Sauk Rapids Herald - August 10 edition

PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861

Cyclones: page 7

New Look. Same Local Coverage since 1854.

Vol. 163, No. 18

11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379

Rice delays utilities increase

Sauk Rapids couple teaches life skills, shares meals with homeless youth

BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

RICE — The Rice City Council motioned to delay the proposed water and sewer increases until the new year at Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting. The new rates will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Originally, the public works committee hoped the rates would be effective as soon as September, but a setback with printing the future increase on utility bills delayed the notiÀcation to residents. A notice was given in the July newsletter and a letter will be sent in conjunction with preliminary levy communication in September.

The city of Rice has not increased its water and sewer rates in eight years and the infrastructure supporting these services has not been upgraded within the last 30. In order to maintain the infrastructure and grow with the city’s needs, the council says the increase is necessary.

Sewer rates will increase $3 per month. The minimum water bill would also increase $3 per month, with additional tier increases for those who use more than 2,333 gallons during each month.

Currently, the city is preparing for over $300,000 in future water and sewer upgrades. The fee increase will generate an additional $45,000 annually to help prepare for these costs.

In other council news: • The city council approved the hire of four new Àre Àghters.

Austin DeArmond, Kevin Peine, Paul Vedraaten and Zachary Schmitz will join the Rice Fire Department pending a drug and background check. According to Rice Fire Chief Scott Janski, the additions will raise the Àre department’s crew to 22. The

Rice: page 3

Thursday, August 10, 2017

BY VICKI IKEOGU CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS – Sunday dinners have become an important part of Dr. David and Laura Mumm’s weekly routine.

About once a month the Sauk Rapids couple packs up their Sunday dinner ingredients and sets out to a small home on the south side of St. Cloud Àlled with hungry teenagers with nowhere else to go.

It’s a tradition the Mumms started about three years ago when their neighbor and Catholic Charities Director of Community Services Ruth Hunstiger mentioned a new program the organization was starting to help kids experiencing homelessness.

“She talked about this SHY House [now known as the Youth House],” David said. “And about how they were having a whole housewarming party.

They needed pretty much everything to help set up the household. And we thought maybe we could do something to help.”

The Youth House is a relatively new effort Catholic Charities for the Diocese of St. Cloud has initiated to help provide housing for young adults ages 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness. With minimal modiÀcations, a house in St. Cloud was converted to room up to seven youths for 24 months.

The program pairs youth in need with social workers and helps teach them the basics of money management, budgeting and life skills as they work to Ànish high school, go to college or Ànd a job.

“The Youth House has a very limited budget when it comes

PHOTO BY VICKI IKEOGU

Laura and Dr. David Mumm of Sauk Rapids recently received the Good Samaritan award for volunteering with the Youth House from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud. About once a month the couple prepares a meal with youth experiencing homelessness in St. Cloud.

to spending money on food for the kids,” said Suzie Rice, program supervisor for the Youth House.

“We can only afford to purchase the necessities like Áour, sugar, salt and things like that.”

With the kids — some with little or no money — having to rely on an incredibly tight budget for food and only being allowed to go to the food shelf for items on a limited basis, the Mumms felt they could provide something most of these kids had never experienced – a home cooked meal.

“We like to cook,” Laura said. “So, we thought we could teach them some cooking skills and maybe they would enjoy it.”

H u n s t i g e r connected the Mumms with Rice and the couple was given permission to try out their idea.

“That was in December 2014. We Youth House Program had no idea what to Supervisor Suzie Rice

expect. It was nervewracking. We didn’t know how many kids were going to be there, their skill level or their background,” Laura said.

That Àrst Sunday dinner was taco lasagna. The Mumms showed the willing participants how to brown the meat, chop

Mumms: page 5

Public invited to informational sessions on drawdown of Little Rock Lake RICE — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Little Rock Lake Association Board will hold two informational sessions for area residents to learn more about the proposed drawdown to help restore water quality to Little Rock Lake. The sessions will be hosted at Watab Town Hall — 660 75th Street NW, Sauk Rapids — Friday, Aug. 11 and Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 7-8 p.m.

Representatives from the DNR,

Eagle Creek Energy, Benton County Soil and Water and the Little Rock Lake Association board of directors will be in attendance to provide information, updates and answer questions.

The drawdown is part of a comprehensive plan to restore the water quality of Little Rock Lake. Other projects have been underway within the watershed as well.

Over 40 percent of Minnesota’s lakes

are polluted and Little Rock Lake is in the top 4 percent of the most polluted lakes in the state. A combination of factors including agricultural run-off, urbanization and lakeshore septic systems contribute to the unhealthy water quality.

Little Rock Lake Association is a nonproÀt group for residents of Little Rock Lake and the surrounding area dedicated to restoring and maintaining the health of Little Rock Lake.

Meet the ambassadors:

Harren plans English, basketball passions for her future

BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER

Cock-a-doodle-doo

PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA

Morgan Molitor is all smiles Aug. 5 after her rooster, Pest, won the rooster crowing contest.

Molitor’s chicken wins crowing contest

BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS – The crowing of a rooster typically signals the morning sunrise, a wake-up call for anyone who owns one of these feathered creatures.

But on Aug. 5, several roosters crowed for a different reason. The rooster calls could be heard within several hundred feet of the Cottonwood Stage at the Benton County Fairground during the event, drawing a crowd to see what all the noise was about.

All of the contestants were vying for the title of champion crower, certainly an honorary title for a handsome Buckeye

rooster like Pest.

Morgan Molitor, 12, of Sauk Rapids, and Pest brought that title home.

“He did really well. If you want to be in the contest, you just need a rooster that crows a lot, a rooster like Pest,” Molitor said. “Actually, I had to threaten him to get him to win.”

Pest took Molitor’s threats quite literally.

“He must’ve known what I meant by my threats and thought I was actually going to follow through with it,” Molitor said. “I told him that dad’s going to get mad and put him in the freezer. As soon as I told him that, he crowed a lot.”

Corey Molitor, Morgan’s dad, has enjoyed Pest since he was a chick.

“He’s always been my little pal, following me around the yard and such,” Corey said.

“We knew he would be a good one to enter in the contest. He

Molitor: page 3

RICE – Brooklyn Harren has been a Storm basketball player for 10 years, a favorite pastime discovered through an in-house camp at Rice Elementary the summer after third grade.

So when she committed to play ball at the college level, it didn’t come as a surprise.

“I’ve always wanted to play at a higher level,” Harren said. “I really love the team aspect of playing basketball, especially because I’ve played with the same girls since fourth grade. Playing at the college level will allow me to have other teammates to create bonds with and more opportunities to try different positions. It will be fun to continue my basketball career.”

Harren was typically the small post forward for the Storm, her strongest position.

“I’m pretty strong in the paint and I don’t really have a wide shooting range, so it’s the position that always worked best and that’s where I helped out my team the greatest,” Harren said. “It came with a lot of convenience too, because I always knew who would get the ball if I threw it in a certain direction. But I’m very excited for something different this coming season, maybe even a different position and a stronger shooting range.”

Harren will play for the St. Cloud Technical and Community College, but she doesn’t want to stop after that.

“I don’t know how much I’ll play after college, but I really want to be a coach.

I realized that passion through coaching the Magicians youth basketball, so I want to keep that going,” Harren said. “Megan Foley has been a great coach for me and she has shown me what

Harren: page 3

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2017 | PAGE 5

OBITUARY

from front

up the vegetables and make the three-course meal – nachos for an appetizer and a dessert.

The meal was served around the dining room table with all the members — even if they chose not to learn to prepare the meal — present. It was the start of a tradition the kids and the Mumms have looked forward to every month since.

“I think the Mumms enjoy the interaction with the youth,” Rice said. “They enjoy teaching them to make dishes the kids haven’t been exposed to. It’s about that family-style connection. And the staff here have noticed them having good conversation with the youth.”

At the start of the program the Mumms would announce the Sunday they were going to be out at the Youth House.

They would then take suggestions for different types of meals to prepare.

“We’ve done collard greens, sweet rice, lasagnas, soups, stews and fried chicken three different times,” Laura said.

The Mumms bring all the ingredients over to the home.

They also bring special pots and pans and sharp knives, which are unavailable at the

taken it upon themselves to purchase around three gallons of milk each week for the Youth House.

“One of the Àrst times we were at the house we saw a young man eating his cereal without milk,” Laura said. “When we found out they couldn’t afford it we just added the extra milk onto our own milk delivery bill so the kids can have milk.”

In addition, David donates his time, providing routine dental care for residents of the Youth House at his dental practice, Murn & Mumm Family Dentistry in St. Cloud.

Earlier this year, Rice nominated the Mumms for the Catholic Charities’ Good Samaritan Award for outstanding volunteers.

“They are just the kind of people that don’t do it for the recognition,” Rice said, “The Mumms are a perfect example of the Good Samaritan. They aren’t expecting anything in return. And they are making a huge impact for these homeless youths who a lot of people don’t realize are in our area. I mean, so many of these kids have been let down over and over. And when there are nice things that are done for them they are always wondering what that person expects in return. The Mumms have helped show them that there are nice people in this

Norman L. Meinert

Services were 5 p.m. Aug. 4, 2017, at the Old Village Hall in Rice for Norman L. Meinert, age 73, who passed away peacefully in his sleep Aug. 1 at his residence.

Visitation was from 3-5 p.m.

Friday at the Old Village Hall. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids.

Norman was born July 24, 1944, in Langola Township to Leo and Henrietta (Larson) Meinert. He loved the farm, calling bingo with the Senior Citizen Group, and was a proud member of the Rice Sportsman Club. Norman world. These kids didn’t realize people could be like that.”

The Mumms were selected for the 2017 Good Samaritan Award. They were honored, among others, at a banquet in June.

Being in the limelight was never the intent of the Mumms when the couple set out to provide Sunday dinner to kids without a home. In fact, the couple wasn’t sure what to expect those Àrst few Sundays at the Youth House. But what they have gained from the experience is something they wouldn’t trade for the world.

Public Notices BENTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – JULY 18, 2017 The Benton County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on July 18, 2017 in the Benton County Board Room in Foley, MN with Commissioners Jim McMahon, Spencer Buerkle, Ed Popp, Jake Bauerly and Warren Peschl present. Call to order by Chair Peschl was at 9:00 AM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Áag.

Buerkle/Bauerly unanimous to approve the agenda as written.

No one was present to speak under Open Forum.

Popp/McMahon unanimous to approve the Consent Agenda: 1) approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 5, 2017 as written; 2) approve the Special Meeting Minutes of July 5, 2017 as written; 3) accept and Àle Committee of the Whole Minutes of June 27, 2017 as written; 4) adopt Resolution 2017-#29, approving Applications for MN Lawful Gambling for Sauk Rapids Sportsmen’s Club to hold a rafÁe and sell pull-tabs at the Benton County Fairgrounds on August 1-6, 2017, and authorize the Chair to sign; 5) approve revised Master Client Agreement with Stonebrooke Engineering, Inc., and authorize the Chair to sign; and 6) approve Special Road Use Permit to hold a Color Vibe 5K Fun Run on CSAH 3 near the Granite City Speedway on August 5, 2017, and authorize the Chair to sign.

Chris Byrd, County Engineer, explained that the county’s gravel lease agreement for the Eisenschenk pit has expired; the county has used this pit for almost ten years to produce good quality gravel for the 105 miles of gravel-surfaced roads—there is enough material remaining in the pit to last nearly 20 years for county use. Byrd outlined the beneÀts of having a lease agreement in place, stating his belief that it would be prudent to enter into a multi-year agreement with a landowner, while not eliminating the county’s options to use material from other sources. He stated that a recent survey of Minnesota counties revealed that many counties either own, or have leases with, pits for their county needs. Byrd presented a map displaying the active and inactive gravel pits in Benton County, along with a map showing the gravel roads that are the county’s responsibility--the Eisenschenk pit is within 6 miles of 34% of the county’s gravel roads and within 10 miles of 60% of the county’s gravel roads; a limitation to the Eisenschenk pit would be the haul distance to the extreme southeast corner of the county (may be wise to look at a pit in that location to address those gravel roads). Bauerly commented “…I have no problem with a long-term lease of a pit…my problem is trucking the gravel that far…I think hauling gravel more than ten miles doesn’t make any sense…you are doing a lot of damage to roads getting the product there…if you calculate in the damage to the roads hauling it that far…I don’t think we should be hauling gravel south of Highway 23…I think that should be a different location…”

McMahon inquired of the cost per yard of material from other pits compared to the Eisenschenk pit. Byrd noted that along with paying the royalties for the Eisenschenk pit, the County is paying the aggregate tax to the Auditor-Treasurer and paying for the crushing (totaling approximately $5.00 per yard plus hauling); it is difÀcult to compare costs with other pits without going out for bids. Popp commented “…we need to go out for bids and let other people bid…I think we can get a better deal for gravel from somebody else…I did not realize that we were paying the gravel tax and the crushing… there’s different ways that some of these privately-owned pits would crush…I think the owner of the pit should pay the 21½ cents instead of the county…” McMahon stated his agreement with having a lease agreement in place, while looking for a comparative pit in the southeast corner of the county. Bauerly suggested that the county partner

with the townships to leverage better prices. He also asked Byrd to identify those gravel roads which are “blacktop ready” or “shovel ready”.

Monty Headley, County Administrator, reported on the following topics: 1) Update on Transition to New Plan Administrator for HSA, VEBA and FSA Accounts (transition from One Digital to Select Account has experienced challenges due to Select Account’s long-term arrangement with Matrix, a trustee bank based in Colorado, whose agreement would not be governed by Minnesota law; neither the County Attorney’s OfÀce, nor MCIT, are recommending approval of the Matrix agreement; Headley stated his desire to discuss this issue further at a future Committee of the Whole with all interested parties present—this effort started many months ago to try to bring better service to County employees; Bauerly suggested that staff contact other Minnesota counties to see what companies they are utilizing for HSA/VEBA/FSA administration); 2) Self-Funded Employee Health Insurance (per Board approval, Benton County was included in the bid of the Public Sector Collaborative, a group of “self-funded” southwest MN public entities who joined together to select a third-party administrator and a reinsurer; the BeneÀts Advisory Committee will be reviewing the bids tomorrow, along with our broker, Marsh & McLennan, and making a recommendation whether or not to move forward with self-funded health insurance; although the counties join collectively to bid for administration services, each entity keeps their own separate plan designs and receives their own unique rates based on their own claims; if the BeneÀts Advisory Committee recommends moving forward with self-funding, the AFSCME bargaining group (as the county’s largest bargaining group) will be brought into the process); 3) Solar Subscriber Agreements (about a year ago, the Board agreed to move forward with a subscriber agreement with Geronimo Energy for a community solar garden; the County Attorney’s OfÀce had some issues with the initial agreement; thus, a few months ago a revised agreement was received which is currently under County Attorney review; at this time, there is no more subscriber capacity for the site just west of Foley; however, there is capacity left at the site on Golden Spike Road (40%)— Benton County would need to also be subscribers to sites in adjacent counties to fully maximize our potential; about a year ago, Geronimo had estimated about $18,000/year in energy savings; it is not known at this time how to bring this issue to conclusion); 4) Auditing RFP Results (State law changed to allow counties to contract with private CPA Àrms for their audits; seven responses were received in response to the County’s RFP; a committee reviewed the proposals and will be recommending the Àrm of Clifton Larson Allen for the 2017-2018 audit at a bid of $44,000—although they were not the very lowest bid, they have substantial experience in county auditing (the total cost of the State audit in 2016 was $62,000); 5) LEAN/ Continuous Improvement Update (Headley reported that a group of county employees recently attended an AMC LEAN facilitator training; the group also conducted a true LEAN Kaizen event on the topic of tracking and tagging of capital assets; these employees will now work with their department heads to identify opportunities for LEAN events—schedule, organize, conduct and report on those events; Board consensus that each county department conduct at least one LEAN/Continuous Improvement event during the next year and report back to the Board); 6) Recorder Appointment Process (Headley will ask the Board to schedule a Committee of the Whole to further discuss how the Board may wish to reorganize this function; once the Board takes formal action, the appointment would take effect 60 days thereafter; Headley will provide Board members with an AMC survey of how other counties have reorganized the Re-

Norman L. Meinert

enjoyed wildlife, trapping gophers, keeping score at the ball Àelds, mowing the lawn, and following the citizens of the Rice area. Norman “We have been so blessed in our lives,” Laura said. “It’s a joy to be able to give back.

It really is. If we can be that friendly face, if we can go in and share a meal with these kids, then I feel that is something we should continue to do.”

was well known in Rice and enjoyed walking and making his rounds in town enjoying conversations along the way.

He was a gentle, kind, genuine, selÁess and caring man.

Norman is survived by his friends with the Sportsman Club, AA group, friends in Rice, Sheila, Eric, Grace, and Rick Burski; cousins, Victor (Karen), Emily and Henry of Rice; and many others. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Daril.

Memorials to Meals on Wheels and the Rice Sportsman Club.

Obituary, guestbook and video tribute available online: www.williamsdingmann.com.

R-32-1B

local Proud to be the onlyne d and American ow ud scrap yard in St. Clo

Midway Iron & Metal, INC. New Steel

AUTOMOTIVE 2010 FORD TRANSIT VAN - 300,000 Plus mile, needs rear window, $850. 320-3609342. R-32-1vm

and Recycling Family Owned & Operated

648 NE Lincoln Ave., St. Cloud ud SCRAP: 252-4002 NEW STEEL: 258-3003 800-246-4002 • www.midwayiron.com i

corder function); and 7) Meeting with Palmer Wireless (county staff met with Laura and Albert Kangas from Palmer Wireless who remain interested in installing wireless internet equipment on the tower at Mayhew Lake; the understanding is that Palmer Wireless will do a structural analysis, which includes a “simulation” of the effect of adding this equipment and making a determination on whether or not the tower can support this equipment (Albert Kangas feels it is unlikely the tower will pass the structural analysis); a new tower would require an 80’x80’ area; the Department of Development Director will conduct a site visit to see if this site would physically work for a new tower; the Assistant County Attorney will draft a short-term ground lease to cover the structural analysis phase and also a longer-term lease—either Palmer Wireless will lease space on the county’s tower or they will build a tower and the county gets space on it for free).

The Regular County Board meeting was recessed at 9:54 AM to conduct a Human Services Board meeting.

The Regular County Board meeting was reconvened at 10:13 AM. Board members reported on recent meetings they attended on behalf of the county.

Under Commissioner Concerns, Popp reported on a concern by an individual who lives by the Landwehr pit along CR 44; this individual is concerned with the vibrations of the trucks as they travel along CR 44. Chris Byrd, County Engineer, noted that this roadway is shown as a patching project in this year’s road program.

Commissioner Popp also stated concerns of several individuals with regard to the closure of the bridge on CR 42 over Mayhew Creek due to the condition of the bridge. Chris Byrd, County Engineer, explained that he has been working with the State (MnDOT) to attempt to secure an advance construction agreement or some other type of funding to allow reconstruction of this bridge as soon as possible.

He pointed out that, even if the county were to approve 100% local county funds for this project, a bid opening would be required with 30-day advertising; in addition, contracts would need to be approved and signed—this process places actual construction in late September/early October. Several Board members inquired about at least starting the advertisement for bids. Byrd noted that the County could be at risk of losing the State funding should they move ahead with the advertisement before receiving approval from the State. He stated that, statewide, bridge bonding is not adequate; if the County does not receive bridge bonding for this bridge, there are four other bridges on the priority list for replacement that are eligible for that same funding. Byrd indicated that he will send a follow-up letter to MnDOT to attempt to move this bridge project forward.

Commissioner Popp also relayed several concerns of individuals who were questioning the sealcoating of part of CR 78 prior to completing the rest of the CR 78 project. Popp and Byrd stated the importance of maintaining the investment that the County has already committed to CR 78.

McMahon/Popp unanimous to set Committees of the Whole: July 28, Discussion on 1) Recorder Appointment/Possible Reorganization and 2) Proposed Buffer Enforcement Ordinance; August 3, Tour of Silt Sock Plant in Foley Industrial Park; August 14, 16 & 18, Budget Presentations; and August 21, County-Wide Space Issues.

Buerkle/Popp unanimous to adjourn at 10:40 AM. Warren J. Peschl, Jr., Chair Benton County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Montgomery Headley Benton County Administrator Published August 8, 2017 R-32-1B

DIRECTORY Business DIRECTORY Manea’s Meats We thank you for your business!

The T h Sausage S Specialists S i li t www.maneasmeats.com

(320) 253-8683

We are here because of you!

Think of us when grilling this Summer!

R17-tfnb-TV

A S L E O S T .COM U A S O V

SRE

Since 1990

• 965 Benton Drive North, Sauk Rapids, MN • 320-229-1065 • 1850 7th Street North, St. Cloud, MN 320-255-1065

See us on Carsoup.com and Car Gurus

R6-eowtfnB-TV

Sauk Rapids Electric Darrell Theisen

Make the most of your tax refund!

R10-tfnB-TV

2 Locations

Trade Anything . . .

Boats • Motors • Trailers Guns • ATVs

114 2nd Ave N., Sauk Rapids, MN

• New Construction • Residential 1380 29th Ave. NE, Sauk Rapids, MN • Commercial Phone 320.290.7066 • Industrial • Audio/Video darrelltheisen@gmail.com

www.saukrapidselectric.com

R5-e3wB-TV

R36-ee R36-eowtfB-LO

Mumms

Youth House.

“The kids can do as much or as little as they like,” David said. “There are a couple that are willing to eat and not work which is Àne with us.”

Everyone who chooses to participate will be put to work in some way. “(The Mumms) are very much about everyone has the opportunity to share in the meal,” Rice said. “There are plenty of left overs so when the kids who couldn’t be there come home from work they will have something to eat.”

The couple teaches the basics behind cooking like following a recipe and meal prepping. And with the help of Youth House staff have even taken a group of kids out to a local grocery store to teach them to pick out cuts of meat for a grill out.

“None of those kids had ever experienced something like that,” Rice said. “And they had a really good time.”

The kids looks forward to their time with the Mumms.

“We always have it posted in the house,” Rice said. “And if we know what they are making we put up Áiers. The kids get pretty excited.”

The Mumms legacy with the homeless youth at the Youth House goes far beyond the Sunday dinner. Since the kids have limited funds, the Sauk Rapids couples has

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2017 | PAGE 7

Publishing th the 2nd & 4 e th f o s week th n o m COVERING CENTRAL MN PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL & FINANCIAL WELL BEING

Nodo rides again Accident cannot stop Rice man from getting back on his bike

BY VICKI IKEOGU CONTRIBUTING WRITER

RICE – June 11, 2009 is a date that will be forever engrained in the mind of 77-year-old former Rice mayor and current park board member Ken Nodo.

His memory of that day goes blank at about Àve minutes to 5 p.m.

Nodo and his wife, Vicki, were preparing to take their daughter and grandchildren on a Àshing trip. He had just bought and assembled some new bikes, a hobby that he and his wife had taken up a few years before Nodo retired from his job in construction and cabinet making.

“I wanted to try out the new bikes,” he said. “So, I took my bike around the block.”

It was a short bike ride that forever altered Nodo’s look on life.

“I was riding my bike

just in front of my house, and I was hit from behind by a kid on a crotch rocket motorcycle,” Nodo said. “I ended up being airlifted to the hospital and was in there for a week. They told my wife that I was not going to live.”

With a diagnosis of several broken bones and a traumatic brain injury, Nodo’s prognosis, he admits, was not great.

“But I’m here, so obviously they were wrong,” he said. “Well, and I was lucky too.”

The road to recovery was not easy.

“I had to go to therapy,” he said. “My balance was off.

I couldn’t drive.”

With the help of his wife, Nodo made it to his therapy appointments – sometimes as often as two to three times a week – and worked on exercises at home.

During all the trauma and recovery time, Nodo’s bicycle had remained in the garage, untouched since the accident.

It had been months since Nodo had even thought about that bike. But in early fall, Nodo said he was wanting to get a bit more room in his family’s two-car garage.

“Well, I was going to

PHOTO BY VICKI IKEOGU

Ken Nodo, 77, averages about 5,000 to 6,000 miles on his bikes each year. Nodo logs some of those miles by making short trips from his home on the outskirts of Rice into the downtown to run errands like visiting the post ofÀce.

take [my bike] out to our shed out there,” Nodo said. “So, thought, ‘I wonder if I could because we had more room I started wheeling it. Then I ride it instead of pushing it.’

So, I hopped on it and rode it over there.”

The bike had a few dings and dents in it. But it rode as well as Nodo remembered it.

“I wasn’t scared [to get on it],” he said.

Nodo remained in therapy until February 2010 with the intent to make a full recovery. After he was given the doctor’s OK, Nodo set his sights on a new goal: the 2010 Bike MS 150-mile bike ride.

“I have a sister-inlaw who has an addictive personality,” Nodo said.

“When she starts doing something she obsesses. And she did that with biking. She

“If you can walk, you can square dance” - Pat Henning

An activity for all ages

BY MICHAEL STRASBURG STAFF WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS — The Benton County Fairgrounds were full of life Thursday night, despite cold and wet weather. Part of what shaped to the celebratory mood on the dreary evening was the jubilant sounds and music coming from the Cottonwood Stage, where Beaux & Belles Square Dancers were performing.

Square dancing can be something of a mysterious ritual for the casual viewer. It’s easy, right off the bat, to see the art and performance in the dance, but difÀcult to discern the machinations that go into producing such a Áawless performance. In reality, each dance is dictated by the caller — an individual who issues a series of “calls” over the music with a sing-songy delivery.

The calls themselves are short routines that move dancers toward and from each other, across the dance Áoor.

“Each call has certain steps, if you do those moves right, and the person you’re meeting up with does those moves right, then they will be there to meet you,” said dancer Pat Henning. “If someone messes up, which we do, we break down and laugh about it, then square up and get back at it.”

Henning said a call can be comprised of anywhere between 2 and 16 steps. The calls make up a dance — the duration of one song. Two songs add up to be a “trip,” and those trips make up the evening dance. A typical Beaux & Belles dance lasts 2.5 hours. The dancers meet about four times a month.

While the idea of memorizing calls and carrying them out at a moments notice can sound intimidating, Beaux & Belles dancers encourage everyone to give square dancing a try.

“You don’t have to be old to square dance, and you don’t have to be kids. If you can walk you can square dance,” Henning said.

Even the ability to walk isn’t a strict qualiÀer, as the Beaux & Belles have included

PHOTO BY MICHAEL STRASBURG

Donna Bloch (left), Jeff Richardson, Pat Henning and Dan Henning participate in Beaux & Belles, a local club that meets monthly to square dance.

handicapped individuals, bound to a wheelchair, in their dances. Henning said many individuals are surprised they can square dance so easily, and that they can enjoy it so quickly — something she experienced Àrst-hand.

“When we got married, my husband knew someone who did it,” Henning said. “He said ‘lets take lessons’ and I said ‘you’ve got to be kidding.’

And now I’m the on who is really into it!”

Another club member, Donna Bloch, initially discovered square dancing at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

“This is the Àrst year we haven’t pulled people from the crowd to join in, but that’s how I Àrst started,” she said.

“Some of the members pulled us out of the crowd and taught us a few simple steps while we were here at the fair. I was so excited.”

Beaux & Belles offers square dancing lessons for beginners each fall. The lessons are once a week and last until March, when most dancers are able to proÀciently dance by themselves. Henning was quick to add that you don’t need to be a couple to take lessons or to join in. Singles are welcome and common — they simply pair up with one another to dance.

Aside from the obvious health beneÀts that any dancing provides, square dancing is

a very mentally engaging activity. Dancers have to listen to the caller and recall the dance moves that make up each call at the drop of a hat. Bloch said a rotation of different callers — in addition to their usual caller, Tom Allen — keeps the dancers challenged and engaged.

“You get used to one caller, I get used to him [Allen],” Bloch said. “I know the next step because I’m so used to him, but if you get somebody new, they may not be calling it the same way. So you may have to listen a little closer because they may be calling something different than what you’re used to.”

Square dancing is also a natural social activity.

Dancers engage with each other throughout the night and meet new dancers, and future friends, throughout the year.

“The social aspect is a big part,” Henning said. “You can imagine, there are eight of us in the square and you don’t stay with the same partner all night. You’re continually going around the square. And it’s an international thing, you can dance anywhere in the world.”

“We’ve grown to be friends with people we didn’t even know until we started dancing. I have friends up in Canada now because of this,” Bloch said. “A few years ago we took a trip to Nashville with two busses of square dancers and every place we stopped we

got out of the bus and square danced right there and kept on going our destination.”

For more information on Beaux & Belles Square Dancers club, call (320) 2524230. The club meets monthly at the Whitney Center in St. Cloud.

had ridden that ride the year before. So, once she found out that I was riding my bike again, she said ‘Oh, well you ought to ride this with us.’ I just went ahead and did it.”

The Àrst day of the trek from Duluth to St. Paul was June 11, 2010, a year to the date of his accident.

Nodo has not stopped biking since.

In the years since his accident Nodo has been a frequent participant in the Bike MS ride. He has competed pretty much every year – except for 2017 due to back issues.

Nodo has taken extra precautions when it comes to biking. He wears a reÁector vest, and has a Áashing light that is attached to the rear portion of his bike. His bike is also decked out with rear-view mirrors so he can be better aware of his surroundings.

And Nodo always wears his helmet.

In addition, Nodo has been known to travel via bike on trips around Rice – even in the middle of winter.

“I’m a cheapskate and it saves gas,” he joked. “But, it’s one of the beneÀts, you do save some money. (And I look at it like) why am I going to get in the car and drive to Rice to the post ofÀce (or something like that). A lot of people do, but it doesn’t make sense to me.”

Nodo has also started a yearly tradition to celebrate his July 20 birthday with a bike ride. He bikes one mile per year of his life. This year, Nodo and a small group of bikers took to the Soo Line South Trail near Royalton and made the trek down to the Lake Wobegon Trail in St. Joseph and back.

In total, Nodo estimates he rides between 2,000 and 6,000 miles a year.

Nodo has not forgotten the accident that has shaped the latter years of his life. But he has not let what could have been a crippling situation stop him from jumping back on the bike and hitting the open road once again.

“My personality is such that if I decide to do something I do it,” Nodo said.

“Even if it takes a little longer or it’s a little harder to do, I’ll still do it.”

PAGE 8 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2017 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

Benton PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Sauk Rapids residents Sami Clark, 18, (from left), Tori Steichen, 11, and Aubrey PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER Clark, 9, enjoy a ride at the Cornerstone Cloverbud Jack Dahler, 7, of Foley, joins his prospect calf Aug. 2 at the Benton Benton County Fair Aug. 4.

County Fair.

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Foley residents Josie Pozorski, 10, and Skylar Morris, 10, and Sauk Rapids residents Kennedy Pederson, 13, and Isabella Pederson, 11, volunteer at the FFA Barnyard Aug. 2 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids.

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

603 N Benton Dr | Sauk Rapids

PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA

Blake Burski, 7, of Rice, throws ping-pong balls hoping to Aubrey and Aidan Schlueter smile and laugh as Erin Goedtel win a Àsh at the Benton County Fair Aug. 4. draws a caricature of them and their brother, Harrison.

320-251-4771

www.dandbautobody.biz

Commercial & Residential Services

320-253-1269 30 Lincoln Ave NE | St. Cloud, MN 56304

www.freds-plumbing.com

Manea’s Meats We thank you for your business!

The Sausage Th S Specialists S i li t www.maneasmeats.com

(320) 253-8683

PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA

Travis Dunlap races a remote control car around the track Aug. 5 during the Benton County Fair. Dunlap was one of several kids given the opportunity to race a car.

114 2nd Ave N., Sauk Rapids, MN

We are here because of you!

Big Store Appeal. Small Town Feel.

MIMBACH FLEET SUPPLY

Located off Hwy. 23 E • (320) 252-1682 3355 Quail Road NE, Sauk Rapids, MN www.mimbachfleet.com

Sauk Rapids

LIQUOR

• Power Equipment • Clothing/Footwear • Pet/Animal Health • Hardware • Automotive • Farm • Outdoor/Hobbies

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

St. Cloud residents Edith Terhaar (left) and Linda Stanski play Roller-Racer Aug. 4 at the midway of the Benton County Fairgrounds.

312 Benton Drive N., Sauk Rapids

320-251-4185

HOURS: Monday-Thursday 9am-10pm Friday-Saturday 8am-10pm

Please Drink Responsibly po p on nsi siibly Never Drink & D Drive! rivve!

We hope you enjoyed the fair!

yerry esh bake frre stes - fr asst sh ta esh es s - fre le l b bl a t ta et g e h ve sh eat - fre me

#1

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Art Club member Caitlin Stearn paints a mural Aug. 2 at the Benton County Fair.

IN CUSTOMER SERVICE!

food eafo ea sh se esh ors - frrre avo frresh fla

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

110 First Street South, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 • 320-252-2141 Store Hours: Open 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER A giant sandcastle was carved inside the Discovery Building over the course of the week in commemoration of the Benton Jaxon Verly, 5, of Sauk Rapids, looks at a Case International at the Benton County Fairgrounds Aug. 2.

County Agricultural Society’s 165th year as an organization.