Chamber board selects former chief of police to lead parade
BY SARA EISINGER | STAFF WRITER
Former Sauk Centre Police Department Chief of Police Bryon Friedrichs has proudly accepted the prestigious title of grand marshal of the 53rd annual Sinclair Lewis Days Parade. The parade commences at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
“As a chamber board, when it came down to selecting a candidate for Sinclair Lewis Days Parade, it was unanimous,” said Stacie Michels, Sauk Centre Area
JULY 17-21, 2024
ON MAIN STREET
Friedrichs named grand marshal S inc lai r Le w is Days Sinclair Lewis Days
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “Bryon Friedrichs is an incredible community member who has protected and served us to the best of his ability throughout his long-tenured career. He has represented Sauk Centre well. He is well-loved and excellent at this job. He has made us all proud. We want to celebrate him and his career.”
Friedrichs served on the police force for 36 years, 16 of those years as chief. Friedrichs retired from the beat earlier this year on April 29, but had no intention of retiring from the community he loves.
First donning Sauk Centre Fire Department turnout gear July 1, 1992, Friedrichs still serves as a volunteer firefighter today. He most recently took a job assisting in general maintenance at Fairway Pines Senior Living. Friedrichs said it has been a joy chatting with residents every day.
“Bryon is incredibly humble and he would be the last to boast about his success, or quite possibly, may not even realize the impact he has had,” Michels said.
Many community members agree with Michels.
argaritaville
FILE PHOTO
Chief Bryon Friedrichs hangs out with his friend, Isaiah Hokanson, Aug. 3, 2017, at Night to Unite. Friedrichs was named Sinclair Lewis Days grand marshal.
Friedrichs
from front
“Bryon has always been about the community and (is) always looking out for others,” said Jim Metcalf, former SCPD Police Chief from 2005-08.
Friedrichs succeeded Metcalf as chief in 2008. He participated in annual law enforcement projects such as Shop with a Cop in December and Night to Unite in August, along with multiple other ventures he immersed himself in.
“When you are in a small town, you don’t always have a name for something, you just do it,” Friedrichs said.
Friedrichs commonly made a point to go out of his way to meet and greet the citizens he served.
“If you saw kids at the park playing basketball, you would play b-ball (basketball) with them,” Friedrichs said. “I would encourage the officers to do that.”
Friedrichs showed up to school in uniform most mornings to greet students. Young people within the community remain important to Friedrichs.
“It starts with the young people,” he said. “For them to be able to communicate with us and not be intimidated or scared, but to look at us as regular people, opens the lines of communication.”
Born and raised in Sauk Centre, Friedrichs graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1985 with one goal in mind — to serve his beloved community. He earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Willmar Community College (Ridgewater College) before passing the skills course at Minnesota North College in Hibbing.
Friedrichs scored a part-time job at the
FILE PHOTO
Sauk Centre Police Chief Bryon Friedrichs hands out badges to Halloween-goers in October 2012. Friedrichs was Sauk Centre Police Department Chief from 2008 to 2024.
SCPD in 1988, working as a dispatcher. Former SCPD Chief from 19802000, George Trierweiler, offered Friedrichs a part-time officer position approximately two months later.
“I remember seeing Bryon walking down Main Street,” Trierweiler said. “I was the chief and didn’t know anything about him. I knew his dad, and after talking with someone, I found out he just got out of school for law enforcement and was going to be looking for a job.”
Trierweiler decided to talk to former Sauk Centre Mayor Bob Wensman about offering Friedrichs a position.
“I said, ‘Bob, I’d like to talk to Bryon Friedrichs; I know he graduated from Sauk Centre and was in sports. I haven’t heard anything bad about him after talking to other people,’” Trierweiler said.
Trierweiler extended a job offer to Friedrichs, who accepted a fulltime road patrol position about one year later. Friedrichs has made Trierweiler proud ever
since.
“He was fair,” Trierweiler said. “The kids liked him and they knew who he was. He knew the people and fit in with the people in the department.”
Trierweiler shared memories of a young Friedrichs, working the night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“I came on at 7 a.m.,” Trierweiler said. “At that time, the night person picked up the chief to bring them to work. The police car pulled up front to pick me up. Bryon got out; I got in. Bryon seemed sort of different. I asked about his night and he said it was pretty quiet. I put the car in gear and pulled away from the house and the car bounced a little funny.”
Trierweiler knew something was off.
“I asked what he wasn’t telling me and he said, ‘Well, there was an accident outside of town and I must have been going a little too fast,’”
Friedrichs page 5B
Ready Ready Ready Ready
Pinewood Derby added to Sinclair
Lewis Days
BY HAILEY HOKANSON STAFF WRITER
As Sauk Centre residents await Sinclair Lewis Days festivities, a new event is on the calendar for people to attend.
A pinewood derby has been added to the lineup thanks hosts Sauk Centre Cub Scouts Pack 25 and American Legion Post 67. Pinewood derbies are common events among Cub Scouts and involve building a small wooden car with no motor that uses only its momentum to race.
The pinewood derby is Thursday, July 18, at American Legion Post 67, 128 Main St. S. in Sauk Centre. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with races starting at 6:30 p.m.
to race to race
“You get a block of wood, and you can shape it and do whatever you want with it, as long as it abides by the rules,” said Rob Wiener, American Legion representative.
“The track and car length are both predetermined.” Pack 25 is a
10-member group of kindergarten through fifth graders. Using funds gained from the derby, the Pack will take a scouts sanctioned camping trip next summer in Ely. Pack 25 has a goal to gain $1,000 from the event through entry fees
and donations. “The Cub Scouts brought the idea (for the races) to the Legion as a joint effort fundraiser,” said Nikki Duchene, Cub Scouts representative.
Derby page 9B
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Liyam Ledesma (front, from left), Augusten Judkins, Wesley Kepp, Augustus Steckelberg, Timothy Stangle and Dalton Rivera-Wolfe; (back, from left) Garret Duchene, Mattix Pascarella, Ayden Haase and Hunter Groetsch hold up their pinewood derby cars in February 2023 at the official Scout Pinewood Derby. Pack 25 is partnering with the Sauk Centre American Legion to put on a Sinclair Lewis Days derby July 18 in Sauk Centre
Derby from page 6B
“The Legion is our charter organization, and we wanted to do something to bring both of us more money and give us more of a name in town.”
The race will have multiple classes separated by ages, and the aluminum track for cars to race on will be provided by the Scouts.
Entrants may pick up their pinewood derby car building kit from the Legion any time leading up to the day of the race, but they are advised to do so sooner than later to allow themselves time to build the car. A registration fee covers the cost of the kit.
“Basically, what they’re going to be getting is a block that looks like a 2-by-4, two axles and two wheels,” Wiener said. “They have to build the cars themselves.”
Entrants who have their own cars from past races are able to participate with them, but must pay the entry fee ahead of time at the Legion.
“We want to draw people in for Sinclair Lewis Days to give them something to do on Thursday night,” Wiener said. “There will be some
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Pinewood
Derby cars created by the Cub Scouts of Pack
25 wait to be raced February 2023 during the Pinewood Derby Competition. Residents interested in entering the Sinclair Lewis Days Pinewood Derby Thursday, July 18, may register and pick up their car kits at the American Legion any time before race day.
great prizes, and it’s an event that hopefully the whole community can get around.”
The Cub Scouts are familiar with the races, as they do their own races every year.
“They do this event with other Cub Scouts, and they did it February 2023,” Duchene said.
“We decided to bring it to Sauk Centre because we want to try to grow
our own pack as well.”
The Legion’s wing night and an Auxiliary garage sale will accompany the race event.
“You don’t have to have any fancy skills or anything,” Wiener said. “It’s about bringing a little fun into the community, while bringing in money for the Cub Scouts at the same time.”
• Restored Historic Hotel
• Featured on “Ghost Adventures,” “Aftershocks,” “My Ghost Story”, “The Dead Files” and “Hotel Paranormal” “Chasing Paranormal”
• Voted Best Haunted Hotel in America by USA Today’s 10 best.
• WCCO Viewers Choice for Best Haunted Landmark in MN.
STREET CAR SHOW Dance Dance Out of Line
20th, 2024 • 10 am - 2 pm
July 20th, 2024 8:30 pm - 12:30 am
SINCLAIR LEWIS DAYS CRAFT & VENDOR FAIR
Vendor List Vendo r List Vendor
July 20 • 9 am - 3 pm
• Get Outside Clothing
• Upscale Dumpster Divas
• Shirts Illustrated
• Jim's Place
• Scentsy
• Tastefully Simple
• Prairie Orchard Linens
• Sayovitz Woodworking
• Lesley Barrie
• Camphill Village Minnesota
• Mary Kay
• Busy Squirrel Creations/ Lake Country Soap
• Jehovahs Witness
• Friends of Sinclair Lewis Library
• Angelic Jewelry
• Purple Fox Crafts
• Prado House of Cookies
• Gress Custom Apparel & Gifts
• Norwex
• The Painter's Den
• May Flowers
• Helen’s Girls
Para d e Lin e
Parade Line-Up* Parade
Sinclair Lewis Days Sinclair Lewis Days
saukcentrechamber @gmail.com
Heidi Beissel CISR Elite/Account Manager
Kevin Berrios CSR
Mark T. Maloney Agency Manager
Shannon Stans CSR
Long drives, archives
Zimmers look toward the past, future of their ‘64 Pontiac
BY HAILEY HOKANSON STAFF WRITER
Often seen cruising around Sauk Centre is a 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix that drives like new. Its nocturnal blue paint glistens in the sun, sometimes looking black to the passing eye, and the license plate reads “I heart JOANZ.” A pair of white, fuzzy dice hangs from the mirror and adds flair to the classic model.
The ride has been a staple in Kevin and Joan Zimmer’s collection since they first purchased it in 2021.
“I just saw it for sale online and noticed it’s just like my first car I ever had,” Kevin said. “I had a black one with a white interior, but otherwise it looks and runs the exact same.”
Along with the Grand Prix, Kevin and Joan have two other vintage cars — a 1961 Chevrolet Impala and a 1958 Ram, which was Joan’s first vehicle she ever owned.
Special about the 1964 Grand Prix is its story.
Upon purchasing the car, the Zimmers received a note, which revealed the car’s sentimental past.
“The note was written in 2014 from the lady who initially sold it,” Kevin said. “I have no idea where it was at for the seven years between her owning it and us buying it.”
The woman’s name was Shirley.
The note explains that the woman’s father had purchased the new Grand Prix in September 1963 in Evansville, Kentucky. The man traded in his 1957 Oldsmobile for the vehicle, and called the new car his “baby.”
The owner had a stroke in 1989 and was no lon-
ger able to drive, but he wanted the vehicle to remain within the family. He sold it to his brother who lived in Carmi, Illinois, when the car had only 30,000 miles on it.
Zimmers page 18B
PHOTO BY HAILEY HOKANSON
Joan and Kevin Zimmer stand in front of their 1964 Grand Prix at their home June 24 in Sauk Centre. The couple bought the car online because of the similarities it had to a vehicle Kevin previously owned.
Celebrating Community!
Zimmers from page 17B
After her father’s passing, Shirley, received the car with 40,000 miles on it. While she said she wanted to keep it in the family, she decided she had no use for it. The car had been in dry stor-
age for 90% of its life and was in near original condition.
The car was sold in 2014, and a short time later, it ended up in the hands of the Zimmers.
“It’s a cool little story,” Kevin said. “It’s fun to hear the history behind the cars when you get them.”
Now, Kevin and Joan
make their own memories with the car. The couple often takes the vehicle to area car shows, including the Sinclair Lewis Days Car Show. They notice the glances it often receives from people when they are driving it.
Sauk Centre, MN
PHOTO BY HAILEY HOKANSON
The interior of Kevin and Joan Zimmer’s 1964 Grand Prix sits at their home June 24 in Sauk Centre. They bring the vehicle to car shows around the area and will be at the Country Cruisers Car Show Saturday, July 20.
PHOTO BY HAILEY HOKANSON
Sauk Centre. The car has a documented history and has had multiple owners.
“It gets a lot of looks by people on the road,” Joan said. “It’s just fun to see people’s reactions to it, mostly older folks.”
Since purchasing it, Kevin has made a few adjustments such as fixing the air conditioning and replacing the decades old tires. Aside from those, Kevin said the car is in “great shape.”
“It stays in the heated garage year-round,” Kevin said. “It’s a southern car, so we can only take it out in the summer weather, but it can still drive 70 mph easily.”
The two also enjoy bringing their grandchildren on rides and
wish to bring it around to different locations. Kevin hopes to convince Joan to let them drive it down Route 66.
They said they enjoy driving their older cars because of the nostalgia.
“With these old cars, they are almost identical to the ones we had growing up,” Kevin said. “It just brings back a lot of great memories.”
The Zimmers will have their car at the Sinclair Lewis Days Country Cruisers Car Show on Main Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
Please call 320-352-2822 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Jenny Goelz.
Dr. Jeenn n y Gooellz grew up in undeergraduate de d gree fro Univveersity of MN M School of ruural ar a ea a and d has s
Dr. Jenny Goelz grew up in the small town of Maple Lake, MN. She received her undergraduate degree from University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of the University of MN School of Dentistry. She embraced the opportunity to return to a rural area and has greatly enjoyed meeting and serving her patients in Sauk Centre and the surrounding communities.
r atly and d the com
In her freee e time, Dr. Goel cr crochet. Shhe believes yo love v s her hu h b sband. She loves committedtohelpingh all 822 your twith
In her free time, Dr. Goelz has many hobbies. She likes to bake, read, garden, and crochet. She believes you are never too old to learn a new skill! Dr. Goelz also loves getting out in the sunshine, usually by golfing or playing pickleball with her husband. She loves to travel and is also an avid Minnesota sports fan! She is committed to helping her patients achieve their best, brightest smile.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
6:30 PM: Bingo - Sauk Centre American Legion Post 67
8:30 PM: Summer Cash – Raf e Drawing and rst winner announced immediately after bingo ends - Sauk Centre American Legion Post 67
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
11 AM–1 AM: Bear Trap Crazy Days All Day Happy Hour: Serving up $3 Rails & Taps all day! — Bear Trap
6 PM: South Meats North Food Truck Opens – Sinclair Lewis Park
6:15 PM: 2023 Miss Sauk Centre Ambassador Farewell and Introduction of New High School Community Engagement Class Ambassadors — Sinclair Lewis Park Bandshell*
6:30 PM: Live Music by Dana and the Bottlerockets PLUS the “Beach Bum Best Dressed”: Channel your inner Jimmy Buffet and you could win $50 in Chamber Bucks! — Sinclair Lewis Park Bandshell* (Sponsored by Sauk Centre Area Chamber and Visit Sauk Centre)
* In case of inclement weather will be moved to Margaret Shelby Auditorium—watch Chamber FB page for details.
THURSDAY, JULY 18
10 AM: Quilt Program sponsored by Pins & Needles Quilt Guild, free will offering. Please be seated by 10 a.m. — First Lutheran Church
10 AM–6 PM: Sauk Centre Lions Yard Sale — Sauk Centre Lions Fairy Lake Park Shelter
11 AM–1 AM: Bear Trap Crazy Days All Day Happy Hour: Serving up $3 Rails & Taps all day! — Bear Trap
Margaritaville on Main Street
12–1 PM: Chamber Third Thursday Networking Special Edition featuring Just for Kix as our host — Sauk Centre Herald, see our website for details.
12–5 PM: Crazy Days Sales Kickoff — Downtown Sauk Centre
FRIDAY, JULY 19
SATURDAY, JULY 20
8 AM: Sinclair Lewis Chip Timed 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (Registration open on chamber website) — Sinclair Lewis Park
— Sauk Centre American Legion
8 AM–1 PM: Legion Auxiliary Garage Sale
JULY 14-21, 2024
9 AM: Crazy Days Sales — Downtown Sauk Centre
7–7:45 AM: Yoga in the Park w/Yoga Mama’Z, gentle yoga, earthing, and breathwork — Sinclair Lewis Park, meet near beach
8 AM–6 PM: Legion Auxiliary Garage Sale PLUS $5.00 1/4lb hot dogs w/chips and lemonade — Sauk Centre American Legion
9 AM–5 PM: Crazy Days Sales — Downtown Sauk Centre
9 AM: Co-ed Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser, call Ella Froseth at 320-407-2463 to register your team. — Splash Pad Park
9 AM–3 PM: Craft Fair & Vendor Sale — organized by Sauk Centre Area Historical Society and Food Truck Frenzy Opens — Sinclair Lewis Park
10 AM–12 PM: Youth Business Showcase — Youth up to age 20 can register for vendor spot/get more info — Contact Kim Kortuem 320-301-1258. This is a FREE EVENT — Magni Financial Parking Lot
9 AM–3 PM: Sauk Centre Lions Yard Sale — Sauk Centre Lions Fairy Lake Park Shelter
11 AM–2 PM: Food Truck Friday featuring SC Hockey Assoc. Walking Tacos and Dunn Brothers Popsicles — Minnesota National Bank
11 AM–3 PM: Little Red School House Tours — Corner of Main Street and 3rd St N
6 PM: Food Truck Frenzy — Sinclair Lewis Park
6–10 PM: American Legion Post 67 Beer Garden — Serving until 10 PM — Sinclair Lewis Park
2–4 PM: Pie & Ice Cream Social, $4.00 Carryout Available— Sauk Centre Senior Center
4–8 PM: Legion Auxiliary Garage Sale — Sauk Centre American Legion
5:30 PM: Pinewood Derby, 3 classes (under 18, 18 and older, or business class). Kits with registration details are available for $20, pick up at the American Legion. — Sauk Centre American Legion and Cub Scouts
3 PM: Medallion Hunt — 1st Clue will be released via email and Chamber FB page. (Sponsored by Felling Trailers) — Medallion within City Limits
10 AM–2 PM: Sauk Centre Area History Museum and Research Center Open FREE to the public — Sinclair Lewis Library/History Museum
10 AM–2 PM: Country Cruisers Car Show — Contact Mike Noe to register @ 320-333-8908 — Downtown Sinclair Lewis Avenue
10:30 AM: Turtle Races (Bring your own turtle) Prizes for bringing a turtle and to winners of individual races – Sinclair Lewis Park, in front of bandshell
6 –10:30 PM: DJ Pete — West end near playground (Sponsored by First State Bank) — Sinclair Lewis Park
6:30 PM: Kiddie Parade (Lineup begins at 6:15pm), prizes awarded for theme and originality — Sinclair Lewis Park, line up by boat landing
7:30–9:20 PM: Mr Fun brings stilts, giant bubbles, hula hoop races, and a re show at 9 pm! PLUS dancing with Marvin the Moose (Sponsored by Great River Federal Credit Union) — Sinclair Lewis Park Picnic Shelter
7–10 PM: Live Music featuring the Honey Badgers (Sponsored by First Lutheran Church & Minnesota National Bank) — Sinclair Lewis Park Bandshell
11 AM–3 PM: Little Red School House Tours - Corner of Main Street and 3rd St. N
11 AM–3 PM: Family Fun Festival In atables — FREE to kids thanks to a sponsorship from Community Connection of Sauk Centre — Sinclair Lewis Park
11 AM–3 PM: Games courtesy of River of Life volunteers and Face Painting sponsored by DanWelle.com — Sinclair Lewis Park
1 PM: Sandy Weisser’s School of Music — Sinclair Lewis Park Bandshell
7 PM: Parade Starts (Line-up at the Industrial Park) — Theme: “Margaritaville on Main Street”
Immediately following parade: Dessert Extravaganza with a Free Will offering, proceeds go to students in need in Sauk Centre — First Lutheran Church Sauk Centre
8:30 PM–12:30 AM: Street Dance - Live music featuring Rogue Royal and Out of Line, $10 Cover Charge (Sponsored by downtown bars)
7 PMish: Buy One Get One FREE Movie Night Compliments of Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce — Any movie, your choice! Valid for the 7-7:30 pm start show times — Main Street Theatre
8:30 PM: Summer Cash Raf e $10,000 Winner Announced! — Sinclair Lewis Park Bandshell
10 PM: Fireworks at Dusk at Sinclair Lewis Park (Sponsored in part by Sauk Centre Fire Department and SCACOC Raf e Sales)
GOLD
B&K Trucking
Black Oak Wind
Dairyland Peach
DanWelle.com
First Lutheran Church
John Wiese Ford
Minnesota National Bank
Westside Liquor
SILVER
AmericInn by Wyndham
Babbitt’s Wine Bar
Blue Lake Plastics
CentraCare
Centre Rehab
Coldwell Banker-Crown
Realtors
SUNDAY, JULY 21
11 AM: Soapbox Derby Check-in Begins, Pre-Reg. $20, Day-Of Reg. $25, Contact James Macey @ 763-280-0614 or link on Chamber website. Sauk Centre Lions & Rotary Club of Sauk Centre — Corner of N 3rd and Ash St. N
3–5 PM: Collaboratory Outdoor Music Deck, Learn about Human Beat Boxing and enjoy a Live Performance, music for all ages (Sponsored by Great River Regional Library of Sauk Centre) – Sinclair Lewis Park
