page 10-14 11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019
Vol. 165, No. 21
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Four vie for Rotating menu of brews sets Pantown taproom apart open Rice Johnson, Czech council seat are ‘deliberately not deliberate’ Appointment to be made in September BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE – Four applicants have shown interest in the vacant Rice City Council position. Michelle Keller, Wayne Konrad, Morgan Powers, Emily Walters seek the remaining 1.5 year term following Kyle Walter’s resignation in early August. Walter served on the council since March when, he too, was appointed to the position. His family and he are moving outside city limits and Walter will not longer be eligible to serve on the council. The Rice City Council followed the same protocol used in spring and allowed a two week period for residents to apply for the seat. At that time, six candidates stepped forward. Keller is the only candidate to apply both times. The Rice City Council will host a work session at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 to interview candidates prior to the 7 p.m. council meeting where action may be taken.
with hopping business BY VICKI IKEOGU CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ST. CLOUD – There is an old saying that goes “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” But what if life hands you brewing equipment? The answer, at least for Sauk Rapids resident and commercial real estate broker Noel Johnson, was simple. You find a way to brew the best beer possible. Over the past eight months that is exactly what Johnson, his business partner and fellow real estate agent Marty Czech, and head brewer Nick Flies have been doing at Pantown Brewing Company.
A small sample glass contains one of Pantown Brewing Co.’s signature drinks, the Beermosa. Pantown Brewing Company, located in St. PHOTOS BY VICKI IKEOGU Cloud, has been serving Owners Noel Johnson (left), of Sauk Rapids, and Marty Czech, of St. Cloud, stand in customers since December front of the large mural of Pantown Brewing Company. The two opened the business 2018. in December 2018.
Tucked away just off of Third Street North in St. Cloud Pantown Brewing Co. – 408 37th Ave. N. – is quickly establishing itself among the diverse and ever-growing taprooms in central Minnesota.
“I love breweries,” Czech said. “I think we both approached this as craft beer fans first of all. So, when we designed the taproom and the experience here, we’ve taken things away from other
breweries that we loved as fans.” Those things include the long communal tables (built by Czech) that take up the main level of the taproom. And the large bar where patrons can not
only see the tap selections but can also get a look at the brewing process in action with a window framed cooler. And let us not for-
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Bring on the Dutch Maid doughnuts Iconic bakery nears opening day BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Things are about to get a whole lot sweeter in Sauk Rapids. The long-awaited move of Dutch Maid Bakery is nearing completion and opening day. The bakery, which has existed on the east side of St. Cloud since 1959, will undergo state inspection at its new building at 512 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids, Tuesday, Sept. 3. Upon approval, owner Jeff Muntifering expects to open the week of Sept. 9. “How we’re going to hang the pictures on the wall is pretty much what it comes down to,” said Muntifering, referencing that most work in the new wholesale PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Dutch Maid Bakery’s new building is located at 512 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. The business, which has been in east St. Cloud since 1959, will open in Sauk Rapids in September.
• Mortgage Foreclosure - Elkins - pg. 15 • Mortgage Foreclosure - Belanger/Hunt - pg. 15 • Benton County Proposal Notice - pg. 16 • Benton County Notices - pg. 15
• City of Sauk Rapids Special Budget Meeting Minutes, Aug. 12, 2019 - pg. 15 • City of Sauk Rapids Reg. Minutes, Aug. 12, 2019 - pg. 16