Sauk Centre Herald 11-09-2023

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Thank you Veterans

Honoring all who served on November 11

Herald Sauk Centre

NUMBER 24 • VOLUME 157

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Italy

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City sick, Deployed in safe time Council updating personnel policy to comply with state

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

Gunther Austin holds one of the plates carved for him in Trieste, Italy, Nov. 2 at his Fairway Pines apartment in Sauk Centre. Austin served in Italy from 1947-49 with his friend, Alan Thornbloom.

BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER

Austin reflects on military service in late 1940s

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Minnesota businesses are adjusting for the state’s new requirements for sick and safe time, and the city of Sauk Centre is no exception. During the Sauk Centre City Council’s Nov. 1 meeting at Sauk Centre City Hall, city administrator Vicki Willer updated the council on the soon-to-be-amended city personnel policy, based on recent state legislation effective Jan. 1, 2024. Under the legislation, employees who are not independent contractors and who work at least 80 hours a year for a Minnesota employer earn one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours per year unless the employer agrees to a higher amount.

BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER

n his Fairway Pines apartment in Sauk Centre, Gunther Austin has several wooden plates with the insignia of the U.S. armed forces in Trieste, Italy. These plates were carved for him in Trieste, when Austin was stationed there from 1947-49. While he never engaged with the enemy, he is glad for the experience his service had teaching him self-reliance, especially as Veterans Day approaches Nov. 11. “I never saw any action, but I served,” Austin said. “I like (Veterans Day); it’s a nice day.” Austin was born and raised in Sauk Centre, mostly living with his grandparents who had hardware stores in Sauk Centre, Osakis and Long Prairie. While attending school, locally, he attributes much of his education to helping with these hardware stores, including his talent for salesmanship. He was also part of the National Guard and the State Guard, even though he was underaged for both. When the guards were deployed in January 1941, his mother made the commander discharge him.

City council page 4

Austin page 4

Brophys renovate cabin into vacation rental

Phase two enters focus

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

Crews work on the grounds around the in-progress early childhood addition to Sauk Centre Elementary School Nov. 7 in Sauk Centre. Scheduling is underway for the second phase of the Sauk Centre Public Schools renovation project, focusing on the middle and high schools.

School committee reviews project schedule

Playhouse in the woods BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER

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“I love getting the reviews after people have been here,” Karen said. “They enjoy it as much as we were hoping they would.” The Brophys moved to their home north of Sauk Centre in the early 1980s, and the 1914 house they acquired had previously been used to store animals, so that was one of their first projects.

hat started as a 2020 COVID-19 project has turned into a source of income and a cozy getaway for Bob and Karen Brophy, north of Sauk Centre. Their one-bathroom studio cabin has seen consistent booking and positive ratings since it opened in August, Brophys page 3 and as the winter months approach, the Brophys hope their “playhouse in the woods” will bring PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK Bob and Karen Brophy bring the guest book out of in more people, not only for their benefit but their rental cabin Nov. 6 at their home north of Sauk also to promote the Sauk Centre area. Centre. The cabin has been available for booking since Aug. 2 and has been booked for 13 weekends straight.

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BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER

the schedule for the project’s second phase, covering the middle and high schools. The consulting The timeline for the second firm held a schedule alignment phase of the Sauk Centre Public Oct. 30 to create the initial coSchools renovation project is takordinated schedule; to condense ing shape. the schedule’s timeline, they plan Tony Heimke, with consultto decrease project durations and ing firm SitelogIQ, updated the increase the crossover of project school board on the status of the scope areas. A final schedule is schools’ renovation project Nov. pending, wherein all trades will 6 during the board’s committee meeting in the school media center. sign off with their commitments. The second phase has been The project’s first phase, covering divided into multiple areas, with the elementary school, has nearArea G including the district ofly completed, and with the main fice, media center, courtyard infill building’s interior finished, the focus is on the new early childhood and classrooms in the vicinity; addition. Roofing is expected to be Area H including the gym, fitness area, locker rooms, boiler room completed Tuesday, Nov. 14, and the elementary school’s final clean and corridors; Area J including the is set to occur over the 2023 winter break. SitelogIQ is also solidifying School board page 3

OBITUARIES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Edward J. Berscheid James J. Felling Pearl E. Schroeder Barbara Kay Tabatt Bradley A. Weishair

• Mortgage Foreclosure - pg. 7 • Assumed Name - Walker Kluver Ventures - pg. 7 • Assumed Name - i-Implant Dentistry - pg. 7 • City of Sauk Centre Notice of Board and Commission Openings - pg. 8 $

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