PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
Softball takes on four teams: page 7
New Look. Same Local Coverage since 1854. Vol. 163, No. 5
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Parks feature fishing opener events SAUK RAPIDS — Community members are invited to participate in Opener in the Park this Saturday. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 13 at the promenade between Southside and Lions Park near the Mississippi River, and will coincide with other festivities planned throughout the weekend for the 70th annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener. Those wishing to participate in shore Àshing should come prepared with a license and their own Àshing gear. Tentative shore stations will be set up for those who wish to learn more about the sport. The gathering will feature appearances from Minnesota Vikings players, Mrs. Minnesota Melissa Brenny and other local and state ofÀcials. Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, of Sauk Rapids, will be participating in the festivities. Urban Lodge Brewery & Restaurant, Old Capital Tavern, Manea’s Meats and Mixin’ It Up Gluten Free Bakery will host a food court with multiple food and beverage options for attendees. Portable bathrooms and an ATM will be on site.
Brush fire stops railway ST. CLOUD — The Sauk Rapids Fire Department responded to a grass Àre in a wooded, wetland area a quarter mile south of Highway 301 Monday afternoon. Fire chief Jason Fleming said six trucks, as well as two trucks from the Department of Natural Resources, helped extinguish the Àre which burned roughly two acres. The cause of the Àre is unknown. Because of the location of the blaze, Àre trucks had to run hoses across the railroad tracks, therefore stopping BNSF operations until the scene was secured. SRFD was on the scene for about 1.5 hours and the DNR remained at the site even longer. No one was injured in the incident.
BɍiɄd fɇr UɆiɌy bȽgɁnɋ
Habitat for Humanity starts construction BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — What has six bedrooms, two baths and brings the community together? The answer is Central Minnesotas Habitat for Humanity’s Build for Unity project. Construction crews began work Monday on a house which will aide a family in becoming homeowners. The site is located on the 1900 block of North Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. Habitat for Humanity came to Sauk Rapids after a local couple donated two plots of land to the organization. “That made it that much more exciting,” said Bruce Johnson, executive director of the nonproÀt. “We hadn’t built in Sauk Rapids for a while so it was a great opportunity for our Build for Unity project.” Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity serves Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties. The group will execute four builds in 2017, and will also complete four rehabilitation projects which could include anything from rooÀng to accessibility additions. Habitat for Humanity looks at themselves as a “hand-up” not a “hand-out.” The organization offers qualiÀed families affordable mortgages, based on their income, at 0 percent interest and $0 down payment. The future homeowner’s are required to work 200 hours in “sweat equity” on projects or at the organization’s ReStore. They also attend 15 hours of mandatory
homeownership education classes. Construction manager Art Buhs had the option of choosing either plots in Sauk Rapids, but after Ànding out the future inhabitants of the home included children, he opted for the current site. “I found out we had a family with kids who wanted a nice backyard. When the snow melted and I Ànally got to walk this lot, I found there was a nice terrace up there that makes for an excellent backyard,” said Buhs, motioning to a piece of leveled land. “I even cut that branch off, so they can have a place for a swing. It’s the perfect little branch sitting out there. That’s going to make a nice back yard. There is a rear entry and an itty-bitty porch that they can walk out and access the backyard.” This spring’s construction project is different than most of the organization’s builds. It is the Àrst time Habitat has partnered with the St. Cloud Technical & Community College for a design. “This is a brand new design from the technical college. It is not based off any plan. But Habitat has recommended standards that they want to build to. They are all similar in size. They build simple, decent and affordable,” Buhs said. Fifteen students submitted blueprints to Buhs and other selected judges. The group narrowed their search to three before selecting student Patrick Michael’s design. “It’s pretty cool,” said Michael of having his design nominated. “I never expected it coming from my background. I was a construction foreman for years and years, and I’m a nontraditional student. It was cool to get drawn. I worked hard on it. Everybody did. Mine wasn’t the only one that was good, but I did
Old farm gets BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Out in the countryside of Sauk Rapids, nestled near the banks of the Elk River, is a century farm being repurposed in a special way. Mary Ann Stauffenecker, her daughter, Jen Bruzek, and her sonin-law, Scott Bruzek are taking their creative visions and turning them into things they can share with others. “It all started with the old grain barn that was falling apart,” Jen said. “It was too dangerous to use anymore, so I wanted to do things with the barn wood. It started with picture frames and it’s only spiraled from there.” Their vision turned into Rustic Reimagined, an occasional shop Àlled with repurposed woods, metals and materials from the farm. “It’s giving new life to old things,” Stauffenecker said. “The part we think is most unique is that everything is true and not fabricated, like things you see in the stores. I’m a visual person and we like the farmhouse style, so taking an item and pairing it with an idea is fun, because in the end, it turns into something people can use.” The family enjoys putting their “made in Minnesota” look into each piece. “It really is vintage, rather than something new that’s made to look vintage,” Scott said. “We are always Ànding things around the farm, whether it’s something out of the shed or something we dig up from the pasture.” The Rustic Reimagined shop even has a story of its own. Back when Stauffenecker’s dad was growing up, the house was small and it got very warm inside during the summer months. Rather than cooking inside, all of it was taken out into the summer kitchen, which
new life
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Art Buhs, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity construction manager, looks at Áoor plans at the site of Build for Unity in Sauk Rapids.
mine simple. That was kind of what they were looking for. It was a little less cost per area.” Ross Potts, assistant construction supervisor, agreed. “Patrick’s plan was picked because he got the six bedrooms in the hom, and they are all adequate size. Also, the customer had wanted
a wall between the kitchen and the living room. Patrick got that in there. His layout was selected as the best layout for this design,” Potts said. Habitat staff, volunteers and SCTCC students will continue to work on the Build for Unity project,
Habitat for Humanity: page 3
Lindquist goes the extra mile
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Sophina Lindquist (second from left) was presented the Extra Mile Award by Sauk Rapids Mayor Kurt Hunstiger alongside her mother Connie (from left) and sisters Victoria and Catia. BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA
Mary Ann Stauffenecker, her daughter, Jen Bruzek, and her son-in-law, Scott Bruzek, build all of the products sold at Rustic Reimagined.
is currently the shop where Rustic Reimagined will do business. From a summer kitchen to a toolshed when Stauffenecker and Barthelemy grew up, the building has seen use. “We had to do a lot of work to turn it into a shop,” Scott said. “The Áoor had to be leveled out and things needed to be Àxed up inside. So even
the building was repurposed.” Stauffenecker’s favorite part of it all is being able to bring a different life to the 125-year-old family farm. That’s also Leon Barthelemy’s, Stauffenecker’s brother, favorite part. “It started with my grandparents
Rustic Reimagined: page 3
SAUK RAPIDS — One young girl was the center of attention at the Sauk Rapids City Council meeting May 8. Sophina Lindquist, daughter of Connie Lindquist, has been a special friend to central Minnesota’s Àrst responders for approximately three years. Sophina has been delivering cookies and prayers to police, Àre and EMT departments as often as she can. The 8-year-old was presented the Extra Mile Award by Mayor Kurt Hunstiger during Monday’s meeting. “Sophina Lindquist is making a difference in the lives of the Sauk Rapids FireÀghters and Police OfÀcers,” Hunstiger said. He reiterated Sophina’s story before presenting the award winner with a certiÀcate that said: “This certiÀcate is awarded to
Sophina Lindquist. Each day presents us with new opportunities and inÀnite possibilities. Your contribution made a difference to our police department and Àre department every day in the city of Sauk Rapids and our surrounding communities.” In other council news: • Approved the appointment of Joseph Hortsch to a vacant Sauk Rapids Police Department position. Hortsch comes to the SRPD with over Àve years of experience from the Benton County Sheriff’s OfÀce and city of Crystal Police Department. Hortsch is a resident of Sauk Rapids. Police Chief Perry Beise said he estimates it will take a minimum of 10 weeks to train and acclimate Hortsch to the department. Training for ofÀcers with no prior law enforcement experience can take up to 15 weeks. A second candidate has been selected for another vacant position, but
Sauk Rapids: page 2