PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
Postal Customer
7 Second Avenue Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper”
Vol. 161, No. 23
A continuation of the Frontiersman, The Free Press, Sauk Rapids Sentinel and St. Cloud Sentinel.
Hearing scheduled for man involved in fatal fire by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
2014 in the basement of Zablocki’s residence in the 1900 block of First Street A contested omnibus North, St. Cloud, when a fire hearing is set for a Sauk became out of control. Rapids man who allegedly Shortly after 5 p.m., helped cause an exSt. Cloud Police plosion and house Department were fire last November dispatched to the that killed an 85residence after a year old woman. neighbor called to Justin Edward report the fire. When Pick, 19, is set to firefighters entered appear in Steathe home, they found rns County court Sally Douglas, ZaThursday, Sept. Justin Pick blocki’s grandmoth24 at 9 a.m. Pick er, unresponsive and has been charged with two lying face down near the felony counts of Third De- front door. gree Aiding and Abetting Douglas died two weeks Murder, Minnesota Statute later at Hennepin County 609.195(a) and 609.195(b), Medical Center as a result with a maximum sentence of consequential smoke inof 25 years of imprisonment halation from the residential each. fire. Zablocki and Pick both According to the inves- claimed they were unaware tigation, Dustin Ross Za- Douglas was home at the blocki, 18, and Pick were time of the incident. making butane hash oil, a Pick remains at the Steahighly concentrated form rns County Jail with a bail of of marijuana, on Nov. 22, $500,000.
Crash on County Road 1 by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
RICE – The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle crash on County Road 1 on Sept. 11. According to witnesses, Martha Loften, 66 of Royalton, was traveling northbound when she crossed over into the oncoming traffic area. She corrected herself and then drove into the east ditch, striking a mailbox and a telephone utility box. Her vehicle came back on to the road and came
to rest blocking both north and southbound lanes of traffic. Loften did not have any apparent injuries, but was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for evaluation. It appeared that a medical issue contributed to the cause of the crash. No others were involved or injured. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by St. Stephen Rescue, Sartell Police, and Collins Brothers Towing.
Community input sought as Rice moves on with preliminary budget by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE – After meeting with individual departments within the city, the Rice City Council discussed a preliminary budget for 2016 at the Sept. 8 council meeting. The city will be looking at increasing their budget desires to meet the requests of the various city departments, but would like community input before they proceed. Community members may expect a letter from the city council this week ex-
plaining the needs for extra funding and inviting them to be involved as the council moves forward through meetings and public hearings. In other council news: • The council rescinded and adopted resolutions allowing them to add names of Lori Catton to the city clerk position and Paula Kampa to the personnel committee. • Approved Part I of the Well-Head Protection Plan. • Scheduled a six month interview for city treasurer Rose Olson.
Benton County hazardous waste day Sept. 19
Benton County residents will have the opportunity to rid their homes and properties of waste and unneeded materials at a combined collection event hosted by the Benton County Department of Development on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Rural Amnesty and Household Hazardous Waste Day will take place from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. at Benton County Public Works located at 7752 Highway 25 Northeast in Foley. Site personnel will be available at the location, which is one mile north of the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 25. Items over the limit of each residence may require additional fees, and personnel have the right to turn away items. Items accepted: • Appliances: One free per residence. • Off-rim tires: Four auto and light truck tires per residence. • Furniture (mattresses, box springs, chairs, couches, etc.): One piece per residence.
Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota 56379
• TV’s/computers: One free per residence. • Motor vehicle and rechargeable batteries: Free. • Demolition waste (wood, building debris, etc.): One cubic yard free per residence. • Scrap metal (pipe, wire, iron, etc.): Free. All motors must have gas and oil drained. • Adhesives, aerosols, cleaners, flammables, fluorescent bulbs or ballasts, mercury, moth balls, paints/paint thinners, pesticides, poisons, pool chemicals, roofing tar, sealers, solvents and stain/varnish will also be accepted. The below items will not be accepted: • Agricultural/business/ commercial/medical/or household waste (garbage), ammonia-held air conditioning units, antifreeze, explosives, gas refrigerators, office equipment, oil and oil filters, pressurized tanks, recyclables, snowmobile tracks, tires on rims, whole vehicle shells and yard waste.
(USPS 482-240)
September 16, 2015
Schmidt seeks seniors’ grief
Golden Tears to be pageant winner’s platform by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER SAUK RAPIDS – Sarah Schmidt’s heart is full of gold, golden tears that is. After working in the funeral service for 13 years, this Sauk Rapids wife, and mother of two, wants seniors – and community members alike – to know it’s OK to cry. Schmidt, 36, has recently been named Mrs. Benton County International 2016 and will represent the communities of Benton County in the Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant on Saturday, March 12, 2016. She is employed and sponsored by Foley Funeral Home. Schmidt has chosen a platform “Golden Tears – It’s Okay to Cry,” which concentrates on senior citizens and grief, to be her focus throughout her reign. “Grief is something that touches everybody, and multiple times throughout your life,”
PHOTO BY JOANNA MAE PHOTOGRAPHY
Sarah Schmidt is the mother of Braxton, 7, (left) and Hudson, 5, and the wife of Stearns County Sheriff Deputy Joel Schmidt. The family has lived in Sauk Rapids for six years, but has always had family ties to Sauk Rapids and the surrounding communities. Schmidt said. “Yet nobody’s grief is the same, it’s like a fingerprint. I’d like to open up that conversation.” Schmidt became passionate about seniors and grief a few years ago after stepping back from full-time funeral service and working in an area senior community. She facilitated three groups who met for a six-week (once a week) grief session.
“It amazed me how many tears these seniors had held onto for decades,” she said. “I had women in their 80s who finally were expressing grief over stillborn infants they had lost in their 20s. I would hear them speak their babies’ names for the first time, 60 years later. It amazed me to see the tenderness in their eyes.” As with anything else, the way society copes with grief
has changed over decades. Many times mothers were not able to hold, name or grieve their babies as families might today. “The father would take the child, bury it and it was gone. They just moved on,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt continued on pg. 2
Council to give direction of fundraiser by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – A young Sauk Rapids community member has big hopes for a fundraiser she will lead for the Sauk Rapids Fire Department. Madelyn Adamski, 15, daughter of firefighter Jason Adamski, asked the city council’s permission to continue and sought support to raise funds for a rescue airboat for the Sauk Rapids Fire Department at the Sept. 14 council meeting. Adamski is concerned with the safety, age and efficiency of the current boats used in rescue work, and has spearheaded a fundraiser which has already raised in excess of $1,000. The rescue boats would benefit the departments with their flat bottoms and above-
water air propeller, amongst other things. The boats could access shallow waters, swamps or even ice; more quickly and efficiently than the boats currently in department use. Mayor Brad Gunderson was all in favor of Madelyn seeking fundraising funds, but had some reservations about the council giving their blessing. “As a citizen of Sauk Rapids, I’m very excited about this, but as a mayor I have to make sure we do it right,” Gunderson said. Gunderson will meet with the necessary committees and return to Adamski with direction as she proceeds with her fundraiser.
City council continued on pg. 3
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Bill Woolsey (right) presents Police Chief Perry Beise (left), Sergeant Brent Bukowski and his K-9 Storm (middle) and the entire Sauk Rapids Police Department with a check for $1,000 to replace Storm upon his retirement at the end of this year. City council also accepted donations from Michael and Mary Ellen Kittridge, Larry Bratt, Diane Hornung, Wendy Wheeler, and Performance Food Service/Cindy Adams for the cause. A new K-9 unit will cost approximately $10,000.
Mother and daughter’s passion ignite Team Dance for a Cause Event raises money for those undergoing breast cancer treatments by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
Heidi Karbon’s life, and the lives of her mother and surrounding family changed forever on Aug. 1, 2006. “My mother, Betty Radtke, was diagnosed with breast cancer on her granddaughter’s first birthday,” Heidi said. “It was devastating. My husband and I had been married for two years and hadn’t had kids yet. We were surrounded by the excitement of my niece’s first birthday, but we had this fear of the unknown because we knew of the huge battle be-
fore her.” The cancer was invasive, and shortly after diagnosis Radtke underwent surgery, which resulted in a mastectomy. Nine years later, Radtke maintains medical care, but is still in remission. “It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions, but she remained positive through it all, crediting her yearly mammogram for saving her life,” Heidi said. “It was a whirlwind. You never forget it, but time does make it feel better.” Fast forward to 2008. Formerly Team Dance for a Cure [the name has been changed due to potential legal issues with the Susan G. Komen Foundation], Team Dance for a Cause developed from a Landmark Forum leadership class Heidi attended with her husband. “I was challenged to do something for the community
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Betty Radtke (right) was her daughter’s, Heidi Karbon, inspiration to start Team Dance for a Cause, which is committed to improving the comfort and care for those who suffer from the effects of breast cancer.
that was greater than myself,” Heidi said.
Dance continued on pg. 2
Team Dance for a Cause has grown from a slim 23 participants in its first year to almost 200 dancers at the fall 2014 event.