PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 34
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
December 8, 2016
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER Owner Michael Hornung (from left) and his staff Chris Amick, Brandon Gerads and Jonathan Arundel install holiday lighting and decorations for Christmas Decor.
Christmas Décor capitalizes on holiday Hornung entered franchise to keep staff stable by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — If you’re a fan of Christmas, or even if you’re not, you’ve most likely seen images of Clark Griswold stapling his roof with “25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights.” Another familiar movie scene, shows Charlie Brown adorning his less-than-perfect tree with
a bulb from Snoopy’s “Àrstprize,” decked-out doghouse. Despite the emphasis on competition and commercialism of holiday decorating on your screen, one local business has managed to put people Àrst while growing its franchise, Christmas Décor. Michael Hornung, owner of Valley Green Companies and Christmas Décor in Sauk Rapids, owned his lawn fertilization company for 10 years
Man struck in Second Avenue robbery SAUK RAPIDS — A 48-year-old Sauk Rapids man was robbed after being struck by a man Monday evening while walking in the 16001700 blocks of Second Avenue N. According to a press release from the Sauk Rapids Police Department, the victim was confronted by a male suspect who demanded his wallet, struck him and took a few
dollars from his pants pocket when he fell to the ground. The suspect Áed the area and the victim walked to a nearby convenience store and called police. The suspect is described as a black male, 5’9” tall, medium build, wearing a gray hoodie and baggy sweat pants. Anyone with information about this crime, should contact the SRPD.
Search uncovers heroin, cocaine ST. CLOUD — A St. Cloud man was arrested after a search of a residence uncovered amounts of heroin and cocaine. According to Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force (CMVOTF) Commander Steve Soyka, Antonius Garth, 26, was arrested Dec. 1 after the St. Cloud Police Department SWAT team conducted a search at 235 18th Ave. N, St. Cloud. Investigators located approximately one ounce of heroin, two ounces of cocaine, about $3,400 in U.S. currency and a small hand gun. Garth faces charges of Àrst degree possession of a controlled substance, Àrst degree possession with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a Àrearm and ammunition. He was transported to the Stearns County Jail. The task force was assist-
Antonius Garth ed by the St. Cloud Police Department SWAT team and patrol division. The task force is comprised of ofÀcers from the cities of St. Cloud, Little Falls and Sauk Rapids; and deputies from Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Todd and Morrison County Sheriff OfÀces.
and was looking for a way to keep his employees on payroll year-round when he stumbled upon the holiday lighting and decorating company. He purchased the rights to the three-county area franchise in 2000 and has since expanded the business to reach as far north as Nisswa and south to Maple Grove. “You want to keep good people working,” Hornung said. “We had the opportunity to get into snow removal, but when is it going to snow? Is it going to snow every year? This [Christmas Décor] really made sense. We know when Christmas comes each year.
It’s been a nice Àt.” Much like Hornung’s idea, the seasonal enterprise was founded in 1986 as an off-season supplement to the founder’s landscaping business. Since that time, the business opportunity has grown, operating in over 350 different markets across 48 states and Canada. The company offers full-service holiday lighting and decorating packages. Their program encompasses design, installation, maintenance, removal and storage. Lighting and greenery packages are quoted to the customer as line items, so they are
able to purchase as little or as much as they want based on their taste and budget. Then, the decorations are bought outright from the company and installed. By March, Hornung’s company removes and stores each item in a numbered spreadsheet system for swift selection the following year. “Whether it’s roof lighting, garland, wreaths, windows – you name it – we can pretty much do it,” Hornung said. “But we are not a Griswold-type of dec-
Hornung continued on pg. 3
Bringing home the cup by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – The Storm bowling team has a new piece of merchandise to show off – a shiny gold cup. The team received the Minnesota High School Bowling Varsity State Champions cup Dec. 3 in Minneapolis, after making it all the way through the state tournament to become the new state champions. “I feel like being the state champions Ànally hit me,” said Jared Durant, team captain, on Dec. 5. “It’s a crazy feeling to be looked at by all the other kids that bowl on JV [junior varsity] and other teams in the state as being the champions. It meant so much to the bowling community here to bring that state championship cup back home with us.” Coach Brady Kampa said the Àrst round of competition was the toughest for the team, as they were competing against several of the top 10 teams in the state. In the Àrst match, the team won by a mere two pins. “I feel this season, particularly state, was a team effort,” said Derek Durant. “We were the team to beat all season and other teams just couldn’t do it. It’s a great feeling that we made it.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The bowling team – (front, from left) Brook Helget, Derek Durant, (back, from left) Jared Durant, Dylan Depa, Calvin Kruschke and Coach Brady Kampa – brought home the state championship cup Dec. 3.
The team won all but one match this season, falling only to Forest Lake by pin count. “Being able to take the team all the way, with only one loss, is truly amazing,” Kampa said. “Winning state brings a feeling of reassurance. The experience was
nerve-wracking at times, but so amazing. The team did really well.” Once the team made it through the Àrst round of the state tournament, they had no
Bowling continued on pg. 3
Community comes together for annual event SAUK RAPIDS — Community members gathered at many Sauk Rapids events Dec. 3 during the Sauk Rapids Family Fun Day and Parade of Lights. The day’s events kicked off with a Toys for Tots drive at the Sauk Rapids Fire Department and was followed by others such as kids’ bingo, silent auction, visits with Santa, Trots for Tots 5K, a living nativity, parade of lights, steak fry and more.
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Sauk Rapids Ambassadors Allyson Walz (left) and Clo Meyer sang Christmas tunes on their Áoat during the parade Dec. 3. They were accompanied by Santa (Mark Sauerer) and Mrs. Claus (Karen Then).
Sauk Rapids Family Fun Day and Parade of Lights photos continued on pg. 2
Deposit resolution remains unresolved by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — The Rice City Council continues to be in disagreement with a past resolution that mandated city employees to use direct deposit for purposes of payroll. Discussion for the item was tabled Nov. 21 and readdressed at the Dec. 5 meeting. According to the resolution which was passed as a consent agenda item in December 2014, all city employees were to adhere to a direct deposit payroll policy. Yet, some community members employed by the city, such as ÀreÀghters and coaches, are still receiving paper checks because they were never properly informed of the resolution’s mandatory compliance. At the Nov. 21 meeting, Mayor Dale Rogholt moved that checks be distributed in either form this December, but that the city would enforce the already-approved policy beginning Jan. 1, 2017. This brought strong opposition from council member Allen Voigt and council member Paula Kampa asked that the item be tabled to allow for further discussion with members of the Àre department, city staff and banking personnel. Kampa started Monday’s conversation, saying she talked with both the clerk Stephanie Fischer and treasurer Sheri Johnson individually about security measures taken at the city ofÀces and was conÀdent on how the city handles its information. She also spoke with banks to Ànd out their preferences between checks and direct deposit, which they admitted to direct deposit. I would like to see this resolution a little more acceptable,” Allen Voigt said. “This just forces somebody to do something they don’t want, and it’s for no reason at all besides a little bit of convenience for us.” Mayor Rogholt and Kampa mentioned the security assurance direct deposit offers, but Allen Voigt did not agree that issuing checks with city routing and account numbers was a liability. Council member Brian Skroch believed the current document was illegal and the city could not mandate its employees to use direct deposit. He said his research informed him that Minnesota is one of the few states which does not make direct deposit mandatory. “Any employee can write a letter to your [their] employer in the state of Minnesota and they do not have to have direct deposit,” Skroch said. According to Labor, Industry Minnesota Statute 177.23 Subdivision 4, wages are payable in legal tender, checks, electronic funds transfers to a payroll card account and “except for instances of written objection to the employer by the employee, direct deposit to the employee's choice of demand deposit account.” Caleb Voigt, a Rice Fire Department employee who would be affected by the change, voiced his concern. He wanted to know if there were procedures intact for how employees of the city would be notiÀed if their account information was compromised.
City council continued on pg. 3