Sauk Centre Herald 01-05-2023

Neary named new Diocese of St. Cloud bishop

End of an

era

The Rev. Patrick Neary

Area pastors excited to work together under his leadership

BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER

The Rev. Patrick Neary, CSC, a member of Congregation of Holy Cross, was introduced as the bishop-elect of the Diocese of St. Cloud Dec. 15 at a press conference at the diocesan pastoral center in St. Cloud.

Neary will be the 10th bishop in the history of the diocese. He is currently in his fifth year as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Oregon.

Local parish pastors are excited to welcome Neary.

“We will be looking for the first opportunity to have him visit the parishes in the Harvest of Hope Area Catholic Community,” said the Rev. Edward Vebelun, pastor of this Catholic community, serving parishes in St. Anthony, Avon, Albany and St. Martin. “We will do our part to give him a warm welcome and work together under his leadership to be the hands and feet of Christ in the Catholic church of central Minnesota.”

Neary was born in 1963, and is the oldest of six children, in-

Neary page 4

Depot Feeds closes after more than five decades of business

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

For more than 50 years, Depot Feeds has served the needs of area farmers and patrons in and around Sauk Centre.

That came to an end Dec. 31 when owner Mark Quistorff said goodbye to customers for the final time when he closed the store.

In 2022, Quistorff said there were several months he didn’t make any money, and in the months he did, it wasn’t near the preCOVID years.

“When I first started, I was ordering a minimum of 4 tons of Purina Feed a week, and now I’ve been ordering 4 tons a month,” he said.

Profits starting declining in 2019 and prior to that, the business grew each year. He said the decline has been a combination of retirement by his loyal dairy farm customers, rising costs, competition with bigger feed stores and competition within Central Minnesota for customers.

Since Quistorff, and his wife Nancy, purchased the business in 2015 from Patsy (Koenig) Ahrens and Dave Uphoff, he’s had a solid base of support. The store sold not only feed to dairy farmers but also for calves, chickens and steers. The store, which expanded in the 1990s, also operated a greenhouse that provided flowers to the public, sold Christmas trees, chicks in the

spring and summer and provided a variety of farm supplies.

“The toughest part is everybody who comes in here, I probably won’t see them again,” Quistorff said. “You sit and you visit with people…” Through the years Quistorff said he’s prided himself, and his one part-time or one full-time employee, on the level of customer service they’ve been able to provide. He mixed feed, paying close attention to the rations and percentages in order to meet each customer’s individual needs.

“If they’d come in and ask us a question, we’d try to answer it,” he said. “If we couldn’t, we’d take down their name and number and get back to them in a couple of days.” He knew their orders and knew they wanted a particular type of potato or seed. In addition, he and Uphoff committed to visiting the farmers he worked with at least once every two or three weeks. They would make rounds to the farms to see what challenges his customers had and make suggestions for areas he may be able to help. It was a tradition started by the previous owners and one he felt compelled to carry out. He recalls a particular customer who was feeding his steers only corn, sileage and hay and when he added in protein at Quistorff’s urging his animals buoyed to 1,500 pounds within 15

Gaining interests through involvement

Riley, Sebek selected as Sauk Centre’s ExCEL nominees

BY EVAN MICHEALSON | STAFF WRITER

The life of a student-athlete is fraught with exhaustive schedules and the pressure to succeed both academically and athletically. However, many would not have it any other way, and for those who persevere, oftentimes, good results follow hard work.

Such is the case for Sauk Centre High School juniors Ethan Riley and Raya Sebek, who have been selected as the school’s nominees for the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL Award, which stands for Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity, just because I try my best at school just to be involved, and I’m trying my best at everything I’m doing,” Sebek said.

Both students were pulled out of algebra class by Sauk Centre activities director Scott Bergman, who notified them of the accomplishment. For the pair, it was an eye-opening announcement that they did not expect, even while applying for the award previously.

ExCEL page 4

months, something that used to take that farmer two years.

Quistorff put in 50 hours a week at the business, arriving at 7:45 a.m. each weekday and leaving around 5 p.m., fitting in chores at his home farm before and after business hours. He was also open 8 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays.

As shortly ago as 2019, he said he had 50 regular farmers he supported with feed and supplies and, before he closed, he was down to around 15, and many of his hobby farmers quit coming in for feed when prices went up.

The early years Ahrens and Uphoff purchased the business from founders Ed and Theresa Koenig in 1997. The store first opened in 1971 inside what had originally been a Burlington Northern Depot. Train tracks ran on the north and south sides of the building and freight came by railway. In its heyday, the demand for Purina feed was so high that two trains might stop at the site at once to unload enough feed to meet the local demand.

Depot Feeds page 4

PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Mark Quistorff closed the doors at Depot Feeds Dec. 31. Depot Feeds was a feed store for local farmers for 50 years.

PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON

Ethan Riley stands inside the Sauk Centre High School gym Dec. 20 in Sauk Centre. Riley is one of two Sauk Centre nominees for the Minnesota State High School League’s ExCEL Award, recognizing high-achieving junior student-athletes.

PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON Raya Sebek is an ExCEL Award nominee for Sauk Centre High School. Sebek is involved all around the school, participating in volleyball, track and field, student council and captains and leaders, along with volunteering in her community.

Paislee Charlotte Backes

Grant Backes and Paige Nelson, of Osakis, are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Paislee Charlotte Backes, at 12:47 a.m., Dec. 9, 2022, at CentraCare-Melrose Hospital.

She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

Sawyer Nicolas Denk

Madison Denk, of Sauk Centre and Cameron Koch, of Wheaton, are happy to announce the birth of their son, Sawyer Nicolas Denk, at 7:47 a.m., Dec. 27, 2022, at CentraCare-Melrose Hospital.

He weighed 8 pounds, and measured 20 inches long.

Grandparents are Angela Hoeschen and Jeron Denk of Sauk Centre, Crista Post of Cottonwood and Brian Koch of Wheaton.

Great-grandparents

Roxane Hoeschen of Sauk

Centre, Judith Denk of Sauk

Perch paradise Perch

Paislee Charlotte Backes

Ice fishing draws many to Sauk Lake

BY JAN LEFEBVRE STAFF WRITER

Good ice and warm temperatures went hand in hand Dec. 28 at Sauk Lake for those opting to try a little spearing or angling.

Nicolas Denk

Sitting on a lawn chair out on the ice with no fish house or companions needed, Clay Conover of St. Cloud was dropping a line.

“I saw on the internet that Sauk Lake might be a good fishing lake,” he said. “This is actually my first-time ice fishing in a long time.”

That’s because Conover lived in Reno, Nevada for a few years before recently moving back to Minnesota. Nevada is not known for its ice fishing.

Conover is a weekend photographer for Channel 5 Eyewitness News in St. Paul and an electrical engineering student at St. Cloud State University.

“My dad gave me an ice auger for Christmas, so I decided I would try it,” Conover said. “Today is perfect. The ice is in good shape, and it’s not

2023 Adult & Teen Winter Reading Program

January 3throughFebruary 28

unbearable to be out here.”

Conover grew up summer fishing with his grandpa on Blue Water Lake near Grand Rapids. He ice fished only a few times as a kid.

“I’m a pretty serious summer fisher,” he said. “I wasn’t really sure I’d like (ice fishing), but it’s been fun so far today.”

Whatever kind of fishing Conover does, most of the time he fishes alone. His wife doesn’t fish. Most of his friends don’t like fishing either.

Perhaps his solitary fishing method contributes to good results.

“I’ve been pulling perch out of this hole all day,” Conover said. “I’ve been putting them back.”

His reasons for liking ice fishing are simple.

“It’s quiet,” Conover said. “You get to be outside. I don’t do the (fish house). I like being out in it and watching everything go by.”

Unlike Conover, some ice fishers prefer using fish houses. That’s why, in the same bay near Conover, Jim and Karae Retzlaff and their friend, Gene Sorenson, were chainsaw carving a square out of the ice and placing a fish house over it with the same-size square cut out of its floor.

The Retzlaffs are owners of Big Sauk Resort. They prepare fish houses and ice for their customers, many of whom enjoy spearfishing like the Retzlaffs themselves.

“About three weeks ago, Karae got a 40-inch Northern up here,” Jim Retzlaff said. “She speared it. It’s really good fishing here.”

Sorenson is a seasonal renter at the resort during summer but comes up from his home in southern Minnesota during winters to help out –and take in a little fishing.

“We fish the lake in the summertime and have good luck,” Sorenson said. “That’s why we fish it in the wintertime too.”

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in the area for over ten years. He said that Sauk Lake is his biggest stretch of water that he patrols.

“It’s probably one of the most popular fishing locations, so I’m here more frequently,” Silgjord said. “But I also have Big Birch and Little Birch and a handful of smaller lakes that have patrols.”

He said there are reasons that Sauk Lake is popular.

“It has a good number of walleyes, and the perch bite has been getting better year after year during the winter,”

Silgjord said.

Silgjord ice fishes himself. His whole family fishes near his home in Grey Eagle.

“My kids love it, and my wife is a big fan of fishing,” Silgjord said. “We try to get

out when we find the time.”

He said that he enjoys patrolling the lakes.

“Talking with folks I’ve met through the course of my career is fun,” Silgjord said. “Not everybody I deal with is breaking the law. The vast majority of people we run into as conservation officers are law abiding.”

He said he likes other aspects of his job as well.

“I get a truck and a snowmobile, and I get to do stuff outside,” Silgjord said. “But frankly, I just like being with people.”

As Conover, the Retzlaffs, Sorenson and Silgjord went about their activities, many others were at Sauk Lake, the sun shining warmer-than-lately on their winter adventures.

Retzlaff said that he doesn’t understand why people feel a need to go to points north for fishing.

“There’s guys who go way up north to try to get fish, and here we are in central Minnesota, and we’ve got all the fish you’d want,” he said. “I’ve known this lake for 28 years, and I’ve taken a lot of fish out of it. I don’t need to go anywhere else for fishing.”

As Conover fished and the Retzaffs and Sorenson placed the fish house, local game warden, Caleb Silgjord, suited up at the nearby boat landing for patrolling the lake on his snowmobile.

Silgjord has been a conservation officer with the DNR

Str eeter Streeter

Proudly Sponsored by Eric Isenbart

Parents: Patrick and Jessica Isenbart

Accomplishment: Senior for the Prairie Centre boy’s hockey team

What do you enjoy most about being on the boy’s hockey team?I enjoy the friendships I have made on the hockey team throughout my entire hockey career.

What has been the highlight of your hockey career?

When I scored my first goal.

What other activities are you involved in at school? FFA.

Why do you feel it’s important to be involved in school activities? Because it has taught me some important life decisions, and I believe everyone should have that opportunity.

What is your favorite Streeter tradition? The Incentive Day at the end of every semester, where we get to go out during the day and go watch a movie or go bowling, because it is a really fun time.

How do you try to make a difference at school? By wearing my North Star clothing and showing younger kids at our school that hockey players are great people to hang out with.

What teacher has impacted your education the most? Mrs. Gerads, if I ever need help at school with homework, I know I am able to go into her classroom and she will almost always have time to help me.

What is something you’ve learned in class recently? What gross domestic products are and how they affect us.

What is one item on your bucket list? Travel to Northern Canada and go ice fishing for some rare fish.

David Weber

PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE

Clay Conover ice fishes Dec. 28 on Sauk Lake near Sauk Centre. Conover drove from his home in St. Cloud to the lake because he read online about the lake’s good fishing.

Jim Retzlaff (from left), Karae Retzlaff and Gene Sorenson cut holes in the ice and set up fish houses for Big Sauk Resort customers Dec. 28 on Sauk Lake. The Retzlaffs are owners of the resort, and Sorenson is a summer seasonal renter who helps the Retzlaffs in the winter.

Game Warden Caleb Silgjord gets ready to check in with ice fishers Dec. 28 near the boat landing at Sauk Lake. Silgjord has been a DNR conservation officer in the area for over a decade.

Centre and Donna Kaufman of Wheaton.

I called my husband, Shawn, Monday evening as I left work to see where he and the kids were, since they all had the day off. Upon answering his phone, Shawn said they were ice fishing on Sauk Lake. When I asked how the fishing was, he said, “We aren’t catching anything, but the kids are outside skating and I’m enjoying the quiet ice time.” This sent my brain spinning in a good direction.

What are we trying to catch? Fish? Family time? Peace? Do we even know?

Focus has been something I always thought I had a good handle on until I really started to slow down and pay attention. As time continues to pass, I realize the good grades and approval from my parents I chased as a kid and young adult weren’t really what was intended as the catch – although that is what I was trying to catch at the time. Instead, it was the lessons I learned along the way: drive, time management, passion, faith and love and the list could go on. As I look back at the start of my adult careers, my marriage and starting a family, I notice the lessons I learned early in life have been put to good use.

My focus has always been to be the best in everything I do. I now realize the toll that can take on me if I don’t take everything with a grain of salt. Striving for more is healthy. Striving for perfection is a recipe for disaster. Living in the moment and being present, are gifts I should snag and reel in like my life depends on it. A happy and full-filled life does depend on recognizing life’s many gifts and appreciating them for what they are and how they’ve come to be.

quiz

Kayla’s Korner by Kayla Hunstiger

Welcoming 2023 with a renewed zest for life, I will not be making a new year’s resolution this year. Instead, I look forward to the possibilities that abound with each new day. I will catch more family game nights. My parents recently gifted the children Clue for Christmas, so I foresee a lot of game time in my near future. I will catch more quality sleep, striving for grace instead of perfection in terms of housework and social outings. Hopefully this will lead to more hours available for sleep.

I will catch more date nights. These have proven to be an integral part to our marriage. In the years when our children are young, it’s all too easy to focus 100% on them and forget how to care for our relationship. I want our children to understand that a marriage is ever changing and isn’t always easy; however, if you work through the tough times it can blossom into something greater than you ever imagined.

I will catch more lunch dates with my mother, father, brothers and family. Lunch dates are a quick way to checkin. I know too many people who would love to have just one more lunch date or an afternoon fishing session with their loved ones. Taking nothing for granted, and loving every moment like it’s my last; that is what my 2023’s catch of the year will be.

What will you catch?

Going Fishing That’s a wrap

It’s hard to believe we’ve wrapped up another year and are diving headfirst into 2023. At the Chamber, we would like to reflect a bit on a few of the highpoints of 2022 and hope you will join us on Jan. 16 at our annual dinner to hear more about what’s in store for 2023. More info on that to come.

This past year, we welcomed 29 new members: Ahrens Finishing, Babbitt’s Wine Bar, BeeYou, Berg’s Barn, Centre for Christ, Centre Rehab, Courage to Claws, Ding Dong Café, Dunn Brothers Popsicles, Feathered Acres Learning Farm & Inn, Flavor Shack, Getty Street Assisted Living, Highland Quilting, Kristy K Organics, Melrose Bowl, Minnesota Family, Multiple Creations, Paul F Donart VFW Post 2853, Purple Parlor, Rihm Kenworth, Sauk Centre Country Store, Sauk Centre Tire, Sobriety First Treatment Center, Stearns 12 DFL, The Salvation Army, The Treatsicle, Twisted Oaks and Woodsman Axe. With the new members that invested in their business and our community, we now have 262 members as we head into 2023.

by Stacie Michels President/Executive Director Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce

Our community also saw growth in way of new businesses, and we hosted four ribbon cutting ceremonies and 10 Third Thursday Networking events highlighting local members while sharing a meal and learning about what our businesses had going on. These networking events have been growing, and our member participation in these monthly networking opportunities are so incredibly appreciated. Thank you to each and every person who carved out time to attend.

We are, in fact, more than events, but the events we do coordinate are fairly large scale and should be highlighted too. The Chamber board of directors were hard at work this past year on projects such as our Annual Dinner & Awards in January as well as the SnoFest Ice Oval snowmobile races, the farm toy show in February, spring out and designer bag bingo in April, Sinclair Lewis days in July and board retreat and annual planning in October, followed up by the host of events over the two weeks of our support local holiday kickoff.

The holiday kickoff loving local passport stamp cards were a hit again this year; based on just the cards submitted for the two grand prizes, they tallied over $108,000 spent locally in those two weeks! The winners of our window decorating contest were announced, and after tallying the votes, the Sauk Centre Country Store took first place and Purple Parlor second place. Both businesses chose the Eagle’s Healing Nest as their chamber nonprofit recipient and were awarded a total of $450.

Another popular part of the loving local kickoff is where we get to run around and reward customers with

Life Hacks

By Missy Traeger

How to use common, everyday items to help with household problems!

free gift certificates just for being caught in the act of shopping at a local business during our You’ve Been Elfed promotion, awarding local shoppers over $3,000. It was made possible in huge part to the 18 sponsors that helped make it happen. At the Chamber, we continue to strive to share the importance of support local mindset and were backed up with a business collaboration video too. Supporting local isn’t limited to a month; it’s a mindset, and we will continue our efforts to raise awareness.

When wrapping up all the events and networking opportunities, I would like to highlight our incredible board of directors who volunteer to meet monthly, take time to participate and help make all of this happen. Thank you to our Chair, Kayla Bueckers – Magnifi Financial; Vice Chair, Amanda Ritter – Truckers Inn; Secretary, Michelle Uphus – Felling Trailers; Treasurer, Jackie Beste – Beste & Associates; Brenda Gamradt – First State Agency; BJ Welle – Dan Welle Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram; Pam Durbin – AmericInn by Wyndham; Brent Lieser – ISD 743; Amy Poepping – Joyful Blooms; and Pam Borgmann – Visit Sauk Centre. Thank you to their businesses and places of employment as well; we would like to recognize your support of the Chamber.

At the end of each year, we like to recognize excellence within our community and are preparing for our Sauk Centre Serves Awards & Annual Dinner. The awards ceremony will take place on Monday, Jan. 16 at Diamond Point. We hope you will join us to celebrate our businesses for an evening of fun, live music, live auction and dinner. This year’s theme is Channel Your Flannel, and there just may be a few lumberjack games. See our website for a full list of nominees and dinner registration; we can’t wait to celebrate you.

So, I guess that’s a wrap. The Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to take this opportunity to make a resolution to shop local and show support to our farmers, businesses and merchants, and together, we will ring in a prosperous new year. Make a resolution to make it a local mindset in 2023. Happy New Year.

I would like to invite any local business that missed the emails that went out regarding these events to contact the Chamber to be sure your contact information is up to date. If you are interested in Chamber membership, please email us at saukcentrechamber@gmail.com or visit our website at www.saukcentrechamber.com to learn more about members by checking out our business directory. We appreciate the opportunity to continue serving and celebrating our businesses.

Didn’t think there’d be a test, did you?

I hope you liked last week’s 2022 recap, featuring a sidebar quiz based on some of the year’s most significant stories. See, we Star Publications editors were talking about doing something new for the annual year in review this time around; I suggested a multiple-choice quiz, and lo and behold, I received clearance for the experiment. My original draft had more questions, but we kept it short this time. If you want to see us do this again next year, though, feel free to contact the Herald office, and perhaps we could make it an annual thing.

Heck, maybe we can turn the recap’s photos into a paint-by-numbers challenge. (Note to my superiors: I’m kidding. Mostly.)

On my end, I had fun putting together the quiz, and going into this new year, I hope its example benefits you as well – not just to read the paper more closely, of course, but maybe to try something that seems like it would spice up your daily routine. I thought my quiz suggestion would just be a throwaway idea, but it went somewhere, so maybe you have a similar plan in your mental folders that could use some airing out. It’s also fitting to the season – new year, new start. Granted, 2020 shook us up quite a bit, but it seems like we’ve more-or-less returned to our regular programming since then, and something new could be just what you need.

Back to the original topic: The recap quiz covered 2022’s news, but you know what it didn’t commemorate? Columns! Those are a big part of the paper as well, but as far as I know, we almost never look back on those as we stagger into the new year. So, I might as well combine that idea with the new questionnaire initiative and roll out the first and possibly annual Ultra Sonnek Yearend Quiz. Let’s see how much of my ramblings you were able to successfully block from your memory. Answers at the bottom, of course.

1) In “Clairvoyant Columnist” (Jan. 20), I celebrated my prediction of what Sauk Centre addition?

A) An ice cream parlor

B) A fast-food chain

C) A new housing development area

2) In “Sibling library” (March 31), I announced my upcoming book, “Cyberwood,” had been accepted by Fox Pointe Publishing. First, though, I announced the upcoming release of another book by my sister, Katie Roiger. What is the book’s title?

A) “Disco Mice”

B) “Only the Brave”

C) “Thin Thighs in 30 Days”

3) In “Abra-crime-dabblers” (April 28), I focused on a news story where a guy threatened a _____ with a _____:

A) Garbage man, cauldron

B) Hotel employee, wand

C) Waiter, staff

4) In “The super Sonnekarnival” (July 21), because my book “Cyberwood” is coming out in 2023, I demanded a Sinclair-Lewis-Days-like festival to be celebrated henceforth. During what season did I want the festival to be held?

A) Summer

B) Fall

C) Winter

5) For “Kitchen nightmares” (Aug. 18), I took a shot at a recipe column. The recipe itself was contained in a story about the time I made…

A) Tacos

B) Meatballs

C) Waffles

6) My column “Weird advice” (Sept. 8) marked the birth of my son, Reuel. What was the title of the column I wrote for his brother, Eoghan?

A) “Crazy advice”

B) “Stupid advice”

C) “Odd advice”

7) Based on my columns so far, how often am I going to bring up “Cyberwood,” the book I have coming out this year?

A) Irritatingly frequently

B) Annoyingly consistently

C) Frustratingly often

Answers: They’re all B – except for that last one, of course, which is all of the above. Come on, you can’t blame me; if I finally compose a column that focuses on the novel-writing process, it’ll likely be titled, “Authorship: Self-doubt as a lifestyle.” I like to think I’m entitled to some self-promotion.

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Chamber Chat

Ultra Sonnek by Ben Sonnek

Mary A. Kerfeld

Mary A. Kerfeld, age 51 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at her home in Sauk Centre.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment was held in the parish cemetery. Visitation was held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the PattonSchad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. There was no public visitation prior to the Mass on Saturday.

Mary Ann Edin was born Nov. 12, 1971, in Bemidji to Robert and Jerilyn (Kaiser) Edin. She graduated from Kelliher High School and

Mary A. Kerfeld attended Rasmussen Business College in St. Cloud. On May 4, 1996, she married Dean Kerfeld at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon. After their marriage, the couple moved to Park Rapids and in 1999, returned to Sauk Centre to be closer to family and to start a family of their own. Mary spent the majority of her

Elmer B. Hellermann

Elmer B. “Fud” Hellermann, age 91 of Melrose, passed away suddenly, surrounded by his family on Dec. 24, 2022, at the CentraCare Hospital in Melrose. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Anna Hellermann of Melrose; children, Donald (Debbie) Hellermann of Melrose, Dale (Debbie) Hellermann of Melrose, Gary “Fritz” (Jean) Hellermann of Melrose, Denise (Steve) Ri-

100 years ago • Jan. 4, 1923

career in the banking industry and worked at Lake Country Bank, Minnesota National Bank, and most recently at First State Bank. She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre where she taught religion classes and was a member of the Sauk Centre LARKS. Mary loved going for toodles around the countryside in the Mustang and pontoon rides around the lake with family and friends. She spent as much time as she could at the family-owned lake property in the summer. Mary enjoyed attending all of her kids’ school functions and watching their sporting events. More than anything, Mary loved spending time with her family. Family was always her number one priority.

Survivors include her husband, Dean Kerfeld of Sauk Centre; three children, Madelyn, Victoria and Jackson; sister, Valarie Kloss (Scott Waldo); brother, Robert Edin, Jr. (Laura Noonan); mother, Jerilyn Edin; father and mother-inlaw, Lee and Josie Kerfeld; in-laws, Emily Kerfeld, Kelly (Andrea) Kerfeld and Minnow (Jason) Speidel; and many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her father, Robert Edin, Sr. in Dec. of 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre H-1-1B

eland of Sauk Centre, and Diane (Paul) Brickweg of Alexandria; 18 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Henry “Hank” Hellermann of Vadnais Heights, Dorothy (Alvin) Schneider of Sauk Centre, Simon (Mary) Hellermann of Sauk Centre, and Roselyn Lehner of Shakopee; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Elfering of Melrose, Rita Hellermann of Sauk Centre, and Bernice Hellermann of Melrose.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.

H-1-1F

Way BACK WHEN

Sauk Centre Herald is Stearns County’s official 1923 newspaper

At their Tuesday meeting, the Stearns County Commissioners named the Sauk Centre Herald as the official newspaper of Stearns County for the year of 1923, giving county business the widest possible publicity while saving the taxpayers several hundred dollars over the price demanded by the St. Cloud Times. The Times had been the official county paper for many years and seemed to believe the work was theirs by right, but immediately after the recent election, the Herald publisher began casting about to see if the condition could not be changed so taxpayers outside of St. Cloud could know the commissioners’ activities; all the county’s publishers outside of St. Cloud were glad to cooperate with the Herald. In their Wednesday evening publication, the St. Cloud Times implied the Herald got the contract simply because St. Cloud was getting all manner of good things, including a beautiful courthouse, and this was just a nod to western Stearns County. This statement is all right in every particular except that it isn’t true.

Editor’s note: The last sentence of this summary was taken verbatim from the original 1923 Sauk Centre Herald story.

50 years ago • Jan. 4, 1973

Year ends with freak sleet storm

Last weekend, 1972 ended with a sleet storm, capping a year that will be remembered by farmers as a time marked by weather-related hardship and disaster. Several farmers reported hearing thunder around 10 a.m. Saturday; the storm knocked out power lines from Saturday until the middle of this week, an added expense on rural families. Some farmers were fortunate enough to have their own generators and managed fairly well, while others,

THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That default has occurred in the conditions of the mortgage dated October 17, 2016, executed by Jay H. Seguin, an unmarried man, as mortgagor, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., a corporation, MIN 1012742-0000050450-7, as nominee and mortgagee for HomeServices Lending, LLC d/b/a Edina Realty Mortgage, through loan originator Kevin Kildahl, NMLS ID 1236759, recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Stearns County, Minnesota, on October 26, 2016, as Document No. A1480672, which mortgage conveyed and mortgaged the following described property, situated in the County of Stearns and State of Minnesota, which property has a street address of 144 30th Avenue North, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303, property identification number 82.50381.0000, which mortgage was assigned to Vanderbilt Mortgage and

unable to secure power, moved their families into town to stay with relatives. With the restoration of power, there is anticipated to be considerable thawing of frozen pipes and replacing of broken ones.

25 years ago • Jan. 6, 1998

Zion Lutheran Church to celebrate centennial

Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre announced plans for their centennial celebration this year. Zion was officially organized into a congregation on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1898. The church has planned seven special events for various dates in 1998, including a visit from an American Association of Lutheran Churches representative, a soup and pie luncheon, a concert by the Concordia University band and various centennial services.

10 years ago • Jan. 3, 2013

Influenza A outbreak restricts local healthcare, nursing facilities

A widespread outbreak of the Influenza A virus has prompted medical and nursing facilities across Central Minnesota to restrict visitors and spread health alerts. CentraCare-Sauk Centre and the Belgrade Nursing Home are both not allowing visitors at this time, and in the CentraCare-Sauk Centre Hospital, visitors are restricted to immediate family only, with no children under 12 years old, to prevent transmission of respiratory infections or influenza to healthcare workers, patients or residents. While the health threat is serious, it is not uncommon for this level of restricted access to be implemented during an influenza outbreak; sending a card or making a phone call is especially encouraged during this time.

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

Finance, Inc., by Assignment of Mortgage dated December 7, 2022, and recorded December 19, 2022 as Document No. A1646231: Lot Twenty-eight (28), Block One (1), Roosevelt Place, according to the plat and survey thereof on file and of record in the office of the County Recorder in and for Stearns County, Minnesota That the original principal amount secured by said mortgage was $92,646.00; that there has been compliance with any condition precedent to acceleration of the debt secured by said mortgage and foreclosure of said mortgage required by said mortgage, any note secured thereby, or any statute; that no action or proceeding to recover the debt remaining secured by said mortgage is pending, or any part thereof; that there is claimed to be due upon said mortgage and is due thereon at the date of this notice, the sum of $88,054.03 in principal and interest. That as a result of the aforesaid default, and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the said mortgage will be foreclosed by the sale of the above described premises with appurtenances, which said sale will be made

by the Sheriff of Stearns County, Minnesota, at the Sheriff’s office in the Law Enforcement Center, 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota, on February 14, 2023, at 10:00 o’clock a.m., at public auction to the highest bidder, to pay the amount then due on said mortgage, together with the costs of foreclosure, including attorneys’ fees as allowed by law, in accordance with the provisions of said mortgage. The time allowed by law for redemption by the mortgagor, his personal representatives or assigns, is six (6) months from the date of said sale.

MORTGAGOR(S) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE: NONE THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING

OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. If the mortgage is not reinstated under Minn. Stat. §580.30 or redeemed under Minn. Stat. §580.23, the mortgagor must vacate the mortgaged property by 11:59 p.m. on August 14, 2023, unless the foreclosure is postponed pursuant to Minn. Stat. §580.07, or the redemption period is reduced to five (5) weeks under Minn. Stat. §582.032. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT BY A DEBT COLLECTOR. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PUR-

POSE

DATED: December 28, 2022 Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., FOLEY & MANSFIELD, P.L.L.P. assignee of Mortgagee

By: Sean C. Mansfield Atty. No. 0400374

Attorneys for Mortgagee 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 1200 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 H-52-6B

layers of clothing.

Getting some ice time

Musicians give hometown performance

Zollman, Schirmers, Weiers team up for concert

BY JAN LEFEBVRE | STAFF WRITER

Local music lovers got a chance to hear some familiar names perform on Friday night, Dec. 30, when Sauk Centre’s own Jacob Zollman, a musician known professionally as Jae Zole, performed at Diamond Point. Casey Schirmers, a vocalist and guitar player who graduated with Zollman from Sauk Centre High School in 2020, featured as the opening act.

Zollman’s first album, “Apartment 218,” was released online in January of 2022. It took him a year and a half of mixing and mastering material to create the 14

songs on the album. The title of the album comes from the apartment number he lived at when he moved to St. Cloud after graduation.

Although Zollman is usually labeled as a hip-hop/ rap artist, the style of music on “Apartment 218” is listed as alternative with pop and punk styles and some elements of rock. One of Zollman’s songs, “College Dropout,” had over half a million streams in the first week after the album was released.

Schirmers provided the opening act for the show. He has a music style that is

different from Zollman’s.

“It leans more toward country, but it’s not quite modern country,” Schirmers said. “It’s more of an indie country. I also do outlaw country and music like that.”

Greg Weiers, who also graduated with Zollman and Schirmers, plays guitar with Schirmers and joined him on stage for the performance.

“I can’t wait for them to get on stage and show everyone how talented they are,” Zollman said the day before the concert. “I’m usually not a huge fan of country music, but I could listen to Greg and Casey perform for hours.”

Both Schirmers and Zollman said they looked forward to performing for a hometown audience.

is legally described as follows:

The South 82 feet of the West 52 feet of Lot 2 and the South 82 feet of Lot 3, all in Block 45, in the Townsite (now Village) of Rockville, together with an easement for right of way purposes along the driveway which extends toward the Southerly end of Lot 1 and the East 8 feet of Lot 2, said driveway being South of the existing cement wall on said premises, Stearns County, Minnesota. (“Property”).

The Plaintiff, to the best of its knowledge, provides the following information regarding the mortgage premises:

“Anytime you can come back and put on a show for your community is a cool thing,” Schirmers said. “I’m just excited to see who all comes out and is willing to support us. The coolest thing is seeing someone in the crowd and thinking, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you were coming.’”

Zollman agreed.

“I’m super excited to have a show in Sauk,” Zollman said. “It’s a huge blessing to have a community’s support in the way that I have. Finally, having the opportunity to give everyone around here a concert is a highlight of my career, especially considering I get to perform with two guys I’ve been friends with for the last 16 years.”

2. The name of the mortgage servicer and lender or broker is Citizens Community Federal National Association.

3. The tax parcel identification number of the Property is 76-42240-0050.

4. The name of the mortgage originator is

County Sheriff’s Office, 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303, the Property and real estate, which

1. The physical street address, city and zip code of the Property is 108 Broadway Street East, Rockville, MN 56369.

(Left) Kenna Crider (left) and Addison Bromenshenkel show their skating moves Dec. 28 at the Lion’s Skating Rink in Sauk Centre. The girls made use of the free time they had during school holiday break.

PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON (Right) Blake Kleinschmidt (from left), Connor Kane, Tyson Kleinschmidt and Isaac Borgerding take advantage of 35-degree weather Dec. 28 to play outdoor hockey at the Lion’s Skating Rink in Sauk Centre. The sun and fun warmed the boys enough for them to discard winter

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Greg Weiers, Jake Zollman and Casey Schirmers performed Dec. 30 at Diamond Point in Sauk Centre in front of more than

fans. Schirmers opened the night with a set of country songs followed by Zollman (Jae Zole), who did a

set

original hip hop, rap and punk rock music. Greg Weiers provided electric guitar.

Defenders show depth at Benson Classic

Seven wrestlers medal for Sauk Centre-Melrose

BY HERMAN LENSING | STAFF WRITER

Seven Sauk Centre-Melrose Defenders wrestlers were called to the winners’ podium Dec. 30 at the Benson Classic at Benson High School, Benson.

The team finished with 93.5 points, taking eighth place in the 10-team tournament. They recorded nine pins on the day. The fastest was at one minute by Will Sjogren, who won the 285-pound championship. He had three pins in the contest.

Another reaching the championship was Mitchell Christen, who took second in the 138 division. He had a 15-0 technical fall victory in the semifinal. His championship match, against Noah Johnson of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, was a 3-2 loss. Christen worked a third-period reversal for a 2-2 tie, but Johnson won after receiving a penalty point.

Dominic Kerzman also won three matches and took third in the 113 division. He allowed only one point to his four opponents. That point was in the third period of a 1-0 semifinal loss.

Noah Christen, 126, earned fourth place. He went 2-2 on the day, and all of his matches were decided by pins.

Isaac Frericks, 220, found himself involved in some high-scoring contests. He lost 10-9 in the wrestleback semifinals and followed that with a 16-1 win to take fifth place.

Rylan Pallow, 145, and Johnny Lara, 195, each had one pin on the day. They both finished in sixth place.

106: Tyaus Meyer went 0-2 and did not place. He received a bye, lost 5:15, received a bye, received a bye and lost 0:29. 113: Kerzman finished 3-1 and took third. He received a bye, won 5-0, lost 1-0, won 1:25 and won 1:06. 120: Lanna Walter went 0-2 and did not place. She lost 0:47, received a bye and lost 4:20. 126: Noah Christen went 2-2 and took fourth. He received a bye, won 4:43, lost 4:42, won 1:42 and lost :59. 138: Mitchell Christen went 1-1 and finished second. He received a bye, received a bye, won 15-0 (TF 5:31) and lost 3-2. 145: Pallow went 1-2 and took sixth. He received a bye, lost 1:04, received a bye, won 1:29 and lost 1:43. 152: Ben Friedrichs went 0-2 and did not place. He received a bye, lost 3:28, received a bye and lost 1:38. 160: Cesar Avalos went 0-2 and did not place. He received a bye, lost 0:57, received a bye and lost 1:21. 182: Eden Rangel went 0-2 and did not place. He received a bye, lost 1:34, received a bye and lost 2:00. 195: Lara went 1-3 and took sixth. He received a bye, lost 0:51, received a bye, won 5:36, lost 1:18 and lost 7-1. 220: Frericks went 1-2 and took fifth. He received a bye, lost 1:35, received a bye, received a bye, lost 10-9 and won 16-11. 285: Sjogren went 3-0 and took first. He received a bye, won 1:02, won 5:52 and won 1:00.

Fusion find time improvements at Brainerd Invite

Wilwerding sets pool record for Melrose-Sauk Centre

BY HERMAN LENSING | STAFF WRITER

Strong finishes and improving times led to a fifth-place finish for the Melrose-Sauk Centre Fusion boys swim and dive team Dec. 29 at the Brainerd Invitational at Brainerd Public Schools in Brainerd.

Jacob Robischon epitomized that day with his strong finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly. He finished fourth in the former and fifth in the latter event.

“He had his season best in the 100FLY,” said Nathan Meyer, co-head coach. “He had a strong swim in the IM race.”

Another swimmer showing great improvement was Sevrin Anderson, who finished 11th in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. He and Robischon, along with Adam Wilwerding and Grant Eveslage, swam with the fourthplace 200 medley relay.

“Sevrin Anderson had a huge drop, over six seconds, in the 200IM and dropped three seconds from his 100FLY,” Meyer said. “The medley relay had its best time of the year.”

Backstroker Adam Wilwerding finished first in his race, topping the runner-up by almost five seconds. His time of 54.79 seconds is now the pool record time in Brainerd.

MSC finished with 260.5 points and took fifth in the eightteam invitational, swimming against strong competition.

“We swam against some pretty big (Class) AA teams,” Meyer said. “Brainerd in first, Buffalo second and Moorhead fourth are all AA teams. Monticello took third; they are a top-10 Class A team.”

In the contest, the top-16 finishers earned points for their team. M-SC’s best overall showing came in the 100 freestyle, where Adam Wilwerding, Eveslage and Alex Wilwerding finished fifth, 14th and 15th, respectively. In the 200 freestyle relay, it claimed ninth and 12th, and it came in fourth and ninth in the 400 freestyle relay. Eveslage, the Wilwerdings and Robischon took fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.

Contributions to the team score came from the diving corps of Andrue Stalboerger and Spencer Marthaler. Stalboerger earned fourth place and Marthaler, in his first varsity competition, took 10th place.

“We had a good meet as far as seeing time improvements and good drops,” Meyer said. “Having some guys who had not swum certain events before and having good swims, that was a big-time positive for us.”

200MR: 3. Adam Wilwerding, Anderson, Robischon and Eveslage 1 minute and 45.19 seconds; 10. Alex Wilwerding, Nolan Fleischhcker, Rayden Weber and Zander Olmschenk 1:59.92. 200FS: 11. Thatcher Van Beck 2:06.73. 200IM: 4. Robischon 2:09.85 and 11. Anderson 2:21.54. 50FS: 14. Eveslage 25.16 and 16. Isaiah Zink 26.10. Diving: 4. Stalboerger 180.40 and 10. Marthaler 120.95. 100FLY: 5. Robischon 58.05. 100FS: 5. Adam Wilwerding 52.55, 14. Eveslage 56.98 and 15. Alex Wilwerding 57.89. 500FS: 9. Van Beck 5:42.31. 200FSR: 9. Zink, Olmschenk, Fleischhacker and Anderson 1:45.24; 12. Weber, Anthony Bierschbach, Parker Sorenson and Van Beck 1:51.11. 100BK: 1. Adam Wilwerding 54.79 and 10. Alex Wilwerding 1:07.63. 100BR:4. Anderson 1:06.88 and 15. Fleischhacker 1:15.37. 400FSR:4. Eveslage, Alex Wilwerding, Adam Wilwerding and Robischon 3:40.06; 9. Van Beck, Hunter Leslie, Sorenson and Zink 4:10.13.

Taking aim

The Sauk Centre High School archery team has seen significant growth in recent seasons, emerging not only as a way for student-athletes to develop and grow as archers but also a prominent competitive force.

Coming off of a second-place finish at the Minnesota NASP Bulls-Eye State Tournament last March, the Streeters once again have eyes on competing at a high level and having fun in 2023, starting with a tournament in Melrose Jan. 21.

“Getting back together with our student-athletes is always the most exciting thing,” said Jeff Schuster, head coach. “The reason we do this is for the kids.”

BY EVAN MICHEALSON Michealson’s Minutes

Boasting a roster of 38 disciplined, accurate archers that includes seniors Samantha Eekhoff, Emilee Koelln, Carter Schuster and Cassius Zirbes and juniors Dylan Gruenes, Claire Bushard and Carmen Loxtercamp, Sauk Centre is optimistic their previous experience and resounding leadership will pay dividends.

“We feel pretty confident we’ve got a good team on our hands this year,” Schuster said. “The team is very coachable. They’re very passionate, and many have been in the program since the fourth grade.”

Also joining archery as an activity picking up more steam in the winter is snowmobiling, as the Sauk Centre Sno Cleats held their first club ride of the season Dec. 28, 2022 at Rohde’s Midway Gas Bar and Grill in Long Prairie.

The event, which saw 15 snowmobilers venture through the central Minnesota landscape, serves as not only a way to get interested club members in getting onto their snowmobiles, but a way to develop social connections.

“It’s a good way to build comradery within the club,” said Chris Kerfeld, Sno Cleats board member. “Otherwise, all we’re doing is working and cleaning trails, so this is our little reward for us to get together and have fun together.”

The Sno Cleats’ club rides are held every Wednesday, with members meeting at the clubhouse before traveling to-

gether to a different meeting spot every week. It is a tradition that helps add diversity to a yearlong snowmobiling schedule that includes cleaning area trails and putting together safety courses.

“The more you can include all members of an organization, no matter what it is, everyone feels like they’re a part of it,” Kerfeld said.

The sister duo of Kelsey Peschel and Tori Peschel have continuously provided a spark for the St. Cloud State University Huskies women’s basketball team, with the red-hot Huskies notching a pair of wins to end 2022 and begin 2023.

St. Cloud State outscored Northern State 4226 in the final two quarters Jan. 1 for their ninth victory of the campaign. Both Peschels affected the game positively in a variety of ways; Tori contributed six points, a team-high nine rebounds and four assists, while Kelsey added six points, three boards and two assists.

Before that, in an 80-62 win over Minnesota State University-Moorhead Dec. 31, 2022, Kelsey drained two 3-pointers in a six-point, two-rebound and four-assist showing, while Tori pitched in 10 rebounds and four assists.

Funnily enough, Maesyn Thiesen and the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs also defeated Northern State and MSU-Moorhead, but in reverse order.

The former five-year Streeter had an outstanding allaround game for UMD against MSU-Moorhead Dec. 31, 2022, recording 12 points on 6 of 11 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and a team-high four steals. UMD stayed undefeated in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a 60-45 victory.

The Bulldogs outscored Northern State 22-12 in the first quarter Jan. 1 and held on from there for a 70-63 win, and Thiesen was once again strong. She was one of four Bulldogs to reach double-digit scoring with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and the versatile guard also compiled three four boards, two assists and two steals.

Lions Peace Poster Awards

Lion Peace Poster Chairman Bob McLellan, Kayden Krousey, Lauren Leach, Ava Miller, and Lion President Tim Kampsen.

On 12-8-22 and 12-21-22 the Sauk Centre Lions presented the 2022 International Peace Poster Awards at both the Holy Family School and Sauk Centre Public School. The top three winners received certificates and $75, $50, and $25 cash awards respectively. Peyton

Wessel (Holy Family School) and Lauren Leach (Sauk Centre Public School) each won first place and their posters will be on display and in competition at the District 5M4 Lions Convention at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria on January 27-29, 2023. The second and

Prairie Centre overcomes 6-2 deficit

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

Before their appearance in the Morris/Benson Area Storm Holiday Classic Tournament, the Prairie Centre North Stars boy’s hockey team made line changes, pairing players whose styles could contribute to success on the ice.

This newfound lineup met resistance in their second game together versus the host Storm Dec. 29, falling behind 6-2 as MBA scored five straight goals within a 17-minute span of ice time. At this point, merely finding positive points and building momentum for their future games seemed like the realistic focus for the North Stars.

However, Prairie Centre, behind depth previously unestablished as a unit, came together with a comeback performance to remember, scoring three goals in the final period to send the game to overtime. Unfortunately, MBA’s power play proved to be the difference mak-

er, as the Storm struck for a man-advantage goal 1 minute and 16 seconds into overtime in a 7-6 win Dec. 29 at Lee Community Center in Morris.

“We haven’t really shown a consistency in the details yet, where we get it all put together,” said Chad Wehrman, head coach. “When we do it, we’re pretty decent, but we’ve got to be able to put that together for 51 minutes.”

Aiken Lambrecht and Owen Christians struck in quick succession to give Prairie Centre a 2-1 lead in the first period, but the Storm responded with three goals in the final five minutes of the opening period to enter the intermission up a pair. And after MBA continued their surge of dominance, with two more goals in the second period, the North Stars knew they had work to do if they wanted to come back. A late second-period tally from James Rieland helped, but it was team adjustments as the game progressed that helped Prairie Centre create a comeback effort.

“As the game went on, we won more battles and more races,” Wehrman said. “We made some changes after the second period to our forecheck, and that worked well, and we bottled them up in the

Lion President Tim Kampsen, Brock Friedrichs, Laken Schneider, Peyton Wessel, and Lion Peace Poster Chairman Bob McLellan. mel, Mr. Midthun, Mrs. Gustafson, Mr. Meyer, and Mrs. Halvorson from the Sauk Centre Public School for all their help with this contest. All 7th grade students who will remain 13 yrs. old as of 11-15-23 are encouraged to participate again next fall as well.

third place winners were Laken Schneider and Brock Friedrichs (Holy Family School) and Ava Miller and Kayden Krousey (Sauk Centre Public School). This year’s theme was “Lead with Compassion.”

The Sauk Centre Lions would like to thank Mrs. Feist and Ms. Breitbach from Holy Family School and Mrs. Gruber, Mrs. Klaphake, Ms. Schra-

Crazy comeback ends in overtime loss for North Stars

third period.”

Zac Bick set the tone for the North Stars out of the second intermission, finding the back of the net twice in the first two minutes. On a line with Lambrecht and Derick Sorenson, the junior forward created scoring opportunities and gave his teammates energy.

“Zac Bick was a man possessed in the first couple of shifts in that third period,” Wehrman said. “He was not going to be denied.”

The final 17 minutes were controlled heavily by Prairie Centre, who attacked the puck with vigor and limited MBA from building on their lead. So, Eli Fletcher’s game-tying goal 5:14 into the third felt like an inevitability.

“You could feel even before the sixth goal was scored; you could feel it,” Wehrman said. “All of the momentum was on our side.”

A late string of penalties, however, spelled doom for Prairie Centre, who nearly held off a 5-on-3 power play before MBA finally secured the game-winning goal.

The North Stars will return to the Todd County Expo Arena for their first home game there since Dec. 6, hosting Park Rapids at 7 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 9, in Long Prairie.

First period: 2. Lambrecht 11:06. 3. Christians (Kyle Sayovitz) 12:44. Second period: 9. Rieland (Jesse Williams, Fletcher) 15:04.

Third period: 10. Bick (Sorenson, John Williams) 1:20. 11. Bick (Williams, Carter Holman)

Valley 3

Rieland started the game with a pair of goals in a fourpoint performance, Kris Hanson buried his first career goal and the North Stars stymied Redwood Valley at nearly every turn in a commanding 8-3 triumph at the MBA Storm Holiday Classic Dec. 28 at Lee Community Center in Morris.

different skaters reached the goal column in the victory.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Yellowjackets sting Streeters in tournament win

Sauk Centre boys’ hoops handed first loss

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

Basketball is known as a game of runs, where small sequences of successful plays turn into momentum-driven scoring streaks.

The Perham Yellowjackets boys’ basketball team displayed this in an authoritative and powerful way, jumping out to a 24-5 lead to defeat the Sauk Centre Streeters 67-40 at the Grand8 Holiday Tournament Dec. 28 at Perham High School in Perham.

“We needed to start off the game a little bit better,” said Kevin Kuefler, Sauk Centre head coach. “We dug ourselves into a hole against a good team that’s very disciplined; it’s hard to make a comeback against a good team.”

Perham, ranked in the top 10 in Class AA, garnered an early advantage behind their length, with the Yellowjackets outsizing Sauk Centre at every position. This made challenging the hosts at the rim difficult, but Sauk Centre still got their opportunities. However, oftentimes, the ball rolled out.

“When we needed a basket, we got a decent look and didn’t capitalize,” Kuefler said. “We didn’t get a lot of clean open looks from three, and when we drove to the basket, we missed a couple of chances we had to make.”

The Streeters, who entered the game with an undefeated 4-0 record, called a timeout down 19 and began to climb out of their deficit, firing off an 11-3 run. Jay Neubert, who

led the Streeters with 20 points while going 8-for-14 from the field, scored seven points during this stretch, while Damian Ahrens knocked down a pair of free throws and Ethan Riley made a 2-pointer off a drive to the net.

“They missed quick shots and we got out in transition, which we tried to emphasize in one of our timeouts,” Kuefler said. “We have to get stops and turnovers and get out in transition and hopefully, get numerical advantages and score.”

Despite some push from the Streeters, the Yellowjackets clung to a double-digit lead throughout the rest of the game.

Four Perham players recorded at least 10 points, and Sauk Centre failed to neutralize these threats and find a way back into the contest. We have to finish through contact against people taller than us and come out swinging,” Kuefler said. “We’ve had slow starts to games and against the great teams, you can’t wait five minutes before getting into the competition.”

Sauk Centre will face fellow one-loss conference foe West Central Area at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at West Central Area Schools in Barrett.

“We’re going to be gameheavy and learn a lot about our team in the next couple of weeks,” Kuefler said.

SC 16 24 40 PER 30 37 67

Neubert 20, Andrew Drevlow 8 (5R), Ahrens 3 (3R, 3A), Matthew Warring 4 (8R), Carter Ziemer 3, Riley 2 (4R) and Corey McCoy 0 (5R).

Blue Devils close Holiday Classic with lesson-filled loss

Prairie Centre falls to Windom

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

One thing is for certain through 10 games of the Minnesota girl’s hockey season: the Prairie Centre Blue Devils will fight, regardless of the circumstance or score.

Despite falling behind 3-0 in the first period against Windom at the MBA Storm Holiday Classic, Prairie Centre stayed competitive, outshooting Windom in the second period, drawing penalties and receiving good looks on the offensive end.

Sadly, the Blue Devils could not

7th grade girls BBall

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Sauk Centre seventh-grade girls basketball team consists of Olivia Christen (front, from left) and Kendra Kortan; (second, from left) Paige Determan, Jolene Bieringer and Addison Sjogren; (third, from left) Megan Miller and Leah Peters; (back, from left) Nora Thieschafer, Analise Saltmarsh, head coach Todd Ziemer, Gemma Kleinschmidt and Kaiya Nelson. The squad outscored their opponents 504-354 on their way to an outstanding 12-6 record, including a first-place finish at the season-ending Minnewaska Tournament.

8th grade girls BBall

make their tournament an undefeated one, falling to the Eagles by a score of 6-1 Dec. 28 at Lee Community Center in Morris.

Kyra Swanson continued an unforgettable Holiday Classic in this one; 25 seconds into the second period, she fired home her seventh goal of the 2022-23 season and her fourth in the tournament alone. Assisting on the play was senior Allie Lemke, who has logged strong minutes for a Prairie Centre squad that has relied on her and Lindsay Bailey’s impressive leadership.

Kennedy Lemke, Prairie Centre’s experienced netminder who has slammed the door shut on opposing skaters since middle school, logged another strong night, turning away 32 Windom shots for an .842 save percentage. The junior has piled up over 500

saves in nine appearances for the Blue Devils this winter.

These strong points, however, were marred by Windom’s continued offensive attacks. Presley Dockter lit the goal lamp four times, scoring the first, fourth, fifth and sixth goals for the Eagles, while Marissa Becker added two evenstrength goals for Windom.

The Blue Devils also failed to pull close despite several opportunities with a numbers advantage, going 0-for-7 on the power play.

Prairie Centre will travel northbound to battle the International Falls Broncos at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Bronco Arena in International Falls.

shot OF THE WEEK

of Lily

S t r e e t e r Streeter SCOREBOARD

SPONSORED BY:

BOYS BASKETBALL SC lost to Perham 67-40 SC JV lost to Perham 56-22

GIRLS BASKETBALL SC defeated Perham 57-51 SC JV defeated Perham 35-22

BOYS HOCKEY PC lost to Morris/Benson Area 7-6 (OT)

GIRLS HOCKEY PC lost to Windom 6-1

WRESTLING

Sauk Centre-Melrose Defenders finished eight out of 10 teams at Benson Classic with 93.5 points

BOYS SWIM AND DIVE Melrose-Sauk Centre Fusion finished fifth out of eight teams at Brainerd Invite with 260.5 points

10 YEARS AGO

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa High School recently held a wrestling tournament as a memorial to Rich Vos, their wrestling coach who was killed in an accident in October 2012. His wife, Beth Vos, and B.J. Friedrichs, the new head wrestling coach of the Jaguars, announced the tournament had been named after Rich Vos, and the funds from the event would be designated for a scholarship in his name.

Quote of the week

Sauk Centre girls’ basketball senior Heidi Lieser after the team’s Grand8 Holiday Tournament appearance: “Going 2-0 in a tournament with good teams says a lot about the talent of this team. We were able to do a lot of team-bonding throughout the tournament, on and off the court.”

Sauk Centre’s Ashton Trisko (from left), Ethan Riley, Matthew Warring and Jay Neubert track a loose ball during the Streeters game against Border West Dec. 27. Sauk Centre defeated Border West and lost to Perham in the Great8 Tournament in Perham. Sauk Centre hosts BOLD Jan.

PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Junior Ethan Riley shoots over three Border West defenders during their contest Dec. 27 in Perham. Sauk Centre is 4-1 on the season.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Sauk Centre eighth-grade girls basketball team consists

Sunderman (front, from left), Peyton Borgmann and Nadia Stadsvold; (middle, from left) Mylee Middendorf and Lucia Rieland; (back, from left) Megan Broich, head coach Jill Klaphake and Anna Feltman. A squad that mixed talent with technique, this collection of renowned athletes posted an impeccable 13-0 record. Not pictured: Kahlen Suelflow and Jenna Riley.