Sauk Centre Herald 09-14-2023

Managing future traffic

Two yield signs to be installed at Authors Addition intersection

BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER

With the Authors Addition residential expansion project wrapping up for the year and the intersection of Hendryx Street, Halfaday Drive and Hickman Drive being realigned, Sauk Centre will be regulating the intersection’s traffic flow with yield signs while keeping stop signs on the table for the future if they are needed.

During their Sept. 6 meeting at Sauk Centre City Hall, the Sauk Centre City Council considered a number of signage options for the Hendryx-Halfaday-Hickman intersection while its realignment – and the construction of Halfaday Drive itself – nears completion. Options presented to the council included leaving the intersection uncontrolled, adding yield signs or stop signs on Halfaday Drive and Hendryx Street, making the intersection an all-way stop or making it a three-way stop with no sign on northeast-bound Hickman Drive.

Initially, Sauk Centre Mayor Warren Stone was in favor of making the intersection an all-way stop.

“If we go to the three-way stop … the minute they come to that stop, the (drivers) coming from the east are probably going to anticipate they’re going to turn right, and then they go straight and you’ve got a problem,” Stone said. “To me, a four-way stop would make more sense.”

Councilmember Joe Fuechtmann believed an all-way stop was excessive for the intersection.

“I don’t think the amount of housing and traffic through there will necessitate it,” Fuechtmann said. “I look at the other intersections in this community that don’t have four-way stops. … I think a two-way stop makes more sense there.”

Stone and Fuechtmann have lived in the Hendryx Street area.

City council page 3

Herald Sauk Centre

School starts with high enrollment with enrollment

Developing poems and prose poems and prose

Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference prepares for 33rd year

BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER

Writers of all stripes will be returning to Sauk Centre the first weekend of October, as the Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference returns for its 33rd year. The event, which can be attended virtually or in-person, has authors and poets share their tips and experience to make it a valuable, engaging time for any wordsmith who wants to improve their craft.

“Our feedback has been consistently positive over the past 32 years,” said Jim Umhoefer, Sinclair Lewis Foundation president. “Many of our participants have been to more than one conference.

Writers Conference page 3

Pennsylvanian

pastor

BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER

Faith Baptist Church in Sauk Centre is welcoming their new pastor, the Rev. Jared Matthew, as the new leader of their church, and the Pennsylvania native is glad to not be leading the church on his own. As he and his family settle into the community, Matthew is ready to make Faith Baptist Church more visible while bringing Biblical counseling to those who are struggling.

Born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Matthew was first interested in becoming a missionary when he was 8 years old.

Matthew leads Faith Baptist Church

“I wanted to go to other countries and tell people about the Gospel,” Matthew said. “Our church had a missions conference, and they used to do a junior’s conference for kids, and a tiny, single missionary lady came and talked to us about giving our lives to the Lord for service, and I just felt God pulling on my heart.”

Matthew met his wife, Emily, in Pennsylvania through church functions. They married in July 2010, right before Matthew entered Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Matthew page 4

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

The Rev. Jared Matthew stands with one of the custom wooden signs Sept. 11 at Faith Baptist Church in Sauk Centre. Matthew, originally from Pennsylvania, has been the pastor of Faith Baptist Church since July.

Leora Wilcox Barthel Karen P. Eggers Wilfred D. Hinnenkamp Duane

Kleve

School page 2

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK Conference attendees discuss “Babbitt” by Sinclair Lewis the evening of Oct. 7, 2022, at Babbitt’s Wine Bar in Sauk Centre. The 2023 Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference will be preceded by the fifth annual Cocktails and Conversations event Friday, Oct. 6, at Babbitt’s Wine Bar, and the book to be discussed is “Elmer Gantry” by Sinclair Lewis.

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

Students return to the hallways of Sauk Centre High School for the first day of school for grades 5-12 Sept. 7 in Sauk Centre. Sauk Centre Public Schools and Holy Family School had a total enrollment of 1,380, their highest enrollment in at least a decade.

School from front

Ethan Riley

What do you enjoy most about being on the football team? My favorite part of being a part of the team is building friendships with my teammates and coaches.

What has been the highlight of your football career? My highlight is being on the state team last year and getting that experience.

What other activities are you involved in at school? In addition to football, I play basketball and golf, and I am in captain and leader and student council.

Why do you feel it’s important to be involved in school activities? I don’t think you get the full high school experience without being involved within the school.

Students Brady Gieske (from left), Evan Wolbeck and Joey Wiegers get off the bus for their first day of the 2023-24 school year Sept. 7 at Sauk Centre Public Schools in Sauk Centre. The first day of school for kindergarten through fourth grade was Sept. 11.

Enrollment by the numbers

95TH BIRTHDAY Happy Birthday Dutch. Love you! 2013-14 HFS: 184 SCPS: 949 Total: 1,133 2014-15 HFS: 183 SCPS: 999 Total: 1,182 2015-16 HFS: 190 SCPS: 1,053 Total: 1,243 2016-17 HFS: 199 SCPS: 1,046 Total: 1,245 2017-18 HFS: 213 SCPS: 1,067 Total: 1,280 2018-19 HFS: 220 SCPS: 1,073 Total: 1,293 2019-20 HFS: 241 SCPS: 1,052 Total: 1,293 2020-21 HFS: 243 SCPS: 1,007 Total: 1,250 2021-22 HFS: 254 SCPS: 1,055 Total: 1,309 2022-23 HFS: 250 SCPS: 1,121 Total: 1,371 2023-24 HFS: 254 SCPS: 1,126 Total: 1,380

What is your favorite Streeter tradition?

Homecoming has always been one of my favorite things throughout the year. It is just a fun time to be a part of the football team.

How do you try to make a difference at school? I try my best to lead by example, especially on my sports teams.

What SC teacher/coach has made an impact on your life? Coach Krump has made an impact on my life since he was first hired. He was the reason I really fell in love with football, the energy he brings with him every day is unmatched.

htifitStttditi? “We’re here to help.” 423 Main Street South • P.O. Box 266 Sauk Centre, MN 56378 320-352-5771

Streeter STATE BANK Member FDIC

What has been your favorite class to date?

Explain. I have always enjoyed science classes, they can be really interesting.

24-Hour ATM available in our drive-up firststatebanksc.com S aluting great accomplishments Saluting great in the S auk Centre High S chool in the Sauk Centre School

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

$10,000 minimum certificate of deposit amount for 5.007 5.07% % APY APY MONTHS MONTHS 5 5 % % for 11 11 MONTHS MONTHS 5.12 12 2 5.12 APY APY Limited time offer. Interest rate on 5 month CD term is 5.00% with annual percentage yield of 5.07%. Interest rate on 11 month CD term is 5.11% with an annual percentage yield of 5.12%. APY is current as of 5/9/2023 and may change before CD is opened & funded. APY assumes funds are held through end of term. Penalties may reduce interest earnings if principal is withdrawn prior to maturity. Clearwater (320) 558-2021 St. Cloud West (320) 654-9555 St. Cloud East (320) 257-5000 Avon (320) 356-7334 Long Prairie (320) 732-6131 Browerville (320) 594-2215 Call your local branch today! Visit us at LOGB ANK.COM PHR37-2B-TV 8 8 1 1

Paraprofessional Yesenia Gonzalez leads third graders to the Centre for Christ Sept. 11 in Sauk Centre. The Centre for Christ is being used as third grade’s offsite location while Sauk Centre Elementary School is being renovated.

City council from front

Stone was open to Fuechtmann’s suggestion, and councilmember Heidi Leach, with the agreement of Sauk Centre Police Department Chief Bryon Friedrichs, proposed dialing back the measure further by putting yield signs instead of stop signs on Hendryx Street and Halfaday Drive. A motion for that plan was approved, although the city advised the SCPD to watch that intersection in the coming years in case traffic problems warrant different signage.

The council also approved CenterPoint Energy gas installations for Authors Addition and the Sauk Centre South Industrial Park. The city’s share of the cost for the industrial park was about $14,000, based on the number of feet the gas mains were run. It was unclear, at the meeting, what the city’s share of the cost would be for the Authors Addition gas mains, but it will have less footage than the industrial park and will likely cost less.

City engineer Keith Yapp reported, with the Sept. 7 installation of a lift station component, the Sauk Centre South Industrial Park is completed. He also said sidewalks for Authors Addition would be completed after CenterPoint Energy gas lines were installed.

Other city council

news: – City Administrator Vicki Willer updated the council on their residential rental license progress. As of the meeting, 105 property owners had applied for licenses for 386 rental units – 29 apartment buildings, 10 duplexes, 63 houses and three townhome buildings. Fifty-one applications for 181 units have been completed with licenses issued, 21 inspections are in progress or scheduled and 33 inspections have yet to be scheduled. Aug. 31 was the application deadline. About 30 owners with 53 residences have still not applied, although six are awaiting verification on whether they are still a rental, two are sending in applications and five are changing ownership and their new owners are planning to apply.

– The replica Sinclair Lewis Park fountain statue is under construction and should be in Sauk Centre by Christmas. After it is painted, it is expected to be installed in the park spring 2024.

– Nature Energy, the Denmark-based company interested in establishing a biogas facility in Sauk Centre, has announced they are pausing their development plans in the United States.

– Minnesota statute now allows cities to certify delinquent fire service bills

to property taxes where the fire occurred within the city’s fire service area. The city has had to write off the bad debt in previous years, but with the council’s general approval, the city is looking to add language to the city code for when a charge remains unpaid 30 days after the notice of delinquency is sent, allowing the city to certify the unpaid fire bills to the county auditor on or before Oct. 15 each year in which the services’ recipient owns real property for collection with taxes. The ordinance will be developed and a public hearing set, which will include townships where the city has service contracts.

– Approved the resignation of Mike Anderson from the Sauk Centre Fire Department, effective Aug. 31. Anderson had been with the SCFD since Nov. 16, 2016.

– Approved the appointment of Lateshia Harden as a part-time patrol officer with the SCPD. Her appointment will help fill the positions of two parttime patrol officers who have decided to no longer take calls with Sauk Centre.

– Approved a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise to purchase equipment – including body cameras, in-squad cameras and stun guns – for the SCPD, while also providing ongoing maintenance, support and cloud storage. Along with upfront costs and the ongo-

Writers conference from front

We often hear that our conference is not only informal and informative but also fun.

Participants like our manageable group size and the chance for personal interactions with the speakers.”

The event begins the evening of Friday, Oct. 6, with the conference’s fifth annual Cocktails and Conversations at Babbitt’s Wine Bar in Sauk Centre.

Starting at 7 p.m., the social time will feature a cash bar, a brief book summation and open discussion around key issues in the subject novel.

This year, the conversation will focus on Sinclair Lewis’ 1927 novel “Elmer Gantry,” a controversial story when it was released.

“‘Elmer Gantry’ was chosen following a suggestion from some participants at last year’s Cocktails and Conversations event,” Umhoefer said. “Don Shelby (the 2022 conference keynote speaker) loved the idea.”

There will be no charge to attend the Cocktails and Conversations event, although free-will donations are appreciated.

The writers’ conference itself begins Saturday, Oct. 7, at Sauk Centre High School, 903 State Rd., Sauk Centre, with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. and a welcome and overview at 9:15 a.m. A 9:30 a.m. panel discussion will cover the basics of writing and publishing.

After lunch, the keynote talk will be at 12:45 p.m. in the high school Margaret Shelby Theatre. The keynote speaker, Marcie Rendon, is an enrolled member of the White Earth Nation and the award-winning author of the Cash Blackbear mystery series. She was included on Oprah’s 2020 list of 30 Native American authors to read. Her keynote talk is entitled, “We Are Still Here: Telling Our Stories Through Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction.”

There will be three hour-long sessions throughout the day, starting at 10:45 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

The presenters are Julie Pfitzinger, writer, columnist and editor, whose session is entitled “Telling Your Story: The First Keystroke to the Final Product”; Thomas R. Smith, author of over 10 books of poems and author of “Poetry on the Side of Nature: Writing the Nature Poem as an Act of Survival,” whose session is entitled “A Year of Writing Dangerously”; and Danny Klecko,

author of the award-winning “Hitman-Baker-Casket Maker” whose session is entitled “How to Find an Audience for Your Poems.”

“Our speakers usually are suggested by participants via their feedback forms,” Umhoefer said. “Marcie Rendon, our keynote speaker, was suggested to us last year. The other three speakers approached us about coming.

Thomas R. Smith has been here once before but asked to

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

return.”

The conference will conclude with a reception at the Palmer House Hotel, 500 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, including door prizes and a cash bar.

If interested participants are unable to attend the writers’ conference in person, they can register for the virtual conference and view it at their convenience during the next month.

While the conference

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

WEST UNION ST. ALEXIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH 11 Oak St. S 320-352-2563 parishesontheprairie.org/parishes

SAUK CENTRE

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN 529 Main St. S 320-352-6882 goodsamaritansaukcentre.org

FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH 124 4th St. N 320-352-5356 faithbc.org

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH 304 Elm St. S 320-352-3623 flcsauk.com

FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 620 5th St. S 320-352-2030

ing maintenance agreement, the cloud storage fee totals about $153,000.

– Approved the city’s preliminary 2024 budget of $11,066,679.35 and a preliminary 2024 levy of $2,508,628.

– Based on complaints from neighbors of a property on the corner of Ash Street South and Eighth Street South, the city approved ordering an abatement of city code nuisance violations.

– Approved setting the Sinclair Lewis Campground’s 2024 seasonal camping rate at $2,700, an 8% increase from 2023 and an 80% increase from $1,500 in 2014.

– Approved the purchase of a 2017 Toro Sand Pro from Country Club Landscaping for $14,995, plus an estimated $650 in shipping.

– Approved the following contributions: $149.16 from the Men’s Card Playing Group for the Sauk Centre Senior Center; $300 from Carol and Ronald Funk for the SCSC; from Minnesota National Bank $333 for the SCPD, $333 for the SCFD and $333 for the Sauk Centre Ambulance Service; and from Mike and Nancy Noe, $100 for the SCPD, $100 for the SCFD and $100 for the SCAS.

The next city council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20.

mentors writers, Umhoefer wants it to support nearby authors as well. He encourages any area authors to contact him at umhoefer@mainstreetcom.com if they want to register for the conference in order to sell their book.

“We are one of the longest-running writers’ conferences in the country, and the conference is a source of pride for the Sinclair Lewis Foundation,” Umhoefer said. “Lewis himself was a mentor to writers, and we are pleased to continue his legacy.”

Forever Young Choir Concert: Sunday, Sept. 17, 4 p.m., at First Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. The concert features a mix of popular folk, pop, religious and patriotic selections. Concerts are free, with free will donations accepted as well as donations for the local Food Shelf.

Grief Share: Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. for 13 weeks, which started Sept. 5. Support group for anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one. Anyone with questions can contact Jeanine at 651-285-5720 or Deb at 320-429-0913.

DivorceCare: Thursdays, 6-8 p.m., which started Sept. 7 for 13 weeks. Support group for anyone going through separation or divorce. Any questions contact Deb 320-429-0913 or Buford 320-333-1648.

Sauk Centre Senior Organization Meeting: Third Tuesday each month, 2 p.m. at the Sauk Centre Senior Center, Sauk Centre.

Pins and Needles Quilters Monthly Meeting: Second Tuesday of the month, 7-9 p.m. at the Sauk Centre Senior Center, 321 Fourth Street N., Sauk Centre. 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.

Little Sauk Legion Auxiliary Unit 417 Meeting: Second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Little Sauk Legion, Little Sauk.

Western Stearns DFL Group: Meets every third Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m. potluck, 6:30 p.m. meeting. Location may vary, so please call 320-282-8312 for location. New members welcome!

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 12-4 p.m. and Saturday research can be arranged by contacting the museum. Located in the Sinclair Lewis Library building at 430 Main Street. Any questions, 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 Basics Meeting, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Tutti Fruitti in Sauk Centre. For more information, call 218-2401076. Wednesdays Big Book Meeting at 7 p.m., Civic Center, Melrose. For more information, call 320-241-3909.

NA Meetings: Mondays at 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: First Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m. at Alternative Senior Care, 418 10th Street South, Sauk Centre. Cristina Rodriguez, Care Navigator/Dementia Educator from D-CAN, is offering a support group. This service is on a donation-only basis and funded by Central MN Council on Aging as part of the Older Americans Act Program. If anyone wants to sign up for the support group or one-to-one coaching, they need to contact Cristina directly at (320) 640-6724.

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

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 316 Maple St. 320-352-3447 www.facebook.com/ zionlutheransaukcentre

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

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. These four fields share an emphasis on innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking.

In STEM education, kids are encouraged to explore and understand principles in the four fields through experiments and observations.

In Mrs. Johnson's third grade class, students worked on a STEM activity. They were given five spaghetti noodles and a foot of tape. Students were directed to think of ways that they could use the materials provided to build the tallest tower possible. They thought about ideas and, after a time of working on their own and discussion, students were able to work independently or with a partner. Students experimented with various strategies to build the tallest tower. There was a lot of creativity and problem-solving taking place!

Matthew from front

“When we were dating, I made it clear I was going into seminary and was going to be a pastor – a missionary at that time – and I was going to be following God’s call with my life,” Matthew said. “She was OK with that, and so we got married, went on our honeymoon and moved to Minnesota two days later. That was a big jump for us, but it worked out and God used it in our lives.”

Today, Matthew and Emily have four sons: Aiden, 11, twins Jeremiah and Josiah, 6, and Zachary, 5.

When Matthew entered CBTS, he saw how pastoral ministry was modeled and considered it a good fit for him. While receiving his masters of divinity degree, he served as an assistant youth pastor for a couple of

years in Eden Prairie.

After receiving his degree in 2016, Matthew was accepted by the First Baptist Church in Faribault. He lived there seven years, five as lead pastor of the church, and he worked for two years as the director of communications for CBTS, helping with online resources and outreach to students. He also created The Central Seminary Podcast.

Pastoring in Faribault helped Matthew get used to writing regular sermons and being in the pulpit every Sunday.

“One of my Bible college professors used to tell us, ‘Sundays come with awesome regularity,’ and I learned firsthand that, whether you’re ready or not, you have to have a sermon,” Matthew said. “I cut my teeth on building a sermon structure and being with and trying to minister to people. You take all the head knowledge you get in seminary, and now you have to put it into practice.

… Some of the things you learn in seminary, you say, ‘Yeah, they were right,’ and some of the things, you say, ‘That’s not going to work here.’”

Matthew knew the pre-

CENTRAL&HEATING SERVICE, INC.

vious pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Sauk Centre, the Rev. Joe DiVietro, as well as a lot about the church. He also liked Sauk Centre and the lakes in its area, as he and his sons enjoy fishing and other outdoor activities. So, when the lead pastor position opened, Matthew was eager to learn more.

“I liked where things were headed and liked some of the things (DiVietro) had put in place,” Matthew said. “(I liked) the small-town feel, not being super-tiny … not to the point of where you stop by every neighbor’s house on the way to the store.”

Matthew and his family moved into Sauk Centre in July, and he has had a good pastoral experience so far.

“It’s been different in some ways from previous ministries, in good ways,” Matthew said. “I like how things are set up at the church; it’s not all reliant on me, and there are other people who can step up, get involved and show leadership. It is a smaller town, so you see people more in random places.”

One of Matthew’s passions is Biblical counseling, using the Bible to help people when they are going through hard times, and he is planning to bring that free resource to Sauk Centre. As he continues to get settled in, he is also looking forward to determining his upcoming sermon series and planning where the church goes in the upcoming year.

“(I’m) just trying to help our church be an active and visible part of the community, ministering to the families who are here,” Matthew said.

David Weber

PHOTOS BY BEN SONNEK

(Above) Photo by Ben Sonnek: James Gregory (from left), Allen Ophoven, Ramona Porter and the Rev. Marty Porter serve dinner at the 2023 Zion Lutheran Church Harvest Festival Sept. 10 in Sauk Centre. The meal served about 140 people.

(Left) Jeff Lang and Marlene Mohr run the sale at the harvest festival Sept. 10 in Sauk Centre. The event, which has been held since about 1982, took about 40 volunteers to out on.

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK ll the tables during the dinner at the Options for Women Evening for Life gala Sept. 9 at Diamond Point north of Sauk Centre. The event is OFW’s biggest annual fundraiser and was attended by about 180 this year.

(Left) Emily Albrecht, Equal Rights Institute Director of Education and Outreach, gives her keynote talk during the Options for Women Evening for Life gala Sept. 9 at Diamond Point north of Sauk Centre. Her talk covered her history of pro-life advocacy and effective ways of engaging with people who disagree.

Where are we now?

Flags flew at half-staff over the weekend in remembrance of those lost in the terrorist attacks on American soil Sept. 11, 2001. This has been written about so many times, one wonders if it gets old. It may to some but I think it deserves every bit of attention it receives.

Most of us are old enough to remember where we were on that day which changed the world.

My question is: Where are we now?

I would trade the post-9/11 America –immediately following the attacks – to what is happening today. Back then, Americans were united in patriotism and a love for our great country, a pulling together for the common cause of protecting and valuing the liberty it represented. I call it great not because it had no faults; to say otherwise would be completely naïve. Rather, I consider it great because of the genius of the founders to create a Constitution designed to protect the God-given rights and liberties of its citizens from any type of rogue administration.

An attack from outside brought us together 22 years ago but, conversely, attacks from within divide us now. This brings to mind a time when we were divided even worse than today: The Civil War.

Last fall, I read “The President and the Freedom Fighter – Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Their Battle to Save America’s Soul,” by Brian Kilmeade. The book was the story of the unique relationship between the two. To say they were from different backgrounds was an understatement. One was a lawyer president, the other a former slave who escaped and became one of the most influential people of his time.

Was their relationship easy? Certainly not. They had their differences, but both believed in America and eventually became friends. They worked together and, through persistence, helped save a nation being ravaged by war. The ending of slavery wasn’t the original intent of the war,

We lost a big name in music just a couple weeks ago: Jimmy Buffet. Now, you’re probably wondering where in the world I might be going with this – I do wish it was to Margaritaville – but what I want to highlight are the parallels of Buffet’s music, chamber membership and our local businesses.

Jimmy Buffett released his first album in 1970, and in over half a century, his music has changed very little. He still sang about the same topics and was true to his musical roots, so true that, even if you heard a Buffet song for the first time, you could recognize it as one of his own. He was always true to his brand and mission. The Margaritaville brand is recognizable as synonymous with a good time, and we can learn a lot about branding and tone from his approach.

but it was a final outcome, along with keeping our southern states as part of this nation; I thank God for both.

Random

President Lincoln did something no other president had done before, and I’m not suggesting it will ever again happen in American history. He was up for reelection in 1864, deep in the throes of a bloody civil war. According to the book, it was in an attempt to unite the country that he chose a member of the opposing party – Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat – as a running mate. It might also have been a simpler intention of figuring out how to get more people to vote for him, because he ran away with the election. Confederate states were not part of the election.

A bit of history there, but our leaders could take a page out of that book and try a little harder to cooperate for the good of the American people. Maybe consider what their policies are doing to the average American, rather than lining their pockets and selling out the people for some sort of perceived moral high road.

What does that have to do with us here in Sauk Centre? It has to do with where we are now. A good number of our people have come to despise our country. Even here on little old Main Street, patriotism is now considered by some to be evil, which is sad. Politics in Washington, D.C. affect the lives of people on Main Street. We can ignore them, but they don’t ignore us; I think of that when I buy gas, groceries or basically anything. Quite frankly, it ticks me off.

To borrow someone’s impression from a couple weeks ago, “A lot of what’s happening in this country right now is just plain stupid.”

Times have been tough before and we have survived. I believe we can get to a better place for the American people but I’m just not sure what that process will look like. Using the Lincoln strategy, I wonder how a Trump/Harris ticket would work next fall. Biden/Schwarzenegger? OK, let’s just skip that idea.

In early September 2018, you opened your latest copy of the Sauk Centre Herald to find a new name on the byline of a couple of the feature stories. “Who the heck is this guy?” some of you thought.

“He doesn’t write as well as Bryan Zollman,” others claimed. Well, here we are, five years later, and I assume you’re all thinking broadly the same thing.

Ultra Sonnek by Ben Sonnek

Yes, at the conclusion of August, I marked the five-year anniversary of my first day with Star Publications. This week, though, I have another half-decade commemoration that’s worth mentioning, as I consider it my first cold dunk into the icy waters of Minnesota news. Around the office, we simply call it “The Compound Bow Incident.”

You remember it too, right? It was Sept. 13, 2018. A guy stole a pickup truck from Osakis, went joyriding through the town and down the interstate, ended up in Sauk Centre and did some joyriding around here too. Casualties included a gazebo and a local homeowner’s garage door, and the guy entered a house through an unlocked door. When officers pursued him into the building, he shot Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Orvis through the arm with a target arrow from a compound bow. After a two-hour standoff involving the Stearns County SWAT Team, Sauk Centre Police Department Sgt. Joe Jensen stunned the man with an electroshock weapon – which is to say, he Tasered the guy, but we can’t write that because Taser is a trademark name – and the excitement was over.

It wasn’t over in the newsroom, though.

Let’s rewind a bit. I graduated from Benedictine College in Kansas in the spring of 2018, and after a summer of job hunting, I was hired by Star Publications at the end of August. They were also nice enough to hold the position for me while I checked with a couple of other places that were interested in my resume. You know how it is with job applications; you hear back from nobody for weeks, and then you open your emails one day to find five or six companies suddenly remembered you exist.

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

We, as the chamber, strive to help our businesses with building their brand and continuing to connect them with ways to promote their services. Eventually, Buffet grew his brand outside of music, getting involved in the hospitality industry, casinos, liquor and even retirement communities. But, as disjointed as these other ventures appear at first glance, they are a continuation of his appealing island escapism brand. The correlation of this evolution and the mission of the chamber is to help businesses with brand extension and evolving audiences or possibly the best way to continue to grow and evolve with generational changes in the workforce.

In Margaritaville, community isn’t just about where you live; it’s about the people you share your paradise with. Similarly, chamber membership emphasizes the importance of community connections. Both worlds recognize our sense of belonging, and fulfillment often comes from the people around us. Buffett’s music often

Life Hacks

By Missy Traeger

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

Have a stomachache from eating too much? Lay on your left side and rub your stomach in clockwise circles. It will help ease the pain!

celebrates local cultures and traditions, just as the chamber promotes supporting local businesses and initiatives. Both highlight the significance of sustaining the unique characteristics of our surroundings. Despite the apparent differences, both worlds share core values of positivity, optimism and commitment to living life to the fullest. Whether it’s through community building or beachside relaxation, the goal is happiness and fulfillment.

The chamber has strong connections, helping to build partnerships and opportunities for collaboration. You may have heard the saying, “Collaboration over competition,” and it is one of the phrases we use often at the chamber. It would seem Buffett embraced this motto, too; he didn’t shy away from collaborations and partnerships. He recognized a similar sound and extended his audience by collaborating with artists like Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait. Similarly, your chamber membership allows you to grow your audience and extend your reach, creating valuable community collaborations.

The comparison between chamber membership and the Jimmy Buffett lifestyle may seem worlds apart, but they share fundamental principles that can enrich our lives and remind us to take an active role in shaping our surroundings for a brighter future. Life’s richness comes from embracing diverse experiences, and chamber membership reminds us of the significance of community engagement, local support, building strong foundations and taking an active role in shaping our surroundings for a brighter future. If you’re looking for a Cheeseburger in Paradise or being taken away to Margaritaville, the chamber can point you in the right direction for both.

While raised in Minnesota for as long as I can remember, my first-ever visit to Sauk Centre was for the job interview. While driving me around town, Mark Klaphake gave me the basic rundown of what the job would look like. “It’s a pretty calm community,” he said. “It’ll be mostly profile pieces and stories like that.”

The second time I came to Sauk Centre, I was moving into an apartment and would be starting work in a day or two. Then, a couple of weeks later, as I’m coming upstairs from my office, I’m cautioned to remain indoors because, quote, “There’s an active shooter in the community.”

So, I turned around and went back downstairs. What? I was new to the area; for all I knew, this could’ve been a regular thing for Sauk Centre, like this was “Thuggery Thursday” or something.

I didn’t stay downstairs long. Mark took me out to the scene for pictures while the standoff was ongoing. We didn’t stay long, but after the situation was resolved, Mark came back to my office to tell me to drive fellow reporter Laura Hintzen to St. Cloud because the Stearns County Sheriff was holding a press conference in half an hour.

The drive to the courthouse, under normal circumstances, is about 45 minutes. Good thing law enforcement had bigger concerns that day, for Laura and I made it just in time to hear all the important parts of the conference. From there, we booked it to the Star Publications office in Sauk Rapids so I could throw a news piece together and we could put it on the website ASAP. The rest of the week, we talked to neighbors and polished what we had so we had a full story for the Sept. 20 edition. That week included my first interview with Pat Westby, then the Sauk Centre Public Schools superintendent, and I still remember my first question: “Do you have a pen I could borrow? Mine seems to have fallen out of my pocket.”

Five years of professional journalism, and not much has changed. I mean that in more ways than one; after all, this reportedly calm community followed up its criminal archery episode with one of the coldest winters on record.

Then, 2020 happened.

Then, the fallout from 2020 happened, and if my journalistic foresight is accurate, there are more big history moments on the horizon. I’m not saying Mark lied to me, but I’m still looking for that calm, slow community he was talking about. At any rate, it’s certainly kept me busy.

INSTAGRAMTWITTER SOCIAL MEDIA! FIND US ON

Halfway to a decade FACEBOOK @SAUKHERALD Scan the QR codes to find our pages or follow us @saukherald

And, on that note, it’s nigh overwhelming for me to think about how I have developed as a person this last half-decade. I no longer live in an apartment; I own a house, in spite of what the mortgage company tells me. These five years have seen me marry and have two sons. I’ve published a book, and I’m writing another one as we speak. I have a couple of news awards to my name. Even the overwhelmingly negative moments of this metamorphosis have built me up to where I am, and God willing, these good and bad moments won’t be done with me for a while. So, while one never knows if I’ll make it to a full decade here, the pattern established so far gives me a good feeling about the next five years.

Just keep an eye on your compound bows, please.

Carol Moorman ..................Co-Editor ................................................carol.m@star-pub.com

Herman Lensing.................Reporter...................................herman@melrosebeacon.com

Evan Michealson ................Reporter..................................................evan.m@star-pub.com

Jaime Ostendorf ................Marketing...................................................jaime@star-pub.com

Neil Maidl .............................Marketing..................................................neil.m@star-pub.com

Periodicals postage pending at Sauk Centre, MN Published by Star Publications Copyright 2023 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 320-352-6577 • www.star-pub.com HOURS: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Subject to change during holidays.

Nancy Powell.......................Manager ................................................nancy.p@dairystar.com

Tim Vos ..................................Manager ......................................................tim.v@star-pub.com

Amanda Thooft ..................Production Mgr./Page Layout ...amanda@saukherald.com

Karen Knoblach ..................Graphic Design/Proofing...................karen.k@star-pub.com

Maddy Peterson .................Graphic Design .....................................maddy@star-pub.com

Cheyenne Middendorf ....Graphic Design ...............................cheyenne@star-pub.com

Annika Gunderson ............Graphic Design ......................................annika@star-pub.com

Jill Borgerding.....................Office Assistant ...........................................jill.b@star-pub.com

Ben Sonnek ..........................Co-Editor ...............................................ben.s@saukherald.com

Robin Brunette ...................Inside Sales Representative ............robin@saukherald.com

Amy McChesney ................Bookkeeping.................................amy.m@star-pub.com.com

Gretchen Jennissen ..........Bookkeeping........................................office@saukherald.com

Lorie Swedenburg .............Receptionist/Circulation ....................lorie@saukherald.com

Logan Thomas ....................Sign Design ..........................................logan@saukherald.com

Jill Borgerding.....................Office assistant ............................................jill.b@star-pub.com

Kathy Banke .........................Bookkeeping

Mike Imdieke.......................Bookkeeping

THE SAUK CENTRE HERALD (USPS 482-220) is published weekly on Thursdays by Star Publications, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN. 56378. Second-class postage paid at Sauk Centre, MN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE SAUK CENTRE HERALD, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Herald Sauk Centre Annual Subscription Rates: Stearns, Todd, Douglas, Pope, & Morrison counties$53. Elsewhere in Minnesota - $60. Elsewhere in the United States - $63. The deadline for most news in The Sauk Centre Herald is noon Monday. Exceptions are obituaries, which have a deadline of 10 a.m. Tuesday. The deadline for advertisements in The Sauk Centre Herald is noon Tuesdays, and in the Shopper noon Wednesdays and Classy Canary is noon Wednesdays. Corrections/Clarifications: The Sauk Centre Herald strives for accuracy. If you would like to report a factual error, call 320-352-6577. Letters to the editor are welcomed. Letters must be signed with first and last name and include address and phone number. Letters are limited to 350 words. See political letters to the editor policy for additional guidelines on our website under “policies”. Advertising: Star Publications staff have no authority to bind this newspaper and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute final acceptance of the advertiser’s order. ISSN: Print: 2831-980X Online: 2831-9818 Staff Mark Klaphake ....................General Manager.................................mark@saukherald.com Joyce Frericks ......................Publisher ....................................................joyce@saukherald.co

Natasha Barber ...................Managing Editor ............................natasha@saukherald.com

Class of 1955 reunites at the Bear Trap

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

The Sauk Centre

High School Class of 1955 – SonJa (Witsoe) VanHavermaet (front, from left), Marie (Wengler) Unger, Caroline (Bunker) Rosdahl, Rosalyn (Botz) Carter, Marilyn (Kane) Schwegman, and Dorothy (Beilke) Jacobs; and (back, from left) Cecelia (VanHavermaet) Bieringer, Leland Erickson, Herman Hendrickson, Elaine (Ecklund) Beste, Gale Eggers and Tony Jennissen – hold their reunion Sept. 8 at the Bear Trap in Sauk Centre.

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

applicable statutes.

Date: August 18, 2023

YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT:

1. Default has occurred in the conditions of the Mortgage dated July 6, 2020, executed by Mark F. Heinen and Caitlyn Heinen, husband and wife, as Mortgagors, to Liberty Bank Minnesota, as Mortgagee, and filed for record July 13, 2020, as Document No. A1574138, in the Office of the County Recorder of Stearns County, Minnesota. The land described in the Mortgage is not registered land.

2. The Mortgage has not been assigned.

3. The original principal amount secured by the Mortgage was $97,500.00.

4. No action or proceeding at law is now pending to recover the debt secured by the Mortgage, or any part thereof.

5. The holder of the Mortgage has complied with all conditions precedent to acceleration of the debt secured by the Mortgage and foreclosure of the Mortgage, and all notice and other requirements of

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:

DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 3, 2020

ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

6. At the date of this Notice the amount due on the Mortgage, and taxes, if any, paid by the holder of the Mortgage is $82,998.66.

7. Pursuant to the power of sale in the Mortgage, the Mortgage will be foreclosed, and the land located in Stearns County, Minnesota, described as follows: Lot Nine (9) and the South One-Half (South 1/2) of Lot Ten (10), Block Four (4) in the Townsite of Sartell, Stearns County, Minnesota will be sold by the County Sheriff of Stearns County, Minnesota, at public auction on October 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department, located at 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

8. To the best of Mortgagee’s information, the property being foreclosed has a property address of 400 1st Avenue N, Sartell, Minnesota 56377, and has tax parcel identification number 92.57141.0000.

9. The time allowed by law for redemption by Mortgagors or Mortgagors’ personal representatives or assigns is six (6) months after the date of sale.

10. The property must be vacated by 11:59 p.m. on April 12, 2024, provided the Mortgagors have not reinstated the Mortgage under Minnesota Statutes, Section 580.30 or redeemed the property under Minnesota Statutes, Section 580.23. If the foregoing date is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the date to vacate is the next business day at 11:59 p.m.

11. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGORS, THE MORTGAGORS’ 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

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

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 March 26, 2024, or the next business day if March 26, 2024 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.

MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE LIBERTY BANK MINNESOTA /s/ Benjamin B. Bohnsack (#0319399) Rinke Noonan Suite 300 US Bank Plaza 1015 W. St. Germain St. P.O. Box 1497 St. Cloud, MN 56302 (320) 251-6700 (320) 656-3500 fax Our File No. 22118-0217 Bbohnsack@RinkeNoonan. com

Attorneys for Mortgagee H-34-6B

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: August 1, 2023

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage:

AM

PLACE OF SALE: County Sheriff`s office, Law

THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

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 March 26, 2024, or the next business day if March 26, 2024 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

MORTGAGEE: U.S. Bank National Association Wilford, Geske & Cook, P.A. Attorneys for Mortgagee 7616 Currell Boulevard, Suite 200 Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 209-3300

File Number: 052718-F2 H-32-6B

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: August 2, 2023

MORTGAGEE: Guild Mortgage Company LLC Wilford, Geske & Cook, P.A. Attorneys for Mortgagee 7616 Currell Boulevard, Suite 200 Woodbury, MN 55125

SPONSORED BY:

100 years ago • Sept. 13, 1923

Sauk Centre cattle breeders win 14 blue ribbons at state

F.P. Minette and son, well-known Sauk Centre Brown Swiss breeders, had 13 head of purebred stock on exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair last week. They faced their stiffest competition yet; besides the four Minnesota herds, there were two herds from Wisconsin, one from Iowa and two from Illinois, 150 head altogether. The Minettes won 14 blue ribbons – every blue ribbon in the Minnesota class – and in open competition with other herds, they won four second-place awards, three third-place awards and several prizes for fourth and fifth place.

50 years ago • Sept. 13, 1973

Sauk Centre Public Library to lose public schools funding

The Sauk Centre Public Library Board was informed of the Sauk Centre Public Schools Board of Education’s May 16 vote to form a resource center and library within the school; consequently, the Sauk Centre Public Library will lose school funding beginning in the fall of 1974. School funds have supported the public library for at least 50 years because it was the public schools’ resource center, and during the last school year, the district paid the library $5,730 plus an additional $700 for heating the building. The school board will delay the opening of the new elementary school library until the beginning of the 1974-75 school year, giving the public library and Sauk Centre City Council time to financially adjust and to honor the district’s commitment to pay the public library from June 1973 to June 1974.

25 years ago • Sept. 15, 1998

SCHS to hold “Off on the Right Foot” night

Parents of Sauk Centre High School students are invited to the “Off on the Right Foot” night Sept. 21 at the school. After picking up their children’s schedules at the registration desk, parents will go through a shortened school day that follows the schedule; they will also have to find the rooms and get from one side of the building to the other in the passing time – like their students. Teachers will explain and take questions on class policies, content, goals, objectives and grading methods in each class session and show the materials used. Parents unable to attend are encouraged to call the school to receive this information.

10 years ago • Sept. 12, 2013

Fifth annual Grillin’ and Chillin’ Cook-Off has record attendance

So many hungry customers came to the fifth annual Grillin’ and Chillin’ Cook-Off last Saturday in Sauk Centre’s Sinclair Lewis Park that many of the food vendors there ran out of food before 4 p.m. The cook-off sold approximately 5,000 tickets, the highest attendance the event has had so far, and the grilling contest was accompanied by a classic car show, a craft fair and live music by local band Kool Whip. Pam and Mike Borgmann, the organizers of the event, hope to have close to 20 vendors next year and plan to move the vendor area toward the park shelter; they have already set the date for Sept. 6, 2014.

US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Development

City of West Union: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Rural Development, USDA

ACTION: Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact

SUMMARY: The USDA, Rural Development has made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) with respect to a request for possible financing assistance to the City of West Union for the construction of a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system in Todd County, Minnesota.

FURTHER INFORMATION: To obtain copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and FONSI, or for further information, contact: Jeff Scholten, Area Specialist 320-763-3191 x112 or jeff.scholten@usda.gov. The EA and FONSI are also available for public review at the Rural Development office located at 900 Robert Street NE, Suite 103 in Alexandria, MN.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project consists of the construction of a new sanitary sewer collection system and a new two cell stabilization pond treatment system. The wastewater treatment ponds will be located on a 14 acre parcel approximately 3 miles southeast of West Union. The following alternatives were considered: 1.) Do nothing, 2.) Regionalize with Sauk Centre, 3.) new collection and ponds treatment.

Rural Development has reviewed and approved the EA for the proposed project. The availability of the EA for public review was announced via notice in the Sauk Centre Herald on June 22 and 29, 2023. The EA was also available for public review at the

Date: August 18, 2023

YOU ARE NOTIFIED THAT:

1. Default has occurred in the conditions of the Mortgage dated January 18, 2005, executed by Dayna

L. Hamacher and Jesse L. Hamacher, wife and husband, and Randy L. Hamacher and Lynn M. Hamacher, husband and wife, as Mortgagors, to Liberty Bank Minnesota, successor in interest to Liberty Savings Bank, fsb, as Mortgagee, and filed for record February 9, 2005, as Document No. 1143028, in the Office of the County Recorder of Stearns County, Minnesota. The land described in the Mortgage is not registered land.

2. The Mortgage has not been assigned.

3. The original principal amount secured by the Mortgage was $294,400.00.

4. No action or proceeding at law is now pending to recover the debt secured by the Mortgage, or any part thereof.

5. The holder of the Mortgage has complied with all conditions precedent to acceleration of the debt secured by the Mortgage and foreclosure of the Mortgage, and all notice and other requirements of applicable statutes.

6. At the date of this Notice the amount due on the Mortgage, and taxes, if

USDA Rural Development office in Alexandria, MN. No comments were received. Based on the EA and commitments made by the City of West Union, Rural Development has concluded that the project would have no significant impact(s) to land use, floodplains, wetlands, historic/cultural resources, biological resources, water quality, coastal, and miscellaneous resources and would cause no socio-economic & environmental justice issues. The Agency has also concluded that the proposed project is not likely to affect federally listed threatened and endangered species or designated critical habitat thereof. The proposed project would not disproportionately affect minority and/or low-income populations. No other potential significant impacts resulting from the proposed project have been identified. Therefore, Rural Development has determined that this FONSI fulfills its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR §§ 1500-1508), and USDA Rural Development’s Environmental Policies and Procedures (7 CFR Part 1970) for its actions related to the project.

Rural Development is satisfied that the environmental impacts of the proposed project have been adequately addressed. Rural Developments federal action would not result in significant impacts to the quality of the human environment, and as such it will not prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for its action related to the proposed project.

Dated: August 24, 2023

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

any, paid by the holder of the Mortgage is $209,627.30.

7. Pursuant to the power of sale in the Mortgage, the Mortgage will be foreclosed, and the land located in Stearns County, Minnesota, described as follows:

See attached Exhibit ‘A’ That part of the Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, Section 14, Township 122, Range 28, Stearns County, Minnesota, described as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of said Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter; thence North 89 degrees 33 minutes 05 seconds East, assumed bearing, on the north line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter 698.11 feet; thence South 01 degrees 42 minutes 10 seconds West 505.00 feet to the point of beginning of land to be described; thence North 89 degrees 33 minutes 05 seconds East parallel with said north line 650.66 feet to the east line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter; thence South 00 degrees 58 minutes 24 seconds West on said east line 809.75 feet; thence South 89 degrees 52 minutes 21 seconds West parallel with South line of said Northwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter 500.00 feet; thence North 10 degrees 19 minutes

Lender/Broker/Mortgage

Originator: Mortgage Research Center, LLC dba Veterans United Home Loans Residential Mortgage Servicer: PennyMac Loan Services, LLC

COUNTY IN WHICH

PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Stearns Property Address: 920 Savanna Ave, Saint Cloud, MN 56303 Tax Parcel ID Number: 82.52629.0631

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot 11, Block 8, Westwood Parkway, Stearns County, Minnesota

AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE

AS OF DATE OF NOTICE:

$195,717.39

May 2, 2018, Stearns County Recorder Document Number: A1519484

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: And assigned to: PennyMac Loan Services, LLC

Dated: October 20, 2022

Recorded: October 20, 2022, Stearns County Recorder Document Number: A1642976

Transaction Agent: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.

Transaction Agent Mortgage Identification Number:

1003502-9101025414-1

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 follows:

DATE AND TIME OF SALE: October 03, 2023, at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: County

58 seconds West 768.12 feet to point of beginning. will be sold by the County Sheriff of Stearns County, Minnesota, at public auction on October 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department, located at 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

8. To the best of Mortgagee’s information, the property being foreclosed has a property address of 17920 27th Avenue, Clearwater, Minnesota 55320, and has tax parcel identification number 09.05664.0010.

9. The time allowed by law for redemption by Mortgagors or Mortgagors’ personal representatives or assigns is six (6) months after the date of sale.

10. The property must be vacated by 11:59 p.m. on April 12, 2024, provided the Mortgagors have not reinstated the Mortgage under Minnesota Statutes, Section 580.30 or redeemed the property under Minnesota Statutes, Section 580.23. If the foregoing date is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the date to vacate is the next business day at 11:59 p.m.

11. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGORS, THE MORTGAGORS’ PERSONAL

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 April 3, 2024, or the next business day if April 3, 2024, 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

H-37-1B

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. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE LIBERTY BANK MINNESOTA, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIBERTY SAVINGS BANK, FSB /s/ Benjamin B. Bohnsack (#0319399) Rinke Noonan Suite 300 US Bank Plaza 1015 W. St. Germain St. P.O. Box 1497 St. Cloud, MN 56302 (320) 251-6700 (320) 656-3500 fax Our File No. 22118-0216 Bbohnsack@RinkeNoonan. com Attorneys for Mortgagee H-34-6B

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: August 10, 2023

MORTGAGEE: PennyMac Loan Services, LLC Wilford, Geske & Cook, P.A. Attorneys for Mortgagee 7616 Currell Boulevard, Suite 200 Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 209-3300

File Number: 052143-F1 H-33-6B

Flying high at home

Sauk Centre wins majority of swim events

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

There are not many experiences like playing in front of your home crowd.

Fueled by a strong backing, the Sauk Centre Streeters won the first four events of a home meet against Little Falls Sept. 7, riding the momentum and energy to a 106-75 victory at Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre.

“We’re really happy with our crowds and support,” said James Schreiner, head coach. “For anyone who has been to a swim meet, they know how loud it gets and how that can be a great home-pool advantage for us as well.”

Sauk Centre had a lot

to be excited about from the very beginning of the competition. The 200-yard medley relay team of Olivia Marsh, Brooke Bromenshenkel, Addison Bick and Pyper Vogt won the meet’s opening event, while Stella

Schirmers, Jorja Novak and Katie Gregory reached the wall first, second and third in the 200 freestyle, respectively. For Novak and Gregory, their times of 2 minutes and 4.03 seconds and 2:24.48, respectively, put them under the section cut.

“We want to get out and compete, but we want to do more than compete,” Schreiner said. “We want to not only win, but put girls in the top three.”

Pyper Vogt thrived in another day of event experimentation. The junior took home top honors in the 200 individual medley at 2:36.79 and beat out teammate Maizie Jennissen for first by less than a second in the 100 backstroke.

Also finding success at different angles was Schirmers, whose 200 freestyle triumph preceded a win in the 500 freestyle. There, the two-time state entrant showed off her versatility, mastering the sport’s longest event with a 6:05.64 mark. Olivia Marsh and Livia Jennissen raced to the wall shortly thereafter, earning second and third.

“That comes from the tone our girls set in practice, their willingness to work hard, their willingness to swim hard sets and be positive,” Schreiner said. “That’s something I’ve been super happy with. Our older

girls are setting the culture for our younger girls to be positive, to embrace the struggles.”

Marsh in particular was impressive in leading by example. The sophomore – who attended last year’s state meet as an alternate – flew off the wall fast and hard in a first-place 50 freestyle race at 27.16, along with leading off the aforementioned victorious 200 medley relay.

“She’s a machine,” Schreiner said. “She comes in, she works hard, she has a great attitude and is just such a positive force for our team.”

Maizie Jennissen led a formidable 100 freestyle finish, taking the top spot in the event with a time of 59.51.

Bromenshenkel was also an event champion, capturing the top spot in the 100 butterfly at 1:08.25. She also possessed the fastest time in the 100 breaststroke – one of two events Sauk Centre raced as an exhibition after the result was long without doubt –and earned Sauk Centre six points by grabbing first in the 200 freestyle relay alongside Gregory, Carmen Loxtercamp and Schirmers.

The Streeters, now 2-0 in the dual season, will go on the road to face the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. 200MR: 1. Marsh, Bromenshenkel, Bick and Vogt 2 minutes and 1.5 seconds;

Divas 3 to perform in Sauk Centre

Divas 3 is coming to Sauk Centre at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the Margaret Shelby Theatre.

Three female singers with powerhouse voices sing the biggest hits of the greatest divas in history. This vibrant show spans four decades, covering the 1960s through the 1990s, with hits by Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Cher, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, ABBA and many more. Individual members of the group have all starred in shows on the Las Vegas Strip. Since its inception in 2013, the group has performed at performing arts centers across the United States and internationally as a headlining entertainer act aboard luxury cruise ships. An enticing mix of glamour, class and “goosebump-inducing vocals,” Divas 3 successfully finds the balance of honoring the iconic hits of the great divas without being a karaoke or an impersonation show.

Some program highlights include: “Wind Beneath My Wings,” “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “I Will Always Love You,” “My Heart Will Go On,” “Fernando,” “Time After Time,” an Adele Medley, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Shoop Shoop Song” and many more.

Public Works Department

and 3. Livia Jennissen 6:39.78. 200FSR: 1. Gregory, Loxtercamp, Bromenshenkel and Schirmers 1:50.21; 3. Anderson, Thompson, Novak and Bick 2:01.37. 100BK: 1. Vogt 1:08.67, 2. Maizie Jennissen 1:09.32 and 4. Makenna Barthel 1:16.43. 100BR: Bromenshenkel 1:14.51 (EX), Elizabeth Eiden 1:28.18 (EX) and Abigail Eiden 1:28.67 (EX). 400FSR: Novak, Bick, Maizie Jennissen and Schirmers 4:09.36 (EX); Anderson, Gregory, Marsh and Vogt 4:12.04 (EX).

Streeters continue to pave a successful path

Sauk Centre boys cross-country finishes third

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

While there are a ton of elements like weather and course layout to consider, the best sign of an improving cross-country team is time drops.

The Sauk Centre cross-country program, in that sense, showed growth Sept. 11, with its 10 scorers all picking up season-best times at the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Invitational at Long Prairie Country Club in Long Prairie.

“All of our kids are improving throughout the season here and I expect to see more of that as we continue,” said Jim Metcalf, head coach.

The Streeters boys finished in third place out of 14 teams with a score of 76, 42 points behind firstplace Bertha-Hewitt, who they also raced against last week in Wadena. Jacob Drevlow was the team’s top finisher at 17 minutes, 13.58 seconds, continuing a strong stretch of elite performance to begin the season.

“He’s had a first and two thirds now this year,” Metcalf said. “He’s doing a really good job.”

Sauk Centre’s consistent core of scorers also impressed in the Monday afternoon meet. Devin Crawford-Klinnert posted an 18:17.09 race for 13th place, while Neal Stadsvold dropped about 40 seconds off his previous showing with a 17th-place 18:32.56 performance.

“He’s a guy we can always count on, whether it’s at a meet or at practice,” Metcalf said of Stadsvold. “I don’t care where it’s at, you can see he’s determined. He’s a guy we appreciate having on our team.”

Cementing himself in 24th place at 19:13.38 for fourth on the team on the day was Logan Frank, who regularly finished in the same position in a memorable 2022 campaign. It has taken some time to find his footing, but Metcalf expects Frank to be a spark for the Streeters moving forward.

“He can be right in the mix,” Metcalf said. “We know he has it in him. It will be interesting to see where he goes with it this year.”

Logan Wiehoff

a row, Noah Borgerding finished one spot away from scoring, registering a 28th-place 19:19.95 finish.

“He’s going to be either passing those guys or pushing them to be faster,” Metcalf said. “He’s doing his job, and it’s been a pleasant surprise to see how quickly he’s made his mark this season.”

Sauk Centre’s girls team was also impressive, ending up sixth out of 11 teams with a score of 164. A different Streeter found herself taking the team’s top scoring spot, as seventh grader Tori Linscheid snagged 15th out of 92 runners at 22:14.44, just ahead of senior Francesca Rivers, who took 16th at 22:18.55.

“Tori was right in Francesca’s hip pocket and in the last couple of hundred yards, went by her and placed just in front of her,” Metcalf said. “It was a really good run out of her. Francesca, too, is so encouraging for the younger runners. She’s been a great team leader, getting Tori comfortable during the races.”

The lineup was further rattled by another strong seventh grader, Annie Harren. After starting the season in JV and finishing as the team’s seventh runner nearly a week ago, Harren crossed the finish line as the Streeters’ fourth runner at 25:18.71 in 56th place.

“With her figuring out her pacing and everything, she’s done a phenomenal job,” Metcalf said. “I see her making some vast improvements throughout the season.”

Alyssa Tegals landed one spot ahead of Harren at 55th with a time of 25:13.26, while Abigail Mohs was Sauk Centre’s final scorer with a 25:32.47 race in 60th.

“If there are other runners not doing their job, she’s going to hold them accountable,” Metcalf said of Mohs. “I’ve seen her doing it in practice… the kids listen to her. She has become one of our team leaders.”

West Central Area seized first place in the girls competition with a score of 81. The Streeters will take part in the Little Crow Invitational at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Little Crow Golf Resort in Spicer.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Divas 3 will be performing at the Margaret Shelby Theatre Sept. 26 in Sauk Centre. The singers’ show spans four decades of music.

PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Senior Stella Schirmers competes in the 200 yard freestyle during Sauk Centre Streeters home meet Sept. 7 against Little Falls. Schirmers won the event with a time of 2:10.65.

Sauk Centre Head Coach James Schreiner encourages and times a swimmer during a competition against Little Falls Sept. 7 in Sauk Centre. The Streeters won 106-75. They swim at Sauk Rapids-Rice Sept. 14.

Freshman

All gas, All gas,

Aggressive Streeters take it to Minnewaska

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

The motto for the Sauk Centre football team this season is “All gas, no brakes” and this aggressive nature was on display Friday night when the Streeters hosted Minnewaska.

The Streeters threw for six touchdowns, perfectly executed an onside kick and orchestrated a 47-yard drive in 13 seconds at the end of the first half as they rolled to a 46-8 win over Minnewaska Area Sept. 8.

“We came out and started fast,” said Curtis Krump, head coach. “When we were warming up I told the guys you can put up 40 points tonight, you just have to get out there get after it and do it.”

The full-throttle ahead nature was perhaps best shown late in the first half, with Sauk Centre holding a 16-8 lead and taking possession of the ball at the Minnewaska 47-yard line with 13 seconds left.

Instead of taking a knee heading into halftime, the Streeters took a shot and quarterback Damian Ahrens hit wide receiver Jay Neubert in stride for a 40-yard pass.

“We do a lot of practicing of throwing the ball deep and the timing of it, one that the defense can’t

get and only our guy can get,” Krump said.

Two plays later, the duo connected again for a 6-yard touchdown with no time on the clock. Ahrens found Neubert for the 2-point conversion as well when he leaped over a Laker defender. Earning eight points in 13 seconds ignited the maroon sidelines.

“That was big getting that next score because we had to kick off to them after half,” Krump said. “We had it really rolling.”

The charge continued in the opening minutes of the second half. The Lakers started with the ball and Krump’s blitzing defense held them to a three-andout.

When Sauk Centre got the ball back, they continued their aerial assault. Ahrens found Jeric Schloegl near the Streeters sidelines and he broke several tackles before strutting into the endzone to extend the lead

no brakes

on display for football team

coach.

“It felt like something was lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I felt a lot of pressure. It would have been really tough for this team to go down 0-2 and go to Albany next week. They are tough. We really needed to get things rolling as a team and it felt good to get that first one and get that mojo going.”

Both Sauk Centre and Albany are 1-1 on the season. The Huskies lost to New London-Spicer and defeated Melrose. The Huskies’ size and running game present a great challenge.

harder opponents coming up.”

M 0 8 0 0--8

SC 8 16 14 8--46 SC scoring:

Neubert 24-yard touchdown reception (Ahrens pass to Neubert for 2-point conversion)

Schloegl 14-yard

endzone

a touchdown

8.

to 30-8.

“I told the kids, let’s put it to bed as quick as we can and not mess around,” Krump said. “Let’s take care of business and get out of here.”

On the ensuing kickoff, Sauk Centre’s special teams recovered an onside kick.

“It was something we’ve seen,” Krump said.

“I thought, ‘Let’s go for it, let’s get that ball,’” Krump said.

Although they were stopped on their drive, Sauk Centre got the ball back when the Lakers muffed a punt. The turnover led to another Ahrens/Neubert score. Ahrens ran in the 2-point conversion and Sauk Centre was comfortably leading 38-8.

The Ahrens/Neubert connection was not done. They found each other for an 18-yard score early in the fourth quarter. The touchdown pass was a school-record sixth touchdown pass in a single game.

“I knew to be successful against these guys, we would have to get the ball in the air,” Krump said. “Damian had a heck of a game. He stood in the pocket and took some shots when he had to and he put the ball where our guy could catch it or nobody could catch it. He made some good reads.”

Neubert and Schloegl were his favorite targets. They caught all six touchdowns.

“Jay can go get the ball; you can see the high-point ability and the ball skills,” Krump said. “Jeric is going to get it and turn up field and run hard. I have always

called him a thoroughbred when he gets the legs going.” Like the offense, the defense made great strides from the season opener. They allowed just a second-quarter touchdown.

“We played way better as a unit, everybody was doing their job and taking care of business,” Krump said. “The D-line was better with their hands, getting off blocks and blowing things up, and the linebackers didn’t have people on their lap, so they were free to run and make plays. The DBs were pretty solid. We had two picks we missed; the ball went right through our hands. When we have the opportunity, we have to take the ball away.”

Coupled with strong special teams play, it made for an enjoyable night for Krump and Streeter fans.

“We had good position all night because of the punt return team and the punt team,”

Krump said. “We played fast, we played hard, we played smart, for the most part we played solid in all facets of the game.”

The win meant a lot to Krump, a first-year head

“They are big and they run the ball hard and a lot,” Krump said. “We are going to need to tighten some things up. We have to keep getting better. We have

PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Luke McCoy gets past a Minnewaska player to recover a Laker fumble during the first half of their football game Sept. 8 in Sauk Centre. The Streeters recovered three fumbles in the game on the way to a 46-8 win.

Senior wide receiver Jay Neubert hauls in a 40-yard pass late in the first half of their convincing 46-8 win over Minnewaska. Two plays later, Sauk Centre scored a touchdown as time expired in the first half.

Junior Jeric Schloegl sprints into the

for

during Sauk Centre’s home football game Sept.

The Streeters, 1-1 on the season, play at Albany Sept. 15.