Sauk Centre Herald 02-09-2023

CentraCare looks into selling Care Center

BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER

The CentraCare-Sauk Centre Care Center will soon be opening to residents and visitors, but the facility itself may be under different management.

During the Sauk Centre City Council’s regular meeting Feb. 1 at Sauk Centre City Hall, Care Center administrator Ann

Major and Patty Roth, CentraCare-Sauk Centre senior director of acute care, gave a Care Center progress update. An open house for the public will be held from 12-2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12, and residents will be moved into the new expansion on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

CentraCare has also determined it would be in their residents’ best interest to find a management company for the Care Center.

“Throughout our history, CentraCare has been innovative,” Major said. “It continues to seek the highest quality of care for all of our resident services. We’ve determined the changes in long-term care over the last 10 years – and the anticipated changes to come – are very different than our in-care and our ambulatory rules and regulations.”

Major also stated that Minnesota has many longterm care organizations who are dedicated to maintaining assisted living facilities.

“It’s all they do, and they do it well,” Major said.

CentraCare has submitted a request for a proposal out to a handful of organizations and hope to hear responses in about a month, whereupon they will report their findings back to the city. The sale process overall would take about six to 12 months.

page 3

Mary Moving on without

Kerfeld relishes memories of her mom

When Torry Kerfeld dons her No. 11 Mainstreeter jersey and exits the locker room, there is a crowd of spectators anxiously awaiting to cheer on the home team.

But, one person is noticeably absent from the bleachers.

That person is Kerfeld’s mother, Mary. Kerfeld and her siblings, Madelyn and Jackson, and their father, Dean, said goodbye to their mother and wife Dec. 27, 2022, after a five-year fight with ovarian cancer.

Now, more than a month after losing her mom, Kerfeld – whom her mom nicknamed “Hollywood” – is carrying on her education as a senior at Sauk Centre High School while finishing her college general courses through Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria. Kerfeld balances coursework with her commitment to the girls’ basketball team all while grieving her mom, who she said never complained during the course of her illness.

“It was never, ‘Why me? Why not someone else?’ Kerfeld said. “She just went through it, and she was always positive about it. The family motto has always been, ‘Worry about today, today and tomorrow, tomorrow.’ She put outings and things together as a family whenever she could just to keep family life going as normal as possible for us kids and as long as we possibly could.”

Light to the world

Kettler retires as bishop of St. Cloud Diocese

BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER

It was fitting for the Sunday Gospel, taken from the Book of Matthew, to contain Jesus’ call for His disciples to be the light of the world, for throughout his life, Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of St. Cloud has worked to let that light shine in his ministry, even as he goes into retirement. During his farewell Mass held Feb. 5 in the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud, Kettler gave thanks to God for being allowed to be His instrument of service.

“The light of God has shone brightly on the diocese and the people of the Diocese of St. Cloud,” Kettler said in his homily. “I have been blessed by God to see and know that light. I’ve tried not to let me dim that light nor to get too much in the way of the Light of God shining out to others.”

At the end of Mass, Jane Marrin, chancellor of the Diocese of St. Cloud, and the Rev. Scott Pogatchnik, rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary, thanked the bishop for his diocesan leadership.

Kerfeld page 3

Bishop page 4

BY MARK KLAPHAKE AND MARIA BICHLER STAFF WRITERS

PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE Torry Kerfeld holds letters that her mom, Mary, had wrote to her when she was battling cancer. Torry was given the nickname Hollywood by her mom. Mary passed away from cancer Dec. 27.

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK Sauk Centre High School’s Snow Week royalty - (front, from left) freshman Lindyn Anderson, junior Avery Rieland, senior Hailey Thompson, senior Jenna Gapinski-Vogt, Maisy Winters, senior Hailey Hokanson, senior Carter Schuster, Chase Christians, senior Sydney Zollman, senior Lindsay Bailey, senior Heidi Lieser and sophomore Ciera Kortan; (back, from left) freshman Jay McLellan, junior Andrew Drevlow, senior Owen Christians, senior Ben Anderson, senior Derrick Sorenson, senior Brandon Kampsen, senior Eli Fletcher and sophomore Adam Neubert - assemble on the Margaret Shelby Auditorium stage Feb. 6 in Sauk Centre Public Schools.

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK Bishop Donald Kettler preaches at his farewell Mass Feb. 5 at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud. Kettler is retiring after 20 years as a bishop, nine of which were for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Lainey Ann

Borgerding

Brandon and Laura Borgerding, of Sauk Centre, are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Lainey Ann Borgerding, at 8:13 9 p.m., Jan. 30, 2023, at Alomere Hospital in Alexandria.

She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

Lainey is welcomed home by her siblings Ayla, 6, Ryker, 4, Decker, 3, and Rhett, 1.

Grandparents are Brian and Mary Borgerding of Sauk Centre, Scott and Barb Carlson

Jaxon Jason Pirttila

Breanna Rivera and Corey Pirttila, of New Munich, are happy to announce the birth of their son, Jaxon Jason Pirttila, at 7:48 a.m., Jan. 23, 2023, at CentraCare-Melrose Hospital.

He weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

Big brother Peyton, 8, and big sister, Kaia, 6, welcomed him home.

Grandparents are Jason and Shelly Hedeen, of Avon; and Shelly Pirttila, of Albany.

Clay Duane Anderson

Nolan and Holly Anderson, of Albany, are happy to announce the birth of their son, Clay Duane Anderson, at 11:50 a.m., Feb. 3, 2023, at CentraCare-Melrose Hospital.

He weighed 8 pounds and measured 22 inches long.

Big brother Liam, 3, welcomed him home.

Grandparents are Steve and Lisa Anderson, of Albany; and Duane and Joan Schmitt, of St. Martin.

Paisley Rose Wood

William Wood and Teva Mossyge, of Sauk Centre, are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Paisley Rose Wood, at 3:26 a.m., Feb. 4, 2023, at CentraCare-Sauk Centre Hospital.

She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 18 inches long.

Lainey Ann Borgerding of Neenah, Wisconsin. and Paul and Nellie Weber of Appleton, Wisconsin.

Great-grandparents are Bill and Joe Hedeen, of St. Anna.

Pancake breakfast fe e ds ove r

1,5

0 0 feeds over 1,500

The first diners of the day take their seats in the Sauk Centre High School cafeteria Feb. 5 for the Lions 62nd annual Pancake Day. The event served 1,506 people a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, hash browns, French toast, applesauce, coffee and regular and chocolate milk.

Snow week from front

Hokanson, Schuster crowned Snow Week royalty

Str eeter Streeter

Simon Marthaler

Parents: Jason and Angie Marthaler

Accomplishment: Simon is an active member of the Sauk Centre FFA Team.

What do you enjoy most about being in FFA?

The thing I enjoy most in FFA is going to national and state conventions. It’s pretty inspirational to see how many FFA chapters and members there are across the nation.

What has been the highlight of your FFA career? The highlight of my career would be encouraging other students to become FFA members.

What is your favorite annual FFA event? I think my favorite event would be the Annual Tractor drive. It’s fun picking a new route each year and seeing all the tractors from all over attend. The best part is hopefully driving the tractor on a sunny day.

Why do you feel it’s important to be involved in school activities? I think it’s important to be involved so you can meet new people.

What is your favorite Streeter tradition? My favorite Streeter tradition is FFA week; during that week we have activities in the gym. Some of those activities have been Kiss the Calf, chug milk from a baby bottle and hay stacking.

What teacher has impacted your education the most? I think it would have to be Mr. Pearson, because he is a good, down-to-earth teacher. He is good at wood working, and I enjoyed his classes.

What is something you’ve learned in class recently? You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

What is one item on your bucket list? One item on my bucket list is to someday be part owner in my dad and uncle’s business, MBC Drainage.

Proudly Sponsored by

Clay Duane Anderson

Paisley Rose Wood

PHOTOS BY BEN SONNEK

(Above) Pat Westby (left), past Sauk Centre Public Schools superintendent, and Don Peschel, current SCPS superintendent, put on aprons for the Lions Pancake Day Feb. 5. (Right) Pete Norgren serves up pancakes for the Lions Pancake Day Feb. 5.

(Above) Senior Eli Fletcher (left) smiles as the crown descends on senior Carter Schuster’s head Feb. 6 in the Margaret Shelby Auditorium. (Right) With loud music in his ears and noise-canceling headphones, senior Ben Anderson tries to guess what senior Jenna Gapinski-Vogt is saying Feb. 6 in the Margaret Shelby Auditorium.

PHOTOS BY BEN SONNEK

Seniors Hailey Hokanson and Carter Schuster are showered in confetti as they are introduced as the 2023 Snow Week Royalty Feb. 6 in Sauk Centre Public Schools’ Margaret Shelby Auditorium.

Hailey Hokanson (from left) is crowned alongside fellow seniors Hailey Thompson and Heidi Lieser Feb. 6 in the Margaret Shelby Auditorium.

Kerfeld from front

Life for the 18-year-old drastically changed the moment Mary was diagnosed.

“There hasn’t been a normal for five years for us,” Kerfeld said. “Our life circled around Mom, her treatments, trips to Mayo Clinic, and how she was feeling and how she was doing. We tried to help with anything we could as much as we could so she didn’t have to worry about things.”

The difficult journey started in 2018 when Dean and Mary were traveling home from Arizona. Mary began enduring pain in response to every bump and jostle along the road. An emergency stop and a weeklong stay at a hospital in Nebraska resulted in the devastating news.

“When they got back from their trip, we all sat down in the bedroom, and they told us; that was really hard,” Kerfeld said. … “Whenever they had something to tell us, we’d all sit on Mom and Dad’s bed.”

At the time of Mary’s diagnosis, Jackson was 9 and Madelyn, 14.

“At that age, it’s just so hard to comprehend what cancer really means,” said Kerfeld, who was 13. “At that point in our lives, we didn’t know anything about cancer. You just know it’s a bad disease some people get.”

From the first conversation with their children, Dean and Mary’s bedroom would become the inner room for family conversations for the next five years.

The room was where Mary went to rest when the treatments wore her down

City council from front

In regard to the question as to why CentraCare-Sauk Centre began their Care Center project if the facilities were going to be sold, Major said it was because – in spite of the quality of the staff and the care provided – the building itself was lacking in space and amenities. CentraCare will continue and complete the Care Center project.

“At the end of the day, we want to ensure there are multiple care services for our seniors in Sauk Centre today and for years to come,” Major said.

As the Care Center is located on city-owned land, the CentraCare legal team is investigating whether or not they will be able to sublet the land for the potential buyer.

Hearing held for Authors Addition

The Sauk Centre City Council recessed their regular meeting Feb. 1 at Sauk Centre City Hall for a public hearing on Authors Addition, the 44-acre residential land on the west side of Sauk Lake between Hickman Drive and Fairy Lake Road. City engineer Keith Yapp began a hearing with a preliminary presentation on assessments.

Development preparations for the land will include the installation of water and sanitary sewer utilities to new or existing but un-serviced lots, as well as a storm sewer leading to a treatment pond. The first stage of the project aims at getting 19 lots ready for home construction.

The initial plan suggested a street 36 feet wide with a sidewalk on one side, but area residents at the meeting favored leaving out the sidewalk and instead putting in a walking path along the old railroad bed near Fairy Lake Road; Hendryx Street resident Norma Moening asked about the possibility of adding parking lots at each end, which is currently not part of the plan.

The project has an estimated cost of about $1.28 million; the city will pay for $1.12 million, while the remaining $160,000 will be assessed to six area residents on the southern end of the development. The assessments range from about $3,400 to

and where Mary would spend precious time visiting with her children, playing cribbage and often simply snuggling with her children while she slept. The room morphed into Mary’s video room to cheer on her daughter when she was too weak to attend Kerfeld’s games in person. And, the room eventually cradled Mary when she began hospice care and bid farewell to her family forever.

“Just sitting in the bedroom and talking to Mom or while driving home from somewhere; I would call and talk with her,” Kerfeld said of the moments she cherished during those years. “Just being able to tell her everything that’s going on in my life.”

As Mary’s treatments progressed, the physical signs of cancer overshadowed her.

“That is when it really started hitting home because we could notice she didn’t have as much energy as she usually did,” Kerfeld said. “She couldn’t get out as much as she always did. … It was really hard watching her figure change, and losing all her hair was really hard. She was unable to get out of bed without help. And at that point, it really started setting in.”

Mary attended as many of Kerfeld’s cross-country meets and basketball games as she could. Mary’s presence in the stands bolstered Kerfeld’s spirits.

“Hearing her cheer, that really meant a lot to see her up there, knowing she’s always been a huge supporter,” Kerfeld said.

But, when Mary became too weak to attend, she watched the events from her bedroom.

The Kerfelds gained respite in October 2019 when Mary finished treatments and doctors began monitoring if

the cancer was at bay. For a short, seven-month period, Mary was not receiving treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. “We were kind of finding that normal again,” Kerfeld said. “She’d go on car rides with Papa (Dean) and Jackson and go to car shows, and we went to Yellowstone.”

Kerfeld said Mary lived to do things with her family. They often packed up the car and would go for a trip or simply a drive. Spending time on the pontoon at the lake was one of Mary’s favorite pastimes. Mary, too, loved her dogs, Coco and Brini.

The Kerfelds’ newfound yet short-lived normal faded away in May 2020 when they learned Mary’s cancer was no longer in remission.

“It was really hard when she found out again, because we knew that sickness and all those hard times were coming back,” Kerfeld said. “She couldn’t get out. She couldn’t work.”

Mary traveled to Mayo Clinic one last time where she spent seven days in the palliative care unit in December 2022. When she returned, she entered hospice care in her home.

“That was one of the hardest moments we went through,” Kerfeld said. “That really changed the dynamic, because we just wanted to spend as much time with her, and we didn’t know how long it was going to be. I wanted to be around her as much as I could to hear all the stories she had to tell.”

On Christmas Eve, Dean was able to position Mary in a wheelchair, and she spent time in the living room to watch the kids open their presents.

“She had a smile on her face the entire time,” Kerfeld

said.

During that time, simply sitting with her mother on her bed, Kerfeld reveled in her mother’s words. She learned the story of how Mary and Dean met and married. She gained a mother’s advice. She heard her mom say how proud she was of her and their family.

“She left us all letters hidden in a drawer and said she was so proud of us,” Kerfeld said. “She said she’ll always be with us; she’ll always be right beside us even when we can’t see her.”

Kerfeld, one of three seniors on the team, said she carries her mom with her before, during and after each basketball game.

Despite the hardship of losing her mom, Kerfeld has been on the court where she averages around eight points and four rebounds for the team that is 14-6.

During the singing of the national anthem, Kerfeld lifts up a prayer. At the sound of the final buzzer, Kerfeld gives thanks.

“I say, ‘Thanks, Mom, for always being with me and keeping me going through this game,’” Kerfeld said. “You know, I think about how hard she fought. I can fight hard too.”

Kerfeld said she is reminded of her mom’s presence in every beautiful sunset and every sighting of a feather. She is reminded of her mom’s goodness by the people who share supportive words and mourn along with her.

“It’s the little things that I think, ‘Oh, Mom’s here; she would help me through this today. I need to be strong for her,’” Kerfeld said. … “She’s always been inspiring to look at.”

Ambulance down, fire up

Emergency services give 2022 reports

BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER

Ambulance runs are down in the Sauk Centre Area, but fire calls are up – even if they end up being false or canceled.

During their regular meeting Feb. 1 at Sauk Centre City Hall, the Sauk Centre City Council heard the 2022 reports from the Sauk Centre Ambulance Service and the Sauk Centre Fire Department. Director Kathy Struffert presented on behalf of the SCAS, and fire chief Steve Moritz presented for the SCFD.

In 2022, the SCAS had a total of 883 runs and calls, down from the 933 total in 2021. The busiest 2022 month was July with 97 runs and calls; out of the runs, 45.2% of them were medical calls, 28% were no-loads, 21.2% were basic life support transfers and 5.6% were advanced life support transfers.

$50,600.

Resuming their regular meeting, the council approved the Authors Addition improvement, a resolution which does not adopt the assessment. The city plans to approve plans and authorize bids by March 1; bids will consider the project price with and without a sidewalk. The timeline calls for opening for bids on March 29, awarding bids on April 5 and beginning construction in the 2023 summer. The final assessment hearing and adoption would then take place in October and be certified in November.

Pope counties were each served less than 1%. About 95.4% of patients were white, and the majority of all patients – about 45% – were in the 60-89 age range.

Struffert also noted the SCAS’ reception of the 2022 Central Region Emergency Medical Service Team of the Year Award from the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation.

Moritz reported an increase in SCFD response calls – up from 134 in 2021 to 155 in 2022 – although false and canceled calls were up from 32 in 2021 to 49 in 2022. In the same time span, structure fires went up from 10 to 18, vehicle accidents and fires increased from 27 to 28 and gas, smoke and alarm calls increased from 10 to 21; however, grass fires decreased from 16 to nine, rescue and medical calls went down from 31 to 25 and service calls decreased from eight to five.

SCAS runs were mostly made to Stearns County, but 9.6% of their 2022 total runs were made to Todd County; Douglas and construction-restricted Sauk Lake shoreline properties. Although one owner stated other properties in their neighborhood had made unpermitted alterations, each property will be fined $5,000 along with whatever engineering fees are accrued for further work on the land.

One firefighter retired from the SCFD in 2022, but three more were hired.

American Red Cross Blood Drive: Feb. 14, 12:30-6:30 p.m. at Freeport Community Center, 307 Seventh St. SE, Freeport. Schedule your appointment online at redcross.org or call Janet Butkowski at 320-8362837 or 320-282-2904.

Sauk Centre Senior Organization Meeting: Feb. 21, 2 p.m. at the Sauk Centre Senior Center. New members always welcome.

Pins and Needles Quilters Monthly Meeting: Second Tuesday of the Month, 7 - 9 p.m. at the Sauk Centre Senior Center, 321 4th St. N. Our goal is to promote the art of quilt making at all skill levels by discussion, lessons, and show and tell of your projects at our meetings. We welcome new members.

Catholic in Recovery/All Addictions Anonymous (CIR/AAA): held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday each month at 1 p.m. starting in Feb. 2023. Located at Centre for Christ.

DivorceCare: support for those going through a separation and/or divorce, meeting every Thursday for 13 weeks at 6 p.m. beginning Thursday, Feb. 23. Located at Centre for Christ.

GriefShare: Offering support for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Meeting every Tuesday for 13 weeks at 6 p.m. beginning Feb. 21. Located at Centre for Christ.

Little Sauk Legion Auxiliary Unit 417 Meeting: Second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Little Sauk Legion. New members welcome!

Mental Health Support Group: Fridays from 2-4 p.m. at the Palmer House. We welcome anyone who suffers with mental health issues. Any questions, please contact Richard at 320-260-4233. Sauk Centre History Museum and Research Center: Museum hours are Sunday and Monday - closed, Tuesday 1-5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday 1-5 p.m., Friday noon to 4 p.m. Located in the Sinclair Lewis Library building at 430 Main Street. Any questions, please call 320-351-8777.

Mental Health Crisis Line: 320-253-5555 or 800-635-8008. Crisis Response Team for Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.

AA Meetings: Thursdays, 11 a.m. at United Church of Christ in Sauk Centre. For more information, call 320-429-1620. AA and Al-Anon 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in Sauk Centre at United Church of Christ. Back to Basic Meeting, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Tutti Fruitti in Sauk Centre. For more information, call 218-240-1076. Wednesdays Big Book Meeting at 7 p.m., Civic Center, Melrose. For more information, call 320-241-3909.

NA Meetings: Mondays, 7 p.m. at River of Life Church, Sauk Centre and Fridays at 11 a.m. at Eagle’s Healing Nest Chapel, Sauk Centre.

Alzheimer’s Support Group: The support group for people caring for someone with memory loss holds monthly meetings every fourth Thursday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m. at Alternative Senior Care, 418 10th St. S, Sauk Centre. For more information, call 320-352-3350.

Join

BELGRADE

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC CHURCH 541 Martin Ave. | PO Box 69 320-254-8218 parishesontheprairie.org/parishes

ELROSA

STS. PETER AND PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH 302 State St. 320-254-8218 parishesontheprairie.org/parishes

BROOTEN

ST. DONATUS CATHOLIC CHURCH 301 Eastern Ave. 320-254-8218 parishesontheprairie.org/parishes

SAUK CENTRE

ing donations: about $154 from the Men’s Card Playing Group and $500 from Headway Marking/Dan Welle Southtown.

In other council news: – Approved shoreline restoration orders for two properties on the 800 block of Lakeridge Drive; both properties had made considerable alterations on their

– Progress is ongoing for planning the Sauk Centre City Hall’s front steps project; bidding and approval is expected to take place within the next month.

– Approved SCAS Medicare/Medicaid mandatory adjustments of $234,587.18.

– Approved an off-site gambling permit for the Sauk Centre Conservation Club, allowing for a June 10 raffle at the Sinclair Lewis Park bandshell in Sauk Centre.

– Approved the follow-

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OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH Ash St. and 7th St. 320-352-2196 parishesontheprairie.org/parishes

ST. PAUL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH 304 Sinclair Lewis Ave. 320-352-2196 parishesontheprairie.org/parishes

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 504 Elm St. S 320-352-2827 saukcentreumc.org

If you would like parishioners to see your church here, please contact Robin at 320-351-7837

FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 124 4th St. N 320-352-5356 faithbc.org FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 620 5th St. S 320-352-2030 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 316 Maple St. 320-352-3447 www.facebook.com/ zionlutheransaukcentre H41-R B Visit our website: fairwaypinesseniorliving.com Call for more information. Virtual tours available! 606 Main St N • Sauk Centre, MN 320-351-4900 - Don and Virginia Toenies Friendly,Comfortable... “It is nice to have somebody else do the cooking! The people are friendly and we really like it here!” H6-1B-MT

POLICE ACTIVITY Sauk

HFS celebrates Catholic Schools Week

Bishop from front

“This man has been a man of great healing in so many ways,” Pogatchnik said. “For the sins and often crimes of the past, Bishop Kettler has stood in the breach to bring healing and reconciliation.”

Kettler has served as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud for nine years, and having passed the retirement age of 75, Pope Francis has accepted his resignation. His successor, Bishop-elect Patrick Neary, will be ordained at a 1 p.m. Mass on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud; admittance is by invitation only.

A life of service

Born in Minneapolis and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his three siblings, Kettler had many family members who were priests and religious; the priests in the Cathedral Parish in Sioux Falls also were a positive example to the young Kettler, part of the reason why he chose to enter the seminary.

“God calls you to this,” Kettler said. “You don’t hear voices; you’ve just got a sense of what you should be doing.”

Kettler received his undergraduate and divinity degrees at Saint John’s University in Collegeville and was ordained a priest by Bishop Lambert Hoch of the Diocese of Sioux Falls on May 29, 1970.

For his first nine years as a priest, Kettler served as an associate pastor in Sioux Falls

and Aberdeen, South Dakota, before he began coordinating work for Sioux Falls’ diocesan offices. After obtaining his licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America, he was named judicial vicar of Sioux Falls in 1983, resuming his work coordinating its diocesan offices from 1984-87 and beginning to celebrate a weekly televised Mass during that time.

Kettler’s work as a priest included serving as the rector for the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls from 1987-95 and pastoring St. Lambert Parish from 1995-2000 and Christ the King Parish from 2000-02; he was also a member of the Sioux Falls Diocesan Finance Council Stewardship Committee, Catholic Family Services’ board of directors, the Association of Christian Churches of South Dakota’s board of directors and the Sioux Falls Catholic School system board.

“Priesthood allows you to do so many things, the diocesan priesthood particularly,” Kettler said. “Mostly what I’ve done all my life is be a parish priest.”

Kettler was appointed as the eighth bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska, by Pope John Paul II; he was installed 2002 and was the first diocesan priest and non-Jesuit to lead the diocese. Fortunately, Kettler was already familiar with the area.

“I had been up there, being a tourist, and when I was up

there, I got interested in Fairbanks,” Kettler said. “I signed up for their monthly newspaper, ‘The Alaskan Shepherd,’ and so, after getting and reading all this stuff for 10 years, I get this call all of a sudden from the nuncio, saying, ‘The Holy Father would like you to go to Fairbanks.’”

Pope Francis later named Kettler as the ninth bishop of the St. Cloud Diocese in 2013, bringing him closer to his home and alma mater.

In his 20 years as a bishop, Kettler has had to navigate a difficult time in the Catholic Church, particularly the clerical sexual abuse scandals that affected both the Fairbanks and St. Cloud dioceses. He has also faced issues with secularization within the congregations, leading people away from the church.

Kettler believes Pope Francis has had a good influence on the church, increasing its dialogue and care for both its members and for people on the edges of society.

“I like the collaboration that goes on that probably didn’t happen as much before,” Kettler said. “We’re not just here to take care of the people who are already saved. We’re here to reach out to everybody who lives in this diocese. I’m not into proselytizing, trying to get them to join the Catholic Church; I’m talking about helping people get a relationship with God in faith, in religion, because it’s an important part of human existence.”

With Parishes on the

Prairie, Kettler is glad there is a well-supported Catholic school with Holy Family School in Sauk Centre, and with the organization into an area Catholic Community, Kettler has noted Sauk Centre’s role in providing service to its neighboring parishes.

“I’m grateful for that support,” Kettler said. “It’s a significant part of our diocese.”

In retirement, Kettler will be returning to Sioux Falls. While he is not sure what exactly his ministry will look like up there, he is sure the diocese will need his assistance every so often. Kettler is also working to turn the back porch of his Sioux Falls home into a chapel.

“One of the main things we do is pray,” Kettler said. “I do it many times every day, and so I’ll keep doing that part for the church going forward as well.”

As he goes into retirement, Kettler will miss the area colleges – particularly the colleges of St. Benedict and Saint John’s – and participating in diocesan celebrations, but it is the people he will miss most of all. He hopes the parishioners will welcome Neary as their new bishop.

“I hope the people will invite him to be a part of parish and area activities, but even think about inviting him into their homes to get to know him,” Kettler said. “Being a leader in the church is pretty important, and I want to invite people to think about all of that.”

(Above) Parrish Payne (left) and Joseph Marthaler (right) build a birdhouse under the direction of Dave VonWahlde Feb. 3 at Holy Family School in Sauk Centre.

(Right) Comic performer Kenny Ahern (left) falls off his seat next to Holy Family School student Austin Pohlmann Feb. 1 at HFS in Sauk Centre.

PHOTOS BY BEN SONNEK

Staff and students take a break for reading during Catholic Schools Week Feb. 3 at Holy Family School in Sauk Centre. The dress-up theme for the day was wacky and mismatched items and crazy hairstyles.

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

(Above) Sam Mahr (from left) and Josephine, Maddie, Charlotte and Noah Cross take to the ice for the Fire and Ice Family Fun Night Feb. 4 at the outdoor rink in Sauk Centre. The event was sponsored by Sauk Centre churches of St. Paul’s, Our Lady of Angels, First Lutheran and River of Life.

(Right) Tyson Kleinschmidt (from left), Wesley Chalich and Carter Clink take a hot chocolate break Feb. 4 at the Fire and Ice Family Fun Night at the outdoor rink in Sauk Centre. The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 3 but was postponed due to dangerously cold weather.

Pregnancy amnesia and life’s little moments

No – I am not pregnant. However, a friend of mine is. “Ya-hootie,” as she would say.

My friend and I were talking this past weekend about what blessings the good Lord provides when he helps us forget the unpleasantness of pregnancy.

If it weren’t for this, I am certain there would be far fewer siblings in this wonderful world.

My friend is still in her first trimester. She is very tired and experiencing quite a bit of morning sickness. This will be her third child, and yet, like her previous two pregnancies, she didn’t remember feeling this way. Thankfully, her husband was able to ease her mind by confirming that she was indeed extremely tired and ill when she was pregnant with both of her other children. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. Her spirits lifted week 15 during both prior pregnancies, so cheers a quick 8 weeks. May your time between now and then be bearable, my friend.

Our conversation really got me thinking about life’s little moments – the good, the bad and the ugly – and how our recollections can differ so much given the context of our experiences. Our first memories as children tend to be of a happy nature or of a lesson well learned and cataloged in our brains for our own future safety. Yet, if trauma happens, our memories are sculpted

to what is needed for survival at the time. An example of this might be the baby bliss we get as mothers, and possibly fathers, after the trauma experienced during childbirth. Our minds block out certain details to bring us closer to a state of balance again. Other experiences in life often follow the same course. Trauma of any kind may be suppressed for many hours, days, months or years afterward. Memory suppression in this case can be a beautiful thing; however, when memories from that traumatic event start to sneak back into conscious thoughts again, they can throw you for a loop. When this happens, it is important to acknowledge that you aren’t alone; you don’t have to navigate life on your own, and asking for help – whether from a family member, friend or medical professional – is hard. However, asking for help is so very important. Also, know that you are enough just as you are.

My friends, you are enough.

Our lives are full of moments when we feel like we can’t keep it all together, let alone keep up with the Joneses. When these moments come to pass, hold on tight to a good friend, family member or trusted confidant, and pray for strength to persevere. You will make it through life’s toughest moments if you trust the Lord and remember this too shall pass.

Senioritis at its finest

This past weekend, I performed in the section competition for the One Act Play. We ended up placing fourth out of eight against some tough competition, and just like that, my one act career was over. As my senior year has continued on, it’s gotten harder and harder to say goodbye to so many activities. This time, when they announced that we wouldn’t be moving on to state, it felt like another part of my life had been taken away from me. However, since I’m not a very emotional person, this realization didn’t flash across my face but rather stayed in my heart.

Another realization hit as I hugged my fellow senior and castmate, Hayley Klockenga. We had performed on stage together since we were little six-year-olds in dance, and this was the last time I would ever get to share the stage with her. After she pulled away, brushing away the tears, her eyes molded into confusion. She asked why I wasn’t crying or didn’t seem sad. This was hard for me to answer because I realized I wasn’t entirely sad, even though I wanted to be. That’s when I realized it’s because I still haven’t come to terms with the fact that it was over. I would never get to perform on stage with these people again, and I knew accepting that would take a while.

I began to think back to how I didn’t cry when I finished my last tennis match or after I took my final bow in the fall musical. These were both sad events from my senior year, so why wasn’t I more upset? I finally found the answer.

Through being involved in many activities, I’ve been able to meet amazing people and grow as a person, but with this decision to constantly be busy comes the realization that

I will eventually have to say goodbye to every extracurricular that I am in. As there are so many, it wouldn’t be fun to cry at the end of every season. I remember being a freshman in high school when I noticed that a senior wasn’t crying after her final musical performance. I asked her why she wasn’t more upset, and she explained that she planned on bundling up all of the sadness of completing each activity throughout the year until after she threw her cap at graduation. She, like myself, was involved in anything and everything that she could. After she said this, I accidentally adopted her principle of saying goodbye to everything at the same time when it was all over. Was this a flawed plan? Honestly, yes it was, which is why I had to rethink how I wanted to go about turning to the next chapter.

Since I made the decision to push myself to commit and dedicate myself to anything I can, whether it’s fine arts, sports or school, it’s important for me to give each of them the proper farewell they deserve, rather than bottling them all up until the end. While this may be a challenge, it’s a decision that I know is the smart one, especially since I don’t want to be a crying mess at the end of the year when it all hits me at once. While saying goodbye to everything will be hard, as I’ve continued to learn throughout the year, it’s important to recall the importance each extracurricular had on me with a smile and laugh, rather than denial and longing. I hope that each goodbye will get easier as the year continues on, even though it will most likely be the opposite.

Park and prison projects

Well, 2023 is off to a fast start as we are now in February and I’m only getting around to my January article. We’ve had two meetings already in January with the first meeting dedicated to setting up our committee assignments for 2023 as well as appointing residents to various county committees. I will retain all the committee assignments I’ve been on for the past nine years so it should be meetings as usual for me.

The second meeting in January dealt mainly with the opportunity to purchase an approximate 253-acre parcel of land just southwest of Cold Spring for the creation of a county park with many amenities other parks don’t offer. These amenities could include a fishing pier on the Chain of Lakes, boat landing, picnic shelters, restrooms, walking trails and possibly some limited fall hunting opportunities. Some potential primitive camping might also become part of the park design.

The main reason the County is even considering purchasing the property is the Pheasants Forever organization would contribute $1,952,549 and a private donor would contribute $500,000, leaving a balance of $333,451 which would be the amount the County would be requested to contribute towards the purchase price of $2,786,000. This parcel was originally presented to the County Board back in May of 2021, but as a Board, we were not willing to commit county taxpayer dollars to pay for the full cost of the land and therefore did not pursue it any further.

Besides the purchase price, there would also be development costs to create a master plan as to what the park would look like. Even with agreeing to participate in this potential purchase

Life Hacks

Squirrels and rats

Whenever I see a squirrel and my kids are with me, I say, “There goes another tree rat.” They, of course, inform me it’s not a rat, but a squirrel. And then, much to their chagrin, I ask them, “Well, what is the difference between a rat and a squirrel?”

in January, the County will have additional costs to develop the park so it could be made available to the public. After it would be completely developed, there will be annual maintenance costs associated with upkeep of the park. The largest benefit to county residents of this park would be the diversity of activities that could happen here versus the majority of the smaller county parks. There is also hope that maybe some revenue can be generated to offset the annual maintenance cost of the park.

The other issue of financial importance to the County is the possibility of having to build a new jail/ justice center to replace the old jail facility downtown. The consultants presented the County Board with two options back in 2022. One was to maintain all the jail/justice activity in downtown St. Cloud and the other option to move to a green space outside of downtown to allow future expansion and to create a single-story jail facility as they are less costly to run than our current multi-story jail. The projected cost will be in excess of $300 million dollars if the full project is implemented at either the downtown campus or a green space campus. There are two options to fund this project. The first would be to levy the county taxpayers for the annual payments of the bond which has the potential to be a sizable increase on property taxpayers in Stearns County. The other option is to use a Local Option Sales Tax of .375% to cover the bond payments. This option would work similar to the .25% sales tax the County has used the past 5 years to help update our county roads. These methods allow a broader base of people to help pay for these projects. For example, a lot of our roads are used by noncounty residents to travel to and from different destinations, so they would also be contributing to help pay for the upkeep. The jail is very similar, as more than 40% of the population that gets booked into our county jail are not county residents or do not have addresses in Stearns County.

To implement the Local Option Sales Tax, the County must get legislative approval from the State. If the legislature gives its approval, then the County Board needs to bring it to the County taxpayers for approval to implement it. So, the voters will have the final say if the .375% sales tax will be implemented should the legislature approve it. The County Board has not decided how far we want to go with this project or how much of the total project should be done versus options that will cost less. You can reach me at steve.notch@co.stearns.mn.us or (320) 248-3605 if you have any questions or comments.

Advertising: Classified advertising and Classy Canary advertising are on a cash-only basis. Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper, and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute final acceptance of the advertiser’s order.

Subscription Rates: Stearns, Todd,

In Other Words by Bryan Zollman

The most common answer I get is rats are gross and squirrels are cute. I continually remind them they are both eerily similar in features except for their tail and where they reside. Rats tend to live in sewers. They are bottom dwellers, they stink and they eat human waste. Squirrels meanwhile, live in high places, such as trees, and dine on acorns and seeds.

If one would see a rat streak across their backyard, they would run screaming into the house. One sees a squirrel and they are enlightened by its cuteness as it bounces across the lawn and up a nearby tree.

My kids (and wife) tease me all the time when I bring this up. And then lo and behold, I come across a clip from the movie where a character uses this exact analogy to make a point.

What is the point exactly?

Recently, an article surfaced where NBA superstar Stephen Curry opposed an affordable housing complex being built next to his $30 million mansion in California. Curry and his wife opposed the project, according to the article, for the safety and privacy of their kids, which is of their utmost concern. In fact, they cited it as a “major concern.”

Also in the news recently is the flooding of migrants to New York City and other high places in the northern area of the country. These are mainly states that are considered sanctuary cities, who now all of a sudden have become aware of the issues such an influx of migrants can cause to communities.

New York Mayor Eric Adams says the migrants are causing a burden to the city’s budget. “That money is coming from our schools,” he said. “It comes from our public safety, our hospitals, our infrastructure.”

In other words, these migrants are a burden for Mayor Adams and his precious city.

These migrants were shipped by southern border states who cannot keep up with the open border policies that are causing so many undocumented individuals to come into their state. Governors like Adams, and even the Biden Administration themselves, have continually said there is no border crisis. Well, Adams finally got on a plane to go see for himself. Curry, meanwhile, is asking for more landscaping and a higher fence if the low-income housing unit comes to fruition.

If Eric Adams wants open borders, why is he complaining about migrants infiltrating his city? Why does Stephen Curry need to build a higher fence? Both claim to be social justice warriors who demand equality for all. Yet, when that equality comes knocking in their neighborhood they throw their hands in the air and scream “Not in My Backyard” (NIMBA).

NIMBA is an actual term to describe the hypocrisy shown by these social justice squirrels who live in high places and cry victim when those low class rats come to town.

Both examples are a stark similarity in the way we view squirrels and rats. Sure, rats and squirrels are different to some degree. But they are still both rodents. Why are they not treated or viewed the same?

When we can answer that, it may shed some light on the way we view our fellow human beings, as well.

THE EDITOR

The truth about pregnancy resource centers

By Colleen Cianflone, director of Sauk Centre

Options for Women

In the face of dishonest and malicious attacks on pregnancy resource centers in Minnesota, and now the most extreme abortion law in the world, we need to set the record straight. Pregnancy resource centers exist for only one purpose: to provide free help and support for women and their families facing unplanned pregnancies. We do not tell them their only option is to kill their babies, and we do not coerce. We listen carefully, offering compassionate care, support, accurate information about all choices and life-affirming alternatives like adoption and parenting. Our fully trained and licensed staff and volunteers walk with each woman lovingly and without judgment, including those who have chosen abortion.

Who could be against this? Yet the Legislature is moving to defund Minnesota’s successful Positive Alternatives Program which supports the good work of pregnancy resource centers that equip women to make a better informed “choice.”

Attorney General Keith Ellison has weaponized his office on behalf of the abortion lobby, issuing a “consumer alert” to discredit our centers. False narratives on social media try to undermine our good work and credibility.

The message is clear: If you live in Minnesota, the “choice” your government supports is killing your baby.

Elevate Life supports 37 pregnancy resource centers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We will not sit idle as the forces of evil try to destroy the outstanding care, loving support and positive alternatives our centers provide thousands of women facing crisis pregnancies. We call on Minnesotans to stand with us.

include address and phone number. Letters should be short and to the point. We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. Corrections/Clarifications: The Herald strives for accuracy. If you would like to report a factual error, please call 352-6577.

Hok’s View by Hailey Hokanson

Commissioner’s Corner by Steve Notch

Travis Anderson Trio coming to Sauk Centre community STARS

The Centre Area Concert Association is proud to present the Travis Anderson Trio, appearing in concert on Monday, Feb. 20 in the Margaret Shelby Auditorium at Sauk Centre High School.

The Travis Anderson Trio is a Minneapolis-based ensemble, giving a modern twist to classic jazz and pops favorites. Led by fleet-fingered pianist Travis Anderson, this creative ensemble will bring many smiles to your face with a familiar program of 60s TV theme music, Disney and pops/ jazz standards. Steve Pikal, the first-call bassist of the Twin Cities, lays down a great bass line; Drummer Nathan Norman is a smooth and sensitive player who adds many interesting colors to the beat, and Travis Anderson, a mainstay on the local jazz scene for over 15 years, has wowed audiences everywhere from intimate jazz clubs to 2,000-seat halls. The Travis Anderson Trio’s dynamic style charms both seasoned connoisseurs and jazz newcomers alike.

For more information, see www.centreareaconcerts.com or call 320-352-3482.

Sauk Centre to participate in Skills Fest

BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER

Sauk Centre students will be among the 300-plus students expected at Skills Fest 2023, to be held Friday, Feb. 10 at Ridgewater College’s Willmar campus.

Students in grades 10 through 12, coming from nearly 30 high schools, will be competing in a wide range of technical skills, including automotive, agricultural and welding challenges – with gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc, oxy-acetylene and shielded

metal arc welding – as well as computer, photography, electronic and veterinary medicine activities; new challenges this year include paramedics, plumbing and meat cutting.

Ridgewater College is glad to return to this longtime traditional event after it was put on pause for a few years.

“We are beyond excited to bring back Skills Fest,” said Taryn Ziesmer, Ridgewater’s event organizer. “It’s

100 years ago • Feb. 8, 1923

a great opportunity for high school students to participate in a truly rewarding, hands-on experience in a career field that they’re interested in pursuing while meeting other like-minded teens and the wonderful faculty and staff here at Ridgewater.”

The event begins in the gymnasium at 8 a.m.; awards will be presented in the same location at noon.

The 29 participating schools include Albany, Alexandria, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa,

WAY BACK WHEN

Stearns County Fair dates changed

At the monthly meeting of the Stearns County Agricultural Society in the Commercial Club rooms, the dates for the 1923 Stearns County Fair were changed from Aug. 14-17 to Aug. 27-30. The change was deemed necessary because the initial dates happened to coincide with a prominent church holiday, which would likely keep a large percent of patrons out of the fairgrounds. Additionally, the financial budget plan adopted for this year’s fair is broadly the same as last year’s, except that the amount to be expended for amusements has increased from $1,500 to $1,700, and it was also decided to resume horse racing but with four races instead of six.

50 years ago • Feb. 8, 1973

Sauk Centre musical artist releases album

“Johnny Bee,” a Sauk Centre young man known locally as John Bjelland, has just released his new album, “Yesterday’s Promises.” Bjelland has recorded his music by popular request, and his singing appearances and songs have been growing in popularity; his album was cut at Sound/80 for Recording Artists in Minneapolis, and cover art for the album was made locally by Junkin Studio. Bjelland credits the following supporting artists for their musical contributions: drummer “Kentucky Bill” Murray from Sauk Centre, lead guitarist John Felling from Sauk Centre, pianist and organist Pat Lee from Brainerd and bassist Bill Peterson from Minneapolis.

25 years ago • Feb. 10, 1998

American Legion national commander stops at Sauk Centre post

For the first time in their history, the Sauk Centre American Legion Post welcomed an American Legion national commander, rolling out the red carpet for Anthony Jordan during his Tuesday stop. Legionnaires from surrounding posts joined the applause as Jordan praised American Legion posts nationwide for the hard work in their communities. Jordan expressed his gratitude for seeing the color guard at the ready on arrival in spite of the cold, and he was also glad to meet with George Bently, the last surviving member of the original board; he thanked the veterans of both world wars and all other conflicts.

10 years ago • Feb. 7, 2013

Sauk Centre One-Act performers to go to state

In winning the One-Act Play Section 5A champion-

Cambridge-Isanti, DREAM Technical Academy, Eden Valley Watkins, Edgerton, Fergus Falls, Holdingford, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Lakeview, Little Falls, Lac Qui Parle Valley, MACCRAY, Marshall, Minneota, Montevideo, Moorhead High School Career Academy, Morris Area, New London-Spicer, Pierz, Renville County West, Redwood Valley, ROCORI, Russel-Tyler-Ruthton, Sauk Centre, Willmar, Windom and Wright Technical Center.

ship on Saturday, Sauk Centre High School’s theatre department showed an impressive level of improvisation and determination with their production of “The Diviners,” originally a 2-hour play which the players completed in less than 35 minutes. From here, the team will be advancing to state competition. The students really hit their stride after winning the Jan. 26 subsection meet, continuing to improve through the extra week of practice. Director Margaret Kitterman said the play was a difficult one to undertake, considering its normal length and how the different the characters are from the actors, but from what she has seen, the players are peaking at just the right time.

Sauk Centre Elementary School

Feb. 13 - Feb. 17

Monday: Mac n cheese, vegetable, cold sandwich.

Tuesday: Grilled cheese, tomato soup, vegetable, cold sandwich.

Wednesday: Mini corn dog, vegetable, cold sandwich.

Thursday: Chicken patty, vegetable, cold sandwich.

Friday: Pizza, vegetable, cold sandwich.

Sauk Centre Secondary School

Feb. 13 - Feb. 17

Monday: Mac n cheese, vegetable, chicken nuggets.

Tuesday: Cheeseburger, vegetable chicken pot pie.

Wednesday: Country chicken bowl, vegetable, hot ham and cheese.

Thursday: McRib on bun, vegetable, chicken patty.

Friday: Bosco stick marinara, vegetable, sloppy joe.

Holy Family School

Feb. 13 - Feb. 17

Monday: Fajita’s with fixings, corn, mandarin oranges, cinnamon roll.

Tuesday: Meatballs with buttered noodles, carrots, fruit sauce, ice cream dessert.

Wednesday: BBQ pulled pork, tater tots, baked beans, fruit sauce.

Thursday: Chicken alfredo over noodles, lettuce salad, fruit sauce, dessert.

Friday: Grilled cheese, tomato soup, veggie sticks, fruit sauce.

Central Lakes College

BRAINERD – Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, has announced its 2022 fall semester honors lists; included on the lists were the following Sauk Centre students: Jacob Robishchon on the dean’s list and Lanna Walter on the president’s list. The president’s list included 394 students who earned a GPA of 3.75 to 4.0 while enrolled for at least 12 credits, and the dean’s list included 303 students who earned a GPA of 3.25 to 3.74.

PUBLIC NOTICES

West Union Township Notice of Annual Meeting and Election of Officers

Notice is hereby given to the qualified voters of West Union Township, County of Todd, State of Minnesota, that the Election of Officers and Annual Town meeting will be held Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 at the Fire Hall in West Union.

The annual meeting will begin at 5:00 pm with the polls

West Union Township Board of Audit Meeting

West Union Township Board of Audit meeting will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023 at 6:30 pm at the fire hall in West Union.

CITY OF FREEPORT COUNTY OF STEARNS

STATE OF MINNESOTA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON VACATION OF DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE §412.851

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that a hearing will be held before the City Council of Freeport on the 28th day of February, 2023, in the City Hall located at 125 East Main Street at 7:00 pm or soon thereafter to consider a proposed vacation of drainage and utility

opening immediately following the meeting and closing at 8:00 pm. The voters will elect the following offices: • One Supervisor—Threeyear term • One Treasurer—Twoyear term In case of inclement weather, the election and meeting will be held on the following Tuesday March 21st, 2023. Sharon Marthaler, Clerk West Union Township H-6-2B

The regular board meeting will follow immediately after the Board of Audit meeting. Sharon Marthaler, Clerk West Union Township H-6-2B

easements located within Outlot A of Welle Country Acres Plat Three: All of the Drainage and Utility Easements and the Drainage only Easement on OUTLOT A, WELLE’S COUNTY ACRES PLAT THREE, according to the recorded plat thereof, Stearns County Minnesota. Dated this 7th day of February 2023.

SIGNED BY:

Jon Nelson –Clerk-Treasurer H-6-2B

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

NOTICE IS HERE-

BY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:

DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 1, 2020

ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE:

$161,616.00

MORTGAGOR(S): Noraida Martinez Osorio, a single woman

MORTGAGEE: Mortgage

Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for American Mortgage & Equity Consultants, Inc., its successors and assigns

DATE AND PLACE OF RE-

CORDING:

Recorded: April 7, 2020 Stea-

rns County Recorder

Document Number: A1566105

LOAN MODIFICATION:

Dated: February 24, 2022

Recorded: November 29, 2022

Document Number: A1645132

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORT-

GAGE: And assigned to: PennyMac Loan Services, LLC

Dated: December 6, 2022

Recorded: December 7, 2022

Stearns County Recorder

Document Number: A1645681

Transaction Agent: Mortgage

Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.

Transaction Agent Mortgage Identification Number:

1008671-0000148579-4

Lender/Broker/Mortgage Orig-

inator: American Mortgage & Equity Consultants, Inc.

Residential Mortgage Servicer:

PennyMac Loan Services, LLC

COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Stearns

Property Address: 124 5th Ave SE, Saint Joseph, MN 56374 Tax Parcel ID Number: 84.53484.0000

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot Four (4), Block Two (2), Eastern Park Addition, Stearns County, Minnesota

AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE: $135,772.19

THAT all pre-foreclosure requirements have been complied with; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; that this is registered property;

PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as fol-

lows:

DATE AND TIME OF SALE:

March 02, 2023 at 10:00 AM

PLACE OF SALE: County Sheriff`s office, Law Enforcement Center, 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorney fees allowed by law, subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns.

If the Mortgage is not reinstated under Minn. Stat. §580.30 or the property is not redeemed under Minn. Stat. §580.23, the Mortgagor must vacate the property on or before 11:59 p.m. on August 30, 2023, or the next business day if August 30, 2023 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. Mortgagor(s) released from financial obligation: NONE THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. 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.

DATED: January 6, 2023

MORTGAGEE: PennyMac

Services,

&

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Travis Anderson Trio

Determination leads Streeters to win over Lady Dutchmen

Sauk Centre girls’ hoops overcomes injuries

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

Adversity rears its head in the ugliest of ways, as the Sauk Centre Streeters girls’ basketball team experienced firsthand Feb. 7 against the rival Melrose Lady Dutchmen. Not only was the team down sophomore post Tory Jennissen, who was missing her fourth game in a row, but it was almost lacking more size and skill in senior forward Jenna Gapinski-Vogt, who is dealing with a leg injury.

Missing two of their major playmakers, the Streeters overcame offensive struggles and Melrose scoring runs to defeat the Lady Dutchmen 43-35 at Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre.

“I’m proud of how we battled today,” said Scott Bergman, head coach. “The grit this team displays on a daily basis, tonight was another example. It wasn’t the prettiest win in the world, but whenever you can beat your crosstown rivals, it’s a big win.”

Suddenly tasked with finding production from a unique starting five, the Streeters utilized their smaller size and pesky speed by playing a press defense through the contest, the first time they had done so all season. While the team only shot 29.4% from the field, Sauk Centre found additional opportunities by forcing 19 turnovers, often working down the floor with a quick pass.

“That was the whole difference,” Bergman said. “We wanted to get after them a bit, because we got small and we got quicker.”

While their shooting woes were evident, senior guard Torry Kerfeld and sophomore guard Cierra Kortan helped the Streeters get out to an 18-6 lead, scoring all but two of the team’s first-half points. Melrose did find a bit of their own rhythm, closing to within three by halftime at 21-18.

“Shots just weren’t falling,” Bergman said. “But, to our girls’ credit, they just kept battling.”

Blondin, Hokanson make college commitments

The Lady Dutchmen took advantage of Sauk Centre’s sudden transition to a smaller lineup, with senior forward Paige Gruber attacking the paint for buckets. However, the Streeters’ strong defense all-around overpowered a one-dimensional Melrose attack.

“Gruber had a nice game for them inside,” Bergman said. “Her and Bertram were the only girls who scored field goals in the second half

for them. Maddy Schuster did a tremendous job on Bertram and we figured out a way to get just enough help on Gruber to make it difficult for her.”

Kerfeld knocked down a 3-pointer to keep Sauk Centre pushing forward before Heidi Lieser drained a 3-point look of her own to give the Streeters a fivepoint lead. After that, the resourceful Streeters used the free-throw line to say ahead, with Emily Peters making a pair of shots from the stripe and Kortan drilling 6 of 8 free throws, making an impact even while being defended by a box-and-one strategy.

“When she gets to the free-throw line, you know she’s in attack mode,” Bergman said of Kortan, who ended the game with 17 points. “They were running a special defense against her and I told her after the game, ‘Take that as a compliment.’ I know it frustrates her at times, but it’s a compliment they think so highly of you that they had to stop you.”

Sauk Centre improved to 14-6 on the season and will take on the Royalton Royals in a rescheduled matchup at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Royalton High School in Royalton.

MEL 18 17 35

SC 21 22 43

Kerfeld 18 (6R), Kortan 17 (3R, 3S), Lieser 3 (9R), Peters 2 (8R, 3A), Sienna Klaphake 2 and Schuster 1 (4R). Becker 62, Sauk Centre 42

When the Streeters hit the hardcourt for a big-stage bout versus the Becker Bulldogs at the Winter Lakes Classic Feb. 4, they were looking to regain a sense of offensive identity lost in a crushing loss to Minnewaska Area two days earlier.

However, Sauk Centre could not stay competitive with the Bulldogs, the fourth-ranked Class AAA team according to the QRF, as Becker outscored the Streeters by 13 points in the second half to seize a 62-42 victory at Alexandria High School in Alexandria.

Kortan was an efficient 5-for-10 in 2-point range and a perfect 7 of 7 from the free-throw line to put up 23 points, but outside of that, the Streeters were cold, shooting 26% from the field as a team. It was hard for Sauk Centre to get into a rhythm against the Bulldogs, who forced 22 turnovers while only turning it over seven times themselves.

BCK 29 33 62 SC 22 20 42

Kortan 23 (3R), Gapinski-Vogt 8 (7R), Lieser 7 (8R), Kerfeld 4 (4R) and Avery Rieland 0 (3R).

Minnewaska Area 47, Sauk Centre 41

Through seven minutes, the Streeters appeared on course for another key, necessary rivalry win to stay in the West Central Conference hunt, as Sauk Centre was dominating on its home court, grabbing an immediate 13-0 lead on the Minnewaska Area Lakers.

Suddenly, and much to the Streeters’ chagrin, the Lakers suddenly flipped a switch. After scoring three points in the first nine minutes, Minnewaska Area piled up 23 points to close out the first half with a 2620 lead. Sauk Centre once again struggled to generate offense, as sophomore post Tory Jennissen sat out with a concussion. Gapinski-Vogt struggled with efficiency but still managed a double-double with 15 rebounds, while Lieser added 11 boards.

MINN 26 21 47

SC 20 21 41 Gapinski-Vogt

Hailey Hokanson, is joined by her parents, Kris and Chrissy, Feb. 1 after her college signing to play tennis at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Reece Blondin, is accompanied by his mom, Holly Fogarty, and brother, Garrett Blondin, after he signed to play football for Gustavus Adolphus.

PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Emily Peters drives hard to the basket during Sauk Centre’s Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic game against Becker Feb. 4 in Alexandria. The Bulldogs defeated the Streeters 62-42.

Junior Avery Rieland battles two Melrose players for a loose ball during the West Central Conference matchup Feb. 7 in Sauk Centre. The Streeters won 43-35. Sauk Centre hosts New London-Spicer Feb. 11.

Senior Heidi Lieser launches a 3-pointer during Sauk Centre’s home game against Minnewaska Feb. 2. Lieser scored five points and grabbed 11 rebounds but Sauk Centre lost 47-41.

Blue Devils run out of steam in road loss

Prairie Centre drops tough game to Visitation

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

The Prairie Centre Blue Devils tested their red-hot run of excellent play against a proven, well-coached program in the Visitation Blazers of Mendota Heights.

The Blazers defended their home ice from the getgo, scoring four first-period goals in a 5-0 win Feb. 7 at St. Thomas Ice Arena.

The Blue Devils mustered 12 shots on goal but could not find a momentum-shifting score, with Visitation tallying 17 shots in the first and 16 in the second to build a significant cushion.

Kennedy Lemke totaled 35 saves between the pipes for Prairie Centre, who wrapped up the regular season with a 6-14-1 record. The Blue Devils enter the Section 6A Tournament as the No. 7 seed, pitting them against the second-seeded Willmar Cardinals at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at Willmar High School in Willmar. An injury-riddled Blue Devils squad lost 17-0 to the Cardinals Nov. 22, but with a healthier roster beginning to build cohesion and strength, Prairie Centre lost 6-0 to Willmar in the teams’ second meeting Jan. 16. PC 0 0 0 0

VST 4 1 0 5

Goalie: Kennedy Lemke

35-40.  Windom 3, Prairie Centre 1

A quiet game between nonconference foes broke upon in a major way Feb. 4. After the Windom Eagles and the Blue Devils remained scoreless for the first 33 minutes, the battle-tested squads combined for three goals in the final minute of the second period, with Windom possessing a 2-1 lead.

North Stars produce physicality in loss to Storm

Christians strikes for two goals

utes and 56 seconds into the game, with Owen Christians scoring 16 seconds later.

And while Prairie Centre never went away, the Eagles held on for a 3-1 victory at Sauk Centre Civic Arena, snapping a four-game lossless streak.

Lindsay Bailey tallied the lone score for the Blue Devils, assisted by Natasha Ludwig and Maddie Koltes, with nine seconds left in the second.

WIN 0 2 1 3

PC 0 1 0 1

Second period: 3. Bailey (Ludwig, Koltes) 16:51. Goalie: Kennedy Lemke 45-48. Prairie Centre 3, Breckenridge-Wahpeton 3 (OT)

The final scores of Prairie Centre’s three games against the Breckenridge-Wahpeton Blades show the considerable growth the Blue Devils have displayed across the 202223 winter season.

First, the Blades handed the Blue Devils a 9-1 loss Dec. 8, followed by another tough defeat by a score of 7-3 Jan. 20. Possessing several star talents, including Reagan Wohlers, a top-10 scorer in the state of Minnesota, Breckenridge-Wahpeton seemed to present too formidable a challenge for a Prairie Centre team in the clear stages of rebuilding.

However, the Blue Devils, despite taking 31 less shots and committing four penalties, stayed vigilant on the ice in the third and final regular season meeting, sending the game to overtime with a pair of third-period goals and holding on for a 3-3 tie Feb. 2 at Todd County Expo Area in Long Prairie.

After Wohler capped off a hat trick 4 minutes and 56 seconds into the final period, Prairie Centre strung together a rally in the final four minutes. Kyra Swanson found the back of the net at 13:57, with Ludwig tying the game one minute later.

Kennedy Lemke continued a remarkable campaign with 53 saves, good for a .946 save percentage.

Second period: 2. Ludwig 9:53. Third period: 5. Swanson (Allie Lemke, Bailey) 13:57. 6. Ludwig (Katelyn Jones) 14:57. Goalie: Kennedy Lemke 53-56.

Out of Prairie Centre’s last nine periods of boys hockey, six came against the Morris/ Benson Area Storm in a pair of hard-fought Mid-State Conference battles.

The second matchup was a back-and-forth bout to remember, with the Storm using a goal in the final two minutes to secure a 5-4 win Feb. 7 at Benson Civic Center in Benson.

“In the end, we have a few things to clean up in our defensive zone,” said Chad Wehrman, head coach. “Still, we’re continuing to try and play more physical. When we do that, we’re pretty good. When we don’t do it, we struggle a little bit.”

Prairie Centre, not even a week after suffering a shutout loss to the Storm, were determined to come out stronger, and did so behind a solidified forecheck and a willingness to scrap through contact for rebounds. Zac Bick scored 7 min-

“We battled really hard and made some improvements on our forecheck, and that paid off with the goals,” Wehrman said. “Our first two goals came the same way: we were able to get off a shot and bury a rebound. That wasn’t something we were able to do on Thursday.”

Christians picked up his second goal of the game on a determined shorthanded rush to give the North Stars a 3-1 lead in the second period.

a 4-0 deficit in a 6-2 loss to the River Lakes Stars Feb. 3 at River Lakes Civic Arena in Richmond.

Let’s Talk!

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER BY HERMAN LENSING | STAFF WRITER

The Storm, possessing tenacity and toughness, did not waver under the early pressure. MBA pulled to within one before the end of the first period and positioned bodies in the front of the net regularly to garner good looks.

“They’re bigger than we are as a whole and they muscled their way in there,” Wehrman said. “We had to keep them out. They don’t give up and they’re going hard until the whistle.”

Prairie Centre, to their credit, did not let the Storm run away with the game. Carter Holman stood strong with 40 saves in net and the North Star defense did their best to limit MBA’s shots to the outside whenever possible.

“It was a beautiful play and I’ll tell ya, Owen Christians is battling,” Wehrman said. “He wants to be here every night. He was our most physical guy tonight.”

The Storm snapped home a pair of goals within 15 seconds of each other to tie the game, and after Eli Fletcher briefly gave Prairie Center another leg up, MBA fired home the final two goals of the game to have the last laugh.

The North Stars will endure another road test against Mora/Milaca at 7 p.m. Feb. 9, at Mora Civic Center in Mora.

PC 2 1 1 4

MBA 1 2 2 5

First period: 1. Bick (Jesse Williams, Fletcher) 7:56. 2. Christians (John Williams, Aiken Lambrecht) 8:12. Second period: 4. Christians 11:32. Third period: 7. Fletcher 0:33. Goalie: Holman 40-45.  River Lakes 6, Prairie Centre 2

An uneven game allaround, the North Stars could not build their way back from

Fletcher provided a spark with a shorthanded goal at 2:43 in the second period, but a hat trick from Jacob Philippi proved to be too daunting for Prairie Centre to overcome.

Rieland added his 11th goal of the season in the third period, with Holman making 29 saves in net. PC 0 1 1 2 RL 4 1 1 6

Second period: 5. Fletcher 2:43. Third period: 7. James Rieland 5:29. Goalie: Holman 29-35. Morris/Benson Area 4, Prairie Centre 0

Despite a 35-save night from Holman and a steady stream of offensive opportunities, the North Stars could not find the scoring plays necessary to stay even with the Storm in a 4-0 defeat Feb. 2 at Sauk Centre Civic Arena in Sauk Centre. MBA 1 1 2 4 PC 0 0 0 0

Goalie: Holman 35-39.

Defenders finish ninth at conference meet

Kerzman, De Los Santos Morales reach championships

Two Sauk Centre-Melrose Defenders wrestlers reached championship matches and two more participated in third-place matches Feb. 4 at Kimball High School in Kimball.

There were 11 teams at the meet, most from either the West Central Conference or Central Minnesota Conference. Scoring 74 points, SC-M finished ninth. The championship went to Dawson-Boyd-Lac Qui Parle-Montevideo United, who scored 208 points.

Reaching the championship bout and taking second place was 113-pound wrestler Dominic Kerzman and 132-pounder Jose De Los Santos Morales. De Los Santos Morales had a 4-minute, 23-second quarterfinals win and a 49-second semifinal win, the Defenders’ fastest pin. That sent him to the championship, where he was pinned. Kerzman, too, was pinned in the championship. That came after his quarterfinals win by fall and a 7-2 overtime semifinals win.

Wrestling third-place matches were Noah Christen,

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126, and Will Sjogren, 285. Both had wins in the second round of wrestlebacks. Sjogren finished his day with two pins, having started the day with a 9-1 quarterfinals win.

Noah Christen’s quarterfinals win was an impressive 12-4 major decision. In the wrestlebacks, his 7-2 win put him in the third-place match, where he was defeated.

Three Defenders finished sixth, losing in the fifth-place match. Mitchell Christen, 138, had competitive matches that went the distance. Two were with Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City’s Edwyn Gonzalez. He won the quarterfinals matchup but Gonzalez took home the fifth-place battle. Isaac Frericks had a 4-1 victory in the first wrestlebacks. Malachite Grimstad’s semifinals loss was to Kameron Sather, who later topped De Los Santos Morales in the championship. 113: Kerzman went 2-1 and finished second. He won 3:04, won 7-2 (OT) and lost 3:58. 126: Noah Christen went 2-2 and finished fourth. He won by major decision 12-0, lost 3:44, won 7-2 and lost 16-0 (TF 4:27). 132: De Los Santos Morales went 2-1 and finished second. He won 4:23, won 0:49 and lost 5:30. Grimstad went 0-3 and took sixth. He received a bye, lost 1:01, lost 2:05 and lost 5:05. 138: Mitchell Christen went 1-3 and took sixth. He won 5-4, lost 9-3, lost 4-3 and lost 7-3. 145: Ben Friedrichs went 0-2 and did not place. He lost 1:39 and lost 4:05. 220: Isaac Frericks went 1-2 and took sixth. He lost 1:41, won 4-2, lost 1:59 and lost 2:34. 285: Sjogren went 3-1 and took third. He won by major decision 9-1, lost 4:47, won 1:29 and won 5:24.

Pine Island Girls Tournament

The Sauk Centre-Melrose

Defender girls wrestlers placed four competitors in the top six Feb. 4 at the Pine Island Girls Tournament at Pine Island High School in Pine Island.

Lanna Walter, ranked second in the 120 division, did little to hurt that ranking, taking second in the tournament. She competed in a 16-member bracket. There were enough participants in the division that three tournaments were held. The other two brackets consisted of 12 and 11 members.

Walter wrestled for a total of 3 minutes and 53 seconds in her first three matches, as she won each by pin. One of them was in 28 seconds. The championship match paired up fifthranked Annabelle Petsinger of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and Walter. Petsinger won with a first-period pin.

The 120 division was not the only division with multiple contests. There were 58 teams represented in the tournament. St. Michael-Albertville had the most with 17 participants, while a number of schools had fewer than five. All but four of the 13 weight units had more than one tournament.

Katie Bueckers, 132, found herself in a four-player round-robin contest. She earned the championship, winning two of three matches, both by pin. She and two others tied with 2-1 records. Only one other wrestler had two pins, and Bueckers had pinned her.

No other Defender finished their day with a final match win. Both Lili Raya Park, 165, and Afton Vogt, 138, qualified for the fifth-place match with pins in the second round of wrestlebacks. Raya Park had

a 17-second pin, the fastest of the day for the Defenders. Their divisions, too, had two tournaments. Vogt was in a nine-player bracket and Raya Park in a 14-player bracket. Kalli Schirmers, 235, ranked ninth in state, and fourth-ranked Madyson Gerads, 234, did not medal in the contest. Schirmers was in a 16-wrestler bracket and Gerads a nine-player bracket. 120: Walter went 3-1 and took second. She won 0:28, won 1:26, won 1:59 and lost 0:48. 132: Bueckers went 2-1 and took first. She lost by major decision 17-8 (MD), won 1:44 and won 1:07. 138: Vogt went 1-2 and took sixth. She received a bye, lost 0:26, won 2:56 and lost 7-3. 145: Kalli Schirmers went 1-2 and did not place. She won 2:28, lost 0:35 and lost 0:22. 165: Raya Park went 1-2 and took sixth. She received a bye, lost 1:27, won 0:17 and lost 4-0. 235: Gerads went 0-2 and did not place. She lost 0:55, received a bye and lost 3:29. Alexandria Quad Mitchell Christen and Isaac Frericks posted the Defenders’ wins in the 72-12 loss to Alexandria Feb. 6 at Alexandria High School in Alexandria. Both pinned their opponents. Matches were also schedule against Albany and Paynesville, but there were no reports of matches that occurred between SC-M and those teams.

PLPRB Triangular Kerzman and Noah Christen recorded their 50th wins Feb. 2 at the Pequot Lakes/ Pine River-Backus Triangular at Pine River-Backus High School in Pine River.

won 50-24 over Fergus Falls but fell

to PLPRB. Forfeits affected both outcomes. Against PLPRB, SC-M won six of the eight matches wrestled, with Mitchell Christen and Isaac Frericks recording pins. It won seven of nine matches against Fergus Falls, with Kerzman and Noah and Mitchell Christen pinning opponents and Ben Friedrichs and De Los Santos Morales winning

Neubert sets scoring record as

Streeters grab gigantic win

Sauk Centre rallies to defeat Pelican Rapids

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

Every year, the annual Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic in Alexandria brings elite basketball teams from across the state to central Minnesota for an exciting, hard-hitting day of hoops.

The 2023 edition was no different, with top-10-ranked programs such as Class AA’s Albany and Class AAA’s Orono and Perham competing in front of a large crowd at Alexandria Area High School in Alexandria.

And despite a high level of basketball displayed throughout, one moment loomed larger than others, as Sauk Centre junior forward Jay Neubert moved into first place on the Streeters’ alltime scoring list, tallying 26 points in Sauk Centre’s electrifying 51-46 win over Pelican Rapids Feb. 4.

“He probably wouldn’t have to practice to be an average two-way player, but he has standards to hold himself accountable, and nobody works harder than he does,” said Kevin Kuefler, head coach.

The performance put Neubert at 1,721 career points, passing Brent Egan’s program-leading mark of 1,715 that was set in 2007. Neubert shattered the mark with a free throw in the second half of a game the Streeters were trailing by double digits. After leading 27-26 in the first half and trailing by only two points at halftime, Sauk Centre struggled to break through offensively, watching as the Vikings built a 42-32 advantage with under six minutes to go.

However, a major point of stability in the high-pressure showdown was Sauk Centre’s defense. While senior forward Ian Fahje got his buckets, knocking down four 3-pointers, the Streeters held most of Pelican Rapids’ playmakers off the scoreboard, made several key stops down the stretch and forced turnovers.

“You’re not always going to shoot the ball as well as you’d like to, but we can control a good defense,” Kuefler said. “They weren’t being as aggressive to score, so we went with a smaller lineup and played full-court and trapped all over the place. It was not what we wanted to have to do, but we turned our defense into offense.”

Neubert converted a pair of and-one opportunities, while Damian Ahrens drilled two gigantic free throws in the closing minutes to help Sauk Centre complete the comeback. With Andrew Drevlow out, sophomore Ahrens stepped up, compiling 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting.

“It was a bigger crowd, and it’s a fun atmosphere to be a part of,” Kuefler said. “That doesn’t always mean you’re going to play well, especially as a young player. That wasn’t the case for him. He’s just a tough kid.”

Troy Hansen tries to stuff a Pelican Rapids shot during the second half of their contest Feb. 4 in Alexandria. Sauk Centre won the game by five, they host Albany Feb. 10.

The Streeters also received big contributions from their bench. Ashton Trisko remained on the court throughout the final possessions, playing lockdown defense and adding two free throws, while Troy Hansen collected four rebounds, two steals and an assist.

“It has to be everybody,”

Kuefler said. “Ashton comes in and plays good defense, Troy is a big body that rebounds well and Corey (McCoy) is always hustling all over the place. We needed

other people to step up and fill roles, and Ashton and Troy gave us good minutes on the big stage as sophomores.”

Ultimately, finding a win over a solid Pelican Rapids team in the second game in as many days and the fifth contest in 10 days exemplified what has made Sauk Centre so tough to defeat during the 2022-23 season, a seemingly-endless motor and drive to improve.

“I think it was a mental toughness win for us,” Kuefler said. “There were a lot of

factors for us being fatigued and throwing the towel in, but they didn’t do that.”

Next up for the Streeters is a West Central Conference against the Benson Braves at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre. Sauk Centre remains atop the conference standings at 8-2.

Neubert will be honored before the team’s game against the Albany Huskies Friday, Feb. 10.

PR 29 17 46

SC 27 24 51

Neubert 26 (3S), Ahrens 15 (4R), Ethan Riley 6 (6R), Trisko 2, Matthew Warring 2, Hansen 0 (4R) and McCoy 0 (3R).

Sauk Centre 74,

Minnewaska Area 55

Even as the Winter Lakes Classic quickly approached, the Streeters entered their Friday night matchup with Minnewaska Area with eyes only on the opponent in front of them.

The Streeters hit on their first four 3-pointers and shot 49% as a team, controlling the pace of play in a 74-55 conference win Feb. 3 at Minnewaska Area High School in Glenwood.

“We came ready to be the best version of ourselves and not go through the motions, but be in the moment and get better as a team,” Kuefler said.

Neubert recorded 25 points and four assists, Warring built on a strong senior season with 17 points and Trisko scored eight points, including a three.

Nine different Streeters put up at least one point, including senior Hunter Novak and sophomore Chad Herickhoff.

shot OF THE WEEK

BOYS BASKETBALL

SC defeated Pelican Rapids 51-46 at Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic

SC JV lost to Pelican Rapids 51-47

SC defeated Minnewaska Area 74-55

SC JV defeated Minnewaska Area 36-43

SC 7th grade team lost to Minnewaska Area 33-32 SC 7th grade team defeated Minnewaska Area 24-18

GIRLS BASKETBALL SC defeated Melrose 43-35

SC JV defeated Melrose 51-10

SC C squad defeated Melrose 33-23

SC lost to Becker 62-42 at Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic

SC lost to Minnewaska Area 47-41

SC JV lost to Becker 49-39

SC JV defeated Minneswaska

SC C squad defeated Minnewaska Area 38-14

BOYS HOCKEY

PC lost to Morris/Benson Area 5-4

PC JV defeated Morris/Benson Area 7-5

PC lost to River Lakes 6-2

PC JV lost to River Lakes 4-1

PC lost to Morris/Benson Area 4-0

PC JV lost to Morris/Benson Area 6-1

GIRLS HOCKEY

PC lost to Visitation 5-0

PC lost to Windom 3-1

PC tied Breckenridge-Wahpeton 3-3

WRESTLING

SC-Melrose Defenders finished ninth out of 11 teams with 74 points at West Central Conference/Central Minnesota Conference Meet SC-Melrose Defenders girls finished seventh out of 58 teams with 66 points at Pine Island Girls Tournament

SC-Melrose Defenders defeated Fergus Falls 50-24

SC-Melrose Defenders lost to Alexandria 71-12

SC-Melrose Defenders lost to Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus 48-27

BOYS SWIM AND DIVE Melrose-SC Fusion defeated Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield 108-78 Melrose-SC Fusion JV

30 YEARS AGO

The Sauk Centre Streeters boys basketball team strung together a fourth-quarter comeback to take down the Cathedral Crusaders 59-48. Joel Beilke put up 20 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double effort as Sauk Centre outpaced the Crusaders 23-8 in the final quarter for the victory.

Quote of the week

Former Sauk Centre all-time leading scorer Brent Egan on Jay Neubert breaking his program record: “It’s great to see Jay having a lot of success. I’ve only heard great things about him. He’s put in the work and it’s great to see it pay off.”

PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE Jay Neubert makes a move on a Pelican Rapids defender during their Breakdown Winter Lakes Classic game Feb. 4 in Alexandria. Neubert scored 26 in a 51-46 win for Sauk Centre.

PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE

The 2022-23 Melrose-Sauk Centre Fusion boys swimming and diving team consists of Riley Brown (front, from left), Anthony Bierschbach, Sig Abel, Graham Radjenovich, Corey Ronning, Aiden Felling and Grant Linscheid; (second row, from left) Mathew Stalboerger, Alan de Aquino Diaz, Andrue Stalboerger, Zaron Olmschenk, Hunter Leslie and Sully Stumler; (third row, from left) Sevrin Anderson, Grant Eveslage, Macen Toavs-Etcheverry, Alex Wilwerding, Nolan Fleischhacker, Isaiah Zink, Thatcher Van Beck, Noble Ahrens, Parker Sorenson and assistant coach Mady Brinkman; (fourth row, right) cohead coach James Schreiner; (back, from left) Adam Wilwerding, Andrew Berscheit, Spencer Marthaler, Jacob Robischon, Zander Olmschenk, Devin Crawford-Klinnert, Rayden Weber, assistant coach Spencer Van Beck and co-head coach Nathan Meyer.

PHOTO BY ALEE PHOTOGRAPHY