page 8 Vol. 163, No. 14
Single hauler out of discussion
PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
Legion baseball: page 6
New Look. Same Local Coverage since 1854. 11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Thursday, July 13, 2017
A journey on the stage
Mark Edgar Sisye performs in Sauk Rapids July 9.
BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
WATAB TOWNSHIP – Concerned citizens voiced their opinions July 6 when the subject of a single garbage hauler for the township was brought up. “Limiting our options to one garbage hauler is like telling us where we have to buy groceries or which excavator we have to hire,” said Jason Krueger. “It’s just not fair to the consumer.” Krueger’s main concerns included the lack of competition and how a single hauler system wouldn’t be convenient for everyone. “I think we need competition in the township for garbage hauling, just like with anything else. If a hauler doesn’t have to worry about competition, then there is little incentive to remain a good steward or offer outstanding customer service,” Krueger said. “I also know plenty of people that share trash hauling, are snow birds or have negotiations to bring their trash somewhere else. Would they end up paying for the single hauler service anyway?” After listening to the concerns of citizens and reviewing the meeting between clerk Pat Spence, supervisor Craig Gondeck and Jeff Bertram, co-owner of West Central Sanitation, the Watab Town Board decided the least they would limit the township to was three haulers. “The other big part of our reasoning came from our meeting with Jeff,” Spence said. “He said he doesn’t encourage a single hauler for the reason that a large, national company will submit the low bid to get the contract. The next year, they raise the rate $1 and now are over the amount of the next low bidder ... Eventually, the big national companies put the local ones out of business in this way. It is nice that we have the option to negotiate with any of the vendors, whether they are the lowest bidder or not.” According to research conducted by the town board, 35 Minnesota cities have tried to administer single hauler services, but only two acted in favor on the decision. “Those statistics speak for something too,” Spence said. “That made us think.” Another big aspect of implementing a garbage hauling system would have been the paperwork. Townships have to follow state statute when instituting permits for garbage haulers, which would include inviting garbage haulers to a meeting. “We will still have to go through that legal process, but we aren’t going to be the garbage cops,” Spence said. “It would be really hard to catch a hauler in the township that doesn’t have a permit.” One of the board’s largest concerns is the damage heavier vehicles have on township roads. “We think that limiting the township garbage to three haulers would be appropriate,” Gondeck said. “With three haulers, it still allows people to have a choice, but it’s also helping us look at the wear and tear on our roads.” Currently, the board does not know how many companies haul garbage in the township. The board did not take action on the issue. Gondeck requested time to gather additional information. The business is tabled for the Aug. 1 meeting.
PHOTOS BY ANNA SALDANA
The Ugandan Kids Choir – (front, from left) Janet Namajia, Beatrice Baluka, Shanise Nandayiya, Patricia Beza Kanyago and Tracy Naziwu; (back, from left) Benard Wajala, George Matalo, Mark Edgar Sisye, Wilson Kitwe and Kenneth Kitwe – performed at Living Waters Lutheran Church July 9 evening as a part of their nationwide, 11-month tour.
Ugandan Kids Choir performs in Sauk Rapids BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – From Mbale, Uganda to Sauk Rapids, 10 Ugandan children are on a mission to spread knowledge of their African culture and their love of God. The Ugandan Kids Choir – made up of Janet Namajia, Beatrice Baluka, Shanise Nandayiya, Patricia Beza Kanyago, Tracy Naziwu, Benard Wajala, George Matalo, Mark Edgar Sisye, Wilson Kitwe and Kenneth Kitwe – sang and danced in front of a crowd at Living Waters Lutheran Church to showcase their Ugandan worship. “It feels good to be praising God and worshipping,” Naziwu said. The choir is a ministry of Childcare Worldwide, a child sponsorship organization dedicated to sharing the Gospel, providing education and developing the unlimited potential of poor children around the world. The group travels across the United States for 11 months. “One of the coolest things about
this choir is that all 10 kids have sponsors,” said Michelle Holstein, the Ugandan Kids Choir tour leader. “So when they are on tour like this, they are spreading their love and connection with their sponsors to others in hopes of gaining more sponsors for other children in need.” While on tour in Montana, Naziwu had a rare experience when her sponsors came to one of the choir’s performances. After the concert, Naziwu got to spend a couple of days with her sponsors at their home in Wyoming. “I was so happy and I did a great big dance. We took a photo and gave hugs right away. While I was with them, I got to go Àshing and
swimming in a lake,” Naziwu said. “They bought me new shoes and dresses too.” Naziwu’s sponsors also had her help in preparing a traditional Ugandan meal during her short stay. “She had such a good time and had a smile on her face for days afterwards,” Holstein said. “Because of that connection, Tracy had so much more hope, not only for her own future, but she wants to spread the message of hope through the choir’s music that much more.” While on tour, the kids perform in churches all across the country, but they also have schoolwork in the mornings Monday through Friday and frequent rehearsals in the afternoon.
Each member of the choir has to audition and is required to have a sponsor through Childcare Worldwide in order to be in the choir. “I was very surprised when I found out I was in the choir,” Sisye said. “It was very good, and I was happy.” Since starting the tour on May 20, Sisye has enjoyed teaching Americans how to dance like he does and spreading the message of God and Jesus. “God is important and he gives me the things I need,” Sisye said. During their United States stay the children reside with host families. They often go swimming, ride bikes and get a taste of American foods and culture. Sisye and Naziwu both enjoy American breakfast – pancakes, bacon, sausage and scrambled eggs.
Kids choir: page 2
The Ugandan Kids Choir perform a song and dance at the Living Waters Lutheran Church July 9 in Sauk Rapids.The choir has a number of routines they practice to perform at concerts.
Sauk Rapids Market offers children’s activity, variety of goods BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — With temperatures reaching 90 degrees, some found it unpleasant to be outdoors last Thursday. But despite the heat, vendors under shaded tents at Trinity Lutheran Church — the home of the new Sauk Rapids Market — welcomed visitors with smiling faces. “It’s been a really good experience so far,” said Cynthia Hogenson, market volunteer. “Our biggest hurdle has been signage because we are tucked away, but I think we’ve pretty much got that Àgured out. We’ve made some banners to put up in higher trafÀc areas, so our attendance seems to be pretty good.” Hogenson, along with Ashley Knott and Julie Tamblyn took over the organization of the market after last year’s leader asked for help. The three have relocated the market to Trinity Lutheran Church, 2163 Mayhew Lake Road NE, on Thursdays from 4-6:30 p.m. through October. Sauk Rapids Market features about 15-20 vendors each week. The vendors bear fruits and vegetables, baked goods, essential oils, bread, eggs, plants, clothing
and more. Most vendors participate weekly but some have committed to biweekly or sporadic appearances. The outdoor shopping experience also exhibits a weekly children’s agricultural activity. Our goal is to make it a kidfriendly market,” Hogenson said. “When parents are bringing their kids, we want the kids to feel like they are getting something out of it as well.” The market has presented demonstrations on what seeds need to grow and plant parts, along with animal demos, and will continue to feature agriculture activities such as composition of soils and weather patterns. The Storm Roving Readers Book Mobile also makes occasional stops at the market. Hogenson said because the three have never ran a market before, the Sauk Rapids Market will continue to evolve under their leadership. They have created all accounts under a Sauk Rapids Market name and are applying to become a nonproÀt organization with the help of the children’s activity. The hope is that if in years to come they would like to pass the torch on to new organizers, it would be a smooth, seamless transition.
Farmers market: page 2
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Missy Millner (left), of Sauk Rapids, buys vegetables from Tanya Kostemko, of Svihel Vegetable Farm, at the Sauk Rapids Market July 6.