Boys swimming page 20
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Same Local Coverage Since 1 8 5 4 .
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Vol. 164, No. 39
Rice mayor arrested Second in command for DUI, open bottle Jacobson RICE – Less than a week after being sworn in, Rice Mayor Erik Bonde was arrested for driving under the influence and open bottle. Bonde was arrested Jan. 10 on misdemeanor charges of fourth degree DUI and possession of open bottle as he was preparing to operate a school bus in Rice. In Minnesota, a fourth degree DUI offense is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 fine, with no mandatory minimum sentence. Bonde was issued a citation, held in custody until sober and will appear in court. According to a release from the Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck, the Rice Police Department learned Bonde, 46, had a driver’s license that was suspended. An officer made contact at around 1:30 p.m., advising Bonde of the status of his license and that he could not drive until his license was reinstated.
Later, at 3:05 p.m., Rice Police learned Bonde had driven a van-sized school bus to the Rice Elementary and was seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Due to the conflict of interest, Benton County deputies assisted Rice Police and approached the bus and Bonde, reminding Bonde that his license was still suspended. While speaking with Bonde, officers observed signs indicating Bonde was intoxicated. Bonde was requested to submit to a preliminary breath test, which indicated Bonde’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving. Deputies also located a container in Bonde’s possession which contained an alcoholic beverage. Bonde was arrested and transported to the Benton County Jail. No students were in the bus while Bonde was operating the vehicle. Bonde was sworn in as Rice Mayor Jan. 7.
received MSA Supervisor of the Year award BY ELIZABETH HOAG STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – Over two decades ago, Benton County law enforcement officer Neal Jacobson vowed to uphold the law to affirm his standards of integrity, bravery and honor to the community and law. After years of advancing ranks and taking on responsibilities, chief deputy Jacobson was nominated and received the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association Supervisor of the Year award Dec. 10, 2018. “I was honored to find out I was nominated having only been in my position for four years,” Jacobson said. “After finding out in mid-December
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Neal Jacobson stands outside the Benton County Sheriff ’s Office and jail in Foley Jan. 9. Jacobson has worked for the county for 23 years.
that I had been selected, I was flattered upon receiving the award.” Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck nominated his second in command.
“I nominated Neal for this award based on the impressive amount of work he performs and the vast responsibility he holds,” Heck said. “Over
time Neal has proven himself to be a solid and dependable member of our office and risen to the oc-
Jacobson page 2
Utility rates increase Pinnacle Climate Technologies for Rice residents condenses, relocates
BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE – The Rice City Council ushered in the new year Jan. 7 by swearing in new mayor Erik Bonde and returning council members Paula Kampa and Brian Skroch. Joining incumbents Bryan Anderson and Chris Scheel, the council quickly took to business, adopting utility increases for resi-
dents, approving annual appointments and scheduling a work session to discuss the city’s fee schedule. Rice residents and commercial customers will see $3 rate increase to base rates of water and sewer utilities when they receive their bills in February. A 10 percent increase was also added to usage in tier two, three and the newly-created tier four, which includes properties that use 18,000 gallons and more each month. A high service pump for the city’s water treatment will be replaced in 2019, and rates were increased to cover jetting costs and to begin to set aside funds for future improvements. When the city received its annual audit presentation in March 2018, Jon Archer,
Rice city council page 3
BY JAKE DOETKOTT STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY JAKE DOETKOTT
Douglas Boser (left) and Ron Ten Berge hold and cut the ceremonial ribbon Jan. 10 in Sauk Rapids. The heating, ventilation and fan company developed from a merger between Schaefer Ventilation Equipment and Pinnacle Products International in 2015.
• City of Sauk Rapids Notice of Public Hearing - pg. 16
PUBLIC NOTICES
• Sauk Rapids Township Election Notice - pg. 16 • Benton County Regular Meeting Minutes, Dec. 18, 2018 - pg. 14/15 • Sauk Rapids-Rice School Regular Meeting Minutes, Dec. 17, 2018 - pg. 15
SAUK RAPIDS – Pinnacle Climate Technologies is the world’s largest maker of forced-air heaters and serves customers in the United States and abroad. The business calls Sauk Rapids home. The company has moved into its new location at 1660 13th Ave N.E., Sauk Rapids – the former Nahan Printing building – after relocating from multiple buildings. “We’d been spread rather inefficiently and outgrew our 15-year-old Schaefer location,” said Ron Ten Berge, chief executive officer. “We had three different buildings we operated from. The Sauk
Pinnacle page 3
OBITUARIES • Clarence “Clancy” Corrigan pg. 4