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“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 40
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
January 26, 2017
Hard work pays off
Baker wins Triple “A” Award by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Bob Bzdok, of Rice, will compete in the Midwest Championship 10-dog sprint class at the Winter Warrior Sled Dog Races in Camp Ripley Feb. 1719.
Running with dogs Bzdok prepares for Midwest Championship by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — For Bob Bzdok, snow accumulation couldn’t come soon enough. The 44-year-old musher from Rice is set to compete in the Midwest Championship at the Winter Warrior Sled Dog Races in Camp Ripley Feb. 17-19. Although the three-day event has not yet been calledoff, it was canceled last year due to low amounts of snow pack.
“It’s very weather dependent, obviously. And frustrating when you gear up all year, don’t get snow and races cancel,” said Bzdok, who works at C&L Distributing, of Sauk Rapids. Bzdok’s interests in sled-dog racing began as a young boy reading novels from authors such as Jack London. In grade school, he experimented by fabricating a dog harness from old vehicle seatbelts sewn together with Àshing line. His family’s Husky-German Shepherd and the neighbor’s pet dog were privileged to try his creation.
Bzdok continued on pg. 3
Personnel granted raises for subsequent three years by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
time liquor and seasonal employees, as well as election judges. In other council news: • City administrator Ross Olson presented the Ànal Àve candidates for the vacant council position. They are, in no particular order, Bill Bard, Jason Ellering, Joe Foster, Merle Gales and Tim Wilcox. The council will interview the candidates with hopes to appoint someone at the Àrst meeitng in February. • Authorized a detailed estimate for the potential undergrounding of power lines for the Second Avenue reconstruction project. Upon receipt of the estimate, council
SAUK RAPIDS — Sauk Rapids city personnel will be getting a raise each of the next three years. The city council approved personnel updates and threeyear contracts at the Jan. 23 meeting that included a 3 percent wage increase for employees for the 2017-19. The updated contracts for the American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees Local 748 and Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc. Local 366 also included consistency of bereavement leave and a $15,000 increase to life insurance beneÀts. The changes effect Àre, Sauk Rapids City Council continued on pg. 2 police, animal control, part-
Bollig awarded bid for city engineer by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — The Rice City Council awarded the position of city engineer Jan. 17 to Bollig, Inc. Engineering and Environmental Services. The city solicited requests for proposals this past fall and interviewed the top Àrms in January. Bollig will have a 12-month automatically renewable contract with the city until the council wishes to petitions new bidders once more. Typically the city has been requesting proposals for various appointments every three years. Either party may end the contract by written letter 60 days prior to the expiration of the 12-month term. The engineering Àrm is based in Willmar, with a branch in Sartell and replaces Bolten & Menk, Inc. who had served the city for the past Àve years. In other council news: • Jonathon Fleck, of Bollig, presented an update on the city’s wellhead protection plan. He informed the Àrm will be working on identifying potential contamination sites within the city and submitting the inventory for review. Beyond regulatory mandates
of the plan, he would like to begin developing goals for the city. Ultimately, goals within the plan would commit the city but also provide grant opportunities. • The 2017 salary schedule was approved after discussing the addition of a base income for the three Àre department lieutenant positions. Rice Fire Chief Scott Janski clariÀed to the council that the department had eliminated the positions of secretary and two training ofÀcers which had an annual base wage of $850. The council agreed to set pay for lieutenants at $180 salary plus runs until next year when they can be added to the budget. • Council member Paula Kampa gave an update regarding the unÀlled recreation manager position. Kampa has been working with the Saint Cloud State University to possibly sign a long-term paid internship. This contract would bring continuity to the program and ensure the position remains Àlled even if the person heading the program changes from year to year. Saint Cloud State has voiced a commitment to furnishing the city’s needs, but no date has been set to approve an agreement.
SAUK RAPIDS – Ethan Baker has always had hard work as a part of his vocabulary, particularly when it comes to athletics. “I have Àve older siblings, and they’ve all motivated me to be my best,” Baker said. “Particularly with soccer, I’ve beneÀtted more because they’ve pushed me. All six of us have been in soccer and all Àve of us boys have swum. My interest and continued dedication stems from them.” Baker has earned allconference in soccer, has been to a state tournament for swimming, actively volunteers in his community and maintains an “A” average in school. His hard work and dedication to everything he does is exactly why he was recently awarded the Triple “A” Award. “I started thinking about the award last year, but I wasn’t expecting to win it,” Baker said. “I’m honored, especially since I have two older brothers that have won it too.” The Triple “A” award is given to two high school seniors in each school who show well-rounded
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Ethan Baker was recently honored with the Triple “A” award for his dedication to academics, arts and athletics.
dedication in academics, arts and athletics. In order to be eligible, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, participate in Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) sponsored activities and comply with the MSHSL code of conduct. “I’ve learned from a lot of
people about the importance of hard work,” Baker said. “I like to put forth my best effort in everything I can. My brothers and coaches have helped that.” In addition to soccer and swimming, Baker is also involved in Project 4 Teens, Minnesota Honor Society,
LINK, Boy Scouts and volunteering at his church. All of this gives him a very busy schedule. “I’m usually up at 5:30 for religion at 6 a.m. Then I go straight to school for morning practice, followed by classes and then back to practice until 6 p.m.,” Baker said. “I get a little bit of time to eat dinner with my family on days where we don’t have a meet and then I start homework around 7:20 p.m.” Baker jokes he doesn’t know what free time is, but says he has a lot of fun being in his various activities. “Spending time with teammates in countless hours of practice and training makes things fun,” Baker said. “I don’t necessarily get much free time because of my many activities, but that doesn’t mean I’m not having fun. I have a ton of fun because I get to be with friends and classmates almost all the time.” Following high school, Baker will continue his volunteer work with a twoyear mission trip. “I am very excited to have that experience,” Baker said. “I will be on my own for the mission, rather than going as a church group. But I trust that wherever I end up going is where I should be. And it’s all volunteer work to help others, a value I’ve been raised on. Family is important and they are the reason I am who I am today.”
A father-daughter experience
Bittmans attend presidential inauguration
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Dan and Maddie Bittman attended the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States Jan. 20.
by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Maddie and Dan Bittman got to experience Àrsthand what most Americans only got to watch on television – Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th President of the United States. The father and daughter Áew out to Washington, D.C. Jan. 18 for a two-day visit, which included attending the inauguration. “I appreciated having and sharing this amazing opportunity and historic event with my daughter,” said Dr. Daniel Bittman, superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District. “We were certainly humbled to be there, and we learned so much through this experience.” The Bittmans applied for tickets to the inauguration prior to election day through Congressman Tom Emmer’s ofÀce. “[Emmer] and his staff continue to be wonderful partners with the Sauk Rapids-
Rice School District and we appreciate their continued efforts to make great things possible for our students and community,” Bittman said. “We were given tickets in a special section only a short distance from the stage, but were still encouraged to arrive three hours prior to the start of the event. So we
Maddie Bittman met Congressman Tom Emmer while her and her dad, Dan, were visiting Washington, D.C., for the inauguration. The two also visited the Lincoln and World War II Memorials, the National Mall and the White House, as well as conducting a college visit at Georgetown University.
spent seven-and-a-half hours at the inauguration itself and we both agree it was a terriÀc experience, especially when we could see everyone clearly.” For 14-year-old Maddie, being in Washington, D.C. during such a historical event was an incredible learning experience. “I am excited to have been a part of the inauguration and feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity,” Maddie said. “There was a lot of excitement and large crowds. It was fun to learn with and from people throughout the United States. It was a spectacular experience.” While in D.C., the Bittmans visited the World War II and Lincoln Memorials, the National Mall and the White House. They also conducted a college visit at Georgetown University. The Bittmans recognize the signiÀcance of the inauguration, but appreciate even more the opportunity to spend time together on this trip. “We are both very busy, so I’m glad I could have this time and attend these events with
my dad,” Maddie said. “He is familiar with Washington, D.C. and was excited to be experiencing this with me.” Bittman watched his daughter experience the historical event with a smile on his face. “I am very proud of my daughter and the young lady she is becoming,” Bittman said. “It was a lot of fun to watch her appreciation for everything that was going on. And she learned a lot from the inauguration, as well as the protests and all of the tours. It was good for her to see all the sides of our government and how different people reacted to the change in power.” As Maddie goes through her last few years of high school, Bittman knows her journey will change, as will his. “Knowing she’s only a few years away from going off to college, possibly at Georgetown, and how much her journey is going to change, I’ve appreciated the one-onone time I can get with her,” Bittman said. “It makes time spent together much more special.”