PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
Girls soccer: page 7
VFW Open House: page 3
New Look. Same Local Coverage since 1854. Vol. 163, No. 21
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
City of Sauk Rapids may face insurance hike
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Jeff Anshus, owner of J & T Canes and Walking Sticks, stands with his merchandise Aug. 24 in Royalton.
City council: page 2
Anshus donates craft to veterans in need BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — The city of Sauk Rapids may be faced with a substantial rise in health insurance rates this year. It could expect up to a 50 percent rise in premiums — up to $230,000 — if insurers switch city employees from a small group to large group plan. Sauk Rapids City Finance Director Jack Kahlhamer presented preliminary levy numbers to the council Aug. 28 and included information of the unknown. Kahlhamer said that as of the last two years, only two companies would consider insuring the city as a small group. One has already notiÀed him they will switch the city to large group for 2018. It is unknown if the remaining carrier plans to do the same. According to Kahlhamer, the switch could come because of the way companies calculate hours and employees. Sauk Rapids currently has nearly 45 employees who work more than 30 hours per week. The city is awaiting information from the carriers which has been delayed due to legislation woes and companies not knowing what the administration will ask of them. Despite the undetermined circumstances, Kahlhamer told the council with the high claims experience of the city, they should be prepared for a signiÀcant increase, as the premium could jump 50 percent. “I only budgeted a 10 percent [increase],” Kahlhamer said. “But it could be anywhere from $30,000 to $230,000. That’s a big big increase. I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Even without the possibility of a large insurance hike factored in, taxpayers will likely see a 7.15 percent increase to the total levy. This amounts to $253,900. The preliminary levy includes the hiring of an assistant building ofÀcial, as well as the return of a Sauk Rapids Police OfÀcer from the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force. Combined, both positions, which could be hired no sooner than April 2018, would increase the budget by $218,000. OfÀcer Sean Gales has asked to return to the city department approximately two years shy of his Àve year commitment to the CMVOTF. It is uncertain whether the position on the CMVOTF would be Àlled by another Sauk Rapids ofÀcer volunteer. Kahlhamer said much of the city’s tax increase has been due to the hiring of police ofÀcers over the last four years. If Sauk Rapids allows Gales to return, the will have increased their patrol ofÀcers to twelve from eight since 2015. There are currently 17 department staff. The addition of staff has been largely inÁuenced by community members attending council meetings with concerns of crime in the neighborhoods. Mayor Kurt Hunstiger said that many community members feel safety is worth the additional cost. “It costs money to add people [police] and as we grow hopefully we’ll spread that out to more people. But it’s somewhat costly,” Hunstiger said. “When I worked a few of the neighborhoods last fall that were experiencing the high crime areas, I came around and told the residents, it’s going to cost money if we add ofÀcers. They were 100 percent Àne with that. I said it may cost $100 on your taxes and they said they’d be more than willing to pay for it.” The adoption of the preliminary levy will be Sept. 25 at the regularly scheduled council meeting. The personnel and Ànance committee will meet prior to that time to offer their recommendation on the slated positions. In other council news: • Approved attendance to the Minnesota Rural Water Association Equipment Training by two public works employees.
Saturday, September 2, 2017
ROYALTON — Tucked away on Jeff Anshus’s property in Royalton is a small workshop. Muddled in the corners and entry way, tree branches stand on end. Mallets and other tools are placed in holders and shreds of stripped bark cover the Áoor like a rug. In the center, a blue vise sits atop a timber post. This shed is where Anshus creates his craft. Anshus is the owner of J & T Canes and Walking Sticks. The U.S. Air Force veteran began his crafting roughly four years ago, using a wood lathe that was given to him from his father. After trying his hand at various items from bowls to baseball bats, Anshus’s wife Tracy asked her husband if he could try making canes. He agreed and the two now journey to craft and art shows, selling the items to those in need and offering them for free to veterans. The merchandise will be available at the 21st annual Old Creamery Arts and Craft Show in Rice Sept. 9 and 10. “I actually was going to start getting into blacksmithing, until I started playing around. My wrists and
elbows are so bad that I couldn’t do much,” said Anshus of how he picked up the trade. Instead, Anshus took to trees. He spends his time collecting branches from local woods and fashioning the material into walking supports. “I try to start out with a 4-foot stick,” Anshus said. “I’ll start with something long, so I have plenty of room to work with it. I remove the smaller branches from the stick and then strip the bark. I made a skinning knife from a leaf spring from a car.” Anshus collects a variety of wood — white oak, red oak, elm, boxelder, willow, pine and others. He looks for different lengths and interesting characteristics. The woodworker lets the branches dry for a period before stripping them of their bark to dehydrate further. Each wood requires a different length of drying time, as some may show signs of cracking earlier than others. Anshus said determining the length of time to dry a wood is one of the most challenging parts of his hobby. “It’s an art form,” he said. “I shouldn’t say I have no idea, but I am just touching the surface now. A
Anshus: page 2
City employee celebrates milestone
Koepp serves city for 40 years BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Denny Koepp is dedicated in multiple ways. He has a wife, two kids and Àve grandkids, whom he spends a lot of time with. He has also been dedicated to the city of Sauk Rapids, both as a lifelong resident and as an employee. For the past 40 years, Koepp has been putting in his time as a Public Works employee. “It is a big plus working for the city environment, and it’s a good place to live and work with the small town feel. The city has treated me well, both as a resident and as an employee,” Koepp said. “Over the years, I’ve just enjoyed it more and more. The recognition recently was nice and certainly appreciated, even though public recognition isn’t necessarily something I enjoy.” Koepp recalls his simple hiring
PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA
Denny Koepp works for the city of Sauk Rapids as a Public Works employee. He recently celebrated 40 years with the city.
process and the look of the city 40 years ago. “My neighbor came over one day, asked if I wanted a job, I accepted and started not too long after. I know the hiring process wouldn’t be like that nowadays,” Koepp said. “I can also remember
what Sauk Rapids was like back then. The city itself was smaller, with the border being 11th Street. Anything north of that and east of Highway 10 was considered country.” When Koepp started working for the city, he was part of the water
and sewer department. “I spent my Àrst couple days on the job looking over maps of the city and then was allowed to get my Class C water and sewer licenses,” Koepp said. “Even though I’ve been working in the parks department for a number of years, I’ve maintained those licenses, as well as having a license for maintaining the wading pool and splash pad.” Now, Koepp is the only fulltime, year-round employee for the parks department. “I work by myself most of the time, but thank goodness for seasonal workers,” Koepp said. “The city wouldn’t be able to keep up otherwise.” He says the biggest change he’s noticed is the equipment used. “When I started, we had one riding lawn mower, two tractors and some push mowers. We trimmed the grass by hand around trees and such,” Koepp said. “Now we have several riding lawn mowers and power equipment to get the jobs done.” Each day, Koepp checks the splash pad and the wading pool for chemical levels and any maintenance issues. He is also in charge of all the maintenance for Bob Cross Park, including Àelds,
Koepp: page 3
Drawing attention to faith through archery BY VICKI IKEOGU CONTRIBUTING WRITER
RICE – With deer hunting season just a few weeks away, many of Central Minnesota’s hunters have already started taking out their bows, locating their arrows and getting everything ready for opening bow weekend Sept. 16. But for members of the Rice Community Church, the archery “season” will begin a week earlier. And instead of hunting for venison, parishioners will be setting their sights on much higher power – their faith. Rice Community Church will become the latest faith community to participate in Centershot Ministries – an international faithbased program designed to teach people of all ages the skill of archery while bringing participants closer to God. “It’s what we do in rural communities,” said Gene Thomsen, Rice Community Church pastor. “We hunt. We Àsh. We do those things. And if we can use archery, something they are already interested in, to bring our community together, really, that’s the best thing we can do.” Starting on Friday, Sept. 8, the eight-week class will teach people the basics behind archery – how to draw, aim, shoot an arrow along with proper safety techniques – while providing discussion points on how to grow and strengthen a relationship with God. “The church, especially in smaller communities, PHOTO BY VICKI IKEOGU Rice Community Church Pastor Gene Thomsen (from left), AJ Meemken and Adam is very traditional,” said John Rickenbach, Centershot Meemken await the debut of Centershot Ministries – an international interdenominational Ministries’ president. “It’s that hour of church on outreach that blends archery skills and faith. Rice Community Church will be hosting the eight-week outreach event beginning Sept. 8 at Rice Elementary School. Centershot: page 2