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7 Second Avenue Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper”
Vol. 161, No. 28
A continuation of the Frontiersman, The Free Press, Sauk Rapids Sentinel and St. Cloud Sentinel.
Rice woman’s death under investigation The name has been released of a woman who allegedly died of injuries sustained from a gunshot wound Oct. 14., located within a Rice mobile home park. According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Tammra Baker, 44, was the victim who was pronounced dead at the scene as authorities responded to a call made for medical attention in Rockwood Estates. An autopsy has been performed, but the final determination of Baker’s death
has yet to have been released. The investigation of Baker’s death remains open and active. Information discovered within the investigation continues to indicate there is no threat to the general public. Anyone with information about this crime or the suspects is asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office (320) 968-7201 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers (800) 255-1301, www.tricountycrimestoppers. org or by texting TRITIP to 274637.
City approves franchise fees for ECE and Xcel to be raised by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – With the absence of Mayor Brad Gunderson and city council member Ellen Thronson, the city of Sauk Rapids approved an amendment of the utility franchise fees at the regular meeting Oct. 13. Franchise fees will increase on East Central Energy and Xcel bills for community members, but will remain a set amount for the maximum length of an agreement, which is 10 years. According to city administrator Ross Olson, franchise fees are charged by the utility bill collectors who then cut a check back to the city for those amounts. This allows the city to collect from all property owners and spreads costs including those properties which are otherwise tax exempt. The money collected goes into the city’s general fund, but is more often than not used for road maintenance and reconstruction. The fees will increase by 1 percent for electrical customers and $1-$2 each month for gas customers dependent
on their residential or commercial/industrial status. The amendment has been approved, but the summary of publication will be approved at the next city council meeting due to the need for a 4/5 approval. In other council news: • A public hearing was held and an on-sale liquor license with Sunday liquor sales was approved for John Doughs Pizza located at 319 North Benton Drive. • Approved a bid for raising the electrical transformer at Bob Cross Park. • Approved appointment of Mr. Alexander Wegner to police officer position. • Approved the purchase of a single axle snowplow truck. • Approved a fire department tanker unit for fire vehicle No. 3. • The council was advised to review a resolution in support of law enforcement which was adopted by the city of Red Wing. Council member Kurt Hunstiger brought the resolution to the attention of the council in light of recent society backlash of law enforcement.
School district enrollment increases by 200 students by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District continues to attract students with their open enrollment, and recently, enrollment saw a large increase. Over the summer, the district attracted over 200 new students. D r. Daniel Bittman, superintendent, believes that this pattern will continue. With this much of a jump in enrollment, the district receives more funding, bringing in over three million dollars a year for the district’s programming and staff. “The district benefits from open enrollment. If there was ever a time where the cost would be more than what we would receive, then the board would look at open enrollment more seriously,” Dr. Bittman said. Despite the constant increase in district-wide enrollment, class sizes are the lowest they’ve been in 10 years. “As long as we have strong enrollment, we continue to make class sizes a priority. We are trying to keep those class sizes as low as possible and we continue to decrease class sizes,” Dr. Bittman said. The district has been fortunate that the increase in students has been across all grade levels. Programming and building can continue,
Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota 56379
without any cuts. “Because they aren’t all on one grade level, it would have a huge financial impact to our district if we closed enrollment,” Dr. Bittman said. “If they were on one grade level, we would have to cut teachers.” The district has worked hard to keep programming by reducing or eliminating activity fees, providing free busing to and from school, and offering free breakfast across the district. “We couldn’t offer the same types of programming if we closed open enrollment,” Dr. Bittman said. “We are able to continue programming and building because of the kids coming to us.” Currently, the district is undergoing a facility study, evaluating the buildings to ensure that there is enough space for schooling. The architect will present to the school board in November with his preliminary findings. “The money the district receives from open enrollment will pay for that,” Dr. Bittman said. Each meeting, the school board members review enrollment numbers and continue to evaluate space. The facility study will help in these efforts, and will ultimately help the students throughout the district. “It helps us make sure we are doing what we need to do for the kids,” Dr. Bittman said.
(USPS 482-240)
October 21, 2015
Three women tell of their battle with breast cancer by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER SAUK RAPIDS – October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer hits home for a lot of families, some more than others. It is said that one in eight women have the potential to develop some form of breast cancer during their lives. Look around, one in eight. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone, at any age. But although the women who battle this disease may be different in many ways, they all have one common bond. They’re strong. No matter if they survive their cancer battle or lose their fight, they all remain strong throughout their journey. These are the stories of three women in one community who found their strength. Strength in knowledge: one year cancer free Jill Pundsack had her normal yearly mammogram on Dec. 30, 2013 without suspecting there would be anything abnormal in the results. At age 60, she had been diligent about her yearly appointments. Her grandmother, two aunts, sister and first cousin had all battled breast cancer. In 2012, her mammogram had come back clean without any hints of suspicion. This was routine, but there was nothing routine about what the doctors found that day. Doctors immediately decided to take a closer look. Through ultrasounds and biopsies they detected three different tumor sites – two of which were cancerous, one which had the potential to become. Pundsack was diagnosed with Stage 2B TZN1AMO invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma. Before undergoing treatment, Pundsack had a sentinel lymph node biopsy to detect whether the cancer had spread throughout her lymphatic system. “We [Jill’s husband, Jim, and her] thought I was finding out that day whether or not the lymph nodes were cancerous,” Pundsack said. “When I asked the nurse how it looked and she said everything is perfect, I took that to mean I didn’t have lymph node involvement. I put it on my Facebook. I put it on my Caring
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Marianne Steichen’s husband, Gary, went to every appointment she had during her breast cancer treatment. Gary passed away suddenly in June 2014.
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Breast cancer runs in Jill Pundsack’s family. A regular yearly mammogram saved her life. Bridge. I let those praying for me know. I went home, scheduled my plastic surgery and was prepared until my doctor called Jan. 6 to tell me the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes and it would change the course of my treatment.” The miscommunication between the nurse and the Pundsacks had left them believing there was no need to worry, when in reality the nurse had simply meant the procedure had went well. “I had a horrible anxiety attack. My heart rate spiked to 280. I had to go to the doctor to have medication to get my heart rate down. I felt like I was stuck in a shell and I couldn’t get myself out of it. I was afraid of what might be a death sentence,” Pundsack said. The diagnoses meant Pundsack would not only undergo a bilateral mastectomy, but would
a l s o n e e d chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “When you find out cancer is advanced, it puts a different spin on how you think about it. You either sink or swim,” Pundsack said. “You either go into the abyss and let everyone do everything for you or you go 100 percent in and learn everything you can about it and participate in every program and opportunity they offer for you. I went 100 percent in. I used all the people at the Coborn’s Cancer Center as a resource.” As Pundsack underwent her breast cancer treatment, Cancer Care Coordinator Julie Sanner, RN, OCN, CBCN, a team of numerous resources and classes helped her understand everything she wanted to know. “It was so reassuring to me to be so well taken care of,”
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Sue Baron found her breast cancer after she noticed an area on her upper chest that felt as if it was a bruise. She has been cancer free for four years.
Pundsack said. “Every part of your mind and body is taken care of without you even knowing you need that help. You have so many emotions and feelings that it’s really hard to describe what they are when you go through this, but with the cancer center you don’t have to sweat it. They’re already going to know how you feel. They are
Breast cancer continued on pg. 2
New pizzeria to open John Dough’s aims to make memories by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Community members will have a new place to sit down and enjoy a family meal this week as John Dough’s, a pizza restaurant, opens its doors on North Benton Drive. Leon and Dina Pierskalla, of Melrose, have been working hard for months to open the second location of their family pizzeria. Eight years ago the two opened a location in Melrose that has been booming ever since. “People ask me all the time when we are going to expand,” Pierskalla said. “It turns out this was a no-brainer.” Pierskalla had browsed for potential locations, but until he stumbled upon the building in Sauk Rapids, he had always tabled the idea of opening another restaurant.
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Leon Pierskalla, owner, stands outside his new location next to a vehicle which resembles an old ambulance to go along with John Dough’s slogan, “Pizza to Die For.”
“I love the fact that we are on North Benton Drive. The traffic is unbelievable and we’re not tucked away,” Pierskalla said. “I had looked at multiple locations in the
area. This building snuck up has a completely different on my realtor and I; it was a look and ambiance than the perfect fit. It has the right car Melrose location. It doesn’t count and the right commuJohn Dough’s nity surroundings.” continued on pg. 3 The Sauk Rapids location