PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 25
Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota 56379
A continuation of the Frontiersman, The Free Press, Sauk Rapids Sentinel and St. Cloud Sentinel.
(USPS 482-240)
October 6, 2016
Voters can prepare early With Election Day just over a month away, new voters can now simplify their Àrst voting experience and avoid delays by registering online. Voters can preregister to vote online at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website https://mnvotes.sos. state.mn.us or by submitting a completed voter application to the Benton County Auditor’s ofÀce in Foley. Application forms are also available at the Sauk Rapids Government Center or Rice City Hall. The last day to preregister for the November general election with a paper application is 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18. The online deadline is 11:59 p.m. that same day. If you fail to preregister to vote, those wishing to vote will need to register at their designated polling place on Election Day. Visit the Secretary of State’s website for a complete listing of authorized proofs of residence. Absentee ballots are available at the Benton County Auditor’s ofÀce from Sept. 23 through Nov. 7, 2016. Voters may vote in person at the auditor’s ofÀce during regular business hours or may have the ballot materials sent to them. County ofÀces are open extended hours on the Saturday before Election Day and until 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election. Please contact the Benton County Auditor-Treasurer’s OfÀce at (320) 968-5006 for more information regarding absentee voting. Polling places are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. Voters are only allowed to place their vote at their designated precinct in which they reside. Voters unsure of their precinct location may visit http://pollÀnder.sos. state.mn.us.
HOMECOMING PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Homecoming photos continued on pg. 2
Members of the Sauk Rapids Rapids-Rice Rice High School senior class of 2017 held up the number three to signify the number of years the class has won the school’s spirit stick during Homecoming week. They have won the school spirit award since its induction when the classmates were sophomores.
Storm water fee formula available for future
by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — The city of Rice passed its storm water ordinance at Monday’s city council meeting. Due to the size and nature of the ordinance, it will not be published in its entirety and is available to the public at city hall. Council member Brian Skroch brought to the council’s attention that although the planning commission has no intention of charging storm water fees at this time, the new ordinance provides a
working formula to use if they ever so choose. Currently, storm water costs are charged through the regular water utility bills. The cost of maintenance is taken from the general public works fund. Because storm water maintenance and needs have increased due to environmental aspects over the years, many municipals are separating storm water fees from traditional sewer in order to determine, in detail, where tax dollars are being spent, said Rice City Engineer Mike Rardin. Skroch told the
council the next step before charging a fee would be to record maintenance hours used for storm water utilities to see how much of the public works dollars are being spent specifically on storm water issues. In other council news: • Brad Savola addressed the council requesting speed limit signs to be posted in the rural residential area of 42nd Street and 121st Street. The streets currently have no signs posted. Savola believes signs would, at least, bring awareness of the speed limit. Savola had spoken with Rice Police
Chief Ross Hamman prior to the request and Savola said the chief told him the area was considered a 30 mph speed zone. After a small discussion about where to place the signs and cost, the council approved to place two or three signs along the two streets, leaving Hamann in charge of numbers and location. • Rice City Assessor Traci Balder informed the council she would be Ànishing her contract through Feb. 1, 2017, but would no longer be working with the city thereafter.
Balder’s letter stated new endeavors as her reason for termination. • Rardin informed the council that if they choose to proceed on the street paving project on Second Avenue NE next spring, they should consider issuing a survey of the area this fall because information can sometimes take up to 90 days. Council member Chris Scheel said if the city plans on redoing the street it would most likely take place
City coucil continued on pg. 3
A handmade tradition “I got my Hogwarts letter” Magwire makes grandchildren’s costumes Gerads receives long-term scholarship
by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Natalie Gerads, 13, has long imagined herself roaming the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with the likes of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. As she has grown up, Gerads has read the Harry Potter series, as well as countless other books. But Harry Potter is her favorite. “It’s not just a fantasy to her,” said Shelby Chollett, Natalie’s Language Arts teacher. “She always reads in between the lines and recognizes what J.K. Rowling really means through her characters.” A world similar to Hogwarts has come to Gerads, as she was recently recognized as a Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar. The scholarship provides endless opportunities for her from now through the end of high school with the
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Natalie Gerads received the Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar award. It will provide endless opportunities for Natalie from now through the end of college.
SAUK RAPIDS — When the calendar rolls to October, most children begin thinking about reinventing themselves for the dress-up holiday, Halloween. They might page through ad Áiers, search the internet or simply use their imagination. But some lucky children don’t have to wonder at all. Those, like Lily and Kellan Rogholt already know. That’s because their planning begins months in advance with help from Grandma. Grandma Sara Magwire has been handmaking their costumes ever since they were born. “It came out of nowhere. Halloween was coming and I thought wouldn’t it be fun to make Lily a costume? The costumes at the stores just weren’t what I envisioned
her in. I felt we could do better,” Magwire said. “After the Àrst year, we got caught up in the excitement and decided we needed to do it again.” Originally, Magwire began sewing in grade school, learning from her mother. She continued to dabble with the needle and thread through home economics classes, but didn’t really pick up the trade until her skills were needed to adjust dance outÀts for her daughter Megan. But Magwire’s Àrst costuming experience came later still, when Megan, a dance instructor in college,
enlisted her mother’s help for a production of Peter and the Wolf. “That was really the Àrst time I went full-out and designed costumes,” Magwire said. “Each of the principal characters had to have their own and there were none for purchase to be found.” Magwire executed the costumes conÀdently and creatively, so when her granddaughter Lily, now 11, was born it wasn’t out of the ordinary for her to decide
opportunity and assistance to “It’s just like getting her apply for college scholarships, Hogwarts letter,” said Amanda which allows for more doors Boedigheimer, Natalie’s mom. to be opened. Only 45 kids in Gerads the country were awarded the continued on pg. 3 scholarship this year.
WEEK
PREVENTION PAGES 1B-4B
Sports More on homecoming, hall of fame inductees and more!
PAGES 5B-8B
Magwire continued on pg. 3