organizational management and communications • Jobs: 26 years of military service before joining GeoComm in September 2015 • Memberships: VFW and Minnesota Military Museum • Honors: Awarded the Legion of Merit for career accomplishments and awarded the Bronze Star Medal, twice, for personal
accomplishments in combat • Special Skills and Knowledge: This is a direct quote on Linkedin: “Collaboration is a key trait that defines Guy Konietzko. I’ve had the honor of serving with Guy for more than 22 years in the Minnesota Army National Guard, often in the same unit and once as his subordinate. Above all, I was impressed with Guy’s ability to establish effective relationships with others, to understand their needs and to drive home shared results, and almost always with a smile on his face, despite international jet lag, Minnesota mosquitoes or decidedly “non -Minnesotan” food (in Greece, Norway, Afghanistan, Iraq). He is very loyal to his family, friends and team. I always knew he had my back and could be trusted to both hold my confidences and deliver blunt feedback when called for. I would gladly work with him again. I strongly endorse Guy Konietzko for any senior management position requiring collaboration, business development and innovation.” – Mark Lappegaard Why are you qualified to serve the City of Sauk Rapids? While serving in Iraq as the civil military operations officer, I was responsible for rebuilding rule of law, economic development, infrastructure, governance, public health and public education for the southern half of Iraq. To achieve this, I managed a budget of more than $134 million to support a population of more than 10 million people in an area of more than 56,000 square miles. What are the biggest challenges as Sauk Rapids continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Challenges: We should work
3 to have at least two police officers on duty at all times, though I understand with budget constraints and schedule conflicts it’s not always possible. When necessary, I want to ensure the city and county are working together any time a local enforcement officer is on duty without immediate backup from his or her own department. This can easily be facilitated through the 911 call center. I know through personal experience, your decision process is different when you know someone has your back and can respond immediately. Ultimately this will reduce the risk to responders and citizens. Candidates • back page
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Sauk Rapids Firefighters!
Mike Golembeski, 30 years
Scott Schroeder, 24 years Assistant Chief
Jason Adamski, 23 years
Dale Ward, 23 years
Neil Bueckers, 22 years
Doug Dingmann, 20 years
Jason Fleming, 19 years Chief
Wayne Seward, 19 years
Greg Bomstad, 18 years Captain
Brad Peterson, 18 years Captain
Dan Cote, 16 years
Steven Ellson, 15 years Captain
Jeff Jahnke, 12 years Second Assistant Chief
Brian Kitzberger, 12 years
Jared Gapinski, 11 years
Mathew Heinen, 8 years
Robert Calhoun, 20 years
Cory Zimpel, 16 years Captain
Front row (left to right): Charlie Walters, 3 years; Jason Vogt, 10 years; Mike Kampa, 26 years; Caleb Voigt, 9 years (training officer); Ben Phenow, 6 years (training officer); Brad Vaillancourt, 19 years (deputy chief); Eldon Schiller, 11 years; Keith Craft, 10 years; and Sean Grimstad, (past member). Back row: Greg Beierman, 15 years; Trevor Greenly, (past member); William Hutchinson, (past member); John Aschenbrenner, 24 years; Steve Janski, 33 years, (past member); Allen Voigt, 18 years; Joe Janski, 30 years, (captain); Scott Janski, 24 years, (fire chief); Dale Hiscock, 30 years, (captain); Brian Kostreba, (past member) and Josh Pressnall, 6 years. Not pictured: Kevin Martin, 41 years. New members: Tyler Martinez, Blake Phenow, Allen Petron and Tony Tabatt.
Dale Abraham, 5 years
Not pictured:
Open house activities include: • Tour the station • Visit with firefighters • Climb aboard the trucks • See the gear, equipment and tools
Joe Henkemeyer, 20 years Kevin Roesner, 18 years Tom Muehlbauer, 8 years Dalton Landwehr, 5 years Joe Schmidt, 5 years Tim Hochhalter, 2 years
Tyler Heinen, 1 year
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Rice Firefighters!
Alan Olson, 31 years
Brent Bukowski, 15 years
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 Friday, Oct. 7, 2016
Jared Powell, 1 year
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Our View Let’s rally to help Sartell mobile home owners stay local Yet another mobile home park in the greater St. Cloud area is scheduled to be sold and shut down, leaving its residents in a terrible lurch. This one is the Sartell Mobile Home Park, until about two years ago known as Hi-Vue Mobile Home Park, along Second Street South near the Williams Integracare Clinic. It’s the third such sale in the area –,the two others being in St. Cloud and Waite Park. Currently, many of its residents have formed a board with hopes they can collectively buy the park as a nonprofit association. An organization called Northcountry Cooperative Foundation is helping them with the process. We hope those residents succeed because there are 163 mobile homes in that park, each a home to families of various numbers – from senior citizens living alone to young families with children. Some of the residents have lived there for nearly 40 years, and in some cases the children of the first residents, now grown, have children of their own and they live there too, a place they have always known as “home.” At a recent Sartell City Council meeting, some of the residents spoke to the council. They told a bit about their lives and why they are hoping the ownership process is successful. If it isn’t, they will have to find someplace else to live, and that is not an easy option because it’s unlikely they can afford other forms of housing. In their testimony, it was clear they are economically challenged, but their fortitude, their pride of their homes and their sense of neighborliness came through loud and clear. There are about 1,000 mobile home parks in Minnesota with about 50,000 living units, all told. Those residents tend to be among the most economically vulnerable of people who just don’t have a lot of money to work with for a number of reasons. It’s such a shame they are susceptible to the fate of their living spaces when mobile home parks, with infrastructural deterioration or other factors, cause the park owners to shut down and sell the land. We should view these people as our neighbors, we should rally to their cause, and we should press the City of Sartell and other movers-and-shakers in the greater St. Cloud area to do anything in their power to help these people maintain their homes. We applaud the Twin Cities-based Northcountry for stepping up to the plate to help the residents. That cooperative has helped save other parks and their residents through ownership plans. Let’s pull together to help Northcountry and those residents succeed in this case, too. This dilemma of the Sartell park residents is – or ought to be – of regional concern. We should remember that old wisdom: “There but for fortune go you or I.”
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, Oct. 7, 2016
Opinion Story tip? Please include phone number, e-mail It seems more and more people are talking by telephone less and less, so many think all communications can or should be done solely via email or texting. When it comes to newspapers and other media, that’s not necessarily true. In many cases, talking via phone or in person are vital if a story is to be written and published. The Newsleader staff is always happy to receive news releases and story tips from readers, but now and then there is a delay in processing and publishing them. Readers can help us out by being sure to include the following information, the most important being a telephone number: News releases News releases are informational, matterof-fact items readers would like published in the newspaper. They don’t usually require any follow-up interviews by the news staff. The most important thing to include is a telephone number, the name of a contact person and preferably the best time to call that person. It’s also important to be sure to include what we call the Five W’s: Who, What, When, Where, Why. Here’s a hypothetical example: For more information, call June Slattery at 978-355-2011. Who: The Orion Club. The main speaker will be nationally known identity-theft investigator Richard Schimske. Local police will also talk about identify thefts that occurred in the area. What: A free two-hour class about how to avoid identity theft. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26. Where: The Orion Club building, 904 Fifth Ave. S., Parker City. Why: To acquaint people with tips to protecting personal and financial information to help avoid identity theft via email, telephone, use of credit cards and debit cards and postal mail and other ways. For more information, call June Slattery at
Letter to the editor:
Dennis Dalman Editor 978-355-2011. (Best time to call is mornings before 9 a.m. June is the Orion Club president.) Her email is junesl897@yahoo.com. Here is how that information would be published as a story in the newspaper: Headline: Orion Club to present identity-theft class. Published Story Tips on how to protect oneself from identify theft will be shared during a free two-hour class at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Orion Club in Parker City. Nationally known expert on identity theft, Richard Schimske of Chicago, will be the featured speaker, along with local police who will share examples of identity theft in this area. The class will cover how identify theft that can occur via stolen information derived via telephone, use of credit cards and debit cards, postal mail and other means. For more information, call Orion Club President June Slattery before 9 a.m. weekdays at 978-355-2011. Or email her at junel897@yahoo. com. The Orion Club is located at 259 Fifth Ave. S. in Parker City. Story tips The rules for submitting story tips should include the same kinds of information as press releases: Who, What, When, Where, Why and (please don’t forget) a phone number, the name of a contact person and best time to call. Story tips are different from most news releases in that more information is necessary to flesh-out the story. That information is obtained
by an interview with a reporter in person and/or via telephone call. Here’s an example of story-tip information provided to the newspaper. “Hello Newsleader. We wondered if you would be interested in doing a story about a neighbor of ours. Her name is Cecilia Plaquemort. She is only 17 and is an amputee. Despite that, she saved up money, then took a trip to Tanzania where she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was always a dream she had, and she raised money for people who need prostheses. I talked to Cecilia and her parents. They are all willing to be interviewed for a story. If interested, call me, Jon Germaine, at 765-930-5692. Or call the Plaquemorts at 765-930-5773. Best time to call me or them is after 5 p.m. on a weekday.” Here’s the start of feature story, as based on information obtained in telephone and in-person interviews with the Plaquemort family. Headline: Plaquemort’s dream brings her above the clouds Published Story Standing on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa, Cecilia Plaquemort of Parker City took a deep breath, pinched herself and shouted to her fellow climbers, “Am I dreaming this or what?!” No, the 17-year-old wasn’t dreaming, although her climb up Kilimanjaro was a long-time dream. Some said it would be difficult, if not impossible, because Plaquemort is an amputee, missing her left leg below the knee due to a car accident five years ago. “In grade school, we had a guest speaker who had climbed Kilimanjaro, and so I wanted to climb it too,” Plaquemort said. “After the accident, after I lost a leg, I was more determined than ever to reach that summit, no matter what.” And so, dear readers, to repeat, please, please, please always leave a contact telephone number (any maybe an e-mail address) when submitting news releases or story tips.
Join League of Women Voters at candidate forum Mary Ann Graeve, St. Joseph Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were concerned the new democracy would need serious citizen participation to succeed. The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a candidate forum for Senate District 13 at 7 p.m. Monday,
Oct. 10 at Gorecki Center on the College of St. Benedict campus. This forum will make it possible for citizens to hear and ask questions of candidates running for the State Legislature. The League of Women Voters has a strong reputation for fairness and non-partisanship in its forums. This is an opportunity for anyone living be-
tween Paynesville and Sartell, including Avon, to make democracy live up to the Franklin and Jefferson ideal. The forum starts at 7 p.m., but the doors will open at 6 p.m. Let’s get a big turnout for the chance to have some input in our democracy.
Sports and extracurriculars offer lessons outside classroom As summer yields to fall, another transition occurs – the comeback of school sports. And with that comeback comes the biggest game of them all – homecoming. At Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, homecoming is a big thing for us. The student council organizes many events, and student participation is through the roof. The annual Friday afternoon pep fest before the game is alive with excitement and activity. Thousands of students and alumni stream to the football field. You would think with all this energy, we’re confident of crushing the other team and sweeping victoriously into the homecoming dance. Trouble is, it doesn’t always work that way. In fact, our football team hasn’t won a single homecoming game in the last few years. Not that the crowd cares very much. Our rivals might crow they beat us by high margins, but I’ll bet they can’t beat the energy of the Sauk RapidsRice crowd going crazy when the team scores a touchdown putting us at 7-42. This really shows the dedication and love for school we have here in these two towns. Football is more than just beating the other team. It’s a way to bring the whole school together, no matter our differences. Our football team is a great group. I know many of them and despite the odds and depressing score lines, they are still full of enthusiasm. Every game night, the Storm pride is always on display. The amount of perseverance is amazing. Our fans are the same way. Sauk Rapids-Rice proves you don’t always need to win to have an enthusiastic fan base. For us, the experience and the atmosphere is enough. This very fact is proven every game. On Sept. 30, the bleachers
Connor Kockler Guest Writer were packed to the brim with spectators breathlessly waiting for the game to start. The parking lot was packed with tailgaters watching from the beds of pickup trucks behind the south fence. This makes victories all the more sweeter. On a chilly Thursday night in October of last year, I went with a friend to watch the Storm play the Willmar Cardinals. With the score swinging back and forth with the biting wind, we watched the team pull off a well-earned 26-21 victory. The excitement and elation was incredible. It remains one of the best football games I have ever seen. Our 4-5 record last year was something to be proud of, and the team sure earned it. Perhaps high school sports and activities have something to teach all of us. It brings to mind that old phrase of “winning isn’t everything.” How true that is. In my own sports and activities I participate in such as soccer, Knowledge Bowl and golf, we are not the most successful groups, but we still have fun. My golf game still needs some work, and the top places in Knowledge Bowl always seem to be just out of reach. But the camaraderie and teamwork built up by these activities is second to none. I
remember coming in to the high-school freshman year and feeling somewhat intimidated by the older students. But participating in activities, it helped me meet so many great people and forge lasting relationships. Being a junior now, myself, I hope these same experiences can help the current ninth- and 10th-graders in the same way. So for any young people reading this right now, my advice is simple: Join an activity or club. You don’t have to be athletic or really into sports. There is something for everyone out there now. There’s Math League, Art Club, Marching Band along with a multitude of others. Many of these programs also have little to no activity fee. In my experience, participating in many different activities has helped me to meet many new people and expand my knowledge and learning. Speech and debate are also good choices for improving public-speaking skills. The most important thing is to get out there and have fun, and learn something new while doing it. I hope we can continue to expand and keep adding school activities that can serve the range of interests and abilities of today’s students. Everyone is different, and now everyone can be. There are more options than just sports and band these days. School activities do great work in promoting strengths, improving weaknesses and making us all better citizens. You just need to know where to look. Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
Friday, Oct. 7, 2016
Vee from front page artists including Del Shannon, Little Anthony of The Imperials, Ronny of The Ronettes, Dion, Leonard Nimoy, Bob Dylan, Shirley of The Shirelles and Chubby Checker. The musical is also a story about the love between Vee and his wife, Karen, who died in 2015 after receiving a lung transplant about three years before. It also is a life story and moves through the later years with joys and hardships. Jeff and Tommy Vee said in a press release that the play is a window in a special time in the history of rock ‘n’ roll and in American pop culture – rooted right here in the Midwest, the place where their parents were so proud to call home.
Mass from front page “We need grace – God’s grace – to be present to patients, families and our colleagues in a manner that, as our mission suggests, reflects the healing mission of Jesus,” he said. “The Mass for health-care professionals celebrates the sacred work of caring for the sick among us and calls upon God’s grace that we
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The Vee brothers toured with and managed their father’s late career and said it has been an exciting ride. Besides being Bobby Vee’s fans because he was their father, they said the fact he was a “multi-million record-selling rock ‘n’ roll star is something else entirely.” The brothers said the fact their father managed to be the same sweet person through all of this is his greatest achievement and in their view it clearly comes across in the production. Jeff Vee said they were approached by Beverage and Peluso about the play more than two years ago. They liked the theater’s mission of “real stories about real people in Minnesota” because it stressed the importance of accurate history, as well as entertaining and compelling theater. They began the process shortly thereafter, doing interviews with
many people close to their father and piecing the story together. They said their father’s story is unique, and there is much people do not know. When reflecting on the musical, the brothers said it was cathartic and therapeutic to journey back in time through their family’s personal history, which connects to the special memories of generations of music fans spanning the world. “Our goals and hopes for this project were to celebrate their legacy, to make them proud, and in a sense, to keep them alive,” Jeff Vee said. “We do feel like we have accomplished that. I am certain that family, friends, fans and even casual theater-goers will be touched by the production and take a few pieces with them when they leave.” At the first reading of the musical script, they said it was hard to keep dry eyes. They had just
lived the latter part of the story and to see it come to life again was like a bittersweet dream. Jeff Vee said the show is full of phenomenal music by their father and many of his contemporaries. For Baby Boomers, they hope the production will be an exciting trip down memory lane, and for all else a fun and touching rock ‘n’ roll history lesson. “We were blessed to have them, and so fortunate to have the memories that remain for all time,” the Vee brothers said in a production reflection release. “It is an honor to share this story with all as a part of the Minnesota History Theatre’s 2016-17 season. Everyone should be so lucky as to celebrate their family history on the stage. We hope these memories inspire and know our parents would be proud.” In recent years, Vee was involved in production of various musical projects at his Rockhouse
Recording Studio in St. Joseph. He retired in 2011 after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but performed at various retirement shows, including Joetown Rocks during the St. Joseph Parish Festival Fourth of July. Joetown Rocks is an annual event Vee and his sons were instrumental in establishing as a town tradition. Vee also recorded music with his family in Tucson, Ariz., known as The Adobe Sessions, which is available on CD. Vee has another son, Rob; one daughter, Jennifer; three daughters-in-law; one son-in-law and five grandchildren. Ticket prices for the musical range from $10 for children to $37-$52 for adults. Discounts are offered for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit historytheatre.com or call 651292-4320.
may be vessels of God’s loving, healing presence to all those we serve.” There are 24 Catholic-sponsored hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living residences in the St. Cloud Diocese. The Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict founded St. Cloud Hospital in 1886 and St. Cloud School of Nursing in 1908. They also founded schools for X-ray technology, anesthesiology, laboratory technology, the St. Benedict’s Senior Community nurs-
ing home and developed a fouryear registered nursing degree through the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University. The tradition of a White Mass to honor health-care workers was reintroduced into the diocese last year. Nohner said about 70 health-care professionals attended last year’s Mass. “It was a wonderful event that many wanted to see continue and become a yearly event,” she said. “The White Mass is a time to invite all who
are in the health-care profession to gather and be blessed for the healing work they are doing in our communities.” Annette Jesh, parish healthministries program coordinator for St. Cloud Hospital, said the St. Cloud Diocese has a rich history of providing health care. “When we gather together, we have an opportunity to renew our dedication as members of the health-care community and how each of us responds to providing holistic health – that
is the process where there is harmony and balance among the dimensions of our lives and those we care for – body, mind, spirit and relationships,” Jesh said. The event is sponsored by the Diocese of St. Cloud, Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Benedict Senior Community of CentraCare Health in partnership with CSB/ SJU and St. Cloud Hospital. A reception will be held after the Mass in the Sacred Heart gathering space.
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Candidates from page 2 Strengths: The city should capitalize on the river and our small-town appeal by turning downtown into the focal point of central Minnesota. Which programs and services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? I don’t believe in cutting or eliminating services people may depend on during a crisis. Any decision would depend on the crisis but generally speaking reducing more than one program or service is a better answer than eliminating a program or service people depend on for survival. What are your thoughts about the school district and city joining forces using primarily sales-tax revenue for the athletic fieldhouse at the high school? Are there other amenities possible through partnerships, either private-public ones or with the school district? I support the school district and city joining forces to come to a resolution on the fieldhouse, specifically because I believe a community’s education system is its single greatest investment in its own potential for social and economic growth. Giving
students the opportunity to take part in sports and other activities is an integral part of their educational experience, allowing them to identify with something bigger than themselves that they can be proud of. I’m a big supporter of improving educational opportunities in the arts, music, organized sports and all after-school programs as part of providing students the best chance to excel on their own terms. For these reasons, I believe the community center would be a great addition to an excellent school sports program and provide the community with a venue for adult and senior sports leagues. I would support the city partnering with many organizations to accomplish this project. If there are acceptable sponsorship opportunities, they should also be explored to ensure the best chance for success. There have been good major downtown developments in recent years. Is there a danger of too much development there, causing density and traffic problems? I believe in responsible growth, the city should provide a shared comprehensive vision for growth, recognizing nothing can be considered in isolation. New development must be accompanied with the infrastructure necessary to support it. The city’s long-term
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plan should be transparent, deliberative and informed with input of its citizens. What are Sauk Rapids’ greatest strengths? What are its weaknesses? How would you improve the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses? Strengths: The river frontage downtown is one of our greatest strengths. We can reference places like Stillwater, Red Wing and the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas. One example, the city of Minneapolis has had some success with roof-top bars and restaurants. This can turn the railroad tracks from a negative into a positive by providing a scenic view of the river and excitement for the kids watching an occasional passing of trains. Weaknesses: Lack of business opportunities attracting commuters traveling on Highway 10. The demographic is people who want
to spend time at the cabin, on the lake or in the woods. We should also consider service members, law enforcement and emergency managers traveling to Camp Ripley. There are examples we can reference in Clearwater, Hinckley, Albertville and Rogers. The focus should be businesses that don’t compete with downtown. Are taxes in Sauk Rapids too high, too low or just about right? If you think taxes are too high, how could they be reduced? It’s obvious some residents believe they are over-taxed, but taxes are a necessary part of providing public safety, education and community services. It’s important the school district, city and county come together and talk about their levies so the population is not overburdened. Some neighborhood residents in the city have expressed
Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 fears about safety because of multiple thefts and burglaries. What can be done to lessen those fears and ensure residents remain safe and secure? I’ve had a personal experience with an intruder at my house. I know the loss of security I felt after that incident, and I don’t want anyone else to experience that feeling. I don’t believe in throwing money at any problem. You have to do the research and analysis to figure out how to solve complex problems like crime. Are there ways to further enhance the Mississippi River at Sauk Rapids as a recreational and aesthetic shoreline resource for both residents and visitors? The surrounding cities have not made best use of the river; I think we have the opportunity to learn from cities that have and make it a focal point of downtown.