Don’t miss it!
BENTON AG Section B
Tennis page 18
Saturday, ay, September 21, 2019
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Salute to
Legion Post No. 254 celebrates centennial
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Plus
Vol. 165, 165 No. 24
100 years
BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Less than two weeks after the U.S. Congress chartered the American Legion Sept. 16, 1919, roughly 30 World War I ex-service members gathered in Sauk Rapids to form what is today Frank Heinzel Post No. 254. It was Sept. 24, 1919, and those present signed their names to a charter application and agreed to recruit additional membership at once. Any soldier, sailor, marine or regular enlisted nurse who served the country between April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918, was eligible to apply. Within one month, more than 75 membership applications were secured. American Legion Frank Heinzel Post No. 254 in Sauk Rapids celebrates its 100th birthday this week. As a centennial Legion post, it was established the same year as the national organization. Benton County cities followed suit, with Foley establishing posts in 1920 and Rice in 1926. “I think the founders were motivated because the United States went into the war completely unprepared,” said Jim Hixson, Post No. 254
Jim Hixson
adjutant who served 20 years of active duty in the U.S. Army. The post’s secPHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER ond meeting took place American Legion Post No. 254 color guard members – Pat Best (front, from left), Cliff Popp, Dave Grose, Tom Skuza Sept. 30, 1919, where 15
Rajkowski page 2
and Mike Laudenbach; (back) Jim Hixson – march in cadence May 30, 2016, during Memorial Day ceremonies at the Sauk Rapids cemeteries. Post No. 254 hosted its first meeting Sept. 24, 1919.
Hall of Fame inductee: Melissa Rajkowski A bittersweet honor BY ANNA HINKEMEYER | STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Melissa Rajkowski has been around sports since before she could attend school thanks to her dad, Ed. “He was the elementary phy ed teacher and was active in sports himself,” Rajkowski said. “Physical fitness was always important to him and that rubbed off on me, too. Being an athlete throughout my life was just part of my identity. I didn’t choose to be an athlete, I just was one.” Rajkowski, a 1996 graduate of Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, participated in volleyball, basketball and track and field as a high school athlete, with softball and soccer during the summer. “There weren’t many other options for school sports during that time,” Rajkowski said. “Sauk Rapids was still a pretty small school. Maybe today, I would go a different route, but I enjoyed the sports I was in.” Rajkowski’s commitment to athletics at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School led to her nomination and upcoming induction into the SRRHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Rajkowski will be inducted alongside former activities director Bill Nielsen and class of 1979 athlete and long-time coach Pete Robinet at a ceremony which takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at SRRHS in Sauk Rapids. “When I first got the call that I am going to be PHOTO SUBMITTED Melissa Rajkowski (left) stands with her dad, Ed, and youngest son, Carson, in Colorado inducted, I was very sad,” Rajkowski said. “My dad in 2009. Rajkowski is being inducted into the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Athletic Hall of Fame, a bittersweet honor as her dad nominated her and has since passed.
PUBLIC NOTICES • Mortgage Foreclosure - Elkins - pg. 15 • Mortgage Foreclosure - Belanger/Hunt - pg. 12 • Mortgage Foreclosure - Miller - pg. 12 • Mortgage Foreclosure - Watson - pg. 13
• Assumed Name - Hip Nana Quilting - pg. 12 • Assumed Name - Johnson Precision Builders - pg. 12 • Sauk Rapids Rice School Construction Project - pg. 15 • Benton County Reg. Minutes, Sept. 3, 2019 - pg. 13
Rajkowski page 2
OBITUARIES...PG. 5 • Robert J. Gross • Earl H. Meinert