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Have a safe Memorial Day! Vol. 163, No. 7
New Look. Same Local Coverage since 1854. 11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
SRR referendum fails BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — Voters in the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District rejected the $86.9 million bond referendum Tuesday. Although question 2 was contingent upon the approval of question 1, neither question passed. With Àve of the Àve precincts reporting, as well as absentee ballots, 4,402 votes were tallied. Of those, 46 percent [2,035] voted for question one with a “yes” vote and 54 percent [2,367] voted “no.” “I am proud of the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District and of each of you,” said superintendent Dr. Dan Bittman, following the election results. “Our employees, families and community care about our students, and our children continue to achieve at high levels. We will move forward with the voice of the community guiding our future and will no doubt, continue to experience great success.” The goals of the referendum included increasing security and accessibility across the district, constructing athletic facilities at the high school, expansions of Hillside and Rice Elementary, as well as a building a new elementary which could accommodate 622 students. It also proposed demolishing and rebuilding Pleasantview Elementary at its current site. “With the results of the election, we have a clearer picture of what the community would like to see happen within the district in regard to additional learning space and facilities. We will continue to engage in transparent, yet comprehensive dialogue, but recognize that additional learning space will be needed to serve Sauk Rapids and Rice children in the future,” Bittman said. “We will continue to work through the process collaboratively and welcome any thoughts, ideas and insight staff and community members have about possible solutions. While our structure and systems may look differently, children will remain our priority.”
Memorial Day ceremonies Memorial Day ceremonies will be held in both Sauk Rapids and Rice on Monday, May 29. This will mark the 149th year the holiday has commemorated the service of men and women to the U.S. military. The Sauk Rapids America Legion Post No. 254 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 6992, along with the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Band, will collaborate in a ceremony at the Sauk Rapids cemeteries on 10th Avenue Northeast, beginning at 9 a.m. Post No. 6992 will proceed to the Church of the Annunciation Cemetery in Mayhew Lake for a 10:30 a.m. ceremony. The Rice American Legion Post No. 473 will perform three ceremonies. The Àrst will begin at Langola Township cemetery at 9:20 a.m. followed by a partnership between the SRRHS band and legion members at Graham United Methodist Church Cemetery at 10:15 a.m. Then the two will travel to the Rice Memorial Monument near the Immaculate Conception Cemetery for a half-hour program beginning at 11:30 a.m. It is suggested guests bring lawn chairs. Following the ceremonies, food and beverage will be served at the legion. There is a national moment of remembrance that takes place at 3 p.m. local time, country wide. Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all U.S. Áags to be Áown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings from sunrise until noon Monday.
No longer on call
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Holdingford soldier’s remains identiÀed Kerestes has been missing for over 75 years BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — It’s been more than 75 years since Elmer T. Kerestes lost his life in the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but this summer the Holdingford soldier will be returning home. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, the remains of Fireman First Class Kerestes were identiÀed and accounted for on March 6. The U.S. military will soon be meeting with Rice relative Robert Kerestes and other distant family members to discuss funeral arrangements for the naval ofÀcer. The preliminary date for the Holdingford burial is July 29.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Elmer T. Kerestes, of Holdingford, was killed in action on the USS Oklahoma during the bombings of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. His remains were identiÀed March 6, 2017.
On Monday, May 29, community members will attend Memorial Day ceremonies across the country as they pay respects and show gratitude toward the men and women who served the United States and those who gave the ultimate sacriÀce — their lives. Elmer Kerestes was one of these people. Elmer was born the son of Thomas and Anna Kerestes, of Holdingford. A f t e r
becoming a member of the U.S. Navy, the sailor served on the USS Oklahoma until that fateful day in 1941. When Japanese torpedoes destroyed the Oklahoma Dec. 7, 429 men lost their lives. The ship Àlled with husbands, fathers, brothers and sons quickly capsized leaving few to survive the wreckage. The number of fatalities were second only to the 1,777 lives lost on the USS Arizona. It took three years for Navy personnel to gather the remains of the deceased crew.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
A life changing
Kampa retires from RFD after 27 years BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — When Mike Kampa was growing up near Duelm, the sight of a Àretruck was few and far between. The city and surrounding townships commissioned Àre protection, so there were no nearby Àre halls. “I remember them coming out when there was a garage Àre in town,” he said. “The Sauk Rapids and Foley Àre departments came and put the Àre out. As a kid, that was about the only time I remember seeing a Àreman.” Yet for nearly three decades, the lights and sirens
of a red engine have been more than common in his life. Kampa retired from the Rice Fire Department as a volunteer ÀreÀghter-Àrst responder this past April after 27 years of service. “Part of it was a need to feel that you’re helping people,” said Kampa, of his reasons for joining the department in 1990. “That made me feel good, helping someone.” Kampa has been called to serve others his entire life. He attended Crosier Seminary for six years, studying to be a priest, and Ànished his
Kampa: page 2
ST. CLOUD – Ever since Kari Hiscock entered the St. Cloud State University nursing program, she has wanted to do one thing – go on a mission trip to help others in need in Africa. Hiscock, a 2013 graduate of Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, got her wish in March, when, as a senior, she traveled with a group of nursing students to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. “It was an amazing life changing experience,” Hiscock said. “I’ve always wanted to go ever since I got into the nursing program and I’m thankful I had the opportunity to help others living in a third-world country.” While on the three-week trip, Hiscock got to help with mobile clinics, administer vaccines, among other things. “Being over there has made me thankful for what we have here and not taking things for granted,” Hiscock said. “Over there, you help everybody. It was fun being able to just be there and smile with these gracious people.” One of the places Hiscock and her group visited was the House of Resurrection Haven, a place for children that have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. “It was heartwarming to see all of these children together and so happy,” Hiscock said. “The children loved to play, sing and go to school together. These children were not treated differently considering they were part of a children’s home.” As a nurse in training, Hiscock noticed several things
experience
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Kerestes: page 3
The USS Oklahoma Memorial is designed with pillars to commemorate each of the 429 men who lost their lives on the ship Dec. 7, 1941. Elmer T. Kerestes is remembered at this site in Ford Island on Oahu, Hawaii.
BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
Mike Kampa, of Rice, retired from the Rice Fire Department this past April after serving the community for 27 years.
Laboratory staff was only able to conÀrm the identities of 35 men from the Oklahoma at that time. Consequently, unidentiÀed remains were buried in plot at the National Memorial Cemetery of the PaciÀc, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In 1949, the military classiÀed those remains as nonrecoverable. The roughly 20-yearold WWII veteran was missing in action for nearly sixty years before
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kari Hiscock holds a child while on a mission trip with the St. Cloud State University nursing program in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
while she was in South Africa. “They lacked a lot of resources. Many of these people needed medication, which they had available when we were there, but then they wouldn’t take it unless they
knew they had food,” Hiscock said. “The amount of food they get was sad to watch too. We volunteered at the food shelf at the Missionvale Care Center and gave the citizens a loaf of bread and a cup of dry soup as
their food for the week.” She was also interested in how their scope of practice is different compared to the United States.
Hiscock: page 2