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Community Thanksgiving... page 2
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 32
November 24, 2016
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
It’s here! Blizzard ties 1947 record
Winter came rushing in last week after an unseasonably warm fall. The ofÀcial reading by the National Weather Service at the St. Cloud Regional Airport tied a 69-yearold record for the date at 4.1 inches. Records indicated Sauk Rapids received 4 inches and Rice packed in even more snow acculumating 6 inches for the day. The National Weather Service issued blizzard and winter storm warnings for much of the state leading up to the Nov. 18 storm. Temperatures dipped and by 9 a.m. much of central Minnesota was being blasted by snow and ice before the precipitation turned to heavy wet snowfall. Substantial winds, low visibility, ice, snow and slush resulted in accidents and problems for many. As of early Saturday morning, the Minnesota State Patrol had reported nearly 450 crashes and 870 vehicles off the road statewide. Many area schools called off classes before the storm hit. The St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids-Rice and Sartell Districts released students two hours early. Central Minnesota’s average high hung around 41 degrees Friday with lows dipping to 29. The blizzard brought with it colder temperatures, and Saturday and Sunday the area recorded its Àrst below average temperatures since the beginning of March. PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Snowfall packed a dwarf burning bush on the outskirts of Rice the morning after the Nov. 18 storm. Much of central Minnesota was affected by the season’s Àrst snow. Rice received 6 inches and Sauk Rapids 4.
A meaningful award
Employee direct deposit issue tabled by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — Once again, the Rice Fire Department was one of the main topics of discussion at the city council meeting Nov. 21, but this time the conversation revolved around pay. Rice Mayor Dale Rogholt informed the council that in December 2014 a resolution had passed requiring all city employees to adhere to a direct deposit payment policy. He added that although the information was dispersed to some city employees, not all members of the Àre department were made aware. Therefore, Rogholt advised that payment for the 2016 year be made by either check or direct deposit (as it has been in the past) and that a new resolution is adopted to make direct deposit mandatory as of Jan. 1, 2017. Council member Allen Voigt diligently opposed and believes direct deposit should be voluntary. “They [members of the
Rice City Council continued on pg. 2
Wild about turkey
Father, daughter feast on hunting game by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
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Greg Bannwarth, Theo Brown, Shaun Johnson and Jared Dove make up Tonic Sol-fa, an a cappella group that started at St. John’s University and now runs business out of Sauk Rapids. The group will be performing in St. Cloud Dec. 30.
Tonic Sol-fa inducted into Minnesota Music Hall of Fame by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Tapping your foot, singing to the music and dancing are common ways people connect with music. But what if the band you were listening to didn’t have any instruments? “It’s the most ridiculous job in the world,” said Shaun Johnson, the lead singer of Tonic Sol-fa. “It was really a niche market when we started, but we always have a lot of fun on stage.” The group also includes Greg Bannwarth, Jared Dove and Theo Brown. When the group started at St. John’s University, none of the current members were part of it. “Greg, Jared and I have been together in the band for over 10 years, but none of us are originals,” Johnson said. “I think that makes it even more unique.” Despite being a unique market, Tonic Sol-fa has
made a name for themselves, including two independent Grammys and an induction into the Midwest Music Hall of Fame. The group was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Nov. 4. “The induction was a surprise for us,” Johnson said. “But it’s really cool to be inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame, particularly since this is where it all started.” The group meets in Sauk Rapids typically twice a week throughout the year for business meetings, at the home of their vice president. “It’s fun being in central Minnesota,” Johnson said. “This is where we started and many of us lived for many years.” Johnson balances his time between Tonic Sol-fa and his charity band – the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experi-
Tonic Sol-fa continued on pg. 3
RICE — Many families will sit down for the traditional Thanksgiving meal this weekend. They’ll serve up pumpkin pies, cranberries, squash, mashed potatoes and dressing with gravy and, of course, at the center of the feast will be that beautiful bird — the turkey. But of the nearly 90 percent of Americans who will dine on the palatable poultry this holiday, how many will say they’re feasting on wild game rather than a commercial bred gobbler? It’s safe to say, due to the inaccessibility of this answer, the numbers are scarce. “There’s something to be said about sitting down to a table with a bird you know you harvested yourself,” said Angela Caruth. “It’s a sense of accomplishment. There’s a satisfaction in having shot it yourself.” Caruth, of Rice, and her father Ross Norgren, of rural Long Prairie, won’t be dishing up the breast of a wild bird this Thanksgiving like they have in the past, but they do plan on preparing their fowl for the Christmas season. “I prefer wild over commercial,” Caruth said. “Just because I know where it came from and know what it’s been eating. It’s like the original organic turkey.” Norgren and his daughter have been hunting near-
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Ross Norgren, of rural Long Prairie, and his daughter Angela Caruth, of Rice, are avid hunters. They not only enjoy hunting wild turkeys, but cooking them as well.
ly their entire lives. They hunt pheasants, grouse, geese, turkeys, ducks and deer; and eat all their kill. They’ve bonded over their love for the outdoors and are both grateful they are allowed to experience hunting together. “Angela and I have been hunting together for years,” Norgren said. “She was telling me just the other day how she still remembers me mixing the hot cocoa and making sure she was warm when we were out. It’s a chance for us to spend time together, out in the woods, doing something we enjoy.” This year the two paired their efforts during the fall turkey management season to take down a 22 pound tom with a 7 inch beard. The two had spotted a group of hens with the tom on their acreage in Hewitt. As the crop of birds Áed into the pines, Norgren headed one way while Caruth acted as a blocker. She entered the woods on the
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Brothers Mark (left) and Ross Norgren both bagged wild turkeys this past spring season on their acreage near Hewitt. Mark’s tom was 28 pounds and Ross’s weighed in at 21.
opposite side of the turkeys from her Dad and attempted to push the Áock back to him. “I herded them towards him. They double-backed because they heard me, but didn’t hear him,” Caruth said. The method worked. It was the Àrst successful stalk in Norgren’s hunting
years. Minnesota has two hunting seasons for wild turkeys. In the spring, hunters can choose a one-week period to hunt during mating season and in the fall they are allowed one day short of the month of Oc-
Wild turkey continued on pg. 3